Willow Ridge everything & nothing

A required pack meeting, savor those on absence (Kiche, Kyrie) in which they will be assumed arrival.

As much of those previously, the need for another pack meeting was long overdue. Shade, the man who had stepped up to the plate as Leader in their last meeting, had long ago vanished from the lands, taking Rosealia with him. Betrayers, banished from ever showing their faces in these lands again. Narime had also left, Phineas in her wake, and yet still despite this all the pack was not yet weak. They had Angier now, Kasai, Semananti... Elettra breaths in deeply, ready to offer the new information to her pack mates where they had not been filled in on their own time with conversing amongst one another.
This night, she exits from the Infirmary, a ground dug hole within the confines of the rocky formation which form the pack's den in a cave like dwelling. She smells of deep herbs more now then ever, with mint on her breath to cover what odd scents might have lingers from other things she had been eating for both stress relief and aid of pregnancy. She shifts between what pack mates lay rested within the den still, each stride strong and sure with the powerful limbs she held. She exits, her eyes a glow in their silver hue to the bright moon above. She is full, though in the overcast of the night, threatened to be soon swallowed whole like the stars around her.
Elettra's gaze turns away, her well rounded hips moving along the length of her home to waken herself fully, breathing in deep the air of a warmer night unlike the rest, where Winter still struggled to hold grasp on the world. Her body arches, stretching and in movements, she is bounding upon the rock face on the Willow Ridge den, standing high and proud atop it for all to see as she had done time and time before. Her eyes strike out over the expense of her home, the towering cedar forest to the west, the mountain pass to the east. In time, she lifts her grey rimmed muzzle, jaws parting as a cry echoes the lands, deep and determined in nature for her members to come .

(This post was last modified: Apr 13, 2013, 12:01 AM by Elettra.)

(Basing this after thread with Tempest)

Sema heard her pack leader’s call and she immediately dropped her attempted hunting to go to her. The call was for the entire pack and so she swiftly moved amongst the willows. She had started to grow accustomed to the territory. As soon as she arrived she let her tail flick against her stomach. “Reporting for duty, ma’am.” She said, her tone was laced with respect as she spoke. She had sworn on Artemis so she held her peace, it was all it was about. The loyalty and commitment to that pack was all that mattered. If that was the case, then it was, for if it was not for that, would she truly be a huntress of Artemis.

Elettra had been in the den and she had been out doing various things. The scent of the Ridge was on her now and there was no getting it off. She had marked the borders, and then attempted to hunt. She knew that she had to scavenge up a few things later for her to ear, pack cache raids were out of the question. She had met 3 packmates, one was Elettra herself. The other two were Kasai and Tempest, a huntress and a male guardian. The gentle spring breeze was clear amongst them. Her fur felt nice against the breeze. Be my guardian through this all, this entire life, I pray this to you Artemis of chastity and nature.

She glanced around, it appeared she was the first to make her appearance to the meeting, she smiled at the fact. Her ebony lips not parting to speak a single word. She would stay quiet and calm. That was what she felt was expected of her, that was what nature was. It was a simple respect. Her thoughts drifted to Isi and the young girl’s father named Swift whom she would search for. The girl was pleasant and nice, Sema had taught her about Artemis and she would have made a great huntress if she hadn’t had the desire for pups and a pack. She felt alive and at home and well. It felt natural here so she was calm still. She was lax other than her submissive posture. She assumed that she was the lowest of the pack, she knew that wolves that had joined the Omaticya, they started as the lowest {IIIV} and worked their way out.

Exact science,

Mr. Angier,

is not an exact science.

Angier Lyall had been prowling about the expanse of Willow Ridge, scouting out the feel of the land (even though he had been apart of the pack now for a little over a week), when her call reached his ears. Somewhere to his left a startled doe took off into the shadows and the tawny man had the mind to keep himself from running after it. Though he had initially wanted to answer her with a howl of his own, he held his breath, opting to solely heed it instead. It seemed better to take action rather than wasting time by simply 'answer back.'

Large paws and lengthy limbs brought him swiftly to his destination, the den where he should have been resting so he could have taken up dawn patrol around Elettra's eastern borders. Though the scents of his pack mates were now more than familiar to his nostrils, the sight of them had yet to be taken in and memorized - as a man who still preferred his solitude, he kept his distance and his peace until now. The scene he came upon was expected: his Leader, of course, then a small gathering of wolves. What he wasn't anticipating was that he was one of the first who would arrive.

