[PRP] When the Moon Hits Your Eye... (Bay Sleep x Worlds Within Worlds)

[lilacfishie]

Bay Sleep's tail flicked back and forth, making a little divot in the sand by his back hooves. He was excited! The full moon was finally peeking over the water at the Cres. His chest rose and fell to match the waves receding into the murky depths. They would have a few hours for their little adventure before the moon started to pull the water back up the beach and envelop it. Even if they did lose track of time, they could swim back. Probably. Bay Sleep had never tried.

His eyes darted across the long beach and squinted as he tried to make out the shapes in the trees. The night always weirded him out a little. Weird things lurked around at night! He didn't understand why they didn't just come out during the day time. The sun felt nice! The water was warmer! Weirdos.

Sometimes, though, he guessed night adventures were worth it. Especially when a pretty doe would accompany him.

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It's date night!

[Beejoux]

It had been a long wait for a clear full-moon night with agreeable weather, but Worlds Within Worlds thought the wait would be well worth it if the island was even a fraction as interesting as Bay has made it sound.

She emerged from the sparse trees and thick beach grass to make her way down to the coast, a bright spot of night dimmed color against a darker back drop, ethereal and elegant. For this adventure she'd choose to leave her shuppy and other pets back at her den. She loved them all dearly, but they could be a distraction, and the doe don't want to be distracted for this.

Bay Sleep was waiting for her near the water line for high tide, and she smiled up at him ashe she neared. Touching her nose to the bottom of his chin in a small show of gratitude and affection. "I hope I didn't leave you waiting for long."

[lilacfishie]

A smile spread across Bay Sleep's face when Worlds Within Worlds emerged from the trees. Her bright features and graceful walk kept his attention fully, the strange creatures of the night pushed to the back of his mind now. He hummed happily when she nuzzled him, and tilted his head down in response. The smell of brine filled his nose as he nuzzled against the curve of her jaw before leaning back to look at her again. The very edge of the lanky buck's tail twitched happily, almost like an owlcat's, as he regarded the doe.

Before he got lost in thought completely, Bay Sleep moved one of his hooves aside and dipped his head low. Hidden beneath his hoof was a shiny abalone shell. Carefully, Bay Sleep picked it up and offered it to the doe. "All of its colors reminded me of you," he said, words a little muffled by the shell in his mouth.

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[Beejoux]

He moved a hoof and the doe couldn't help but glance down towards his feet, attention catching at once on the shell before he was picking it up gingerly with his teeth and offering it to her, words endearingly muffled around the edges of it. "Oh," she said softly, scaled brows arching at the play of colors swirling along the inner curve, even in the dim night. "That's very lovely. Are you sure it's for me? You don't want to keep it?" It was a treasure, to be sure.

[lilacfishie]

Bay Sleep gave his head a gentle shake before leaning a little closer to Worlds Within Worlds. "Of course it's for you!" he chimed. He dipped his head low and placed the shell at her feet before nuzzling her gently. "We can probably store it somewhere if you don't want to take it with," he added, realizing that carrying it might not be the best idea for their plans. The buck looked up at the moon, glad that it wasn't too far along its trip across the sky. They had plenty of time to spend together. His eyes travelled back down to her and he tilted his head along the beach, beckoning the doe along their path.

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[Beejoux]

The insistance and the following nuzzle got a soft little him from the doe, a subtly little smile, and as he nodded to beckon her along she dipped her head to catch up the corner of the shell carefully in her maw.

Stashing it somewhere long their path seemed the worst course, so she kept her eyes peeled, scanning the beach, until she saw a very large bit of driftwood. Taill swaying, she headed over to tuck the shell I to the tangled nest of roots at it's base. Not easily noticed, and not likely to fall free. "There, safe and sound."

[lilacfishie]

Bay Sleep watched as World Within Worlds stashed her present in the dried and gnarled roots of a small, uprooted tree turned driftwood. A grin returned to his face once more, impressed at her hiding spot. He would have never thought of that! When she returned to his side, he nodded in agreement with her observation that it was safe. With the beach in front of them and the bright, full moon continuing to make its slow ascent in the sky, he continued with her forward.

As they walked, Bay Sleep draped the end of his tail over the curl of Worlds'. The closeness felt nice, and he hummed in contentment. It was relaxing to hear the sounds of their hooves dipping into the sand and the surf hissing at their ankles. The latter sound reminded him of the first time he met the doe. While they continued on, he tilted his head towards her. "So, has the ocean told you anything neat lately?" he asked.

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Bay Sleep totally tried talking to the ocean after he first met Worlds. It was...interesting.

[Beejoux]

Thay little drape of tail got a subtle twitch of a smile from Worlds. She found the buck endearing. Open, friendly, and very curious. "It tells me many neat things most days," she answered, tone carrying an edge of warmth. For the ocean, the interest, or the buck himself, it was hard to say, but there all the same.

"It sings of the turning seasons, there are good things on the horizon, new life." The doe nodded sagely, careful steps quiet in the surf and the sand as she walked. The brighter tips of her tail trailing through the water.

[lilacfishie]

Bay Sleep smiled warmly as he listened to Worlds Within Worlds. Her voice on his ears felt like the afternoon sun on his fur. His ears pricked up when she continued. "New things? How exciting!" he chimed. He wondered what new life they could expect! Maybe there was going to be a new creature on Moonpool Island...He'd heard about some weird fish variants hanging around The Cres. That would make quite the adventure!

