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Everything was edible

The flowers had tasted like sweet and sour Guy The tree bark was varying flavors of chocolate (I only peeled it away from fallen trees) The water was pink lemonade and the plants tasted like fruit, even the leaves The h they were the color and consistency of Hershey kisses--I hadn’t cared for They’d been pretty much like those on Earth Sautéed, breaded, or plain, mushrooms always tasted like dirt to me

"I like mushrooms," Dancer protested "Have you ever tried a stuffed Portobello?"

Lying on my back next to him, I turned my head and narrowed my eyes "I now find you completely suspicious and don’t think we can be friends anyrinned "Continue, Pinky Tell e, with such mammoth, sturdy, coated leaves that Shaza kaleidoscopic, flying fish The sky was light lavender and, at dusk, it turned violet before settling into a deep purple twilight True night never fell on Dada, beneath seven brilliant purpleI’d stayed on that planet I’d counted it as four months Four blissful, peaceful e from the past three years I’d arrived on Dada badly injured I’d left ready to tackle anything, and a da, too, because the next world had been hostile and harsh

"How did you keep track of time?" Dancer said

"Sloppily," I told him

I’d had no watch and days Silverside unfolded in an unquantifiable blur, although I’d done hts, others felt like they lasted days, and on a few no sun ever rose Those were the really bad ones

Although I’d told people I’d been gone five and a half years, it was only a rough estimate Still, I was pretty sure I was soht be a seriously younger ar, you"

I snickered Me, a cougar Right "Not in any way that e didn’t exist when I ith him He was just Dancer and I was just me We were sprawled out on our backs on one of the counters in the physics lab, holding hands I’d dropped by to stock up on food but had taken one look at the exhaustion in his face and ended up staying, searching for soe

He propped himself up on an elbow "Tell -lashed, brilliant aqua eyes that I adored seeing light up with laughter and fascination, especially when they were turned ed heart? I’d already told him hoe’d met So I told him e had to leave Dada "He ate all the fish I think to extinction The other animals found out and stampeded, chased us all the way to the exit portal I located shortly after we arrived He was only gone an hour when he did it" I frowned "I’m not sure how he ate them all so fast I think he has another form he never lets me see Maybe more than one There’s a lot about Shaza, he never taught h I pestered him relentlessly"

And it would have proved invaluable if he had Soifts Shaz had a theory those planets were heavily laced with some mineral my blood reacted to badly I’d always felt sick on those worlds and been unable to freeze-frah worlds to survive I had no clue how ordinary folks got through the days

"Shaz says there are things limited life-forms like me aren’t supposed to know until they reach that phase of evolution You know, he’d been really good with his diet up until then, too I’d had him restricted to plant life I didn’t think it was fair for hi on Dada They were so funny and playful and curious They had co fa ate hi uncontrollably, then told al ire that ‘For my Yi-yi, alone, I will starve if she so demands it’ " I added dryly, "She so deh belly fat to live off for months But I’d never tell him that," I added hastily "He’s super sensitive about his appearance"

Dancer rolled over onto his sto with excitement I was relieved to see he looked far less tired than when I’d first arrived "Mega, I’ve got tohi bubble of happiness I’d blown for us popped I closedMind if I hit up your supplies?"

When I openedaze "Why did he call you Yi-yi?"

I had no intention of answering him but this was the most freely I’d spoken to anyone about ly difficult to say no to Dancer about anything, andhe loved me He used to say, ‘I see you, Yi-yi’ "

Dancer sry for? I’ll nuke us some lunch"