Total Distraction Not an Island

The snow and ice stretched nearly barren around them. The tiny trees along the ice seemed to be more like treetops than half grown saplings! They ere far bushier than saplings for sure. The sparseness between each little tree also seemed to say that they were locked into a submerged state with little growing soil nearby.

At her son's question, she tilted her head and rubbed her warm pad over the space of the ice to melt it into a small smooth surface. The scene started to become clearer as the ice melted into a lens.

"You're right!" She exclaimed, "I think I see the trunk of our tree here." She said pointing at the pillar that grew down into the depths. "It must be green from all the frozen pine branches. How deep do you think it is? The ice seems fairly thick and stable." She mused aloud, gently hopping in place over the ice. It didn't budge. It didn't even make a sound from her effort.