Gilded Bay brine

The half-rotted carcass of a harbor seal was what had sustained him for the past week. Now it was dwindled almost to nothing, and Crosscurrent was forced to hunt for himself. As much as he was willing, anyway. A few stolen eggs of seabirds, a couple of fish. That was all he needed.

It just seemed such a waste of time. The gangly boy preferred to spend his days nosing through the sands or among the scant coastal foliage, cataloguing all that he saw and smelled. The salt of the sea was a sweeter taste than the metallic tang of blood, anyway. He didn't like hunting.

So eventually he returned to the picked-over corpse of the seal, gnawing at its bones while his gaze drifted out over the waves. Contemplative, though he was decidedly not thinking about how he would inevitably have to hunt something.

Seraphine had learned much from her wind-swept mentors since losing her home. They had taught her that she was a bright pearl, waiting inside a clam yet to be cracked open. They had taught her that she was powerful, yet the importance of appearing weak. Most importantly, they had shown her what men truly were.

Life alone was tiring, and she was often hungry when she didn't come across anyone she could guilt. Today was no exception, until she saw him.

Young but certainly her age, silver like the icy rocks that would shine on top of a mountain. Seraphine licked her lips clean. It wasn't his looks that mattered, but that he was a chance to test her teachings.

Lifting her head, she let out a long and sweet howl, her tone pushed higher than it naturally sat.

He was roused from his reverie by the melodic song of his own kind, a high youthful sound that carried on the sea breeze. Crosscurrent lifted his head with a muzzy blink as if waking from a long fitful dream. A pale youth stood not far into the distance. He didn't recognize her, at least not at first glance.

After a moment he tentatively lifted his muzzle and called back. He didn't move just yet. First he would see what the pale wolf's intentions were.

He didn't move to come meet her, and Seraphine couldn't help the prickle of her fur. Well, that was disheartening.

Deciding that she would need to be the bold one, she made the move forward with her tail flagging behind her in a friendly motion. She meant no harm, not today.

Was he shy, did he not think she was pretty? It had to be the former. Either way, she was determined to crack him open!

His ears pulled forward when the girl started toward him, but Crosscurrent stayed still for several long moments. He let her draw closer, almost close enough to speak in more conversational tones before he finally found it in himself to move. A single step forward. Then another.

Hello, he greeted quietly, uncertain. His voice wavered just a little on the word. Months of silence, broken in a single unceremonious second of impulse. Crosscurrent hesitated, then added, There's a bit of this seal left on the beach, if... He faltered, swallowed hard, then started again. If you're hungry. She looked thin to his eyes, but then, wasn't he the same?

He met her approach, spoke first, and offered her food. Seraphine couldn't help her smile!

Hello, She returned, dipping her head. Seraphine eyed the seal but.. it wasn't particularly appealing. Actually, I was was 'oping you would 'unt wit me. Try as she might, Sera had never managed to get rid of her accent. He mentors really had tried, but it stuck despite how young she was when they took her on.

One day, she would be able to get a man to hunt for her entirely. But she wasn't there just yet.

I am Seraphine. She offered her name, reminding herself; I am, not I be. She could remember family saying it that way, but the elders always had something to say about it in the group of wanderers.

Her accent was pretty, but he noticed too the careful way she spoke, each syllable formed deliberately. Crosscurrent wondered at that, but he didn't yet have the experience to recognize it as anything but odd. So he didn't ask. Instead he lowered his ears a little shyly at her request.

I'm a better fisher, he said quietly, gaze dropping for a moment. But his dull yellow eyes lifted to her again as he added, I can get you a fish.