Cerulean Cape Anenthemonae

When ridicule did not come from the one ahead of him, Hati himself would take up the mantle. How sickeningly happy the boy looked. Making it worse, they seemed close in age. 

He had only known rivals. Competitors. Second sons seemed to have that complex.

Hati had always been hateful. It was the essence of him. Here he was, splashing about tide pools like nothing had ever gone wrong in his life. Was it jealousy? How could he be kind to him, offer the courtesy of shaking off the embarrassment that metaphorically and physically soaked him to the bone. A taunt would've been better. Hati didn't know what he wanted. He probably would've been angry at any response regardless. He was angry that he was here in the first place.

Misdirected.

A deep breath followed, that pristine face would not sully itself further with childish retorts or angry snarls. The night-drawn man resumed his posture and kept his tone so viciously calm, as if it never teetered towards , and walked over to offer the first crab. ..Be glad anybody's helping you at all. You know, you could hunt things of better quality, rather than risk these.... dangerous things. He'd remark with a raise of his brows. The prince was used to lamb, goat, bison during celebrations. Were there seriously those out there so deprived? 

At least the seafood did not bleed. but it could still make him bleed.. A problem either way, yet miserably, he had to do his own hunting out here. He was lucky to have been around for a feast before his estrangement, and here, catching crabs before hunger could start to taint his figure. Strength had never been his strongest attribute, so as prickly as these stupid little freak-legged things were, they were certainly less of a trial than a deer or an elk. Suppose the taste would have to be worth the fight. 

..I'm catching my own from here on. He turns back to the tidepool and eyes the retreating crabs. The gentle crash of waves sweeping some of them to and fro. Seabirds filled the air with their wailing and the wind off the water was cold and brisk, and salty, unlike the fresh, sharp air of the mountains. 

This was no place for him, echoed the harshest of voices, stifled by the sounds of the coast. Simple things mattered now. Food, allies, shelter. 

How far he had fallen. He was disgusted.