Dragoncrest Cliffs Let it smoulder

@Mireille @Sobo @Rosalyn @Jorunn @Quennell @Etienne @Theo @Rhaegal @Wing @Val @Rykor @Lilitu @Rykor 

Pack meeting; Njord and Meerkat have been deliberately excluded.  

No obligation from Quennell, Swordfish or Lilitu as they are injured but the pack meeting will take place not far from the Roja den if any of them feel up to attending the meeting. 

I haven't double-tagged anyone who has two characters in the pack so if your second character's name isn't listed...it's just so ya don't get a tonne of tags

 One post per round, but no posting order. As this is somewhat time-sensitive, rounds will only be 1 week long. Short posts are absolutely acceptable! 

In the darkness that fell, the pack was summoned. Not far from the Roja den, they were brought together in an urgent, impromptu meeting that the leaders had deigned necessary given the circumstances. Most, if not all, would be aware already that Quennell and Swordfish had been injured by a bear- but the newcomer who had dragged herself to the borders had also been attacked, presumably by the same animal. Danger lurked, like a shadow in the darkness. Present, but unwilling yet to reveal itself until a bit of light was shed. 

Once they were drawn together, they were informed of the escalated situation. 

Another wolf had shown up, and was being tended to for her injuries sustained by a bear who was prowling the Tangle. They were all to be on high alert, and to continue patrolling the borders, and to send up a call immediately if a bear was even scented in the area. Nobody was to engage the bear alone- and there was no room for exceptions. 

Help would be encouraged for those wounded; Erzulie, Mireille, Sobo and Etienne would be regarded as primary caregivers; all others would be encouraged to bring food for the victims so they might gather strength.

None of that would need to be disputed. The wounded in their care needed to be tended to, and their borders needed to be patrolled, without question. 

The benevolence faded from Chacal's musical voice as she moved the meeting into a discussion. 

"Now we 'ave a few t'ings to discuss,
wid all of you, whose opinions we trust." 

It was gently that she would imply that those who had been omitted from the meeting no longer belonged in that category. 

"Dere be a chance de bear be nearby,
we must decide toget'er 'ow we deal wid it hereby.
We can leave it be, an' let it roam
wid de hope it will never reach our home.
We could try to fin' it an' lead it away,
but dere be no guarantee of safety dis way.
Attacking de bear will cause only more loss,
dis be not de way. Dat be not our cost."

She inhaled. 

"Be dere any ot'er suggestions,
'ow we might deal wid dis problem?"


If a wolf had another plan that might work, it might also be added into the vote. They had to consider every option, before they collectively made a choice.

Etienne caught his mothers call and he was near the roja den anyway. So he poked his head out. Offered his manman and kiss to her cheek and a gentle preen of her shoulders before everyone showed up. He could feel the tension rolling off of her.

Then he listened. He swallowed hard with big eyes. He was to be a primary healer, but he was only learning. He took a steadying breath and tried to listen.

She didn't like the fear that settled into her gut. It had been enough, when Swordfish and Quennell had come to them as torn apart as they were- but now this other woman as well? She feared the bear might still be nearby. She did not like feeling unsafe in her home. 

She snuggled up next to Etienne, and reached for Theo so she could sandwich herself between them. 

As for finding food, that was something she could do. She feared patrolling the borders, but she wanted the family to be safe. After all, the more scents they left along the borders, the less likely the bear would even dare bother with them, right? She swallowed, and nodded. She had no suggestions to give, so she remained quiet, hoping there was some way to make all their worries disappear.

the call rises and rhaegal, like the rest of the pack: gathers.

but as he joins those who beat him to where chacal's call rose and others trickle in, he notes keenly the absence of his uncle njord and aunt meerkat.

the pointed words cause rhaegal to flinch, despite that they were not aimed at him. still, njord and meerkat were family. njord particularly was his own flesh and blood.

though wrapped up in attending appointments to a healer to ensure his wound — his torn ear moreso than the wounds of his cheek — were healing and considering how he might go about ensuring a bride price in his search of a wife, rhaegal's focus had, admittedly, not been on their bear issue.

for now he is quiet, letting those who had more warrior knowledge speak up and offer their ideas.

Cherub’s Wing of Honor showed up promptly for her first pack meeting. She could not put a name to most of the faces there, but she owed a life debt to Sapphique – to Mireille and Erzulie – and she was determined to serve.

