Bearclaw Valley however dangerous this may be

@Astara @Skoll Almir @Taylor @Evien @Ico @Toad, please let @Ulysses post first and welcome to a pack meeting. attendance strongly encouraged. @Fraser, feel free to make a cameo if he is around <3

the rain came and came and in its torrent, merrick discovered a little place amid the greening maples of bearclaw valley. a clearing, filled with a profusion of sprouting blue flowers that were now dappled in water.
the downpour eventually ceased, sunlight glancing in hallowed golden beams between the trees. merrick stood in silent wonder, looking out over them as he thought of many things, unsnarling them into coherent thought. then, and only then, did the boy call for all of them, humbled and filled with anticipation.

Uly’s ears swivel on his head at the howl he distinctly picks out as Merrick’s. The raven furred wolf summons them. Uly’s anticipation makes his heart pound as he gallops toward his companion. Running through the winding trees and through crystal clear streams of fresh water he finally reaches his destination. Porcelain eyes land on Merrick and he doesn’t hesitate to silently and obediently approach him. 

A single nod and a deep, rolling, “Merrick.” Comes from his lips in greeting as he walks to meet the other and stand by his side.

Still damp from the rain, he pushes the wet hair from his brow, petrichor in his mouth. Merrick calls for him, and he arrives. The boy-king stands in the centre of a blue-dappled clearing wearing a sunlight halo, and looking at him, Taylor can believe in deities. A scene straight out of an ancient Welsh grave. Wild hair, drops of blood, garish flowers, light piercing through thick clouds.
Another man, this one a stranger, is already there. He appraises him with an up-and-down of those blue eyes. His cool gray hair glints in the sun like metal.
He shivers, out of both anticipation and the air on his sodden clothes. Squinting against the day, petals stuck in the fur on his legs, he sits wordlessly, acutely aware of his heartbeat in the quiet.

When his former masters needed him, they would whistle. A sharp, keening sound, borne swiftly on the air. This was different yet similar, something deeper and more primal. He recognized the voice as Merrick's and snapped to attention mid-piss. Urine sluiced through the fine hair on his legs as he ran, heeding his master's call.

Two had already arrived to join the valley's leader—a massive blue-ish creature with eyes of ice, and a wolf with a similarly cool gaze. For his part, Fraser tucked himself low, his own liquid dark eyes wide and faithful. He fixed them on Merrick and Merrick only, uninterested in the others for now.

He was silent, reverent. Trembling slightly, his ears slicked back against his skull.

Skip me unless he's IC addressed, in which case please tag!

Evien did not know where he stood with the leader at the moment, but he did know that he was included in the call. The brown wolf had been taking a little stroll by the river, enjoying the downpour and letting his fur become sodden with it. Part of him wished he had a bit of time to clean up before the meeting, but he decided that it probably didn't matter much for now. 

There were already a few others gathered, which didn't surprise the healer. He was slow at best, but was not hesitating as he approached the others. You've earned your place.

Two of the men he did not know, but he gave short nods of acknowledgement towards. Green eyes flicked up toward Merrick and his ears lowered just slightly in a show of submission and apology for his behavior the last time they'd seen one another. He sat down near Kepler, not touching, but close enough.

love the picture you chose, so pretty!

Toad was quick to answer the call; he had already grown bored and restless within the valley, despite the interesting characters he had met. It seemed others were just as eager to answer, though- upon arriving, he found Merrick, Evien, Taylor- a blue stormcloud, and something pathetic which did not belong. To the stormcloud he gave a nod of quiet acknowledgement. The dog, his dark eyes grazed over with an unreadable expression. He frowned as he noticed Taylor and Evie's close proximity- and makes the pointed choice to seat himself some yards off from the both of them, gaze settling on Merrick, unmoving.

rain passed overhead in thundering sweeps. astara watched the tranquil latticework of water as it fell in drippings from cave to floor, pooling without reflection at the den's entrance.

eventually the rain passed on to different pastures, leaving the fishbowl's terrace for higher climes. astara pressed into the damp world gingerly, drawn by the call of her bear.

not for the first time did an iciness steal over her skin as she saw others assembled around him. it had always been just her and merrick, just blackbird and bear --

and now...

she did not sit near merrick. a hatefulness seized her heart to see that spot -- her spot -- already taken. despite the choking hold of jealousy that burned in her gut, astara's dark muzzle remained a mask of impassiveness. unreadable as ever she set next to the male that had tended her wounds and named her leila.

