Vaughan had assigned her a task during their last meeting - work together with another wolf, Tahlia, to improve the hunting skills of the pack. She had spoken with the wolf shortly after, parting with the intention of her calling a pack hunt as a learning opportunity, but the sudden plague had put the plan on hold. Tahlia had been one of the wolves struck down by it. But the favor of the gods had returned to them shortly after Katja's sacrifice of a boar and the shedding of her own blood, and a cure had been found as well as the opportunity for diplomatic relations with another pack. The herbs had taken effect, and now the pack's sick were on the mend. Perhaps not all to their full potential, but enough. Katja's wounds were still tender, but long experience with injury allowed her to judge that unless she were fool enough to try to tackle another boar the healing scars would hold up to a hunt now. So the viking woman smoothly loped from her den in the steppes to the usually fertile hunting land around their lake. It was winter yet, so prey was a bit more scarce but there were still deer and elk who hung around the lake to take advantage of the ready water source, hiding from the fierce wind and cold of winter in the shelter of the steppes though they seemed to tend to avoid the rock garden due to the stronger scent of the wolves who denned there. The winter would have weakened many of them, making easy prey for the pack for the purpose of this lesson. Nose quivering, she made her way until she found fresh sign, then stopped beside it. First step in learning would be learning how to find prey, then track it, then to work together to kill it. It was time to begin. She raised her black-masked face to the sky, sending out a call demanding - not requesting - the presence of all the ebon knights, and any solas who so wished to join in hunt. She would be disappointed if no solas showed up, but she would be coldly furious were an ebon to shirk their duty in such a way. Gods help those who did so. "Speech."

The white maiden was resting in her den when the howl filled her ears. She had been sleeping a lot recently, recovering from the stressful nights spent tending to the sick members of Ebony. The cure had been found, thank goodness, and now her patients came less frequently. She hadn't seen a single one today. There was a hopeful feeling of normality in the air. Things were going to be alright. But now this call was sent from the lake, echoing in a familiar voice. This was Katja, the high lady who had protected the heirs during the plague. Adelaide felt an unspoken kinship with the woman, and quickly rose to see how she could be of help. Her feet moved smoothly across the land, helping her to arrive quickly on the scene. She was the first to answer the call. Her lips pulled into a friendly smile as she rested on her haunches a few feet away. "Very nice to see you again, Lady Katja. I trust that you are well?" The pleasantries were as to be expected, though for the two women that final question rang with a bit more meaning. This had been a frightful winter so far, and Adelaide truly wanted to see whether or not the dark lady was faring well. Winter was hard enough without an epidemic to deal with. Food was scarce, pack hunts would need to be arranged. Blue eyes sparked a bit in the following silence. Was that what this gathering would be about? Walk."Talk."Think.

Coming fast on six months of age Sigmarr was growing into a handsome young man. The plague was ended his sister was safe and now it was back to the grind stone for the young male to whip himself up into shape. He planned to train with Katja as soon as she was free and maybe hang out with Valeriya but in the mean time it looked like it was time for him to learn some hunting. Sigmarr strolled into the gathering of hunters. He didn't care if he was too young he could at least watch. Unfortunately it was just Katja and Adelaide. "Hey Katja! Where's everybody else?" "Talk" "You" Think

Walk | Talk | Think

She counted it a beautiful blessing that a cure had been found for the epidemic. Tahlia could only remember half of the details from the time during her sickness and her son's, the fever that had claimed her first addling her mind to the point that she did not quite trust what she did manage to remember. Bane was helping in that department. Of all of them, she was convinced he had been the hardest effected, worrying over both her and Kailos while they spent their days in states of sickness, delirium, and sleep. Honestly she was lucky to have him watching over her and theirs.

But she had been feeling better lately, her mind returned to her and her strength close enough to whole that she could not allow herself to spend anymore time inside the sick den. She had a job to do, a task designated to both her and Katja that had been prolonged due to the illness. And she valued her family's place here too much to let herself slack as she once had allowed herself to. No, she would rightfully play her part so her children could keep their comfortable lifestyle.

She had been anticipating the call of the High Lady and she stepped from her den by the lake with a moment's pause just outside as she heard it. Close to home. All the better. She could more quickly return to check on Kailos's progress, if he did not manage to sneak out of the den to join his elder siblings before she got back. Those kids, all of them had far too much energy to rest and were too headstrong to listen to her when she tried to urge them not to push themselves too hard. And Kailos in particular; he had just been sick, after all.

