Stavanger Bay barnacle bill
what would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark?
340 Posts
Ooc — Cactus
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#1
Pack Activity 
Welcome to Ironsea's first gathering! We're going to discuss some ranks IC so that you can start plotting out how to move forward with something to reference. We will openly discuss pack policy and how we are to treat some situations. Then, we're going to close out the thread with some fun. This meeting will run in 3 parts over 3 weeks - once a week posts - and is mandatory. There will be no posting order, but please post once a week with your character. So, let's get it on! :D @Rosalyn @Raptor @Arturo @Hexe @Sandpiper @Engel @Godot @Nox @Erzulie @Tetsubō @Dakini
It was early evening when Smokestep pulled himself from his den and found a perch upon the high boulder that jutted from beside the rock wall. His gaze wandered out across the sea with a deeply rooted love; it was all that he had ever truly known as a home. The crew had been running well for some time. He was pleased with the results, and though there were stragglers who had wandered away, his hunt for them would never cease. The life of a pirate released none without punishment for wrong deeds, and though he had been pleased with the return of Dakini, Brig and Ava’s scent had trailed out beyond the pack and had vanished somewhere in the wilds. His intention would be to gather willing members and seek them out – search for answers – and if they had opted to abandon the life he had offered them, he would take what was owed from both. Before this task was to be set, he was eager to gather his crew for a meeting; it was time that they all were pulled together with each other and shown what it meant to be part of a true pirate crew.
 
The young Captain breathed in the brine for a moment and as the sun ticked down against the orange-blue sky, he drew his head and called for his wolves. ”All hands on deck! his voice carried over the bay and bid them to come to him. Some part of him hoped that Brig and Ava would arrive as well; to know that they were safe and had returned to their home, but the male with the limp had not been seen for some time and the young female who had aspired in the arts of healing had seemed to wander away not long ago. Smokestep had followed a short scent trail out of the bay and he had not noted any return in the sandy female’s aroma. Disheartened but hopeful that he could will them back to his bay, Smokestep waited for the others to arrive and kept a close eye out for the – still missing – two members.
 
Waves crashed against the shore and echoed promises of life and spring in the oceanside pack. In spite of their troubles and the few who had not gotten along, the pale corsair was proud of those who had dedicated themselves to the pack. The cry of gulls sounded overhead and broke through the sound of water beating against the shore before their wings caught the better end of a sharp breeze and they were carried away. Smokestep’s mismatched gaze searched the sands and the water for those who would approach first. He would pleasantly greet them all before they began. His paws itched with the promise of what was to come, and his mind raced with pleasure at the thought of all that they had accomplished so far. It would only get better from there.
calling to join them the wretched and joyful
shaking the wings of their terrible youths
freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
i will wait under the tow like lions do
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Ooc — lauren
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#2
all hands on deck!

sandpiper didn't need to be told twice -- she was already almost present. she had stalked her nimble-footed brother, curious of his enigmatic intentions -- as he clambered across the rock and his booming voice sounded over the bay, it became clear her company was expected.

primly, the cairn girl sat on her haunches like a thin house-guard. her narrow muzzle pulled into a squint as she glanced down the bright shore. there would be more, shortly -- but for now she sat stiff and proper.
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#3
Godot had been spending slightly more time down on the beach looking for odds and ends that might prove useful later on.  Her latest find was a large beach clam shell that had been in the low tide area, its wedge shape sticking up from the sand like a flag.  It was unfortunate that it didn't come with a tasty treat inside as it was only half of the creature's hideaway, but its otherwise unchipped, uncracked surface deemed it worthy to get added to her piles of other things that she'd hidden across the territory like a chipmunk.

After placing the shell out of the reach of the waves, she'd been poking around to see if anything else was about to be tossed up to shore but so far had come up with nothing. It was only when she was about to head farther away that she was interrupted, hearing Smokestep's call.  Huh. Better head that way, then.  Godot retrieved her shell and headed off.

