one

Ever since the run-in with the coyotes, and her second encounter with the morbid stranger … she had been consciously less adventurous- choosing to stick closer to home than ranging out in the surrounding territories. It wasn’t that she was afraid- more guilt than anything. She simply didn’t want to put herself (or her parents for that matter) in that kind of a situation ever again. And while remaining within the boundaries of Hallowed territory might not be the most healthy answer, it certainly was and answer. Because of her self-imposed house arrest, Talyssa hadn’t been to the beach since the heat had begun to fade with the presence of autumn. Watching the coastline from the windows of Hearthstone had been enough until now. But today she wanted to feel the ocean spray, even if it wasn’t as pretty as the neighboring shimmering shores. Their beach would suffice for now.

From a distance, it seemed that each surge was managing to reach further onto the mainland than it normally did from- or at least from what she could remember. The roar of crashing waves gave a more ominous impression that only increased in volume the closer she got. While there might not have been an impending threat of storm at the moment, something was on the horizon. If it was coming or going, she couldn’t say.

In the grand scheme of things, she hadn’t been there for very long when something misplaced caught her attention. It almost didn’t seem real at a first glance. An odd piece of driftwood that had been cast aside by the volatile surf. Out of curiosity, she made the subconscious decision to approach. Wandering aimlessly, but now with a destination in sight. However, the closer she came to the suspicious bundle abandoned on the beach, the stronger she felt that sinking feeling in her gut. When the realization struck her that it wasn’t just a thing, but a puppy- probably much smaller than he should have been- she broke into a frantic run. “Hey!” She called, desperate for a response. “Hey! Wake up!” Talyssa demanded as she came skidding to a halt near the seemingly lifeless frame- not much more than a thin layer of skin to cover his bony carcass. “You gotta wake up!” The girl pleaded more desperately as she began rapidly raking away the grit that covered his pathetic form.