Stavanger Bay on the alter

The boy stammers off his words—his name—and Qilaq stiffens, watching as he returns the question but he doesn’t try to move any closer. She notes the youthfulness of his facial features and she’s able to soften a little, picking herself up out of the sand. If both of them remain scared opposite of one another, they aren’t going to get very far. She shakes out her coat, sending sand every which way, and slowly she takes a few more steps closer so she doesn’t have to shout anymore. “I am Qilaq,” she tells him though his question causes a wave of confusion anyway. “This use to be home. Why are you here?”