No sun nor moon counted down the hours of the days and nights, but candles notched at certain intervals served to mark the passing of time within the dark and promised the coming of the sun again. Tal waited until the wax had burned down past the bedtime of young ones before heading out into the night without stars, but the Citadel's protective Dome meant that no one was trapped within their home for a week while temperatures plummeted to lethal levels and snow piled up to the eaves.
Now the temperature held steady, cold but not killing, and the snow crews could work with lanterns and torches to keep the streets clear. More lights hung outside homes and businesses, guiding those who wanted or needed to travel within the city's walls.
Tal joined the handful of others who were out late; revelers, mostly, going to or from the tentative parties that were beginning to spring up. He locked the door of his shop-and-home behind him, Boreal snorting impatiently around her own gift for her friends before the pair headed to a certain house on a certain street where the light burned on the patio in welcome.
Tal knocked, awkwardly balancing the box in his arms which was deliciously warm and smelling of sugar and spice. Three loud thumps joined his knocking as Boreal dragged her own offering up to the porch, the caribou antler bumping along between her legs as she dragon-handled the chew toy to the door.
Sah
Now the temperature held steady, cold but not killing, and the snow crews could work with lanterns and torches to keep the streets clear. More lights hung outside homes and businesses, guiding those who wanted or needed to travel within the city's walls.
Tal joined the handful of others who were out late; revelers, mostly, going to or from the tentative parties that were beginning to spring up. He locked the door of his shop-and-home behind him, Boreal snorting impatiently around her own gift for her friends before the pair headed to a certain house on a certain street where the light burned on the patio in welcome.
Tal knocked, awkwardly balancing the box in his arms which was deliciously warm and smelling of sugar and spice. Three loud thumps joined his knocking as Boreal dragged her own offering up to the porch, the caribou antler bumping along between her legs as she dragon-handled the chew toy to the door.
Sah
