Nomads Pass Movers and Shakers

Pack Meeting/RE. Please all get your first rounds up by 6 Feb.

The wind whipped through her fur as she stood atop the mountain, looking out to the west. To the lands she had considered, time and time again before settling on this. Her mountain. Her home. The lost lake had been close. She had felt it’s pull at the time, but ultimately, this was where she was meant to be.

Down further she could see the tops of the trees of the ghastly woods and the barren expanse that would be the blackberry fields come spring... but much beyond that her vision was obscured. Her eyes roved in the direction of Swift River and the Sacred Grove, unable to make them out but knowing full well they were there, and further still to the Iridescent Lagoon. It had been so long since she had left the mountain, and while occasionally a pull would come, she was more than content to stay here with her pack.

It was not an easy place to live to be sure. While the cliffs of their home offered some protection from the wind and the worst of the snow it did not mean they were not at risk. Just last week there had been an avalanche, further down the mountain and away from their home, but it was still a reminder of the dangers they could face. But spring would be here soon, and while the snow may never melt from the peak of the mountain, their sheltered little pass would soon be green with new life, and hopefully the pitter patter of little paws.

Things would be different this time. She would not be taken from her children again.

Whether it was in response to her internal monologue or a reminder that the choice would only be hers to an extent, the mountain began to rock beneath her feet, a rumble from somewhere deep within the earth raising to a roar. A small growl of determination sounded from her chest as her head swung back to the valley that was her home. Smaller rocks were shaking loose and rolling down the pass, but the snow stayed relatively intact. Finally the shaking subsided and she tipped her muzzle to the air to call her pack forth. She wanted to make sure nobody was injured, and it was well past time they gathered to discuss rules and ranks.

Memories of the idiot girl Tenzin had intercepted danced through her mind as she waited. Her stance was naturally dominant, her tail curled over her back as she waited. Her tone had brokered no argument. She would accept insubordination from none.

(This post was last modified: Jan 30, 2013, 12:05 PM by Naira.)

It would have been difficult for Sagacity to believe she'd willingly joined a pack had she not had the experience she'd had while joining. So allured had she been, by the alpha male, that it had been imperative that she offer herself to the pack. And that moment...That moment of warmth in the cold, the fire and ice that had surged through her body, had been enough to assure her that this was where she was meant to be. She was wild; she had no need to join a pack because she could converse well with the alpha. She and Rhysis had shared few words, but a great deal of meaning had come from the encounter. Often she would replay their meeting in her mind, at times tweaking the end result, bringing a flush of warmth to her cheeks. But she couldn't- she wouldn't be that wolf.

So wisely she knew when she saw him in the midst of the pack that she could do nothing. Especially if his female was present. It might have been too much to assume, but she went ahead and assumed nonetheless that his lady was the pack's alpha female- yet another reason to keep herself from showing any sign of what she felt for her swarthy husband. Part of her looked forward to meeting the woman who had stolen his heart- and part of her loathed the woman already.

Nevertheless, the leader's call drove her up the mountain's slope at a fleet pace, though she slowed now and again when the mountain's disturbance made the earth tremble and shift slightly beneath her feet. She was not afraid of such a thing- then again, she'd never experienced an avalanche before and had no fear mainly because she lacked the knowledge. But for now, the sure-footed subordinate made her way up the mountain's side and toward the peak where the lady of the mountain stood, the wind whipping her tawny fur.

Sage took a fleeting moment to gauge the woman before her. She struck a figure, posed against the sky, with regal shoulders and a fine symmetry to her features. Perhaps Sagacity would have found her to be more attractive had she not been searching to find flaw in the leader's features, but in truth she ended up perceiving the woman to be fairly plain. Impressive and strong-looking, but plain through her jaded eyes. As what she assumed was the newest member of the pack and therefore likely the one in the lowest rank, Sagacity's features remained neutral but her posture was set to appease the gallant woman before her. Her ears lay back to show respect and she took her place in the snow with her body held low. She allowed her actions to speak for her- she greeted the alpha female with a submissive posture and remained silent to show her patience as she waited for others to arrive, and for the queen to speak.

