SPREAD ACROSS A FLUFFY KNIT rug that swelled out in stripes of taupe, tan, and cream over the wood floor, Sian frowned at the page of the book she read.

'A zu-gyn, zugyn.'

The strange word matched the curious looking creature which to her eyes looked like an upright horny shell backed snail. It had a wide spread foot that looked more like a jagged edged flipper, with a split in the centre that allowed the creature to hobble and hop from lake to lake.

'Won't be ...