Redtail Rise to history

All packmates encouraged to attend! Inspired by This thread and idea from Avicus but all adults are welcome to be witnesses as they're all so close :3

@New Snow @Masquerade @Mulherin @Saturdays Sunrise @Saturdays Sunset

In the nature of her own coming-of-age ceremony, Lilia sought out the children, now Toweard, calling them together so that in the presence of their leaders, they could declare themselves. She licked her lips in anticipation of the event, glancing to @Augur and wondering if he knew yet which path his own daughters might choose for themselves. 

Avicus' absence remained a thorn in her heart, aching with every pulse. But it was with a heavy, comforting stroke of inspiration that she summoned the children to come and present themselves before the adults of the pack, whose ranks they would be joining in a matter of months. They would have time to grow, learn and develop- but choosing a goal would help them hone their skills, and discern their interests from their fantasies. 

An air of seriousness would hang about them, as they waited for the pack's members to come and witness, and for the Toweards to assemble and declare their path.

Lilia’s call sounded different than usual. 

For this reason, he expects bad news to await him.

And so, he heeds the message and materializes from the brush. He finds his leaders sitting in wait.

Curious, he approaches them with a small woof. He tilts his head and wonders what information they have to deliver.

at 4 months of age, Sunrise continues to grow into her ever changing body. she finds herself eating more as the weight continues to add to her frame, hinting at the strong figure she has secretly inherited from Augur. pale yellow eyes would come to search for her sister before making her way over to wherever wolverine asked for an audience.

despite the tremendous growth, her vocabulary remains rather limited. while there are a few words that she has managed to scrounge up whilst listening to others, Sunrise has found herself in a silent household and has come to put preference for the feral language that all wolves are born with.

a quiet huff to her sister, an invitation for them to travel together. Sunrise has a special place in her heart for her littermate after all, and perhaps if she had the words, she could joke about how Sunset is her other better half.

The Beserkr’s call rallied the Rise’s bambinos, who were all growing more independent by the day. Saturday’s Sunset, like any wolf juvenile, spent more and more time exploring her world. Nature’s little wonders captivated her: how squirrels buried seeds, or how the finch wove its nest. How a tadpole grew into a frog, or how the crow could find carrion from high in the sky. How dark clouds preceded a storm, or how a rainbow might reveal itself afterward.

Play became practice. Hunting, stalking, and scouting – oh, and wrestling too! The young girl’s dexterity and body awareness improved every day under their Caru’s careful tutelage. 

Her sister extended an invitation and so the Saturday twins traveled together. Saturday’s Sunset admires her littermate’s bold and animated personality. She was good at being charismatic and taking initiative. By comparison, Sunset was far more subdued and stoic. A quiet storm, like a sudden freeze.

They arrived to find Wolverine and their den-brother, who Saturday’s Sunset thought of as Shadow, waiting.

the children of red woman and of new snow had grown into fine wolves.

augur stood beside the young berserkr. he had some conception of what his daughters might choose, but it was the way of the rise that they depict this for themselves.

red woman's face was fixed firmly in his mind's eye as he rumbled to all the young ones gathering, offering a nudge and swing of white plume.

As with most pack matters these days, Masquerade had mixed emotions as they lingered in the backdrop to bear witness. They were proud of the young wolves they’d helped raise, though despite Maleah’s input on the matter, it felt like the pups already didn’t need their Caru as much. This small ceremony officially drove that home, while also serving as a reminder of all their missing family members.

They looked from one youth to the next, flashing a small smile if any of them glanced their way. Masquerade didn’t move any nearer, nor speak to anyone, though their eyes tended to favor Mulherin more than any of the others as they waited for the event to unfold.

cameo!

it hadn't been so long ago that lilia and ancelin had stood here with the others, ready to speak their futures into existence.
he noticed that masque hung back and joined his cousin after tossing a proud look to his mate.
perhaps for one of the first and only times, ancelin felt the touch of solidarity once more.

please let Augur post first, and then it'll be a pretty open posting order <3

As the youth came forward, she read their expressions, nothing everything from concern to excitement. She let them be; how they responded to anything new would be indicative of how they might respond to something serious later on in life- whether it was a bison that turned around to fight off the wolves that chased it or a stranger lurking near their borders. The children would learn to flow with the unexpected, and appreciate the routine. 

Mulherin, Saturday's Sunset and Saturday's Sunrise were the first to arrive. The others trickled in as well, though Lilia noticed that Redsky wasn't among them. She glanced to the Caru to see if there was any reason for concern that the boy should not show up when summoned, or if she could speak on his behalf regarding his absence. Regardless, the meeting would continue without him. 

