Jade returned inside, peering several times over her shoulder, leaving the door open for two reasons: to allow the salty breeze to push out the closed-up smell, and as an invitation for the elderly man to enter—not that she’d voice those thoughts to her friend. Mari stood near the door, arms crossed and wearing a pooch-faced expression.

“The fresh air is nice, but won’t ferocious creatures take that as an invitation to visit?” she asked.

“Ferociou...