Eira Drake was most certainly not a morning person. She preferred the solitude the night brought, even if it included the calls from outside the gates as carnivores hunted. Hell, even those had their own, strange way of comforting her. Packs of smaller hunters were common, but sometimes the night air was punctuated by the rumbling calls of a larger carnivore. Luckily there hadn't been any incursions; the walls and gate were still in good shape.
She'd spent the night in a tree where the Schäfer family kept their herd animals. They were somewhat smaller than the herbivores outside of the gates, and more amicable. Not quite tame, like the cows and horses her grandfather told her about before he'd passed away, but less likely to charge you if you got between them and their calf.
"Oi, Eira!"
Eita began to turn to the voice before a surprisingly strong arm wrapped around her shoulder. "Whatcha up to? Fancy goin' outside the gates in a bit?"
Eira's muscles tightened, at first, and then relaxed, and her hand reflexively went for the knife sheathed at her belt. Cerys was a familiar face. She had an adventurous spirit, and while Eira could appreciate it, lots of energy wasn't what she wanted just yet. "I'll be ready as soon as I get breakfast," she said quietly. Eira looked up at the sky. It didn't feel or smell like rain. "Niji's probably sleeping last night's hunt off, and I'd rather not go out without him this early."