Round Stone Crest smoke in the rain

Hey guys no posting order for this but maybe @Kova and @Octavius first?

Ari and Kino were the first ones to arrive, her son arriving just as she was about to answer her daughter's question. Nuzzling them both on their crowns as they appeared she smiled, "When there's important news for the pack we sometimes call a meeting so everyone can hear it together. It's time for your brother and Datura to choose their specialties." Nuzzling them closer to her legs as they settled Minka lifted her gaze to see Raela who she beamed at in greeting, the mood infectiously excited. Next was Datura who appeared nervous though the alpha was beginning to wonder if this was just his temperament, he seemed nervous almost all the time. Nonetheless she beamed at him as well, hoping the excitement in the air would do some to show him this was a celebration. Gent and Cessair were greeted in turn as they arrived before Kova's head butt was greeted with a tender lick on his crown. Even as Draven came running in a few moments late the mother couldn't help but chuckle, nuzzling his cheek as a silent reassurance he wasn't in trouble. However she waited a few more minutes her golden eyes scanning the area before she locked eyes with Gent with a knowing look, where was Lugh?

Still she could wait no longer and supposed the three legged medic could catch up easily enough when he did manage to make it. Standing Minka smiled again ready to address the pack, starting with a gesture to the three pups she began, "While most of you know them already I would like to formally introduce to you Ari, Kino and Draven the newest princes and princess of Round Stone Crest." Pausing for a moment to allow the children to soak up the spotlight as at least some of them would love to do. Smiling once more she continued, "It is time for something that is very dear to me and is a tradition that comes from my birth pack. It is time for the yearlings to choose their specialities and be assigned their mentors. Over the next year the yearlings will spend the majority of their time with their mentors and learn by observing, formal lessons and actual doing the job they one day hope to hold as an adult. In a year Kino, Draven and Ari will choose their specialities and Kova and Datura will graduate into full fledged members of the pack with their official titles." Pausing once more to beam upon the two yearlings Minka knew she had made the right decision, she couldn't have put this off any longer. While it pained her for Tokino to miss her son's choice she knew that they had to continue on as a family.

Looking upon the forms of the two male yearlings she asked, "Datura and Kova, which specialties have you chosen to pursue?" Then she finally fell silent, her golden orbs twinkling in anticipation, particularly to hear what he son had to say.

click!

Draven arrived shortly after Kova, and when his dark little brother walked passed Kova tried to lean forward with his body and reach for Draven's smaller frame with his nose. He tried to greet his brother with a gentle but warm prod and lick but the gray wolf might have been too far away to successfully achieve this. So when he leaned back into his spot he let his tail wag a bit before glancing back to Minka. Lugh still hadn't shown up, which worried Kova a bit. He hadn't seen the healer on his way up the mountain, so Kova had no idea where the Whelan man was.

Suddenly Kova's attention diverts to his mothers voice. He turns half way to gaze at her as she begins to speak of the thing he'd been putting to the back of his mind for quite some time now. That yearling tradition thing where he had to pick a role to study. Kova didn't know what role he wanted to do, which is why he had been putting the decision to the back of his mind for so long. Now Kova gulped as the happy feeling of seeing everybody fled right off of his face. He shuffled his paws as everybody's attention focused on Datura and himself. Again, normally Kova wouldn't be perturbed by this. However he had no idea what to say, and that thought alone had him turning red underneath that silver fur.“Uhh...” He looked to Datura for a bit of comfort but realized that he might already know what he wanted to study. That thought made Kova a little nervous and angry with himself.

He looked back to Minka who was looking expectantly at him, and Kova couldn't meet her gaze. He wanted to make her proud, and his father, but how could he do that if he fudged up everything during this meeting? What role was best for him? He had learned so much about guarding, hunting, scouting, and fishing, but the boy didn't like one role better than the other.

.“I like all the roles except healing... no offense to Lugh but that just doesn't interest me.”  Kova started first trying to get complete sentences out without looking like a complete fool. Then he tried to think of something he liked to do that would encompass all of his favorite subjects. .“So being a teacher would mean that I could help other wolves learn about hunting, guarding, or scouting? Because that would be something I could practice all those roles with right?” Kova asked tentatively hoping that he could get away with being taught about every role. He wasn't sure if that was possible though, and equally the boy had no idea who would be his mentor. Were teachers rare? Even though it certainly sounded like they were well needed.

(This post was last modified: Aug 30, 2015, 04:15 PM by Kova.)

Used a tiny bit of PP, is that alright @Gent ?

He was running a bit late for the meeting, bearing a large raccoon between his jaws. When Aeus arrived, he heard clippings of Minka addressing Kova and Datura about careers. Aeus vaguely recalled being asked this years ago back in Nunavut. His eldest brother choose the guardian path while his younger brother took a liking to teaching the young. And his dear sister began her journey specializing in advising their father.

