01-10-2021, 08:01 AM
[div style="margin: auto; max-width: 475px; padding: 5%; min-height: 20px; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 17px;"]Harsh cacophony heralding the rise of sun, song written across warmly hued keratin as beady depths of ebony peered with ravenous intent. Drowned the hushed murmur, the charge and retreat staged against grains dampened beneath tireless cycle, the break known, however. Outward thrown, carelessness supposed guide for haphazard sprawl, grit encasing curled paw. About the tide shattered, arose in a swell to leave darkened those coarse strands, salt lodged against skin grown irritated, creeping along yet forced back before graced crooked elbow. Had not been for manner broad sides fluttered with brief movement, stirred alike the grains gathered before turned cranium with expulsion of stale air, possibly deemed driftwood the slumbering behemoth.
Such may not dissuade audience, occupied any perch stone arch and the minimal vegetation wreathing when too thick their presence upon the sand. Minimised their comfortable food source, and beyond the familiar the creature that lounged without knowledge their presence crowded about, necessity driving force. Forth first moved, odd the locomotion as it settled between a walk and a hop, webbed feet lifting puffs of sand, intrigue enacted through the persistent twist of head. Halt was conducted in such way the gull might latch upon a cheek, held the pliable flesh, tugged at as if in a test.
Further exploration may not follow, ceased the current with the closure of teeth about fragile neck. Deaf the ears that flicked back to the soft chorus of cracks, though greater the commotion of flight as the flock departed, behind left the limp soul that was idiotic enough to believe meal may be made of a sleeping bear. Still was he as such, it seemed, half lidded the eyes that swept along surrounding terrain, unfamiliar as bone once more gave, free the fall of the gull freed of a head. Continued his study as the morsel shifted between grinding molars, stopped when addressed the hanging adornment of bronze.
A bell.
Basic, worn against plain shell wear that spoke of heavy use, fraying the rope that held it aloft, unkind the breeze overburdened with the heavy tang of salt. Hum bypassed the tight press of lips, dredged from fatigue laced memories the night prior, the shimmer made silver beneath the light of the moon that acted as beacon. Identified now the origin, though no answer as to reasoning behind why it rested in an alcove set in pockmarked arch way, each further space filled with a replica of a grinning skull. Grisly the sight, though minimised the impact by the mere nature of stone acting as material for each deathly mockery of frozen mirth, still away skirted his eyes in time.
Little else acted as notable landmark, the railway submerged at his back offered some base curiosity, width such notion his crossing had been conducted via such laughable, unnecessary further exploration of such for his departure may not occur any time soon. This thought drew pause, sucked between teeth a lip he chewed on in action that was well practiced familiar even as clawed digits sought to enact another they were incapable of. Lengthy the time of his traversal, behind left all he knew and that occupied his memories, that beyond the gaping blackhole that threatened to swallow him should he find the courage to ponder those lost years, rest welcome. Suitable this land ringed with an ocean that sung in a gentle murmur as the tide broke once more, though prompted further query.
Once more eyes lifted, returned to the suspended bell. Apparent the skill of craft in construction and erection, such spoke of inhabitants, be they prior or present. Upwards paw drifted, along jaw and cheek rubbing, leaned into the touch as options were weighed in silence. Finally decision seemed come to, down the paw moving, taken up the forgotten body of the gull. Inspected the sand streaked mess, ruined the once pristine feathers beneath crimson, tacky against calloused pads, a final song within it, though unconventional the means.
Sure and true the trajectory, back arm drawn before thrust forth once more, projectile the bird as it departed his paw. Smeared the bronze surface of the bell with blood as it struck, force enough the clapper within gave a single toll, left swinging for a time the bell before it settled. As for the bird it fell with a rather meaty smack against the sand, the bear uninterested and simply continued to sit, trained those half lidded eyes upon the gate.
Such may not dissuade audience, occupied any perch stone arch and the minimal vegetation wreathing when too thick their presence upon the sand. Minimised their comfortable food source, and beyond the familiar the creature that lounged without knowledge their presence crowded about, necessity driving force. Forth first moved, odd the locomotion as it settled between a walk and a hop, webbed feet lifting puffs of sand, intrigue enacted through the persistent twist of head. Halt was conducted in such way the gull might latch upon a cheek, held the pliable flesh, tugged at as if in a test.
Further exploration may not follow, ceased the current with the closure of teeth about fragile neck. Deaf the ears that flicked back to the soft chorus of cracks, though greater the commotion of flight as the flock departed, behind left the limp soul that was idiotic enough to believe meal may be made of a sleeping bear. Still was he as such, it seemed, half lidded the eyes that swept along surrounding terrain, unfamiliar as bone once more gave, free the fall of the gull freed of a head. Continued his study as the morsel shifted between grinding molars, stopped when addressed the hanging adornment of bronze.
A bell.
Basic, worn against plain shell wear that spoke of heavy use, fraying the rope that held it aloft, unkind the breeze overburdened with the heavy tang of salt. Hum bypassed the tight press of lips, dredged from fatigue laced memories the night prior, the shimmer made silver beneath the light of the moon that acted as beacon. Identified now the origin, though no answer as to reasoning behind why it rested in an alcove set in pockmarked arch way, each further space filled with a replica of a grinning skull. Grisly the sight, though minimised the impact by the mere nature of stone acting as material for each deathly mockery of frozen mirth, still away skirted his eyes in time.
Little else acted as notable landmark, the railway submerged at his back offered some base curiosity, width such notion his crossing had been conducted via such laughable, unnecessary further exploration of such for his departure may not occur any time soon. This thought drew pause, sucked between teeth a lip he chewed on in action that was well practiced familiar even as clawed digits sought to enact another they were incapable of. Lengthy the time of his traversal, behind left all he knew and that occupied his memories, that beyond the gaping blackhole that threatened to swallow him should he find the courage to ponder those lost years, rest welcome. Suitable this land ringed with an ocean that sung in a gentle murmur as the tide broke once more, though prompted further query.
Once more eyes lifted, returned to the suspended bell. Apparent the skill of craft in construction and erection, such spoke of inhabitants, be they prior or present. Upwards paw drifted, along jaw and cheek rubbing, leaned into the touch as options were weighed in silence. Finally decision seemed come to, down the paw moving, taken up the forgotten body of the gull. Inspected the sand streaked mess, ruined the once pristine feathers beneath crimson, tacky against calloused pads, a final song within it, though unconventional the means.
Sure and true the trajectory, back arm drawn before thrust forth once more, projectile the bird as it departed his paw. Smeared the bronze surface of the bell with blood as it struck, force enough the clapper within gave a single toll, left swinging for a time the bell before it settled. As for the bird it fell with a rather meaty smack against the sand, the bear uninterested and simply continued to sit, trained those half lidded eyes upon the gate.