Verdant Basin coconut sharks in the water

The world still appeared bright to the young Blackthorn.

He had almost reached the age of 9 months, and his appearance was barely beginning to lose the awkward lankiness of youth; he was almost indistinguishable from the adults, though he was a touch smaller and his features retained their baby-like softness. He had begun to wander outside the plateau more frequently, but never did he trek too far - what if he got lost?

The basin was surrounded by endless smooth, rolling hills, and he looked down at the glistening water from atop a smaller rise in the ground, weight settled on his rear and plush tail curled neatly around his paws. He had been here since early morning, and the sun had now shifted to the middle of the sky, illuminating the lagoon in a wash of light; bronze eyes flicked up as a rustle sounded from above his head (where a canopy of leaves stretched out), and he held his tongue as a robin dove off a branch and disappeared somewhere closer to the water's edge. Cinder blinked, and his leathery nose flared as he inhaled the sharp, chilly scents of his surroundings.

Oh, perhaps he should go closer to the basin and investigate further?