Benjamin Kamphuis

The snapping of water droplets shot up and struck my skin like little daggers. Hiding my face behind the Spirfin's large dorsal fin, I peeked  over the purple and pink appendage to see where we were going, but water still struck me across the face. At first, I tried to keep my legs out of the water to keep my shorts dry, but the effort became pointless. The beast struggled to stay at the water's surface, lowering my hips into the water at times before forcing itself back up. I imagined the...

Each time a cloud shifted, I hoped to glimpse Meadow and the terrible Static Elderkaw that took her. Each time, only another cloud appeared—and hope thinned. Yet the faintest tingle of her Aura against my own still pulled at me. I ran my fingers through the sand, each granule scraping at my fingertips. The sticky grains clung to my palms as I patted them together, trying to shake the grit away. I hated the feeling of sand. Hoisting myself off the ground, I faced the sea. I wanted to save...

As I stared at the odd interaction along the beach, Meadow shifted next to me and turned away, growling. Her growl didn't mimic those of...