Ocean's Breath Plateau the snack that smiles back

under the watchful eye of a caretaker, sirmiq trudged his way to the edge of the lodge and looked to a world he had not known was so big. scents he had been familiar with all his life were stronger here, and sights he had never known to exist were taken in gulping stares. 

the scurry of a crab lingering near caught the boy's attention, and he readily wiggled his tail in playful excitement. he took the creature to be either food or a toy, and set after it with hurried leaps of hunger driven steps. he tripped, but bounced back with no tears or cries to derail him from his mission. 

the crabbed recoiled with claws raised defensively, and sirmiq raised a paw to bat at it in a challenge.