Thicket of Secrets Don't Dream It's Over

Time had been moving quickly for a while now. The days seemed to blend together as Eva went about her business as a subordinate of Secret Woodlands... yet she still had not met many others of the pack. Choosing to keep to herself was hurting her, the girl knew, but her introverted personality always seemed to get the best of her. At this call of a meeting it was no different. The two-year-old hung back for a couple minutes, sniffing the air of the borders and looking for food before reluctantly making her way towards the meeting call. Nina would not be happy with her, she knew, and the girl did not want to disappoint her new leader. Eva decided that being on time was most important, and she would never be late in the future.

Many other wolves were in the clearing already. The girl slipped in amongst them, though sat closer to the edges of the clearing instead. Listening to Nina, the multi-color eyed girl moved her head to the right in interest. She had not heard of this "Liam" or his unfortunate doings, but she would make sure to confront him if she ever did see him again. The Hervok nodded at the Poison Path alliance, having been with Nina at their first meeting when the agreement had first become a reality. Eva had been noticing that Secret Woodlands had been keeping up a good face with many of the other packs, and all seemed to be friendly with one another. The girl liked that, there were less dangers and more chance of survival for everyone. War was never an event that she would support.

A small smile appeared on her jaws as she was mentioned in front of the rest of the pack. She was pleasantly surprised, and had not been expecting any mention, though it was welcome all the same. The new pups were then announced once more, and Eva's gaze turned to look at them. Three were of Nina, she knew, while the other was of another female of the pack. It appeared to be much more of a loner than the others, choosing to keep to itself like Eva did. The girl enjoyed watching them, wondering what they would be like as they grew older. With Nina as their mother, adopted or not, they had great futures ahead of them... That much Eva knew.

Hollow whispered something into her ear, having to talk to her about Bane. She glanced at Hollow and then at her son curiously before Nina chimed in with something about secrets. However the mischief in her alpha's eyes told her that she was kidding around. "Of course not Nina." She said with a small tidbit of humor in her eyes. Ashanti gazed at Nina as she told her own children to sit with they're brother and she saw little Tacoma seemed to stay where he was, her heart sank a little, it appeared that they knew he was different, and hopefully it wouldn't lead to any issues. Ashanti looked at her leader as she briefed them all. Nina seemed to be the one to do all the talking.

Now normally Ashanti would have butt in with some form of comment, but she was silent and just looked at her paws. Uncomfortable when Nina had spoken of four little miracles because she did see it as three little miracles and one accidental case, though she wouldn't call him a miracle, she wouldn't call him a curse. She had seen the alliance with Sloane and Narime's pack coming, Narime and Sloane were both wolves who were kind to her, even throughout her state of delirium. Eva, a name she had never heard before, a family member of Nina, she would always be welcomed. Then when the news of Poison Path struck her, she was shocked, it was evident on her face. Ashanti never had forgiven Ash for what he did to Nina.

Hollow watched as Bane came in behind his mother, Ashton arrived, along with Tacoma, and Danica, Koda came as well, all of them heeding the call Nina had made for them. Hollow smiled as Nina spoke to Ashanti and himself. "Secrets to the grave Nina!" Hollow said with a laugh, he knew full well that Nina would trust him with a quick word Ashanti. He smiled up at his leader with a mischievous grin hopefully she would find his words humorous as well. He settled himself towards the front of the gathering just before she began.

An alliance with Poison Path, he had not immediately known however knowing that her brother was there it was something Hollow had expected. The news of an alliance with Sloane and Narime was not any kind of news do the dark male either as he had been there to witness the forming of the alliance with his sisters pack. The memory briefly made him wonder how she was and if he should go and visit soon. Willow ridge was the only surprise brought to him, he had briefly encountered their stoic leader Elettra, and even still had not spoken to her.

Then came the members, Hollow felt a twinge of irritation that Liam had disappeared already, surely there had to have been a good reason for him to desert them so. He shook this thought off and scented the air for Eva, no sooner than he had extended his neck upwards did he catch her scent and see her arrive. The young female took up a spot in the back, and soon Hollow would have to go and meet her properly. The very last thing Nina had said caused a reaction from Hollow that almost startled he himself, for his head tilted back and he howled a short song of celebration into the sky. It was a wondrous thing to have such a healthy young pack and it made Hollow happy to see a safe and strong family around him.

