Time passed, but everyone was too excited by their strange new surroundings to sleep, and the full moon ahead only heightened their fascination, causing some to stare blankly at the moon, their necks strained from the effort.
The wind carried whispers and gentle laughter as the night sky lowered the temperature, making it feel colder.
Eva and the others stayed close enough to see the crowd but kept a safe distance from it.
"Wow... this sand feels so cool," a man said as he scooped up a handful of sand. Ignoring the onlookers, he rubbed his cheeks against the cool, gritty surface.
But just as he was about to lift his head, he sensed a faint tremor in the ground and stopped mid-air, frowning. He pressed his ears closer, and the vibration became clearer.
He quickly rose to his feet, and his sudden shout alerted everyone.
"The ground is vibrating!" The crowd fell silent at his words, but that brief pause made the vibration in the ground feel more sharply.
