Iridescent Lagoon On Thin Ice

(Creative title is creative. Not.)

@Minka

Obviously before Kyadi joins/encounters Ash at PP.

RE: Kyadi fell through thin ice.

Setting
Light snow — Current Temperature: 31° F/-1° C
Late Evening

The sky was shifting from gray to black as night fell. It had been snowing most of the day and had remained cold most of the week... meaning the lagoon was still frozen from the icy depths of winter. Spring had yet to properly arrive it seemed, though the weather was promising to warm up. It had even rained a few weeks ago. Imagine that! Rain! But that was then; right now it was still snowing, though the flurries seemed to be promising to let up soon.

Keen ears would observe the sound of treading water on what was otherwise a quiet night. If the lagoon was frozen however, why would one hear the subtle splashing of water? Well, an even closer listen would reveal a little more... a string of curses that were better not repeated by others. "By my bones! This water is free-eezing!"

Wolves have excellent night vision. Moving around in the dark? Not a problem for them. Unless they're blind. And even then, they have super senses, allowing them to move more easily than a human might. So how did Kyadi - a keen, intelligent wolf - come to find herself in such a predicament? Well, it started with a hare...

Kyadi had been intent on the snowshoe hare just yards ahead of her. She'd been stalking it carefully for that past few minutes. She was hungry; when the opportunity to hunt presented itself she took it. The chase had been simple enough - straightforward as far as the older wolf was concerned. Her foreleg didn't even give her any fits! She had been gaining on it steadily when the terrain shifted just slightly. She'd been so focused on the hunt she scarcely noticed the lagoon stretching before her, buried under a dusting of snow. It could've been a frozen tundra if not for the occasional dark spot warning of thinner ice. Kyadi had hesitated, pausing where ice met the shore. The hare was small and light - it had moved several wolf-lengths out onto the ice and seemed to be taunting the wolf behind it, begging Kyadi to try.

And Kyadi had. It had been stupid of her. At first, the ice seemed thick enough. It had been so cold lately... surely it would hold her. This land was further north than the land Kyadi hailed from - the ice probably stayed thicker longer, right? Wrong. The ominous creaking alerted the older wolf she should turn back. The hare - always a step ahead, seemed keen to watch as the wolf began to turn - slowly and carefully - away...

It wouldn't be too hard to imagine what happened next. The ice split. Kyadi wasn't far from the shore, but her paws didn't quite hit bottom and nothing could quite describe the feeling of thousands of tiny fangs slicing through your fur. It could really damage a wolf's focus. It was bitter cold. And to top it all of... there was that no-good-filthy-rotten-wolf-fodder. Hell, the thing was still there, watching her with those big, black eyes, acting innocent. Like it didn't know what it had been doing... "Outsmarted by a damn rabbit!" growled the wolf to herself as she splashed pathetically in the water. What made it worse was the shore being so close - no more than three or four bounds away. And she couldn't get out! Not that Kyadi was panicking - she looked more frustrated and ticked off than anything - but her paws couldn't quite get purchase on the slick ice, or it broke away when she did. Apparently, there was a thin spot here. The ice had opened up under her, and formed a sad, Kyadi-shaped hole around the poor wolf.

"This's just- this is-" the wolf babbled on with gravelly growls and curses that were barely coherent as she tried to scrabble out of the water, all the while her teeth chattered.

(This post was last modified: May 02, 2013, 05:32 AM by Kyadi.)

I assume this would be around the 27th of April, because it is a 2 day journey from southern eden to serpants pass? If that is alright with you, this would mean it is before Minka's stomach bug :)

