"They're reaching out to you." The girl tried.

"Reaching for what?" Denum demanded. "They can't just ask like normal people?"

"You don't understand," She sighed, "They aren't doing this because it inappropriate...here there is an open mind."

"No on is trying to poke around in your mind," Rathi continued. "Just welcome you..."

"Please forgive us," LiSen pipped up, tiredly. "We are used to such things being an invasion in privacy."

"We understand," Rathi assured.

They came into a room and the three humans paused in the open entry-way in awe.

There were crystals lining the walls, glowing brightly in the moon light that spilled in through cracks in the ceiling. They lit up the room with a dim blue light, revealing netting that was hooked all over the place, holding many sleeping Silvers.

"If you would be more comfortable on the ground, there are beds made of soft leaves that we use for smaller children," Rathi explained.

"We aren't children." Denum mumbled.

"No, you are Irma." The girl said before leading over to the nets. "I think the hurt one would be better up here."

"I'm staying with him, you be careful carrying him around like that." Denum said.

He blinked at the crystal standing beside him. It was really bright- the glare making him squint. He reached up and touched it. Wow, it was actually warm and he could feel it vibrating lightly against his fingertips. At first the tingle was just in his fingers and palm, but then it seemed to ghost up his arm and felt it wash over him. What were these things.

"I'm always careful with him," Aireio snorted, following Kamariya as she carried LiSen.

"We call them Shashin," Rathi told Denum. "But sometimes just Shasha. They light our way in the dark and comfort us when we are in pain. The humans... when they were brought here, they were very interested. Assah says they think this is the source of our minds. That it gets into the water we drink, giving us power."

"So your powers aren't naturally occurring." Denum frowned. "Then again, Crystals do occur in nature."

He yelped in surprise when Rathi lifted him up and set him in the netting beside LiSen.

"Our minds do not come from crystals," Rathi chuckled. "You should rest here."

"Sounds like a plan," LiSen yawned, stretching out.

"I will try to find you better cloth to wear," Rathi hummed. "Cloth without numbers."

"You are not just numbers to us." Kamariya smiled at Aireio as she lifted the girl up next.

Denum crawled closer to LiSen and wrapped his arms around the Asian boy. He could almost hear the hum of thoughts hear and wished things would quiet down.

"Focus on me instead," LiSen breathed, clearing his own mind. "Focus on my thoughts only."

"Thank you," Aireio told Kamariya, smiling slightly.

Denum sighed and closed his eyes- drifting over to LiSen. Things were much quieter and less foreign than the community murmur.

"Will you three need anything else." Kamariya asked. "You will rest well here."

She looked at Rathi and nodded- it almost looked like a signal.

"We're good, thanks," Aireio yawned, rolling onto her side and curling up.

Denum's eyes opened as the crystals actually dimmed around them- breaking his concentration from LiSen.

LiSen opened his eyes and looked up at Denum tiredly, the silver one seeming to glow.

Denum sighed and nestled down with LiSen again- reaching out to him with his mind. LiSen just seemed to belong here. Denum didn't feel that same kind of calm around all the Silvers, in their native land.

Still... having LiSen beside him was comforting. They'd been close ever since they were introduced - LiSen was a good three months ahead of him in The Facility, but they'd connected anyway.

The dark-haired boy closed his eyes again and curled up against Denum's chest, relaxing completely. At his back, Aireio was already snoring.

Kamariya and Rathi stood watching them for a long while until even LiSen and Denum were breathing softly with sleep.

"They will come for them." Kamariya told the other in their native tongue.

"If not for them, then for Quarrel," Rathi agreed. "We need to be ready."

--

The medic kept clicking her tongue as she lathered berries on to each of the small pricks up and down Q's body. The teen remained calm, although the berries were extremely cold.