Time: 210 years in the future
POV characters: Ambrena, Rusty, and Corandra
The new mine at Shells is almost empty. Rusty worries her life skill is at an end. She has no other interest than being the dig leader following Zella.
Ambrena feels threatened that her life skill will be less valued as Tanna's daughters grow up. Every mistake is magnified as if it were life threatening.
Corandra feels abandoned by her older friends, Ambrena and Rusty, as they embrace their life skills. The only person who notices her anymore is her verbal sparring partner, Henry. Or so she thinks.
When the illness comes and takes the young life of Zande, Rusty is devastated. Ambrena blames herself. Though