Blackbeak Bluff sleepy tea

for @Judith

Tsunami had spent the afternoon running to and fro, although, to or from nothing in particular. She had even run past the island, comfortable to leave it behind her for now. The rolling fields were an open invitation to joy, and she had little inclination to decline. She scarcely saw the drop ahead, skidding to a halt just in time to avoid certain demise. Fear trembled up her legs and they caved from beneath her, so she rolled onto her back to enjoy the sky instead.

the nightingale laughed, deep and warm, as he approached. 

first his heart had skipped a beat, as he'd caught sight of the nymph a moment before the decetiful landscape sent her to plummet - then was flooded with relief to see her keep all fours on the ground ( although she, soon, let her back meet it instead ) .

helo, бисеру! he spoke with endearment, his stride languid, heavy cords swaying with the motion. ai hev sed samting, bat ai had not sin yu!

he stopped, gestured at the obstructions, then pushed the cords out of his face for the moment, so she'd see the smile in his eyes.

something came towards her. it was more of a shape than a being — one strong line of action with cords in tow.

she scarcely understood him, but the way that he looked at her sold her heart. she scented his worry and stole a glance at the cliffside. am safe, she offered kindly.

who you?

he grinned to hear her voice, which was pleasant, not of this coast. his paw dropped and with it the veil of corded off-white, but the bard made sure that his smile was sounded in his speech.

славуј. he told her.

slah-vooy. he enunciated.

the nightingale. he explained, the one word he knew to say without a touch of his accent.

end hoo arr yu-- held at bay for just a moment, a coughing fit overcame the man, and he attempted to muffle it by bunching up his beard and pushing it into his face, as to not displease the oystershell nypmh.

as she rolled onto her belly, his face disappeared beneath his hair. slavuuy she repeats. he names himself again in shared tongue. her tail thumped hard against the ground. nightingale good bird, she confirmed assertively. she was delighted to have met so many in this land with the names of creatures she adored. you sing like nightingale too? just a guess...

her name meant nothing — at least, not to her. am tsunami.

as a fit of coughing overcomes him, she sticks her nose in close. okay?

цунами. he repeated in his language and in a hoarse voice, coughs shallower now, smile returning to spite his condition. mh, hau fitting for ey-

again.

...sairen of di si.

the bard let his hindlegs drop, head drooping below shoulders, catching his breath with pants shallow enough not to irritated the throat.

forgiv' mi, цуро, tsuro. ai- ai been, struck by ae baard's sickness...

he touched his throat, winced slightly if only at the memory of greater pain. but, the smile persisted, no matter how faint.

ai-- mhm, ai like thcu think ai do sound bit laik b'rd ouf mai name, but it's been... ruff mont' on mi.

slavuj twisted his lower body, so as to push aside the cords of his torso, revealing in hairless gaps the outlines of ribs.

and still, the smile.

but, mot'er si will provide! laik she always du. had she ever not? the wanderer nodded to himself.

if only her father were here. her heart faltered; komodo would have known what to do to cure this man's illness.

mother sea will provide, like she always do.

mind electric, she became excited. with little regard for her own safety — who knew if he was contagious! — she began to search for one of the only herbs she could remember. she stood abruptly, tail wagging, as she beckoned him.

come with me, she said — if he were willing, she would lead him down the coast.

he'd gone dull in the eyes, smile not quite reaching up there, but despite the tiredness he rose to follow his blackspun nymph.

suere, suere. lead di way, цуро. slavuj wasn't fully sure where she meant to take him, but her company was valuable after many weeks of isolation.

and besides, she was a a beauty to behold.