Hushed Willows a swell of smoke arose and filled the air [festival]

The man that Aure knew seemed utterly captivated by her — and that annoyed Isleña, who did not like others being the center of her attention — so she lifted her nose haughtily and moved on to greener pastures. Perhaps it was the season, but Isleña was feeling a little more piquant than usual, and she felt herself pull away from other females as if they meant to do her some sort of harm — as if they didn’t have her best interest in mind. She’d meet back up with her friend later, when she was ready to try and not steal the limelight like that. Let her talk to that loner male; without a pack, he was of little use to her.

There was no shortage of wolves here to satisfy her need for attention, and as Isleña began her lap around the party, she allowed her gaze to linger on each wolf, or group of wolves, in turn. She wondered about who they were, their lives, their stories. What their pack valued, what sort of failures made them who they are. Why were they here, at a fertility festival, of all places? Temptation proved to be too great; it wasn’t long before Isleña had set her sights upon two males, @Wintersbane and @Derg, and gently redirected her course to intersect with theirs.

That was until Isleña saw the salt-and-pepper male from the mountains, and she redirected her course yet again! With a wink and a flick of the tail towards the first two, the bedouin made her way to the registry of seeds that were due for planting. She drifted up besides @Mahler, tipping her nose towards the seedlings as if truly surveying them — but then nudged his shoulder, gave a laugh, and greeted him with a loud “Umm, hello!”

"Kavik leads Swiftcurrent Creek beside Constantine now," Rue informed @Lily, tightness almost imperceptibly edging into her smile. "Liri... has gone elsewhere." For clarity she almost added, "They had a falling out," but that probably went without saying. Heartbreak and betrayal were not subjects she wished to linger upon during a celebration, most especially a Fertility Festival. 

Lily soon moved on to mingle elsewhere, attending to her hosting duties. @Gannet had not responded to her introduction and moved on as well, and so Rue found herself without a conversation partner. Her bright, amber eyes swept the outskirts of the crowd, searching the faces of the newcomers.

Two of her packmates had arrived, Mahler and Kazimir. This was interesting to Rue; they were probably the two wolves in Diaspora that she would have thought least likely to attend a party. Rue began to move toward them, but Kazimir suddenly flitted away. Another female quickly took Kazimir's place beside @Mahler, nudging against the statuesque man in a rather familiar way. Rue stopped in her tracks, frozen by curiosity and.. and something else that roiled in the pit of her stomach at the sight of the stranger soliciting her Kapitan's attention. 

Rue tore her eyes away and gave her pelt a shake, as if she could fling away the odd and quite unexpected feeling. Perhaps some air would do her well. Rue began to move off toward the outskirts of the gathering, and as she stepped away from the center of the crowd she came face-to-face with @Soltero. Surprise lit in her expression, although perhaps she shouldn't have been so shocked. The monochrome man had been present here at Yule too, after all. 

Rue had not managed to rid herself of the squirmy, out-of-place feeling in her stomach, and the sight of Soltero was a sorely welcome comfort. Relief washed over her features and she stepped forward, nudging her crown beneath his chin in an embrace. There was so much she wanted to say; I'm glad you're here, it's so good to see you, I've been thinking about you. She couldn't choose, so she simply sighed into his shoulder.

he noted kazimir and her expression, though it was not inviting enough to turn him from his inspection. and even if it had been, he prized the she-wolf for other things outside of her hard beauty. her ambition was like a cloak, and unsure of what to do with it, mahler decided to keep his distance. the voice of a woman sounded; mahler tipped his ears to listen, charmed as she began to dance with a dark male from another pack.
a gentle nudge to his shoulder; a peal of laughter. "isleña," came his rumbled greeting, and perhaps with a hesitant bit of awkwardness, he returned the dark woman's gesture. "how have you been?" as he inquired, delighting quietly into the vibrant beauty of her joyous features, mahler turned to see if perhaps stigmata or takiyok had come to join the other disaporans.
his eyes alighted on ruenna's slight figure as she leant into intimate embrace with a striking man who wore a coat of grey and a pair of stunning eyes. for reasons inexplicable, mahler was perturbed, and did not let his gaze linger. instead, the gargyole turned back to isleña, granting her the sum of his attention as he awaited her accented words.
the sight, however, had nudged its way into his mind and lay there, a nuisance with which he refused to deal at the moment.

