Wapun Meadow It's a trivial day with nothing special

A selection was made, the piece of earth grasped gently betwixt jaws. She wondered if her decision was the correct one, finding the ease of carrying the rock to be worrisome—if she could so easily pluck it from the ground and move with it in her mouth, would it truly be enough to break the ice? Knowing well enough that worrying would only waste time, she opted to instead test out her choice and freed the rock from her grip once it was stationed over the creek. Down it fell, quicker than she expected, building momentum—

Crack.

Kaori grew still for a second or two, gazing at the newly made hole in the ice and smiling to herself. A good choice, she thought, a good decision. Leaning down, she lapped at the water, as equally surprised by the sheer chill of it as she was grateful for having found a source so easily. Whilst her teeth ached and she could feel herself being frozen from the inside out, a shiver crept down her spine—from the cold, she presumed, or perhaps the eyes of the stranger.

Heavy footfalls were not easy to miss, cushioned only ever so slightly by the snow underfoot—yet even the snow betrayed him, each step accompanied by a soft crunch as the surface was disturbed. The girl ceased her drinking and lifted her head back up, turning partially to gaze at the fellow; she was curious now, the nerves that plagued her as a child replaced by the desire to learn. “Ah, hello,” she called, voice just as gentle as in her youth. “Are you thirsty as well?” She moved aside and welcomed him closer, motioning with her muzzle to the opening in the ice.