Daybreak Peaks then a week goes by and it goes untouched

Subterritory Name: Otter Isle
Parent Territory: Daybreak Peaks
Lat/Lng: -47.87214, -25.83984
Picture: (this image is like POV from on the island...)
https://unsplash.com/photos/7wk0ja-DP_c
Description: Only those who are a strong swimmer may discover the secrets of Otter Isle. Scraggly trees give the island and its local wildlife shelter. Which seems to boast the heavy presence of river otters. There's a heavy sense of security (or is it isolation...?) among the untouched land in the river. The deeper one travels onto the island, the more the land seems to reach upwards into a tall hill. At the top, one will be rewarded with a stunning view of the island and surrounding river ways.

The first month of spring would not make itself known as such just yet, it seemed.

Fresh snow had fallen that morning. Light but adding on to what was already on the ground. He found himself exhausted by the sight of white all around the split. So he had decided to stretch his legs once more. Politely informed the group and extended an invitation to any who wished to come with. He figured @Lantana may appreciate the chance to see more.

The bunch of them were wanderers, even if they had settled comfortably together.

Regardless, he halted when he spotted an island across the way. Tried to find the smallest part of the river to cross so he did not risk freezing to death or being swept away. Even the most experienced swimmer could not control currents. He was prepared to test the winter waters, until he thought he heard something nearing.

In the beginning, the marbled child had shown little to no interest among the others in their collective lot to join Loach in his proposed excursion beyond the Split. Despite a seemingly never-ending itch that plagued his paws even after settling with the others here, the boy hadn't wanted to come off too eager to set off on an adventure. Especially if one of the others had spoken up about wishing to join him. Alas, after the older man had managed to saunter off into the distance for some time a sense of boredom began to creep its way into young Claw and the itch in his paws couldn't be ignored.

Frankly, he had nothing better to do around here so why not go do a little adventuring?

Youthful limbs trudged easily through the trail Loach left behind in the fresh powder that had fallen earlier that morning, emerald gaze studying the horizon up ahead for a dark smudge against an otherwise bleak and colorless background. Boy was he ready for the snow to go away.

It didn't take too long for Claw to pick up on the scent trail of the crew's makeshift leader first before eventually, his dark-painted silhouette appeared up ahead. A bark was released to inform the man he wouldn't be journeying alone, the other's steps taking a pause at the smallest part of the river where Claw presumed the man was about to cross. Just thinking about the cold water had the boy wanting to shiver, but such unpleasantries were pushed aside once he saddled up alongside the older man at the river's edge. "Are yer really crazy enough to be thinking about getting wet here?" A curious brow was quirked. As if Claw wasn't crazy for being willing to join and risk getting wet himself.

She had thanked him and let Loach make his rounds issuing invitations, and after a stretch trailed along not far after them, finding Loach and the child's tracks easily enough in the lingering snows. Off down along the riverbank, seemingly with purpose. Just them, hm? Well, their group was nothing if not informal.

Announcing herself with a bark of greeting, she caught up with them near where the river narrowed. Lana's ears caught the kid's words as she approached, giving an amused smile.

She'd not been keen to take a dip in the river in winter her first time, nor the next couple of times, but it wasn't so bad provided there was no biting wind or truly devilish temperatures. The fish were worth it, anyway. Loach seemed downright fond of taking frigid dips in the water, though. "He sure is," she laughed. "Better get used to that around here," But surely he hadn't brought them here just to take a dip in the river, right? Was this another prized fishing spot of his? She raised a questioning eyebrow toward the dark man.

Currently traveling with Loach, Llinnea, Clouse and Claw.

Aye! He barked vibrantly after Lana confirmed. You a swimmer, cubbin'? Old men can't go swimmin' alone. He had not forgot the cub's willingness to poke and prod fun at the man's 'older' age. Curse the grey hairs he had inherited. Horribly male genes in his family it seemed.

I wanna see the island. Whatcha think? Shoot me straight. This was directed towards the both of them as his gaze bounced between them. Then he fixed it to the closest piece of land of the island. He imagined the fishing would be good there, wondered what the hunting was like too. Did much make home among the island?

He was already prepared to go across, regardless of what they thought.

Not long after Claw had joined the old man at the river's edge another member of their misfit gang manifested behind them in their tracks, his emerald gaze shifting from Loach's peppered face to that of the only other adult around aside from Clouse. Apparently she had managed to walk up just in time to hear the young boy's playful jab at the old man, confirming for him this level of crazy was more or less a common occurrence.

As natural as ever the duo would exchange playful banter at the peppered male's older age, earning a playful scoff and sideways smirk from the marbled child. "Well, yeah. Can't risk yer old bones cramping in the water and we gotta rescue you from drowning." He jabbed, the smirk stretching wider across his leathery lips before his attention shifted back to the shallower water levels of the river at their paws. An outstretched paw dipped slightly into the water below to give it a quick test before immediately being withdrawn, shaking the icy droplets of water with a slight grimace to his face.

