The next morning, Kaela’s resolve was hardened. She must keep in mind why she is there.

  In a short time, she had gone from grief for her people to fear for her life. She had slept shockingly well, all things considered.

  She thought of Drookan and how he had defended, saved her.

  With him, she felt safe, totally safe, for maybe the first time in her life. He was smart and courageous and had honor.

  Something was different about him, something special. She enjoyed being in his company.

  She never would have imagined saying that about a Dowath. Her next thought surprised her more. She wondered if Drookan enjoyed being in her company. She hoped he did.

  The other Ponu wanted to know about her adventure, especially her twin Francesca, who couldn't help but comment on how romantic it was that Drookan risked his life to defend her.

  Drookan, on the other hand, caught the wrath of both the Dowath leadership and Ponu leadership. Kaela was new here, Dana had mentioned, but Drookan should have known better. He took in all of their anger, Dmoko, Brandi, Dana, and others. He realized it was a foolish thing he did, but more importantly on his mind was that Kaela was safe. He thought of how he would not have been able to live with the guilt if she had died under his protection.

  Later...

  The council room in the Cave City was also the chamber used for large gatherings.

  Kaela had wondered about the cave and all of its connected chambers or "rooms" as the Ponu and Dowath usually referred to them as.

  To Kaela, the entire place reminded her more of an ant hill than a massive cave, as she had expected. It had many large open chambers, like the entrance chamber, and others, but then it had so many of these smaller interconnected chambers. She knew this place was not something that happened naturally.

  When she asked, she was only told that it was suspected that the cave structure was perhaps the remnant of some other facility built into the cave. Its true purpose, now lost to time.

  The gathering room had chairs placed in it to accommodate the swelling number of Ponu women. The room soon became a sea of pink. Instead of sitting with the Ponu, Kaela stood by the wall alongside Drookan. A few other Dowath and Ponu women also stood by the wall, such as Brandi, standing alongside the Dowath advisor to the king, Dfriyo.

  Usually, these meetings were only for Ponu, but since there were only a few Dowath left who were not hibernating, it was decided to open the meeting to them as well.

  Marcela, sitting but always observant, looked back at those on the wall. She saw Ponu like Brandi, who preferred being around Dowath more than Ponu it seemed. She saw a few others, and then she saw Kaela.

  Kaela, standing with her back against the wall, arms folded, seemed very unenthused about the meeting. Drookan, standing beside her, seemed more curious about the proceedings, but then he leaned over and whispered something to Kaela that made her chuckle a little.

  Marcela was glad Kaela was integrating into the community, but was stunned at the quick bond between her and a Dowath.

  She remembered Lana's theory that certain Dowath and Ponu seem to instantly form a connection for some reason, probably related to their shared Geeryo origins. It's rare, but when it happens, they form an almost instant connection. It's almost like that Ponu, and that Dowath are operating on the same wavelength, to use a clumsy expression she's sure her wife Lana would disapprove of. This would explain, she thought, why Kaela can understand the Dowath after being around them for so short a time. Others disputed Lana's theory, Marcela among them, but now she was not so sure. But, then the romantic in her wins out, maybe, she thinks, it could just be two super compatible people finding each other.

  More than one Ponu woman in the audience looked on with envy. To form a close friendship bond with a Dowath meant extra security and status within the community. Also, Drookan was very well respected and admired by the Ponu.

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  He is the Dowath's "keeper of history", a great honor only bestowed on the most intelligent of his kind. However, he had shown himself to also be very knowledgeable about human history and literature as well. A Dowath encyclopedia. Not only that, he carried himself with an air of sophistication.

  The fact that he and Kaela had apparently become close so quickly was startling.

  The meeting had, to Kaela, a peculiar start.

  All the women walked towards the center of the room and formed a circle. They were side by side, each with their arms around the Ponu next to them. It was a solid wall of Ponu suits.

  Drookan looked down at Kaela, seeing she was not moving. She gave a sigh and went over and joined the circle.

