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It all started when Genya looked up from where she was sunning herself on the beach with some of the other members of her pod to find David hurrying towards her.
“David!” she yelped, immediately standing up and brushing off some nonexistent sand from her legs before grabbing her coat.
(She studiously ignored Nadia’s snort. Like she was any better when they saw Tamar.)
“Genya,” the marine biologist breathed, staring at her swimsuit for a moment, his tan face bright red. And Ulla had teased her about how David wouldn’t notice!
Any joy at how yet another step to her plan to make David notice her succeeded went away when he shook his head and turned to the leader of their pod. “Um… Mr. Selkie Leader sir?”
Even before she turned to face him, she knew what Aleksander was doing- facepalming and sighing. “David, how many times-” another sigh, and then he lowered his hand and asked, “Yes, David?”
“Um… there might be a selkie that just regained their coat in the area.”
That got everyone’s attention. Even Baghra deigned to open one eye to look at him.
“Explain,” Aleksander said slowly, standing and grabbing his own coat, his already dark eyes dark with barely withheld anger.
David took a deep breath, likely reminding himself that Aleksander wasn’t mad at him, that any anger was towards someone that dared to hide one of their own kind’s coat from them.
(Genya couldn’t blame him. A giant bull bearing down on you was likely a terrifying sight to a human. She had the advantage of knowing she had nothing to fear from him- the complete opposite, in fact.)
“A guy- apparently his name is Mal? he was rambling too much, I don’t know if that was actually his name- ran up to the center- from the west according to Sergei- yelling about how a seal ate his sister Alina. Apparently they were on the beach and she insisted on looking around the area on her own, and he looked away for two minutes and there was a seal streaking out into the ocean from where he last saw her? He was insistent about there being a seal that ate her because he couldn’t find her… Sergei had to knock him out to make him shut up and I ran here to tell you.”
Aleksander didn’t waste any time. “David, send Nadia with any further information. She will know where to go. Genya, come with me.”
Without a single look back, he pulled his coat around him and all but dove into the water.
“Thank you David,” Genya smiled, tugging her coat around her, but not putting it all the way around her quite yet. “I will see you in a couple of days for that class, correct?”
“Please,” he replied, relief clear on his face. Understandable. The classes were not something he enjoyed having to head, but Marie and Sergei’s anniversary was that day and they took it off, and he was the only other one that specialized in seals.
With one last smile, she hurried to the water, pulling her coat around her and letting her body change as she did.
Aleksander wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Of course. He couldn’t wait five seconds for her. His determination to help their kind and others like them was admirable, but could he not wait just a little bit?
It was a wonder that he managed to wait the time it took to gather their entire pod to save her that one time.
Genya sighed before heading west. Hopefully she’d catch up to Aleksander before he traumatized the poor selkie even more.
Surprisingly, she did not have to worry about that.
She almost swam past them. For such a large bull, Aleksander could be surprisingly stealthy when he wished.
Not as stealthy as the seal hiding in the kelp, however.
Somehow, despite being a completely different color, the seal all but disappeared into the green surrounding them.
She was too far away to understand what they were talking about and didn’t dare get closer, but slowly they were coaxed out of their hiding place, giving Genya her first look at them.
They were obviously a mature cow, albeit slightly thinner than normal. Depressing, but nothing to be worried about. It was likely only an indication of how long she had been without her coat, and would go away once she started eating more.
She almost bolted when she saw her, but Aleksander gently stopped her before she could. [This is our sister, Genya,] he said, brushing one of his flippers against the cow’s. [You do not need to fear her- the complete opposite, in fact.]
The cow looked at her, almost hiding behind Aleksander- almost like the sun in eclipse. It was absolutely adorable. [Hello,] she said shyly.
[It is wonderful to meet you,] Genya said with what she hoped was a kind nod. [What is your name?]
[Alina.]
[Did Aleksander tell you about the cove? It’s a safe place, one that can only be reached from the sea. We can stay there until you’re comfortable.]
Alina nodded. [Please,] she said, relief clear in her tone.
Genya couldn’t help but notice how close Aleksander stayed to Alina as they swam to the cove. Perhaps it was just concern… but something told her it wasn’t just that.
The good news was that Alina, while still quiet and reserved, slowly started talking to them after they arrived on the beach. That was a good sign.
The bad news was that Alina had still not changed back into her human form hours later.
