Ocean's Breath Plateau Cut out all the ropes and let me fall.

Aya! Sea Hunter cried, as his father often did, as he loped his way cheerfully across the sand. He laughed and whooped out loud as he ran, sweeping closer to the water's edge then veering out of reach. He made a game of avoiding the surf and counted how many times he'd avoided the rolling waves: twelve, a new record!

On the thirteenth, saltwater kissed his heels. The boy eased his stride, tongue lolling and ribs heaving; he was spent. He stood there in the shallows and let the waves froth around his ankles, appreciating the coolness of it on his paws.

It warmed his heart to see the little ones laugh and play. Each took after their father in different ways, but Sea Hunter in particular had his voice. Taggak hummed a seal-hunting chant first sung by Waking Shark and passed on by Chakliux as he trotted through the surf towards the boy.

"Having fun?" he grinned, tail sending arcs of seawater as it waved happily behind him. By the time he arrived, Sea Hunter had finished his game. "Unlike us, the sea never gets tired." As if to demonstrate, Taggak waded deeper and let the waves lap his belly in rhythmic swells. It was important to recognise the limits of ones own body, though it seemed the boy had already begun to grasp such a concept.

Sea Hunter watched the darkening of sodden sand around him as the surf withdrew and moved to press his paws, withdrawing so he could look upon the perfect imprint of pads and claws. His tail waved behind him, amused, and it fascinated him how the next swell rolled back and left the images blurred.

At the edge of his line of sight the little seal hunter saw a dark figure venture his way, and he shifted in the shallows to beam brightly up into the yearling's face. Ya! Sea Hunter answered, his gaze following the way Taggak lifted his limbs to avoid being swept by the waves. The water reached his undersides, lapping at the ebony furs of his upper limbs - in depths unsuitable for the boy whose height barely brought him to Takkag's hocks. Too far, Tagga!

The boy's energy was matched with the yearling's own, though he became cooler and calmer the deeper he forged. Though he could not have been a few wolf-lengths from the shore, Sea Hunter's protests brought him circling around until the waves lapped just above his knees.

Was this what it meant to be an older brother? He would need to learn to adjust for the boy's size - he was so small!

"Swim to me, Sea Hunter!" he called - had Chakliux taught them this yet? Raising one paw, he moved it in a cyclic motion for him to learn from. "Like this - see! I will guide you."

Taggak shifted, turning himself to face the little seal hunter who lingered in the shallows. He watched the yearling move closer again and lifted his oversized ears at his barked encouragement - swim to me!

But would he catch him, if the tide proved too strong?

Sea Hunter cast a glance over a scrawny shoulder at @Chakliux, who appeared to busy himself with the troublesome @Kilalurak further down the shore. His attention was drawn toward Taggak again as he motioned with his paws, promising to guide him.

He could do it, of course he could! He was not just a kid - he was a seal hunter boy! Sea Hunter pressed forward, deeper, and the rolling tide kissed his exposed belly. It was biting cold, enough so that he reconsidered his decision to attempt this swim, but he grit his teeth against the discomfort and trudged on.

Sea hunter appeared hesitant. From his position in the surf, the yearling's mind raced with worry. Was it too early to ask for such a thing? While it was easy now for him to take to the water, he could only imagine how daunting it must be for the young seal hunter. 

Steeling himself, he offered words of encouragement as the boy entered the waves, drowning out the shouts of those around them as his vision tunnelled to the pup's floating body. 

He moved closer still, closing the distance between them until Sea Hunter was near enough to be swept into his brother's waiting arms. "You are strong, Sea Hunter! Look at how far you swam!" Lifting the boy higher and higher until his little legs escaped the chill of the water, he positioned him comfortable on his shoulders. From his vantage point, he let his little brother admire the distance travelled.

When he could no longer feel the wet sand beneath his feet, Sea Hunter kicked with his hind limbs and paddled with his fores - as though he'd been doing this his whole life. The current washed over his little head, salt water stinging his eyes and nose and making him sputter, but he huffed through his nostrils and swum forth.

Taggak was not far, but for one so small and with the waves forcing him toward the beach, it felt like a mile! Aya! Sea Hunter whooped when his teacher welcomed him, his laughter jovial as he was gathered, triumphant, onto strong shoulders. Look, Tagga! Look how far!