Blackfoot Forest ROLE CALL · River seeks the deep

Pied was clearly the sort of mediator that any good pack needed, to help make decisions and to play the voice of reason in a dispute. Zombie, it seemed, was a loyal follower, for she only reaffirmed her blood oath to the pack and made no further motion to step up in Jinx's stead. In fact, it almost seemed that the lot of them were dancing around the subject, until Pied suggested electing a leader. Hawkeye's words were spoken without direct mention of leadership, either, but her mannerism was as serious and her posture was as erect as Leto's own, and the coy-wolf fixed her emerald gaze on the dark female she suspected could be her direct competition. The she-wolf was an inky-black figure, contrasting with the pale snow, possibly not far removed from Leto's own age, and almost certainly larger than the halfblood. If it came to a fight, it would almost certainly be a formidable one, not easily won.

Leto cleared her throat, and moved her head to look at each of her companions in turn. "We have little that draws us together, but I see in each of us a fierce will to survive. We can, if we are willing to work hard, to defend what with have with our very lives if the need arises. We can recruit others to our forest home as well. After all, who wants to live the winter on a damn mountain?" Her laugh, directed at the expense of both neighboring packs who claimed Going-to-the-Sun and Silvertip Mountains, was meant to lighten the mood and point out their obvious advantage against their closest competitors. Quickly, though, she sobered, though not without the hint of a proud smile playing on her lips. "Without Jinx, Kerberos, and Lecter we are leaderless, but not lost. I can't speak to the faith on which they founded Bon Dye-spirits and loa cannot keep us alive in a blizzard, or fill our stomachs when our caches are empty. But I can stand behind their goal of taking what is rightfully ours, and building the bonds of a strong pack."

Nervousness filled her stomach suddenly in a rush of nausea, but she did not falter; she only continued, asking Zombie, Pied, Vilocity, and Vires, "Will you accept my leadership as Alpha of Blackfoot Forest?" Though she was seated, Leto's tail lifted over her dark-furred back as the query passed her lips, and she looked over the group, expectant for their answers. Her paws itched faintly as her muscles tensed ever so slightly, in anticipation of physical attack if she were to be directly challenged over the matter.