Oak Tree Bend you had to have it all

Spieden's ears folded back uneasily at Triell's news of his mate's disappearance. That couldn't be good. Spieden couldn't help but morbidly wonder if she had met an untimely demise at the hand of some nefarious scheming. The additional disappearance of Ruiko, another member of the pack, set off more alarm bells for Spieden, a paranoid conspiracy already trying to take root in her mind.

At Triell's request of her, Spieden nodded at first, agreeing to whatever it was out of rote habit of doing whatever she was told rather than actually understanding what it was Triell was asking. It didn't help that she was still wondering about Nayeli, Ruiko, and whether a murderer was amongst them. But when the words finally connected, "can I count on you to lead with me", her jaw dropped open, bright eyes widening as she glanced around the group. She expected to see them all laughing at what a great joke they'd all played on her. Of course making a prank out of someone's disappearance was tactless, but Spieden had known worse.

However, as her eyes moved from face to face, not a single crack of a smile was found. It really didn't seem to be a joke. Secondly, she nipped her fangs into the tip of the tongue, trying to use a point of pain to draw her out of what surely must be a dream. But there was nothing to wake up from. Having ruled out that this wasn't a practical joke, or a dream, Spieden almost wished that it was. How in the world had she crawled out of the bottom of Salmon River and ended up at the top over here, even if temporarily?

Her mind spun as she tried to figure out the implications of the new role. She stared with a furrowed brow at her paws, letting conversation lull around her as she watched her black claws clench into the earth. Did her promotion have anything to do with the other's disappearance? Was there some grand intrigue in the works that would result in her murder? Spieden was hardly listening now, but her body was almost vibrating as her eyes darted around to her packmates. New packmates.

Sorry Im late!
Life >.<

The man had tamped down his fury since of learning of Jessie's 'extended' trip. Instead of letting his anger boil, he had seemed to distance himself from his pack mates and buried himself in various pack duties. Though more and more, his massive black figure could be found on the borders day and night. And there he was, when he heard the dark summoning call of his younger brother, the king of Oak Tree Bend. His tail twitched uneasily as he felt a dark sense of foreboding slither through his veins. Whatever his brother was summoning them for, Hotei knew it wouldn't be good news. Since the burnt male was on the far side of pack lands, it took him a little longer than his other pack mates to reach where Triell had called and claimed it to be the pack's meeting place for today. He silently approached the group and gazed at his brother's somber face, right before Triell launched into the reason why all of them had been summoned.

His sharp yellow gaze stayed on Triell as he spoke, Hotei taking his seat at a far corner of the circle they were in. Nayeli was missing. His brother's mate, was gone. Had been gone since the other day, and Triell clearly looked worn so Hotei held the impression that the male had been looking for the lead female. His yellow orbs ran over everyone as they each in turn respinded verbally to his brother, but Hotei did not. Instead, his eyes showed a deadly seriousness as he nodded to his alpha. This was clearly not a playful matter. He would not only keep an eye out for Nayeli, but for his older sibling as well. His head snapped toward the woman, Spieden, his face expressionless as he watched her nod but seem to struggle with her decision. He didn't want to be in her paws right now. A great responsibility had been laid upon her shoulders. Slowly, his gaze ran over the children and yearlings, before turning back to Triell.

With a worried look on her face, Zia sat patiently, while other members of the pack filtered in, one at a time. Most of their faces she didn't even recognize, which, given her situation, was a good thing. While she waited for everyone to gather so the meeting could commence, she couldn't help but wonder what on earth had gone wrong. What could be troubling the swarthy leader so deeply to rally his followers together like this? When it appeared that everyone had gathered, Triell broke the dreaded news. His mate, Nayeli, had vanished. Stunned, Zia's mouth opened, but no sound came out. She shook her head, as if trying to wake up from a dream. Vaguely, she remembered the she wolf. Black as night, with a star shaped patch on her forehead. No one could forget such a distinguishable individual. This was all wrong, it just had to be. How could this be true? First Borlla, Triell's sister, and now this? Now his own mate was gone too? Something wasn't right here...she could feel it in her bones, as she stared solemnly at her own paws. Or was it that the Tainn's were so cursed that they were destined to be abandoned that all they hold dear? While Zia certainly did not know of their tragic history, she certainly hoped this was not the case. Her soft blue eyes flicked up as yet more troubling news was delivered. A male by the name of Ruiko had not been seen for quite a while either. Initially, Zia wanted nothing more to help, by going to the nearby lands such as the Sierra Hills and the creek to search. But having already learned from her mistakes in searching for Borlla, she would not. Triell needed them here, and so she would stay. But, she would be extra vigilant in her daily patrols, on the lookout for the faintest sign that either wolf would be found. Expectantly, her eyes turned to the she wolf that he requested to temporarily lead by his side. To be strong, a pack must have a pair of leaders at the helm, and Zia could only hope that the dark female was up to the task. Breathing in a quiet sigh, at a loss for words, she could only look towards the pack with sympathy in her eyes. She may have been a stranger to them still, but she knew all too well, what it was like to have lost one of their own.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

