Totoka River pearl

While his tracking skills left something to be desired, Ruvik knew Ying had to have passed through here if she had made her way towards the mainland. One just had to follow the river southeast and head into the forest in order to lose the sea. The boy paused and looked behind him. At least, it would make sense if she crossed the land bridge, but perhaps she didn't? His eyes trailed along the ocean's horizon, feeling anxiety rise in his chest. Perhaps she never even made it back to shore.

Yet before he could dwell on that thought any further, another entered his periphery, causing Ruvik to immediately cower. The large stranger strode smoothly up to him with a watchful gaze of burnished gold, and the boy started with a sudden jolt of recognition. This man had been there at the meeting when Ying was promoted! He of course did not know his name, or anything else much about him, but at least he could consider the stranger a pack mate, an ally.

"H-hello," he breathed back, rising ever so slightly.