Coy loved the ocean. And such is the pain of remembering what a lost friend loved. As she walked along the coast, hungry black fur buffeted by cold winds, memories came to her. Coy singing loudly about an ocean legend, Asteri creating the beat and humming along. The two singing shanties on a boat, occasionally capsizing. The music box she found in an old sailor's home and gave to Coy, how he loved it, and loved her even more. Him putting it on when Asteri couldn't sleep, Asteri finding him passed out with the music box between his paws, little ship rocking quietly to the music it played.

Engulfed in memories, Asteri almost didn't realize the dark body laying on the sands some feet before her. At least, not until she saw the blood, the red bandana torn up and scattered. Oh. Oh no. No. No. It could not be him. The stars would not be as cruel as to kill off her once only friend. As she stepped closer.. oh no. No, it cannot be him! No. The small fox body, dark-furred with white markings on their paws, a moon on their right cheek... A choking sob left the trembling wolf as she pressed her nose to the cold body. Coal... Coal and Sea Salt.. God..

"Why... Why, stars.. why.." Her sobs suffocated her words as her upper body collapsed, holding onto the bloody and matted fur of Coy's cold body. Wait. The music box.. WHERE WAS THE MUSIC BOX. Panic set in, but as she lifted a dead paw and spotted a dark spruce box with gold clasps... wound up the rod at the back... opened the box.. A sob of so many emotions choked her as the tune played, solemn in the rolling thunder, little pirate ship rocking in imaginary waves..

Sobs became louder, became a wail, then a scream, then back to a wail, then back to sobbing. The scent of bandit was all over the area, and bloodied footprints led further down the coast and into the forest. Breathing a heavy, raggedy breath, she let out an anguished scream, "DAMN YOU.. YOU SICK BASTARDS! HE WAS YOUNG.. HE STILL HAD LIFE.. AND YOU TOOK IT AWAY! HOW COULD YOU?! HAVE YOU NO REMORSE, NO MORALS? HE WOULD HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HURT YOU, AND YET YOU KILLED HIM, YOU -- YOU-YOU-YOU.. YOU MONSTERS!" She had screamed to nothing but the starting storm, thunder gently rolling over the sky, appearing to mourn with her.

Bai's voice hardly reached Asteri with her grief-stricken mindset. She took a sparing glance at them, eyes glassy with tears, before she pressed her face against the body. Grief became a rage, then rage crumbled into numbing sorrow. Rage again surfaced, as she stared over into the open ocean, evident in the way her wings twitched and creaked with movement. She was without mercy for the bandits who took the life of her jolly friend. A heavy breath drew from her, "They have stepped too far for me. Their sins will be paid in blood, or they will be thrown into the ocean for sharks. I care not what happens to them now." Words of strong resolve hid the breaking little child within, world dark and grey now.

All she wanted to do now was exact revenge upon the beasts that dared kill an innocent fox.

Body slumped, she moved her gaze to look at Bai for a moment, though she quickly looked back at Coy. Rage again surfaced, prickling her fur like fire. Standing up with a shaky stance, she pressed her nose to Coy's body. Hushed were the words that left her, a promise; "Rest assured, Coy, they will know pain when they look into my eyes, and they will know fear. Just like you told me, those months ago, our bond is the ocean. Unfathomably deep, forever there. Those who dare tempt it will regret it." Giving the air a sigh, facing the growing storm, she prayed quietly that he found peace, and if he didn't, he would soon. A brief nod to Bai was given as she started nosing herself under him so that she could carry his limp body on her back. Wings helped support the body and she gently grabbed the music box in her mouth. Oh, god help the bandits when the time came.