It was almost morning when I was ready to leave. My whole adopted family cried over me. I had to promise them each, in turn, I would be careful and maybe even come visit someday.
"It's not really a goodbye," I soothed Lin, "It's a farewell for now."
They lent me their boat and I promised to care for it well. I tried to imagine what sailing it alone would be like. I tried not to imagine crashing it but how different could it be from driving back when I had been human? The instincts were surely still there.
I had packed myself a bag with a few day's rations, a change of clothes, and the blanket Lin had pushed on me. I also had a carving from Quiz and a lucky stone Qua had found the day of the giant ant.
How lucky that stone actually was... I just thanked him and moved on to Mum. She held out a jar full of little green stones.
"They are the ones we shed, you can keep them to remind you of us," She kissed my forehead, "Or should you get into trouble they can be traded for food."
