Whitestone Monadnock do as i say

@Lorcan first! Then open to anyone from WM, but with a call specifically for @Morganna <3
Set a day-ish after this, after they've travelled back from the Dire to Larkcall. Jaq, let me know if you want anything changed, I've gone off the assumption that Lorcan was as polite and easy-going throughout the journey as he was in our thread, so have written some of Craw's opinions of him based upon that :)

The loner's agreeable nature had not diminished during the journey, something which Craw had kept a keen eye out for. It had been quite some time since he had last enjoyed the role of recruiter, for he didn't entirely count the foray within Willow Ridge. The last wolf he had enrolled was @Wraith, which was a decision which regularly pleased him, and he hoped that his judgement would hold true for Lorcan as well. Wraith was a lot more than just some enlisted packmate by now, of course - Craw hoped that their union would prove lasting and unshakable. Just knowing that his Second was with Whitestone gave the spider confidence, one which he didn't yet feel about the others. They were all the best of the Ridge, no doubt, but none held Craw's faith like his dark-pelted friend.

It was time for Whitestone to stop just being a haven for escapees of the corpse of Willow Ridge, and to grow in its own right. @Celandine was a good start, but even she had had ties to the last pack, however meagre. Lorcan was fresh blood. Delicious.

The company was easy, with the younger man's naturally submissive and respectful manner pressing all of Craw's buttons. At some point, he decided that even if the man's knowledge was lacking, he might admit him anyway; they needed an injection of a wolf who knew their place and could slip into that role so effortlessly. While Craw enjoyed the fiery natures of @Isuni and Celandine, and appreciated @Greer's increased efficiency when left to his own devices, he was wary of re-creating the clashing pit of personalities of the Ridge. Obedience was incredibly important, and it would be tiresome to have to teach it to every other packmate.

Respectful and skilled and healthy (assuming his honesty), Lorcan was an appealing prospect indeed.

For his part, Craw shared high-level details of the pack with his companion, telling him of the others who lived there, the rough history with the Ridge and how they had split off from the failing pack, and the terrain. The latter of which became more obvious as they reached ground level and passed through the trees back into the tundra, and Craw explained that it stretched out for many, many miles in most directions, and what that meant for the kind of hunting and rival predators one could expect. Once he spotted Whitestone's familiar profile rising in the distance, he pointed it out, and was able to finally say 'there, that's what a monadnock is', and enjoy witnessing someone appreciate it for the first time.

If Lorcan didn't work out, Craw had decided it was best for news to start spreading of their existence, and sharing a little information with a loner who would just keep wandering was an effective way of doing just that.

As they approached, now with the large rising plateau rapidly approaching and less than two hundred yards away, Craw slowed briefly just to tip up his muzzle and announce his return to the pack, including a message to Morganna to come and see what he found. Even if nobody else arrived save for his mate, it would be important that Lorcan integrate himself quickly. Craw had despised the elusiveness of the willows, how wolves were accepted and vanished with barely any public acknowledgement. Whitestone had been relatively small and close-knit for a while, and now was time for them to grow, but in the proper way.

Now that they were within his domain, Craw's tail had crept up to curl comfortably over his back, and when he turned to Lorcan it was with a smile and a gentle move to grab his muzzle briefly, a small gesture of his own acceptance, which, while an authoritative action, was done in a warm manner. Now that they were so close, the test was imminent. "You remember what I told you?"

(This post was last modified: Jul 05, 2016, 02:30 PM by Craw.)

The journey had been an enjoyable and enlightening one. Craw had divulged into more detail about his pack, its members and the vast amount of territory they occupied. Lorcan had of course responded with more questions, but as their paws brought them ever closer to the place which Craw called home, Lorcan was still questioning to himself as to just what exactly a ‘monadnock’ was. That question had been left unanswered, with the promise that he would find out soon enough. Lorcan had been held in suspense for the entire journey, and so as the pair of wolves emerged from the shade of the of trees, the young wolf couldn’t help but lift his head to peek curiously over Craw’s tall shoulder at the view of the landscape ahead of them, as he trailed closely behind by Craw’s left haunch.

