"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm... passing through and wondered if you might give me a drink of water." Her voice sounded thin and tired. The man took another step towards her and gestured.
"I... don't understand." Her knees ached from kneeling on the uneven ground. She started to stand but the man held the stick up like he was going to hit her. He gestured again.
She shook her head. "I don't know what you want."
The man turned slightly and the moonlight slanted across his body, illuminating him from the waist up. With one hand he pulled down the collar of his tunic, exposing his neck.
"You... want me to... show you my neck? This is silly." Thirst won over any desire to argue with him. She was careful to grab her tunic with her blood-free hand. In her haste the fabric slipped sideways across her left shoulder. The man stepped back, and shook his head and gestured at something behind him.
"What do you want? I played your silly game. I'm thirsty. Please. Just give me one sip."
The man had already begun to back away, still shaking his head. He jabbed his stick in the air and made strange movements with his other hand.
"Just speak!" Shai pounded the ground, frustrated by his crude way of talking. He opened his mouth and stuck out his tongue, only it wasn't a tongue. Instead she saw a small lump of muddled flesh where his tongue should've been. She screamed.
He put his finger to his lips and pointed to the woods again. Movement in the trees startled her. Hooded people flitted out of the shadows, swift and noiseless, coming towards the small group.
Watchers.
She ran and ducked behind the nearest tree. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She lifted her head to see that the Borderless remained as they were; still as stone. Seemingly unconcerned, unafraid. The tongueless man went back to crouch by the fire, watching her.