It was a babel of opinions and counter opinions as everyone sought to express their thoughts on the visit of their sister's prospective husband. Their mother and eldest sister sat aside, watching them argue. Rana wondered how they could hear one another well enough to offer the retorts and insults they were shouting at themselves. Some, like Lisha, were even whipping others with their tail, to further press home their point.

"Rana dear, let's leave this market and have a little talk outside," Maana said, leading the way out of the enclave.

They swam to the grassy rocks above the sleeping chambers. This was where they'd been having their mother-daughter...