Bright golden eyes danced along the swaying sea of grasses which moved with the cool summer breeze, then slowly moved up to trail expectantly along the smooth horizon. His wandering gaze didn’t falter when Craw indicated with his voice at the ever-growing presence of the much awaited monadnock, instead his eyes following the directoin of Craw’s dry throaty voice. As his golden eyes trailed up the steep rise of the horizon and then along the top of its hard-rocky surface, he smiled. “I see it." He said slowly with enthusiasm, his mind still half fixated on the view of the rising structure before them as they approached even closer, silently wondering about the origins of its existence.

Now, but a few hundred yards away from the monadnocks base, Lorcan could begin to make out the unusual structure of the rocks and stone that carved its peak. They reminded him of frozen icicles hanging from the trees in the harsh freeze of winter, except that these were blunted at the tips and packed closely together and of course, were made of silvery stone instead of ice. As his mind turned back to Craw and reality, he suddenly became all too aware that he was in fact inside the pack’s territorial boundaries as the pack’s distinct perfume overpowered his senses. The scent burnt at his nostrils, causing them to flare in discomfort. Salmon pink tongue slipped from his charcoal lips to lick soothingly at his nose as he turned to Craw, moving into a neutral stance at his side a few steps behind him.

Craw’s howl to summon the other members of the pack, along with his mate, caused Lorcan’s hackles to raise momentarily as an anxious shiver ran down his spine as he listened silently. As Craw’s song grew quiet, Lorcan slowly stepped forwards, turning to face Craw with uncertainty — only to be met with a flicker of a smile and then in the next instant the controlled pressure of Craw’s pearly white fangs as they grasped firmly at his muzzle. A tiny whine escaped his lips the instant he felt Craw’s authoritative hold but immediately fell silent as he realised that no pain followed the sudden action. Opening his eyes, which had clenched shut, his golden gaze flickered up to meet Craw’s own yellow stare for the briefest of moments before his gaze dropped and his muscles relaxed, chestnut brown ears falling flat against the smooth curve of his skull and his tail curling up and under to hover submissively between his legs.

"You remember what I told you?"

“Don’t call her Queen.” Came the mumbled the reply, through gritted teeth

Craw’s dominant hold over Lorcan seized and the younger male took a single step back, still holding the submissive posture as he crouched down a little lower and anxiously awaited the imminent arrival of the Whitestone wolves.

(This post was last modified: Jul 05, 2016, 04:15 PM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

Wraith's large head swiveled towards the call and sat upright. He offered little more than an authoritative "Stay and behave," to both @Kara and @Odin before rising to answer @Craw's howl with his own to let his friend know he was on his way. He pinned the pups with one last look to show he meant it; while the brute was a benevolent teacher, he did not take well to disobedience especially when it was in their best interest. Doubting he could trust the young pair to behave for too long, Wraith didn't waste time and raced towards where he could spot his Alpha alongside another wolf in the distance. That Craw had not crossed into their territory already told the brute that his scouting mission was a success. His lips lifted with amusement as he recalled his friend's own advice for how to gain entry into the pack. Of course, it hadn't come that day, but Wraith had been patient. The only reason he had stuck around at all was for the spider-faced male he followed devotedly. On his approach, Wraith kept his tail lower than Craw's, but higher than the newcomer's as was expected of one of his rank. The brute bumped his muzzle to his friend's affectionately, laughing as he turned to take in the new recruit. "Still picking up strays, hm?" the Northerner asked, his tone light-hearted. After all, he had been one of those strays not so long ago. He nodded curtly to the boy, smiling to ease any nervousness. "I'm Wraith Kael, Craw's Second."

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

Thought it'd be fine to start another round 'til becu could jump in (which you can do at any time!) <3

He laughed at @Lorcan's quiet reply, approving, glad that the man had remembered. @Morganna was not as simple as that, of course, and required a little more than an ill-judged title, but Craw wasn't about to hand him everything he should say. That wasn't the point. If he hadn't cared about his mate's genuine input, he would have accepted Lorcan without consulting her at all.

It didn't surprise him that @Wraith arrived first; growling softly in pleasure at the sight of his friend, Craw moved into the bump eagerly. The dark man introduced himself after a quick quip in Craw's direction, prompting a thin smirk. "I seem to have developed a weakness for clumsy mountain wolves," he wheezed, nipping at Wraith's cheek before letting his attention fall to Lorcan. He could have introduced the man himself, but felt it apt for the vagrant to do it himself, which, in case Lorcan looked his way for guidance, he would encourage with a nod. Wraith was the other wolf whose judgement truly mattered to Craw, and if Lorcan pleased Morganna, he expected that Wraith would be one of the primary Whitestone wolves outside of the leadership to make sure that the newcomer was integrated properly.