His pace had slowed and even strides allowed him nearer to the pack den. Though he approached the pair from behind the subordinate's place, every muscle in his body tensed the closer he came to the two women before him but he carried himself forward in the most respectful fashion - ears at ease, eyes casually going from one place to another rather than focusing on Elettra alone, tail held at a comfortable angle at the back of his thighs, the slightest trace of a smile on his lips. Every bit of him fought to keep his mindset in check; he was still new to the wolves who lived here and they required every ounce of his reverence. Any sign of outward thought about claiming the Willow Leader for himself was sure to see him outside the dark lady's markers and back into the tedious cycle of a lone wolf's itinerary.

The girl before the Archer spoke up that she was reporting for duty and he, too, greeted her with a courteous nod, "Lady Elettra."

abracadabra.

template made by GINNYSAURUS. of RPG-D.

Are you watching closely?
Taekwondo (M, W, F) | Rapid-Response Day (Tu) | WoW Nights (F, Sat, Sun)

Kasai wandered around taking his time while looking for his pack mates. The dark wolf had two separate things on his mind that just wouldn't escape the light and dark sides of the wolfs mind. One side said stay while the other said to travel. Scents crisscrossing the territory told the male that a new wolf scent not pre-existing within the pack before he'd joined was now roaming around the land. For about a week now the black wolf did his duties just hoping to run into the new wolf.

For a while the dark man was lost in thought debating on whether to check the border then roam around outside for a little while or to head back to the den and wait for a pack mate to show. The struggling between the two minds to decide what to do kept the burnt wolf half way into the packs territory instead of being near the border or the den.

It wasn't until he heard Elettra's call that both personalities decided to head back towards her near the den. The shadow passing under the frosted willows towards home. His patchwork of ebony fur warming the bare parts of his body that were chilled by the wind.

When the wolf made it to the tiny gathering Kasai glanced around to greet those who were there. His eyes trailed on the gray pelt of the new male whom sat by the two ladies. First to be greeted as pack rule was the higher ups. In this case Just Elettra. So Kasai padded to her avoiding his eyes, keeping his tail low, dipping his coal black head to the sooty woman and allowing just a tiny touch to her chin with his nose. Next was Semananti who the male regarded with a respectful nod. He kept his tail neutral with her half up and half down as she was the same rank as he. Though Kasai did approach and give her a tiny nip on Sema's nose showing the slight dominance over her just to see what she would do. He licked her nose afterward to show no ill will against her.

Then the dark wolf came to the gray male. Kasai Kage quickly readied himself for a dance of dominance with the man by raising his thick tail up and pointing his ears forward. He stared at the wolf a blatant challenge while looking the male over to evaluate the gray mans strength. Kasai would always treat new males this way. Though in Swift River he had no need to do so as no new males had joined during his time there. Here in Willow Ridge however, he would test any new male that came into the pack. To see if they had guts or not, but also to see if they were smart enough to choose their battles appropriately.

"I'm Kasai Kage... Who are you?" He growled waiting for the gray wolfs reaction either that of submission, aggression, or the evaluation of himself by the new man.

He had been resting his eyes for a short time when the call had sounded from his lady. Immediately, his golden amber eyes had snapped open and his bear-like form had stretched out, russet ears pricking in the general direction the call had come. After a quick stretch he got up and started to head towards where the meeting was to be taking place, taking his time to let out a soft call to his lady in response to her own voice, something he rarely did, but found it appropriate to let his lady know that he was on his way. It did not take him long to enter the clearing, but the overwhelming scent of new members caused him to pause for a moment…before he continued his pace, his muscular shoulders rippling as his large form shouldered through the entrance of the den and the form of his black lady came into view. Raising his tail above the others in dominance, but keeping it a third below Elettra, he made his way towards her, offering her a respectful lick to her cheek and a bow of respect.

Kasai’s voice rang clear to him, and Guiness nodded towards the man before taking a respectable seat near Elettra, his posture relaxed but upright, letting them know he was on guard duty for the moment. He was not happy with the amount of new members in his presence for the time being, and his red head moved with their movements as he took them all in. Two of them obviously being ones that he did not know well and Kasai being the one he was acquainted with, having sparred with the man weeks prior to the meeting. He did not trust the man get, for he was sure he had his own secrets, but he preferred to keep out of other’s businesses, unless it had to do with the protection of Elettra. Sitting their quietly he chuffed his displeasure at the sight of the new members before him, he would much prefer the ones that he knew better than them.

