It was the splash that had grabbed her attention as she explored a rounded inlet with a remarkably large cave carved into the cliffs. Chariklo had long been fascinated by this area, though she’d focused more on repairing her ‘castle’. And the cliff steps since she didn’t want to risk breaking her neck getting down to the beach. Though… was it just her or did some repairs seem to take less time? Or to not be as bad as first feared. She hadn’t thought too much on the matter at first, but now? It was a little harder to dismiss as her imagination.

Still. Those thoughts flew out of her mind for the moment as she ventured into the massive cave and really looked. The flashlight she kept up here cut through the darkness and within the cave’s gloom, Chariklo could see the remains of what looked like a dock to her. The cave was certainly big enough to hold some decent sized boats. Well, I’ll be damned. Hurrying back out to the sandy beach, she considered the inlet and cave as one piece and whistled softly to herself. This had been a harbor! She was certain of it, even without the benefit of old memories swooping in. Granted, she hadn’t been able to figure out ancient weather patterns and the like, but the winds didn’t seem as strong in this spot. Though, even if they were, if the boats could be stored in the cave during storms.

“Holy s**t,” she muttered before laughing a little breathlessly and trying to imagine what this place might have been like back in the day. It was in the midst of this that a loud splash had distracted her and Chariklo’s eyes had turned to the choppy waves. That hadn’t been just crashing waves. The sound had had mass behind it. Too big to be a diving gull.

Moving closer to where the water lapped against the sand, the senshi of seagulls scanned the coast. She’d almost been ready to dismiss the sound as her mind playing tricks when she heard the splash again. Only this time, she was quick enough to catch sight of a dark grey shape dipping below the water. And now that she knew where to look, she could see movement that went against the way the water rolled in. Moving even closer to the tideline, she sat down, ignoring the damp and. There was something moving in the water and she wanted to know what it was. Something about it tickled at the back of her brain, insisting that she knew what it was. Minutes ticked by as she watched and waited and was rewarded with a glimpse of a sleek, dark form leaping through the waves.

And, as Chariklo sat there, mouth agape in shock, she realized that she did know what it was. The coloring was a little different. More dappled with soft greys and silvers. But the shape, the exhalations that she could hear now…

Tears streamed down her cheeks unheeded as Chariklo began to laugh gleefully. A seal! She’d seen a seal!

Holy s**t, her world had seals!

Word Count = 526