Chapter 15 Summary

Brekke shudders, remembering the "bowels of the deepest hold." F'nor touches her, Canth reassures her, and the lizards chitter near her. Smiling, she touches her smudged, disheveled lover. He embraces her with a sob and kisses her with relief. She burrows closer, knowing she had been trapped in her mind, hating everyone. Manora advises that Brekke needs to cry, but when she cannot stop, slaps her and has F'nor put her in warm water to relax her muscles and then tuck her into bed. Brekke has felt F'nor and Canth beside her while she most wants to die, and demands why they would force her to the Hatching Ground. F'nor blames F'lar and Lessa, who think it might prevent losing her. An empty ache threatens to pull Brekke back, but Canth forbids it, the lizards press her with affection and concern, and F'nor...