|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 2:45 pm
His silliness just made her smile more. She wasn't about to dash his visions of grandour and luckily for them it was all a bunch of what ifs. They had met and found each other and that was all that mattered.
After showing them the equipment the guide went about preparing a sled to actually take out. He brought out a half dozen dogs, hooking the excited dogs up in pairs. Aurora and Azzo would have to go on seperate rides, because there was only room for one plus the guide. But Aurora insisted that Azzo go first, since she had gone before.
It was about a 10 minute long ride, with the guide explaining some of the commands, techniques, and what it was like to be on the long and grueling race. But mostly it was just fun. A swift and unique ride through beautiful landscape with gorgeous happy dogs.
And once the two had both finished their rides it was off to the pens to visit with the dogs and many young pups. Aurora practically died with squealing as they passed by a set of young pups training with their tiny practice sleds/weights.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 3:35 pm
Azzo was attentive listening to the tour guide explain the commands and the races. He couldn't help but be fairly delighted being able to actually have been on a dog sled. When they finished the rides and went to the young pups training.
He chuckled when Aurora died with squealing joy. "Aww, they're so tiny." He watched the pups. He was looking around, "So can they bet petted?" Was Azzo's next question because he knew better than to rub dogs without permission. Some of them would actually bite.
"Not to mention Aurora, how did they keep you away from here? It's full of cute baby puppies."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:11 pm
"Pet them, take pictures with them, whatever you like. Just be carefully if you try to pick one up." The guide answered. Crouching down Aurora pet the happy little puppies as they yapped and hopped around her, seeming unable to get enough attention. "I probably should have saved this for last. It's going to be hard to beat. But understandably they aren't still open at 10 at night."
A couple pups were trying to n** at Aurora's long braid and she laughed, having to pick it up to keep it away from them. Silly puppies, though she supposed it did kind of look like a toy!
"Ohh, I actually didn't know this place was open other then in March and April during the races. I just discovered these tours while I was looking for places to take you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:23 pm
Azzo chuckled as he crouched down to pet one and picked up one of the other pup's after Aurora's hair. "Nooww you guys hair isn't good for you~"
He laughed as the pup wiggled a few moments before staying still for a few moments liking the attention. "Really? That's cool that they're open." He laughed when he sat the pup down again when it got restless.
"Ahh, I don't know about hard to beat. They're all neat on different levels. This one's just full of fun and well puppies." Azzo said as he rubbed the pup's head again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 9:56 pm
There wasn't any large rush to get to their next destination, so Aurora didn't seem in any hurry at all, and the two lingered playing with puppies and dogs until the tour guide politely mentioned that he had another tour starting soon. And even then, her pace as they walked towards the truck was slow, eyes lingering over the scenery.
"Maybe one day we can visit when the race is actually happening... There aren't necessarily puppies to play with but it's very exciting with all the mushers and professional race dogs."
It was a little after 9pm as the two arrived at their third destination, though they'd been able to see the large ice formations long before Aurora stopped the truck. Unlike the places before there was no building, barely even a sign post denoting what they were looking at, but then it really didn't need that much explanation.
The enormous sheet of ice seemed to blanket the bottom of the hillside and half of the valley before abruptly ending. Grass and tiny, unimpressive, little blooms just feet from 100's of tons of ice.
Aurora lead the way, stopping only when she finally placed her hand on the ice. "In the winter when it's really quiet you can hear the glacier moving. It seems so slow, but if you put something in the field it actually gets covered up quicker than you'd think."
She was a little worried again that this was boring, especially compared to puppies. But the glaciers were so iconic to the north and beautiful and powerful. If only they were here at night with the aurora bouncing off the sheen of ice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:21 pm
Azzo was having a blast playing with the puppies not caring about any small amounts of dog hair either. Nodding when the tour guide mentioned he had another tour to do.
He was grinning from ear to ear. "Sure, maybe in the next year or two so your brothers get to see you a little more often." He said as he brushed off the bits of dog fur that had clung to his outfit.
He was watching the glaciers loom as they grew closer to them. "Wow, they're soo Huge!" When he got out of the truck he looked up and felt tiny. He looked at her as she placed her hand on the ice, "covered up? Like.... it's moving this way?" He asked as he followed behind her looking at the glacier as if he was skeptical of it.
