Willow Ridge rights to kill

@Morganna

She could feel the change in the air as she had felt it year and year before. There was a certain lingering tension there, a possession, a dominance. Even now as she was no longer the leader of the pack, the mother of the family and the queen could not hold back the itch in her bones. She would be eight soon and her mate nine. Angier was all but blind now and the possibility of them having another litter was slim to none. She could try, if she wishes, but to what end? Angier wouldn't see her little children. Elettra would not be able to sniff out the herbs to teach them her favored skill. They were getting old, a fact that she would never admit and Morganna's time to solidify her leadership was now. Elettra felt none other was more deserving then her blood, then her eldest daughter. Besides, (although she couldn't say she spent much time with Sven) being a grandmother was not half bad.

The itch in her spine gave her a shake, a pep in her step as she walked throughout the pack lands. She held nothing back when it came to showing just how powerful she remained. Enoki and her sister, Adele, had been of no trouble to her as they had not been years prior. Though Elettra made sure to snap off at some of the younger, newer girls that got in her way. Today, as the sun rose high, heating her back to counter the chilly wind, that only scent in her path was Morganna. She could only wonder how her daughter was fairing and wondered further if her guidance was willed or if she was yet but another stone in her path now.

(This post was last modified: Mar 07, 2016, 01:45 AM by Elettra.)

There were times in a girls life when she just needed her mother. With the recent upheaval in the male ranks Morganna had been on edge, she could manage her brother, and she had Angier wrapped around her paw the same as if he had been her biological father (in the way that only little girls could manage), but her Uncle? It made the hair along her spine stand up in savage spikes. If it didn't go against the rulings of the nature of a pack she would have run him out already herself.

She hadn't dared to utter a word of @Nicolò's threats to @Elettra as yet, having expected @Skoll to make short work of their ageing uncle and his over-inflated ego long before now. As the days grew longer and warmer, she was running out of ideas. She needed to get her mother's perspective on matters, and her backing or otherwise before she solidified her next move.

Morganna turned back from her patrol, her tail rigid with her aggitation and steps stiff as she all but stomped her way back to the den only to round a willow and see her mother sporting a similarly dominant stance. Usually she would lower her tail and greet her mother with an affectionate nudge of her muzzle to the underside of the matriarchs chin, but with Spring on the rise every fibre of her being screamed out in protest, so she compromised with a wave of her tail and a smile laced greeting while there was still enough distance between them to judge her mothers intentions.

"Mother, I was jus' comin' back ter look fer you."

She found her, her daughter, so high and prideful as she made her way through the pack lands, pack lands that soon she would officially be able to call her own. Usually, even as she held the rank of Leader and made sure to show others just how much she was, Morganna would lower herself to her mother. Not because Elettra was the Leader of the pack, but because she was the Mother of the pack, the eldest of the family of Archer. It was a respect Morganna had never shied from. While many of Elettra's sons had left to explore the lands beyond, it was Skoll and Morganna who had every intention of owning what was here. Unfortunately, Skoll had mocked her and threatened her far too many times to accept.

"Is everything alright?" Elettra could only hope so for her daughter... After all, it was quite obvious that things had no been well for Angier nor Elettra. Angier was blind, Elettra was loosing her sense of smell and after their daughter's death, they had pondered the idea of traveling... Though as spring came to offer allowance to leave, the idea of it seemed further and further away with each passing day. As far as Morganna went, Elettra had known Renier had returned to the pack. Though did he still capture Morganna's attention as he had before, the pair curling among one another as they had last spring? Or had another one of the various new men who had entered the pack under Morganna's command caught her eye?  The thought of Nicolo and his intentions had not ever crossed her. The placement of Lead male had bounded three times since Morganna took position - from her father, to brother, and now her uncle... It was not uncommon for this instability among men. Elettra assumed her daughter would make certain her placement was to be solidified. But what did that mean for Elettra?

It was when @Elettra's words hit her ears that they folded back, Morganna's head dipping lower as she closed the final distance to push her muzzle under her mothers chin in familiar greeting. A heavy sigh escaped her then, the weight across her back finally enough to make her shoulders droop. "It's Uncle," she voiced easily, her lack of desire to deceive her mother plain on her face. "He threatened me, said he'd convince the rest o' the pack I'm too unstable ter lead. He means ter destroy all yer built here, intentionally or not." Anger had crept into her voice as she spoke, clearly pissed off a historian who had no knowledge of their alliances would dare to think himself worthy of the position he currently held.

