Limited Edition of 8
 
Mount Ngauruhoe
 
High above the jagged ridges of Mount Ngauruhoe, I caught sight of a lone gull emerging from the dark storm clouds. For several minutes, it circled above us, letting out a low, haunting cry as it swooped down before disappearing back into the clouds. Something about its behavior felt deliberate, almost as if it were trying to send us a message. I took heed and began descending from the ridges. Moments later, we were caught in some of the worst weather we had encountered, a violent hailstorm that left us soaked and struggling to escape the worst of it. To this day, I wonder about that lone gull. Was it simply a coincidence, or was it a messenger? And what might have happened if it had never appeared?