We rose, silent. The world was blue again. We retraced our footsteps towards the clearing. Every once in a while our hands would brush against each other. We said nothing. I glimpsed her out of the corner of my eye. I had never noticed how sad she looked before. It was as if a spring inside of her was winding down, and would soon creak to a rusting halt.

"Stop that," Flowers said. "Don't look at me, I don't like being looked - " Her voice broke off.

The smallest of the crystal ...