ice ice baby

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
Winter was in full swing and with that came his birthday. He was never sure of the actual date, but rather celebrated as the season came into full. He lost his parents prior to even turning a year, so knowing the actual date was nearly impossible. When Jokull would choose to celebrate his birthday, he would spend the day doing much the same as he had done in the two prior events. He would sleep in, hunt himself a meal, and travel to the frozen lake to enjoy his birthday dinner. Tonight, he would enjoy some fire-roasted hare. Since the lake was otherwise void of life, he would be forced to pack the necessary tools to travel from his home in the field and prepare once he got there or he would be 'enjoying' cold fish. He at least wanted a hot meal on his birthday.

He always waited until nightfall to arrive at the lake, fascinated by the bio-luminescent creatures beneath the ice. Dropping his makeshift pack onto the ground around the lake, he began unloading what he needed to start a fire and quickly tossed some fresh snow over the wrapped fish to keep it cold. He seldom came across others this far north and seldom left the comfort of his frozen home. He rarely met others and often kept his distance anyway, lowkey fearing the day any group travels this far north to settle. This had been his home for three years now, something he wasn't exactly ready to give up.

Within a few minutes of starting, Jokull got the fire started and quickly began preparing the fish to cook. Once he got it over the fire and all he had to do was wait, he turned and faced the lake. With clear skies, the stars were incredible and combined with the plankton moving and pulsing beneath the ice, it was beautiful. He rarely got the time to enjoy anything for himself, living alone in the frozen north wasn't exactly easy. As the fish cooked over the fire, his stomach rumbled pleadingly as the scent filled the air. It needed some more time to cook, but he was almost too hungry to wait.