*

wiktopher.md

@@ -816,55 +816,42 @@ tent and began their long walk to Montore, city of coin and titles.
 
 \newpage
 
-This is the tale of a lonely piece of matter. It was once part of some other, larger body, but they'd since parted. There was no way to measure how much time had passed since then, which was just as well, because time didn't matter out here. The sky rock had seen much of the universe, it no longer grieved for home, nor did it fear the unknown. Contrary to what it first thought, the great expanse did not inspire fear, it was soothing, everything made sense here. The celestial bodies danced with one another, locked into a slow and unending waltz.  
+This is the tale of a lonely piece of matter. It was once part of some other, larger body, but they'd since parted. There was no way to measure how much time had passed since then, which was just as well, because time didn't matter out here. Skyrock had seen much of the universe. It no longer grieved for home, nor did it fear the unknown. Contrary to what it first thought, the great expanse did not inspire fear, it was soothing, and everything made sense here. The celestial bodies danced with one another, locked into a slow and unending waltz.  
     Skyrock rather liked the time it had spent adrift, but then it neared
 the atmosphere of a yellow planet and was pulled down onto it. It lost much of its mass in the descent, but still had enough to cause a great big fuss when it struck land.  
     Now, Skyrock was faced with a new reality, but it knew that one day the
 waltz would resume, and so Skyrock's mind quieted.  
 
-It sat idly for many annums. It saw the sun and moons pass all too many times, it wasn't tiresome, on the contrary, it celebrated each passing and would count them up.  
+It sat idly for many annums. It saw the sun and moons pass all too many times. It wasn't tiresome, on the contrary, it celebrated each passing and would count them up.  
     "..."  
-    In truth, Skyrock did not know how to count, but it liked to try.  
-    It was about to assign an outrageously large series of numbers and
-letters to this next moon passing when some land-dwellers stopped a short distance away. A shell lodged itself in the foot of their furry companion, and the riders were forced to dismount.  
-    They were travellers. One with hair like the sun and the other with hair
+    Skyrock did not know how to count, but it liked to try.  
+    It was about to assign an outrageously large series of what it thought to be numbers and letters to this next moon passing when some land-dwellers stopped a short distance away. A shell lodged itself in the foot of their furry companion, and the riders were forced to dismount.  
+    They were travelers. One had hair like the sun and the other hair
 like sand, and a face like the sky. Skyrock gave them names then: Sun and Sky-sand.  
-    These two fleshy beings were unaccustomed to a ground composed entirely
-of disintegrating shells. They were fascinated with it and began to search, to try and find the most beautiful shell of all.  
-    The skyrock enjoyed this game, wondering if perhaps it too qualified as
+    These two beings were unaccustomed to a ground composed entirely of disintegrating shells. They were fascinated with it and began to search, to try and find the most beautiful shell of all.  
+    Skyrock enjoyed this game, wondering if perhaps it too qualified as
 a shell. Sun found one that was twisted in a near impossible shape, turning and coiling and somehow ending back onto itself. Sky-sand had dug up a shell of a most peculiar shape, it had a face carved into it. Skyrock knew these well.  
     "Um. Lew. That's a seshell krab," Sun said.  
-    Sky-sand had no idea what a seshell krab was, but then multiple pairs of
-legs came pushing out of the sides of the shell, along with a set of tiny black eyeballs sitting atop long thin strings of skin. Sky-sand screamed and dropped it to the ground, this amused Skyrock. Oh the sounds these fleshy ones could make!  
-The seshell krab began to throw bits of broken shells over itself, burrowing deep into the ground until you could no longer see it. It was not rare for one of them to burrow underneath Skyrock, and to cause it to shift to a new place, this too was fun, it wondered where it would shift to next.  
-    "Are they *all* alive?!" Sky-sand said, breathing hard. "Not sure I like the idea of standing on a sea of living things."  
-    "No no, just the ones with faces. Avoid those if you can. They're bad
-tempered. If you mess with them they'll chase you to return the favour. They never forget a face."  
-    "What if they only saw half my face?" Sky-sand said, coiling a piece
-of blue fabric to conceal part of it.  
-    "Then all who share your upper face are in trouble. Bit selfish don't
-you think?"  
+    Sky-sand had no idea what a seshell krab was, but then multiple pairs of legs came pushing out of the sides of the shell, along with a set of tiny black eyeballs sitting atop long thin strings of skin. Sky-sand screamed and dropped it to the ground—this amused Skyrock. Oh the sounds these fleshy ones could make!  
+    The seshell krab began to throw bits of broken shells over itself, burrowing deep into the ground. It was not rare for one of them to burrow underneath Skyrock, and to cause it to shift to a new place—this too was fun, each time it happened it wondered where it would shift to next.  
+    "Are they *all* alive?!" Sky-sand said, breathing hard. "Not sure I like the idea of standing on a sea of living things..."  
+    "No no, just the ones with faces. Avoid those if you can. They're bad tempered. If you mess with them they'll chase you to return the favour. They never forget a face."  
+    "What if they only saw half my face?" Sky-sand said, coiling a piece of blue fabric to conceal part of it.  
+    "Then all who share your upper face are in trouble. Bit selfish don't you think?"  
     "What if I had no face?"  
-    "Then everyone's a potential victim. Again, kind of mean no?"  
+    "Then everyone's a potential victim."  
     Sky-sand's eyes widened. "Scary."  
-    Sun started to whistle a tune and found yet another impossible shape: a
-flat shell coiling and again, ending back onto itself. "Look at this one!"  
-    Sky-sand seemed to envy Sun, wishing to find a shell as interesting as
-this. Then, Skyrock caught the eye of this sky-faced scavenger and grew
-nervous, no two-legged land dweller had ever come this near to it.  
+    Sun started to whistle a tune and found yet another impossible shape: a flat shell coiling and again, ending back onto itself. "Look at this one!"  
+    Sky-sand seemed to envy Sun, wishing to find a shell as interesting as this. Then, Skyrock caught the eye of this sky-faced scavenger and grew nervous, no two-legged land dweller had ever come this near to it.  
     "Beautiful," Sky-sand said, eyes aglow and nearing a hand to it.  
-    "Disqualified!" Sun shouted, Skyrock fidgeted with ever-growing
-excitement. "That's a skyrock, not a shell."  
+    "Disqualified!" Sun shouted, Skyrock fidgeted with ever-growing excitement. "That's a skyrock, not a shell."  
     "Really? I thought they'd be bigger than this."  
     "They lose bits of themselves when they fall out of the sky."  
-    "Oh. That's sad isn't it? Losing bits of yourself," Sky-sand said,
-looking at the rock from all angles.  
+    "Oh. That's sad isn't it? Losing bits of yourself," Sky-sand said, looking at the rock from all angles.  
     "You lose bits of yourself all the time too you know."  
-    "You mean like skin and hair and things?" Sky-sand said, trying to
-picture this body worn down to the size of a fist.  
+    "You mean like skin and hair and things?" Sky-sand said, trying to picture this body worn down to the size of a fist.  
     "Does it makes you sad?" Sun asked.  
-    "Not really. Um. I don't know why I said that." Sky-sand's fingers
-traced around the flat face of Skyrock then, "there's nothing sad about you Skyrock. You're the most experienced of us all, and too beautiful for this ball of dust."  
+    "Not really. Um. I don't know why I said that." Sky-sand's fingers traced around the flat face of Skyrock then, "there's nothing sad about you Skyrock. You're the most experienced of us all, and too beautiful for this ball of dust."  
     Skyrock felt proud. It was in a most wonderful state. Time and weather
 had smoothed down its exterior. The two land dwellers were very impressed with this, and decided to transform its body again, in a very big way. Skyrock was ground down further, and shaped into two pendants, a string was tied to one end. Skyrock was now split in two, it hung around the necks of each land-dweller. It could see itself on the breast of the other, it was a most unusual sight. Skyrock relished in this new perspective.  
     How wondrous, it thought.  
@@ -882,143 +869,111 @@ broken shells behind.
 
