Stavanger Bay infinite

where the land ends.

many pawsteps ahead of the listener's skulking black-robed form, the dirt turned loose and coarse and dry as if it had turned to rock and shattered, and then shattered again. the hard pale substance was scattered through the scant reedy grasses, sticking to paws and chafing, but the listener paid it no mind. ahead, far ahead beyond the pale stretch of strange rocky earth, lay the answer to the question that had besieged the small group for days.

this was the end of the land.

the listener turned their gaze first to @Morgana, then laid eyes upon @Ingram II's face. but, as if drawn by some unknown force, the void-priest found she could not keep her eyes from straying past earthly borders and out to that haunting expanse. spirits writhed amid ghostly bluish grey, stretching desperate arms up as far as they would go as if begging to return to the land of the living. the air was cold and salted and heavy with death. here, the mortal world met the otherworld.

end of land, the listener murmured, reverent. but not our home. not here.

set on the 26th because i am sick and slow, this can just be a quick one <3

i hope you feel better soon! <3

they walk; their mis-matched trio. the listener leads and close to her side, her keeper prowls. though he still has yet to figure out ( or understand, or both ) their hierarchy and where he falls within it, but he knows enough. that where trikova goes, he follows and when she speaks: he listens.

this is the easiest way for him to grasp it and in this, ingram is willing.

even if he glares at the sand that yawns out before them with thinly veiled disdain for it lingers; gritty in his mouth. an acquired taste, he assumes; and as this is the first time he's ever been on the coast he is not sure what to expect.

the end of land, trikova declares and before ingram can let out a sigh of relief, the air is stolen from his lungs when she announces that this is not to be their home. he casts a glimpse at their surroundings, trusting her judgement. they could travel north east or south west — for it has not yet occurred to him that there are bits of habitable land just off the coast of the mainland.

having nothing useful to add, and trust that trikova will lead them to where their home was meant to be, ingram holds to his silence.

she’d heard of this place only in stories. from sisters and brothers who’ve traveled far. she’d never expected to see this for herself back then.

now she’s here. she stood upon the grainy earth and stared out towards desolate waters. silently she fills the blanks of those stories.

this was the coast. the sea. the end of the land. but this was not home.

morgana turned to the listener, acknowledging this information with a nod.

silent acceptance emanated from her companions. the listener watched the horizon for several more lingering moments, then turned away.

we stay for now. rest. then move on, the prophet beckoned for the keeper to follow. together, they would ensure the bay was secure, and lay down temporary markers warning of their presence. any unfortunate wanderers would have fair warning, at the least.