Black Thorn Downs everybody goes

6:55pm, Clear skies, 23F/-5C
Before Minka goes to CRR

Please try to post by April 3rd as next round starts on April 4th, this will probably only be 2-3 rounds

@Tokino @Bane @Lugh @Loki @Astraeus @Gent @Kova @Inali @Cessair @Raela @Luz

Between Kova returning to them, Lugh being severely injured and gaining a new member to say life at Black Thorn Downs was busy would be an understatement. Minka herself found her body fueled with adrenaline almost all of the time, there was much to be done and since she knew she would be expecting pups in the spring not much time to do it. Her daughter was still missing but since the attack the Lagina no longer felt comfortable leaving the pack grounds in case the Woodland wolves came around. There was also the task of helping as much as she could to heal Lugh, offering Gent any assistance he might need, even if she could do little. Some days she just sat near the infirmary to lend her company to her herbalist and his doctor if the dark man was there.

When she wasn't at the infirmary she was spending time with her returned son, probably to a point where she was pestering him. This evening though she had stopped before she reached the entrance to the infirmary, her paws leading her to pace as her thoughts raced. She could stand it no more, it was time for the pack to be raised to arms. Secret Woodlands was going to have to pay for what they had done.

Stopping her movement Minka finished her journey to the infirmary, wanting to be close enough that Lugh could participate should he choose. Lifting her muzzle to the sky she called for her mate, her subordinates and her children to come, they needed to form a plan. This wasn't going to be some unorganized crazed revenge, this would be a calculated attack, it was just how the Downs woman was. There wasn't time to flail about willy-nilly hoping that things would work out for the best, you had to take things into your own paws. That was just what she was doing now.

The young Harbinger boy had remained busy to the point of anti-socialism. He had been busy learning routines, going around the borders, and searching for the missing child that he had heard about. Regret filled his stomach when he had finally realized that the missing child he had encountered might have been the missing child that the alphas were looking for. A call rose above the surroundings and rang through his ears, causing them to perk up. Gabriel moved swiftly across the fields towards the place he was learning to call home. When he arrived, his face held a soft smile. "Greetings, Lady Minka. How can I help you on this very long day?" The boy dipped his head, his eyes averting hers as a matter of respect as his tail lowered a respectful distance given his rank and her own.

The boy look around, pleased to find that he was the first one to arrive at the meeting. With a deep held breath, he would fall into a sitting position. Loki had not been updated on what had happened with Secret Woodlands. He also had not been successful in finding Noble, which bothered him greatly after he claimed to be an accomplished diplomat and scout. Either way, he would prove his weight in the end and he would do so in a humane and well placed way. Nothing filled him with more disgust than when he behaved like that of Raphael, Michael, and Lucifer. They were the real brats. They would not play with honor... so he would play with honor to avoid being like them.

Tokino huffs as he lopes down the slope towards his packs territory. The trees were still bare and the snow still glistened in the bright sunlight as the gray wolf bounded homeward. However the warmth in the sunlight filtering from on high seemed to make the landscape hold its breath. It was like everything, the trees, the earth, and the animals themselves were waiting for that moment when the warmth of the sun melted the last bit of snow from their world. It was too bad that the chill in the air kept anything from warming up though. It was just a tad bit too cold for the snowy landscape to melt down.

To be truthful, Kino had found a bit more energy to to chores today from the warmth of the sun. He also kept a lookout for any sign or scent of his daughter hoping that she would be a few days behind Kova's trail. On his way back to the den he had stopped at his beloved boulder to jump up on top of it. He had attempted to lay down there for a moment but the cold had quickly seeped into his pelt from the stone. So almost as soon as he had lain down Kino had to get up again and start moving to warm himself up. It was soon after this that the gray man began loping through well known trails back to the den. Expertly avoiding all of the thorny bushes, Kino makes his way closer before scenting Minka. It was then that he heard her call. Seeing as he was relatively close,Kino allowed himself to pad towards her at a leisurely pace. He was sure it would take their other pack mates longer than he to get to her position should they be farther from their territory.

To his surprise Tokino was not the first to arrive. Apparently another member, one he did not recognize, had gotten there before him. Kino sniffed at the male and recognizes Minka's scent upon him. Firstly the gray man goes right up to Minka and licks her cheek before placing his muzzle in her luxurious ruff and breathing deeply. She still smelled so good to him, and no other males scent marred or mixed with her own.

