Larkcall Lowlands from the mouth of gabriel

The arrival of @Odysseia @Cheedo @Moriarty and @Angharad is here! This is set about half a mile away from Whitestone Monadnock. Maybe a round or two (depending on how quick everyone can be) of the rag-tag group before officially calling for Craw and other members.

Mittani Morelli

Something's suddenly unclear, someone's suddenly my fear.
But you want to be with someone else and I can't believe how dumb I sound

After his issue with Lorcan he had a stern talk with Craw. Obviously the arctic's message of "don't waste time" had gotten through. The poet and spider had discussed plans and how Mittani needed to cool off some. It was then and there that they both decided Mittani would head out to fetch the others. He both dreaded the trip but knew that after it, he wouldn't owe Craw anything.

He had been brisk on his feet. Handling the harsh North like than strong man he knew he was. With time to rest and time to grab a bite, he had made the trip there in about five and half days. Which meant if the conditions stayed the same it'd be another five and a half back. Mittani knew he could handle any issues his little crew would want to throw at them. He indeed still held authority over them, did he not? Sure he had told Moriarty and Roose to keep a watchful eye but everyone knew Mitt was the iron fist.

When he first gathered the group he had told them of the news. "Craw is indeed alive. Living on top of a monadnock with a large gathering about five and half days from here. And he wants you all to come with me." It was not a question of who was interested in coming along, it was a demand. All of them would follow him in tow or he'd wreck havoc among them. The Morelli man was running a short fuse this trip. One that threatened to reach the bottom at any moment. So when he heard news of @Roosemooth staying back he didn't fight it. In fact, he hoped the old man withered out in the cold.

The trip was coming to an end with each day they got closer. He didn't speak unless he needed to, merely kept a close eye on everyone to make sure he wasn't coming back to Craw short-handed. He particularly watched Odysseia closely. She was the gem of this group and Mittani would be damned if something happened to her before he could bring her to the Monadnock.

They were in the home stretch, less than a mile away, when Mittani slowed his pace. "Everyone accounted for?" His pale gold eyes swept over the rag-tag group. He was about to pass off the last thing he could call his. The pale wolf wanted to savor his last few moments of getting to lead all the others here. He knew well enough that even anyone who enjoyed his reign was going to be too joyous about Craw's appearance. Even his dear Cheedo would stop leaching to him for protection because Craw was bigger and well suited to defend. Cheedo had never belonged to Mittani in the first place so he should have had no problem passing her over, or passing anyone over. But his ego was huge and losing anything was a swift blow. "Prepare yourselves and let me answer any questions before I call for him. Better to not overwhelm him if we can help it." His form swiftly moved next to Cheedo. Embrace was given to her in the form of him burying his nose into her scruff and letting out a deep growl. Perhaps one that signified she was still his no matter who was about to show.

(This post was last modified: Feb 04, 2017, 11:31 PM by Serach. Edit Reason: Staff edit, this isn't a "pack" thread )

Breaker had brought the news to her, Craw was alive, convinced her to come with him back to the group in Ritter permanently. Cheedo had agreed, she needed to know if the news held truth, if the father of her children was in fact still alive.

Though she'd returned many times before to see Mittani this time wasn't the same, this time she couldn't avoid the things that haunted her. The memory of her children, lost to her forever, did Craw ever think about them? She'd always wondered. This time she couldn't go to Mittani for the protection she sought as he had always given her, he wasn't there.

The wait for answers seemed much longer than the few weeks it actually was and with each day she grew more anxious, more nervous. Her worries of what would happen grew greater with each passing day.  Would Craw still want her with her damaged ear? Would he see her as the same Cheedo she had been, was she the same Cheedo he had known all that time ago?

When the pale man first arrived he announced to them after they had gathered that what they had been told about Craw was indeed true and that he wanted them all to go with him.  She had so many questions that needed answers and Mittani had given them no choice on the matter. It was of no consequence to her, she would go with him away from this place that held too much pain for her. She would go with him because he had been the one who had protected her after Craw, she could not live in this land without him or the group.

The trip was a long one in which she stayed close to Mittani's where she felt safest as they traveled to meet Craw. With each day that passed an urge to turn back grew inside of her but she remained at the pale man's side as they traveled.  This was new to her, a new place she was heading to and the thought of it was at times overwhelming. Mittani and the rest of the small group kept her with them, their presence offering the small comfort that she wasn't alone in this.

