Lake Rodney One fish, two fish...

@Galen

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Luhtar waded deeper into the lake, determination etched onto a wide and fluffy face. His brows were set while he watched the fish darting below the surface. Every time he spotted a flash of silver, he lunged forward, jaws snapping down with a loud splash. But each time, it slipped past him, leaving him with nothing but a mouthful of icy water.

“Come on…” there was a slight, impatient whine to his voice as he muttered, shaking his thick pelt free of the droplets. He huffed. But when he spotted another fish, he crouched low, eyes flitting back and forth; he'd rather die than let this one out of his sight. Luhtar's shoulders rippled with the effort to launch himself forward, only to misjudge the depth, landing in a graceless belly-flop that sent water flying in every direction. He emerged, soaked and sputtering, blinking away the water that dripped from his soaked fur.

Again and again, he tried, each lunge and snap of his jaws just a hair too slow. The fish seemed to taunt him, splashing away at the last second, leaving him empty-pawed and empty-jawed.

Just as he was about to try again, he heard a laugh from the riverbank behind him. All he could do was freeze, embarrassment swift and harsh as it consumed him. The brute whirled around, fur bristling, looking every bit the drowned, scrappy mess he’d become. He glared down his fat nose, trying to hold onto what little dignity he had left. "Alright, skíthaus. Let's see you try."

@Luhtar

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It was a hearty laugh that possessed him, tumbling out across his tongue, shaking his shoulders. It was a deep, jolly sound, despite its purpose. The show before him was too great to tamp it down, what with the way Luhtar skipped across the water more akin to the fish than its hunter. The way he looked absolutely weighed down by the water soaking him through as well as whatever water he had accidentally swallowed in his frantic pouncing, it was just too much to bite down. Galen shook his head in quick and breathless arcs, Come now. You should see yourself.

His ears pointed forward even as his lips still pulled in a wide grin. Were I in your steps, you'd laugh just the same, and tan my hide for it, too.

There, he rose to his paws, trekking closer to the bank from where he had been reclined on a nice, warm rock - as warm as a rock could be, given the sparse sun that had blessed them. He kept a nice enough berth from his companion, not keen to feel the bite of a genuine tooth, rather than Luhtar's verbal barbs. Though, he didn't see a world in which either of them tore into each other so harshly; not given as they were to demand, and to appease.

The cold sting of icy water wasn't one he was ready to enjoy, despite the chill in the air and the breeze in their coats. Still, he braved it, shuddering at the sensation of a small fish colliding and slithering past his leg as he stepped deeper. He ducked his head low, nose to the water and legs set wide, he paused though, an eyebrow raising as he looked aside and up to Luhtar, tail already wagging low behind him. Say... how about a wager?

Luhtar shook himself off, water flying from his soaked fur, though it did little to ease the chill that settled through him. He glanced over, catching the sight of Galen’s broad grin and hearty laughter. The look was infectious, enough to pull a small, reluctant chuckle from Luhtar despite his waterlogged fur weighing down on him.

"Áfram, haltu áfram að hlæja." He snarled out.

He had to hand it to the brute--he wasn't afraid to back up his bark. As Galen boldly approached the water's edge, Luhtar watched him with narrowed eyes, curious to see just how far his friend would go.

If he chickened out, it was entirely okay. Luhtar wouldn't judge him too much. Much to his surprise, though, he watched as Galen tilted his head towards him. A wager... Luhtar rolled his eyes. Sounded like an excuse.

"Fine. If you catch something, I’ll… catch your dinner for next week." He couldn't hide the sour apprehension that curled upon his snout, but he had already laid out the terms. He couldn't take them back now. All he could do was step back and hope that Galen would drown in the lake's frigid waters.

There was a true and surprised look that flashed across Galen's face - as if he could scarcely believe his ears. In his terms, it was a steep wager, given as Galen was to eat lighter on particular days to make up for ensuring others were fed. But the idea wasn't without its allure. If he were lucky enough, he might just see Luhtar feeds him a few days extra. Worse, his tell was obvious, as Galen's tail gave a set of excited wags before taming itself, even as he eagerly agreed, Deal.

There was no pomp and boast, as he was back with his nose to the water, eyes watching the confusing and ever-changing mosaic of colors and sounds. He looked more like an oversized pup, ears pointing so far forward that they looked like an ant's antennae. He went as still as he could, patiently waiting without more than a twitch as the water rushed through his fur. He didn't have all the time in the world, as the water's bite made itself more known with each passing minute. 

He could almost hear the jeering coming, but kept himself keenly tuned out. He just needed the right... there !

His golden body dropped into the water without much grace at all, no doubt putting on a show to rival Luhtar's thrashing. Water flooding his ears in rampant splashes was almost enough to make him recoil completely from the depth in fear, but he knew this water well enough to allow himself a little bravery. His paws slipped, making him paddle as he tilted over, legs and tail splayed in a chaotic spectacle of limbs; his breath holding until he resurfaced - ears already swiveling backwards to catch the sure-to-be-wise words of his companion.

Luhtar couldn’t stop the bark of laughter (even if he wanted to) that broke from him as Galen’s golden form plunged into the water, sending loud splashes in every direction. Watching him flail, ears back and tail splayed in the most ungraceful display he’d ever seen, was a sight he was likely to remember for years to come. Galen's grandpups would be grown with their own brood and Luhtar would be reciting this tale for the hundredth time. 

