Ambient Waters. (Open)

[Celina.]

There was a calm, relaxed silence in the air. Only ever so often would a lone owl hoot his messages to the winter cold, but even that noise was sucked up by the snow, as if the chilly air ate up the sound. There was a fresh layer of snow on the ground, though it didn't cover all places and had missing patches here any there. Mikah preferred to sit on the snow than on the grass anyway, his haunches carefully settled into a splotch of snow by the lake. The lake was not completely frozen either, though some parts were still ice and slush around the edges. Most of his fur almost blended in with the snow, but the golden strip of fur up his spine and his forehead made him look like ... well. Yellow snow. He ignored that small thought in disgust, wondering why he'd thought it in the first place, and zoned back into the water again, shifting his back haunches ever so slightly and enjoying the small crunching of the snow underneath him.

Mikah's odd colored eyes stared into the waters, the cool blue surface of the lake seeming to mesmerize him. He couldn't feel himself blinking, if he was, but he didn't really seem to mind. The cold that pricked the corners of his eyes felt sort of nice. His ears were relaxed but forward and his shoulders were erect. He almost looked like a soldier at attention, but somehow mellow and leisure as his nose faced down slightly at the surface of the lake. He thought it was funny how, even during winter, the lake was that brilliant sky blue. He couldn't find it comprehensible, really; The sky above him even seemed more gray than blue. His facial expression was blank and nonchalant. This is something that he did often, and he found it peaceful, tranquil, undisturbed. He would sit, much like he was now, and tune into the forest around him. He would listen to everything, feel himself sink into the world. He would feel connected to everything.

Which was particularly odd because he never seemed to notice when someone walked up to him during this state of trance. So how connected had he really been if another pack member sneaked up on him and made him leap out of his skin?

It seemed to happen more than he'd like to admit.

[Kiba Blood]

Zane pricked his ears as his eyes landed on the Second-In-Command. Yellow orbs narrowed and his tail gave a lash. What was he doing so far from camp? Did others know he was here? "Hey." The fighter called, padding forward. "What are you donig?"

[Celina.]

Mikah tensed and he swiveled his head around to look at the gray and white male. Suddenly recognizing that it was Zane, he looked a little less interested. He turned his gaze back to the lake for a minute but then he sighed to himself and gave up on his meditating for now, climbing to his paws and turning towards the Fighter. "Not much, really. Looking at the water." He said and gestured over his shoulder towards the lake as if Zane couldn't tell. "What are you doing?" He asked and he perked up his ears, his paws firm on the snowy ground beneath him.

[Megan]

The Huntress was out once more near Blue Lake, attempting to prove her worth inside Nightfall Pack. Being a German Shepherd, although early pup years she denied herself a filthy mutt and called herself a wolf, meant she had to try harder than the rest - or that's what she told herself anyway. At the opposite side of the lake Casey stared intently into the water, looking for a fish. Finally, when one swam by she leaped into the water albeit too clumsily, she scared all the fish away in a frenzy.

Curse words spewed from her maw before she could properly react. Soaking wet, she slowly made her way out of the water, huffing in anger. Why did she have to be a stupid mutt? Why couldn't she be a wolf like the rest of her pack? They always treated her differently, like she was weaker than them. "I hate it!" She howled out to no one in particular. Off in the distance she could see Zane and Mikah having a discussion. "Perfect!" She whispered, as she raced into the nearby brushes to take cover.

Her plan was to sneak up on them and playfully attack one of them. Of course she wouldn't hurt them, they were pack mates and pack mates never did something intent to wound or kill. Excitement rushed into her as she slowly crouched forward. She moved as quietly as she could, trying not to alert the two as she got in touch with them. "and . . . now!" With that she playfully lunged for Mikah.

[Celina.]

Mikah's ear flickered backwards, however he was a second too late. All of a sudden, a blob of dark fur had tackled him to the ground and sent snow flying everywhere. When the scent of the German Shepherd hit Mikah's nose, he hesitated and looked at up at her deep green eyes, but did take action, kicking up with his hind feet and rolling her off of him in a moment. A bit stunned by the sudden attack, he sat there for a moment on his side before he hopped back up to his paws and shook the snow from his coat quickly. The sudden adrenaline that had shot through his chest like electricity made his ears pound with his heartbeat. His duo-colored eyes flew over to Casey and perked up his ears, letting out a breath through his nose which appeared as a small puff in the air. "What was that for?" He asked her, blinking.

[Megan]

Casey let out a yelp of laughter before she was midair and landed back into the snow. She sneezed as some powder fluffs went up her nostrils before shaking herself out and blinking in amazement at Mikah. Casey was younger and acted sort of like a pup. Although she was loyal, she wasn't afraid to play tackle her pack mates. "Oh, you know . . . practicing." She woofed in response, grinning from ear to ear. "I think I won." The female German Shepherd responded. "You should see how surprised you look!" Of course she expected no less, she had meant to take him exactly by that.

Haunches lowered, she wriggled and aimed to leap for him again instead of another sneak attack. "Mikah the great and powerful, taken by Casey the mutt!" She howled out. It was odd for her to think of herself as a Mutt and be able to call herself that when only a few moons ago she'd have attacked anyone who had dared to call her by such a hideous name. Now, she didn't care.

[Celina.]

Mikah the great and powerful? The white wolf had never heard himself called such a thing. His blinked and his fur bristled a bit. He was more prepared for the attack this time. He rolled with the German Shepherd when she fell onto him and he quickly pushed himself up, pinning her down against the snow. His weight held her there as he looked down at her with those duo-colored eyes and then furrowed his brow in confusion at her. She smelled like a dog. He tried not to notice it too much. He quickly glanced over his shoulder at Zane, as if he would know what to do.

Mikah knew this attack wasn't a real one; it wasn't to challenge his authority. But still, he had never played with the dog before, and didn't have much intention on doing so. Mikah thought he would literally break her if he ever rough housed with her, and since he became Second-in-Command, he didn't rough house as much as he once did anyway. "Are you having fun?" He asked Casey, looking back down at her again, not sure what else to do.