Emberwood O the wild charge they made

PHX is storming Emberwood! Rosings members welcome, but they are looking for @Aaron.
Party includes @Reek @Laika @Tavi @Lunar Eclipse @Spring and @Esaro

They left at break of dawn, yawning wide, to trudge across the snowy taiga. They crossed the wetlands with ease, finding the ground softer and springier than the plains but otherwise unbroken, and made the Emberwood in time for first light to cross over the mountains. As they approached the autumnal wood, Saena's face was set into a hard grimace. Whether it be due to trying to keep her breakfast down or due to the impending argument and potential battle that was about to occur, no one, not even she, really knew.

The scent of Aaron and a few of his followers was more prominent in the Emberwood than she remembered, but the incensed alpha female ignored her natural instinct to pull away from the scent of a claim and, with only a moment's hesitation at the place where the markings were most frequent, she pressed into the wood undaunted. Her ears were flipped forward as she surveyed the dark woods, and then with a bark that harshly cut the ethereal quiet of the forest, she and the Phoenix Maplewood pack advanced in a fanned line, ready to confront any whom they might spot amongst the trees.

She hoped it was Aaron, but any wolf could serve the purpose of warning their would-be alpha that her threat was coming to fruition.

The day arrived and Reek rose from his den without fuss or clamber. His sleep had been restless, thin, and by the time his mate roused him with a gentle nudge, Reek had been awake for hours. This nervous, yet silent apprehension towards war had blossomed into full blown fear, but Reek feared not for himelf or his own fate. He feared for what would become of his mate, his pack, and his family if they were to fail.

The war party was gathered and they set their course to the southwest. The march to war was a familiar, but strange thing, a limbo of sorts between life and death. He trudged in silence, unable to speak even if he tried.  

Together, they passed the border of this would-be pack and spread into a wide fan to show their numbers as they proceeded ever deeper into enemy territory. Reek took his place beside his wife and stood straight, stone-faced as she summoned their leader with a menacing bark.

Lunar rose with the others as they woke. It had been hard to sleep that night,she just kept thinking of everything that could go wrong. On the way there she had followed behind the others,taking in the area so she could remember it. She hadn't traveled outside the Maplewood since joining and even on a war march it was fascinating to see other places. It was a wetland with squishy ground which she found worked well with her being an arctic wolf. She had webbed paws that were great for walking across all kinds of wet ground. When they reached the Emberwood she spread out as the others had,finding herself at the end of the formation on the far left. She nearly stopped outside the border before continuing on,an angry expression permanently fixed on her face. She stoppd when Saena did as her Alpha female barked. It was a call for Aaron she knew. She stood to her full height with her ears forward and her tail up. She wanted to be as intimidating as possible when the others arrived.

!! calling my three gals, @Claudia @Maja @Amara. Feel free to hang back until after they've spoken. (:

The morning was quiet, and yet somehow restless. He had gathered a few followers- not yet enough for a pack but it was there. For now, however, he remained on edge. His pack had only acquired females, so far, and while that wasn't really his fault he felt that he was at a disadvantage. By nature, women were weaker and smaller, which was already a problem. On top of that, he had recruited a young girl and her caretaker, one who had no idea how to fight and the other that seemed a bit timid- not fighters. 

So yes, perhaps he felt that the other packs threats were empty, but the paranoia remained as he doubted the abilities of his still-forming pack against a fully able one. 

And then the scents fell upon him and the pale man stiffened. Perhaps they hadn't been bluffing, maybe he should've taken more caution. He padded slowly towards them, specifically seeking out the scents of the alpha pair he'd met- if only he knew their damn names.

When he found them, his posture straightened, and his light-eyes watched them with unease. He drew in a breath of air, his tail flicking once behind him.

"So you've come," he said, his gaze trailing slowly to those around them- this didn't look like their whole pack, but it seemed pretty big.

Spring yawned as she awoke.  Suddenly the females eyes flashed open as she remembered what day it was.  The day they would charge and storm on there enemies to drive them out.  Fear and excitement flashed through her as she stood.  Wondering how the day would go.