Avatars by Arla!

my monarch, my liege, my queen,

mapplethorpe

let me tell you what i have seen.

With a belly full of hare and several days put under his belt as a pack wolf several facets of Mapplethorpe's old life - the previous lifestyle he had known under his mother and eldest sisters - emerged. Once a rogue solely devoted to the havoc of lawlessness, the noble and reverent gentleman surfaced and thrived under Rhysis and Naira's "care." Where the need for chaos should have sprung up, the desire to please Naira overcame him, and whether it was scouting the land for something of interest or tending to the caches he had emptied, he did everything for her. She had earned his loyalty by now after seeing exactly just how much she had endured. Rhysis, on the other hand, he opted he would keep playing his wildcards, continuing to test the dark man's commitment to his wellbeing, hoping through and through that it was just as absolute. As long as this ragtag bunch of Nomads held something of value to him, he decided he would keep true. They were, after all, his means of protection and a dependable buffer for him against the 'outside' world.

The tawny man had been lazing about in one of his most favorite spots - cradled in an almost trench-like depression along a copious and spacious rock ledge - when the earth began to quake. Small pebbles tumbled off their shelves and if he hadn't been as alert as he was he could have very well fallen to his imminent death much sooner than expected. As the plants above him began to shake and the tips of the trees below started to sway, Mapplethorpe scrambled to his feet, jumping into action as he sought out a better place to cling to. Once pressed against a crooked tree, he waited for Relic Lore to come to a standstill, and when the moment came, his wild cadmium yellow eyes darted about in search of some form of security...

The seconds dragged by but to his relief a howl sounded out. Naira Regina was summoning her pack. She was calling out for him. Without taking much time to think, his head turned and his ears swiveled. But... where was she? And, was she hurt? Mapplethorpe bit his tongue and immediately after replying to her with a song of his own, one that informed her that he was on his way, he set his nose to the ground and followed his pathways back and around until his trail merged her most recent venture. Panting, mostly from panic rather than the short trek across the secluded valley, he came face-to-face with his Leader and a curious young woman he had not seen before. He stared for sometime, not directly in their eyes or at the fullness of their beautiful faces but their pelts and how gracefully the girl eagerly submitted to her Leader. Tearing his gaze away, he tipped his muzzle downward and slicked his ears back against his neck, obediently approaching her and placing a small 'kiss' of sorts on Naira's ivory chin. His back arched as he took a step back and settled on his stomach beside the newcomer, his eyes meeting Naira's only for a split second before dropping to the ground beneath his forepaws.

A low bark proceeded by a soft whine told Naira that he fully acknowledged her, respected her authority over him. Yes? it addressed her. My Queen, what is it?

template base formed by GINNYSAURUS.

Sleep did not come easy to him. His dreams were never pleasant, but of late they were more than a nightmare, so much so that he took shorter and shorter rests, just to escape the prison which was his mind. The visions were never about anything in particular, usually lots of running, gore, scary faces without any identity- you know, the usual incubus stuff, but lately they had been more focused, honed in on two subjects, one grey and one brown. Their faces were distorted, their voices almost mechanical, but in the dream they fought until death and he would stand there, his paws rooted to the ground, unable to move. His voice was soundless as he tried to shout out to them to stop, but they never heard him. It always ended the same- he would violently shake himself away as one of the two fell dead, his breath panting, his fur standing on air whilst he waited for the inner panic to subside.
He had awoken the same- instantly alert, panic settled upon his person,breath short as he gasped for air. It was fortunate he had taken the night patrols. Whilst Naira slept, he walked the borders and explored the mountains. When she was awake, he took himself off for light rest here and there whilst doing his usual duties. He was exhausted, mentally and physically, but he just could not and would not rest. The dreams were too vivid and even when he was not asleep, they haunted him.

