"Here I got you another one."

Akeelah sits next to her friend at their squads table, looking over at the second bowl of stew he'd procured for her when she'd left to attend to the need for facilities, she thanked him for his thoughtfulness and dug into the second bowl of hearty stew. They both looked up at the soft spoken comment that was made from down the table, the soft laughter that followed, it was just words to them and they weren't any harm, but they caught what was said. Sasha watched as his friend looked down at her bowl of stew, the words ringing in their ears, and as she pushed it away from here.

There was no shame in having a second helping, he had about two and a half, others in their squad had more then he did, and he knew that his friend could down just the same amount that he could, especially after long days of rigorous training.

And she was not usually the one of those who took peoples comments to heart, but something about that one had gotten to her, and thus he watched as she pushed her helping away and pulled for her notes instead.

He shot a glare down to them and they laughed again.

It only got worse from there, he'd get his friend a muffin for breakfast, a muffin and a piece of bread, as she usually got for herself. The others followed, munching on their breakfast on their way to the training field above, and she waved his offering away, saying that she had already eaten before he woke. Though he knew otherwise when he heard her stomach growl.

He knew it was a problem when she had returned from the washroom and he could see her hip bones sticking out of her upper waist as she was pulling her leather vest tunic over her head.

"Akeelah, when was the last time you ate anything?"

"I'm fine Sasha."

The young man stood from her bunk, where he'd been sitting on the lower bunk of their shared bed, and stepped up to her, "You are not."

"I said I'm fine!"

He blinked at her snap, her eyes a blazing fire as they glared at him, and she gathered her daggers and left him standing there to watch as she walked out on them, heading to the field above to begin the day, and there was something in the pit of his stomach that knew she was anything but.

…

Things took a dramatic twist for the worst the following day of training, two and a half weeks to the day she had stopped eating, during one on one drills. She had been partnered with Sasha, as they usually were, and he tried to pull his hits but was immediately scolded by Titus for doing so, and thus their fight became of power. All it took was one hit to the stomach, only one, and she went white in the face. It was like she'd been white-washed, someone had poured paint over her front, and then her eyes rolled up into her head and she fell as though she were a puppet who's strings had just been cut.

"Titu—" Sasha jumped forward to catch her before she hit the ground "Titus!"

The Power turned for him from where he stand watching another pair go back and forth, his eyes going wide the moment he took in the sight, and he ran over to help him lower her to the ground. He waved at another pair to go for their mentor, and they did so with haste, as he kneeled down to try and rouse the unconscious youngling he had watched grow up under their shared care with the commanders.

"Keelah?" he pat her cheek lightly "Keelah, can you hear me?"

When he got no response, he leaned forward to listen for her breath, giving a sigh of relief when he felt it blow against his cheek. A shadow fell over them, and soon another set of hands joined his, Nisroc had arrived and he was frantic in a controlled way.

"What happened?" he was feeling for her pulse, trying to rouse her in the same way Titus had, "Somebody! What happened!"

The class only shrugged, but Sasha stepped forward, "Sir." He swallowed, aching as he watched them trying to revive his unconscious friend, "Nis." The call of the name only used outside of the training field had the Power turning quickly, he knew by such a disregard for titles in the place they stood meant the situation was dire "She hasn't eaten in nearly three weeks."

"What is going on-?"

The archangel had seen the commotion from the other side of the training field and come to investigate, his heart stopping at the ashen face of his little star laying there as still as the dead, he knelt immediately, knocking shoulders lightly with the Power standing next to him, Titus didn't seem to mind.

Nisroc stared at his nearly grown charge "What does that mean?" he couldn't fathom it, not this one "What do you mean 'she hasn't eaten in nearly three weeks'?"

"Just that. She says she has but I know she didn't."

"Sashael." The tone is sharp "You didn't think to report that!"

"I didn't have real proof. She told me she had already eaten when I offered her food!"

Michael ignored them both, taking in the prognosis in silence, and slid his arms under her to lift her from the ground, a frown gracing his features and concern lightly his eyes when she hung limply from his arms. He stood, and with him so did the others, and was quick in his orders "Training is cancelled. Gather your squads. I want to know how this has happened. If a soul should be responsible for this, they are yours to handle first, and then they will come to me. Understood?"

The two Powers nodded in time to the order, watching as the archangel jumped to the sky with his charge in his arms, limp as a rag doll. Titus left him to gather his own squad, and Nisroc turned to his charge, "Tell me what happened."

And Sasha did. He told him everything. And Nisroc, he was livid.

…

Samael fiddled with the sleeve of his tunic as he stood before the Power's desk, he could tell that the passive angel was unusually enraged at the moment, and thus he tried to make himself seem as small as possible. He knew that someone had told on him, precisely, he knew who had told on him. He would deal with that matter when he got back to the barrack.

"I'm beyond angry, Samael."

The Power let his hand fall from his lips to his desk, the palm smacking the wood harshly, his eyes smoldering with his well kept rage.

"This is not the first, this is not the second, this is not the third time, this if the fourth time I've had you in here for mistreating those in your own squad."

He looked down to his feet.

"You will look at me." And immediately back up, his eyes met the Power's, and he felt fear like he's never felt before "What happened the first time you came to see me?" there was silence, "Answer."

"You gave me a warning. Sir."

Nisroc nodded, drumming his fingers over the desk, "And the second?"

"You had me…. Had me bend over your desk."

"And the third?"

Samael fidgeted with the sleeve of his tunic again, "You had me bare myself over the edge of your desk."

"And yet, I cannot seem to get the message across, can I." the Power stared at him intently, "You should show me gratitude, the Commander wanted to expel you from the squads, your mate is in very bad condition because of your cruel words." He stopped drumming his fingers "I convinced him to let me handle it and he allowed it." He held up a finger, "Just this once mind you." He stood from his seat, "Since I can't seem to get the message across here, then we will go elsewhere."

Nisroc had stepped out from behind his desk, took hold of the boy by his collar, and dragged him from his office, jogging to keep up with the Power's strides. They stopped first at his Barrack, the Power giving the order for them all to follow, and they did so without question at the look that was painted over his features.

They followed him as they walked from the training fields, still having the boys collar captive, through the Axis for all to see, and to the Garden.

He had spoken to the Healer earlier that day, while visiting his Baby Power, and this had been his suggestion to the matter.

They stopped in a clearing, the lot of them, and he pushed the one in his hold forward, "Go find yourself a switch."

"I—Sir—!"

"Now."

Samael knew he was in deep and ran off to find what was ordered of him, making sure to do it in haste, and returned with one in hand. His face growing red with embarrassment at having his squad there to watch. The Power didn't seem to mind either way and took the switch without hesitation.

"Strip and turn."

His face was burning as he bared his bottom and turned for the Power, who took hold of his collar once more, turning to address his squad, "Let this be a lesson to all of you, this will be your fate, should I ever find out you meant one of your own harm."

He swung his arm around, hard enough that it cracked against the pale skin, and Samael shrieked and jumped when it came down just as hard a second time.