‘The spell... it was stronger than I thought it to be,’ they said to the other, staring at the third water sphere. ‘It managed to create a soul to cover your own though it is still incomplete. Perhaps because it tried to copy yours?’

They summoned the sphere closer to the shore. The soul inside it didn’t react when they tapped its surface.

‘It is hiding,’ they murmured. They pulled a small spark from inside of them and carefully pushed it inside the sphere. The spark drifted towards the soul and then landed on it.

The soul shuddered.

So very slowly it lifted its head. It reached for the spark. The soul swallowed it and -

‘They are able to decide their form,’ they said, ‘without becoming a clone of you. They are part of the water now but otherwise free to choose.’

The sphere shrunk and a hard shell covered it. They gathered it into their hand.

‘I shall guard them until they hatch,’ they said, ‘and after that I will bring them to the clan. I hope this time...’

They cradled the sphere close to their chest.