Their pace slowed before Mittani checked to make sure everyone was still with them, Cheedo nodded not wanting to be the first one to speak up. She trembled slightly at the thought of what lay ahead for her and the rest of them, would Craw be truly happy to see them? To see her? Would they be accepted into the large group that had been mentioned. She even questioned if this had been the right thing to do as she glanced over the group. Once they had been given their orders to let their leader answer any questions she waited to see if the others would speak up.  Mittani had moved next to her calming her a little as he buried his nose in her scruff and eliciting the familiar growl, she knew all too well what it meant.  She returned his embrace by placing a kiss on his cheek and returning his growl with a short whine.

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

Shallow water has trapped several fish in a small pond. Hunt Opportunity

  

This blood on my teeth, it is far beyond dry

Word Count: 533

 

Roosemooth padded across the chilly land.  Already the terrain was becoming friendlier than the harsh northland they were used to, but he doubted the winter would be much shorter.  His emerald eyes scanned the horizon, searching for the monadnock they were supposed to be looking for.  He glanced at his travel companion, still marveling how stupid the boy was.  It almost made the older man think he was wrong, but… no.  He rarely was.

When his gaze turned back forward, he noticed the large rock jutting up from the ground.  How had he missed it? He concluded he must be getting old.  Or he was looking to high.  Either way, they were almost there.  They would catch up with the others soon.  He really hoped he’d timed it correctly.  He wanted everyone to be there.  He wanted to see what would happen, what Craw would do.  Soon all his doubts would either be confirmed or washed away, and if this wasn’t the Craw he remembered he didn’t want @Odysseia around.  He would find some way to convince her to leave with him.

Like that would happen.

He snorted as he thought fondly of the girl; somehow she had managed to worm her way into his carefully sealed heart, much like her father before her. He hoped the journey hadn’t been too hard on her; then again, very little was.  She took after Craw in so many ways… the man would be proud of the woman his last surviving child had grown into.

Assuming this was still Craw…

Black ears pricked up as he heard a voice. Mittani. He picked up his pace, telling Breaker to wait for him there, just out of sight.  He scoffed as he joined the rest of his ‘pack’ outside the Monadnock’s borders. “As if Craw would allow himself to be overwhelmed.”  He rumbled, eyeing the man who’d claimed leadership of the ragtag group in Craw’s absence.  Roose wasn’t sure he trusted him to give up the power he’d grown so used.  Even now he was showing blatant affection and – dare he think it? – possession of Cheedo.  He wondered what Craw would have to say about that particular choice.

He moved to greet Ody, the only wolf here he really cared about.  How strange it would be for him to have the two wolves he was loyal to together.  “Now that we’ve caught up, I’m going to have to ask you to deliver a message to Craw for me.”  He was looking at the missing man’s daughter as he spoke, but his words went to the entire group.  “I have to retrieve something, and then we will be in.  Will you tell him I am bringing him a present?” His voice put a little extra emphasis on the last word, for that’s really all Breaker would be if his suspicions were correct.  He hadn’t shared his thoughts with the others, nor was he inclined to do so now; telling them would only alter the result, and he wanted this to be a raw test, just between him and his first protégé. There would be no jurisprudence in this test; just them.

It would ruin the experiment were it otherwise.

 

“Speech”   Thought

 

Ashbash 2016 - Ian Schneider  

(This post was last modified: Jan 17, 2017, 09:36 PM by Roosemooth. Edit Reason: formatting )

Odysseia Immorta
Get out your guns, battle's begun.
Are you a saint or a sinner?

Hope its okay if not hit me with a PM or something...

Time, it was a funny thing. Sometimes it would move so fast you barely felt it while other sit would move painfully slow. And the time that had passed since Mittani left like the later. The light color yearling could have sworn that something along the line of a thousand years had passed since she seen the small frame of the man, so when he finally returned back her heart felt like racing and stopping at one and the same time. And as Mittani left the news with them she felt her blood boil and freeze, her breath quicken and slow and she felt blood roar in her ears. He was alive, her sire lived some were far away, on a monadnock.  When she been given the location she could not help by fell fear spread a small stream injected into her blood. She could not believe that of all places they were retuning to such a monstrous formation. But judging by the white man's words its was not a question if they wanted to come, but an order that they were finally, after almost two years, leaving.

And the trip had unlike the wait been a mix, some days had gone by quickly.  While others had gone painfully slow. Traveling was not something Ody had done before, or at least not to this extent. Sure she explored the areas around her home but never had she gone this far. She had almost found that there were always something to look at to question about and bug the rest of the gang with. However doing their travels she observed something strange, Ceedo a former member who had recently returned, had spent and offal lot of time with Mittani.