 \newpage
 
-Lupin and Eka arrived near a hollow. They did not have to come through here to go to Montore, but Eka had insisted on it. This place, Nono had said, was dangerous to them. They were instructed to transit quickly, but their sore feet made walking fast difficult. The two experimented with walking fast, making much distance but getting tired faster, or walking slow, making little progress but with more energy to spare. When Hush was in a good mood, they would do a few long leaps ahead together, this too helped to shorten the trip.  
-    Near the hollow, Hush spotted round creatures hovering in the distance.
-Its ears twitched, attentive to the faintest of sounds. Something was wrong. The hyroo would not move forward, fearful of the strange beings ahead. The creatures had two black points for eyes, long fluttery wings on the sides of their bodies and tiny slits for mouths.  
+Lupin and Eka arrived near a hollow. They did not have to come through here to go to Montore, but Eka had insisted on it since it was more likely to find food in these parts. This place, Nono had said, was dangerous to them. They were instructed to transit quickly, but their sore feet made walking fast difficult. The two experimented with walking fast, making much distance but getting tired faster, or walking slow, making little progress but with more energy to spare. When Hush was in a good mood, they would do a few long leaps ahead together, this too helped to shorten the trip.  
+    Near the hollow, Hush spotted round creatures hovering in the distance. Its ears twitched, attentive to the faintest of sounds. Something was wrong. The hyroo would not move forward, fearful of the strange beings ahead. The creatures had two black points for eyes, long fluttery wings on the sides of their bodies and tiny slits for mouths.  
     "Whoa look at those!"  
     Eka grabbed Lupin's shoulder, "remember what Nono said." These
 creatures, these floaters, were not unfamiliar to Eka, but little was known of them because usually people made a point of avoiding them.  
-    Lupin did not believe they could be dangerous and took a step forward,
-as if to prove the rest of the group wrong. The creatures reacted to the intruders that stood near, they turned a solid red colour and darted towards them. Eka leapt onto Hush and reached over to grab Lupin's collar, but one of those creatures splattered like water onto the hyroo's side. Another latched onto Lupin's chest. Their bodies were sticky and soft like goo, but burned like hot, hot coals!  
-    In a panic Hush bounded off, fast and far into the distance. Eka kicked
-at the soft gooey body to get it off, but the skin would just bounce back into shape. Hush landed with a roll, sending all passengers cascading onto the ground. The poor hyroo was rubbing its side on the sand and clawing at the parasite with its hind legs. Fingers and nails were not enough to get this spherical creature to let go, Lupin had even tried hitting it with the butt of a mug. Nothing worked. Hush leapt into the air again, as high as Eka had ever seen it jump. The beast became a point into the sky, just another skyrock.  
+    To inexperienced eyes, floaters appeared to be gentle, and kind creatures. Lupin's eyes were wrong. The Verido took a step too far and the creatures reacted to all intruders that stood near. They turned a solid red colour and darted towards them. Eka leapt onto Hush and reached over to grab Lupin's collar, but one of those creatures splattered like water onto the hyroo's side. Another latched onto Lupin's chest. Their bodies were sticky and soft like goo, but burned like hot, hot coals.  
+    In a panic Hush bounded off, fast and far into the distance. Eka kicked at the soft gooey body to get it off, but the skin would just bounce back into shape. Hush landed with a roll, sending all passengers cascading onto the ground. The poor hyroo was rubbing its side on the sand and clawing at the parasite with its hind legs. Fingers and nails were not enough to get this spherical creature to let go, Lupin had even tried hitting it with the butt of a mug. Nothing worked. Hush leapt into the air again, as high as Eka had ever seen it jump. The beast became a point into the sky, just another skyrock orbitting their planet.  
     There was no way to help Hush now, and so Eka went to assist the other victim. The creatures had burned through Lupin's vest and undershirt already. Lupin was in agony, body twisting on the ground.  
-    "I can't get it off!" Eka cried, trying to pry it off with one of the
-tent's crossbars.  
-    Moments later, Hush returned, the parasite was gone but the skin where
-it had been had been stripped of all fur. This is how they would get rid of them: altitude and cold! Eka whistled for Hush and climbed onto its back, pulling Lupin up along.  
+    "I can't get it off!" Eka cried, trying to pry it off using a rock as a barrier.  
+    Moments later, Hush returned, the parasite was gone but the skin where it had been had been stripped of all fur. This is how they would get rid of them: altitude and cold. Eka whistled for Hush and climbed onto its back, pulling Lupin up along.  
     "Take us up again! As high as you can!"  
-    Like before, Hush jumped up high and fast. The creature quickly  abandoned its host. When they landed again, they were a good distance away, leaving those fluttery fiends behind.  
-    Lupin lay on the ground, speaking through gritted teeth. "I should have listened to you. Those things! Why did they attack us?"  
-    "They're territorial, I know that, but there's usually not so many together in one place." There was some logical explanation, but right now Eka focused on a more important task: crushing waterstones over Lupin's wounds, to help reduce the pain and swelling. The injury was covered with a dressing to keep air and sand from the skin's seared surface. Hush had the same treatment. It was nearly nighttime, and with two wounded it was best to set camp here. After that ordeal everyone needed to have a good long rest.  
+    Like before, Hush jumped up high and fast. The creature quickly abandoned its host. When they landed again, they were a good distance away, leaving those fluttery fiends behind.  
+    Lupin lay on the ground, speaking through gritted teeth. "I should have listened to you. Those things... why did they attack us?"  
+    "They're territorial, I know that, but there's usually not so many together in one place."  
+    There was some logical explanation, but right now Eka focused on a more important task: crushing waterstones over Lupin's wounds, to help reduce the pain and swelling. The injury was covered with a dressing to keep air and sand from the skin's seared surface. Hush had the same treatment. It was nearly nighttime, and with two wounded it was best to set camp here. After that ordeal everyone needed to have a good long rest.  
 
