Sea Lion Shores crashing and breaking waves

she paced along the shore, inhaling deep with the tide, exhaling hard as it drew back into the sea — imagining that it was the power of her breath that did so, though auk knew it was the tide that ruled her. either way, the crashing and breaking waves mirrored the turmoil within her chest except that the steady rhythm of the waves was calming, reminding her of her power. within her breast, the waves of emotion were chaotic, discordant, confused.

auk wanted a fight. her mismatched gaze was on the alert, knowing the signs of sea lion but seeing none. she watched for bobbing heads in the water, wanting to give chase, wanting to break her body upon them. at least then the physical pain would be a release.

and if they killed her, so be it. she didn't care.

but there were none, and her angry gaze remain fixed upon the shore as she wound an agitated labyrinth in the cold, wet sand.