she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... Minka had set forth this evening, searching for a acceptable place for Narimé's birthing den, seeing as none had been chosen yet. Yet she could only give the search half a mind, it seemed impossible to keep herself from thinking of the dark rogue who she had made such a fool of herself in front of. The feeling of her muzzle against his, how it had felt like an electric fire had passed between them when they had briefly touched, and that strange tension, what words had been hidden in their conversation that had not been said but that she should have heard? She did not know, and she found herself being tortured as the encounter ran through her mind over and over again, each time making her more confused than the last. Her mind was reeling, flitting from the topics of her pack to the rogue to the pups, in record speed, so much so that she almost didn't hear the sound of another. The sound of a female's voice in distress broke the fae from her day dreaming and her ears cocked towards the sound, it seemed to be coming from the lagoon, though who would trust the ice this far into spring was beyond her. Cautiously Minka changed her course, now heading through the trees that eventually would thin right before the lagoon started, she picked forward knowing there was no warning from the sudden change in scenery and if she moved too quickly she too could be stranded by the ice. Finally she broke free from the trees, standing on the banks of the lagoon her eyes scanned the ice for the wolf who had been crying out, and there she was a few lengths out into the water, though she was obviously too deep for her paws to reach the ground. The fae locked her jaws around a branch that was half hanging from a nearby tree and pulled with all of her weight, until a loud crack echoed through the area and the limb gave way. The going was slow as she dragged the wood behind her, having to give a mighty tug and walk a few paces and then repeating as it was nothing but dead weight, and tended to get caught on anything that laid upon the ground. Eventually Minka made her way to the edge of the lagoon, and carefully stepped out until all four paws were upon the ice, she knew if she broke through here the water would not reach any higher than her stomach, and she was hesitant to go any farther. Slow she swung the large limb towards the wolf, who did not seem panicked merely cold, holding it within reach the fae tried to hold it steady, waiting for the other of her species to latch on so she could pull her free of the icy chamber.

table by mimi

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That would be perfect actually. :) Guess Kyadi won't be able to tell Minka she stinks then. ;) Not a huge loss! xD

Kyadi paused in her struggles, briefly allowing her white chin to rest on the edge of the frozen water. She prided herself in ratiocination - her logic. How had she done something so stupid? No point in lingering on it though. What was done was done. She could rectify her own feelings by getting out! Huffing softly and trying to ignore the stabbing of icy water and the click of her own chattering teeth, Kyadi reminded herself to keep moving her paws. The cold would stiffen her joints faster than she could say "ice" if she didn't. Flopping her left forepaw onto the ice again (it was less inclined to give out) she dug her claws in to the best of her ability.

A sudden crunching, cracking sound alerted Kyadi to another's presence before she could go any further. Her russet eyes opened wide as she saw a most peculiar - but not unwelcome - sight along the edges of the lagoon. A female, quite a bit smaller than Kyadi but by no means a small wolf, was pulling firmly on a branch that had likely been broken at some point during the winter snows. It came free in the stranger's jaws, and with some effort, she pulled it toward Kyadi. The healer could scarcely believe it. Her complaints were forgotten for now - indeed, she felt surprisingly heartened at the sight of this young woman simply offering help. Wordlessly, kindly. For once the smile that painted Kyadi's muzzle wasn't laced with mockery or sarcasm. It was almost grateful, even. When was the last time she'd seen such an act of altruism from another? Her smile disappeared. Now was the time to move again.

Getting as much purchase as she could with that one paw, Kyadi stretched one limb, then the other, as far as she could onto the ice until she could pull no further (her chest met the edge of the ice). She reached as far as she could and struggled for a moment to grasp the branch. When her teeth did finally clamp down, she had to readjust her grip once or twice. It tasted disgusting. But taste was far from important right now. With jaws clamped kill-prey tight, Kyadi's eyes narrowed at the other woman as her ears twitched: ready when you are. When the other wolf pulled, Kyadi would be ready to pull as well, using her forelegs to pull and, beneath the surface, kicking her hindlegs with all her might until she could scramble out of the hole.

slight power play, let me know if you want it changed.

she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... The branch tasted horrible, since it had been half attached it still had been getting a flow of sap which now spilled upon the fae's muzzle, but she held the limb firmly anyways. Minka waited until the stranger seemed situated enough, but when she adjusted her grip the tawny girl slipped slightly, glancing down she noticed that her paws were creating a slick surface upon the ice. Shifting her stance she looked back to the wolf in the water, who seemed to be portraying that she was as ready as she would ever be. Crouching slightly so as to lower her gravity Minka gave a firm pull, and took a few small steps forward, looking back to make sure the other wolf was still attached. Now that she knew the other fae was firmly attached Minka leaned her weight against the limb, pulling with her all might as she fought to move her paws forward. She could hear the ice groaning with the added weight as the other wolf was pulled free from the water, and the girl gave one final tug upon wood and could hear the sound of feet scrabbling for purchase. Turning to make sure her assumption was correct she dropped the branch, the other girl was freed though the ice still groaned and Minka gave a bound off, not wanting for either of them to fall back within the icy depths. Her paws reached the muddy slush that was the shoreline, and a light snow fell all around them, already beginning to cover the large wet spot that surrounded the hole in the ice. Panting Minka turned to her stranger, waiting a few moments to try to catch her breath before finally speaking, "Are you alright?" The words were full of concern, though she did not know this wolf that did not mean that she would not try to help her in any way that she could. She could clearly remember the hardships that accompanied being a rogue, as she had only been with the pack for a few short weeks.

