Frozen Lakes aren't the Best Places to Fish - open

[NYUU]

Winter... It was such a beautiful season. Light snow fluttered down from the heavens above, turning the ground from many colors to white. It was like being in a winter wonderland. Of course, Winter also meant that prey was scarce. The only prey you could find around the Crystal Lake, one of the few places that the war from not too long ago hadn't touched, was to fish. However, with the dropping temperature, the lake had frozen over. The only way to fish was to break through the ice.

A lone figure sighed, the figure's tail drooping. The figure was a Stabyhoun, a dog bred mainly as a watchdog. The Stabyhoun was thin, white and black. She was quite a sight, actually. Her long tail gave a little wag, shifting the snow that was piling up on the dying grass. She hadn't been to this area of Daeseag before. In fact, there were many places she had yet to explore. The only thing she knew was that the lake had an easy source of food. That is, if she can break through the ice. Her black eyes were locked on the frozen lake. There, she saw it. The ice was thinnest in the very middle of the lake. If she put enough pressure on it, the ice would surely break. Now, the problem was getting there without falling, thus breaking the rest of the ice.

The Stabyhoun sighed and started forwards, placing each paw carefully as she walked. She was still on the ground, but she still didn't wish to fall. Only a few more steps, and she was on the ice. Well, she was besides the ice. Icia, her name, placed a white paw on the ice, putting her pressure on it to make sure it wouldn't break. Success. She placed another paw on, and, soon, all four paws were on the frozen lake. Underneath, at spots where the ice was thin, she could see many different colors, all belonging to fish. The fea's stomach rumbled at the thought of all the prey that was underneath her paws. "Soon enough, you'll be able to eat." Her voice came out smooth, just likie honey. Wait... She was talking to her stomach. Oh well. Anyone would if they were hungry. Only a few minutes passed by, and the Stabyhoun was nearing the middle of the lake. She was there. Icia took her right paw and pressed on the ice. No luck. She then clawwed at it. Only a few small shards scraped off. Tsk. I'll get that fish. The Stabyhoun tried putting all her weight on the spot. A crack was heard, then another, and another. The female stopped dead in her tracks. There were cracks forming a deformed circle around her, and the cracks branched off into more deformed circles. "Oh, Icia... What have you gotten yourself into this time..."

[BLAIDD]

Alice strode through the wilderness surrounding the town of Daeseag, the open areas coated in thick blankets of snow, the areas beneath trees bare. Her paws sank into the piles of soft snow, her long legs lifting high to break the surface. Her short fur offered little comfort from the breeze air, and she shivered several times during her wandering. Normally, she tried to stick to the buildings or trees during the winter, where the air was warmer and the wind was less harsh. However, living off rats and other small rodents that holed up in the warm places with her was not very filling, and she often went out to find something larger. This was what she was doing now, seeking out the closest sources of running water, where surely there would be a deer, or a raccoon, or a fox. Something. No luck today, so far, but she wasn't giving up yet. She'd seen Crystal Lake many times, fished there in the summer sometimes, and knew it would be frozen over in temperatures like this. Still, checking couldn't hurt, and there was another stream on the east side of the lake that she hadn't checked yet.

As she neared the lake, the snow got thinner, and she trotted through it, lowering her muzzle to plow the snow with her nose, something she always enjoyed. Lifting her nose, she shook the snow off her face and sniffed the air, trying to catch the scent of any animals in the area. Nothing. No, wait. The faint scent of dog, carried on the breeze; probably about the same distance as the lake, and definitely in the same direction. Well, a small dog would be the same as a fox, and it wasn't like she hadn't eaten either one before. Small dogs wouldn't last very long out here anyways, what with dears, wild cats, wolves; it was impressive that there were as many as there were after five years. She'd seen a few around town, mostly sticking to that area, but she hadn't made meals out of any of them, as she wasn't sure how well the other dogs would tolerate it. The last thing she needed was to be run out of her only source of shelter in the middle of winter. But out at the lake? Chances were slim that anyone would see, and remains found would be attributed to a wild animal, not a doberman. But this was all counting on the dog being less than half her size. Anything larger didn't interest her, it would put up too much of a fight.

As she neared the lake, she slowed her pace, taking to the bushes to spy on the dog. The scent was stronger now, but unfamiliar, and she scanned the shores of the lake for any sign of it. There, prints in the snow, leading onto the ice... which was completely shattered. Long white lines zig-zagged the bluish sheet covering the lake, spreading from the edges to the very centre, where Alice found her dog. Her first emotion was disappointment that it was too big to eat, followed by wondering whether she should help or not. Her meaner side wanted to stay here and watch, but her mean side wasn't very strong, never had been, and she slid out of the bushes and sauntered out to the edge of the lake. She gave a loud bark to let the dog know she was there, before starting to talk. "Hey, what do you think you're doing out there, genius? Y'know, ice breaks kiddo, it ain't very sturdy." She bared her teeth in a canine grin, and her ropy tail wagged slightly. Her mean side was weak, but it still existed.

;;622