Wheeling Gull Isle not unlike the waves

Thresher’s momentary fright caused a palpable ripple effect that danced through each sibling and both parents until at last it reached Koi. Like Sixgill, the lastborn Volkodav-Corten did not trend overtly toward either a lionhearted or a timid nature but hovered in a nebulous middle ground. She was easily influenced by the mood of her peers, and found herself paralyzed by Thresher’s fear, Grayling’s indignation, and Six’s fury. They tugged at her with equivalent strength, leaving her somewhat at a loss — so she crouched down in the grass until the tangle of emotions began to ease and Stockholm’s voice reached her, golden and warm. The words were meant for Thresher, but Koi drew them unto herself and was soothed. Coelacanth’s mist-silver murmur followed soon thereafter, and at last the pearl drew her trembling body up to peek through the blades of grass. The flower was very, very dead; Thresher was not frightened anymore; and mama was cavorting around at breakneck speed.

Koi emerged from the soft green grass and giggled, a sweet river-ripple of laughter dancing upon her tongue. Then, certain of her welcome, she smushed herself between Grayling and Sixgill to watch their mother’s odd approach.