Placing a hand of his own, on the ice. "Huh, well its probably because in winter there's eternal night." He said joking a tiny bit. "I'm surprised they're not melting, er... well don't melt faster." It wasn't horribly hot here but still the idea that there was still ice was something completely different than what he was use to. He was walking close to the Glacier looking at how large it was.
"We can make you an ice castle out of this." He turned around after a moment with a silly grin. He was really joking but the idea of it seemed fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:43 pm
"Yeah, they're moving. Slowly but surely." Noticing his look she laughed a little. "But not enough to worry about. Unless you were unlucky enough to be standing here during a blizzard and avalanche."
"They do melt some. Just not as fast as they're replenished by the snow or mountains." It was actually a pretty complicated process how glaciers worked, but that was part of what made them so magical.
His jokes brought a few more laughs from her as she tried to imagine it, a huge crystalline castle of ice. "I think I'll settle for a regular house. Living in a castle made of ice would get cold really quick. Not to mention anytime you were wet you'd stick to everything."
Admiring the glacier, they wandered for a bit. "I hope you're not getting too tired yet..?" She asked mildly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 10:58 pm
He chuckled when she answered his look of distrust. "Ahh, I see. Yes I'd rather not stand here during a blizzard. That just sounds like a bad idea."
He nodded when she answered about how fast they were replenished. Though when she thought about the castle and mentioned she settle for a normal house he laughed, "I think we already have an ice castle anyways." He said with a wink.
Her homeworld was fairly large and surely it was close enough to being considered horribly frozen. "Speaking of we should watch Frozen when we get back. I think I might've made Snowball sick of it but I can't help it."
He blinked when she said she hoped he wasn't getting tired yet. "You realize I've run on like a half an hour of sleep before right?" He started laughing, "Only worry if I start seeing pixies rolling donuts across the ground." He pulled her into a hug.
"However~ I might be getting hungry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 11:22 pm
The offer of a girly Disney movie was met with a pleased look from Aurora. But she couldn't help but laugh a little as Azzo mentioned poor Snowball. Surely he'd suffer through it once more for her sake?
"Well.... being awake and being tired are different." She stated cryptically. "If you're getting hungry you should definately nibble on some sort of snack while we're on the way."
Leading back to the truck Aurora waited incase he wanted to grab their food basket from the back before they headed out. He had plenty of time to eat, as they traveled away from the glaciers and the mountains, until the grasslands gave away to trees.
Signs of the forest preserve dotted the dirt and rock road. Signs denoting biking and hiking trails and warnings of leaving the trail. Signs about wild animals and litter. When they finally found the makeshift parking lot Aurora parked next to the large wooden map. She paused to look at it before leaning over to whisper. "If it weren't so dangerous I'd power up. We can travel so much faster and further that way."
"Here is the trail we want." She said, pointing at one of the lines before making her way towards the trail marker that denoted the little line on the map. A slight hike through an Alaskan rainforest, full of interesting unique trees and understory, that would end at the ocean. By the time they actually got to their picnic they might be too tired to eat! Well.. she might be too tired. Azzo was never too tired to eat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2015 11:31 pm
He gave an absurd grin, "You won't believe how much it reminded me of Polaris."
He started laughing though he did pull a small snack from the basket and offered Aurora some. "Seriously you still should know that answer."
He sighed as he settled into the truck and scarfed down the small snack. He was looking at the signs as they pulled up and then when they finally go into the parking lot near the map he was standing there looking at it. "Huh... yeah there's no tellings where they are." He said with a sigh.
"Are these usually fairly private or just as questionable as the city?" He asked in terms of people in general. He smiled, "This is the time I wish we had snowball to keep a radar out for us so we could know if it was safe." He wasn't about to disbelieve that there could be agents everywhere.
He nodded when she pointed to the trail they want. "Welp lets go then!" He said as he held onto everything. He'd bindled the blankets up so it'd be easier to carry on his shoulder or however he needed, and he had the basket. "If you get tired I'm sure I can carry you too."
While Azzo might get tired there was never such a thing when it came to his princess.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 6:45 am
She smiled as he mentioned Polaris a soft feeling of.. pride or something like it rising in her chest. She was glad that he seemed to like it, even if it was cold and dark, a mere shell of what it once was. He was so sweet and they needed to go back again sometime soon. Well.. she atleast had to go back very very soon, after neglecting the poor star just as she'd neglected everything else in her senshi life for the past year.
