She had felt it. The blanket had lain across her legs, heavy and warm.

Re-l leapt back, scooping up a handful of hand and pulling out her gun, creating space between herself and the creature. She'd never known a Proxy able to do that, but then she hadn't met all of them. Maybe some of them could create matter.

She aimed the gun squarely.

"I don't miss," she said clearly. "What was that?" The sand in her other hand was trickling out, but she still had enough to blind him if he tried to move.