The day was cold and snow was falling from the skies, so Ikigai was forced to stay inside. It wasn't that she didn't like snow, but her long, inky tail would get soaking wet. She'd bring in mud and would end up filthy. That wasn't something that the pale child ever wanted to do, so she curled up by the fire on a pile of furs. The tail that she was so worried about was curled around her body, a good length of it between her front paws. Ikigai was playing with her tail fur with her odd digits. Already she had learned that her paws were unlike those of her siblings or even her parents. She could flex them and do tasks that others couldn't. This little trait of hers would make her quite useful to her family, she imagined. Slowly and rhythmically, Ikigai pulled the sleek obsidian fur between the toes of one paw again and again. Each time she did so, she counted. It was a tick of hers. Sometimes she did it when she was bored, but mostly she did it when she was nervous. Today she wasn't nervous, thankfully. Merely just passing the time as she stared blankly into the embers of the fireplace. The action was slowly but surely making the girl quite sleepy. "Okiku Ikigai"

Shuriken felt naughty when she came home all muddy and wet with Kuroki. No one scolded her, but she had been promptly given a bath. It felt wrong to get their home dirty like that, but her brother hadn’t seemed to think so. She looked up to her mother and Baba. Proper, beautiful, ladies, just like little Kiyohime wanted to be. The tiny runt of a child looked up to her sister too, they might have only been born apart by minutes but Ike felt she could look up to her two older sisters as well.

So she remained inside that day, she did much prefer laying by the fire to romping with Oki. Though she didn’t not enjoy her time playing and sparing with her oldest brother. She was excited to see all the snow melt and reveal what spring was supposed to look like. The tiny child couldn’t imagine a world without ice and snow. The simple thought made her shiver as her mismatched paws padded quietly down the corridor towards the main hall. The fire never seemed to go out and the furs were always so very warm.

Dual toned gaze fell on the pale form of Ikigai as Shuriken rounded the corner. A grin took her features and she hurried to her sister’s side. ”Iki-chan!” The tiny girl greeted reverently as she tried to keep her voice and excitement down. Ike didn’t hesitate to make herself comfortable beside her sibling. ”It’s so cold today, I just want to sit here by the fire.”

Iki was happy to see Ike coming around the corner. The sound of the smaller girl's claws on stone had pulled the pale child from her silent musings. A smile pulled at the silver eyed girls maw as her speckled sister hopped onto the furs beside her. Iki leaned into her sister, happy to share the warmth on this cold day. "It is cold," she agreed in soft tones. Thankfully the giant bear fur beneath them kept the cold of the stone at bay. The fire definitely helped. "What do you want to do today?" Obsidian ears perked as she looked to her sibling. Iki was content to do quiet, girly things, but she would go along with whatever Ike might have in mind. Iki knew that her siblings weren't into the same things as she was, so she liked to make them happy first. "Okiku Ikigai"

Ike easily mirrored her sister’s bright smile and grin, it was easy with how much she loved being around Iki. Her sister welcomed her, leaning into her snuggles as they both enjoyed the warmth the fire provided. Kiyohime could have stayed there with Ikigai all day, it was so warm and comfy. She had a bit of excitement yesterday, and wasn’t super excited about going out and getting wet again. The long furred princess agreed, the chill of the day was harsh and pierced through to her bones.

Iki went on to ask what she wanted to do, and she felt truthful when she said just sit by the fire. They would probably get prodded for lazing around in the main hall for too long. ”I don’t know, something warm.” She nearly complained as she said it. Shuriken was sick and tired of the cold, and yearned to know what a true spring was. ”Do you want to make something? Or play a game maybe?” Shuriken was a typical little sister, the follower and copier. As Iki looked back down at her the tiny little dragon shifted to make herself look more regal like her sister.