Outside the crumbled shell where Meridia once stood
The cinnamon-hued fog of sand whipped and stung Anna’s eyes as she huddled in a tight group with her comrades. Her trident was braced at her side. The stench of blood lingered in the currents, reminding her of the horrible reality.
The enemy could return at any moment.
“Stay close.” Tao’s voice warned her and the others as the sound of whirling sand clicked about them.
She could not make out the features of Tao and the others, only their dark silhouettes. And something slick skimmed along her calves as she trod water. “Did you feel that?” she asked to whoever would answer.
“What?” replied one of them.
“Probably an eel,” Tao spoke up.
She kicked faster, the paranoia making her heart thud loudly.
“Don’t break formation until the sand clears.” Tao’s voice came again. “They could launch an attack.”
The sand whirled before her sight for long moments before dissipating faintly. But atleast she found more comfort in the company of her comrades now, as their shadows morphed into clearer figures. Her eyes adjusted further, to find Sift’s strong body immediately on her left.
Still, she swallowed hard, pondering why she could not see anything directly in front of her.
A gust of dark and light sand swept before Anna and green hues now mixed within the currents. Then instantly the sand slowed and began to dissipate again.
What was that dark shadow coming closer and closer to her through the sand? It moved quickly and had a human-like form.
“There’s something coming toward us,” Anna whispered to the others. She gripped her trident tight in her fists, preparing to strike the thing.
The sand dissipated more and more now so that she was almost able to make out the person’s face. And then it hit her.
Her approacher’s tone, slim build, and charming smile struck her mentally and drew breath from her heart. He had been ripped away from her in her life’s most intimate moment of passion.
“Maanta?” she gasped, letting her trident fall slack in her hands. “Could it be you?”
He approached quicker now and the sight consumed her heart with warmth. More handsome than she had remembered, his body had matured since she had last seen him.