...and upon the third walk outside the ship, the sailor encountered a number of the selkie-folk. Some of these were warming themselves in the light of a nearby young star; others jumped and played in the tides of the closest nebula. Each of them had left their enchanted seal-skins strewn about on the asteroid the sailor meant to take samples from.
As the sailor approached, of course, they took notice of this new presence, and, without hesitation, each rushed to gather up ther coats and retreat to the deeper void between the stars.
Drawn by almost magnetic instinct, the sailor reached out and took up the last skin.
Unable to snatch it back once it had been taken by another, the last remaining of the selkie-folk could do nothing but follow the sailor, watching with mournful eyes as the sailor returned to the ship, taking this pitiful seal along. And no matter how the Sealestial begged, the sailor would not return the coat, for at first sight of such a beautiful being, the sailor had been struck by a deep, incomprehensible love, and could not be swayed from these feelings, and a heart that had yet to love until then finally beat for another...
of tide-pool eyes that stilled the seventh stream; the waves roll out and the waves roll in, and out my love rolls with them...⠀ (— elaenor aisling)