Caught in the rain and smelling of fresh Spring pines, young Ico was drenched as the call went up, and a minute into grooming his ivory coat back to provenance. With no time to spare, heart thrumming and slender ears tall with curiosity, Ico was thereby ungroomed and damp as he reached the forest clearing. It ran blue with wildflowers, not with water, but Ico's russet eyes were drawn to Merrick and the others he knew at Ursus. There were a few. And Ico chose one of them — Evien — to position himself (relatively) nearby to, already-elfin form low with submission as he faced Merrick.

Ico gazed here and there, drinking in the expressions and the strangers (one who barely looked like a wolf at all) and the anticipation in the air. He was already penning the tale of today.

@Skoll Almir & @Phoebe, feel free to hop in too <3

merrick nudged ulysses playfully as the ursus wolves began to filter in. even fraser, to whom the young leader gave a lingering look, and evien. the little doctor had already been forgiven. merrick sought to assure this with a small smile, one that broadened as he glanced over the little assembly, minus the silent skoll. where had he gone?
astara did not come to his side, but merrick kept the frown inward.
"thank you for coming," the coywolf said gently, stepping forward. "i want to first introduce you all to someone who saved me once. without his work, ursus would not soon be a reality." he turned his eye upon the soldier. "ulysses."

Merrick’s nudge forces the corners of his mouth to tilt upwards in a fleeting smile. takes his eyes off the leader of Ursus to watch his followers flood the surrounding area.
A tall wolf with deer like legs, his pelt a canary yellow and eyes akin to the ocean  saunters over to them. Uly’s eyes watch him for only seconds before he sees another figure materialize a few feet away. 
A other sizable animal that strikes Uly as more dog than wolf, much like himself. Then, a smaller wolf of chocolate brown greets them timidly, eyes averted he settles his gaze elsewhere in the distance. 
After him, a male with an agouti pelt rushes up, the others eyes seem to take over his pack mates forms before settling on their leader. 
Then, greatly anticipated, a sly black form sinks up to their group. Her form remind him of a shadow. White eyes watch her, connecting all that Merrick has told him. This is his shadow, he concludes. 
Lastly a meek, fox-like creature sidles up last. The ivory of his fur appearing soft and unmarked. One who has not yet been in the grasp of vicious teeth, or at least Uly hopes. 

Ulysses watches each one come, porcelain hues dancing onto each of them. They’re all strangers to him, but hopefully soon he can become acquainted with the strangers that gaze upon him expectantly.

Uly assumes that’s just about everyone when Merrick speaks once more. Greeting his pack and speaking of the time when Uly saved the man’s life–a decision the wolf-dog would not soon regret. As he hears his name spoken from the raven muzzle he gazes to everyone, he gives a curt nod of acknowledgement to them all. A polite smile graces his features as well.

Merrick speaks, and his voice holds the whole group in thrall. His smile is bright against his dark face, and so is that single burning eye. They give the impression of two competent businessmen standing proud next to a factory's coronation. Merrick with the scissors, Ulysses holding the ribbon.
Evien's presence grounds him, like it always does. He can't help but steal a glance at his face in profile, which is slightly lowered in something like humility. The mute girl and Ico sit close to them, and Toad is further away, sullen and unreadable. A dog, even more repetant than Evien, stares at Merrick as if he is the executioner and as if his head is on the chopping block. Perhaps it is.
He looks to Ulysses and nods and seems grateful. Earnest. He returns the smile, an invisible exchange of business cards.

This whole thing seemed much more lighthearted than what Evien had expected. At least, from Merrick and the big blue creature beside him - the crowd, not so much. There were more than a few uncomfortable attendees, himself included, though it wore off when Merrick smiled at him. Ico and the girl he'd named Leila came to sit beside him - the first was expected, the second was not. He'd thought that the one who bore Merrick's pups should be up there next to him, but perhaps he was mistaken.

Toad skirted a wide berth around Evien and Taylor, and the doctor was beginning to think he understood why. He'd have to talk to the other boy later. Still, he was grateful for the three that did sit around him, offering Ico a smile and gently bumping his shoulder against Leila's before returning to his original seated position beside Taylor. 