By the time she found Katja only a few had managed to arrive yet, the white woman with the facial markings, Adelaide, who had done well in heading the handling of the epidemic when it broke out and a child, one of their queen's if his appearance was any suggestion. It pleased her very much to see one so young joining their group, finding herself smiling as her single functioning golden eye watched him. She padded around to Adelaide and offered a formal yet sincere bow of her head. "Lady Adelaide," she addressed her, offering the respects of a title that she was not sure the woman possessed but that she felt she deserved, "I wished to thank you on behalf of my son and myself. I understand the cure came from outside, but you were leading our efforts to find it. If not for your determination and treatment I fear what may have become of us." She smiled lastly and inclined her head to excuse herself again.

As she was meant to assist with the instruction of this lesson, Tahlia proceeded to join Katja where she sat heading the group. And again, as she stopped and seated herself, she bowed her head in polite thanks. "Good day, Lady Katja. Thank you for waiting until I was well to call this training together." She very well could have done so alone and taken all the credit for herself, and truth be told Tahlia had feared it upon waking up from her illness. But no, her chance to prove her place in the pack was still hers to take, and she owed respect to this woman for leaving her with that opportunity.

The eldest son of Bane and Tahlia's lay with his right side to the entrance of the den so as to hear and react if called. It was a different den, his siblings closer to his age having been moved out of their old one to house Tahlia and Kailos while they were stricken with the bleeding eyes. Nako remembered the difficulty of trying to dig a hole in the frozen ground that night, finishing just before dawn and sleeping long throughout that first day. Kailos was all better now, as well as his half mother, the juvenile having just tumbled down the entrance a moment ago in a cascade of snow, wasting no time as he started tugging on the wolf's deaf ear. "No Kailos, I will not play. Go play with your sister."

"Don't wanna. You play." Kailos chirped as he grabbed up the ear and twisted it from side to side. Jakart chose that moment to crawl down into the den, taking a moment to stare at his two brothers before and nosed his youngest sibling onto his back. A delighted squeal of surprise was voiced as Kailos was pinned underneath a paw, Nako unable to help the smile that surfaced at the corners of his muzzle. "Come on Nako, meeting's just been called. Mom's already left for it." Jakart turned around and headed back out of the entrance, Kailos cambering onto his paws.

"Jaky and Nako don' goooo." Kailos whined, but Nako was already on his paws and giving his wiggly brother a lick between the ears as a goodbye before heading up. A glaring of light caused him to duck his head down for a moment as the snow covered mountainside glared the suns reflection into his mismatched eyes. Bane was up and about, digging away snow to shovel earth to seal the sick den, Nako assuming his reason was so that no lingering pestilence could infect again. He didn't blame his father. His sire having many long days of hunting and patrolling by himself from sunup to sundown, constantly juggling his duties while trying to feed and care for his sick and often hungry family. And still the old wolf worked hard during this winter. And it the season was still running it's course.

Jakart called back to him and the eldest would shake his head before following his brother. By the lake of course, Nako eyeing his mother and they three other wolves where they conglomerates by the lake. A polite nod was given at Katja and Adelaide as he and his brother strode past them as he went sit by their mother. His half parent was nuzzled on the cheek and a happy rumble bubbled up from his chest as he sat down. He was glad she was ok. For now, a hunt. A chance to be well fed from weakened prey this far into the season where wolves thrived.

The winter chill was bracing. It gnawed at the queen's limbs and tips, but she would not let it phase her. The great sickness was over, over at last. Nothing had been able to dampen Raisa's spirits, and despite the quiet season she felt as strung as a spring colt. Katja's call was music to her ears, and Raisa bounded from her den, ears perked upwards and tail on point. Her pack was coming alive once more. Motion and movement jostled each day among the boulders, knights coming and going, reparations being made. And now, it seemed, a hunt. Yes, a feast was exactly what they needed! Raisa looked around for Koros, and found him trotting to her side from his smaller den set just across the path. "Here m'lady," he said, a pleasant smile on his face. "Right then," she said, her voice jovial and her bi-colored eyes saturated with warmth. She spun on her heel and took off at a lope, graceful, allowing her body and tail to stream out behind her. The queen reveled as she always had in the feel of coiled sinew, springing muscles, the sharp snow crunching under her paws. This land was no longer cursed, it was hers once more. When she came upon the gathering it was with a lifted tail and an arched neck, her good mood and regal air on display for all to see. She spotted her son right off, and minced to his side. "Will the brave warrior be joining us today?" she asked him in a warm tone. She swished her tail towards him, making to flick him affectionately across the ears as she passed him by. Looking up, a pale coat drew her gaze and Raisa shifted course. As Raisa moved away from her pup, Koros stayed by the young man's side, watching curiously. Adelaide, who had come to the border to receive the antidote, who had healed them. A split decision was made and the Queen came to stand beside the healer, a serious tone hinting on the edge of her words. "Adelaide, I've been meaning to speak with you. It would appear as though we have you to thank for ensuring the well-being of us all. You performed your duties to this pack skillfully, honorably. One might even say with the grace of a Master." Raisa was of a mind to award the young woman a title that in her eyes she had far and beyond earned. It sent a pang through her heart, remembering the Sola they had lost in the season past, but Raisa felt as though Elsa would have approved. She waited calmly to see what the woman might say in reply. Afraid to pressure her, of course, Raisa turned her head to the side. Katja had called the gathering so it was her she would address next. "Lady Katja, it is lovely to see you, as always. Would you protest to my joining?" She had no desire to lead, of course, only to take part in the gathering. Of course with an entrance like that the sooty fae worried she may have stolen the show. "Talk" "You" Think