Genya understood. She hadn’t been deprived of her coat anywhere near as long, but she had been extremely reluctant to change back for awhile afterwards. Her family had been a balm that had helped her.
Alina didn’t have that.
What she did have was an appetite. The amount of fish she managed to catch and eat was more than a little concerning.
Some pups didn’t eat that much.
Worse was the fact that Aleksander somehow didn’t find that unattractive at all. Even in his seal form he was watching her chow down on yet another fish with adoring eyes.
It was disgusting.
It wasn’t that she objected to them forming a relationship if they so chose, but the fact that she had to watch him stare at her with no distractions to be had.
Which is why, when she saw Nadia’s head pop out of the water a respectable distance away, she all but leapt into the water to get some peace for five minutes.
[Is she okay?] Nadia asked before she could say anything.
[She will be. A little shocked, but given the amount of fish she's eaten she's fine. What isn't fine is the way Aleksander has been staring at her,] Genya sighed.
[Oh?]
[Let's just say I'm glad he's not in human form or it would be a thousand times worse. Alina is nothing to sneeze at, but what exactly is attractive about eating a ridiculous amount of fish?]
Nadia looked ecstatic at that news. Good. The gossip would be all over by nightfall and everyone would be warned.
[Do you think they’ll be together when they get back to the pod? Love at first sight…] Nadia sighed, and Genya had been a selkie her entire life and she still didn’t get how seals could look so lovesick. At least she wasn’t as bad as a certain bull lying on the beach…
[You’ve been reading too many romance novels.]
[And you haven’t?]
She had, but that was beside the point. [Is everything okay?]
That sobered Nadia up. [Alina’s self proclaimed brother Mal knows. Misha didn’t pay attention to who was on the beach when he changed back.]
Genya smacked her flipper against her face. Sighing didn’t do enough. [Please tell me Baghra wasn’t the one to scold him for that,] she begged. Misha was a child. He shouldn’t have to deal with Baghra’s harsh words.
[No, Baghra had gone off to eat. The good news is that after regaining consciousness, Mal took it well. He’s planning to bring some of Alina’s stuff before cramming for the next CROWS entrance exam.]
[Isn’t that next week?]
[He doesn’t seem to realize that.]
Well, at least Alina would get to have someone she considers family keep in contact with her. Not many selkies got that.
They talked a little longer before Nadia headed back out to update the rest of the pod and Genya went to go lounge on the shore some more.
Or at least, that was the plan.
When she got closer, she noticed the lack of seals on the beach or in the water around it.
Instead, there were two human forms embracing on the shore- one she recognized as Aleksander, and the other a girl with black hair that had a seal coat wrapped around her even as her face was buried in Aleksander’s chest.
Not one to interrupt someone comforting another, Genya swam off to gather some things.
Their pod had a hidden cave they kept some things in, and Alina would likely wish for some clothing. This Mal probably meant well, but she had her doubts on how soon he’d return if he thought cramming for a major exam in a week rather than waiting a few more months was a good idea.
That, and she had something that would help assure Alina that they would care for her as one of their own.
When she came back thirty minutes later, they were both in their human forms. Alina’s eyes were slightly red, but she gave her a radiant smile when she came up on the beach. “Genya! We were wondering when you’d be back.”
The moment Genya returned to her human form, she smiled at her. “Things are alright. Aleksander, leave and come back in thirty minutes.” Before he could do more than open his mouth to protest, she rolled her eyes and added, “I have clothing for Alina. You don’t get to watch her change.”
Oh, Alina had a nice laugh. She would definitely think about pursuing her if it wasn’t for David.
Aleksander huffed and rolled his eyes, but gave Alina a kiss on the head that made her blush. “I shall return soon,” he said, smiling down at her before heading to the shore.
Once he was gone, Genya carefully sat next to Alina, heart sinking at the way she clutched her coat around her. “I do have clothes for you, but there is a tale I wish to tell you.”
Alina didn’t say anything, but the way she looked at her with a slightly cocked head told her she had her full attention.
Genya sucked in a deep breath. “This topic isn’t the easiest for me to speak of,” she admitted.
“You don’t-”
“I know. But it will help. Just please don’t interrupt until I am done,” she said quietly, looking at her until she received a nod.
With another deep breath, she took the ring out of her pocket, glaring at the gaudy emerald set into it. She wasn’t a fan of diamond rings, but this setting made the biggest diamond ring money could buy look classy.
“Three years ago, I was visiting a beach. The rest of our pod planned to arrive soon, but I wished to be alone for a little while. How I wished I made a different choice.
