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I was silent for a fewperson, River," I said

She shrugged "As my mom would say, when life throws stuff at you, you either duck or catch" She paused, then changed the subject "You keep saying how you want to cure yourself of your hu to take? Or how you’re going to do it?"

If I was honest with myself, since I’d realized that River washer to The Shade, I had postponed thinking in depth abouther to The Shade in one piece Once her situation was sorted, I’d be able to direct my attention to my own problems

"I’m not sure how to answer either of those questions yet," I replied

She shifted in her seat "I just… I feel like you’ve helpedthat I could do to help you?"

I looked at her seriously "River, you have helped me--have no doubt about that You’ve helped me more than you realize"

"It doesn’t feel like it, at least not compared to what you have done for me"

"Well, I can’t think of a way you could solve ht lead er than you’ve already been through"

She looked down at her feet, appearing dissatisfied by my answer But she said, "Okay"

After that, ere mostly silent for the next few hours, apart from a bit of small talk

Once I felt confident to leave the subht River’s hand and led her toward the back of the sub we hadn’t had ti the harbor at Coloer than I had estile beds, three toilets, a galley, and a s area River said that she wanted to take a shower, so we parted ways in the corridor I headed to one of the bedrooainst the wall

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do for human blood now that ere in a sub the blood that we had caught in barrels from the blood shohile ere still on the ship So for noasn’t craving But sooner or later, I would start feeling the thirst again