C17 The Painting

For the next several days, Shaman Hathu beat me with his cane while I imagined myself in stressful situations—and each time it happened, I awoke to protruding claws and sharp canines that vanished after a few minutes of awareness. But as the days went on, Hathu grew discontented at my progress. Eventually, he gathered his thing and said, “She is inside, but she isn’t ready