Alpine Lake -- never felt so alive, never felt so dead

@Uka!

She had led the way to Alpine Lake mostly in silence and she could feel something in her bones the closer they got.  She was lucky, she thought, that there was a body of water so close to the King Elk — she had not the heart to forsake Mato and her newfound family yet this calling would always be within her.

As the lake broke into their view, night was beginning to fall and she looked back at her green-eyed companion with a smile.  There it is, although it is obvious, the lake in all its glory.  She slows to a halt next to the shore as the water laps her ankles, sand filling the spaces between her toes as she flexes them.

Oh, how she missed this.

This little body of water was nothing compared to the glory of the sea, but Beggars can't be choosers, Uka thought to himself. He watched Seabreeze step into the lake, albeit slowly at first, but he quickly followed suit with much less grace. He ran until he was submerged, then paddled and splashed with youthful laughs and gurgles spilling from his mouth. It had been so long since he'd been this close to glory, whether salty or not, and he'd learned with age that when an opportunity presented itself, only a fool would turn it down. 

Then he remembered that he wasn't alone, and slowed his display to see if he'd somehow offended CB. Forgot you were there for a second, blue eyes, you'll have to forgive me. It's been a while. But then again, she was a nautical wolf herself, so Uka figured she'd have an idea of what he was feeling.

She postures playfully at him; she had once tried to play with Mato here but he would not partake with her.  Perhaps she now had a packmate who woud succumb to the more childish pleasures of life.  I understand, she says, running out to meet him before nipping in his direction.

Because she did.  While this was nothing like the tumultuous and moody water of the sea that had thrown her into the Teekons, it was closer to home No, the King Elk is your home now and the Vale was your home before that.  Stop.  It was the most the calling in her bones had been quelled since her last visit.  Tindome was home now but her heart would always call for the water.

It occured to her that she'd like to visit more often, but those thoughts would be quickly swept away if he would play with her.

Uka couldn't help himself; for the first time in months years, he felt like he was allowed to enjoy himself in a matter that didn't involve pleasing his benefactors. It's not that he minded having to do his work, but the pleasure always felt one sided, whereas this was an all around free-for all. He laughed and batted back at Seabreeze, a faux growl dancing in his throat. Uka snaked his away around CB so that he was hidden from sight, then dove down under the water and paddled his way around to her face so as to properly surprise her.

Gotcha! he exclaimed as he popped up from the surface. There was a smile on his face, but no telling what was on hers. It felt like every step he took was one taken on eggshells and seaglass, and he wasn't quite sure he liked it. A part of him wanted to continue on with this lovely lady he'd discovered, but another part of Uka screamed for him to run in the other direction, as if she could strike out at any moment.

It was nice to be able to let loose and relax for once; while the personality she portrayed in front of the others was not a facade, she often did not feel as if bristling Delight or abrasive Trajan would take kindly to her antics, and she had already tried it once with Mato.

She jumped back in faux anguish as he popped up in front of her face, dramatically paddling like a pup in the water, legs flailing this way and that.  Seabreeze nipped back playfully at him though something seemed off so she backed out of his bubble and waited for him to instigate.  Is everything okay?