Whitebark Stream beware signs are ignored

Daylily was brought out of her immediate and overwhelming concern for the girl’s safety when she heard her speak. It was a strange way of talking, dragging out each word so slowly. Day was now more worried about the girl’s mental health than about her physical health. Was she, perhaps, a bit slow? Oh dear… This was all right, of course. Day wasn’t one to judge anyone—she could be a bit slow, herself, sometimes. She tried to think of how to get the girl away from the edge of the stream without somehow offending her again. How would she speak to a pup in this situation? She needed to distract the girl with something more interesting than the stream; she tried to think fast.

“Of course you’re light as a cloud, dear,” said Daylily soothingly. “A feather, even. But, you see, there are fish sleeping under the ice in the stream. They’re hibernating for the winter, and if you walk around all over the ice, you’ll wake them up.” She stepped closer to the girl, in case she decided to try and step on the ice regardless of Day’s warning. She intended to rush forward and grab the girl by the scruff of the neck if need be. “Why don’t you come away from the edge, dear? Perhaps you’d like to play in the snow with me?”