two months and twenty-some days. that was how long ago his leg had broken, and the majority of the time he had been within dawnbreak. the bone had knit well but his age had demanded another month. still he hobbled to and fro, resting where necessary, pursuing small ventures here and there.
today he meant to swim, even if he must paddle in the shallows like a child. unpleasantly icy, water along a white ridge lapped at his ankles. he limped deeper into the stream, jaw tensed against both the cold and a swear.
his ankle began to throb, but suetonius grimly persevered.

skill: hunter

It was midday in the Vale, a clear afternoon, a brief pause in the otherwise snowy days. They'd not been heavy, but just enough to keep the snow underpaw crisp. Soon, when fall neared its end, most days would be overcast with snow and ice, which kept most from inhabiting their mountains. Dalmatia, though, had been born in the Vale, since youth, been running through the snow as if it were nothing new, ice-skating with (some) ease — a strictly winter activity, and usually accidental. Though today, she is merely a visitor near the stream, visiting the cluster of her favorite berry bushes that liked to hide underneath the shade of the pines.

There are few fruits in the fall, but the blooms of the blueberry bushes had started to sprout, their sweet scent attracting other small creatures. Dal did her best to keep quiet when she was hunting, especially something other than berries (but had to do something else when they weren't in season), but often failed. This time, her pawsteps were too loud, crunching upon fallen leaves, alerting the hare to her presence, and making it sprint towards the stream. Dal sprinted after it, but her attention was caught by someone else a little downstream. By the time she looked back, the hare was fleeing upstream. Her stomach grumbled, yet she could see the small struggle in the wolf at first glance, and decided her meal could wait.

He smelt of Dawnbreak, most likely one of the resident visitors, most found their way here injured, and they never turned away someone in need. Is it a new pain or old? She called, her voice soft, as her dry form approached his semi-wet one, keeping towards the edge.

not all names were known to him. but upon turning his head, he found a wolf that bore some familiarity, if just in her scent. her coat was spotted, something quite rare in his recollection, but he did not stare at her. it is a healing pain, domine. (lady)
suetonius did not wish for rudeness, but he could not allow himself to be distracted after he had limped this distance. i am exercising, added the man by way of vague explanation.
determination carried him deeper into the water, but only abusive mental force exerted against himself at last placed suetonius in the water. he grunted to fight the gasp, plunging his head beneath and feeling such a cold bite at every part of his skin that it was scarcely bearable. but suetonius surfaced and did it a second time, and a third, until at last he was tingling and fully awake.
those first strokes pulled the healing leg terribly, and water poured from between his gnashing teeth. but he had not clawed way up ranks of blood to be quelled by some ice. shivering set in when one was at rest; therefore he did not allow himself any rest until he was simply unable to go on.
a new anguish, then, to clamber back; he had not yet glanced to see if the mottled maid had remained, though now that he felt productive, suetonius knew he would also be more amenable.