Ulysses was the name of the man standing next to Merrick. Doglike in the way a couple of canines Evien had met before were, but not so much as the wiry one cowering off to the side of the group. The whole gathering was interesting, a band of misfits all sitting together around a prophet. Evien leaned a little closer to Kepler, sighing through his nose.

not sure if there is a post order or are we doing rounds?

merrick was smiling - smiling despite the conspicuous absence of a shadow at his side.

had he replaced her, then? astara's gaze leapt around the coterie of wolves in the courtyard. which woman was it that had taken up her mantle as the bear's counterpart? corrupt fingers of inane jealousy worked their way around her heart, as she swore she would put the woman in the ground that ---

but there were none; astara's gut settled from its rearing, a flush of self-doubt ensuing.

she was being little, small, stupid.

still, little beatings of fury fluttered in her ribcage to see her spot taken. she sized up the man next to her bear - tall, strident, lanky. a harmless smile snaked across her features as she listened, yet did not partake.

Russet eyes wished to glance this way and that, drinking in everything and all, conjuring stories from faces and mythologies from expressions. But in finding too much to look at, one can forget to see. So Ico contended himself with having his attention drawn to Merrick, who had after all called the meeting. Along with the rest of the pack, Ico's gaze landed on the curious, courteous form of Ulysses — another titan among titans, and the only one deemed worthy of introduction. This wolf-dog was a chapter heading all his own.

"Someone who saved me once", explained the one-eyed King. And Ico knew him enough now to realise that Merrick did not simply mean that Ulysses had prevented him from eating a poisonous berry or stumbling from a clifftop. This was a far less shallow rescue, Ico knew. And he hoped he would soon have the chance to confirm.

A gathering amassed, affording Phoebe the first opportunity to take in just what the numbers of Ursus were. It was a modest amount, she thought, even if it was meager compared to where she had first grown. It didn't seem like there was any real sort of connection between all of them and strangely, it was a relief to be among a motley crew.

She lingered on the fringes of the group, attentive to the words and introduction that Merrick offered of the wolfdog. Ulysses was nothing she had seen before, his size alone an intimidating factor if not for the disarming nature that seemed to exude from him—she found herself returning his smile as nothing more than another face in the crowd. Placating, if nothing else.

This would take getting used to.

And the others?

Her gaze filtered through them with mixed emotions, already trying to pick out who in the crowd seemed to be on equal ground with her. The gentle ones, the helpers, if there were any to truly be had. There was a cord of tension somewhere, perhaps unease a better word. She wondered if the untold story between Merrick and Ulysses had prompted one or the other to begin their little crusade of collecting the wayward in fewer but kinder terms.

A pack of fresh faces, relative strangers, would it work? It seemed to have.

Her gaze shifted back to Merrick and those closest to him.

Quiet was the gathering except for the words of Merrick, introducing the stormcloud who stood beside him. Someone who had saved him. Toad did not doubt it; Ulysses was a broad giant while Merrick was, well, much smaller. Though he did not know what trouble had befallen them, he was sure the creature held strength. 

This Ulysses guy seemed nice enough, offering them a nod and polite little smile. Toad returned the little smile, feeling slightly awkward, but nodding to him once more. Forest eyes trailed his figure briefly, but soon his gaze returned to Merrick, mostly interested in the cyclops and whatever announcement would come next.

no post order, just once per round. and next round can be like the 30th or whenever everyone posts

merrick let the eyes rest appreciatively upon ulysses, watching them form their own thoughts about the scroll he had never opened. or the one after. what a price for entry. he smirked, and then stepped forward, his own gaze caressing each of them with a gracious love he fancied spead from the powerful thrum of the bear in his chest.
"and now i want you to meet the individual that made me want to keep living," merrick breathed, and his single eye beheld only astara, only she, not sensing her anger and even if he had, his adoration was eternal for he thought himself a god and she his goddess.
"and," 
— he had no patience for it
— his stomach tightened
— fuck
"we're going to be parents."

Super duper last minute cameo for Galena >__> Let me know if this post isn't OK, and I will delete. Her joining thread started on 4/5 and this started on 4/6 and she's listed in Founding members. I am so slow with threads, lol.

---

Galena was late to answer Merrick's call as she traveled from the edge's of Ursus's borders. Their leader was already mid-speech when her presence apparated, shrouded by a tree's shade. She clung to the back of their stage, sensing she was the newest recruit, and eyed each guest who had turned up. She recognized a few, but many were strangers. The most intruiging was the large silver male sat beside Merrick. Galena wished to know more about him and his history with the alpha.

