Ocean's Breath Plateau The heart can be reckless

Rodyn had returned from Neverwinter with a pain in his chest and a feeling of deep unease and displeasure. It had not eased on his run home. And he found himself going through the sands with a reckless abandon that was not usually his way. And in doing so he startled a nearby Sea lion as they rested on the beach. He should have left her alone. But she was grizzled, crippled, slow, and she was in his space and he was tired of everyone just doing what they pleased in his territory and on his heart.

She reared up and he darted forward. Snapping at her face. Reckless. Dangerous. Freeing. If he could keep her from the water. He had a chance. She roared back. Maw of ugly teeth and he snapped again.

She was faster than he had anticipated even on land, and with a bum flipper, and she had managed to dart forward and nail him above his eye. She was not as dangerous as a seal could be. But dangerous in her own right.

Blood pooled from his head and traced a path down the side of his face. And he darted forward again and to the side. A song and dance as old as time and one that allowed him to completely turn his mind off. Ease the pain. She struck he struck. She got him a few times. besides his head she got his paw, his side. Though the one on his foot and leg was pretty gnarly. And it hurt worse than his head wound. But he fought hard.

And just as he thought perhaps for the first time he had bit off more than he could chew. He was triumphant. Blood, but triumphant. He stared at her, old and gray and gone. And he was both pleased with himself and horrified. For he never hunted without fully thinking it through and today he had done just that. Put himself in danger. If she had tried to take him into the water.