The sea of gathered attendees seemed to swell like the breath of a creature below the surface - some departed into the shade of trees to envelop themselves in story-telling, or private affairs, and some new faces joined the ever-augmenting festival. Soltero was still distracting himself with idly counting each swaying figure, observing how they drifted like leaves carried upon a current; back and forth, back and forth-

Ruenna was there.

The smoky beta almost jumped in surprise as he was met with the hazel pools of her gaze, the silvery streaks of her pelt, the youthful sparkle in her idyllic features. Despite his careful watch upon the scene, he hadn't seen her approach until she was just before his eyes. "I..." he spluttered, but then she had tucked herself beneath his chin, and his breath slipped quietly into the air; he felt the warmth of her embrace and savoured it, feeling a tingle in his stomach. He knew it was wrong to grow attached so fast... perhaps it was unnatural, he couldn't know - the only one he'd been close to was his mother, and Ruenna was the only other wolf he'd uttered a word of his past to. Perhaps this had been what sparked such a sudden flare in his chest, the unforeseen trust he cast into her loving hands.

Any lingering jealousy was quickly tucked away as his lips tucked into a small smile, resting his head carefully atop her crown in a tender greeting. "Hey, Rue." And yet again, she was a breath of fresh air amongst the tense fraughtness of the creek's domain.

will be in this thread for storytimes!

Ever since her recent interlude with Stigmata, the she-wolf had felt her guard raise—the walls she had allowed to come down within the presence of the charismatic man and his comrades were once more in place, the feeling of embarrassment gnawing at her for so loftily allowing herself open to another when she knew better.

Still, there was a certain effort to be maintained, and she found she enjoyed the general company of her fellow pack mates. So it was with interest that she had followed the scent of a scant few Diasporan wolves to the grounds of Elysium, her true reason for being here the complete opposite of what might have been appropriate for the rites of fertility and its celebrations. She sought a way to hinder her own season for one more year—to remain below the radar.

Her eyes flitted to those gathered, amusement briefly flashing in her emerald jewelled gaze as Mahler was flanked by others. She would have sought his own company to say hello, but given he seemed otherwise pre-occupied, her gaze found its way to Ford—the titan of the sea. Intrigued to catch up with him, the exotic creature casually paced after him, finding herself falling in to a story woven by a male she did not know.

Oops, sorry, a bit late to this! Anyone who wishes to be ‘blessed’ can do so here :) Let’s say no more rounds from here on out. I'll close and archive this thread when it hasn't had a new reply in two weeks, but feel free to take time with your side threads!

Olive lost herself in dance and conversation with her dear friend. There was something so immensely dazzling about being surrounded by others that she knew, others that she loved, others that she had yet to meet — they had all come here, to Elysium, either because they knew her or they knew her seraphim or, at the very least, they knew her scouts. Olive knew not to feed her ego, but looking out across the group of wolves that had amassed, it had hard to to feel her chest swell. It was so much, that she almost lost track of time! “Oh, Rannoch, would you excuse me for a moment?”  she chirped, accidentally cutting off whatever conversation they were in the midst of. “ — the blessing!”   she then clarified, as if she was so silly for almost having forgotten the entire reason that her guests had come together. It was for pups — or the hope of pups — and not simple merriment and camaraderie. 

