Alannah brought down the axe with all her might, sinking the sharp blade into the wooden log and splitting it in two. Breathing heavily, she wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand.

'You're halfway there, Alannah,' she thought, in an attempt to motivate herself. 'One silver coin for every tree.'

Alannah tossed one of the halves onto the grass. She raised the axe above her head once more and split the other half into two smaller pieces.

"Lannie!" said a voice from behind Alannah. She turned around to see Nina scampering toward her, gracefully dodging the trees that filled the forest.

She stopped in front of Alannah, beaming.

"Nina, what are you doing here? I've told you before that it's not safe for you out here," said Alannah. Nina paused as if she had lost her train of thought for a brief moment before throwing her hands in the air.

"Lannie, let's go to the beach!"

Alannah frowned while pointing at a stack of wooden logs on the grass beside them. "Nina, I'm working. Maybe tomorrow."

"But I'm bored!" Nina said.

Alannah was tempted. She also wanted a break from the labour of her job.

"Please, Lannie." Nina pressed her hands together as if she was praying to her.

"Fine, but only for a bit. Go and fetch Leo." Said Alannah. Nina gave her a happy squeal and ran off to get the horse.

When they arrived at the beach, there were no people around. Convenient for Alannah, as this made it easier to look after Nina.

"Yay! It's just us again!" Nina said. Running toward the ocean.

As the waves continued their habit of crashing onto the shoreline, the winds that carried them blew on Alannah's long black hair causing them to dance in front of her eyes. She smiled and tucked one side behind her ear. The ocean wind had always been a source of comfort for Alannah during these times.

'Am I enough?' she asked herself as she looked at Nina. The corners of her mouth drooped. 'Does she miss them?'

A while has passed. Nina continued to delightedly build her sixth sand castle today, despite still being in the same spot where the ocean destroyed her last five castles.

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As the sun began to retreat behind the ocean, the tall palm trees began to cast shadows over the beach. The sky became a fiery orange which painted the ocean with a warm glow.

"Nina, it's time to go!" Alannah yelled through the howling of the wind. Nina looked up at Alannah with a tragic expression.

"But I haven't finished building my castle!" Nina yelled back. The wind seemed to be becoming more intense.

"Nina, I need to get back to work before it gets dark! I said it's time, so we are le-"

In the same instant that the sound of thunder boomed across the beach, a flash of lightning appeared from the distant clouds behind Nina. Alannah let out a shriek in fright and covered her ears.

"Nina, come here!" Alannah ordered Nina, who looked equally as frightened. The wind had become furious. She sprinted into Alannah's arms and Alannah comforted her with a hug.

Alannah looked up at the sky. Although the light had started to dim, the skies were still mostly clear of clouds with no sign of rain let alone lighting.

Again, thunder filled the beach with sound. This time the lightning appeared larger and closer. Alannah quickly turned around with an arm wrapped around Nina's shoulder.

"Come on, Nina. Let's go." Alannah said as they began to move away from the beach, struggling against the aggressive wind.

Thunder struck once more as they retreated, this time louder than ever. But suddenly, the wind stopped and the air became completely still. After a brief moment to process, Alannah squatted down to match Nina's height.

"Are you okay?" asked Alannah.

"Yes, I'm fine," Nina replied happily with her usual sparkle.

A sound came from the beach as if a boulder had landed on the sand. Alannah looked back at the beach. Laying on the shoreline was something that looked like an animal.

"Stay here, okay?" Alannah looked at Nina as she nodded. Alannah stands and starts to approach the animal.

As she got closer she could see that the creature resembled a human man, but he possessed a tail, and fur surrounded most of his body.

Smoke rose from his short fur and it smelt like he had been burnt. His body was covered in all manner of bruises and cuts as if he had been struck by every weapon imaginable. Blood stained the sand beneath him.

The creature tried to stand by pushing himself up with his arms but crumbled under his weight back onto the sand. He began to scream at the top of his lungs, chin touching the sand. To Alannah, it sounded more like a scream of frustration rather than pain.

Alannah began to walk closer to the creature, her boots leaving footprints on the sand with every step until she stopped only a few steps away.

"You're badly injured. You'll die if you don't treat these wounds." The creature looked up at Alannah's concerned expression. He averted his gaze back to the sand.

"No. Cannot... die." The creature replied, sounding tired.

"You're losing too much blood! If you don't get help you won't survive!" Alannah said, raising her voice. She looked around her and saw that Nina was behind her. "Nina, I told you to stay put."

"I wanted to see," Nina said with an apologetic face. Alannah looked back at the wounded creature, who was now unconscious. She took a moment to think.

"Okay, Nina. I need you to help me carry him back to Leo."

"Okay."

Alannah picked up the creature by his arms and Nina followed her lead by picking him up by the legs.

"Stupid... human." The creature said as the two of them carried him back to the horse. Nina looked up at Alannah in search of a reaction but her determination to save this creature was resolute.