Cole noticed where her eyes were drawn and he frowned softly. "I'm sorry, but I can't give it back to you. They'll just take it away. It'll be in my tent tonight, but you'll have to let me hang on to it. Maybe when you're sold your new master will let you have your things."
He looked around and realized that the guards were almost done watering the girls. "I have to go now. Just remember not to look at or talk to anyone."
With that he hurried back to take position. If he shirked his duties during the day they'd make him pay for it come nightfall, and if he was in trouble there was no way he could protect Zahra. So he was careful to do exactly as he was supposed to for the rest of the day's march.
By dusk the next oasis was in view and they began setting camp at the very edge. The slave women belonging to the group went to fetch more water, and the men started growing restless as soon as the tents were up. Zahra and the other slaves were all huddled in the center of camp under heavy guard. It took a very short amount of time before men started coming up and dragging girls off with them, to a chorus of wails and pleas not to hurt them any more.
Jarvis appeared and pulled Zahra to his chest, leaning down over her. He was a human, large and broad, much bigger than Cole was. "Hey there, baby. Remember me?"
He yelped and released her, clapping a hand to the side of his head. Cole was glaring at him, and already had another small rock in his hand. Jarvis snarled threateningly. "Fuck off, Cole. You don't get any dibs on a girl tonight. I've had every cunt in this camp at least once and you're not hogging the fresh meat."
Despite Cole being much smaller, he moved towards Jarvis menacingly. "Wanna run that by me again, fuckface? If I fucking say I want this one again, then I am taking her again and if you don't like it we can settle it like men."
For a moment the men glared at each other, but Jarvis held up his hands in surrender and stepped back, turning to grab another girl by the hair and drag her off.
Cole let out a breath and came over, grabbing her roughly by the arm and looking not at all friendly. He couldn't coddle her out here, not in the slightest. With a grunt he shoved her towards his tent. "Come on, girl. I'm going to teach you a new trick tonight."