The moment an extremely frantic Peraco tells him that the little seal he cares for had slipped away while her back was turned, his heart ceases beating for a moment before he’s turning on his heel and sprinting towards the one place he’s told Mafuyu to never, ever go - the Orca Danger Zone. Rocma has never ran so fast in his entire life, images of numerous worst case scenarios flooding his thoughts and only prompting him to pick up the pace further.
As he draws closer, her familiar scent reaches his nose, yet any sort of relief he feels is instantly washed away and replaced with utter dread the moment he picks up the strong stench of blood that accompanies it. His boots pound against the ice and his teeth clench harshly together - typically, his adopted daughter blends in quite well in the snow, but not this time. Blood stains the frozen ground around her and as his ears perk to the sounds of her pitiful whimpers and cries for help, he feels a flash of emotion that rarely ever reaches him - fear.
He’s by her side and on his knees next to her in an instant, distress uncharacteristically clear in his voice. He’s uncaring of the red that likely stains the fabric of his clothing in the process as he practically tears his jacket from around his frame and wraps it around Mafuyu’s tiny figure with as much gentleness as he can manage while his paws are trembling. God, if he’d taken too long to reach her, she might have...
Rocma shoves the thought aside, cradling the little seal in his arms and just trying to breathe normally while he looks her over.
“Mafuyu...Mafuyu, it’s going to be all right. You’re all right, okay?”
