Everything, every feeling, any ability for movement stopped inside her. Around her, nature paused, as if holding its breath to see if she'd move. The sound of the fire that wasn't a fire crackled loud in the early predawn. His words echoed in her ears. Her family might not consider her theirs anymore, but they'd always be her family. They hadn't left her in a desert to die; instead, she'd been sent to one of the few good boarding schools, at least.
This changed everything. What was that old saying? The enemy of my enemy? "If I agree to help you, I want your promise that you will go after the weapons and not the scientists or the members of the resistance." They should be dealt with by human forces.
He cocked his head to the left and grunted for a few seconds. The grunting was a little disturbing. He focused on her. "I agree."