Big Salmon Lake twark

For @Fleetscut

Flitting out from her home in the Heartwood, Shiv began her adventure for the day early — just as the sun was peaking out from behind the horizon. The snow covering the lands took on a strangely pink and yellow hue, before dulling to its usual white colour as the sun rose higher and higher, disappearing behind the dark clouds that dotted the sky. Perfect flying weather, if Shiv did say so herself. It was an easy journey, the winds carrying the little magpie along a river that eventually opened up to a larger lake where she then began her descent.

The lake had frozen over, dispelling its usual crowd of insects and frogs, allowing for the more warm-blooded animals to take over. Crash-landing onto the icy surface, Shiv tried to get a footing but ultimately failed and let herself skid across the lake, sliding to a stop with a series of overjoyed tweets.

Fleetscut continued his merry journey further down the territory. He had met a few that he had liked and a few he hadn't. He had learned about a few packs, but not many. He thought of his family and his friends, he missed his brothers and his sisters. His parents, but it didn't ruin his mood really. He hummed softly to himself.

The day was gorgeous, though there was a chill factor. There wasn't much wind. He continued on his merry way. He would occasionally click his heels as he had done before. He stopped by the lake for a moment, though it was frozen he simply stood and looked out over the lake. Watching the birds come and go and flit and flutter.

The magpie continued her shrill calls as she slipped across the frozen lake, her sharp talons barely piercing the icy surface. It took a moment or two before she regained her balance, slowing to a stop with widespread legs and half raised wings. Another minute passed as she stood, unsure what the best way to deal with this situation would be. While she had braved many frozen ponds and smaller pools, it was her first time landing on a large expanse of water and, unfortunately for her, she had picked a particularly slippery patch of ice.

Murmuring worriedly, the bird looked around the edges of the lake, half-hoping to spot Prima somewhere. There! Well, it wasn't her pale-furred friend but the figure had the distinctive wolf-shape. Ever up for an encounter with the curious inhabitants of the Wilds, Shiv began a half-swagger, half-bounce towards the dark lad, loudly chirping to get his attention.

Fleetscut listened he heard different birds, one such was a magpie. Those were some crazy birds, especially when it was shiny. But he liked them all just the same. He watched as it dove for the water and then slid. He moved to help where he could, he wasn't sure if he could help, he was a little to large for the ice, but he could do something maybe.

'ello dere little birdie. W'atcha need? He stretched his neck to try and help where he could. Perhaps it was in dire need of assistance.

It took a few moments of skipping along the lakes surface but, eventually, Shiv reached the edge, coming to a slippery halt before the muddy-coloured wolf. He was an average-looking fellow, albeit with sharp yellow eyes and a weird spot of fur that stuck up from his head. Canting her head to the side, the bird gave a chirp of laughter at it, before bouncing forward a bit further, unafraid of the larger creature. His greeting was met with another tweet and an awkward bow, as she had done with Prima. "Hello, hello," she responded merrily. "Ice much slippery, yes."

As if in demonstration, her legs slid out from under her again and the magpie fell onto her side in a flurry of squawks and flapping wings.

Fleetscut couldn't really do much about his cowlick, it was just there always had been. Some would laugh at it, and he would just go on his merry way. Ya, it's slippery f'sure. He held out a paw to catch the tiny creature as it slid along the lake. He hoped she or he could hook their little talons in his paw fur and hold tight.

As Shiv struggled to get a footing, she glanced up and noticed the large brown paw hovering just over the surface of the ice. On wobbly legs, the little bird heeded the stranger's hopes, giving a happy squeak in thanks. What a friendly fellow! With a flutter and push off the slippery ground, she latched onto his toes, securing herself to her rescuer before quickly making her way partially up his leg. Although she wasn't too far from the lake's edge anyway, she was glad the wolf had offered to carry her the rest of the way — the ice had proven too much of a challenge so far for her spindly little legs.

Tilting her head up at the dark wolf, the magpie asked, "Wolf able to walk on ice?" Surely, with those large paws and sharp talons, they would have no trouble!

Fleet smiled as the birdy landed on his paw. He held still while she got her footing so to speak and then he gave her a smile. He shifted so she could move to his shoudler

Well I don't know 'bout dat dawlin. I kin sho try and walk on it. Shifting his weight he pushed the claws he held, not very strong like a cats and attempted to go on the ice. It was not to be he slipped a little, but then realizing he could make a game out of it, he walked or slid gently towards the thicker ice and then slid across it with four paws. making sure to stay near the shore in case it would break and he could scramble for the bank.

