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"There are several bottle on your back." Was Canaan's charming reply as he brushed snow from his shoulder, where the snow ball had it. It was good to see Scyeth was still feeling good enough to complain. [If the demon ever stopped, then Canaan would be come worried.] "I also think we should take the hills. Higher ground is good, as well as avoiding having to either walk around, or cross, a lake."

Stepping closer, so that Scyeth could use one of Cane's shoulders for balance, he dug into the pack on the blonde's shoulders, pulling out two bottles. He had two more, but they should save them if possible. He was a bit thirsty from carrying Scy, but he'd had plenty to drink before they'd all left.

"Let's split these. Half bottle each. Conserve our water, and any Rufus may have. If it comes to it, some of the snow should be fine for drinking."

Tossing a bottle toward Rufus, he opened his own, taking a long swig before handing it to Scyeth. "Enjoy, friend."

After hearing some input about the impasse at hand, Wynn finally began developing a more defined opinion. It was true, the water might require passage, and as an Inuk, Wynn knew to stay away from the dangers of the water unless he was hunting. There could be dangerous animals attracted to the water or even in the water and a local Greenland polar bear was the last thing Wynn wanted to encounter.

"The hills," Wynn finally concluded, watching as the water bottles were distributed through his companions. He would wait until the water was passed to him. "Shelter and height. See more. If Cane gets tired, Scyeth can be carried by Rufus. Backpacks switch. We head to hills."

He turned his gaze to the great mountain before them and quietly, he paused. What great majesty standing before them, quietly...quietly...It was a beautiful mountain, tall with snowy ramparts and ice capped crowns. That mountain had a strong spirit, Wynn was sure, noble, even. So, silently, Wynn bowed his head to the mountain and whispered a small Inuit prayer, asking the mountain for its help and blessing to cross along the foothills. Its foothills, rather. Wynn also apologized. He wasn't sure what for, but if they had done something wrong, something that perhaps elicited the storm in the first place, then Wynn wanted to repent.

When he was done, he grabbed up his stick again and made a gentle tug against the rope, trying to urge the rest of the group into motion.

Canaan was one-hundred percent correct! The moment Wynn suggest Rufus carry him after Cane had his turn, the blond started to sputter, arms flailing wildly in protest to the horrid idea. "No way. Now way in hell!" Scyeth shook his head and hopped a step back, as though it had been suggest Rufus carry him right now. "I would sooner hop my way up that mountain on one damned leg than get carried around like some school girl who stubbed her toe playing hopscotch!" Snort. Huff.

Scyeth folded his arms over his chest and gave the group a sulky look. Perhaps a good leader when things were going his way; the blond did not handle direction well when he was the one meant to be taking it. He gave Cane a baleful look before glancing at the only adult among them. "Nothing personal, mate. I just don't do manhan-"

Scyeth did not get to finish his half-assed apology, instead being mounted on Cane's back like, well, like a tourist on a pack mule. The blond let out a wild yell of protest, thumping Cane's head as he was jostled around. "Let me down, you b*****d! I can walk! I'm fine, just a little slow!" he complained, and complained, and complained. It would be a long way until the tower, that was for certain.

"The women of my tribe are not to be taken lightly. They are strong and smart." His bright blue eyes admonished both Rufus and the demon at his back before he ducked his head to avoid abuse.

Cane had spent a long time ignoring Scyeth, before finally growling a bit as they began to walk, moving one hand from where it supported Scyeth's thigh around his own hips, to swat at the blonde's head. "Cut it out." It was just a hint of irritation, nothing major, and soon disappaited as he grinned at Wynn. "Lead on, little brother."

Slowly, they began to quicken their pace, Wynn at their helm, heading for the foothills. Adventure, ho!

It was a hard slog to make it through the foothills; the steep slopes covered in deep snow made for very difficult walking conditions. Several times Rufus stumbled, legs giving out because of the burning sensation fast occurring in his calf muscles; every step sunk deep into the snow drift, it was an effort to push onwards and the man pondered if the others were feeling the burn as much as he was. Probably not... Was the answer that floated to the surface of his mind as he took another stumble. Wynn was at home in the harsh environment and Cane, well he was ripped with muscles and was tackling the walk like a snow-plough, in fact the trough he was taking behind him was making Rufus' time a lot easier (yet he was still stumbling...) Plus the muscled boy was carrying the other youth on his back too. Sighing Rufus pulled himself back to his feet, slipping back into the tramping gait through the snow. Best to get a rhythm going, it made the walk almost bearable.

However, just as he was getting back into the swing of things; the steady crunch of his feet in the powdery snow matching the pounding of his heart, the group halted. Curious, Rufus peered around the bear-like teen infront of him and spied the wide river. It was frozen over and the surface was a cold steely grey. The man's mouth formed an 'o' behind his scarf. "What now?" He queried. He supposed they could attempt to cross, although he wasn't sure if they could trust the icy surface. They could also try and look for another crossing point, but that would take time..

The brothers seemed to have exhibited the best knowledge on what to do so far and again Rufus cocked his head to them, waiting for their input. Personally he thought crossing was worth a try, especially since they had the light and nimble Wynn to test the ice for them.. But of course, it was a group decision.

Ice.

Wynn paused in his step immediately as they came to the frozen stream. He had no trouble in climbing the hills. The Inuk knew the way to breathe in the snow, the way to make his steps. Although they had been walking for quite sometime, the muscles in his thighs had barely begun to complain. His lungs were familiar to the dry bite of the cold, so he had no trouble there.

But this ice.

This was the kind of ice that gave him trouble. It came to him in his nightmares, visions of slipping beneath the cold frozen layer into the water, unable to pull himself out, and swallowing gulps of lung-killing sea. This was the kind of ice that he had fallen through before.

However, they needed to get across. This was as sturdy an area as any, Wynn observed, letting his eyes trace the length of the river, and if this was a deep area, the ice had to be thicker. The current would be slower. Wynn set his Inuit lips into a determined frown, pulling his goggles down to rest across his chest with his sealskin gloves.

This ice he would overcome....Or hope to overcome.

"Yes," Wynn said at length, after he had studied the river. "We cross. Make rope slack. I will first test. I know the ice. But..." He turned a stern frown on the others of the group, "You must follow STEP for STEP where I step. STEP for STEP. Spread self out over the ice. Less pressure on the ice. If we stand, more pressure, ice will break. If ice breaks, don't go near. Pull the rope, but don't go near." Wynn started to ready himself by readjusting the rope.

Cane's almost wolfish grin was bright and intimidating. "No, friend, not because of fat." In fact, one would be hard pressed to find any sort of fat on the cut young man. Muscle was heavier, anyway. Still, he shrugged, actually appreciating the feeling of Scyeth's body against him. It certainly kept him nice and warm, something both boys could appreciate.

"I don't think that will be needed. Scyeth and I practice crawling flat to ground. We are quite good now." A laugh. He sobered up as Wynn agreed to the danger. "You are brave, brother." A firm nod. "We thank you for your courage."