"A.D., you!" Jane exclaimed, grabbing his arm. "Stop acting like you don't know! You've already seen that I love you!"
A.D. tried to pull away, to escape the conversation, but Jane held fast. "Again, you're trying to ignore me and run," she pressed, her voice laced with frustration. "Give me an answer, why! Why don't you like me?"
"Because I don't, that's it," A.D. replied, his tone curt. He turned and walked away.
As he moved forward, a group of young boys surrounded him, guiding him towards the sea's edge. They sat down, their legs dipping into the cool water. One of the boys looked at A.D. "We heard your argument. Why don't you like her?"
"Stop talking about that," A.D. said, changing the subject. "Tell me, there's the sea on this side, but what's on the other side?"
"A desert," one of the boys replied.
"What?" A.D. gasped, a new realization dawning. "Oh, yes!" He looked at the boy intently. "Has anyone gone there from here?"
"No," the boy stated firmly. "This is our place, and our forefathers said we don't have to go there."
"Why?" A.D. pressed.
"Because they said if we do, our safety beast—the giant squid—can't save us," the boy explained, his voice serious.
This reveals more about the village and its unique relationship with the giant squid, while also putting A.D. in a new, awkward social situation.