Dragoncrest Cliffs if only the sea could sleep

This will likely turn into a pack meeting with the rest of the pack so quick replies. Next round in ~5 days? Hush can be PP'd into the thread by anyone or I can in the next post/with Furi. Everyone else is free to hear the initial call and come early but will tag when everyone is called.

Thuringwethil spent most of the morning talking to @Ajatar, being berated for slow feet and not taking call to action. They’ve had neighbors for months now, neighbors that had disrupted their way of life since the return, but going into one war from another? They’ve all had their time to heal, to allow more to happen out of her control. Distracted, lately, with Wildfire doesn’t go unspoken by the pale female, further driving the knife into the situation. Now that they likely don’t have an expansion to her family, she doesn’t have to drag her feet anymore.

The commander looks over the lake, ignoring Ajatar as she speaks again, this time ultimately growling and snapping at her face. Enough. A beat later, Thuringwethil lifts her nose to call for @Dio, @Eske, @Blixen, @Artaax, @Hush, and Furi.

Every time Furi hears a howl—especially by one of her superiors—the world begins to shift into slow motion. Her heart speeds up and she can hear it in her ears for a good solid two minutes before she can try to settle it back down and come close to believe that everything is fine and that she didn’t actually do anything this time. It doesn’t stop her from reeling back to the last few days to make sure she hasn’t actually done anything but eventually, when she can’t settle on anything, she gets herself in gear and begins to make her way toward Hougeda.
 
When she arrives, it is only Thuringwethil and Ajatar, and her ears fall back against her head, immediately looking to her left and then her right for signs of any others. Nervously, she steps up to greet each one with a bump of their chin before settling a few feet away when they don’t immediately address her arrival. Across the opening, she sees Hush pop through the tree-line and make a beeline for their group, greeting the two women in a similar fashion (albeit much happier than she managed to show) before settling off to the side as well, waiting for whatever it is they have.

Feeling more lively after his spar with the Morningside wolf, Prince had spent the better part of the day along the borders. He hadn't quite worked up the nerve to go out again, but the temptation was strong. Surely he would give in again soon-- but for now, Heda's call distracted him. It wasn't directed at him, but he had the feeling it was important, so off he went.
The pale boy slipped quietly onto the scene, greeting Heda and Ajatar with a bow; to Hush and Furi, a single nod and a glance between them. He moved to the sidelines quickly after that, sitting with his tail wrapped tightly around his paws as he waited.

I think I've missed like 80% of IC events related to this conflict, but hopefully I made correct assumptions here lololololol

The threat of their neighbors had lingered in the back of his mind ever since Rose's return. There had been some time there after the incident with Arrille when he had simply forgotten about them. They had run away with their tails tucked between their legs when Drageda had overpowered them, so why waste the mental energy on worrying over their movements? Whatever efforts they'd made to turn the tide of war against them by pursuing an alliance with Blackfeather had obviously failed. They were little more than gnats that simply needed swatted away every so often. Inconsequential.

But when Rose had arrived, the anger had returned. It bubbled below the surface like lava beneath the earth - hot, burning, ready to erupt but almost patient in its dormancy. He was willing to wait. It was what made him a good hunter - his ability to hold out as long as it took to find his perfect moment to strike. This was no different. He knew that when the time came, heda would give the command. Until then, he would continue to mark the borders, continue to train to fight, continue to hunt, and continue to stash all of his kills in the caches nearest to Rose's den for whatever reason. It doesn't mean anything. And it's completely besides the point. Don't even read that. He doesn't like her. What?

When Artaax heard the call, he was quick to answer. His hope was that this would be the call - the call to action, at last. He had not been permitted to assist in the fighting when they had marched on Blackfeather. He had never complained. If he was to be left behind in this fight, he still would not complain. He was too dutiful a soldier to question the orders given to him, no matter what they were. But he hoped quite fervently that nomi would see his worth and give him this honor.

The yearling slipped into those gathered on silent paws, his mismatched eyes grazing each wolf already gathered until landing on Thur. He paused beside Furi and stood at attention, waiting to hear the words of his commander and hoping they would be the ones he wanted to hear.

a familiar tension lingers in the air, but this time blixen is raring for it. with mother here and the enemy not halfway across to god-knows-where, the gona feels inconquerable. she's going to fight for drageda this time, she's going to enact revenge for arrille's betrayal and rose's torture, and she's going to prove to nomi that she's ready for cheka.

all in all, it's exactly what she needs. a ball of tightly wound energy, the redhead makes her way to the meeting, coming to a stop next to furi out of habit. too stubborn to move, she looks to nomi, attentively waiting for more information.

