When she lifted the filled pot, however, her shoulders did not droop. Despite the bleakness in her eyes, her spine held a measure of iron, like she would not easily be broken. Good for you, whoever you are, I wanted to tell her. Stay strong.

I wished there was something I could do for her, but I was barely in a position to help myself. If she was an Aberration, she was on her own. No one helped people like us.

I watched the yellow-haired girl disappear into the compound.

Maybe one day I would get to meet her.

I shook my head to clear out thoughts of the mysterious girl. I was here with a purpose.

The perimeter break on this side of the compound was too busy, so I circled around to the other side and slipped in there. The mud was a more reddish color here, but otherwise the huts were pretty much the same. I tried to stick to the shadows, but there weren't many with the sun approaching its zenith.

The jerky I had eaten restored some of my energy, so I was able sustain my camouflage longer. I peeked into doorways and under swaths of cloth, looking for something I could report back to Pode. My eyes kept darting around for witnesses. A small part of me hoped to see the pale-haired girl again, but she'd disappeared.

I told myself it didn't matter.

What did matter was I couldn't find anything suspicious to report! If I came back with nothing, even if it was the truth, I would receive nothing.

I frowned, wanting to pound on the wall in frustration. It was so unfair! Why were Plainsmen so mean and stupid?

A slapping sound brought me out of my silent tirade and I ducked low behind a wood pile.

Not far away, a bearded man shook a boy's shoulders. They stood next to a straw-stuffed sack with a few arrows stuck into it. "You have to practice!"

"I'm tired of practicing," the boy whined, a bow dangling from one hand.

The man raised his hand for another slap. "Are you saying I have a mouse for a son?"

The boy cringed and tried to stifle a sniffle. "No."

The man lowered his hand and gripped the boy's shoulder again. "You can't let Stobon shoot better than you. He's half you're age. It's embarrassing."

"But he's an Aberration. He can—"

"I don't care! Aberrations are not better than us."

The boy clamped his mouth shut and nodded.

"That's my boy." The man straightened. "I'm going to fletch more arrows. It's a never-ending job. I'll see you at mealtime."

The boy watched his father disappear into a hut, eyes dark with resentment. As soon as the man was out of sight, the boy threw his bow to the ground and stomped away.

I stared at the bow lying in the dust. No one picked it up. No one was even watching. I could do so much with a weapon like that. Pa had showed me how.

Before I could overthink it, I activated my ability and dashed over there. I grabbed the bow, wrenched all the arrows out of the sack, and hauled my butt to a nearby shed.

Chest heaving, I let my camouflage crawl away and grinned down at my prizes.

A bow with arrows. I had a bow and arrows now. I gripped them with so much force, even if this ended up being a dream I awoke from, I was positive I'd drag them into the real world with me.

"Ma, who's that?"

I instinctively hunched down and camouflaged myself. I barely noticed the itchy tingles as it spread over my limbs and onto my newly acquired weapon. My eyes were fixed upon a little girl tugging on her mother's skirt.

"Hmm?" The woman looked up from her rope-braiding.

I closed my eyes just as she turned her head in my direction.

"He was over there."

I dared not breathe.

"I don't see anyone."

"I saw him."

The woman's voice took on a stern tone. "Don't you go making up stories like that Pimo boy. I'll have none of that nonsense."

The girl fell silent.

When I finally dared to peek over at them, the woman had returned to her task. The girl, however, was balefully focused at my location.

I waited, keeping my breaths slow and even in an effort to keep myself hidden longer. As soon as she looked away, I would leave.

But she didn't look away. Not only that, she actually got up and began walking in my direction. Her steps were careful but determined.

In a panic, I scampered behind the shed, completely dropping my camouflage in the process. The girl's scream pierced the compound.

My heart stampeded as I pressed my back against the rough wall of the shed.

"It went behind there!"

I didn't have time to be offended at being called an it. I couldn't hang around here.

I took a deep breath, trying to muster enough reserves to keep my camouflage up while running for my life. Then I bolted.

Fear pushed my legs harder than I thought possible. The bow I held whipped through the air as my arms pumped.

Don't get caught. Don't get caught.

I repeated the phrase in my head, which helped me focus my remaining energy into staying hidden while I ran.

Out the perimeter break I went.

I clipped an old woman who happened to be ambling in, arms loaded with reeds. Some of the reeds slithered to the ground as she teetered to one side. "Of all the—who did that?"

I didn't bother answering, but I did silently apologize for running into her.

When my energy stores ran empty, I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. If anyone were to find me now, I would be powerless to escape.

Thankfully, the grass grew tall around me, effectively hiding me from view. I lay there for a while, just happy to be alive. My hands still gripped the bow and arrows like they were glued on. I was happy about that too. At home, they didn't allow me to touch weapons.

Then I realized I didn't have the information Pode wanted.

All the happy feelings whooshed away.

I could just tell him the truth. That I looked everywhere and didn't find anything unusual. But I knew the man would not be satisfied with that. Would accuse me of being lazy and not looking at all. Then I wouldn't get to eat.

As if on cue, my stomach rumbled again. So unfair!

I would've been content to nap right there in the grass, but I knew I had to leave the area before I was discovered. Plus, the sooner I got home, the sooner I could tend to Ma.

Not empty-handed, but no information either. What's he going to do? Vote??