Originally Stjarna had intended to go alone. The Aracari wolf had gotten several items together and a travois stocked but as they were about to go across the pack border one of Sirius' daughters had arrived and insisted she go with. Star had assumed the girl had her father's permission and as she was nearly a yearling he wasn't too concerned. Not a moment later and another of Sirius' daughters had joined the nonbinary wolf. Stjarna figured the more the merrier. At least it wouldn't be quite so boring on the way to the north to investigate the origin of the new giant wolves and other creatures that had now taken up residence in Boreas. Star had done some prior investigation, learning from a loner that an ice bridge had appeared in the far north. Intent to see if this was true, Star headed to the far north.

It was a long journey and the weather grew colder and colder with each step until at last they arrived at the fabled ice bridge. "Well, looks like that loner was right after all. The ice bridge is real… I'm betting those strange creatures came in through here. To think there was a land to the north this whole time…"

Gossamer was thrilled to go on a trip to the far north in search of the origin of the strange creatures that had appeared in Boreas. This would be the farthest she'd ever been away from home. Her excitement lasted about half way through the trip but as soon as the weather got snowy and windy she was ready to head back. She didn't say anything though. She didn't want to appear weak in front of Briar. Eventually the suffering gave way to awe. They arrived at the ice bridge and it was gorgeous. It sparkled and twinkled in the morning sun though she noticed there was a strong breeze sweeping across the land.

"Wow…" Gossamer padded over to where the ice bridge connected with the land. She reached out a paw and tapped at it curiously.

In her continued efforts to spend more time with her sister, she had more or less invited herself along on the trip to the north with Stjarna, even though the idea of going toward the cold instead of away from the cold didn't seem like a very pleasant idea. In the end though, it did sound pretty exciting and she'd get some quality time with Gossamer so that seemed worth it. At least, it did until they started getting further and further into the harsher, colder weather. Marigold had immediately refused to join them on the trip and now Briar could kind of understand why. No matter how much she disliked the cold, she still didn't complain because Gossy wasn't complaining so she didn't want to be the whiny one of the bunch. Once they crested a hill and found themselves at this ice bridge that they had been searching for though, it did make the trip feel more justified at least. It really was gorgeous, especially since they happened to get here while the weather was moderately clear and there was plenty of sun to make the ice and snow glitter and shine. She grinned and followed her sister over to where the ice bridge began, eyeing it curiously. If Stjarna was right and this was where the strange creatures like the massive dire wolves and the wooly elephants had come from, then it had to be pretty strong, right? They were way, way bigger than they were so surely the ice could hold wolves as small as them. She took a step out onto the ice experimentally, hopping in place a little bit to test its strength. "Briar" | "Marigold"

Stjarna didn't want to go to far and risk endangering the girls but it was a shame to just stand on the shore and stare ahead. Now that they were here Star wanted to test the ice. Just a little bit. The black and white wolf strode forward, reaching out a paw to test the ice. Slowly leaning forward Star put more and more weight onto the ice until certain it would hold their full weight. Taking a few tentative steps Stjarna walked a few feet out onto the ice. Out of the shelter of the trees Stjarna took the full brunt of the wind and immediately pinned their ears to help keep them warm. "I'm just going to go a little ways. You girls can stay on the shore if you want or join me but please be cautious." Star wasn't entirely sure Sirius would approve of this journey and especially not either of the princesses getting hurt.

Gossamer couldn't quite decide if she wanted to go out onto the ice or not. She tested it again as her sister came up next to her and started doing the same. Stjarna walked out onto the ice and told them they could stay on the shore if they wanted. Gossamer scoffed. No way she was going to stay on the sidelines. "Not a chance, I'm coming to." With that decided she strode out after Star, sliding a little at first until she got more used to her footing. She hadn't gone far when her pace slowed. Describing this place as 'cold' didn't do it justice. It was easily the coldest she'd ever felt and as they walked along it seemed to get colder and windier. Gossamer had to admit she didn't like this. What miserable weather. It if was even worse in the lands the creatures came from she could hardly blame them for coming south.

She watched as Stjarna began to walk carefully out onto the ice bridge, seeing how the wind immediately began to buffet their fur. For a moment she thought that the option to stay on the store might give them an out from having to endure even more cold, but her sister's determination said otherwise. She gave gossamer a glance when she insisted that she would be coming too, which off course meant Briar would have to go too. No way she was going to let her sister one up her! "Yeah!" she agreed, though secretly she was not looking forward to this wind or cold. She followed closely behind Gossamer, her ears folded against her head and head held low to power through this frigid weather. It made her wonder how anything could live this far north if even just the bridge to get there was this awful to be on. "Maybe we should turn back?" she questioned after a little while. She was all for facing a challenge, especially if it meant she could put herself on an even playing field as Gossamer, but this was just not fun at all. "Briar" | "Marigold"

Stjarna chuckled as the girls insisted that they were going to come along. "Ok, just be careful. If anything happens to you Sirius is going to skin me alive." Granted, Star's pelt would make a gorgeous cloak but they preferred to keep their fur with its current owner. As Star moved farther and farther along it seemed to get colder and windier. Nails bit into the ice for added stability. On either side of the wolves the ocean seemed to be getting rougher. Stjarna slowed and hesitated. A land could dimly be seen but it was miles away and crossing an ice bridge over open ocean seemed especially dangerous. Stjarna looked back at Briar and nodded. "Yea, I agree. This is too risky and I don't think we'll learn anything more than we have to justify the risk. You two head back first and I'll be right behind you." It would be easier than the older wolf trying to jostle past the youths.

Gossamer bent her head into the wind, looking mostly at her paws as she walked. Every so often she would glance up just to make sure she wasn't about to walk off the ice bridge. She focused on Stjarna's tail, making sure she was close enough to follow behind. The weather only got more and more miserable as they went and Gossamer found herself wishing they could turn back. Thankfully, her sister spoke up and she was quick to agree. "Yea, let's go back. This place sucks." It was cold, windy, and not nearly as interesting as she'd thought it would be. She could barely feel her toes!

Briar was more than a little relieved when her little exploration party agreed with her suggestion to get out of this bitterly cold place. It wasn't nearly as fun or exciting as she had hoped and as curious as she was about whatever was on the other side she just wasn't invested enough to risk going any further. She nodded in agreement when Stjarna told them to head back first and she oh so carefully turned around in place on the thin bridge to start working her way back. Well, if nothing else, she could certainly say she had been here. Was that a good thing to be able to say? She wasn't quite sure yet, but she had done it and that had to be worth something, right? Getting back to the shore was a huge relief and she gave her fur a hard shake, flexing her paws over the more solid ground. "No more ice bridges!" she declared with a laugh, her tail wagging softly as she regrouped with Gossamer and Star and started making their way back. "Briar" | "Marigold"