He didn't know what to say. Was there anything to say? Nothing that he could think of. Technically, Oliver had no right- he was new. Terribly new. So new that he wasn't even aware of who these wolves were. Their names brought to mind no face, no scents, not even a scrap of what their voices might be. And it left him feeling rather....blatantly out of place.

He could see the reeling emotion on the other's faces. Shock, bewilderment, hearts constricting in painful surprise. However, the news obviously effected it's bearer the most. Triell was in pain, and it didn't help that his children were so young- too young to be losing their mother.

Well 'how about that. Galley would've whispered, reverent despite his usually turbulent nature. His words spoke for both of them. A terrible thing indeed, but what he could do? He couldn't even name more than two wolves here.

Shifting uncomfortably, Oliver looked around at the other's, feeling useless.

(This post was last modified: Nov 13, 2014, 09:33 PM by Oliver.)

There is a rabbit's nest nearby. +1 Health

zera tainn Young Zera felt her eyes darting back and forth, like yellow flashes of sunlight through the trees. She peered out over the bend, quickly familiarizing the incoming members, but always nervously returning to Triell's solemn silence. She waited, acknowledged his nobility. The thoughts ran rampant, stumbling through the frantic boughs of her brain. Zera prepared herself physically, too, without even noticing her weight shift onto her hind limbs and developing muscles coil with her Triell's tenacity. The young Tainn always noticed how her father always kept a steady composure, even in times of great trepidation. She admired that quality within him, and wondered silently if she'd ever be as great a leader. As the others gathered, she grew more anxious -- half-way thinking it might be better to take shelter in the den for this maelstrom of news. But she waited patiently as though the rains would subside and the truth would glow bright like the sun. He started with "There is no easy way to say this," and Zera's pulse thrummed louder in her chest. Her eyes grew wide as caution signs and she kept the whimper suppressed in her throat. The effort it took to strain against her whines was too much as his voice calmly rolled out the truth. It was ugly as a dark sky and menacing as the bloody jaws of a bear. Zera had never heard anything so unbelievable in her life. The whine tore through her throat and she dropped to her belly, resting her chin on her forelegs and her ears tight against the back of her head. Her welling eyes penetrated Triell, and she felt guilt deep within his words. She almost expected to feel Nayeli's wet nose burrowing in the thick fur of her neck, and her warm tongue against her cheek. But she was gone. Zera spun her gaze to the other wolves, all crossed with sorrow. As her father paused, she knew there was more to come. He mentioned Rukio, a wolf she was never particularly familiar with, but he was still family. The family was falling apart and winter was threatening with early sweeps of cool breezes and shorter days. It even turned the leaves on the trees a rich mahogany. The young Tainn wasn't too young to predict this outcome. She was a smart girl and she was not letting the world spin her wrong in only her first year of life. She trembled with the impossible attempt of holding down cries. She could hardly respond to her father's brief question but sign deeply with a quick, denying shake of her head. Zera never wanted the comfort of her brother and the den this badly in her life.

Wow, I'm so sorry it took me this long. Hope I'm not too late :(!

"I'm in trouble." the pup spoke aloud to himself as he heard his fathers howl from deep in the distance. The young prince thought it to be a good idea wondering off a little farther than normal today, of course to practice his hunting technique.. Even though he wasn't allowed to hunt quite yet. He just wanted to be ready for when the day came. He wanted to bring a bountiful feast home to his family. He wanted to feel the love and praise from both his parents and his sister when they saw just how skilled he was on his 'first try'.. But somehow his father knew. That must of been what the howl was for, right? "I'm in so much trouble. But a pack meeting over it? Really? This isn't good." His first instinct was to stick it out where he was until his father calmed down a bit. Or hopefully that's how it would work out at least, because of course he wasn't just over reacting again. Some time had passed before he decided it was okay to head back. He trotted through amber leaves, following the scent from which he came. Seeing their faces in the distance, his pack mates didn't look angry at all. They looked.. Sad. Some even panicked. Maybe this wasn't about him after all? They couldn't of deemed him lost. If he could follow the scent back home, they could of followed the scent to him. He found his place next to his distressed sister. "eh...hm.." there was a lump in the Tainn's throat. There was a thick cloud of uneasiness shrouding everyone so naturally it began to envelope him too. "D-dad... Zera.... he bowed his head in respect. "..Everyone else.. I-I'm sorry I'm late I was uh... A little farther away than I thought I guess..." The boy lifted his head in attempt to make eye contact with his father. Everyone was clearly shaken over what had been said at this meeting, and as the son of Triell it was his job to stay just as strong as his father stood. "Dad.. What's...Going on here? And mom? I don't see her.." he glanced around.

dawnthieves

Sorry guys, too much going on. :| I'll plan on having last round by December 7th to wrap it up.

