Stone Circle Helvegen

SETTING: Early morning
Weather: Overcast with thin fog and light rain.

TERRITORY: Stone Circle

TAGS:@Valette @Vespera @Kove @Nanook @Laurel @Dawn @Arlette @Leta @Minnow @West Tyree @Newt @Charles @Sunny @Blondine @Kaito @Nyra

Notes: Members are not required to reply, but are expected to be present as this is a pack activity! You are welcome to post your character's reactions. There will only be 1 round. Thread takes place after the events of here

Some tasty background music to set the mood ;)

His howl, like gunfire into the wind, swept across Easthollow at a thunderous level. It echoed into the cold air— crescendoing, climbing higher and higher before falling flat and disappearing into the eerie silence of the lands.

He would wait after, standing tall in the middle of Stone Circle, posture rigid and face set like that of stone. As the Eastholloian wolves gathered around he would glance down at them. His amber gaze and silence working together to desperately contain the boiling anger and disappointment that stewed below his skin. It was only when he let out breaths would some of that heated anger finally show in the form of white trails, whisps that flowed from his nose and parted jaws.

Valette hadn't known his intentions; He hadn't spoken to her of them. In fact, he had barely said much in the passing days. But by the end of this he was prepared to, would have to. And it was only when everyone was there that he would.

With the steady wind tangling itself in his long fur he began. "May our loved ones and ancestors be present—may they bear witness to my words, and may they pass judgement as I shall." His voice was dark as he spoke loud and clear, his muzzle tipped back into the air as he gazed into the pink-hued sky above. It's muted colors barely showing through the foggy, misty weather.

It was when he took a long breath in would he look back down to the pack.

"Due to the nature of your insubordination, your lack of commitment to The Hollow's hunts, and your inability to follow the orders Valette and I given.." he paused to take a quiet breath in, his gaze traveling to Valette, who stood beside him. Her face contorted into  shock. He winced internally at such an expression. "I, Greyback—Patiarch of Easthollow, strip you of rank and cast you, Vespera, to exile...

Leave. Never return."

Valette frowned as she heard her mate howl. It was so different. Something had to be wrong. She rushed to the circle, as all their meetings took place there. The female frowned lightly as she approached. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. He looked extremely handsome and there didn't seem to be anything wrong with him. The female trotted next to him and nudged him. He was so stoic and wondered what was wrong.

Once everyone gathered, Greyback started to speak. She turned her head a bit to look at him. Slowly a frown came upon her face, a frown in confusion. She wished he would have told her what he was going to announce! As he continued she realized about who he was talking about. "What?," she hissed under her breath. Greyback just continued. Valette's surprise was shown on her face when he spoke those final words. She gritted her teeth, wanting to call him out but also not wanting to publicly humiliate him. They had to be a united front. Valette took her eyes off her mate and then jumped off the rock.

She rushed to the borders. Perhaps it wasn't too late! Maybe Vespera hadn't left yet. She hadn't seen the female. Damn it, why did she had to be such a recluse! Valette ran to the borders and tried to find a scent but she couldn't find anything. She let out a long low howl, but she doubted Vespera would ever return to them after this...

blondine was quick to respond. once greyback's call was sounded, she started a slow trot toward the meeting space, tripping over a few stones along the way. there were a myriad of scents present in the air, most of which went unrecognized. she could guess where the -archs stood, so she made her way to a seat a little ways from where they presumably stood.

oh, she sighed quietly, lord, bless her. blondine hadn't come to know this vespera, but felt for the girl all the same. regardless of what she'd done, it was the middle of winter; would she be able to survive on her own? the huntress didn't know enough to argue the verdict. otherwise, she might have made the bold move to vouch for her packmate.

she sat back on her haunches and said a prayer for greyback, hoping that whatever evil he'd fallen victim to would soon release its hold.

she arrives swiftly, spotting Blondine and taking a seat to her left. small chuff alerts the woman to her presence as she approaches lightly, considerate still of the woman's lack of sight. she casts her gaze around for Sunny, or Minnow, but they have yet to arrive. 

her attention is focused quickly onto Greyback, who radiates barely-contained anger. it is enough to put her on edge, tension arching along her spine as she listens. the proclamation is surprising, though her features remain stoic as she analyzes the leading pair. Valette's shock and quick departure makes it easy enough to assume that she had not known what her mate planned to do, or at least, not been entirely on board. 

it is the manner of the exile that strikes her as wrong; dramatic, public, angry. it had been made clear to members of morningside in the distant past that failure to contribute would result in their exit from the pack, but never like this. it is enough to make an enemy out of a wolf, and she has never known a decision made in anger to be a good one. but it has been made, by the leader, no less, and so she is silent as she twists to watch the matriarch go.

