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Room temperature

“Sanjit, turn away,” Lana said She was already pushing Taylor’s T-shirt up and Sanjit hastily looked away

Next he heard Lana unzipping Taylor’s jeans

“Okay,” Lana said “Nothing you shouldn’t see”

Sanjit turned back and gasped “She’s… Okay, I don’t knohat she is”

“I forget exactly what all the signs are of aabout giving birth to babies and then nursing theer has any of that … those…” She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts “Taylor’s not a mammal anymore”

“Hair,” Sanjit said “Mammals have hair” He touched Taylor’s hair It felt like a sheet of rolled-out Play-Doh

“So she’s a freak?” Sanjit suggested

“She was already a freak,” Lana said “And none of the freaks have ever developed a second power Or stopped being human Even Orc seems to be human beneath that armor of his”

“So the rules are changing,” Sanjit said

“Or being changed,” Lana said

“What do we do with her? She’s still alive”

Lana didn’t answer She see at the space a few inches in front of her face Sanjit reached for her, to touch her arm, remind her she wasn’t alone But he st

opped hi her off in the world she shared with forces Sanjit could not understand

He let her be, just kept his position close by It aze was drawn irresistibly to the monstrous parody of Taylor