Swiftcurrent Creek from the inside

Trying to get back into Kerberos. It's been too long. xD

Leaving Shearwater Bay had been one of the hardest things that Kerberos Aok had to ever do in his short life span. In the truth of reality, it had been the only home he had known; despite that it had not been the place he had been born to. Even now, Kerberos did not know he had been given as a sign of peace between the Bay wolves and the Nereides. He thought it was because he was a spawn, a male and that because of this he had been unloved and decidedly unwanted. He could not remember his time within the Cove, knowing only the smell of Nanuq’s fur and the company of his ‘adopted’ siblings. Becoming himself had been the hardest part of living through puberty, though it was decidedly easier than he initially thought it would be, even with the knowledge that he was genetically half of Lecter, the ex-shaman of the Bay. Kaskae and Jinx had lead the Bay well and he had been contented to follow his sisters as their Mariner. Sure, leaving had been hard; but Atka had demanded it of him. Told him that while he would see them again, someday, his place was longer with the Bay. Accepting her words had been like swallowing nails, and completing the transit away from his family, away from the Sea, precious as it was to him, had been like walking on a bed of broken glass. It cut, deeper at times, than in others. Atka’s presence, knowing that the infinite, beautiful Bear God walked beside him and shared in his grievances and woes was…comforting. He did not always see her corporal form but he could sense her and from her light the Aok (Nereides-Kesuk -- he wasn’t terribly sure what last name to go by so settled for the one he’d always had) drew from her offered strength.

He missed the gentle roar of the sea, the salty brine that would ride the gentle waves of the wind, missed the feel of the lapping water as it would reach for him. Kerberos almost missed it with a physical ache. He supposed that any body of water would suffice -- hence his initial draw to Swiftcurrent Creek -- where he had paused to take a drink and a rest only to end up camping for a few days. Two moons and three suns, at least. Kerberos had never had what one might call ‘wanderlust’, he was Team Homebody, but Atka was satisfied with these lands, and so would he….eventually. He supposed that he was expected to find a pack to attempt to weave himself into -- though it would take time for him to convince his mind that he was no longer in Seahawk, that he was no longer in the Bay, and that these packs could be, vastly, different. Adjusting would take time, but Atka’s demand was not something the Aok boy had any intentions of ignoring. He trusted her. She had first shown herself to him from the foam of the Sea months ago; and since that moment Kerberos had not doubted her.

Like the sea she was infinite. Surviving. Conquering.

There was little wonder why he’d made the initial connection, twining the connection with the Sea to his faith in Atka; and maybe he was breaking some rules in doing such, but as far as he was aware Atka did not seem to have a problem with it.

Sea-green eyes glimpsed up at the darkening, brilliantly painted dusk sky, pulling his seaweed ‘package’ protectively towards him, close to his chest. How it had managed to survive the journey was fascinating enough -- mostly because he managed to keep his ‘addiction’ (pft, he could quit at any time) under close control. Inside the swathe of seaweed nestled a gift of the sea, an iridescent, gleaming pearl that he’d had for as long as he could remember. Selfishly, he could not part with it. It was a part of the Sea and was like She was always with him. It was something worth protecting. It was precious and the seaweed would not be consumed until he had found himself a home and a safe little niche in a private and permanent den for his pearl.