Chapter 296: Harpy Storm

Talia "Why don’t you tell them above deck? Tell them about the storm," I asked. Lucia shook her head. "The ship is low on supplies because we had to stop, and because of the other smaller storms they’ve been riding around to avoid. This big one is coming, and trust me, Talia, it will be better for us—more food, more water to go around. Just hold on. If they know, they’re going to avoid it. This is one of those storms that just happens on you. Do you understand me?" She reached for my hand and offered a squeeze. "Do you understand?" My dry skin dragged against the soft skin of her palm. I wanted to look away, to avoid feeling the calluses and hard edges. But I felt that would be disrespectful. "I understand." "Good. The last storms we’ve had... they still happen, and we survive. Others, the ones we don’t prepare for, we miraculously come out alive. You’ve seen different kinds, and you’ve come out alive, Talia." She said it with fondness as she reached out, her touch laced with m