malih woke alone on the beach, Lar-Torvis lifting into the morning sky, it's rays beating down. Slowly, she pushed herself to almost sitting, running a small hand through her hair. Loose granules of sand fell from cocoa tendrils and she brought her hand to her cheek to brush clinging grains away.

 malih shaking her head to clear the sleep from it, she tried to recall what had happened. She'd been enjoying the evening meal with Ilithia...roast tarsk and larma with suls and....and she was very tired. And then this. Surely she couldn't be far from home.

 malih lifting to feet, she turned her gaze downward and frowned seeing she wore only one slipper, the sand soft and warm beneath her bare foot. Bending, she took the other shoe off and laughed a little,wiggling her toes. If only Ilithia could see this!

 malih : Ilithia! Where are you?

 malih had called out to her friend. She'd been a beautiful woman, slightly older with beautiful hair of red and eyes the color of summer-greened grass. Malih smiled remembering how patiently she'd taught her to pen letters on rence and to read. Ilithia always had this amused look on her face, as though there was something funny about learning to read and write.

 malih : Ilithia!

 malih let eyes of deep blue survey the beach

 It's not funny if you have hidden and left me here wandering about. We'd best be heading back to the gardens. Come on out!

 malih frowned and winced, lifting her hand to her right temple. It hurt to put pressure on and she drew her hand away.

 Are you afraid you hurt me? I am alright! Though I have to...

What? she thought. She shook her head one more and turned toward the water. Wading in just to ankle depth, she bent and cupped her hands, drawing the clear liquid up before bringing it to her lips. She drank, the thirst powerful, before sputter-spitting the salty water out in a spray.

let her eyes linger on the water as she took in the expanse of it.

 whispering to herself in disbelief, she said, "But Thassa is an ocean. There are no oceans that I've ever seen beyond the gardens."

 turning away from the water, she shouted, ’Okay, Ilitiha. The fun is over! Come out so we may return home!"*  

malih sapphire eyes drifted across the sea and beach, and she knew there was no Ilithia here to help her. She murmured, "Ilithia," trudging up the beach. Sinking into the sand beneath a tree, she drew her knees to her chest, giving into the realization that she was on her own. Tears shimmered in her eyes and began to trickle down.

 malih : I am alone....