As the white man spoke turning o the group his glace sweeping over them she nodded "yeah, seems like everyone made it this far Mitt" she said her voice a bit teasing as she spoke the shorter name. watching the man as he once again spoke her ears peaked, questions? Oh yeah the girl had about a thousand of them. but she honestly would prefer to ask Craw about them personally. As the Mittani moved to stand by Cheedo Ody watched them with a lifted brow before she moved closer to the man a teasing smile forming on her lips.

 

As she neared the small man her head dropped down in front of her neck tail wagging behind playfully her as she spoke "Mitt you really should work on that attitude. Some could think you were having bad intentions." a light-hearted playful growl escaped her lips.  Before she quickly placed her nose in his fur. "He might be the leader of the pack, but you always be the leader of the gang" she mumbled before she pulled away a grin on her face. For Craw might be her father and the leader of this pack, but Mittani was the man who had defended them and helped them survive he would always be that man no matter where they were.

As Odyssey realized that Roose had arrived she smiled at him, however, a puzzled look crossed her face as he spoke. "A present?" she asked with a lifted brow "so you won't be coming with us now?" she looked at the dark man eyes narrowed a bit, she did not understand why he would leave, was he not happy that the found Craw?

 

(This post was last modified: Jan 18, 2017, 09:40 AM by Odysseia.)

March note! It should be noted that Ody's spring scent/heat scent is quite a bit weaker then that of the average female due to her weak fertility.

With Mittani taking the lead, Moriarty had fallen to the rear, occassionally prancing forward with his froliky step and a friendly bump or terrible joke to try and lift the moods of the travelling band when they started to look tired or worn down. When all eyes were facing forwards, his looked back, barely catching sight of Roosemooth with his 'gift' (that wasn't...? it was...), and for any sign of pursuit from Ritter. There was no doubt in his mind now the band were on their way that one of the other roaming packs would move in to claim the fields, fields they had fought to keep for two long years on the hope that a ghost might return. But he'd made a life for himself elsewhere and left them all the more foolish for clinging to a dream.


He couldn't be bitter though, he supposed. He'd been given the chance to raise a child, as trying as the endeavour may have proven at times (and one he never would have chosen to embark on on his own), and he had proven steadfast in his resolve to uphold what was right and lawful. Sure there was some butting of heads with the other men but it was never anything a small scrap couldn't settle. As the white wolf announced their arrival, the brown man smirked. He wasn't one to ask questions without reason, and so beyond his huff of acknowledgement that none had fallen behind, his eyes slipped past the bodies of those gathered and out over the surrounding lands. Until he knew just what they were getting themselves into then he would not know what questions to ask.

Word vomit, brought to you by Mimi!

The journey had been cold and, frankly, barely manageable thanks to Mittani's presence, and the aura of “I'm the boss” that he oozed. Fortunately, Angharad had always seen through his little displays of dominance with ease, and now more-so than ever. Her thoughts were fixed solely on her spider.

She had never been a fan of Mittani—the fool was recklessly savage, cruel and had, in her honest and most important opinion, no redeemable features whatsoever.

The Splendid woman did not like to bow to men, especially not to the white fiend leading the group onward, but Craw … oh, he was different. He treated her as she needed to be, and it was in Angharad's favour to kneel before him. She had grown accustomed to it, and the thought of doing so no longer boiled away in the back of her mind. It was an agreeable compromise: to gain everything she had ever dreamed of, she need only follow one man.

Thanks to that, it had been a painfully embarrassing period of her life to be beneath a wolf who prided himself on having simple brute strength and no brains to go behind it. And, goodness, how the pathetic excuse for intimidating words that Mittani spewed grated on her! It was more like bile dribbling from his mouth, a most unattractive sound.

And Cheedo! Silly, sad little Cheedo, who clung to Mittani's side like a scared mouse … or perhaps the title “parasite” would fit her more. Did the woman have no pride left in her body at all? At least Angharad had been capable of functioning at the news of Craw's demise—at least what had been assumed to be—and had raised a child that was not her own, even with the pain of Mortus' death fresh in her heart. Cheedo had simply dragged herself about, whimpering and coddling up to the first man who so much as breathed in her direction.

The two wolves were made for each other: one was a loud mouthed brute who thought himself tougher than he really was (the irony; as if The Splendid Angharad could dismiss someone for having an ego), the other a woman who pissed herself the moment she stood alone without someone to rely upon. Laughable excuses for loyalists to Splendid's spider, ones he could do without; they could fall madly in love, run off together and die somewhere cold by themselves. It would save the rest of them from seeing their foul little shows of kissy-kissy-behind-Craw's-back, and it would put an end to Splendid's competition, even if she believed that she had already won.

