When she was found she was still dripping wet. Bloated, parts of her skin dissolving like wet tissue from her flesh. Looking like she had been submerged for months. Only here in Western Australia, we are currently experiencing the worst drought of the century.

His skin looked sickly. Like a frog who’d been baking in the hot sun and had attempted to rehydrate its already crispy skin. And so skinny, like he was currently rotting away in front of me.

Marie was awoken by the sound of Leo, his barking cutting through the dead silence of the bushland stillness. This was not uncommon. What did grab her attention was her alarm clock flashing 00:00.

She’s in the doorway between the kitchen and my bedroom. I can just make out her silhouette in the moonlight.