(THIS THREAD IS FOR STORIES ONLY)

For the sake of his children and all those that he knew were going a little stir crazy on the island, Chimera had decided to invite outsiders from all over the realm into his territory. There were rules, of course. Guidelines that those from without must adhere to in order to gain and retain admittance. The mastiffs that had been sent out to spread the word shared these rules with each that they spoke with so they would be well known.

Together, the pack worked to set up various temporary dens, tents and bonfires. The invitation had specifically stated that the storytelling would start in the evening. Chimera wouldn't expect anyone to make the trek back to their own lands so late, so he assumed that many would choose to stay the night. The area for the storytelling would be evident, however. A wide fire pit was lined with stones and wood had been burning all day to produce low flames with red hot coals. Furs and cushions were situated in the soft grass around the inviting fire.

The black and white giant stood, the glow of the flames painting him in flickering gold. "Welcome to Fenmyre," he began with a nod of his blocky skull. "I look forward to hearing the tales that you have to share." With a nod, he opened the floor to whichever wolf would be bold enough to begin.

"Speech"

(The floor is open to start your stories! Please keep them all in one post so it's easier for the voters!)

Ricin was generally the storyteller in the family but on this day Chade would give it a try.  He’d had plenty of time to think on it the whole way down to Fenmyre.  When Ry had asked him what it would be about Chade would shrug and say he’d see.  Looking at the different faces of those listening Chade exhaled, clearing his mind to focus only on the story.
“This story takes place before any here were alive,” Chade offers for his start, a paw waving across the air as if trying to set some story mode feels.

“It was a time before your parents and those before.” His voice kept to a whisper, but an intense one.  “It was a time when the dead roamed the earth with the living.  Death wasn’t an end, only a different form of existence.” Chade made sure his eyes met everyone for a moment, trying to draw them in.

“It had its good points, getting to see those you loved.  Family, friends, even the family before you were born, truly seeing your ancestors and learning from them.  You see, the great spirits who shaped the world hadn’t wanted to tear us away from our loved ones then.  Spirits of death and life worked together in this.”

“Evil, was, unfortunately, less prevalent in the world then also.  The burning desire for revenge, the intense feelings of greed and wanting more were far less.  Wolves and even other animals had a sense of comfort,” a dramatic pause, inwardly counting to three, “Then, the dark one was born.  His name was Darsien.  He was a creature born from shadow, his coat mixed of various dark, near-black shades of grey.  They say the stink of the grave was on him.  Thankfully, none of us have been near him to experience it.”

“Darsien was charismatic. He started his own pack and assured wolves of all they could get with him but there was a condition.  The dead were not welcome in his pack.  He said the dead stole from life.  To join one had to ignore the ghostly apparations and their words of wisdom.  He also told the wolves to quite thinking well of the spirit of death and only life.  That the spirit of death was against us.  Today, that sounds more reasonable right?”

“He promised the wolves who joined him greater wisdom than any dead could offer.  He told them how he could help them find even greater joys in life.  More excitement.  He let them believe they were superior to those who still talked to the dead.  Once he had them feeling superior these wolves were all his.”

“Peace was stolen from the land. Darsien had his pack insulting other wolves, and soon enough used brute force to try and make others bow to their will.  Other wolves wanted in on the fun and soon Darsien had a collection of packs that allied to his and their alphas went to Darsien for how to rule.  The dead tried to warn other wolves this was just the beginning and soon matters would grow worse.  The living no longer listened to the dead.”

“The spirit of death mourned for her subjects and let them choose.  Some faded out of existence to a dimension of peace.  Some were granted power.  Their words could cause earthquakes or start fires.  Their touch became icy cold so that it could stop a heart.  The dead started seeking out the living to kill so that they too would join their army.”

“One of Darsien's wolves asked for advice and he went to a witch, one who knew of potions that could bring the recently dead back to life and make them immortal.  Many used it.  They came to life again, they were immortal.  However, their spirit wanted to return to the dead.  They also started hunting other wolves to slay them.  It was said that it was a lucky day if you could find green grass for most was red from the spilled blood of what seemed a never-ending sea of death.”

“This threat is now gone, obviously?  How did it happen?  All we have is stories.  Some say that some good pure wolves sacrificed themselves to go speak on the plane of death and beg them for peace.  Some say a noble wolf killed Darsien and that was all it took.  Some say the spirit of life had pity on her own and she locked the spirit of death, so that all the dead or living dead were also locked away.  Does the reason why matter?”

