a brief excursion along the coastline in search of ying had left him empty-handed and dispirited as he returned to the island with a frown and dead gull clutched between his jaws. he'd hoped by now he would have bumped into her or at least heard word of her through those he passed by, but like that of a ghost, she'd gone and disappeared for good.

he assumed by now she would have given birth or is about to anyways, and any chance of finding her within the wilds was slim to none. that didn't mean he'd give up searching, but finding his runaway friend was beginning to drop along his list of priorities. he had responsibilities to worry about now, had to pull his own weight and more, and so he set out to do just.