Cerulean Cape wave-wracked and wanton

thank you. her words echoed in his ears, her sweet scent filling his nose as she drew closer. the rest looked on, some even with open admiration for his song. he gave dawn a small kiss of his muzzle to the top of her head, smiling at the crowd assembled, though something in his stomach felt tight.

that look. a fleeting shadow behind her eyes. . .?

and then the fleeting shadow that took shape in the form of coelacanth, twirling in elegant dance on the sand. mesmerized, he sat, watching the girl's performance. hawkish gaze following her every move. how she told a story! one of loss, though with a sweet tinge to it. and happiness from long ago, and a healthy dose of good humor.

he could never tell a soul, but he loved the dark-pelted woman. differently, perhaps, than he loved dawn--but he loved her all the same, and it was a weight on his heart.

songs and stories continued to fly, the familiar voices of grayday and catori reaching his ears as well as tones he'd not heard before. meat was divvied up, and they feasted happily, aditya relishing the taste of sea flesh he hadn't tasted in quite some time. he cast his eyes toward the morningsiders as he ate, wondering if they'd find it as appealing as the game on land.