Chade gave a second before adding, “The problem is, some whisper if the dead are allowed back to life again it could be Darsien who comes back.  They say he is tortured eternally in death.  Should he come back to the land of life he will seek to kill any who do not submit to his will.”

Chade glanced around, “Beware Darsien.  With that, my tale is over.”
"Chade"

The feast was over and the time for storytelling was at paw. The location for the storytelling was clear enough, a fire pit lined with stone and wood in preparation for the stories that would be told. The low flames and hot, red coals gave ambiance, and cushions were set around the pit to make the guests comfortable, or even furs if they preferred. Lucette was currently sitting on some of the furs, calmly listening to the first to tell his tale. A tale about a man named Darsein. Someone once a threat, and now was gone. She drew in a breath as he finished, speaking up in a surprisingly clear and well-carried voice despite being such a small creature. “I guess I’m going next. Listen well now, to the tale of a man named Chasm.” Lucette had risen to a sitting position, head turning toward the skies as she mentally prepared herself for a tale her mother had told her as a child. “In the religion of Foi, it is believed that insanity is a curse of the dark ones, a bane set upon the world and allowed to run rampant by the Divinities themselves. None was so lost, so insane, as the Mad Beast herself, Rainbow Syndrome. A woman said to be so twisted and dark that she would torture others for fun, and when she grew bored of them, she would devour their bodies and very souls, preventing them from joining the Divinities Charis and Erebos in the land of the death. There wasn’t a creature alive that followed Foi that did not fear Rainbow Syndrome’s coming… But it is said even the darkest of creatures will care for their own. None now how, or if the father of the child was but one of Rainbow’s victims, but she had children. Two daughters and a son. The son, her middle child, was most like Rainbow, the only one that she kept close, having abandoned the other two for other creatures to find. It is unknown why Rainbow didn’t merely kill them but it is believed that somewhere within her twisted heart she found herself unable to take the lives of her own kin. Now, the son… She named him Chasm, after a deep fissure in the earth. He appeared endless and hollow, following his mother’s orders blindly, raised to believe that her way was right, that she was merely a survivor, never realizing what sort of twisted creature she really was. Chasm loved his mother, as most children would, and saw a strong beast where others saw something to fear. But their time together would not last forever. Rainbow Syndrome and Chasm, despite their ability to feed on their own kind, were mortals. Hunters began to come in groups, all seeking to kill Rainbow Syndrome, and many, many good men were lost in that attempt. One day while Chasm was out collecting herbs his mother requested a new group came, led by a man with flaming red fur. They waged battle while Chasm was gone and by the time he returned it was too late. His mother, the fearsome Rainbow Syndrome, was dead. Chasm grieved. He cried and he cursed, he shouted promises of revenge to the heavens! Never before had Chasm experienced feelings of loss, but they washed over him like a raging storm, consuming his thoughts and filling him with a pain he’d never known. But Chasm was not alone. A young maiden, about Chasm’s age, had followed after the hunters, though she had no affiliations with them. She revealed herself to him, stepping from the shadows and speaking in the softest voice with a small, sad smile upon her maw. “Revenge will not bring her back, you know, nor will it bring you any sort of happiness.” She told him. Chasm gave pause, turning to look at this maiden. Every other creature he’d ever met had been terrified of his mother and himself, so why, he wondered, did this one not tremble with fear? Why was she not afraid, not begging for mercy to not be slain, and instead speaking to him as if he was some sort of friend? “I didn’t ask for your advice, wench.” Chasm’s words were unkind, fueled by his heart and hatred for those who had taken away the only one he had ever cared for. But the maiden did not flinch, nor did she retaliate with anger of her own. She did not want to cause Chasm more pain. Despite not knowing him, she knew he was already grieving and hurting. No creature should ever cause more of that to another, something you would all do well to remember.” Lucette smiled a little at this before she continued. ”The maiden remained close, speaking to Chasm, trying to offer him comfort, though the man fought it every turn. Her words were retaliated against with harsh ones, cruel things spoken to her, yet the maiden never gave up on him. She followed after Chasm, even when he tried to leave, not wanting him to suffer alone. Her heart and intentions were pure, wanting to see him smile, wanting to save him from the dark path he wanted to set on… and himself. It was so easy for others to see a monster, to see a creature that could not be saved, but this maiden saw past this. She saw Chasm for what he was; a man. No creature starts out a beast of darkness… and she saw a light in Chasm, a faint flicker, but there was hope for him. She did not want to walk away while there was that hope. She wanted to help him, even if others wouldn’t. Over time Chasm grew used to the maiden’s presence. He didn’t know why she was so insistent, following him around even when he threatened her and said such mean things, but she did. He hadn’t realized it, but her