Sequoia Coast tripeka

they would have to be. they had no choice. heda, who had scarcely roused herself from the few miles leading off from the landbridge, now blinked back into awareness. a woman. speaking. another fish. the mother's hackles rose.
instinct, not god. instinct, not truth made flesh.
but then the stranger was gone, and heda turned soft golden eyes toward dinah. all right, baby. she filled her stomach with as much water as could be held, and sat down on the crumbling bank. no words, only a hug, a kiss. no normalcy but touch.
i need to go back for malakai.
i need to find ana.
i need to find abel.
i need to find tzedeq.
but she could do nothing.