The large reindeer walks along the edge of the lake, foot kicking at the snow.  There was a sheen of ice on top of all the snow, a very thin easy to break layer but it was there.  Even in the coldest regions, late spring to summer could have an effect.  The warmest parts of the day caused the top level of snow to melt and then in the evenings the moisture refroze.  “It’s beautiful over here,” Kyren mentioned to his friend, glancing back to Oscar.

Kyren gave a smug grin at Oscar, “I dare ya to get out in the lake, see how far you can make it?” Oscar was in such an annoyed mood with snow and ice which positively amused the reindeer.  “Give it a try.  If you can make it out twenty steps and come back we can go somewhere else, how’s that sound?” Kyren didn’t want to leave just yet but it would be worth watching the attempt.  Kyren also wasn’t even sure if Oscar would take up the challenge.


"Speech"

The large deer loves snow. Like, love, loves it. That is probably because he was made for snow. The shorter, grumpier, and much fuzzier donkey keeps pace with the happy reindeer. See, Oscar hates snow. And ice. Especially, ice. So, the little donkey follows the big deer around the outskirts of the lake, huffing his annoyance every now again. When Kyren mentions how beautiful it is here, the grumpy ass replies, “Yah, sure if you like freezing to death.” Then the kid is smiling at him daring Oscar to go out on the lake. The donkey stares in exasperation, looking from the reindeer to the lake and back again. The fuzzy donkey says, “Y’re joking. Right? ‘M not a deer like you. I’ll fall flat on me face after one step.”

The amused reindeer eggs Oscar on, goading the stubborn ass into a challenge Kyren knows the donkey won’t back down from. With a grand puff of irritation, Oscar heads toward the edge of the lake. Casting a glance back toward the snow deer, Oscar says, “When I break me neck, you have ta explain to Mrs. B why I died.” With that, the fuzzy ass steps very carefully out onto the ice. Front legs slide outward but Oscar manages not to fall. He takes a step forward, then another, and… on the third step, the donkey’s legs slip every which way and he stumbles while trying to regain his footing. Staggering, skating, and tripping, Oscar gets further and further out toward the middle of the icy lake.

And then he falls. With a bray of fear, Oscar feels his face heading down toward the icy covering of the lake. Luckily, the donkey doesn’t damage himself, ending up with neck, head, and front legs flat against the ice with his butt sticking high up in the air. Slowly his back legs slide out, lowering his butt onto the lake. Loudly, Oscar yells, “I fuckin’ hate ice!”


"Oscar"

Kyren really wasn’t one to go teasing random animals to go skating on ice but Oscar was special.  The guy could get so grumpy and it was kind of fun poking him at those moments.  They were an odd group of friends but it worked.  In a world where so many are against them, Oscar is one who he can count on.  The little donkey might only be half his size but Kyren had all confidence the small fellow had his back.

Watching Oscar the Reindeer had to grin at the sight. He shook his head silently with a snort.  Despite having fun Kyren was still fully attentive to what was going on around them.  Predators weren’t very likely to come here to hunt but it was foolish to not pay attention.

“Hey, Oscar.  Did you notice when you step on the ice it's lighting up under you?” Kyren called out just in time to grimace at Oscar’s big wipeout.  Well, he is pretty well padded.  “Not enough steps yet for us to leave.  Do you give up?”  Heck, Kyren had no desire to put his hooves on that ice.  He might go sliding around on the ice as poorly as little Oscar.


"Speech"

Right before the fuzzy ass has the most spectacular wipeout, Kyren calls about the ice lighting up under him. Head tilts to look down and… laying in the middle of the icy lake, Oscar tries to get his hooves back under. Nope. Double nope. Third times the charm? Nope. The deer calls at him to give up and he brays out a loud laugh, shouting, “Did I say I gave up?! You aren’t winn’ng that eas’ly!” The grumpy donkey is smiling as he shoves his butt into the air and manages to shove himself forward slightly. Oh? An idea forms as Oscar gets his front legs under him and slightly pushes up on his back hooves. In an awkward, squatting, slipping manner, Oscar moves further across the lake.