But still he had one thing to say, and hoped that Nina would approve. "If I may add, if anyone see's Liam to please call for me,I was there when he arrived and I would like to know why he felt it necessary to leave us." He gazed up at Nina and waited hoping that she would not speak against his idea, for in a way Hollow had felt bad for being willing to accept Liam when he had just left.

(This post was last modified: Jul 28, 2013, 10:44 AM by Hollow.)

Koda gave a soft snort at mention of Liam, irked at the wolf's sudden disappearance. Like Hollow, he wanted to know how, why someone who he had trusted enough to let into the pack could just suddenly vanish like that. To that, Koda added, "I would like to think we are all family, and can all lean on each other in times of need. There is no reason to disappear off into the night without a word like that." He gave a short, soft laugh, knowing he was likely preaching to the choir here. "Please, at least let someone know first."

No questions seemed to arise, and so with that Koda continued. "I'm sure you are all aware the importance of keeping our territory secured. I've noticed an increased incidence of coyotes trying to edge in from the west, sneaky little things, and while I think this area is too cramped for bears I have noticed some rather curious ones edging out from the southern Cedarwood, likely because of the neighboring pack's absense. I think it is important that we keep up on regular patrols to keep any of this from turning into a problem, and I think Hollow would be the best one to front that effort." Koda flicked his head to Hollow, meeting his second's odd ringed eyes with a slight smile, gauging how the second might feel about taking on the responsibility. "Hollow, I would like you to organize the border patrol, I think you have a good sense of which areas need it most and when, though I'd like to recommend we keep to patrolling in pairs along the south due to the possibility of bears." He wondered if Hollow would be willing to take up the responsibility, though he had a feeling that the busy young wolf was always chomping at the bit for more to do.

Arla and Emma are the ish and made my pretties!
Koda will most likely always be accompanied by Chiron unless otherwise stated, or requested.

Something of envy stirred within Bane's gut at the welcome of Koda, the 'father' he had seen before with the other children and even now he came to them, lovingly, kissing each upon their crowns before making way to settle with Nina, his love, his mate. With Bane's age, he was beginning to grasp the concept of these things, of family, mother and father in which created children together an thus forming that family. They were a pack, true, and though Nina had mentioned he as family to them before, Bane was no fool to understand the difference. He had been born away from the other children for a reason. Had grown up in the den with no one but himself when his mother was out. Had no sisters, no brothers, and no father.

It is that at this instant, Nina spoke up and as everyone's attention turned to her, Bane did follow. Obviously, this woman was very important at the pack and her dominant nature pulled at Bane in an instinctual way to allow him to understand this more so. She spoke to her children firstly, addressing the three of them to go sit next to their 'brother' to which the attention turned to...him? Bane's ears, chocolate in coloration, turned downward, his head lowering as his body shrinking as though to perhaps disappear directly into the ground or perhaps the fluff of his mother. It was confusing, being called family and being called their brother when he knew in truth, he was not. So why did they do it? Was it a test? Was it to hurt his feelings with the lie? Or perhaps they were trying to make him feel better in playing pretend? Bane's emotions twisted, but he remained silent as eyes turned from the timber Leader and onto the three other pups.

They did not move - none of them. Bane struggled at the side of his mother. He did not know if he should be releaved that the unknown pups did not come prancing to his side, for he would feel awkward that they would have to stand next to him. Though he did not know if he should be sad that they had not come to him, as a brother and so merely stuck with frowning. Even as Nina's words passed and he did not know most of what she meant, he tried to listen, all the while his eyes shifting to the other pups and their father. Bane sighs, his eyes turning to his mother at mentioning of 'four miracles in the pack', as though for some sign of comfort in his mother....though finds none.

A pain in his gut twists, causing him to tear away from the side of his mother and forward, before the crowd, before the two Leaders and the rightful princes and princess of the pack. "I have...question." He addresses Nina and Koda boldly, his eyes, changing from their puppy blue into his father's deep burning orange, cast directly to them. "Where is my father?"

