Riverborn

When Sunny and Nephis first met Ananke, both were concerned about the frail old woman. She just looked too ancient and weak, ready to snap like a twig. Her tan skin was thin and transparent like oil paper, her cloudy eyes teary and dull, her gaunt figure so small that it seemed to be drowning in the black folds of her dark mantle. 

They were not sure that the old woman could survive another peaceful day, let alone a long and perilous journey across the Great River. 

However, as the days went by, their worries were proven wrong. Old Ananke continued to cling to life… in fact, her condition seemed to be improving little by little. She had more energy now, could remain fully lucid for longer periods of time, and even regained some of her appetite.