Sea Lion Shores a rat who gnaws at a cat's tail invites destruction

"We don' need 'er," the Rat insisted bluntly. The creature had kept his distance from Rosalyn and Njal - Vlad had not seen them exchange a single word. It was obvious that the oldest of the Saltwinter alliance was not particularly fond of the Rat, either, and the Russian judged his countryman for that. After all, Njal was the one at the end of his life - and his usefulness.

"Vlad needing! Stenderds ees beeg beauty - end Rett ees making eyes burning," he teased, matching his brother's grin. With a tilt of his head, he indicated down the length of the beach and began to walk - with any luck, a 'water doge' would be sunning itself in the vicinity. "You heving rett gerl, brat? Or you hev eating her?" The former seemed unlikely, but the latter did not.