Redsand Canyon ostium

making the assumption that everyone is here! attendance strongly encouraged <3 the pack meeting will continue if there are questions/discussions to be had!

it was a misty morning when he called together the forces and commoners of mereo in the forum.

there were many announcements to make. beside him stood ruenna and little alivia. he expected @Valiria, @Aquillius, and @Cornelius to be nearby as well.

unsure if @Kallik was on patrol between here and the vale, or present near mereo, he looked for @Aquene, along with their children @Nanuq and @Siku. @Maxim and @Towhee were given a nod of approval, as were @Leona and @Jack Snipe. he gazed over the arrival of @Glaukos, @Reyson, @Tierra, @Killdeer, @Katniss, and @Sakina. his yellow eyes searched for @Sybol and @Fennec in the growing crowd.

"good morning, mereo. today i have several announcements to make." by now the pack would have seen the his wife's withdrawal from her duties. he would begin with that. "today marks the end of lady ruenna's service as matrona. we thank her for her long and effective leadership in mereo, and look forward to what other wonderful things she will affect in our canyon."

his throat was tight. he glanced toward his wife and then back to the congregants. "glaukos, please come forward." when the strong man had done so, germanicus spoke again. "based on his successful tour of duty in akashingo, glaukos will become our elitus. select missions for those in the first cohort to complete may come from him."

he waved his tail once in congratulations and then gestured for reyson, killdeer, and tierra to come forward. "the three of you will be scutari in mereo. and maxim," he went on, nodding toward towhee's mate, "you will be our tribunus. it is your new role to support the praefectus in any military designs she may have."

there was another moment of celebration. "reyson and our auxillary sakina will be traveling to locate coastal packs. the success of their journey will open new opportunities for alliance with mereo. tierra, katniss, and killdeer, prepare for a scouting mission into the south of the canyon. you will be sent in the next three weeks."

germanicus paused. there was more yet to say and he was already worn by it. he must be brief. "mereo is expecting princess nekubi makono of akashingo. she is the daughter of our ally and should be treated with respect. but she is also a child who has come here to learn. glaukos will be traveling to escort her back and i expect we will host her for at least a month."

lastly, he looked toward the four children: jack snipe, leona, siku, and nanuq. "come to me." 

when they had presumably done so, he motioned that they should turn and look upon everyone, soldiers and plebians alike. he said their names aloud, and then to the pups themselves: "acquaint yourself with each face. these are your friends, confidants, supporters, and teachers."

that was the end of his long announcements. germanicus quietly wondered if crowfeather would appear, or if he would remain in his resting.

"if there are questions or things to say, speak now," the imperator said, sweeping his eyes over mereo.

Reyson shifted and moved to the meeting grounds. Blue eyes taking in all around him. Seemed there were to be many changes.

The first part was or seemed a burdened announcement. Though at his own name he stepped forward. At his advancement.

Thank you Imperator and members of Mereo. I will do my best

He backed up his eyes searching for two tone as he was also commended and given a task with Reyson.

A lot of words were spoken, so many that Nanuq quickly lost interest and stopped paying attention. Germanicus droned on and on and on. Nanuq inspected a curled, dried up leaf near his paws, peered around at the nearby wolves, and heaved a great many silent sighs. Nanuq was a pup who grew bored easily in spite of his lazy demeanour, but he didn't think anything had ever bored him as much as this blah-blah-fest.

As a result, he didn't notice when he was called forth by name and had to be nudged by someone before he stumbled forward with a start. A little scowl knit his brows. He exchanged a look with his twin, hoping to find a similar emotion etched into his brother's pale face. He turned to look at his packmates when instructed, but it was with a glassy-eyed and somewhat vacant expression. A huge, bored yawn split his jowls apart halfway through Germanicus' introduction.

When it was over, he wasted no time toddling back to Aquene. Whatever this was, it hadn't been the least bit fun. He was quite ready to go home.

Jack had gathered with the others, but he had no real idea why he was there.

The old man talked a lot. Way more than a boy could pay attention to. On and on and on… Jack yawned, glancing around to the other individuals who had gathered to listen to the yellow-eyed man talk. Most of the adults looked like they were listening intently to the words that were offered. Some of the other younger ones looked like they were about as interested as Jack Snipe was. He was particularly interested in a pale-furred boy with grey freckles. There was more of an interest in playing than there was in listening to the old man talk some more.

When they were instructed to approach him, Jack nearly missed it. He only followed because he had seen one of the other pups approaching.