Truthfully, she was relatively comfortable with her position, she had proven time and time again she was able to hold her own and she was willing to listen to the members of her pack. "It isn't behaviour befittin' family, and I'll take 'im out m'self before I see all yer worked so hard fer burned ter th' ground." After all, hadn't her mother been responsible for the death of her own brother when he conspired against her? 

All she needed was her mothers blessing.

Her Uncle? Nicolo? It was most unexpected, and she lowered the length of her muzzle down on her daughter's head as she came to embrace her in the same fashion she always had. This was not the conversation she had exactly thought it might of been. What Morganna said of the scholar, her brother, placed a fine line over her lips, ears folding back. Skoll had always been at Angier's throat, now Nicolo was on his niece's? "If not my eldest daughter, then who?" Elettra mumbled delicately, more of a comment to herself. Morganna was the first born daughter, she had been doing well off it seemed. She had a few new members under her guidance thus far - Craw, Wraith, Capable... and Renier had returned. Skoll was forever close to Morganna and Enoki to Elettra and certainly Greer would back up his sister. What was Nicolo thinking? What could have possibly think to accomplish by convincing others Morganna was not able to Lead?

Morganna continued, speaking out in the accent of her father as she always had, talking about taking Nicolo down if she must. The thought had Elettra's ears perking. Why had Skoll not challenged against him? That was something Elettra would have expected now that the dark boy had returned. "Solidify your place, Morganna..." Elettra could not do the work for her. She could not make Nicolo hear her out. Elettra could only offer advice, only help. Elettra had no doubt that deep down, Morganna knew this. Whether it be fighting Nicolo to prove her strength against him, birthing children by showing her right, or having Skoll do the dirty work, she was certain her daughter would find a way. Death, however, was never an answer Elettra would consider. Not after Isolde. Not after Xetor. "Do not ever think for a second this will be easy, Morganna. You will constantly be tested, even by your own family. Know how to put them in their place." Not everyone would follow her simply out of name. She would have to prove herself worthy of both name and title to her followers, one way or another. Archers worked by following not just the strongest or eldest, but the most keen and loyal. One whos ties to the family were never in question and their morals solid. "You should always respect your family and protect them, even if you might not always like them.... A powerful name is only as strong as its bond. A large family means little if they are at one another's throats." She frowns deeply, wondering just how bad things had really been while she and Angier were gone.

(This post was last modified: Mar 13, 2016, 02:05 AM by Elettra.)

Her mother reaffirmed what she already knew. Pulling back a little to offer @Elettra a smirk she voiced as much, "I do plan on makin' yer a grandmother this year." There was almost a tease in the statement, this time it would be done the right way, although who would father the children was still up in the air. Her face fell again as she continued, clear concern in her voice "I told @Nicolò the pack can only support one litter but I think he has his own plans." Her voice softened as she reaffirmed "I will not let there be another Isolde. I can't show the same mercy you did ter @Skoll." If someone else wanted the task of baring her uncles young they could challenge her for the right, or face the prospect of raising the whelps without a pack to support them.

"If nobody challenges fer the right I'll have ter run 'em out. It's my first year in this position, I have ter make it clear yer laws will be upheld." And in the unfortunate event someone crept under the radar? She was too vigilant to let it get to that point. They may have depleted numbers come spring but at least she would know those who remained were loyal.

There is a deer that was killed by a lynx nearby. +10 Health

Morganna pulled back with a smirk then, insuring her mother she would be having children this year. It had been obvious that she and Renier had been close last year, though unlike her brother had much more self control and much more respect for her family and the pack's law not to act upon such drive. Now, she would have pups and Elettra, who for the first time in years would not be having children, would love and care for them as though they were her very own whilst Morganna yet still strove to hold her placement in the ranks.

