Thalleia sat huddled in the corner of the shed, tattered blanket stuffed into her little mouth, eyes wide with fright. Her whimpers were lost for a moment, drowned out by her mothers screams. What was happening? Why was the mistress hurting mama? The mistress had never been mean before; never yelled at them or hit like the master did. It was the middle of the day, the master and papa were in the fields, working. Why was mama laying down? The master was gonna be mad, real mad, if he came back and the chores weren't done. "Push." The mistress urged. "You're almost there, Rii'ka, almost there."