“What do you think?” I said, low. “The monsters are different.” He confirmed my opinion in a soft voice. “Do you have any idea what’s changing them?” Fade shook his head. “If I did, maybe I could help somehow.” Yes, that was the crux of the matter. I cherished the small bit of respect I’d garnered in the fight today, and I didn’t want to lose it by circulating wild theories with no solutions. Maybe my time down below had made me reluctant to offer my thoughts to the elders, but at this juncture I couldn’t be faulted for caution. It was a precarious situation, and one that left my stomach tied
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