Though her membership was just a few days old, it had been easy enough for her to detect a rising tension among the others even as she recovered. The girl had learned of the two den-ridden boys before this, and now there was a third, having shown up on the borders much like herself, but in a far more grievous condition. A bear was the culprit, the news of which brought a faint restlessness to her paws as she sat amongst the crowd of Sapphique’s ranks.

She fidgeted in place.

Two options seemed to lie ahead: lead it away or leave it alone. Wing swallowed hard – no, no, no – she did not believe either of those to be the way. She was nervous to speak but silence was not an option. Not when lives were at stake. If I may, she addressed the meet. Many of you have not met me, but my name is Cherub’s Wing of Honor. The Isle of my birth gave us many bears to contend with. They can be difficult to trick, and they don’t tend to give chase long enough to be led anywhere far. Since this bear has already attacked others, then it must be shown our might if we’re to be rid of it.

A steadying breath, a quick glance around to the eyes that had fallen upon her. Some bears can be negotiated with, talked down from their violence towards us. We show strength, but vow to leave them be as long as it stays away… Though it’s more likely that this one cannot be reasoned with. We should shepherd it away instead. We’re faster and more tireless. We take turns, we take shifts, and we harry the beast while keeping our distance until it is driven away.

The young granite stopped and looked around, wondering if any of those present would agree with the ways of her homeland or if they all were too fainthearted to take such a risk, especially for the first time.

Rykor was too new to the pack to feel he should have any imput and he had also never dealt with a bear before so he wasn't sure what to say

I was double tagged btw, w Rykor and Theo.

Theo was much too young to have ever encountered or fought a bear. He'd hardly ever heard of them even and wasn't sure what to think of the whole thing.

mireille, baleful and downcast, did not feel better because njord and meerkat were not joining them.
njord — it hurt, down to the bottom of her cracked heart, to know that she could not make herself say da again. the word melted in her mouth down to wormwood.
mireille drew a breath, knowing she must speak, but was quieted by the woman, cherub's wing of honor. she was thoughtful and detailed, leaning on an experience that made the obsidian immediately curious.
and she had only just come!
her eyes rested lightly on cherub's wing; mireille felt a singing hope.

tonight was a somber affair. erzulie had some inkling of an undertone when she arrived to the gathering and saw that chacal had excluded meerkat and her husband.
the ruby had learned not to pry. sapphique was well-connected internally, with generations of family who overlapped in communication. sooner or later, she would learn.
she suspected sooner.
chacal spoke, informing the pack of a bear close and asking for suggestions on what they might do. one of their newest, the woman pulled from the sea, spoke with a confidence that belied her years as well as rank. erzulie was heartened by this show of involvement and investment, leveling the girl with an approving look.
"while i would like de bear to be dead outright, engaging it wid less — final intentions might be savin' more injury." and if the beast came to them, well —
the last had taken a great price and still died in the end.
"i would like to put fort' a suggestion if de bear persists, an' dat be to poison it, to draw it off wid a kill i will stuff full of sundry t'ings. if it will not die, dat would at least weaken it, sicken it."
but it might bring its wrath again, and that was why she meant it only as a plan of insurance.

val watched as figures poured in. each wolf was giving an apprising glance or a courteous nod depending on relationship, but as he looked across the crowd he noticed njord and meerkat had not come.

why would they ignore the summons? and, why had chacal then strode to speak while two of sapphique's stalwarts were not present?

his brow furrowed while he listened to each wolf speak. some, like him, remained silent. etienne, suzu, and rhaegal kept their counsel. rykor, theo, and mirelle watched in rapt interest.

others offered their voices to the murmuring crowd.

val thought of ursus and the gauntlet he had performed in the bear's den. he thought of shardik and ankyra sound's undoing. he thought of the sorrowful graves atop the cliff, and their occupants -- lives forever silenced by a bear. he thought of the day he and njord had buried the dead, and how njord's dirge had rose over grey stormwaters.

how much longer must i endure this crucible?

merrick's single eye burned along the edges of his mind, followed by the hard, silvery glint of his son aventus.

it was rousing to think of driving the bear from their home. he admired wing her enthusiasm. and it was cleverer still to offer poison - to this he looked at his maman in quiet awe.

he could stay silent no longer. where are njord and meerkat?