As Morganna continued, she frowns deeply, ears folding back on her head as it lowered. Her pale eyes shifted, turning out and away from her daughter at the mention of Isolde. The thought had been lingering there the moment she had found her daughter frozen to the winter earth, though she had never spoken it aloud. Had her daughter died because she had aloud Sven to live? Certainly, not a soul had thought of killing the pup in order to insure her own children's safety, especially Morganna who had taken quite a liking to the boy. Perhaps she should have banished him from the pack, to care for the child alone like she had originally planned to? It was Angier who pleaded with Elettra to show mercy, a mercy which @Skoll had not once shown an appreciation towards. As Morganna spoke the words, it was becoming more and more clear Isolde had died because she had allowed Sven to live.

"Pups tend to die when you allow those not your own to live... even your own sons..." She mumbles ever so delicately from her lips, a sigh there following. "If any female in our ranks does not challenge to over-ride your right in order to breed with my brother, and goes behind your back, she is as treasonous as any other." Which meant, of course, it would be then left to Morganna to decide their fate, which from what she mentioned would be to run them off out of the pack. Elettra had every intention of making sure Morganna carried pups and not some other random wench Nicolo picked up. It seemed like Elettra had her work ahead of her making sure the other ladies knew their place.

Morganna hadn't meant to be so heartless in mentioning her sisters death to their mother, it would seem they had reached the same conclusion. She reached forward to run her muzzle along her mothers jaw by way of apology for the insensitive way she had broached the topic. Her mother had chosen loyalty to family over pack law, a law that had been passed down from pack to pack for time immemorial. She could only suppose such a law existed due to hardships others had endured. She never wished to see the reason behind its existence first hand but now she had, she was more insistent than ever that the law should be upheld.

Her mothers warning was heeded, the unspoken or brother seemingly implied in her sigh. It was hard enough to lose a sister, but one of her own children due to someone else's selfish nature? Her stomach twisted in painful knots, a sharp pain in her chest lamenting the call she would no doubt be forced to make. Every choice she made from here on out would come at a cost, was she willing to pay the price? "I fear I may have ter challenge @Nicolò m'self - loser leaves." That in itself carried a huge risk, she could be throwing herself out of her own pack (not that she doubted others might chose to follow her regardless). Things would be so much easier if the men in this pack had a little drive. She lacked the time to motivate them before she would be forced to leave for her own safety.

Morganna gave her mother an appreciative glance, taking in how well she was carrying herself since her fall. The smile she gave was one full of cheek, her tail waving before rising to sit high over her back. She reached out to nudge the matriarchs shoulder with her nose, "But before that... How about we make this official?" Surely after all Elettra had been through a little tussle would work wonders.

(This post was last modified: Mar 28, 2016, 11:01 AM by Morganna.)

WOO! lets do this! *just now realizing how much bigger ele is* ...If anyone would like, maybe this would be a good time for others to flow in and watch ?? Only if you want Cuff.

Elettra's ears fell once more at her daughter's touch, her eyes closing a moment to take it in and secretly fight back the tears at the thought of loosing her youngest baby girl. Many of her sons had left her, moved on as men commonly did to 'spread their seed over the land'. She knew, until her daughters found a mate they would be less likely to leave. Morganna was Leader now and hopefully would stay as such and what was left of her girls was Ravenna, who like her sister, had taken up the art in herbs and healing as her mother before her. If anything, far after Elettra was gone, Ravenna could follow in her sister's footsteps as a trusting and loyal woman of the willows.

Elettra nods to her eldest daughter's words, though for the moment speaks nothing. It seemed fair enough, lawful enough, although she doubted that there would be much left of the pack should Morganna loose. After all, it had become painfully obvious that the majority of the pack was faithful to her. Still, even though it had been months since Elettra had been at the position, this far hurt. A part of her missed the look others gave her as their leader - pride, happiness, respect, awe...

Elettra's ears perked high then, Morganna's words catching her off guard but causing a smirk over her gray rimmed lips. She lifts herself up to full height, once more realizing her size compared to her daughter. Her limbs bent slightly, lowering her height though balancing her weight further. There is a gleam in those silver eyes as they narrow upon her new 'target', her tail high out in the air but she could not keep it from waving in happiness. It had been such a long time since she had gotten into a true spar. Lately, her tussles consisted of sneaking up on her blind mate and nearly scaring him into heart attacks. "You want it..." She speaks in mention of the 'crown'. "Come and get it."