Chapter 11

The beach turned to stone, the dunes turned to cliffs, and everything got lonely and quiet. Except for the terrified sobbing, that he could hear very clearly. He rounded a large stone and there she was, crouched and sobbing, with her cloak wrapped firmly around her shoulders. He purposefully kicked a rock to alert her to his presence, he didn’t want to scare her any more than she was already.

She whirled, sobs cutting off like a switch. There was no recognition in her eyes for him, she was too terrified to know who he was. “Ardala, it’s me. It’s Vajra, you know I won’t hurt you, come on, come back with me to Patty’s.” He talked soothingly to her as he inched closer, hopefully proximity wouldn’t terrify her. “Come on sweetheart, it’s ok.”