Snippet #2622173

Nova skirted through the trees as the adventurous afternoon turned into a tranquil evening. The light of dusk shot through the trees in the many hues of splendid gold, and even the shortest of objects jutting out of the ground sent out its own majestic shadow hurling into the east. The peaceful melody of the Arlyne's brook that coursed through the Land of Nigerius that had long faded into the distance once again began to be picked up by the ice wolf's ears as a change in plans had led to Nova straying back towards the lake. He was thirsty, and the hike home was going to be quite long before he reached the snow line.

The rolling hills that flowed with earth signaled that Nova was entering into the territory of the Dimitrios, if he were but a click or two inland he would be able to see the famous Onatah Cliffs that the earth wolfs pocketed and lived in, though he wouldn't be surprised to see a few of them closer to the lake, as any other water ways weren't until further in, where snow-melt from the Ausi lands drained into the gorges between the larger cliffs. In any case, the wooded area had slowly faded into the rocky wasteland that formed the chaparral at the base of the cliffs.

The whole of the lake was a radiant orange by the time Nova had lain his eyes on it. The surface was like an uninterrupted golden disk nestled in the grass. Upon closer examination, however, Nova came to realize that the reflection was not an uninterrupted scene like he supposed, in certain patches, the sight of the sun was strangely distorted. The patches were long and narrow, slowly drifting along with the mild undertow. As a smaller patch drifted to where Nova stood on the bank, he immediately recognized it. It was a piece of ice. But Nova had created nearly as much ice when he had been in the lake earlier that day, and if had, it would have largely melted off. Puzzled, Nova began to trot along the bank, only to discover a few minutes away several sets of paw prints going to and from the lake sunk in the mud, as well as a deep groove where something heavy and board-like had once sat. Nova reeled back a few steps out of surprise. No doubt about it, someone had crossed the lake on a bridge of ice.