He remembered a storm. Wind and flashing lights and deep rumbles with no visible cause. Waves bigger than he'd ever seen. Someone's voice calling out to him, but he hadn't been able to make out the words before his little body was enveloped in cold, cold, water and swept out farther and farther from the shore. Probably a miracle he hadn't drowned.

Gentler waves had deposited him on this new coast some time in the night, but the boy had laid still, his breathing shallow, until the sun rose and began to warm him again. It was a rough cough that finally woke him, his head lifting unsteadily as he fought the fatigue that still clung to him to blink, blearily, around at his new surroundings.

Other than the storm, and the voice, and some vague memories of bouncing around in the waves and nearly drowning, he had nothing more to go on. Maybe all that had been a dream, even, and he'd just popped into existence within the ocean and been deposited on shore for someone to find.

His head flopped back down against the sand, the boy still too tired to do much more than lay there and concentrate on breathing, while suffering the occasional bout of coughing as his lungs tried to dry themselves out.

He had never cared to really raise his young. Most.of the time, Skjol had discovered them after they'd grown, out in the seas or back in familiar ports. A few tagged along with him in adventures here and there, some stayed with their mothers. He sent portions of his wealth to them, and made sure those who chose a sedimentary normal life were taken care of. Despite his nature, he did care, and deeply.

So imagine his surprise when he sees a child in the passage this day, half drowned and scraggly. Looking down at the boy, Skjol saw just a small bit of himself--laying there, on the rocks, inhaling salt water and blood.

"Lad, You can't stay here" he said, voice gentle compared to the normal baritone he possessed. "Come on, get up! You are stronger than this--" he nudged the cub with his nose through hai demands. "Get up, and I will take you to safe haven"


@Cinder

Tell ye your King fear me

Though he be King on dry land I be King upon the Sea!

code by corvus art by Drifty

"hey dudes." karsa chuffs to let the pair know he's approaching, blue eyes coming to rest on the child - @Cinder. a nervous glance flickers over to @Skjol who urges the obviously exhausted boy to get up. "i think you should let him rest a sec." karsa suggests, brows furrowing together in concern.

the young savante leans closer, sniffing gingerly at the boy. the briny tang of the sea hits him immediately. the coughing, however, indicates the child is breathing which is a good sign. breathing they could work with. "cough it all out, buddy, you'll feel better after." karsa sighs, aiming to gently thump one of his paws against the kid's back, hoping to help cinder expel all of that water.

He ached in places he hadn't known existed. Battered and bruised but somehow spared from any open wounds. He'd almost made a game of cataloging them by the time a stranger's voice reached him through the haze of exhaustion. At first, the flick of his ear was the only indication he'd even heard the man, then a groan as the stranger nudged him. Get up? How could he get up when his legs felt boneless?

Another voice came to him, this one speaking more sense. Almost as if on cue, another bout of rough coughing would curl his waterlogged form in on itself, though this one was followed by a deeper, shuddering, inhale. Ugh, even his insides were sore. "Wher'm I?" sluggish, a little slurred, but his tongue and voice still seemed to work even if his throat was a bit raw. "Who're you?" The boy's eyes slid open but they weren't yet focused on anything in the present moment.

@Skjol @Karsa

Skjol levels a look towards @Karsa as he seems to baby the boy in question. "The strong survive, the weak do not. Laying here will solve nothing" it was a kindness in his eyes, at the very least, to encourage the boy to his feet.

At last, the little one speaks, and Skjol feels relief wash over him. Again, reminded of himself, alone, dashed upon the rocks. Bleeding from his eye and mouth. His worst shame. But Skjol's thoughts change, and he makes a deep satisfied chuckle when the boy finally spews the water "Good!" he encourages "There is strength in you yet, boy"


Muffled questions follow, and Skjol answers "You are in Amaryllis." he answers plainly. "A land of creatures like yourself--and I am Skjol, noble of the Cove." he offers--though increasingly his thoughts turn to just fighting off the reddish colored man and whisking the boy away. He sees potential, in this water logged form. "I can take you there, to be helped by our healer. I've been told she's incredibly talented" Skjol has never needed the services of Khadija, but her skill is well known in their pride. "And, carve a place for yourself among our ranks. A strong boy like you could go far" he leans down to nudge the form again, encouraging him to stand.


@Cinder

Tell ye your King fear me

Though he be King on dry land I be King upon the Sea!

code by corvus art by Drifty

With effort, he managed to at least roll himself to his belly, though he still let his chin rest on the sands. Much of what was said went in one ear and out the other as he found it difficult to focus on anything in particular for more than a couple seconds at a time. What he really wanted was a nap and a place to dry out and warm up.

He caught the bits about a cove, and a healer, and had enough sense in him to understand that was his best bet so far. With a grunt, he pushed himself up to sit, "Okay." Another few seconds were spared to gather himself and heave himself to all fours. Though his limbs were shaky, he managed to avoid immediately collapsing. "Is it close?" He'd let this @Skjol lead the way and do his best to avoid falling too far behind.

-exit w/ skjol?-