text: [Themes: Slice of life, Romance, landscape]
  
  > Go downward
  Lifting your skirt, you carefully pick your way down to the beach below.
  
  Stepping out onto the sand, you are immediately hit with a rush of memories; memories of time spent clambering over these rocks, of splashing in the water, and of being here with Jason. You shut your eyes and for an instant you can almost touch the past, hold it close, be part of it again, and then it's gone.
  
  Opening your eyes, you wrap your arms around yourself and squint out toward the sea.
  
  Surrounded by granite cliffs on three sides, this narrow strip of sand curves from north to south and faces a small cove to the west. With the tide this low, a marine terrace to the southwest lies exposed and accessible, though currently occupied by a large sea lion. To the north, the sea has dug a narrow, twisting tunnel through the headland.
  
  Long ribbons of seaweed strewn across the shore mark the leading edge of the surf at a quarter of the way up the beach. Additional clumps, dried and full of sand, lie tangled amongst the rocks at the base of the cliffs -- a warning of the sea's intentions.
  
  A long, slender piece of driftwood lies half buried in the sand.
  
  A plover hurries by, ignoring you completely.
  
  > examine plover
  The small white birds with their crisp brown markings follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
  
  The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side. A sea otter pops up amongst the kelp, and sets to work grooming its fur. A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then head out to sea.
  
  > examine the lion
  The male sea lion is basking in the sun on the exposed marine terrace. Resting on his front flippers with hind ones dangling over the edge of the rock, he points his nose skyward as if to show off his impressive mane of fur. Fully seven feet long and well over 600 pounds, he is definitly not an animal to trifle with.
  
  The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea.
  
  > wave at lion
  You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
  
  > Twirl moustache
  You mutter something incomprehensible.
  
  > look at the wood
  Six feet long and weathered to a pale gray, the piece of driftwood probably started life as a cypress branch.
  
  The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side. The sea otter pops up amongst the kelp with a spiny sea urchin held tight between its paws. Using its stomach as a table, it quickly consumes its bristly meal then rolls over once to clear away the remains.
  
  > take the wood
  You pull the driftwood out of the sand.
  
  > check your inventory
  You are carrying a piece of driftwood and a purse. You are wearing an engagement ring and a silk dress.
  
  As a wave passes by, the sea lion raises his rear flippers just high enough to keep them dry, then lowers them again. The sea otter rolls over once, and goes back to work grooming its fur. Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of each other.
  
  > look at the ring
  A shining band of gold. It bears the inscription "EL & AK - 1876". You spin it nervously about your finger, unaccustomed to its weight and feel.
  
  The sea otter swipes a thick, furry paw over its stubby furry face.
  
  > give the ring to the otter
  The sea otter doesn't seem interested.
  
  The sea lion swings his head around to gaze at you with large brown eyes. Unimpressed, he soon returns to his nap. A flock of sea gulls rises from the beach, circle the cove once, then head out to sea. A few small plovers scurry up the beach, just in front of the the next wave.
  
  > examine the wod
  You look around but are unable to find that which you seek.
  
  > examine the wood
  Six feet long and weathered to a pale gray, the piece of driftwood probably started life as a cypress branch.
  
  The sea lion pulls a hind flipper up and lazily scratches his side. Plovers follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
  
  > Swing the wood
  You look around, but can find nothing worth swinging.
  
  The sea otter ruffles through the fur on its tummy. A few small plovers scurry up the beach, just in front of the the next wave.
  
  > hit otter with the wood
  After a moments thought you realize the sea otter is too far away.
  
  Plovers follow the water up and down the beach, pecking at the sand.
  
  > throw the wood at the otter
  After a moments thought you realize the sea otter is too far away.
  
  The sea otter slips below the surface of the sea.
  
  > drift on the driftwoo
  You mutter something incomprehensible.
  
  You mutter something incomprehensible.
  
  > enter the cave
  You mumble something incomprehensible...
  
  > Go southwest
  As you start toward the terrace, the sea lion lumbers to the edge of the rock and dives into the water. Surfacing again some distance from his former roost he barks his disapproval, then disappears into the sea. You stand there on the beach for several moments, staring out across the cove, but he does not resurface.
  
  Turning your attention back to the terrace, you walk out across the sand bar, exposed by the low tide, and clamber up onto the rock.
  
  Standing in the lee of the southern cliffs, this narrow shelf of pitted rock has been exposed by the low tide and contains numerous tide pools large and small. Though the beach is still accessible to the east, the rest of the terrace is surrounded by sea.
  
  A wave strikes the western edge, showering that portion of the rock with a heavy spray that replenishes the tide pools.
  
  The leading edge of the storm clouds reaches the cove, blotting out the sun.
  
  > look at the pools
  You crouch down and peer into the closest one. Though its opening is no larger than a dinner plate, it is surprisingly deep, with many nooks and crannies for small creatures to hide in. Near the bottom are several sea anemones clustered together like undersea flowers, and a spiney sea urchin. Closer to the surface of the pool is a small clump of mussels and an assortment of limpets. Clinging to the side of the rock is an orange sea star.
  
  A flock of sea gulls flies over the point and alights on the beach below.
  
  > look at the star
  It has five fat legs and a central core nearly as wide as your palm.
  
  Sea gulls float by on the breeze, their wing tips within inches of each other.
  
  > get star
  You pull the sea star off the rocks and hold it gently in your hand.
  
  > Examine
  What do you want to examine?