leave out all the rest --- keona

[SÉAMUS]

The rusty spotted cat rose at the break of dawn.  A pair of glinting sea-green hues watching the horizon silently, regarding the sun as it slowly set the ocean aflame.  It would be a little time before it fully escaped the line separating sky and sea.  Despite that, Séamus was already on the move, leaving the rest of the ship sleeping, small paws stepping lightly on the wooden planks.

The sand was cool, not yet warmed by the sun's glaring rays, and he quickly trotted across the shore, disappearing into the jungle trees.  With practiced ease, he slithered across the forest floor, jumping over logs, and using the towering trunks as resting spots and boosts.  It was that way he speedily arrived before a waterfall.

For a moment, he watched the falls; the cascading water into a deep pool below.  Lingering by the water's edge, he took a drink and sat beside the hidden steps.

So early in the morning, it was a quiet place.  Though Séamus rested beside the stairs, he had no interest in the hidden Colosseum behind him.  He'd explored it's insides before; drawn in by simple curiosity.  An intriguing enough place.  It would be the perfect arena to challenge his brother - either one, actually - to a spar.  He doubted, however, either Kian or Raziel would accept such an invitation from him.  They were too wary of him.

Not that he minded that.  Both had reason to distrust him, and he had more than enough reason to dislike them.  It'd been years since their family had been united in any way.  No one could expect them to get along or interact particularly smoothly.  It'd been tip-toed steps thus far.  No lines had been crossed yet.

Séamus, despite what his brothers may believe, had no current interest in... Ruining their day (or lives).  Even then, he was more interested in making life difficult for Raziel, not Kian.  His twin, for the longest time, had simply been competition, not a direct enemy.  Now, instead of a competing captain, he was a crewmate.  Even Séamus had not considered that turn of events likely, but it was his own doing.

Before he knew about... The child, Séamus could not fathom why Kian would ditch his crew.  Retirement did not make sense.  Nor illness.  Nothing made sense.  Until her.  Certainly a Faoláin child, but he wondered sometimes.  Kian had not been the only member of the family who had sought Haliaka's favor.  He still remembered her.  The only cat who actually seemed interested in him as living being, not just a pirate or a monster.  She certainly had not cared he was the son of the dead king and queen.

But she was dead and gone; it made no difference now.  Unfortunately, it also meant answers were unavailable.  Pity.

Even if it would be with great resentment, Séamus could accept the common belief as fact.  There was a piece of him at war with the thought however, demanding answers and the claim to the last trace of Haliaka in this world.  There was not much to do about it however.  For now, he would sit by and wait.  Perhaps the answers would reveal themselves one day.