Sobo had nothing to add. He had already shared his thoughts on the bear with Chacal and Mireille and felt strongly that their only recourse was to kill the thing. Any other course meant they ran the risk of it returning. A new member of the pack spoke up in favour of driving it off, and Erzulie suggested poison.

Both good options, he thought. His preference aligned with maman's suggestion if only to ensure the bear would never return to harass them, but either would work to keep Sapphique safe for now.

Val spoke up with a question. Sobo felt perturbed that it was even brought up. He knew Val was family, but could not help associating him with outsiders, so long had he been absent from the cliffs. Dense. Chacal would not commence the meeting without Njord and Meerkat if there was any intention of them appearing.

Dey will not be coming, he said simply and as tonelessly as possible, leaving it vague enough that his sisters could breeze right past the question if they wished, but open enough they could elaborate if necessary.

There were so many emotions rattling around inside Stingray that he didn’t know how to handle himself most days. He had been so envious of Swordfish and Quennell going out on an adventure without him, but now he was glad he had not been there and simultaneously plagued with guilt for feeling that way. If he had been there, he’d probably be dead.

But couldn’t he have helped his brother and Quennell fight if he was?

Curiosity got the better of him when the pack was called together. There was even a tinge of excitement in him when they began to talk about chasing the bear away or killing it. Maybe he’d be able to prove himself to his parents, his pack, and his brother by playing a big role in that! The gentle sway of his tail betrayed his anticipation.

He was about to offer up a grand suggestion for throwing the bear over the cliffs when Val mentioned his parents, and Stingray looked around those gathered. Where were they? It wasn’t like either of them to not show up.

The Jade spoke, and that clammed Stingray right up. What did he mean they weren’t coming? There was a slight glare playing on his expression while he stared at the man who had always looked at him with disdain. Why not? he demanded to know.

round two! this round they can vote on which plan they would like to pursue.
Round two will have a week or less, depending on how quickly the posts come in.
No posting order.

Silence fell suddenly, which Chacal had expected. The news of the bear was shocking enough. Now, they were being asked to volunteer ideas for how they might deal with the situation. Some would hold their tongue, not knowing if they should speak, or because they had no suggestions to offer that seemed like they would work. She softened her gaze, to prompt them to speak- and in turns, they did. 

The first to speak was one of their newest members, and Chacal gave to her a gracious smile. She spoke in a way which made Chacal imagine her to be intelligent, and willing to help. A bit self-aware, but of course, she was speaking in front of a crowd who did not entirely know her. Her bravery was appreciated. This one, she had been told, had come from the sea. Something of myth and lore. 

She had experience with the animals, having come from an island. She demonstrated her ability to formulate a plan- and then take into consideration the circumstances. This bear had attacked three wolves now- it was not at all likely it could be reasoned with...Though that would have been a much better course of action, if it had been optional. She suggested that they lead it away, taking turns. It still involved engaging the bear, which was what Chacal wanted the least- and it meant having several wolves involved, but it was a suggestion. 

She nodded to her once she had finished speaking. 

The only other with another suggestion was Erzulie. Something Chacal had not even considered (having been given very little talent for plant identification) was the use of poison. She was not surprised that her mother had such things. She considered that suggestion, with a distant gaze and a faint nod. The bear was hungry- voracious, even to have attacked wolves. 

A voice rang out, familiar and curious. Oh Val, She thought. She was almost amused that he had been the one to point out the elephant in the room. Sobo, bless his heart, explained briefly, but that answer would not satisfy Stingray. She understood why he would be so puzzled, upset even. 

"We will talk about dis in a moment, fear not.
Your parents we 'ave not forgot."

Not that that was the best news. That meant to imply that they had been omitted on purpose- but that topic she would share with the pack once they came to a conclusion on how to deal with the bear. 

"Dis be a t'ing we decide by vote. 
So each voice 'ave a chance to promote.
De option dat will suit us de most."

She explained. She picked up three items- a conch shell, that was large enough she could barely fit it in her mouth. When placed on the ground, its mouth down, it looked impenetrable. 

"Dis be de plan to remain in our 'ome.
Patrol de borders, an' leave de bear alone."

The next was a rib from a deer that had been slain. She placed it in the snow, its tip pointing up. 

"Dis be de plan to lead it away,
to take turns, in a bear relay."

