The grandfather pine stood tall in the taiga as the sky was starting to darken marked by the sun beginning its fiery descent into the western waters. Snow covered the ground as the winter months were in full swing but the drifts were still passable if you were large enough. The forests of the second ring were plentiful and deep with the imperfection in the pine tree cleverly hidden - only due to the cold forcing the entrance to be covered. Through holes poked into the bark, the smell of smoke and herbs could be scented.

       Within the pine was a hollow that had been fashioned into a home with pieces of leather and pelt in front of the entrance to keep the winter out. In the center, in an earthly depression surrounded by rocks burned fiery embers. Left to the entrance was a small bed and across of it with two shelves standing opposite of it - they were crafted by resting smooth river stones on pieces of driftwood. The left shelf was made up of books and papers while the other was filled with dried herbs and jars. There were other items in the home, a small table that was formed from a piece of driftwood propped up on stones that sat opposite to the door, several pelts and driftwood in a pile, and other random knick-knacks among other things.

       Sitting at the table was a smaller-sized canine with thick fur over a compact build. Her ears were long, similar to that of a coyote or fox. Her face was slightly more wolfish in appearance but her higher cheekbones showed a hint of exoticness that came from her jackal blood. A bottlebrush tailed flicked back and forther behind her as golden cat eyes inspected the words of a page of a book. Her silver, blue, and cream fur contrasted from the rich brown hues of the walls around her. Her neck and wrists were decorated in jewelry and her scarred paws turned the page of the book.

       The woman was not alone; she was with her companions. The most noticeable was a large raptor bird - a vulture - that perched next to her. The raptor's plumage was a silvery hue instead of the normal hues of an average vulture. A pair of ruby eyes peeked out from the silver feathers on her face. On the medic's bed was a peculiarly-colored crow - a white-feathered one - with a skull seemingly affixed to his head. The final was an ebony-feathered corvid that sat on the bookshelf, preening.

       Steliana really needed to work on home improvement one day since this table she managed to put together was going to kill her neck. Why the hell did she think she was a capable interior designer anyways?  Sure, her suite was better than most - in her opinion - it was still lacking in some areas. It was marvelous for being put together in what, a week, but did she have to make the most flimsiest furniture? Goddamnit, her shelves fell apart at the touch of a bird's wing and her table - while as sturdy as it was - was a pain in the neck.

       The silver maiden's furniture issues were the lowest thing she could be fussing about to be honest. But when did she prioritize? Only when someone was dying or close to. The woman had amassed a large amount of herbs to get her and her pack through the winter - gods, when did she consider this to be her pack? Sure the ring thing was going to get on her nerves one day but while she may be a stubborn bastard, she wasn't stupid. Other than that, she hadn't made too many friends in this pack; she just kept her head down until she got her promotion up to Chemist. There was nothing holding her back, other than the entire death thing which she rather avoid if and when possible.

       The book the multicolored medic was reading barely even was worth her attention anymore and she closed it with a huff. She could re-read her notes and medical journals, though it would be if she was dying from boredom. Going to sleep and catching up what little she normally got seemed like a viable option so with a dismissive flick of her tail, she passed Izanami and padded over to her bed. What a lazy ass she was but there was little to nothing to do in the winter months other than sit around and wait for someone to need a healer - either by slipping on ice or getting impaled by an icicle.