11th day of Spring, 511 AV
It was low tide, thank Laviku! But though the waters had receded for a few hours the Seaside Market was permanently stained. The wooden legs of stalls were stained white with salt and in some places barnacles clung tightly, while other small sea creatures were visible scuttling underfoot. Visuals were not the only cue that this market was tied to the sea. Rising above the scent of unwashed Sunberthians and the sharp smell of ocean waves was the stink of fish. It was everywhere, sinking into clothes, hanging heavy around the stalls and in the aisles, running up the nostrils of the shoppers.
Eleanor pushed through the almost palpable fragrance of seafood, scanning the wares, and more closely, the crowds. The young woman was looking for a pocket worth picking and she was in no rush. The silt of the market pathways stuck to her boots as she walked, leaving shallow impressions of her feet which were quick to fill with the tan water that seeped out of the compressed sediment.
Fighting back the urge to inhale gratefully as a sea breeze disturbed the warm air Eleanor thought she saw a familiar face. It couldn’t be, I haven’t seen her since before I left home… She turned quickly around to follow the young woman with dark hair, wondering if it was the same girl she had known growing up.
OOCAh, such intense lack of motivation. My apologies for the lameness, should be better tomorrow… Hopefully.