"The females are treated well," a third elder added, though his voice was less certain. "Fed regularly, kept safe from predators. It's not as bad as you're making it sound."
Satou's laugh was harsh, devoid of humor. "Fed regularly? Kept safe? I saw women so malnourished their ribs were showing. I saw women with eyes so dead they didn't even react to my presence. I saw women who were begging to be killed rather than continue existing in that hell. That's your idea of treating them well?"
"They're alive," Grik said stubbornly. "That's more than they'd be if we'd killed them during the raids. We show mercy by keeping them. By giving them purpose in producing our young."
The bloodlust emanating from Satou intensified dramatically. Small cracks appeared in the cave floor. The air itself seemed to vibrate with barely controlled rage.
