Anara smiled a little wistfully to her. ’You don’t even know me, or my children,’ she said. ’I wish I could do something to repay you.’

-Then… then sit and talk with me. Tell me about yourself, what your life has been like. All my life, I’ve wondered what was out there, beyond the world that I knew. You’re the first one I’ve met who…- She shook her head again. -I’m just, I’m happy I met you, that’s all.- She told her honestly.

Anara regarded her curiously then, as if she were trying to figure out what to make of her. A small, soft, hesitant smile came to her lips after a moment though. ’I wish I could see your face.’ She said.

Kes moved forward and took her hand gently and brought it to her face. -Here.- She said.

Anara caressed her face, apparently trying to form a better picture in her mind. She shook her head and let her hand drop. She started to tell her story then. She said that when she was a small girl, she had brothers. That her family was… Kes couldn’t understand the word she used then at all.

-Wait.- Kes said. -It’s… it’s hard for me to understand. I… I wonder if I could… you see, there might be a way for me to understand you more. To learn your language, and what the words mean. But…-

’But what?’ Anara asked.

-But I would have to… um, to sort of touch your mind. I’ve never done anything quite like it before, but I think I might be able to learn your language that way, if you’d let me try…?- She asked, mostly going on instinct that it was possible at all.

Anara seemed to think it over a moment. Then she said that yes, of course, that she could hardly deny her a request like that.

-No, I don’t want you to say yes because you think you owe me something. Only say yes… if you’re truly comfortable with what I’m asking you for.- Kes told her.

Anara seemed to think about it a moment, then she nodded, and said that she was comfortable with it. That she trusted her.

Kes smiled a little softly at that, then wished that she felt as confident in herself with this as Anara seemed to be. Hesitantly, she came over closer to the other woman and brought her hands to Anara’s cheeks, then forward into her hair. -Just relax, alright?- Kes said to her gently.