Shail froze and looked over his shoulder. For a second, he could do no more than look at her. Gemini? She told him her name, though he never did giver her his. Was she really a monster? Rather, she acted more like his mother--offering him food and kindness that didn't make a lick of sense. It couldn't profit her, could it? He understood the cold way that human minds worked. They only did things for selfish reasons. There must be some kind of benefit, but he couldn't fathom one for this at all.

After a second, he disappeared into his alcove once again. He couldn't sort his thoughts well enough to speak. Only after minutes passed, maybe longer, maybe far after Gemini forgot their conversation, he spoke. "Shail. My name is Shail...." Even if she didn't hear it, he couldn't stop himself from saying it. A part of him though, hoped his whisper never left the alcove even if he'd waste his precious breath otherwise. He'd be angry if it was all just a waste. Safe, but angry.