Round Stone Crest he made a present of this silver

Backdated to 10/5, mid-afternoon, clear skies with a brisk chill.
This is a MANDATORY meeting. Wolves who do not show up will be met in a separate thread by Gent and will face possible expulsion from the pack. Raela and Gent both have a lot to address, so it is very important that your character be present to listen as well as to voice their own opinions and concerns. This thread is intended to officially begin Round Stone Crest's healing process and to initiate winter preparations. It should be noted that Raela and Gent will strongly enforce the things they decree/ask of the pack here in this thread. If you have any concerns regarding this, please PM me or Jen and we will work with you.
This round ends on 10/12. Characters are welcomed to join after this date, but will be considered late.
@Alphinaud @Cessair @Zilas @Calanthe
@Moraxia @Kova @Draven
Topics being addressed are as follows:

• Leadership change
• Sparring & Rank challenges
• Recruiting
• Restrictions lifted; children still limited
• Pack hunt; increased efforts to stock caches
• Alliance with Hearthwood River
• Intrapack relations > Interpack relations
• Coping with grief

A renewed vigor had taken hold of his body, his might and confidence fully restored at last. His heart did not ache less, nor were the knots in his organs loosened, grief still simmering determinedly beneath the barricade of his skin, but his mind at least had at last calmed. Had at last focused. All thanks to her. The debt he owed @Raela seemed to be limitless, and yet he would never tire of trying to repay it. This was certain, this was absolute, much unlike nearly everything else within his world. But he was trying. He was trying to grapple with the rest of it, to bring it all back under his control. If only this stubborn determinism would obey him, then all would be well, for each of them. He was selfish to his core, but his interest lay solely in the pack, and therefor would benefit them all. If only they did not resist. If only they seized this day as he was prepared to.

Heavy strides brought him to the heart of his domain, the very summit of the Crest where the pack den resided. His senses informed him long before he arrived that, for now, the communal area lay vacant. It was questionable whether this was a good thing or a bad thing, and he supposed that once the summons was issued, time would swiftly give him the answer. His worries primarily lay in the whereabouts of @Marianna and @Kino. He had checked in with them that morning, ensuring that they were safely within the confines of the territory, however his discussion with the new Queen had taken up the rest of his hours without giving him a chance to check in. They had already proven willing to disobey his laws multiple times, and from here out would be carefully monitored to ensure it did not continue. Given their youth, this was a difficult subject to approach, however such defiance could not be allowed within the yanks, even from- no, especially from the children. No one would respect him as king if his own five month old offspring refused to pay deference to his presence and wishes. Yet still it was difficult for the man to bring himself to consider the drastic actions he may be forced to take if they continued to refuse his authority.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, Gent re-aimed his thoughts toward more centric focuses. What the pack needed now, more than anything, was stability and direction. They needed to know that he was capable, that he was reliable, and that he would lead them through this tragic misery safely. They needed to know this too of Raela, though the king found himself doubting that they would at all question the would-be adviser. In his own mind she was something akin to perfect for this role, and it was difficult for him to foresee the possibilities of anyone else viewing her as less. Yet even if they doubted this new duo that they found themselves under, it would be swiftly proven to them that they were indeed held within the best paws suited for the job.

There could be no glossing over of what had happened to them all, but the pack also needed to shift gears and begin to move ahead. To do this, they needed to be given purpose, work, guidance, and the leviathan had spoken at length with his closest confidant about all the ways they could inspire a positive, or at least determined, outlook concerning the future within their subordinates. They talked too, of the possible road blocks they would encounter, from the pack's unwillingness to unmire themselves from their grief, to their resistance to change, to the children themselves (Master of the house? Isn't worth my spit! they might say, but oh how this would be swiftly corrected) and of all the ways that they might curb such negative responses. In fact, the king and his new queen had been nearly flawless in their communication, boding well for their future reign together, and instilling fresh confidence within him that this was indeed the right move to be made. Hopefully, they would agree, and Round Stone Crest could begin to thrive as it was meant to. In Minka's memory.

