Wolf RPG - The one kid should have never jumped out the boat [Pack Meeting]

@Damien @Midar @Aries @Megara @Alarian @Moath @Venamis @Zan (@Flicker @Moira @Marruz @Zafina ) - set a few days after the thread where Minnow is returned to Sunny.

Nyx paced back and forth near the river as little Lumiya played in the brush nearby. She knew she had to do something, punish whoever stole Minnow and then move everyone someplace safer, but she hadn't talked to Damien all that much as of late. Perhaps it was time to take matters into her own paws and take the lead for once if no one was going to step up. She called her little daughter and together they went to a clearing in the hollow atop a large stump. She had no idea this was the same clearing where Malice and the Moonlit Hills wolves once had meetings.

She tipped her head back to let out a summoning howl for all their members currently present in the hollow. She smiled when Lumiya attempted howling herself, which sounded more like a bobcat slowly dying but it made her proud anyway. She waited for the others to arrive, waited some more for any latecomers, then began her speech.

Now that our Spiderlings are old enough to travel with us, it is time that we move. If anyone has a suggestion as to where, speak up. She knew Midar had gone to scout for territories, but perhaps there were others with ideas too. They couldn't take over Blackfeather Woods with their small band, and Nyx found it safer that way. One day they would have their home back, but for now they needed to survive.

Furthermore, it has come to my attention that one of you has stolen a child out of pack territory. I returned the child to her parents in return for an alliance. Her voice was stern with underlying disgust. Still, this mindless act could have costed us a war. Therefore, punishment is in order. She leaped off her perch to stand among them. Who stole Minnow? Who brought us all in danger? She asked the group.

Cameo for an important thread with a bunch of waffle and a suggestion, will possibly do one more post if prompted but skip if no reply for a day

Flicker slunk to the Night Queen's call, glad they were going to do something now. She'd kept herself to herself, save for a few flashes of teeth to those of the pack that came close to her whilst brooding.
Damien had delivered her a severe wound for acting out in the Woods. She'd deserved it, yes. But now the tides were changing again, she could move on and move up. Carefully.

A quarter of her told her to go back to Maegi with this pack at their knees, the other three told her to be loyal and thrive under the strong pair and their youth. Just her changeable personality.

She waited patiently before Nocturnal. Her tail low and waving, meeting her gaze only once upon arrival. Her stained ears twitched. Stolen child? As much as she'd mapped the thin confines of the tempory accommodation, she'd not seen anyone enter with a child. She wouldn't think it would be the slobbering brute Moath -- too unrestrained. The sly Aries seemed too smart to do such a thing, not to mention not tolerable of children. She cast her gaze around. Perhaps the coupled men tried their luck. She knew some who couldn't conceive stole.
Surely the old woman wouldn't, though it was highly plausible.
If Flicker had money to bet, it would be on the newest woman -- the Enchantress.

She lifted a soft gaze to Nyx, silent; as if she were trying to telepathically convey her thoughts to the wise leader. One would have to be wise to have avoided war and make allies out of them.

"There's a large wood south o' here. It looks good for a strong pack. I can locate it if need be." Her voice was husky but audible.

His mother's summons came as no surprise to him, and he lifted his head from nosing through coarse grass in search of the bug that disappeared among them to turn a curious stare upon her through the foliage. Oversized black ears pressed forward to listen for a brief moment before they fell back against his crown with the assumption that it was a demand for him to return to her at once.

He was known for testing his parents' patience and pushing the boundaries they set for him, overstepping without consideration for the reason behind them. Neither the Sovereign or his consort seemed overly impressed by their son's budding mischievousness, especially when he was bold enough to sneak away out of sight. The spiderling slunk toward his dam with his scruffy tail tucked between his hind limbs and his gaze swept downward; a flick of his tongue between raven lips revealed his nervousness at potentially being scolded for wandering off. He found great pleasure in irritating his siblings, but to disobey his providers was to invoke a wrath he imagined would be akin to that of their Dread Father.

Other adults gathered, those he did not recall and others he'd never met before. He eyed some of them silently, then ducked his head submissively as his mother addressed the group with a firm tone. Ven made no sense of what she said and didn't really care to try, though he was glad to see her frustration turned toward them rather than him.

Damien hadn't realized how much he'd drifted away in the past days nor how much he'd allowed himself to slack off. It was the time when his pack needed him most that he had let them down, and although it wasn't intentionally he needed to fix things and make up for his negligence.