It wasn't often that the children were left alone, so when they were she preferred to make sure they had something to amuse themselves. She had been contemplating a quick scout to find something reasonable to hunt, so first she had gone in search of a scrap of hide she had tucked away - one that had been salvaged from a long perished carcass on the tundra. The skin was tough and stiff, it should keep them amused for hours. She had been picking her way back across the monadnock when Craw called, dark ears tipping in his direction and seeing Wraith move to answer she felt no need to rush.


The hide was deposited with the children, Odin laying an early claim to the scrap their teachers Stay. backed up with one of her own. Following the dark man at a slower, more leisurely pace, she finally found her way down to the flat earth at the base of their rock. She caught the end of her mates greeting to Wraith, smirk already painted on her face by the time she finally came into view. The second was offered a companionable bump, his proximity to her mate placing him  closer as she joined the gathering before turning her attention to the pale wolf, forcing her muzzle under his chin with an affectionate growl. He had only been gone overnight but she was glad to have him back.

Peach eyes settled on the mountain wolf, wondering why it was she had been summoned. He seemed respectful enough. "What'ser mountain wolf doin' on th' flatlands?" her question was clearly directed at the newcomer, showing she had at least heard that much. What had this one offered that they didn't already have?

I give you all permission to dominate Lorcan physically etc, since he’s the lowest ‘ranked’ individual here

Craw’s laughter which immediately followed after Lorcan’s mumbled reply stirred a slight feeling of unease in the younger male as his thoughts turned to the impending arrival of Morganna, along with the other Whitestone wolves as he remembered back to Craw’s forewarnings about the alpha female back upon Mount Dire. Lorcan suspected that Morganna may be fiery, ruthless and unpredictable going by Craw’s description which made him all the more weary of his actions and formalities. This gathering required the young male to be on his very best behaviour if he was going to have any chance of gaining a position within the pack. Thankfully for Lorcan he considered himself a polite and courteous individual, but he suspected Morganna would require more than just a few choice words.

As Lorcan hovered patiently beside Craw, the scent that had overwhelmed his senses earlier grew strong once again with the arrival of another male. As the male approached the pair in the distance, Lorcan noted the large dark figure of the obsidian pelted individual, along with his fiery amber eyes. When the male traipsed in closer, Lorcan immediately lowered his gaze and stared submissively at the ground, continuing to hold his submissive posture as he had been with Craw. His ears twitched at the sound of the two males colliding in affectionate greeting, not daring to look up to observe the interactions until he was given a signal to so.

"Still picking up strays, hm?" Lorcan felt the heat of the dark male’s eyes upon him, his skin burning beneath the silent tension as he continued to listen to the pair converse about him.

His ears finally pricked up at the male’s introduction, his golden eyes catching the smile upon the Wraith’s lips as he briefly turned his gaze towards Craw expectantly – and quickly met with a single nod of encouragement. With permission given to approach Wraith, Lorcan made sure to keep his limbs crouched as he stepped tentatively towards the larger male, approaching him from the side with his head tilted to expose the delicate white fur of his neck (click) towards the second most dominant male member of the pack. “Lorcan, Sir.” He said calmly before his salmon pink tongue swept anxiously across his charcoal lips, silently preparing for Wraith to grasp his by the neck or scruff should he choose to do so – Only for his eyes to catch a glimpse of the dark-coloured female with pale orange eyes making a sudden appearance. His muscles tensed immediately, as he crouched down even lower to barely hover above the ground beside Wraith.

He watched silently as the female greeted both males individually, his eyes once again quickly falling submissively to the ground as her attention was directed towards him.

"What'ser mountain wolf doin' on th' flatlands?"

Taking a shallow breath to compose himself, Lorcan crawled forwards to place himself more directly in front of the female who he suspected to be the alpha female herself, Morganna. “Your mate informed me that your pack is short of a herbalist.” He stated calmly, leaving a small pause before continuing. “My mother was a healer by profession and so I hold some knowledge in that area. If you would allow, I am more than willing to train for the position.” He lowered his head and pushed his paws forwards into the dirt to slide into a respectful bow before slowly shifting back into a crouched position, awaiting the female’s response with baited breath.

