His chained wrists sunk towards the earth but he stood tall. His eyes met mine without fear. I yelled and he merely blinked.
He made the gesture of pulling his wrists apart.
I pointed outside his hut. I shouted. He merely blinked. The others took notice. Everyone stood still.
The river broke our stillness. It was faint but slowly its roar grew. I looked out to it and gazed upon its maddening consequence. I looked back into his eyes and nodded.
I walked briskly outside his quarters and grabbed a newborn from her mother. The little one began to cry. Her mother shouted, then moaned. All stood still.
I brought the child before him. Her legs dangled. She struggled against my grip. His chained wrists reached to cradle her and I allowed it.
I walked out of the hut. The child and mother ended their lament. All the chained stared at me blankly. I began counting with my fingers.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
I walked toward the mother. She looked at me in confusion. I fixed my hands around her head and aptly snapped her neck. The unnatural jolt left her head to dangle as she collapsed to the ground. He left his hut to run to her. I took the child from his chained hands and struck its head. The gruesome noise left all in disgust. I dropped the child.
They went back to work.

I left to the river to wash my hands. Before I left home I was a shepard. My father taught me that love was best saved for things that loved us back. We tended sheep to use them for those we love. Everything is expendable for my brothers and sisters.
I cried and gave a solemn prayer for the mother and child, not knowing where creatures in their likeness ought to resolve.