Pillar of Strength

It was that damn fox again. The wily little creature was trying its hardest to slip in through the borders despite Skana's frequent presence along that edge of the border. She wondered if the vixen thought it an amusing game to pester her, or perhaps it knew she wasn't the most effective of guards. For all Skana's bark, she held little bite, or at least the required speed to deliver said bite to a nimble fox. The old wolf didn't have much patience for vulpine games, but usually persistence won out over impatience. Besides that, there was not much else for her to do to bide her time at the present. New scents of members freshly anointed with the willow scent crossed the territory, but Skana couldn't be bothered to seek them out for introductions yet. Already, several seemingly loyal members had left in her relatively short time in the Ridge pack, and she bitterly wondered if these new faces would be temporal as well.

It was as Skana made a bluff of a sprint towards the damned fox did her leader's call echo over the land and into her ragged brown ears. The fox had again disappeared into the forest, bright orange fur somehow vanishing into the small dashes of bright green spring growth. Fortunately a feint was often enough to send the fox off for a good few hours, which would hopefully be enough time to attend the gathering. A chuffed bark at the would-be intruder transformed into a howl to her pack, she would soon be there.

As quick as a run she could manage she made it to the rocky den. Already others were there, but Elettra was the first she looked upon. Brown head dipped a fraction as she looked up to the lady poised over the den, before she let her blurred gaze pass over the others. It was quite a different batch than she had remembered, and while Guiness and the burned wolf had accompanied along the march over the mountains, she really couldn't say she knew any of them. Not one to falter in the face of strangers, she limped forward with neck and tail level into the small gathering. Sitting, she tilted her head back to look up towards Elettra, waiting silently for the meeting to begin.

(This post was last modified: Apr 15, 2013, 06:59 AM by Skana.)

Tempest had been away from the borders, scouting south for possible hunting. Excitement coursed through the fiery female as the scent of many deer filled her sensitive nose. A herd! Encouraged by the prospect of fresh venison, Tempest followed the erratic trail until she saw a herd of about a half dozen does, fat with unborn young in the distance. She knew that even hampered by huge bellies, they would be far too fast for Tempest on her own. She would have to talk to Elettra about another hunt. She felt an imagined twinge in her left foreleg at the thought, despite her injury having long-healed from the last pack hunt.

Shaking it off with a laugh, she gave the deer herd a last longing glance before heading back home at a steady trot. She enjoyed the feel of her muscles warming with the small exertion as she liked the contrast with the chill that still hung in the air. A call rang out and her head lifted higher in response. Elettra called for the whole pack. Tempest grimaced as she picked up her pace, knowing that she would likely be one of the last to arrive, being so far away. At least she had something to show for it, in a way. Evidence of a herd in the region. They had become more and more scarce as the cold season dragged on.

She arrived a bit out of breath, chagrined that most everyone was already there waiting for stragglers like herself. Elettra stood at the front and scattered around her were Skana, Guiness, Semananti whom she'd met quite recently and two other new males that she had scented around the territory but had yet to meet. Instinctively, she shied from where they were and approached Elettra, head and tail lowered apologetically for her tardiness and gave the regal woman a submissive lick to her chin. Then she hurried to Guiness' side and leaned on him as she cast a slightly nervous glance at the unknown males who seemed to be 'feeling' each other out in regards to dominance.

Perhaps there would soon be another shift in the hierarchy. Heaven only knew that they needed stability more than upheaval, but perhaps things would settle soon in the Willows. Given her upbringing, all of the deception and betrayal grated on her sensibilities. Choosing to ignore the posturing males, Tempest focused on what mattered now, and that was Elettra and what she had to say to all of them.

The Calm in the Storm

Like I said, mentioned Kyrie and Kiche in here as they were on absence at the time, but are free to show up officially if they want.

