bgcolor="#170226">
He was almost new, like her, she reflected. She wondered if he'd been here, in
the human settlement, much since he'd returned, since he seemed to know his
way around better. Nocht decided against asking and instead chose to answer
his question, shrugging and laughing to herself as she thought back on her
recent misadventures on the high-seas. "I got sea-sick too, at first, but I
couldn't get off and they wouldn't turn around and let me home so I had to get
over it." She shook her head as she recounted the tale, embellishing it a bit
as it unfolded. Her sea-sickness had been awful, but she hadn't been too eager
to disembark. Sailing had still been new and exciting at the time. Cabin-fever
only truly set in once they had nearly run out of the rations they'd taken
with them and were living almost solely on a diet of fresh fish and water. By
then they were almost at the far shore anyway. Looking back sometimes her
journey had seemed awful and sometimes it had seemed wonderful, depending on
which memories she chose to recall, much as it had been at the time. Despite
the monotony of the sea, each day brought with it a new challenge. Landing had
been one of the ones that had eluded them.
"I got good at fishing, I 'spose." She grinned and rolled her eyes. "I don't
think we were very good though, considering we crashed into the bay. S'why 'm
here right now, all my belongings went down with the ship. There were only two
experienced sailors in the lot and it took some of us longer than other to
learn the ropes." Her expression took on a far away look as she reminisced
now. "It was certainly an adventure though. I don't suppose I'll ever see any
of them again." She sobered again, turning her attention back to Valentine.
"We parted on beach, they went south along the beach and I headed inland. Just
glad to be back on dry land again, t'be honest."
In her mind the pieces clicked together suddenly. "You said coyotes took over
Syemv's pack lands, din't you? That's on the beach, innit? Phoenix warned me
about it. Oh." She trailed off and frowned. "Hope they're alright." She
whispered to herself.