Ok we all know that Ursa was not the rule breaker of the group. Really, she would rather stay home, tend to the garden with mama, and eat some food. Honestly, the farthest she ever went was the cove or the col but that was on rare occasion when she needed seashells or an item not found in the woods. So why the chubby puppy thought it was a good idea to head east that day (actually it was nighttime by the time she set out) was beyond even herself.

In truth, for some ungodly and unknown reason, she couldn’t sleep. Something about how she was piled in against her siblings made her extremely uncomfortable. It was like every bone in her body ached. No matter what she did, she couldn’t keep her eyes closed and drift off. Instead, she rolled over, her paws and belly slapping the ground before she continued until she was nearly on top of Warden. The whiter of her siblings and perhaps the bravest, Ursa knew she could convince him to go.

Go where? She didn’t know. As long as she was up and moving to get rid of this itch that itched her whole being, she didn’t care. So there she was nudging her brother awake until he stirred. She whispered softly into his ear her plan to leave the den and go wandering at night, in the dark, with all the scary things that could jump out at them. The pup was not surprised when her brother leaped at the chance to go and helped her scuttle out of the door without anyone else waking up.

As they made their way out of the safe boundaries of the woods, Ursa felt almost… giddy. She was breaking a rule. An important rule and it was kind of fun! So much fun that they continued to walk northeast or so until the sound of lapping water reached her ears. Both of them perked up as her eyes widened. There, not far off, the shore dazzled in the moonlight. Sparkling ice and ebony rocks rose to the sky. Snow fluttered to the ground around them as an early winter greeted the northern edges of Boreas. A quiet gasp leaves her as she nudges Warden to follow.

“Look at this!” Ursa exclaims as she runs down the shoreline before skidding to a halt at the ice bridge that led to an ominous outcropping. “You think the ice is thick enough for us to cross?” She asks as she taps her paws against the cold rocks and turns to see Wardens reaction.

Warden was perhaps the easiest one to convince that pushing a boundary, bending a rule, was a good choice. Sleep was overrated, and with the amount of shuffling that Ursa was doing tonight, it was a wonder she hadn't woken the rest up. Quietly, he slipped from the comfort of their den, the safety of their hollowed out tree. Out and into the crisp, cool evening. Warden lifted his muzzle to the breeze, taking a deep breath in. Feeling the relief of it wash over his entire body... they were free. Well, for now, they were free. Sharing a confidential look with his sister, the pair slipped out into the night. Wonderful.

Not only were they out at night, they were going out-out. Exploring, and there was no one to tell them not to. Sure, rules were important, but they're also meant to be broken. It was starting to snow. Warden casts his wide, shining gaze to the sky. The flakes fall around his shoulders, melt near instantly as they land on his nose. They were headed towards water. He can hear it as they get closer, and he picks up a light jog out of pure excitement. Both pups were giddy, doing something they really shouldn't have been doing. Getting into shenanigans.

It was so incredibly pretty out here. Warden finds that there are far too many places to look, far too many things to see. His chest seemed to swell with it. Yeah, this is way too exciting. The ice bridge that spread before them, and the outcropping... woah. It's all very woah. Warden's tail twitches with the excitement of it all, and he's happy to move ever-closer to the unknown. Bright gaze shining as he looks from Ursa to the weird land mass before them. "There's only one way to find out," he grinned.

Boldly, Warden took a full step out onto the cold, rocky bridge. It seemed to settle and creak beneath his paws, shifting slightly at his weight but seeming sturdy enough. He turned to look to Ursa, eyebrows lifting. "Whatcha think?" Checking in, making sure that everything looked alright from her angle too.

"Speech"

Everything around them is also very whoa to Ursa. The birds that rustle in the sparse pines. The clouds that linger low in the sky. The waves that ripple and wash against the shore. Their surroundings are new, dangerous, exciting. Whoa. Her lips are parted slightly as her eyes drink in the outcropping ahead. A dark shadow against the horizon, looming tall and reaching to the sky. Every jagged corner calling out to her. It makes her heart race, her mouth go dry. This... thing... this outcropping was like the towering creature in her nightmares. Why a young pup had nightmares was hard to imagine, but something always seemed to lurk in the corners of her dreams. Sending her hair raising along her spine, pressing her ears back toward her head, and her tail tucked up under her belly.

Ursa almost lost the excitement. Almost wanted to turn and run back home. But the wild look in Warden's eyes, the raise of his brows, the grin spreading across his lips, it was if he was telling her be brave, Ursa, you can do this. She wasn't a rule breaker. She didn't like upsetting her parents. But they were free. They had a chance to explore, even if they were going to get into trouble. Hanging on the precipice of good and bad, her inner-monologue arguing with her good and bad sides, she couldn't help but gasp when the creak of ice broke her focus.

Looking down at the ice bridge, she felt a shiver run through her. Though the ice was noisy, there were no visible cracks. As of right now, they are too small to cause any severe changes. "I think we can make it," her tiny voice is hesitant as she looks back up at her bigger brother. "I'll follow," Ursa said, trying to smile but it wavered as she took a few shaky steps forward.