Dingos Surrounded the Baby, but Something Older Watched From the Ridge
The Burnt Circle Appears
Tom was the first to see it, just past the water tanks, where the gully flattens. Overnight, a perfect circle of blackened earth had appeared. No fire had spread, and the grass around it was untouched. The soil in the center crumbled dry and fine, like it had been scorched days earlier.
They tested it for chemicals, but the burn was clean. Tom tried to laugh it off. He said it could be lightning. But who was he fooling? They hadn’t had storms in weeks. Clara didn’t respond. That night, she stood at the edge of the circle, holding Elsie tight. The air smelled faintly of ash and eucalyptus.
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