"Fuck, that was a waste." Shakaar kicked at the ground in front of the fire.

Furel looked up at him from where he was sitting next to Mobara on a log. "Eh," he grunted. "It certainly wasn't our worst raid. I'm pretty sure they didn't catch anybody."

"Not a stitch of intelligence," grumbled Mobara. "And not even a phaser. I was hoping for a new one. Mine won't last much longer."

"It wasn't even really a raid," grumbled Latha, coming through the trees to join them. "They made us before we even got a shot off."

"Speak for yourself!" Lupaza strode into view with Raina and Jala behind her. "We definitely got a few shots off!"

Rex and Zarli arrived a few minutes later, and Shakaar looked expectantly behind them. "Where's Kira?"

Rex shrugged. "I haven't seen her since before the raid."

Furel stood. "What do you mean? Has anyone seen her?"

No one spoke.

"Damn it!" Lupaza swore. "Shakaar, we have to go back for her."

Shakaar looked pained. "I know, but we have to be smart about it, Lupaza. We can't risk leading the Cardassians to camp. They're going to be on high alert right now."

"Let's start with the woods," Mobara reasoned. "Maybe she got turned around on her way back."

No one answered him. Kira might be the youngest of them by a mile, but she knew this part of the mountain as well as any of them.

Shakaar sighed. "Fine, start with the woods, but no farther than the creek. Spread out and meet back here in an hour."

.*.*.*.

Shakaar's frown deepened as his soldiers returned to camp with no sign of Kira. "Jala, get the maps," he directed. "If they've captured her, we're going to need a damned good plan to get her out."

Lupaza and Furel exchanged a worried look. Captured might be the best case scenario at this point.

Jala returned from the cave with a large map and several notepads. The raiders and several other members of the Shakaar who had remained at camp gathered around. Shakaar, Lupaza, and Latha were the most vocal, but others chimed in as well.

"That way won't work," said Furel. "This alley is blocked with equipment."

"So is that one," said Raina. "I was almost trapped there."

"What if we go around this way?" asked Shakaar, tracing a route with his finger.

"That's miles out of the way!" Lupaza objected. "We might be able to get in okay, but it could take us days to get home after we break Kira out and they come after us."

"Break Kira out of where?" came a voice from outside the circle.

The buzz of chatter went silent as they all turned to look. Nerys stumbled out of the woods clutching the most enormous bag of rice any of them had ever seen.

The clearing erupted into noise, as first Lupaza and then Furel and the rest cried out in relief.

Lupaza was across the clearing and squeezing Kira tightly before anyone else had gotten to their feet.

"Don't you scare me like that again!"

"Lupaza!" Nerys squirmed out of her arms. "I'm fine!"

"Where the hell did you get that?"asked Furel, taking it from her and hoisting it over his shoulder. "It weighs almost as much as you do!"

Nerys grinned. "They were restocking the kitchen, but they got distracted chasing after all of you, so I liberated some supplies from the truck. Come on, I couldn't carry it all, but I stashed it far enough into the woods that we should be able to go back for it without getting caught."

"Well done, Kira!" Shakaar praised her.

"How much did you get?" ask Raina, her eyes wide.

"Five bags of rice, not counting this one. Plus a box of fruit and a couple of packs of cookies." She smiled again. "Oh, and this!" Nerys reached into the pack slung across her back and tossed something at Mobara.

He caught it. "A new phaser! Thanks, Kira!"

"You foolish girl!" Lupaza was hugging her again. "You brave, ridiculous, brilliant, foolish girl!"

Furel slid between them as Nerys wiggled away from her. He threw an arm around Nerys' shoulders. "She's not just a girl, Lu! She's a rebel!"