"They don't feel like they're bleeding, at least?"

"Honestly that worries me, they really should be at that size and I can't think what the property the quills might have to prevent it."

"I'm guessing we don't actually have clean enough water it would be worth the risk to clean them out."

"Yeah, no, I don't think you should go swim in the pond. Or the ocean. There could be space leeches, space sharks, waterborne bacteria."

"Are they space leeches if they are on a planet."

"Well I'm not going to call them 'planetary leeches'."

"Alien?" Lucien asks tentatively.

"I just think 'alien leech' sounds less cool than 'space leech'. Less punchy too. I guess we could name the planet and call them whatever the planet's name is leeches. If they exist."

"I am not very good at naming things." But he bets Isabella is great at it.

"Yeah. I'm thinking maybe Sunrise. Or Sunset. But maybe more distinctive features will become clear over time. It certainly looks like we're stuck for a while."

"Yeah. I'm not sure how long it'll take if they need to wait until someone gets a power for transport to wherever this portal is working instead of just finding someone else who can through the portal like us." 

"Oh, if it takes that long it'll be years. I should be able to get ahold of Alex sooner though."

"Oh, how long do you think?"

"Dunno, it'll probably depend on whether we're in another dimension or just another planet and I don't know what effect either would have on the learning curve."

"I can work on something to figure out more information about the portal, maybe. Though my divination really isn't meant for that sort of thing."

"Well, I'm stretching my telepathy, you can stretch your divination."

"Yes ma'am."

Pat pat.

Lean.

"It's really weird that you aren't bleeding. I guess maybe we will bring home miracle clot-inducing porcupine quills."

"Hopefully."

"And delicious bananishes for when you want to make a smoothie for twelve people."

"Maybe smoothie places will introduce them as a flavor."

"I think they'd go well with peach."

"That does sound good."