The last item was a piece of driftwood, twisted and gnarled, crusted with barnacles. 

"An' dis be de plan to poison de bear,
feed it somet'ing dat will cause its heart to tear."

She let them look from one item to the next.

"It be important to know, dat all of dese 'ave a risk.
Choose your vote wisely, do not be brisk.
When you know your choice, choose a stone,
an' place it wid de vote dat be your own."

The votes would be public; she intended for them to think in the way of a pack. They would pull one stone from the pile each, and place it with one of the three relics placed, which would symbolize their choice. She gave a look to her siblings- they would hang back, until their packmates had voted so they might know the true desires of their packmates, unswayed by the biases they held.

it was a moment of great import. val questioned the lack of njord and meerkat here. sobo answered in a cool way. stingray tried to keep them here but chacal moved on. she approved of this, and leveled a look at her son and his brother that suggested they should keep their peace for now and trust in chacal.
she was the first to rise, and selected a dark stone which she placed beside the deer's rib. mismatched eyes flicked to cherub's wing and then the ruby took her spot once more.
the last look was for chacal, and it was a look of respect for a fellow woman and mother and leader.

mireille was surprised when val spoke, and could not hide the flash of hurt in her eyes as they turned sharply toward him. what did he care? hadn't he been away?
defensiveness rose but she was learning to be calm. sobo answered and was fielded by stingray.
her throat began to clench and she forced herself to listen to the rest of chacal's explanation.
when their mother retook her seat, mireille lifted herself a bit stiffly. she grabbed a stone and thought about it, like she should have before she took it.
cherub's wing had given a good suggestion. the patrolling only would not satisfy her. and she knew nothing of poisons.
mireille clutched the stone and then put it down beside the driftwood almost apologetically. poison would keep them safer than interacting with something like that. she thought hastily but meant it, and returned to her position.

Etienne didn't fully understand what was going on. But they were threatened and Njord and Meerkat weren't here and he didn't get it. He tucked his tail and waited, with a confused air. But he snuggled closer to his sister and brother. Laying his head across his sister's ruff so he could touch Theo with his nose.

Crowded between her siblings, Suzu felt safe. Words of running the bear away in a relay made her ears slick back. Poison chilled her. She saw the others begin to cast votes, and noticed who chose which option. Her siblings didn’t move- but she would.

She hustled forward, picked up a small stone and placed it in front of the conch. She wanted nothing to do with the bear- and hoped it would leave on its own. She moved back to her siblings, and gave them each a small nudge.

an uneasy feeling settles in rhaegal's stomach, pooling like ice at the diversion in regards to meerkat and njord, but with the promise they could get to it in a minute.

he senses there is something big there, something that he might not want to hear.

ideas are thrown around about how best to deal with the bear but it is hard for him to focus when his uncle and aunt are heavy on his mind and the numerous questions buzzing 'round his head in regards to them.

but he was given a task: vote. leave the bear alone or poison it.

quietly, trying to tune out the loud anxious persistence of his thoughts, rhaegal picks up his stone and places votes poison.

Theo had both his siblings at his side. He was in a seated position, but he had a strong posture and his head was held. He knew he had nothing to say about the bear, as he lacked experience, but he had to stay strong for his siblings. He felt Suzu snuggle close to him, Eti on her other side, his nose touching Theo's pelt. He liked that he was comforting them. He knew Eti was trying to comfort Suzu too.

Rykor, being still very new to the pack, and lacking any experience with bears, wasn't sure if he should speak up or not. He felt that the best thing they could do was avoid the bear, until they couldn't, but he didn't say anything

Wing felt relieved when no rebuked her for daring to suggest that they chase such a beast away, but whatever bit of optimism she experienced in that moment was quickly dashed away by Erzulie’s suggestion.

Poison?!

Her throat constricted, and her skin prickled hot with abhorrence. Cherub’s Wing had not earned her title of ‘Honor’ by thinking of such wicked things. She cast her gaze downward, taken aback at first. Though the more she considered it, the more she began to relent to the reality of it all. Poison existed for a reason. Who was she to say that it was not for such a time as this?

The girl swallowed the lump in her throat and glanced towards the proud, grim expression of the ruby. At least she took no pleasure in her plan of attack.

