The Warlord stood in the cleared space around the Obelisk, his equally towering son at his side. The diplomatic talks Sirius had sent Azure on had gone well. Habari welcomed the practice this would bring them, as the Warlord valued the practice it would give his own wolves. With Fireside and Sparrows pack handing over his shoulder, this was well past due.

Raising his head, he howled into the midmorning air, summoning to him those that would come with them to this raid. A few others of course could sit in and listen, but this day he would be prioritising those that needed the practice. He would have taken Azures pups with them, if Hanako and Zee wouldn’t kill them both for exposing the very young children to it. Alas.

Ooc: Assume Azure is already there. For this practice raid, we are prioritizing wolves that need the skills the most. Those with reserved spots are the following: Grimshaw, Hikaru, Ruga, Aris, and Nao. If you play one of these wolves and don’t wish to participate, please opt out.


"Sirius Fatalis"

He could hear the howl as he strode back from Malachai's den that morning, though sighed at the sound of it. Not that he wasn't alright with answering it, but because the mans scent likely penetrated his coat for everyone to smell. There wasn't any time to waste however so his dark paws carried him quickly towards the location of the call where Sirius and Azure already sat. He could only hope no one would notice and perhaps think it just to be a friendly spar with an Ashen neighbor if they did, or at least that's what he would claim it to be.

Grim appeared to be the first of many there and offered his leaders a light bow of his head before finding a spot to sit and rubbing at his tired eyes. Hopefully it wouldn't take the others long to arrive, he had just been lucky enough to be so close when the call rang out.

"Speech."

Gossamer stretched, the sunlight dappling her coat as she woke up her muscles and her mind for the day. It had been a long night last night. A group of coyotes had tested the Armada's border while she was on patrol. She'd chased them off and slew one but it had held up her return to the den site and meant getting to bed far later than she'd planned. Gossamer was working her way to the plains to do some training when she heard her father call the warriors together at the obelisk. Oh? Whatever this was she wanted in and she headed toward the meeting place. "Morning, father!" She greeted Sirius before settling down to listen.

While he was certainly familiar with the ways of fighting and had been in various spars and the like in his life, he hadn't had a reason or desire to take part in something on anything of a larger scale than that. He had witnessed packs tearing one another apart on more than one occasion and usually wanted nothing to do with it. However, when Sirius called for warriors, he wouldn't deny him. The Warlord had been more than generous in giving him a home here and allowing him to do as he wished with setting up his blacksmithing space and the freedom to create what he wanted. He supposed he could take part in something on Sirius' behalf. He walked out to the meeting spot, finding a couple of wolves there already, and he gave the Warlord a nod before he settled down on his haunches to listen to the plan for today. He was hopeful that it wasn't anything too destructive, though he knew that this was something that came along with joining a pack. It was a concession he made in order to get all the other benefits that came along with being here and he was okay with that.

"Ruga Amanto"

The pack was slow to congregate at their call, a fact that frustrated the new champion though he dare not say as much aloud. Standing beside his father he waited for others to arrive, counting heads as they joined the meeting and realizing that this was not enough bodies to bring to even a practice raid. Aris was missing for one, and Azure made a mental note to rebuke his sister if she decided this training session was not worth her time - her goal of reaper would be damn near unattainable if she didn't think she could handle a raid. Tipping his head back he called again, expressing both his disappointment and impatience in his howl. With a turn of his head toward his father he murmured a short half-apologetic "Sorry," and then settled in to wait for more to arrive. "Speech"

Leaving Mort’s side was always difficult, especially after he’d nearly lost his life to the oozing sickness. That morning he was feeling especially slow, with strong arms and wings wrapped around him it was much easier to glaze over the call and fall back asleep. A small smile played on his pale lips, and happiness fluttered in his breast as he traveled between dream and reality, now that he had Mortis it was harder than ever to distinguish between the two. Hika blinked open his eyes, barely registering he was being called to congregate at the Warlord’s paws.

Sleepily he rolled back into Mortis, breathing him in sleepily when a few moments later another call rang out. He was more awake so this second time registered much more clearly the need for his presence. There was no hesitation the second time, his own desire did not trump the will of his alphas. He wiggled carefully from Mort’s grasp and placed a kiss on his forehead before rushing out the door towards the meeting place.

Azure must have just been inordinately impatient because there were only three others gathered before he got there. So his sleeping in would likely be forgiven this time. He offered a humble dip of his head to both leaders before taking a seat.

