Alexa stepped back from the edge, beyond which was a steep drop to the bay which was now covered by the risen tide. I want to convey that the tide had completely covered the sand of the bay below them. "Risen" sounds a bit purple for my taste, but the thesaurus isn't helping me find an alternative. Thanks in advance
You could use 'spring tide' if it's a higher than usual tide, as spring tides occur twice a month and are a little higher than normal high tide. Other than that I'd probably run with one of Seven's options.
Honestly, I'd just roll with high tide or plain ol' tide. Might want to whack one of the "whichs" from the sentence too.
Of course, "high tide". That shows that it's now at its highest point (which is what I needed to imply). Thanks! I didn't know that that's what "spring tide" meant. I think "high tide" is more my style though, but thanks for the suggestion. Good point. How's this? Alexa stepped back from the edge, beyond which was a steep drop to the bay, now covered by the high tide.
Alexa stepped back from the edge, beyond which was the steep drop into the bay, now filled by the high tide. I live on the Bay of Fundy. This sentence reminds me of Cape Split where there is a wharf that feels very cozy at high tide when the water laps a few feet below and feels treacherous at low tide with the black rocks glistening thirty feet down.
I don't want to give the impression that it has filled with water. The tide has just covered the sand, but isn't deep. It's a long way down from the ledge they are standing on. Hopefully this is the impression my reworded passage gave, rather than that they are standing at the edge of the water.
To me, your sentence gives the impression you want it to. I picture them up high, looking down on it.
I used to have a girlfriend in Dartmouth and we used to go hiking out there with her when I was visiting from The Island. It's a bloody beautiful place to be living, you lucky dawg! But I would honestly just pull the risen, it seems a little redundant to me. Alexa stepped back from the edge, beyond which was a steep drop to the bay which was now covered by the tide.
Or maybe, how about: Alexa stepped back from the edge of the long, steep drop, beyond which was the sandy bottom the bay which was hidden by the cresting tide.