He had a feeling he knew what Minka wanted to speak to everyone about. Probably the prospects of moving and what they were going to do about Secret Woodlands. He certainly didn't want them to get off without any kind of punishment for what they had done to Lugh.

Turning to look at Loki harshly, Tokino then strides stiff legged over to the young male. He tips his silver crown upwards and lifts his banner to show while staring pointedly at the boy and waiting for him to submit. I'm Tokino Lagina, leader here just so know. What is your name youngster? Kino flips his ears forward to both listen and press his point that he was dominant here. Once the boy submits Tokino would quickly lessen the severity of his posture.

Like a mystery without a clue

Minka & Tokino

There is no me if I cannot have you

(This post was last modified: Mar 24, 2015, 11:24 PM by Tokino. Edit Reason: Thought I post after Minka but Loki got there first... XD )

There is a moose carcass that has been scavenged by coyotes nearby. +15 Health

There was a certain tension in the air Bane Aranna just could not shake. Though Kova had returned to the pack well, the Leader's other child was still very much missing, Lugh had been attacked by the neighboring pack (his mother's pack) and the last few days of breeding season still clung heavily in the air. Bane had made an appoint to stay as far from everyone as possible - clinging to the borders of his home land in order to make sure no men came in and no curious women went out. More particularly, a need to see @Inali was like an itch behind the ear he just could not fully scratch. He wanted to see her again, badly (having not seen much of her with all the scouting missions for the children), though something in his gut told he he couldn't, that it was wrong. A curious, questionable fear kept his at bay - until now.

He slithers to the slowly growing gathering like a snake, his tail and head leveled with his spine. A deep, silent nod is offered to Tokino (both his Leader and his trainer) before moving to Minka, which he smiles to. His eyes flash to the other, newer male, but says nothing. He is higher on the totem pole then both he and Gent and given the fact that both men were much larger then himself, it was odd. Awkward. He wondered how long it would last, for although he was a warrior when it came to protecting his own, fighting over statue within the pack land (mostly himself) mattered little to him.

Sighing deeply, he avoids that situation all together, coming up somewhat close to Minka, a bit out and behind her. He wishes to keep close, to protect his Leaders, as it was his job to do. Despite the fact that he was still a few months from being full grown, he was the only one that remained that could call himself an 'up and coming' Guardian, where the others with title were no longer.

Kova had been sticking close to his mother ever since they had found each other on Luna Hill. He didn't mind the constant fussing Minka threw upon him. In fact it was gladly welcomed by the boy who had missed his family greatly. He lapped up whatever closeness and comfort he could get from his family and pack mates. Tokino had also welcomed him back enthusiastically. Though the elder wolf would not fuss over him nearly as much as his dear mother.

Sometimes though, his parents would go off by themselves and leave him alone. The gray youth was more than curious as to why they left him alone during these times, but he was too tired to get up and sneak up on their amorous activities. Luckily for him.

Kova's starved body was slowly but surely gaining back weight after raiding what was left in the packs dwindling caches. Then he slept much of the day in between eating and drinking. The Black Thorn Downs wolves were lucky spring was coming because Kova had finished off much of the food they had managed to save for winter. Of course whenever the opportunity arose the lad would help out a little by fishing. He had gotten quite good at it while roaming the northern lands by himself. Especially since most of his time had been spent by a river.  It had been his only source a food for quite some time.

His parents had left him alone by the den once more, and Kova had rested until his mothers call woke him. Having eaten well enough and rested for a time, Kova had the energy to head out and wander the territory for a little while if he wished. However it was the call for the pack that held his attention. The young wolf had no clue what she wanted, though he guessed she called to gather wolves for a hunt. Tokino, Minka, and Inali had called for the pack before to hunt with, so this is what he assumed was happening. Wanting to help if he could, and hoping to get a bite to eat after the hunt; Kova quickened his pace to meet u with the others.