Her expression warmed to see Ancelin had come, and Masque as well. She could only hope that she was doing the right thing, in speaking Avicus' words in her stead. Though she was not Wealda, she hoped the children would benefit from having Avicus' traditions. 

She moved, to address them as a group, and speak with gestures for those who used no words. "Yuh growin'," She said, pausing by the girls and lifting her chin, as though to measure their height with an impressed smile. She felt a pang of grief which she fought back by tightening the muscles in her jaw. "You all have a part to play here. Hunting," A look to Augur, their Ulfhedinn,  "Fighting," A glint of her off-white teeth, "Caretaking," Her gaze softening as she looked to Masquerade, "Guarding," A private smile given to the one who guarded not only the pack, but her heart as well.

 Flowers, she heard Reki's voice say, and a wistful glint humbled the sharpness in her gaze. 

Avicus had accepted deviations from the two roles offered, and so would she. 

She circled back to where she could see them all, pausing to see if Augur would have anything to add. 

"It'th yuh choithe, who you become. What will you be?"

their assembly was no less strong for its size, in his mind.

he had not been there for the first, but if nature was kind, augur would be present for this and many more.

wolverine spoke and his eyes swept upon each of the young ones, lingering upon his own young.

his tail swung with utmost encouragement for them all.

Lilia had stepped into her new role alongside Augur with grace. Respectfully, he listens to the announcement and joins the sides of his appearing littermates. 

It was time to choose a path. 

When the time was right, he felt emboldened enough to speak first.

Fighter. He spoke clearly, before glancing at Masquerade to gauge their reaction—he hadn’t forgotten their conversation just a few days earlier.

New Snow limped in, only a little sore from a failed hunt—it was the cause of her delay. Her warm gaze looked over the group, and she settled near her daughters and Shadow for a moment (to rest), chuffing and nosing them gently in greeting, before she moved on three legs (nursing her injury) toward the Caru.

She could sense the unease, but could not understand why. Perhaps proximity might settle it, and her gaze swung to her mate before falling back onto their cubs. New Snow watched, and listened.

Their congregation grew as Father, Mother, Caru, and Bjern arrived. To each, Saturday’s Sunset passed a fiendly tail wag or a lick on the chin (if they were close enough). After all, she was only four months old and so submissive, respectful behavior towards the adults was expected of a Toweard.

She sat beside Sister, Shadow, and the others as their Beserkr, fondly admired as Wolverine, explained with words and gestures why they had gathered. Saturday’s Sunset understood words, though she would never speak. However, body language was her native tongue and so she watched her leader’s charades with a keen eye.

It’s time to choose our place in the pack, the spirit ruminated. Whatever shall we become?

Fighter - no - guardian - no - gatherer, the pale cub prattled inwardly, undecive. Why must I choose?

Because the pack is a team, the wise spirit explained, and everyone can’t do everything all the time. We must do our own part to collectively thrive.

Outwardly, Saturday’s Sunset stewed, pensive as she weighed her options. Then, a voice spoke up.

Fighter, Shadow pointedly declared. Saturday’s Sunset thought of the wolf blood scent and the scars on Wolverine, who had defended their territory. Then, her gaze drifted towards their Caru as she remembered swimming, playing, and fishing in the cold stream. The child’s eyes turned upon her parents. She admired her Mother’s sleek figure, Father’s strong frame, and their prowess for the hunt. Her belly had never been empty.

We are strong! the spirit encouraged her vessel. We can do anything!

Saturday’s Sunset reached a decision. She stood and bit at the air with a click of her teeth. I will become a huntress.

sunrise found herself glazing over before she realized that her sister had answered, leaving her the last one to pick their role. beneath the surface, sunrise felt an ocean of turmoil beneath her as she forced herself to think and ponder of her role. father led the hunts, and it appeared that her sister wished to follow in his footsteps and seek to drain the life blood of prey.

her shadow comes to pick a fighter role, and perhaps this is due to the feral blood that runs through his nature and lineage. it was perhaps his birthright. but what of sunrise? what is her destiny? perhaps sunrise remains secretly as an opportunist, or simply the last vessel meant to fill the hole that remained in the rise. the other two spots remained taken, and so only 1 remains for her to take.

without the words to convey, sunrise comes to walk a circle around both sunset and the shadow, as if carving out her own perimeter of the two. as a shepherd who collects his lost lambs, sunrise would act not for the boldness of bloodshed but for the protection of others. after a few circles, she comes to place her body parallel with her tracks, as if to say "i will protect them."

she would become a guardian; of her sister, her parents, and of the rise who made up her family. this would be her destiny.