presence had started to bring him comfort. Though he had lost his mother he was not alone and, for that, he was grateful to her, not that he was willing to admit it out loud just yet. His mannerisms towards her started to shift, however. He stopped speaking so cruelly, starting to mimic the way she was speaking to him, and, in time, after moons of wandering, he realized he viewed her with care. Not the same way as his mother of course, but he felt fondly for the woman. Protective. He didn’t want anyone to ever hurt her. At long last, he finally asked the maiden her name. Her smile brightened as she gave it to him; Fatima. She seemed so happy, relieved that Chasm was no longer raving about revenge. He had already started to change, his heart shifting the way it was meant to. The two of them fell in love. It hadn’t been planned, but after many moons of wandering together, and growing close, it had happened naturally. What had once been the plan of a woman doing the right thing, and helping someone out, seemed to be becoming a happy ending for the both of them. During the light of the full moon, out on the open moors in Lynne, Chasm confessed his feelings for Fatima, and the two became an official mated pair. As the season progressed Chasm met other loners, like-minded individuals, and began to work on a pack, a kingdom for himself, Fatima, and the little ones she had growing inside her. He was a smooth talker, gaining a reasonable amount of followers and raising a pack in the moors just before Fatima gave birth to two pups. The firstborn, a male, was small yet handsome, taking on more of his mother’s colorations and appearance. The secondborn, far bigger than her brother, was a girl. A girl who resembled Chasm’s mother. This realization had caused something to stir within the king, memories of his mother lost, and the ones who had taken her. He had promised his mother vengeance… but he had fallen in love with Fatima, falling from that path. Shame washed over the man as a fierce desire to lead his pack against those who had taken his mother began to stir. Why now, he wondered, when he was so happy? He had a pack, his mate had just had two beautiful children… was it worth throwing everything away? But alas, happiness would not last. Fatima fell ill. No healer could deduce what was wrong with her, though Chasm even sent for those outside his pack. Fatima grew weaker and weaker, though, the whole time, she wore a smile, telling her mate not to worry, that this was meant to be. Fear, hurt, and worry consumed the King. Chasm could not bear the thought of losing his mate, especially when they had little ones. They hadn’t even opened their eyes yet! But within a week Fatima had gone, passing away in the night with Chasm curled around her, holding her close. Something broke in the King then. He had a wet nurse take his little ones, burying Fatima in the shade of a tree on the moor. All the happiness, all the hope he’d had, was gone, just like that. Stolen away from him. He retreated into himself, no longer the confident alpha he had once been. He became cold, delegating tasks to his leadership rather than taking them on himself. His children began to grow… and Chasm’s heart grew colder to the world, hate, and resentment, welling up inside the man like the sea coming in for high tide. He had lost those who had made him happy not once, but twice, and the second time it had devastated him. He had truly become hollow, no longer caring for the feelings of others, speaking almost as if he was void of any emotion. He didn’t even spend time much time with his children… and preferred to avoid his small son altogether. He reminded Chasm too much of his beloved Fatima. He could not bear to look upon them. He felt like he had lost everything… and failed to see the beautiful children his wife had left him with. She had known her time was short, but rather than become consumed with negative thoughts, she had wanted to spend as much time with Chasm as possible, and live out her last days in happiness. She had hoped that when she was gone their children would continue to give the man hope so that their kingdom could thrive. But it started to fall apart… everything fell apart, and twisted wolves, those who only sought power, began to come up with a plan to rid themselves of Chasm and control his children so that they could control everything. Feeling he had nothing left, Chasm took only his most loyal followers and left the kingdom in search of those who had slain his mother. It is said that the kingdom fell to ruin in his absence, the daughter succumbing to the same madness as her grandmother and his son escaping with the help of a faithful knight. None know what became of Chasm, nor if his endeavors were successful. The end of his tale is lost to the world, as lost as his own heart had become…” Lucette breathed in, glancing around at the wolves who were still present. “It is important to hold those close to you dear, but remember that death comes for all things. If you allow yourself to be consumed by grief and hate, you will lose sight of any joys you may have left. You must learn to smile, even when there are hard things in store, so you will never become lost and broken.” She settled back down, waiting for the next story to be told. "Talk, 'Think.'

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All You Have Is Your Fire...

With a few glasses of wine, a full belly, and a comfortable seat Pyralis was more than happy to settle down and listen to the stories as well as share her own. She listened politely to those that went before her and soon enough it was her turn. She sauntered forward and settled down in front of the fire light.