-Lupin's condition worsened in the night. The Verido had a fever, and the skin around the burn had become red, swollen and sore. Eka prepared some tea laced with herbs known to help in the event of infection, but was lacking many key ingredients. Most of the stocks they had were from Tiputa, but it being a small village meant that they had few good herbs to spare. Their travel party needed a place to stay for a while, staying out here was not an option and the next town was too many days walk away. Tomorrow Eka would try and search the land for the missing herbs, this was the only solution available to them.  
-    Come daytime, Eka prepared nuni nuggets for everyone. Nuni was a starchy
-tuber with bright yellow flesh, it had a taste and smell that could best be described as being robust. Lupin loved nuni, but Eka suspected that the Verido enjoyed the way it stained the inside of your mouth more than its flavor. They ate many on the trip over here, and made bets on who's mouth would be most yellow. Eka placed the leftovers, the skin and tips of the nuni, into a jar along with some brine, they'd be left to pickle for a few days and would be enjoyed as another meal.  
-    The food was divided into 3 plates, but before breakfast could be
-served, a plump leaf-tailed orange hound appeared at the entrance to their tent, mouth agape, gushing with saliva. Eka wondered where this leafhound came from, there was nothing out here. Glancing behind the hound, Eka's red eyes locked onto a distant point of colour, a spot of green.  
+Lupin's condition worsened in the night. The Verido had a fever, and the skin around the burn had become red, swollen and sore. Eka prepared some tea laced with herbs known to help in the event of infection, but was lacking many key ingredients. Their travel party needed a place to stay for a while, staying out here was not an option and the next town was too far. Tomorrow, Eka would try and search the land for the missing herbs, this was the only solution available to them.  
+
+Come daytime, Eka prepared nuni nuggets for everyone. Nuni was a starchy stuber with bright yellow flesh, it had a taste and smell that could best be described as being robust. Lupin loved nuni, but Eka suspected that the Verido enjoyed the way it stained the inside of your mouth more than its flavor. They ate many on the trip over here, and made bets on who's mouth would be most yellow. Eka placed the leftovers, the skin and tips of the nuni into a jar along with some brine, they'd be left to pickle for a few days and would be enjoyed as another meal.  
+    The food was divided into three plates, but before breakfast could be served, a plump leaf-tailed orange hound appeared at the entrance to their tent, mouth agape, gushing with saliva. Eka wondered where this leafhound came from, there was nothing out here. Glancing behind the hound, Eka's eyes locked onto a distant point of colour, a spot of green.  
     "Is that where you came from?"  
-    The hound barked, and this triggered a series of faint yaps and yips,
-all coming from the faraway green smudge. By then, a pool of clear slime had accumulated at the hound's feet, dripping from its long purple tongue. It was cruel to ask so many questions without the promise of compensation. Eka cut a piece of nuni and tossed it over, the hound gobbled it up, and waited for more. "You really like that huh?" Eka said.  
-    Breakfast was served, although Lupin was in a feverish state and
-couldn't eat. Hush had no problem eating, and despite Eka's warnings it
-helped itself to Lupin's portion.  
-    "Yea, yea. I know. I know you've got 2 stomachs," Eka said, caressing
-Hush's fur. "Listen Hush. Right now you're the mapa okay? You take care of Lew while I'm gone."  
+    The hound barked, and this triggered a series of faint yaps and yips, all coming from the faraway green smudge. By then, a pool of clear slime had accumulated at the hound's feet, dripping from its long purple tongue. The hound thought it cruel to ask so many questions without the promise of compensation. Eka had understood, and cut a piece of nuni and tossed it over. The hound gobbled it up, and waited for more.  
+    "You really like that huh?" Eka said.  
+    Breakfast was served, although Lupin was in a feverish state and couldn't eat. Hush had no problem eating, and despite Eka's warnings it helped itself to Lupin's portion.  
+    "Yea, yea. I know. I know you've got two stomachs," Eka said, caressing Hush's fur, "listen Hush. Right now you're the mapa okay? You take care of Lew while I'm gone."  
     Hush's ears twitched at the word 'gone'. While not familiar with the
 etymology of the word it recognized the sound and length and associated it with a moment of prolonged absence, a thing it didn't like. Hush let out a pained whine, its head coming between Eka's hands.  
     "I won't be far, just listen for me," Eka said, fingers brushing the
 contours of the hyroo's large parabolic ears. Hush yielded then, letting out a yip and taking Lupin's side.  
-    Eka smirked, and turned to the orange hound. "Let's get going!"  
-    Both walked out of the tent and proceeded into the desert wilds. The
-wind was down, and the suns were extra hot. The leaf hound followed Eka closely, well-aware of the existence of a secret piece of nuni, hidden anyway in the palm of Eka's hand. Leaf hounds had a keen sense of smell, this particular one was dying to get at this last bit of nuni goodness. The leafhound stayed close, as if to make sure no one else would get it.
+    Eka smirked, and turned to the orange hound. "Okay! Let's get going!"  
+    Both walked out of the tent and proceeded into the desert wilds. The wind was down, and the suns were extra hot. The leafhound followed Eka closely, well-aware of the existence of a secret piece of nuni, hidden anyway in the palm of Eka's hand. Leaf hounds had a keen sense of smell, this particular one was dying to get at this last bit of nuni goodness. The leafhound stayed close, as if to make sure no one else would get it.
 
