Bearclaw Valley who among you will be able to stand?

she appeared.

general and commander spoke, sariel looked on hawkishly. they tried not to listen, but it was difficult. the commander took on the voice of father, speaking of their usefulness, of their obedience.

he spoke of girls, though sariel did not know who they were. the assumption came to them that maybe these girls were like michael, like gabriel. father’s favorites. maybe like uriel, stalwart paladin to father’s interests.

they wondered if the general and commander had others, like sariel, like zadkiel. they did not ask.

they merely lowered their ears, their head, sheepish as their body curved into an odd, uncomfortable shape. no matter the comfort, they would obey. subservience was better than what would come if they acted up.

they trembled under the eyes on them. not the general, not the commander, but father. but god.