himself away from the reflection, he looked up, across the river, and something on the other side caught his attention. The trees over there were the same as on this side, but he felt like something had been moving between them. Nevertheless, as he searched the forest with his eyes, there was no sign of anything out of place.

“Imagining things,” he thought as he climbed to his feet and left the riverside.

“How is it?” Annyka asked as he arrived back by her side. “Your hand.”

“It’s fine,” he replied as he clutched his right hand in his left. His voice was coarse from not having spoken in such a long time.

“It’s not fine,” she replied. “It’s infected. You’re going to have to let me help you, sooner o...

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