WATER, SWEET WATER, was dribbling between her lips. At first, Cherry thought she was dreaming. She thought she’d finally reached the pool in her dream and that when she woke up she would be back in the dry Scythian city, in pain and alone, far from people who cared about her.
But this time when she opened her eyes a different sight greeted her. She saw a dark green cloth hanging near her face. She could also hear noises. The deafening silence of the Scythian city was gone. She could hear movement and indistinct voices.
The water was real. It was real. Cherry reached up and blindly grabbed at the space the water seemed to have come from. Her hand met flesh. Her grip folded around an arm, though her tender, injured palm protested at the touch.
“Whoa, take it easy.” The arm removed itself
