She's trembling and sobbing openly by the time Naiobe finishes and her lower lip is damp with her sweet and thick sap from where she bit down on it to keep from screaming.  At the command she nods.  Her voice is choked and weak.  "ye.. yes... Mistress..." she manages after a moment.<br/><br/>She rises slowly and unsteadily, reaching to lean upon her tree and caress it with her fingers.  She aches to vanish into it and hide... but that would anger her Mistress and bring more pain to her and the tree both.  So she leans in and closes her eyes, resting her forehead to the tree's bark a moment before pressing her lips to the freshly carved mark, kissing it softly.  Another moment to steady herself before she turns.  Opening her eyes once more and looking up at Naiobe.<br/><br/>"Thank you Mistress for marking me... for making me yours..."  The others would be worse than even this.  She's seen what they do.  What men do.  Niaobe has shown her, even let them play a little to make sure she knows how much worse they are.  "Thank you Mistress," she says again louder before lowering her head and eyes, "For protecting me and keeping my tree safe."  Then she sinks back to her knees and waits, trembling slightly.