Season: Autumn
Weather: Overcast with heavy clouds. Silvery frost in the early golden morning was soon melted by the fine drizzling mist that came with the clouds.
Day of the week: Friday
Date: 5th April, 2024
Our phones rang with a message from the state emergency service not to return to our homes or the city yet. There would and might be other smaller waves.
The drizzle prevented us from seeing out to sea, but occasionally, we heard the periodic crash and roar of waves hitting the shore. Some people in the tents cried or screamed every time we heard the sound that was a bit like distant thunder.
Deaglan decided to take us down to the nearby mountain town that usually catered to tourists. There weren't many people in the town. We found a restaurant and ate there, having already finished the picnic food he had bought yesterday. We had been finding little crabs in our car amongst our stuff all night and even in the restaurant, Deaglan and I were still picking up the occasional baby crabs off each other.
The restaurant owner and staff laughed at the sight and asked if we could give him the baby crabs, as he had a seawater aquarium. Why not? After eating, we went with the aquarium owner back to the car where we captured as many more of the little critters as possible to add to his aquarium, dropping them into a bucket.
By the time we were certain we had found all of the little crustaceans, it was pretty much dinner time and the bucket contained at least twenty baby crabs. The restaurant owner provided us dinner on the house in thanks and offered to rent us a room in his place with his family until we were able to return to the city.
He only had two small children and his wife was very hospitable and welcoming. I helped her with the chores and cooking, later on playing with the children that climbed all over me and wouldn't let me go until it was bed time. I helped them tuck the children into bed.
"We should have some kids one day too," Deaglan told me after we had returned to the bedroom and were snuggled in bed together. "What do you think? Shall we get married?"
What a shock. Skipping the boyfriend/girlfriend and engagement stage and going straight to marriage? Wasn't that a bit too quick?
"Janey, I really want to do more with you and move past this roommate and colleagues or friends stage. I just feel that you wouldn't be willing unless we get married. I also want to do things properly by you. I think you're the one for me. Why don't we get married?"
It hadn't been very long since we had first met and he was already proposing marriage. I didn't know how to answer. I was and am still flabbergasted.
Thankfully, our phones chimed with messages almost at the same time. It was from the dark shadow lord.
"Little white rabbits, are you two alright? If you need help or have no where to stay, come find me at this address."
I was surprised that he would think of us.
After reading and comparing the identical messages on each other's phones, Deaglan and I shook our heads in unison.
"Thank you for the thought, but no thank you. We are safe and we are fine," I replied.
Deaglan's message was even shorter.
"No need. Thanks."
"Glad that you're both safe. Inform me if you need anything," Umbrey quickly replied. "Goodnight."
Goodnight to him too.
If we went to him for help, who knew if his people would try to take advantage of us again or not. Better to stay away. Stay far away.