Sea Lion Shores what's the use of stacking on every failure, another stone

For my reference, this is before they discovered Ankyra Sound.

They had returned to their Mother Sea -- even the consorts rejoiced, though they were kept in check by the snapping teeth of the sirens. It was their way, to act thus. For most of the females, the actions were thoughtless... a mere assertion of their dominance. For most of the males, it was accepted in stride; acknowledged just enough to appease the women they followed. Outsiders often found this balance of power strange, but for the Nereides it was their daily dance.

When their joy had been suitably celebrated, the party split to scout their own pathways north; scouring every edge of the coast for the gift that awaited them all. A gift they would soon call home.

It was dangerous to separate from the group, particularly a siren of her station; but Aktaiê knew the others would be close, watching her, and felt no discomfort in allowing them to fall back enough to give her some semblance of peace and independence. The terrorized cries of a sea lion caught her ears, and a hunger tore in her belly with vengeance. Her turquoise eyes glanced behind her, lapping away the saliva from her lips, and she selfishly willed her followers to stay where they could not hear the piteous creature.

She would bring back what she did not eat; this was her right as matriarch.

Aktaiê moved along the sands like a wisp riding the current of the wind; coming to a tense spot only when she saw a waif-like female had the pup already in her grasp. Eyes focused, ears cupping to catch the odd tittering, the priestess stood like a sentinel; for now, she would only watch.