Ouroboros Spine spoiling

In a show of empathy, Seal mirrored Massaraq’s dour tone. Her features wilted to commiserate with her compatriot in solemn mourning. This was Seal’s first experience with death and, like Massaraq, she felt very much on the fringes of it all. It was difficult for her to watch Sialuk mourn. It was like their sister had simply gone on a journey but never returned.

“Yeah…” she agreed. She kicked a little pebble with her paw into the water. Feeling like she needed to do something, Seal reached out and touched her nose to Massaraq’s cheek.

However, a sudden and unexpected feeling made her quickly withdraw. It was like a caterpillar burst from its chrysalis and transformed into a butterfly, which now fluttered around inside of her like a wild bat trapped inside a house.

The unexplained feeling felt very out of place for the moment and Seal didn’t understand it. She smiled nervously and then kicked another pebble, happy for the topic to change.

“Oh yeah… Turns out those were strawberries,” Seal explained. “Perfectly safe, edible, and actually verrae delicious.” Seal began to laugh at herself. “Maybe next season we’ll find some more, eh?”

Then, an idea came to her. “Say, you fancy becoming a protector, right? Maybe we can play-fight… spar… an’ help take your mind offa things. My sister, Orca, and I wrestle all the time,” she suggested.