The pale waif drifted once more to the center of the activities, and waited for side conversations to quiet and for attention to fall upon her. Olive’s stomach fluttered as the sun began to set and the cold winds began to pick up and rustle the willow’s many draping branches. This was her moment, as a shakti woman, one of whom had been taught by her priestess mother to read the stars and commune with the gods. For a moment, Olive’s gaze searched the crowd for that of her brother, @Cortez — surely mother would be proud to see them together, here, doing this. She knew he would agree. “Please, gather around, for it is time to bless the mothers, and the fathers, and the children that might one day be.”  Olive beckoned the crowd closer, for her voice was small even though she tried her best to make it big. 

The setting of the festival, with its neat and dainty piles of food and decorations, had not been meaningless. They were offerings — specifically, there was a small hole that had been dug into the ground which held several small freshwater fish, caught from the stream just downwind. Large leaves held different seeds, some seeds for herbs and some for wildflowers, with many seeds being unknown surprises. There was a branch of willow that had been laid to rest, to represent the holy site upon which they communed — but when she looked at it all, something was clearly missing. Chuffing with the sublimity of it all, she beckoned for @Lily to bring to bring the star that Charon and Amekaze had so kindly gifted them. It was a piece of the gods’ flesh, incarnate — the star deserved the front and center spot upon their altar. Then, Olive closed her eyes, and spoke words that flowed from her mother’s consciousness to her own. 

“Blessed be each breath you take,
Blessed be the fire inside you
May your will be unbroken,
and may it be as strong as fire, and as supple
May your passions burn truly and free
Blessed be your fire, may it burn strong,
Blessed be the water of your life,
May your blood be strong. 
May the flow your loin be joyful and fertile.
Blessed be the earth of your body,
May your heart beat with love, soul, vigor and courage.
Blessed be your body, which is a body of the gods
May we always be surrounded by the warmth of family and community
May you know the innate goodness of your being.
Blessed be.” 

There was a moment of silence before the druid opened her eyes and glanced around at the wolves around her, taking note of how such a prayer was received. It was a hymnal dedicated to the self, for this is where the biggest part of the creation of life took place, and it needed to be honored as such. She walked to the true offering — the fish in the crater upon the ground — and began to cover it with dirt. It was a small sacrifice, for no one to consume except the earth; but the gods did not need the grandest of gestures in order to turn their ears. Olive packed the dirt down with her paw, nodded, and then turn to the skies in an exultant prayer.

“Gods and Goddesses of fertility and fruition,
Please accept this offering.
And in return,
Bless us with children
All be well,
so mote it be.” 

That was it — all that was needed to incur the favor of the gods. In fact, the spoken words were truly just a formality; the real prayer lived in the hearts of each wolf, in their innate goodness and empathy for others. By doing well to others, they would bring goodwill upon themselves. The evidence was clear, for those who chose to see it. A bright smile spread across Olive’s maw, not wishing to dampen the festivities with such seriousness, so soon.

Her tail began to wag, and she took a step away from the center, towards the others. “To complete the ceremony, I welcome you to take a seed and plant it around this vicinity.” Olive demonstrated by plucking a seed from the stores with her lips, digging a shallow hole with a single dig of her paw, and dropping it in. In the same manner she buried the offering, she buried the seed; it’s own sort of offering to the fertility of mother earth. “ You are all welcome to come back at any time to see the garden bloom — and hopefully, you will bring your new children with you.” Olive took a deep breath and beckoned the others closer, gesturing with her muzzle to take a seed and bury it in the fecundity of the soil. 

---

Derg lifted his head at @Isleña, a suave smirk coiling up his lips in return.
His eyes regarded her, taking in her body. Half disappointed to note she wasn't directing for him any longer. 

He'd seek her out after this he supposed.
He moved, talking to Illidan when a pale wolf started to speak, turning to give her attention. It was what was expected of him as a guest after all. 
He listened with cupped ears, finally, the hints fell into place that this was for a god or something. Damn religious wolves, he almost muttered. 

