Dragoncrest Cliffs Toujours

val's breath shuddered with captive pride. chacal watched him, the rim of her golden gaze glittering. between her and mireille, the surface of the water held in the conches shimmered.

trouble simmered in that gaze of hers. before val knew it, he was baptized by saltwater; the sensation sending a thousand needles of alarm chittering through his fur. his stomach flipped -- he heard distantly the bubble of mireille's laugh, but he was too busy fighting back a scream.

the water dribbled from his head, down his spine, through his skin like icy mercury. val swallowed back his terror, a brave face put out for the world as he sat there, newly minted as sapphique's first aventurine.