It was fairly obvious which way the Vressian acid beasts had come from, their corrosive saliva had left deep black burns in the carpet.

The human addressed each corner and door the same way. First they would press their shoulder against the wall, take a deep breath, then glance back to make sure nobody was behind them. Next they would take a step back from the wall, their toes pointed at the apex of the corner.

"This means my feet will not betray me. I can slice the next room into sections and address them one at a time." The human explained to Kemm, who was mystified but still willing to learn. "It is much better to have a team, but when you are alone and outnumbered you must still be lethal. You must break the enemy group down with a series of individual battles."

Kemm considered this. His people had many proud warriors, even if they were herbivores, but none of his instructions had shown him tactics like these.

The human sighed. "You have doubts, young overseer. That is fine, but is it not better to break down a great problem into small pieces that can be managed individually?"

"I would say it is." Kemm admitted. "But I'm not a blooded warrior and I do not have enough experience to make an informed decision."

"Fair enough." The human nodded. It seemed to find his answer satisfactory. "We're almost to the cargo bay. Be careful, there's probably a reason why the creature stayed behind instead of joining its pack. It may be injured."

The lights in the cargo bay flicked on when the system sensed the human's crew badge. The cargo hold was massive, but packed so tightly as to be claustrophobic. Livestock cages and more frequently accessed items were at the ground level near the front while deep haul cargo was in the back on automated turntables.

Robotic lifting arms sat flush with the ceiling waiting for their orders. The human gestured towards a rusted and corroded cage, the door hung open. It was subdivided into four sections, big enough for an acid beast to stand but not to turn around.

Kemm couldn't imagine what it must have been like for them, penned up, starving and unable to move for days at a time. What sentient being could knowingly cause such suffering? What monster was responsible for this torture?

The human pulled a flashlight out of their basket of tools and shined it into the cage. A pair of predatory eyes shined back an eerie green. "What do you see?" The human asked.

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The obvious answer was a predator, ready to pounce. It was even growling, lips dripping with acidic saliva. "Look again." The human encouraged Kemm, handing him the bowl with the drugged meat. "Look and see what is, without preconception."

There was a moment where Kemm wasn't sure what the human was asking for, there was nothing else to see. All that was there was a maddened acid beast… that wasn't attacking. In fact, it had stayed behind when the rest of the pack moved on.

What could be stronger than the desire to move freely? What could override the hunger it must have felt? Then he really looked, and Kemm saw the answer peering at him from the back of the cage.

Bright orange tufted pups watched him from behind their mother's legs, looking all the more like bits of animate flame. "Oh, she wasn't willing to leave her pups behind." Kemm said as he took the bowl and set it outside the cage entrance before backing away. The acid beast growled at him and eyed the meat hungrily, but made no attempt to move forward and take it.

"Be very careful, young overseer." The human told him as they retreated. "It's an old tradition, some would even call it magic, but if you feed a creature and offer it aid then you are bound to each other."

Kemm thought back to the berries the human had offered him. "What does that mean? You're talking like a shaman."

"Perhaps I am." The human laughed, the sound was light and musical. "But you betray the rules of hospitality at your own peril. Now that you have fed the beast you must honor the pact that has been made."

He understood now. "So it's under my protection."

"Yes, young overseer." The human nodded approvingly. "But it's not a one way street. Your strength and resolve will never be as strong as when you're serving something other than yourself. A weak leader hoards resources out of greed and fear, a strong leader ensures that everyone eats."

The human sighed wearily. "And most of all, if there's one thing you remember from our little adventure, a good leader finds ways to be kind. Kindness is a luxury that many can afford but few indulge, so be kind if the opportunity presents itself."

To his credit Kemm didn't answer back immediately as most juveniles would. There had been no mention of kindness in his studies, the closest thing they mentioned was justice. Were the two similar or were they opposites? Could he be kind while administering justice? Or was justice kindness in and of itself?

The human noticed his confusion and smiled showing not the teeth of a herbivore, but the almost fangs of an omnivore. Kemm flinched backwards automatically.

"Good." The human said, ignoring his unease. "That you have to think about it means that you haven't made your mind up yet, it means you're actually thinking. That's a good habit for an overseer." Then the human turned and pointed towards the acid beast, which was struggling to stand. "It looks like she finished her meal. Shall we go make sure she's alright?"

An angry voice rang out through the hold before Kemm could reply. "Stay away from those cages!" Kemm looked up to see his uncle Rett standing silhouetted in the doorway. He was furious, grunting and rumbling with rage.

Rett rushed forward, towering over the human and his young nephew. "Stay away from my property." He menaced.