[Solo] I am log (Saskia)

[one over three]

Saskia slipped into the pool following after her loyal companion, the alligator Nidhogg. It was an unusually warm summer’s day and while the gator usually preferred to lounge in the water until late fall she usually just lounged on the shore and watched him pretending to be a log all afternoon. She often wondered how it was that he found pretending to be a log entertaining but never really thought to question how she found watching him pretend to be a log all that engaging.

Today though, as she followed him into the water, she had decided to play log with him. Even if she wasn’t saying it out loud she sort of really wanted little birds to come land on her snout just like they did to her faithful gator friend. The pool it’s self wasn’t all that deep so she waded in as far as she could go then lowered herself into the water and dipped her neck down so just her eyes and nose peaked up above the surface. She wouldn’t be able to float around like Nidhogg did but that was fine. Maybe they would play this game again another time and choose a different, deeper pond for their shenanigans.

Her ear flicked a little as she heard Nidhogg chuckle, “You make for a very bright stump. Try getting your mane wet and laying your ears back.”

She nodded, then dunked her head underwater for a moment before resurfacing and resuming her pose. Trying not to move too much she looked over at Nidhogg, who nodded his approval. Well, she thought, this was one disadvantage. Normally she’d be able to at least chatter at Nidhogg from the shore, even if he didn’t feel like responding. With her mouth underwater though this hang out time would just become a waiting game. She blew a bubble then trained her eyes skyward for a moment, looking for any sign of life.

The local birds had more or less grown used to their presence most afternoons and it wasn’t at all a surprise that they hadn’t left the area at all while she was settling down into the water. They’d been weary at first, but grew confidant, even cocky, once they realized that the gator preferred fish to pheasant and wouldn’t snap at them. It didn’t take all that long for the first of the local birds to fly down to the water and begin using Nidhogg’s head as a platform from which they could dip into the water for a quick bath.

It took them a while longer to warm up to landing on her head, and from there they seemed to mostly be interested in taking little sips of water. Saskia smiled. Yeah, this was fun.  

[one over three]

As the region moved into the warmer months the shady pond Nidhogg had favoured in the spring started to dry up. It wouldn’t ever get quite low enough to evict the gator but they liked to try and keep to ponds that could accommodate the both of them. This mean that they’d be moving to one of the more popular pools at least until they had a major rain storm or two. Fortunately they had a few options that they enjoyed visiting as back ups.

Saskia knelt down and let her little gator friend climb up on her back, draping himself over her back in a way that would let him balance without digging his claws into her. There was a point where they wouldn’t have attempted this without a blanket or some other covering but they’d both grown so used to the process that keeping a blanket and draping it over her back over and over was now more trouble than it was worth. Once he’d climbed up and gotten himself stable she stood up and started walking down the path.

The first pond they checked out was a bit too crowded for their taste, but the second, only a little further away, didn’t have any unusual activity so they decided to settle down there. Both of these ponds were out in the sun though, which meant that they were significantly warmer than the little pond they normally enjoyed.

Saskia didn’t bother kneeling down this time, instead just wading into the water until she was deep enough for Nidhogg to swim off and out into the pond. He rolled a few times before diving down into the water to explore. Saskia ducked her head underwater as well, but didn’t stay under as she really didn’t care to open her eyes when she wasn’t sure what else was submerged with her. The water instantly cooled her black mane and she sighed as she came back up.

If they decided to play log again here the sun would end up drying her mane out incredibly fast, tempting her to dunk under water again sooner than normal and scaring off any of her little bird friends she might have tempted to come down and land on her head. That, of course, killed off most of the fun of the game to begin with. While she floated there she wondered if she would be able to get any of the raccoons to make her a hat or weave some sort of cover into her mane. That way she may even be able to keep more of her head underwater as the majority of it would be concealed by her mask.

It seemed a little silly, but really there wasn’t any harm in asking.  

[one over three]

As the summer months dragged on Saskia found herself growing more and more comfortable with spending time in the water as she avoided the afternoon heat. A While ago she’d convinced a few raccoon crafters to make her a head piece made to resemble that of a gator. It was large enough, and buoyant enough, that she was able to sink into the water and rest her chin on the base as it floated. It could get a little muggy inside but when the sun was at it’s height the boon she received from staying out of the sun’s direct rays was enough to out weigh the slight discomfort due to the soggy air.

Originally she’d wanted a head piece that would make those who wandered near the pond think that there were two gators lounging, but in the end she’d gotten something that looked a bit more like a fancy gator or some sort of dragon. Counter to her original intent this seemed to make people think there was some kind of wood suti lounging in the water. A couple times she’d overheard strangers wondering allowed if there was a wood suti that protected this area. That always got a soft chuckle out of her. If only. She’d never seen a suti up close but the stories always made their power sound rather wondrous. She wouldn’t have minded meeting one someday, it didn’t really matter what kind.

Her head bobbed in the water as a rather large duck landed with a surprisingly heavy thud on top of her head piece. She looked up through the gaps in the twigs, trying to see anything more than a vague shadow. This must have been one of the locals. All the animals who visited this spot had gotten very used to her presence over the last month or so. Nidhogg’s presence less so. He was, after all, known to snap at and even eat anyone who let their guard down or forgot that there really were two fearsome beasts hanging out in the pond.

She glanced out the eye holes, trying not to move her head as she scanned the water for her friend. He wasn’t far away, and already had his eyes locked onto the duck. If it decided to enter the water when it left her head rather than take flight again. She smiled to herself and closed her eyes again. The sun would creep closer to the horizon soon, and if the duck hadn’t vacated it’s roost before the breeze cooled she’d have to tilt her head and force it to make it’s choice. And if she had any say in the mater it would be making the choice that sent it straight into Nidhogg’s jaws.