As Aurelia roamed the wintry taiga of northeastern Boreas, her keen eyes caught the glint of sunlight reflecting off a newly forming sheet of ice in a part of the inlet that was further inland and more secluded from the ocean. The crisp midday air filled her lungs as she ventured closer, her pawsteps light on the frost-kissed ground. The valley around her was a breathtaking sight, with sheer rock faces rising high into the sky, framing the landscape like a magnificent piece of artwork.

The ice beckoned to her, its smooth surface promising a release of sorts. Aurelia felt a sense of nostalgia as she thought about the times her mother would take her and her sisters to play on the frozen ponds. She was no stranger to thin ice, her movements confident and graceful as she approached the frozen expanse.

With a playful glint in her eye, Aurelia stepped onto the thin sheet, testing its strength with a careful paw. Satisfied with its stability, she began to glide across the surface, her movements fluid and effortless as she evenly distributed her weight. She reveled in the freedom of the open ice, the cool wind brushing against her fur as she danced across the frozen landscape- twirling with abandon.

This was her element, a moment of pure joy amidst the harsh beauty of the northern wilderness. And for now, she let herself be lost in the simple pleasure of skating across thin ice, embracing a careless moment.

"Aurelia Veratti"

As Delaeni traversed the wintry taiga, her movements were cautious and deliberate, each step taken with a hint of trepidation. The landscape around her was a study in contrasts, with towering rock faces casting long shadows over the frozen valley floor below. She stuck to the cover of the trees, her keen eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. But It was then that she caught sight of a figure in the distance, moving with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly against the stark backdrop of the frozen valley. Delaeni's gaze locked onto the sight, her heart skipping a beat as she watched the elegant form glide effortlessly across a newly formed sheet of ice.

Mesmerized by the azure marked fae's movements, Delaeni found herself drawn closer, her curiosity outweighing her apprehension. She watched in awe as Aurelia twirled and danced across the thin ice, her movements fluid and mesmerizing. But even as she admired the other wolf's grace, a pang of fear gnawed at Delaeni's heart. What would happen if this girl fell through?

"Delaeni Terblanche"

Prowling through the forest, Azoula was on the hunt for prey- having tracked down a herd of caribou passing through The Polar Sound, making their way north and towards the Sparse Pine forest. But of course, her task would be interrupted- Laney scent mixing with the caribou, indicating she was outside of the Sidi dens and roaming around. Azoula, being the possessive tigress she was, couldn’t help herself- she abandoned her hunt to seek out Laney, to spy on the girl to satiate the worry starting to grow inside of her mind. Didn’t she tell her to lay low?

Emerging from the tree line, she’d followed Laney to a small clearing. She was standing at the edge of a sheet of ice, and within it, was a girl twirling around on it with ease. Oh. Sephiran’s Sidi- Azoula recognized her immediately. A wave of unease washed over the tigress. Laney needed to stay away from her. Prowling forward, Azoula resonates a deep, feline rumble- jaws agape, shoulders rolling forward with each powerful step, signifying her predatory prowess. Her initial thought was to usher Laney away- but when she saw how intrigued she was by Aurelia’s skating around, she hesitated. How was she doing that? She’d allow Laney to watch, for now- perhaps they could learn something from this, especially if they were going to live in the wintery taiga of the north.  

"Speech"

Lurking in the shadows like the leering pervert he was, Rhazien was thoroughly enjoying the show Aurelia was putting on- how that lithe, youthful body glided across the ice with ease, twirling around and contorting in an almost intimate way. Oh, how her sweat balled up on her fur, shimmering in the sunlight- mmm, it looked like ice crystals were adorning that pretty azure pelt, and he wondered, if they would taste sweet upon his gluttonous tongue. And as he continued leering on, he’d fantasize scenarios in his mind- him approaching her on the ice, grabbing her in his arms, pulling her into his chest, mmm, her breastbone pressed against him. He’d spin her around, matching her grace, twirling her until her mind was muddled, and setting her down gently on the ice. Oh, and the finale! Crawling over her, bringing his lips to her ear, burying his nose in her fur. Tracing bites down her neck, and-

What the hell? His perversities were interrupted, the silhouette of Delaeni and Azoula stepping into the frame of fantasy, tainting it with their presence. Tsk. No sense in lurking anymore- he’d decide to emerge from the shadows, sauntering over to the edge of the ice to converse with Aurelia. Now he had an audiencee to entertain. “You make it look so… easy.” He’d call out, getting her attention. “Mind telling us how?” Truly, it would be useful information- his mind went back to his battle with the leopard seal on the ice, and how difficult it had been to traverse across it while fighting. And, if their kingdom was going to stay in the North, might as well adjust to their new battlefield.  