"Speech"

When the initial summons rang out, open ended and demanding, it didn't immediately register. After all, a measly slave boy wouldn't be invited into the fray of battle.. right? However, the second (and far more insistent) call that followed soon after had him hauling himself to his paws in a hurry. Alright, so perhaps his presence was being called for today. Moving towards the source of the call at a steady lope, the delicate male did his utmost to ensure that his posture remained submissive and demure as he closed in on the gathering. There were already quite a few of his pack members around, milling about as they awaited the beginning of the meeting. What had the leaders summoned him here for? Was he supposed to be tending to their food and drink needs?

The petite phantom sought to meet the Warlord's eye as subtly and cautiously as possible, seafoam gaze flicking back down to his paws as quickly as possible. Svelte form clung to the edges of the assembled wolves, settling with hunched shoulders and downcast gaze as he awaited the beginning of the meeting.

"Speech!"

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Aris was just returning to pack lands from the battlefield, not yet even over the border, when she heard her dad's call. She changed direction to head towards the meeting, though didn't hurry her steps. When Azure added his own demanding call, though, she scowled in irritation. "I'm coming, I'm coming. Keep your fur on," she grouched, though of course he wouldn't be able to hear her from all the way over by the border so the sarcastic grouching was wasted. It wasn't like she was going to stop to make herself presentable anyway, because it was Aris, but it was the principle of being hurried that annoyed her.

She sauntered into the meeting with an air of nonchalant arrogance rather than annoyance before throwing herself down next to Gossamer with an affected yawn.

Halo had been setting another batch of alcohol to ferment when the initial call had come. All things considered, the pale healer considered that it likely didn't apply to her. Though she'd trained in self defense with the Warlord himself, the idea of going on the offense... well, was she ready for that? The Armada was a pack filled with warriors, and she'd only felt more and more out of place as she realized it. Warriors. How could Halo ever measure up? The grey had been fairly well settled in lately, and the thought of a raid (a practice raid, even) was enough to bring it on even stronger.

Azure's call came next. They needed more. That, and he sounded irritable. Maybe it was a reckless decision, but Halo looked to Mr. Raccoon and left him in charge of the fire where it crackled merrily in its pit. Though she may not have been equipped for a raid, it would be important for her to learn. It would be important for her to see first hand what went on. It would be important for her to see and hear and feel in the thick of things. In a split second, the tenderhearted creature's mind was made up. She would go, she would learn, and maybe she could even prove it (to herself more than anyone else) that she belonged here.

On near-silent paws, she slipped into the meeting and settled at the back of the congregation around the obelisk. Azure still made her uncomfortable, that was for sure, and she avoided looking at him almost entirely. Instead she looked to Sirius and waited.

"Halo"

The Warlord half hid a soft snort at Azure’s impatient call. He was eager to get on with it, and couldn’t be arsed waiting the time it would take for a wolf to reach them from the further reaches of the pack. It wasn’t long before a few other members appeared. His eyes glanced over those before him. From Grim, to his two daughters, his prized smith, the pale Koi, the slave…. And Halo? He blinked in surprise as the small white healer appeared. He considered it for a moment, a part of him wishing to send the tiny healer away, before he reconsidered. It was a practice raid, if she wished to get a taste of it, now was the best time. He gave her a slight nod. She could stay.

“Thank you all for coming. Habari has agreed to host a practice raid for the Armada. Those who I requested by name have had the least experience with raids, and this experience will do you all well. It would be good to see you all take on this challenge, but if you wish to opt out, speak now.” He waited a moment to allow anyone to do so, before continuing on. “As mentioned, our target is Habari. If we win, we will hold a hunt on their territory. This is a friendly raid, so mind your manners, learn what you can, and have fun. Any questions?

Ooc: Round 2 due 5th March <3
"Sirius Fatalis"

There were a couple more arrivals after himself before Sirius began to speak up. He thanked all of them for coming as he called, Hika might have slept in but he was indeed here on time. Somehow. He chuckled internally, still feeling too well the presence that was missing beside him. Of all the wolves here he only really knew the Warlord. Most of his time was spent with the winged Fatalis.

Sirius made the decision that he needed experience in a raid. Hika wasn’t certain why but he wasn’t about to deny a challenge. Habari was their target and they’d hunt afterwards if they won. Hikaru wasn’t about to be contrary, he lifted his head proudly and nodded in acceptance of his place here. He was ready to charge forward, even without his best friend at his side he’d show he supported the pack.

"Speech"

Halo would be embarrassed to admit it, but she was a bit nervous. Excited, yes, but nervous. When the Warlord met her gaze, though, it seemed like pretty much everything was right with her decision. They'd speak about things later, but his nod gave her the confidence that she so sorely needed. Confidence... confidence? Confidence, Halo? Though she was a bit of a stranger to it, she straightened her back and her shoulders. Yes, she could at least feign confidence in this situation. She was going to prove to herself above all that she belonged here. It's important.

