[the sky is blue, water is wet and shauna shipman has a knife in her hand whenever possible. she pauses at the mention of the woods, looking out towards the treeline through the window – saltburnt has a forest, but it’s a tame, mild kind of thing, with walking paths and little gazebos and things like that. it’s not the wilderness. it’s not…wherever melissa’s come from. whenever she’s from.

that’s the only thing that has shauna not completely disregarding the story: the reality of mel in front of her, bloodied shoulder and sling, the subtle differences in her face, her hair lighter from a long summer spent – what? the way melissa touches her suggests something. the mention of a guy with a crossbow suggests more.]

The last thing I remember is the trial. [steady, stern, meeting melissa’s gaze.] How long after that did this guy show up? Did we catch him? [belated, and she knows it:] Sit down, if you’re hurt.