Holy Jetsam

The smell of family had Ganymede pacing up and down the shoreline, nose to the ground though not close enough to snort up the sand underfoot accidentally. His ears pressed forward enough as he watched the far shore with bright lilac eyes, he was so close to home and his siblings that his heart almost ached. He had missed them, would they recognize him? Or had he changed so much that they wouldn't accept him...It took shaking his head hard to dispel those thoughts. The daunting swim ahead meant he couldn't dwell on thinking like that.

Instead he settled close to Lailah while Ultyr seemed intent on finding something in the washed-up scraps and leftovers on the beach, though he couldn't be fussed to figure out what it was. If Ultyr wanted to go picking through it then that was his right. Instead, Ganymede focused on checking over Lai, making sure this wouldn't be a stressful swim would be hard. She was due in a few days and over-exertion could cause her to go into labor sooner if they weren't careful. It was when Ultyr came back with something for her to be ferried across with that Ganymede perked up, standing to toss his pelt onto the piece with a hum.

"There, can't have you sliding all over and ending up in the water. You might sink." He joked lightly as he stretched her legs in preparation for the crossing, working his shoulders some too. ""You and I are both swimming. Got some fins?" The teasing had him snorting and checking Ultyr’s thigh with his hip as he walked past to the edge of the water proper. "More then you do, old man. Make sure all that muscle doesn't make you sink." He jabbed back.

The pace was brutal, and exhausting, fighting against the currents that eddied around the island. He almost thought they weren't making any progress in getting closer at times, till he noticed the distant rise of massive structures and buildings growing. And then his feet touched the sand. Ganymede hauled himself out of the water, sides panting and heaving, legs trembling a little from over-exertion. Once he was clear of the rolling tide and sure he wasn't still where it could touch him, he collapsed. Laying on his side like a fallen corpse and panting to catch his breath. His own need to check on the others had him craning his head backward while still not picking it up to look at Ultyr and Lailah.

It was the sight of the little chickadee joining him that had him snorting, a small smile curving his lips, though his eyes did dart to the shadow of the gulls overhead with their raucous noises. "If that's your bird, little bird, I'd keep an eye on it. Seagulls might decide its a lovely dinner and a song." He warned gently, wanting her to take care to keep an eye on it. His own eyes falling shut, head still tilted back, as he rested.

"speech"