A hunt? Count her in! Both chubby girl and young fox would start padding to the sound of Katja?s call. Korrin had, finally, learned to respect the ticked woman somewhat, though she wasn?t the biggest fan. Svetlana was just glad to be doing something, hopefully, and running with the pack was something indeed! Tail would wag behind her as she marched on, searching for the group, until forms began to appear. Katja, Adelaide, her brother, and even her mom! Svetlana would race ahead, nearly colliding with Raisa as she came to an awkward stumbling stop. She would grin all the same though, looking up at her mother. ?I wanna join in too!? She would look to Katja now, tail wagging. ?Can I miss Katja? Please?? Her companion would come in now as well, slinking over to Koros in hopes that he wouldn?t notice her. Even if she acted more grown up most of the time she still had her youth, and the fox enjoyed the cold thoroughly. The snow felt nice under her pads, though sometimes the cold was a bit too much. The girl would grin mischievously, pouncing at his tail with a sharp bark. ?Raaawr!? She would cry. She had taken a liking to Koros. His mannerisms were interesting, and the girl looked up to him, even if she wouldn?t admit it. Especially not to these wolves. "Talk" "You" Think

Creeping up behind Sigmarr, Sindri suddenly rushed forward and around him, jumping at his face in an attempt to scare him. "Boo!" She didn't touch him; instead slamming on the brakes and skidding to a halt beside him in a flurry of snow. Scant inches separated the two and the pup grinned, desperately hoping to have startled him. He was so set on being like Katja that being startled by his annoying little sister would probably cheese him; which was perfectly fine with her. She'd even take pride in it. "Did I getcha, Siggy? I bet I did!" She'd settle for frightening one of the foxes or Svetlana, so long as someone as startled. "Talk" "You" Think

Moments after Svetlana arrived so too did another young girl. Lior had not attended the battle training, just as her new friends did not attend the healer training. There were different paths intended for them all it seemed. Lior wasn?t timid, but she wasn?t entirely bold either. She would come up beside Adelaide, her mentor, and give the woman a little nudge, to let her know she was there, before looking to Katja.

?I would like to learn too, ma?am.? The female pup would say. She pricked her ears, alert and ready to try and help the adults hunt, despite not having experience with it. Gaze would shift to Adelaide now, tail wagging a bit as she looked at her mentor. She respected the other woman a lot, and hoped that they could have a lesson about herbs, a private one, soon.

Walk | Talk | Think For the longest time Anais had thought to find a calling in fighting, in training to become strong and cunning and swift in battle so that she could keep up with her brothers no matter the fact they all outmatched her in size. And truth be told, she was rather quick, but her patience to sit still and learn the tactics that would help her had never been there. She had always been more eager to wander and explore than she ever had been to sit through a lesson. But hunting, surprisingly, even with her limited attention span, had felt almost second nature, and she had taken to it rather well, enough so that she wished to pursue those skills to see how much she might be able to improve them. She was a year and a half now, almost two, and soon she would need to pick something to focus on. She might not have taken very many chances to prove herself very well within the pack yet, but today had opened up a new door for her. With her mom helping to teach and coach a pack hunt, Anais had already decided to try her luck at helping out. She could still hear Crucifix's praise and compliments from when she had hunted and played with him and used them to help embolden her and counter the little bit of nervousness that lingered. It was always a nervous experience when she was under the critical eye of her mother. But she had caught two rabbits once, all on her own. Surely she could do this too! Her yellow-gold eyes were fixed upon her mother and the Lady Katja who sat at the head of the group, and as she trotted closer through the snow she noted that some of her family was present too. Her brothers, Nako and Jakart, were by their mother, making their greetings and settling in to await instruction. Even Lior sat beside the healer Adelaide, and though Anais smiled she felt a bit of worry seeing her little sister there. She was still so little yet; in no way did she want to see the pup hurt. But figuring their mother would say something if it was a true danger, she merely strode past the pup and reached out to grab the tip of Lior's tail, giving it a little tug as she trotted over to join her brothers. She greeted them with a grinning tail wag and little nudges to their shoulders and sat with a respectful nod to her mother, trying to appear the well-behaved young lady that Tahlia expected her to be and hoping she could impress them all.