Tsume woke to screaming.

She tried to pick her head up. It rolled unsteadily on her neck. She struggled to find foot purchase, but her body was lethargic, so cold she hurt.

There was another crack, and this time the scream was cut short.

It was almost impossible to get her eyes open. When she did, it didn't tell her anything useful. Wood. There was wood in front of her.

Another crack. A bitten off call, forced down into a grunt.

Her hands were tied above her head. Even through the cold, they hurt.

"C'mon, kunoichi. Get your feet under you." Something prodded her in the kidneys. She scrambled to get her footing again, finding balance at last on wobbly legs and the post in front of her. More than a post. The mast.

Another crack. Another grunt, this one with a half-gasped hiss at the end.

"C'mon. You're missing the show!" Something hard and blunt prodded at her again. She tried to look back, nearly overbalanced, and felt someone grab her by the hair and haul her back up.

"Moon-faced--" Her words were slurred, her tongue thick. Whoever had her by the hair shook her before she could finish.

"Be polite. You'll never get to eros training with a mouth like that."

Another crack. Another broken breath.

"Now pay attention." He yanked her head around.

Asuma was tied up next to her. He turned, face pale under the bruises, and gasped out, "Oi--bastard--hands off the kunoichi before she bites 'em. You're already--missing--digits."

"Enough outta you," another voice, out of sight, said. Tsume saw a whip descend, lashing across Asuma's back. Asuma snarled, whole body arching, tense. Then he twisted and spat blood.

Tsume's blood quickened, and, somehow, she managed words to the enemy ninja. "You mange-bald, ball-licking--"

Her captor yanked on her hair. There was another crack, and this time Asuma bellowed.

Tsume twisted her hands, trying to get her claws into the rope. Her fingers were numb, unresponsive. Her whole body was starting to come alive again--shudders wracked her as muscles attempted to warm themselves under the rising sun. She couldn't hardly feel her fingers. She couldn't get her claws in if she couldn't feel--

She picked up a foot and jabbed it forward, glad for once of her nakedness. Toenails caught in wood and she lurched up, using it as a step.

"What the hell--?"

Another foot, up again, and her teeth sank into rope. The whip cracked twice more. Asuma yelled. Someone laughed. A hand caught her hip and yanked, but her nails were stuck fast.

"Bitch!" The arm looped around her waist and pulled sideways, wrenching her toenails out of the wood. The whip cracked, and fire blazed across her spine. She screamed and kicked out at anyone behind her--but they were already out of reach.