no worries! no rush :)

---

Laughter danced from his new acquaintance, light and airy, contrasting with the nerves he’d felt since his awakening. He could feel them loosen their claws from his stomach, ever so slightly. Lips spread to a gentle smile. He took note of the appraisal of his kindness, with a flick of an ear at the thought. Many memories of decidedly unkind actions remained within the recesses of his mind, though the circumstances had been very different.

Callyope Nuiruk, Teemu repeated as he strolled alongside the woman. Eyes turned downward to the sand covering their paws. Sand he was accustomed to traveling across . Sand he felt steady upon. She must be boiling, the lass. Much as he may very well have frozen, had he awoken somewhere in the arctic with his thin, summer coat. Did everyone wake here upon this very beach?

Not a fan of the salted air? A teasing smirk accompanied his question, though he continued, I’ve spent much of my life along the sea and between islands. I’ve traveled many coastlines, but never this one. I’ve lived many lives, Callyope.

Apparently this was to be yet another unexpected chapter in his life.