The pools were a blight on my perfect shore. When I looked to the east, if I squinted hard enough, I could see the coastline curve away, chasing the rising sun. But the western view was marred by battered grey stone and jagged cliffs. They cut my world short, even shorter than it already was, and until I could move mountains, they would always remain there, ugly and squat on the horizon.
The Clan worshipped the pools, those shallow things. Each pool was sacred, a trove of the ocean's treasures, deposited for the Clan to enjoy at its leisure.
Except for me.
No one dared to foul the holy waters with my presence. Not even I wanted to pollute the pools. But after the storm passed, where else would you go? Too weak to save yourself when I found you, I doubted you had managed to go far. I wondered if you had even survived. Only the pools could protect you, I thought, with their gifts just below the surface, ripe for the taking.
I still needed you, so I went to the pools.