ANIMAL IN ME / typhoon cub

[aine.]

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I'll come back when you call me

The smell of sea salt on the air came with varied response from Aine.  More often than not an immense wariness, that sunk down into her very soul.  The smell of sea salt meant pirates.  Pirates came with anger.  Pirates brought their allies, who came in with flames and intent to burn and destroy.

Except.  Sometimes, the petite vixen caught the smell of sea salt and smiled.  Liveliness igniting in her hazel hues.  Because her best friend carried the smell of sea salt with him.  He brought with him the hope not every pirate was cruel, but he was also her only proof of such a notion.  As such, she treated all the other sea-dwellers she met with uncertainty.  Distrust.  She didn't want any more trouble.  She didn't want to see any more friends hurt.  She didn't want to see flames rising into the sky.

When her little nose twitched, catching sea salt, Aine paused.  The beetle she'd been chasing forgotten, she perked her ears.  Then, warily, she began to follow the scent.  She heard no sounds of crackling flames.  No overlapping voices.  When she spotted the origin, it was only another youth.  By himself.  Why?

Teeth caught the inside of her cheek.  Eyes flickering.  Should she find her father? Or Kydobi?  … If she ran off to find them now she might lose track of the stray pirate.  … Why couldn't everyone leave them alone?  Even if he'd wandered in here himself, she bet someone would find a way to blame them.  Then the pirates would be mad at them again.  As if the Tanglers' recent rage wasn't enough.

… He's probably overheating... … … Aine made a hesitant approach, stopping a number of fox lengths away.  Her head tilted slightly.  He didn't seem horrible.  He didn't seem as nice or upbeat as Ikaia, either.  Her tongue rested on the roof of her mouth.  Words running away from her.  It'd probably be rude to ask someone if they were a nice or mean pirate.  Ikaia hadn't minded, but this wasn't Ikaia.

"… Salut. … Why.  Um.  Why're you- Why're you 'ere?"

— aine | the pitt | commodore of the crows | fae druid —