Sea Lion Shores What immortal hand or eye

The butterscotch and cream female’s laughter was intoxicating, and although more than once Coelacanth had her oversized ears boxed or her tender nose bopped, she army crawled closer with every distancing push of the younger wolf’s long, lissome legs. Fox-fine muzzle outstretched —

“Uncle! Uncle!”

— but before she could catch one of those flailing paws in her mouth, Coelacanth’s tufted ears bounded forward upon her skull with automatic eagerness. Her elegant head lifted and turned from the tawny female as she peered up and down the beach, Neptune eyes starved for a glimpse of Undertow or Brontide. It was a kneejerk response and an honest desire to see her father’s twin and their stormy-furred youngest brother that she corrected a moment too late — how silly of her! Apart from Brontide, all of her uncles were sure to be safe and sound on Vargas Island.

A beat behind the game’s natural cadence, she made to mouth at one of Niamh’s wrists, her feathered plume thumping furiously. In between mock-growls, “Uncle, Uncle?” she inquired.