table by mimi

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That's okay. :) All the more reason for me to describe what Kyadi was tryin' to do at the end there. ;)

There were moments when Kyadi wondered if this would really work; the ice was slick and even a wolf's rough pads could only grip so much. But in the end, it hardly mattered - the girl pulled and Kyadi used all of the strength she could muster to kick her legs and pull - even with her weakened right forelimb - until she found herself on ice that no longer broke away under her paws or slid when she tried to pull.

The girl released the branch first. Kyadi clutched the thing tightly for a few seconds longer before spitting it out with a crinkled nose. She hadn't been scared for her life or anything. No, she was just annoyed. She told herself that, anyway. Truthfully though, she knew she may not have gotten out of that hole without a little help from her new, tawny friend (who had made it to the shoreline by this point). Kyadi's annoyance was masked by her wonder at the kind wolf. First one Kyadi had met in a while, and certainly the first since she entered this land. Kyadi didn't stand right away, preferring instead to bellycrawl a few paces until she felt she should stand - closer to where Minka had been while helping the older wolf. The ice groaned. Kyadi leapt - a little too quickly maybe - but she made it to shore, even if her descent was less than graceful. She stumbled, regained her footing, and groaned at how little of her paws she could actually feel.

"Must look pathetic, I suppose," grumbled the she-wolf. It was true: she was shivering from head to toe; her fur was clinging to her body and she was sure she'd never felt so cold in her life. It was like a hundred thousand needles were all pricking into her at once. Unable to wait any longer - or until she was further from the lass - Kyadi gave herself a firm shake-down that ended with her paws each being shaken in their turn to remove as much water as possible. The spikes of fur that remained were inclined to freeze. "Pardon me. I'm much obliged to you lass," spoke the healer, her words punctuated by the occasional teeth-clacking shiver. Her usual droll demeanor was rather subdued for the moment as she continued, her russet eyes doing their best not to betray the weariness and achiness she felt.

It was a moment before she properly answered the girl's question, and then some of her typical snarkiness slinked back into her voice: "Just took a swim in a frozen lagoon. I'm just dandy..." Her expression wasn't quite a smile. A snarl, maybe. But not at the helpful stranger - at the lagoon behind her. When she turned her eyes back to the girl, the older wolf sighed. It was so cold - she'd never noticed how cold the winter could be before. "Come lass, away from this water. I'm Kyadi, by the way." She didn't wait for the girl before she started a little further past the shore, into the treeline. Another pathetic shiver wracked her body; her steps were awkward and slow - almost uncertain like a pup's. Note to self: avoid thin ice.

she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... Minka turned to see the older female belly crawling across the ice, her head cocked slightly unsure of what the fae was doing and stepped forward to help. The brown female had already reached the shore though in an awkward rushed leap and far from graceful landing so Minka stepped back. The fae opened her mouth to answer the self depravity but was met with a splatter of icy water and mud, and she stepped back quickly, though she had not been fast enough to avoid the initial spray. With a cough she answered, "Not pathetic, just a little....wet I suppose," a slight smile played upon her lips as she answered. She nodded to the thanks though she did not answer, as the thanks was not necessarily needed but it was appreciated by the younger fae. The next words were laced with sarcasm and Minka did her best not to flinch, though she wasn't sure that she succeeded, she had always been sensitive for comments like that one. The snarl did not seem to be directed at her however so she shook it off, following after the wolf she now knew to be named as Kyadi, 'I'm Minka, what were you doing out on the ice anyways?" She had not meant to ask the question, it just slipped through her muzzle with her introduction. They had reached the tree line and that was when the fae noticed the other limping slightly, how awkward and small the steps of her were and concern flooded through her, "there is a small abandoned den, probably a foxes, nearby, you should come try to warm up. Minka took the lead now, though she was careful not to move too quickly so as Kyadi couldn't keep up, the den site wasn't too far away. The small hole was only big enough for one of them, and after a little bit of digging Minka cleared the snow from the entrance, gesturing to her companion to enter. Though she was damp from being sprayed she was not nearly as wet, and the best chance at getting warm was getting out of the wind and the snow, it would allow Kyadi's fur to have a chance to dry and not freeze.

