I lay there and dewed for a bit.


    stay. The heat, my thirst, the stinking vog, everything awful about this lake would get to me eventually.  I don’t know why I lay there???— but if I moved, where would I go?


    death. It was something only the nadir had to worry about, something only my sister had to understand.


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    First thing you saw was my crab stabbed and discarded on the fringe.


    away.


    Live.


    Get yourself back.”  I injected a little bit of cold authority in my voice, just like mother had taught me.  The same tone you’d use to order servants or hatchlings around.  I hoped it didn’t sound too condescending.


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    I breathed.  It was over.  “We won.”  I didn’t mean to say that aloud.


    All the way back? Stars above. How did they pull this off in less than a long ring?”  I reached down to pick up the crab, but Hinte snapped her tongue.


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