Crash Upon The Rocks

With prey on land so scarce, Aurielle had ventured out of the territory. Eventually, she found herself standing upon the beach where she had found the beached whale. That beast’s meat had been a great help over the winter, with so much of it stored and preserved as dried meat.

But the stores were dwindling. The bear meat was low. As she stood on the shore, gazing out to sea, she blew out a sigh before padding toward the water’s edge, letting it wash around her legs as she waded in, until she was nearly lifted off her toes with each pulse of the sea.

Her eyes closed as the cold seeped into her bones, but for a moment, she felt peaceful. There was a surety in the sea that she wasn’t feeling on the land. The pulse never ended, never died. It might grow violent—she’d heard tales from the Nomads of great Tsunamis ravaging coastlines in distant lands…. But it would always be there.

A shudder shattered through her frame, teeth chattering as she slowly forced herself to turn and slog back to shore. For once, her coat was clean of ash, though the water had done a good job of tangling the strands od her mane and tail. She’d deal with those later.

Before se could get too far out, she ducked under the water, swirling her head around and letting the current of the sea pull the long tresses of her mane back before she surfaced, now thoroughly, visibly shaking and dripping water when she set paw on sand once more, shaking out her fur in sheets of water.

Aelloshir waited, face grim, on the shore, tail curled around his haunches like a thick, fluffy serpent, and her steps paused. He didn’t have to speak. It was on his face. And suddenly the trembling wasn’t just from the cold. The storm she’d been battling to keep lashed down for seasons now screamed in her chest, searing in her throat, but only escaped as a croak. Strangled and wretched.

She wanted to scream. Nothing could possibly hurt this much. And yet… The tread of paws in sand prevented her from the relief of releasing the storm inside, and she forced the mask of Spirit into place, head turning toward the noise, ears perked, internally wondering if they’d seen the shaking she was fighting to control.

Later. Later she could be alone.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think