She'd been much closer to where he'd been calling from than she thought, as her arrival on the scene was preceded only by. Uh.  What was her name again?  Oh well.  Figure it out later.  Godot paced at a distance for a moment, pondering where to sit before finally picking a spot that obviously was far superior than any other patch of earth -- at least to her.  Ghhllo, she said with a polite dip of her head, apparently ignoring the fact there was no way in hell she was going to be understood with the shell in her mouth.  Didn't seem like she was eager to put it down either.
Fear is the heart of love
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Ooc — Starrlight
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There were already a few there when Rosalyn came, her stride still slow and stiff from her altercations previously.  She was fortunate so far; none of the wounds had festered, and hopefully they would heal clean and quickly.

As she arrived, she wasn't sure where she was to sit... did she go to the fore to stand alongside, or remain with the crew?  She ended up doing a mix... she approached, and stood near the front but to the right side, awaiting to hear why he had called.
he's raised on the edge of the devil's backbone
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Ooc — Phi
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#5
arturo had fallen into the routine of patrolling ironsea's borders. the gesture was a welcoming familiarity. he was still a man that favored the weapon of words over tooth and claw but it was an old habit of the once ceannasach and it was true what they said: old habits truly died hard. he was patrolling their eastern border when smokestep's summons rose through the morning atmosphere. it catches the coywolf's attention with an ear pivoting towards the west, towards the sea as the pallid, young captain's voice fades. he marks his spot in the borders so he might return to finish the patrol and makes his way towards where his leader's call had risen with haste. he is not the first to arrive upon the scene he notes with an assessing sweep of his hellfire gaze. it touches first upon smokestep, then moves to sandpiper and two females whose names he is not aware of and has yet to officially meet. the swab takes a seat in the general meeting area but a little bit away from the others — not with the intention to isolate himself but because he is unsure where he falls in line with the others who have, presumably, been apart of ironsea much longer than he and are, likely ( if he had to guess ) more accustomed to their seating arrangements than he; and because he doesn't know many others besides sandpiper and smokestep.
wreathed in iron and in fire
i bare my bloody teeth
and only pity makes my strike so clean
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Ooc — JB
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#6


The beast kept watch from one bluff or another, lingering only so long as he must. Where Smokestep went, so too went the creature. There was ample space upon the beach for the Cairn to roam and do his duties, however, Tetsubo remained an ever-present eye in case of trouble. He had his purpose. He would observe until the boy gave him orders, and otherwise was a stoic gargoyle, always looming.

When a command was finally given, Tetsubo did not have to go far to find the boy—and within minutes there were others gathering to the call. The beast did not pay them any attention; he remained muted, and only moved when he deemed it necessary, taking up a position at the helm with Smokestep, as he might've done with the boy's father.
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Ooc — Me
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#7
Hex had been sleeping in her comfortable bed of bones (not a figurative speech - she did have a pit filled with all of the bones and limbs she had fished out from the ocean), having colorful dreams about things and events she could neither retell, nor understand herself. The only indicators that she was probably having a good time in her sleep, where the at times twitching feet, tail tapping against the uneven surface and muffled barks. 

The awakening was sudden and rude and had it been anyone else, but the pallid leader, who had called, she would not have cared to open her eyes or even move. However, respect was respect, and begrudgingly she got up, stretched her stiff limbs and after fifteen minutes appeared, where the rest of the crew had assembled. There - still yawning and blinking sleep away from her eyes - the dappled she-wolf sat down to wait and see, what matter they were going to discuss today.
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Ooc — Cody
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#8
Engel heard the call and immediately went to it. He heard as Smokestep gave an order and he stood there, rather than sitting, looking attentively to the Captain. He began to wonder what exactly was up, what had they been called here for? Yet he did not question as instead glanced about at the others.
All of Engel's threads are always open! For better or for worse.
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Ooc — Kris
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#9
He slinked in late, having been slow to rouse himself to move as he continued to wrestle with his inner turmoil. He drew to a stop at the rear of the crew and took a seat, expressionless and quiet.

