Astra Looks for an Edge

Astra fled. Running after the child might be seen as hostile. But she could not stay here for any length of time, living as an animal of the forest, afraid for her life. And where could she flee to? The reactions of other people would likely be the same as the child's.

In a few minutes Astra was at the river's bank. Now that the waxy goop had served its purpose, she wanted to remove it. Perhaps if the people around here could see a human face in the tar, they might help her. People generally would offer a night's hospitality to a stranger who was traveling. If she could get that far, she would have to assume a new identity.

But the goop would not wash away. Perhaps she could scrape it off? But with what? The beach had clam shells that had an edge to them, but here in the forest, there was not much. Twigs? Bark? Astra was stumped. She fiddled with the rings on her left hand, encased in goop. All she had to remove the goop were her nails and those rings. Would that be enough?

1. Yes.
2. No.

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