Ayesh didn’t seem to notice she had a shadow. Her step was jaunty, her head high, the bag slung over one shoulder. She swung her shield-arm with abandon, jabbing out once in a while as though fighting an invisible enemy, shouting, “Hah!”

Ranami could see why Phalue had taken to the girl.

Ayesh became a little more furtive once she reached the city, checking side streets before she passed them, slowing before she turned corners. She’d probably been jumped by other orphans more than once. Ranami remembered doing the same.

But the girl didn’t turn into any of the alleyways. She didn’t disappear into any sort of hidey-hole, not like Ranami expected. She marched straight to the harbor and then turned westward down the beach. Why the beach? Did the girl have crab traps set up? Did she mean to use the fish as bait to catch… more fish? Every possibility that ran through her mind was equally absurd.

She hid in the trees and bushes and walked in parallel with Ayesh, feet sinking into the sandy soil, moisture seeping into her shoes. Phalue would scold her for doing this, she knew. But Phalue trusted so easily and so unequivocally. Ranami could do her best to be more open, but she’d never be like Phalue. She could move on from her past, but she’d always carry pieces of it with her. And she found she wasn’t displeased by the prospect.

Ayesh finally stopped when the city disappeared behind a bend, and then she walked into the forest. Ranami had to take a few steps back to avoid being seen.

She waited as Ayesh passed.

And then she heard voices.

“Sorry it took me so long,” Ayesh said. “It’s hard to get away these days. I’ll have to figure something else out.”

“Fine, fine, fine,” said a reedy voice Ranami didn’t recognize. The rain that slicked her hair to the back of her neck felt like ice. Had she misjudged again? Was Ayesh still a spy? Ah, it would break Phalue’s heart. She knelt into the brush and edged closer, her breath held.

“Here.” The sound of the bag rustling, then the sound of someone eating.

“You’d like them, I think – my new parents. Phalue is so nice. I don’t think Ranami liked me much at first, but she’s all right.”

“I come with you?” The voice sounded plaintive.

“I don’t know,” Ayesh said. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

Ranami pulled a branch out of her line of sight and froze.

Ayesh wasn’t speaking to a person.

A creature with mottled gray and brown fur sat in front of the girl, a fish in one paw. It was the size of a large cat, with a long, curling tail, tufted ears, and the nubs of horns at its brow.