The sun shone brightly above the sky-water as a portal of fog and a dark tunnel opened up in front of the king's lair. Katali stepped through, feeling the warm light on her back before walking into the shadier space of the shell cave. She squinted as she glanced around for her mate. It was taking her eyes a minute longer to adjust than usual, but once she spotted him her face lit up and she trotted over. "Tamatoa!" she called over the covered basket hanging from her jaws. "I'm home!"
Tamatoa was sorting through his treasures as usual, but of course the sound of his mate momentarily pulled him away from his polishing.
“You’re back!” he trilled, and after he quickly finished cleaning a smudge off of a large shell, he set it on his back and went to greet Katali properly.
He leaned down, and one of his antennae gently caressed the wolf’s side. “Are you feeling better, babe? Not sick anymore, are ya?”