Welcome to Gaia! ::

Astrin glanced around the large hall where all the festivities were happening and couldn't help but smile. He had never been to a party before, so seeing one of this size both excited him and made him nervous all at once. He didn't know anyone besides his family and the two knights he had come into contact with, but that wasn't going to stop him from at least attempting to talk to the other members of the party. First he had to put his presents under the Evergreen though. He had made a gift for every one of his family members and he could only hope they would like the gifts. Smiling again, he ran over to where the large tree stood tall and placed his four presents under the tree. He had managed to find wrapping paper with stars all over it and had made sure he had done something special for each of his family members. Now all he had to do was wait and hope that they would like their presents.

Ailill grinned as he clapped a hand on Gavril's shoulder. "I wasn't sure to be honest if I would even make it here. Nilima and Braven will be here soon..." He sighed and looked at Gavril, "I went to the club for the first time since the kids came to me the other night. It wasn't the same without you there."

Nilima walked into the Tower with a small smile. She had made it passed the sledders just fine. This was her first Yule festival and it was so cheerful for her. She enjoyed seeing everyone smiling. She paused as she saw her father talking with Gavril and smiled making her way over to the punch bowl instead.

Ailill laughed and smiled giving Gavril's hand a slight squeeze before letting it fall away. "Of course I would prefer that you came with me. The club is much more entertaining with you there." He let his eyes wander the room a bit and smiled as he saw his children walk in. "As to my foals, they are mo longer foals, but yes I do look forward to seeing them. I understand you've been teaching Nilima to dance?"

Nilima grabbed herself some punch and smiled as she listened to the band play. When she caught sight of Braven her smile widened instantly. "Braven!" she moved though the crowd gracefully and hugged her brother tightly. "Happy holidays..." she giggled as she released him. "Did you just arrive?"

As Prancer was coming closer, Dasher smiled. He always did enjoy Prancer's company, even if he was a little more introverted than himself. As Prancer came upon Dasher, he took Prancer's shoulders and squeezed him close to himself for a second. A kind of half hug. He was excited to see the other reindeer.

"I have had a bit of fun so far, yeah. I'm guessing you just arrived my friend?"

Dasher looked again at where Dancer disappeared, noticing Prancer doing the same.

"I think we should leave the sleds alone, personally. We simply don't want to get too injured before we try and carry the gifts."

Dasher responded to Prancer's looks as though he was reading his mind. The Eight having been together for so long, Dasher felt he could anticipate the other's decently well too. In order to be as good a team as them, they had to be able to anticipate each other. It's right in the job description.

"Yeah? You got the plants to like a bit better this year. I guess that must mean you have that plant house of yours up and running finally? I saw it a couple of times, but didn't want to disturb you about it."

Dasher watched as Prancer reached for his antlers, knowing full well what he was reaching for, he took the wreath off his antlers himself as Prancer withdrew his hand.

"You like it? I wanted a natural looking wreath and that ribbon simply called to me."

Dasher handed Prancer the wreath so he could take a better look at it. Knowing full well that Prancer enjoyed inspecting anything to do with plants.

"If you would like to make one of your own, the station is right over there."

Dasher pointed a bit behind the two Lossen to the tables covered in items.

"And if you don't want to bother messing with the boughs yourself, they have a few permade ones that you can place decorations on yourself."

Dasher looked at Prancer with his startlingly light blue eyes, the darker Lossen trying to read if Prancer would enjoy decorating a wreath. He knew Prancer didn't like going too far out of his comfort zone. But Dasher already decided to stay with Prancer for a bit to ease him into the party.

"Don't worry either. I won't leave you alone till you are ready."

Dasher smiled at him, big and wide.

Dasher looked beyond Prancer seeing their more jovial counterpart heading in the direction if the party. Vixen was always the more outgoing of The Eight. His personality flamboyant until you made him cross. He was one of the harder ones to keep in line during practice, though once it came down to the wire, Vixen was one of the most focused in the group. Dasher couldn't deny that. He pointed out their antlered companion to Prancer.

"Look who's headed over in this direction now. Looks like half of us are here now. All we need are the other four."

Dasher rolled his eyes as he heard Vixen announce his presence. He knew Vixen was going to flirt as much as he could. Dasher simply hoped he still kept half an eye on the time.

Prancer gave a smile and a nod of his head, "Y-Yes, I j-just arrived." He said, glad that he hadn't gotten here too early else he might have arrived before Dasher, leaving him all on his own to face so many people that he didn't know. That would have been a bit on the stressful side he thought to himself, counting his lucky stars before he found himself once more nodding at the mention of leaving the sleds alone, that they didn't want to risk injury before we had to try and carry the gifts, "I-I agree." There was only one sled that he wanted to be around and that was the one that belonged to the Son of Yule, even if Dancer was able to make the new ones look fun.

Prancer perked up when Dasher spoke of his plants and asked him about the plant house, "Y-Yes! It's going q-quite well and the p-plants seem t-to really like it." He said happily, "The C-Christmas c-cactus even flowered t-this year!" He sounded quite excited about that, it wasn't too often that those particular plants bloomed after all so it was well worth the time and effort put into their care when they finally did. How he wanted to bring Dasher to see the plants that he had brought with him but didn't want to bother him by dragging him around, not when they were both supposed to be enjoying the festivities instead concentrating on just the plants he reminded himself. Maybe later? For now he was happy to talk about the wreath that his fellow Lossen had made, listening carefully about where he could make his own and if he didn't want to make one himself he could always get a premade one. Both options did sound nice he thought to himself, debating between the ideas. Either one would be fun after all.

