Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71832 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 359(@200wpm)___ 287(@250wpm)___ 239(@300wpm)
"From what Devi said, they were uncertain how often the creatures would return or if they would. Now she knows their pattern." I can appreciate Devi's way of looking at things. She must know the guidelines of how these creatures will act before she can move forward. "But as for leaving, I don't think it was considered. It's their home. The cove provides everything for them, and the weather on that side of the mountains is fairer. I think they'd rather deal with snails than the cold."
She makes a face, her expression full of sympathy. "I would too, honestly. This cold is brutal."
"Do I need to warm you up?"
April grins at me. "Not in the middle of a trail. But you can tonight."
I look forward to that.
CHAPTER 18
VALMIR
For days, I have been envisioning utter wreckage on the beach. Of the entire village crushed underneath massive curled shells and writhing tentacled creatures as far as the eye can see. Of chaos and destruction. I brace myself as we approach the cliffs that will give us the first glimpse below, into the sheltered cove of Icehome, and I try to think of words to reassure April that I will take care of her, that it will not be that bad, that she has nothing to fear with me around.
We get to the ledge and gaze down below and...it's strangely disappointing.
"Oh," says April, surprised and utterly unimpressed.
I know how she feels. "I thought there would be more destruction based on my conversation with Devi."
"Me, too."
We stare down at the beach. There are a few more of the house-sized spiral shells emerging from the water, and a few more on land. So far, however, there are not more than a dozen on the shore, and the damage they have done is minimal. One hut looks to be crushed, and another has one wall damaged, but most seem to be intact. As disasters go...it's not one. It's a minor inconvenience at best.
"Well," April says, glancing over at me. "It looks like it's not done. There are still more shells coming in and I see people on the shore. Let's go see if we can help out?"
Because her favorite thing is to be part of the community. I nod. "Of course."
A short time later, we've traversed the paths that lead down the cliffs and to the cove. I set down our pack by a few other stacks of goods at the far end of the encampment and follow April's lead as she heads down to the shore. I can see Devi standing next to one of the shells, fascination on her face. She runs her hands over it, lost in thought. Nearby, there are several males standing on the shore and talking, pointing at one of the shells slowly emerging from the waters. It moves at a glacial pace, but that doesn't matter. It'll eventually hit the shore and that's when it becomes a problem.
April gives my arm a squeeze and leans in to kiss my cheek. "I'm going to go say hi to Devi." She doesn't wait to see my response, heading towards the other woman. "Hi Devi," she calls out. "What can I do to help?"
Devi turns, brightening at the sight of April. "I need your hands! I'm comparing the size of this one to the first one that beached itself."
"My hands are yours," my mate says cheerfully, moving to her side. Their conversation grows soft and I can't make it out over the roaring of the waves. I cross my arms, watching my mate, and glance over at the males down the beach again. I see Corvak standing next to Devi's mate, N'dek. I see Bek and one of the red clones, either Vordis or Thrand. And I see Jason, gesturing at the waters.
Ugh. Jason.
Still, I did promise my mate I would try to be more social. I think about what she said to Devi and how warmly she was received and decide to give it a try. I move toward the group clustered near the waters and do my best to seem charming. "Greetings, friends. What can I do to help?"
They all look at me with suspicion.
"What?" I ask, defensive. "I can't volunteer to help?"
"We're still figuring out what to do," Jason says, gesturing at the nautilus creeping its way out of the waters. "That one is heading straight for a hut. We need to figure out how to divert it, and we're open to ideas."
"I still say we kill it," Thrand comments (at least, I think it's Thrand). "Kill it, push the shell out of the way, and eat snail for a few days."
"More like a few weeks," Bek comments. "It's huge."
"Do we have to kill these things?" I say, thinking of how upset April would be. Killing it simply because it's inconvenient to our comfort doesn't sit well with me, either. "This is their beach, yes? It's not doing anything wrong. It's not harming us. We're just in the way."