Maybe they were going back to that ancient settlement with all the rocks. Perhaps they resided there? Or elsewhere nearby. Her father had said Jorsay had human dwellings not too far away, lining the shore and going inland as well, to a small village where visitors stayed and others lived year-round.

Ava’s and Sister Madeleine’s voices weren’t like the natives’. They had different accents. They were probably visitors, meaning they wouldn’t stay for long.

Hæra must not despair. The Great Mare had sent this human woman to her. This wasn’t the end. She had to have faith.

Sister Madeleine would clearly agree.

They were heading toward the ancient settlement, which lay to the east. Without a thought, Hæra began swimming in that direction, her tail pushing her against the current. Occasionally, she dared to crest a wave so she could look up and see if they were walking along the cliff. She had no luck until, when she had swum nearly to the island’s easternmost point, she surfaced and saw Ava and someone else at the cliff’s edge.

It wasn’t Sister Madeleine, though. It was another juvenile female in colorful clothes. Hæra growled in frustration. Was her luck cursed?

The females were facing each other and holding hands. Then, just as Hæra was about to submerge in exasperation, she saw them lean toward each other until their faces touched and their mouths pressed together. Ava let go of the other one’s hands to cup her face.

Were they eating each other? Hæra hadn’t known humans did that. But neither of them were struggling. In fact, they wrapped their arms around each other as though this were enjoyable.

After a moment, Ava pulled away and rested her head on the other one’s shoulder. Just then, the wind struck them and tore the long, gray piece of cloth from Ava’s neck, whipping it up into the air.

Ava flailed after it, but it was too late—the fabric had gone over the cliff. That happened sometimes: human flotsam collecting in the water before drifting down to the seafloor. Ava didn’t seem to know it was normal, judging by her distress.

The other female put her arms around Ava again, clearly reassuring her. Then they released each other and walked, together, away from the cliff’s edge.

Well, that had been confusing. That was another way humans must pass the time together, but it didn’t mean much to an Each-uisge. Hæra couldn’t imagine mashing her mouth to one of her fellows’.

Would it be different if she did take on human form? Maybe she could do that to Sister Madeleine, once she found her again. Hæra could take her in her arms and press their mouths together in a gesture of fellowship. Oddly, the notion wasn’t…offensive.