<span style="font-size: 15px"><span style="font-family:Open Sans">Dread clouded Altair's mind as sleep, what little he'd been able to gain, was interrupted. They'd slept close together, Altair warming to the older slave despite his gruff, and mostly unwelcoming attitude. He never said anything, but neither did he turn the slave away. Conditions were damp, adding to the cold, and Altair was lean enough that he couldn't afford shivering through the entire night. They both were roused by the disturbance, and for a moment the older slave kept hold of Altair, fingers passing over his hip as he was yanked regardless. There was nothing that either of them could do, and they knew it.<br/>
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Altair thought the captain had gone back on his offer of protection but apparently they were only checking. It didn't save him from a few harsh fondles, but upon clarification that he was still under the captains protection, he pushed their wandering hands away, even if it was mostly still in vain. Another was taken in his place instead, and bile rose in his throat, but he was no hero. He'd done his part already to ensure his own well being, and there was little he could do considering the pirates were not exactly open to civilized reasoning. He tucked himself back between the wall, and the other slaves, sitting upright and unable to find rest once again, especially with the noises that carried. The slave they'd taken was not a pleasure slave, and had no way to prepare for what was to happen. Altair could feel sympathy, and when he returned, he went to him and wordlessly helped him clean his body. There were no rules pushed upon him, and at the very least he could be clean of some of the filth. The salt water would hopefully provide an antiseptic property. Anything had to be better after having been touched by such putrid sorts.<br/>
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Afterwords, he tried for rest once more, settled in a new position against the one that had been returned. He hadn't said a word, and looked like he might have been trying to feign sleep, but Altair could tell by his breathing he was anything but. Offering what little comfort he could was all he could do, and he wouldn't lie and say it wasn't likely to happen again before they could reach land, and be sold on.</span></span>