Dead Empress Backwater someone to you

Pack Activity for all members of Dead Empress Backwater; it's time for a snow-wolf contest! @Viorel @Clover @Ozark @Sophrosnia @Lillia @Ally @Atlas

Eros had only been able to tolerate bedrest for one night, before his spinning mind became too much for even a broken leg to hold him back. Asmund's voice was a constant in his head, insisting that he do more, do better. It took helping to clear snow from one of their watering holes for the idea to come to him. A way for them to take a break together and even have fun. Something that had been rather elusive to Eros for quite a long time now.

He had been enthusiastic as he did his best to track down each pack member and inform them of the plan, even if he was hobbling to avoid stepping with his injured limb. At twilight, when night and day joined and most wolves were either coming or going, within the boundaries of the pack's main clearing, a unique competition was being held for anyone interested.

Then, in the hours left between, he busied himself in collecting odds and ends into a pile. Broken bits of branches, nuts and leaves, bones and stones - anything that might be used creatively to decorate a mound of snow. When the glow of the sun began seeping into the sky and the time had come, Eros felt ready and cautiously optimistic. At the very least, the pups would have a good time, right?

He stood in the middle of the snow-blanketed clearing beside the gathered materials, tail wagging as he waited. His eyes were tired but bright, and his mouth was smiling.

The salt and pepper Valle had been concerned about Eros’ injury when he had heard the pack bonding plan but had bit his tongue. At the very least it felt good to see some semblance of a light behind his son’s eyes again and he didn’t want to squash that enthusiasm. More of a nocturnal wolf himself he was growing tired when the sun began to peek into the sky, but with a yawn he abandoned the thought of napping.

He wasn’t sure how much of a ‘decorator’ he was going to be unless one of the children requested his help, but maybe he could be something of a judge. First to arrive, he chuffed a greeting towards his co-lead, tail waving loosely behind his haunches as he looked at everything that Eros had clearly spent hours gathering for the activity.

Settling down into a lounging sphinx position he questioned, ’Every contest needs a judge right?” Clearly volunteering himself for the position unless otherwise protested. That was something that he could do despite his fatigue while still participating. He smothered a cough that threatened to overtake him, only letting out a few gruff cough and throat clearing kind of hybrid sound.

Clover had been delighted at the prospect of a bonding event between the pack members, it would give the younger ones something exciting to participate in, and a chance for the adults to do something fun for a change. Viorel was there first, announcing himself as the judge. He looked tired. But didn't they all feel that way lately?

"Thanks for setting this all up," she said to Eros, eyeing his injured leg but holding her tongue. It would be no use to reprimand him and tell him to ease off using it until it healed some more. Clover gently pawed at the bones and rocks piled together, musing quietly to herself as she waited for more wolves to arrive at the scene.

Atlas followed shortly after his father, entering the clearing with his tail in the air. He eyed the materials and the readily available snow waiting for him to mold to his whims. Already he was planning his snow-creation in his head. He wondered if @Rosemary would join them for the competition, or his sisters.

He greeted Viorel and Eros with a sniff and a tail wag, and sat down beside his father to wait for everyone else. He turned his head to the man with a grin. "Do I get a bonus for being the judge's son?" he asked with a humorous tone.

Atlas tucked his tail over his paws and hunkered down against the cold. There was a lightness to the air tonight, a warmth that helped fight off the icy breeze. His lip quirked up at one corner as he looked around at the few members of the pack that had arrived so far.

Kalysta made her way toward where she'd heard the contest would be. It sounded like fun, she supposed, and was something to distract her from this dreadfully boring winter. She almost wanted to wander beyond the border again, just to see what would happen - but she didn't want to risk getting lost. Not again. Not when it was so cold. She'd learned that lesson well enough.

But making stuff? That sounded fun enough. She joined the group just in time to hear Atlas asking about getting a bonus and her ears pricked. "You'll need them," she said snidely, padding up and nipping at (what she thought to be) her brother's ear. Of course he would try and pull extra points for whatever while she and @Hera weren't there. She hoped her sister showed up, just so they could prove Atlas needed those extra points.

How could he possibly decline such an interesting challenge? Initially, he'd been worried when Eros approached him, the broken leg a stark change from the last time Issa had seen him, but Eros seemed in a good mood, and he couldn't help but get involved with the idea. Tail swishing, he padded up to the little group already assembled, the night chilly but buzzing with high spirits. It was nearly enough to shake away the strange tiredness that had been clinging to Isidore's body recently.

He offered Eros specifically a smile as he moved to settle down near the edge of the group, silver eyes bright as he observed each of them and then the little pile of materials that had been gathered.

There was no way this wouldn't be fun. Isidore had never made a snow sculpture before, but there was always a first time for everything!

It was cold, but Rosemary found that she didn't quite mind it, especially when there was an opportunity to do something like this! It hadn't even occurred to her to morph the snow into shapes, but Eros' idea was great. And though she wasn't the most competitive, a little game like this sounded really fun. She didn't know exactly what she wanted to make the snow sculpture look like just yet, but she hoped that she would be able to come up with something when the competition started.

She rushed a little as she entered the clearing, hoping she wouldn't be too late, and smiled when she saw all of the wolves that had gathered already. Rosemary made a beeline toward Atlas specifically and settled nearby, tail sweeping the snow behind her as the siblings quibbled.