  They repeated a phrase meant for encouragement. "We are family, we will watch out for each other and defend each other."

  It felt disingenuous for Kaela to say the words, but to keep her cover, she went along.

  The women sat down.

  First, a Ponu came out and gave a report of the crop. She mentioned that there would be rationing needed.

  Kaela, by the wall, hearing this, couldn't help but be shocked. Even with rationing, they were still eating more than an average family of scavengers.

  Then the leader, Dana, walked out.

  She had a serious expression. She was more stern-looking than in the first encounter Kaela had with her.

  Dana begins, "I am sad to announce that for a while now, we have had a spy among us".

  Gasps ring out from the crowd.

  Dana holds her head down and says, "Bring her in."

  Unconsciously, Kaela grabs Drookan's hand. Without knowing it, she is, without a word, asking for his protection if things turn sour.

  Two Ponu women escort a third woman, a blonde Ponu named Heather, out to the middle of the room.

  Dana continues, "She has admitted to spying for the Lizard Hunter to assess our strength".

  Still, neither Dana nor the others knew who hired the Lizard Hunter.

  Kaela let go of Drookan's hand, "for a second I thought it might be someone I knew", she says, trying to cover herself.

  Heather pleaded her case, saying she only did it so she would have resources to escape to a place free of sky reapers and scavengers or Geeyo. She said the cave was a trap. They were all better off taking their chances, making a dash for the great northern forest.

  Dana, still looking serious, said that Heather would not be harmed. However, with her knowledge, they could not let her go. She would be a prisoner.

  She continued by saying that what she was doing was not to make herself into a tyrant, that they had a welcoming and open society, but this was different.

  She said that whoever was paying the Lizard Hunter for that information meant harm to everyone in that cave. To let the woman go and share what she had learned, especially now when they are vulnerable, would be like signing a death warrant for everyone in the cave. So they must make the difficult decision to detain her indefinitely until a better solution comes about.

  Dana then says they must all be more vigilant, look out for the behaviors of a spy.

  Kaela suddenly became aware of the dangers of being caught. That could be her down there pleading her case, about to be put in a cage in the cave for who knows how long. Maybe forever. Friendly or not, she was a threat to them.

  Drookan has a concerned look on his face. Kaela wonders if he knows or suspects more than he is saying.

  Dmoko arrives and chastises Dana for allowing spies into their home. He says the spy should be executed. Some of the ponu agree, but others like Brandi adamantly defend Dana's decision.

  Kaela can only look on. If she is to leave, it needs to be soon.

  As the meeting ends, Kaela and her Dowath make their way out and go to the dining area to enjoy a meal. During the meal, Drookan explains more to her about Dowath culture and history. He talks about the fact that his tribe in the cave city is a faction that has broken away from the "enemy" Dowath known as Sky Reapers. How they don't hunt Ponu or any humans, and how the Sky Reapers think of his people as traitors.

  He tells her about Dmoko and Dmoko's sister Dmeko. One staunchly set on kicking the Ponu out, even if it means their death, the other, a staunch ally and considers the Ponu women to be her sisters.

  He talks about how the Ponu, Scavengers and Dowath all seem to be pawns in a game orchestrated by someone else. Whether that is Geeryo or not, he doesn't know. What he does know is that whoever that is, is the real enemy.

  Kaela's bluntness comes to the surface for a moment, "Why do you like me?" she asks. "It's obvious you're fond of me, you've taken risks for me you didn't have to. Why?"

  The directness of the question takes him by surprise a little, but his answer is honest.

  He says, "There's something about you. Even here, with 150 other Ponu women, you seem like an outsider. I feel that way sometimes myself among my people. It's obvious you have been through something. What that is, I don't know, but it's different from the trauma the other women have felt surviving out in the wild, until they reach the cave city. Your's seems years in the making. I feel like helping you overcome whatever is making you not feel safe here. I also...just enjoy being around you. You have an effect on me for some reason that's hard to explain. I hope that does not offend you.

  Kaela simply smiles. His last lines meant everything.