For the first time being in this land she caught the glint of water and it wasn't just a small creek or puddle.  It was a much larger body of water, not as big as the ocean she loved but it was more water than she'd seen in the longest time.  She couldn't help the joy that overcame her a wide smile crossing her dark features as he picked up her pace.  There was still a lot of ground to cover between her and what she could only assume was a lake by its size. Nauja didn't care about the distance she wanted to reach the water, to put her paws in it and feel it wash over them and through her fur.

It was a ridiculous desire really considering the lake was probably frozen but that thought hadn't crossed the Seagull's mind.  Her desire to feel the water on her paws was too great for her to care about a silly thing like ice. Racing across the Tundra she reached the lake in a shorter amount of time than she thought it would take. The disappointment when she did finally realize that she wouldn't be able to put her paws in the water causing the smile to fall from her face.

Slowly she walked toward the water only to be stopped when she discovered that she was not the only one on the shore.  Reaching her muzzle out she took in his scent finding that he too was alone.  She cautiously moved closer until she was a safe distance before she finally spoke to him. “Is it so frozen you can't stick your paws in for a brief moment?” It was an odd question she was sure, the water would surely be too cold but it had been so long.

To be honest she was surprised to find someone at the lake since she hadn't run across many wolves in her travels.  There had been more lately but with winter she thought a lot of loners would have found packs.  Nauja might have too but she didn't want to have a repeat of what happened in Grizzly Hollow.

From where she stood she couldn’t really tell if their was a small margin at the edge she might be able to at least drink at. Maybe even slip her toes beneath the water's surface until she couldn't take the cold any longer. She nodded at his response, “Too cold to enjoy the water through your fur.” She commented almost absentmindedly.  Her gaze drifted to the water ears coming forward looking for the sound of the water lapping at the shore but it wasn't there, “The water is much too still in winter,” she added to her previous statement.

Nauja shook her head, “No, but the islands look like a good place to make a home on the water.” She did miss it so much and as she looked the islands over she wished she could get to them.  It was much too cold to try and make it to them even if the lake was iced over.  She let her orange gaze returned to the stranger, “Are you from around here?”

All the ice and snow made her wish for spring to come sooner than she would be able to hear the lapping of the water.  If she closed her eyes she could almost imagine that she was back on the shores in Bella Coola.  A light breeze to ruffle the fur along her back and down her chest, all that would be missing would be the scent of salt on the air. The land was dead now, the sounds gone muffled by the snow and all it aimed to do was put her into a funk.  She was glad that spring was coming nearer to them which had brought other thoughts to her mind.  Ones that she didn't see dwelling on when she would not get that this year, she huffed at that as she once more looked across to the nearest island.

Her words about the island had brought a smile to his face and he stated he agreed with her, this made her even more curious about him.  “If could would you?” She asked her head tilting slightly. Would he make a home one of the islands and live their happily near the water hearing the lapping of water as he fell asleep. “Do you think it's possibly to be happy living away from the mainland?” She'd never lived on a island, always the mainland even in Bella Coola but who was to say things couldn't be different.

“Me too,” she said with a small smile, “By the sea,” she added to clarify just how far, do far it had become out of reach for her.  All her efforts to return home to her family and the sea with its salty air. She shrugged when he asked about packs, “A couple I don't know much about them,” she told her weird mood caused by finding the lake leaving her not really in the mood to pretend she knew all there was to know about the packs. “There are two in the lowlands I don't know what they are called and one further south, Grizzly Hollow but I don't know it's exact location.”

Her brows rose when he mentioned that living on an island could be dangerous, “in what way is it?” She didn't see it.  Looking at the islands in the middle of the lake it looked so peaceful out there surrounded by the water. He'd also said that he didn't know if he could do it again which she felt meant he'd done it before. She smiled though when he said that it was unique and worth it, “What was your favorite part about it?” She asked as she tried to imagine what it would be like to live on an island, “Was it like the ones there?” She asked pointing with her nose toward the ones on Turtleback lake.

She nodded maybe a little more emphatically than she should have, "I miss it very much,” she confirmed.  So much so that she often felt lost without it always being that stable presence in her life.  If nothing else was the sea was always there with his comforting scents and sounds. Her features brightened when he said he'd offer her a paw to find the sea. “I have been looking for so long to find my way back to it but I haven't been able to find it.  Your help would be very appreciated.” Any help that he could give her to find the sea would be welcome.  She had made up her mind before returning that she would give up but she had new hope and she couldn't throw it away if it meant she might see her family again.

"It's my pleasure,” she said when he thanked her for the information on the packs.  She knew it wasn't much, very little actually but hopefully it was a start for him.  “Sorry I couldn't give you more,” she added because she did wish she could give him more.