The unsettling call easily grabbed the boy's attention. It was rare for a howl to be thrown into their air, let alone one so...dark. West was able to trace the hints of his father's call and obeyed the command, settling in the circle amongst his fellow packmates. The presence his father gave was familiar to times he had been caught or scolded, but even now there was something different. The look his father had, gave him chills...

Soon he would speak, calling upon their ancestors and loved ones causing a short head tilt from the woodland boy. He was unsure where exactly he was going or why Valette looked so concerned. West couldn't help but wonder, was there really someone like that amongst them? It was then that he said her name.

For a moment, memories flashed from when he was small, a dark pelted girl hiding amongst the hollow to play with him. Wasn't her name Vespera? He couldn't recall seeing her since then, forgotten along with his early memories until now. Was she back? What happened?

He should have bit his tongue, but when did West ever hold back? No one else was saying anything, even his mother ran off, he couldn't be the only one to feel this was wrong. He had never seen his parents disagree... The boy stood, large much like his father now to meet his gaze This has to be some sort of mistake, she's nice Dad—

Why would chase out someone nice? Weren't they all suppose to be family?

Even though the weather had been shitty, Arlette had a great afternoon so far. She had loved spending time with Kaito, learning more about herbs and what could function as medicine. She also assured the young male that her father was always kind and really nothing to worry about. Since Greyback had always been very supportive of her. Perhaps, he had just been in a bad mood when he saw them together. Plus, Greyback was just a bit grumpy at strangers sometimes.

Then the howl sounded. Arlette could hear the demand in it an automatically moved to the circle. 'We should go quick," Arlette spoke to him but waited for him to catch up so they could move to the circle. As she approached she noticed her parents standing in their power stance. Her ears fell back curiously, especially Greyback seemed angry. Her mother more confused.

When Greyback started to speak Arlette hunched down a bit. She had never heard him speak like this. Arlette only lowered more to the ground at Greyback started to speak. She glanced at Kaito and just shook her head very lightly, meaning that even she didn't know what was going on. Then the words were out and her mother was running to the borders. Arlette used the moment when West spoke up to nudge Kaito, and move more away further away from him, hoping he was going to be a smart boy and do the same before they were both exiled.

the howl that tears thru the frigid air, originating from his father causes the hairs of newt's nape to raise with trepidation. regardless, he obeys the summons and joins the others at the stone circle; too on edge to settle upon his haunches. imperial gaze cuts to greyback, noting the fury that emits from him; palpable. when they are gathered, the patriarch speaks, calling forth their ancestors to bare witness and pass judgement. he speaks of insubordination and lack of commitment and an inability to follow orders — newt's brow furrows as he discreetly looks at each wolf, attempting to judge their reactions —

he calls upon vespera, stripping her of rank and casts her into exile ...forever.

newt's ears flutter back against his skull as he processes this all. is it his place to speak when he doesn't know the full extent of what has happened? all he knows is what greyback says and watches as his mother rushes off after the exiled woman. west speaks up and in the woman's defense and newt looks to his brother before his gaze slides back to greyback. regardless; his parents were obviously not within agreements on this.

dad, newt frowns. isn't that a bit harsh? we all make mistakes — is that was what to await them all? exile? newt bites upon his tongue saying more than he's likely should've. in lieu of not drawing his father's ire down upon him lest he, too, be stripped and banished.

The short hours of the afternoon soared by like the brightest summer day, even though it was very much winter. The day's persistent drizzled dripped from Kaito's fur, and he shivered with a subtle, ever constant tremble from the cold, but Kaito hardly cared, too wrapped up in the exhilaration that came with every question Arlette braved to ask, about healing, about medicine -- and sometimes, off-handedly, about himself. The latter always came as a surprise, but one that spread a welcomed warmth through his chest. The only close relationships he'd ever had with wolves his age had been with his brother and sisters. Having someone his age to talk to, and someone who wasn't obligated to care or even listen, was wholly new to him. He didn't entirely know what to do with this, but he knew he looked forward to every new moment the One gave him to spend with her.

Except, maybe, this moment, because when Greyback's voice smacked the misty air, Kaito flinched, for a moment absolutely certain the Patriarch was coming for them. But Arlette was already moving forward, beckoning him with haste, and though his fears subsided, he hesitated. Easthollow was similar to Chandor in many ways, except for the ways it was not. His early memories of meeting Chandor's Matriarch were pleasant and filled with great wonder and love. His only experience of Greyback was peppered with dread, and the uneasy certainty the elderly man was probably quite out for his head.

