Ouroboros Spine Where Dreams Went to Die

Their swim descended into fog. It enveloped them, wrapping around their swimming forms as they pressed forward into the mist. Kerosene navigated as best he could. The veil of low clouds concealed the natural elements and landmarks he'd anchored the cardinal directions to. Here, he could not locate the rising sun in the east nor the setting sun in the west. He could not orient himself to the mountains or other visuals. Instead he'd paid attention to his paddling, pressing his eyes closed here and there. He was favoring his right side. If he compensated with his left within this fog, his course would remain true.

The whiteness bled to shadow. Kero continued paddling until his feet made contact with the rocky bottom of the shore. He stood and continued walking, rising onto the island as it began to reveal its secrets. He shook out his coat of flame, tossing the water from its depths and freeing his fur from its clutches. His nose lowered, scenting the soft earth as he pressed his eyes closed and lifted his head. Kero listened with his ears, merging it with the information he'd acquired from his nose. Then he pressed forward between the spires of trees.