JaKaelath sits on a deck built into a tree and watches the activity below her. The children wave, and some of the adults do too.

  She is starting to enjoy this camp. She recalled how earlier in the day, some of the warriors had talked to her about the camp's battles. Usually, they have had peace, but they have fought back the occasional incursion from neighboring tribes. They were so proud.

  They had lost so much, just like the other tribes, to the Sky Reapers....to the Ponu, but unlike the Red Band, they had kept their humanity.

  Her roommate walks by with a couple of her friends, and she is talking their ears off. No doubt JaKaelath thinks, telling them all about the new Ponu girl.

  She chuckles, thinking about some of the questions they might ask her, "Do her eyes glow at night?" "Did she try to attack you?" "Did she pray to Geeryo at night before bed?"

  In time, she thinks, they'll get to know me, and me them, I won't rush it.

  She sees her aunt walk by and look up, only to wave and drop her head again and continue walking.

  She will need time, JaKaelath thinks; this is all still new to her. I am her sister's child, but I am also not. I just hope she gives me the time to show her I am her sister's daughter, she thinks.

  She begins to think of years ago, right before the tragic events, when their caravan was viciously attacked by Sky Reapers. She was in the camp, in her family's tent, lying across her bed.

  "JaKaelath! Get your lazy ass up!" JaKel yells. The girl covers her ears. "We have one day to pack, the least you could do is help your mother and father."

  "I have been helping," JaKaelath moans, "see, I packed my bag," pointing to a very small bag you could carry in one hand.

  Her mother is not amused.

  "Do I have to say it also, JaKaelath?" Kunan appears.

  Defeated, she reluctantly begins to help.

  "I just don't see why we are doing this; that space is dangerous, we're sitting ducks."

  Her mother says, "The forest is better; we have to make a break for it. My people believed that, and so far they have been safe up in the Great Northern Forest. We'd go there too, but it's too dangerous trying to cross the Great Rugged Plain.

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  But the Hill Forest, it's close enough that we might can just make it."

  Kunan interjects, "It's a chance, but we have no choice. If we stay here, soon we'll be on the menu for those damn bats....you look exhausted. Up late with your friends again, huh? Or just with Kragon?"

  JaKaelath panics. "I...I..."

  "Don't worry, I am going to give him permission to date you. Just he is so....odd."

  JaKaelath interrupts, "Odd? He's smart, smart people sometimes come across as odd. Besides, I think he can be sweet sometimes."

  "Sweet? about as sweet as an electric eel," Kunan says

  JaKel jokes, "Remember the time they first met, as kids, she knocked him out with one punch."

  Kunan laughs, "That's my daughter, don't suffer fools."

  "He's not a fool," JaKaelath answers angrily.

  "Why couldn't you date one of your other friends, Joric? He seems like he will be a brave warrior one day".

  "Ha!" JaKaelath laughs, "you know I taught him to hunt because he sucked at it, and yet I heard him one day asking JaMaya if I am a Ponu. Trust me, that's not going to happen."

  They get silent at the mention of the word Ponu.

  "You fought many Ponu during the war, didn't you?" JaKaelath asks.

  Kunan tries to change the subject, "I am not talking about this now, what's for dinner, Jakel?"

  "But you did, you were a hero."

  "That was war, JaKaelath," he says.

  "Do you ever think of the Ponu when you see me?"

  He just ignores the question.

  "Dad...I," she starts, "No, we are not having any more of that Ponu nonsense," he finishes

  "But WHAT IF, what if somehow it turns out I really am a Ponu, maybe they switched your real child, like in those dark fairy tale stories. You never answer me on this, and people keep looking, talking behind my back. I need something to fight them with".

  "Listen," he says, "If you, for some reason, were a Ponu, switched as a baby with this imaginary real daughter of ours, I'd love you with all my life itself. You have no idea how much your mother and I love you.

  They both hear sobbing and look at JaKel, who is crying, "Don't talk like that, JaKaelath, I hate it when you talk like that, we love you. You are my whole world, whether you are a scavenger or wearing one of those damn pink suits, it doesn't matter."

  She approaches her mother, and Jakel hugs her tight as if the world were about to take her away from her.

  Kunan looks on smiling, "I'm not much of a hugger," he says, "but your mother is right, don't worry about this. All that matters is we love each other. We're a family, and we'll always be there for each other.

  JaKaelath reaches over and pulls him into the hug also. "I'll stop bringing it up if you stop pretending you're not really a big softy", she laughs.

  JaKaelath comes back to the present. The sun is setting, almost dinner time. Tomorrow, she should start thinking of ways to earn her keep, show them her scouting skills or become an apprentice. But first, a good meal.