Raylin Chike

Raylin crouches down, settling a bottle of bourbon packaged in a brown paper bag she bought off the bar she bartends at on the end of the dock. She's not sure if Brennan's home but her question is answered as Barney comes padding down the dock happily, tongue lolling in the springtime sun. A grin breaks out across her face as she croons at him, scratching under his chin, reaching into her canvas bag she's pull out a few pieces of bacon wrapped in a paper towel before feeding them to the massive dog. "Shh, don't tell your dad," she laughs quietly before wiping her hands on the wet suit she sported, drool now coating her legs. Pushing herself to a standing position, she slings her bag over her shoulder before giving Barney one more pat on the head and strolling down the beach. She hadn't seen Brennan for awhile, the last time she had talked to him was when she was quite literally bleeding out on his sofa as he stitched up her shredded shoulder. It was a memory she didn't care to recall, though lately, it felt like she had been letting the fear of that memory run her life.

She hadn't been back to the beach in months because of it. Reaching slender fingers up, she traces the raised scar at the base of her neck and shoulder. It was horrendous but it didn't stop her from wearing what she wanted, didn't particularly care that people would glance at it while she worked away. She was determined to not let it bother her and so, she let it be swept away like the ocean before her. Her bare feet dig into the sand as she climbs the slope, lean legs leading her towards the small facility she stored one of her boards. Raylin hesitates for the briefest of moments, her hand shaking slightly as she reaches for the door handle. Doubling down on her determination, she rips the door open and forces herself inside. Shoving her bag into one of the public lockers, she slips her arms into the website hanging at her waist. She shimmies into it, the material clinging to her skin as she reaches over her shoulder, grabbing the long fabric attached to her zipper. Yanking it up to the base of her neck, she pulls her curly pink hair free. Heaving a sigh, she lets the memory of the attack on the beach slide away. Exiting the facility, she strides towards the cage that holds the mass amount of boards, Ray letting herself in and retrieving her surf board. Tucking it under her arm she makes her way to the ocean, a light breeze teasing her curls around her face. She realizes suddenly, she probably should have worn a dry suit today, the clouds in the sky didn't look promising and there was a potential storm on the horizon. Too late now.

Raylin struts into the ocean, sucking in a breath as the freezing water swirls around her bare toes. She was really going to regret not wearing that dry suit, she cringes but doesn't stop as she charges into the water. Throwing herself on the board, she paddles out. As the water engulfs her, the freezing ocean gives her a sharpened clarity and frees her soul as her arms work against the current. She can feel the burn in her unused shoulders, reveling in the way her body begins to warm. It doesn't take long before she's far enough out, Raylin dragging a hang through her pink her, slicking it back. She straddles the board, glancing around her, unsurprised to see only a few of the more dedicated surfers out in the ocean. Either it was the adrenaline they couldn't kick or they were stupid being out here in the cold. She couldn't decide which category she fell into. Her eyes focus on the incoming wave, as she settles back on her board, turning rapidly and paddling like mad to catch it.

She notices another surfer attempting to catch the same wave, but she's faster, Raylin lifting herself and planting her feet on her board. She's grinning like mad as she drops into the swell, her knees bending to absorb the impact as she carves into the wave again and again. She shouts with utter delight, her heart hammering a mile a minute in chest at the sheer adrenaline. It had been far too long that she'd been away from the ocean. She's just riding the rest of the wave when a man seems to appear out of nowhere, sitting on his surfboard. Raylin doesn't have time to dodge him, "Look out!" She shouts over the crash of the waves, bailing from her board and diving into the water. She hits the water just as the wave follows, crushing her body under water. She spins wildly under the ocean, water shoving up her nose but she quickly finds her leg be dragged upward by her board. She swims, head breaking the surface as she coughs and splutters, hauling herself back onto the board. She coughs a few more times, dragging a hand across her eyes, the salt burning.