It was the dead of winter. The frigid temperatures of Asgard somehow seemed to grow even colder as the days dragged on, much to Loki's irritation. With the chilly nights came loads of excitement as the Yuletide festival was nearly upon them. The Winter Solstice, and its celebration. With preparations nearly complete, the three gods were in the forest gathering some last minute items.

Five pairs of feet hiked through the woods, moving at a brisk pace. At the rear was Balder, dragging a large tree behind him in an alarming display of physical strength. Beside him was Loki, prodding and poking fun. Up ahead was Thor, hammer in hand, eyeing their tracker with curiosity. And leading at the front of their party was the most surprising member of all, Yuna herself. Her paws padded gently over the snow as she trotted along, following the scent trail of their quarry.

Following their rocky meeting, the winter goddess had slowly become accustomed to the other gods' presence. Once truly establishing that Thor had no intention of clobbering her for a second time, Yuna didn't mind having him around, as his strength was quite a boon to their hunting party. Balder, however, was a different story. While she no longer held the same aversion to him as she had previously, the two still had a rather tense relationship as the wolf remained wary. Her uncertainty around him stung a little, but the god of light respected her space.

Loki was by the far the luckiest of them all, with Yuna actively seeking out and enjoying the fire god's company. The pair had become companions of a sort, often found lounging around together, even outside of hunting days. For him, she provided companionship, staving off loneliness when his friends were away. For her, Loki provided the same, a nice person to have around who respected and didn't ridicule her. They had formed an unlikely friendship of wolf and god.

"Runaaa, how much farther?" Loki whined, growing impatient from their seemingly endless trek. They had been outside far longer than he cared to tolerate and at this point, was beginning to suspect that she was leading them in circles just to spite him.

Yuna ignored him, huffing a quiet puff of air as she continued traveling forward. In truth, she was spiting him. Just a little. Getting under his skin had become a pastime of hers over the past few weeks, often in retaliation to the fire god's jests. Loki was incredibly easy to agitate at times, and the playful goddess simply couldn't resist the urge to mess with him.

"Ruuunaaa. I know you hear me." Loki crooned, hoping to aggravate her into a response.

Again, the wolf disregarded him, flicking her tail at him in a particularly snide manner. Loki frowned, taking note of her dismissive gesture. She was blowing him off! That simply wouldn't do. If there was one thing the god of fire hated more than anything, it was being ignored. He was going to get her back for this. She could count on it.

Increasing her pace, Yuna started forward. She could hear the sound of footsteps following behind her, Thor's strides growing to match her speed. The wolf lowered her body, signaling to her followers that they were nearly in range. They would need to be quiet from here on out. Balder and Loki slowed, their large tree staying behind with them as the other two moved swiftly through the forest. This had become a common battle strategy among the group.

While Yuna was more than capable than taking down any adversary she chose, it was undeniable that Thor outmatched her easily in terms of size and physical power. It was far less effort to lead her quarry toward him, leaving the thunder god to end the creature with a mighty blow of his hammer. She didn't need to exert much energy, nor did she need to call upon her power. Plus, the activity itself was incredibly fun.

In her pack, she had often been the one to deal finishing blows with a well-placed clamp of her mighty jaws. Now, she got to herd her prey, chasing them around the area and manipulating their movements to her will. A practice that she was, once again, about to demonstrate.

As their prey came into view, Yuna banked to the left and vanished into the brush, leaving Thor behind on the trail. He slowed his movements to a stop, lifting his hammer from his back. The rest was up to their canine companion. Slinking low to the ground, her body disappeared, melding into the world of white. She moved silently in between the brush, looping and making her way around the clearing.

In the center, a massive boar grazed lazily on a tuft of grass, large puffs of white clouds escaping its nostrils. This was going to be an amusing challenge. From the size and sharpness of its tusks alone, she could tell that this creature was going to be highly aggressive. The scars along its face and body showed that it was practiced and battle-hardened, having survived countless clashes with various opponents. Something of this caliber wouldn't remain fearful, quickly turning its aggression on its pursuer. Chasing it wasn't going to be an option for very long, so instead, she would lure it.

