Kadyrelite was standing once more in the ruined funhouse, staring at the shining, pale Knight. Staring at her ruined feet and listening as the soft voice croaked out a song. Felt the same swelling of pity that she’d felt before. The poor, poor thing…

Oh really now, must you be so very stupid?

A tiny, mottled head suddenly appeared at her shoulder, it’s profile level with her own. Jumping slightly, Kadyrelite whipped her head around to stare into the bluntly amused face of Strytha. Mouth opening and closing like a landed fish, she tried to talk only to have strangled and incoherent squeaks emerge.

Oh for Chaos’ sake, child. Clearly you’re dreaming. Loudly enough that you woke Strytha as well. Be a good child and close your mouth now. Compose yourself.

The snake-like youma itself looked serenely at the bound Knight, it’s small head nodding slowly as it thoughts it’s own strange thoughts. Kadyrelite looked down to see that she was suddenly dressed in the t-shirt and boy shorts she’d worn to bed. Dreaming. She was dreaming. She was only Alodie here.

Feeling better now? So, this is the Knight whose words got you into such trouble, hrmm? Yes, Strytha can see how you might be pity. But pity makes you foolish. This woman is, was rather, dangerous.

“How can she be? She was tied up, weak. Sure, she was sneaky when she was asking her own questions. But that’s not dangerous, surely?”

Strytha closed it’s dark eyes and seemed to sigh, looked for all the world like an exasperated parent. After a moment, she felt a sharp, burning pain and looked down to see that the youma had sunk it’s fangs into her chest. After a moment, it released it’s jaws and she stared in horrified fascination at the bright red blood seeping out.

The next time you ask such a foolish question, Strytha will put venom into the bite! Stupid Kadyrelite! You said it yourself to the Captain. This woman’s gentle helplessness makes her dangerous. You must learn to harden your heart to such things or you will not survive this war.

Hissing, Strytha bared it’s fangs for emphasis before shaking it’s body and settling back to the perch on her shoulder. Alodie just barely managed to resist the urge to reach up to touch the bite wound, feeling that doing so would result in more bites. Instead she sighed and shook her head in confusion.

“And how am I supposed to harden myself to something like this? I mean, s**t like this gets people tossed into ******** concentration camps normally.”

It was a mistake to put those not used to the hardships of war to service for this operation, no doubt. When you are not ready for such things, they can seem brutal, ugly even, instead of the necessities they are. You are young and still gentle yourself. You have made good strides, little Kadyrelite, but you still have so much to learn.

The youma seemed to sigh before giving itself a shake.

Turn your dreams to softer ground and rest, child. Tomorrow there is work to do. Strytha must begin to strip away that gentleness for your own good. Sleep now.

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With a sigh, Alodie shifted in her sleep and slipped into a deeper slumber, unaware that something serpentine was wriggling through her torso in mild agitation.