Redsand Canyon mollis

mandatory pack meeting; will powerplay NPCS & assume ur char has arrived, if at the end of the meeting they have not arrived they will be considered gone from mereo <3 difficult! look forward to seeing how this plays out IC <3
@Killdeer @Atreus @Alstroemeria @Paeon @Cad @Tierra

when germanicus parted ways with fennec, it was to stride toward the den where the injured lady was kept.

he would have her hear his words.

the snow was harsh and swift. it cut through the canyon and sought an icy hold upon his shoulders.

fennec had gone. he did not think she would come back. but for the son reared in mereo he did call, even if he too felt the young soldier should depart with his mother.

"our time in the sunspire is ended," germanicus said when they had gathered. "and with that, my presence no longer necessary." he had meant to guard the peace of the mountains. let that fall now to epoch. "i am departing and lady fennec will not be continuing her role as imperatrix."

as wife.

her face and that of ruenna stabbed at him a moment.

"i have been grateful to spar with you, to travel with you, to train with you. i think you will do well in the world with what you have learned here. i want to extend the chance to take up leadership over mereo now, if you wish. all of you are capable and the canyon is protected through the end of winter. move out as one into the world and bring your training elsewhere. this is your home. i no longer decide what is best for you."

a breath. "and i am proud of each of you."

to alstroemeria; "i will bring you to paleo or to epoch. both are fine places and both would be more than habitable, domina." it went without saying that germanicus would remain a while to see also that she was settled. he exchanged a firm look of support with her and then turned his eyes upon the others, inviting them with his eyes to speak.

and the sound of fennec's weeping rang between all his thoughts, the pealing of a crystal bell.

germanicus felt that perhaps it was not enough atonement.

The Imperator had returned to Mereo.

Cad moved swiftly to answer the man’s call. His pawsteps were light. He found the meeting grounds where Germanicus sat and dipped his head.

There was word of changes. The Imperator spoke of leaving Mereo. He stated that the lady Fennec would not be keeping her role in the canyon. The young medic wondered what this meant for her. He had enjoyed their conversation. He had enjoyed her company. Though she spoke of having taken a different path, he believed she had more to teach him.

The silver frame of the young wolf was stiff. He did not dare look at the others who had gathered. He wondered what they would say, if another would step up to take the place of the Imperator.

Cad wondered if he would remain in Mereo. Something pulled his mind elsewhere.

Atreus hunched his shoulders against the biting wind that swept through the canyon, his eyes riveted on the Imperator. He’d had his misgivings about Mereo lately but he hadn’t expected this. And he didn’t really understand. Was the pack being disbanded? Germanicus invited someone to step into leadership and in the very next breath, bade them go out into the world. “This is your home,” he said but actions spoke louder than words.

His eyes cast around at the gathered wolves. The only ones he really knew well were Alstroemeria and Tierra, though Atreus had never gotten close to either of them. Fennec was absent and so was her son. His loyalty had belonged to the Imperator and the canyon. Was going with Germanicus even an option? He hadn’t given any details about where he and Fennec intended to go from here.

Atreus’s lips pressed into a thin line. He didn’t really know any of these wolves, not even Germanicus. If Mereo was no more, he would take this opportunity to lean into his scouting skills. Perhaps he could use some of the intelligence he’d recently gathered and make a home in one of those packs. Or maybe he would go to Brecheliant and stay with Amalia a while.

He didn’t really feel the need to make an announcement of his own. Atreus merely dipped his head to his former leader, an acknowledgement for everything Germanicus had done for him, including taking him in as a small, starving boy. And then he left, without even waiting to hear Mereo’s ultimate fate.

Oh, wait… fuck. Tierra listened as he said he was leaving, then basically told them everything was done. Where even was her sister, then? Did she seriously just take off or something!? And where was he going?!

Tierra turned to watch Atreus bounce and looked at who all was left. Well, fine then. It wasn’t like she wanted them to stick around, or really cared, or anything.

This kinda sucked. She didn’t say anything, or offer to lead what was left. There wouldn’t be enough to pull together anyway. Her biggest question was ‘what next?’ and she’d keep asking it after Germanicus finished, sitting a little forlornly and waiting for everyone else to peace out too.

The cold winter air and the call from Germanicus was a sign to Paeon to 'Get your ass in gear'

She hasn't sure of current pack politics and events. Something mentally was holding her back from reaching outside of herself to contribute aside from the day-to-day patrols and small talk.

As the Imperator began to speak 'our time in the sunspire is ended...' Peaon's immediate reaction was bug eyes, almost an eye roll. Another move? She thought. We just settled her and... but he wasn't finished. As he continued the gravity of the situation began to set in. Oh... Shit's going down...

She had seen fewer and fewer wolves within the canyon but as though a fog were in front of her she didn't see the full picture until now.

The Imperator would be no more... the Imperatrix was gone... and an offer for someone to step up. Paeon looked around at the few wolves standing among them. Yeah right. Who of the remaining would step up? Would have the command and respect to command those remaining? This was so... fucked.

Then an offer to Alstroemeria. An escort to Paleo or Epoch. Why was she getting the special treatment? "And does you offer to her extend to the rest of us? An escort and introduction to Paleo... or Epoch for anyone who chose it?" Paeon asked unintentionally slightly brattish. She didn't mean anything by it, but hold back her emotions wasn't her strong suit. She looked to those around her, Cad and Tierra, who might also choose to take this offer over staying.

If there was anything to stay behind for she might take it, but this could be the push she needed to really do something with herself.

"any and all are welcome to accompany me," he said to paeon, sweeping his eyes over the other. "the lady is injured. we will all help her to reach a place of recovery."

icarus was gone.

tierra was given a level look. "i head east. that too, is open to those who wish to follow."

a long breath.

to cad he glanced. 

this was the end of all, he felt.

Peon asked a question she hadn’t really considered. Did she even, really, want to go anywhere? She liked the canyon okay, but it wasn’t like it was home or anything. No place really was. Tierra didn’t do well with silence or alone-time and if she stayed she was probably about to get a whole lot of both. She could always go join Epoch, but maybe it was time to do something new. Like, new new.

Her dad had never reappeared but she still had family on the coast. It could be cool to go see what it was like to stay there a while. She’d been taken with the idea ever since she’d met them briefly, before, with Reyes and Teya and her siblings. She had learned things and even her badass warrior grandmothers would have to be impressed, right?

Or, she could see where he was going. The coast was still old… anywhere he went would probably be new. Like, new new. But it might get boring, traveling with just Germanicus, and if he was anti-social she’d probably have to ditch him just to meet anyone cool. Would’ve been nice if Bearnose, or whatever his name was, stuck around to at least care where they all ended up. And no way was she analyzing why his leaving, in particular, stung more than even her sister’s.

She didn’t say anything, but her mind was clearly spinning on the options. Afterwards she’d speak with Germanicus about it, once she’d figured out what it was she actually wanted to do. In the end, she’d pick the decision that was least decided - because choosing to explore was the opposite of actually choosing any place.

last for her!!!