It seemed he wasn’t the only one capable of putting on a show.

“Not better than me, no?” he called, his voice heavy with a dry humor. He shook his head, stifling another chuckle as Galen resurfaced, ears already angled back. The poor oaf could already hear Luhtar's gloating before it'd come out of his mouth. “You scare the fish, and we have nothing to eat!”

He moved a step closer, but kept himself just out of reach of the spray, those bright eyes still gleaming with laughter. “Keep trying,” he urged his companion, eyes flittering between the large golden behemoth and the depths of the lake sprawling out before them. “Maybe you can win wager. If water does not take you first.” Each word was filled with more pride than the last, and followed by the obnoxious puffing out of his thick chest.

Galen's breath heaved through his nose in wet pulls and snorts, his jaw flexing as he spun in the water. His teeth flashing in an obscure grin, a fish clasped in his mouth even as he gave a victorious and muffled bark. It flailed in his grips, fighting in earnest for whatever life it had been living, but in this, it was reduced to nothing but his trophy. His paws found the ground steadily again, pushing through water even as he breathlessly laughed; more thrilled than any gloating.

He reached the shore even as he shook off, sending water flying through the air, regardless of if any struck Luhtar in the process; an absentminded mistake even as he tossed the fish onto the grass, pinning it with a paw. His ears and tail perked and elated, his joy written across his face despite his earlier embarrassment... he hadn't meant to tumble into the water like another big oaf - the gravel shifted! He'd swear! He was still paying the price of more than his ego, as his golden fur still looked too many shades darker, and fell in long, messy strands. He spoke jubilantly, It looks that tonight's dinner is on me, my friend.

He gloated none, seeming more happy to have caught one of the elusive little creatures, than to have won the wager at all.
 

Luhtar stared at Galen, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, as the golden wolf emerged from the water, fish flailing in his jaws. For a moment, Luhtar was frozen in disbelief. Then his face twisted in exaggerated, playful fury.

Þú svindlaðir! Þetta er ómögulegt! he barked, stomping toward the shore, his thick voice loud with mock indignation. He appeared sullen, butthurt that he had been bested by the muscular oaf he called friend. Enginn grípur fisk svona! Þetta er... galdra! he accused, gesturing wildly at the fish, his tail lashing behind him.

Finally reaching the shore, he let out a dramatic huff, his wet fur clinging to him as he stopped a few paces from Galen. Luhtar’s words came slower, more deliberate as he worked through them. “Fine. You… win. Fish is yours.” His yellow eyes narrowed slightly, though the flicker of humor in them betrayed his begrudging amusement.

Settling down, Luhtar cast a glance at the fish pinned beneath Galen’s paw before looking up at him. “You… meet Sólhárr,” he said, his voice soft as he regarded the great golden wolf. “He is strong leader. Fair. You would…” He paused, searching for the right words, his brow furrowing before continuing, “fit here. With us.” His gaze lingered, steady but unassuming, as if the suggestion was something natural, not forced. “Think about it.”

mentions @Solharr

The grin on his face only grew wider at the shouting and stomping of Luhtar, knowing full well the anger on his face was nothing more serious than a pup's first tantrum. It only soothed at the shallow sorrow, Galen tipping his head down as though taking a bow, ears folding and tail still wagging behind him in elated little sweeps. My finest trick!

The realization they were maybe a little too old for all this was offset by their equal humor and surprise. It was always nice to spend the easier days with Luhtar - little slips of time here and there, always more filling for the soul than anything else. It got lonely, despite his semi-nomadic life, with only tiny anchors scattered across the land; though largest and heaviest of them all was Luhtar's steady presence. So maybe, it was excusable that he enjoyed these little excursions. 

Galen lifted his head again as Luhtar spoke, suddenly softer and more purposeful. The golden wolf's eyes flickered downward, landing on the fish's fight slowing, before his eyes drifted off, towards the bend of the river. He was the picture of indecision, ears unsure of where to point and the edge of his lip stressing. He sighed then, warm eyes turning back to Luhtar, if not only out of respect, his voice was a little halted, ... Ég treysti þér.

His tail had slowed its wag, but he didn't fade in spirit, an easy smile rising on his face, I will think on it.

Luhtar stood there, his broad frame tense but his expression softening as Galen’s words settled over him. The grin that had irritated him moments before now seemed less like a jest and more like the steady warmth of familiarity—something grounding. Galen had always been like that: a balance to Luhtar’s rougher edges, a calm against his bluster.

The golden wolf’s indecision didn’t escape Luhtar’s notice. He wasn’t the type to press, but he could see the hesitation, the way Galen’s gaze flickered to the river as if looking for answers in its flow. It stirred something protective in him, though he didn’t show it outwardly. Instead, he let his shoulders relax and offered a slow, steady nod at the softly spoken words.

“Good.” Luhtar said after a pause, his voice low and gruff but lacking any edge. He stepped back, his posture relaxing slightly, though his yellow eyes stayed fixed on Galen. “But not long. You brood in mind, I do not help you out.” He said with a pointed look, brows furrowing with mild concern.