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Kendra dreamt of shadows, evil spirits running about like cats. The were large, the size of automated harvesters, and were grotesque, deformed. The eyes of the shadows glowed a pale pink, and whatever they looked at withered. Among the humans of the colony, people just started to fall over, to die, and no one could understand why. They could not see the shadows. They could never see the shadows. Only Kendra could, and yet the warnings she shouted out to others were ignored. It was Kendra, the problem-child, the insane girl. But then people started to fall over, not understanding what was happening to them, being dragged to the ground by the shadows, devoured.
Kendra woke with a start, crying out. Instantly several of the women near her were awake, around her, trying to comfort her. They still view Kendra as a little girl, she knew. Flansen was there as well, and she hugged Kendra, holding her tight, rocking her in her arms. This was a recurring dream. Kendra had had it several times now, every night for the past week and a half. While having such dreams in the colony had been scorned at, the Maletis believed that she was experiencing something real, visions, and they had been on edge since the second night of her dreams.
Kendra's visions of the shadows slowly faded, and her eyes began to focus on the close-by fire, a small fire meant to keep the women in this section warm. It must have been almost daylight, as there were several women already up, preparing the morning meal, made of mostly local vegetables collected from the forest, along with small portions of meat, from an animal similar to a rabbit from the world of her ancestors.
After several minutes, Kendra’s breathing had slowed, her crying stopped. She wrapped her own arms around those of the lady holding her, turning her head into the nook of one of the arms, closing her eyes.
"D'ere d'ere, young one,” Flansen said quietly. "'Tis okay. You jus cry, you need. Here?"
Flansen spoke in the language of the Maletis, but Kendra's understanding of the language, though still that of a child, was improving day by day.
Several minutes passed, Kendra starting to drift off back to sleep in the arms of her friend, when a new feeling came over her. There was something changing in the camp, a new presence. Its flavor, its essence, was different from that of the Maletis. Kendra's eyes snapped open, and she cried out happily, "It's Matthew!"
Struggling against Flansen's grip for a moment, she stood up once the larger girl let go. Many of the women were watching perplexed at Kendra's spun around, trying to get a sense of where the new presence was. Finally, she started walking quickly in the direction of one of the men’s tents, trying to avoid any sleeping Maletis in the shadows of predawn.
Kendra's excitement turned to concern as she came across the right tent. A man from the colony was surrounded by several of the Maletis, with Slintrasti right in the from. It was Matthew, but he looked like he had not eaten or drank in days. His face was drawn, his eyes hollow. He was sitting down by one of the fires, shivering, and drinking water from a Maletis cup. Kendra held back, fearful now. Her friend was not well, and she was now unsure what she should do. She watched him as he finished the first cup of water, and then a second. The Maletis brought him a bit of dried vegetables as well, and he hungrily ate them. Kendra was slinking back into the shadows, avoid the area where he was looking or could easily see.
A couple of the Maletis were speaking haltingly in the colonist's language, and Matthew didn’t seem to make the connection that she was here, that she had taught them. After several more minutes, his eyes began to droop shut, finally in a place of safe, and in another minute he was sound asleep, snoring softly.
Kendra closed her eyes, letting a small tear fall from one. It had been so long since she had been in contact with the colony. She had no idea what was going on there now, what progress they were making, what trials they were going through. Kendra wanted to run up and throw her arms around her friend, to give him a kiss and welcome him, finally, into the village of the Maletis. But she knew she shouldn't. Kendra covered her mouth with her hands, and bit one of her fingers hard enough that she tasted some of her own blood. What was wrong? What had happened? Was Matthew still... Matthew? Was he still the Matthew that she knew, or was he different now. It had been several twin moon cycles since she had last seen him, or seen anyone from the camp for that matter.
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"Matthew, what are you doing here?"
Matthew was already somewhat in shock, but now, he couldn’t believe his eyes. He recognized this girl before him. It was Kendra, but she looked so different than before. She was no longer wearing the standard clothing of the colonists, the ultra-tough, drab, uniforms that always were in standard colors. Now she wore very little, including a skirt made out of some animal skin. Her chest was covered with a soft, semi-transparent cloth made out of fur of some unknown animal. He was very aware that he could see all the details of her small, delicate breasts.
He was also aware of his own looks. Without shoes, his feet were now horribly blistered. His clothes were tattered after his journey over the mountains.