The future held in suspense
Hearing the reason that were brought together made the girls bloodlust rise. Dark ears perked at the mention of a raid. She want sure if she would be invited to participate, but she desperately wanted to. This sort of thing was right up her alley. First she listened to the wisdom that her aunt Io shared. At first she wasn't sure who she would pick, but as soon as Io reminded her of Jupiter, the small girls wine colored eyes hardened. She knew whip she would choose. As soon as Meadow was finished, Magnus spoke. Then Aslatiel stood up. "Fireside." The childs eyes advanced the crowd. Unlike her grandmothers sister, she was not shy. "When Jupiter peed over our border, I don't think it was an accident." She went on to explain why. "Our borders are patrolled so much that there's a track cut into the dirt. Grandma patrols and marks every day. There's no way he or his pack mate didn't see and smell it." Asla shook her head. "I see it as an insult. An insult that we can't just turn a blind eye to." With a nod to her father, the girl sat back down beside her grandma and Indy. |
Natha offered a smile to Tamsyn as she arrived and quickly finished cleaning her ears, making sure to finish just as Sirius called the meeting to order. She ignored the use of 'wolves', smiling in amusement at the thought of herself as a wolf. The topic of the meeting was raids and her ears flicked up in interest. She'd fought in two raids already and was eager for another try.
She grinned as they were asked to pick a target. "My thoughts go first to Fireside as well. Jupiter's blatant disregard for our border is at the front of my mind. Though I would urge caution. He specializes in being an irritant, but he is a very skilled fighter. So are the other Fireside wolves I've fought with and battled bears with." In truth she was eager to have a go at Jupiter. They'd fought in a melee and battled bears but she had yet to go at him one on one. She left it at that but in truth she'd be happy with any target, even Winterfell. After all, her contract with them had expired. She swore no oath not to attack them in the future.
"However, I am not opposed to any of the other packs. Not even Winterfell. My contract with them is over. However, if you wish to raid for supplies they would be a poor choice. Though the raid against Abaven was done as a practice raid, Abaven won the raid and in doing so also won a considerable amount of Winterfell supplies. Winterfell also gave a number of supplies to Hjarrandi if I recall correctly. If we are to raid Winterfell as some favor to Abaven that would be important to make clear and I would hope we would gain something from them for it."
With his full focus on Sirius he barely took notice of the rest of wolves that were coming after he. He didnt say anything as he waited for Sirius to speak.He was here for that after all. “Welcome, Armada wolves. We have much to discuss today. An essential part of pack lives- raids. We know that some have already happened across the lands, and there is no doubt it’s only a matter of time before eyes turn to us. I intend to beat them to the punch.” He nodded,he hasn't go out of the Armada in the while time and thus he barely knew what was going on in the outside world. “I intend for us to get some real-world experience, and raid a pack for supplies. Our intention is not to cripple them, or injure their ability to survive through Winter. It is to test their mettle, and ours, and know the strength of the other packs in this land. Now instead of pointing out noses towards a target and say’ lets go’ I wish everyone here to raise their voice. Tell me which pack you would see us raid. The opinion of all the Armada wolves are valid.” A Real Raid could be very useful for Dunkan,and he hopped he held his rank for the time the Raid was on. But the question was hard to answer,as he didn't know anything about the packs. So at first he limited himself to hear other's choices. Winterfell and Aerie were the most announced.He was neutral with the reasons of attacking, he didn't know any.But with hearing what a fireside wolf did that made him feel angry."Fireside," Other than that he didnt mind. This was his choice but he would follow orders. |
Mortis
Lieutenant
Master Fighter (245)
Master Hunter (240)
Marauder
6 Years
Male
93
Seadragoness
His father began the meeting, and he perked all the way up. A part of him also felt his stomach drop out. Was the short strap which pup could attend the raid? Surely not, but the boy couldnt figure out what else it had been for.
He listened as wolves raised their voices I choice. He had not heard about the Fireside incident, and was surprised by the brashness of the actions. It was tempting to go for that pack, but this was the first time he had been offered such a big decision. He wanted to approach it with careful thought. To imagine, his words might help direct a pack to battle. He shivered with anticipation.
"I vote Winterfell. Their Alpha claimed honour, and then ganged up on my dad with his second to try and maim my dad." His father had told him the story as a cautionary tale against pride. The irony of his own was mentioned and discussed. He said Winterfell, because that story had always stuck in his mind, and he had heard Sirius mention that Theory had said to him that pack might turn their eyes to The Armada. Why not beat them to the punch?
