Northstar Vale NSV CLAIM: we owe this to ourselves!

— Round 2 begins now! Please allow @Raheerah to respond first.
— The claiming howl will be made in Round 3~

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Whenever the monk had the chance, he slipped away for quiet prayer and meditation. He had traveled deep into their paradise this time, following thin streams of frozen water like fingers that reached out to touch the farthest hidden pools. The one he had found was iced over like most of the water, so he assumed it must have been pretty shallow. Nevertheless, it was quiet. Tenzin settled himself in and breathed a long sigh of relief. The cold was not an issue for the monk - not because he had grown up in it, but because his self-discipline was topnotch. His breath became slower as he slipped into deep meditation. Rather than puffing out like clouds, his breath became thin wisps of smoke as his eyes closed and his mind relaxed.

Silence engulfed him for only a brief moment, though. The earth-shattering call of the Dragon broke his concentration and the monk annoyingly opened his eyes. He wouldn't be meditating with that beast waking the gods every other chance it got. With one final deep breath, Tenzin exhaled his anger with the Dragon and inhaled his patience. Gathering himself and shaking free of excess thought, the monk headed quickly toward the epicenter of the call. Following the same thin finger of iced water for short while, Tenzin soon found himself heading toward the the gathering of wolves that had come together near Raheerah and a very lost looking Dawa.

Dawa, he called softly, snaking through the gathered wolves straight toward her. Here, child, he called again softly, coming up to her but keeping a very gentle distance between the two of them. He had learned to let her make first contact, especially when surrounded by strangers. He turned to the Dragon with a quick glance before turning address the gathered wolves. Hello friends, he said with a smile, You are gathered here today to join our ranks. We will be Northstar Vale; we will be the healing springs that dot this paradise, the tall mountain walls that protect it, and the gentle air that drifts through it.

He turned to the Dragon again. Was it not evening? When did they plan to hold this meeting? Hadn't it been set for the morning? Tenzin dismissed the thought and smiled gently toward the beast. You will also be Northstar Vale, the monk said quietly, barely a whisper. Tenzin had tightened the Dragon's chains once before, but this was the final turn of the lock and disposal of the key. You cannot leave us, not even with this paradise- which, I will admit, I am heavenly grateful for the find. But you are Dawa's immortality, no? Tenzin lowered his voice even more, You will stay here, and you will protect her. With a final and authoritative look that ended the conversation, Tenzin turned happily back to the group.

Let us introduce ourselves, friends, he called gently with a smile. I am Yasuo Tenzin, though you are welcome to call me Tenzin. I am a monk and seek to further the possibilities one has with their mind. Dawa here, he gestured to her small frame, is a cleric. She heals physical wounds with all sorts of plants and—he gave an apologetic chuckle—whatever else she magically mixes together. He waited patiently in case she had anything to add. After a moment, his attention drifted to the Dragon and the monk hesitated to introduce the imprisoned beast. The sun was dangerously close to leaving them for the night. A twinge of annoyance settled in the monk's eyes for a brief moment: he didn't want to cast his pack's good graces under the cover of an overcast night. A monk would never be defeated by darkness, however, and he lifted his head as if urging Raheerah to take over.

After the Dragon had made an introduction, Tenzin turned to the gathered wolves and gestured for one of them to speak up.