At least Moriarty soothed her internal sparks. His playful remarks and general attitude raised her spirits when they sagged—you couldn't image the burden this journey was having on her—and she was truly glad for his company. He had been there for Angharad when she had needed someone, and he had given her purpose beyond seeking the attention and flattery she needed—no, deserved—when he had saved Odysseia. Thanks to Moriarty, a piece of Craw belonged to Angharad. That was a surprisingly sweet pill that she had been all too eager to swallow. The spider might not realise it yet, but he owed his treasure quite a bit of his time now.

And yet, Moriarty could not save her from Mittani's next words. The audacity! Angharad found herself glancing to the man who had helped her raise Odysseia with a quirk of her brow. How rude of their white companion to keep them all waiting. When she turned her attention back to Mittani, she might have clutched her pearls and scrunched up her face in disgust if she could—the nerve this brute had, to show such possession over Cheedo, one of Craw's!

Composure. She had to find her composure. She had to remind them who exactly called the shots. And so, she took a steadying breath before stepping forward; she smiled sweetly, almost innocently, hiding the venom dripping from her dagger-like tongue. “Treat our dear little Cheedo like she is yours any longer, Mittani, and you might find yourself alone in more ways than one.” Angharad's gaze swept to Cheedo. “Remember who first saved you from yourself, little rabbit.”

Never had that nickname held any good connotations, as endearing as it was on the surface (much like all of Angharad's actions and words). A rabbit was weak of body and spirit, it lacked courage and was brought down with ease.

No wonder Splendid had always been Craw's favoured wife. She seemed to be the only one with a shred of dignity. Or so she liked to believe.

Full glad she was, then, when Odysseia chimed in with her own observations of Mittani's show of ownership! But she then found herself full of disappointment, knowing it was simple teasing. Were she any less of a controlled, respectable woman, Splendid would had rolled her eyes at her daughter's next words. She'd save that for later, when she was in the company of herself. Alone. “Odysseia, sweetheart, what have I told you about referring to our little group as a gang?” As if the Splendid Angharad, most treasured of all Craw's “possessions”, would let herself be part of anything that referred to itself as a gang.

When he spoke, Roosemoth was questioned by Craw's daughter-by-blood and, once more, mother had to step in to remind all of them who they truly followed the words of, even if it were an indirect method. Roosemoth had always been Craw's trusted advisor, and there was no doubt in Angharad's mind that he had always ranked above Mittani in Craw's thoughts. “Roosemooth knows what he is doing, dearest. He might not tell us,” much to some of their disappointment (and bruised egos), “but he is your elder—our elder. He is more knowledgable than you may realise.” Really now, what had gotten into Odysseia? The moment their group had left to find Craw, it was as if she had suddenly muddled up who the man she had heard stories about as a pup with another! When had Angharad, or even Moriarty, ever whispered sweet things about Mittani, of all wolves, into her ear?

Having said that, when had she ever voiced her distaste either?

It didn't matter much. If she really wanted to ruin the image Odysseia had of Mittani, Angharad need only speak to her daughter the moment they were safe under Craw's rule.

“Do hurry back to us,” she simpered, her smile targeted at Roosemoth. “I should like to think Craw will be looking forward to seeing you again.” Almost more than anyone else here, she tacked on mentally.

A shame for the spider's former teacher, really. It was now Splendid that would surely be Craw's be top priority. She had to be. She would not stand to be anything less. And, heavens forbid, should he overlook her, Angharad would make herself known. Craw wouldn't dare forget his most prized treasure, would he? And … if he had replaced her?

Well, it wouldn't take much to get back to her rightful position.

Angharad thought herself master of sweet words, after all. Her self image was incredibly flawed—in her own thoughts, she truly believed that charm effortlessly flowed from every word, every movement, every breath. She might not be the smartest of all women, but she could use her assets to her advantage if her words did not hit the mark. Craw would not resist her for long, if at all.

“I have no questions for you, Mittani,” she finally spoke for herself, almost looking at him down her nose—it couldn't be helped, she was taller than him, and that gave her a most believable excuse to get away with blind murder. “Only for Craw. So, if you would do the honours …?”

