Seaside Moors and when the MC rhyme and the DJ spin

at some point while valravn was with his backside on the sand, the crab had released its grip and got scuttling sideways along the sand while tears coursed freely behind it. val flinched as erzulie's shadow cast over him, half expecting the sluice-water to trickle from his jaws; instead she tenderly nuzzled his cheeks, posing a question that had val nodding quietly, fearfully, to himself. "mhmm."

he wiped a paw across his tear-stained, snotty face. his nose was red and bulbous where the crab had held its ground; it already was sore enough that val kept thumbing it absently with a forepaw. he knew his maman -- both of them -- had a fondness for the sea, but for him the crashing of the waves and the way they flew at him when he walked on the sand only evinced terror. cradling himself close to erzulie, valravn peered out between her two front legs at the thrumming, hissing waves. "izznot good 'ting. the boy protested dully, eyes narrowing as a wave came hissing towards them. he was scuttling backwards now, between erzulie's haunches when the wave receded. "GO 'WAY, WASSAH." valravn called after it, suddenly besieged by a sense of protectiveness.