» Together

Kisamoa stepped out of the waves again, an inky blot resolving into the towering, shifting creature. With a snort, he blew the water from his lungs and nostrils, blinking a few times in the slanting evening sunlight. His world was a vast and strange place; he couldn't say he had ever been to Akvo before, yet it was his. He had memories of it, as if it had been his, like he had memories of almost everything in the Rift, but the vast, vast majority of them were not actually his.

He had spent most of his life in Helovia, hunting vengeance, and now he was ..spreading hope? Helping? He just felt elated, empowered, like he could do this—he was an engine running at full speed, ready to go, to watch more places light up and relax like the sunken city.

But, the matron dashed all his hopes, declaring a communal nap time. Kisamoa scowled at her, frustration and resentment bleeding off his presence like an unpleasant smell, but the matron's eyes brooked no argument. He supposed that she'd just sic about every Rift creature present on him if he chose to command them all to go immediately, so he held his tongue and strode off to brood and wait in the shallows.

As the stars came out, a small, colorful cat put its soft paws against his nearest knee, and the shadowbeast's black eyes slipped open. It meowed happily at him before dashing off.

He didn't know how he felt about it.

But, the matron was busy describing the new tasks, and Kisamoa lingered at the back of the gathering. It broke apart, two children running off to the Portal, Kiada and Rixen heading to the Tidepools; Kisamoa glanced at the others. He might as well head to the Portal, it had been a long time since he'd been there, anyway. Saying nothing, the tall creature strode off after the foals.

beauty in darkness
kaos in light

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