It was Nyx who stood up in his stead, seeing the necessity of a true leader to take matters into their own hands and feeling like it was her duty to do so. And it was. That was the reason why he'd chosen her to be his pair, because he was proud of her strength and determination, because he knew she was way tougher than she seemed.

So he heeded her call as if his own queen had summoned him, dragging the rest of their children up the hill to sit besides them for when the pack came to be revealed whatever Nyx had to say. And Damien didn't really know what to expect, but he trusted she had an important point to make and that everyone needed to hear it.

The moving was an event that had been building up to this moment, and though Damien had started to get used to the silence and the solitude of Phantom Hollow he knew that it wasn't the place to build an empire. Nyx was right, the moment to move was now and their children were ready. He didn't have anything to add to that idea so he waited to see if anyone had any good suggestions. if not, he would have to make a shot in the dark and make a suggestion of his own. He had some ideas, but he had no way to know if they were any good. Flicker's suggestion sounded promising, and despite her past mistaked Damien saw the potential in her that could propel their pack forward. He nodded at her, giving his blessing for her quest. But more ideas were still welcome.

Then came the discussion about the stolen child, and Damien looked at Nyx with curiosity. He had always seen children as an opportunity to build up on, and punishment had never been in his plans. But he knew the risk of taking in a child and realized that his position wasn't adequate to stand out a war. Maybe Nyx was right about this too, and he looked over the pack trying to get a reaction. The pack needed to understand that lawlessness was no longer acceptable, and that the pack's Head had the final word on everything. No wolf could or would take action without their superior's blessing, and that was the way of things.

Loafing in the shade, Zannah mindlessly gnawed on an antler as she observed Venamis from a distance. Although the discarded rack had been in her possession for a handful of hours, Zan already felt guarded towards those who got too close. It was hers, as far as she was concerned, and she wouldn't give it up without a fight.

The sound of Nyx's voice caused the child to pause and crane her head to the side to discern the message that was delivered. Without being prompted, and with the antler still in her grasp, Zannah picked herself up and slowly began to trail after Venamis. Given her leisurely pace, Damien caught up easily and ushered her to the meeting place where her mother and Lumiya waited.

Others had gathered before their arrival, and Zan regarded the strangers with curiosity; she had not been appropriately introduced to many of them and was unaware of their relation to her.

Sitting between Reavan and Venamis, Zannah offered them a sharp glance and a low growl; the only warning she would give about her antler. She placed it as her paws after her message was presented, and as Nyx began to speak. Although she was unaware of what the conversation entailed, Zan knew that she did not like the tone in which Nyx spoke. It reminded her of when she got and trouble, and out of instinct, her ears folded back. Zan glanced at her siblings then, curious to know their perceptions of their mother's voice and found that they were just as confused as she. Zan's concern was somewhat subdued, but she still felt on edge.

Lumiya watched and listened with full interest. Though she didn't understand most words spoken, it was clear something had made Mother worried and stressed. Then her blue eyes scanned the circle, spotting again those black wolves with their strangely colored eyes. Mother and Father didn't match them, so she assumed they weren't family. Someone was brave enough to speak up with Mother present, but it was clear that no fight was going to break out. Lumi wondered what they were discussing, what would put Mother so on edge, but she wouldn't understand even if someone explained every detail to her.

So, the pale pup observed, trying to soak up as much information as she could.

Imprisoned, banished, into a nexus of my own design...
Now Time mocks me, and my sentence is Gravity.

A slight of hand with glove to hip could not have been more subtle in comparison to the Witch as she moved freely from the void of the Hollow to the graven mystery of this meeting. She had always had stealth, but it had never been so pronounced until now. Until it had been yanked dirtily out of her, replacing her proud and bold mind with something ragged, deceptive-
terrible. The Mother was unhappy, unhappy she was no longer a mother and had been punished my Time and Karma long enough. Thusly, she had stolen someone else to ease her woe. It was a thrill she was doomed to lust after, one that stuck angrily to her heart and soul as painful recompense that she could be wounded so lowly in this pathetic plane of existence. That she could not only be a mortal, but could live as one, and die as one, as well.

Steep was her appearance, her mystical swirl and swish of ebony, auburn and acute mahogany markings a testimony to her difference amongst these mortals- none other than she had appeared so different from these inbred fools. A scan over the view of things denied her even that however, as some woman was painted in bright contrast to the rest, flickering her albasters at anyone too close to her. She seemed wily, crafty, and very much untrustworthy with her dual tone of rusted scarlet cape and pale cream base. Zafina kept her sneer to herself.

