Ravensblood Forest Nouveau

@Howl @Arturo

Aster led Howl back down the mountain using Arturo's thickly layered scent as a guide. She wasn't fond of the male persay, but she wasn't the one who had to be. Once they reached the border, Aster motioned for Howl to take a step back, not being to see how close or far he already was, and lifted her head upwards. From her maw came a loud call for Arturo, and in the meantime before his arrival, she thought to make conversation.
I'm blind, by the way. Once the words escaped her mouth, she chuckled quietly and awaited either his or her superior's response.

He followed at her side down the mountain for a short time. The dark night began to brighten as the sun began to rise below the horizon. Sun rise wouldn't be for another few hours but its arrival would come soon. She motioned for him to stay back and with a nod of his head he did as she asked. 

While they waited she stated that she was blind which shocked Howl. She didn't show any signs of it. "I would have never guessed." he said as he backed his head up in surpise. He then said playfully with slight firtation. "Such a shame you can't see your own reflection, it's really stunning." he finshed with a smile and minor chickle.

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Arturo had not been far off when Aster's call had risen through the air, calling for him. He was not pleased that she had called for him specifically when he approached the scene, seeing a stranger she stood with on the other side of the borders — given that he planned to utilize Furiosa's status as his red herring to it's full potential but there was nothing to be done about it now. He was close enough when she exchanged the information that she was blind. Mistake. His fiery, red-orange eyes, like embers set aflame against the black of the mask that adorned the coywolf's face were sharp upon the male as he responded with a flirtation. “Aster, come here.” He beckoned to her, willing her to come into the borders where she belonged. His sharp and unrelentingly burning gaze slid from the stranger to Aster but flitted back quickly, assessing.

The man's untoward suggestions, even in harmless fun as Arturo was sure they were made, towards Aster were unwelcomed by Arturo. There was only reason why Aster would have led him here and Arturo had no room for playing. If they were here to talk business and the potential of joining The Family then they were going to talk seriously. His lip lifted in disapproval before his face returned to it's impassive, cold expression. “This is Teaghlaigh, stranger,” Arturo made the introduction gesturing with his muzzle to the forest behind him. “I am Arturo. I assume that Aster has led you here to potentially seek a place among us, correct?” It was straight to business with Ceannasach. As he took the safety and secrecy of The Family very seriously he saw no reason to employ small talk. He only sought to judge if this stranger had what it took to be Comhlach and to meet his expectations and trust to become apart of The Family.

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Aster immediately did as she was told, strutting her way across the border. Arturo began his conversation with the male, thus Aster remained silent. Something in his tone told her that he wasn't happy so she intended to be spoken to before saying anything else. There was a slight pain brought to her eye as she caught a glimpse of the morning sun, though she stuck it out and waited for the business to be taken care of.

In the middle of their conversation, before Aster had a chance to respond. A dark male with black and brown in his pelt, called her over the border. He looked at her with a sturn glare and without hesitation she went. He was no doubt the highest ranking wolf within the pack, or at least one of them. Although Howl was a gental flirt he was also a soldier and in the face of authority especially authority that may soon be his leader, his attutude shifted to one of an obedient soldier. 

He stood firm, at attention, not in a dominant way. He had his ears pulled back, tail down, and his muzzle up pointed towards the male. Indicating that Howl knew he was in charge and for the time was at his command. He watches as he gestured toward his territory. He asked is Aster had lead him here to join their ranks to which he replyed "Yes Sir". He waited to for the male to allow him to speak.

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Aster did as he bid of her, crossing into the borders. Things were different now that Teaghlaigh was official. Becoming apart of The Family would not be as simple as it had been at recruitment — and that had only been because Arturo'd had no choice. This simply re-affirmed that he would have to hold a Family Meeting and soon so that every one was on the same page. He did not fault her for calling him specifically — perhaps he should have taken the time to tell everyone individually but he had seen no need when he planned to cover it in the Family meeting. A submissive posture was immediate from the stranger on the other side of his borders as Arturo stared him down, silently scrutinizing. The submissive posture appeased the Ceannasach but it was his words that would see him as a Comlach. The respect was definitely appreciated, as was the manner's. Yes, sir. If only every wolf that came to his border showed him the same respect and etiquette.

A sage nod was given with a slight purse of the gangster's lips in contemplation. “In Teaghlaigh we are extremely close knit and extremely territorial. The name of our pack translated to common tongue literally means The Family and it is how we operate. To join us you will have to prove yourself to The Family and Ceannasach and earn our trust,” He paused, salmon pink tongue sliding across his jowls once. “it will not be easy.” But before he went in depth, Arturo took the time to allow the stranger to speak and to determine whether he was truly willing to put forth the effort of becoming apart of Teaghlaigh or not. Arturo offered a fair warning, an out early on before the real talk got started.