Spring left with the battle patrol that contained of Saena, Reek, Lunar Eclipse, Laika, Tavi, Esaro and of course herself.  As the group neared the border Spring found herself thinking over how the battle would lay out.  She wondered how many wolves the other Alpha would have.  Hoping it was a weaker bunch and a small number.

Spring was hesitant to cross the border line, feeling a strong sensation, an instinct to not cross the claimed area.  But she ignored it, trusting her Pack more than her own instincts.  As the pack crossed the border line Spring felt anxiety, energy and excitement begin to pulse through her veins as she suddenly became fully aware of the packs intentions once more.  She was proud to be apart of this pack.

Spring fanned out along with everyone else from the Maplewood.  Taking her position.  Her keen golden eyes, surveyed the area before her.  Searching for any signs of life.  Particularly on her list of the living, other wolves.

As the other Alpha came out, after Reek’s bark to summon him.  Spring perked her ears to hear him say:  so you’ve come.  Spring glared at the opposing Alpha male hard in the eye to show dominance and that if there was any fight, this pack would take his down piece by piece.

It was time to move onto the offensive march. Esaro was ready to move but not for the purpose of fighting. What he really wanted was to attempt to keep the others from fighting or to keep it minimal. The purpose here wasn't to eliminate which is the idea that keeps him believing that the pack he was in was the good side. Although he was able to continue to step forward he was afraid of being forced into an actual battle. It was crazy, he who wanted to avoid a fight decides to march onto a possible battle field. Was it really the right choice? He might not even be able to stop anything and just might end up in the way of the real fighters.

Foolish as Esaro may be, he remained brave enough to march in formation with the others. Saena called for the other party. It was at that point where he started to get nervous. Sure the pack they were marching onto hasn't established yet but he didn't know what kind of force they would have. If they refused to leave peacefully then that meant they believed to be strong enough to keep their place.

Believing that theory he found himself easily intimidated. He wasn't close to the front, he was at the right. Without realizing it he was half way hiding behind those more in the center. He kept a sharp eye around the group after only taking a moment to look at the wolf who the Alphas wanted to see. First thing to know before any action was to know who was the enemy and how many they were. He did expect to see a few warriors some where.

It was time. Time to prove her loyalty to this pack of strangers - to prove she was better than Ukko, much as she cared about him. Or maybe Tavi was using this as an excuse to vent her frustration. Whatever the reason, when the call rose for the raiding party to gather, she was there. She marched behind them at first, watching Esaro for a few minutes until she caught sight of Saena in the lead, and picked up her feet so she could run closer to the alpha. She cast a glance at Reek as she moved, and eventually fell in to step behind them both -- perhaps sub-consciously taking up the position that once would have been reserved for Ukko -- and soon enough, the party was entering enemy territory.

They were met by the leader, she presumed, and fanned out in a crescent line before him. It wasn't as boastful as she'd have liked, but there was still time to prove their strength. The enemy did not look to be very strong -- they weren't heavily populated, and were likely new enough to have little trust in one another. Tavi didn't fully trust her own packmates, but she knew which side she was on, and would defend them if she had to. For now, she waited for the first move by Saena.

ill post again when the talking is over <3

claudia awoke with a fright! clinging to madeleine, she watched as her guardian sniffed the air, feeling the tension enter the crimson wolf's body. "qu'est-ce que c'est?" she asked in a whisper, but madeleine did not soon answer. presently, however, the woman rose in a graceful series of long-limbed gestures, and crept close to a patch of bracken. claudia watched with bated breath until madeleine returned, eyes filled with horror. "loups!" she exclaimed, gathering her charge into her arms. "toutes sortes d'entre eux! et beaucoup!"

"qu'ils signifient pour nous faire du mal si nous ne laissons pas cette forêt," claudia theorized, remembering what aaron had told them about the wolves who did not care for his presence. so they had come. the child shivered a little against madeleine, but their creed was strong -- they would not abandon him to his plight.

Amara rushed onto the scene in a fit of worry. Only a glance at the opposing team told her what she needed to know. Bullies. No matter where you went, there were always those ones with their heads stuck so far up their asses they could only think with it. The yell from one of her fellow almost pack mates caused her to panic even more inside, though she tried to remain the opposite on the outside. She wanted to ask why they were doing such a thing, though the answer seemed all too obvious. They were territorial wolves, and where they planned to settle was all too close for their best convenience. 