"On the island of Luba you have only two choices. Run… or fight. Considering I was outnumbered ten to one, and discretion is the better part of valor, I hightailed my ass out of there as fast as I could." She kept right on speaking, not worrying if swearing was allowed or not.

"You see Luba was home to a number of enormous, cannibalistic wolves. The Devourers. They would eat anything and everything. Per their beliefs anything that was killed was to be consumed, especially nosey pirates. Whether they were there intentionally or victims of an unfortunate mid-storm raft wreck." Her right paw came to her chest and she bowed her head as she mentioned the wreck, illustrating that her being there had been a complete accident, though the corner of her mouth twitched a bit suggesting that was not the whole truth.

"I've always been fast for my size and I was much younger back then. I was well ahead of their hunters, navigating through the jungles like I'd lived there my whole life. I got cocky."  Pyralis delivered a warning look to some of the younger wolves present. A note to the dangers of an inflated ego. "I thought I was one step ahead of them when in reality they were herding me right where they wanted me to go. Just as I was almost past the jungle and onto the shore-"

"Dooownnn…."

"Dowwwn…"

"CRASH, into the bottom of a deep, muddy pit. I felt my left back leg fold badly underneath me and knew I'd sprained it. At the bottom of the pit were various bones, the remnants of the Deveourers' meals. I was in a storage pit, where they would keep me til they were ready to eat me. When I looked up I could see them peering down at me. Then off they went, no doubt to spread the word that dinner had been secured.

"The pit was about 15 feet down and with a bum leg I knew there was no way I was going to climb out of there. Definitely one of the lowest points in my life…. budumptish." Pyralis chuckled. "Get it? Lowest… I'm in a hole.  Anyway… it wasn't long before I had company. A bonded pair of coyotes were soon thrown into the pit with me.

"They were nervous, chattering creatures ignorant of the common tongue. They snarled at me and soon grew quiet. Huddled and whimpering in a corner. I was not about to give up so easily. I could smell the smoke of the Devourers' cooking fires and the flesh of their appetizers. No doubt they were roasting the pups of their enemies who failed to listen to their parents and had gone astray." Pyralis grinned wickedly at a few of the pups before continuing.

"I dug into the side of the nearest wall, testing its integrity to see if I might tunnel out or at least hide. The clay earth was thick and hard but a foot in I met stone. That way was no good. I continued testing the walls as the sky got darker. I kept digging and at every turn was met with stone. The only thing I did find was a rough-skinned newt. A toxic creature that could bring about swift death if consumed. I could eat this and save myself the horror of being roasted alive over a fire but I wasn't ready to die just then.  A wicked idea came to me and I acted on it without hesitation." It was survival of the fittest out there and Pyralis had no problem sacrificing a few coyotes to save her own skin.

"I turned on my cell mates, slaying one coyote and weakening the other. Using my paws I shoved that newt down the remaining coyotes throat. Of course he threw it up but there was enough toxin ingested for my purposes. As soon as he succumbed to the throe of seizures and started screaming I covered myself in the other coyotes blood and started shrieking as well.

"One of the cannibals companions, a greater potoo, came to see what was wrong and I swiftly pretended to just die on the spot. I had my mouth open, tongue out and my eyes rolled to the back of my head, like this." Pyralis demonstrated, making a terrible face in front of the fire before continuing.

"The bird flew lower and was soon followed by its Devourer companion who threw a rope ladder down and entered the pit. He sniffed about and I held my breath. When he came near to me I sprang up! My teeth latched around his throat to silence him. My hind legs kicked out and struck the potoo in the head sending it crashing into the side of the pit. It was a struggle. I was brutally kicked and struck but it didn't take long for my captor to pass.

"I had to move swiftly. The male coyote had since died and all was silent. The Devourers would expect the commotion dealt with and their compatriot to return. Using mud I covered up the lighter parts of my coat so that I would look like the Devourer in the pit. I took his jewelry and ornamentation and even his unconscious potoo companion which I set upon my head like a hat.

"I then started climbing… "

"up… up…. up…"

"I made it to the top and under the cover of darkness the guards did not distinguish me from the now dead Devourer in the pit. But how the fuck to get off this island? I moved closer to the fires where the rest were finishing their first course and saw several rafts tied up on the beach. I moved silently down the beach to the middle raft, hoping to use the others to hide me. I was just about to untie it when the fucking potoo regained consciousness and sounded the alarm!

