90th of Winter 513 AV
Thunder Bay was near. The seas were still pock marked with icebergs but as Una burrowed into the sand she could feel the rich hot blood of lava that flooded beneath. Having been raised in waters running rich with its lifeblood she recognized the throb of it beneath her hands. Running her fingers through the rocky sea floor she indulged in the sensation. Rolling onto her back, tentacles twirling slowly through the water as bubbles trickled from her lips, Una lay back luxuriously stretching out her arms. It was the same pose she had found herself in on her last night in Avanthal. The moment when fierce anxiety eased for a moment and though one's muscles still ran taunt the mind caved into the pressure, stillness and peace slipping in.
The travel had been harder than she remembered, the animals more voracious in the Winter than in the Spring when she had first travelled. She was a days swim from the silty beach of Thunder Bay but felt no need to squander her time in the familiar area. The islands ghostly presence towered on the horizon and the volcano extended its arms to Syna.
Body sore, mind weakened from the constant vigilance Una gazed at the sky unthinking, unfeeling, and unaware. Her body moved without her knowledge paddling slowly through the water fingers tingling with exhaustion. She had forgotten how sparse food was in the North and the last reserves of her blubber had faded from her body leaving her a shaking pinprick of a Charoda in the frigid waters. But in this blissful moment of exhaustion, Una didn't care.
Una didn't care until the whale bumped her. She didn't feel anything but numb tingles as it grazed along her fingers. The Orca moved about her, like a dog investigating its prey. While the Svefra and humans always assumed the Charoda were friendly with all sea creatures it was far from the truth. Charoda were the same as humans on land, surrounded by danger and enemies. Just as on land their constant presence in certain areas made the animals less wary, until they could dash through coral homes with hardly a wincing animal in their way. But in the open sea, they were as much prey as seals or dolphins.
Following the cold small eye with her own Una stayed perfectly still. She was too tired to panic and her heart stayed steady despite the instinctual fear that bubbled in her gut. Almost giggling as the smooth surface grazed her Una twitched as it bumped her side with its nose shoving her through the water. Orca were too proud to hunt what was dead, they weren't scavengers. It was investigating.
Moving away to circle her again Una contemplated bolting. Contemplated for the sake of contemplation. Even the fastest Charoda couldn't outswim an Orca and Una, despite all her talent swimming amongst the coral was an unusually slow swimmer in the open ocean.
Extending her arms from her sides and widening her legs Una star fished on the top of the water waiting for the teeth to engulf her. She had learned from her time with the Spiritist, and from the oblivion of Cy earlier that season. Death was as much a part of life as living, to deny it would be to deny Dira. Who dared deny a goddess?
Maybe it was rationalization for her lack of ability, maybe it was simply her addled mind that left her too numb to move but as it was when the Bird soared above her, its feathers extended and casting the brilliant shadow across Unas own extended body Una didn't move or scream for help as the dark shadow below her grew larger until it began a night sky as long and wide as her body. Predators of the Air and Sea, shadows cast in opposition about her fine frail form.
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