Willow Ridge war rages within - Printable Version

don't need reason

Morganna Archer

don't need rhyme

To her own mind she was surrounded by layabouts since Enoki’s departure. The white girl that seemed to stick to @Skoll like stubborn tree sap, well who knew what she did other than lay about and eat their food? Skoll himself, although still evident about the borders seemed to have reduced his patrols, no doubt to simper about with the aforementioned drain. It made her blood boil, but at least he had been steering clear of her.

She was buried up to her shoulders in the entrance of the secondary medical den (the one where she had been conceived no less, although she remained blissfully oblivious to this fact), storing her latest gatherings accordingly. When her mothers call rang demandingly across the Willows, a questioning look crossed her features. She supposed it was beyond due time for another meeting and she emerged, her eyes squinting against the spring sunlight, bright yellow pollen now evidently plastered across her muzzle and forehead, although the young woman remained oblivious.

Being so far away she supposed she had best pick up her feet. Her ranging had left her streamline, Archer curves more evident under her sleeker spring coat. As she ran she kept half an ear open to see if she might bump into @Renier on her way there. His scent was here and there, but she supposed they would be approaching from different sides of the territory, so when his tawny back was sighted she sped up a little, aiming a playful barge at his rump and delivering an affectionate nip to his cheek.

When they finally made it back to the heart of her home, the young Archer was slightly concerned to see they were the first to arrive. I the presence of her mother her head dropped to a relaxed position between her shoulders, her tail waving level with her spine as she moved forward to plant a kiss on the woman's white lined chin. She did not move far, settling herself to her mothers left to await the arrival of the rest of her pack mates, indicating with a tilt of her head that Renier should join her.

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The chocolate woman spent her days tracking and catching small game, learning the layout of the Ridge and some land beyond, commiting it to memory. She kept alert for any signs of a nearby herd, but as of yet, had only caught stale scents. Usually she would spend most of the morning hunting and then return to Nicolò's side. She felt odd not being at his side as constantly as when they were traveling as loners but she still spent the majority of her time with her silent brother so the feeling was always short lived. Adele felt bad, since they really hadn't met with their sister's pups, but a new litter was soon to come and she knew Nico would be happy to have his paws full with the no doubt rambunctious bunch that was soon to arrive. A slight grin spread across her maw as she headed back to pack territory, though in truth she hadn't wondered very far.

A call echoed throughout the willows. It was clear that Elettra was calling a meeting and it was a direct order for no one to miss it. Her slender form moved across the lands as she singled out her brother's scent, hurrying to reach him so they could head to the meeting. Finally catching up to her sibling, she brushed up against his side in a silent greeting, giving him a smile as her tail wagged happily for a short moment. Not wasting any time, the duo were quick to not be late to the no doubt important meeting. She held no inkling as to what this was about so Adele was eager for the meeting to commence. Her eyes were warm as she nodded her greeting to the male stranger before heading to Elettra and licking her chin in a respectful, submissive gesture. She looked to Morganna, and bowed her head slightly. The girl was higher than her now, after all. Done with greetings, she sat beside Morganna, waiting for her brother to take his place beside her as they all waited for the others to arrive.

"Speech"

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Even since @Adele and Nico had joined Willow Ridge, their lives had been nothing short of peaceful. There was a certain amount of relief that came from knowing that the Archer siblings had settled down again, with another sibling of their own. While the man was sure that there were other internal struggles within the pack, the sibling's lives had been filled with happiness. Nicolò had no information on what had been happening within the pack, which in and of itself was slightly embarrassing. However, the Archer, was, in his opinion, much more peaceful than the rest of them. He did not have a problem being who he was, especially with the role that he generally chose, it had to do with the children, and he found that at such a young age, it was easier for them to be peaceful.

It was why when his sister's voice cut through the territory at such a demanding level, he was slightly surprised. However, he did not hesitate to make his way towards Elettra's beckon. He knew where his sister was and so he didn't move at such a fast pace as normal, expecting her arrival to his side as soon as she heard the call. He was not proven wrong as she sauntered up to his side, giving him an affectionate bump in greeting. He returned the gesture before they entered the area where their alpha had called for them, their entrance not one of surprise. Adele was quick to make her way towards one of the children, and Nico dipped his head in greeting to Elettra, muttering his greeting before taking his place next to Adele, his pale yellow eyes focused on the dark features of his sister.

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Angier had been preoccupied with marking the borders when Elettra had called for the pack to gather. Minding what Sköll had said some time ago about Piety's "hiding place," he had thought to go check it out. It would seem that he would have to do it some other time, however, and he was immediately swept away. Lumbering through the trees, his sense of direction brought him to the heart of Willow Ridge where a small gathering that had already come answer his mate's call.

As was customary, his tail rose as he made his way past Nicolò to nuzzle his nose to Elettra's cheek before planting a kiss where he had initially touched her. He came to stand before her, regarding the few souls who stood before them. All Archers: Morganna and his in-laws, Adele and Nicolò. Without much to say with such a small group, he quietly took a seat, all the while frowning to himself as he wondered if Morganna's brother and Piety would show. He hoped they would lest they had already accepted their fate and made themselves scarce.

