Now she concentrated on modulating her thought patterns so the animals could understand her. She'd practiced speaking to animals off and on, when she encountered them in her urban life. A spider on the window of her bedroom in the Lihin mansion had conversed with her at length; topics seemingly disparate had formed together into a coherent set of thoughts, not unlike the arachnid's web. The dog living on Atton's streets -- very well fed, with all the kitchens he could frequent -- was straightforward and honest. Things were as they were, and you could tell easily if you just followed your nose. Smell was all that mattered.
Naturally, she'd formed a strong bond with Sila, who was a gift from Alexandra. Sila’s way of thinking was much like the street dog's, if a bit more haughty. She had liv
