Wheeling Gull Isle what could go wrong?

hi all! today is the solstice, which means YL will have a celebratory festival (focused on the celebration of the moon.) this thread is the only thread where you are required to post (unless not possible for any reason!) and will have just one round, in which each member will be expected to join in the howling that commences the beginning of the party. 

there will be two other festival threads, which are both optional- you can join both, either, or none! the feast is after this, and the storytelling after that.

@Aiolos @Maegi @Natshana @Orochi @Aimi @Mou @Tzila @Jaime @Hide @Gailiv @Renwick @Xiaoqing @Nuwu @Haoming @Luli @Sotiris

She knew the time had come when the darkness stretched long into the morning, and she awoke later than usual. No longer did Yuèlóng hold a soul like Mei- the one who had worshipped the moon and sun and sea, and had thought of the parties (what Huā called them, not Mei,) to celebrate them. But Huā knew her sister's will lived on in the pack. Ying had made her impact on the individuals- like Aiolos- but Mei made her impact on the idea of the pack, its name, Yuè, moon, Lóng, dragon. And though the empress was no worshipper of the moon, she valued it because it was a part of nature, that love for the earth that had grown in her soul. And so, she decided, they would celebrate. They would celebrate with food and story and laughter- and the empress threw back her head in the forest, and let out a joyous song, inviting the rest of the pack to join her in kicking off a little party.

He really didn't know what this was about, but he didn't care.

Ren found it was difficult to care about things lately. The rush he got when Hua accepted him into the pack was gone. It left a bitter defeat in his mouth that had to be filled with other things. Still, he came when the empress called.

Giving a nod of his head to the woman as he skirts the gathering, hoping Hua saw that her recent invite was here, he takes a seat. Ren is quick to offer his howl - about the only thing he could offer really - to the sky.

The winter solstice. 

It was the longest night of the year and to many, a mark of winter to come and with it, cold and snow that crippled their elders, depleted their food and herb supply and darkened their world. However for Aiolos, the day in itself was a cause for celebration. Though Mei, their mystic, had long since moved on in her journey, the Greek himself was still a man of worship. He prayed seldom for it was not for a man to rightfully do so where he had grown. Yet, he loved and respected the Sea and Moon Goddess all the same. 

This crisp morning would be a celebration for the night to come and for the moon to show off her light within the darkness. Aiolos was not near Hua to see her directly, having already begun to work at the feast to come. However he would stop to lift his muzzle to sing out to his members to further bring life into the pack howl.

He came because he was drawn by an innate curiosity rather than any summoning call, and he was quiet about it. The night held little fascination for Mou as he had spent an immeasurable amount of time studying the stars and doing the bidding of old gods; but he came to see what these island wolves would do when faced with that same darkness.

The man approached those that had come to gather for this moment but as he looked around, taking his time to trace the outlines of bodies in the faded light of morning, he did not see his wife among them - so he slowed, stopped, and pondered on what to do next. Mou was a recluse at the best of times; he was not keen on familiarizing himself with strangers yet, and since Maegi was not among those gathered, he drew away from them - in to the shadows, to lurk and to wait.

Admittedly, Natshana knew very little of Yuèlóng's beliefs and traditions.  She was certainly interested in learning; however, most of her time was consumed with herb gathering or maintaining her stores.  Nevertheless, she was quick to respond to the Empress' summons, eager to bear witness to whatever the significance of the occasion was.  Having heard of solstices, she wondered if that was a contributing factor to this event.  Tonight was to be the longest night of the year, after all, and it was possible that the founders of this pack intended to celebrate that occurrence.  She arrived in sight of Huā and all those gathered beneath her watchful eye and did not hesitate to lend her voice to the howl.  She chose to call to the moon, nearly half full and half empty, finding its presence both comforting and enchanting.

The longest night, the darkest night. Except Maegi had been trapped in one of those for many days, now.

Laying within her and Mou's makeshift den, she heard the howl go up. The faintest glimmer of sunlight reached her eyes as she opened them, reflecting fire and deepest indigo. Her lids fell after a moment; she wrestled with the choice to stay or stir.

The wraith added her voice, sad and lilting, to the song bursting out around the island. A high, clear soprano, it rang for a moment before fading away, her head falling before the sound.

Perhaps she would join the festivities eventually, but Maegi—limbs opiate-heavy—would remain here for a while longer.

It had been a month and a half or two, Aimi wasn't sure which one, since being accepted into Yuélóng by Aiolos. So little and so much has happened since then -- including her brother's second disappearance, and the meeting of many relatives she didn't even know she had. The fact that she was an aunt made her both scared and a little content at the same time, though she did secretly wonder who the father to Huā's children were, she hadn't been told yet...

A tale for another day, she supposed...

It was quite late, and a bit chilly due to this, and when the otter arrived the were already a he healthy amount of Yuélóng members here -- including her older sister, Aiolos, Natasha and Rendick. 

As you might've guessed, Aimi had no clue what was going on, or what a winter solstice even was, but she wanted to get involved anyway because if she was left out, she'd feel kinda salty about it later since the otter still had much to learn, she figured getting involved was the only way to do it. And so by wolven instinct, the sandy woman dipped her head back to join the howl with her fellow packmates.

As the days grew shorter and the nights grew longer, Tzila stayed up later and later. She was after all, semi-nocturnal, with her fondness of the dark and its shadows. They were a part of her. On this night, of the longest of darkness throughout the year, she had good reason to be feeling upbeat.

The curves and wispy fingers of the shadows enveloped her, making her feel at ease. Confident. She moved freely with a bounce in her step while the cold breeze whisked through her dark fur. Glinting silver eyes traced the sea waters as she conducted her patrols. Hua's call reached her ears, along with that of others. Turning, she made to find her way to the gathering. In reply, she released her own crooning howl. Not beautifully high pitched and full of thrill. Rather, filled with a serene sort of eeriness that demanded not to be ignored. Moments later, the mistress of night revealed herself, melting out of the shadows.

Away from his mother was the boy, settled on the shore whilst the sky overhead was admired. But her voice did reach his ears, as did the songs of those that answered her. Lacking his usual, cautious nature when it came to his family, the little sailor did not think twice before throwing his head back and singing for Huā.

Haoming, being the loner that she was, struggled with things like pack meetings. She approached the others - because it was her mother and she had to. She bristled a bit at the strangers (i.e. wolves that she had seen around but never really interacted with. Basically anyone not in her immediate family,) but she was not outright aggressive. Just... uncomfortable. 

Still, she settled next to Xiaoqing (bigger than her, now, which kind of sucked,) and tipped her head back to howl,

wrapping <3

Some came from the dimness to join her, though she never stopped her song to greet any. Huā continued her melody into the fading night, basking in the pleasantness of the music that joined her, the songs of her people. Yuèlóng as a whole... it reminded her of the day they had been established as a home. And though few remained from that time, she knew times were always changing, and the future of the population here would always be unpredictable. It did not change her belief that she had successfully created a home here- and that harmony of voices only confirmed that further.