Wrema tries chivvying Sucasa to keep up, and it works for a little while. But then the smaller girl starts dragging her feet, looking up toward the distant treetops like she's waiting for something.

"Hera," Wrema starts to say, "Hera, I think there's something -- "

And that's when a small, brown bird with a long tail comes darting out of the trees and soars overhead. It flutters to a stop on a rock by the river, head tilting this way and that as it peers at them.

"Oh," says Wrema again, even as Sucasa wriggles her hand out of the older girl's grip and starts moving toward the bird.