The call wasn't meant for her, but because it was her mate howling for two of their three resident children (among others), Wildfire decided it was her business anyway. Curious about the nature of the summons, she walked quickly toward the source. She was happy for the distraction from the dull heartache that seemed to permeate her days lately.

When she arrived, she saw that both Artaax and Blixen had beaten her here, as had Furi, Hush and Prince. Dio and Eske weren't present yet. Wildfire assessed all of this in a single, sweeping glance as she stepped to stand next to her kids and Furi. She licked her lips and turned her attention to the commander.

Fresh off a southern lap of their boundaries, the commander's call warrants an answer before he can get involved in his next round. He goes trotting that way, still on all sorts of edge after what had happened to Portia and Dalia. Granted, they are on the mend physically at least and their vigilance is high alongside all the other raising tensions--which he suspected may be soon to be addressed again as it continues to be a matter at all. It has been something they have kept in mind, and because of that, he has known it best to keep their warriors fresh and poised for the event that it changes in an instant, as well as their scouts well guarded too. Just in case, he wants them prepared, and with the constant element of their own protection interwoven into it all.

He slows up when he reached sight of the lake, then finds Thuringwethil near with a handful of others already gathered. His neck falls and he defers smoothly, watching the others move to greet their commander, leaving him to fall in among them. He swept in close enough to chuff lowly as he licked the underside of her chin, then dipped his muzzle before he nodded to the others able to catch it. Quietly, he took up watch at Heda's least-occupied side and was surprised by how many had come already considering the vague nature of her summons so far. But, it was an encouraging sign already. He was patient, but definitely ready to find out more about the here and now.

heda's call rises, breaking eske's concentration as she walks her patrol on the eastern border. the wanlida pauses, ears cupping forth to attention atop her skull as she attempts to trace the origins of the commander's call by the sound. she kicks up a few clumps of dirt and grass to leave her mark upon that small section of border before she diverts her course and heads in the direction of heda's call. though she moves quickly and with concise purpose she is the last to arrive she notes as her pace slows upon reaching the small gathering. her eyes touch heda first, then dio, then atajar, furi, prince, hush, blixen, artaax and lastly to wildfire who lingers near her children before her gaze diverts and re-focuses upon the commander as eske takes her place among those summoned. eske suspects the nature of the commander's call given whom heda has rallied to join her and a trill of excitment and anticipation shivers down her spine as she awaits the commander's words.

This round ends on 4/15!

The warriors (and then some) started to pile in and greet her and Ajatar. Dio makes himself comfortable near to her and she decides, upon Eske’s arrival, that they’d begin. If others approached, they’d file in later, but eventually she suspects she’ll call for everyone.

“Everyone should know by now that some wolves settled in to the sound next to us while we were gone. We didn’t move to action right away because we’d just come from war and I had hoped for a solution. Not long after our return, I find out one of their wolves, who I assume to be their leader—” she pauses briefly, only to look at the four involved with the excursion on neutral territory— “took Arrille from us and used him against us, but it is our benefit we do not have such a weak wolf in our ranks anymore and that he hadn’t been given access to much. She and Arrille went to Blackfeather Woods while we were at Redhawk Caldera and offered them a route to here and wipe out what we left behind. They harbor Arrille, despite our warning. In addition, they held Rose captive for who knows how long.”

Thuringwethil pauses briefly, searching their faces as they absorb the information. Surely these crimes are enough to warrant action, glancing to her wife to see if she will have anything to say on the matter.

“These wolves are proven to be dangerous. One wolf took risk to bring Rose home but that is far from enough to forgive. Not only that, there is another wolf there that knows who I am, knows our language and I do not know what kind of disadvantage that puts us because our homeland is far from here.” Perhaps they’d been here long enough for someone else to pick up their ways, and their tongue, enough to confuse them, but until they can prove who it is, they don’t know what they’re up against. “Now that we have well-enough recovered from the last war, we will pay them a visit. We do not march on their land but we will be prepared to defend,” she adds afterwards, before leaving the floor open to discussion.

the reason for the call is exactly what blixen expects; a terrible grin splits her mouth, eager at the thought of taking grimnismal down a peg. she didn't have the chance to prove herself in the war against blackfeather and she isn't going to make the same mistake twice. blixen drakru is no babysitter.

for once she doesn't have anything to add (for now) when nomi finishes talking, instead looking around to see the reactions of her fellow warriors. her gaze lands on furi, who has the most personal stake in this (besides her) -- between arrille and rose -- and her expression hardens, familiar acid burning her tongue. her gaze finds artaax instead, deliberate and smirking.