-Gradually, the point of colour expanded into a row of trees. In its centre there was an islet of greenery interspersed with patches of colour, each colour corresponding to a different crop. There was no way that this place had come into being on its own, this improbable oasis was the work of a devoted carer. Looking further, Eka glimpsed a few of those horrible floaters hovering around the green piece of land. It would be impossible to go near it without them noticing. If one of them did, without Hush or Lupin around to help, Eka and the hound would be in trouble. The orange hound seemed calm, not bothered by their presence. Eka assumed that it had come through here once already, and yet it had not suffered any harm. Had they not seen the hound? Maybe it knew of another way inside, one unseen by them. Eka's eyes were fixed on any movement in the oasis. There were many other leaf hounds there, one of them was chasing a floater that had wandered a bit too far inland. The floater turned yellow and backed away, returning to the outer parameter.  
-    Eka had an idea then, the leafhound was their key to the oasis, and the
-morsel of nuni was the enabler.  
-    Red returned to camp, the faithful leaf hound trailing behind. Using the
-nuni as a lure was brilliant, Eka thought. They would make their way inside with the hound, drawn close by the irresistible allure of the yellow tuber, and keep the floaters away all the while. They feared the orange guardians. Hopefully, this hound was frightful enough to protect all 3 of them and grant them safe passage.  
-    Eka packed their tent and supplies, and the injured Verido was secured
-onto Hush. The group marched towards the oasis. Once there, they stopped
-and stood at the edge, waiting.  
+Gradually, the point of colour expanded into a row of trees. In its centre there was an islet of greenery interspersed with patches of colour, each colour corresponding to a different crop. There was no way that this place had come into being on its own, this improbable oasis was the work of a devoted carer. Looking further, Eka glimpsed a few of those horrible floaters hovering around the green piece of land. It would be impossible to go near it without them noticing. If one of them did, without Hush or Lupin around to help, Eka and the hound would be in trouble. The orange hound seemed calm, not bothered by their presence. Eka assumed that it had come through here once already, and yet it had not suffered any harm. Had they not seen the hound? Maybe it knew of another way inside, one unseen by them. Eka's eyes were fixed on any movement in the oasis. There were many other leafhounds there, one of them was chasing a floater that had wandered a bit too far inland. The floater turned yellow and backed away, returning to the outer parameter.  
+    Eka had an idea then, the leafhound was their key to the oasis, and the morsel of nuni was the enabler.  
+    Eka returned to camp, the faithful leafhound trailing behind. Using the nuni as a lure was brilliant, Eka thought. They would make their way inside with the hound, drawn close by the irresistible allure of the yellow tuber, and keep the floaters away all the while. They feared the orange guardians. Hopefully, this hound was scary enough to protect all three of them and grant them safe passage into the oasis.  
+    Eka packed their tent and supplies, and the injured Verido was secured onto Hush. The group marched towards the oasis. Once there, they stopped and stood at the edge, waiting.  
     Lupin opened one fatigued eye. "Eka no... we can't."  
     "It's okay, we've got a guide this time," their fleshy guide was at
 their side, mouth dripping with clear juices. The last bit of nuni in hand. Eka stepped onto the grass, marking the entrance to the oasis. The spheres reacted. They raced over but did not attack, not while the orange mutt was there. Eka gave the leafhound half of the piece of nuni, it swallowed it whole and waited for the rest.  
     "Mind guiding us all the way in?" Eka asked, "I promise you'll get
 the rest, and more!"  
-    The hound yipped, and began to lead them deeper into the oasis. The
-spheres had all gathered around them, but left a corridor for them to walk through. Their skin switched from red, to orange and back to yellow. Lupin was hiding under the fabric of the chute, dubious about the whole idea. To their amazement, the round creatures stared, but did not try anything. They walked further inland, to a point they knew would be free of the threat of those things.  
+    The hound yipped, and began to lead them deeper into the oasis. The spheres had all gathered around them, but left a corridor for them to walk through. Their skin switched from red, to orange and back to yellow. Lupin was hiding under the fabric of the chute, dubious about the whole idea. To their amazement, the round creatures stared, but did not try anything. They walked further inland, to a point they knew would be free of the threat of those things.  
     Eka was glad that they were safe, but then noticed the other hounds in
-the oasis looked at them. Their cheeks puffed up, but none charged at them, or made a sound, because one of their kind was leading them in. The other leafhounds concluded that they weren't a threat.  
+the oasis looked at them. Their cheeks puffed up, but none charged at them, or made a sound, because one of their kind was leading them in. Therefore, the other leafhounds concluded that they weren't a threat.  
     Lupin breathed a sigh of relief, and Eka offered the rest of the nuni to
 the hound, caressing its head. "Good, good hound!"  
-    Their troubles didn't end there. Someone was shouting from the house up
-the hill. It had been for some time, but in all this excitement they had failed to notice. A farmer came running, brandishing a rake. "How did you get past the hounds?!" But then saw one of the leafhounds chewing on a piece of Nuni, standing with the group of strangers. "Waldek, your insatiable hunger has doomed us all," Waldek panted happily and wandered off, nose to the ground, searching for more food.
-    The Terin stared at them, dark-skinned and dark-haired, two-toed with
+    Their troubles didn't end there. Someone was shouting from the house up on
+the hill. A farmer came running, brandishing a rake. "How did you get past the hounds?!" But then saw one of the leafhounds chewing on a piece of Nuni, standing with the group of strangers. "Waldek, your insatiable hunger has doomed us all," Waldek panted happily and wandered off, nose to the ground, searching for more food. The Terin stared at them, dark-skinned and dark-haired, two-toed with
 thick limbs. A large rimmed hat shielded the wearer from the sun, a hat made from banabo leaves secured to the head with a cloth running along the top of the hat and tied under the chin.  
-    Eka stared at the rake-wielding farmer. "I love your green place!"  
-    Zucca was so furious that these words fell on deaf ears. "Leave! This is
-my property!" The owner of the oasis said, pushing Eka back with the tip of a rake. The hyroo growled and Zucca jumped backwards, rake and all. "A hyroo?" Zucca said, eyes aglow. "Such creatures are rare, very few were grown. Hyroos need lots of moisture! A temperate climate to sprout! How is this possible?" This was a creature of the old world, Zucca thought the hyroos had died with it.  
+    "I love your green place!" Eka said, brightly.  
+    "Leave! This is my property!" The owner of the oasis said, getting ready to push the group back, but then noticed the hyroo and froze mid-step. "A hyroo?" Zucca's eyes were aglow, "such creatures are rare, very few grow... hyroos need lots of moisture, a temperate climate. How is this possible?" This was a creature of the old world, Zucca thought the hyroos had died with it.  
     Eka could see the farmer's fascination for Hush, but right now they had
 more pressing matters. "Those things out there attacked us, my friends are hurt."  
     Zucca was distracted, eyes fixed on the hyroo still. "There has been
-talk of receding genes, of young ones hibernating in the soil and awaiting the proper conditions to sprout. Yes, yes. This is what must have happened," Zucca paused, a frown replacing the expression of wonder, "staying here? Impossible!" Those words seemed forced. This fascination with hyroos came attached with a string of complications. More time with the hyroo meant more time with these others, these strangers. Curiosity and fear were at war with each other inside Zucca's head, but the battle was lost before it even began. "You'll have to go somewhere else," and with these words, came the death of curiosity.  
+talk of receding genes, of young ones hibernating in the soil and awaiting the proper conditions to grow. Yes, yes. This is what must have happened..." Zucca paused, a frown replacing the expression of wonder, "staying here? Impossible." Those words seemed forced. This fascination with hyroos came attached with a string of complications. More time with the hyroo meant more time with others, strangers. Curiosity and fear were at war with each other inside Zucca's head, but the battle was lost before it even began. "You'll have to go somewhere else," and with these words, came the death of curiosity.  
     Eka removed the scarf, revealing a red head of hair, "time, shelter and
 medicine, in exchange for 3 questions about my friend Hush."  
-    "How will I know your answers aren't lies?" Zucca spat out.  
+    "How will I know your answers aren't lies?"  
     "You can trust me."  
-    Zucca was busy inspecting Red's features carefully. The Terin then
-froze, eyes wide, having noticed the creature's vibrant hair. Those eyes, and those same rounded ears, Zucca thought. The Terin spoke in a quiet voice, "same... but different." Dirty digits scratched at the wood of the rake, nails brown with soil, there were bits of it on the clothes too. The farmer then glanced over at the sick Lupin, putting a hand to the Verido's face. Zucca then put two fingers to the side of Lupin's throat, and after a time grabbed the chin to see the tongue and lifted an eyelid to see the eyes. "Umph," Zucca said, pulling away, "your friend had another accident, before this one I mean..."  
-    Eka nodded. "Yea, fell off an Ilk."  
+    Those eyes, and those same rounded ears, Zucca thought. The Terin spoke in a quiet voice, "similar, but different." Dirty digits scratched at the wood of the rake, nails brown with soil, there were bits of it stuck on the clothes too. The farmer then glanced over at the sick Lupin, putting a hand on side of the Verido's face. Zucca then put two fingers to the side of Lupin's throat, and after a time grabbed the chin to see the tongue and lifted an eyelid to see the eyes. "Umph," Zucca said, pulling away, "your friend had another accident, before this one I mean..."  
+    "Yea," Eka nodded, "fell off an Ilk."  
     "Well, that explains a lot. No Verido in their right mind would choose to leave an Ilk. And before that?"  
-    Eka shrugged. "I wasn't there before that, but now that I think of it,
-my friend *is* very accident prone. Not a lot of world experience, if you know what I mean."  
-    Zucca took a deep breath. "You can stay, but you can't wander around my
-grounds without me saying so, and you can't touch *anything* unless given to you. Is that clear?"  
+    "I wasn't there before that, but now that I think of it, my friend *is* very accident prone. Not a lot of world experience, if you know what I mean."  
+    Zucca took a deep breath. "You can stay until your friend's condition improves, but you can't wander around my grounds without me saying so, and you can't touch *anything* unless given to you. Is that clear?"  
     Eka nodded in thanks. Lupin breathed out a weak, but heartfelt thank you. The Verido was sweating profusely, eyelids appeared heavy, drawn down by many tiny invisible hands.  
-    Eka was concerned. "I need some medililly herbs to treat my friend's wounds."  
+    "I need some medililly herbs to treat my friend's wounds."  
     Zucca promised to bring some over later. "Don't. Touch. Anything." After
 this, the grouch returned to the house atop the hill.  
     Eka looked pleased. If one took note of the subtleties in Zucca's
 mannerisms and speech, they would conclude that the Terin was a mess of contradictory emotions. A reluctant, overprotective and intermittently sympathetic character. Staying here meant that they would have to respect the rules of the oasis and its owner.  
 