The young wolf was met with the faces of some wolves he knew and one he didn't. First and foremost, the young male went up to his mother to greet her warmly. “Hi mom..” Kova spoke softly to her before licking her chin and cheeks with long adoring strokes. Then he slipped up between the stranger and his father. Tipping his head up to reach Kino's chin, Kova landed a few licks to the older wolf while letting out a few whines of happiness. He settled down a few moments later while turning to look at the stranger curiously. Not wanting to get in Kino's way the child slipped out from between the alpha and the new male. He padded to Bane next dipping his head customarily and whining a few happy whines in greeting. To Bane, Kova gave two light licks to the chin before sliding by the dark wolf and settling down to sit beside him. Bane was somebody Kova knew and trusted, and he rather liked the dark guardian. His gaze switched the the stranger once more, but the prince respectfully kept his gaze off of Loki's eyes. Once again the Lagina pup sniffs the air in the other wolf's direction before speaking.

 “Hi, I'm Kova.” He gives his name freely before allowing his silver banner to wag slowly. He didn't know this man, but as he held Black Thorn Downs scent Kova knew Loki to be an ally of sorts. He hoped he was nice like th others generally were.

Though annoying as breeding season was, the woman had become accustomed to feeling the itch that she knew would never be scratched. Still, she made sure to stay away from the males of the pack not wanting the feeling to intensify. At least breeding season was almost over and that was a relief to the small woman. At least something was going well. Her feelings were all over from Lugh's attack. At first she felt anger, and that was an emotion Inali almost never felt. Even still, she felt some anger in heart. Though she felt more confused than angry. She wanted to know what had truly occured. Had Nina attacked him? Had one of her subordinates? She didn't want to think bad of the woman who she respected and had once been a friend. Minka's call broke through her thoughts. Knowing what this pack meeting would be about, Inali sighed. She didn't want war. Inali wasn't a wolf that enjoyed violence. Inali held small hope that all of this was a big misunderstanding. The only way she would truly know was to seek the Woodlands matriarch. She didn't know how Minka would feel about that. The scout ran to where the meeting would be taking place, not wanting to be late. She quickly made it, her paw steps smooth and light. She smiled as her blue gaze looked over all of her pack mates, new and old. She lightly brushed against Tokino's side, not wanting to interrupt him but wanting to give him a silent greeting. She smiled kindly at the new man, her blue eyes warm. Then, she turned to Minka, licking her chin in submission and then nudged her muzzle warmly. Noticing Kova, her tail wagged as she bounded towards him. She had scented him, but with searching for Noble, she hadn't been able to greet him until now. My, how he had grown! She nudged his muzzle happily and grinned before turning to Bane. Her smiled softened and she nuzzled him softly and lightly nipped at his chin. The boy was very dear to her heart. She could only wonder what he must be feeling. Inali could only give her silent support so she moved to sit next to the yearling that towered over her so easily. The warmth in her eyes dimming slightly, she looked at Minka and waited for the meeting to begin. ”Speech”

Sed-rah-Stock @DA & Dawnthieves.de - Table by PuppyThief

(This post was last modified: Mar 29, 2015, 03:12 AM by Inali.)

The clear evening was a lovely change of pace from the tumultuous weather of spring. It was still chilly, but nothing her coat couldn't make up for. It was beginning to shed by now, but just barely; nothing more than a bit of extra itchiness on her skin. This was inevitably coupled with the itch of breeding season however. It was Raela's third; and this one was the least intense she had been through. In truth it was probably her malnourishment, stress, and submissive nature that had kept the beast at bay this spring. She had barely noticed it save for the subtle crawling of her skin. As the month drew to a close, she was grateful for the relief.  Minka's call caught her ears as the tawny girl moved through the bushes. The constant ache in her legs was subsiding, and she had finally been able to really enjoy a little scouting walk. Nothing had been amiss thus far, so stopping early for a pack meeting seemed all well and fine. As she began to pace deeper into the territory however, the woman's stomach took a downward turn. She had a hunch about the purpose of this gathering. She'd been on the scene when Lugh returned, and had been worried for his life ever since. The poor man was in awful shape. On top of this, the other royal child was still missing. Would this be a call to arms? A sorrowful declaration of their herbalist's death? Worry propelled her legs into a swifter gait, her fur glistening in the evening sun with every step. The last thing she wanted was war with another group, but her sense of justice and morality could not allow for what had happened to her packmate. There had better be a damn good reason for potentially crippling a man. Rae drew toward the gathering, her bright eyes flashing over the faces of those in attendance. They lingered warmly on the known; respectfully and nervously avoiding the strange. Her low rank was a well known fact. The subordinate slumped into a submissive stance as she approached, allowing her tail to wag in friendly greeting. She was not especially close to anyone here, with Inali being the warmest and most accommodating of her acquaintances. Unfortunately, she was placed between two strangers, so Raela took a seat at a close but respectful distance from her leaders. She happily took note of Kova's improving condition. The fact of his return was a spark of joy to her, and very visibly to her leaders as well. Both Minka and Tokino had been in much better spirits, and she was glad for all of them. The shy girl did her best to be unassuming as she waited, fretting internally and twitching her ears this way and that.  Image © Chris Smith Photography Manipulation © Jenandra