His carefully vague words caused Aurora's voice to lower, leaning a little, just in case any other hikers happened upon them. "In my entire time here I haven't seen or heard anything related to senshi or negaverse.." Not even anything super suspious in the news. "But I was afraid that if there were any out here.. my aura would be a beacon drawing them in the moment I powered up."
Originally Aurora had planned on going back to the farm for their picnic. Someplace entirely private and familiar to her. But as Azzo gathered things and she thought about it.. a picnic at the edge of the ocean sounded so much better. And she doubted it would be busy or crowded, they'd likely have enough privacy.
When Azzo mentioned getting tired and carrying her she laughed a little. "I may be been slacking lately but I'm not that out of shape. Besides, you've already got a handful." If it seemed he was having trouble she'd happily take some of the stuff but for now she simply joined his side, starting their way down the path.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:23 am
Azzo nodded, "I just worry because they could just be hiding in plain view. There's no telling how large the organization actually is." He shrugged slightly, "We'll just have to keep an eye out for signs when we come to visit to ensure they haven't began to obviously spread out here. Maybe it's too cold."
He shouldered there stuff, "Is it usually busy here this time of year?" He asked, he hadn't actually thought to see if she was going to want the picnic here but surely it'd be a nice of place as any. Which even if it wasn't where they ended up picnicking they'd still have the food just in case.
He shot her a silly grin when she said she wasn't that out of shape. "If you say so princess~"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 8:44 am
"Are you saying I'm fat!?" She looked wounded at the insinuation, though it was obviously a feigned look, given the fact that she had quite obviously lost weight while in Alaska. Nonetheless she played the part, sniffling a little. "You're so cruel Azzo. You never tell a woman that, even if it is true."
Playfulness aside, she dropped her voice agreeing both silently and verbally with his concerns for caution. It was actually good they were being cautious, because their concerns were well founded, even if they were oblivious to the fact that most of the world was secretly under the thumb of the Negaverse.
"Hmmm..." She thought about his question, even as she paused to crouch, looking at a bush full of berries and tiny flowers. "It's not super dead, but it's certainly not prime tourist season. There are cruises this time of year and people that come here to hike and kayak and what not. But the busiest times tend to be during the Iditarod or later in the year when the Northern lights are brightest and the glaciers look the largest."
Standing again she continued down the past, looking at the trees with soft interest. They were so much different then the trees that dotted the parks of Destiny City. Though they couldn't see it yet the faint sound of the ocean could be heard in the distance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 9:54 am
"Well that escalated fast." He started laughing, "I was actually thinking the opposite." His head shook a little bit as they walked and she looked at the flora.
He nodded himself, "Such a pity." He added, "difficult to do anything without worrying about someone catching you." The last part was meant to throw off anything in case there were ears they couldn't see.
He tilted his head slightly, "Ah well I guess we caught a good time of year then." He stopped when he noticed something that looked a lot like raspberries, "Are these safe to eat do you know?" He asked curiously. They didn't quite have a handbook on what was safe here for him to double check.
He paused as he heard the ocean. How pleasant and tranquil of a sound. "Ya'know if it's too crowded we can always go where ever for the picnic. I'd hate to start chowing down on food and making other people jealous of your cooking."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2015 10:55 am
"It always goes there when it comes to girls" She offered the sage wisdom. It didn't matter how good a girl looked, she could still get self concious about it on a bad day, or horribly twist an otherwise innocent comment from an unsuspecting boy.
The question about berries drew her attention and she stared at them thoughtfully for a long moment, before nodding. "Yeah those are raspberries. Most of them aren't ready yet but if you pick around carefully you'll find a few of the early bloomers."
Continuing down the path, she was also listening to the ocean, starting to detect the soft smell of salt in the air the nearer they drew. "If it's super crowded we'll leave, but I actually really love the idea of staying here. I'd planned on having the picnic out on the ranch just so it was a shorter driving distance home when we were done."
"But the thought of the colors of the sunset and stars reflecting off the water sounds so beautiful."
"Plus less chance of intruding brothers." She added, crinkling her nose at the thought of her brothers popping up just as they were sharing some super romantic kiss or something. Yeah. None of that please.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
