Oystercatcher Tide Pools absolute misery

it is a bit overwhelming, especially with these gals. sorry about that, haha.

jizaar asked her to specify in what she perceived as genuine curiosity, blaming her inadequacy in the common tongue. but he explained he came to the wilds to wander & gain new experiences. she could see the appeal in such a life, but the scars left on her soul kept her rooted in the comfort of familiarity; the sea, her gods, her sisters. anything outside of this comfort zone was met with resistance, even hostility.

the man went on to voice his doubts that fish could survive the freezing bite of winter, prompting mei to perk up. they do. we fish just the other day, she answered, though she did wonder how. a southern origin & distaste for the cold was something they all shared, & that put her more at ease with him. commonality was good. ying invited him to hunt, which she did not oppose, but her assertion flustered her. i'm... okay at fishing, she humbly corrected with a sheepish swish of her tail.

they'd dawdled enough. whether jizaar wanted to join them or not was his choice, but mei was eager to complete the task she came here to do. let us go before the tide rises, she urged, shouldering past them to step into the pools. a shiver wove up her spine when her paws became submerged in the chilly water, but she would soon adjust. the bottom-feeders made for easy pickings at low tide, as one would literally stumble upon them in the absence of water. one-by-one, she performed a killing bite to any she found before tossing them ashore, some to be eaten while the rest would be stored in caches.