He offered a soft smile up to the pale wolfess before moving forward at her command, as he expected others would do too, and plucked a seed. He felt stupid and, if his sister were here, would probably tell him he looked stupid. He let himself grin with that ghost-like grin. He felt more at ease these days about Grezig. He'd have to visit her soon.

He dug a hole and dropped the seed in, covering it as he saw the pale wolfess do. The man stood back, looking expectantly at the ground as if a plant would immediately sprout up. He shook his head softly with a smile, looking around for @Keen. Surely she'd be nearby. 
His gaze trailed back to the dark wolf that had seemed so inviting, starting his steps towards her. He held himself proud as any man should; ears cupped, head high, legs easy and long strides.
He walked with purpose to her, noting the man she stood with. 
He turned his head, stilling to wait for the dark wolfess' undivided attention; he was a gentleman, he wouldn't intrude on her conversations. He didn't even know her. Yet.
He looked for @Wintersbane who'd probably noticed his direction and purpose -- he'd give the Tundrian a look as if to say I'll be good. 
He turned his attention back to the dark female, head slightly lowered in anticipation as he loitered. When would he give up the chance to talk to such a pretty woman?

---

335 words​

After a bunch of ignoring others and glaring at some, and greeting Olive civilly, it was time for some or other blessing. Charon nudged @Amekaze and cast her a meaningful glance as he made his way there, definitely not wanting to miss out on Amekaze being blessed. Hopefully it would help -- hopefully it meant that they would be able to receive children once more this year. With bated breath Charon waited as the blessing was spoken. He wasn't normally into this shit that much, but really, felt desperate and like he didn't have much choice but to hope that this'd work.

i'm surprised, wintersbane admits to @Derg in regards to the amount of wolves gathered. there are a lot more than he'd anticipated seeing and more that he knew besides that — though that surprises him less because the chances of wintersbane going through his whole life avoiding ( some of them ) forever seemed unlikely. his gaze skims over charon, gannet and amekaze and to the woman who speaks up. he assumes that she is the one responsible for this gathering, paying only part attention as he looks to his crew and then to the stranger who makes her way towards derg and himself. his chin lifts upon her approach but before she can actually complete it she changes her course. for wintersbane, her change of mind is enough but derg heads on after her with a look back.

wintersbane looks to @Faeryn and @Keen then, figuring that they were safer in numbers. to say he has any idea what to do at a fertility festival was an understatement. he thought it'd be a good idea to be neighborly and to sate his own curiosity and now that he was here he's at a loss. he doesn't necessarily wish to be blessed — he doesn't know for sure but he's fairly certain he's plenty fertile on his own. i know quite a few. he responds to faeryn's question a bit late. from his past, from his recruitment drives.

the woman that had uttered the blessing had mentioned taking a seed and planting it — and though wintersbane doesn't really think the teekon wilds needs him to be blessed by any sort of fertility god he strides towards the place of seeds and plucks one all the same, searching for a spot to bury it. it felt rude to not participate in at least that.

Mahler seemed happy to see her, but Isleña found that she could hold full full attention neither. As he inquired into her present state of being, his eyes danced around the party, lingering upon other wolves and other females. Isleña not-so-subtley let her gaze follow his own and, though she was less than thrilled, smiled upon him when his attentions resettled upon her. Perhaps Isleña’s expectations were too high for a party with so many strangers amongst them. To be anyone’s particular focus that night might have been out of the question, unless she decided to stand in the middle of the gathering do a dance, or recite poetry… actually…

Isleña huffed, if only to herself. “Am good,” she responded, because she really was doing good. Sure she only had two friends, and once had impregnated the other (looking at you, Aure and Verx), but if that was the only thing that was wrong, then everything was actually pretty good. “ — and you?…” she inquired, beginning to wonder how his mysterious mountain clan fared, and if that women he stared at was one of his wolves. Maybe it was his wife? she wondered, the thought lighting a small fire in her belly at the possibility. Drama turned her on, even if she wouldn’t admit it out loud. 

