Cerulean Cape the flung spray and the blown spume and the sea-gulls crying

aria, who believed she'd never come in contact with a sea lion before, was utterly baffled. she watched, confused as all get out, from underbrush on the island. her ears were cupped forward, body gathered in a tight ball as she looked onto the creatures. they scared her, and she didn't know why. they seemed gentle, she could sense that this was a mating ritual of sorts-- but she was downright terrified, glued to the spot.

when night hit, aria felt comfortable enough to slink away from the creatures, her tail low and tucked. everything grew weirder by the second, but she had convinced herself that-- by now-- much of this was just a strange dream. everything she couldn't remember was because she'd dreamed up a weird tale in her head, and now she was just suffering the consequences of it. she'd be fine when she sorted what was real and what was a dream, she decided. but, when she turned to view the sea lions one last time, a weird twinge of pain shot down her right arm, and she winced as she slunk off into safety.