Oak Tree Bend you had to have it all

Pack Meeting about Nayeli's disappearance. Round ends on October 28th.

I'll be the bright, and black, that's making you run

There was no telling what had happened, but @Nayeli had not been seen nor heard of since yesterday. Triell was gravely worried. It was not in him to believe she had left her pack, her mate, and her children. Without knowing, without any clues to her whereabouts he wasn't sure what to do. Despite the short time, this had rapidly became a new terror eating at his sanity, and he wanted to confront it. It was a a bit difficult, because this was a faceless enemy. All he could do was search for her scent, but so far so not good.

After scouring another part of the woods, it was by the dissipating orange haze of a falling sun did he return to the den. Heavy, breaths poured from his mouth, paws ached, and he felt defeated. There was no reason for her to go too far. With each swift pump of his heart, he thought of that cursed mountain, of a lustful eye that may have been wandering, and where Naira and her brood had disappeared to. And if, just if they could be real reasons. With twisted ears the leader quickly made an effort to cut out the hopelessness out of his chest. It was difficult to numb, and yet Triell felt cold, and angry. Coming to stand on the outskirts of the stones that made the roof of the children's safe keeping, he raised his head and called out to the members of the Bend. His long, deep howl demanding, and urgent. There was more dire news.

Triell Tainn

are you with me through it all?

The Lospire woman had not been too far when Triell's call rang out. As fast as she could Muerda moved her way towards him easily. When she had reached him though the sight was almost shocking. Triell was obviously tired, quick breaths, he was worn. What was going on? Dire manners it seemed... Nodding to him respectfully she offered a quick hello, "Triell." It was just his name rolling smoothly off of her tongue. Moving herself to sit in the back, but where she could still watch everyone. This of course wouldn't be her first pack meeting so she knew how it might be ran. The leader calls, followers show, the matters of choice are discussed, then everyone scurries off to continue life or do what was told of them. Glancing around she wondered who all would show. She hadn't met many members in Oak Tree Bend yet. Maybe this meeting would help the aging woman kick her rear into work of getting to know others. If she did plan on sticking around for a while than it might just be helpful for her to get settled with the wolves. Of course she would only get settled with them until they trusted her. Muerda did not plan on getting too emotionally attached to other creatures like herself. She knew all too well of getting attached them having them ripped away from you. It was odd though, how these thoughts of attachment made her think of the silver woman @Narimé (in both a good and bad way). The Lospire wolf was wondering how her "daughter" had made it in the world. Perhaps she would take a trip sometime to find her whereabouts. Though that would have to come after this business of pack matters. "Speech"

Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

The setting sun was annoying. Flashing in his eyes, the light of the big ball in the sky burned Oliver as he tried to work. Of course, burn might've been an exaggeration, but the small wolf had been working from early morning to finish his store. Now he was scratching up some white fir swatches to take back. It was a bit of work, considering that all the good pieces were specifically above his height. So his tongue lolled as he jumped up and clawed at the infuriating tree. He would've made insults, but he was too tired.

If he had been on his own, there was no way he would go through all this trouble- but he wasn't alone. He was part of a pack, a pack that he intended to do proud. So Oliver ignored the weariness in his legs as he wildly grappled for the medicinal bark. And he would've kept going through the night if it hadn't been for the summoning call from Triell, his leader.

Distracted mid-jump, Oliver crashed the ground, assessing the call's urgent nature. It was a call for all members of the pack- that includes me! Flipping onto his feet without delay, Oliver snatched up the few pieces of bark he had and rushed as fast as his paws could take him to the den site. Once there, he bowed to Triell- taking notice of his tired and weary state."Tr'ell, thir." he said around the bark in his mouth. He hadn't been much of any pack meetings at all, so the small man simply sat next to the other wolf there- Muerda. With a respectful nod of acknowledgement towards her, Oliver gently laid the bark on the ground and waited.

