Oak Tree Bend State of My Head

Not the greatest post, trying to get back into the swing of things >.<

Thankfully Serach seemed to be a natural for this sort of thing, launching into the meeting straight away and relieving Spieden of the awkwardness of public speaking. She slightly frowned at hearing Drift would be leaving, she would miss him, but it seemed he was never really content with what the Bend offered. With a name like Drift, maybe it was only natural.

Spieden's eyes flicked towards Aponi and her dark pelted pup, trying to hide the dour expression as if she'd tasted something extremely bitter. Was that really the name she'd chosen? Lila. It was the same one shared by the woman who'd murdered her father, tore apart her home, and who had so graciously given her several of the scars hidden throughout her chocolate pelt. Still, Aponi couldn't have known, and Spieden could only hope the girl would  Spieden pulled her eyes away, attention shifting towards the two pups that Triell introduced, their tawny coats an obvious reflection of their mother's. Spieden's snout pointed towards her own children, Mako in a heated dispute with Reiko and Marina trying her best not to be left behind. "Mako and Marina," She said simply, nodding towards each in a simple introduction.

Spieden looked towards Alastor as he proposed traveling north with Sahalie to meet their allies. "It's fine by me. Summer is as good a season for it as any." Spieden said, a sidelong glance towards her new partner in case he had anything to add.

Thanks everyone! This post will start the last round of the meeting. I'll be archiving on July 19th. If you would like to continue your interactions with other characters, feel free to create a new thread set immediately after the meeting.

The yips and puppy growls from the Bend's youngest members were hard to ignore, and more than once while Serach was speaking he found his gaze drawn to their play. As he stood before the pack and delivered his news, he could not help but be envious of them - it had been a long time since he had experienced a life with no responsibility. At least he wasn't without support, and he grinned at Sahalie as she alone congratulated him on his unexpected promotion to top of the pack's hierarchy.

The rest of the news was taken with relative silence. He could see Darrah whisper to Sahalie after his announcement about Drift, and the new leader felt his heart ache in his chest. He had developed a close sense of companionship with Drift himself, and although he understood Drift's desire to leave the Bend to explore the world, he would miss his cousin. He was surprised that Triell said nothing about Drift's departure, but he knew better than to say anything about it now. At various points throughout his uncle's life, he had lost many of the ones he had loved and it was not up to Serach, or anybody else, to determine how the man should grieve.

Listening quietly as Lila, Reiko, Treyah, Mako, and Marina were introduced to the pack, Serach couldn't help but wag his tail slowly behind him. He grinned as he watched his uncle Ruiko's namesake play amongst the others, and once more felt an ache in his chest. Would Ruiko be proud of him now, if he could see where his nephew was standing? There was no doubt in his mind, but he wished his uncle had been there to see it.

Opening his mouth, Serach made to dismiss the meeting, but was cut off by Alastor's approach. The younger man dipped his head and began to speak, seeking permission for Sahalie and him to travel up to Hearthwood. Before he could respond to that, though, Sahalie was quick to remind him that there was other news to be shared too. Letting his ears flatten against his skull, he dipped his head to Sahalie in a quiet apology before looking up, first at Ruenna and then at Quentin. "Of course, I'm sorry I forgot." Clearing his throat he looked around the circle of wolves quickly before returning to Ruenna and Quentin. "Welcome to the Bend, both of you. If there's anything we can do to help you get settled in, please just let me know," he told them with a smile and an easy wave of his tail.

Turning his attention back to Sahalie and Alastor, Serach nodded his head in agreement with Spieden. "Of course I don't mind," he reassured Sahalie with a smile. "I think @Kisla would want to know that her little brother has finally stepped up to lead the Bend, and she'll want to know about Triell too. I wish I could go with you, but you two will be fine on your own. Although," he paused, looking to Rue for a moment. "I think it would be a good idea for @Ruenna to go with you both. She's wanted to meet more Tainns since she arrived - she'll want to meet Kisla for sure. They're cousins too, you know," he added with a grin. It was a complicated and large family tree, but he was happy to help introduce its various parts to one another as much as he could.

