Iridescent Lagoon The Sun Hardly Bothers to Shine

Though the group seemed a slight bit uncomfortable with each other, no hostilities arose that Hati found necessary to draw attention to. There was also the fact that all three of them were females, and it was well known that they didn't always mingle in the friendliest of ways and there was absolutely nothing that could be done about it. However, as the group neared the frozen lagoon, the tension seemed to have dissipated for the most part, and the black river wolf promised himself that he would enjoy the moment.

As his claws first clicked on the slippery ice (most of the snow had been blown away by the strong winds that the area had been receiving) the strong scent of fallen prey immediately came to his attention, and in response his stomach growled. Without making mention of his discovery he raced across the ice, making a slight fool of himself as he tripped and stumbled multiple times, headed for what eventually appeared to be an island. As he neared it a voice called from behind him, making it apparent that he was not the only one who had scented the deceased pronghorn. No matter. There was plenty here for all of them.

Hati tore some of the meat away from the nearly-complete carcass and assessed his surroundings. The island was small and sported mostly evergreens but also some barren birches. Curiosity, and the need to explore that had haunted him all his life, drew Hati away from the carcass and in a circle around the island. On the far side, opposite to where he had stepped up onto the shore, snow was piled several feet high. Climbing to the top of the snow-cliff Hati discovered that it had been formed into a slide by some other playful creature long gone. Without hesitation he stepped onto the top and slipped, discovering the hard way that the slide was more like ice than comfy snow, and sped out over the lagoon, grappling for a foothold and finding none.

Water is beginning to freeze and some fish are trapped. Hunt Opportunity

Lalani followed the strange female and her dark companion as they travelled. She wasn't entirely sure where they were going considering that she didn't know the area. The female named Naia seemed very excited about where she was going. Lani didn't realize they had reached their! destination until Naia went bounding out on the frozen surface of a lagoon. She slide across the ice and one paw was sent flying out from under her, causing her to fall to the hard surface. It didn't take long before she was up and sliding again, inviting them to join. It was quite rediculous actually. The way this small female slipped and slided on the ice.

Lani was quite surprised when she caught a flash of white of the corner of her eye and suddenly Anna was on the ice too. She was more daring the Naia though, and sent herself careening over the slick surface while she spun in circles. It brought a small smile to her face to know that Anna was enjoying herself so much. It made coming to this pack worth it, as long as Anna was happy.

It wasn't until her dark companion started across the frozen lagoon that she started to think that maybe she was the strange one. Well, maybe not. He wasn't really playing on it. He seemed to be heading towards something. Lifting her gaze, she noticed that there seemed to be a small island ahead of them. Lani quickly darted after him sshe found that she was running in place for a few seconds before she caught enough traction to move. Even then, her paws slid as she walked causing her movements to be slightly awkward as she fought not to fall.

She followed behind her friend while the goofy females continued to play on the ice. He stopped, finding a carcass, most likely the one that Anna had mentioned, before moving on. They crossed the island, where he climbed a top a few snow drifts. He seemed to be gazing over the new space when he took a step, and suddenly he was gone. Lani raced to the top trying to figure out what happened. She saw him sliding down the snow hill and out towards open ice. The surprise on his face did her in. The moment was so absurd that she threw her head back and laughed. The shift in her weight caused the snow to move under her, and the next thing she new she was sliding after him. He furry bottom slid acoss the ice and no matter how much she tried to use her front legs to hit the brakes, it was useless. By now he had slowed but she shot out after him. She was approaching way too quickly. She hadn't slowed much before she slipped into him. "Oof!" Getting to her feet shakily on the slick ice, Lani looks down at him. She's definitely embarrassed but she can't help but feel a little excited. "Fancy running into you hear." She says with a wink, before she laughs again. She hadn't expected to have so much fun. Who knew that such a morose day could take such a turn?

♦♦♦♦♦

Not surprisingly, the ivory female that had been so eager to join in the adventure was also the first out on the ice after Naia. In a bold move, she took a running start before flying out onto the ice, sliding and circling like she did this kind of thing every day. Naia giggled as her new friend's spinning slowed and commented, ”You must have done this before!” They slipped around for a few more minutes before Anneliese paused, lifting her nose to to wind. Once she pointed it out, Naia noticed the smell too-- the stench of death-- but this winter was far too harsh for her to be picky about her meals. Any meat, no matter if it was fresh or not, filled the stomach just the same. She nodded in answer to the females question, and out of the corner of her eye she noticed Jack and Jill had started out across the ice in a beeline for the source of the smell. ”You're definitely not the only one,” she told Anneliese, nodding toward the dark pair already trekking across the ice. ”Let's catch up!”

Catching up would prove tricky though, since the speed she could achieve was limited by the slick ice under her paws. Ahead, Jack and Jill were already disappearing onto what appeared to be a small island. ”You're friends with the girl, right?” she asked Anneliese conversationally as they skated. ”You think there's.. um.. something there? Between the two of them?” She shot a sideways smile, playing it off like a joke but in truth she did wonder. It might explain Jill's hostile mood if she was feeling protective of her male. Naia turned back forward before Anneliese spoke, indicating that it was all right if she chose not to answer. The question was on the verge of gossipy, and Naia would understand if the ivory lady declined to speculate about her friend's love interests.

They reached the island where their companions had disappeared, and the agouti lady climbed up onto the frozen sand. With a little sniffing around she located the carcass that Anneliese had smelled from the opposite shore, and fresh tear marks indicated that Jack and Jill had already passed through. Just a quick snack,” Naia told herself, stripping off a few bites of the stale meat before pushing on to the opposite side of the island. From a short distance away, Naia watched as the two wolves slipped off a snowbank and slid back out over the ice. Laughing, she barked to Anneliese, ”Over here! They found something even more fun!” She trotted toward the snowbank, hoping for her own turn at the schuss.

♦♦♦♦♦

Not but an instant after Anna had spoken did she see the man nicknamed Taras and her dear friend bullet off toward both the small clustered island and the treasure it contained. With a grin, she fell into line next to Naia and they slipped and slid their way after them. They were a bit behind, as the shady duo had seemed to fly over the ice, but Anna didn't mind falling back with this new friend. She was finding that she very much liked this Naia; she had a very positive energy about her, and Anneliese could only assume that she had a bright soul.

The conversation topic the girl chose as they took their time skating over did not bother Anna in the least bit. In fact, it offered up an explanation that Anna herself had not considered, and one that made her smile; even if Lalani did not get off on a good start, and did not seem very willing to make new friends, she had at least found someone to bond with. If a romantic interest was within her sights, Anna could only be happy for her friend.

"I sure hope so," she replied simply, and with a warm grin.

On arriving to the island, Anneliese couldn't help but take a moment to snag a few pieces of nearly frozen meat. The death of the animal hadn't been too long past, but already other scavengers had gotten to the corpse, and she was less than pleased with taking those bites. Eager for the distraction, she swiftly joined her friends on the embankment-turned-slide, taking a ride or two herself.

ooc: sorry guys. twelve hour shifts really fucking suck. i was going to take up the hunting opportunity, but i don't want to drag on the thread if you guys want to end it so that's why anna is doing a hell of a lot of nothing.

PLOT WITH ME!