#anywhere

Alaska is not a frozen waste land, at least, not in the summer, not this part of it, and yet, the dreaming sometimes has different ideas. Perhaps mortals imagine Alaska to be so winter all the time that that affects the near Dreaming, maybe there's something in the world itself. Who knows? But the journey will require a warm cloak, which she has- along with her weapons

Cloak, bowie knife, spear, boots... "Okay...let's go." She leaves a note in her quarters, just in case: Have gone exploring with Dika-Hannah.

As they move along, Dika-Hannah takes leads her to the water's edge, "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to trust my medicine. Ready to walk on water?"

A blink. "Um...oh." Hesitation, and a deep breath. "Okay."

"Okay, spin around three times and sing the I'm a little tea pot song" Dika- Hannah says

She stares at her friend. "Okay, so...we're clear that this is me trusting you, right?" Dubious.

A nod

Then she does, indeed, spin around three times and, for trust's sake, sings, "I'm a little teapot, short and stout!" at full volume, enough to echo distantly.

Meanwhile, Dika-Hannah spits in her left hand, smacks it against her own right, and then makes a walking motion. "Okay, let's go." Glamour glows about them both

"Okay." Sylvi falls into step behind the Pu'gwi, trying hard not to flinch if they do, indeed, step onto water.

They do, and..while slightly squishy, it holds!

"not so bad, is it?" She says encouragingly

"It's...kind of like a bouncy-house." She tests her footing a little. "I guess this is what a water bed feels like."

She smiles then says "I wouldn't know really, but maybe? I never had a water bed, come this way..." They walk about 20 feet deeper into the harbor, and then Dika-Hannah snickers "I can't believe I got you to do the I'm a little tea pot."

"Hey!" Sylvi pouts. "Trust, remember?"

"I know, I know- but I will cheerish that for the rest of my life and I won't tell anyone so, there's trust rewarded?" A smile "And I think it really did help my bunk" They move squish squish squish across the water

"Hmph. Well...if it helped the bunk." And she hopes it did, because if the cantrip fails now, it's a long swim back to shore.

Well, maybe not all that long, but it would mean a sodden walk home, for sure.

"There" She points to an ice floe, "THere's a trod on it..sort of. You see why we had to walk on water?" Before them the floe shimmers silver, and Dika-Hannah continues to explain "It takes you to the near Dreaming, like a ..what do your kind call it? a rath? I won't claim it's safe. They wouldn't have died if it was safe." A worried look

Sylvi gets a grim, determined look as she eyes the floe. "And the hatchet...it's beyond that rath?"

"Yes and not very. I'm going with you. I'll show you, but I sure don't want to go alone"

Sylvi nods and checks both weapons. "Let's go, then." An eager grin.

But inside she's thinking: If the Dreaming swallows me long enough that I'm late to get back for the school year, Mom and Dad going to KILL me.

And onto the floe they step- and just like that, they're in something that looks more like a frozen glacier than just a flow.... one step, and they are there on a mountain of ice over water!

Overhead, on the peak, a great dragon of ice and a phoenix made of fire seem to be battling, both creatures are immense, easily seen despite a half mile up. Everytime they clash, steam rises- then turns to snow as it gets cold again

"Whoa...." Sylvi breathes, staring upwards.

"I know, shh, the firebird is not necessarily nice., Remember, for rebirth to happen, death must come first. I am not ready for my next life juuust yet" The girl whispers, "So don't yell or get their attention"

Sylvi nods, lips pressed tightly together, and looks to Dika-Hannah for their next step.

The nunnehi does not lead them to climb, thank goodness, save where they must. They clamber up some slippery ice here, then go down again there. They're working the 'foothill' of the glacier, as it were. It's not as dangerous as it should be. WHatever cantrip is letting them walk on water seems to steady them on the ice.

Sylvi does sometimes use the butt of her spear as a walking stick for leverage in climbing.

"Careful, this next drop is tricky. Go gentle" She says to what looks to a mini cliff of 10 feet over flat ice below

OOC: Dex plus athletics

/roll noexplode 3

Sylvi takes a deep breath and follows as carefully as she can.

SHe doesn't fall , well, not until the last bit, and when she lands she keeps her footing. The ice here seems more fragile. GULP. Dika-Hannah wipes her brow "I Know, even with the cantrip it's unsettling... this way" They move along and go around the edge of the glacier. In a forking ravine of sorts, they see they have a choice of two paths. One says 'To the Walrus', the other says 'To the Bear'..the words etched in ice. "Both lead around eventually, but we have to take one" Her guide says "And...the choice has to be made by the one questing"

Sylvi considers. "Well...I've seen bears...and met a chimerical bear...and they can be pretty deadly when they want to be, but often they'll leave you alone if you leave them alone. Walruses...I don't know, I've never met one. I think I've heard they can be pretty mean, too. I...guess I'm more curious about the Walrus. Like you said before...neither is exactly 'safe.'"

A nod, and they take the walrus path... "Yes, some tribes call Walrus Tiqlaralik, "who has something to pierce with" and you have to be careful untangling lines or pulling your fish back in, a young energetic one might lunge. It is the old behemoths that are most fierce" She does not appear to be joking, but given she's talking about a creature with sabers for teeth, why would she?

Sylvi checks the tip of her spear and keeps a keen lookout. "Have you met the Walrus that we're going towards?"

"No. I took the bear path, but it doens't matter, some times guardians show different faces depending on who greats them... so... think nice things and hope it helps? " She shrugs unsure

She nods and keeps pace, occasionally glancing up to make sure the dragon and phoenix have not decided to take a break for a snack.

No, they battle up there seems to be ongoing. Majestic mayhem in an odd pattern.

A brief pause...a pattern?...but she doesn't want to fall behind, so she resumes walking.

Dika-Hannah looks back to make sure she's following, then nods when she sees she is. They circle, and gets bitter cold. One would never know it's Summer. Then they come into the view of the Walrus! Immense! Huge! Tusks the size of swords! And the body mass! The Chimera sits on a section of ice that has blood stains here and there. It's thick blubbery hide has numerous scar marks from old battles. It also wears a pair of purple-ish rounded sunglasses.

Sylvi looks at the enormous beast, at the tusks, at the blood...and then at the glasses. As they approach, she feels the urge to stop and bow in respect, and goes with it.

"Born when the sea goddess lost her finger bones past a knuckle- I am both feared hunter and feast fit for chiefs. I am ice breaker in life, warm bringer in death. I am the walrus. Goo goo g' joob"

The voice of the creature is an rumbling bass that sets the ice to a slight quiver.

A quick glance down at the unnerving motion of the ice, and then she speaks up. "I am...um...born to Hearth and Way-ward one, I am seeking knowledge. I am...uh...Balefire-finder and friend-defender. I am Sylvi. Um...pleased to meet you."

"Good titles... I sense you are the questor... you hunt knowledge? You are not here to slay me? To make weapons of my tusks, clothing of my skin, and meal and medicine of my blubber?" He seems surprised.

"Um..." A glance at Dika-Hannah. "Sir, I didn't even know I'd be meeting a giant walrus when we started our journey. I have weapons, though I'm sure your tusks would make amazing ones. I have clothing that suits me, and I wouldn't have a clue how to turn your skin into a coat, and I have food enough at my host's home. I don't know enough of your medicine, but I don't think I need your blubber right now." Another glance at Dika-Hannah with an expression that reads I sure hope not, anyway.