Dingos Surrounded the Baby, but Something Older Watched From the Ridge

The Hollow in the Hill

Clara, Miriam, and Tom climbed the ridge at dawn. They walked along the road that led past the burned circle and up to the outcrop. Miriam then saw a little gap at the bottom of the rock that had been hidden by bushes before. Maybe a den or something much older. The walls inside were smooth and looked like they had been burned.

Clara used her phone's illumination to reach in. There were rings, pouches, and one baby-sized sandal stitched together at the rear. It was evident that Elsie wasn't the first, and the place needed to be recognized. Before they all went, Clara took her daughter's old sock pouch out of her coat and placed it there.

The Rain That Shouldn’t Fall

There hadn't been any rain in fourteen weeks. The sky was dry as a bone, and the winds were scorching. But that night, a big cloud came in from the west. No sound of thunder. It was only a gentle, steady rain that started pouring solely on the ridge. Miriam stepped out onto the porch and tilted her head to listen. She thought it was a response, like something was coming to an end. Clara opened the door and let Elsie rush outside without shoes on, with her arms in the air. She laughed, turned around, and said, "He's going now." They didn't question who anymore. Instead, they stood quietly and observed as the water slowly colored the hill.