Peter can feel her shaking with laughter in his arms, and he has to press his lips together to keep himself from laughing in turn, and soon even his body is shaking with silent laughter.

Outside their hiding space, a Meiki turns, its enormous cat-like ear twitching. The hairs on Peter's arm rise a little as goosebumps form on his arm. He relinquishes his grasp on Liz to push aside one of the massive mushroom stalks to get a better look at what's going outside of their personal garden -- and discovers that one of the Meiki is slowly, cautiously approaching their little hiding place.

He swiftly turns to Liz. "We're about to be found out. We're going to have to make a run for it."