Alpine Lake Deep Freeze

Tzila turned north east, moving through the Hinterlands at an unhurried clip. The whole time, she had met few wolves. Those that she had, such as the brute @Tusk, were loners. And it was just as well. She was in no hurry to be taken in by some pack or be recruited. Winter or not, the dark female cherished her freedom. No rules, no restrictions and no sharing.

But she was faced with a dilemma. Finding food. A resourceful wolf such as herself, would know where to look, even now. Before her sprawled a great body of water. The lake was long since frozen over in a shiny layer of ice. On almost all sides, it was cradled in the arms of mountains. Standing at it's bank, to her far right, she could hear the roar of waterfalls, still very much alive even at this time of year.

She knew that there were likely to be fish below the frozen waters, or even oysters. She had to find out. But first, she lowered her dark muzzle to the ice, sniffing carefully. Her pink tongue followed to lick along the chilled floor. A jolt went through her mouth, into her teeth. Unphased, the lone female gingerly placed one paw onto the ice. She did not bear down with her full weight. Not yet. She waited with baited breath, cautiously, watching for any signs of cracks.