“I didn’t even see them coming. One man grabbed me, another grabbed my coat. I think I bit off one of their fingers, but that only caused them to knock me out.
“When I came to, I was in someone’s beach house- beach mansion would be more accurate, now that I think about it- with a disgusting old man and his vain wife grinning at me. They told me that I belonged to them now, and if I did not bow to their every whim they’d destroy my pelt. They didn’t understand that the legends are not completely true. Locking away our coats does not enslave us to those that have them, though it does make us more docile thanks to our fear. They would not appreciate what I planned to do to them- though thankfully I did not have to.
“While they were telling me of all the duties I would have and I fantasized about all of the ways I would make us pay for their actions, there was a large disturbance outside the room.” She grinned, and knew it was not a nice grin. The way that disgusting couple had looked at her in fear, knowing that the same grin would haunt the rest of their existances… “They should have left the door open, or perhaps have realized that selkies tend to live in pods- and that our families do not take kindly to taking away one of their own. They realized that soon enough, when Aleksander kicked the door open and Baghra took care of them where they stood.”
(Baghra was someone she would have to warn Alina about, but she was just a grumpy old woman. She wasn’t a friend, but she was an ally that she would never wish gone, no matter the barbs that she often threw their way.)
Making a mental note for later, Genya handed Alina the ring. “You can still see some of his blood on the band,” she said, grinning even wider at the memory. “I took it from him as a reminder of the fact that my family will do everything they can to protect me. I swear to you that we will do the same to you if your coat is ever taken from you again.”
Alina stared at the ring for several long moments before wrapping her in a hug. “Genya… I’m so sorry you went through that. No one should have to deal with something like that.”
Genya shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. What is important is that my family had my back- and we will always have yours.”
(Despite her words, she still embraced her sister just as tight as she did.)
After a moment, Alina shook her head. “I don’t think my coat was stolen from me,” she said slowly. “I forgot, but now I remember. I played in that area a lot as a child. I think… I think I was separated from my parents, and they left it there for me to find."
"I… saying I am glad that is the case would be wrong, but I am relieved that it wasn't malicious. There are people that can try to find your parents, if you wish."
"I think I would like that. Later." Alina sighed before letting her go and looking her in the eyes with a soft smile, dark selkie eyes slightly wet. "I think I would like to learn more about a pod that is so protective of their own- and maybe be a part of it, if you will have me."
Genya smiled back at her, taking her hand and squeezing it. "We would be delighted to have you. Everyone will love you, I promise.”
They smiled at each other for several long moments.
Finally, Alina’s grin turned sly. "Now, tell me, is Aleksander single? That is one handsome selkie right there."
Genya returned her grin. “Why yes, yes he is.”
(Aleksander was very concerned when he returned to find the two selkies grinning at him. He made the wise decision not to question it.)
Three days later, they were back with the rest of their pod.
As Genya thought, they all immediately took to Alina. Nadia had immediately taken under her wing and started telling her all of the gossip, the little pups were delighted to have someone else play with her, and Baghra had even taken one look at her, huffed, and returned to sunbathing in her seal form- a very good sign, considering that's all she did on a normal day. If she objected to Alina, she would do much more.
Above all, Alina had indeed set her eyes on Aleksander, and that was progressing very well.
Aleksander could be found around her much of the time, giving her space but stepping in whenever Alina showed the slightest hint of needing help or wanting company.
So long as Genya didn't have to watch him stare at Alina with adoring eyes without any distractions, she found this acceptable. It was about time their leader found someone to spend his life with.
It was also very amusing to see him being so protective of her.
Genya was talking with David on the rocks overlooking the beach, gently trying to get him to invite her to the museum exhibit he was so excited about. She had high hopes she would succeed even after factoring in the distraction.
Some idiot had gotten on the beach, and headed towards Alina. Genya couldn't hear what the idiot was doing from where she stood, but she could definitely hear the loud bark Aleksander let out, and watch the way the idiot tripped over himself multiple times, trying to get away from the charging bull heading towards him, all while screaming like a little girl.
Genya wasn't the only one laughing at the sight, nor grinning at the way Aleksander immediately went to cuddle Alina.
"Oh, I can't wait for Ulla to get back from visiting her father. Aleksander won’t know what hit him," she grinned, giggling at the thought. "Now," she said, clapping her hands and looking back at David, "Tell me more about the exhibit. It sounds fascinating."