He rose slowly, once he was sure he was no longer in the land of his imagination, and pulled himself to his towering height. It was only when he was up however, that he noticed how the walls around him were swaying. How pebbles fell from the cliff tops ahead and scattered around him like rain.The few that hit him stung like a bee sting, and he made no song and dance about darted further away from the edge of the cliff where he had taken his nap. After the avalanche he had escaped last week, he figured that sleeping close to a wall was a pretty good idea... but apparently that logic wasn't going to be of much use today.

As quickly as it came, the land stopped shifting and an unnatural silence followed. He braced himself for the worse- perhaps another avalanche was happening upon the mountain top- he could only hope it was going the other way.
He turned swiftly and darted full steam into the forest within their pass, skirting past trees and thickets as he made his way into the heart of their land, hoping to round up anyone he could to make sure that they were safe. He was a jerk, but the welfare of his pack was never forgotten. After all, without them he would go hungry once more. Maybe it wasn't the best mentality to have, he should have seen them as family but his trust with strangers, hell his trust with his own wife was shattered, for now they were just wolves under his care.

Speaking of the wife- her call echoed out across the pass. Her voice bounched from wall to wall, calling them to her. She was safe, that was a bonus. Another voice sounded shortly after, Mapplethorpe was on his way. That guy gave him the creeps, but so far he had proven loyal and even active in the pack, bringing in new food to the cache when he found it. He could happily settle for now that he had made the right desicion- the guy might be disturbing as hell, but he was a hard worker and that was all he could ask for.
He broke through the forest with ease, his long strides made short work of the trip and once free he headed for the path that would up the side of the cliff that fenced their home from the world. From there, he would have a better vantage point to track her down, but it appeared he didn't need to work too hard, for as his paws graced the well worn path, he spotted the tail end of Mapplethorpe scuttling up the mountain to where two figures sat atop the cliff- one grey and one brown.

He felt an inner shiver at the sight and picked up speed, racing as quickly as he could to the top of the mountain. Relief flooded him when he saw that the females were a respectable distance away. Nothing had happened with him and the new female, or so he told himself, but he could not shake the feeling of guilt or that Naira might see right through him and whatever it was that had unfolded between the pair. He had to calm down, else she would noticed something was amiss.
He slowed his pace as he approached, composing himself with a few settled breaths before he pulled himself up onto the ledge where the meeting would be held. He had a feeling it was to sort out dominance, ranks and a general catch up- they had been in much need of one but with all of the drama with the new lands, hunting, bringing back his golden son from the lake, they had little time for much else.
He approached Naira with a wry smile, acting as natural as possible as he sauntered over. Their talk had gone well, but there was still a little unease he felt around her without the added eyes of Sagacity watching as he approached her. He bumped his nose to her muzzle with affection and ran his cheek along hers as he passed her, turning to sit alongside her in silence, but he could not help his eyes from roaming to the silver female who intrigued him so, and settled upon the warmth of her amber gaze but for a moment.

After hours of looking for the perfect hiding place, he had found it. Not for him, no, but for the stringy bits of meat he'd been collecting. It was more out of habit than anything else, for now there was plenty of food to go around and his once-gaunt sides were now pleasantly plump. But old habits died hard, and so he was artfully hiding a gristly bone beneath snow and rock, whilst carefully perched on a narrow ledge on the steep sides of the pass, accessible only by a precarious slope. It was a small collection so far, ears and ankles and all the tough chewy parts he didn't think anyone would miss...

It was as he was placing the finishing touches on his stash that the mountain suddenly hummed to life, little pebbles and snow raining down from the heights accompanied by the crackle of rock breaking free. Rais had no idea what the hell was going on, and his heart burned with a surge of adrenaline as he glanced around, bewildered. He needed to move before the mountain bucked him right off, and thinking quickly he started running down the steep slope that had lead him up there. He winced as he heard the rattle of bones bouncing down the pass, realizing it was likely that his cache had been compromised by the angry mountain. In his haste he tripped and tumbled about halfway down, bouncing alongside his liberated cache and landing in a heap at the bottom.