It hadn't been long since Zia Celencio had been so graciously welcomed into Triell's home. She owed him a lot...more than she could ever repay him for. Here in these woods, among the grand oaks, the silver female would strive to build the life she had been missing. This was a fresh start for her. It both excited her and scared her at the same time, this new chapter in her life. Ever since being welcomed, Zia kept a low profile. She was skittish and nervous, constantly looking over her shoulder. Nothing at all like her confident self. While Triell trusted her, she was unsure about how the others would perceive a wolf who was once a part of a rival pack. So to play it safe, she avoided contact with the rest of the pack. She'd give them their space. Ever the dutiful, hard working soul, she kept busy. In the darkest hours of the night, when the rest of the pack was asleep, she would slip up out of her den and head to the borders to do a thorough patrol. Unbeknownst to them, they already had a silent guardian keeping a steady vigil while they rested. Maybe this subtle approach of hers, in time would become noticed and appreciated. When his deep long howl shattered the silence that reigned in the woods, Zia's head shot up immediately. He was calling the pack together for a meeting. But for what? A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. Was it about her? Could it be related to Borlla's disappearance? The thought of suddenly being surrounded by so many new faces so soon unnerved her, but she was not about to make a bad first impression by missing her first meeting here in the Bend. Rising from her curled up position, she shot off to the center of the territory, where the pack den was located. With a sigh of relief, she noticed that she was not the first to arrive. An unknown female and a smaller male had beat her to it. Sapphire eyes briefly flicked in the others direction with a neutral glaze, before landing on Triell. Her brows knit together in concern. He looked frustrated. Something was troubling him. Although he was her friend, the silver woman still gave in to her natural instincts and submitted by lowering her body slightly, nipping gently at his chin as she approached. "Triell...?" She questioned softly, not bothering to pry any further for details. That would come soon enough. Taking a seat off to the far right, but still within view, she anxiously waited for the others to arrive.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

zera tainn With age, Zera distanced herself from her parents' side, finding solace in the fire leaved trees of autumn and the new scents lingering near the edge of the pack's border. There were things to fear, she learned, just from the sights and sounds of the deep, dark spectral woods. There was little to notice though, around the den-site, but for some reason she felt today was unnerving as she emerged from pup den. There was an abundance of apprehension looming around in the air - she could breathe it, feel the cool, uprooting tenacity of it on her skin. Even though she wasn't an exiguous pup anymore, she still felt the instant impulse in her yellow eyes as they immediately sought to locate her father and his shaking, startling howl. She started out of the rocky den, proceeding into the murky morning. Triell was only a stone's throw away from the den's entrance and she hurried to his anxious side. "Dad," she started, looking her father right in the blazing eyes, searching frantically for the source of his distress. "what's going on?" Surely Nayeli would be around soon, she hoped. Their love was strong as steel, something Zera admired, and she knew that her presence would bring some gravity to her father's problem. In fact, she was unpleasantly surprised to find that Nayeli wasn't already here. The adolescent's thoughts tumbled hurriedly as the moments whirled past her. The other wolves surely showed their faces too, questioned his name - but Zera knew in her gut this wasn't good.

Serach's heart sank as he heard Triell's howl, dark and urgent. Before the young wolf, the rabbit he had been stalking leaped into action, hopping away into the woods. His muscles relaxed and slowly he forced himself to rise. As disappointed as he was, Serach would not allow his annoyance at being denied a meal keep him from his uncle's call. Their family relationship might allow Serach to take some liberties with the pack hierarchy, but this was not going to be one of those times. So with a grunt, the yearling turned tail and began loping towards the pack's den to see what the fuss was about.

When he arrived, Serach couldn't help but curl his lip in agitation. He would know his uncle and his cousin anywhere, but the other three who had beat him there, he barely knew them. He knew them by sight and smell, but hadn't interacted with any of them enough to be able to properly put a name to a face. Judging by Triell's face, this wouldn't be the best time to, either. Briefly meeting the pack leader's eyes, Serach dipped his head. Offering a smile to Zera, he settled down in the forming semi-circle of wolves, anxiously waiting both for Triell to explain and for the rest of the Bend wolves to arrive.

Meetings were always trying for Spieden, but when she heard Triell's desperate howl she knew she couldn't even consider missing this one. She wondered what was so dire. As quickly as she could the Coho ran towards the territory's heart, hoping she wouldn't be reprimanded for taking too long.

It had taken Spieden a while to finally recognize that the Oak Tree Bend wolves seemed to mean her no harm, though she still tried to keep her distance both physically and emotionally. She knew that some wolves could hide their fiendish side for quite some time, and she had already been burned once by allowing herself to be so trusting to a friendly face. Even the kindness of the Bend pack wasn't enough to entirely sooth away the deep scars of distrust.

But just as Spieden had started grow familiar to the wolves she was now living with, unfamiliar, and yet to be trusted new faces had been added to the ranks. As she made her way to the den their strange scents filled her nose, putting her on edge. Her fiery gaze roved over them as she shuffled past, glancing at the ginger, silver, and raven coated strangers, almost daring them to take issue with her or forever hold their peace. She settled her plush haunches down into her own corner of the assembled circle, before finally looking to Triell, keeping her gaze respectfully to his black paws.

The sound of Triell's summoning howl startled Sceral, his head lifting and his ears swivelling. There was something that didn't quite seem right, a tone to it that made the yearling's gut wrench and his brow furrow. Something was ailing his uncle and he felt the need to gather the pack and tell that. That definitely meant he should drop everything and go to him. Shaking his pelt free from dust as he got to his paws--he'd been enjoying a rather carefree roll about in the dirt--he was quick to start running. He didn't want to keep anyone waiting.