table by mimi

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What had she been doing on that ice? Oh yes. That hare. The Hare from Hell. Kyadi's neck twisted to look over her shoulder, but not to look at Minka: instead she glared toward the lagoon again. The thing had finally hopped off. I hope it gets snatched by an owl, Kyadi thought bitterly before turning her eyes sharply to Minka. She didn't answer - perhaps a little embarrassed by the whole affair - and decided instead to merely incline her head.

"That's kind of you lass. Minka." Kyadi followed the girl in silence. Minka might not have known just how unusual that could be... not that Kyadi was always a chatterbox, mind you, but this was the silence of an absolutely miserable wolf. Kyadi was sure she couldn't feel her toes anymore and even her skin felt like ice. The pins-and-needles sensation she had was probably a good thing however: at least she could feel. She hadn't been in the water very long, but it was long enough. To top it off, it was a cold night and there was still a lot of darkness left. Getting warmed back up and drying off were both priorities. Hypothermia was a pup-killer: Kyadi was not a pup and refused to die like one. Not that she believed she would, thankyouverymuch!

The lass began to dig. Kyadi offered little help, choosing instead to poke at the snow a little then let Minka do the work. In the mean time, she began licking at her own toes and limbs, trying to bring some warmth and feeling back to them. By the time Minka had finished, Kyadi was sitting in the snow, combing through her fur with her teeth in an effort to help it. It was sticking out in shards; it'd literally be shards if Kyadi remained exposed for too long. Realizing the girl had stopped digging - Kyadi wasn't sure for how long - the healer focused on Minka. She wasn't even going to mention she usually was the one caring for other wolves. This was much too embarrassing.

"It was a hare," Kyadi said suddenly, calling back to Minka's question. "I chased it and didn't stop in time," she said smoothly, altering the truth effortlessly. She wasn't about to tell Minka she'd actually seen the ice and then gone after the little animal anyway. She didn't need to look stupid on top of pathetic. Kyadi pulled herself to her numbed paws (and shifted her weight off her right foreleg) before speaking again, switching the topic and tone of her voice in just a few words: "It was fortunate you came along when you did, lass. You live nearby?"

she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... Silence stretched between them as they walked, but it was not the type that was uncomfortable or awkward, it was the type of silence that just was. Usually Minka would try to fill it with some non-committal chit chat, but she knew exactly what a miserable night this must be turning into for Kyadi and therefore chose to stay silent. She did not mind doing most of the digging, in fact it kept her muscles warm, which was important, especially if the temperature would continue dropping before the rays of dawn came over the horizon. The trees blocked out most of the wind that had tormented them on the ice, and the hollow seemed dry enough inside, the roots of the nearby trees keeping it warmer than any of the temperatures above the earth. She once again gestured to the opening, ready to offer any assistance to the older fae should she need it, but knowing well enough not to assume that she would. She seemed to have an improperly healed injury on her leg, seeming reluctant to add any pressure or weight onto it. Minka turned away so as to not be rudely staring, though she could still see Kyadi in her peripheral vision she acted like she was interested in the nearby scenery as the hollow waited to be filled. Her explanation seemed justified, hare tracks could be seen all around this area, they were an abundance luckily enough for her pack, because of them they were able to keep the caches relatively full, even during miserable nights such as this one. To her question Minka nodded, "I am the second to one of the nearest packs, Whisper Caverns, I was out searching for food and possible den locations." It was true that most wolves would not have volunteered so much information, but the fae had always been an open book and she saw no sense in lying, she was no good at it anyways. She was silent as she settled down in front of the den, blocking out the rest of the wind from hitting the older fae, "We can offer you refuge in the morning until you recover," the tawny girl offered. Though the pack was not large and Simi was still working on her skills as a healer Minka was sure that they could find the room to help Kyadi recover, if she chose to come with her that is.

table by mimi

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Kyadi caught Minka's glance at her forelimb then forced it to the ground: she was aware how weak it was making her look right now. "From the cold," she said simply, not bothering to explain herself further. As the lass explained and responded to the healer's questions, the older woman finally made her way into the shallow den. She bedded down carefully - turning in place once or twice - before settling as much as she could given the circumstances. The den was big enough, and being out of the more direct elements would spare her some discomfort from the cold she felt. She'd get warmed up again eventually.

