Duskfire Glacier screensaver fractals

Not long after she started to feel fatigued from the climb, a soft howl carried through the cooler air. Lips curving into a smile, Meerkat followed the summons, spotting Issorartuyok's familiar swarthy figure a few moments later. She drew toward him, huffing quietly as she dropped to her haunches to catch her breath. Her muscles ticked like a cooling engine from the exertion.

For a moment or two, she didn't speak. She did smile, then let her eyes drift over the Lambda. He looked quite hale. His coat appeared plush and shiny, his eyes bright. He looked like he was in his element, especially up here on the ice. Her tail tapped at the implications: he was thriving here on the glacier, just like her. Meerkat was glad.

When she no longer felt out of breath, she said, "Hey, I was hoping to catch up with you and see how you're doing." She meant to say something clever about how just looking at him told her everything she needed to know, but what came out of her mouth instead was, "You look good."

Well, that was true, though Meerkat felt a flash of warmth spreading through her body. She hadn't meant it like that... or had she? She drew in a breath, deciding to stand by what she'd said and quash the slight awkwardness she felt. Issorartuyok did look good and he probably knew it too.