Approaching the bluff that formed the mesa side of their small, private mountain amongst the timbers, Gent overlooked the precipice. The frigid fall air flowed past him, escaping down the cliff side to flood the forest below. His pale eyes scanned as far as they could, taking it all in as the sun shone without blemish upon the land. His land. This was not some amphigory; this was their story, Minka's legacy, and he would be damned if he let it fizzle out.

Throwing back his skull, Gent belted out a long, wavering note to summon the entirety of Round Stone Crest to his very location. The sound, emitted from such a strong vantage point, carried firmly through Stonewatch Timbers, blanketing the entirety of the territory as well as a good reach without. There would be no excuses as to not witnessing such a robust song, and it was clear within the anthem that this beckoning was to be answered immediately. Gather at the Crest, he called out to them. We have a lot we need to discuss.

Perhaps he wasn't completely prepared, he considered, as his notes at last tapered off and he was once again left alone with this thoughts. They began to wander, wondering after his children, and his nerves prickled at the thought of what must be done should they refuse to heed his summons. Would they do such a thing? He found he could not doubt it completely; they had all been so different, so utterly changed by their mother's death that he could no longer recognize them. Marianna had been the most stable of them all, and still her wandering ate away at him. Once more shaking the thoughts, he turned his back to the mesa, and awaited his pack.

"Get it together, Gent," he muttered underbreath.

They would come. They would all come, and they would listen, and together they would at last begin to move forward.

(This post was last modified: Oct 09, 2015, 01:36 PM by Kisla.)

It was time. The call of her dearest friend rang out as powerfully as only a call from him could. There was no mistaking what it was the patriarch was asking of them, and it came to her on the chilly autumn breeze. Raela had not been far; knowing full well that the meeting would be soon as discussed between them earlier. Their shared words had given her much more comfort in these trying days, but it was never enough to quell the worry completely. Just that morning they had sorted out a most pressing number of things in preparation for this very moment. Of course, she wasn't doing anything too particularly important at the time so that his calls would not tear her from any vital matters. Everything seemed to be relatively stable now, and that was why it was a good time to bring them all together. They had to start filling the darkness with order and light, like only leaders could. 

She was thankful for this pre-planning, for if she had been at the bottom of the Crest's lone mountain the journey itself would have been irritating. Still, there was haste in the new Alpha's step anyway as she made her way toward the call. At least with how the air was changing she could bound through the territory without any worry over the heat or the exhaustion she might have faced in summer. In no time at all she broke the tree-line and strode out onto the mesa; spotting the dark smudge of Gent in the distance with a wag. Good. She had ensured that she would be here early; and that the new pair could meet the pack as a united front. As she moved her golden eyes took in the scenery; still at awe every time she came out here. The sight of the mountains would never get old for her, and she could only imagine the new members' excitement when they came out here too and the hills were aflame with color. Raela was excited for that herself. 

All around the valleys fell and the hills climbed beside them. Round Stone Crest was still the top of the world; still a sanctuary for Minka's family and those she'd taken in; they would be sure of it. The very tips of the long grass rustled at her sides; brushing through a coat now growing out in response to the wind and biting cold that would be upon them soon. Autumn was easily her favorite time; though it was a harbinger of the struggle that winter brought. Breathing a long, drawn out puff of air she came upon the man, still emanating a kind of nervousness she shared as well. The quickest way to calm her own worries, however, was to calm the worries of others. A wet, coal black nose came to rest against his shoulder once in a tap; pulling back to reveal her gently smiling face. She was here. Whatever puzzle would come to flummox them, she was here.

The woman's tail moved briefly in a succession of wags; stopping only as the Matriarch came to rest on her haunches. The grass was still so tall out here; but not as bad as it could have been. The black behemoth on the other hand would certainly have no trouble seeing everyone that approached. She turned to face the hill again; waiting to receive whoever would be first to join them on the mesa with her soft honey eyes while her insides practically buzzed. Hopefully this time everything would be easy. Hopefully this time no one would make a scene. This time she wouldn't stand for it. Forcing the worries back behind her mental barricade she breathed deeply again. Gent was here. It would be okay.

