Alright, so snow wasn't too bad. Once you got past the fact it was cold. Cold sucked, but snow was beautiful. He supposed that to witness it's beauty that he would endure the cold. It seemed an okay enough trade. The boy found that he was willing more and more to adventure in it, wanting to see more of the world, though he was trying his best not to worry his parents by wandering off by himself. Oh how he wanted to see more of the world! To walk and see it all! They said that what they could see was just a small part of it, so how small was it? What would he see when the snow was gone from the world, and color returned as they said it would?

Shrike was, surprisingly, awake at that particular hour. He had stirred from his sprawled position, moving carefully. It was the dead of night, and even the mocha and foam boy had respect for his family enough not to jostle them about at this time. He enjoyed his sleep after all, so he wasn't going to disturb their peaceful dreams.

Outside the wind howled, it's lonely cry echoing on the wind. Shrike would rise to his paws, casting a look at his slumbering family. Just a few minutes, he would think to himself, and then he would come back in. Paws would lead him to the entrance, the cold biting at his face. He would wrinkle his nose, fluffing up his little coat as he pressed out into the cold world grasped in the night.

From the sky a light snow fell, falling down around him. Such beauty and peace... the world was still. His breath was expelled in white mist, ears perked as his bi-colored eyes took in what they could. He wished the world would be this beautiful for every day to come with his family. That this, his father's kingdom, would forever hold such an essence of tranquility. Shrike would turn to the side of the den, starting to roll some of the snow with his nose. He noticed that it would bunch together, and after a while form a ball. He wanted to make a really big one before he went back in. It could be a present for his family! A... a watch snowball for the den! Yeah! Shrike would give a wag of his tail as he focused on rolling, feeling quite pleased with himself.

"Speech!"
'Thoughts!'

She stirred, feeling the lack of warmth that had sheltered her left flank. Blue eyes opened as she squinted at the empty space silently, trying to wake herself up to figure out just why she was cold all of the sudden. At the last moment she saw Shrike leaving the den, his tri-coloured tail the last thing she saw before he was swallowed by the darkness. The young girl blinked, trying to figure out if she was dreaming or if her brother truly did just wander out at night time. But it was dark and cold out there! What if a monster ate him or something? You could never know what was lingering in the darkness. A small whine left her maw, and she looked at the rest of her sleeping family. None of them seemed so inclined to venture out into the dark world, none but Shrike. Huffing, Finch rose carefully to her paws and shuffled around the slumbering bodies that were haphazardly strewn about. Poking her head out into the cold, she shivered and looked around for her brother. She couldn't see him, so she stuck her nose up to the sky and took a sniff. All she got was a shot of cold air down her nostrils, making her snort and shake her pale head. Nope, no use there!

Finch fluffed herself up and walked around the den, seeing little paw prints in the snow. She went around the long way, so she had come up behind Shrike. Head tilted to the side as she watched him roll the fluffy snow around, creating a little ball with it. Blue eyes grew wide as she watched it happen, the ball growing larger and larger the more he pushed at it. It was like magic! It just kept expanding, getting bigger as Shrike nosed it further and further around. Finch let out a small gasp, pale paw rising as she planned to take a step towards him, but not sure if she wanted to interrupt her brother.

The snow gathered upon the small snowball, making it greater and greater. It grew like a beast as it fed, the crunching of snow being picked up by it and being crushed underpaw were the sounds that reached his ears. So loud, at least to him, that he didn't even hear the approach of another sibling. He hadn't realized that his absence from the den had been noticed just yet. Taking a step back, the mocha boy would give a sneeze. The cold kinda made his nose hurt, but he wasn't done yet! This was going to be the best watch snowball ever!

Shrike would give a shake of his coat, and as he was turning his head back to the snowball at his paws he would see Finch. She seemed uncertain, one paw lifted. The boy would grin, dropping his front half to the ground and wriggling his butt in the air. "Well come on Finch don't just stand there~ Come have some fun if you're up!" He barked softly. Mis-matched eyes would shine brightly, mischievously, and with one forepaw he'd swoop some snow in her direction. She'd done it now! The mighty Shrike was on the loose and he was going to make her pay for interrupting him with staying up all night playing games! The torture!!

