Bellowing Thunder. On Ice. (Nanithel)

[Krivak]

Timestamp: Winter 40, 511 AV Time: Late Morning Location: Mirror Lake Who: Nanithel Krivak had just met Urgrah. He was one of the younger musk oxen that populated the local herd. He couldn't turn into a human like Krivak could, but he was an excitable calf. Being a Kelvic had its advantages he supposed. Not that he ever used his human form. Right now he and Urgrah were lining up with the open gate. After all, this was a race. Urgrah had told Krivak that he was faster and stronger than him. Normally Krivak would've put this off as a calf trying to become the herd's bull. But this herd was not his, and he didn't feel the desire to take it. So, for the first time, he would appease the young challenger by racing him. They lined the tips of their noses up with the gatepost. Krivak's stood nearly twice as high as the calf's but the calf insisted he knew a secret Krivak didn't. Krivak looked down at the calf, who looked back up at him with a sly, knowing eye. Krivak grunted once. Twice. Third time. The snow behind the two males exploded as they kicked forward. Their goal was some lake just through the trees ahead. As Krivak thundered forward, he found his progress surprisingly slow and arduous for a run. The snow was severely impeding his running. His hooves were sinking deep into the snow and he had to move a mound of snow with each step. A happy grunt ahead signaled that he was losing the race. He looked up as he drudged through that thick white sludge. The calf wasn't running through the snow. He was leaping. The calf was jumping at angles, back and forth, while still moving forward. Krivak would never do something like that, but he absolutely despised the thought of losing. He churned his legs more fiercely, his muscles finally feeling like they were coming alive. The calf was no longer widening the gap, but Krivak wasn't closing it either. Up ahead, a cluster of trees obscured the finish line. The calf reached it and began to awkwardly run. The trees apparently kept the majority of the snow off, so the ground was firmer. The calf hadn't fully grasped all of the basics of running, his young, growing limbs still awkward. Krivak surged, the snow kicking up high behind him. He was gaining a small bit, and had finally reached the trees. His hooves hit the firmer ground with a loud pounding, as the calf began leaping through another stretch of snow. Krivak spotted a trail carved through the bright countryside. It had been made by several pairs of feet and Krivak thundered down the path. The calf saw him and bellowed lightly in despair. Krivak lowered his head, and continued powering it out, as his muscles began to cry out for rest. The calf had stopped and was now grunting out a warning to Krivak. Confused, he looked at the calf, his eyes not seeing the goal come into sight. His hooves let out a loud CLOP as they struck the amazingly smooth Mirror Lake. Krivak looked forward and had realized that he had won. The feeling of victory was fleeting though. As his hind hooves struck the ice, he began to slide forward rapidly. Krivak let out a deep, shocked bellowing as he slid across the ice. He saw several of the Vantha staring at the startling noise he was emitting. He struggled to keep his hooves beneath him, his muscles straining to keep himself upright and balanced. Then he began to spin. He was now spinning in circles, while still moving forward, his legs getting ready to give out. He finally slowed to a stop, not totally sure where he was, just happy that he survived without injury. His world still felt like it was spinning, and his stomach felt like a rolling storm. His shoulders hunched, a loud blanching sound filled the air, and his stomach contents emptied themselves out on to the smooth icy surface. But at least he had won.

[Nanithel]