Taking a deep breath, he eased his shoulders back to sit up straight, knowing full well that this meeting had been long overdue and that there was much to be discussed; of the long list of things, the imminent arrival of the Archer-Lyall's newest members was something he was most eager to announce.

Since his confrontation with Angier, Sköll had been nothing more than a shadow, creeping about at night as was usual and only waking from his slumber in the evening to carry out his duties of assisting his step-father with border patrolling and cache counting. In these dark hours with only the stars for company, he also spent this time hunting. He wasn't just filling his own belly, though, and it was usually just before dawn when he came trotting back to Willow Ridge with small prey clasped between his teeth. These, he made sure, were to be consumed immediately, not by his mother but by his beloved Piety whom he had tried to hide away as best as he could from the rest of the pack since they had found out of the consequence from their moonlit affair some odd weeks ago.

The black-coated prince had been fast asleep when his mother's call had resounded through the willows. His velveteen ears had merely twitched; in his oblivion, cradled in dreams, he had been lovingly grooming a small cub between his paws... a live one, one that yipped and mewled in protest with every swipe of his tongue across its own dark-furred forehead. His son and heir, the new prince of Willow Ridge. He was unwillingly pulled from it all though with a soft nip to his ear. One of his ghost gray eyes cracked open to regard Piety's bright white figure standing over him. He growled in response and, within a few seconds, he was up on all fours, stumbling blindly under the blue skies and using Piety as a guide as he followed her for a time.

Once they had come closer, though, he whispered to her with a small kiss to her ivory temple, "Let me go first. Wait a few moments before coming over. Do not sit next to me." One more "kiss," a gentle nudge of his nose to hers with a simple sentiment, "Love you."

He withdrew from her with a trace of hesitance in his step, his joints much too stiff for his own liking. Obviously still drowsy from being awoken, he came to approach the den site. Whether they could pick up on Piety's scent on his coat, he cared little for it, it would come to light for sure once she joined them all - a moment Sköll had finally come to dread.

With his head and tail held low - which was something so very out of character for him to do - the prince came to regard both Elettra and Angier with a lick to the chin. He even sauntered over to his sister and greeted her with a quiet nudge of his nose to her chin without missing a step. Still blinking from the harshness of the partially cloudy day, he reclined onto his stomach to Angier's left, looking very much like a life-like pharaoh hound, a living Anubis. His eyes closed though his ears remained skyward and alert, simply waiting for this conference of sorts to begin.

Life will come our way, it's only just begun

It was the end of patrol when Elettra's voice beckoned for her pack. Though tired it did not show. With new energy with a need to please, his gait sped another gear, as he tried to swiftly meet his Lady's call. He was still a wolf of the Ridge after all. The rough ad not yet the heart to see how his young brother had farred since leaving. He was afraid to add any more conflictions to his life. He did not like to get too far from a pale orange eyed wolf. Besides here he was feeling like he belonged, had purpose. It had been a choice all his own.

The wind in his ears, he did not hear but instead "felt" Morganna catch up to him. Instantly, tucked his tail, looking about, thinking it better be her or someone was going to get it. Sure enough, teeth to his cheek that assured him it was no other. he wondered if he would get use to her chosen ways of affection, or if she would always be doing the unexpected. A smile, golden tail wagged, and he spurred onward in a race.

There was only Elettra, perched outside the den waiting for others. Surprised, but pleased he smiled inwardly. Then bent his frame lower, creeping forward to show his respect to his leader. He did not offer her a lick to her chin, just a bow of his head. Briefly hesitating as Morganna gestured to the seat next to her. Hell, now was as good as ever for it to be known they "liked" each other. So he sat, just enough the tips of their furs touched, waiting for who else would come.

There are darknesses in life and there are lights,

saint & sinner

and you are one of the lights, the light of all lights.

"Love you."

"Love you too." Her voice was barely above a whisper as she savored his last kiss to her invisible halo. Of course she was sure the was more to come she liked to bask in each moment as much as possible. Who knew when his last kiss would be. The Santoro woman didn't like to think of those things. It worried her already frizzing mind. Each day had come with a much more undesirable feeling. Especially today; the day Elettra, Skoll's own mother, had called a meeting.

It was her time to move in. Tucking her tail while lowering her crown Piety slunk along. Glancing around briefly before finding a spot in the far back. A spot that was far enough for her not to be a bother but close enough she could hear everything. Hopefully this would all be offer soon. The ivory woman just wanted to go back to hiding in her den. A place where only Skoll would travel near to see her and perhaps Angier might have come close. While she hadn't known the man too well she respected him and Elettra enough to stay out of their way. Hell, Piety had been out of the way so much she was almost unsure who knew of her and Skoll's little accident. Although it was an accident the Santoro had been happy had happened.

Looking down at the ground Piety's river mud eyes caught a glimpse of her dark knight momentarily. He was resting rather royal looking next to Angier. It was a blessing that Piety had ended up with him. That one moment of her joyous singing had brought her many more joyous moments with the dark knight.

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