Wheeling Gull Isle nothing, nothing

and storytelling, which is optional as well! we're calling this storytelling, but your character can really do song, dance, or anything, think of it like a talent show LOL : ) first round will probably be one week and just arrival and will get a bit faster after I have an idea of how many are participating : ) 

this is set in a relatively large clearing somewhere on the hill! 

@Aiolos @Maegi @Natshana @Aimi @Aiolos @Mou @Tzila @Jaime @Hide @Gailiv @Renwick @Xiaoqing @Nuwu @Luli @Haoming

After the feast, night fell again. The moon rose into the sky as the daylight grew dimmer, and the empress made her way up the hill, summoning whoever was interested through a happy song towards the final event of the evening. Then she settled in that place, in a way rather casual for her rank, laying comfortably on her side to invite whoever arrived to do the same. With the setting sun behind them, they would tell stories and create music together, which she would explain upon their arrival. Until then, she would greet any members that showed with a smile and kind wave of her tail, encouraging them to sit if they seemed too rigid to make that choice for themselves.

Making good on her desire to learn more about her new pack, Natshana headed toward Huā's second summons of the day.  She walked leisurely, taking her time as she ascended the hill in the clearing.  Once she was within speaking distance of the Empress, she nodded her head in a more subdued but no less respectful bow as she approached one of her leaders.  She was surprised to see her lounging so casually, but she was still quite a sight to behold.  Quite predictably, Huā was a beautiful wolf, whether she was standing tall or lying comfortably.  Natshana chose a place across from the Empress and reclined similarly, except on her belly.  She had no idea what was happening, which was exciting and new.

Sitting would not be a problem for Maegi. She came, finally, having passed the celebratory feast and eschewed it. She was too sad to be hungry, even though the sadness was a kind of hunger, gnawing at her belly, her bones. Her eyelids were slitted, steps somewhat serpentine but still deliberate. She passed through the trees, wraithlike, and burst into open ground with moonbeams bouncing off her pelt.

Hello, she managed, and eased down, giving her leader a respectful nod before glancing at Natshana. She wondered if Mou would come. She suddenly felt quite alone, and it sent a ripple of terror through her, a black hole that threatened to swallow her whole.

Instead, Maegi looked at her forepaws, stretched before her on the ground. Yes, an anchor, a weight against the poppies pulling her mind and body elsewhere. She rooted herself, and then found herself yawning, jaws stretched wide, eyes watering.

It was a long night. She wondered what Huā had in store for them.

Night had since now fallen. What would be the beginning of their longest night. Aiolos, fattened up from the feast just hours ago, rose to his paws for a stretch and lazy yawn after a quick nap. He pauses to stare up at the moon with a happy smile on that cream lined mug of his, one of two Goddess which he worshiped. Though Sea was around him, tonight was about Moon and he guiding light throughout their darkest nights. 

Making way to the hilltop, he knew it had been some time since he ventured up here. He kept mostly to the coast, he slept along side it in Ruo's Rock. Past the forestry and up the hill onto a clearing, the moon's light cast upon those gathered already- Hua and Natasha lounging about and Maegi, one he knew little of. He had only briefly greeted her in passing with a silent nod and it was the first time he would be among her as packmate.

He smiles to her, another silent dip of his muzzle to the rather torn woman. Finding an open spot along side Hua, he stretches out into a lay on his stomach, paws stretched out before him. Already it seemed like @Fānglong had wandered off from them and he thought having her here for this would have been perfect.

this reply came later than promised, my apologies :'D let's start the next round on the 13th, if that works for everyone?

As the day was dwindling to a close, Huā wasn't surprised that only a few still had the energy to come- but she was greatful for the ones that did, and noted their presence as a little boost to their reputation in her eyes. They each greeted her in their own ways, and then settled down as she did. Huā smiled. 

My last pro-posal for our night, is that we share story. Huā's voice was gentle, seeing no point in being loud with such a small audience. Her gaze flickered between them. Maybe, you think story is something for a child. But I think on day of celebration, we can be children again, She grinned mischievously, And, also... adults can learn something from story, too. 

I will begin, by telling you a story about constant deter-mination, even when that goal is so far away. Once there is a young girl call Nüwa. A similar name to her own daughter, but this was simply how the story went- how her mother had told it, and how she would tell it now. Nüwa always wants to go play by the sea, which she has never seen, but her father is such a busy hunter and guardian, that he never can. He always tells her, 'tomorrow, Nüwa. Maybe tomorrow.' Huā sighed.

Eventually, Nüwa is tired of waiting. She wishes her father will come, but must go without him, to see the ocean. She is just a child who wants to play. When she finds the shore, she plays in the water- happy, to see what she longed for- but a storm comes, and she does not know what to do. Before she can save herself, a great wave swallows her into the ocean. And Nüwa drowns. Huā lowered her head as if mourning the character momentarily, before continuing.

Her father is heart-broken, when his daughter never comes home. And the world pities Nüwa. By magic, the pup is risen from the sea, as a bird- called Jingwei, because of the noise she makes. Jingwei, Jingwei! She sung it in a high note like a crowing seagull.

You can imagine, Jingwei is not happy. She is a bird! And she can never return to her happy life as Nüwa. She does not want others to meet her fate at the hands of the sea; she despises it, for what it has done. But a child has no limit to her imagination, nor her per-sev-er-ance. She gathers rocks and sticks and takes them, dropping them one by one into the ocean, always flying to bring more. She wants to fill up the ocean with it, so no other girl will ever drown. She works forever... if you see a bird fly over the sea now, dropping in a stone, maybe that is Jingwei, hoping to fill the waters.

Huā smiled lightly. Her story did not necessarily have a happy ending- Jingwei's mission was futile, but she would spend eternity on it anyways. If anything, the empress hoped her story simply provoked thought or entertained. She bowed her head to the little audience, and then let her gaze move over the group. Who is next?

Story modified from 精衛填海

As voices rose to rally the pack in celebration, Luli had not answered. Fearful of such a large gathering, she withdrew and maintained her silence - regretfully. For there was a great sadness in her heart, as she knew her mother would take note of her refusal to join in such festivities. 

Only at night, as they dwindled, did the koi join what was left of the group. She lingered at the outskirts, having arrived mid-story; ears pricked at the familiarity of the main character's name. Her vibrant eyes avoided those of the Empress for fear of scrutiny, and with nothing to offer she waited quietly for the next participant.