Swamped

For the briefest of moments, you think about passing it off as something else. That you passed by Marshall some other time today.

But Starling would see right through that cheap excuse. She deserves better than that from you.

Which isn't to say you're going to tell her everything. Just the basics. She knows better than to pry further, hopefully.

"We knew each other before I came to the swamp," you say. "That's all. Wasn't expecting to ever see anyone I knew again."

"Oh." She pauses, then glances over at Marshall. "Do you want to talk, then?"

"Hell no. The past is the past. I'm not the person I once was. I doubt Marshall is either, and I'm not just talking about the missing arm."

The lizard-worm makes another frustrated attempt to ram your leg.

"Are you sure you don't want any help with the worm? I'd imagine that's quite bothersome."

"Oh, be quiet."

---

You're now Marshall again. You're watching Rider work his animal magnetism on the desert horse.

You have a lot of questions for him, but you feel like this isn't the time or place. You're not alone, and there are things to be done.

Most of those things are best done with more than one hand, so you've been feeling a bit useless. You thought about trying to talk to Rivers, but she just seems generally hostile.

Rider suddenly turns to you. He seems to be finished with the horse for now.

"Marshall, there's something I'd like you to do for me."

"What is it?" you ask.