1: The Winter Holiday - Solvvarme
Since the earliest days of beastmen leaving their caves and burrows in attempts to live in more human-like societal settings, winter has been an unforgiving obstacle for both small settlements and large villages alike.
While many beastmen are biologically equipped to face the cold, this does not account for things like food and supply shortages. Moreover, not all beastmen are equally equipped, nor is every winter equal in its harshness. Hundreds of years ago, in a large village known as Nagar, one such winter proved this to be all too true. Never before had the settlement seen a winter so damningly cold nor so rapidly overtaking.
At the early onset, in a panicked and selfish gathering of resources, survival of the fittest left all but the very strongest beastmen surely on death's door. As the sun began to set on the freezing settlement, many beastmen shivered in both cold and fear, knowing the nightfall spelled their doom. As they prepared to bid their families a final farewell, however, the village was suddenly bathed in a bright blue light.
The silver wolf had appeared, and in so many blue and silver flashes, snow and ice was melted away, starving beastmen suddenly found themselves with ample supplies, and a warm fire was lit in every fireplace. All the beastmen of Nagar rejoiced in the Silver Wolf's grace, and not a single casualty was met that winter.
Since that joyous day, beastmen everywhere have spent the early weeks of winter celebrating Solvvarme, a time when we share in the selfless and caring spirit of the great Silver Wolf by giving gifts of necessity to help our brethren survive winter's harsh bite.
"And that is the tale of Solvvarme," Gem declared proudly, closing another of his own folktale picture books. As he replaced it on the shelf, Michiru looked over to Shirou with a playfully teasing giggle.
Shirou looked back at her with a tired deadpan. "What?" he asked in an exhausted tone.
"Happy Solvvarm, Shirou!" Michiru responded with a warm and genuine yet still teasing smile. As her smile began to deteriorate into more of a snicker Shirou turned sharply on the spot.
"Overblown fables," he grunted out indignantly, before walking harshly out of the room.
Michiru chased along, calling after him, "You don't have to be such a scrooge about it!" Gem and Melissa simply looked at each other and laughed.
End.
AN: I created Solvvarm and its folktale to use as a christmas replacement in the Anima City Shipping Company Discord server. If you're interested in joining a community of artists, writers, and general fans of BNA sharing ideas and creative criticism and being the best beastmen they can be, consider joining the Anima-City Shipping company! /peHUZCXj7V