            

It's been a couple of days sins the gray scaled male had joined the pack and taken a new name.  Yet he still had seen so few faces of the wolves in the pack, maybe it was his own fault. The black king had said that the queen was dead, He had stayed in the back kept his distance, he wasn't deep in sorrow like them wasn't plagued by its dark blanket around his heart. He let out a sigh his heart wasn't covered by sadness but worry, what had happened to his family was really a mystery. Had they really been killed by the pack near the red hills? In if so was he at fault for their murdered?  It, the mocking voice in his head, had been awfully quit sins he had joined the round stone crest. Having only spoken when he was not alone which he had mostly been, he had stayed away from other wolves fearing their reaction on a wolf joining the ranks so soon after the death of their queen. And just about that many questions still remained unanswered, the children where they really of the black kings? And had the queen been the mate to his King? And who had taken her place now that she was gone?

The thoughts spinning in his head as he walked among the pine trees, he sighed his walk coming to a halt as he allowed his face to turn to the sky. The later afternoon sun fighting a brave fight trying to warm up the land as the early autumn breeze would sweep over it. He felt a smile grow on his tainted lips, the year was turning the page and soon would reach the last verse. He looked around him mainly his new home were dominated by pines in many different shades of green, and yet a lone deciduous tree with leaves in the colors of fire stood firm in its soil surrounded by the pine trees. He allowed himself to lay down under its cover, its leaves already starting to create a soft bed on the ground underneath. 

The summons sounded clearly among the trees, the pack were to gather. He stood and stretched his body before making his way towards the howl, this would be his first gather with the pack and hopefully he would get to see the wolves of his home.

Arriving the honey eyes of a female whom had taken the place besides the king greeted him. At least that was one answer, the new queen would seem to be the tawny female with golden honey eyes. He nodded towards them a greeting of shorts “My king, Queen” he sat to the left not up close but just around the middle his good eye watching them.  Wondering how long it would be before the rest of the pack had gathered around.

(This post was last modified: Oct 06, 2015, 10:35 AM by Ainashi. Edit Reason: Nosed to nodded )

please don't judge me for talking to my self, after all, you were the one who ruined me.

Keala is permitted to enter any thread Zilas is part of regardless of the tag unless otherwise stated 

It had been maybe around two weeks since Minka's passing, and although the pack was still in shambles overall, Calanthe thought she could see at least a little improvement from the near comatose state they had all languished in for the first few days following the burial. Slowly - agonizingly slowly - life had begun to break through the great, fog-like barricade of their grief and had again resumed its onward march in spite of their sorrow. Draven still seemed to drag his paws a bit, but the pale woman didn't blame him for that in the slightest, even now; unlike Calanthe, he didn't have the dubious benefit of having ever lost a loved one before now to help buffer him from the pain. Tokino had been dead before Draven had taken his first tiny breaths outside of his mother's womb.

Well, the little dark pup would have as much time as he needed to grieve - he deserved to sort through his hurt in his own time, and in his own way, regardless of what anyone else might say or think. Calanthe spent as much time as she could around the boy, and she knew at the very least that Raela had been doing the same. It bothered the pale hunter that the boy was on his own even for a moment; she knew how hard it could be to drag oneself out of depression once it took hold, and, again, Draven didn't have the benefit of having had enough time to cultivate any emotional strength or maturity. As a result, it was at times incredibly difficult for her to squash the desire to tell the boy to turn his heart into stone so that he could begin to move on. She had seen what doing so did to others; she would never wish it on Draven, not even to protect him from mourning his mother.

She was with Draven today when the call went up, summoning the pack back to the summit for a meeting. With a gentle nudge to the boy's side, she turned and led the way towards the source of their King's howl. This would be the first that Calanthe had ever attended with her new pack; she was interested to see whether it would be any different from the few she had attended in Spirit's Gambol. She doubted it would be like the last one she remembered - the one that had ended with one of her brothers limping away with his tail tucked up against his belly. There was no one in the pack who had shown the level of insubordination Malkhaz had claimed to have endured from Kenelm; this meeting would likely focus instead on how the pack would continue to rebuild itself in the wake of Minka's departure from the world of the living.

