Sea Lion Shores canopic

she leaned her head down to retrieve her fish head and take her leave. it would be a waste of a good meal if the sorry creature did not survive beyond this one kindness; but she had no stake in the outcome, only that she would need to live with her own conscious. she hadn't heard his murmurs— only saw the shivers rake through his thin form, the points of his ribs as he breathed. he could not help what he was, if the stories were to be believed. and so it was easy to pity him.

but as the tail landed, it seemed to have unceremoniously slapped the man awake. he fell upon it, and still she turned to go. she did not take more than a half-step before his voice cut through the winter between them. aeglaeca could have ignored him, would have only weeks before— perhaps loneliness made her desperate. she returned her gaze to him, dropped her meal once again.

this world troubles me, she assured him, a statement that carried with it no betrayal of emotion. but i will not let it break me. this was true; and pointed.