you are miles away but i still feel you
Hestoni’s mind eases at the sight of the empty ocean where the outcropping of stone amid waves had been. As his heartrate decreases, the russet is suddenly able to hear the noises of the forest behind him slowly growing louder. Pieces of the present-world begin to put themselves together, formulating a puzzle that crowds out the memories of the creature and her seducing words. The sky is bright and as blue as the shine of Scorch’s dragon-eyes in the night. The sand beneath his feet is damp from the drip of his soaked body, yet the ivory grains are warmed by the heat of the sun. A cool breeze is already beginning to dry the thickest tendrils of his dreadlocked mane.
Although he’d been lost in the heat of the moment between the siren and his panic-induced swim from the outcropping to the shoreline, the russet remembers his original purpose. This is furthered by the sights of many different faces who also heard the call of the fairy and responded accordingly. It brings the slightest hint of a smile to Hestoni’s mouth to think that there are others in Beqanna who are willing to search far and wide for the cure.
And yet they come to a crossroad. They are all determined to find the seashells; while the shadows and symphony from the forest sounds appealing to Hestoni, he knows he will not find the treasure among the leaves and brush. Seashells are found upon the seashore, among the seaweed rafts and white-feathered gulls. There are two beaches for Hestoni to choose from, and the giant swings his head one way and then the other before deciding.
Perhaps the shells of the ocean will wash against the odd structures and lodge themselves there. They might erode away beneath the weight of the endless waves and fierce salt. Or perhaps the shells might be found in a wide expanse of an unexpected corner. Hestoni’s face pulls into a frown for a moment, considering each option. Several of the travelers have chosen the beach toward the structures while a child and a mare have turned toward the empty beach.
In Hestoni’s experience, Beqanna truly enjoys tricking them into seeking out the unexpected.
So the russet titan turns toward the expanse of the empty, clear beach.
hestoni
words: 383
hestoni goes left (the empty beach)