Once the rumbling subsided and he was on the firm ground of the pass, Rais shakily stood up, taking a moment to assess himself. Nothing seemed broken fortunately, just bruised with a few scuffs and a nick on his forehead. It wasn't a long moment though, as Naira's call soon echoed against the cliffs. Mapplethorpe's voice called up from somewhere else in the pass, and Rais added his own shaken note afterwards. Rais cautioned a glance to the side to see what had become of his leftovers. He winced, not having the time to clean it up later he'd just have to hope it would all be there when he got back. It would have been nice to have a moment to collect himself, but it wouldn't do to make his pack wait if he wanted to stick with them for any length of time.

When he did make it to the elevated meeting place, the first thing that caught his eye was a new female. Her grey-toned fur was enough to remind him of Narime', and enough to remind him to pull his eyes away from her before he'd get in trouble over a woman again. The wounds that brutish male had given him for eyeing Narime' were hardly anything anymore, but still itched something awful when he was trying to sleep. At least all the other scrapes the mountain had given him would give him something else to think about. With a small snort he refocused his attention. The yearling crouched low, tail dragging over the snow as he first greeted Naira with a squeaking whimper and a lick under her chin, before he poked at Rhysis' jaw with a similar acknowledgement. He moved in place to the forming semicircle around the leaders, settling down onto his haunches.

(This post was last modified: Feb 01, 2013, 10:06 PM by Rais.)

The monster arrived in mere seconds after the others. He had gotten sidetracked, sitting around to see if that stubborn, bright blue-eyed girl would come back for a second try to join. It was not like her re-appearance would make any difference. If she would've returned, Ten would snap her neck without hesitation. A smirk of bliss filled his maw with imagining the taste of the weakling's blood on his rough, pink taster. It gave him a mild mindgasm, but the stimulation vanished as he showed proper respect for Naira. His lava orbs averted from her proud gaze. He softly licked her chin, whining as he did so. His tail fell between his red-and-gray thighs. His acknowledgement to Rhysis came second. With high regard, Ten crept up to Rhysis and whimpered softly. He repeated the submission, except he rolled over-first, to his side-and last: on his back before steadily heaving himself to a once-again vertical stance. He also joined the little group that surrounded the esteemed Queen and Kind of the Pass. They were the ultimate overseers of everything. His own, magma-filled gaze fell over the group members. Two wolves had been missing from the meeting at the time. He just couldn't put his pawpad on who is was that seemed to be skipping out. There was the silver, confused wolf that walked on his beloved Ghastly Woods' grounds once before: Rais. There was the older, foreign wolf that he had a conversation with on a ledge, and lastly, there was a new face. He wondered who had recruited this girl: Rhysis or Naira? Probably the lanky black dumbass standing next to the tawny Mistress. To Tenzin, he feel short to the terms of a proper overlord to this pack. code by SWITCH | graphic by GREY | photo by DAWNTHIEVES.DE

• quick and dirty, just the way i like it.

The mountain that rumbled beneath his paws shook him to his very core.

Datura did not know how to contend with nature. He could not control it, and so it frightened him. It made him sick with angst as he thought of her... Only @Belladonna had loved the earth ad the sky and all of the rawness of the wild. She spoke to the lake as if it were more kin to her than he was. Well, now, he thought bitterly, I hope she enjoys having a lake for a brother. Though he fought to keep her from his mind she kept appearing. He shoved her aside again and again. But when the weather got bad or the sun shined in a particularly noticeable way her voice tickled his ears. Thankfully though, the memory of her was beginning to fade a bit... in time, he hoped he could erase her entirely.

But trembling of the earth was too loud, too strong. It drowned his thoughts in memories of his former sister. He refused to leave the safety of his den this morning, his ears pressed down against his head that he banged against the wall, hoping the pain would distract him from this terrible day. The golden boy hoped that no one would come searching for him. He didn't want to be seen when he was this way. Datura couldn't control himself when he got this way. The golden boy scared himself sometimes.