OOCSorry for the late response, been a bit busy:) The sun shone high up in the pale blue sky, glittering in the myriad of ice crystals almost blinding Nanithel until her eyes had adjusted. She was at mirror lake with Sintra today, they were not related by blood but was still very close friends, like real sisters. Pushing down her fur hood Nan scanned over the smooth, clear frozen lake and the many Vantha who skated or played games, to think she wanted to leave this place, or maybe not wanted but more like needed. "Hello, anybody home?" Sintra asked, smiling askew at Nanithel the older Vantha waved her hand in front of Nan's eyes. Chuckling Nanithel pushed away Sintra's hand with her own mitten clad one, despite not really needing any gloves as Morwen's mark kept her warm Nanithel loved her soft warm mittens and always wore them when outside. "Not always I suspect," she said, with her fondness for day dreaming it was not always guaranteed that Nan was entirely aware of her surroundings. "Come on now Sintra, lets put these skates to good use." Pushing off with one foot Nan wobbled slightly but soon got her bearings and fell into an even motion, her normally dark blue eyes brightened to a sky blue in joy. Nan loved skating, the exhilarating feeling that filled her when she dared letting loose entirely and let her body move instead of using her brain. Sintra easily gained speed and soon she was gracefully skating beside Nanithel, without seeming effort moving into a pirouette before evening out and falling into her sisters speed. "Show off," Nan muttered, but she couldn't hide a grin. "That's the sound of jealousy, Nan." The older Vantha smirked, well aware of the experience gap between them. More than a bell later Sintra decided to take a break, heading for the cabin to get something warm to drink while Nanithel opted for some more skating practice. Keeping some distance to other skaters to avoid having to steer too much Nan made her way across the frozen lake, her black hair blowing out behind her when a loud bellowing surprised her, almost making her loose concentration and fall. A large yak came sliding over the lake, spinning in circles as his hooves slipped over the ice until he finally came to a shaky stop. Concerned over the animal's well being Nan set her course towards the yak, approaching a bit too fast though as her attempt to slide to a stop resulted in her falling hard on the ice. A bit embarrassed she rose and brushed snow off her clothes as she carefully walked over to the yak. "How'd it go? Are you hurt?" She asked, eyes darkening to a dark bluish purple, not caring that an animal couldn't possibly answer her Nanithel scanned the large yak for an obvious injury, being careful to not scare him.

[Krivak]

Krivak did not like being on ice. He didn't like it one bit. No matter how strong he was, this blasted ice ignored the power of the bull. He didn't care that people around on the ice were now staring at them, as they should for a creature of his power. He just would've preferred if they had been staring at him for his strength rather than his mishap. He saw a woman sliding toward him, and it appeared she was going faster than she would've liked. Krivak noticed her skin had a slight blueish tinge to it, quite a bit different than the normal locals. Then she fell hard onto her healthy sized rump. Krivak winced slightly at her pain. He noticed she had some sort of metal blades on her feet, but couldn't figure out as to why. He watched her get up and dust herself off and continue toward him. When she arrived at his side, she began speaking in that sing song language of the locals. He still didn't know many of the words, but the tone of her voice was telling him that she was here to help. He was comforted by that fact, especially since he was still upon shaky legs and slippery hooves. He grunted thankfully at her arrival and rubbed his head gently against her.

[Nanithel]

Laughing as the yak rubbed his large head against her Nanithel wobbled slightly on her thin skates but kept her footing. She pulled off her mittens and scratched him on his forehead where her horse liked it as well, "well, you seem fine at least." She said smiling, the yak had no visible injuries or swellings after his sliding over the ice. Bending down she took a frim grip over his leg and stroke down to feel for heat, finding none she carefully made her way around him to check the other legs. "What are you doing out on the ice anyway?" she asked straightening up slowly so as to not loose her balance, a hand resting on his side in case she slipped. Smiling as the yak was fine, her eyes brightening to a sky blue. "Your hooves aren't exactly perfect for this surface." Normally animals didn't want to go out on the lake, the ice was too slippery and uncomfortable for them she guessed, at least that was how Nan saw it when she stood on ice unsecure and vulnerable, but at the same time she loved the feeling of flying over the ice, except the stopping part. Now to get him off the ice though, yak's, like all other hoofed animals slipped easily on ice as they lacked anything that could give them a grip, like claws or rough paw pads. "Why don't we get you off the ice?" She nudged him slightly at the direction of the shore hoping he would catch her drift. "Just take it slow now, short steps alright," her voice low and calm, she knew the yak wouldn't understand her words but her tone was more important when handling animals.

[Krivak]

The woman continued talking in the singsong language. Then her hands began to run over his legs and body. What was this woman doing? He was fine, bulls don't get hurt that easily, especially not ones as strong as himself. She then moved behind him. He felt a nudge, as if to push him off of the ice. His massive weight and the amount of strength he was using just to stand, kept him quite still. He decided to try a tentative step. He quickly lifted one leg, which he quickly realized was a mistake. His balance was quickly evaporating, forcing his strength to become useless once more. He bellowed in exasperation, and quickly slammed his hoof down, ice chips exploding everywhere. He was not about to attempt that again. He continued trying to maintain his balance, but his strength wouldn't hold out forever on this blasted ice. How do these people sliding around do it?

[Warden]

-Nanithel- Skill Points: Dancing 1 Animal Husbandry 1 Lore: Skating on Mirror Lake Aiding an Animal in Need Notes: I bet I could get a patent for Yak Skates.