Permafrost Hollows re: new beginnings

timelines? whatever. set sometime after this and this, but being vague about what he knows. attn: @Kratos, @Zephyr

the painted nightingale wandered aimlessly into evening, unaware of the lurking dangers. without his parents to either watch or worry, the home made at whitebark stream no longer felt welcome. and whether sister @Pele followed or not, alsek's conflicted thoughts would not allow him to linger.

he stopped beside the quick waters of a local stream. he hadn't been here before, but recognized it as something similar to retired dreams. curious, alsek dipped in one paw, but quickly pulled back after realizing how cold water could become.