Reunion

"Here goes nothing," Nedra whispered to herself and glanced sideways at August as the elevator doors slowly opened, revealing the hall that led along the backside of the glass rooms of inner containment.

"How many rooms are there?" August asked, eyes going wide as she beheld the transparent rooms that wrapped around an ancient-looking tree. There was obviously no privacy here. It was heartbreaking.

"Most of the rooms are empty, but I think there must be two dozen alyko here," Nedra answered in a hushed voice.

"So we have to circle around and stare at each one of them? That seems intrusive," she muttered, though there was no way around it. August was worried to see the state that these captives were in, as they were apparently shuttered away here, despite access to the sky, and left to their own devices.