–You are not weak. The way you’ve kept going, for your self and for your children… a weak person wouldn’t do that.– Kes spoke, understanding more and more all the time. –Your daughter, she can’t see, she’s… she’s no good to you for anything, is she? Not in a practical sense. In a practical sense, you shouldn’t waste food and water on her, but you do, don’t you? Is it really so hard to believe that I’d make the same choice?– Kes asked gently.

Anara regarded her, but then looked down to Lanam in her arms. ’She’s my daughter’, she said. ’And there was no use in it anyway. I knew… I knew we would all die before long. It was better to have her with me for that long, than to not. You though, you are not my blood, they are not your blood… not even your people…’

–What difference does that make?– Kes asked gently, really not knowing, but understanding that apparently it did make a difference to Anara, to her people.

Anara looked back to her in confusion. She just shook her head and said nothing, though the look in her eyes said a lot.

Kes yawned and smiled, a little embarrassed. –I think we could both use some sleep.– She looked around and then realized that her own bedding was still with her things, hidden on the other side of the city where she’d left them. –I… my things, I had to leave them. I don’t have anywhere to sleep…– She confessed, feeling out of sorts having to confess that.

Anara groaned a little, sitting up through her obvious fatigue. She asked Kes if she could carry Lanam over and put her to bed with her brother. Kes regarded the other woman a little curiously at the request, but agreed without asking questions, picking Lanam up and settling her in with her brother. Lanam snuggling up to her brother automatically just as she’d done with her mother, Tresit automatically holding her protectively in his arms. They looked very cute. She was smiling fondly when she turned to Anara. The smile fell away when she saw Anara sitting there on her cot nearly nude. Kes swallowed. She was so completely beautiful…

”Kes?” Anara asked softly, looking around.