Bones in the ocean

Cold, cold and dark... Fitting, she thought, somewhere disconnected from the sodden, slim body that rocked against the snow-covered sand with each incoming wave. Cold water lapped at aching bones, and she felt herself being sucked into it, back... Not yet! She could have howled, but she was still caught somewhere in the in-between. Eulogy didn’t want to go back! There was nothing but struggle and strife. Hadn’t she payed enough? How much more suffering would she have to endure before she could finally be free of it?

An uncharacteristic flash of anger warmed her body just enough for her to finally find her way home, light beating at the back of her lids, nostrils flaring before the coughing started, wracking her whole body as weak limbs struggled to drag her mortal prison from the grasp of the sea, gasping, spluttering, and vomiting the salty brine from her airways. There was a little fight in her yet. Enough to throw herself into the ocean in the first place.

She was too cold to shiver, dark back legs and tail still kissed by salt water as it came in and out. Was the tide at it’s peak or would it come swallow her yet? She was too tired and weak to haul herself any further, but at least the air seemed familiar here. Had she finally made it? Would it matter?

Darkness was touching the edge of her sight again, and she allowed her eyes to close. For just a moment...

"speech".