Some of them seemed quite stuck up, their noses pointed so high she was surprised it was even a possible angle. She was no fighter, it was true, but there was no need for unpleasantries. By simply sorting out the root of the problem, they could find a healthy alternative. "What is it that you want?" She asked, though no hostility was held in her voice. She meant no harm, unlike them and it was clear they did not have the numbers to attack, she would not lie. There was no pride in admitting a fact. No, she held herself with a sense of serene calmness, ignorant to the bubbling fight that some desperately wanted.

Laika sprung awake. It was the day of the charge. The fight that would take place amongst the territory of Emberwood. If these wolves were going to take Pheonix Maplewood's food source, they would have to go through the pack first.

She arose and padded up to the group, making their way across Maplewood territory and into Emberwood. The scent of strange wolves flooded her nose, making her anger flare up even more so. The group trudged on and the longer they walked, the more adrenaline pumped through her veins. Her eyes narrowed, searching the undergrowth once Saena barked. 

After a few moments, the pack wolves emerged, first the alpha, then another wolf. Her a low growl escaped her maw and she looked over the three. It was time to prove her loyalty to her pack, and serve them with all her might. She glanced at Saena and Reek before turning back to their rivals.

Saena's eyes swept the dark woods as she advanced, flanked by the wolves of the maplewood, and at long last they flushed out their adversaries. Aaron arrived first, stating the obvious, and soon he was joined by three women, all petite, and one bearing the look of youth, though Saena could never be certain about yearlings. Cocky as she was, the Phoenix leader eyed each of them in turn and was unable to hide the upward turn at the corner of her lip. If this was the force he had amassed—three women, and all of them unlikely more than equal matches for the similarly slender alpha—then they had nothing at all to worry about here. Injuries would be scarce, if it came to that.

"As promised," she told the lead male, her eyes seeking him and meeting his confidently. Whatever authority he thought he had in these woods, thought Saena, was coming to a very swift end. "I promised you death if you didn't leave," she glanced sidelong at Reek on her left, Tavi on her right, and concluded, "and here you stand. Am I to assume you've chosen death for yourself and these ladies?" A shameful, prideful thing to do, thought the lead bitch, but perhaps he felt it necessary to make a point. Perhaps his true forces were hiding deeper in the woods, ready to route the Phoenix Maplewood pack should they advance. All possibilities, and yet she felt confident in their show of force.

The ball was now squarely in Aaron's court. Fight or flight?

Spring curled her lip, showing her fangs, awaiting to see how Aaron’s pack would react to Saena’s statement.  Would they stay and fight or make their leave?  Spring braced herself ready to defend her pack, her family, at the signal of Reek or Saena.

She personally would leave if she were in Aaron’s place.  He and his three females, one who was still very young would be no match for the power of the many wolves of the Maplewood who came and happened to outnumber Aaron’s pack.  Aaron’s pack in Spring’s opinion should leave or they would no doubt leave with injuries, maybe even a death...  Although Aaron could have wolves waiting in the dark woods, though she found herself doubting that... it was a possibility.

Laika listened to Saena's words, her ears pinning to demonstrate her agreement. Then, she calmed, giving a long look to each and every one of the wolves in front of them. If they chose to fight, they would surely be beaten (Unless of course they had a secret group hiding within the underbrush), so the logical thing to do was flee.  

She wondered where they would go if they chose to run, but that obviously did not matter. her tail lashing in defiance as her eyes raked among the group once more. All three of the she-wolves were small and lean, but looked incredibly swift and cunning. She herself was built with a smaller, lithe frame and claimed the trait of swiftness, so they should be good matches. 

Her muscles bunches and flexed and her hackles rose as she prepared for a fight. Even if one never came, she'd be glad she came. This was not her first time in a good standoff, but it definitely was her first pack vs pack battle. It would educate her well on the best ways of approaching others, and even enemies in a nonthreatening or threatening manner and making sure she was remembered. Saena and Reek were undoubtedly exceptional role models for that.

