The weather had turned and with it the land seemed to hold its breath. Nothing stirred and all was silent, a fact that should have meant more to Jakuta but it did not. Ever the sly one, she cared not for politics, for she had more pressing things on her mind. Like how to take a bath without freezing her nipples off. Eyes the palest shade of blue narrow at the river, its surface still alive but she knew the hidden traps held within its depths. She also knew the biting pain if she were to linger too long within it’s embraces. Gah, she was much too old for this yet still…she did not want to go into the water. A soft growl bubbles up within her throat as she rises from her crouched position and before she knew it, she was pacing a short circuit on the river bank. If only she knew of a hot spring! Her life would be so much better!

Ten minutes pass before she crouched yet again by the river edge, her contemptuous stare as intense as ever as she regarded it. Perhaps it was not as could as her mind made it out to be. Tentatively she reaches a paw out to dip into the lapping edge only to yank it back out with a yowl. "Flying hares that is COLD!” Dipping her fox like face she bathes her toe in her warm mouth, quickly warming the wet fur and calming her now frazzled nerves. Bathing was a no go. She would have to settle using her tongue again that night until another warmer day rolled around. With a defeated sigh she turns to settle further away from the water’s edge. Dipping her head, she starts to groom the fur on her side. What else could go wrong?