At the mention that Dasher wouldn't leave him alone until he was ready he gave a swish of his tail, "T-Thank you." He was feeling much better now, knowing that he would be able to count on his fellow Lossen. It would appear though that yet another of their number had arrived though, putting half of their group here already and he perked up a little, spotting Vixen. The dark red Lossen was looking quite pleased over the party, wasn't he? Looking quite eager to dive headlong into the party. For a moment though he wondered if Vixen were disappointed to see him here, the look on his face suggested it... but then he was asking them if they were going inside, saying he was itching for a song. Must have been his imagination he thought to himself before he turned to look at Dasher, "D-Do we want t-to go inside w-with Vixen?" He asked of him, sure that it might be a good idea to keep an eye on him, not wanting him to get lost when they were so close to the Son of Yule would need them. At the same time he didn't want to seem like a wet blanket... so best to keep an eye on Vixen from a conservative distance he decided.

Levant gave a brisk nod, short dark locks with red and lavender highlights scattered into her pale face; she was happily to oblige whatever request the younger mare made. Rolling her heavily muscled shoulders the countess stepped away from the table of clutter and branches, wriggling her plush nose the tall solid walking wall of what-one-could-call a hunk ambled towards the further most reaches of the tower’s inner workings. The scent of heated chocolate decadence was almost stifling in the cramped space as it mixed with other fragrances that were equally potent and waged a silent war for sensory reign. Cider, punch, other beverages lined the concession bench, flicking her peppered tail Levant made her approach towards the heated canter that held a stone ladle and was clearly labeled as ‘cocoa’. Scooping up a wooden mug the mare eyed it suspiciously for a moment, she didn’t have any doubts of Lady Tiri’s cleanliness however with so many mearas around there was bound to be someone with sullied paws grubbing around on something they didn’t need to.

“Hm,” blowing past the brim of the cup the yellow-eyed laegil continued to appraise the hallow innards, snorting a bit after coming to the conclusion that it was sanitary enough to her standards Levant lifted the spoodle of hot chocolate from its resting spot and transferred the steaming liquid into the small bowl-shaped container. They would share, honestly the female didn’t want to make more clutter for their host than what needed to be; she after all was an equine of etiquette. Snorting a bit Levant turned in place making sure to keep an even grip on the beverage in her hands, little ones darted about and mearas of all sizes leisurely passed by without much care for anyone around them, under normal circumstances the powerfully built huntress would have been annoyed or gravely irritated with the close proximity with others however this was a party and for once she was relaxed and welcomed all of the new faces that she saw. “Amadi, I have your drink. How is the wreath shaping up?”

Sick, almost hallow citrine hues gazed deeply at the tan coated female in front of her, Amadi’s natural somber expression tugged at the edges into something priceless and captivating; a genuine smile. Cream colored ears flattened and nostrils flared as the timid pained proclamation was thrown into the air, the cocoa had been too hot for her partner to consume and a pang of guilt washed over her. What if that ruined her chances? No, that was a daft notion to jump to, something as small as a burnt tongue wouldn’t keep Amadi from----

Her train of thought came to a sudden halt at the mention of lossen, absentmindedly the stallion-like mare with fangs reached out and cupped the hand that was on her rigid forearm giving it a caress with her thumb before she pulled back just slightly. Three! There were three reindeer at the party and the festivities where just getting underway, who knew what else could be in store for the bash at the rate things were going. “C’mon let’s go outside for a bit of fresh air, I just want to get my hooves on one of those sleigh and give it a shot. Madi will you watch me?” Turning to face the violet haired youth a slight sparkle reflected in her lackluster yellow eyes, never before had she muttered a nickname for the other laegil and now it seemed she was throwing mass amounts of affection at her all at once. Bristling with excitement the taunt figured mare pointed towards the rounded entrance that also served as an exit. “Please? You don’t have to join me, I just want you to watch. I bet I am still really good at it like I was when I was a filly.”

Without so much as another word Levant took off into a flat out run. Her long legs allowed for a powerful gait, one that covered a sizeable amount of distance with each stride. Flying out of the door as fast as her hooves could carry her the masculine laegil nearly tripped over herself as she managed the tight squeeze through the archway while a red-coated lossen made his entrance. “Sorry!” Belatedly stated Levant as she skidded over and out of the threshold then tumbled forward thoroughly rolling around snout first into the snow before springing back up onto her hindquarters.

The sleighs resided against the side of the Tower just a few feet away from where she stood, shaking from tip to rump Levant made her way towards the row of toboggans eying them all carefully as she made her approach. One by one she went through the line until she spied the perfect sized construct, clearly it was designed for three or more mearas and had a rope lead laced through the nose at the very front. It was large enough to be stable if she stood up on it and had enough slack in the reins so that she could easily maneuver it while she rode it down, it was perfect.

“Madi! Madi! I am going to go to the top of the hill,” she shouted with completely glee filling her tone. “Watch me!” tugging the rather large contraption with her Levant once again bolted at breakneck speed towards the closest mound. Not bothering to set the sled down and the tall mare simply circled around once she arrived at the crest then threw the sleigh down and hopped on it as it began to slid along the crisp snowcapped peak. Keeping balance for only a few solid feet Levant wobbled as the sleigh picked up momentum with her weight near the very front, pulling sharply to the left while her body was convinced it needed to be right sent the fanged-beastly mare toppling to one side and down the hill the remainder of the way followed by the sled right behind her. Bursting out with laughter remained on her back in the snow for a few moments before standing up and giving herself another shake. "I'll get it next time, just you wait and see."