In position, she lifted her head, poking out from within the bushes. Across the clearing, she could see her partner, his green head of hair standing out against the white landscape. The pair exchanged a knowing look between them. They were ready. Leaning forward, Yuna carefully placed a paw on a dry twig, pressing down until it snapped beneath her weight.

The boar lifted its head immediately, turning towards the sound. Her body lowered, fur bristling as her quarry searched for its intruder. It would only be a moment…

A loud snort blew through its nostrils, beady eyes making contact with her golden ones through the brush. Yuna answered its challenge, leaping from the thicket and into the open. Darting across the landscape, she bared her teeth and unleashed a furious snarl. She skidded to a stop in front of it, heckling it with barks and aggressive maneuvers. A hop to the side, evading an incoming tusk with the swing of its head. It followed her, hooves scratching against the ice. It was agitated. With a final taunt, she completed her task.

Lowering her tail, Yuna swept in a circle, kicking up a cloud of snow and spraying it right into the boar's angry face.

With a guttural rumble, it charged. She turned tail, bounding around the edge of the clearing. It followed her, hugging the tree line and chasing after its target. A creature so large couldn't turn effectively, its body drifting further and further towards the thicket. Thor lifted his hammer at its approach, keeping an eye on Yuna as she moved towards him. She was almost upon him.

When she reached two paces, he jumped, lifting his hammer above his head. Yuna darted beneath him, vanishing back into the trees and out of harm's way. The boar followed behind her, charging right to its demise as the overwhelming weight collapsed on its skull. One strike; a quick and easy kill. Their job was done.

Dancing through the trees, Loki appeared, his braids whipping around him as he spun. "Very nice, Thor! So strong!"

The god of thunder shook his head. He had no time for Loki's antics at the moment, and busied himself wrapping a large hand around the animal's leg. Its body left a large indentation as he dragged it towards the trail, leaving Loki behind to tease their canine companion instead. A wide smirk graced his features, eyes glinting with mischief. Yuna looked up at him, an eyebrow lifting curiously at her newfound friend.

Leaning forward, the god smirked, lifting a gloved hand forward. Yuna's eyes widened slightly in surprise… then narrowed as he gently patted her head and praised her. Like a dog. "And what a good girl you are, Runa. When we get home, I'll give you a treat!"

A growl was his only response followed by a wall of white. Emulating her earlier strategy, she spun, whipping her tail across the snow and spraying right it into his face.

"Gah! C-C-Cold! Cold!" Loki shouted, frantically melting the frozen water from his skin. Turning, his eyes narrowed at the wolf, trotting away up the trail towards his comrades. Oh, he was definitely going to get her back for this one.

. . .

After gathering their remaining necessities, the four gods went their separate ways. Balder and Thor returned to the city with their gathered spoils. Loki and Yuna retired to his cottage for some lazy relaxation. The goddess's presence in his home was another increasingly common occurrence. It was an unusual situation, having a wolf in his abode, but not necessarily an unwelcome one.

He enjoyed having her around, often speaking with her in his boredom, long accepting the fact that she couldn't answer back. Honestly, he didn't really mind it. Even without the capability of speech, her expressions alone were enough to at least have a semi-sentient conversation. Thus, the two would relax and 'chat' in his home by the hearth. Tonight was no different, the fire god casually balancing a flaming sphere on his fingertips. Yuna lay a few feet away from him, gazing lazily into the roaring flame. "Ehhhh, Runaaa. What should I do, hmm?"

The goddess lifted her head, tilting it at his whining tone.

"The Yule feast is almost here. I don't want to go, but Balder's gonna make me."

Yuna blinked, twitching an ear at him and lifting a brow. Once again, a glance in her direction was enough to give the god an idea of her thought process. What in the world is Yule?

A tired sigh was her initial response, the fire ball bouncing as he dropped it into his palm. "You know, the Yuletide festival. The celebration of the Winter Solstice? It happens every year, and every year is always the same. Thor stands with Odin at the head the hall and Balder dances with every goddess in sight. And I am left dreadfully bored."

