Coconut Grove Put the lime in the coconut and drink 'em both up

@Roujuihnn

Lokie meandered his way towards the shore, but he paused just before his paws touched the sand. Born and raised on a mountain, he had never ventured toward the ocean, so this was his first experience. The spot before him seemed to blend well between the plants and trees, and the coastline before him. He took a few steps forward, where the dirt and sand mixed. Not so bad, he thought. He sniffed around, noting the particular salty taste of the air that got stronger and stronger as he went. Not exceptionally bad, but not something he was used to. 

He moved on until his paws sunk into nothing but sand. He squished them around, liking the different texture between his toes. A movement several yards before him got his attention. A little creature scurried about, zigzagging through the sand. Ears perked and instantly curious, he moved towards it. It moved away. Lokie moved closer. It moved further. Hey, come back here so I can check you out, he demanded. That little creature was having none of it, and started to move faster. 

So, Lokie did what Lokie does best. He chased after it. The little creature zigged and zagged until they were back in the patch of trees and bushes, and it ran underneath one for protection. Lokie was quick to stick his muzzle in after it, and just a second later, was yelping in pain. The little thing had latched onto his upper lip, and wasn't letting go. Lokie whined as he shook his head side to side to try and dislodge the offender, but to no avail. It was hanging on for dear life.

Inspection of the shores South West from the cliff side he'd found himself at nearly two days ago was putting him to the test. The winds had dipped lower, allowing a chilly breath to slip in and pull the heat away from his working body. As the wear on him from traveling, and not much napping, wore him down, his features bore a more nettled visage than his first day here. His nature was starting to settle in, but as long as his eyes had something new and beautiful to see, it would hold him over.

All of this verdant land to one side of him, and the endless stretch of cerulean sea to the other, made him feel as If he was between worlds. All his life he'd seen nothing but endless stretches of powder white, and the yearning to explore was easily put in check by the need to survive and find somewhere warm for the night. This place? He could sleep on the edge of the beach, if he so chose. The only thing that made him hesitant? The slow trickle of more and more souls tripping over his main route. The cologne of another was fresh on the sand, and it seemed just a bit too soon after his last encounter. He'd have to get used to meeting strangers, it seemed, and his standoffish nature wasn't exactly an asset in that sense.

A paw splashed in a pooled depression in the sand, and it rocked him off balance for a moment. As he gained his footing, a wild yelp stole every instance of security that he'd foolishly found himself with. Nearly jumping out of his own skin at the start, he clenched his teeth and pewter gaze into the verdure. What he did find wasn't what he'd expected. There was no skirmish or attack at hand. Or at least, not one that would give him any reason to be frightened. With the backdrop of rattling leaves, a wolf shook his head and on his nose, snapped up tight, was a spider-like sea creature. It seemed he was having some trouble with it.

Turning his head back to the way he'd come, he considered just how easy it would be to leave this guy here with the pincer on his nose. It wasn't exactly his problem. Nevertheless, he sighed heavily and relented. Maybe, he could at least get some directions around the area if he helped?

Paws, dirtied with all sorts of grime, brought his sauntering frame over to the unlucky male that had somehow offended a crab so well that the crustacean was unwavering in it's grip. For a moment, he stood far enough to give the male space, inspecting the situation a little more closely. The curl of hunger in his stomach brought about the sound reasoning that if it had been a fish stuck to this stranger's nose, at least there'd be dinner to have. A gesture with his jaw toward the creature clipped to the strangers snout made physical the question that were to come next,” Need free?” The inquiry was short, but to the point, and it was the most polite a stranger was going to get from him for free help.

[[SouthWest Sequoia Coast - Coconut Grove - 06/20/19
Temp: 51˚ Partly Cloudy. Possible light rain in the afternoon]]

Lokie was much too distracted by the creature hanging off of his maw that he neither seen nor heard the other wolf approach. It wasn't until the wolf was close by that Lokie noticed him at all. His ears perked, Need free? he was asked. He was quick to bob his head up and down, which in turn had the crab flying up and down. That did not help the situation. Lokie suppressed another whine as he closed the distance between he and the stranger. 

Lokie had a trusting heart, and it never did occur to him that someone else would hurt him. After all, he never had any ill will, so why would they? He wasn't very street smart. When he was close enough, he paused, waiting to see how the other male was going to help him out.

It seemed, as Rouj' approached, that this victim of crustacean carnage hadn't even noticed his approach. It was either honest, or feigned, and the dark pelted, silvery eyed wolf was hesitant to believe anything but the latter. Narrowed gaze settled on the pinched canine's features until finally the other recognized that he was in the presence of someone else. A quiet, simple nod was delivered through the pain of crab. The space was closed between them. Rouj could feel his heart flutter for a moment, instinct of experience from earlier times, and wary thoughts had only just relented when the other paused for the offered service.

First, examination. As the waves curled on the beach behind him, Rouj' lifted his crown atop his neck and tried to gather a different point of view. It seemed to be, the creature would not relent, even if it had calmed down. A few steps were stolen to the right, to find half of the pincer wedged into the soft, moist leather of the stranger's nose. A few steps taken to the left and pewter sights found the edge of the same claw outside of the other's nares. There was a simple solution, but Rou' knew he had to be careful. No matter how innocent this guy seemed, there was still an air of caution to be had here.

Tip-toing closer, he only stopped until his own muzzle was but inches away from the leggy sea bug," Don't move," Rough tone warned. If this guy jerked or tried to take off if a little bit of pain was put into him from the release, then there'd be a lot more than a sore spot against the grainy suede schnoz that topped his maw. 

Black lips parted as the silvery jowls stretched up and around the crab. There wasn't a particular reason to keep the crab's life intact, and truth be told, Rouj' was fairly desensitized to the deaths of lesser creatures like these. If this stranger didn't move at all, he'd be able to easily bite the thing with enough strength to crush it's innards and give it no choice but to release his canine quarry. Eyes were hesitant, piercing. Roujuihnn expected there to be retaliation, but he couldn't act until he was assaulted first. All in all, he hoped that this beach-roaming stranger really just needed his nose free of that claw.

Lokie was wide-eyed as the wolf came closer, but he obeyed the instructions and was as still as he could be. The only movement he made was his lungs as they filled with air, and then expressed it. He was prepared for the make to jerk on the crab, and the pain that would come with it. Since he didn't really want to see it, Lokie shut his eyes tightly, and waited. 

But, it never came. He heard the crack of the crab's shell as the other wolf crushed it, and then the pincher simply let go of Lokie's upper lip. Lokie peeked one eye open, and then the other as he realized that the pain would not worsen, and in fact, he already felt much better. 

His stressed expression slowly changed to happiness as his ears perked, and a smile appeared on his maw. His tail wagged with happiness, Hey! Thanks! he said genuinely. You're alright! he added, fawning over the great character of the wolf who had just helped him out. Is there anything I can do for you? he asked quickly, wanting to return the favor if he could.