If Kyadi was surprised by Minka's openness, it didn't show on her weathered face. She did offer the trace of a smile though. Kyadi wasn't always as grumpy as she seemed - really. Rough around the edges, but not always so... mean. And for once she did seem kinder in spite of her frustration. It might only have been because Minka had acted so selflessly, or because Kyadi was so exhausted, but it did make Kyadi's heart feel a little lighter. It was a change from the usual. A second? And dens... ah, her leader is expecting. Good for her. Kyadi bent to scratch herself behind the ear, then got to grooming again. She was massaging her right foreleg with her tongue when Minka made an offer that caught Kyadi off-guard. She had to pause to consider, her tongue flicking across her dark nose.

She could take the offer, be sheltered for the morning. But she'd owe a debt, one she might not be so keen to repay just yet. She supposed she could always tend to the odd, injured wolf in the future... but then, she hadn't mentioned to Minka she was actually a healer yet... and she still wasn't sure she'd survive the hit to her pride if she did. Her expression shifted, one that was a little grim, but her eyes lifted to the other woman. "That's a kind offer - and a large one. With your leaders expecting pups, however, I believe it best I remain here." She was assuming based on Minka's words. Minka obviously wasn't pregnant. And besides, it was a good excuse to stay out of trouble. If Minka insisted, though... Kyadi might actually consider it. She'd offer what she could before heading out. If she stayed warm through the night, she'd be okay in the morning. She'd just need to move her limbs; Kyadi suspected they'd be cramped and stiffer than usual once she got a move on.

"I know how expecting mothers can be," Kyadi said, her orange eyes betraying a softer emotion - but only for a moment. Poorer memories flooded her mind, so she replaced the gentle expression with something neutral - she was unwilling to reveal more right now if she could help it.

Feel free to do a powerplay in your posts, I figure this thread is about wrapped up, so if they stay just say Minka fell asleep, if they go just say Minka led the way and we can make a thread in Whisper Caverns :)

she doesn't care how she gets there, as long as she gets somewhere she knows... Minka nodded at the older wolf, a look of concern plain upon her maw though she forced a small smile. She watched as she settled down and fidgeted slightly, she did not know what else she could do to help the fae, though she would do anything that she possibly could. The tawny girl hovered in silence as she lay in front of the den waiting for an answer to her offer, it seemed to take forever for her to decide but it was probably only a few moments that passed. More concern returned to her face when she saw the grim expression, not sure exactly what to make of her words, a small whimper escaping from her throat in sympathy. The wind blew against her flank, like an icy dagger in the night and the fae hoped that she was taking most of the attack for Kyadi. She shifted again, trying to make herself larger so as to block more of it from reaching the soaked wolf tucked into the den. Her thoughts chased each other around her skull, she had to do what was best for her pack, but she did not want to leave this wolf here to possible die of hypothermia. Finally a decision was made, her leaders would surely understand taking in a refuge, "Expectant though she may be, I am sure that she would understand letting you stay until you are well enough again to travel. My offer stands, but if you choose not to take it I will stay here with you throughout the night. The tone was soft, kind, if her offer was large one she did not see it as one and this was clear upon her face, she did not do this because she thought it would bring her a favour later on. She settled down into a comfortable position, giving Kyadi time to ponder her offer, and showing that she meant her words, she would not leave her. Resting her head upon her paws she stared out into the night, the sounds of a nearby owl rustling were all that could be heard, it seemed even the nocturnal creatures were tucked away on this miserable late spring night. The thoughts of the rogue male again filling her head, the endless movie reel of the memory flashing before her, why oh why could she not just forget him? It didn't make any sense, but she was starting to see that since he had entered her life that nothing was anymore.

table by mimi

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