Larksong Grotto cranberry

hide.

her mind went on incessantly with the thought. startled and weary with all that had happened she sought shelter. hard reaching, unforgiving, even desolate places were all she searched for. somewhere far away. arletta was scraped up, sore, and tired; her mind pained by the remorseless and thieving strangers and she'd ran      far, far away.

find some stupid place to die. ain't nothin' out here for me no more.

her mama might've told her she was being silly, that she'd always had a touch for the dramatics. the woman was right, arletta only had a few scratches and sore limbs. inconveniences had usually been the end of the world for her but now, she surely thought it couldn't get worse. everybody was fucking dead and she was alone.

her avoidance of others ended in failure. her head lifted from the stony ground where she lay curled up and pitying herself beside the pool. dusky ears swiveled each direction and attempted to tune out the bird song. someone was here.