Mudminnow River If I ever were to lose you, I'd surely lose myself.

She'd heard the dry cough of another, but did not care for its source. Ciri continued to satisfy her thirst and regarded it with only the cant of an ebony ear.

Her tongue slipped between dark lips to sweep the water droplets from her chin, and she gazed silently across the river toward her next destination. She didn't think the current looked powerful, but she didn't feel particularly strong. The less swimming she had to do, the better.

It'd be safer to wait until morning, but Ciri was impatient despite her weariness. She lifted her head and returned to the riverbank, where she roughly shook out her furs and began to pick her way along the pebbles again in search for a safer crossing.

A voice, however, stopped her in her tracks. Suddenly alert, the swallow's sharp gaze found the dark face and frosted eyes of- 

"Papa?"