Editing Tashlit (section)

====[[Verona Hayward]]====
She and Verona got on pretty well when they first met, both indicating they liked each other's appearance.<ref name=":0"/> Like many [[Other]]s, she was drawn to the jewel [[Clementine Robertjon|Clem]] found, but was the only one [[Verona Hayward|Verona]] was able to persuade it was a trap.<ref name=":3">The girl with the eyes rose to a standing position without leaning on anything, and her skin slid around and resettled.  She started walking toward Kennet.<br><br>“Hey, hey, no,” Verona hissed.  “No.”<br><br>The girl pressed fingers together into a diamond.<br><br>“''No,''” Verona whispered.  “Please be as cool as you look.”<br><br>The girl pressed her fingers together to make a diamond again.  She started walking, and Verona nearly tripped over a bush in her haste to get in the girl’s way.<br><br>“No.  Really.  Please.”<br><br>[...]<br><br>The girl with the skin got Verona’s attention, pointed at the same location, then made the diamond shape.<br><br>“''No'',” Verona said.  “It’s some kind of Other-bait.  Why are you guys being dumb about this?”<br><br>[...]<br><br>The girl with the eyes looked down at him, moist eyes squelching with their simultaneous movement.<br><br>“I didn’t do that on purpose.  But that might be the sort of thing that happens if you keep going after this jewel.  They’re pretty territorial down there.  I think they were torching echoes and spirits on sight.”<br><br>The girl looked back at the jewel.<br><br>“No, really really.  I know you want it, but…”<br><br>The girl turned and walked away, opposite direction.  She cut across the path Sharon had been so near, then disappeared into darker woods.<br><br>“Good.  Okay,” Verona said, huffing. - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2020/10/10 Excerpt] from [[Back Away 5.3]]</ref> Afterwards the two of them became friends, helped by Verona's innate ability to understand Tashlit's made-up sign language. Verona eventually offered to perform the [[familiar]] ritual with her.

Tashlit turned Verona down given the different life paths they were likely to take,<ref> - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2021/12/28 Excerpt] from [[Left in the Dust 16.5]]</ref> 
but did give Verona one of her only keepsakes of her father.<ref>A copper fishhook.<br><br>“Is that your-”<br><br>Tashlit brought thumb close to her other four flattened fingers and made a motion like she was stroking the brim of a baseball cap.<br><br>“Your dad’s.  Thank you.  That means a lot.”<br><br>Tashlit thumped her heart, then made a claw shape near the heart, pointing upward.<br><br>“Same.  You can consider my door always open to you.  This is a place you can stay.” - [https://palewebserial.wordpress.com/2022/01/15 Excerpt] from [[Left in the Dust 16.10]]</ref>