Golden eyes peered sleepily out at the first golden rays that filtered down into her den. As Karabela's vision adjusted to wakefulness she spied the falling of delicate white flakes that sparkled in the sun before falling to the ground. Her ears flicked forward. Snow? Scrambling off the buffalo hide that lined her den she strode out into a gorgeous winter day, marveling at the impressive snowfall that had blanketed Ivory Ridge in white. It was perfect! Soft and powdery and she knew exactly what she had planned for the days events. Ducking back into her den she nosed around for a few spare pelts and snagged them in her jaws before slipping back out into the winter cold.

Swiftly the alphess was on the move. Gingerly navigating her way down the mountain side, she scrambled over rock and around brush until she found the gentler slopes where the base of the mountain smoothed out into the Stone Steppe. Grinning she tilted her head and howled for her packmates. This was the perfect location for a bit of sledding. She gently set the pelts down next to some chunks of bark. She wasn't sure what would work best and in the end they could always slide down on her backsides. She grinned. It was time they had some fun!

"Speech"

Birna strode through the drifts of snow that had accumulated at the edge of Fenrir's Maw, her powerful limbs and large frame helping to push her forward through one of the first substantial snowfalls of the season. The older woman appreciated the weather, in some ways it reminded her of home. This climate was far more hospitable to her thick winter coat. Leaping up onto a ledge Birna took a moment to survey the land. Border patrols had been pretty quiet lately. She doubted anyone with sense would bother trying to scramble up these mountains in winter but defense of territory was a typical part of being a wolf. Ears flicked forward at the sound of her niece's howl. It didn't sound urgent but she wondered if there was a meeting or another reason the members of Ivory Ridge were being summoned. Birna followed the call, arriving to see Karabela doing… well what on earth was the woman doing? Her head tilted as she gazed at her new alphess. "Karabela… what are you doing?" "Talk"

Qualm listened as he sorted through his herbs from a recent trip. Sure he'd been a little quiet but that was his own fault. As he heard the call his ears perked and he dropped what he was doing with a soft smile on his face. Must have been something strange. As he walked out and noticed the snow across the ground. Seemed like winter was in full swing - the male made his way towards the call and notice the sleds or makeshift sleds on the snow floor. "Raba what are we doing?" he laughed a little at the fact. He had a basic idea that they would be sliding in the snow. How many of these bark pieces would break though was the question. After all, a wolf of Birna's size even how would it support them. Qualm was deathly curious. "Talk"

Winter was finally here and with it came a fresh blanket of powdery white snow. This was his element - this he could handle. His thick insulated coat kept him warm as he trudged through the piles that had built up on the mountain side. It was almost like being home at the tundra. Granted the mountains offered a bit different terrain (perhaps a bit more tricky) but he was enjoying it all the same. It made this place feel like home - even without his siblings or family members here. A howl interrupted his stroll and his head raised. It was Karabela - what did she have planned today? He'd missed the hunt (his fault really) as he'd been too far out to be able to make it in time. The healers meeting - well that was never something he'd been interested in. He certainly wouldn't ignore a call from Karabela though. So he headed towards the slopes above the Steppe. A strange female, Raba herself, and one of the healers were already here, but that didn't help him discern what was going on. He plopped his rump in the snow and sat quietly to patiently wait what the plan was. Walk, "Talk" Think

The youth had fizzled out of training with Raba when the other said that she wouldn’t be able to train her. Though disheartened the girl was determined to try again at a later date. Nah was resting within the den she shared with Qualm, separate from his herb storage, and was breathing in and out slowly. With the coming of winter the child was officially a year old. Nah stirred from her slumber, however, upon hearing Raba’s call. The sound of her alphess would be ignored… even if she’d been a bit disappointed.

Rising from her sleep Nah let out a long yawn. The youth peered out, wondering where Qualm was. Had her father already reported to Raba? Carefully moving out she headed off fore the Steppe to find out what was going on.

She arrived to find only four present… including Qualm. The yearling went to sit by him quietly, eyeing Raba curiously. What was the bark for? What were they doing out in the cold?