-Eka raised their tent, helped Lupin inside and sat down to watch the orange dogs walking the fields. They looked at every single crop, their antennae prodding them gently, as if they were asking them about their health. The oasis was divided into many parts. The front had fresh produce, like karrots and bams. Fields of teaweet and other grains sat in between the vegetables and the small cabin atop the hill. Eka could see a space contoured by tall hedges behind that, their height made it impossible to see what was inside. Zucca was a busy fellow, Eka could see the farmer building another house at the yorama'mu[^] edge of the field.  
+Eka raised their tent, helped Lupin inside and sat down to watch the orange dogs walking the fields. They looked at every single crop, their antennae prodding them gently, as if they were asking them about their health. The oasis was divided into many parts. The front had fresh produce, like karrots and bams. Fields of teaweet and other grains sat in between the vegetables and the small house atop the hill. Eka could see a space contoured by tall hedges behind that, their height made it impossible to see what was inside. Zucca was a busy fellow, Eka could see the farmer building another structure at the yorama'mu[^] edge of the field.  
     Waldek was around still, despite the absence of nuni. Perhaps its visit
-to their camp that morning was due to curiosity, or maybe kindness. Maybe the hound knew of the attack, and had purposely come to lead them to a safe place. Eka visited the patients often. Hush was reacted well to the treatment, although it wasn't not its usual, hungry self.  
-    Zucca's gravelly voice sounded outside. "Hey-" there was a pause, they
-hadn't introduced each other by name yet, "hey uh. Hey you! In the tent!"  
-    Eka wandered out. "You can call me Eka, and that trumpet-eared invalid
-in there is Lew-pee-lew."  
-    "Lew-pee-lew? That sounds made up."  
-    Eka nodded. "I'm sure you know how eccentric Verido can be Zucca, you've
-heard the stories."  
+to their camp that morning was due to curiosity, or maybe kindness, maybe the hound knew of the attack, and had come to lead them to a safe place.  
+   &nbspEka visited the patients often. Hush was reacted well to the treatment, although it wasn't not its usual, hungry self.  
+    Zucca's gravelly voice sounded outside. "Hey," there was a pause, they hadn't introduced each other by name yet, "hey uh... hey you! In the tent!"  
+    "Hello Zucca!" Eka wandered out, "you can call me Eka, and that trumpet-eared invalid in there is Lupin."  
     "How do you know my name?!"  
-    "Oh your hound Waldek told me. Well, through Hush because I don't speak
-leafhound. Not *well* anyway, I always mix up the subtleties in the yaps. Don't get me started on the yips! It's a very tonal language, not easy to master, and there are *so* many dialects!"  
+    "Oh your hound Waldek told me. Well, through Hush, because I don't speak
+leafhound. Not *well* anyway. I always mix up the subtleties in the yaps. Don't get me started on the yips! It's a very tonal language, not easy to master, and there are *so* many dialects!"  
 "    I don't like lies, or jokes," Zucca began, "I'm going to apply your
 friend's medicine. I don't want to hear any more nonsense."  
-    Eka glanced at Waldek then. "Hey, I thought you said Zucca liked
-jokes."  
-    Waldek yipped one, then yapped twice.  
-"Only likes jokes early in the morning, I see, I see..." Eka said, taking a
-mental note.  
-    Zucca ignored them both, busy preparing medililly poultices. The soft,
-moist mass was applied to Lupin and Hush's wounds, and wrapped carefully with a clean strip of cloth.  
-    "What is the name of the mountain you spoke of, where the hyroos grow? It's
-within the central rim isn't it?" Zucca asked, eyes set on the hyroo. The large-eared creature was asleep, coiled into a tight ball with its head hidden. Its back expanded and contracted with every breath. Zucca put a hand to the hyroo's side, inspecting its fur.  
+    Eka glanced at Waldek then. "Hey, I thought you said Zucca liked jokes."  
+    Waldek yipped once, then yapped again.
+    "Only likes jokes after the first sunrise, I see, I see..." Eka said, taking a
+mental note of this.  
+    Zucca ignored them both, busy preparing medililly poultices. The soft, moist mass was applied to Lupin and Hush's wounds, and wrapped carefully with a clean strip of cloth. "What is the name of the mountain you spoke of, where the hyroos grow? It's within the Central Rim isn't it?" Zucca asked, eyes set on the hyroo. The large-eared creature was asleep, coiled into a tight ball with its head hidden. Its back expanded and contracted with every breath. Zucca put a hand to the hyroo's side, inspecting its fur.  
     "It hasn't got one, places without names remain strangely unseen."  
-    "You won't say," Zucca paused. "You think I'll tell? Whom shall I
-divulge this to I wonder?"  
+    "You won't say. You think I'll tell? Whom shall I divulge this to I wonder?"  
     "I'm telling you the truth. It hasn't got one."  
     "Okay. Fine." Zucca was displeased with this answer. "How long do hyroos
 live for?"  
-    "1 kiannum? Maybe?"  
+    "One kiannum? Maybe?"  
     "And how old is Hush?"  
-    "Less than an annum old I'd say. Hush is very green," saying this, Eka
-turned to caress the back of the hyroo.  
+    "Less than an annum old I'd say. Hush is very green," saying this, Eka turned to caress the back of the hyroo.  
     "They grow that big in just one annum? Remarkable."  
-    "That makes 3 questions!"  
-    "No, no. That first one doesn't count. I didn't get an answer." Zucca
-said.  
-    Eka thought about this for a moment, then shrugged, "okay, you get a
-redo."  
-    Zucca nodded before leaving the tent, that last question needed to be
-pondered carefully.  
-    The next day, Hush was sitting outside the tent with Waldek, healthy,
-gnawing contentedly on a stalk of gingin root. During the night their leaf-tailed guide had rounded up a pile of fresh produce for them. Zucca's words came to Eka's mind then: 'Take only what is given to you.' Zucca had not intended on Waldek helping them.  
+    "That makes three questions!"  
+    "No, no. That first one doesn't count. I didn't get an answer."  
+    Eka thought about this for a moment, then shrugged, "okay, you get a redo."  
+    Zucca nodded before leaving the tent, that last question needed to be pondered carefully.  
+
+The next day, Hush was sitting outside the tent with Waldek, healthy, gnawing contentedly on a stalk of spicy gingin root. During the night their leaf-tailed guide had rounded up a pile of fresh produce for them. Zucca's words came to Eka's mind then: 'Take only what is given to you.' Zucca had not intended on Waldek helping them.  
     "Technically, we aren't breaking any rules..." Eka said, eyeing Waldek.  
     The orange critter let out a yip before returning to its meal, it had helped itself to some of the items in the pile.  
-    Eka gathered some produce and began to cook breakfast.  
+    Eka smiled, gathered some produce and began to cook breakfast.  
 