(This post was last modified: Jul 08, 2016, 11:15 AM by Lorcan.)

# P O R C A N

sometimes, two people have to fall apart to realise

how much they need to fall back together

A weakness indeed. Wraith's eyes glittered with amusement. There was nothing weak about @Craw. The man had a solid head on his shoulders; the brute would never have followed him from the palisade in the first place were it not so. His attention fully on the younger male, Wraith nodded approvingly. Already, the wolf was submitting respectfully though a bit meekly for Wraith's comfort. His large size usually intimidated others, and while it had its perks, it wasn't a feeling he wanted to encourage in his packmates. A frightened wolf wouldn't come to him for help if needed. It was almost unnerving to have the brown male submit to the point of exposing his neck so blatantly. Wraith snorted a little. Perhaps he'd gotten too used to how comfortable the rest of the wolves were with him at the Monadnock. Grateful that it was made easy for him, Wraith bent to touch his muzzle gently to the lad's forehead in acceptance. The brute was far from the overbearing type and wouldn't take advantage of such a sign of trust. "Good to meet you, @Lorcan," the black man said kindly. If it were only his opinion needed, Wraith would have lifted his gaze to Craw and given an easy shrug to voice said approval. The young wolf would be a welcome addition to the pack. But it would be @Morganna who was the deciding factor. Speaking of the devil... He lifted his head to watch her approach and rumbled his greeting warmly, smiling in welcome. He stepped aside to allow her to have better access to Craw before looking back to Lorcan and giving a conspirator's wink. All would be well. Even if Morganna was gruff, she wasn't cruel. The wolf's answer was well formed and hit every point Wraith knew Morganna would want to know. He was a shoe-in! Wraith sat in preparation, knowing what the decision would be in the end. Craw knew how to pick them.

Burtn @DA & Dawnthieves.de

There are several fresh rabbit tracks in the mud. Hunt Opportunity

It was no surprise that @Wraith didn't take advantage of @Lorcan's submissive display, though Craw took note of how easily the newcomer showed his respect. It almost made him laugh again at how foreign it seemed, how it made Lorcan seem mild and meek in comparison, when Craw knew that wasn't quite the truth. The man had had plenty of spirit when they met; if he'd been nothing but a simpering fool, Craw would not have brought him here. No, Lorcan just knew his place, and without needing to be reminded. It was refreshing.

The woman herself was only a few moments behind Wraith, and as Craw caught sight of her he perked up, turning towards her. He welcomed the greeting, pressing his chin down onto her snout as she pushed up with a pleased rumble of his own, letting his nose trail down the side of her neck as her attention turned towards Lorcan. She must have heard his 'confession'. It was best for Lorcan to answer for himself, and as expected, the newcomer approached her with appropriate submissiveness. It occurred to Craw that he didn't actually know if this would please her or not. Certainly better than being insubordinate, but she had purposefully surrounded herself with strong-headed wolves... would Lorcan's more obedient manner put her off? The young man said everything that Craw would have wanted, succinct and polite, and his gaze flickered towards @Morganna (noticing Wraith's satisfied reaction to the speech).

"I thought you would be somewhat better qualified to assess his aptitude than I," he said, with a smirk just for her, "but he's definitely keen enough."

Well he was certainly respectful enough, and she relaxed her own stance to reflect that with no move made to stand over him more than she already was. They did not manage their own through fear and that @Craw had bought him this far spoke well enough. The mention of his mother being a healer bought a smile to her face, a small chuckle with a "Mine too," meant to put the man at ease. With her slight stature she was hardly the big bad wolf, but perhaps it was advantageous if that was the reputation that spread beyond these borders. Her tail gave a steady wave, indication enough that she was pleased with this new addition.

She moved in close to bump her snout to his temple, much as @Wraith had done, a tilt of her head as she continued back towards the Monadnock indicating that he should walk with her. "These plants'er foreign ter me, I grew up south o' here, an' never came this far north. What were th' plants like where yer grew up?" If the small talk wasn't enough to put him at ease, she did have a task to put him to the test - but it would do no good to send him out exhausted and starved. All in good time, a smile thrown to Craw over @Lorcan's back indicating as much.