She had been keeping busy despite not being able to collect herbs anymore until spring. Most of her time was being spent in her den with herbs, memorizing and studying so that she could continue to grow her knowledge. She wanted to continue to learn so that someday she could be a great healer. Today was no different, stuffed in her den studying. Locking out the world and staying in her own world. Only when the call from Raba came did the girl's concentration break and a grin appeared on her face. Quickly she picked herself up, moved out of the den and into the beautiful snow. Shaking the female fluffed up her winter coat to help keep the cold from getting to her. She then hurried to the area Raba had called from. It took her a little bit to get there maneuvering through the rocks and down the mountain. When she got there several were already gathered and her tail wagged in eagerness for what today held. Was this a meeting? Or did thier alpha have something else planned for this pretty winter day. Gracefully approaching the crowd she smiled brightly, her confidence had grown since she had first arrived. Right over to Qualm and sat on the opposite side from where Nah was sitting. "Talk" "You" Think

A freshly killed rabbit swung from Dagmær's jaws as she pranced back toward Ivory Ridge with her catch. She'd been quite pleased. The snow had been thick and soft enough that it didn't support the rabbits weight causing it to break through the snow as it tried to flee while her longer limbs gave her the advantage in pinning the rodent down. She was still a ways out when she heard her aunts call and she cocked her head to the side. It didn't sound urgent but she wondered if they were having a meeting or something. So far the winter had been mostly hard work with each member doing their share to keep the pack going as well as getting settled into their new territory. It wouldn't surprise her if her aunt was calling a meeting. Ugh… and she was going to be late! That wouldn't do. Shifting the rabbit in her jaws Dagmær sprang up the mountain side. She was hurrying as fast as she could and as she saw the gathering ahead her paw slipped sending her sliding spread eagle right into Birna with enough force to send both women spinning down the hill. Dag squawked in surprise as the rabbit flew out of her jaws and up into the air. Walk, "Talk" Think

Birna had been watching her niece with interest as the other pack members arrived wondering much the same. She was so caught up in eyeing the pelts that she hadn't bothered to pay much attention to Dagmær's hurried arrival, after all it was pretty typical of the youth. SLAM! Birna's paws were out from under her in an instant as she went careening on her belly down the slick slope. "DAGMÆRRRR" She yelled out as she picked up speed, limbs flailing gracelessly as she tried to stop herself before she rolled, rollled…. bump, rolled to a stop. Stumbling to her paws with a snarl Birna shook the snow from her pelt. "You-" Birna couldn't find the words as she eyed Dagmær's bottom half sticking out of a giant snow drift, her hind legs kicking wildly. The rabbit that had been in Dag's jaws moments before landed with a plop right on the young femme's rear. A grin cracked across her face before Birna bellowed out a laugh. "HAHA! Serves you right, here hold still… hang on." Grabbing hold of Dag's tail Birna gave a few good tugs before finally pulling the young woman free. "Talk"

Karabela hummed to herself as she fussed over the pelts. She had no idea how her pack would take this idea and if it would hurt her image at all. Pfft! Yea, her image as what? She was a dangerous woman in her own right and if others wanted to picture her as all sunshine and silliness she was fine with being underestimated. Though she supposed it wasn't really kosher for an alpha to summon her pack for sledding of all things. Either way the Chieftain was intent to do what she wanted when she wanted and she hoped that the other members of Ivory Ridge could see the value in breaking from a hard winters day of work for a bit of fun. Birna was the first to arrive and Karabela simply answered her question with a mischievous grin. "You'll see!"

Qualm was the next to arrive and she got a thrill out of his curiosity. Oh she couldn't wait to surprise everyone! Tonrar was next, serious and quiet followed by Nah who was growing up quite quickly. Karabela needed to make sure to introduce Birna to Nah so the girl could begin her battle training but that could wait for another day. Delaney was next. My what a quiet-

Raba's thoughts didn't get any further as her niece came barreling into the gathering with a rabbit hanging from her jaws, slipped on the ice and crashed right into Birna sending them both flailing down the slope. Karabela let out a roar of laughter and their misfortunate. "Hey! No fair getting a head start." She waited patiently until Birna and Dagmær returned back up the slope.

"Thanks for coming everyone! You've all been working so hard to keep the pack going during the winter that I thought we deserved a bit of fun so I've been scouting about until I found us the perfect sledding slope! You can slide down on your belly or backside, as Birna and Dag so graciously demonstrated, or you can slide down on of the pelts. I also grabbed some tree bark. Not sure how well it will work but it's worth a shot. If anyone has a game they want to play just let me know. Tally ho!"

Seizing a partial deer hide Karabela flung herself on it and hurled herself down the slope on her belly. The wind rushed past her face and she felt like a kid again. Oh boy, the only thing they needed now was a ramp!

"Speech"