Totoka River I left your house this morning, at a quarter after nine

@Huā

Along the shore as the tide slowly swept inland, claiming a bit of the dry, white sand at a time, the shorebirds skittered in little flocks, scampering this way and that way as though frightened of getting their ankles touched by the gentle waves. Beneath the tall arches of whalebones Thresher slept, knowing that it would take hours yet before the tide went out, revealing the landbridge she depended on in order to get back to her birthplace. She had journeyed on her own, with the blessing of her family, trailing her way back to where she'd been born as though called there in a trance, like a salmon swimming upriver to spawn. The journey had exhausted her, so she slept the night calmly and quietly, nestled amongst the bones of the whale she'd seen perish on the shore when she'd been a child. It was a place nostalgic and sad- but she honoured the whale, or so she felt, by giving it her company and her dreams while she slept. 

When day broke, it wasn't until the sunlight finally reached the island's tallest trees that the waves began to pull back and reveal more and more of the sandbar that led to the island. It looked different- as sandbars typically changed over time, and seemed to meander a bit more. Regardless, she recognized the island instantly, and began to cross the landbridge, her tufted ears pricked and her wet nose glistening as she inhaled the familiar scent of the shoreline. But when she caught the scent of wolves, and of border markings which drifted toward her from the island, she stopped. 

This was her birthplace- but it was someone else's home. 

She was wary, then, and discouraged. She would have no way of knowing if she would be permitted to return to the labyrinth, underground, where she had been born and raised. There was a chance, of course, that even the wolves who claimed the island had no idea that that particular landmark existed...Or how to navigate the underground system of tunnels, without being dragged out to sea when the tide came in to full the pools. She balked, then, and whined softly- but thought she spotted a form travelling along the shore. So she tilted her head back and released a soft, howl that shimmered on the air like a thread of light, hoping she might, in the very least, be permitted to see her birthplace once more.

The howl that echoes through the ocean air catches her attention quickly; Huā's black ears perk up as her gaze searches the horizon. There- a pale girl, face darkening in a way that reminded her momentarily of Dacio. She shoots the thought of him away, opting to alter her path on the shore and instead turn to the land bridge. She made her way over without hesitation, tail wagging lazy-friendly behind her as she rushed to meet the stranger. 

Once she was a couple yards off, she halted, though tail still swung in the air. The girl had an interesting build that she could only liken to Valyri- like she was not wholly wolf. Huā was intrigued, but would ask nothing of it... Instead she clears her throat, introducing I am Huāzhen. You stand at border of Yuèlóng... what you seek?

Upon seeing the woman approach, Thresher was reminded of the seals she had seen- with dark faces and pale, silvery bodies. On the shore they looked somewhat lazy and calm, but in the water that were fleet and agile, and slipped through the currents with a flick of their flipper-like feet. Her tail waved quickly, but stayed low, wriggling between her hind hocks and she turned her face to the side, to watch the woman approach with one eye, and her head held low- a sign of deferrence. Her tall, tufted ears pricked at the sound of Huā's voice, and her dark lips pulled back in a gentle smile. 

"Peace be," She peeped softly in response. "Am Treasure. No; Thresher," She repeated, forcing herself to enunciate, correcting her usual habit of referring to herself as the nickname her mother had given her.  She pointed her nose to the shorelines behind the sylph where the waves pulsed gently against the sand. "Was home. Born in pack called Undersea," She said softly, her voice trailing off. "Years ago." She added, as though to explain the fact that she was well aware that time had passed, and her family had moved on. "Came to see island again...Beaches...Buried treasures in Labyrinth." She said.

Head remained low, not as bold as many Huā had met in the past- which she appreciated. That and the words peace be made a good impression on her already, and a gentle smile touched her lips. The girl seemed to stumble on her own name- which was odd, but then again, she seemed to speak oddly anyway. In the same choppy and imperfect way that Huā spoke. She was curious, and the curiosity only grew as the girl spoke more.

Undersea... labyrinth? The first word was known to Huā, but not in the context in which it was used, the second unknown, and her ears perked with noticeable interest. You.. born here? She wondered with disbelief, and then- Labyrinth? I not know this word, is, is what? And suddenly Huā no longer had control of the situation- she felt like a child learning slowly from their mentor with wide eyes.

Thresher patiently smiled and nodded as Huāzhen expressed some incredulity at the thought of her having been born there on the island. She looked off beyond the female's smoky shoulder toward the shelter of the trees on the island, and wondered if some of the old paths they'd used were still used by the wolves who lived there now. Her gaze returned to Huā when she asked about the labyrinth. 

"Is..." How to describe it? "Created by water...Underground tunnels, make like a maze." She said, her brow furrowing slightly, hoping that it was a clear enough description. "Tide is low...I can show?" She volunteered- still hoping she might be permitted to set foot on the island where she was born again.

wrap soon? we can have a new one exploring the labyrinth together if you'd like!

The description only served to further enhance her interest. They had found the one underground cave- the place where Mei liked to worship her gods. But were there more? This mysterious Thresher seemed to know, and Huā nodded agreeably, stepping to the side as if to invite her entrance. 

Of course. You can show me, and if you want, stay with us for however long you please. You seem know much more about island than we, She admitted shyly, ears flattening against her head. She would hope to let Thresher take the lead in walking to their island home- it felt only right. No longer did Huā feel like the owner to the place, this girl pre-dated her by far, and Huā was willing to accept that, eager to learn.

Sure <3

The invitation was received with gladness, and Thresher lowered her front end into a grateful playbow, her tail wriggling between her ankles with glee. She huffed and excited breath as she stood up, and moved forward with a bit of an arch to her spione, excited to get to set foot in her homelands once more. She kept her posture still subservient, and joined Huā by stepping to her side, and began to guide her toward the island. 

"Is wonderful place...Full of magic and good memories," She said, as the two wandered back toward the island, leaving behind two sets of pawprints which would disappear with the next tide.