Pilar braced herself, her legs stiffening in the damp sand as she stared straight ahead into the darkness with her oddly shaped ears pricked forward. Her heart pounded in her narrow chest and her nostrils flared as her breathing sped up, anticipating what would certainly be an interesting encounter. She heard him speak quietly, to himself or to an unseen other, before she sees him, and she recognized his voice. A flash of lightning revealed a quick silhouette, and Pilar threw her head in the hope that it might stave him off. Alas, no such luck.

You! he called to her, and Pilar reared up, striking at the air as thunder boomed in the distance. The thunderstorm was beginning to pass, but an entirely different storm formed in its place. She didn’t want Psychedelic to come any closer. She didn’t trust him, and she couldn’t even be sure that he existed. He bombarded her with questions, and as Pilar’s forelegs returned to the sand, she pinned her ears with wariness.

“Why are you here?! Why do I keep seeing you?! Are you following me?!”

Pilar could not contain herself.

“I thought maybe,” she continued after a short pause and few rapid breaths in a feeble attempt to get a grip. “I thought maybe I would find answers.”

Her eyes flicked up from the sand back to Psychedelic’s face. There was venom in her voice as she spoke again.

“But all I’ve found is you.”


pilar