“Angela!”
Starting slightly, Angela waved her hand urgently over her shoulder at her colleague as they approached. She didn't turn to see if they stopped or not, keeping her eyes fixed on the two diminutive white and gold drakes sitting in front of her as they lapped at the icy water. Raising her camera slowly, she snapped a few quick photos in rapid succession. One of the drakes raised its head and hissed at her warningly then while the other continued drinking.
Angela remained completely still, looking through her camera lens at the annoyed creature as it bared its rows of little teeth at her in warning. After a moment more passed of its threat display it returned to its drink with its companion before both finished and spread their wings. With surprising unity, the pair crouched and sprang up into the air, their light frames carrying them upwards and away from Angela's view as she raised her lens and snapped a few quick shots of them in flight before they were too far away for effective photography.
Sighing, she turned to look at her companion and fellow biologist Doctor Cameron Michaels.
“You almost spooked them before I could get any good shots.”
“Sorry.” Cameron said with an apologetic smile. “I just wanted to let you know we're about to head out. Did you have anything you needed to do or grab?”
Shaking her head, Angela tucked her camera into its case.
“No, let's get out there and see what we can find.”
The pair walked back to the base camp, the prefabricated structures stood out amidst the golden-brown grass and glacial mountains but it wasn't to these buildings that they returned. Instead they went to one of the large multi-tracked snowcats. The hulking vehicle was almost a building unto itself as Angela and Cameron climbed aboard.
“About time you two joined us.” teased one of their fellow researchers jovially. “We were wondering if we'd have to leave without you!”
“Not a chance.” Angela replied as she took her seat in the cabin. “Ready whenever you are.”
“Alright then, Tobi, let's head out.”
Their driver and guide—Tobi—was a native of the glacial zone. His actual name was all but unpronounceable in English and so he went by 'Tobi' instead. His age was hard to decipher given his weather worn features and no one pressed him about it. He merely nodded as he turned the ignition for the snowcat. The mobile lab rolled forwards on its tracks as David, the man who had greeted Angela and Cameron, spoke into the radio.
“Base Camp this is U02, we're heading out.”
“U02, Base Camp, stay safe out there. See you when you get back.”
With the brief communication over, David turned to look at Angela.
“Did you get some good pictures?”
Angela nodded. “Yes, I've never been able to get that close to drakes before.”
“It's not always easy, though these are the little ones.” David laughed. “The big species are a bit testier I'm sure you're aware.”
Nodding again, Angela turned to David in full in her swivel chair.
“Have you ever been near the larger drakes?”
“Once or twice, though not always intentionally. The first time was completely by accident I admit. We were observing a muskox herd when one of the big fire drakes came out of nowhere and attacked the herd.” David nodded to Tobi as he drove. “Tobi was our guide that day and saved our lives. We were ready to panic and run on the spot but he told us to remain still. So there we were, a half-dozen people watching one of the biggest drakes in the world gorge itself on a muskox less than a hundred yards away.” David's smile was full of amusement as he continued. “Most of us needed a change of underwear after the drake finally flew off again.”
The stoic Tobi seemed to find amusement as his stern face cracked in a brief smile.
“David did good that day, very brave.”
David laughed. “I needed to change my underwear too.” he retorted.
“But you did not run, that is important.” Tobi emphasized as his features again assumed their impassive cast.
Sighing, David shrugged. “Ever since that day I only go out with Tobi. He's kept me safe for the past two years I've been doing this and I intend to repay the debt sometime.”
“You bring great honor to my family.” Tobi replied as he looked ahead on their path. “No debt is necessary.”
“You say that, but I'm going to bring you and your family something one of these days.” David asserted. “You'll see.”
He turned his attention back to Angela who had been following the exchange with a smile of her own.
“So, what brings you up here?”
“I wanted to see the drakes. Most of the southern species are extinct or so rare that they're all but impossible to find. With climate change opening up more of the far north for human exploitation I wanted to be a part of the efforts to conserve them before it's too late.”
David's incessant smile sobered slightly as he nodded.
“I can understand that. Thankfully the constant wrangling over who owns what has kept the corporations and everyone else tied up in political debate over who gets access to what. So long as it doesn't escalate into a war, I'm perfectly content to let that continue. Any time we can buy for the wildlife up here is worth it as far as I'm concerned.”
“So that means it's up to maniacs like us to show people how delicate this place is, especially now that everything is getting warmer.” Cameron enjoined from her place on the other side of the cab.
Angela nodded her agreement, yawning suddenly.
“Sorry,” she said as she covered her mouth. “I haven't slept much since I got here.”
David nodded towards the back of the cabin.
“There are two bunk-beds there if you want to catch a nap. The long days up here can be hard to get used to I admit. If you want some more privacy then the other cabin has identical bunks.”
“Thanks,” Angela said as she stood from her seat and stifled another yawn. “I'll do that. Wake me up if we come across anything?”
“You know it.” David said with a thumbs up. “Sleep well Doctor Zimmerman.”
Fighting yet another yawn, Angela went to the back of the cabin and found the aforementioned bunk-beds. There was one set on either side of the cabin and they rested behind a folding screen door that would keep them relatively dark for anyone resting in them. Carefully stowing her camera case in the stowage space beneath the bunk, she laid down in it and immediately closed her eyes and was asleep before she could even close the door.
“Angela.”
She moaned, turning over groggily as she yawned and opened her eyes to find Cameron looking down at her.
“Angela, wake up.”
“What is it?” Angela asked sleepily.
“You need to come up top, right now.” Cameron urged as she turned to go. “Bring your camera.”
Yawning again, Angela rolled out of her bunk and retrieved the camera from its case, looping it over her head before she went to the ladder and climbed up onto the snowcat's roof. Looking around at the mouth of the hatch she caught her breath. The aurora was in full effect, casting the starry night sky in a vibrant rainbow of colors but that wasn't what truly retained her attention. The little white and gold drakes from before were flying in their hundreds across the colorful night sky, their pale bodies catching the light and reflecting it in dazzling displays as they turned and wheeled overhead.
Getting to her feet, Angela raised her lens and began snapping as many photos as she could. After a few test shots she checked to make sure they were coming through clearly. Adjusting her settings she continued to snap shots of the vivid display. After several moments passed she lowered her camera to admire the dancing skylights and the drakes' colorful ballet amidst the stars and rivers of rainbow light.
“It's beautiful.” she breathed in awe.
“Yeah, we're lucky to see this on our first night out.” David said quietly from nearby.
Angela turned to look at him in the dark.
“What are they doing?”
“We're not entirely sure.” he replied. “There's a lot we don't know yet but the theory is that it's a social display. Not mating because that's something else entirely and only happens twice a year. This happens whenever the aurora is in effect and they do it without fail.” in the darkness she saw his shoulders heave in a shrug beneath his snow coat. “One theory, the one I ascribe to, is that this is something they do to reaffirm their relationships to one another. Essentially bonding the flock together so that they recognize one another and know who to help and who to ignore.”
Angela turned her eyes skyward again.
“How long will the night last?”
“Thirty-six hours or so. Then we'll have another Fifty-fourish hours of daylight before the next night begins.”
“Will the aurora last the whole night through?” she asked.
“No, usually it only appears at the beginning and end of the night before fading in the middle. These little guys will display during both periods when the aurora is active and sleep in between.”
Watching the dazzling display of light and drake alike, Angela couldn't help but feel a great swelling of determination in her chest. Whatever it took, whatever she had to do, she'd find a way to bring this beauty to the world and show them just how important it was they preserve this place. So much of the natural world had already been lost, they mustn't lose this as well.