MY UPDATE DIDN'T TAKE FOREVER. At least not as bad as usual... Anyway, my life sucks. But I'm gunna try and really pump this story out. So please review to keep me motivated. :)

I awoke the next morning, my neck and back stiff from sleeping on the ground. Slowly, I stretched and worked out the kinks. With a yawn, I sat up and tried to further assess my situation. Clearly, there was no leaving. I was foolish enough to even consider it let alone try last night. I would have been lost, or worse...eaten. Luckily, I had been caught instead.

Which confused me even further. Quinn seemed to only be amused by me trying to leave. Why wasn't he angry? And why on earth did he trust me to not try again? Perhaps he had faith that I was smarter than that. Still, I couldn't help but feel confused because he had simply led me back to my tent and told me to sleep well then left. Why didn't they tie me up to a post to ensure I wouldn't leave...

My head throbbed with the string of questions that clouded my mind. But the biggest one was: what did they want with me? Would I ever be able to go home again?

Then there was Jake. Oh goodness, I couldn't even begin to try and figure out that puzzle of a man. The memory of his gaze...or glare more likely...burned in my mind as clear as day. His dark and powerful eyes giving me a chill just remembering them.

Sighing, I pushed myself to my feet, unsure of what I planned to do next. My growling stomach answered for me as I decided I would go find someone who would feed me instead of waiting for them to fetch me. I pushed open the flap and the blinding sunlight caused me to almost stumble over Kima.

"Sam!" He smiled up at me, not bothered by the fact I had nearly trampled him.

"Kima, you gave me quite a start."

He raised a confused eyebrow, not understanding my reference. Shrugging it off he grabbed my hand. "Come. I saved you a bowl black berries. Jake told me not to since you slept so long. But I did anyway."

I was grateful that he did and kind of wished he saved me two bowls.

"Do you always sleep so much?" Kima asked as I finished off the last berry.

"Not particularly...but it's been an eventful few days for me."

"Ah, you are awake."

I turned to see Kima's grandmother walking up to us. I gave her a hesitant smile, she smiled back and reached her hand out to me.

"Join the women, Sam," she looked at Kima sternly. "Aren't you suppose to be helping your brothers?"

Kima smiled sheepishly and jumped to his feet. "I wanted to make sure Sam got her food...can we sit together again at dinner Sam?"

I shrugged, hoping in my heart I would be gone by then but doubting it. "Sure," it wasn't like those around were dying for my company or a seat next to me. Kima's smile seemed to reach ear to ear as he dashed off, leaving me and his grandmother alone.

I looked at her. "I'm sorry, but I'm not sure how to address you."

"My name is Kimina."

"Well that's awfully confusing." I said. Her name was so similar to Kima's and I'm sure that wasn't a coincidence.

She just laughed and motioned me to follow her.

We joined a circle of women who worked on different tasks, some were weaving while others worked on stretching different animal hides. Other's were sewing together clothing but all had paused to stare up at me. I tried my best to put on a smile and hoped that it didn't look like a grimace. Some turned back to their work, ignoring my presence while other's smiled back tentatively before also returning to their tasks.

Kimina didn't bother with introductions and I wasn't sure if I should introduce myself. She sat down by a half woven blanket and began working on it. Unsure of what else I should do, I took a seat next to her and watched her as her skilled hands carefully but quickly wove the blanket. It was beautiful work and watching her was intriguing. I studied her work, hoping I could make some sense to the madness, but she simply moved too fast for me to keep up. As I sat and carefully watched the women at their work I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. I already stuck out like a sore thumb and here I was sitting and watching everyone else work.

"Is there anything I might help with?" I asked Kimina quietly, trying to not make the fact that I wasn't doing anything obvious to the other women.

"Do you know how to weave?" She asked.

Even after watching her for so long I still hadn't a clue. "Uh, no."

She paused. "Sew?"

I shook my head no, blushing at her surprised look. Gram had never trust me enough to sew.

"Do you cook?"

"Er...no." I regretted asking if she wanted my help, suddenly embarrassed at my lack of skills.

