January 17, 2018, 02:00 PM
There was almost no way to tell that this particular lump on this particular beach was of any consequence to anyone. Almost. There was sand and salt all over, layering like thick seasonings across a holiday ham. A net of seaweed had snagged on one reaching hind-limb at some point; now it ensnared a crusted tail. Bulbs of kelp littered the grove's rock-hewn edge and kept the large lump company, at least until a shrieking gull caught sight of something - perhaps a crab vying for shelter. As the bird landed atop the lump it shuddered, startling the seaside pest back into the air.