Submission (#5411) Approved

The frosty wind blew across the white wasteland kicking up any of the loose snow and sticking it to my fur. I released a small growl of displeasure due to the frigid and whipping winds, coating my fur white and making my knees quake from the cold.

“What was I thinking about coming to Stryhalden even if it is the summer.” I muttered in disgust, freezing with my fur matted and frozen absolutely ruined thanks to this frozen landscape. As far as I can see it was flat land with rugged ice spikes shooting up in the distance while a cozy looking town sat far behind us. 

How I so desire to go back, sitting in a nice cozy room, the crackling fireplace and a nice cup of hot chocolate to feel the warmth throughout my body. Yet here I was trudging through the cold landscape all for the sake of my daughter who wanted nothing more than to witness the sight of the whales migrating.

A small shivering body pressed against my leg dragging me out of my own despair as I glanced down. A once light pink with a delicate flower fur pattern has turned to nothing more than a pure white fur ball realizing the cutest sneeze I have ever heard. “Mado… look at you.” I softly murmured with a chuckle as I stopped walking, dusting the snow off of my adoptive daughter's fur to reveal the pink once more. “Maybe we should head back.” I suggested adjusting her scarf as I pulled her closer to myself to provide some extra warmth.

The little girl viciously shook her head despite her body trembling away like the blue leaves nestled in the white trunked trees, shaking from the roaring wind. “I want to see the whales.” she declared trying to make her voice as clear as possible yet couldn’t hide the shakiness within her vocal cords.

I softly sighed before looking upon her with a soft gaze unable to put a foot down and tell her we are going back. “Alright… We did come all the way here just to see them.” I spoke, taking a seat and pulling her close to my chest. “Let’s warm you up a bit then we will continue on our way, okay?” I instructed while shifting my gaze over to the horizon seeing the glistening ice cold water not too far away from us. With a soft hum I quietly spoke to myself as I recalled the directions for the villagers, reciting the various twists and turns they told us to do to reach our destination. “We should be almost there… just a little more and we should be able to see them as soon as the sun hits the water.” I frowned ever so slightly seeing the sun was just about ready to touch the water as it slowly set for the day. 

“Let’s go!” Madoka suddenly exclaimed as she dashed out from the warmth of my fur the cold being replaced by her own excitement. 

I rolled my eyes while getting up on my paws with a snicker. “Little so as…” I paused feeling a vibration in the ice as if it was singing its own melody. I felt the fear prickle in the pits of my stomach as the worst case scenario played through my mind believing the ice was cracking.

Shifting my gaze below still feeling the playing of a melody, yet the ice was smooth and clean, no signs what so ever of it cracking. My eyes slowly widened as I saw just what was causing the vibrations in the ice as a big grayish shadow with a blue hue reflection swam below me. 

“Madoka!” I yelled as my head shot up, excitement filling my voice as I made my daughter skid to a halt making her paws fly out beneath her. “Look underneath you!” I instructed suppressing the laugh as I watched her fumble about. Quickly making my way to her side she held a confused look with a puff out cheek before looking at the ice, her eyes soon becoming as big as a planet.

“It’s them!” She exclaimed nearly leaping up as her gaze shot back up to me. “It’s the whales!!” She exclaimed once more as I gave her a smile wrapping a tail around her.

“Calm down and listen,” I told her, “Feel that?” I asked as the vibration continued. I watch her ears go back while she tilted her head ever so slightly.

“Is that them?” She asked as I gave her a nod.

“That’s them singing to one another.” I explained while releasing her. “Come on, now let’s meet them at the water!” I exclaimed excitement bubbling up within me as I forgot about the cold I was feeling earlier.

Hot on my heels we ran to the edge of the snow cover land. Slowly we came to a stop so as to not race into the ice cold waters below. Shortly after, the whales below passed us as they began to rise above the waters with a spout of a water fountain taking in fresh clean air while casting a small rainbow in the sky. 

“Wow…” Madoka breathed out as she sat by my side watching the sight before us as I wrapped my tail around her bringing my daughter close to my side admiring the sight we came out to see.