The crowd of people behind the Cad didn't bother him in the least.  He had seen Melissa's eyes when they'd alighted on him - she probably wanted to speak to him as much as he desired (verbal) intercourse with her.  And when she embraced his body, he felt a deeper need spike for a moment.  Her moist breasts, the nipples pert under the sun, rubbed pleasantly on his chest.  His breath caught slightly and his heart raced, but he covered it with a pleased smile and a gentle kiss on her cheek.<br/><br/>"Yes, I'm still me, Melissa," he responded quietly.  He was more than relieved to see that she was mostly still herself.  Melissa was an even-headed leader; it would have been tragic to see her lost.<br/><br/>When she guessed his intentions without a single word spoken on his part, he lowered his eyes and shook his head in pleasant astonishment.  "My, my, Melissa..." he said quietly.  "Ever the intuitive one."  The mention of his "capability" made him raise an interested eyebrow and cock one corner of his mouth up.<br/><br/>As she gave her permission and walked away, the Cad turned to Mina and Onyx with a purposeful grin.  "We leave now," he said in reply to Mina.  Looking at Onyx, then the group of gathered women, he thought a moment.  Too many hunters would draw a large predator... something he didn't want to fend off this soon after the mindkillers had passed.  But too few was equally dangerous.  Finally, he nodded in resolution and spoke to the group.  "Three hunters and three retrievers... one to each hunter.  Mina, you're with me and Onyx.  Grab anything you can find for a weapon - bows, arrows, knives, spears, anything sharp and deadly.  We'll meet by the old gate as soon as everyone's ready."  He could see some were unsure if they were hunters anymore, so he quickly added, "If you can't remember if you're a hunter or a retriever... DON'T COME."  He watched for a reaction, then looked at Mina and Onyx, winked at each, drew his stiletto from his loincloth, and walked towards the gate.