Stavanger Bay run doe run

Doe roused herself when his shadow fell over her again, and her tail beat a tired acknowledgment in the sand at the gentle touch of his tongue on her ear. She lifted her head searchingly without opening her eyes, and hooked a paw around one of his ankles in an effort to keep him near. Rolling more fully onto her back, she craned her neck to scrape her teeth against his larger paw, letting out a sleepy, beseeching murmur.

"Rest for a bit," she insisted, finally opening her eyes to blink up at his upside-down form. The sight was enough to eginite the whirring engine of her tail.

She knew that she should get up and do some more work herself, but the sun was so hot, and her belly felt marvellously full from the midday snack. Besides, there were plenty of rocks around. Why did she have to put them all in once place just to have them spread out again? The pack could find their own damn rocks, and she could do something more useful with her time - like cuddle Sy.

There are other reasons you should not be doing this, whispered a sensible-sounding voice into her 'pretty' ear. Not without Skellige's blessing, at least.

I have earned a bit of respite, she shot back at the voice, a bit indignant on her own behalf.

But have you earned the right to choose a mate? Perhaps you have already been chosen. It would be prudent to find out, and if the Leviathan has other plans for you - you will have to make your peace with that.

The voice was very sensible. Doe resolved to bring up the topic when things began to settle down - but for now, the sun was still hot, her belly still full, and Sy still wonderfully stubborn, silly, silent, song-filled beside her. I'm not doing anything wrong, she told herself. It's just a nap, after all, and no one seems to be around. She did not stop to question when a need for solitude had entered the equation, but for once, the shift was not lost on her. So be it, she thought wryly, a reckless streak awakening in her - where Szymon was concerned, at least.