Tiraloa Beach

The shrill cries of seagulls mingled with the splashing of the waves, and the salty sea air hung heavy between colorful sunshades, beach bars, and loungers.

Palms swayed in the warm breeze, and the sand crunched like fine white powder underfoot.

The beach was packed with holidaymakers.

Hobbits played cards in the sand, beastfolk kids screeched through the shallows in water wings, and farther down a few lizardfolk sprawled on hot rocks, their scales gleaming oily in the sun.

One hissed when a half-giant wandered into the light, lashing his tail to shoo him away.

Only humans were nowhere to be found.

Except for two.

“Try catching this one!” Gus roared, and heaved the beach ball with the full strength of his demon arm.

Marcus leapt, got a hand to it, and the force drove him under in a huge splash.

“Heeey!” he came up sputtering. “We said no demon powers!”

On the sand, Lis sprawled on a towel, arms behind her head, aviator cap tugged low.

A blissful grin crept across her face. “Mmmmhh… after eighty years, the sun feels amazing.”

A little off to the side, Bromor crouched in grim concentration, carefully shaping a sandcastle into a dwarven fortress.

From the water, Gus bellowed, “Caaaaarrieeee! Where are you?”

No answer at first.

Then a shadow shifted among the palms, slow and reluctant.

“…Why did I let myself get talked into this?” she muttered.

Heads turned as she stepped out.

Her bikini was clearly two sizes too small: a blue-and-white striped two-piece, bought out of necessity at a Tiraloa beach shop with very limited options.

The thin straps strained, the top struggling desperately against gravity, while the bottoms looked ready to burst off her hips at any second.

She’d also slathered on a thick coat of white sunscreen, glossy and uneven, so it almost looked like a second skin.

Sunglasses perched on her nose, and a wide straw hat pushed her long ears down.

“W-what are you staring at?!” she snapped as Gus openly gawked. “They didn’t have elf sizes, okay?! So don't say anything!”

Gus grinned wide and tossed her the ball as she inched closer to the sea. “Wouldn’t dream of it! Looks terrific.”

For a heartbeat she froze, the blush on her face visible even beneath the sunscreen.

Then she whipped the ball straight into his face. “Idiot! Don’t make fun of me!”

Marcus scratched his head, blinking around. “…Now that you mention it, there really aren’t many elves here.”

Caeriel tugged her hat lower and huffed. “The sun isn’t good for our complexion… most of us avoid places like this altogether. That’s why I had to settle for this… this ridiculous scrap!” She jabbed angrily at her bikini.

Laughing, Gus waded out of the water, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her along. “Quit whining. A little sun won’t turn you into a dark elf. In the water with you!”

Caeriel stumbled half into the surf, kicking in protest, but as the waves caught her, for just a moment a faint smile flickered beneath her sunglasses.

Soon the splashing turned into a rowdy game, and before long the rest of the group had joined in.

“Marco!”

Gus’s shout echoed across the waves as he stumbled blindly through the shallows, eyes squeezed shut.

“Polo!” came the chorus; Marcus laughing right behind him, Bromor’s deep rumble off to the side, Lis giggling almost at his shoulder.

Gus slapped at the water, sending a splash straight into Lis’s face. Her startled yelp gave her away.

He dove and caught her ankle. “Gotcha!”

“Hey, that was cheating!” she protested.

“All’s fair in war and water!” Gus bellowed.

Marcus seized the chance to lob the beach ball into Gus’s back, but he spun, ducked under, and yanked him down by the legs.

The game went on until he snagged Bromor too, the dwarf about as graceful in the water as a stranded walrus.

“…Bah! Water’s not my element anyway,” Bromor grumbled, trudging back to shore

“…Only one left…” Gus muttered with a sly grin.

Caeriel had kept to the edges the whole time, slipping quietly away, almost silent on the water.

Just when she thought she was in the clear, Gus froze mid-step.

His brow furrowed. He turned his head.

“…There.”

“Oh no…” Caeriel whispered when she realized his face was pointing straight at her.

“Maaaaarco!” Gus bellowed.

She held her breath.

“…Polo?”

His grin widened, and he started humming a tune as he surged toward her.

“Duuummm-dumm… duuummm-dumm… dumm-dumm-dumm-dumm-dumm…”

“Kyaaah!” she shrieked, paddling frantically as if a shark were after her.

Gus lunged, his demon arm churning the water like a motor.

In a crashing wave he plowed into her, and the two of them tumbled together, swept onto the sand in a massive splash.

As the water drained back, they lay tangled, his face just inches from hers.

Droplets ran down her cheeks, half her sunscreen washed away, and her blue eyes shimmered for a fleeting moment, startled, and soft.

“…W-won… gotcha…” Gus panted hoarsely, sitting up with a satisfied grin.

“I-idiot! Now I’ve got water in my ears!”

She splashed him furiously in the face, turned away, and stomped off.

---

By late afternoon the sun dipped low, painting the sky in gold, as the group lay scattered in the warm sand.

The smell of grilled fish drifted over from the beach stalls.

Marcus sprawled on his back, gnawing at a skewer and sipping a beer.

Bromor was already half-asleep inside his sand fortress, while Lis scribbled like mad in her notebook, determined to log every detail of the day.

Gus and Caeriel sat a little apart from the others.

“See? Not so bad after all,” Gus said lazily. “Bit of sun, bit of surf, and, best of all, no awkward family reunion with daddy!”

Caeriel didn’t reply right away. 

She traced slow patterns in the sand, then hugged her knees and stared out at the sea.

“…You always make it sound so easy. But it’s enough just knowing he’s somewhere here… even if I don’t see him.”

Gus watched her, noticed the way her lips pressed together, like she was choking down words too heavy to spit out.

“I just… have too many memories of him coming up,” she murmured at last. “And not the good kind.”

For a while Gus stayed quiet, eyes fixed on her.

Then suddenly he sprang up, brushing the sand off his shorts.

“Fuck that noise. To hell with bad memories! I’m not sitting here watching you sulk.” She shot him a dagger look, but he leaned in, grinning wolfishly: “From now on, I’ll make damn sure you only collect good ones. Scout’s honor. Well… Gus’s honor. Which is even better.”

Caeriel let out a sharp snort, then cracked into laughter before she could stop herself.

Gus froze, wide-eyed. 

He’d never seen her laugh like that.

Even the others turned, stunned, like they’d just seen a miracle unfold.

When she finally caught her breath, she smiled faintly.

“…You know… that’s the first time I almost believe you.”

And as the sun bathed the beach in red-gold, Gus was so stunned that even he kept his mouth shut for once.