The common laborers looked as if they had seen better days, and it broke her heart to see their faces, filled with hopeless despair. That was one of the reasons she had her hood up over her face, not to see their faces. Nor them to see hers.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">These people would not have been treated so unfairly by her people...</span>Mekoa thought with disgust that soon turned to regret. What would they think of her now, parading the human world with her finery? She knew that her people often traded with the humans, but only in the strictest confidence.<br/><br/>Spying her pavilion of tanned hides, she spoke to her charge over her shoulder. "My pavilion is just up ahead, and I think we shall rest there till dawn," Mekoa said, flicking her eyes to the horizon. Night was usually on her side, but not tonight.