"So I suppose she's your real best friend," Prudence said.
Samantha realized she had made a mistake in showing the necklace to her friend. She squeezed Prudence's shoulder. "It's not like that, Prudence. You're still my best friend. I can't even remember the other girl."
"But when you find her then she'll be your best friend."
"Prudence-"
"It's all right. I understand. She was there first."
"Don't be that way, Prudence. You're always going to be my friend."
"I suppose." Prudence looked down at her feet. "We should get moving again."
***
They didn't go straightaway to the village. Instead, Samantha steered them around the ruins of town so they could go to the stream first. They didn't have any soap, but the water alone should help Prudence and Wendell clean up.
Prudence refused to go in at the same time as Wendell, even when he promised to not look at her. So he had to go into the bushes to wait while Prudence shed her muddy clothes and then waded into the stream. Samantha sat on the shore, remembering the morning at the stream that had begun all this trouble.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you the last time we were here," Samantha said.
"It's all right. I shouldn't have bothered you."
"I was wrong, Prudence. I was wrong and stupid." Samantha gestured to her chest. "What happened to me, it's just a part of nature. It's something all girls go through. It will happen to you soon enough."
"It will?"
"That's right. Soon you'll be a young woman just like me, only you'll have me to help you through it."
"Thank you."
While Prudence continued to try and rinse the mud off, Samantha took Prudence's dress to try and wash some of the dirt out of it. If Prudence's shop were standing, she could probably fix the dress, but without it the garment would probably be a loss. Samantha cleared her throat. "There's something we need to talk about."
"What?"
"The storm. It…it destroyed the town."
"It did?"
"I'm afraid so. Your shop, the dormitories, they're all gone. Everything but the church."
"Oh no. Was anyone hurt?"
"No, I don't think so."
"Thank God."
"Uh-huh. There's something else too."
"What is it?"
"When I left Mr. Pryde's house, I found a boat washed up on the beach. There was a man inside. You're not going to believe this, but…I think he's my uncle."
Prudence gasped, a hand going to her mouth. "Are you sure?"
"I'm pretty sure. He has a niece who disappeared the same time I did. She was older than me, but with the fountain water-"