05-01-2021, 06:41 PM
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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.
♦ | SALEM
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.
I'll take my heart clean apart if it helps yours beat ♦ salem / faemor / crewmate
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[i]I see your true colors shining through[div style="font-size:8pt;line-height:.1.1;color:#000;font-family:arial;margin-bottom:5px;margin-top:-2px"]
[ salem | crewmate of the typhoon | information and tags] | penned by lamby [color=#5f354e]]
[ salem | crewmate of the typhoon | information and tags] | penned by lamby [color=#5f354e]]