The dark lead held eyes closely upon his nephews, but neither of them had seen Ruiko recently either. No one else in the group made any mention of the stoic man. With great force he grinded his teeth, trying not to dwell on the thought he might not see either of them again. He had no idea where his elder brother would be either. There was no doubt something was amiss with his disapearance. He had seemed as intent on watching over Cori's children as Triell, and could see little that would have changed that. Unless..had his own children found him? The thought of Ruiko going without a good bye wasn't right. He had never done that to him, to them.

Still reluctant to send out a more search parties, there seemed to be no other choice. "I supose we can organize a search, but only on this side of the mountain. Any volunteers? Where you feel best seraching? With winter soon upon us, I do not want anyone going too far, nor by themselves. I will not leave Zera and Darrah," he declared, because there would be no more orphans in this pack.

Upon silver streaked figure of the Spieden, his sight rested, seeing her swift agreeance. He did not get to see her further reaction. Upon Hotei he cast his eye, finding some comfort in his brother's silent presence.

Orange-yellow eyes came to rest upon the small figure of his daughter, he could tell she had no clues to remedy this dire news. If anything it had finally broke upon her. Triell, stroked his muzzle over her crown, gingerly licking her cheek. He could not bring himself to murmur the words of things being alright. They just weren't. Darrah announced his own arrival, there was no anger in the father. It was apparent he did not know what had been said while he looked for Nayeli. "She left yesterday, and I do not know where she has gone," softly the Tainn explained, with a somberness to his dark facade."We will look, and we will wait." Because I can not do any more.

Almost twitching with nerves and tension, it took Spieden a great deal of effort to calm herself enough to be present in the moment rather than catastrophizing off in lala land. Zera's sadness tugged at her, no cub should lose their mother. She winced as Darrah, late, finally made it onto the scene. Someone would have to fill her in, but Spieden wasn't going to be the one to do it. Spieden sat awkwardly, enduring the rest of the meeting from the new spot in the hierarchy. If this really wasn't a prank, or a dream, Spieden had no idea how this would play out for her.

Spieden was curious as to the answer of the disappearances, but she held her tongue at Triell's question for a search party. Spieden would look, of course, poke her nose around the area and see if she could suss out any answers of her own. It was a wholly selfish desire to find the missing pair and figure out what happened, to ensure the safety of her own hide rather than help the saddened hearts of her pack members.

This would be her secret however. If the wrong person found out she was trying to figure out the scheme, perhaps things would be hidden from her and she might never find an answer. It might even hasten her almost inevitable demise. Spieden watched Triell, wondering if it would be him or her that would be next.

Serach's body was alive with agitation, and worry. It was all he could do to stop himself from pacing back and forth at the gathering. But this was not the time nor the place for that. @Triell had always been a rock for the pack, even when it seemed they would never emerge from their darkest days. Now, Serach felt like it was his responsibility to be their for his uncle and his cousins, to reassure them that all would be well, even if the truth was that nobody could guarantee any such thing. So when his uncle called for volunteers to send out a search party, Serach was quick to respond in the affirmative. "I'll go. Definitely." He would head north first, where he knew Magnolia Glen was located. One of its leaders was Triell and Ruiko's sister, maybe they would have an idea where the two missing Bend wolves had gone.

Turning his head, he looked at @Sceral. "Ready?" he asked his sibling, although his tone of voice was more definitive than it was inquisitive. With Dresitg and Jessie away, it would have to fall to Serach and Sceral to become the pack's scouts. Triell needed the others close to home, and the Donata-Aesir boys' familiarity with the territories surrounding their own would be a necessary asset for the task at hand. Looking back at his uncle, he had to force himself to hold down the grief for Zera and Darrah. Having lost both of his own parents, and his father in similar circumstances, he was determined to track down both Nayeli and Ruiko, if only for the sake of the two cubs that stood before him. With a final goodbye to Triell and a parting shout to Sceral, the young wolf turned tail and set off, headed north to search for any signs or trails that might lead him to his missing family members.