Raela had already joined Gent by the time Calanthe arrived, little Draven tucked away at her side like a small shadow. Calanthe immediately dipped her head to them and said, "Good afternoon, Gent, Raela." The pack's newcomer, Zilas, had also arrived ahead of them, and although Calanthe felt a stab of shame for it she led Draven away from the man, and instead sat herself and the boy down opposite the meeting place to him, not to mention a bit closer to the King and Raela than he sat. She didn't dislike Zilas, certainly had no reason to distrust him if Gent did not... but she also didn't know him. True, she had made no real attempt to get to know him, but she had been just a bit busy hunting, grieving, and keeping Draven company. She supposed this meeting might at least serve as a chance to understand what sorts of things he might react positively or negatively to, and that was never a bad place to start.

Draven Lagina
". . ."

Among the last to arrive at the last meeting, among the first to arrive now.

Calanthe had been keeping him company while he played in a stream. Sort of played. More like walked around in it because he was bored and the water felt nice flowing through the fur on his legs. At least he wasn't laying around; Calanthe always seemed to fret over him more when he did. He guessed it was because she was worried he was getting too broody again. The woman seemed to think that was a bad thing, although Draven didn't really know why or even how it could be. He also didn't know why he'd had to work so hard to convince Calanthe to let him wade around in this stream. It wasn't that cold, and the water here didn't ever get deeper than belly height (okay, it did farther downstream, but here it was calm and shallow.) Maybe after everything else, Calanthe was afraid Draven would get washed away, too.

Gent's howling scared away some birds in the trees around the stream, and besides startling him enough that he was annoyed for just a little bit, those made so much noise when they flew away that he almost didn't hear Calanthe tell him to get out of the water and follow her before they could be late to the meeting. The black pup shrugged and did as he was told, plodding docilely along behind the light furred wolf; he had spent so long being ripped apart by the inside of his own heart that feeling much of anything anymore was an exhausting effort even to think about. Being annoyed had been draining; bargaining with Calanthe before that had nearly driven him to nap instead of wading into the stream. Overall he thought it was better to just let things happen around him and do as he was told without argument - stand here, sit there, hush now, it's okay. It was too hard to think about whys or hows. He did that enough at night.

When they arrived at the top of the mesa, he dipped his head like Calanthe did and greeted Gent and Raela with a muffled, “G'd afternoon.” He didn't question being led away from the only other pack member here; he didn't know him, and Calanthe was sitting over away from him, so Draven figured he should stay with Calanthe, sitting between her and the spot where Gent and Raela stood. It looked like there wasn't much room for anybody else to sit on his other side, so for a little bit at least Draven let himself relax. Hopefully Kino and Ari would keep their distance. It was too tiresome to think what he would do if they didn't. Hopefully if they came near he wouldn't have to be the one to make them go away; he didn't doubt that he could, but it was taxing enough just to imagine scrapping right now. He didn't know if that would be the case even if he was angry enough to fight, and it was too hard to try imagining how it felt to be angry - the last time he could remember was the mouse incident, and that was forever ago.

Draven was going to get his wish. The princess – no, she was no longer a princess. What was an heir if her parents were dead? Kova did not inherit anything, and thus the Lagina family was swept neatly from Round Stone Crest, as if Tokino and Minka had never existed at all. After the fair Leigh’s death, Ari simply became a girl. A girl with some brothers, no father, no mother. In fact, she was a girl without a pack, for the reigning wolves had made it clear that no acting out was to be tolerated. A shame, really, that they could not comprehend a child might not process grief as a grown adult, or that she might act outside of sadness, or grief. That she struggled to empathize was clearly too much to ask, but that she was handled like the child that she was seemed out of the question, as well.

So she wandered.

With her often came Kino, and the pair slowly fell into each other. Who else could they trust? Raela had turned from a playmate to wicked witch in a moment, other pack members were unknown and untrusted. Gent was-- Gent was—

She had no idea who or what Gent was, but he was not the Da she remembered from only a few weeks back. Da had never hurt anyone, but she had watched him headbutt Kino in horror. Unable to understand his frustration or reconcile the event, she simply viewed the dark king with a degree of wariness not instilled into the puppy prior to her mother’s death. Shame.

Arriving at the scene of the meeting, Marianna kept to herself. Slate gray eyes scanned the gathered animals briefly – some wolves she did not even recognize – before settling herself as far away from Raela as possible. Gent was given a sideways look, but not approached, and not greeted. She would stay long enough to know what was going on. Laying on the ground, the large girl found her paws very interesting as she waited. Hopefully @Kino would join her soon.

