Winter was finally leaving the mountains, while the high upper passes still held snow (or so her mother told her because she was NOT going up there) the lower regions had swiftly begun to thaw. Though Kalseru had declared winter her favorite season not three months ago for the way it made her silken fur thick and plush so much that her tail almost dragged the ground she was quite over the cold bite of the air and the blizzards that occasionally raged through their homeland. Spring however held promises as they young finally turned one, no longer pups to be babied but adolescents and with that came much more freedom. This particular morning winter’s bite had all but left the air as the sun poured in brightly from the mouth of the den. Flecks of dust danced in the stream of light and a small nosed twitched at the warmth.

Kalseru picked up her slender head, a huge yawn escaping her muzzle as she looked around blearily to take in her familiar surroundings. As per usual her family was a pile of fur and feet, mostly monochrome save for the dramatic blonde of Viseron, the red that shone on Drogon’s ribs and the splash of mahogany atop Rhaegal’s head. Reaching out her head she licked the brown spot atop her brother’s head fondly when she was sure no one was looking. As exasperating as her brothers could be the value of family had been instilled in her since birth and she loved them fiercely, even when they annoyed her to no end.

Silently she extricated her lanky form from them, small paws carrying her swiftly out of the den and in to the small clearing. There she stretched, lowering her front end and stretching her long legs out before her, toes separating and reaching outward before pulling back and giving a hearty shake to fully wake herself. She glanced around for a moment before gracefully positioning herself atop a small rock bathed in sunlight that she often favored in the morning. There she began her usual ritual of smoothing down her fine fur where it had been mussed in the night, licking her paws before reaching up to adjust the shorter hair atop her crown and neck. Almost catlike she groomed herself, her pink tongue working with methodical steadiness. She took great pride in her appearance.

She was almost done when she heard movement from within the den. Her form stilled, hoping it was just the boys rolling over on themselves now that she was no longer curled around them. Everything was silent, even the birds had quieted as she held her breath waiting… Then three balls of pure energy burst forth and she didn’t even have time to cringe before they tackled her. She managed a muffled yelp of pure indignation as they tumbled down the hillside, their bodies cushioned thankfully by the brush that was steadily blooming all around. Finally they came to a stop, Kalseru dealing out a few nips of reprimand, but despite her annoyance that all of her work grooming had now gone to waste she couldn’t help the childish laughter that poured from her lips.

Easily they fell in to a game of chase, nipping at each other’s heels and flying over the rocky terrain with the ease only those born of the mountains would ever possess. What a motley crew they were, a myriad of different body shapes and sizes yet each complimenting the rest. While it was rare that she ran with her brothers she fell in to step with them easily as they played, they were as much a part of her as she was of them.

As a young voice rose in the air they all stilled simultaneously, ears pricking forward and heads turning in the direction of the border that lay only a short distance from where they were. Without a word they all headed that direction, as if of one mindset, trotting alongside each other with Drogon in the front, Viseron on his one side and Kalseru by Rhaegal’s side opposite him. It didn’t take long for them to reach the border and spot the auburn boy sitting quietly by the invisible barrier. That he was small was her first thought, something she almost voiced until she remembered the lesson her mother had given her about being polite and bit back the words. Instead she stepped forward, grace in every move of her body with a smile on her face and puppyish wave in her tail. “Hi! We heard you calling. I’m Kalseru, these are my brothers,” she gestured to them with a roll of her shoulders as if they were one wolf and not three. “Who are you and why are you all by yourself?”

Well it was a solid attempt at being welcoming, save for the way she fired questions at him. She was being friendly at least.