The words from a woman whom she hadn't yet met poured forth with precise measure. Zafina felt nothing in the first half of this spill, yet the second called for her blood to slow and her focus to heighten. It was she who took the Child. And while she did not fear any reprocussion, as her death was with her spawn's, she did wonder what would become of her. "I." Her single syllable rose from the dirt as slow mist, draping over the assembly as the Hollow's fog has. And within the garnets of her gaze, she waited patiently for whatever other scandal this woman would thrust on her. Even in process, her stare split from the meeting, tracing the outlines of Nyx's own children. A hum came to mind, and with each taste of childish movement, the desire grew to take them, too.

But every sky will build my throne.

There was nowhere left to go, nowhere left to run. Panic crept up my throat as I ran into yet another dead end, and realized he had led me here. Turning around, I found him...

Just after the the call of his Calling, the Void lumbered his way to the beacon, dragging the beheaded body of a freshly killed fox with him. He was told to bring his Foods to Nyx by Mother, as she was a different hungry from him. Where he would be satiated on simply killing, she explained, the new mother would be filled on the aftermath of his endless slaughters. So much had he killed that the front of Nyx and Damien's den had near become toppled with bodies- rabbits, rats, voles, moles, gophers, fawn, doe, foxes and occasional wolves that he had mauled began to seem almost shrine-like with the plethera he had accumulated.
But it was how it was...day by day.
Rip-...drag...
Drop.

Which is exactly what he did to this carcass as he stood behind the woman who spoke after Nyx. The blood-spattered body hit the grass with silence. And he stood behind this Zafina, studying her in the darkness. For a wolf, he had surprisingly wondrous night vision; seems that was when the majority of his Food Gifts were caught anyways-

Would Zafina join his pile before Nyx and Damien's den, too?

And in silence, he waited.

He felt he had been gone too much lately, his task to find new members becoming somewhat of an obsession. His most recent exploration had kept him away from the hollow much longer than intended, and he had been crossing back over the borders when Nyx's call reached his ears.

He trotted onto the scene, eyes moving over every adult and pup as he made his way to sit beside Damien. His path was interrupted by the arrival of his mate, though. He would have normally sought him out first and made up for lost time after checking on his state. He was worried about @Alarian, and the feeling had only grown everytime he had to leave. Midar greeted him with a brief touch of his nose to his cheek and look that said they would catch up after he was done here, and then he moved to take his place at Damien's other side.

Nyx began to speak, stating that they should move soon and asking if anyone had any suggestions. Flicker spoke first of woods to the south, and Midar wondered which forest she was talking about. He had explored much of the land around them at some time or another, and he wondered if he had ever been there. He also wondered: Why not just stay here? The thought had crossed his mind often lately. We've already clearly marked all the borders, and it leaves us close enough to Blackfeather to keep an eye on things. And, they wouldn't have to try moving with the pups in tow; they were old enough to move, sure, but not old enough to be anything but a considerable vulnerability beyond the safety of the borders.

Midar was surprised to hear of the kidnapped child; it must have happened while he was gone. It was quite an act to perform without the approval of the pack leaders, and so the beast was in agreement that punishment was in order. He was always willing to go to war for the pack, but this was not a good time to be creating more rifts between them and other packs. His gaze drifted over the wolves gathered as he waited for the guilty party to come forward.

cameo -- skip me unless directly mentioned/needed

There were two orders of business here, both of them of the utmost importance. The first has been hanging over Megara's head since they had arrived, and the second. . .well, she wondered herself where the little girl came from, and is glad to hear that she is safe home again. Still, the question of who brought her here has still not been answered.

Speculation sizzles among the wolves gathered on both points of query, both in voiced opinion and in silent musing. One is answered by a woman she does not know well, and she wonders what her fate will be. Surely she faces grievous punishment? Which leaves the first item on the agenda—

I agree with Midar, Megara says finally, when the clearing falls silent. Our presence here is well established. It is too small for the numbers we ought to have, but it should suffice until the pups are old enough to hunt and fight alongside us. And with the moons flying by, that will be in no time at all.

