---

the air is choking with wisteria and salt. but Pharaoh readies the party to make return to Satriya, and ashait contents herself with this; this, and the joy of the young Goddess. children are fond of flowers. without the rains, there are few enough in the sands.

nor are there birds of such color as here. and children are ever eager for things of novelty. the soft blues, ashait has determined, would suit the Goddess' fur well.

it is difficult beyond belief to pull them free from a body with use only of coils and nose, but she does so, and places them upon the stone one by one, between delicate flicks of tongue, that she might test whether this isle's visitors choose to intrude upon Pharaoh.

the rest is swallowed quickly. her meals must be kept small, else they render her too heavy to move with needed swiftness.