Winter

Winter, despite both her name and her nickname (Ice), is actually a very warm person, all things considered. She's part of the Guard because that's where her skills are best used, as partner and equal with her bond Shield (Merteth), not out of some inherent military leaning like many of the rest, though she gets along well enough with all of them. Not lazy in the slightest, she has a tendency to balance out Shield, getting him moving when no one else can.

Winter can be a bit on the reserved side, especially when meeting strangers, but get to know her well and she quickly 'thaws' into a woman of easy smiles and quick, bright laughter. She loves to hang out with the boys of the Guard, perferring their practicality over the 'softer' women that inhabit the clan (though she enjoys Scout's (Lin's) company, whenever she's in the enclave long enough to hang out). Her position as the only Aio of the Clan (not that many seem to understand the full implication of that) has her in a delicate situation - Elojá can be as wild as the winter winds, and with no Wood Aio around to place defense for her, she has to be extremely careful about when she calls 'him' (Elojá is technically an it) to the fore.

Winter was born with a tentative link to the Ice Elemental Elojá that was later formalized and strengthened when she reached her twelth birthday. Much of her life was spent learning control and mastery over the abilities that the Elemental gives her, and coming to terms with the fact that Elojá will do as he wishes, even to the point of forcing her onto the sidelines if he believes her to be in danger.