Zana Callin
Zana and Neva had slowled to a brisk walk, their feet making barely a sounds as the passed over the freshly fallen snow. Up in the heights of the mountains there was little noise. Zana and Neva's soft crunching steps were the only immediate sounds nearby. Of course, Zana and Neva both knew there were other living things nearby. The hare Neva had caught earlier had been an unlucky one, but there were more animals around and larger ones too. The game trail they were on was well used, the recent snowfall already showed signs of several animals.
"You think we should stop soon?" Zana asked Neva as the two rounded a corner. A great shelf of rock jutted out from the mountain side, provided a decent shelter for the two from the harsh winds that were picking up. Neva with her warm furs would hardly notice the rapidly dropping temperatures, but Zana was only protected by her clothes. True, they were padded and lined with fur too but there were cracks and the winds icy fingers had began to find their ways through her layers. She needed a chance to rest, eat some food and take a moment out of the wind.
Neva, without a word from Zana, led the way to the small shelter, her long tail held just above the snow. As they pair left the track the snow deepened. Zana found herself crunching through snow that came up to her knee but, thankfully, when she reached the shelter she found little snow under the ledge. A drift had built up around the edge, creating a sort of barrier between the inside and the outer winds.
Come here Nev." Zana said, indicating with her hands. Zana sat down to meet Neva, placing her bag to the side. Neva padded over to Zana, rubbing her head against the girl's shoulder before arranging herself across Zana's lap.
Zana quickly pulled out her bag of food. She bit her lip, considering whether she should risk building a fire. She carried a bundle of precious sticks on her bag. Up in the mountains it could become bitterly cold and there wasn't a large amount of fire wood.
"We're not far from the mountain's feet though." Zana told Neva, pulled free some of the wood, "I'll have to risk it."
Slowly, fighting the numbness in her fingers, Zana built a fire. It was small and, likely to draw little attention from afar. She pulled out some food and began making her meal, all the time working around the snow leopard purring in her lap.