After some time, however, his mother summoning them all. He swallowed a groan. Any other day, mother, he thought, Any other day. But she could not be refused, and so he brought himself to his feet and carefully began to make his way towards the gathered wolves —for there were quite a few of them already assembled. Datura had been incredibly lazy when it came to meeting them... he had neglected to really begin carving his niche into the pack and putting an effort into bonding... but he had had too many things on his mind. That's not an excuse, he berated himself, Are you some loner? Some crazy self beast?. No, no, he was not a beast. He was the son of a leader, he was the well-bred offspring of civilization. Then stop it! Stop wallowing. The pack comes first.

Casually he approached his mother, forcing a lovable smile onto his face that made him feel better as he licked her face and ran his muzzle along the underside of her chin. He was less sure about to do with this other dominant wolf that sat beside her, quiet and dark. His ears twisted back uncertainly, and he lowered himself slowly to the ground before backing away. He stopped just a moment before he bumped into some grey-black stranger behind him. Quickly, Datura redirected his hindquarters and backed up so that he came along side the male. "May I sit here?" he queried politely, a bright smile on his handsome face, "I'm sorry we haven't met, and I'm afraid I don't know your name. I'm Datura."

OK PPing Adonis arriving as Tyrant is unwell. Valiant won't be coming as I'm sending him inactive and Romanis hasn't seen any of my PMs since 20 January so we will assume she won't be here. Rhysis next and then open floor. Once this round is over I will post an end and you can either exit or linger as you wish.

Ears swiveled to take in the voices of the approaching and she knew her pack would be with her soon. The first to arrive was a stranger to her eyes although clearly marked by Rhysis. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as the girl approached. How far he had come - once unable to even touch another, through all the bullshit he had grown, like some sort of mystical mushroom - as to compare him to a flower would only cause him insult, she knew. Had she been aware of what had passed between the newest member and her mate on the mountain perhaps her welcoming glance would have been less inviting - even if it would be an entirely hypocritical gesture.

The next to arrive was Mapplethorpe, a wolf she was quickly growing fond of despite her initial instincts telling her she should do otherwise. The older wolf was proving himself resourceful and more importantly loyal to her little rag-tag group of ruffians. As he showed his respects her own jaw angled down as her tongue snaked out over his forehead in thanks for his swift arrival and a small sign of reassurance that all was well with her, it was the rest of her family she had held concern for. As he drew away she allowed her eyes to rove over him, and she noted with a sense of relief that his sides were beginning to fill. In short time they would all be in far better condition than they had been. She considered the appearance of her family a measure of her worth. It would not serve her well to allow her followers to run about with hollow sides.

Then came Rhysis. Another that caused her mind trouble. Still he insisted on sleeping away from her and wandering about at all hours of the night. His exhaustion was evident and she couldn’t help but wonder how he would handle a challenge in such a sleep deprived state. Not that she minded a little extra room with two growing sons sharing her small den on and off but she still missed him at her side. Still they avoided each other like some sort of illness and she knew it could not go unnoticed by the pack. How long could they keep doing this? Already she could foresee trouble on the horizon with the rapid approach of Spring. But she kept the worry from her eyes, a genuine smile lighting her face at his approach and as he bought himself to sit at her side she allowed herself to lean into him for a moment. To breath in his scent that usually bought her such calm.

Rais joined the gathered, slightly more battered then the rest, bringing a look of clear concern to Naira’s eyes. She had not managed to collect any stores of medicinal herbs as yet, the simple fact was there was next to nothing to be found in the winter, except perhaps a little white fir and that would be useless unless he was suffering arthritis along with the bump to his head. The snow couldn’t melt quick enough... and yet at the same time she almost wished it would never leave. After all, it would signify her boys becoming yearlings. Where was the year disappearing to? Her warm tongue gently grazed across the fresh wound on the young wolf’s head before responding to his whine with a quiet concerned huff of her own. The boy was constantly returning to her in a battered state. Whether it was merely due to his young age or perhaps pure clumsiness she knew he would always be a worry, but one she was more than willing to endure.

