~ SASHA ~

For the first time, Sasha recognized faces, but it took her a moment to place them. As she turned away from the smaller group of females organizing themselves, she found herself under two sets of eyes, one peering out from behind sandy-brown hair that fell in lines so straight it looked like it was weighted for the floor. The other had black hair in a short, boy-cut. Both females stood, shoulder to shoulder, visibly shivering, watching her.

Sasha blinked. Where…

The first set of females she'd been introduced to. The ones that were human made. Who hadn't been to Thana before.

These two stood, leggy and shivering like foals in the cold, and Sasha's heart went out to them in the same moment every alarm bell she possessed rang in her head.

These two, at least, had no ties to Thana. No established loyalties. Why had they been chosen? Was it just another experiment? Or were they spies?

Sasha walked towards them quickly. The taller one with the black hair, her eyes struck sparks as Sasha approached, but the other shrank away, despite being inches taller and visibly stronger.

"Are you two okay?" she asked briskly. "I know this is frightening. I know you haven't been to Thana before, but… I think you'll like it if you give a chance. I hope… I hope it will feel more natural for you."

Except, of course, her mind spun with the conversation she'd had with Nick about wild animals who'd never been in the wild, raised by humans, then thrown among their own kind… and how most of them died.

But these weren't animals. These were people, she reminded herself. They could learn, and listen, and rationalize. They could be taught.

If they weren't placed there to undermine the entire thing.

"Thana?" the black haired one asked. "You're joking, right?"

Sasha sighed. "No, I'm not. It's been my entire goal while I've been here. They're saying… they're saying they're going to let half of you go with me now, and the rest in a few months. I don't know whether to believe them, but I know that we have to prepare. Can I introduce you to some of the others? Those who've been through the gateway and into Thana? You'll need to understand how it all works."

She raised her hand to point at the smaller group she'd just left. The leader among them, a large wolf named Mae was sharp and strong. She'd challenged Sasha, but backed down when she scented Zev and Sasha showed her the claiming mark on the back of her neck.

It hadn't tingled in days. She was starting to wonder if it had lost whatever magic it had had. Or was it just because Zev wasn't nearby? Would it come alive again when he touched her?

She hoped so.

But she'd swallowed back her own fears to keep her focus on the questions she could answer. Now she led the two, reluctant Chimeran women towards Mae and prayed the female wouldn't reject them.

After they'd been introduced and the two were meeting the other females in that cluster, Sasha pulled Mae aside.

"These two were made here," she said quietly, knowing all the Chimera who were paying attention would be able to hear her. "They'll need extra help. Extra eyes. You understand?"

Mae's lips flattened, but she nodded. "I understand, Sasha-don."

"Would you like me to take them to another group? I don't want them in the hands of anyone who won't… keep them close."

"No, I'll take them. I can help them, as much as they need," she said, her eyes widening slightly.

Sasha nodded. "Thank you. I'm sorry we're thrown together like this. I hope… I hope that soon we'll have a chance to actually get to know each other and…"

Mae tensed, frowning suddenly, putting one hand to her stomach and hissing a curse.

She went pale so quickly, Sasha took her arm in case the woman lost her feet. "Are you okay?"

Mae growled and shook her head, but not in answer to Sasha's question, rather it reminded Sasha of a dog shaking off an instruction they didn't want to hear.

"I'm fine," she muttered. "The humans did experiments on me years ago. They… left something wrong. I don't know what. But I have had pain ever since. Mostly it's bearable. But sometimes…" She blew out a breath and opened her eyes again. "Thank you for your care, Sasha-don."

Sasha stared helplessly as the woman braced herself, then stepped away, back to the group she'd left in a huddle.

Sasha almost called her back, almost changed her mind about leaving the extra duties with Mae. But… she didn't know how much time she had. And the two she'd introduced seemed already a little more comfortable, not quite so wary as they spoke with some of the others.

Sasha stalked away to gather up the last of the females she hadn't yet spoken to, and make sure each was in a group, that they'd all heard about the gateway and could practice focusing their minds.

She was so consumed, then, with checking back over the always-moving groups of females, that she was startled by the sound of the large, rolling door opening from the stables into the Arena.

The door she and Nick had used was full height to the massive ceiling, but a narrow passage for only one or two people. This door, the one he'd opened the first time they entered when the Arena was empty, was massive, wide enough for a large truck, or several horses to walk side-by-side. And it clattered and shook as it rolled up twenty feet over their heads.

Some of the females gasped and cringed, others startled as Sasha had, but watched the gate open with a grim kind of resignation.

But very quickly, even though the gate completed its roll and stopped moving, the noise continued. Sasha's attention was taken away from the other females and deeper into the stables where dust and steam swirled, then suddenly red lights flashed.

Many of the Chimeran females made small cries, or swore, but Sasha raised her hands, swallowing back her own nerves.

"Don't be afraid," she called over the noise of the engine. "Those are just lights on the back of a large vehicle." She took a deep breath.. "Chimera, I think our ride has arrived."