"Rhazien Saxe"

Aurelia's graceful movements faltered for a moment as she became aware of the presence of others watching her from the edge of the ice. With a fluid motion, she skated back to the inlet bank, her cyan eyes flickering with a mix of surprise and curiosity. As she approached the shore, her demeanor shifted, and she adopted a more composed posture, ready to address her newfound audience.

Gathering her thoughts, Aurelia turned to face the group, her gaze sweeping over each individual in turn. She noted Delaeni's cautious demeanor, Azoula's protective stance, and Rhazien's lecherous grin with a sense of mild amusement. Her gaze met his for a moment, as he was the one who asked the question. But she couldn’t help the flash of memory to their moment in the catacombs before the Norad take over. She felt heat rising to her face, but she was quick to cast the feelings aside. Clearing her throat softly, Aurelia began her impromptu lesson on traversing thin ice, her voice steady and confident despite the unexpected attention. "Navigating thin ice requires a delicate balance of weight distribution and awareness of your surroundings," she explained, her tone measured and authoritative. "First, you want to distribute your weight evenly across the surface to minimize the risk of breaking through. Keep your movements fluid and controlled, avoiding sudden shifts in direction or excessive force."

As she spoke, Aurelia demonstrated each step of the process, her movements precise and deliberate. She showed them how to test the ice for strength, how to adjust their posture for stability, and how to move with grace and agility across the frozen expanse.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Delaeni's vibrant teal eyes remained unblinking, completely fixated on Aurelia as she listened intently to her explanation. The other wolf's words carried a sense of unwavering confidence that was both reassuring and captivating. With each fluid demonstration, Delaeni found herself inching closer to the edge of the glistening ice, drawn by an insatiable desire to learn from Aurelia's unparalleled expertise.

As Aurelia continued to speak, Delaeni absorbed every detail, committing her instructions to memory. She watched closely as Aurelia tested the ice, her movements fluid and controlled. The fear that had gripped Delaeni's heart earlier began to ebb away, replaced by a growing sense of curiosity and determination.

"Delaeni Terblanche"

Somehow, Rhazien seemed to be nowhere, but everywhere. Having emerged from the shadows in silence, stepping up to the edge of the ice, showing obvious interest. Only, he didn’t seem intrigued by the skating itself- she’d seen this look in his eyes before- that lecherous, foreboding stare of longing and intent. And the way Aurelia received him, it was equally alarming- she blushed at him. Oh, what a wonderfully wicked dynamic. Something was festering between the two wolves, and Azoula was thrilled to have caught onto it. That meant she had leverage over Rhazien now, which would help Azoula sort through her possession of Delaeni.

She’d not dwell on it any longer though- her attention shifting to Aurelia, who seemed interested in teaching them all a lesson. Delicate balance, weight distribution, and awareness of her surroundings. All things Azoula did, while hunting prey.  Aurelia would demonstrate the skills next- Azoula watching with interest, before taking a daring step onto the ice. It was sleek and slippery beneath her massive paws, and she’d tighten her abdominal muscles to help stabilize her core. Moving forward, she had all four paws on the ice now- taking a moment to shift her weight around, until she felt lighter on her paws. Just as Aurelia taught.

Pivoting, she’d practice those fluid movements Aurelia described- sliding across the ice, cognizant of her claws as she kept them sheathed. Laney was still at the edge of the ice, hesitant to join them. Azoula would flash her a smile, motioning that it was alright to join her, even with Rhazien there.  

"Speech"

As Aurelia shifted her gaze to him, aligning those pools of shimmering azure with his amethyst and emerald, his smirk morphed into a roguish grin. Oh, was she blushing? Keeping his gaze on her, he relishes in the surge of emotions that courses through his frame- listening to her instructions with minimal interest.

Still, he’d try out her teachings- figuring he’d kill two birds with one stone. Practice navigating ice, and pleasing Aurelia with his interest. Taking a step forward, he’d traverse across the slippery surface- centering his gravity, distributing his weight evenly, and quickening his pace until he was sliding across with fluid, controlled movements.

Circling near Aurelia, transfixed on her twirling frame. He’d feel the ice beneath him start to shift, splintering beneath his weight as he slid onto a thinner portion of ice. “Oh?” He’d say, quickly stepping back from it, shifting his gaze to Aurelia to engage her again. “Thinner ice is problematic for muscular men like myself.”  Ahh, yes, he was inflating his ego. Smiling at Aurelia while rolling his shoulders forward. “Tips for that?” He'd croon.