Tenzin arrived next, an affectionate brush of her muzzle against his cheek in thanks for his assistance dealing with the loner at the borders. He had done his job well and she couldn’t have asked more of him. Hopefully not all encounters would end as bloodily as that one had but nobody came to her borders and began to lecture her on what was and was not acceptable. Her train of thought was interrupted by the arrival of her boys, first Datura with what she was beginning to recognise as his usual flair, returning his affectionate greeting with a lick to the top of his head and a playful nip of his ear, offering the same to Adonis when he approached. Her eyes wandered to Rhysis for a moment knowing sooner or later the boys would need to be made aware of who exactly the wolf who led at her side was... But happy to leave it until he felt comfortable to broach the subject. He had always seemed to be a reluctant father.

Once the youngest members of the pack had settled, she was more than willing to get this whole ordeal over with as quickly as possible. While she had no issue speaking in the past, it was not something she saw as necessary as she once had. There were far more important things to be done than to sit around and flap her gums at wolves that were old enough to not need someone nattering at them constantly. There were borders to mark, caches to fill and predators to be escorted out of their territory. "Thank you for coming so swifty." her voice was quiet, yet commanding. There was no need to project with her family gathered so close. The absence of not only Valiant but also Romanis did not go unnoticed by the leader but she would delay this meeting no longer for their sake. They would answer to her personally if she saw them again.

The mountain gave another grumble, this one smaller than the last, a tiny aftershock of the quake that had come before. A smile lit her face as she continued on. "Clearly, our home is not as peaceful as those on flat ground, but it does make us stronger. Last week there was an avalanche, today, this. Be aware of your surroundings and always know your quickest route to safety." Not all of the gathered had lived on mountains before. They would all adjust with time, until then, they would learn as they went.

"Several days ago, a loner came to our borders." Her tone had hardened, the memory bringing a flash of the fury she had felt on that day. "Tenzin met her first, and detained her. She refused to submit and attempted to challenge us on our own territory." A growl laced her voice as she continued her tale. "It is up to the wolf that meets a loner as to whether myself or Rhysis is summoned. If they are found wanting, no mercy is to be shown. Kill them if you must." Her eyes roved over each of the gathered to confirm that her point had been driven home. A smile returned to her face then, and a small look of pride as her eyes settled on the tawny wolf who had been her partner in crime that day. "As a result of his actions, Tenzin will be our first guardian."

They had all been present (with the exception of the new grey girl) at the hunt, where Rais had stepped up to lead the party of chasers. It was not the first hunt she had shared with the young male and she knew he would fulfill the roll she gave him to the very best of his abilities. "Rais..." her eyes settled on the young male, another proud smile lighting her face. "I would very much like for you to be our first provider, in charge of hunting and scavenging. It will be your job to ensure we do not run out of food." She did not wait to hear his response before her eyes moved to settle on Mapplethorpe. "Mapplethorpe, I am sure you have seen and learned much in your travels." She was sure he was smart enough to see where this was going. "May I seek out your counsel when it is needed?" What her tone said was Will you have the courage to tell me when I am wrong? but the tone was subtle enough that only those looking for it might find it.

In her mind, all that needed to be addressed had, but she knew that Rhysis may have a role for their newest member, after all, he very rarely collected wolves who did not have a purpose. She was curious to learn what he thought she could offer them that the others already gathered could not. "Rhysis?" she questioned gently, her eyes meeting his with a small smile - for a moment it was as if hell hadn’t collapsed between them. She opened the floor to her partner to lay out anything he thought needed to be added, and then the meeting would be open to general business.

One by one they came, each giving their dues as they past the leading pair. Not being here as early he was only ahead of Rais, the silver, younger wolf who had defected from their enemy to join them. He was still unsure of his position here, but so far he had yet to step a toe out of line. He would have to asked Naira at some point what exactly it was she said to him in order to get him to join the Dark Side and just how loyal she believed him to be. After all, if you could leave a pack without looking back, there was no reason to say they would not receive the same treatment. For now, he had his better judgement and had proved his worth at the hunt they had taken part in.