Like Saena, Reek had delivered Aaron a promise when he left him in the Herbalist's Cache; a friendly ultimatum. He would return - with many more in number - if he did not elect to leave immediately. Reek hoped that this poor soul would have had a change or heart and left, however, Aaron must have thought it a bluff. Reek, however, made good on his promise. The war party had been assembled and was staggering in number. They would not fail, Reek was sure of it.

The offer was still the same, but this time, a little more rushed. Leave now, or die.

Saena made their intent totally clear, so the imfamous Mouth of the Maplewood elected to stay silent by her side. He primed himself for a scuffle, but seeing the three women that Aaron had assembled, Reek had a feeling Aaron would take the more peaceful route. No blood would be shed, but the maplewood would emerge victorious.

'Chosen death?' So that meant a fight would start if the other party didn't leave? He started to feel confident with the upper hand was on his side. However as he looked at the members they were up against he couldn't find any will to want to fight them. Only their leader appeared to be a fighter. Even he could see that they didn't stand much of a chance with what they had. He couldn't understand why they didn't leave in the first place before all this. If they couldn't join then shouldn't they focus on finding a location without problems?

Esaro wasn't really hiding behind anyone anymore. He found some courage to stand along with everyone. Right now he hoped that those wolves would leave peacefully. That was the best solution. He really didn't want to see wolves killing each other again. He stood there waiting to see the decision that's going be made.

With the leaders prickling at one another and tossing words back and forth, Tavi took the time to observe the others which had gathered. The enemy group was composed of only a few bodies - one of which being a petite girl, quite young and not at all suited for this situation. It surprised her that these wolves would put up a fight at all. It was far easier to gather up their small group and find somewhere more hospitable without all the fuss. The leader seemed younger as well - not childish exactly, his proportions were firmly masculine and he exuded a confidence close to Saena's own - but there was a softness to him that Tavi found amusing. She looked to their own force, studying the faces of wolves she barely knew, and saw heightened aggression that wasn't entirely necessary. The fact that they outnumbered this budding pack was threat enough without the obnoxious displays. Not even Saena seemed that antagonistic. Proud, sure. Proud, confident, in control - but not angry or otherwise expressive. The girl looked to Reek, wondering if he would add anything to what Saena demanded, but there was silence while the Maplewood wolves stood at attention, waiting for a verdict.

Last post for me (:

Aaron's gaze shifted between both alpha's, but the lock of the eyes did not bring him to fight. He merely held it, breaking first to show that she had made her point, and gave a shrug. "I am no fool," he replied to her, tail flicking behind him. He was stubborn, but never would he place the lives of any of his packmates at risk- especially over this. "We will move south," he announced to them, eyes falling on each of the opposing wolves in turn. They didn't look strong, to him anyway, but they were outnumbered regardless. 

The man let out a chuff, signaling that this was his final word, and turned. "Let's go," he barked, and began at a trot out of the area, his subordinates trailing behind him. This was not the last time they'd meet, he knew, but for now the man had no reason to stay and argue. 

Aaron led what was the beginning of his back to Blackfoot Forest, where they began their pack without anymore conflict.

Saena disagreed with Aaron's evaluation of himself—she thought him foolish for thinking her threat was idle in the first place—but she made no comment as he looked to his pack mates and gathered them together. South they would go. Far south, she confidently believed. She didn't think he was dumb enough to incite the wrath of Phoenix Maplewood again and had no reason to think he would try to cross her and her wolves a second time.

As they filed out, the alpha kept her hard eyes on each subordinate as it passed: the fair child and what appeared to be her guardian or mother, the similarly petite Amara. Only when they had all disappeared from sight did the Phoenix alpha relax her stiff stance and stretch, pleased with the outcome. Part of her felt it was a shame to amass her pack and head out here for an affair that took five seconds to settle, but it was clear to her now that such a show of force was necessary to get through the thick skulls of some wolves.

"We monitor these woods," she decided, glancing over her shoulder left and then right at the Phoenix wolves. "If there is any sign of their return, we kill them." She was confident enough to say it was unlikely, but nevertheless, she would see them gone for good. "Let's go home," she bid, and turned to lead the pack back to their territory.

Laika nodded with agreement, and knew she would be one of the many to volunteer to patrol the Emberwood. As Saena signaled the the bunch to follow her, Laika pivoted on her paws and began the journey back home. 