The symbolism of reflecting on what could be a future mentor was lost on the boy. He reared back on his legs and snapped his teeth at Germanicus as if to say, you talk too much! Let’s rumble. Jack didn’t really care what he might have interrupted or disregarded in that moment.

Tierra wasn't expecting a promotion, but she definitely wasn't surprised either. Of course she'd be on the same level as her cousin (or nephew, or whatever)! Sure, he'd been here longer, but she was working super duper hard. Her smile said it all.

She'd been a little annoyed when Glaukos was given a promotion that was apparently better, seeing as he was gone most of the time anyway (on a mission, not that she knew that). Moreso it was how annoying he'd been the few times they had interacted. She didn't have to, like, report to him now did she? That would be awful, god.

Her pride at moving up tempered that reaction, thankfully, and she kept her mouth shut. A promotion and a task, and the task didn't sound all that terrible either! This was going to be awesome.

Fennec had nothing to say.

She remained in the back, proud of Killdeer, but also noting that she hadn't been mentioned. Fine by her. She didn't follow what half those words meant anyway - the ranking system here felt completely arbitrary.

She should congratulate her son, but she wasn't willing to press forward to do so. She would wait until later, when she could catch him alone. For now she lurked and, as soon as it was apparent the news had been shared, she would take her leave and disappear quietly.

Katniss was happy she was assigned something to do. It made her feel like even more of a part of the pack

Jack was impatient, and so was Leona. It kind of felt like being in church for the first time; she wanted to climb on the pews, use the bibles as coloring pages, maybe make some paper airplanes or spit-balls for the pontificating geriatric up front.

She wriggled where she sat, like she had to pee really badly, and looked to Towhee. Ma, she called up to her, but it was unlikely mother could hear her given that her attention was focused so thoroughly on the other adults. Leona knew by now that mom had to look at her to hear her, for some reason.

As Leona's patience ebbed, she focused more on Jack, and was entertained when he approached the old man and tried to initiate play. She laughed, breaking up some of the words spoken with her high squeal, and stamped the ground - dancing on the spot.

Another promotion, and another trip!

He looked toward his mother, and his grandmother, hoping they'd be proud of him. His chin was raised high, and he sidled toward his brother-in-arms @Reyson, giving him a friendly nudge.

Even though they'd be on different excursions, their rank was the same.

And then he moved toward @Tierra, who looked. . .less than pleased. Though perhaps she just had resting bitch face. He looked down at her, head cocked. They were about to go on a mission.

Perhaps they ought to get to know each other.

Thank you, Imperator, he barked, ever the brown-noser.

By the conclusion of the Imperator’s speech, Towhee’s eyes felt like they might fall out of her head. Midway through, she reached  her right paw up to rub at her brow, then her temple, smiling despite the pain as several members of the pack—including her own kin—were recognized for their merits. Luckily, Maxim was seated on her left, so she threw a congratulatory elbow at his ribs.

She dropped her forelegs and turned, trying to catch each of her relatives’ eyes and offer a nod of acknowledgement for today’s honors. But soon the pack’s youngest members recaptured her attention as they were ushed forward. They were not exactly the picture of decorum as they approached Germanicus, though a smirking Towhee didn’t know what anyone would expect from tykes that age.

Aquene arrived with her children, uncertain if her husband would arrive for the meeting or if he were too far away to make it at the moment. She settled near the front with the little ones, trying to keep their attention focused on the Imperator as he spoke. Her eyes saddened at the mention of Ruenna’s leave, her heart aching. The woman had become such a close friend, and she felt as if she had failed her when it came to helping her manage her pain.
 
Next came Glaukos, the twitch of her nose showing leftover irritation she felt with the cocky soldier though she schooled her expression otherwise. It felt like a lifetime ago and yet still boiled so close to the surface. Elitus. First cohort… and then Tierra, Killdeer, Reyson. She found she appreciated the three of them, though all for their different ways. Tierra had brought her a patient, Reyson interesting conversation, and Killdeer… well, Killer was important to Towhee and that made the boy important to her.
 
Glaukos would be leaving, and they would welcome Mokono to train, the man escorting her back.
 
Her heart ached watched her children go before the pack, knowing the life that would come of them. She knew that she wanted to keep them as far from combat as possible but she also knew it was not possible. Everyone went to war… she just wished for peace so they might never know what it was to draw blood from another. She held her tongue, not having any questions to bring forward.

Unlike the other pups, Valiria listened to every word her father said. She wasn't too familiar with all the names and the ranks he spoke of, though she knew she'd heard them all before. She was curious to hear them and search the crowd to place those names with faces as they reacted with nods or smiles. She began to imagine herself one day, standing before the ranks to receive the same honors and accolades. No, higher ones! She grinned to herself and straightened a bit, then slipped back into polite attention.