Each member filed in one after another, Semananti being the newest of the pack though the first to arrive - something Elettra sought out and offered a waving of her tail in appreciation. It was these small acts of physical manner Elettra over her time of leadership learned to do if only to show her pleasure within her members where else a hard, deep stare of silver eyes and a stilled, proper placement of statue-like quality was showed. Next to arrive was Angier, relaxed in his poise with a lowered tail, casual at his ankle. He, amongst everyone, needed not to tuck tail, turn belly up and pee within her mist. She demanded each and everyone's respect as any Leader might, though did not govern her pack cruelly nor without concern for their well being. She took to caring for them, protecting them, as they in turn did for her. Next was Kasai and Guiness, two Guardians within the pack that seemed not to be far from one another's side as she had seen them previously. Both were large men eager to scour the trails of their packs borders to insure its security. Each one of them in turn crept upon the pack's den to it's rocky top to offer her a small lick before falling down into their placements: Guiness settling at a smaller peek upon the top of the den and Kasai sizing Angier up intently. He was new and, already was showing his placement within the pack and the willingness to secure it. Elettra was curious though spoke not of it as the silent dominance spat moved between them. If Angier truly wished for her to be his, as he claimed firstly to be hers, he would have to work his way him up in order to prove himself worthy of having her hand paw. Next was Skana, her calling ringing out clear as Guiness had only moments before her. Elettra woofs, small and deep, baying Skana to make her way. The woman was an old soldier, retired into an Advisor of the pack and Elettra's Second. Elettra would hope that in time, the new members would know this woman's worth despite an older, gruff appearance which she carried. No one had tested her will as of yet. As she comes, Elettra seeks her own specifically, a grumble coming over her and her nose jutting for her to come nearer and assess herself if she willed to. After all, Sica who was likely to stand next as Leader at her side was missing and Kiche since their breeding, now Second (surprising as it was), was not around so often ether. Though just as her thoughts of them cross her, he comes, an echo along the group far beyond as he had held himself many a time before. Even Kyrie's approach is subtle and withdrawn but taken into account for amongst the group none the less. Lastly, was Tempest, their only former Hunter within the ranks. Of course, Kyrie, Angier, and Guiness had shown obvious skill in this area a time or two before, keeping the pack afloat with food even if they did not swell as they once had whilst Narime and Rosealia had been here.
"With this Spring, comes new blood to our ranks and a new era." She begins with a deep breath, followed by a slow sigh as she continued. "Count Semananti, Kasai and Angier amongst our numbers as equal brethren." As she speaks her name her attention draws to each of them with a point of her black nose. Surely some had already met these members and perhaps the name of Angier was known to them (though El only knew Remy and Phineas to have met them prior) as a former ally still living within Swift River. "We have lost many over Winter and Spring, in disappearance, injury, a seek for their own Leadership, and betrayal." Eight members. Eight had been lost from Elettra's ranks total as of yet, some nothing but a memory and others gravely missed. As it was, Kyrie was the last of Elettra's founding members. "Shade, who had stepped up to leadership after Koda's injury and decision for leave, has ran off with Rosealia without word. They have broke pack law and abandoned us. If you see them, feel free to approach them as enemies." Her eyes burn with a ferocity in her certainty of this, ill pleased with the wolves and eager to tear them a new one as punishment for turning tail on a pack they had once held with such high regard, had even attempted to rule with Shade's mockery of a leadership. Elettra had no desire to personally seek them out, for they were filth under her paws now but would find justice should she meet ether of them again "Phineas, having firstly decided to work within the ranks within the Winter until he could create his own, has finally left." The details of which Elettra was content to lock away forever even now as she forced away any emotion that might have graced her features at the mention of his name. "Lastly is Narime, who I scent has formed a pack close west of here. Leaving on good accord, I have a hopes that our pack may align ourselves with her ranks."
With those that had left and those that have joined mentioned, as well as the allies and enemies of the pack, there was little else to be told. Much of these members were new within the ranks and Elettra Archer had a means in this meeting to bring these new members together to recognize one another as pack mates and she had done just that. Not to mention, her pregnancy coming to light for all those who knew not of it. Still, no one had asked her who the children had come from, including Angier himself. After all, no sign of loving attachment was offered to Kiche even now as he stood before her. If anything, she was irate with his little showing or offerings to her despite the fact that she held his young. Already Angier had cared to follow her whims without the children she carried being his own. It was like a dream, in ways, though a likely nightmare come to one day smash her down with the cruel reality she was often faced off with.
"Last," She breaths deep, lifting from the sit she once held poised upon the rocky top of their pack den. "Obviously, with Shade gone and Sica, what was likely to rise next in power, missing all the same, there is a lack of Leadership of the male kind...." Her words are drawn out easy with a shifting of her attention between them. There was no lack of authority amongst Elettra and she felt herself capable of leading this pack all her own as she had done for months now in the absence of Shade and then Sica to follow, who never had actually come to claim the empty throne all this time. It was the male's end of the hierarchy which was left uncertain. Kiche had out matched Guiness long before though would he stand before them all? She would not appoint anyone specifically with so many new men within her ranks and others likely not holding a dominant bone for Leader. Her last sentence, having trailed off, leaves her attention to befall the men one by one. It was their decision now, their choice to fight amongst one another and prove their worth with word or physical means. Elettra Archer was interested in seeing how this competition might play out, though all the while still wondered if Sica might swagger from the forestry to claim what had been left open for him to take for too long now.

(This post was last modified: Apr 18, 2013, 09:55 PM by Elettra.)