Settling down on his haunches, he quietly dismissed the gathering as he gave directions to the party traveling to Hearthwood River. Those who wanted to stay and socialize were welcome too, while those who wanted to leave were free to do that as well.

Mako's heart soared as he watched the smaller boy topple to the ground, his tail swishing and head lifted triumphantly. That would show him for trying to take his girl! But unfortunately, his rival quickly righted himself. Mako's sea blue eyes narrowed defensively as the tawny cub sped towards him. Mako made a squawk as he opened his mouth, allowing himself to be pushed over so that Reiko would be close enough to chomp on. Dark paws kicked at the air in protest as another pup pawed at him, and the girl he'd been going after nipped his ear. Mako flailed, rolling back onto his belly and pushing up to stand. He didn't like this game!


The Coho boy wriggled his way out of the puppy-pile and ambled a few paces away, dark eyes stormy as he whipped his head back, fixing the other children with a sullen glare, eyes lingering on Marina for a few seconds. She was his sister and she hadn't lifted a paw to help him! Proudly he lifted his nose with snout wrinkled, emitting a sharp snort over his shoulder at them. With that he pointed his head back towards the forest, stomping off and roughly brushing past anyone and everyone in his way.

@Lila feel free to pp Aponi staying or leaving, whichever Lila does!

 

Each round of pups was introduced and when Spieden spoke Aponi smiled at each individual pup, committing their names into memory. While she offered her new 'siblings' the same warm smile it cooled significantly when her gaze lifted to look over her mother and Triell. Whatever was going on between them was their own business but now they had created new lives, ones the same age as her own daughter. Truly it was disgusting to say the least. Eyes flicking over them only briefly she turned her attention to Sahalie as she spoke.

A trip beyond the Bend to visit distant relatives? Tilting her head towards her older daughter a single silver brow raised in a silent question, would she be joining the other yearlings? Aponi was well aware that Kyna sometimes made rather long day trips outside of the territory and had no qualms about the blonde girl leaving with her friends as long as this was what she wanted. They hadn't spoken about leaving the Bend ever but while their conversations had warmed lately they weren't of a particularly deep nature.

Permission was granted and the meeting dismissed but the silver woman hung back, reclining down into a more casual laying position. This was the first time Lila was meeting her age mates and the mother would not rip her away if she wasn't ready to go. They would have plenty of time in the coming months to become more acquainted but who was she to break up a good wrestling match?

 

Sahalie seemed to of accepted the unfortunate event that had just been announced, however Darrah was having a hard time really believing her. With a soft sigh, the raven knew that perhaps talking with his kin later on the subject would not only benefit her, but perhaps even him in the ways of coping. For now, he'd rest his gaze upon the puppies that were seemingly tumbling about every which way, and gently smile as their names were respectfully given out for the very first time. 'Reiko's rather lively, isn't he?' the Tainn grinned, watching his youngest brother make friends right before his eyes. 'Guess it's inevitable with all of these new faces around, he must be pretty excited..'

Darrah was a little surprised when Serach had called the meeting to a close, had he been daydreaming this whole time? Hopefully nothing important had been said after the pups names were announced. Blinking slowly, still somewhat in a daze, the boy slowly looked around to confirm what everyone else planed on doing next. "I-I'm gonna go ahead and go.. Catch up to me later if you've got the time, kay?" the former prince whispered to Sahalie, a bit uncomfortable with being the first to make an exit. It was then that he stood up, slowly making his way toward Spectral woods to do whatever it was that he so often wasted his time with.

Celebrate the way the night hides scars.

Darrah Tainn

At some point,

I started looking at the ground more than the sky

It’s hard even to breathe.

Delighted at the success of tumbling the other boy over, Reiko felt pride well up in his chest. His job was not finished, however. Standing over the boy, intent on dealing the final blow, the mousy cub was met with a pair of massive teeth. Fortunately, backup had already arrived in the form of his sister pawing the boy away, and the dark cub he'd been trying to play with nipping at the aggressor's ear. That would teach him!

