Unlike Keona, the sea did not call to Danny. Maybe that was an interesting statement to make, given how he ended up in the Typhoon of all places, but it was also the sea that raged and announced his fate that stormy night he arrived cold and alone. Something like that made for very poor first impressions. He had since gotten on better terms with the waters, rest assured, but he still felt no pull to it. Somewhere else called to him distantly, and while he would not leave the Typhoon to venture out on his own and find where that was and why that was, it would not be the depths of the ocean.

He had been out doing...whatever it was that needed to be done, perhaps collect firewood for the hearth of the tavern, when he spotted Keona in the distance. Finding the Dealer by the water's edge was no surprise to him and he thought nothing of it. Continued on. He felt somewhat uncomfortable by her swimming out farther, even more so when her head was no longer visible above the waves, but still told himself the same. Did what was on his mind, completed his tasks. The nagging would not subside unless he had proof that there was nothing to be worried about, he knew himself well enough on that front, so it was decided that he would check the water after delivering the wood to be burned. It was a bit of a walk for some, and gave him plenty of time for Keona to reemerge. So he told himself, and when she was still not present upon his return, Danny did begin to worry. Immediately. The fear managed to banish the realization that Keona had elementals that she could use at will, and was perhaps well versed in using, but his nervous behavior was not always rational. Usually it was not at all rational.

He waited some more, just to be sure. Worked up the courage to ask around a tiny bit to make sure she hadn't exited the waves while he was gone and he just happened to miss her. Paced back and forth by the edge of the sea. Had she drowned? Had she been eaten alive by one of the terrifying creatures that lurked beneath? Danny waded out himself until the water rose to his shoulders, stuck his head beneath the surface and tried to peer downward. All he got was salt in his eyes and increased anxiety. A wave threatened to knock him over and into the water completely, and that was enough to scare him out of the water combined with everything else.

When the sun had reached the middle of the sky, Danny had given up his search. Miserable, fur sticking up in every direction and carrying a heavy scent of salt water, and bordering hyperventilation, his eyes were watery and burning far too much to focus. He was sure Keona was dead. She had been gone for far too long, and the last place he saw her was in the ocean. Of course, Keona was not dead, and the distinct sound of someone shaking off their fur was unmistakable. One half of his brain insisted her demise had been met, but the other would not rest until it was investigated, perhaps hope was a good enough label. Harland had beaten him to it this time, meeting Keo and verbalizing what they both were thinking, which he would not complain about in the slightest. Danny blinked, which was rather relieving when some of the salt was washed away, staring at Keo and yet, staring through her. He then, of course, did what any emotionally stable individual did when they were face to face with someone they thought would not be seen alive again.

Danny, albeit rather quietly as always, began to cry. Very mature.

The ocean had grown into a steady and welcome presence, filled with connections to those Salem cared for.  Moons of dwelling among the Typhoon cemented it with the feeling of home.  His sister had always been wherever water could be found, nose deep within a book.  Keona always seemed to linger on the edges -- drawn in by the waves, but never going farther.

There, the small wildcat could linger himself.  Enjoy the salt spry and the gentle caress of water over his paws, but nothing more.  Content to sit and observe from the safety of the shore, unable to truly hide the fact his eyes often settled onto Keona before they ever drifted to the ocean -- something warm in his chest whenever she smiled.  She always smiled when close to the water and the color of her eyes seemed to capture those depths within.

Wherever Keona went, she carried the ocean with her -- in her eyes and the smell of her fur.  It felt like home to be near her.  Away, Salem found himself abuzz; even as he went about his day, he found his thoughts often lingered on her, with hopes that she was not overworking herself and inquiries on whether the traders had brought in any new braille books recently.

The latter inquiry had been resting in his mind, as vine-wrapped paws trotted over the sand.  The outline of a wolf in the water caught him off-guard, causing him to freeze still on the shore.  Something in him ached as he realized she had never gone so far before.  Somewhere he could not follow easily or safely.  A feeling that sank deeper into his stomach when she disappeared entirely, a sight that left him catching his breath.

The nature of the dive appeared intentional, yet the seeds of doubt planted without seconds to spare.  Of course, a wolf made for a better swimmer than a rusty spotted cat, but Keona doesn't swim.  Salem knew she had little to no practice in that regard, a pacing trail beginning to form. 

Of course, Keona had always been masterful in manipulating the water, but how long can she do that for?  He could break and move the earth, grow autumn plants, but it took effort -- do too much and he grew tired.  The vines curling around him seemed to tighten at the thought.  Had Keona overestimated her abilities and drowned?

Okay.  I'll just-- I'll just speak to the traders and come back. An unknowingly similar trajectory to another who worried.  Ears resting low against his skull, the kodkod turned from the water, to find the suppliers.  He glanced backwards constantly, unable to shake the feeling of time ticking past, until he forced himself to focus and speak.  They would have more braille books for them next time.

Inevitably, he returned to no sight.  The pacing was resumed immediately, a small moat beginning to form in the sand where he tread.  Dark eyes only raised at the sound of someone scrambling out of the water; only it had been Danny, lowering the kodkod's spirits further, as he watched in concern.  The thought of drowning lingered, heightened by the other youth's clash with the water.

No.  Salem refused.  Keona could not drown -- the sentiment on a desperate repeat like a broken record until he finally saw her.  Wading back onto the shore, drenched, but clearly alive and well enough to begin shaking the water off her fur.  No sign of injury either, as he took in her presence, seeming to memorize the sight of her.  A second more and Salem knew he may have done the same as Danny to disastrous effect -- he was much smaller than the wolf and ill-suited to the water.  Even so, he would rather drown himself than accept losing Keona.

The words were dead on his tongue, expressed best by Harland, even as Salem began to stumble forward.  At some point his breath had grown ragged.  He didn't stop moving until he reached her, head moving forward to gently impact her front leg and remain there.  The sound of Danny crying made the mist in his eyes heavier.  He had done his best to shake off the notion she'd been gone, but it would be a poor lie to claim grief nearly won.

Subconsciously, he manipulated the vines around his legs to curl around hers -- as though to keep her more anchored to the land.  "Please don't-" Don't go where I can't follow you.  "If you're... If you're going to do something like that... A word of- a word of warning... Might be.  Might be nice?"

When she left to do her ritual, she spoke to him about it first.  Had he worried too excessively that night?  Left her reluctant to tell him when she had plans like this?  They talked about most things, didn't they?  The last thing he wanted was to push her away.

The sobbing was accidental of course, about instinctual as the response he gave Keona when she was testing her howling skills. Reeling it back in was normally a pain, a chore in itself, but for one reason or another, the blessing and curse of Roan’s appearance was able to flick the necessary switch to shut everything off. Sort of, everything that was internal stayed where it was, he just wasn’t making any new tears to add to the collection drying on his face. He rubbed his face aggressively at the Soothsayer’s words, trying to at least look like he wasn’t crying like a frightened child, despite the damage being done. All he managed to do of course was further mess up the fur around his face.

”I kept thinking something got her. Or she, uh, yknow....d...drowned.” Danny mumbled, shuddering at the final word, wondering if the secondary emotion beneath the panic was embarrassment. Constantly on the verge of emotional outbursts like that wasn’t very fun, see. He frowned, lip quivering still but refused to cry any more than he already had. The concern about being reprimanded was too great. On the other hand, Keona’s words offered necessary comfort, easing the worry somewhat. ”I’m sorry, I’m fine, I’m okay now.” Not entirely, but he wasn’t going to admit to being overly panicked after he had already displayed his inner fears. Besides, vocalizing that again in greater detail only served to cause more crying.