I stumbled again, out into the open, wanting to creep closer but somehow managing to catch my toe on the edge of the stack. And so, with all the grace of a floundering walrus, I tripped my way into the center of the concrete aisle with a soft meep of embarrassment.

Shouting or not, centaur hearing was excellent and I didn't exactly do my best to sneak up on them. I'd learned their ability to catch the softest sound well enough trying to play hide-and-seek with Tulip in the ...