"I flung the wretch from my head into the water where he flapped and screeched, big yellow eyes bulging out of his head as he flailed. The guards immediately checked the pit and realized what had happened. They were coming for me soon followed by a number of the other devourers. I untied all three rafts and pushed the middle one with all my might, ignoring the pain in my leg as I shoved it out into the sea. Thankfully the tide was with me and I was soon on my way. The Devourers leapt into the water to try and retrieve the remaining rafts but by the time they did I was nearly out of sight. Completely free. Completely alone… well, until I realized I had a stowaway.

"As the morning broke I found that bloody potoo hunched up on the back of the raft…" Pyralis grinned broadly, her teeth glistening in the firelight. "Let's just say I was happy to have some breakfast."

Venom led those who wished to accompany her to Fenmyre’s festival. The Empress had never been so close to her brother, but after their long history there were few that she trusted as she did Chimera. He offered up comfort and refreshments, and Venom accepted with grace. She lay elegantly on the comfortable furs, white gloved paws crossed as she was welcomed by her brother and she listened to the first story. Her sunset gaze shifted to watch the reactions of the wolves around her as the young man finished his tale. Quiet took the group and Venom cleared her throat politely to take the next exhibition.

"This story takes place millenia ago, to the Kings and Queens of old. Their names long forgotten, but their deeds were not.” Venom began, pulling herself up as the story began. "There was once an Emperor, who was sorely dishonored by his wife, to the point where the woman was banished and he was forced to choose a new bride. Many young women were brought before him, but his eye was drawn to the most beautiful of them, our story’s heroine.” She allowed the visual to settle before she continued. "The girl was from a foreign family, an oddity in the land of Kings. One that was not looked upon in favor by the Emperor’s right hand. However, her identity was kept secret as she moved to the royal residence and began her new life as Queen.”

"At the time of her choosing, the girl’s father lived and worked in the palace as well. His sharp ears were able to detect a plot against the King, they were found out and their plots thwarted, thanks to the foreign man. His deeds were forgotten, and life continued. At the same time, the right hand was plotting against our hero’s family. He desired them all dead and wiped off the face of the earth. He had the King’s ear and convinced him to put out a decree that all of the foreign wolves were given a bounty upon their heads and were to be killed at the equinox.”

"The father was able to meet with his daughter, she was told of the plot that would see all of them killed, and she knew that she needed to change her husband’s mind. Now, the culture was much different in those days. The Queen was not seen as equal to her King, she was yet another servant to his whim. Thus, coming to him without summons could mean her own untimely demise. However, the Queen summoned her courage to save her family. For she would certainly perish if she did nothing.”

"She fasted and prayed that she might be successful, and at the same time the King made the realization that he had not offered his bride’s father the honor he deserved for thwarting the plot on his life. So he asked his right hand, how would he best give honor to one deserving of being uplifted. Thinking that he was the one to receive such a gift the hand said such a man should be paraded to the masses, proclaimed he was honored by the Emperor adorned in jewels, gold, and fine furs. Then the King had him adorn the one his hand hated the most as he proclaimed him to be honored by the King to the entire Kingdom. After being so humiliated, his hatred for the people, and the Queen’s father, burned brighter.”

"This ignition had him planning to ask the King to hasten the deadline when he could see his enemy made extinct, but before he could, the Queen appeared, unbidden, to the Emperor and his hand. Because of the King’s admiration for his wife, she was invited to his feet and allowed to make her request. She sought for both King and hand to accompany her to a banquet. The King’s love could be seen as he agreed to her request, but he knew there was more that she sought.”

"As the hand returned to his residence that night, he boasted to his wife how he would soon have his revenge upon the Queen’s father, and his family. That he was invited solely beside the King to the Queen’s feast. This honor would be a perfect backdrop for the Hand’s request that the execution be hastened, and his enemy killed. That night he prepared a pit, with spikes at the base, for his enemy to be thrown into the next day.”

"When the banquet began the King asked his wife what she truly desired. He would give her anything up to half of his own kingdom so deep was his love for her. Then she revealed her heritage to him, and begged him to save her life and her family from the edict that the King’s hand so deeply desired. The blood drained from the Hand’s features, as the King realized he had plotted against his beloved wife and the captain that had saved his life. The King’s anger would only be sated with blood, as the hand was thrown into the pit intended for the Queen's father, and the same man was promoted to right hand. Because of the Queen’s bravery, her family was saved and they became prosperous under the King’s rule.”

Venom became quiet again as her story completed, and she finished the ancient account.

"Venom"