swamp monsters

Lyra's gaze moved from the lizard to the birds in the trees and then to the turtles sunning themselves. Her mind worked quickly, processing her mother's words. Normally, she would be silent, content to absorb the lesson in quiet contemplation, but something about this moment drew more out of her. To just leave a potential threat be? For what she could only call the greater good?

But wouldn't the greater good be protecting those you love?

"The lizard's poison could be a threat to us," she began, her voice low but thoughtful. "But... if we remove her, we disrupt the whole system. The birds wouldn’t have enough food, and the crocodiles..." Her words trailed off as she considered the balance Modesty had spoken of. The interconnectedness of everything. Perhaps speaking it out loud helped her process it more thoroughly.

"It’s weird," Lyra mused, tilting her head slightly as her eyes followed the distant rumbling of a crocodile. "That something so dangerous can also be so necessary. I don't really understand it, but I kind of do..." She paused, catching her mother’s eye. Still, she got an idea of what Modesty was getting at...

"Maybe we just need to know when to act and when to let things be," Lyra added, a rare hint of curiosity creeping into her tone. It wasn’t often she entertained open thoughts like this. However here, in the estuary, with the pulse of life surrounding them and her mother's patient guidance, it seemed appropriate.

She looked back to the lizard and nodded, almost to herself. "It’s all connected? But how do you know when to get involved?"


"SPEECH"