Sequoia Coast green fire

figured they could do a travel thread! <3 lmk if u wanna teleport instead tho!

carefully chakliux tucked the corners of the cormorant-skin suk around @Marina's shoulders. it was not so cold here, the day long and warm, but the surf was still brightly cold from its travel through the sea ice further east.
they had left the morning before, camped in a small bay, and now found themselves in the loud-voiced land of snarling sea lions. "a little different than seal meat," he told her. "heavier flavoring to the meat, not as soft or tender as seal."
in mischief he looked at his pretty wife, how her eyes shone like gemstone against the black backdrop of the cormorant feathers. "would you like to find out?" reckless! to hunt sea lions alone, but if it might bring marina a moment's pleasure, chakliux would chase them all into the brine.

I was thinking the same! <3

Those first steps taken outside Moontide's borders had been sobering. It was so easy to lose oneself tucked away in the familiar creases of home, to become so much a part of your own life that the edges of individuality all fade to a blur. But out here in the world, she was only herself — and she'd become such a frail thing, a shivering thing wrapped in the sleek black feathers she so treasured. For a time she'd felt terribly weak.

Then, all at once, she brightened. On that first night away from Moontide she'd taken Chakliux into her arms for the first time since —

too long. It had been too long.

And when she woke the next morning, the soft light had returned to her eyes. Only a glimmer of it for now, yet she could scarcely contain her pleasure each time Chakliux's eyes were upon her. It was the change they had been waiting for; it was the return of hope.

Her gaze was intent upon the sea lions as her husband spoke of their meat. Watchful. Marina smiled at his offer, a subtle gesture of her paw indicating the scene she'd been watching unfold. Look, She beckoned. There, across the sands, a young injured male fled — pursued by his older, larger counterpart, undoubtedly the protector of this group. He's having a bad day. Marina murmured, eyes alight as they found Chakliux again.

We could make it worse.

his body was still warmed through from her loving touch, languid and ready for such a run. but he found himself delightfully surprised when marina suggested that they hunt the sea lions together. "wa-how! what a woman!" he grinned in splendid delight, his berrybright eyes moving over the one she had chosen. "he is wounded. see the blood on his side."
a great part of the seal hunter wanted to protect her by saying he alone would hunt them, but the joy in her eyes made the choice for chakliux. "let us chase him to that rock, away from his colony. they will not come for him if we avoid the big one."
pressing a kiss to her temple, he moved rightward down the sand, creeping between tangles of kelp and half-buried stones until he and marina had come close enough to see the sheen of scarlet on the straining flank of the young one, who had wheeled to face his pursuer once more.