Taking a cue from her boldness, Nate followed Mithwyth into the parting horde — though his experience with herdbeasts kept him watching for any seals that might take a less neighborly view of the intrusion. They looked heavy. They definitely had teeth! Crushed by seal would be an embarrassing way to die, he figured. Or — die twice. Especially with Mithwyth watching!

Lip pursing thoughtfully, he recalled what animals he knew — elk, puma, bear. Animals she must know. Roadrunners across the plain, bobcats perched on cactus, and even a wild jaguar, once, with eyes gleaming through the scrub. Vultures swimming lazily beneath clouds and bluebirds singing in snow. Dragonflies and fireflies and mayflies and cicadas. Moles with mushed faces, a mule deer with antlers that drooped like melted candles. Ko-Ga, with his mottled feathers.

He'd entertained children sometimes with the tales. But for a seasoned traveller like Mithwyth, he thought he ought to present something truly miraculous.

So after a moment of carefully wound up, theatrical consideration, he supplied with gravitas, A giraffe. One of the rare times he'd had some extra spending money, at just the right time to get into a traveling show. His ears pricked and he waited expectantly as they walked. Did she know about giraffes?