Dragoncrest Cliffs ae dilla marjaaniyaan

When Meerkat said the word bonnie, Njord’s face lit up. For one thing, he was proud to actually be doing a decent job as tour guide. For another, there was a certain je ne sais quoi about hearing his own dialect in Meerkat’s voice. It felt like two ends meeting, or a fabric being woven together on a loom… and a familiar thrum in his chest made the seafarer’s heart beat a little harder.

She politely turned down lunch, though Njord wanted to assure her that he was a far better fisherman than a fighter. He was saving the best, the beach, for last and he could see she was keen to reach their destination. He laughed in amusement. “Only tha finest wolves are allowed on Sapphique’s beach!” he teased with sarcastic intonation, “good thing yer an exceptional one,” he said matter-of-factly. Njord’s gaze softened as his joke melted into honest truth, and then snapped away when he realized his feelings were worn right on his sleeves. “On we go!” he blurted, leading Meerkat round the Lake and across Bluepeace Meadow.

They arrived a the stony mouth of the long passage through the cliffs. Crashing waves and screaming gulls echoed down its dark corridor, a window of light at the other end. “Through here,” Njord gestured with a swing of his head. The tunnel was large enough for two wolves to walk abreast, it’s walls made of dark stone – some bone dry, some wet. The wind was cutoff in here, and apart from the white noise of the sea, it was peaceful. A strong smell of saltwater permeated the air.

It took no more than a minute or two to pass through, and Njord squinted as they came out the other side. A large archway marked the start of the beach and Dragoncrest’s tall walls gently cupped the curved bay. The sand was soft and granular, unlike the usual rocky beaches of Teekon. Some snow had gathered, but for the most part a good day of sun could warm the beach. On one end were small tide pools where the children played, filled with crabs, critters, and sea plants. The surf was gentle today.

“Race ya to tha wat’r!” Njord said as he crouched, ready to sprint.