Anxiety twisted every step he took after Arlette, and only piqued when they entered the gathering. Kaito would have liked to have entered the Stone Circle from different quarters of the forest, but he imagined Greyback would be suspicious whether they showed up together or not. Here, the air cracked with tension, and the shadows that crawled through Greyback's voice cast the sun's subtle glow in an ominous light. He sensed the eyes of those around him shift to observe the others -- and himself stole a glance at Arlette, his own eyes wide and ripe with confusion, and hers quite the same. There was no comfort to be found, and when the Matriarch tore away, he felt his friend's presence shrink by his side, felt her nose to his shoulder, and caught her pale form forging a berth between them.

His heart sunk. Some lifted their voices, others only whispered. Many kept silent, but even their silence spoke. Kaito had never met Vespera, and knew nothing of her but in the words Greyback shared, and in what his boys said, in their rally to dispute her sentence. He feels deeply for her nonetheless, for her crimes, as unflattering as they are, remind him of his brother, whom his family had always been so patient with, and so willing to forgive, and to help. Where was he now? And where would Vespera go?

Yet his thoughts were not entirely with the girl. Deep dread clawed roots around his stomach, tying him up in knots. Even with the distance Arlette put between them, he knows Greyback's eyes will always be upon them, and he wonders, how long until the Patriarch demands him to stop spending time with his daughter? How long, until that stubborn flame he has always soothed sparks up, and Kaito is not able to obey? How long before the mark of exile is scrawled upon his head?

At this rate, only a matter of time.

Nanook had never heard Greyback's voice turn with such coldness before. His crescendo felt like the winter winds which swept across the Northern plains. Gales one would hide from, not run toward, for they whispered words of destruction, and reminded the living of their inescapable end.

She had little choice, but to move toward his darkness. The mercenary took her place a distance removed from the rest of her family, for the sole vantage of reading the reaction of the collective. The weight in the Patriarch's voice assured her this would not be a meeting of light matter. Yet as Greyback spoke, she found her eyes drawn from the gathering (for their initial shock was evident enough that she didn't need to watch them long) and from the Patriarch (for he did not seem to filter his emotions, and his voice spoke measures to his anger), and instead her focus fixed on her sister, whose face cascaded with measures of shock that surprised the sterling woman. She narrowed her eyes.

Valette had clearly not known of Greyback's intent, emphasized in her descent from the stones, and in the haste with which she took off toward some distant destination -- the borders, most likely, to find Vespera. Nanook had half a mind to chase after her, when her ears picked up the hushed sigh from Blondine, and her nephew's louder objections to the verdict their father had passed.

Nanook had never had more than brief and passing interactions with Vespera. She knew very little of the girl's situation, outside of what @Valette had told her in the confidence of their sisterhood. Perhaps it was wiser to simply stay quiet. Instead, she stepped forward to stand alongside West, who had spoken first, and picked up on the objection Newt offered after, a sure sign of her solidarity with them.

"And when have those mistakes ever been enough to warrant exile?" Nanook lifted her eyes to meet the sharp gold of Greyback's own. "From my sister's anguish, and your own sons' words, I believe you have overstepped yourself, Greyback."

She stood, unmoving as the stones, and she would seek to hold his eye. For she was not afraid of him. Not of his anger, and certainly not of the consequence that might come from her own insubordination.

Nyra had been within relative distance to the Circle when Greyback's booming howl clapped through the air. Perking her ears slightly, she heeded the call, to find everyone had gathered within the Stones. 
As Nyra made her way in to sit with everyone else, the Alpha was joined by his mate, someone she had yet to personally meet, as was the case with all the wolves here, except for West and Greyback himself. 
Nyra's head tilted as the Patriarch called for the ancestors and all those present to bear witness and cast judgement, then spoke of Vespera. 
Nyra hadn't seen her, or heard of her, until now. Then again, the pitch-white mountain of a she-wolf was all too new to Easthollow to know. And right now, Greyback's anger didn't seem like something worth challenging, even as passively as she may have wanted to. 

Greyback's mate didn't seem too pleased by his actions, and the snowy female watched for a moment as the Matriarch ran for the borders. Possibly to find this Vespera? 
Nyra shook her head slightly, her ears slanting backward with confusion and sympathy for the exiled woman. 
"I hope she finds happiness, wherever she is..." Nyra murmured softly.

