Varushka paced outside of the den she shared with Khranbari. The snow was well packed along where her paws had stepped back and forth many times. This winter season was still in full swing and while Varushka had only just joined Valta, she had contributed very little. It was the primary agreement upon Varu’s joining requirements that she contributed in some way. However, she had found herself at a loss on how to help the pack. She had tried patrolling, but she would usually run into Khranbari and felt it was rather redundant to both be patrolling at one time. Her hunting skills solo were also pretty pathetic, occasionally bringing in a scrawny rabbit or crow. Her hopes were that maybe someone would use them for crafting rather than eating as there wasn’t much meat on them.

Was there anything else she could do? The earthen woman huffed, her breath was a billowing puff of smoke in the cold air. Maybe she wasn’t cut out to be a part of Valta. Her brown paws started to feel heavy and numb from the cold, or maybe it was just her disappointment slowing her down. She stopped where she stood and lifted her head. She needed to meet with Aslatiel. The pack leader seemed to be pretty busy as of late, but maybe she could just give her some orders. Something, anything to do. Varushka really didn’t want to be alone for another harsh winter.

"Speech"

"Varushka," Aslatiel greeted as she came up behind the earthen woman. A brace of white winter hares were tied together and draped over the small fae's back. As always, she'd been out hunting. Small and quick, it was easy for Aslatiel to fill the food stores even in the cold of winter. The rabbits were white as the snow around them, though their pristine coats were speckled with dots of crimson. This same crimson clung to the blonde wolf's fur, but she paid it no mind. The price of a huntress. Shrugging off the rabbits, Asla brought her galactic gaze back to the other woman. "Is everything alright? Do you have enough furs in your den for you and Khranbari to stay warm?" One brow rose, pulling at the scars on the fae's face. She wondered at the reason for the visit. The chill wind blew and Asla grimaced against it. Her snow leopard companion came forward and took the rabbits out of the snow without being asked. Asla thanked him then motioned for Varushka to follow. It was too cold to talk out in the wind, so she led the striped woman into the warmth of her own spacious den. A fire had burned low, so Asla added a few pieces of wood before settling down onto one of the cushions around it. She bid Varushka to do the same. "Speech"

The earthen woman was startled at the sound of her name being spoken to her. She turned around to see Aslatiel carrying snowshoe hares with her snow leopard. Dipping her head to the small blonde leader she replied, ”Aslatiel, hello. Sorry, I didn’t hear you approaching.” The snow leopard grabbed the hares Asla had dropped and took them away to the storage dens. Her leader had been out hunting, even if leading and protecting her pack wasn’t enough she was always out providing for them all. Varushka was grateful, but she could feel the weight of her worries on her back like a load of stones. ”Oh, yes we are fine. Thankyou. Khranbari’s bear furs are quite insulating.” She didn’t want to talk about him though, she was determined to find a way she could help the pack. Her train of thought was temporarily derailed as a cold wind sliced right through her dense brown fur. Asla had the right idea as she led them toward her own den, which Varu had yet to actually see for herself. As they stepped inside, Varushka noted how spacious it was inside, and the little fire near the center was hardly a flicker. Asla tossed a few pieces of wood onto the embers and the flames began to lick at the new fuel and grow in size. The warmth emitting from it was very enticing and Varushka joined her leader on one of the cushions beside her. After settling down by the warmth for a minute she had nearly forgotten what she had come to talk about. ”I know I haven’t been here for very long, but I feel like I still haven’t found a way to be more useful around here. I’ve tried patrolling, but I seem to always run into someone who has already nearly completed the routes. I try to hunt for us or gather, but I’m a poor hunter alone and there isn’t much to gather in such bad weather.” She glanced out the mouth of the den, the wind had brought a mini blizzard and snow was beginning to pile up. ”Have you any idea of a way I could be more useful to you? I don’t want to be a burden..” Varu set her gaze back on the flames, their warmth felt nice on her cold aching paws. She sighed quietly as she thought, ”I don’t even know how to make a fire.. What good am I?”

"Speech"