[ As she got settled on her feet and he moved to release her, Adrien blinked when she held on and then said what she said. His lips twitched, not a smile but a hint of warmth before he shook his head gently. ]

My ability with bone isn't that deep a secret, Elena. I don't talk about it, but I don't hide it if it can be of use. [ It was a lot of the rest of what he'd told her, his past ... his family, his plans for the future. That was where the true darkness lay.

He gave her fingers a gentle squeeze just before she withdrew. The question caught him a little off guard but he gave his head a shake and began to walk over to where his tent was set up. ]

First, I'm going to follow up on some of these offers for clean water. Test what's being produced and see if there are viable options. Depending upon how long that takes, one last set of rounds in the medical tent and then probably walk a perimeter patrol.

[ The exciting life and times of one Adrien Arbuckal. ]