The pale woman, who appeared to be the event’s host, asked for everyone’s attention and Isleña abided, turning to face the druid as she made a sacrifice and exulted gods that she did not know, in words that were foreign. Still, Isleña feigned interest and in the process of watching the ceremony, the firebrand noticed a mottled, agouti male who watched her and did not seem to stop. He went through the process of planting a seed, and she still felt his attentions linger, even when his movements bespoke different intentions. Isleña, in the name of ceremony, left Mahler’s side to approach the altar, pluck a seed from the pile, and sauntered over the man. She wanted him to know that she saw.

continue here, @Derg?

With time, more came, mingling and conversing and dancing along without a care—and back-dropped with these willowed woods, it made it a sight to behold to the withdrawn mountain alpha. Still, through it all, there were no places here she was comfier than at Charon's side.. so she remained, and hawkishly took in the festivities from there. She tried to envision relaxing, enjoying, but her tension remained steadfast and strong.

When it was prepared for them, the melodic blessing was a welcome place to lend her focus as they settled in to listen, and receive. As per her usual, she was quiet about this, leaving little to show for it. She was always going to be one left to wonder, and although she did not find herself caught up in full, Ame nudged a small, fond nip against his shoulder as she neatly tucked in close to Charon. She hadn't missed his pointed looks, and although she had nothing to say for herself because of it, she only moved when she hoped he would join her in placing a seed in the garden for themselves.

Gannet watched them speak, play, converse, and convene, but he remained where he was. At length they were invited to plant, but instead of moving forward, his ears tilted back and he moved off instead.

He was not sure what isolated him, but somehow, he couldn't bring himself to join the throng. He'd go a distance off, though not far enough to trespass, and remain there in the welcome quiet. It was here that Charon would find him later, and here he would depart from as silently as he'd come.

Rue felt @Soltero's chin settle over her crown as the man accepted her embrace. She hadn't been sure he would, not after the way they had said goodbye. Leaving the Creek so abruptly, Rue knew she had let down the few wolves she considered friends within their ranks. What was more, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had let Soltero down the most.

Although the pair had never spoken of it, Rue had certainly felt that anticipatory tingle of potential-- the possibility of some kind of future that danced enticingly between the pair. Turning her back on the Creek had shaken that already-tenuous bond, and Rue had been unsure if any of it still remained. 

Rue pulled back after a moment, tilting her head to the side to look upon Soltero's features. What was he feeling? She never knew with Soltero. Rue opened her mouth to offer a return greeting, but she was interrupted as the Elysium leader addressed the crowd once more. She gave Soltero a small, knowing smile before repositioning herself beside him to watch the blessing take place. 

As Olive concluded the ceremony, she prompted the visitors to plant a seed. Rue bumped her shoulder lightly against Soltero's, silently suggesting that they approach the seed pile. Perhaps the task of finding a proper planting site would allow them a chance to speak more privately and catch up, without giving the appearance that they were absconding to engage in... fertilty festial activities. Rue was a sensitive girl, and she had already felt eyes upon her simply as a result of hugging her friend.

exit mahllll he is too antisocial F

the beautiful sable woman alongside him spoke and mahler straightened, lavender eyes filled with a fleeting pride. "i am vell. diaspora is strong." he would have asked her more, had not their hostess spoken again. mahler watched quietly as her rite blossomed, her words meaning little to him in terms of spirituality, but there was a good deal of music in her voice.
all at once there were wolves near him, taking seeds for planting. the gargyole wilted somewhat at their approach so close, but joined the throng, planting one such. he did not know why, for he did not plan to add to diaspora's ranks this year.
as they began to disperse to their respective diversions, mahler knew he must leave, for he had grown massively uncomfortable. and he though he did not want to look in ruenna's direction again, politeness dictated that he do so all the same, and, if he caught her eye, dipped his heavy crown in acknowledgement before wending his way through the wolfish crowd and heading for the borders.