Artaax felt a fierce pride as nomi spoke to them. He felt the eagerness flow through his veins as though it were a physical thing. He waited to catch her eye as she looked across the group, hoping that she would see in him how ready he was to join this battle. He wanted badly to prove himself. This would be his opportunity to defend his pack and show his family that he was a warrior, worthy of rank and title, fame and admiration. He would make nomi proud. He would make them all proud.

Such were his thoughts while Thur continued to explain the plan. By the end of her speech, he thought he knew everything she had said. He didn't. But that didn't stop him from turning to give a confident glance at Blixen who he knew would share his feelings at hearing this announcement. He found her smirking at him, so his face fell into a frown and he looked away again. At least they were always on the same page on the battlefield, if literally no where else.

So it would seem the plot would continue to thicken with their neighbors, twisting along from one matter to the next, and consistently making themselves known time after time. His ears tilted eagerly towards their commander as the details spanned onward; he listened carefully, but the centerpiece of it all is obvious enough. Their defense is more paramount than ever, and he finds nothing to argue here.

With the successes in the flatlands to help bolster them, mended behind the passage of time as well as all the distinct advantages of being home, he feels far more game this time than before. They have the strength to pressure back, he knows this, and warriors who will not back down.

As for their foes, he knows there is much more to find out. To know one knows the commander's language prickles at his fur, and despite her return to them, Rose's fate still did not sit well with the pale-furred wocha either so a little retribution on that will never hurt; it's all far too suspicious for his liking and he has never liked that they are there at all, organized enough to make for a thorn in Drageda's side.

She listened astutely as her mate spoke, detailing the circumstances and how she intended to approach them. Wildfire shuddered involuntarily at the mention of Blackfeather Woods, frowning particularly at the mention of Rose being held captive. She didn't know her, yet she knew entirely too much about captivity.

The commander seemed to take more of a defensive approach than an offensive one. As she imparted her strategics, the Feisripa glanced at their children. There was a quiet ferocity in their expressions which stole her breath. They were mighty Drakru now, fully-grown and utterly capable. This was mostly due to their nomi, she knew, and Wildfire turned her admiring gaze back upon Thuringwethil.

Furi knows most of what Heda has to say but she’s far too focused on keeping her eyes straightforward, too afraid to look to one side and see Blixen. She can feel the way her face changes and the heated stares. She almost wants to look toward Artaax for comfort, but she remembers their little chat on the front lines and so she keeps her gaze still, focused on something near the large matriarch. None of it sits well with her knowing Ingram is on the other side of the enemy lines and there’s nothing she can do about it.

He took in Heda's words with quiet outrage; he knew Arrille had to be guilty of more than just leaving. It had been obvious from his packmates' reactions, he thought-- he would perhaps always be oblivious to the fact that they had not known any more than he had.
The pale boy suppressed a shudder at the thought that Drageda could easily have been attacked in that time of vulnerability. He turned his focus away from the past war-- it was done now. Surely Blackfeather Woods would no longer be a threat after losing a war against two packs. But the pack in the Sound-- Prince had a feeling this could not go well. He kept quiet, but his gaze swept over his packmates briefly. Heda's plan was wise, but he knew from experience that some of the wolves they dealt with were not; the idea was in no way pleasing to him, but he couldn't help but consider that perhaps war was unavoidable.

*slides this in here super late*

the information that heda brings forth about the parasite pack in the sound draws forth a frown upon eske's muzzle. some of the news is old news to her and some of it is new. wanlida shifts her weight subtly though her eyes remain locked upon the commander. even to eske, whom is always itching for a good fight that they approach it sensibly as she'd suggested to thuringwethil and dio a while ago. it wouldn't be wise to instigate a war but the problem on their doorstep was long overdue for being addressed. eske remains quiet even as heda finishes giving them the information about their unwanted and too close for comfort neighbors. there's nothing for her to add, nothing for her to ask and thus eske's content to remain silent and ready.

Just wrapping this up since no one had anything to say and things have changed since this started.

No one has any objections, or anything else to add, and Thuringwethil looks across their faces. She lands briefly on Wildfire, as if she may have something to say as their former ambassador. But nothing comes from her and she nods her head, deciding against calling the rest of the wolves. They will spread the word as necessary and in a few times, they will gather a team and head toward their annoying neighbors borders to find a better solution than dropping bombs out of nowhere.

Thuringwethil dismisses them with the encouragement to pick up training and remind them of border patrol, and follows after her wife once everyone has dispersed.