Tenzin came next, and he could not pull his eyes away as he washed Naira with his tongue. It was nothing, a greeting but he had to hold his hackles down. Since their talk, since thinking back to realise that Naira had been close with this male, made his blood boil a little at the dight of him. It only irked him further that Naira spoke so highly of him and that he had yet to step out of line. He wanted to beat him to a pulp to make his ego feel better, but when he followed the large tawny wolves gaze to the newcommer, Sagacity, his blood slowed to a simmer- who was he to judge.

Lastly, his sons arrived. They were so very different, in appearance and manners. He hadn't been able to spend much time with them, the secret about their parentage still hung in the air but he wanted to give them time to adjust to each other and Naira first. Let's face it, he never believed he would be good father material and so far the events in his past had proven that thought right. He wasn't just giving them space to find each other, but space for him to find himself too.

Naira began the meeting then and he leant towards her touch as if it might give her a little more strength- it felt good, their fur intwined once more, but he couldn't help but glace over to the pretty grey female before him once or twice. As ever her words were spoken like a true queen. She addressed the crowd with strength, power and confidence. She did not faulter and her choices were good - he would have given out the very same roles to those already marked. As ever, her judge of character was impeccible.
He knew the wolves before him would pull their weight, both within their roles and in the patrol of the borders- though he didn't much like the fact that it was she and Tenzin that had stopped the intruder- it appeared they were spending more time together than he first thought. He didn't like that at all, but it was not his place to voice his annoyance here and now. They needed to appear strong, united.

"I think the boys are old enough for a task." he said when prompted for his thoughts and his eyes focused on his sons, waiting for a reaction. "You two are in charge of finding the best escape paths in case of an emergency. Search the paths, caves and forest for the quickest way out of the pass." he said, his voice stern like any parents, but he knew his offspring would not let him down.
That left one wolf present without a task. His slate grey eyes turned to her, meeting her face on. He hoped he gave nothing of their first encounter away, but he could not treat her any differently here. "This is Sagacity." he said, introducing her to the group for those who might not have yet met her. As for her talents, well she had offered her everything but he couldn't very well give her such a lable. He thought perhaps they needed a healer, but he had a sudden choking feeling at the thought of his female and the new wolf being so close together. He certainly did not want that. "I believe she would make a good scout. Patrolling the borders and the mountains close by." He said, making the hasty desicion to put her just below his female was perhaps stupid, but he hoped that it would mean that they had to work closely together. After all, if Naira wanted to hang out with Tenzin all day then he would be perfectly within his right to do the very same.

With the roles out of the way, it was time to talk business and of course, change the subject quickly. They had spoken briefly about the first meeting and it appeared it was going to be left to him to define the pack rules.
"Since you're all here... well, most of you." he added with a light snarl to his voice at the lacking of two members- Valiant was no surprise, but he was annoyed the girl who shadowed him had vanished as well; ungrateful toad. "I think now is a good time to listen to the law of our pack... and make a swift exit if you do not like them." he said, picking up his voice to make sure that there was no excuse for "not having heard him". "Firstly, to reiterate Naira's rule- everyone is on border patrol. Do not call myself or Naira until you're certain the wolf will fit in with our particular lifestyle. We are not a pack to let in every Tom, Dick and Harry and each of our members must show their worth here. In relation to this, no one other than a pack wolf will be permitted into our borders. Trespassers will be attacked on site and make sure you drill the message home.
Secondly, our home is a secret that you guard with your life. Never disclose our location to anyone under any circumstance. If you meet someone who wishes to join or meet with us, do not bring them to our borders until they have been accepted or you have called for our attention.
Thirdly and perhaps most importantly, your loyalty is all we ask. We are not a large pack, not yet, but we are strong. We will remain as strong as our bonds. We are loyal to one another, until the bitter end. We live and die alongside one another, our burden's are shared alongside our food. Anyone who breaks our trust will be given no second chance and the penulty is death.
Lastly you should all be aware, but for those who are not, we have no alliances in this land and rightly so. Those marked with the scent of the river or of the lake are our enemy- in particular, you have my blessing to tear apart any wolf from the lake without question. Watch each others backs. I expect you know by now, by the wolves of the lake have taken ou- Naira's daughter and until we get her back, we will never tire in taking them out one by one. Remember this on your travels, the only wolves who you can trust are sitting here with you right now."