They continued their casual stride down the beach. It seemed like the moon was following them to their final destination. Soon enough, they stood at the edge of the water, facing Moonpool Island. The ocean lapped at their hooves. Bay Sleep looked between Worlds Within Worlds and the opposing shore. "Just a quick swim, and we should be across," he hummed, smiling at her.

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[Beejoux]

"Yes, I am very eager to see what is to come." Good or bad, change was on the horizon, and the doe was always keen to see the word of the seas come to fruition, come what may.

They paused in the shallows, and Worlds took a moment to gaze across the gently lapping waves at the island just off the coast. Then she was smiling back up at him, stepping forward into deeper water. "I'm not one to turn down a pleasant swim." As she made her way through the water her hair trailed behind her, tail uncurling to flow with the waves in her wake. As graceful in the water as she was on land, she dove under, kicking her legs to propel herself a short distance before surfacing again. It felt wonderful.

[lilacfishie]

Bay Sleep forgot, for a moment, that he was meant to be following Worlds Within Worlds into the water. She was already so graceful on the beach, but he had to stop and stare when she began to swim. The bright moonlight shimmered against the beautiful details on her tail as it glided through the water. The gentle splashing of her diving and surfacing brought his attention back to the task, and the lanky buck walked further into the water until he began to swim as well. His tail flicked behind him to provide some direction and speed, but his legs did most of the work. Following suit, he dipped down for a few kicks and popped back up. The long mohawk that trailed down his back flopped to one side, heavy with the saturation from the sea water, and he smiled. Taking a swim always felt so nice.

Thankfully, Moonpool Island was not far from the coast of the Cres. Had the tide been at its lowest, they probably could have just walked there. But that was less fun. Now that he thought about it, Bay Sleep was surprised he and Worlds had not been on a good swim before. Not that he didn't have a great time on their regular adventures or anything. Anyways, swimming. The towering roots of the old trees on Moonpool Island cast waving shadows on the water as they got closer. "Careful," Bay called as he swam a little quicker to sidle up beside Worlds, "there might be watersnakes in the roots." As they approached the towering root system, he kept his eyes sharp to try and catch any perching snakes.

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Finally replied omg I'm so sorry

[Beejoux]

It was an easy swim, serene and refreshing, and with the moon and the stars over head and reflected back off the gentle waves it looked like they were swimming through the sky itself. Worlds said a quite thanks to the ocean for providing them such a wonderful swim, a shivering running up her spine as a that gently lapping water popped up just right to lightly splash her face. It felt like an acknowledgement.

As they neared the island the doe took in the sight of the old trees set back against against a moon, black before its gentle glow. It was lovely.

His warning got a twitch of her ear, gaze dropping from the branches over head to the roots they were moving beside, and she nodded, keeping a careful watch for any unexpected movement.

[lilacfishie]

Thankfully, the pair was able to pass by the roots and onto one of the small beaches without any interference. The moon was much higher now, and the bugs and frogs were out in full force on the island. Their songs were layered on top of one another to make for a background sound that wrapped all around them. Bay Sleep's hooves finally met sand, and he pulled himself up onto the beach. He turned to Worlds Within Worlds as she joined him on shore, and marveled at the water shining on her colorful fur. He realized he was staring (again) and cleared his throat.

Ahead, the "beach" was more of a sandbar barely peeking out of the water that lead into the trees ringed by thick mangrove roots. "Watch your step," he said gently as they moved forward. Obviously the Swamp was full of similar roots and rocks ready to trip any kin walking by, but there was something different about the island. He had never gone very far into the island, and had only heard of legends and stories. It made this outing with Worlds Within Worlds even more special, they could experience all the sights for the first time together.

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[Beejoux]

The clearing of his throat has the colorful doe glancing his way, and she smiled to herself as she stepped up beside him, hooves drinking gently into wet sand. The island was small, the beach almost non-existent, but it was beautiful and secluded. So different from the swamp their coastal home butted up against. The sounds of the ocean surrounded them, a melody of crashing and lapping waves. Salt was heavy in the air, the air smelled of water.

She was enveloped.

For a moment she stood and surveyed the tree line and mangroves, elegant tail swaying gently back and forth. Then she was stepping forward, heading for a wide break between foliage. "Let's have a look."

[lilacfishie]

Bay Sleep was happy to watch as Worlds Within Worlds emerged from the dark waters and take in the sights around them. Her bright eyes sparkled a she took it all in, and he could have melted into the sands from her beauty. As she stepped forward, walked up beside her to take in the sights together. The canopy was thick, but thankfully there were a few breaks to let the moonlight in. Bay could spot a light path, probably from animals and kin making their way through, into the island. He stepped forward with Worlds and further into the island.

Their hooves sunk into lush soil and their ankles brushed by thick ferns and foliage draped over the way through. It felt like every turn of the path lead them to something else he'd never seen before. Fantastic plants, strange animal calls, and bizarre bugs decorated Moonpool Island in a rainbow of delights he could barely imagine. His eyes were still periodically drawn to the doe at his side, and he nuzzled her gently as they went.

Soon enough, bright beams of moonlight washed through a huge break in the canopy. "I think we're here," Bay Sleep murmured. The path halted at a clearing, where a large, sparkling pool of water stood before them.

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