GRAY WAS WORRIED sick about his mother. But there was another thought that cut through this sadness, and he was ashamed that it terrified him more than anything else. Gray was homeless now. Barkley was also, of course. And the dogfish was certainly worried about his family. But Gray’s overriding feeling wasn’t sadness, anger, or confusion. It was fear that he had no place to go. And this made him feel awful because he was only thinking about himself. Again. Before this, after his banishment was over, Gray’s exile would have turned into an adventure he’d tell stories about around the reef. But now his mother was missing, and there was no Coral Shiver reef to go back to and he was petrified. Gray could feel that Barkley was also scared, but grief was the biggest sensation coming from him right now. He grew mortified when he realized that his friend could probably feel his state of mind, too. “I’m the worst shark ever,” Gray muttered. They reached the edge of the Rogue Shiver homewaters, where they were met by Mari.