(This post was last modified: Feb 18, 2013, 08:44 AM by Rhysis.)

my monarch, my liege, my queen,

mapplethorpe

let me tell you what i have seen.

The reassurance he had craved was immediately lavished upon him the moment Naira’s touch caressed the space between his brows. His eyes closed until he moved to recline onto his stomach, lifting his gaze briefly to her face before averting them once more. His ears kept swiveling to and fro, his senses still painfully alert in the wake of the earth tremor. His muscles tensed as Rhysis’ scent wafted past him; his eyes seemingly scanning the top of his wrists as he debated whether or not he ought to address the dark monarch. You’re shaken up, his conscience suggested, finding the pun only slightly amusing. Eyes down, ears up, body low. On the ground, allow them no means to scold or correct you.

The pack eventually manifested around him in a matter of minutes. His mind plucked them from his memory as their scents registered in his nostrils. The silver youth, Rais. The russet-dusted brute, Tenzin. The golden and raven princes, Datura and Adonis. He counted again, realizing that all but two souls had answered Naira’s call. Valiant, his mind hissed, his gaze flickering up to take in the faces around him. Romanis. Mapplethorpe sniffed. He had grown rather fond of the two or, at least, the idea of their companionship. Pity. He blinked a developing frown away. The Queen would probably have their heads now. Ha. A wily smirk worked its way up his muzzle. Serves them right…

Naira thanked them all for arriving in a timely fashion. The masked man’s tail brushed across the rocky terrain, sweeping a handful of small pebbles with it as it curled to his right. Out of respect, his eyes kept straight on the dull points of his nails, his chin nearly tucked close to his chest with his muzzle tilted downward. He seemed calm until the aftershock shook the ground beneath him. His limbs angled slightly outward and his head lifted as his eyes widened. When the Lore became still yet again, he warily settled back down, recovering his somber stance as Naira continued. “Kill them if you must,” she instructed. Mapplethorpe gave a quiet nod, his eyes scanning the horizon as he committed the order to memory.

Promotions were issued and silently he waited for the words that would eventually dismiss them, half of him itching for her to say his name. His tail moved back to his left flank and he chanced a gaze to his Queen, a spark igniting the depths of his pupils as the pronunciation of “Mapplethorpe” left her lips. Greedily, he looked at her, giving her a fetching smile in appreciation. Yes? his expression implored her a second time. Naira declared that his travels must have tailored him into a worldly man and his brows lowered to complete the calculating expression that had replied to her unspoken question. Another dip of his muzzle further proffered his servility on that level, “Of course, my lady.”

He fought to keep his gaze off Rhysis, managing to bow his head and continue staring at his paws when she turned to her attention to the sable King at her side. The young princes were also given an assignment; he made a mental note to make sure he was always readily available should the duo need his help with anything - investigating something startlingly new or simply needing a bit of guidance. Eager ears memorized Rhysis' words, loosely interpreting his demands. Border patrol. Always. No wolf allowed in unless they showed grit and the unwavering spirit that would allow them to fit in with the pack. Secrecy. Secrecy above all else. Loyalty only to fellow Nomads. No alliances. Acquaint himself with the scent of the River wolves, then avoid them entirely. Trust only the identities present, here, now.

Slowly taking in the reassuring presence of the youths about him, he raised his head just slightly enough to level his skull. He knew Sagacity from the time when she had stumbled upon him in the Woods and the memory easily surfaced in offering her a small smile. "Your Highness," he began slowly, his eyes briefly seeking their attention. "If I may speak, if only briefly, it has come to my attention that it seems something… strange is upon us. Not too long ago, I discovered a dying… dead coyote." The look on his face hardened and his tone lowered. "It was sick, infected with rabies. Might I suggest that utmost care should be exercised when patrolling and scouting about. It had been lethargic and disoriented when I came upon it but who is to say it wasn't ambling about attacking and biting everything in sight before?"

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