"I used to camp out here, I'd hide in the rocky parts of the beach, and find
shelter at the bottom of the cliffs there. When it's not stormy, it's
amazing to camp in. And when it's stormy.... I love coming here during
summer storms. The wind blows across the point, and it feels like you're
either in control of the world or you're nothing, just blowing in the wind.
You can just give in to it, let it carry you away." Raven was grinning. She
looks wild, thought Alyson.

They ran together, away from the bus stop and into the wild of the park.
A little dip, then up a hill and out toward the point. They found a tall
outcropping of rocks. 

"How about here?" Alyson asked.

Raven grinned. "Not a chance. Up here." She grabbed a rock near her head and
hauled herself up, climbing swiftly with the backpack. Alyson followed, a
little more cautiously, putting her weight carefully to balance. She hauled
herself up a second level of rocks and saw that the top was level. The wind
hit her as she peeked over. She grinned at the reek of fish and salt in the
air.

Raven pulled herself up just ahead of her and turned around and extended her
hand.  Alyson laughed and how Raven's usually out of place army boots looked
right at home when you saw them at eye-level while climing a rock ledge. She
shivered in the wind despite the sunlight. She hauled herself up on top and
eyed the dark clouds on the horizon warily.

Raven pulled the blanket out of the backpack and started spreading it, then
thought better of it and put it around Alyson. They sat on the rough rock.
Bread. Cheese. Apples. Soup, still hot.

"I'm glad we took the soup hot. It's chilly out here!"

"It's only April. It'll get warmer soon."

Alyson moved closer to Raven and threw the blanket around her shoulders and
stayed close. Raven looked at her for a moment, then put her arm around her.
They sat that way, watching the ocean and the wind for hours. I could stay
this way forever.