Dragoncrest Cliffs seasmoke

an overcast sky always lent coraline a certain glow, an aura of gently blooming brightness, as if the heavens had relieved her of the clouds dimming her own inner sun. she was atlas, bearing the weight of the skies, and behind every storm lurked a heracles. she hummed a made-up tune as she hunted the gloomy thrashing shoreline for those unfortunate aquatic creatures that occasionally washed up on tumultuous waves.

one of them would be her heracles. just last week she'd dissected some strange dark monstrosity, a fish that struck her as nightmarish — until it twitched in the sand rather feebly, and she realized it was nearing the end. death came for it swiftly after that; none of coraline's research subjects lasted long in that department. she didn't mind. they were still useful in death.

can i have a @Mireille or erzulie if you have time? <3 no rush

she found her sister by the seaside.
they had all been born to the ocean, but coraline had an affinity for it that mireille recognized and honored.
her own paws left a trail of wet prints as she pranced to her sister's side, kissing the downy cheek.
"what do de sea be tellin' you today?"

though coraline searched carefully for some new experiment among the sands, she herself was found before she could find anything. mireille's presence was a warm breeze across her coat. coraline's cheeks dimpled with a joyful smile as her sister kissed her. she be singin' about pretty red girls, she told mireille fondly, half-teasing. and deir adventures away from de shore. for how could she not have noticed her sister's comings and goings? coraline sorely wished to ask about them, but did not want to intrude on whatever mireille had found for herself beyond sapphique's borders.

mireille turned somehow more red.
"don't be worryin' about dat." she did not understand her need to guard her friends against her sister.
perhaps on some level the pebble understood the birthright of she and her female siblings.
she batted a paw against coraline. "dey are from rivenwood," she relented. "maybe you will see dem again."

coraline smiled, half apologetic and half amused by her sister's prideful response. keep your secrets if you like, mireille, she said lightheartedly, nosing a red shoulder. you know i be content wid sapphique an' de sea. i only — i be missin' you sometimes. it was hard not to wonder what kept mireille away from the cliffs, but coraline was content with wondering if that was what mireille wished. perhaps they could share their own adventure, discover secrets that would belong to both of them. but coraline didn't have the courage to suggest it.

coraline spoke but mireille could not help her guilt. "you be like our mot'ers," she said softly, nudging the delicate girl. "i be missin' you too."
was it shame or genuine sentiment which drove her words? she hated that she did not know.
"tell me a secret of de ocean," she asked, tail swaying behind her. she wondered if loko and coraline were close in their own way.