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Stretched out on the beach was a favorite past-time for Minke, the Belrea born hybrid. He was used to hard packed dirt, crops swaying in the breeze, and the calls of various farm animals grazing in the fields. While there still were some crops swaying in the breeze over by the house, there weren't as many animal sounds anymore. Just a few family pets. And the ground certainly wasn't hard anymore. It had taken him a few weeks to get used to the new ground underneath his feet when his family had first moved here so many years ago. Now he couldn't imagine being away from the ocean and the soft feeling of the sand under his bare feet.

But he couldn't remain here all day. There were things to do back at home and he'd promised his father he'd only spend a little bit of time on the beach today.

Opening his eyes, Minke gave a stretch of his arms and stood up swiftly. He flipped the hood of his shirt over his head and walked back to town.

Off on the horizon clouds seemed to be forming, making the young hybrid wonder if the storms weren't quite finished yet. He hoped it told more of a future cloudy day than more of the rains that had been falling heavily recently. Flooding was of course a real concern with weather like this. Not just for the plants in his father's makeshift farm in the backyard, but he still remembered clearly how a neighbor's house had flooded a few summer's back and the whole family had gone over to help.

Tugging his hood around his neck, Minke watched the clouds closely. None of them looked dark enough for even a little rain, but you never knew with nature.

Suddenly someone spoke behind him and he froze, as if he was a child caught doing something he shouldn't. He didn't turn around or even move his head as his brain ran through a few quick escape plans when a yell broke into his thoughts. His head whipped around towards it, not quite hearing the words, but easily noticing the panic in it. A small girl was pointing towards the water, where he could see a small thing bobbing in it. Like a small pet. It was flailing about, trying to stay afloat. He took one look at the person who had called him and sprinted off towards the water, throwing off his shirt in one sweep of his arms and kicking off his sandals.

There hadn't been much time for thought as soon as that yell had reached his ears. Already filled with anxiety over being singled out by someone unknown, Minke's brain was already running off pure instincts when he'd run off towards the water, not caring if anyone was following behind him or even how strong the currents might be. Fortunately, he had had plenty of practice swimming against all sizes of waves and was finding little issues in reaching the small pet bobbing in the water. The only problem was when it began panicking as he reached out to grab it, thinking he was some creature from the deep coming up to claim it. In the flurry of splashing, flailing paws, and fluff, he eventually managed to grab it, holding it close to his body with one arm while the other made long sweeps underneath the waves to propel him towards the shore.

Back on dry land, the little girl was unable to see what was going on through the shield of tears streaming down her face, her lids shut tight against the horror that surely must be happening.

"I-it's not oka-ay!" she wailed. "He's go-gone and I'll n-n-never see him again!"

The closer to the shore they got, the more frantic the tiny Duruf got. Minke tried his best to hold onto it as it squirmed in his arm, trying to get a hold on his shoulders with its sharp claws to rise above the waves, its eyes locked onto the form of its tiny owner on the sand. The hybrid could feel himself slipping underneath the surface, the constant movement of the animal making it more difficult to keep the both of them afloat. It also made it easier for him to see how close the ocean floor was to them. As soon as he knew he'd be able to stand up, he let the creature go to walk behind it in case it would need more help. Though it seemed like he hadn't been the only one with adrenaline pumping through his body. The animal shot out in front of him, aggressively paddling as fast as it's tiny legs could carry it. All the way to dry land, where he ran yipping into it's owners arms.

"Sisi!" she squealed, dropping down to her knees. "Thank you, mister," she addressed Minke where he stood awkwardly up to his shins in the water. "He did it!" this addressed to the woman, her tiny eyes looking up with gratitude, the Duruf doing its best to lick away all the girl's tears.

Minke brushed at his hair, smoothing the long curls back so they stuck against his head. He was breathing hard and there were small scratches on his shoulder, but he felt like the worst part of the whole situation was now, when everyone was looking at him and would probably start talking to him at any moment. It was only now starting to hit him what he had done.

"S-sorry..."

"I will!" the little girl said brightly, wiping at the tears on her cheeks that the Duruf's tongue had missed. To the animal, she waved a little finger, her voice taking on a small edge of authority that sounded more adorable than threatening. "You've been a very bad pup. You are grounded." Than she giggled and hugged her pet once more, who seemed oblivious to its punishment and was just happy to be back with its mistress. Flashing the two older hybrids a smile, she ran off back where she came from, leaving Minke all alone with the consequences of his actions.

The young man's eyes widened at the exclamation, looking down at his shoulder as is he hadn't noticed. "Ah! N-no...It's fine. It doesn't even hurt..." That much. Now that it was out in the air, the salt from the water was causing the small scratches to sting in the breeze. But all he wanted to do was sink down into the sand and disappear from view. That was the worst pain.

Well, at least she wasn't trying to touch him. Minke kept his arms down by his sides, barely noticing the departure of the little girl and her animal. Staring off to one side of the other person still standing there, his eyes darting back and forth from her face to a random spot in the distance behind her.

"I...I live around here," he answered quietly, and a little quickly. "It's...Not too far." He prayed that she wouldn't insist on following him, to make sure he did know his way around and would seek the help he needed. Or than he'd have to go a healer when he had intended on going back home to take care of his scratches on his own. It wasn't as if this was the first time he had scratched himself while swimming and diving. Though admittedly never by an animal he had been trying to save.

Minke's eyes continued to dart around and his fingers flexed slowly against his pants, clearly uncomfortable. But as it became more and more evident she wouldn't insist on touching him, he stopped fidgeting and stood still, almost like a statue or a small timid creature who had scented a predator, despite his tall height. He breathed in deep through his nose and out once before giving his own answer.

"I, uh...." He could believe it. While he didn't live in this exact area, it wasn't anywhere too far away. When he went far from home, Minke always made sure to give everyone else a wide berth, even going so far as to hide himself until they passed. "Ke-keep to my-myself..." And avoid everyone.