BANE Aranna

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Just want to mention; Hollow is now terrified at Bane's question seeing as he told him his dad left because he was sick XD.
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Ashton waited silently as the meeting got started in force. He felt pride in mother and father for their positions, while he did not know what exactly "Alpha" implied he liked the way all eyes were on them. Still Ashton held his silence and even though he had little comprehension of the responsibilities placed upon each member he liked to listen to their words. "Liam" was a familiar word and it seemed that he was gone now, and everyone was mad about it, though Ashton had no idea why. He wasn't yet aware of other packs and the fact that wolves didn't always just come and go as they pleased.

When mother asked them to go sit next to the pup she referred to as their brother, Ashton almost jumped, because it was the same pup that they had scared away recently, and Ashton never got to say sorry. But as he stepped forward, Bane did the same and came to ask his mother a question. Clearly now she was well respected as even the other pup knew to look to her when he wanted to know something. Even though Ashton was too young to know what it mean, he felt a pang of sadness come over him while Bane asked his question. Almost guiltily he looked up at his own father, he felt like Bane should have a father too if he did. Like everyone should know how fun it is to play with their fathers. But yet the pup knew nothing of the world and placed his paws back in line to wait until mother answered Bane's question. After which Ashton was determined to go and sit next to him for the rest of the meeting.

It was not long before the form of her sister came through the trees, causing a small smile to form on Nina's face, but her attention was stolen once again with the replies from Ashanti and Hollow, clenching her jaws closed to keep a laugh from erupting from her mouth. Flicking her tail behind her, she waited for anyone else to arrive, and was about to continue when Koda pressed on for her, bringing up a topic that she had actually thought about bringing up and the thought that he was still just as in tune with her thoughts now as he was when they first met was something that made her happy. It was nice knowing that she did not have to worry about everything by herself and that even though she thought something and was going to act on it did not mean that she was going to have to do it on her own.

Letting a smile cross over her lips, she continued to listen to the silence, when none seemed to come she was about to continue, looking down at the small pup that had addressed her along with the father of her children. It disappointed her when she saw that her children had not made a move towards Bane, but when she noticed Ashton slinking over, a pleased smirk settled on her lips...just like her brother he was. The smirk faded away as she centered her one-eyed gaze on the dark man before him. What she was about to say was not a lie and she knew it would not come to bite her in the butt later on in life...because she was not lying to him. "Bane...your father...he died in a war, and I am truly worry for your loss,"

Nina was not lying when she proclaimed her sorry for the male. Every pup deserved to have a father and she hoped that Koda or even Hollow would be Bane's father figure in life. It was something she knew the pup would need as he got older for even Nina knew that just having a mother was not all that nice. It was nice having a mother...but they weren't always as laid back as fathers were. Dads helped give their children a back bone...and if you only grow up with a mother, sometimes the only way someone would learn would be in a real life situation. It was not time to dwell though, it was time to move onto happier things.

Clearing her throat to get the point across, she called out to them, "To lighten the mood, I thought I would inform you all of some good comings...of titles that can now be given to some loyal, close family members in our group. Hollow, you have proven yourself as loyal as any one else I've met in my life and it comes with great honor to give you the role of Guardian...Ashanti, it has come to my attention that you specialize highly in the teachings of Healing, Hunting, as well as being a Guardian. The role of Teacher is one that is highly favored among us and I am completely confident that you will be a great role-model to all of those around you....but I also wish to inform you that whenever comes a time where you feel you need to shift your attention to Healing another...that comes to top priority," Nina pauses for a moment, catching her breath and hoping that what she had given to Ashanti was enough to make her happy. It was a shame that @Azariah was not hear for her to give a role to.

Speaking again, she spoke strongly, "And last but not least, Eva...your form is built for running and from what I have seen, with the help of Iopah, you have been keeping the aches full and it is why I would like to give you the role of Huntress...congratulations to all of you!" She let her voice finish there, waiting for the others around them to congratulate one another in happiness of the role that they had been striving for. It made her happy knowing that such joy could be brought to any of them and that they were one big happy family. She waited then to see if anyone else had any questions or statements for them.

It seems when you're around, my life is complete.

I waited as long as I could XD

The air in front of him crackled as Bane spoke. Hollow's heart dropped into his paws, and look of raw fear was plastered across his face. If she told him different he would have no choice but to face the pup, and that would be harder than if he had lied even to Azariah, or Nina. As the alphess spoke his fear was realized. More than anything the male felt shame for his lie, before he had even been able to tell anyone else it was exposed. At first he wore a steel mask that gave way to his true emotion by his eyes which held a dull sheen, it was shame, obvious and plain, he had lied and he had been caught before he even knew.