Redsky listened to the words spoken to him. His brother answered with 'fighter'. But Sky on the other hand, had a different idea for his purpose in the pack. "Hunter." He said, his voice strong and full of confidence. He knew his place. He knew what he was made more.

She watched as each took in the words left behind by their Wealda, though only those who had been present at the last one might know how significant it was. The question worked for this year's youth, as it had the year before. Each Bearn considered their role in the pack and in declaring themselves, they became Toweard.

Unlike the previous year, these children did not deviate from the tasks listed and she noted with satisfaction that all who voiced their trades, chose one of two options: to fight or to hunt. It made her heart swell with pride to know that the roles prioritized by Avicus still seemed important to the next generation. It made her feel even more pleased to know that one child from each litter had chosen each trade. 

"Mulherin an' Thunrise," She said, looking from one to the next. "You will train togethuh. You may come to Anthuhlin an' mythelf for ekthtra lethonth." She said, giving a glance to her mate, with a sway of her tail. 

To the hunters, she moved next. "Redthky an' Thunthet, you should begin hunting togethuh," She said. "An' look to Augur, New Thnow an' Mathque for more training." Of course, most were cross-disciplinary, but she knew that each member of the pack could just as easily teach hunting lessons. The children would have many paths to choose from, and many mentors. 

"You become Toweard, now. An if you choothe to follow thethe paths, you will become Bjern, Ulfr. She said. She remembered the words Avicus had closed with, and breathed them herself, still wishing the Wealda could have been the one to give the talk to her own children. 

[b]"Fight. Train. Learn."[/b]

night eye would become a fighter.

pale star would become a hunter, and this pleased her hunt-lead father, though any role she would have taken would be a source of pride to him.

grey tooth would be fighter also, and he looked with pleasantry upon her, seeing much of new snow in her bearing.

and blackfang was confident in his role as hunter.

augur listened until lilia had finished speaking, encouraging their young to seek out adults among the pack for their training,

one day he would hear the voice of her own children speaking, and offer them his hunting knowledge as well.

he howled out, a song of support and investment in the children of the rise and their futures.

lilia was in her element, to the point it was hard to look away from her. but ancelin did, glancing at each kid in turn with approval of their picks in his indigo eyes.
and when his mate named him as support, he felt surprise flush through him! but he straightened all the same, trying to look the part of a confident warrior. he could do this. he could definitely teach.
when augur sang, ancelin did also, bumping his shoulder to that of lilia with a gentle show of complete solidarity. she'd absolutely killed it at this meeting, and his strong faith in her was only reinforced.

The silver girl’s eyes passed from Beserkr, to Father, Mother, and then Caru – her mentors.

She pawed at the ground, excited for this new path.

It is our destiny! the spirit claimed. Meant for us!

Her amber eyes shimmered with cool devotion.

Huntress, the spirit tested the word on its lips. We know this. It is in out blood, as it was in all of our ancestors before us.

Then, she sang with Father and the rest of the Redtail Rise pack.

there thrums a sense of deep pride as the rise sings to welcome forth its youngest generation of hunters and protectors and fighters. each child was growing and would come to fill the role they have chosen to better serve the rise.

at the mention of her mentors and newest partner in crime, sunrise offers them all a sparkling expression of excitement. this was the beginning of her newest chapter, as her diaper days remain behind her at last.

sunrise cries out her own rambunctious howl as it intertwines with the others. and perhaps all would come to know that the rise remained strong and healthy for years to come.

Sky looked at Lilia, then Sunset, then Auger. He dipped his head to Lilia and locked eyes with the other two before looking forward again. He would be a hunter

He listens keenly; to his fellow, newly Toweards’ declarations, and to his leaders and packmates.

Sunrise had chosen similarly to him. Whilst Sky and Sunset decided on the path of hunter. All pieces seemed to fall into place.

He howls, his voice entwines with the others. 

It was a celebratory moment for the rise, as each of the youths chose a vocation. None of the choices surprised their Caru, who knew there was honor in every role.

What did surprise them was the feeling Lilia’s closing statement evoked. The three words were likely meant to honor Avicus—as was this gathering in its entirety—but their repetition prompted Masquerade to suck in a breath and vehemently think, Who does she think she is?

But the moment passed. They took a deep, steadying breath, caught Mul’s eye and winked. When the pack began to raise their voices, Masque lent a tenor note to the song.