Wing barely heard when others began to complain about an absence she would not have otherwise known about. She listened as the sing-song voice of the tanzanite then recited the choices and offered for them all to vote. She watched Erzulie vote first, surprised by her choice of the rib, which shone on her face as their eyes briefly met. Mireille’s vote was just as surprising, if not disheartening.

Some of the wolves that remained quiet also did not put forth an opinion on the matter; some of them were young enough for this not to matter. Cherub’s Wing trotted forward, though hesitated to place her stone.

A part of her wanted to be open-minded, to perhaps show solidarity with the obsidian, but ultimately, she felt justified by the ruby’s vote of confidence in putting her vote beside the deer’s rib before quietly skittering back to her place.

My last post here, I don't think it makes sense for Stingray to weigh in on his parents at all and I need to reduce my thread load! Feel free to powerplay him if necessary but otherwise he'll just sit silently.

Chacal bid him be silent, but it was the sharp look from Erzulie that shut Stingray's mouth. Maybe it was a little of his parents' unease and lost trust wearing off on him, but standing here among his packmates in the conspicuous absence of his family with no explanation for it was othering for Stingray.

The Tanzanite set out the three options. Stingray did as he was told, picking up a stone and weighing the options. None of them was what he really wanted. For flaying his brother's hide and nearly taking his life, Stingray thought the bear should pay with its life in a bloody battle where Sapphique emerged victorious.

But his heart was no longer in these visions of being a great hero, and when he placed his stone beside the driftwood, it was almost careless. The other options would allow the bear to live. At least this one would cause it to die and Swordfish would not have to suffer more.

He retreated and sat to listen to the rest, but his jaws were wired shut and his eyes were downcast.

Sobo waited until others had cast their votes, watching the growing pile of stones beneath the driftwood. Poison was not the weapon he would have chosen, but even in talks with his sisters, he had been adamant that the only permanent solution was for the bear to die. Poison would ensure the least damage to the pack in the process.

His reasons differed from the others, perhaps — it was not that he did not want to tangle with the bear, for his faith in Sapphique was strong — but when it was his turn to cast a vote, Sobo placed his stone with the others collected beside the driftwood. The only permanent solution available to them.

He returned to his place as Jade, appropriately lower than his sisters, and waited to see what vote Chacal would cast. His gaze darted once to Stingray and then away; the boy appeared to him to be sulking. Let him sulk. His parents and their inconsideration for the rest of the pack deserved whatever judgment was cast upon them. In Sobo's eyes, Stingray was lucky to be included here at all.

this will be my last, feel free to PP val to close it out. <3

few things could cut val down quicker than a level look from his mother. any protest he had died upon his lips.

each of them were tasked with a decision. it still troubled val that two of sapphique's stalwarts were not here for a say in sapphique's future, but he knew better than to speak again.

he watched as erzulie, mireille, and wing made their votes known first. sobo's answer still rung in his head.

rhaegal moved his piece.

the stone was heavy as val carried it. suzu's optimistic vote moved him, but others voted for poison or chase.

but val knew bears better than any here. he had lived in the bear's shadow his entire life. he had, in ways, been born into it.

he moved his stone to the ever growing pile by the gnarled driftwood. his voice laid alongside sobo's, stingray's, rhaegal's, mireille's.

poison that bastard and kill it where it stands.

Last for me; probably going to conclude this here, given that it is now out of date, and so that those who have departed one way or another can start updating their threadlog.

Chacal waited patiently while the wolves cast their vote, curious to see which options appealed to them the most. It became clear within only a few moments that the most popular option was the one that Chacal had been waiting to select as well. So when she placed her own stone next to the driftwood, and settled back with her fellow leaders, she allowed the others to survey the votes.

Some had refrained; and so this told her they would have to simply go along with whichever outcome there was to be had. They were young- and Chacal would prefer they were not a part of any of the more violent options, anyway. The conch received but one vote- from Suzu, who wished for peace. The rib had garnered two votes, and the driftwood had the biggest pile, of six stones next to it. 

Action was what the pack wanted- so she looked to her Maman. She would meet with her later to discuss poisons. 

The final portion of the meeting was simple; a quiet announcement that upon disgracing himself and baring his fangs at Chacal, Njord had been demoted. And that he and his wife had chosen to leave; that the pack would bid them a farewell. 

Once the meeting adjourned, it was time to begin planning for their next steps.