" At the same time, strangely, Thom found that he felt closer to his friends than he ever had with anyone from his old life save his brother and Cat. The bonds of captives were uncertain ones, fragile and held together with desperation and need, but made of blood and iron. Whilst some amongst them turned to suicide, brutality in the training paddock, or bullying to deal with their horrible fate, Thom, Charles, Elara, Thea, Shantos and Anara became closer than ever. "

― Rebecca Crunden , A Promise of Return (The Outlands Pentalogy #3)