 

A wild dissertation appears!

Kino had been roaming aimlessly, bright blue gaze cast lazily toward the sky as he walked. The sun peeked through the branches that were beginning already to grow bear from falling leaves, showing that colder times were coming. It wasn't a huge change, yet to the boy it was as if the world was being reborn around him. Things were dying, but a new life was beginning all the same. How miraculous a thing it was. 

Gent's call rang through the air and he paused with a frown, fur instantly beginning to bristle at the summons. What could it possibly want now? The silver boy debated for a moment even showing up. Why would he go somewhere that he wasn't wanted? It was quite clear that the entire pack hated him...no, them. Both he and Ari, for simply wanting to honor their mother's memory by not creating a ruckus or a scene at what had likely supposed to be her funeral. They hadn't even the chance to see her buried before teeth had practically been in their hides, chased off by glares and growls. He'd gone back to pay respects of course, but the situation would never be forgotten in his mind. Ever. They were no family to him.

However, the thought of his sister spurred him move at a light and half-hearted jog toward the placement of the call. He couldn't leave her alone with them, less they rip her to pieces. He didn't trust the lot of them. He stalled in his tracks upon seeing Raela standing next to Gent, standing in the place that his mother was supposed to be in. Of all the wolves to pick to replace Minka, they had chosen the bitch? How utterly disrespectful. Kino fought the bile that rose in his throat at the sight, swallowed the saliva that built in his throat with the need to spit at her paws. With that woman in charge, Round Stone Crest was no longer safe for them. She would have them killed in their sleep, perhaps Gent would do it for her.

He spotted his sister and quickly made his way over to her, taking place next to her in the shadows. His glowing gaze stared out from the edges, cutting like daggers toward the pair. They needed to get this over with, the boy had better things to attend to.

Out on her rounds, the red-backed woman felt the tranquil breeze lift her fur and tousle it around, sending a brief chill down her spine. The weather was definitely becoming colder and the trees were looking more beautiful by the day. Around her the forest was singing and the birds were hopping from tree to tree above the wolf as they went about their business. Daydreaming along one of her expeditions around the border of the territory, Moraxia's ears flicked suddenly to catch the resounding howl as it bounced off the hills around her. The canine paused to listen for a brief second as her king's cry demanded the attention of those near. Instantly the thought of minka fluttered into her mind for a brief second, her heartbeat increasing as her anxiety rose. No, this wasn't that type of call. Everything was okay; it had to be. Her family was well protected within the borders, that she was sure of.

The female turned herself in the direction of his call and picked up her pace as she went, leisurely cantering through the forest. Her mind settled calmly on the world around her as her thoughts drifted again. What of the new queen and the pups? She could sense the anger they held for their father and the rest of the adults. Hopefully their behavior would be addressed in a rational way; she would hate to see a conflict arise between family only weeks after such a negative event. In Moraxia's mind, they owed it to Minka to behave themselves around the adults who were grieving just the same. There was a lot that she needed to ask; so much she wanted to know. How would the pack go on after such a tragedy and would they all still be a close-knit family like when she had first joined?

A familiar scent drifted into her nostrils as she grew deeper into the territory. Most of the pack was already nearby and waiting as she grew closer. The pups were here, and some of the adults too. 'Arriving late is becoming one of my specialties,' she silently scolded herself. Finding a spot within the circle they had created the female leaned back onto her haunches and sat. A quick look over everyone's faces revealed a new member to be with them now. 'Zilas, I presume?' she thought, watching him. She let her eyes linger on him for possibly a moment too long. His face was mysterious and his eyes were peculiar yet lovely, unlike anything she'd seen before. Keeping her thoughts to herself, Moraixa glanced back at the Alpha and nearby pups; the young ones looked annoyed and unhappy to be included with the rest of the pack. If they were going to act childish and grumpy so-be-it; the wolf had no interest in them anyway.

Nodding a greeting to those around her, the wolf sat quietly. The energy both Raela and Gent were giving off was contagious and she felt a spark of excitement in her veins. Whatever the black brute had to say the woman beside him was just as ready.