                                             ~  
 
@@ -1043,81 +998,65 @@ gnawing contentedly on a stalk of gingin root. During the night their leaf-taile
 
                                             ~  
 
-    "I present you toast! Eka style!" Eka said, presenting this tasty
-creation to the bed-bound Verido.  
+    "I present you toast! Eka style!" Eka said, presenting this tasty creation to the bed-bound Verido.  
     Lupin was awake, and was looking much better than yesterday. "Whoa fresh
 mapples! Surprised Zucca let you take them." With eyes now closed, the patient took a bite, as if the momentary absence of one sense could heighten another.  
-    "Was a gift from our friend Waldek. Our little secret! OH you're going
-to love this place Lew! It's abundant with greens and oranges and purples and..."  
-    Yesterday Lupin had been too sick to really take in the details of the
-oasis, but now beyond the fragrant poetry of the mapple toast, this nose detected hints of sweet norcorn and teaweet in the air. These smells summoned an approximation of what the oasis looked like in Lupin's brain.  
-    "And blues!"  
-    "Looking forward to seeing that," Lupin said with a smile, before taking
-note of the poultice. "Thanks for taking care of me."  
-    "Sure, Sure! Zucca made that poultice for you though, that's what healed
+    "Was a gift from our friend Waldek. Our little secret! Oh! You're going
+to love this place Lew! It's full of greens and oranges and purples and..."  
+    Yesterday Lupin had been too sick to really take in the details of the oasis, but now beyond the fragrant poetry of the mapple toast, this nose detected hints of sweet norcorn and teaweet in the air. These smells summoned an approximation of what the oasis looked like in Lupin's brain.  
+    "And blues!" Eka finished.  
+    "Look forward to seeing that," Lupin said with a smile, before taking note of the poultice, "thanks for taking care of me."  
+    "Sure Sure! Zucca made that poultice for you though, that's what healed
 you up."  
-    "Oh, well I'll thank Zucca too then."  
-    "You'd better! Medililly takes ages to grow, was kind of our host to
-spare some," Eka said.  
-    After their meal they removed the poultice and checked the wound, the
-inflammation was down. Hush walked around the tent, cheeks full of food. A stomach full of fresh, colourful food may have played a part in the hyroo's quick recovery.  
+    "Oh. I'll thank Zucca too then."  
+    "You'd better! Medililly takes ages to grow, was kind of our host to spare some," Eka said.  
+    After their meal they removed the poultice and checked the wound, the inflammation was down. Hush walked around the tent, cheeks full of food. A stomach full of fresh, colourful food may have played a part in the hyroo's quick recovery.  
 