"Speech!"
'Thoughts!'

Table by:: Eve

Shrike's attention was turned towards her, and her eyes grew even wider as he told her to come and play. She shook her head back and forth, trying to back up and away from the danger that was sure to come. Sure enough, he grabbed a pawful of snow and sent it in her direction. Shrieking, the girl scrambled backwards as the cold flakes sunk into her skin. Oh no, she was gunna get it now! Sticking her tongue out at her brother she turned around and took off, running in a random direction. Pale tail flew streamlined behind her, a small giggle leaving her maw. She turned and looked over her shoulder to see if Shrike had given chase. She usually didn't feel so playful, but there was no harm in it now! Seeing a large rock she dived behind it, pressing her small body against its surface. Placing a cold paw over her mouth to hide her giggles, she wondered if the boy had seen where she had gone.

Try as she may to deny his oh so great invitation, well, he wasn’t going to accept that! Finch would shriek, stumbling backwards away! Oh yes, he was going to get her now! A squeal of delight left the boy as he started scrambling after her, snow flurrying up behind his own paws. His tail was wagging behind him in excitement, though the flurries sent up by his sister, as well as the falling snow, didn’t exactly help visibility. The boy would come to a stop, breathing in and expelling his frosty breath. He would look around with bicolored eyes, a large grin on his face.

“I’mma find you Finch! You just wait!” The child would spin on his paws, looking around for her. He would ruffle his fur up against the cold once more, breathing in and out as he started to scramble around again. She had to be hiding behind something! Ears would twitch as he checked behind a stump. Not here! He’d spin around, pouncing at the snow in the open again.

“This is your last chance! If you come out now, I’ll give you mercy!” He rolled on his back, flailing his legs in the air, trying to coax her out into the open. Maybe if he seemed vulnerable she’d try a sneak attack! Ooooh so sneaky!

"Speech!"
'Thoughts!'

Table by:: Eve

The world fell silent for a moment, the snow slowly drifting down towards the earth. The girl's blue eyes were open wide as she bit down on her lower lip, trying really hard to to burst out laughing and give away her hiding spot. Her breath fogged before her, and she watched it with wonder until Shrike's voice called out. She jumped, then squirmed in place and tried to resist looking out for him. He said he was gunna find her, but no! She was a great hider! He offered her mercy, saying that if she came out now that he wouldn't get her. Yeah right! Finch wasn't stupid, he was going to get her good if she showed up now, and toss more snow at her! Well nope, that wasn't going to happen. But she heard him thump onto the ground and her ears spun, he was really close to her if she was able to hear that. Finch took her chances and peeked out of behind her rock, seeing Shrike flail his legs about in the snow. His right flank was facing her, and he was over on her belly, all wide open. The girl thought for a moment, trying to move slow as she crouched down near the frozen earth. She stepped slowly, trying not to make the snow crunch beneath her paws. She was so close, she would be able to get him if she was careful! So she crept forward, her pale coat coming in handy right now. And then, she jumped, trying to land right on his belly as wild laughter left her maw. "I getchu!" Finch wailed, tail fluttering behind her as she tried to land on her brother's exposed belly.

His flailing would succeed in drawing his little sister out of her hiding place. Shrike had actually been so focused on flailing that he didn’t even remember to pay attention to his surroundings to see if she would come up beside him or not. He would let out a gasp as she suddenly jumped, landing right on his belly. But after he got his second wind Shrike would begin to laugh, flailing a little more on his back as he gently pushed against her chest with his right forepaw. “Hahahaha! Heyyy!” The boy would grin widely, his eyes shining brightly. Playing with Finch was the best, especially once she got over her little moment of shyness. The boy would wiggle more, trying to shift his weight, and hers, so that he could reverse the pin. Not so easy in the snow, but Shrike was a determined little goof. Even if the main thing he was succeeding in doing was kicking up powder everywhere. "Speech"

Table by:: Eldarwen