Turtle Moon

The noise ceased and, plucking up the courage to investigate I stood in the chill of the billowing winds.  In the distance of the dim light, I could see creatures emerging from the sea, their shining shells reflecting in the guiding light of the moon.  There were only a few, but they moved slowly but surely towards the dry sands of the beach.  I had not seen these animals before but sensed no danger from them.  They made their way up the beach, clearly on a mission. The scraping noise made me look downwards, and not far from where I had slept one of the creatures had lain in the sand not far from me. 

I was enthralled; perched on a rock I watched the creature lay still in the hole it had dug, surrounding itself with a barrier of sand.  Excited but desperately sleepy I decided to wait until morning to have a look at them in more detail.  Once again I slept, curling myself up in the tightest ball for warmth. My fascination had started...”