He had grown familiar with the swim from Crossing Isle to Tinuvel and back again. He had lost count of how many times he’d made that journey, but after the weather had permitted travel he’d been in the water, attempting to recruit and bring life to the Bay. As he stood on the beach, water rolling down his sides and slightly cooler air biting at his coat, he reflected on the changes the Bay had made after he’d claimed it as his own. More impressive than the changes to the territory, however, were those to Nephilim himself. He had a family now to be responsible for, those who looked to him just as he looked to them. Within the span of a few months he went from absolutely nothing – to feeling alone and unwanted – to having familiar faces he’d give his life to protect.

The time to reflect on how far he’d come was cut short as movement caught his eye. Nephilim turned his head, golden gaze lying over the now-familiar form of Calice, whose coat color stood out strong against the pale hues of Tinuvel. A whinny rumbled from his lips as he flicked his tail out at his hindquarters and turned toward the direction which she stood, having climbed from the cool ocean waters. She’d want to get dry as soon as possible, he knew, and the best place to do so would be to avoid the winds in one of the nearby caves. Nephilim trotted down the shoreline toward her so that he could reach her faster, gold eyes steady to see whether or not she’d come into any harm.

“Didn’t change your mind, huh?” He asked as he came to a stop, ears pointed toward her. “Come on, I’ll take you up the beach, there’s a cave further inland that’ll get you out of the wind.”