Swamped

"I'm just feeling... lost," you say, finally. "It's how I've felt most of the time since my father disappeared."

"Get to the point," she mutters.

"When I first met you... or Sandra, if you'd rather... I saw someone who knew what she wanted, and was willing to fight hard for it. I admired that. I thought... I suppose I thought, if I was around you, I'd have a better chance to figure out what I wanted."

She doesn't say anything. On the other hand, she hasn't told you to shut up again.

"After the fire, well, I felt lost again. For three years, I just scraped by. More than once I wondered if I should just go back to the farm, but I knew I couldn't really be happy there. Eventually, I went to the swamp, because all I had at that point was the hope that I might see my father again."

"I could do with never seeing mine again," Rivers grumbles.

"I won't ask what happened," you say. "If you don't want to talk about it, that's not my business. But... well."

You need a moment to work out what you're trying to say.

"You may not be Sandra any more, but I can't help but wonder. Who are you now?"

You look down, a little embarrassed.

"Maybe that's not my business either. But that's how I'm feeling."

There's a long and awkward pause.

"A few hours ago, I would've just told you to get lost," Rivers finally says. "But, well. I've been talking to this grebling lady for a while today. She asked me a lot of questions. I had to put some thought into who I am. Or maybe who I want to be."

Rivers paces for a bit.

"So. Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Well, for a start, I suppose I've been wondering about the new name. Sandra told me she wasn't much of a swimmer."

"It's where they found me," she grumbles. "At the intersection of two rivers, nearly drowned."

"They as in..."

"The Marshguards. I don't really know the details. Didn't wake up until I was at their fortress. When I was finally ready to move again, Doc asked if I needed help getting home." She shakes her head. "I just laughed and said I never wanted to go back. That's when she explained to me where I was, and I figured, might as well join up."

She seems to be smiling a little, at least. You should think about if you have any other questions.