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, her posture straightening as her gaze sharpened. This world not only acknowledged and recognized the coming of winter… but celebrated it as well? Surely, she couldn't possibly be so lucky. Her heart soared at the idea, her tail slowly wagging with interest. To see her season met with joy and commemoration rather than bitterness and scorn would be a new experience for her. Possibly once in a lifetime. Her mind began to wonder of the possibilities, a small grin forming on her furry face.

Loki noticed her excitement, raising an eyebrow in response. "Eh? Do you like the Winter Solstice?" A nod was his answer, earning a laugh in response. "Well, this is a surprise. If you're that eager, you should come with me. Not like anyone else will join me."

Yuna tilted her head, brows furrowing in confusion. Why?

"Let's just say, I'm… not very popular among the natives." He muttered.

The winter goddess regarded him, taking careful note of his shift in tone. She didn't miss the darkening in his demeanor nor the downward trajectory of his gaze. His voice reverberated with its usual playful lilt. Yet his smile didn't reach his eyes. Loki's expression was one that Yuna was very familiar with, as it was one that she wore a majority of the time: sadness. Was the god of fire disliked in Asgard? If so, why? One would think that a god of flame would be miracle in a frozen land. That aside, he was by far one of the kindest gods she had met in some time, albeit a little annoying. He was a troll most of the time… but somehow, it was oddly endearing.

"Think it over. I'd love to see the look on their faces when the god of fire shows up with a wolf on his arm, hehe." His sorrow suddenly vanished, the idea of such a ludicrous notion amusing him.

Yuna simply watched him, listening to his ramblings. He was normally like this in the walls of his home. He tended to become more vocal, voicing his thoughts freely in her presence. Likely, he felt little reason to hide considering her existence as a canine. It wasn't like an animal would judge him. Now, she was wondering if perhaps it was time that she changed that perspective. He seemed to enjoy her company as a wolf… would he still feel the same way if he saw her as a goddess? She wasn't sure. But she was hopeful to find out.

Perhaps she would take him up on his offer.

"Anyway!" Loki sat up, extinguishing his bouncing flame. "I have something for you, Runaaa." He sang.

Yuna tilted her head, watching as he plucked a small candy from a nearby table, holding it gingerly between his forefinger and thumb. Placing it on the floor, he gently rolled it towards her, letting it land a few inches from her front paw.

"I told you I'd give you a treat." Loki winked, hopping up from his chair and strolling towards his barrel of mead. "Try it out! You'll like it!"

Yuna sighed, a loud huff of air in the quiet room. It seemed he still hadn't come off of his earlier shenanigans. The goddess contemplated teaching him another lesson… but she couldn't be bothered. She would save it for another day. For now, she would inspect this 'treat' that he had offered her. Lifting a paw, she slowly dragged the spherical candy towards her.

A terrible mistake.

It trembled beneath her paw, slowly raising it from the ground as it began to rapidly expand. Her eyes widened, fixated on the unusual growing candy, its wrapper stretching at the seams. It grew larger and larger until…

Pop!

The candy exploded in a small cloud of pink dust, engulfing her face, chest, and paws and startling the life out of her. She hopped to her feet and backed away, shaking her head furiously to dispel the smoke. Pink powder erupted with every cough as she cleared her vision, revealing a highly amused Loki. The fire god was doubled over in laughter, clearly very pleased with himself. Yuna glared at him, eyes growing hard. He was going to pay for this.

Loki smiled, cracking an eye to spare her a glance. At the sight of her, he erupted into laughter once more, nearly collapsing to the floor in sheer amusement. The powder had dyed her snowy white fur and painted her entire front half a brilliant pink. She was glowering at him, lips trembling in a low growl. But in her current state, it only made her look adorable rather than threatening. He held his sides, shoulders trembling with mirth as the wolf shook her head.

Yuna turned and trotted to the door, tripping the latch with her now bright pink paw. He was definitely going to pay.