 Lupin was playing the game Hino'yara with Eka to pass the time. They had jars covered with cloths, and each person had to smell and guess the spice aloud. Whoever got the most right won the game. Lupin picked up a jar and smelled it through the cloth, "hm. Rosemeric? I think?" And passed it to Eka, "thymin."  
     Lupin frowned, jotting down their guesses, "no way that's thymin."  
-    Eka smirked, picking up another jar to smell. "Popmeg."  
+    Eka smirked, picking up another jar to smell, "popmeg."  
     Lupin took the jar in turn, and frowned. "Popmeg? Yea *right*. It's dilly."  
-    "You know, it's okay to make the same guess as me." Eka said, grabbing the last jar to smell it. "Dilly."  
-    Lupin was going to start complaining about how unfair the game was, but then they heard Zucca yelling outside. They peered out through the opening of their tent, spotting the Terin chasing pale winged insects out of a plumpkin field.  
-    Eka wandered out of the tent. "Whats going on? Oh! You have mosslings in
-your produce!"  
+    "You know, it's okay to make the same guess as me." Eka said, grabbing the last jar to smell it, "dilly."  
+    Lupin was going to start complaining about how unfair the game was because Eka knew every about everything always, but then they heard Zucca yelling outside. They peered out through the opening of their tent, spotting the Terin chasing pale winged insects out of a plumpkin field. Eka wandered out of the tent. "Whats going on? Oh! You have mosslings in your produce!"  
     "Can't get rid of them. They hate lemoni grass so I planted some to keep them away, but I'm beginning to think they've developed a taste for it. Curse these things. They make everything rot." Zucca said, discouraged and tired from chasing after them.  
-    Lupin had stayed near the tent, sipping tea, at peace and content despite the ever-present chest pains. The oasis had a voice all its own, speaking through the rustling of the various plants in the field. A concerto of greenery. There were not many around to listen, a handful of hounds, the caretaker, Eka. Lupin noticed that there wasn't anyone else here, and that this orchestra sang for too few. Zucca and the hounds were producing all of this food for themselves, with no one else around to feed, that is unless there was a village of tiny people over there in that walled garden by the house. Lupin tried to bring up the topic later that day, when tasked with peeling bams for tonight's dinner. Eka too, thought it strange.  
+    Lupin had stayed near the tent, sipping tea, at peace and content despite the ever-present chest pains. The oasis had a voice all its own, speaking through the rustling of the various plants in the field. A concerto of greenery. There were not many around to listen, a handful of hounds, the caretaker, and Eka. Lupin noticed that there wasn't anyone else here, and that this orchestra sang for too few. Zucca and the hounds were producing all of this food for themselves, with no one else around to feed, that is unless there was a village of tiny people over there in that walled garden by the house. Lupin tried to bring up the topic later that day, when tasked with peeling bams for tonight's dinner. Eka too, thought it strange.  
     "Let's ask the vegetables!" Eka set the peeled bams down in a pot and
-wandered over to the fields. Red stopped where Zucca had been earlier that day, to the mossling-infested field, kneeling down to talk to a rotting karrot head. "What's the deal with this Zucca fellow anyway?"  
-    Lupin watched from afar. "Stop it. You do not speak vegetable."  
-    Eka replied with a quick "Shush!" Loud voices could incite their ill-tempered landlord to come back over here again with that rake. Eka pressed an ear against the side of the karrot, listening for an answer, "oh! A *secret* you *say*?"  
-    Lupin watched, resisting the urge to ask about what the karrot was saying. Asking would mean giving into this prank, but then again Eka knew a lot about the world, perhaps there was such a thing as vegetable tongue, a language that could not be spoken with words, but with light, or vibrations. After a short conversation, Eka rose and wandered back over to Lupin. There was some silence, but it did not last. "What did it say?" Lupin asked.  
-    "It said that there is something valuable here," saying this, Eka
-covered these ruby eyes with two hands and uncovered them just as quickly, "hidden away!"  
+wandered over to the fields. Red stopped where Zucca had been earlier that day, to the mossling-infested field, kneeling down to talk to a rotting karrot head, "hey there, how you feeling?" Eka paused, then laughed aloud, "yea, those mosslings are relentless aren't they?"  
+    Lupin watched from afar, frowning, "stop it. You do not speak vegetable."  
+    Eka responded with a quick "shush!" Loud voices could incite their ill-tempered landlord to come back over here again with that rake. "So what's the deal with this Zucca fellow anyway?"  Eka pressed an ear against the side of the karrot, listening for an answer, "oh! A *secret* you *say*?"  
+    Lupin watched, resisting the urge to ask about what the karrot was saying. Asking would mean giving into this prank, but then again Eka knew a lot about the world, perhaps there was such a thing as vegetable tongue, a language that could not be spoken with words, but with light, or vibrations. After a short conversation, Eka rose and wandered back over to Lupin.  
+    "So um, what did it say?" Lupin asked.  
+    "It said that there is something valuable here," saying this, Eka covered these ruby eyes with two hands and uncovered them just as quickly, "hidden away!"  
     That got the Verido's attention, "valuable? You mean like a treasure?"  
     "Like a secret," Eka corrected, pressing the point of a finger hard on Lupin's nose. Red sat down again, continuing to peel some bams for tonight's dinner of bam soup with slices of muckwheat bread.  
     The thought of a secret was intriguing, but likely false. Even so, Lupin could not sleep that night, haunted by the idea of a treasure, drawn by mystery and the unknown. If Zucca had a secret it would be somewhere near the house, that whole area looked very sheltered and private.  
 
