Mia was sleeping sound like a baby in Lin's arms. He too had been asleep for how long was beyond his grasp. There was no way of telling time in the mer-world. Only those in tuned with the aqua sphere were able to tell the day from the night and the dusk from the dawn. But it wasn't the time that was bothering Lin.

He sat up scratching his throat as his windpipe started swelling. Was the effect of the flower wearing off already? Was he drowning. He hectically searched the puch he used to carry the flowers around. He gobbled one piece and then looked around. But nothing changed....