It wasn't until she noticed the younger pups and their lack of attention that her own began to falter. Annoyance began to stir and her eyes narrowed at them. A low growl rumbled from her chest, but she remained in place, not daring to move unless dismissed. When that did nothing, she looked up at her parents with a small whine, a plea that they do something to silence the disrespect.

Sybol sat patiently listening intently. He couldn't help but be distracted by all the puppies' shenanigans, he absolutely adored pups. Sybol had trouble sitting still himself. There were so many people and so many names, he tried to learn them all and assign each name to a face as the ones who belonged to them acknowledged it. He couldn't wait to start making friends.

no posting order!

the children were young. no adults had moved to speak. but @Jack Snipe surged to nip and @Leona let out a bright sound.

valiria was not pleased. her eyes spoke as much, as did the burble in her throat. she was finely raised, he decided. and that was a credit to he and ruenna. but the others were younger.

the imperator cleared his throat quite loudly and looked down at the pair with a firm glance. he did not think their actions warranted discipline, nor did he think he was the one to mete it even if it had. but they were not so young that they could not begin to comprehend the gravity of a pack meeting.

one day soon these two would come to the arena. and there the imperator would set them to rights.

and perhaps another day valiria herself might be a commanding officer.

the notion pleased him.

he nodded at @Killdeer in recognition.

"if you will stay," he said of the children and their parents, "i want to show you the sparring grounds." perhaps having good rich red earth beneath their paws might unlock something in their little heads, as it had done for cornelius. 

to the others, germanicus waved his plume. "you are dismissed. the remainder of the day may be spent at leisure," he told the soldiers, who by now understood that leisure still included patrols.

Reyson dipped his muzzle to his fellow soldiers and to the Leader. And then without a backwards glance, he started towards the borders. Meetings always made him feel caged in. He didn't like it. Not one bit.

Tierra caught Killdeer looking and looked back with an air of what?. She hadn't had too many conversations with her older sister's son, but since he was Caracal's friend, she'd just kind of written him off as a similar idiot and moved on. Now they were the same rank, though, which meant he probably wasn't as good a fighter as either Germanicus or Glaukos. Maybe she should get to know him then. They could practice together and she'd look better.

Later, maybe!! For now, as soon as she was dismissed, Tierra bounced towards Towhee. -Mom!! I told you that I was doing awesome here!-. Her tail waved excitedly, then she looked at her younger siblings and grinned. -Next time you should howl during the announcements. Really see who's loudest.- She giggled, then glanced at her mom, realizing she was still there and might not agree with the hilarity of that.

It wasn't her fault everyone took themselves too seriously here! Maybe, when they were older, they could help her work on that.

Germanicus mentioned taking the kids to the arena. Towhee had already taken her pair there a handful of times by now, though she certainly wasn’t opposed. She glanced at them, wondering what Jack and Leo would think.

But then Tierra’s emphatic -Mom!- captured her attention. Towhee grinned and nipped at the yearling’s ruff. She was definitely proud of Tierra, though moreso she was just happy the girl was proud of herself.

With her kids at the forefront of her attention, Towhee naturally peered around for her eldest. Fennec was nowhere to be found. Her lips pursed and she glanced at Killdeer again, giving him an exaggarated wink.

You wanna go with the kids? she said to Maxim, gesturing at Germanicus. I’m gonna go introduce myself to this ‘leisure,’ seeing as I don’t know her, Towhee quipped, striding away with a smile.

promotions and introductions. a myriad of things, all good. he beamed at towhee before letting his gaze drift around the group respectfully.

eventually the time came and he was put on dad duties, a great joy! truthfully. he did appreciate any and all chance to dote on them or teach them something. even if sometimes they seemed more inclined to goof off or romp around him instead.

go, go. he gestured to towhee with a grin.

A pleased little smirk dripped across her lips as  the other pups were reprimanded. It was subtle, but it thrilled Liri nonetheless. It was only right that they listen respectfully to her father. Their age difference meant nothing to her young sensibility—if she could obey, so could they.

The meeting concluded and the pack dismissed. Even so, Liri remained seated and gave her parents an imploring look. Already, innately, she set herself apart from the others. She was not just pack. She was the daughter of the Imperator and Matrona, and that meant the rules she abided but were separate, unique. He had dismissed their pack. She would wait until they had dispersed and she and her siblings were dismissed, as was appropriate for their station (or so her wee little brain had concluded).