Wolves arrived. An invitation was given. Words were said. Resin, however, stayed silent. The scarred woman respected the positions and choices of those present. Every voice counted and that was what this meeting was for. For each wolf to find a voice. It was also an opportunity for each wolf to learn how to make choices. After the majority of those present stood and spoke their minds, the old warrior peeled Aslatiel from her leg and stood. Her stature alone demanded attention and respect, but her words would demand them as well. Gruff, growling tones that might have once been a beautiful voice ground out, addressing the congregation of wolves. "Sirius has laid out the intent for this raid. Practice for our number, but also the opportunity to test another pack." Her lone eye didn't scan the crowd. She looked to Sirius and his woman instead with that golden orb, willing him to see the wisdom in her words. Though they were all making their voices heard, as Warlord, he could veto the votes and make the final decision. That was the point of being an alpha. To take the opinions of your flock seriously, but to ultimately wield the power of choice. "Though Fireside may seem the ideal target because of their slight against the Armada, we already know that they are spineless and cowardly. Testing them would be pointless. Should we ever have a raid where the purpose is to make an example and show our utmost power, perhaps we could choose Fireside then." No, Fireside wasn't the correct choice for this. Resin did spare a glance towards Aslatiel. She knew that the girl felt strongly about her choice, but she hoped that she saw the wisdom in the older, more worldly wolf's view. "If the true goal of this raid is to 'test their mettle' as Sirius has said, and to know the power of another pack, the wisest choice would be to go against those that call them selves mercenaries. Ones that may eventually be turned against us." Resin gave her head a slight shake. "A 'friendly' raid with no maiming or grievous injury could be seen as simple practice. Our true intent would be to see what they're capable of so that we may fortify our own strength where necessary." Now the warrior, the oldest and most experienced of them, scanned the crowd. "As new information is brought to light, your choice may shift. This is a meeting, a congregation of minds. Speak those minds now. Make educated decisions. Change your vote if necessary. Raids, no matter how minor or friendly they may seem, affect how the Armada is seen in the world. Do we test the cowardly and spineless and waste our talents? Or do we attack those that are more unknown to us and put this opportunity to good use?" With a nod to the lot, the woman folded her haunches, opening the floor up to others. Resin believed that she said her piece. Fireside... was not the wisest choice for this. Aerie would be most ideal for opportunities sake. Winterfell was her second choice, simply because they could do to them what they had done to Abaven, though she held no like or dislike for the pack that her daughter had taken a shine to. "Speech" |
She paused, ensuring the anger that was rising within her would be kept down. "That, and their raid against Abaven - someone they called an ally - makes them unpredictable. Their alpha can be bought and I don't like it. Their members are unpredictable, I heard that even while the Abaven raid was spouted as a 'training excersise' that one of his members attempted to maim an Abaven yearling. I take more offense to knowing a pack is capable of those things then the idiot who drunkenly peed on our borders." Finished, she sat back beside her husband and waited to hear the reasonings of the wolves who had yet to vote.
Azure
Master Fighter (935)
Master Hunter (555)
Saboteur
Bloodletter
6 Years
Male
1991
RelevantKoala
"I don't like people who pretend to be more friendly then they are. They're the only one who came to our borders to force gifts on us, it's like they're afraid of us and want us to like them to protect themselves. Then with Cairo being brought here? It makes me wonder what information he learned, and what he could bring back." Azure huffed an angry noise, upset already that a stranger had been given so long to heal in their borders. "I think we should make it very clear to them that we are not friends, before they start using our name to intimidate their enemies."
EDIT: Please let Sirius post next, thanks!
Not all of these features are always reflected in his art.
Sirius
High Councilor
Master Fighter (240)
Master Hunter (275)
Bloodletter
11 Years
Male
51
Seadragoness
"As Resin has pointed out, we do not know Aeire. We know nothing of them but for their Alpha, who came to us in diplomacy. We know very little of Fireside, bar the fact one wolf in their pack is a drunk, and that their alpha is a child. A child that my even younger son could defeat in spar. We know little of Winterfell, other then how easily its Alpha can be brought, and their lack of honour. It was mentioned to me also that their leader may turn their eyes to us next. This test might serve us well as a chance to learn their strength. Lirum, we know nothing of. "
"Abaven and Valhalla are packs we are familiar with, and many among you have mingled with their numbers. For this, I would spare them this test in my own personal vote. Now, that said, cast your votes, you will only have one from here out."