Semananti watched Kasai; a warning glare to him when he nipped her nose then licked it. A small nip back and then she licked his nose in return; she wasn’t going to take that from him. She was a feminist and a believer, trained not to take dominance because a brute was a brute. She watched as Kasai ‘danced in dominance’ with the newest male who she had yet to know the name of who had arrived just after Sema. She flicked her tail from side to side as she waited for every other wolf to arrive. Then a quiet male arrived, it was curious, he said nothing at all, perhaps he was mute? Then next, two females to even out numbers, Tempest being one of them, she had met Tempest. But the other female with the scarred muzzle she had yet to meet or talk to as an analysis. There were two other wolves, a male and a female, though Sema did not take an immediate notice to them. She barely glanced at them to acknowledge their presence.

She then listened to her alpha as she spoke; the words of a betrayer, a male betray stroked her ears and calmed her down. She might have to talk to Elettra on how to deal with him per say. There was a smile on her face as she spoke of the possible alliance with Sloane’s and Narime’s pack. It just reminded her that she had to talk to Elettra about her pack ranking and all of that fun stuff. She listened carefully, holding the names. She could tell which wolves had been here a while and which ones hadn’t. So she assumed that the wolf that was in a little competition for dominance with Kasai was the new male named Angier that Elettra mentioned as well as with her own name and Kasai’s. It was all so curious to her, her eyes focused on her leader. She stayed off to the side of where the other wolves were, while she technically stood with the wolves, she was not specifically standing by a wolf. She spoke a question, her eyes calm as her lips parted to admit voice. "What do these wolves, Shade and Rosealia, look like?" She asked, never having met them. If they knew what was good for them, they would stay away.

Not soon after he had arrived, Kiche and Kyrie soon made their presences known to the pack. The bear’s tail wagged roughly behind him at the sight of his look-a-like, who could have easily passed as his brother, a small grin forming on his lips. He had not had much time to spend with the male and took note in his mind to try and seek him out another time, perhaps a sparring match would do the two of them good. Flicking his tail, his golden amber eyes snapped back towards the entrance as his large sister came into view. Tail wagging faster than it had before, he was pleased to see his sister pay her respects to Elettra before taking a respectable spot next to him. Nodding towards her, he watched the wolves in front of them, seeing as Skana had also made herself known. Letting his muzzle dip down in greeting to her, he then waited for Elettra to start their meeting. He was not disappointed.

The alpha drove her point on to them, straight to the point and beating right into the bush, letting them know what was going on and how things were going to go. He was glad to hear that new members would come in the light of the ones that they had lost. Some of them friends and now, some of them their foes. Upon El’s last words of their betrayers, a small growl of disapproval escapes his lips at this before the large tank goes back into his pit of silence as he listened on, not wishing to disrespect their lady in such a way of interrupting. At the topic of Shade, Guiness forced himself to remain still. He had never liked the man, who had been a Guardian higher up in the ranks than him, and was quite relieved that he was gone known. The Guard would have only wished that it would have been in another way, and not abandoning the Willow pack. Too bad for Shade now…he had to worry about the rest of the Willow pack for the rest of his life.

Narime and Sloane’s pack comes to mention and at this Guiness pricks his ears towards his lady, a small grin forming on his lips. He was glad to hear that another one of the Thorben siblings would be well acquainted with the pack. It just gave him another thing to look forward to in the pack life. He loved his brother and hadn’t had much time to bond with him again, having an alliance with his brother’s pack would just bring them even closer together. Silence now reigned over the pack, until once again, Elettra decided to speak. Her voice traveled to him and with her words he gave an expectant look towards Kiche. Even though he hadn’t been “one of the pack” when Gui had first been accepted he knew that he was now considered their family by everyone else. Kiche was their second and his twin deserved the rightful place as alpha if he so choose it. Tilting his head, he left a questioning look cross his face before the voice of one of their newest members caught his attention. Moving his head in her general direction he snapped quickly into business mode.

Clearing his throat, he spoke to her in an formal tone of voice, his deep monotones never wavering, "Rosealia is multi-colored, Tan, creamy, browns, and her eyes are yellow, while she is small in size, whereas Shade is a mixture of browns and blacks, but his black colorings are highly accented and his eyes are a light brown color, while he is larger than Rosealia, he is quite smaller compared to Kasai and myself." When he finished he made sure his voice clipped off sharply before he went back into his hole of quiet. Any other time that did not involve Guardian business he was perfectly fine with just listening, but when he needed to do his job, he knew what needed to be done and he knew that this was what Elettra wanted from him. For him to do his job.

Pillar of Strength