"Apparently violence is the only thing that works on you," Re-l said. "Do you have no sense of self-preservation at all?"

She made a face at him and dumped the blanket around his shoulders.

"I don't know why it lasted, but be grateful." She reached out and gripped his chin. "If you move, I will knock you out. Now sit there while I soften the bread up."

She let him go and went back to her food. She'd taken water from one of the larger streams, and it didn't seem dangerous, so she poured a little over the stale bread. It made the loaf soggy, but at least it was edible.

"Eat," Re-l said, handing him the food. She was hungry herself, but she would survive, and he needed it more.