With such blankness in his mind he felt rather detached from the entire situation. There was much upset as someone was exiled, the most upsetting reaction to him being that of Valette the kind woman who had taken him in though she could have done so and been guiltless since he was absent of any memory that made her matter to him outside of being his superior. Sunny shifted as wolves voiced disagreement with the man's decision and he slowly moved off so that he could watch and observe from a distance only there in the case something went wrong.

One post cameo unless explicitly mentioned

Before he knew it Valette had pulled away, diving herself downwards out of the circle and out into the meadow where she ran. Greyback could only assume it was to chase after Vespera, but as he watched her go he felt something in his chest clench. He had heard her hissed words, and now seeing her leave only solidified and made it clear his choice was not keen on her.

He lifted a paw as to follow her, but a voice stopped him in his efforts. Soon after more followed, joining together with the murmurs and gasps of surprise. It stung deep, and Greyback—old in his ways cracked under the pressure and let the stone facade fall slightly. So many gazes, many scared, many confused. He spotted Arlette, the pale white girl with red eyes open as she sunk to the ground.

He was surprised to hear the backlash and turning to look at his son, west—the first voice to call, with a worried gaze he spoke. "This was not a decision made lightly, Vespera has been troubled since she first stepped paw into our pack." He looked around at others once more. "I will answer questions to those who wish later. This meeting is over.."

And with that the Patriarch exited from the scene to follow Valette's trail.

Laurel did not stay for long to hear their indignation. She barely stayed to watch the show. With a sinking feeling in her gut she left halfway through, even as she heard Greyback's deep booming voice throw out the words to Vespera. Laurel didn't know her at all, but she heard enough to know what this place was like.

Just like all the other places.

Come on, boys, but they didn't come.

Laurel frowned as she looked over her shoulder and locked eyes with only one of them. Charles. He looked at her. She frowned. She looked towards the stones. She frowned. It's just an empty body, anyway. It's nothing real. It's not Indra at all. They just tell me that she's still there to comfort me. But in truth, everything here was just a reminder of everything she had lost and everything she was not. Laurel frowned darkly. If only Indra was still here. They could've made their pack filled with amazonian siren women and said fuck you to all men. If only...

... Well, there was no wishing for anything.

It wouldn't be long before she would be kicked out of here, too, Laurel was certain. She just hadn't yet decided whether she would stick around to see the day or if she would leave on her own volition before then.

It wasn't long after their arrival that Laurel decided to leave again. He heard her voice, but his legs wouldn't move. Instead Charles looked at @Kaito. The adult from the hunt. Large coyote-like ears turned towards him. As Laurel left he looked at her, watched her leave, a frown on his face. He didn't want her to leave, but he didn't want to leave, either. Please stay, mommy, he thought but the words just wouldn't come, and he did not dare speak either as Greyback's voice boomed loudly.

Charles gingerly nosed Kaito's leg before he pushed himself closer to the other. Tail tucked, fear written on his face. What had the girl done to deserve the Patriach's anger? What if he would do something to anger him next? Questions were written on his face as he looked up at the helpful pack mate who had guided him through the hunt; hoping that he would wish to guide him once more.

if you wanted, we could have a thread set after this with Kaito and Charles? (if you want to, feel free to start one and tag me, or pm me and i can start one)

Kaito's shied his eyes away from Greyback, but his ears piqued to catch every breath, every word, that came from the titan upon the stone. Silence, for a little while, amidst the sea of rising voices, and this silence seeped into the empty cracks around him.

Finally, Greyback spoke. An address that should have been firm - but there was something slipping through. A wavering, but the worry chilled in its own way, and his verdict remained the same. This decision had not been made lightly, and this decision had not been a mistake.

The medic did not sense @Charles ' approach, until a cool touch graced his leg, followed by the wreath of a warm breath. Kaito's heart tripped - his first thought went to Arlette - but when he turned, his friend did not greet him. Her ruddy eyes were replaced by a different gleam, yet familiar in its own way. The boy from the hunt. Questioning, looking to him, asking for answers he couldn't give.

Kaito dropped his gaze. What direction could he offer, when Kaito only wished there was someone here to lead him, too? He knew nothing more; he couldn't answer Charles' confusion. But, perhaps he could comfort his fear. With a tip of his head, Kaito offered the boy a gentle press of his nose against the scruff of Charles' cheek, and held the contact for the breath of a second, an affection his mother had often offered him when he had sought her after the night terrors. To have her here with him now... he would give anything... but he had been led here for a reason, and dreadful as this moment felt, he knew he had purpose for being here...

Even if that purpose was something as small as comforting this child, who felt just as lost as he.