Dear Mani,

I spotted a pond and thought of you. It was half-hidden from the trail, with beautiful leafy plants all along the edge. The fishes were notfriendly. Apparently, they hadn’t encountered an aquatic halfling before. I swam in the muddy pond water for hours feeling homesick when someone from my party aimed a pebble at my head to get me out.

I’m glad I’ve gone on this adventure, but with the summer fading and what happened with Carmine… but you know about that.

I’m starting to hate…