Sea Lion Shores horse to water

It had been a long journey North. They moved slower than even he was used to. But Awinita had healed enough to travel - physically, at least - and so he had led her the moment he was certain her body could endure the trip in a direction he had never charted, to a land he did not know. Sun and moon passed above them in a cycle he did not count. It did not matter. He would not be returning to these thirsty lands. Neither of them would. And with every step, he felt the darkness shed.

And it seemed Awinita did, too. He felt her shift at his side, and he turned his eyes to inquire, only to meet the sliver of a smile before she was gone, sprinting ahead like a child of the light. He watched her disappear through the trees, but he could guess at what had spurred her: the scent of salt, the crash of waves. He inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, before her chuff roused him and he sprinted out to join her  with a smile himself.

They had reached the sea.

His gaze fell first to the monstrosities on the shore - strangely lumpy things - but pale movement called him elsewhere - Awinita, and a man he didn’t know. His guard piqued, and he watched Awinita shuffle from the ground to round on the creatures. He glanced between the two, but he hadn’t seemed to scare her - she rather looked at ease. He approached with a measure of caution, circling around the brown animals and taking position between the man and the girl. He cast the stranger a curious glance, and hoped he would prove a friend.