Two Eyes Cenote (ap) nukatpiak

Seal’s eyes widened when she learned the hellcat had crossed Raiyuk’s path. In a way, it had strung their fates together. “You did?!” she exclaimed with a slack jaw.

“Och,” Seal laughed. “Maybe you should hunt cats an’ monsters instead of seals!” she quipped with a snort and slapped Raiyuk’s arm in a good-natured way.

But when Raiyuk praised her, his voice felt… more sincere than the moment required. Seal’s laugh faded as a familiar rush of sobriety, the same kind Frolic had incited, ran through her. It felt like all her guts became a tangled knot. She became bashful under her friend’s attention and rubbed the back of her head with one paw sheepishly.

“I woul’av been if… well, if I had actually injured it for real,” she said, brushing off the praise. “Nothin’ stopped it. My Da and Uncle were hurt bad,” she admitted. As if to stave off the memories, Seal grabbed the nearest half-drunk saucer and finished it with one swig.

“Too bad I couldnae dance it to death!” she laughed morbidly, eyes glassy from drink.