I allow my own shift to ripple over me and also look back. “Could have. By the sounds of it, they are trailing along on the right side of the stream, but they are growing further away. So, it’s either we are getting away or they took a wrong turn while searching after finding my clothes.”

“Can we get out of the water now? Even with fur, it's too cold and I’m starting to catch a chill.”

Her lips have the faintest tint of blue when she turns back toward me and it nearly sends me into ...