The sand storm subsided and the childer were driven from the Tunnel. The mere snack of bread and  clean water still clutched in their hands.<br/><br/>"Captain Reynolds!" the voice boomed, echoing off the walls in the Warrior's quarters.<br/><br/>Taryn stood to precision attention. Her green eyes glazed in military bearing.<br/><br/>"Sir, yes, sir!" she answered automatically.<br/><br/>"Your authority ordered the childer, the unwashed, most unworthy childer to enter the Tunnel. You have breached protocol." snapped her commanding officer, a broad shouldered pugilistic man with a buzz cut and deep scars running the course of his face. "You will take over on wall patrol, outside the wall. You will learn to put the welfare of Home ahead of any concern for individuals. Do you understand? That watch begins now and will proceed until 2200 tomorrow. Am I clear?"<br/><br/>He peered into her face, nose to nose. She quell the revulsion she felt for this man. Making her mind blank was a trait she learned early because it saved her horrid punishment.<br/><br/>"Am I clear?" he demanded.<br/><br/>"Yes, sir." she answered with no hesitation or emotion.<br/><br/>"Am I clear." he demanded again with a sneer, taking a step closer.<br/><br/>"Yes, sir, Father, sir." she answered.<br/><br/>Outside the atmosphere was still gritty. Taryn spit out a mouthful and then snapped the face mask in place. She hated these things. she looked like an insect. The Beastkin, Jax, fell into step beside her, arranging throwing knives in a weapon belt that he must have conned the supply master for.<br/><br/>"To the Warren?" he asked, grinning.<br/><br/>"How did you know?"<br/><br/>He pointed to his long ears, hanging down his back, the soft pink insides deceptively inviting to touch.<br/>"The Hase has good hearing," and then he winked at her.<br/><br/>"Yes, to the Warren. For the greater good. I'm sure it is a lesson They wanted me to learn. How do They expect the Hume to survive if all of our childer die? " the lithe red head asked as she braided the long strands of her hair while she walked. The two of them passed through the gates, Taryn flashing a badge for clearance. The guards glared at Jax but allowed him to pass without challenge. He had been a fixture at Taryn's side for a long time.<br/><br/>The resounding slam of the city gates rang in Taryn's ears but her heart sped up. Out here was adventure and only one rule. Survive. Nothing was handed to you. Nothing was taken for granted. Live or die, out in the Warren, a warrior was autonomous.<br/><br/>"Taryn, footsteps here." Jax called out.<br/><br/>She knelt to see. Yes, those of the Kuguar. She tensed and looked around. Jax sniffed the air.<br/><br/>"Proceed with caution," he warned.