Perhaps he ought to have been somewhere forward, nearer to Smokestep and Roz, but as he looked upon the faces gathered and realized how little he knew of them, how many names he did not know, he grimaced. He was hardly deserving of his title, let alone a place up front.
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Ooc — Marmoo
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#10
The sea was beautiful today, and the water felt amazing on her body as she swam further. She was getting the hang of swimming, but she was still new as far as currents were concerned. It had pulled her down once, but thankfully it had only kept her down a few moments before she broke surface again. Pedaling the waters, she looked around and wondered  which way should she go. Yet before she could decide, a call broke over the waves, and she immediately turned towards the shore.

Perfect timing for a swim,' she thought as she quickly swam back. She was going to be late. Pushing herself a bit faster, she ran into the current again, but she was ready for it, only bobbing slightly. Her body broke through the waters, and her tiny paws made short work of the rest of the waves, striking solid ground.

She stood, the water coming from her frame in waves, then drips. Shaking enthusiastically, the water sprayed around her, creating a faint and brief rainbow. Her fur was a mess, and she scowled inwardly at herself. The first meeting, and she had to come looking like this. Quickly, her feet hit the ground, breaking into a sprint in the direction of his call.

Topping a slight dune, she took a deep breath and slowed down as she spotted the others. A smile broke over her maw at the sight of Rosalyn, and she scanned the others as she trotted towards the gathering. New faces mixed with old made a feeling of contentment flow through her. This was where she belonged. Sitting in the back, she began to smooth down her soaked fur. She'd need a drink after this.
Daisies and Dynamite wrapped in a fluff ball.
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Ooc — Cruz
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#11
Nox doesn’t ignore the call but her distance keeps her from arriving in a timely manner. She’s not very fast as it is and by the time she does arrive, a noticeable limp has settled into her right front leg. She does her best to walk smoothly to the ground, looking from one wolf to the next and realizing how few she actually knows. Awkwardly, she moves off to the side next to no one in particular, as she continues to scan the crowd.
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Ooc — ebony
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#12
LATE

erzulie had begun to ply her trade outside the borders, more out of curiosity than any true desire to be paid for her time. her explorations had led the she-wolf to glean many things, which she had begun use for her densite ornamentation. however, smokestep's authoritative call rose in the salt-washed air before the harlot had quit some disentanglement or another, and so she arrived well after the others. 
as rosalyn was the packmate she knew the most closely, erzulie moved quietly in the dark she-wolf's direction, though kept her distance as to honor the separation of leadership. thus aligned, the woman swept her mismatched gaze over the ironsea wolves she had not yet met.
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what would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark?
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Ooc — Cactus
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#13
Sorry for the lateness on this, kids. My internet has been shotty on the farm right now but we've got two folks coming to look at it again this week. I won't do pack meeting posts on mobile to spare you the eyesore. <3 Next round will begin one week from today (Sunday the 20th) and that will be the final round to this bit. Tagging you all for a reminder: @Rosalyn @Raptor @Arturo @Hexe @Sandpiper @Engel @Godot @Nox @Erzulie @Tetsubō @Dakini
The young Captain watched them file in one by one and brought his gaze to each of their faces as they did so. Some part of him wished that the others would arrive too – that Brig would only have taken time because of his leg, or that Ava had been in the nearby wood searching for healing herbs – but when all had filed in, they were nowhere to be found. The group that had gathered was certainly one that he was pleased with, though. He had admired them since their recruitment, and there were a few who were making themselves known within the pack. Smokestep could not have been happier to find that he had formed a pirate crew that could have matched that of the Fenriver wolves that he had met when he had only been five months old. Time had allowed him to adapt and change, and Ironsea would do the very same.
 
When the last of them had trailed in to the meeting area, the pale yearling motioned with his muzzle for Roz and Raptor to come to his side. They were his leadership, and whether or not Raptor felt like he belonged there, Smokestep would have it no other way. Once that was addressed, the Captain looked at the rest of the crew and smiled at them. It was a crooked expression that lifted the right half of his face and cast a twinkle in the red glimmering of his eye. “Ahoy, crew,” he began in a bark.
 
