I had no idea so much could happen in one day. Yesterday, I'd been gripped with fear, my heart pounding that Dera would not survive the night. I'd bitten her, in an effort to keep her alive. And now we stroll hand in hand through Zin Sasi's streets, the sun's warmth upon our faces as we browsed the shops and watched the crowded throng. Since I’d started pushing to turn this town into a tourist hotspot, the streets were always alive with activity.

“You should grow a beard like that guy,” Dera said, nodding toward a man skating past us on the opposite side of the street.

The man was...