Gilded Bay your body in electric blue

what even are timelines anyway -- also editing bc shadowpost

there were three natural borders to the coconut grove: the first being the sea, of course, the second a river that flowed from inland and split into a delta before meeting the waves, and the third the sudden swell of the moors from the sand. but the fourth was all too permeable. there was no true measure of where the grove ended and the bay began, save marking it by the edge of the trees.

and govinda was too wary of others' intentions to let that be the sole determining factor.

after marking the eastern edge, and marking it well, he crossed over and began the short walk over to the bay, wondering if he would spot any familiar faces there. not today, it seemed; a silver figure played in the sand, and as he drew closer, he found no spark of recognition. the man chuffed at the woman, stopping just shy of where she lay, looking down on her.

it's a lovely day, no? he asked casually, though the tinge of caution in his voice was unmistakable. she was close, very close, to his new home, his new friends.

and then another woman came, and his wariness grew tenfold.