“We’ve got ourselves a lotta things to cover in this here meetin’. First, I wanted to give ye a bit o’ explanation fer how yer supposed to be movin’ up from Swab. I’m lookin’ fer the best pirates fer this crew; I don’t want nothin’ less than the best, an’ I believe we’ve got some o’ the best already. If yer sick o’ bein’ a Swab, start integratin’ yerself in the life. Meself, Roz, an’ Raptor will be available if ye want to discuss where ye’d like to be in the future an’ how to get there, so don’t be worried to snag one o’ us wit yer questions, aye?” He paused, almost as though he was waiting for them to respond with a verbal understanding. His gaze sought out the faces of those who were familiar to him.
 
“Secondly, we’re gonna chat some ‘bout the pirate code; this here code is what we ruffians live by, ye see? It’s our guidebook fer how we got to behave to stay afloat. Code is: no prey, no pay; ye get yer share o’ the loot that’s offered to ye an’ nothin’ more, but ye’ll be fairly compensated. All yer duels wit each other must be overseen by yer leadership, ‘cause we don’t want ye maiming each other. Any scallywag that trespasses is to be brought to yer Captain fer judgement. None of ye are eligible to be a member o’ leadership unless ye’ve earned yer sea legs and got yerself a pirate name. All wolves got the right to parley, or to speak wit me, so long as they tell ye they want parley. An’ last but not least; once a pirate, always a pirate,” he stated this as though it were the most grave thing he would utter to them on that night. He lowered his skull some so that he could catch their gaze with his own. “Which brings me to this; if ye abandon yer crew, ye’ll be hunted down an’ killed. This is yer life now. We’ve got two who were accepted into the crew an’ who have decided to leave without sayin’ anythin’. Ava an’ Brig haven’t been seen ‘round here fer a while. We’ll have a hunt fer the two o’ them if they don’t turn up in a week. Any o’ ye scurvy dogs are welcome to join the hunt.”
 
Turning his head, Smokestep looked to Rosalyn and Raptor respectively before he fixed his sights back on the crew with a wily smile that had split his features. His eyes glittered as he rose to his feet and shook his coat atop the large jagged rock that had stood as his platform.
 
“That’s enough o’ all that serious chattin’ fer now. We’re here to indulge in some fun an’ get to know the crew, but before we start wit the good stuff, I’ll take any of yer questions that ye can’t hold in.”
calling to join them the wretched and joyful
shaking the wings of their terrible youths
freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
190 Posts
Ooc — Kris
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#14
He hesitated. But then he skimmed back his ears and obeyed, repositioning at Smokestep's side and forcing a neutral expression as he sat down. He listened with a tense jaw as the Captain spoke of the pirate code. For all the differences between Smoke and his old Captain, their code was much the same, and just as the sable wolf feared, being a crew member was a life sentence that could only end in death. He had cheated it once; he was not likely to succeed again.

Raptor swallowed as he looked across the crew, pain lancing his chest as his eyes passed over Sandpiper.
Fear is the heart of love
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Ooc — Starrlight
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#15
Rosalyn too acquiesced when Smokestep began, standing slightly behind him, to the side that Raptor was not.  She kept her eyes on the crew as he spoke, and while her ears twitched to hear some of what was said, she didn't comment.  

Hunted down and killed. Her gut twisted with the words, and she knew that on a core level she disagreed with them.  A pirate was for life, perhaps, but a crew should be a family because of a captain worth following, not a looming threat of death.  If they hadn't respected his words, the better that they left, and going hunting only took more away from their bay to seek deserters in the wilds.

She wondered briefly where he had picked up this notion; it seemed so off from the easygoing pirate who she'd assumed him to be.  But she was his second, and she couldn't question him in front of the crew.  Not now.  But perhaps later.

