<snip>

Reia’s laughter followed Dagen as she made her way after him.

“Yes, I’ll bet you went hungry quite a bit. And I would be happy to pick you up where ever you like.”

“Only till supper,” Dagen replied. “Someone of the bunch would have had some luck. Usually granddad. I swear he was some fish whisperer.” At that point he launched himself off and down the slope, not the least half of his thinking being that she may have to pick him up.

Reia had been concentrating on Dagen a bit too much and had to slow down a bit to regain her balance before continuing at a reputable pace.

• Reia

The trouble with cross country was that they were not downhill and the trouble with this slope was that it was not wide enough to do much finessing. Dagen poled himself along and tucked in as his speed increased. Yes it was nothing like downhill where the wind would be whipping along his face with that cold burn that he loved. However it was also not quite in his thoughts on just how he was going to fully stop at the bottom. For the moment he was going to enjoy this and trust in holodeck safeties. Or at least his rusty skills. Nearing the base he plied his skills to slow himself, however soon after he realized that that was a little too late on the execution of that. As the pathway turned and leveled out there was a broader patch of ground to maneuver. It was there that as Dagen quickly approached it that he executed a pretty decent parallel turn and dug in. With a spray of snow Dagen came to a quick stop. He felt a bare moment of pride in that until he realized he was too far erect and that his upper body was still moving and he went down in the bank at the bottom half buried in the snow.

Reia would find him splayed out spread eagle laughing with a face full of snow.
Dagen

Reia was following Dagen’s tracks, her pace was respectable but a bit slower than she would have liked. Perhaps they would come to some flatter terrain and she would do better.

Coming to the bottom she expected to see Dagen in the distance or, perhaps, waiting for her. Certainly not half buried in a snow bank.

Slowly she came to a stop unable to contain her laughter. She doubled over in a fit. After what seemed like an eternity, she straightened back up, raised her goggles, and attempted to wipe her eyes.

“Need some help good sir?” she asked beginning to laugh again.

• Reia