Page 13 of Selkie AU: Beyond the Storm

By the time I was finished, the sky had shifted subtly, navy to a deep cobalt blue and back. In my rush to escape the house, I hadn’t bothered putting on a watch, but I didn’t really need one. I knew the polar night sky enough to know it was early evening.

It wouldn’t be long until the town would sleep, and I’d be taking Milo home. My stomach twisted, and I told myself it was only because I hadn’t eaten anything today. Milo would be hungry again too, assuming he hadn’t gotten into whatever food I had in my kitchen by himself.

My musing on what I’d even say to him when I went back inside was brought to an abrupt halt when I heard a loud crash coming from inside the house. My feet moved faster than my mind as I dashed up the couple of steps and slammed the door open.

One of my wooden dining chairs was on its back on the floor by the open pantry door, the leg of which was snapped and splintered beside it, and a large harp seal was quickly galumphing away, his body scooting and bouncing as he tried to escape the scene of the crime.

I sighed, feeling my heart still trying to beat out of my chest as I inhaled deeply and gently closed the front door.

Milo made his way back over to the fireplace, where he’d shoved my coffee table out of the way and had collected a stack of blankets and clothing to lie there instead, including the sheets from my bed. On top of it were all the items he’d collected throughout the day and torn-open food packages he must have found in my pantry.

I kicked off my boots and approached him carefully.

“Milo, are you hurt?”

The seal said nothing.

I sighed and reached for the wooden bear ornament, planning to move it and the items surrounding it out of the way so I could take a seat on the soft pile beside him.

He growled at me. I hesitated, my fingertips hovering above it for a moment, before I continued. I’d barely managed to lift it an inch before he rolled toward me and snapped at my hand, causing me to drop it again.

“Hey,” I scolded him. “Don’t bite!”

He huffed angrily.

Was he really getting territorial overmystuff? Big black eyes watched me with a warning in them as I glanced down at my things on the blanket again. I sighed, leaving them where they were. I’d just clean this up after he left, then.

“Do you want anything to eat before we head out?” I asked after a brief staring contest that I let him win.

He huffed again, and turned back toward the fire, closing his eyes and putting his head down on the blanket.

What was that supposed to mean?

“Milo?” I prompted him.

He ignored me.

“Milo, talk to me.”

Nothing.

So, I was getting the silent treatment from a seal in my own living room on a pile of my own stuff that I wasn’t allowed to touch. Certainly not how I’d anticipated the day going.

“Fine,” I sighed, walking back to the kitchen to deal with the chair. It was probably fixable, if I could be bothered after all this was over. For now, I could put it in my newly organized shed where it wouldn’t be a seal safety hazard.

Milo had torn his way through my pantry, leaving very little behind.

There was a ripped-open box of pasta he’d clearly decided he wasn’t a fan of, probably because it wasn’t cooked. It would have to do for now.

As I salvaged what was left of it and put it on to boil, Milo remained where he was by the fire, looking at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention and pretending to be asleep when I turned in his direction.

I used the last of the butter, some garlic, herbs, and salt, and made a simple meal for two. He’d have to talk to me if he wanted it, though.

When it was done and plated, I set it on the table and took one of the remaining seats. My stomach growled in appreciation as I started to eat.

It only took a couple of minutes before Milo gave up on fake sleeping and scooted over to me, giving a demanding bark.

“No,” I told him, taking in another mouthful. “If you want some, you’ll have to shift and get it yourself.”