Two Rivers Isle Sugar Ember and Shrimp

When Birk had still lived at the ice fields and ran with the fellow ice giants, he had learned from very early on to appreciate all small things in life. For example, the first bone he had had to play with. Or the sight of his brother choking on it after he had stolen it from Birk. And in this case - that after the super-massive storm he had woken up the next day feeling and being very much alive. Another "SCORE!" at the goals in life list. 

Sure his feet and back were a little stiff from the cold. It took a lot of bending, stretching and rolling in the snow to get them warmed up and working properly again. But he did this with a joyous enthusiasm. At this point it did not matter that he was hopelessly lost, still without comrades to ally with and that in a few hours his stomach would remind of itself and he would be searching for food during the next days. 

No, at this moment he romped and played around the snowy forest as a little pup, celebrating the life and living of today.

Cailean wasn’t one to take things for granted, and the fact that he had survived this long as a loner was a blessing – but he was still keenly aware that he needed to find somewhere to settle. Who knew how long these arctic temperatures would endure – they might stretch on for months, and he would need the security of a pack eventually. He was growing lonely, too, and at risk of withdrawing into the shell he had so carefully maintained.

Though snow still lay in a thick blanket on the ground, Cailean could see the gentle slopes of hills and he could tell that in warmer seasons this would be a lush, verdant place. He moved slowly, his head slightly lowered against the bite of the wind, his ears pushed back as he left the rivers which encircled the island behind.

He was hungry – not achingly so, not yet, but he knew he would have to hunt at some point soon. When movement flashed in the corner of his eye he froze, head lifting swiftly and soft turquoise eyes focussing on the movement with suspicion which quickly melted into curiousity.

In spite of the cold, in spite of his loneliness and lack of direction, Cailean’s tail began to wag and he let out a woof which was accompanied by a cloud of silver breath.

With the corner of his eye Birk caught sight of his quiet watcher and therefore he briefly stopped his little dance of happiness, to regard the stranger with a curious gaze. He seemed nice and friendly at the first glance and at closer inspection did not look overly hungry (meaning that in the next few seconds he would not be in a wild run from a ravenously and dangerously famished wolf), therefore he got in a play-bow and returned the greeting with a gruff "wuff" of his own. 

Then in series of small romps he moved closer to the guy and invited him again for a game. Birk flopped down on his belly, making a full-body stretch (forepaws out front and hind-paws extended back) and looked at the stranger expectantly. Come, play!

The stranger did not reply, therefore Birk got up and left to find someone else to play with.