Just as he was about to approach the pup Nina continued to speak. Doing business and keeping her gaze averted to avoid the hurt the pup would undoubtedly show. But what she said had Hollow's eyes stretched wide, his ears pricked and his tail wagging. He looked almost as if he were a pup granted a treat for being especially good. Guardian!. He was going to be a real guardian. All at once Koda's words came back to him as well and the young male looked more pleased than he ever had, save for when he was anywhere near Azariah.

His excitement was hard to contain even though it was tempered by what he knew he had to say. The dark wolf paced forwards, odd eyes alight with a mixture of emotions and he gave both leaders a low bow as was his custom to them. "Thank you Nina, Thank you Koda, I won't let you down.." Then to the others he spoke, "I will do my best to protect everyone from our borders and at our den sites I am honored to serve the pack and thank you, but first I have something else I need to say." Hollow turned to Bane and lowered himself in shame, "I have lied to you Bane, I could not tell you the truth for I feared it would hurt you too much, I see now that I was wrong and I apologize." He fell silent and settled himself once more only this time facing the pack to the side of Nina, so that everyone was in his sights.

The word that had haunted her was spoken.... but not by any of the adults, not by and of Nina's and Koda's children who knew their father, but by her own son and her eyes widened. She turned her attention to Nina again, when she spoke of his father dying in war, then she turned with a glare to Hollow when he apologized for lying about his father to him. So that was the important thing that he needed to talk to her about. Her child knew about his father, though she wondered what Hollow had told him, there were many things that he could have said. Though she knew that they probably were just trying to make the child feel as if his father was a great man.

They weren't lying, he died in war, at least that was what Ashanti had been told by Hollow, and she imagined it was true, after all the sick bastard was probably rotting in hell. She calmed her gaze, and look at her son, sorrow filled her eyes as she wanted him to know the truth, but she knew that he couldn't know. If only Bane were here, not my child, but my friend. Her thoughts were drifting into her own universe when pack roles started to take place. Nina's announcement of Hollow being a Guardian snapped her back to reality. She nodded as she was given the role Teacher, and while she was not thrilled with the role persay, she knew that she could teach those pups anything, everything. She smiled and spoke when she was told to focus on healing when needed. "Many thanks Nina, I'd like to take a quick run to the meadows to the south to restock the stores after the meeting, also to visit an old friend if that is alright with you." She said with a calm and collected tone.

(This post was last modified: Aug 23, 2013, 02:24 AM by Ashanti.)

He was dead.

It was hard for him to accept and so, he did not. As silence touched him, his head fell, shaking lightly as he found himself backing away, taking small note as one of Nina's children made way after him in order to sit with him. Bane's attention did not fall to Ashton, who he felt came towards him simply now out of pity for the situation and since no other had. Bane knew little of death. Only that small creatures that his mother had brought to him to examine or play with in their last moments of life, had died. They did not move, they did not play, and they did not speak. His father was this, then, something laying on the ground, unmoving and to be eaten as the members of his pack ate dead things. Bane whimpered, easing away from the lot of them until he was comfortable within the shadow of brush.

Hollow was the first to turn his attention to him after Nina so mechanically offered this striking news to Bane, as though her business was finished and she was to move onto another task at hand. Down in shame, he apologizes, admitting only his lie now that it was out in the open. Bane shivered, wanting to seep down into the earth or crawl into a ball and sob. This can't be right - this can't be such a simple end to something he had been waiting for and for so long! Not responding to Hollow just yet, his eyes shift quick to his mother for answers, for comfort. What he is given brings him down even harder. She is silent. She only looked at him, painfully, before she too turned her attention to 'better tasks at hand'.

Feeling his guts twisting, a loud growl escapes him, or as loud as a pup could manage. Unable to speak his feelings properly, the outburst was with this sound, his body ruffled with upright hairs and he glares deeply into the direction of them all, his little puppy teeth a snarl in his mother and Hollow's direction before turning and bursting off away from them all.

BANE Aranna

TEMPLATE © NDA OF RCR & RPG-D