for Luke

[selkiesaoirse]

The rumors about the monster in the sea are, Saoirse is certain, just that: rumors. The seals aren't afraid, and she knows Daine would tell Greta not to let her go into the water too deep or for too long if there was anything to be really worried about. But Big Mona must be at least a little bit real, because there are pictures, and people keep talking about it, even when they don't find anything.

So she'd called Luke up and asked if he wanted to go with her and Regan to the beach, and see if they could find something. Regan's mostly just there so Greta doesn't fret about two kids out by themselves. Cu is there, too, of course. He's as good a nanny as any, but Regan is also using the time to test out the latest modifications to her drone, so it works out all around.

Right now, she's further up the sand, while Cu, Saoirse and Luke run around. Saoirse's found a few shells that she wants to take home and add to her carefully growing collection. For now, they're set aside with her backpack, and she's throwing a stick into the water for Cu.

"D'you think we'll see her?" she asks Luke. "That Big Mona everyone's talking about."

Comments

[selkiesaoirse]

"I would never," she promises, almost fiercely before she grins back at him. The level of trust that Luke feels for her is warming and makes her happy, and she'd do everything she could to ensure she doesn't let him down.

They continue playing and exploring on the beach a bit, finding bits of sea glass and emptied out crab claw. Saoirse puts one on the end of a stick and makes a playful roar at Luke, pretending to bite at him with it.

[ithastobeseven]

Luke darts away from her makeshift crab claw, shriek-laughing, the collected bits of sea glass he's found rattling in the cargo pockets of his swim shorts. Cu bounces next to them, barking happily at whatever game this is. "Hey, no fair, I don't have one," he says, though he doesn't really mind at all and it's pretty clear from his face.

"If you're a giant crab, I get to be a giant squid," he grins, and grabs some of the dry seaweed left at the high tide line, waving it around like tentacles at her. It seems fair. Squid eat crab, but sometimes crabs eat squid, too.

[selkiesaoirse]

Saoirse shrieks out a laugh and skids in the loose sand as she forces herself to stop before he can get her with the seaweed. She's grinning hugely, even as she thinks that boys are so gross! She would never pick up seaweed like that!

But it is clever, she has to admit, to use it like a squid.

They chase each other around like that, Cu dancing all around them with happy barks and his tongue lolling. Distantly, Saoirse's aware of the photos that Regan's taking of them on her cell phone. She's sure she'll get to see them later, when Regan shows Greta.