When he is three quarters of the way across, Oscar sits down heavily and rotates to face Kyren. Calling out in a happy, defiant voice, the donkey says, “’Ey kid! I thought ya was built fer this shite. How am I beating ya at this?” With that, Oscar brays a loud, long, laugh. He wonders if the kid will follow him, taking the bait and raising to the ass’s challenge.


"Oscar"

Kyren watched with amusement as donkey hooves worked to navigate the ice.  It was some interesting mechanics Oscar was coming up with. “Doin good,” He calls out to Oscar as he moves along.  

After the donkey chose not to get up he made more progress.  Oscar got more than the required number of steps, probably, it was kind of strange ‘steps’ he was taking at points.  Still, he kept on going to clear a good portion of the lake.  What? He wanted Kyren to get out on the ice?  Did he really want that?

“Oh,” Kyren called out smirking, “You won’t like this.” Kyren stepped out on the ice, testing the weight before he continued walking to where Oscar had slipped.  “Welp,” Kyren stated looking down at Oscar, “I mean I thought I’d be nice for you once and not show, let you have a personal accomplishment.” The reindeer grinned at Oscar, “but yup, bested you again Fuzzy, still, you won on enough steps.  We can head elsewhere.  Well, once you get back to firm footing.  You can lean on me if you want to go faster?”

Stating this Gavin the raven flew over, sitting on Kyren’s back, “Can’t keep up, keep up?”

"Kyren" & "Gavin" (Raven)

The unstable donkey makes his way across the ice and despite Kyren’s… cheering, the grumpy ass manages to makes it a good distance. When Oscar sits and turns to face the reindeer, braying out a laugh and challenging Kyren to follow, the donkey forgets one crucial detail… Then Kyren steps out onto the ice testing the stability of it before prancing over to the donkey. Freaking reindeer. Huffing in annoyance at the kid, Oscar rotates toward the opposite shore, determined to make it all the way across. Rolling his eyes at the nickname, the grumpy ass says, “This is the only time you have bested me… kid.” He puts emphases on the word kid, almost as if it is an insult. Flicking his longs ears back in agitation, the ass brushes off the reindeer’s attempt at help.

Then the fucking raven joins in. Shooting Gavin an, ‘eat shit and die’ look, Oscar says, “So nice of you join the party.” Sarcasm drips from every word and the donkey is already scooting away from the pair in frustration. His butt mostly sits on the ice now and in a series of, scooting and pulling motions his body toward the snow-covered bank. It takes time and when Oscar finally makes it to solid ground he is feeling mighty cold. Flopping into the powdery snow, the grumpy ass huffs and puffs, creating huge clouds of steam.

A flash of color crests a snow bank and Nugget makes his way over to the downed donkey. Clucking in disappoint, the rooster says, “You forgot again… didn’t you?” A yell builds in his chest, feeling like a supernova that must be let out. When he opens his mouth, a loud bray of, “YES!” breaks the peaceful silence of the ice-covered lake and despite the cold weather, a very steamed ass lays grumbling in the snow.


"Oscar" | "Nugget"

Alright, alright.  Maybe Kyren was pushing his luck a tad too far.  Kyren slowly follows up behind Oscar, being sure to keep behind either for respect, maybe feeling a bit sheepish, maybe in case the poor guy falls any more but, mostly it was just so Oscar didn’t see the amused smile on his face.  Someone calls you kid at the time of course you have to act that way to them occasionally.  “Ah, Oscar,” Kyren muses, “life would be boring without you my friend.”  Would that help at least?

They make it back to the snow and Kyren gets a fair idea of just how cold the donkey had got from being on the ice.  Furrowing his brow Kyren moves next to Oscar before lying down beside him, pressing his own coat up against Mr.Shaggy.  Sure, Oscar had plenty of downy furs but the two of them combined would warm him up that much faster.  “I’m tired,” it was kind of an obvious lie but one that Oscar might be willing to go along with versus having to acknowledge getting help from the one who put him in the situation.

“So, you did win the wager though Oscar.  When you are ready we can go wherever ya like.” That should help put things to rights until the next time he saw reason to poke fun at the donkey.

Gavin up high in the tree scratched his bill thoughtfully on a branch but then had to offer his own two cents, “Ice cold ass, cold ass.”