Time went on like any other day, like it always had and always would. Day became night and night became day. Yet the grief was a dark cloud that hung over his family and it didn’t seem to pass. The snow white Artic could only watch and support as he grieved with them. He was sure that his own grief was a sliver compared to the older member of the pack. Those who had truly known the Queen and bonded with her. That chance was stolen from him by death too soon, too sudden. Yet life went on and time passed like nobody’s business. Alphinaud had taken himself to silent grieving, he preferred the high trees and the icy air to clear his head from the heavy thoughts that occupied his mind. He wanted to see the light of the day, to see the Crest walk through this rough patch but he knew it wasn’t an easy task. Wounds were too fresh, the tears had yet to dry and dissolve. And so the white man worked every day and night harder than he ever had. To keep his mind clear, to have that icy air as his company while he processed the loss and the instable mood of his family.

The afternoon sun broke bright through the trees when Alphinaud took his daily round by the borders. With him walking the borders more than twice a day he found himself more familiar with his home. He started to notice the paths and waymarks as he walked. Here and there he rubbed his side to a tree or bush to enforce one of their scents and moved on. The day might be clear and sunny but the wind breathed ice cold in his fur. A sudden howl beckoned the Crest to gather. His white ears turned as he listened to his King beckoning him. Time to leave, as he instantly turned on his paws back home.

It was no surprise he was not the first to be present at their King’s side. A newcomer had strengthened their side. He acknowledged Raela with a smile and a look to any other member he was not yet familiar with. He dipped his head for Gent as he looked at the large black King. The ice blue orbs seemed focused, more in the present and Phin could only be happy that their leader had chosen to be strong in the storm they walked through. Phin sat down, the signs of fatigue were obvious on his face and body but he cleared his mind once more to stay focused. He was certain this wouldn’t be a short meeting.

Oh, the sun was up. Cessair opened her eyes a little further, not bothering to lift her cheek from the dirt packed hard from yesterday's pacing. The sun was up, and it looked like it was already beginning its way back down. What did time matter now? With a sigh, the languishing woman let her eyelids drift shut again, plunging her back into the darkness that had been her companion lately, the darkness that filled her heart and her mind. If Cessair could rally herself to feel something -- anything -- how greatly she would feel the need for sleep! But alas, not even sleep would grace her with its dull peace.

Minka was dead. The harsh reminder would not cease its echoing in Cessair's troubled mind. Minka, the kind leader who had welcomed a half-dead and half-mad Cessair into her pack, even as winter and its attendant hardships was soon to come; this kind and valiant woman was dead. Cessair and her beloved queen had never been particularly close, but the Crest second had felt a sort of bond, or perhaps a debt, as it were, with her leader. Truly, Cessair's dedication to her pack sprang chiefly from her dedication to its steadfast queen.

And now that queen was gone, but the bond was not; or, at least, it didn't feel like death had broken it. No, Cessair felt like she was herself sinking into death. A final act of obedience -- to die with the leader she loved. Since conferring leadership of the pack upon Raela, Cessair had scarcely eaten, scarcely moved from that place that was once her favorite vantage for watching the sun rise. She hadn't so much as greeted her packmates, and she hadn't been keeping up with duties, and now Cessair could feel the guilt weigh heavily upon her. Oh, would that death came quicker!

The fading woman was hardly conscious of her own actions as she stood and automatically began plodding toward the Crest's gathering place to respond to Gent's summons. At last she arrived among her packmates, recognition but slowly lighting in her eyes. This was her family, and they were, as far as she could guess, all hurting just as she was. Who was she to will death upon herself when her family needed all the help they could get to recover from this tragedy? That's not at all what Minka would have wanted, and so that's not at all what Cessair would consider loyalty.

With what was almost horror did Cessair realize that she didn't know almost half of the wolves at this meeting. She was pack second, but she hardly even knew her pack! As quickly as she could muster, the scrawny second seated herself next to one of the four unknown wolves -- a white and silver male with what looked like one blind eye. Cessair knew at least her king and her new queen, and the sight of them as she looked up at last to receive their word brought her a small spark of comfort. Whatever Gent and Raela had to say, Cessair was determined with whatever shreds of motivation she had left to pledge herself faithfully to their leadership.