They saw no trace of the things that had disturbed them in the night. The land was barren and raw, as if the soil and crust of the country had been stripped back to reveal its bare bones. There were no trees now, the only living things were wind-torn scrub and bracken, and sharp-edged grasses that thrust up out of the stones like knives. The sky was a dreary gray sheet above their heads, occasionally tossing down a scattering of cold rain as they rode along. The noise of the waves hammering on the black rocks was so constant that Tania was hardly even aware of it anymore. She rode with her head bowed, weary of this endless journey, exhausted by this terrible land. Their food was almost all gone. They ate a meager midday meal, not even bothering to stop for rest. Tania knew the others felt the same way she did: They all just wanted this to be over and done with. She was brought sharply out of her lethargy some time in the middle of the slate gray afternoon. She lifted her head, peering at something that she thought at first was a bird flitting low across the sky a little way ahead of them.