Her face was focused as she listened to Merrick's formalities — and went practically unchanged as he announced his shadow's pregnancy. Galena had guessed as much when she had first smelled Astara, doused in her mate's scent. The season was right, anyway. She couldn't have known the couples' dangerous past and what, for them, procreation truly implied. Galena had lived in a different world where arranged matings and eugenics were commonplace... it had all been very... scientific. For the greater good.

---

Parents.

Fraser couldn't imagine it. He did not have that stirring within him (he did not even have the capacity). He knew about the circle of life but would never be a participant. To watch his master from afar. . . His jaws split in a wide grin, his tail wagging with pleasure.

Pups! He knew they would be beautiful. Merrick was a handsome fellow despite his disfigurations, Astara a gorgeous blackbird. His own childish nature suited him as a babysitter; he could only hope that the devil allowed him close enough to interact with the youngsters.

For his own part, he remained silent, but his gaze rested on the leader of the valley in silent, fervent congratulations. If it wouldn't—couldn't—be him, it should be Merrick.

Ulysses ethereal hues settle upon Merrick as the others own eyes flick over to Uly and the rest of the pack. Finally settling upon the raven female. The larger wolf awaits what their leader has to say and he can see the love held within that gaze. 

Then he announces that they’ll be parents, and surely the rest of the pack mentors to the little ones that come. Uly loves puppies of he has anything to say about it. He is not at all surprised by the announcement now that he thinks about it. Merrick speaks fondly of his shadow. Still despite the relationship between himself and Merrick, he harbors no ill blood with Astara. Rather would like to get to know the speechless wolf. 

Uly finally has a family of his own. Why would he let something so trivial ruin that? So he offers a congratulatory smile to the both of them. In hopes of a pleasant future for them and their pups.

parents.

a subtle tic appeared in astara's eyes. she pulled her gaze from ulysses to her bear, transformed by the adoration ringing that singular eye - her lover's eye. how things seemed to change when he was looking at her - how her fur seemed to lift and skin ripple in exciting energy.

parents. (tic)

the eyes of ursus collectively shifted to her. she lifted her chin, her gaze proud - yes, she bore merrick's seed. yes, she -- savage bear-queen, was the figurehead spearing merrick's life. and don't any of them fucking forget -- tic, tic.

whether she would ever come to love the product of their coupling was yet to be seen.

Parents... parents. It was a conventionally harsh thought, but of all the things in all the world, the one thing Ico could not imagine Merrick and Astara to be was parents. It was painfully unlikely, and yet, he suddenly realised, likely. They were of that age, after all, and mated — and a powerful Alpha pair. They might wish their extraordinary bloodlines to continue.

Or at least, Merrick might wish it. Astara was far more inscrutable; despite having twice the eye count.

Ico's own gaze whipped over to @Evien, curious as to the young doctor's reaction — though it was likely he knew before the rest of the pack.

Feeling an instinct to break the silence, especially given that the Valley would soon be loud with the mewls and giggles of young children, Ico turned a shy smile to his leaders: Congratulations...!

Parents. 

The strange quiet remained between all until the pretty porcelain boy spoke up a word of congratulations. For any typical couple Toad might've done the same, but somehow he could not see Ursus as a place for children. Nor the cyclops as a father. 

His gaze traced Astara- who was pretty. Pretty weird, too. He wondered how Merrick had grown close to a woman who did not utter a word- but perhaps Toad himself was too chatty, and so he would never question their bond. Only hope that the puppies to come would be safe here.

third and last dispersal round; ill archive when everyone has answered. tysm for attending <3

nightshade. raven. shadow. rook. corvid. his. hers. his. hers.
merrick's pleasure grew and grew, all but choking him. it was for her in entirety, had aught to do with the bearlings in her belly.
they in turn belonged to the whim of ursus.
the eyes of the assembly glowed; ico's soft congratulations bid a grin from merrick. "ursus is blessed," he said softly, firmly, gaze resting on the spasmodic tugging of the flesh beneath his warbird's eye.
finally to all of them it swept, and merrick dipped his head. "all of you make us great. do not forget that." proud though he was, consumed though he was, the coywolf did not forget loyalty.
"go now."
a nudge to ulysses, and then merrick was sweeping through the flower-glade to his lover's side.

---

Ursus is blessed. Galena thought about this. That word meant something different. To her, it meant prophecy, prayer, and magick. Her pale amber eyes slid from wolf to wolf. They were a new pack. Who would rise to the top? Without another word, the shade slipped away. With puppies on the way, caches would need to be filled.

---