            

OOC: My apologies if I fucker up the setting. Gent had been out at the edge of the fields, having just finished a little hunt, when Minka's call went out. Since being ordained as the man's personal doctor, he found that there was more involved than simply salving Lugh's wounds. The Lieris heir took it upon himself to care for the wounded herbalist's every need, from idle conversation to hunting for him and helping him to water when a strained stomach or parched throat called for it. The reward in the work was obvious; Gent was serving an invaluable role for the pack, and therefor would not only have an assured place amongst his peers but also would have an easier time earning their esteem. It was a post that gave him opportunity to get close with Lugh, Minka and possibly even Tokino, as well as become an overall trusted figure within the group. Finally, if Lugh pulled through, the man could resume his role as lead herbalist and healer and Gent would be relieved from the tedious duty himself. Therefor, with so many pros available, Gent worked tirelessly to perform his obligations to the best of his abilities. A freshly slaughtered rabbit hanging limply from his jaws, Gent set off at a hurried pace, curiosity peaking through wonderment of what the occasion could be. His mind flitted through the options, but quickly calmed, as the mental labor was unnecessary. Within a few moments he arrived on the scene, one of the last to gather and unaffected by this fact. Rather, he was excited to see all the new faces. His chores kept him both from exploring the territory and seeking out company among his new pack mates, and this was the perfect opportunity to size up the competition. His arctic ice eyes focused mostly on the yearlings Loki and Bane, who would be his first couple of challenges. Instinct directed him to assert his dominance now, as he knew within his bones that he belonged above them in the hierarchy. Truly, the only one present who could give him pause was the lead man himself, Tokino; Gent had learned next to nothing about the man, but on principle held a baseline of respect for him. The man's drive was to climb as high as he could, but he would not uproot a deserving leader. As the pecking order stood, Gent maintained the posture expected for one who was at the bottom, despite hating every second of it. He ducked past those gathered, and slipped into the infirmary in order to deliver unto Lugh his meal. He then remained at the man's side, and settled into a prone position. Rather than join the crowd, he thought it best to be close enough to Lugh to help him understand what was being said if the herbalist found it hard to hear.

The dark confines of the infirmary had quickly become Lugh's entire universe, at least moreso than it had already been. Spring was in the air, whenever he managed to wrestle himself onto three legs and hobble outside the den he could see the sign of it. The light perfume of the first blooms from the cherry orchard, fresh green growth tipping the bushes and trees, the snow on the ground steadily shrinking away with the return of the sun. Typically, it was the herbalist's favorite time of year, but... something about the outside world had him set on edge. Whether it was the specter of another unwarranted attack, or something else entirely, he did not know.

It took Lugh longer than usual to warm up to the raven-coated healer, but he was ever thankful for the male's help. The young fellow had really stepped up to the plate, and Lugh was sure that he'd be a goner without him. Infection in his leg seemed to be held at least at bay, though Lugh wasn't sure if, or when, he would have to broach the subject of just finishing the job and ripping the damned thing off entirely. Honestly, the very thought made him a little light headed.

Minka's call roused him from his nap, and with a wince he rolled onto his belly, careful to not jostle his mangled limb. Gritting his teeth, he shuffled forward on his belly in the low confines of the den, stopping just at the edge of the earthen mouth. He gave a soft whine, letting Minka know he was present, but would be hanging back. He silently watched and listened as others approached, offering a warm smile at Gent's now-familiar face and trying to not look like a starved animal as he tucked into the fresh rabbit.

"Speech."