Minka and Gent sat in front of the pack, the younger children weaving through their mother's legs. Raela was sitting beside Cessair. He shot them both a warm smile, slipping forward to take a seat next to his inamorata. The burly man placed the massive raccoon between his paws, trying to catch Gent's eye. Another step closer to a peace treaty. He thought positively, finally meeting gaze. Aeus gestured down, explaining his tardiness. "I'm sorry." His face said.

Word Count: 152

Template found ovah' here!

ITS NOT LIKE I WANTED US TO HAPPEN

Permission to PP Gus given by @Datura. If you want me to change anything, Sarah, just let me know and I will.

Soon, Cessair arrived, her breathlessness a clear sign to Gent that she had been in a rush to arrive. A smile was given to her, as well as a nod when she greeted him, eyes following her until she had taken her seat. Only moments after her was Kova, looking even more beaten by his own scurry to make it to the meeting, and Gent had to hold back a chuckle. Within his jaws was a limp fish, the prey Kova had gotten catching down to a science. His pale eyes watched the boy great his mother, and couldn't help but grin as it became his turn, even when the slimy scales grazed his chin. To finally be on good terms with Kova meant a great deal to the king, and he nipped at the teenager's cheek to return the sentiment.

Finally, Draven appeared, and Gent nudged the boy's rump in greeting as Minka addressed him as well. While lifting his head, his gaze met with Minka's, and his ears flicked forward as he became attentive of the silent message she was passing him. His eyes swept those gathered once more, assuring himself that both Astraeus and Lugh's absences persisted. A frown threatened to pull down the corners of his mouth, but he maintained a mask of neutrality. Maybe Lugh had been off somewhere looking for medicinal plants, and Astraeus was helping him back? He could only hope.

Regardless of those missing, Minka's voice rose up to address those present. Listening as the rest did, Gent watched his partner before turning his gaze upon the yearlings as the floor was passed to them. They both seemed nervous, perhaps even unprepared. Gent considered perhaps it was intimidating to decide something that would be such a large part of their life, but it was hard for the man to empathize as he had been lucky enough to know what he had wanted for himself since birth. Still, he waited patiently for choices to be made. Kova was the first to recapture his tongue, and Gent's focused honed in on the boy as he spoke.

They'd had a similar conversation before, the two of them, when Round Stone Crest had first been founded. Thus it wasn't such a surprise when Kova opted for becoming a teacher. He was still unsure of himself however, questions pouring from his maw to make sure that it was alright for him to want this. A smile crossed the man's muzzle as he chose to answer the heir's queries.

"Exactly. You'll be the man with all the answers," he told him with a wink, before transferring his attention to Datura. He expected perhaps the same stalling as Kova had begun with, some mumbling or a non-answer, anything really but as he stared the boy down not a sound was made. It was clear how gravely unnerved the golden child was, and a frown began to work its way over his muzzle, yet before he could speak up and prompt the yearling, Datura surprised him thoroughly by abruptly scurrying away.

Gent had admittedly never interacted personally with Datura, and so he turned his gaze to Minka, confusion clear within his icey optics. Was it just the boy's nature? Was something wrong with him? The sound of approaching paw steps drew his attention away from the queen momentarily, and his gaze fell upon Astraeus. Hope lept into his heart that Lugh would be with him, but the herbalist was not at the other man's side. Noticing the fallen prey at Aeus' paws and the apologetic smile upon his muzzle only confirmed that their guardian to be hadn't been with pack's male second either.

Gent shifted upon his paws, now thoroughly uncomfortable. Minka could worry about whatever the hell was wrong with the orphan. The king wanted to know where his friend was. Even the announcement of being assigned as Kova's instructor (a role he had been hoping for in order to better bond with the heir) could not chase away the dark cloud beginning to form over his head. As the ceremony was concluded, and the pack was dismissed, the Gent swiftly departed after saying his goodbyes to the children and Kova to hopefully find Lugh safe and sound.

(This post was last modified: Sep 27, 2015, 06:46 AM by Gent.)

Even though his mother had explained that it was something important, that Kova was to choose a specialty, he wasn't entirely sure what a specialty was. He blinked up at her with a creased brow, obviously still confused but decided not to ask as she turned away from them and to the whole pack. Kino himself turned to look at them and was amazed by all the wolves that were in front of them. Other pups might have been afraid of being in front of so many, but Kino soaked it in. As Minka announced their names the boy pushed his chest out and lifted his chin with a grin as no doubt all eyes would be on them, and hadn't been wrong. But it had only lasted a second as everyone then turned to Kova and a golden boy he didn't yet know of. He assumed it was this Octavius that mother mentioned, and he turned to look at them as well. Even though he didn't quite know what was happening, he could still listen. Maybe if he listened hard enough he could pick up some things and really figure out what it all meant. Yeah, that was good plan.