Sitting by the Fire

Outside the cave system that was the seat of her family and the pack, it seemed as if the world was a constant of snow. Blizzards squalled through the lands, and if it was this bad in the Plains, she could only imagine how wild the weather was in the north.

Her father hadn’t returned, and Aurielle could only assume that the bad weather might have delayed him. Perhaps any passes he might have needed to take on his return home, hopefully with her mother and brother with him, were completely blocked.

The young leader was stretched out – after a thoroughly frozen and snowy patrol using the wall as a guide – by the fire in the cave designated for heating the caves. The two lemurs and large monkey that had joined her and Paladin as companions during their return from the Battlefield and her spar with the male there had devised a woven shield to put over the hole of the cave ceilings to let smoke out, keep the snow out, and the heat in.

They’d been helpful in many ways. Paladin at last had two companions who could help him with even m ore advanced healing procedures, and Aurielle had someone who was thoroughly infatuated with weaving hair. Ayodele had spent hours already braiding the long tresses of the young wolf’s mane, giggling cheerfully.

They also were able to break larger sticks with their dexterous hands. Come spring, the wood supply would be in dire need of replenishing. The fire needed to burn year ‘round, as it would be needed to heat teas and tinctures, as well as tallow for Paladin’s herbs and salves. With the heavy snows this winter had brought, gathering fuel was a bit more difficult.

For now, though, Aurielle was glad to simply thaw out by the fire, mulling over thoughts. Chief among them were that she hadn’t been able to gather any new members yet. Another was sentry duties, and how to make them a little more comfortable for those who sat upon the ends of the wall in the passages. Her eyes flacked to the fire. Perhaps there was a way to build a windbreak and have a small fire burning behind it. Though the smoke might foul the sentry’s sense of smell.

Another thought was that with this particularly harsh winter, those in the pack who didn’t den in the cave’s alcoves might be much colder in their own dens. And that included Amos. She'd made him well aware that the alcoves had plenty of vacancies if he needed the warmth of a fire heated cave system. She just hoped the older male would take her up on the offer.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think