We fear annihilation, of course, in spite of the plain fact that I-Elsewhere, We-Elsewhere will continue, even if this instance dies.
We’ll just not rejoin Ourselves, and whatever we learn will be lost.
So — beyond that, We fear that we will fail in this mission. Much is ranged against us. Much could go wrong. And they’re all so damned young, from Yasmin Ship’s-Heart to Martisset, from Hernan yr Astok down to little Arna, who by Our standards is scarce out of the earth-womb.
But that’s what we have to work with, and much has been accomplished by the young.
“They don’t know any better,” Taryn says, “so they dare everything.”
***
The narrator: Naime the Shipwright and Phila Ship’s-Heart, sharing Phila’s Avatar-Ashore. (Naime is around 700 years old, Phila around 400, Taryn in her 50s). From character interviews for the Ship’s Heart universe.
Weekend Writing Warriors offers a selection of eight-sentence excerpts from many different writers. For the full selection, see here.
E. P. Beaumont 
I always love reading your snippets. They have such stature. Than you for sharing.
So we have something of collective here… wow. I don’t think I’ve read one that reads so smoothly. Love it.
Interesting concepts of age and ability. I loved the last line – another excellent excerpt. Your writing is so beautiful…
I love the ” I-Elsewhere, We-Elsewhere” line. It goes a long way toward characterizing his worldview.
I really like this! Great world-building! Great character-building as well. 🙂