What in the world is my life? Isaac thought. Stuck with a tyrant woman who fishes one second, talks about evolution and extinction the next. But he wouldn’t be complaining. The prospect of fire-cooked trout made his mouth water. And made him think of home. Again.

Timon looked at his partner in awe. “Letti, you are a walking miracle.”

She handed the haul—a couple of the poor creatures still flopping and bopping—over to Timon. “I catch, you cook. At least for today.”

“I wouldn’t trust you to do it, anyway. Give me a half hour.”

Isaac didn’t know if he could stand the wait.

Although the savory smell and sizzling flesh of the slowly grilled trout almost drove Isaac crazy with hunger, it was finally worth the wait when they all dug in. The skin and meat were fiery hot to the touch and it was a delicate dance indeed to devour the fish as quickly as your stomach begged for it without winning severe burns on your fingers, lips, and tongue. The wait had been worth it. The burns had been worth it. The inevitable upset stomach and unpleasant after-works of such a thing . . . yes, worth it.

“I think I ate more than you,” Sadina said, staring at him with puffy eyes, as if fish juice had somehow made it through her system and found itself all the way up there, filling her head.

“If you did,” he replied, “you stole it from me. Letti dished it out fair and square.”

“Sorry, kid. She likes me more and gave me more. It’s fitting since I carry twice the stuff you do. A woman needs her strength.”

“So does a man,” he whimpered, really wishing he could have one extra piece of that succulent, salty, tangy little beast of the river.

Sadina sat up. “Oh?” She looked around the camp, searching left and right and up and down. “Have you seen a man somewhere? Let me know right away and I’ll feed him myself.”

“That’s so funny I forgot to laugh.”

She really did laugh. “Thank you for proving my point. I think my cousin said that phrase last time she was at our yurt for Winterfest. Oh, she’s three, by the way.”

Isaac wasn’t really in the mood for the banter, and Sadina realized that as soon as he’d formed the thought. Using her uncanny ability to switch moods, she scooted over to sit close to him. She gently pressed a generous chunk of steaming fish through his lips. He chewed and the ecstasy of taste filled him up. Meanwhile, Sadina pulled him into a hug, holding him tightly against her.

She whispered into his ear. “I know you, Isaac. I know what’s got you down.”

“You do?” He asked it even though he knew the answer. She did.

“Did you dream about them? That day?”

He nodded.