"Huh, the blizzard's lighter than usual today." Nilma mumbled to herself as she quickly made her way home from fencing practice. Even with the snowstorm it would've been easy for anyone to spot her dark hair, fur, and ears.
The catfolk village of Chillburgh, located in the far north of Meridith, was a naturally cold town with blizzards being quite commonplace. Nilma had gotten used to the frigid weather even while not wearing warm clothing or sipping on a cup of hot tea.
It was part of her training after all. Her birthday was tomorrow, and on that day she be embarking on her coming of age pilgrimage to the capital city of Khore.
"Well well...look who's heading home in a hurry." came a snarky voice.
Nilma turned to see one of the many groups of local bullies in her village. It looked like a few younger catfolk had been subjected to the torment of the bullies behind them as well.
"Hello boys, is there something I could help you with?" Nilma calmly replied.
"Actually yes. My father's being a bit of a jerk and cut my allowance...again. I've been asking everyone else politely, but no one has been very receptive. Maybe you could give me a hand from your large allowance?" he asked with a snide smile on his face.
Nilma took a deep breath. She knew about this guy and his posse. The Remka family had been trying to become the new leaders of the tribe for a long time. Nilma's family, the Winterfalls, had been leaders of the tribe for many years, thus why some families were trying to take over various positions.
"I don't know Gracar, what did you do this time to get another drop in your funds?" Nilma calmly replied.
"Look here, my father is going to become the leader of the tribe someday. It would be in your best interest to start respecting me as his son." Gracar spat back.
Brawn Remka, the current head of the Remka family and the military advisor for the tribe.
"IF that happens of course." Nilma replied before turning around and continuing on her way.
"Why you…" Gracar said as he charged forward with his fist raised to strike.
He somehow tripped on his own feet and face planted into the snow as a few small bags fell from his belt.
The catfolk kids who were previously cowering now rushed for the bags as Gracar's posse tried to fend them off.
"Word of advice? Don't become someone who just lusts for money." Nilma said in a final sort of tone before rushing away.
She needed to get home before this turned violent.
Most of the highly respected families of Chillburgh lived in the far parts of the village, closer to the mountains that created a natural barrier surrounding them. This was why it was easy to defend Chillburgh from bandits and barbarians, since there was only one main entry point.
Nilma approached the entry gates to the family districts, and as the guards in front noticed her, Nilma brought out a badge in the shape of a snowflake with her name engraved on it.
"Ah, welcome back Nilma." one of the guards said as Nilma respectfully nodded back.
She kept walking straight forward towards the large house where her family currently lived. If the Remka family were to become the new leaders of the tribe, then they would basically switch homes.
Nilma shook these thoughts from her head as she entered the house.
"I'm home!" she called out while brushing a few snowflakes off her clothes.
"Welcome home sis!" came a warm voice from a young catfolk boy who bounded down a flight of stairs before jumping into Nilma's arms.
This was Rithur, Nilma's younger brother. His light brown hair and fur paled in comparison to his sharp crimson eyes. Like Nilma, Rithur was taking up swordplay, but they were private lessons rather than classes.
"Hey there little bro. How was practice for you today?" Nilma asked while rubbing the top of her brother's head.
"Well, trying to use two swords wasn't a good idea, but the instructor did say I'm perfectly fine with just one." Rithur replied.
Nilma kept smiling with her brother as two more voices chimed in.
"Welcome home my dears." came the voice of a silver haired catfolk female at the top of the flight of stairs Rithur had previously been.
"Hi mom!" Nilma exclaimed.
Her mother Fiya was standing there alongside their father Brukkar, who had brown hair and fur similar to Rithur.
"So how did your training go Nilma?" Brukkar asked.
"Quite well. I'm moving onto more advanced and deft techniques tomorrow. However, I would like to go tinker downstairs." Nilma calmly replied.
"Very well. Just make sure you clean up before dinner." her mother nodded as Nilma smiled and headed towards her room downstairs.
Nilma opened her room's door as a familiar smell caught her nose. It was emanating from under her bed.
She retrieved a long locked wooden case from underneath and a small key from the back of her closet.
Upon unlocking and opening the case, Nilma smiled to herself at her creation lying within. A musket.
It was crudely made and was at the risk of misfiring, but it was hers and hers alone. She had been altering and improving it for years, and it had proved itself to be very effective during their tribe's daily hunts.
Nilma then grabbed the gunsmithing kit inside the case before bringing everything to her desk.
"Okay, I haven't fired it recently so I should probably oil it up a little. More ammo and powder doesn't seem like a bad idea either." Nilma muttered to herself as she rummaged through her desk drawers for the materials.
Using lead, sulfur, charcoal, saltpeter, and an oiled rag, Nilma spent the next few minutes maintaining her weapon and creating munitions.
She then put everything back in its place before she changed out of her outside clothes, and donned a simple fur dress and tied her long hair into an off center ponytail.
It was practically time for dinner, so Nilma made her way to the dining hall.
She arrived a few minutes later, as a few of her family's servants were already laying out dishes, and both her sister Ama and Rithur were already there.
Nilma took a seat beside her brother just as her mother and father came into the hall.
"Now then, shall we eat?" Brukkar asked with a smile on his face before his stomach growled, much to his embarrassment and the amusement of everyone else.
They all sat down as various fish and fruit dishes were spread out in front of them. Goblets of their tribe's famous drink, Shivermist Dew, were also poured out.
Nilma scooped a large piece of salmon and some chopped apples onto her plate, but before she could start eating her mother spoke up.
"So Nilma, are you ready for your coming of age journey?" she asked.
"I've been preparing my bags and other supplies for the past week mom. I'll be shopping for things tomorrow as well." Nilma replied as she took a bite of salmon.
"It'll be fine Nilma. It's just a journey to the capital city for a training seminar for a year. You'll be back home before you even know it!" Rithur spoke with a mouth full of fish.
"Rithur...you're spilling…" Ama sighed as Nilma took a cloth and wiped Rithur's mouth.
Fiya and Brukkar laughed at their children's antics as they continued to eat.
About an hour later, Nilma was in her room once again. She was currently checking her large backpack full of supplies.
"Food, water, ammunition, tools, bedroll." Nilma listed off the essentials she had packed before checking the explorer's outfit, belt pouches, and powder horns in her closet.
Specifically in the pockets of her explorer's outfit were various alchemical weapons.
She finished her checkup before getting into her nightgown and tucking herself into bed.
The next morning, Nilma had gotten into her explorer's outfit, donned her backpack and belt pouches, and slung her musket and powder horns around her shoulders.
She then said goodbye to her room as she made her way towards the front door.
Her entire family was there to see her off.
"Happy birthday sis!" Rithur exclaimed as he embraced Nilma tightly.
"We wish you well on your journey. Here, I wove this for you. May you return with the skills and experience to become a fine woman." Brukkar said as he handed Nilma a snow white silken scarf. Nilma noted that it had a small pocket on the inside.
"It's not much, but this should help. Use the Shivermist Dew wisely." Fiya smiled as she held out a leather bound book and iron vial that was filled with the tribe's famous drink.
"Thank you mom, dad. I'll see you all soon." Nilma politely said before turning to leave.
She still needed to buy some more supplies in the village's market, but it was official.
She was taking her first steps into the outside world.