Reiko went to rough the boy up a little, but when his little teeth finally made their way to the spot he'd wanted to grab, Mako was already gone. Blue eyes found the other boy retreating but not before he shot them a glare. If looks could kill, Reiko would have left the world a mere twenty nine days after he had entered it. The whole display wasn't enough to put the youth off, however. Fear wasn't something he'd /really learned yet, so if that was the game that the other boy wanted to play, then so be it.

With the immediate threat already storming off, Reiko turned back to the small group made up of his sister, and two other cubs. One bad apple wasn't going to ruin his time! There was far too much to learn, and explore. So if that boy wanted to run off in a tizzy, then it was his loss.

what's this??? a short meeting post??? feel free to consider this her "exit"

Luckily she was not watching behind her and could not see Kyoo's horrified face and clear terror at having the spotlight forced upon him. Serach seemed apologetic but it was no big deal to Sahalie, and she shrugged her shoulders with a smile, hoping he'd get the memo. As far as she was concerned everything was going well, especially since Spieden seemed alright with them going to Hearthwood River. Eagerly her face turned to Serach, who also seemed happy to oblige them, also offering them some real reasons to go on a trip so far away. Having the duty placed on her was reassuring. Sure, it was just a quick trip but she was still very nervous to leave home. Already Mako and Marina had nearly drowned. What else could go wrong?

"Sure!" Sahalie chirped, "Ruenna can come if she wants!" How great would it be for three daughters of three brothers to meet in one place? It was a shame Serach and Triell wold not be able to come. But he had his duties and her father was injured. Her face lost its smile a little as she began to focus hard on what directions Serach had for them as the other drifted away. Absently, she nodded to Darrah as he left.

When it seemed that the meeting was over Leotie watched as the puppies played with each other and other members of the pack. They were cute but small and their size made her a little nervous that she might hurt them if she tried to play with them. So she chose to sit back and watch for a few moments to see how the others interacted with them. Though she had once been a pup herself it wasn’t something that stuck in her mind and other than that she didn’t have much experience being around puppies so she felt she had a lot to learn where they were concerned.

There had been a lot to absorb during the meeting as well that Leotie felt she needed a little time to process. Once Serach had dismissed the meeting and she had gotten her fill of watching the puppies and how the adults interacted with them she decided it was time to take her leave. She thought that she might visit with the puppies later when there weren’t so many around them. In the mean time she needed to get back to her pack duties.

~Exit~

(This post was last modified: Jul 19, 2016, 12:10 AM by Leotie.)

Please see Kajika's OOC profile for OOC preferences, thank you

While Rue had contented herself by pretending she was okay with being an outsider for now, her cousin was quick to remedy the situation. Sweet Sahalie spoke up to draw attention to both Rue and someone called Quentin - for whom Rue glanced back to grin at, her tail resuming a more typical eager pace at the notion of getting some attention. At her cousin's prompting, she stood happily, looking around at everyone as if seeing them for the first time. Family shouldn't be strangers! That was ridiculous! It didn't matter if nobody else really spoke up to say hello or acknowledge them, because then Serach echoed it with his own formal tone. So now it was official! Or something like that. Rue beamed at him in gratitude, listening as Sahalie's request to visit this 'Hearthwood' was approved, and then was taken aback as he suggested that she accompany them, too. That he had thought to include her struck her as so thoughtful that she fell back onto her rear in  surprise, and when Sahalie agreed, Rue was reduced to a bubble of joy.

With the gathering dismissed, Rue stayed firmly where she was, glancing at those who chose to leave rather than stay and chill out. Darrah seemed distracted - she'd have to catch up with him later and see if he was okay. But then Serach began to give them instructions on how to get to this Hearthwood River and instantly her notebook was out, feverishly absorbing every detail he had to offer. It was kinda weird to be intending to go somewhere like this - she'd always just... set out and walked wherever her feet wanted, but travelling with purpose meshed so well with her incredible memory that she leaned forward to reassure them all, with a giggle, that it didn't matter if they had missed any of that or forgot anything because - trust me - she hadn't.

She would linger in the area for as long as there was someone else present, just wanting to mingle and chat and laugh with those willing to indulge her, hungry to feel included.