Sorry for the out of order, guys... Just wanted to get Roose's reply to the others and him heading back to Breaker up before Mitt calls.  I won't post again until after Craw summons the rest of WM (probably)

Word Count: 246

Roose knew the others would have their questions, but it was Odysseia he first had to comfort.  “Don’t worry,”  He said with a smile,  “We will be along in a few minutes… the gift Breaker and I have for him might distract him for a moment, and I want to give everybody the chance to say hello first.”  That was partially the truth; if he was correct, and Craw passed his little test, the spider’s attention would be diverted from returned family for a short while. He owed it to them – and to Craw himself – to allow them a few moments to greet each other.  The other part, though, was he expected that his first protégé would want this new pack to meet the incoming crew, and the advisor very much wanted there to be an audience when he arrived.

Not for himself, of course.  It was all part of the test, part of the experiment.

Angharad addressed him, drawing the older man’s green gaze.  He dipped his head in respect to her; sometimes he thought she was easily manipulated, but the fire that filled her amused him.  Not only had this, but her willingness to call out Mittani’s insubordination gave him great satisfaction.  “Don’t worry, splendid Angharad… We shan’t delay too long.”   His eyes sparkled with double meaning as he nodded to the others before turning to depart.

Very soon now… Very soon he would have his answers and, if he was lucky, his leader.

"Speech"  Thought

Okay so there will be no posting order because with so many different wolves and schedules that might get hard and lag us some. Mittani will mark rounds, though. Also sorry this isn't the best but didn't wanna hold us up.

The Mittani

Juliet loves the beat and the lust it commands
Drop the dagger and lather the blood on your hands, Romeo

He knew the others didn't care for him and especially didn't care for him keeping Cheedo close by. Did he care about it? Not at all! He would've happily pushed any of them off the same cliff Craw went down. Mittani had to be reasonable, though. If he went and pushed everyone off a cliff who would he have left? Only those who truly respected or feared him. Roose was his number one to push off a cliff if he could easily get away with it.

While he was never close to the child, Odysseia, he still cared for her. His heart grew full of pride as she spoke. Mittani knew he was but once they were apart of the pack, if Craw had them, there would be no more gang. He simply respectfully nodded towards the silver girl. It was obvious she had taken after her father because she certainly wasn't the fickle thing her mother was.

Think of the devil and he shall speak your name. Her words were met with a cold smile. "Dear Angharad, if being alone means being away from you for a bit I wouldn't mind." His hackles prickled hoping that it'd cause her to itch the way he called her out. Mittani had to wonder to Moriarty's family jewels were being clamped down for him to never rise against her. What a sad sad man.

Everyone raised the notion that they simply wanted @Craw. With a stiff grumble, he raised his head, letting out the summon for Craw. To let the bold man know that he had arrived with the assorted company. Once he lowered his head he merely kept his eyes ahead. Craw certainly wouldn't take long. The spidery man knew very well that no one wanted their time wasted.

After such a long journey they had finally come to a pause, it was here where they would see the man they had all believed to be dead in the flesh.  Cheedo did not know if she was truly ready for it she feared what would happen not only to her but her sweet Mittani. Would she be punished for becoming close to the pale man in Craw’s absence? So many other questions that needed to be answered but was she ready to ask? Know the answers? She knew that she would have to find the strength inside of her to do what needed to be done if she were ever going to have a chance of some semblance of peace. A peace she had never had the pleasure of knowing since she was a blind pup.

As Mittani came up to her and showed her the affection she had grown to find comfort in Cheedo was aware of the looks.  Though she wasn't really made aware of just how much her closeness to the pale leader bothered some.  It was Angharad’s words that oozed with a threat that made Cheedo press her body against Mittani's even more. She was starting to feel that her standing in the pack was different since her return from the planes of Ritter.  Many things were different bit would they remain that way or go back to the way they were? A glare was sent in the direction of the blind female as a nearly inaudible whine escaped her throat in response to the threat that had been given.

The truth of the matter was her feelings toward The Splendid weren't as splendid as they once were as she saw the woman for what she actually was.  Perhaps it was Mittani's fault that had changed since he had been able to treat her as his 'splendid’. The child Odysseia was something that Cheedo had yet to accept when her own children were dead.  How could she betray them to become close to the silver girl when she had no time to become close to the ones she had carried for so long.

Roosemooth had a present for the spider of which Cheedo was rather curious about but there was no time for questions about this present as Roosemooth was gone, off to get the present.  Each in the group made it clear they had no questions for her protector so he made the decision to call the spider to meet them.  Cheedo trembled slightly with the anxiety and anticipation the summons for Craw caused her. She turned her head in the direction they had been heading before they had stopped, believing this was the direction Craw would come from, to a wait his arrival.

(This post was last modified: Jan 20, 2017, 07:46 PM by Cheedo.)

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