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Permission to skip = given

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He ramain at attention as the leader continued to speak of the pack's name and its ethics. It reminded Howl of his previous pack. They were very close to one another, with proved both beneficial in battle and a disadvantage whenever anyone was lost. He would need to earn the pack's trust and prove himself, which was said to be difficult from Arturo. Howl quickly glaced at Aster the back at Arturo, possibly unnoticed. She was the only wolf he really knew in these wilds and even though they weren't the best of friends she was the closest thing to a friend Howl had. He also knew that he would thrive best in a pack and decided it was worth joining this one. "I'll do everything I can to earn your trust." he said to Arturo though it was ment for every pack member, even those who he hadn't meet yet.

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Ceannasach eyed the stranger once more as the male affirmed that he would do everything to earn his trust. Arturo did not comment with what was obvious: that he had no choice. He would either earn The Family's trust or their teeth. It was not up for negotiation. The melanistic coywolf gave a twitch of his tail as he contemplated and silently judged. “What skills can you offer to Teaghlaigh?” Arturo asked next. His gaze slid to Aster who remained silent beside him. It was good practice, if she ever intercepted a wolf at their borders to hear how he addressed the stranger, how he spoke. He gave no specifics aside from what was already known about Teaghlaigh. Though he, alone, could make the judgment whether they were taken in as Comhlach or not Arturo would not begrudge them gleaming what they could from wolves lingering about. Knowledge was power, after all.

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He asked what skills Howl had to offer and right away Howl knew his experience. "I have been in many wars, and excell as a mercenary and a scout." In his days of battle his family had to move almost after every fight. Mentally mapping out the land scape around him was an essential skill he needed to know with so many ememies around them. Scouting also gave him time to relax and not be a soldier all the time. Socalize with the ladies a bit and practice. In battle he had been a guardian and a warrior and had seen his father be a tactician. He hoped that his skills would be enough to allow him into the pack. He knew that if accepted his skills wouldn't disappoint.

in order for Howl to officially become apart of Teaghlaigh you need: 2 threads with members of The Family (Aster won't count since he met her prior to the joining thread, unfortunately — however I will count Arturo, if you're interested in a second thread! :D) and 1 thread where Howl carries out the task Arturo set for him. If you have any questions feel free to drop me a PM at any time! <3

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Arturo was contemplative as the male named off his skills. Mercenary and Scout. They had both, already, and one in training, but an overlap was bound to happen. One more mercenary wouldn't be a bad thing, providing this stranger could hold up under the pressure that Teaghlaigh would place upon him in the coming weeks. He would be kept in the dark about all of The Family matters. He would be an associate. Working for The Family until proven otherwise. Arturo could think of plenty tasks for both of the trades he named off but he didn't trust him enough to send him to a pack that Arturo was curious about nor did he trust him to escort Chusi to Donnelaith (not to mention Arturo himself wanted to do so for he knew who she was going to visit if she did wish to make the trek and Arturo very much desired to see the scarfed mummer again). “Become acquainted with the Family first. You already know Aster, there are plenty of us you have yet to meet,” Ceannasach paused for a moment. “Your final task will be to find me the quickest and safest way through Gyrfalcon Keep.” He gestured with his muzzle in the direction of the Keep that bordered Ravensblood Forest. Knowing a quick and safe path through the Keep would cut back on time spent going around it and would make visiting Blackrock Depths (and vice versa) much more effective for all of them. Arturo did not think the task would be all that difficult for a Scout as it was utilizing the very skills he boasted of.

For the first time since the meeting began he turned to Aster. “Get yourself something to eat from the cache and rest. I will give our newest Comhlach a tour.” He encouraged her. The sun was rising and he knew it bothered her. Besides, he did not think she could effectively give the tour given her condition. His peace spoken to Aster he turned back to the stranger. “What do we call you Comhlach?” Arturo inquired, realizing he'd never gotten a name.

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Aster smiled and nodded silently to both Arturo & Gray, Yes, of course. With her final input given, she started off deeper into the territory, her inner conflict slowly beginning it's rise.

The leader began to state that Howl should meet the rest of the "family" members and that his test for their trust would be to scout out the best path through a place called the Gyrfalcion Keep. But for now he sent Aster way to eat and rest, and said that he would give Howl a tour. He then looked back at Howl and sked for his name. "Howl Sir, Howl Pendragon." He stated waiting for Arturo to gesture for him to cross the border and give him a tour of the territory.

small post to conclude & archive this! :-)

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He watched Aster go off before he turned back to Teaghlaigh's newest Comhlach. The Comhlach named himself as Howl. As the Ceannasach had already offered his own name he offered the male a sage nod and a quiet “Good,” Before he licked his jowls and beckoned with his muzzle for Howl to cross into the borders. Once the other male had Arturo rubbed his scent upon the male so that The Family would know him to be a Comhlach before he took him on a tour and when he was finished encouraged him to fill his belly at one of the pack's caches if he was hungry before they parted ways.

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