 The next day, Lupin got up before the sun. Zucca was awake too, standing in the fields, tending to the crops and far too busy to notice anyone else was awake. Lupin knew better than to break into someone's home, and instead decided to circle it, hopefully this would satiate the Verido's curiosity.  
-    Lupin arrived on the sawamu face of the house, but a tall green hedge blocked the way and there was no break in the branches, no way to see through the thickness. Lupin put an arm in it, to see if it was as thick as it looked, reaching deep until the branches met with the shoulder and torso. "Um, thick indeed." Lupin said. The Verido suddenly saw Waldek there, standing close.  
-    "Hey Waldek! We're friends right? You're not going to tell on me are
-you?" Lupin said in a hushed voice, stuck halfway into the hedge, scarf and hair caught into the branches.  
+    Lupin arrived on the sawamu face of the house, but a tall green hedge blocked the way and there was no break in its branches, no way to see through the thickness. Lupin put an arm in it, to see if it was as thick as it looked, reaching deep until the branches met with the shoulder and torso. "Um, thick indeed," Lupin said. The Verido suddenly saw Waldek there, standing close.  
+    "Hey Waldek! We're friends right? You're not going to tell on me are you?" Lupin said in a hushed voice, stuck halfway into the hedge, scarf and hair caught into the branches.  
     Waldek let out quiet bark, and then another.  
-    "No no no shush, shush!" Lupin begged. Getting out of the mass of
-shrubbery was harder than getting in, its branches curled inwards and refused to let go. "I can't get out!"  
+    "No no no shush, shush!" Lupin begged. Getting out of the mass of shrubbery was harder than getting in, its branches curled inwards and refused to let go, "I can't get out!"  
     Waldek caught the scent of food in the air, from Eka making breakfast and ran off, leaving Lupin alone again, trapped in the hedge. "Oh good, oh good..." Lupin tried to wriggle out, but the only way out of this would be to break branches, and then Zucca would know someone had been here. Going inside, giving in to the pull of the branches was the best option. With a grunt and an ow, the Verido popped out of the other side, clothes full of leaves, and skin full of light scratches. The hedge now had a Lupin-shaped hole, a weird not-quite triangular outline that made the hedge look like it was in mid-cry. This supposed inoffensive excursion around Zucca's house had turned into a break-in. 'The branches of the shrub and its curly fingers made me do it,' was hardly an excuse. Lupin could not accuse the karrot either, blaming the words of a vegetable would do no one any good. If the root vegetable could speak, its mossling-infected mind would also be susceptible to telling untruths.  
-    "What am I doing." The Verido took a step back, but another orange
-leafhound began to bark and growl from inside the compound. Lupin kept as far away from the hound as the hedge permitted, fitting back in the Verido-shaped hole, and in this instant, Lupin saw what the hedge was concealing. A vast green field full of unborn children. The reason the hound was so miffed, was because Lupin had almost crushed one.  
-    "Oh hey, I'm sorry."  
-    The hound's antennae ears caressed the near-crushed child gently, all
-was well, its protector was content. Although it did not approve of the intruder's proximity, and with a push of the nose, the leafhound nudged Lupin away from the field. This place was full of fragile beings, rows of little green nubs pushing out of the soil. Some had leaves that had different shapes, and colours.  
+    "What am I doing," the Verido took a step back, but another orange leafhound began to bark and growl from inside the compound. Lupin kept as far away from the hound as the hedge permitted, fitting back in the Verido-shaped hole, and in this instant, Lupin saw what the hedge was concealing. A vast green field full of unborn children. The reason the hound was so miffed, was because Lupin had almost crushed one. "Oh hey, I'm sorry."  
+    The hound's antennae ears caressed the near-crushed child gently, all was well, its protector was content. Although it did not approve of the intruder's proximity, and with a push of the nose, the leafhound nudged Lupin away from the field. This place was full of fragile beings, rows of little green nubs pushing out of the soil. Some had leaves that had different shapes, and colours.  
     "This is a nursery." Lupin said, amazed.  
     Lupin had seen nurseries before, they had a small one in Volare, but at
 most the village had two children growing at once, this place had many more. A nursery this size explained the need for a large and reliable food source. Zucca had planted enough to populate a small city. After circling the field, under the watchful eye of the hound, Lupin moved closer to the house to look at a calendar on a wall, marked with possible harvesting dates. There were bags of grains, as well as a giant bowl made of rock with a large yukwood mallet. This is where Zucca ground-up the food, made small for tiny mouths to chew. Lupin ran a hand along the insides of the bowl, and tasted some remnants of the ground-up grain in it. "Granulated teaweet berries," teaweet was a widely consumed grain, but this teaweet was different, it had a strong aroma and tasted sweet, clean and fresh.  
-    In Tiputa the grain was bland and had to be augmented with spices.
-Adding spices to something as perfect as these grains would be criminal. Lost in thought, Lupin had only just noticed a figure moving inside the house. It was time to leave. The Verido hurried back towards the bushes. Precipitated by the fear of being discovered, Lupin kicked dirt over footprints and threw the broken branches back into the hedge. There was no time to make peace with the hedge itself, Lupin pushed through the dense thicket and emerged on the other side. The Verido then hurried back to camp, to tell Eka of this discovery.  
+    In Tiputa the grain was bland and had to be augmented with spices. Adding spices to something as perfect as these grains would be criminal. Lost in thought, Lupin had only just noticed a figure moving inside the house. It was time to leave. The Verido hurried back towards the bushes. Precipitated by the fear of being discovered, Lupin kicked dirt over footprints and threw some broken branches back into the hedge. There was no time to make peace with the hedge itself, Lupin pushed through the dense thicket and emerged on the other side. The Verido then hurried back to camp, to tell Eka of this discovery.  
 
 "You *do* realize I was making fun of you last night. Zucca *does* have a secret though, that much is clear," Eka said.  
     Lupin didn't care about that. "There's a nursery in there! Full of tiny
-people like we said! A nursery encircled by hedges. There's tons of grains, and rows and rows of children!" the Verido paused then, "think Zucca's raising an army?"  
+people like we said! A nursery encircled by hedges. There's tons of grains, and rows and rows of growing  children!" the Verido paused then, "think Zucca's raising an army?"  
     Eka laughed at this, "definitely. They'll be carving swords from
 karrots, and helmets from hollowed-out kappages. A veil of teaweet arrows will blot out the sun!"  
     Just then, they heard barking outside. The hounds were likely chasing
 away another floater, but then they heard new voices followed by Zucca's classic line: "Get off my land!"  
-    Lupin and Eka poked their heads out of the tent to look at the scene
-outside, Zucca was at the edge of the oasis with a collection of leafhounds, barring entry to a vennec-pulled wagon and its three travelers.  
+    Lupin and Eka poked their heads out of the tent to look at the scene outside, Zucca was at the edge of the oasis with a collection of leafhounds, barring entry to a vennec-pulled wagon and its three travelers.  
     "You need to leave!" Zucca said to them.  
-    One of the travelers grabbed an empty sac of grains from the wagon to
-show that they were in dire need of supplies.  
+    One of the travelers grabbed an empty sac of grains from the wagon to show that they were in dire need of supplies.  
     "Travelers," Lupin whispered to Eka.  
     Zucca yelled for them to leave again. "Leave *now*. There will be consequences if you don't!"  
-    Another traveler, depleted of energy, could not stand for this. "You'd
-prefer we die then?"  
+    Another traveler, depleted of energy, could not stand for this. "You'd prefer we die then?"  
     Once their time was up, Zucca reached into a side pouch and pulled out a
 handful of green herbs, tossing it at them. The hounds pulled away, just as the floaters came rushing in, attracted by the scent. The red spherical parasites chased after the intruders.  
     Lupin watched, cringing as multiple floaters latched onto the skin of