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Drake watched the girl giggle and pet on his dog. She really did like Timber and that was always good to see. Animals had that kind of effect on people. They could always put you in a good mood if you let them. Well, unless you were his sister of course but then again Danielle was probably a bit of a special case. This girl though didn’t seem to have his sister’s reservations and that was just fine with him.

Drake followed the girl as she made her way over and set his guitar aside just in time to welcome a lap full of dog when Timber practically tried to tackle him to say hello. Drake chuckled and began to scratch his dog affectionately behind the ears as he glanced over to the girl beside him. “Nice to meet you Kaylee. Don’t mind him. He just likes to make sure he’s part of the conversation.” Nodding to answer Kaylee’s question Drake continued. “Occasionally. I like to get Timber here out and give him some room to run every once in a while plus it’s a nice day to be out. Good and chilly. Almost right for a little snow.” He paused for a moment before giving the girl a curious look. It wasn’t often he met someone willing to take a walk in the cold and yet here she was. “What about you? I don’t know many people who enjoy a good winters day like I do.”

Drake hummed along to the tune of Blue Christmas as he sat strumming out the chords on his guitar and watching his dog, Timber, dash around the garden. The air was cold and crisp this morning and a thin layer of frost still clung to the grass around where he was sitting but on a whole Drake wasn't overly concerned about the weather. He supposed that this might not be the first place many would think to crack open their guitar and sit down for a little jam session on a chilly winter's day but being the son of a snow goddess this time of year with the brisk air and Christmas just around the corner was a little refreshing. This being the case he had decided that today was the perfect opportunity to get out and walk his dog and to enjoy a little time to himself.

He was skipping curling practice to be out here but that wasn't much of a concern. Any time he could get out of practice was a pretty good day in his book and frequent absences were pretty common for him this time of year. How could he be expected to confine himself to hours of boring practice in an ice skating rink when there was plenty of nice winter weather out in the open to enjoy? The choice was pretty clear in Drake's mind and he made it without a second thought.

In Drake's opinion there was no better way to spend a nice winter's day. Let his sister keep practicing for the Olympics, she could have her dreams of that grand champion's life. He was content to stay right here dog by his side, guitar in hand and enjoying the freedom and fresh air. The only thing that could make this day better would be a little snow and come to think of it he might just use his powers to make some just, after he finished this song of course.

Danielle was always in such a rush always thinking about how her time as a figure skater was just slipping away. Drake didn’t get it. Why work so hard for something that was going to be gone in a few years? They had plenty of time for her to skate or do whatever else she wanted even if she didn’t get to compete so why did everything have to revolve around that one thing in her life? Drake shook his head. It was what it was and there was probably no changing it.

“I don’t know how much more time Dani and I know skating is important to you. I just don’t see why you think the Olympics is this great thing. Who cares about the curling team? You know I only do that because mom makes me. It’s not like it’s my choice.” Timber whined at his master’s obvious distress and Drake reached down to scratch his head as they walked. Danielle was going to do what Danielle wanted to do, that was a given. He just wished he could make her realize that everything in life wasn’t about being the best. There was a lot more to enjoy instead of spending all your life chasing after one thing. Where was the fun in that? “I’m just saying that there’s a lot more out there than some competition.”

He really couldn't argue with her logic on this one. It was kind of ridiculous to hold her back from doing something she really wanted to do. Skating was important to Danielle so why not let her have some fun in her life? Just because he would rather loaf around and skate by in life didn't mean she should have to. Still, what could they really do to change the situation? Drake just hoped she didn't take her acting out too far and that their parents would realize what they were doing to her through the legion before it was too late.

"Wait, what are you thinking about doing?" He asked as he raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "It's not like there's any way to actually run away from the legion." Hopefully she wasn't thinking about anything so risky as running away. That sounded like a good way to end up in the stocks or worse. He had heard Praetor Cheyenne didn't play around. Besides, just because they were stuck here didn't mean they couldn't enjoy themselves a little. "Come on Dani, it's not really that bad here. I mean sure drill isn't the best way to spend your time but it's not worth going AWOL over."

"Hey, that's all I can ask right? We'll do the rest to prove you wrong won't we boy?" Drake reached down to scratch Timber behind the ears and almost in response to the boy's question the dog gave two quick barks. Drake chuckled and continued walking hoping that he wasn't making Danielle too uncomfortable. It was hard to tell when she was so jumpy around dogs but it wasn't like this was the first time they had walked Timber home either so he was sure she was fine or at least was pretending to be.

Speaking of home though that did bring up an interesting thought and an opportunity to change the subject. "So, is there any news on if the parental units are going to let you go out for any big competitions yet?" He knew that Dani had some dreams about competing for the Olympics but he also knew that their parents weren't too keen on them letting things take precedent over their duties with the legion. It was still a long shot and he wasn't hoping for a miracle or anything but he kind of was wishing Dani some luck with changing their mom's mind. She deserved to have something to make her happy. "I know you've been trying for a while."

She really didn't want to tell him but he knew he had hit on something with that twin comment. He didn't feel bad doing it either because he really wanted to know. If something was up he felt he had a right to know because she was his sister after all, his twin and he did care about her. He could have guessed of course and he would have been right. There was only one thing that got you that afraid of something and it was if you had a bad experience with them. As for Danielle's experience it was about a bad as you could get and it was made even worse by the fact that he hadn't been there.

"Damn, I'm sorry sis." He said genuinely. Drake felt bad for not being there. In fact, if it hadn't been for stupid curling he probably would have been and would have been able to stop it. "I won't let that happen again you know. If I'm there you don't have to be afraid." The problem was that he hadn't been there and he could just kick himself for letting Danielle down. "If it makes you feel better Timber's not like that. There can be bad dogs just like there are bad people but not all of them are that way."