[i]For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much – the wheel, New York, wars and so on – whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man – for precisely the same reasons.[/i] Kira read the words out loud, her fingers trailing under each word as she read; a dark mass of hair  with braids and beads woven into it falling along the pages as she nestled the book on her thighs and hunched over it as she lay on her bed of furs. The air hung thick with the smell of incense and a the wafts of smoke that came from the burned aromatics rose into the roots above her. 

	Closing the book she leaned back and thought to herself, [i]”What’s New York?”[/i] she pondered inwardly, only mouthing the words. Shrugging she set the book to the side, pushing into a root shelf that was near the makeshift bed.  In the center was a large tarp that was stretched tight between four branches that had been driven into the soil below. It dipped in the center and within that dip bubbled a murky looking concoction. 

	A caw came from outside and her head turned sharply as the knock came from the door. “Blithering fool,” she hissed as her deep eyes narrowed, speaking to her raven that had given her hardly any notice to the one that knocked at the door. Pulling her dagger from her side she crouched slightly and approached the door. Opening it slowly she let only a crack form between the door and the roots which held it into place.

	“I have already found whatever god you are peddling, I have enough furs, so unless you have cookies, go away,” she muttered.