Kes led him down the stairs. She caught the woman she’d passed before’s eyes as she did, but quickly turned away and lead Tresit out the back way. She hurried them through the city, not saying anything as they went, but feeling all of not only her own roiling emotions, but Anara’s as well. Still, Tresit was safe and they were coming home, and that was such a relief to both her and her wife that the rest didn’t seem quite as bad as Kes suspected it really was.

Kes hurried Tresit on at an almost frantic pace, though she was nearly paranoid in how careful she was to keep out of sight of others (not that paranoia wasn’t justified at the moment, because Kes was very certain that it was completely justified). At last though, they made it out of the city and into the foothills among the rocks where Kes finally collapsed on her feet, breathing hard, leaning her back against one of the rocks, and taking long, steadying breaths.

Her nerves were more jagged than she was sure they’d ever been and she felt the residual effects of all the fear she’d felt and still felt all through her body. Her thoughts were a jumble and she felt like she might pass out, but was trying very hard not to. She couldn’t afford to do that now, not until she got Tresit home again to Anara. She could sleep then. For now, she just needed to rest a while to get back enough energy and clear her thought enough to keep going.

”Kes, mother, are you… are you hurt?” Tresit asked.

Kes closed her eyes and took a long deliberate breath, getting her thoughts together enough to where she could look over to him and meet his eyes and try to smile kindly just a little to assure him that she was going to be alright. ”I’m… I’m fine, you don’t have to worry, elshyash.” She told him, using the Kazon word for ’honored son’ and touching his face a little – like Anara would sometimes, she realized. She felt Anara here with her so strongly now, like she was almost speaking through her, and Kes was happy to just let her by this point.