Eva showed her the injury. “I had a run-in with a sand-sniper—a little one, at that. Even it was bad news.”

“Nice dressing,” Muthr observed. “Though, you will likely have a scar. We will clean it up when we get to wherever we are going.”

“Where are we going?” Eva asked. “There have been no replies to our distress call from Sanctuary fifty-one.”

“Let us recover somewhere and come up with a plan. But not here,” Muthr said, pointing at the dilapidated docks. She rolled back toward the Goldfish. “We can still use this, but I do not think our getaway vehicle is going to get us much farther.”

“When I spoke with Zin—you know, the short floaty guy,” Eva said as she hopped into the vehicle, “he told me there was a place where they’ve been digging up stuff—like this hovercraft.”

“Very well.” Muthr nodded. “That may be a good place to look for clues.”

“Yeah, it would,” Eva replied, “but he said it was really far away. Across a desert. A really dangerous desert.”

“I see.” Muthr blinked, processing. “Well, perhaps I may be able to repair this hovercraft enough to get us there. But I will need time, and we do not have any provisions for you or supplies for the Goldfish.”

Eva sighed. “I know, but I think if we don’t leave Solas soon, then—”

A voice drifted into her mind.

You. Me. Find.

Eva’s eyes grew big. “It’s Otto!”

“Otto?” Muthr scanned the area for the giant water bear. “I do not see him.”

“He’s not right here,” Eva said, closing her eyes and focusing. “But he’s not far, either.” Concentrating, she pointed. “Go this way. Down the shore and back around town.”

With her eyes still shut Eva guided Muthr through the city’s small winding alleys. These soon turned into simple footpaths, which led out toward a patchwork of lichen farms and pollen granaries. All trails faded as the land became drier and scrubbier, eventually turning into a great and vast ash-colored wasteland.

“There!” Eva exclaimed, opening her eyes and pointing. Muthr guided the craft in the direction Eva indicated, toward a lone wandering tree. Underneath was the unmistakable shape of a water bear, hooting in the shade. Before Muthr could bring the craft to a stop, Eva hopped out of it and ran toward her armored friend.

Safe. Little one. Back.

“Oh, Otto!” Eva stretched her arms out and hugged his face, feeling the familiar comfort of being near him. She traced her delicate fingers over his bumpy carapace, smiling at him. “Thank you, Otto. Thank you for coming for me,” she whispered.

“Eva Nine,” a voice came from the other side of the tree’s trunk. “My traveling companion. My puzzle solver.” A blue lanky creature hopped down from one of the tree’s leafy platforms. “It does my spirit good to see you alive and well.”