Scrambling the rest of the way up his leg, Shiv picked her way through his dark fur and onto his shoulder as he commented that maybe he could try walking on it. Giving an encouraging warble, the bird happily waddled over to his mid-back, perching there and watching on eagerly as the man begun to trek out onto the ice. She hadn't seen a wolf take on the frozen surface of a lake before, it would be interesting to see how their large talons fared compared to her own.

Squawking gleefully, the magpie raised her wings as she rocked about on his back. It seemed he was just as unbalanced as she on the slippery surface! Hearing the soft clicks and then the long scrape of sharp nails against ice, Shiv peered over from the edge of her perch. "Ice skates," she commented with an amused chirp. "Wolf has much sharp talons, yes, yes."

At first his legs splayed every which way but the right one. He soon got the hang of it though and holding his head up high he slid across the ice. He threw back his head and joyous laughter came out to swim about in the air.

He chuckled and shook his head Yes little friend ice skates an' it tis a gran' day innit. He slid across the ice, doing circles and swirls and chuckling to himself. He was enjoying his little adventure with a bird friend. So w'at's yore name ma frien'?

The pleasant stranger seemed to get the hang of skating on the ice quicker than the magpie and soon he was gliding across the surface, carefree laughter echoing around the lake. Shiv pressed her talons into his fur, wings outstretched as she fought for balance upon his back. She was enjoying herself, too, however, singing in delight as the wind ruffled her feathers.

At his question, she leaned forward, edging up his neck and towards his brown ears so she didn't have to yell over the sound of nails clicking and sliding against the ice — not to mention all the other birds who were flitting around the lake and chattering amongst themselves. "Shiv!" she replied merrily, before beginning to gently pick through the fur behind his ear, half in thanks for the ride and half because she figured she might find some bugs entangled there. "Wolf have name?"

Fleet held one ear back towards her and he laughed. Soon his own baritone joined in with her singing. Nothing really with words, just a sound to add to her own. It actually sounded quiet lovely and he had to stop a few times to laugh out loud.

Fleet dipped his muzzle Well met Shiv. I'm Fleetscut, you kin call me fleet. He did a few swirls and a skip jump across the ice. He was enjoying himself, but he should have probably gotten the bird back to her dry land. However, he continued on for a little while longer. Do you like it 'ere shiv?

Fleetscut. Wolves certainly did have odd names. She wasn't even sure if she could pronounce the man's name in her head let alone out loud so she settled on just calling him Fleet. And fleet he was! Shiv cackled and spread out her wings again as the man continued skating, jumping into the air for a moment after spinning in a few tight circles. Not that Shiv was really sure what he was doing; she was all too entertained by the blur of forest and sky that seemed to whiz past her as she balanced on the wolf's back.

Giving a chirp in response, the bird nodded even though Fleet couldn't really see her. "Very much! Shiv visits lake lots!" she said, glancing around the area. It was a wonderful place to spend summer in as the humidity of the area brought along many insects and the frogs were prone to lay their eggs in the muddy banks. "But not in winter." She had never seen it frozen over before; it was a new experience, that was for sure. Leaning close to his ear as if she were telling a secret, the magpie continued. "Shiv live in Heartwood! Fleet ever visit?" It was both a question and an offer — an invitation for her brown-furred friend to come visit her forest.

Fleet laughed out loud at his new friends enjoyment. He was actually rather enjoying himself as well. Tilting his head, he listened to his friend sing songing as they skated.

Fleet smiled I like lakes too. He grew quiet and continued on. As she spoke in his ear. Fleet preferred the lake for different reasons in the summer. He liked to fish and swim and splash around. Anything that was fun, he was all for. Fleet shook his head. No i've neva bin ta 'eartwood, but id be willin' to visit ya.

Edited in an ending!

She wondered if this was a common thing for wolves — this skating business. They had the perfect claws and strong enough legs to help them glide effortlessly over the ice, though perhaps only Fleet was skilled enough to make it look so easy. Or if he was an oddity that preferred to spend his days skating and giving rides to birds instead of bowing to an Alpha. If only all wolves were like this man; Shiv would be very pleased with that.

He accepted her invitation and the magpie gave a merry whistle. "Fleet will like Heartwood," she stated with a nod, solidly believing that he would like her forest even before visiting it.

The two continued skating for a few minutes more after that, Shiv happy to remain upon the man's back and let the wind ruffle her feathers. Eventually, though, Fleet's paws became painfully cold and he excused himself and went on his merry way, leaving Shiv to fly back to the Heartwood, her mind fluttering with the excitement of the odd but enjoyable encounter.