While the matter of the kidnapped child was of concerning implications for Damien's regime, he hardly believed it was the time or place to discuss it or even cast a judgment on it. However, before he could speak his mind about it the new witch, Zafina, who had grievously disappointed Damien with an unforeseen miscarriage, willingly took the blame for the insubordination. For a moment Damien's blood boiled: she had given him already two good reasons for him to want her gone, and still he could not help but feeling bad for her. She had lost her children (even the one promised to him), and had most likely acted on grief. But alas, she had broken the rules. Moath, he called, hoping his cousin was smart enough to understand a simple command. Take Zafina to her den, will you? We will decide what to do with her later

Having heard the attendants' mind on matters, Damien decided he was ready to make a choice. The conclusion about the fate of The Melonii could be dragged out no longer, for their futures would soon start to suffer. There were many different points of view about the direction Damien should take, the main being Damien's own: that they had to move to find better hunting grounds, and then there was Midar and Megara's, which thought that the pack had already a well enough established base ground to work with at Phantom Hollow. How to reach a consensus?

I hear you, all of you... he started, taking a step forward to seize control of the meeting, While we've so far managed to stay afloat, claimed this waste and the resources have been sufficient for our few members, I need to look forward if we're to really come home one day.

As my family, Blackfeather Woods belongs to you as well, but a blood traitor seats upon it as we speak. he was sure to look into the eyes of each of them so that the message got across correctly. We will take back what is ours with blood and fear, and for that we need a strong army his eyes then landed straight on Megara's own. She was right. This wasteland simply cannot provide enough resources for the kind of army I intend to build, and I intend to start building it right now. We cannot stay. For a moment he allowed the silence to linger as he scanned the faces of his company, looking for the faith that he needed them to have in him. But then without him intending it, his gaze soon fell upon his own children. They, he believed, were the key to his plan's success.

Damien knew better than to dismiss the counsel of his advisers in their most trying times, however, he also knew to take from their words what really mattered, well aware that their opinions could easily be tainted by a natural tendency to find the easier path. You're right about one thing, though, brother... continued Damien, looking at Midar for a moment, We mustn't wander too far from Blackfeather he agreed, at which point he sought Flicker's eyes. This forest you speak of... How far is it and why is it you think it's fit for what we require?

She lifted her gaze back to the Sovereign, thinking for a moment.
"It has everything a growing army needs. It had a variety of trees meaning a diversity of prey and the frontal end, close to the caldera, seemed to be good for cover. Misty and dark." She'd assumed they'd take a liking to that. They'd settled in the two dankest places in the area and were about to make it a triple. It would be good for them. The diversity of prey meant that in certain seasons there'd be a surplus when other areas were depleted and she was sure that the sectors would play into their advantage in the event of an attack from Blackfeather. She knew some herbs needed certain conditions; perhaps the woods would provide them.

"It's a morning's march to Blackfeather. Would probably take a day for us to clear it of lone wolves and the such. There is also a river that appears to run through it." Sustainable and ripe for the picking. She didn't see why they wouldn't want to move from this small hovel.

There was nowhere left to go, nowhere left to run. Panic crept up my throat as I ran into yet another dead end, and realized he had led me here. Turning around, I found him...

He could not understand the reason of meeting, but that was not his mind. It was not meant to be. His attention was upon the wolfess who did not share the navy deep tint in her hide which was riddled with swirls of colors that alarmed him, alerted his urges to act, to restrain and to rip, to maul and to murder-
to silence.

It was a shame that Damien has faith in the Melonii cousin of his. Because the moment Moath heard his name spoken, his corpse was forgotten about. The world was forgotten about. His own existence was even shed, as his might lunged forth with seamless and mindless speed. A nightmare summoned and set free, Moath surged to lock Zafina in a grip that could quite possibly snap bone.

The Witch knew of this assault through the sudden shift of wind behind her, and with aglility unmatched, she evaded the massive hurl of muscle and murder with a ethereal ballerina’s grace. She took off, heading with haste into the thicket of trees and shrubbery, hoping to lose him with her speed and keen intellect.

Moath did not run behind her. No, he would catch her eventually. Her scent would not leave this place, not unless the carrion vultures and rats disposed of all of it in their own ways.
This woman was next to be ushered to Silence.

Now, or hereafter.

Picking up his leftover corpse meal, he made his slow and lumbering way to the pair of alphaic wolves and their Spawn, dropping the hunk of still bleeding headlessness before them before turning to find where the fleeing Food had run off to.

And in silence, he waited.

shitty cameo!

He arrives slowly with lethargy clear in his posture, gaze cast down as he takes his place next to Midar. He doesn't have much to add to the conversation, but he watches the conversation with tired interest. While he doesn't quite understand what's going on, he knows he doesn't have much of a place in it — and it matters little anyway. Whatever happens, he'll follow Midar; he always does.