Upon hearing that this is a practice raid, relief comes easily. Maybe even the shadow of a smile plays on her lips. A practice raid, so it would be practice fights, and the stakes weren't all that high. They'd be able to hunt on Habari lands if they were victorious, which was neat. Maybe she could even meet some of Habari's healers, after the dust had settled. It would be nice to get familiar with others outside of their pack, and important too. The confidence in her sways from feigned to almost real as Sirius asks if anyone would like to opt out. No, she wouldn't shy away from the challenge. Halo was committed to the challenge, and she'd rise to the occasion. He asks for questions, at which point Halo shakes her head. No questions. The tenderhearted creature was nervous, but she was ready.

"Halo"

It was with only a hint of anxiety that the waif sat patiently while the remaining wolves trickled in, and the Warlord began to speak. The reason for the summons was simple enough, there was to be a practice raid and any of the specifically summoned individuals were in need of further raid experience. Sensible, really. After all, what was there to expect from a slave who had ben passed around more times than he could remember? The target was a pack called Habari, of which he was unfamiliar. The Warlord bade anyone uninterested in joining to speak up, but it was hardly his own prerogative to excuse himself from something he'd been directly requested to participate in. Autonomy wasn't an option at his rank.

Still as a statue, the dark furred male kept his pale gaze trained on his leader, and the request to mind his manners specifically. This was... a new one. When were there supposed to be manners in battle? Since this was merely for practice, it seemed possible that the goal was to strengthen ties to a political ally. Maiming a potential ally was a quick route to not having an ally anymore. He, of course, didn't have any questions to ask, even if he were allowed. Show up, don't die, and maybe afterwards take part in a little hunt on unfamiliar lands. Seemed simple enough. He wondered if he would be able to sneak through with his new companion and weapon, of if the likelihood of being noticed and punished by the Warlord outweighed the benefits of being armed...

"Speech!"

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As others gathered, Grimshaw remained seated alone. It wasn't much longer before Sirius started and announced something he really didn't want to hear. A practice raid. He did his best to mask his sigh as a deep breath as he listened, happy to at least get some kind of opportunity but it would be real. Everyone would be holding back, moving slower and more fairly. A real raid would be better, despite the lack of experience the collection of wolves, and even himself, had. He felt that learning from training and practice was good, but the real learning came from the real thing.

At least if they won, they would get to have a hunt on the Habari territory. Though he couldn't imagine what would want to live around a volcano besides a bunch of nutjobs, he figured that at least it was better than nothing. He'd rather be pillaging some other pack for real, but he guessed that he would have to take what he gets.

"Speech."

Gossamer let her thoughts wander as she waited for the meeting to start. She couldn't believe it was summer already and fall was just around the corner. Where was all the time going? Her older brother, Azure, called again to hurry up arrivals. She grinned as she saw Aris arrive and join her. No sign of Ophelia though, that was a shame. Granted, raids didn't really seem like her rotund sister's thing but still it would've been fun for the three of them to go charging into battle together.

Once everyone had arrived Sirius explained that they'd be engaging in a practice raid against Habari. She shook her head. "Sounds good to me."

Several other wolves joined the party after him, though he didn't know many of them personally. He had seen most of them around the pack occasionally, but not in one on one conversation. Perhaps this could be an opportunity to get to know some of them a little better or maybe at least give him an excuse to strike up a conversation. It was kind of a shame that Briar and Lia moved away to another pack since he had seen them the most of any of his pack members since he joined while he was working on the sword for the former princess. He brushed the thought away easily as Sirius began this little meeting, informing them of the plan to conduct a practice raid against one of the neighboring packs. The fact that it was an agreed upon arrangement with their target with a goal as harmless as a hunt on their territory did ease his mind a bit about the whole thing. He certainly didn't mind a fight when it was in good spirits or if it was in defense of something. Since this was all for experience and enjoyment he could let himself be more interested in the whole thing. He nodded agreement and gave Sirius a little grin, looking forward to seeing how they might stack up to this other pack.

"Ruga Amanto"

Hikaru, Satoru, Aris, and even the new healer filed in shortly after his impatient repeated call and Azure settled back on his haunches with a look toward his father to see the meeting begin. Sirius kept it short and sweet, offering the floor to his wolves for questions or concerns. The Champion kept his own mouth shut, having nothing more to add to his father's speech nor any questions regarding the raid he himself had organized. He'd promised Recluse a decent showing for both their benefits, and looking out at the small crowd of wolves he only hoped they were up to the challenge. It had been a long while since the Armada's force was shown in battle, even a friendly one like this one. His only regret was that the target was an ally, and not one he could encourage his wolves to go all out on. "Speech"