Wheeling Gull Isle maybe when the coast is clear

We can probably close this up, if we want to. ♥

Maybe Moorhen’s behavior wasn’t all that appropriate given the current hierarchy of Undersea, but Coelacanth appreciated it. She nibbled affectionately at the steely-muscled curve of the girl’s hip before turning her attention somewhat obliquely toward the Earthstalker, gauging his response. Tufted ears flitted back against her skull indecisively before springing forward again — she would not force Komodo to bring Driftwood along. It was enough that he had not driven the boy away during Seelie’s panicked flight from Wheeling Gull Isle. Instead, she would find something useful for the younger wolf to do. She knew that she and Komodo needed desperately to reconcile, but she measured his anger — past and potential — and Aditya’s heartbreak against her reserves of energy and compassion and found herself lacking. In lieu of a private conference, she offered the medicine man a soft and wavering whine of gratitude, and tried on a timorous smile that felt a bit stiff.

They had a lot of work to do.

To the Morningsiders, “Grayday, Lavender,” she bade sweetly, “please t-trust Komodo.” She’d meant to say, “Please follow Komodo,” but her heart had dashed ahead of her tongue. See, deep down, she knew the Angakkuq was trustworthy where it really counted, and her plea had stemmed from that. Whether she was trying to convince the Morningsiders or herself was something even she didn’t know. Her Neptune eyes were troubled as they lingered upon the Vedmak, and for a moment it seemed she might speak — but she bit her lip on whatever she was going to say and sought to reassure Moorhen and Driftwood with a low whuffle and a swish of her feathered tail.

Smoothing her tongue across the latter’s brow, “Take food — um,” she stammered, stumbling over her words with weariness. “Come,” she urged him simply, her cerulean eyes turning sheepishly to Moorhen. “Moorhen, good girl, come? P-Please?” she entreated. The three of them would bring some of the land prey from the caches to a forest copse where the Morningsiders could bed down comfortably, and try them on seafood tomorrow. It had been such a long journey — she thought they would be happier with warmblooded fare. She began to lead the group inland.

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After an abbreviated tour with Komodo — mainly to Morningside Moor, so the honored guests would be able to see the territory that had been named in their honor — Grayday and Lavender were led to a small cleft of mossy earth where Coelacanth, Driftwood, and Moorhen had laid out a feast of land prey and pelagic fare. Father and daughter slept side-by-side, with seawolf sentinels posted discreetly about to ensure they would not be disturbed or awoken before the natural course of their slumber. Only when she had seen to their comfort did Coelacanth quietly excuse herself, Moorhen at her back — and she ensured that the pair wanted for nothing during their stay.