Gilded Bay brine

His ears pulled forward when the girl started toward him, but Crosscurrent stayed still for several long moments. He let her draw closer, almost close enough to speak in more conversational tones before he finally found it in himself to move. A single step forward. Then another.

Hello, he greeted quietly, uncertain. His voice wavered just a little on the word. Months of silence, broken in a single unceremonious second of impulse. Crosscurrent hesitated, then added, There's a bit of this seal left on the beach, if... He faltered, swallowed hard, then started again. If you're hungry. She looked thin to his eyes, but then, wasn't he the same?