Lion Head Mesa Shake like the bough of a willow tree.

When the woman moved it was in slow-motion to his eyes. There was red bleeding out from beneath her paws; that was dust, he was sure of it. The same dust came moments later as he lost his own balance and collided hard against the ground, causing a plume of rust red to billow forth.

He was awake; his body rang like a bell from the collision, as the delirium tossed aside all sense. The woman spoke and tried to assist him; it was enough to get him back up again, and as he was leaning upon her as support, Raimo staggered along.

There was a lake. It sprawled before him suddenly; a glassy blue falsehood, he was certain it was a mirage. He could not recall how he'd gotten to the shade, or to the water's edge, or where this woman had come from — and as he peered listlessly around, he saw a second. Which was real? He closed his eyes and felt the world pulse around him.