"Hm." She looked at me thoughtful, probably trying to come up with something to make me feel better. "Here, come with me."

We reached the river, where a number of the men and boys were, spears in hand and others net. I couldn't help but notice their lack of clothing and blushed as I caught myself staring at a number of muscular chests and backs.

I felt a familiar tingle and caught Jake's eye...which was surprising considering my gaze had been set on backs and chests. My face felt hot and I wished that I could just go drown myself in the river, I'm sure Jake would be happy to assist me. Although, I didn't notice the burning hatred there this time. No, it had toned down to just utter annoyance. Which was good I suppose...

"I don't fish...well I have...but not like this." I said suddenly with a sense of growing dread.

"Don't worry, we are not fishing." Kimina said, leading me instead to a small pile of mostly dead fish...some still flapped around being freshly dumped out of a net. "We are going to start cleaning the fish for dinner."

My stomach sank. Out of all tasks she choose for me it had to be gutting fish. Maybe she actually didn't like me. A memory of my father shooting a deer flashed in my mind and I remembered how I had cried and fainted when I saw it up close.

Dear Lord and all things holy please do not let me faint, I thought to myself as Kimina handed me a knife. I could barely even think of the irony of the captive handing the prisoner a knife. Instead I was too focused on her picking up a fish and placing it on a flat rock nearby.

"Do you know how to clean a fish?" She asked, surely already knowing the answer.

Numbly, I shook my head no. She motioned for me to come close and I did, hesitantly.

"Now, take the fish and flip it upside down, you'll want to cut it open by its belly...," her words faded as I became all too focused on the knife pressed against the fish. "Don't close your eyes."

I hadn't noticed that I closed my eyes but they shot open and sadly, the fish was still put together. She continued to ramble on with directions that didn't really sink in.

"Then you press hard and move your hand quickly to make a clean cut." Without warning, well in my opinion, she pressed the knife down and sliced the fish open with a clean sweep.

"Oh dear...," I heard myself say as she continued to slice and pull the fish apart. The smell was appalling and it took my entire will to not gag or throw up...or faint.

Before I knew it she slapped another fish onto the rock. "Now, you try."

I carefully reached out for the fish and flinched at its touch. I gently flipped it and put the blade on its stomach.

"Sam...," Kimina sounded amused as I looked up at her. "It's already dead, you aren't going to hurt it."

"Right." I said, sounding more determined than I felt. Taking a deep breath I pressed the blade hard against the fish and felt the squish as it sliced through its belly. "Oh dear...," is the last thing I remember hearing myself say before the world went black.

x-x-x-x

I felt cold water being splashed onto my face and awoke to a crowd of half naked men and boys hovered over me and Kimina. I shrieked and jumped to my feet causing a few to jump back themselves.

"Ah, ah. Slow down." Kimina said pushing me back down onto my bottom.

A burst of laughter erupted and I looked up. Quinn stood there laughing hysterically along with some others, even Jake looked down on me with a grin. Despite being incredibly humiliated, I felt a trickle of warmth at his grin...even though it was at my expense. It completely warmed his face, his eyes glowed instead of their usual burn and it was a nice change that suit him well.

"Oh hush, everyone go on," Kimina ordered and all the men went back to their work, still chuckling, with the exception of Quinn and Jake who lingered around.

Quinn crouched down beside me and patted my back. "You alright there Sam?" He asked, still sounding very amused.

"It's this damned heat is all...," I muttered brushing off imaginary dirt. "This clothing is heavy you know..."

Quinn tossed back his head and laughed, close to hysterics. He patted my back again, a little gruffly and I repressed a cough. "I like you."

Despite it taking my complete humiliation, I was glad to gain someone else's approval. "Yeah, you aren't too bad yourself." I looked up at Jake and hoped that I wasn't blushing too badly. His grin was gone, replaced by a smirk.

I tried a smile, but with that he turned and left. My heart sank, I guess his approval would take more than my humiliation.

DAMMIT JAKE. JUST LOVE SAM! LOLOL...REVIEW! Please...of course...