Claw was definitely not thrilled about taking a dip in such frigid waters, but if that was the price he would have to pay to possibly discover something pretty cool on this island Loach spoke of it was one he guessed he could pay this time. "I'm down." What about her though?

Lana cast her eyes across to the isle, with its sparse trees and rounded form,  guarded by the rushing waters. Loach didn't show any signs of waiting for long. She didn't bother to hide a look of reticence, but it was mostly for show. Still, the woman wasn't sure she'd grow used to this land with its rushing waters dividing everything up any time soon. Summer's drought had seemed more like home to her. Floods like this ought to go in flashes, dangerous things indeed but always receding again, or so she'd once thought.

But leaving home, and old habits, behind her was why she'd come so far in the first place. Bolstering herself, she gave her fur a shake, nodding with a toss of her head. "Sure, why not. Are you hoping to find anything in particular?" She watched Claw test the water and took a breath herself, preparing to plunge in after Loach with or without an answer. Hesitation only meant you spent longer without getting used to the cold, she'd learned.

Ahead of them the island sat amid the flowing river, its contours hiding who knew what. The place seemed to be awaiting them. Lana's tail stirred to sway above the water with excitement and trepidation as she waded in. Even if there was nothing beyond more fishing holes, a hill in the river, it was something that was as of yet a part of their home they hadn't explored yet. A room in the attic hidden behind a locked door, and all they had to do was open it. It prickled her curiosity, to see what might be waiting there.

Currently traveling with Loach, Llinnea, Clouse and Claw.

He reached to offer a warm shove into the growing boy's shoulder. Soon he'd be a young man and who knew what he'd get up to then. Loach could only enjoy having the spunky, prickly youth around for now no matter any future.

As for Lana...well, Lana felt stuck more like glue. In a good way. The way she looked after the girl, stood up for others. Loach had no clue what he had ever done for her to stick around so long.

Ah, but he was getting sappy.

Food. Better fishin' or better shelter. Whatever we want, we take and bring it back, yeah? He grinned a bit cheekily at the boy before he offered something a touch more tamed to Lana.

Yet this was all the conversation he was prepared to have until they got there. From here the hardest part of the swim would be the cold, but that would still be one hell of a hurdle. So he huffed wildly before he plunged in, prepared to lead them across the water.

Claw's smirk only widened still in response to the small shove Loach offered his shoulder, an ear swiveling curiously once the woman beside them chimed in with her answer as well as questioning what it was exactly the peppered man was looking to find on this adventure. The young archers curiosity was indeed piqued, emerald gaze once more shifting away from that of his current companions and to that of the flowing water across the way, Lantana already working on wading herself into the frigid water. Claw wasn't sure what food would be readily available on an island such as that, but he was definitely eager to find out.

Apparently, though, this was the point where talking about it became null and void to make room for actual action. The marbled boy would be the last to enter the chilly water as he watched both adults enter in rather different manners. The woman waded in slowly, a logical approach to the boy, while Loach seemingly just plunged in with reckless abandon. Well, that was one way to get over the cold faster.

Slowly Claw inhaled and exhaled a breath to steel himself against the cold he knew he was about to face, face grimacing in the wake of the chill as he opted to follow in Lantana's steps by wading in slowly. Hopefully this treasure or food on the other side was worth getting soaked for.

skipping bc lana is now inactive

So together they would swim, across the channel and towards the stretch of the island. Prepared to meet it head on. Even if they arrived cold and soaked.

It certainly seemed to carry much life for being in the middle of the waters. The trees tall and ancient beyond them. Generations of wolves had looked upon them, perhaps. Or maybe no wolves had ever gazed upon these ones before. For all the land seemed to be untouched.

Alright, He announced loud and warm as he finished a shake-out of his coat. Positively prickled in look for the simple action. Divide and conquer, cubbin'. He teased with a low laugh, even if he meant it nearly genuinely. The island could not be big enough for them to lose one another long. Surely they could pick it apart quicker too if they split.

Once you factored out the unavoidable chill of the water granted the time of year the swim across the channel actually wasn't that bad in Claw's mind once his paws found purchase again on the pebbly shoreline of their unexplored island. Of course it did seem to take quite a bit of energy to power through the undertow, but they had made it nonetheless. A quick shake of his pelt helped in drying off some of the excess water that clung to his fur, gaze shifting in time to catch the amusing sight of Loach looking more like a porcupine than a wolf after he shook his own fur out. The young boy stifled his laughter and set his sights beyond the peppered man, taking in the lumbering trees that surrounded them.

"Don't go breaking a hip or anything, old man." He chimed in with a subtle smirk tugging at one corner of his maw, glancing out the side of his eye toward the man before setting off in the opposite direction of Loach. Limbs carefully navigated themselves over the various logs of fallen timbers that seemed to litter the place the further he ventured from the shoreline, ears ever twitching to catch the slightest noise of whatever lurked in the branches above, or shrubs below. For an island Claw was surprised by the vast vegetation that grew here. What secrets were waiting to be discovered?