Eleanor waited until the frantic scratching of sand and the roaring wind finally died away. Then, slowly, she uncurled. A full-body shake sent a spray of grit flying from her matted fur. She sneezed violently, clearing the dust from her nose. Her first deep breath tasted of clean, still air, and it was the sweetest thing she had ever known.
She opened her stinging eyes to a world erased and redrawn. Familiar dunes had shifted, replaced by new ones. She listened closely, ears swivelling. No birds, no insects… only an eerie calm.
Thirst clawed at her throat, sharper even than hunger. Lifting her face, she caught a faint breeze carrying a distant, damp scent. She looked ahead. The treeline was still there. It hadn't been swept away by the storm. A long sigh escaped her.