As they walked, she began to wonder if they would ever come back. They were moving south, but what if they couldn't even settle there? She doubted they would ever come back, even if they could not stay in the south. 

The adrenaline began draining from her veins, and her once tense muscles were relaxing ever so slightly as they neared Phoenix Maplewood territory. Today was a successful day, for they had gotten rid of the pack that threatened to narrow their food pickings. Hopefully it wasn't the last time they would be successful, but hopefully it was the last time something like his would have to be done. But for now, Laika was satisfied at how she served her pack today and that was all she needed.

They were at a standoff, or at the start of a cold war, because neither side seemed ready to concede the grounds. The staring contest could only go on for so long - and swiftly enough, the weaker leader buckled under the pressure. Or that's how Tavi saw it, but really the situation called for a heftier dose of denouement than that. The rival pack did not appear pleased by the show of force by the maplewolves, but without much protest, they banded together and slid away one by one. It was a triumphant (if a little boring) win for Saena and the rest of them.

When Saena spoke again, glancing back to Reek and then to her and all the others, Tavi gave a stern-faced nod of affirmation. She would happily return to these woods -- maybe one of these fools would do the same, and then she'd get to have some fun and adventure for a change. The whole killing thing slipped her mind even as Saena mentioned it, going in one ear and out the other.

As the group began to disperse back towards the maplewood, Tavi lingered for a few minutes; she wasn't so keen on returning yet, having become quite enthralled with the concept of exploring. Maybe she'd take a different route home? That sounded like fun. More fun than this party, even if it had been a success. Either way -- when the last of them trailed off, so too did Tavi.

Spring knew she would come back to the Emberwood to be sure that all of Aaron’s pack were gone forever from these woods.  She found excitement worming in her stomach.  They had chased out the opposing pack!  She kept her gaze and features stern and businesslike though, not letting her excitement rise just yet... although she gave her tail a small wag.

Spring turned to follow Saena as she led Phoenix Maplewood back to Phoenix Maplewood.  She found herself wondering where Aaron’s pack would go... if they were smart they would move far far away from the Maplewood.  That’s what she would do in his position.  She hoped Aaron and his pack were smart otherwise the next time they met, it would probably be with tooth and claw rather than speak.

Aaron led his wolves away and the Maplewood emerged victorious without even coming to blows. Reek couldn't help but let a proud smirk line his face in the wake of this great accomplishment. And with that, the territory squabble was finally over. The wolves of the Phoenix Maplewood could now enjoy peace for a change.

Saena spoke, drawing the raid to a close. While, he ached to return to the safety of home, Reek felt his job was not quite over yet. "I'll stay," he replied. "I'll check to see if any stragglers remain." He believed all who followed the would-be-alpha left along with him, but it would be best to check for himself.

"I'll be back by nightfall," he assured his pack, but it was directed toward Saena, whom he didn't want to worry (though, he doubted she would). With a nod, Reek departed the war party and set out in an opposited direction. He would rendezvous with them later.

The band of lone wolves soon slunk away, defeated by the Phoenix even if it hadn't been a particularly hard win. They hadn't even had to lift a paw and the battle was over. She made sure to memorize the scents of each wolf as they passed. 

The large pale male and his petite brown she wolf, the white pup and her mother figure, another brown female who was larger than the first. She dipped her head in accension of Saena's words. If they came back they would die. She glanced at Reek as they passed, his words were rhetorical and not directed at her though. 

She turned with the others, still keeping to the far edge of the group. She padded after her pack to head home to the Maplewood. It was in silent agreement that they would be back to patrol.

With one last look, she turned on her heels, not looking back to meet the triumphant gazes set on her back. They had not won anything, as they so arrogantly thought. There had been no quarrel, no battle to be won, and no blood had been spilled. But let them think that, she smirked. As long as they thought they got what they wanted, all was fine. Besides, they had another location set up and it was no trouble to move. 

No doubt they would patrol to see if they actually left, but she didn't care, there was no harm and that was alright for her. She wondered if the other packs were the same, territorial with the same inflated ego. Little did she know, they would turn out to be just the same with a lighter shred of decency. You couldn't get anywhere if everyone started marking war on everyone without a second shot, at least, that's what she believed. 

Amara exits