It seemed, though, that he'd been farther from the territory centre than he had originally thought and was, once again, one of the last to arrive. He really needed to pick better times to wander so far away. Drawing up next to Serach, Sceral nudged his sibling with a murmur. "What's going on?" His muddy gaze darted between all the wolves present. Faces he didn't recognise met him, and the corner of his lip raised, looking away from them to his uncle and leader. Much like his brother, he knew them by scent and yet knew no names. Strange ... he had been here longer than all others present, bar his brother, and was on friendly terms with none.

Anxiously, he began to tread the ground with his front paws, whining ever so slightly. He hated the shared feeling of unknowing, of confusion. He knew that whatever Triell's news was be, it was destined to be the opposite of good.

Round ends on November 9th. @Darrah if you can join us. ^^

I'll be the bright, and black, that's making you run

Unable to quell his growing fear, he paced back and forth, eager to have his pack. It was not only Nayeli he had not seen in awhile. Ruiko had never been a social one, but Triell was sure his scent was fading from the Bend lands. Jessie and Drestig away, these uncertainties were threatening the securities he had.

The latest lady of the pack arrived first. Orange-yellow eyes cast upon her, and the leader acknowledged her with a jerk of his crown. Unsettled energy in him still tugged at his paws on there straight line path back and forth.

Oliver would be next, and the leader's black tail wagged twice, also a bob of his head. It was clear he was doing his work, and by swiftly answering Triell's call, he was pleased.

Zia's greeting caused him to halt, meeting her ice blue eyes. The Tainn could not answer her, and gently shook his head in reply. The presence of the silver lady was mildly comforting, but the others needed to be here first.

It was the voice of the smallest, his daughter, that caught him by the ear, by the heart. Zera and Darrah he wanted to tell least of all. They were half grown, and they needed to know. No butterflies and rainbows. Triell would fail miserably to conceal it any way. A faint smile was all he could give to her for now.

Spieden got a glimpse, Serach, and Sceral helped root his paws to the ground. Sucking in a deep breath, he became very somber looking upon them, one by one. "There is no easy way to say this. Nayeli has not returned since yesterday, and I do not know where she is. I've tried to see where her scent fades, but I'm not sure as I dare not go too far. Please be on the look out, anything suspicious. Hopefully we can figure where to look." He rather not send any more search parties, but he could not simply do nothing.

Eyes settled upon Serach and Sceral. "I think something has happened to Ruiko. Usually he comes and goes. I have not seen him, nor caught fresh scent for awhile now. Have either of you seen him lately?"They would be the ones he would likely keep for company, for the time Triell hoped to believe his brother was still among them.

The leader turned to the peppered female, Spieden. "Until we find Nayeli, can I count on you to lead with me Spieden? Keeping track of loners, and prey." It was probably not ideal for her. Since she was the next female who had been with them the longest, and Tiell had been impressed how she handled their pack hunt she was his first choice. It would be best if he didn't stretch himself thinner. The Tainn did not expect answer right away. There was other things he was far more concerned about The leader's eyes cast to the bright yellow of his daughter. He simply wanted to hold her, and tell her it would all be okay. Instead, he leaned down. "Do you or Darrah know where mom was going?" He queried gently.

Triell Tainn

Serach waited, anxiety gnawing a hole in his stomach like a beaver and a log. Triell was anxious too, that much was clear to see. When his brother arrived, Serach nudged his cheek in return, but @Sceral asked him what was going on, Serach could only shake his head mutely. He didn't know, and at this point, he was growing increasingly scared to find out.

When Triell began to speak, Serach's heart lurched. Nayeli was gone? His friend, family, and teacher? Just a day, but with two cubs, that was far too long; even if Zera and @Darrah were rapidly growing up. At his uncle's instruction that they keep an eye out for the pack's lead, Serach nodded his head eagerly. "Of course, he murmured in response. But alas, that was not the only bad news that Triell had to share. At the mention of Ruiko, Serach's ears perked up and he glanced around the group. So many faces, but none were that of his uncle Ruiko. "No," Serach admitted, casting his eyes downward to he did not meet Triell's. "I haven't seen him in a while." Triell was right, Ruiko was known to be aloof, but normally, Serach knew that the oldest Tainn brother was still lurking, just beyond sight. With it pointed out to him, though, he felt ashamed that he had not noticed earlier that Ruiko had gone missing.

The yearling wanted to ask Triell if he should go looking, for both Nayeli and Ruiko. But his uncle had turned his attention to others, first Spieden and then to Zera. Looking at Zera, Serach felt his heart break. She's too young for this, he thought sadly. "We have to help," he said to his brother, his voice low and quiet. "For Triell, Zera, and Darrah."