Cagey tigers

The boldly masked man had stowed his cart on solid ground before making his way to the glittering beach. It was only an inkling that had sent him down this particular fork in the road, away from familiar trading routes and into the unknown. If he was honest, he thought himself far too old by now to break familiar habits, but what sort of friend would he have been if he didn’t check it out? A smirk touched the edge of his lips, then again, things had been a bit heated in his usual haunts. The change was due.

Golden eyes narrowed against the first hint of sunlight, illuminating the outline of a distant island. If his hunch was right, and one was here, there would undoubtedly be others, and if a lazy shit like him had made it this far? Well, he certainly wouldn’t be the first, but would he be the last? Doubtful. A yawn, and a stretch, bowing to greet the rising sun. Was it too early for a drink?

"speech".