Yes, I know I'm a sick puppy.

Yes, I know it's quite boring.

Yes, I am fixing it.

Any questions?

Disclaimer: Not. Mine. Most of it, anyways.

P.S. - Reviews = :D

P.P.S. - Don't let that smiley face above you scare you. He's just there...

A few hours after meeting the boy, we receive our evening meals. Pork slices and bread rolls, with five buckets of water. This is when the rankings are established. First ones to feed are the heavily pregnant females, nursing females, and the babies, if they are not yet taken away before we feed. After them, it's the Youth (also known as females under age 19). And then the rest are fed.

As I saw the rankings in action, one of the nursing mothers came to the feeding patch (which is dirt and some rocks). She had no shirt on, and was nursing her baby. Her baby was locked to her breast, suckling the last of the milk it's mother had. It was quite tiny, and still blue.

I turned to Royal. "How old is that baby? The one under it's mother."

She whispered, "Three days." What a clever mother. "Ursula is very popular for hiding her babies for quite a while, because her babies are always very quiet by nature." I nodded, and realized it was me any Royal's turn to feed. I watched Royal, not knowing what to do. She took five strips of pork and three rolls. She turned to me and patted her belly. "Get it before it's gone."

I nodded and it was my turn to forage. I wasn't all that hungry, but I took three pork strips and two rolls (which is more than I'm used to eating), just because of my baby. I also drank some water from the buckets.

I ate in silence next to Royal, on a small patch of dandelions. Who knew something so beautiful could survive here?

When night fell, I suddenly became curious, and thirsty. There was just barely enough sunlight left, and the water buckets were still there. I decided to take some more.

I ran to the dirt patch and came upon a half-empty bucket of water. I dropped my head in, and took in the last water I could. And then I heard footsteps. Heavy footsteps. And then I saw a shadow behind me. It turned.

"Are you Beatrice?" It was the Elder.

"Yes, Sir," I replied.

"Are your other friends here?" He meant the group.

"Yes, Sir."

"May we gather you all, for a regular check-up, before you rest?" Like I had a choice.

"Yes, Sir. I will go get them." I bowed and then ran to the small patch of grass, where the ladies were resting.

I cleared my throat. "The Elder sent me for all of us to receive a check-up." The began to stand up, and followed me as I walked back towards the Elder.

This time, there were three more workers around us, leading us back into the building outside our habitat. We were all crowded into one room, and awaited our check-ups. I sat next to Royal.

"What are they doing to us?" I asked.

She giggled, as if I just asked her why her belly was so big. "They're just giving you a ultrasound, and sometimes and exam, to see if you conceived, and to see how the progress is going."

All of a sudden, I heard screaming. Ursula's baby was crying, since it was being taken away from it's mother. The cute baby girl (who I later knew was named Edward's Ocean Danser) had lovely green eyes and pale, blue newborn skin. Poor baby. Ursula was not taking this well.

"Don't take away my Danser," she cried. "My little Danser..."

"Beatrice?" I stood up, and walked into an examination room. The red-headed nurse was there. I stood at the door entrance, reluctant.

"There's no shots now, sweety. Have a seat." And so I did. "You were bred to River this morning, correct?"

"Yes," I quietly replied.

"Okay then, lie down and lift up your shirt. I'm just going to apply some cream, and we'll get a picture. Does that sound good?"

"Yes."

"Alrighty," she said. She smeared some honey-caramel colored syrup (not cream) onto my belly. It was cold. She then waved a suction-cup looking wand over my belly. I looked onto the machine, and saw a small blob. What was that? "Just as I thought." Thought what? "Sorry, hun, but it's too early to tell. Thought so. Alright, off you go." She wiped the syrup off my belly, put some water on, and then discharged me from the room.

All the others were released into the habitat. It was already dark, but luckily, there were candle lamps hung around the edges of the habitats, so I could find my way.

Back at the sleeping patch, I found a small patch next to Royal and curled up against the others. the night wind was getting chilly, but luckily, we were shielded by the evergreens.

I slept well.

So there. Review?