"Rhazien Saxe"

Aurelia observed as each of her audience members tried their paws at traversing the ice, offering encouraging nods and gestures as they practiced the techniques she had taught them. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as she watched them improve, their movements becoming more confident and fluid with each attempt. As Rhazien began to get the hang of it, showcasing his agility with a smirk aimed at her, Aurelia couldn't help but roll her eyes- a half smirk threatening the corners of her lips.

When he mentioned the challenge of thinner ice, Aurelia's expression grew more serious, and she nodded in understanding. "Navigating thinner ice requires even more caution," she explained, her voice calm and level. "Always be aware of your surroundings and watch for signs of weakness in the ice. If you notice water on top of the ice or dark spots, it's likely more fragile, and too thin to trust."

She paused for a moment, letting her words sink in before continuing. "If you ever hear cracking or feel the ice shifting beneath you, lower yourself to your belly and crawl. Polar bears use this technique to distribute their weight and prevent breaking through, and a little wolf like you, Rhazien, can do it too," she added with a wry grin.

"Remember," she concluded, her tone serious, "safety should always be your top priority when navigating thin ice."

"Aurelia Veratti"

Delaeni listened intently to Aurelia's words, committing each piece of advice to memory. The idea of navigating thin ice was daunting, but she felt more prepared now that she had been given some guidance. However, as Aurelia addressed Rhazien, Delaeni couldn't help but feel a twinge of discomfort. The way Aurelia spoke to him, with a hint of flirtation in her tone, made Delaeni uneasy. Sidis were taught to be respectful and deferential to their superiors, and Aurelia's casual demeanor with Rhazien seemed to go against that principle.

She cast a quick glance over at Azoula, wondering if she shared her unease. But she didn't want to make her uncertainty obvious- leaving her attention fully on Aurelia's instructions. Delaeni couldn't shake the feeling that Aurelia was walking on thin ice herself, flirting with danger in more ways than one.

As Aurelia finished her explanation, Delaeni nodded, her teal eyes reflecting her gratitude. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice filled with apprehensive sincerity as she subtly began to make her way in Azoula's direction.

"Delaeni Terblanche"

Rhazien had made a good point- they were heavier than Aurelia and Delaeni, who could use their lighter weight to slice across the ice with ease. There was also the problem of thin ice, which was hard to find unless you were standing on top of it. Perking her ears forward, she was interested in what Aurelia would have to teach them about navigating that difficulty.

Yes, navigating thinner ice required more caution- that was obvious. Being aware of their surroundings, was a given. But the mention of water on top of the ice, was an interesting revelation. Thinking about it in detail, it made sense. Azoula just hadn’t thought of it until now.

Cracking of ice, and feeling it shift beneath you- by that point, it might be too late. Hmpf. Aurelia’s notion of lowering down onto the ice and crawling, as Polar Bears do, was interesting. They were far larger than Azoula and Rhazien- beasts of the tundra, who lived on ice all year round. Mimicking their actions seemed appropriate, and Azoula nodded her head, saving the information for later. She wasn’t going to demonstrate it though. Casting her gaze to Aurelia, she wasn’t going to thank her for the lesson- she was a Sidi after all, and the Sultan’s at that. Best to keep their encounters minimal.

Turning to Laney, she slid over to the girl and pressed their shoulders together. A silent look of, interesting information, no? spread across her features. It was useful in multiple aspects, Azoula mused- especially for the tigress who enjoyed navigating difficult terrain.

"Speech"

Oh, the little roll of her eyes. He could tell she was fighting back a smirk, flirtation undertones lacing her words, which made his smirk widen. She was slowly becoming more comfortable with him. He was so engulfed in the undercurrent of their bantering, he hardly paid attention to her teachings. Still, he’d tuck them away for later- he had no intentions of rolling onto the ice and sliding around on his belly like a penguin. Even if it would make her laugh. Oh, and her comment, it made him laugh- deep baritones rumbling from his chest, as he stared down at Aurelia. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He’d banter. If only he could prove her wrong.

Nodding in agreement, he shifted away from the thinner ice- skating around and looking for the dark spots she mentioned. Finding one, he stopped and tested it with a paw- and sure as hell, it cracked beneath his weight. Interesting. It’d be hard to look for, in the middle of a battle- or, while being chased by an opponent. But it was a good characteristic to look for, so he kept in the back of his mind.  

"Rhazien Saxe"