Newly disquieted, she kept her expresssion open, and nodded.  She would be around to answer any questions, but she secretly hoped none would come to her on that account.  Not until she'd had time to speak to their Captain about it.
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Ooc — ebony
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#16
erzulie watched as raptor and rosalyn were motioned to the corsair's side. two-toned eyes rested upon the pair then as smokestep began to speak. the pirate's easy vernacular charmed the harlot — he was fair, firm, and fierce. and while her own thoughts churned upon the same conclusion as that of the fair first mate, erzulie saw no reason to voice them.
a smile curved her lips as her spiced auds cupped each of smokestep's words — it was the introductions that quietly thrilled her. how better to ply her trade than to announce it to all of ironsea at once?
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#17
A fair number of people did show up, most of which she didn't recognize, being a bit of a hermit.  Unsurprising there.  For the most part, it was a giant pile of blah blah blah.  What did she want to do with herself?  Who freakin' knew.  She just did stuff and that was pretty much good enough, wasn't it?  Was there a rank for 'just does stuff and things'?  Probably not.

The thing that did get her attention was that they were supposed to go hunt people down.  Interesting.  Her ears flicked forward; though fighting people wasn't so much her thing, chasing them sounded like a delight -- let someone else be tormented and that kind of thing.  She was interested, albeit potentially useless in the end, but since volunteers weren't asked for right now, she'd just keep hold of her shell and hang out and see what was next.  Very exciting, you see.
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Ooc — Me
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#18
While Hexe was not particularly inclined to like or feel anything for anybody (here or out there - all the same to her), then she had some level respect to the pallid leader. And something inkling to being her favorite among the crew, because he was a skilled hunter. And more often than not - where he was, there was sure to be food as well. 

Because of this she tried very hard to listen, what he had to tell. Were he older and wiser, he would not have made the mistake of speaking too long or too elaborately. A simple one word sentance would have conveyed the message much better to her than this, where despite the best efforts she lost him after "a lotta things", not hearing his voice anymore, but keeping her gaze fixed on his muzzle. The talking went on and on, and on - Hexe's gaze gradually grew more absent and her head began to sink lower. 

She caught herself just before her jaw hit the ground, rallied herself back into a position and shook her head. Then a hopeful glance to the rest of the crew and the captainship the last - were they done talking?
he's raised on the edge of the devil's backbone
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Ooc — Phi
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#19
the beginning of the meeting was simple: if any of them sought a rank above the one they all currently held: swab as it was called — foreign but familiar in the harsh way it fell off of tongues — they should seek out the leaders. the gangster allows that to sink in before smokestep moves onto the second part of what he wishes to address. though ambition is not something the fearghal monarch has ever, nor would ever, lack he's getting older and after the turmoil he has suffered and endured lately he is, for the moment, content to remain at the bottom. of course, his pride would never allow him to linger there but being a boring, regular subordinate has brought a peace and freedom to arturo that he has not felt in a very long time.

it's only natural the coywolf would wish to savour it until greed and pride both reared their ugly heads once more.

the code is simple enough to follow as smokestep reviews it with them: no contribution, no food. duels are to be overseen by leadership, trespassers are to be taken to smokestep for judgement. they were not leadership ready until they earned sea legs and a pirate name. arturo wasn't quite sure what 'sea legs' were but he assumed ( even if he was incorrect ) that it was at least a rank above 'swab'. the gangster gives his young leader his undivided attention, a slight perk of already attentive ears as the pallid young man mentions what is, perhaps, the most important thing he's spoken all meeting: that anyone who abandons the crew will be hunted down and killed. while arturo does not bother to glimpse around and see if any of the others are perturbed by it the gangster regards the younger man with appreciation. now that was a rule that the devil coywolf could get behind. he had a similar rule for teaghlaigh — though he wished he'd enforced it more. he should've. maybe if he would have things would be different now.

