It was the twilight of fall; the season's full rattling of the flora and fauna had been complete. Only the strongest remained for the waking parts of the oncoming winter. The first message had been sent and received — snow graced the mountaintops of the Vale, shadowing their depths down into the common areas of Dawnbreak. It was brighter all over — even in the young girl's heart.

In the recent weeks, something had changed. Of course, not all saved from her self-doubt or gloom, there was something— someone that was dredging up feelings of something else. Something more magical, that warmed her heart and reminded her of childhood and that whimsical feeling she once harbored. For the first time in a long time, there was a spring in her step.

It had been a few moons since Dalmatia had visited any one of her sisters one-on-one and she wanted to change that. She had spent so many nights inside, reclusive from the world around her, unable to cope with her mother's death. She'd pin herself deep within the depths of her den and only make quick appearances dressed with her elk pelt even in the warm months of summer to hide her shrinking form — but, no. Today she wore it for warmth. To visit her sister.

The spotted woman hopped up the path towards Euphemia's home, carrying a small pouch made of an old fox pelt. Dal chuffed softly when she was outside, not wanting to intrude on her personal space. Hey, Euphy, The nickname slipped from her lips, a relic from childhood, Are you home?

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

Time had found Euphemia within the hollows of her den. She was almost always found within, or around her home – for if she were going to be a homebody, she must at least like the place she inhabited, no? It was in this pursuit that Euphemia realized that being holed up all day underground did no good for her mental health, and for that reason she pawed at the threshold of her den until it existed beneath a low-lying arbor, which gave her a defined place to rest and recline that was still distinctly hers, but open to all sorts of whim and whimsy that the world might proffer her.

From this vantage point, Euphemia watched ice crystals glide through the air. They were whatever made it through the canopy far above, and evaded her makeshift awning; thus, the snowflakes were few and far between and afforded the fae much fascination. She studied it closely, goldenrod eyes blazing, until each flake crossed paths with her nose, at which point the girl would woosh her hot breath at it, eviscerating the delicate snowflake immediately.

and just beyond her nose, Dalmatia. Euphemia perked up, a smile spreading across her lips like so many melted snowflakes. C’monnn she moaned playfully, batting her paw at her spotted sister as if she wasn’t resplendently happy to see her. It’s Phia, p-h-i-a, Euphy is such a baby’s name! She stuck her tongue out, as if she were nothing more than a cub once more, and her sister sought her out for nothing more than playtime.

At first sight of her, Dalmatia's grin spreads across her face, even though they lived so close, they had worlds of their own going on — sometimes, in Dal's spells, she felt planets away from them all. But today, nor any few days before, was like that. No, she'd been on this planet with them, with him, her paws securely placed to the ground. Not that she didn't have her head in the clouds from time to time — but right now, she is with her sister. Her playful and sweet sister.

Oh... Is that so? She hummed softly in return, pursing her lips and finding her paw underneath her chin, as if in deep thought, Hmmm.... Her gaze found Euphemia's golden eyes, reminding her of when the sun made its curtain call bowing over the horizon for the moon's encore, That's right! Phia. The spotted woman's own tongue popped out, Phiaaaaaa. She teased, unable to hold back a soft giggle, a noise that could make even the old crack a smile.

Dal popped back a pace, leaning down on her front paws, her rump lifted, demonstrating a clean bow-play form. As if they were children about to roughhouse once more. The elk pelt slips up a little and she shivers, picking herself back up, keeping a smile on her lips, C'mon... Wanna take a walk with me? Her eyes sparkled — to be fair, a walk, a race, a dance in the snow, was all the same to Dalmatia. It didn't matter, as long as she and her sister were together.

[she doesn't know that the world is turning just for her]

skill: [none]

To Euphemia, Dalmatia was the most paradoxical of her sisters. She had a most peculiar pelage, matched with a most demure personality. It was an interesting thing, truly, and so uniquely Dalmatia. Euphemia took much comfort in the spotted sister’s presence, for it was within Dalmatia that Euphemia saw a little bit of her own quietness, her own instability, her own desire for more.

Of course, Euphemia had noticed that Dalmatia seemed to be more upbeat as of late, but Phia could not fathom why that might be. Whatever it was, she was happy for it.

Their pealing laughter mirrored one another as Dalmatia submitted to Euphemia’s chosen nickname; although sometimes it was nostalgic to hear the name mother and father called her, most of the time it just picked at a barely-scabbed-over-wound that sat somewhere deep down inside her. Yeah, the silvered maiden affirmed joyfully, leaping forward to bat at her sister’s face with a delicate paw, more of a tap than anything serious.

Euphemia smiled, prancing on ahead of her. Sure thing, sis. Orange eyes squinting, she looked back over her shoulder, as if Dalmatia was already lagging behind. Anywhere you want to go? What’s on your mind?

---

Phia got a tap on Dal's cheek in before prancing forward, Dal yipped playfully and dashed after her sister with little care in the world. It didn't feel like they were adults, just two sisters, in a world that was everlasting in their youth.

Dal caught up within a few graceful leaps, paws imprinting the freshly powered snow, matching Phia's pace, shoulder-to-shoulder, No place in particular really... She admitted, having not thought too much ahead about where they might go. The question of what was on her mind, though... Oh, the places that could take them. Have you seen those... Odd snow formations appearing around the Vale? We could go see those...

Stepping in the direction of the last place she'd seen the snow sculptures (near the gathering place of the Vale), There was something I wanted to talk about... A reminiscent heat flash reddened over her cheeks as she thought of him, she was glad she wasn't side-by-side with her sister anymore, one glance over and Phia would be able to see how her cheeks lit up. I met a boy I really like... Her voice barely above a whisper, wondering how Phia would react.