Wheeling Gull Isle hell hath no fury

Judah maintained his stoic distance. His rejection hurt horribly, though Caracal was still glad he was here. Otherwise he might’ve binged the rest of the fruit and walked into the ocean.

The request made his ears flick but he didn’t hesitate to say, Okay.

After lingering painfully for a beat, Caracal began to trudge in the general direction of The Lion’s Den. It didn’t take very long. He led Judah right up to the small pit he’d dug to store them. He started when he saw it open and exposed. Some of the fruit appeared to be missing. Had a critter gotten into his stash?

I found them in the mangroves. I tried one and it took my pain away, so I felt like I could function better. I gathered up the rest I could find and put them here, he came clean to his son, head bowed as he quietly added, I was hurting so badly, Ju. It wasn’t my best moment…

As he stared down at what remained of the yeasty lot, his wife’s voice and his daughter’s voice echoed in his head.

“Is this why Ava almost drowned?”

“Fuck you.”

“Did Ava fall into the sea while you were drinking?”

“Fuck you.”

“Did we almost lose her because this is more important to you?”

“Fuck you.”

“Both of you failed our daughter!”

“Fuck you.”

He thought to himself, It’s not fair.

Caracal began trembling again, then outright shaking.

I didn’t deserve that.