Two - #07. “Ice Otters of Lumen Lake”
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2026 12:58 pmThe map leads you to a lake so clear it reflects not just the sky, but also the minds of all nearby. Shapes shimmer beneath the surface. Phantoms of people long past, beasts half-remembered, stars that never were.
And at the lake’s edge, laughter.
The Ice Otters have arrived. Sleek and silvery, they slide across the frozen surface like living comets. Every few seconds, one vanishes beneath the ice only to pop up somewhere unexpected, juggling snowballs or icicles, and once they began jump-roping with Finn’s tail.
“Thieves!” he yelps.
“Entertainers!” corrects their whiskered leader Mira. “We guard the lake’s reflections. Only those who can make us laugh may cross!”
You suspect this is less a rule and more an excuse to cause chaos. Still, you accept the challenge.
Your first attempt (an impression of Orla’s stern eyebrow) gets a few polite snickers. Finn’s attempt, involving a dramatic pratfall into a snowdrift, gets uproarious applause.
“Fine,” you grumble, brushing snow from your sleeves. “We’ll call it a team effort.”
The otters reward you with a path of solid ice across the lake. Beneath it, your reflection grins back. Older somehow, or maybe just braver.
As you cross, Mira waves. “Remember,” she calls, “laughter keeps the ice from breaking.”
Finn tilts his head. “Metaphorically?”
The ice cracks, just a little.
“Apparently not,” you say, running the last few steps.
Task:
Write a Review of any HOL appropriate book, movie, album, or other piece of art/media that has themes of winter, sharing 100 words or more for full credit.
Alternatively you could solve the following Wordsesrch puzzle and Send Me Your Solution through a private message.
To be found:
01. AURORACALL
02. EVERFROST
03. HAILSTORM
04. ICEBOUND
05. MAPSPHERE
06. MOONSHARD
07. NIGHTWHISPER
08. PATHFINDER
09. SHIVERFIT
10. SKYFIRE
11. SNOWBEAST
12. STARTAIL
13. TRAILMARKER
14. WAYFARER
15. WHITECOLD
15 beans/sapphires are available for this task, with an extra 15 for completing all Week Two tasks by end of activity. Deadline is 11:59pm (HOL time) on Wednesday January 21st.
And at the lake’s edge, laughter.
The Ice Otters have arrived. Sleek and silvery, they slide across the frozen surface like living comets. Every few seconds, one vanishes beneath the ice only to pop up somewhere unexpected, juggling snowballs or icicles, and once they began jump-roping with Finn’s tail.
“Thieves!” he yelps.
“Entertainers!” corrects their whiskered leader Mira. “We guard the lake’s reflections. Only those who can make us laugh may cross!”
You suspect this is less a rule and more an excuse to cause chaos. Still, you accept the challenge.
Your first attempt (an impression of Orla’s stern eyebrow) gets a few polite snickers. Finn’s attempt, involving a dramatic pratfall into a snowdrift, gets uproarious applause.
“Fine,” you grumble, brushing snow from your sleeves. “We’ll call it a team effort.”
The otters reward you with a path of solid ice across the lake. Beneath it, your reflection grins back. Older somehow, or maybe just braver.
As you cross, Mira waves. “Remember,” she calls, “laughter keeps the ice from breaking.”
Finn tilts his head. “Metaphorically?”
The ice cracks, just a little.
“Apparently not,” you say, running the last few steps.
Task:
Write a Review of any HOL appropriate book, movie, album, or other piece of art/media that has themes of winter, sharing 100 words or more for full credit.
Alternatively you could solve the following Wordsesrch puzzle and Send Me Your Solution through a private message.
To be found:
01. AURORACALL
02. EVERFROST
03. HAILSTORM
04. ICEBOUND
05. MAPSPHERE
06. MOONSHARD
07. NIGHTWHISPER
08. PATHFINDER
09. SHIVERFIT
10. SKYFIRE
11. SNOWBEAST
12. STARTAIL
13. TRAILMARKER
14. WAYFARER
15. WHITECOLD
15 beans/sapphires are available for this task, with an extra 15 for completing all Week Two tasks by end of activity. Deadline is 11:59pm (HOL time) on Wednesday January 21st.