"Aerie. I was raised in a pack of mercenaries, and I don't trust them." Although he'd hardly spoke of his past to anyone, he hoped his two cents would hold some value here. He was nothing but a warrior compared to many, but perhaps his experience being raised as one would hold some weight over others decisions.
Commission Shop ─ Plot with me!
"You're both right." She looked from Resin to Sirius when there was a moment for her to speak. She couldn't side with Azure because she simply didn't feel the same way. Choosing Aerie, the pack of mercenaries, made the most sense. Magnus saying that he came from a similar background help solidify her choice. "Aerie, then." She cast her vote once more.
Kaizer waited. She didn't feel right voicing herself above all the others as they all pitched in and herself she didn't know any of pack politics. She only knew mildly of Valhalla in which her sister called home. Only one wolf seemed to suggest them for their weakness, Kaizer was a bit disappointed in Liz for jumping the gun. While their pack had fallen they had come from strong fighters to hear that Valhalla was soft hearted well good ridence she didn't join her sister. Fireside seemed to be on the front a member had urinated on their borders. From what she could tell it was probably just a publicity stunt. When Aerie came up her ears perked. Finally she would stand and make her decision known even if she was knew this is what she had lived for as a warrior in training it was a chance to show her skills.
"From the sounds of it Winterfell wouldn't be a good choice - honor or not if it's supplies we need they possibly don't have any. A mercenary pack however, what do they take payment for their favors? For all we know they could have more than enough than their members need. Should their fangs turn against us too we should strike while the irons hot. I agree with the others and Aslatiel on this, Aerie seems like the best choice." she then sat back down. She didn't smile nor make any other notion of emotion in such a serious manner. Her tail curled around her haunches as she waited to see what decision would come to be true. |
Choices were made, information exchanged. She listened well, and paid particular attention to Iolaire, Natha, Zee, and Resin, the latter of which was particularly compelling. She’d heard bits and pieces about the piss incident, and though it sounded rather… distasteful…. that alone wasn’t enough to sway her. Fighting mercenaries, however, now that would serve them well for some real world experience, would it not?
Inwardly, she flared at Zee’s description of the violent attack. Winterfell, as she listened to Zee tell it, was a better choice. But was it the best? Aside from the lack of supplies that Natha had described, they knew more of Winterfell, but they didn’t know Aerie to the same degree.
A bit of a frown tugged at her lips at the mentions of Valhalla, particularly Azure’s wayward vote, though she otherwise remained neutral. She didn’t want to raid the home of her friends, of wolves that had been amicable towards the Armada — and she wasn’t alone in the sentiment, it seemed. Better targets lie elsewhere, thankfully, and when the final vote was opened, she spoke. “My vote is also for Aerie. We know more about Winterfell and Fireside. The former wouldn’t be worth the raid, anyway, but with Aerie, we kill two birds.” Raid a pack potentially rich with supplies, and take on a more unknown pack. With the fourth vote cast, it seemed as if the decision would trend towards Aerie.
Though Winterfell might be a good idea, perhaps it would be better to knock on their door once the summer was in full force in the North. Their stores would be full and they wouldn’t have the advantage of snow. The same could be said for Fireside. They were either provoking an attack or making a public show. They could wait to repay that slight. The winning Reaper also stated much of what he felt as as she spoke her peace Roan grunted in his low voice, ”Yeah, same. Aerie.” He motioned towards Malalia vaguely before settling back in beside Iolaire.
As his Wife Iolaire may enter any of his threads.
For a while Tamsyn remained silent. When Sirius opened the floor for the pack to vote on the target for their raid, she initially had no idea how to answer. She knew very little about the other packs other than the names of a few, so she wanted to wait and see what the others thought before she tried to make her own answer. The replies from her pack mates were slow at first, but then quickly picked up into a flurry of words and debate. She tried to absorb as much information as she could from the others as they shared their reasons for picking certain packs over another. It wasn't until after Sirius gave them a firm retort to bring their attentions back together that she realized she would have to make a choice sooner rather than later. She tried to keep in mind Sirius' wish for this raid - to get supplies and experience. At least to her, it made the most sense to not make their first real target someone that they had something to prove to. That should be the raid conduct once they are fully confident in their skills and all of their warriors are fully trained. "Aerie seems like a good choice to me as well," she responded, echoing their Reaper's answer. "We'll be able to get a feel for this pack that we know little about and get more experience before we go for a more substantial target like Winterfell or Fireside."
"Speech" Thought
Warning: Indigo should be considered a Mature Character.
Sirius
High Councilor
Master Fighter (240)
Master Hunter (275)
Bloodletter
11 Years
Male
51
Seadragoness