Wheeling Gull Isle amongst the whales and the waves

Moorhen was returning from a long swim, the muscles in her powerful legs alight with the pain of exertion. Salty water dripped from her water-darkened pelt, and white sand sparkled like string of pearl around her ankles as she rose from the waves, the picture of youth and vitality. In reuniting with the Shadow, she had regained something denied to her since birth. And, nurtured by the Shadow and her mate, the girl quickly began to flourish upon the island. Her pelt had grown thick and shiny, her eyes brighter, and her already impressive form had unfurled a few further inches as she finally reached her full adult size.

Moorhen was happy, and it showed in the clean, youthful lines of her face.

... until she caught sight of the man on her beach and immediately began to bristle. "Um!" she challenged, tail raising above her hocks. "Who?" she barked, quickening her pace despite the burn in her legs to close the distance between herself and the man - with the salt in her nares, she needed to be far closer to detect his scent, and she would not be standing for any funny business while she assured herself of the legitimacy of his presence on the island.