This entire experience had been going from bad to worse, and I had been having difficulty dealing with the anger at the indignity, the lack of control, the sheer offensiveness of being kept like a pet.

But this. Using children as soldiers? As guinea pigs?

The anger didn't surprise me. The intensity of it, however, did.

I wanted to hurt something, and I didn't have a target. And that only pissed me off more.

"... Is there anything we can do to keep them from the drafts? Volunteer in their place, or anything like that?"

My voice was a bit shaky, I was trying so hard not to snap. I was sort of surprised I'd made it this far without screaming in rage and trying to burn down a tree.