arturo does not allow himself to linger in regret — there was no use; it was all in his past and last he checked his direction was forward and not backwards — and when the opportunity arose to ask any questions he remains silent. he has nothing to add and understands the code well enough, he feels.
wreathed in iron and in fire
i bare my bloody teeth
and only pity makes my strike so clean
i will wait under the tow like lions do
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Ooc — lauren
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#20
none of what smokestep imparted was new to sandpiper, who took it all in with an insufferable smirk of knowing -- a smirk which suddenly vacated her features as she caught raptor's form not too far from her brother's.

anger anew flushed her, and she clamped her tail tightly around her haunches, flexing her claws into the sand. her teeth clenched and the she-wolf looked away, studying the faces of her fellow swabs for any sign of mutiny or dissent.
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Ooc — JB
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#21


Once the messages were spoken and things stilled, Tetsubo had no reason to linger. He did only because of a sense of duty — he was here to observe and protect after all — but he would not partake in any festivities unless directly confronted and ordered to. Thus, he kept to himself and busied himself with keeping watch.
what would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark?
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Ooc — Cactus
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#22
Simple and good first meeting, guys! I love you all very much. This last session is going to be a free-for-all posting for possibly two weeks. There will be no posting order, and you are all welcome to post more than once in the final round until it closes out. We're going to be having some fun. <3 @Rosalyn @Raptor @Sandpiper @Arturo @Erzulie @Godot @Engel @Hexe @Tetsubō @Nox
All of them were quiet as he prattled on. Even when prompted to come forward with questions, they held their tongues and listened. Smokestep wasn’t sure if it was because they feared a lashing or if they simply didn’t have any qualms with how the pack was run. More than this, the pallid yearling was shocked that his sister and his first mate were able to hold their tongues during his speech. It was likely that they were offering the respect he’d asked for, but he had never known either one of them to hold their thoughts.
 
Finding himself perturbed by the silence, the young Captain rose to stand on all four limbs and flagged his tail down toward his crew. The evening was still young, and they were intended to watch the stars swim through the skies as they mingled. Smokestep did not wish to bore them any longer with the formalities of pack rituals; he had always hated his father’s pretentious meetings. With a spreading grin, the corsair leapt down from his perch and landed at the front of the large boulder. His eyes scanned his crew for a moment, grateful that he had gathered such a fine group of members.
 
“Alright, lads an’ lasses! Let’s catch some fish and tell some stories by moonlight, eh?” With that, the long-legged young man darted toward the rolling waters and crashed into them with reckless abandon. The taste of saltwater on his tongue was refreshing enough, and he emerged with an eager expression in hopes that someone would follow him.
calling to join them the wretched and joyful
shaking the wings of their terrible youths
freshly disowned in some frozen devotion
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Ooc — Cody
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#23
Engelhard put the thoughts past him, the thoughts of hunting those that had left down. He was no killer, and could not bear to fight....more so cause he was a lover and no fighter. He always used his tongue over his growls. His looks over his teeth. His touch over inflicting wounds. A lover, not a fighter.

The mood shifted thanks to Smokestep and then he smiled. A chance for a song. He started humming to himself, this was going to be a fun night.
All of Engel's threads are always open! For better or for worse.
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Ooc — Jennifer
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#24
As he got up, Godot wasn't too far behind, shell still in her mouth as she ran to the shore.  Once there, she trotted back and forth in about an inch of water, not sure what to do.  You see, there was a problem: she was holding something, and if they were supposed to catch fish she'd have to put it down.  Godot kinda didn't want to.  Why would she? She found this way cool shell, after all, and nobody else was gonna have it.

After pacing a moment she looked back behind to see who else was coming. Godot could always just flail about in the shallows just 'cause.
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Ooc — Kris
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#25
The meeting had concluded. Now was the time for merriment. But it was not in his heart to be merry, though once he would have rejoiced for such a time to bond with his crew and eat and belong. It was the chance for him to take a step toward deserving his title, too — did he even want it anymore? — but he could not. Sandpiper would not even look at him, and that lanced him again. His ears and head fell, and Raptor gradually moved to the edge of the group, slipping away when he thought no one was looking.