Kettle Pot Pond I feel no responsibility, no [S]

The midday sun was just beginning to fall as Saga's journey came to a close. Her original intent had been to find a fresh source of water and to try to map out the herd's most likely course. Both tasks had been completed, so she was turning to retrace her steps when the Raven's call rang out. Bright eyes flickered over the horizon, easily finding the source stationed on the ice with something lain at it's feet. Thinking nothing of it, the Tainn continued on her way, but every step away from the bird seemed to cause another caw, again, and again, and again, until she turned to face it once more, and then it was quiet. How strange. She tested her theory, walking away, and stopping to face the creature. When the same set of circumstances happened, she was forced to question whether or not it was beckoning her forth.

Entranced, Saga slowly began closing the distance between herself and the creature, squinting hard to make out whatever laid before it. Maybe it held some.. answer, some key that would tell her what trial she was supposed to complete here. Her cautious steps grew quicker with anticipation as the gap grew smaller. Perhaps if she hadn't been so intent on the bird she might have tested the ice, but it had been so cold recently that she really had no reason to assume it wouldn't be solid.

Her paw broke through the ice mere tail-lengths in front of the bird, splintering beneath her weight, and sucking her down into the freezing water. Shit. Shit. Shit.

If you know what I know that I know

It's been a long time comin

His mother had lived out here once upon a time. Had chosen too. At moment he couldn't see why, but winter had that affect on a lot of things. As he trotted, he tried to remember. It seemed like she'd wanted to be far away from the Ridge and everyone else. There was an Uncle be an asshole or something. With a huff he moved quicker, it would take awhile to get back to the west. Still, it was better he was seeing more, like his mother had. He would almost be as well traveled...almost.

There was the caw, caw of a crow....raven? Well, that could very well mean food and he couldn't pass it up, even if he had to take the opposite direction. Against the snow his eyes could see a silver coat popping from the white with the bird. Damn it. The bird clearly had something, but it seemed someone else beat him too it.He doubted they'd welcome his company.

Before his eyes, the wolf sunk into the water.

Oh fuck!

Without thinking he rushed forward, his eyes looking around for something to grab. There were some sticks but they wouldn't be adequate. He drew closer to the pond, his eyes darting along the edges, his mind calculating what was ice and what was land. Having grown up in the lagoon, he was able to get closer. A loud bark left his lips, were they already stuck beneath the ice? It was then he saw the top of an older caribou antler to his left. Digging furiously, he tugged it out of the powdery snow, and brought it to the ice.

She'd been in an almost.. dreamlike state as she approached the raven, so the icy waters came as more of a shock to her system than they would have had she been more aware. Almost instantaneously her mind clouded with panic, which was often the worst possible reaction. Pale paws flailed in an attempt to get her back to the surface, but she wasn't.. quite sure where the surface was. Her head hit ice three times before finally breaking free, and it was all she could do to fight to keep her head above the water.

When Saga's paws met the ice they searched for purchase, but the attempt only served to make the hole bigger as they crashed straight through. 'shit'. It wasn't her time. Not yet. The Gods wouldn't have put her here to die. Right? Right? She tried again, and again, missing the stranger's approach completely in her panic.