The next morning, Kaela awoke and was immediately summoned, along with some of the newer arrivals, into a meeting. She and Francesca walked in together. As they entered the room, all the gathered Ponus turned, some trying to determine which of the twins was which.

  Most had noticed that one always seemed cautious, nervous at best, or angry at worst. This would be the one named Kaela. The other always seemed joyous, like she was about to embark on the best day of her life. This would be the one named Francesca.

  However, at this hour of the morning, both women seemed groggy, so it was hard to tell.

  Kaela and Francesca were both given their work assignment for the day. They were both to assist Cassandra in assessing the condition of the hibernating Dowaths.

  This would be perfect, she thought. She could assess just how many Dowath there were without having to ask more questions.

  The task took longer than expected. They had to inspect each hibernating Dowath to see if there was any sign of ill health. By the end, Kaela gathered that there were at least 200 Dowath hibernating. This would be good info to know for her people.

  Cassandra's complaining didn't make the task longer, but it gave the twins a soundtrack while they did their work. For Kaela, Cassandra's complaints gave more detail.

  Cassandra couldn't help but complain about the Dowath, even the ones who were saving their lives by letting them live in the cave. She complained so much that Kaela started to wonder if there was anything she liked.

  Lana, the genius who built most of the comforts they enjoy, and the always-happy Marcela, surely she likes them; everyone likes them, she thought. She casually mentioned them. It was a big mistake.

  Apparently, Cassandra holds a special place of hate in her heart for Lana and, by proxy, Marcela. She didn't go into why, and Kaela didn't press it, but now the twins knew for certain never to mention Lana in the presence of Cassandra.

  She did manage to find out some more minor information about Ponu physiology. Kaela casually mentions how she is surprised her feet were not calloused from being barefoot. She immediately caught herself thinking it could be a question that exposes her as a spy. Maybe a real Ponu would know why. Still, Cassandra was so worked up that she was not suspicious at all. She said, "Does no one listen to details? We have a low-level healing factor. You may get bruises for a short while, but unless it's something major, your healing factor will kick in, which means you will hardly ever get any minor damage that doesn't disappear almost as soon as it occurs". Francesca seems taken aback that Kaela didn't know that. Kaela, however, starts to wonder. She had considered herself lucky her entire life in that she rarely ever got scrapes and cuts on her body that didn't vanish pretty quickly. It was a small thing, but it added a little doubt in her mind.

  Leaving the assignment in the late afternoon, she was caught off guard by all the activity in the cave. Kaela saw Ponu dashing across the cave, going one direction and the other with panic expressions on their faces.

  Something had happened, something bad.

  She asked the first Ponu she saw rushing past her. Apparently, a Scavenger saboteur had been spotted and chased away. He was planting a device suspected of being an explosive.

  The plan was no doubt to cause a diversion to lure as many of the Ponu and Dowath out of the cave as possible and then set off the explosion.

  She walked by Dana's room, and that's when she saw her. Speaking with Dana was the Ponu they call Emma. She was the very reason Kaela was on this mission.

  She was the ponu that Dana had sent to Kaela's scavenger camp, along with five Dowath, to deliver a message, "We're ready, are you?"

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  Emma had stood down Kallian, mocked him, and humiliated him. The arrogance of the woman was shocking.

  Now Dana was directing Emma once more. From what she could hear, Dana was sending Emma on a retaliatory mission to warn the scavengers to move on. For Kaela's camp, her people, to leave.

  Kaela watches Emma leave with five Dowath.

  Her concern for her people swells; she has to see what happens. She sees Drookan, the kind Dowath she had flown with earlier. He is chatting with a friend of his, a female Dowath named Dmeko. Kaela is shocked that she can understand their conversation now with ease. As she approaches, Drookan begins to introduce her to Dmeko, but he is cut off. Kaela pleads with him to take her to the camp. She offers a half-lie that her concern is humanitarian; she needs to know the people in that camp will not be hurt. Seeing her distress for the strangers touches him. Drookan decides to help her, even though he may get in trouble for it later.

  Moments later, they take flight. There is no time to find the special harness used last time. She will have to ride without, which is the usual practice anyhow for Ponu riding Dowath. Drookan lets her know he can only get so close; they must not interfere with Emma's mission.

  They arrive in the evening just as the sun is setting. They manage to arrive only moments after Emma's team arrives.

  Kaela sees her camp from below; she has never seen it from this perspective before. With how high they are and with it being dark, no one on the ground would be able to make out that it was her riding a Dowath above. Her gaze is soon turned toward a solitary figure in pink disembarking from a Dowath in the middle of the camp as 4 more Dowath flank her.

  Panic ensues in the camp. People grab whatever weapons they can.

  Emma walks directly towards Kallian's tent with a Dowath behind her.

  "Oh Kallian, we'd like to have a word with you," she says.

  Kallian appears, full of anger. He has a weapon with him, a rare automatic. He stops at a distance. He shouts "Speak your words Ponu, and then leave."

  She smirks, "Fair enough, sweetie. My words are this: we gave you scavengers a chance. Goodness knows, we have given you plenty of chances, yet how do you repay us? I'll tell you how, by sending people to kill us. That's not polite. Kallian, honey, it's been... something knowing ya, but it's time y'all left this place." With even more of a smile, she adds, "We'll even help you pack. I am sure Dana will allow that if I ask nicely enough on your behalf."

  High above the camp, Kaela's heart sinks as she realizes what is happening.

  "Or what?" Kallian adds. She only smiles more, "Do you really want us to go there? We've gotten along so swimmingly well, we leave you alone, you try to spy on us, we leave you alone some more, you try to kill us. We had the perfect relationship, but all things must end.

  At that moment, a scavenger in the crowd pulls out a small gun and fires at Emma. The Dowath standing behind her spots him in time and, with super quick reflexes, manages to cover Emma with his massive wings before the bullet makes contact.

  Seeing his failure, the scavenger is too scared to try again.

  The Dowath, opening his wings, exposes an enraged Emma. "Who did that!?!" she demands.

  She sees the frightened scavenger with the gun shaking in his hands. Gone is the smile and folksy mannerism; now all that remains is pure cold anger. "Bring him here!" One of the other Dowaths moves and brings the man to her. His arm is bended, and he falls to his knees. The gun falls from his hands. The little woman in the pink unitard moves towards him, leaning over, "Did you really think that would work? I will show you what we think of your Scavenger weapons". She begins to stomp on the gun with her bare foot, pretending to be surprised that she can't crush it.

  Kallian can see she is mocking them again. After a few attempts, she pretends to be exhausted. "It seems so much easier when my friends here do it." With that, she calls over a Dowath, who steps on and obliterates the small weapon easily with one stomp of his massive clawed foot.

  She turns back towards Kallian. "Our demand is clear. You will move your camp away from here. There will not be another warning to leave. Although I do have one more thing to say, if you've made me miss dinner, having to deal with you, I will be back".

  With that, she and the five Dowaths left. Everyone was speechless. Kallian only went back into his tent.

  Watching above, Kaela is devastated and feels the humiliation of her people. She asks Drookan not to head back to the cave, but instead to fly east; she needs air. Drookan agrees but has concern. That area they are heading in is known for having the enemy Dowath; the sky reapers traverse it from time to time.