"A few months in this city," Pepper replies, looking at Ilda with mild curiosity. The Dreaming snatched people amid all sorts of circumstances, and she recalls that if Tony and Gene hadn't been there in Keeliai, she wouldn't have fully accepted the explanation she was given for a while. It's still weird to think about. "But about two years in a different one a really, really long time ago. Everything's new here, including the rainy season," she adds with a laugh.

Tu Vishan moved around a lot, so the seasons weren't terribly consistent. "This must be a huge change for you, if you're from somewhere small. How're you adjusting?"