Apollinaris Galanis Molon Labe The pair had come to an agreement to stick together for some time as they explored the north, and Apollinaris planned to push them as much as he could. They needed information, so what better way than to explore literally everywhere. When they came across the beginning of the icy bridge that stretched toward the horizon, the Spartan man huffed as he stared. His tail flickered behind him as he chewed over the pros and cons of pushing even further north. The cold wind was already pulling at his fur, piercing through to his skin enough for him to seriously consider moving on with their exploration. Another huff, and he looked back to his companion. He wouldn't lead her where she didn't wish to go, but he knew she also wanted to be as useful to their clan as she could be. "Ready to get cold?" He waited for her confirmation before he moved forward, stepping on the solid ice. The harsh wind here was also whipping up the water on either side of the ice, which would not be a fun addition to their coats. But, the unknown was not something he wanted to leave untouched, so Apollinaris pushed forward. He kept his ears and eyes forward, his steps slow but sure. He was not that used to walking on snow nor ice, but he tried his best to adapt. His claws gripped the ice with each step, and his stride was shorter than usual. He glanced behind to see how Halcyone was fairing, expecting the woman to be just fine.

Halcyone Pagonis With everything we have The push north had greeted them with increasingly harsh weather, but even Halcyone was surprised by the sight of the ice bridge. The wind seemed to be a creature of its own, lashing at the water and ice with a vengeance that rivaled even the most aggressive storms she’d ever seen. It was a sight that may have sent some running in the other direction, but the Spartan woman was not easily deterred, and as Apollinaris asked if she was ready, she returned the question with a grin. "Do you even have to ask?" She followed after him, keeping enough distance that if one of them were to slip they wouldn’t both go tumbling into one another. If he lost his footing, she wasn’t about to get dragged into the ocean with him. She watched him as he looked back to her and flashed him a bright smile. "Don’t worry, you aren’t getting rid of me that easily." The wind made it hard to hear, and she had to yell to ensure her voice would carry. She dug her claws deeper into the ice, keeping her stance low to the ground as she moved along carefully, hoping that she hadn’t spoken too soon. "Speech"

Apollinaris Galanis Molon Labe Apollinaris laughed as best he could at the woman's retort, the wind seeming to steal away his breath every time he opened his maw. It honestly did not take long for that wind to pick up; away from the relative shelter of the mountains, it was free to whip around them as it pleased. It grabbed at their fur and wrapped around their legs. Apollinaris kept his tail tucked under him and finally allowed his ears to slick back, laying as flat on his head as possible. Not only was it cold, but the sound of the wind was enough to hurt his ears. As they pushed forward, his steps became smaller and smaller, the spray of the water starting to make the pathway more and more slick. The build up of ice was also becoming uneven, forcing them to move away from the middle of the pathway. One particularly good gust of wind could push them both over and right into the freezing waters. When a back paw finally slipped from underneath him, the man stopped fully. He was hunched forward with his eyes scrunched, wondering if this was truly worth the treacherous trek. He waited for Halcyone to come up beside him so that he could be heard, waves crashing all around them and sprinkling them with freezing water and ice. Pale eyes focused on her purple gaze, wanting to convey his seriousness in his words. "Let us turn back! If we cannot make it, neither can the natives!" He yelled to be heard, even though he was right beside her. The wind whipped around and stole his words the moment they came from his maw, but he hoped with their proximity she could hear most of what he suggested. It was no lie; if the Spartans could not traverse this ice bridge, then there would be nothing waiting for them at the other end.

Halcyone Pagonis With everything we have As they progressed, the terrain got more and more treacherous. The wind picked up, lashing them with an icy mist that cut through her fur and felt like needles on her skin. She had to crouch low to keep from toppling off the side into the ocean, but she wouldn’t be the first to suggest they turn around. Regardless of how difficult things might get, she was going to stay the course until her companion suggested they turn back. It wasn’t long after her concerns began to grow too loud for her to ignore before he stopped. She moved to stand near him, huddling close in the hopes that he might shield her from the worst of the wind for just a moment. His words were shouted, but even so she could only just barely hear them. "If you insist!" She called back, unable to shake her tendency to try and out-do him. Even if they were on the same page, she would pretend she’d have been willing to continue and that she was only going back for him. It was likely he’d be able to see through her playful act. If she were really trying to goad him into continuing she’d have had much more cutting remarks. She nodded, gesturing for him to take the lead once more. "Speech"