Emile's thoughts had been on the purple man as of late, he'd promised to give Emile a place of respite and that notion had taken root in his mind, maybe, just maybe he'd finally cross the land bridge and take him up on that offer. But for now he was within Hallows lands and that meant that he needed to heed the call of his Aegis. His posture would be familiar to most at this point, head tilted to try and hide the scar around his eye and gaze turned downward as he approached. He moved quickly, beelining it to his sister's side. He was glad she was back, he still felt at his most comfortable when around his family and he had a particular fondness for Rinoa. He flashed her a small, awkward smile before settling himself down and doing his absolute best to shrink into the background while he waited.


Speech

Art by Nyssa

Briar slipped into the hall among the others that had come to answer her husband's call and spotted him and Dusk sitting front and center, their daughter ready to lead the lesson she had been tasked with. She smiled a bit as she went up to join them, leaning over to give Dusk a quick nuzzle on her cheek in some silent encouragement. She did feel a bit guilty for putting Dusk up to this since she had been the one to suggest this kind of punishment, but this felt far more constructive and a better use of their daughter's time than closing her up in her room or making her do extra chores. This would certainly leave a more lasting impression at least and would force her to learn a lesson beyond just being more careful with dangerous things. Briar settled onto her haunches on the opposite side of Artorias then, giving her mate a little smile before she looked out a the crowd, scanning the attendees to make sure all of their children had made it as well.

"Briar Carpathius"

Gwyn's ears perked at the sound of her brother's howl and she glanced over to Ysmir with a smile before she began to rise to her paws. While she wasn't entirely sure what this meeting was for, she of course was quick to answer as she always was. Ysmir's grin brought one of her own to her lips as they walked together to the great hall, walking into the space with some of the other members of the pack. Her husband to be was ever present at her side and that was certainly no different as they went to take a seat near the back of the gathering crowd. Even though these were all wolves she was at least mildly familiar with, large crowds were still not her favorite thing so it was easier on her if she simply hung back toward the fringes where she could still hear well enough and be a part of things without being in the middle of it all. She settled in next to Ysmir and looked up toward where Dusk, Art, and Briar were sitting curiously, being an attentive attendee if nothing else.

"Gwynevere & Ysmir"

Ezra had been out at the training grounds just past the castle walls when he heard Artorias' howl echo out from the castle itself so he quickly finished up what he was working on with the pack's training dummies so that he could come in to join in on whatever meeting his best friend had planned for them. He peeked up toward the front where Artorias and Briar were sitting and was surprised to see one of their daughters sitting up on the platform as well. Curious and not wanting to hold up the meeting, he glanced around to look for Syanna so that he could sit with her. He didn't see her distinctive orange coloring among the attendees just yet so instead he went over to sit next to Rinoa on the opposite side of her from Emile, giving his siblings a smile as he settled in at the long table. He kept a spot open beside him though for Syanna whenever she arrived, his pale gaze looking up toward the front in the meantime to see what this was all about.

"Ezra Adravendi"

The bonfire had been her first taste of what being at a pack gathering or meeting was like so she didn't feel quite as unprepared as she went into the meeting hall at Artorias' howl. It was still many more wolves than she was used to being around at any given time, but this felt more low key than the bonfire festival had been so she appreciated that aspect of it. She of course quickly picked Mercury out of the crowd and wove her way between the other wolves that were getting settled at the tables and slipped in beside him as she took a seat, giving him a quick grin before she focused on the Aegis who was sitting up front with a pup who she was certain was one of his daughters and the woman who she believed was his wife. She made a mental note to get to know the names of her pack mates better as soon as possible, but for now she focused on whatever meeting or lesson they had been called to.

"Anthea Dásos"

Though Sota was by no means a reclusive wolf, it was rare he really got invested in the affairs of others. Lately especially he'd been a little more withdrawn, not for any particular reason. He was aware of it though and knew he ought to step outside his little bubble more - hearing Artorias's call only reminded him of that. He was as prompt as he could be in answering his call, surprised at being called to gather at such an hour, little legs swiftly carrying him to the castle. He was surprised at what he saw when he entered the Great Hall though. It seemed obvious that Dusk had done something wrong, based on the seating arrangements. He felt he had little to contribute here but he figured the display was more for the child than for anyone else here. He was quiet as he found a spot and settled in, waiting for the meeting - or whatever it could be classified as - to begin.

Ooc, phone posting so bare with me lol

A summons for the wolves of the Hallows had been called, and so Claire rose from Greed's side and nudged him to get up. They had worked a long, hard day of building a better shelter around their den in the Plains to better protect them from the elements. Sure they could move to the castle, but Claire preferred the wide open space and seeing the stars overhead at night. They were dirty from digging and putting things together, but she had wanted to rest before going to wash up. Now it would seem she'd have to wait until after the meeting to clean herself up. "Come on dear, let's go see what it's about." she smiled and nosed him again, this time just because. They had gotten the Aegis' blessing and had started a relationship she wasn't aware that she had wanted before, but over the course of the last season or so, they had discussed and committed to one another. She was happier than she'd been before, not realizing before that this was something she had wanted same as him. Despite their age difference, she knew her mother would approve were she still alive. Greed had been one of her most trusted wolves...and although her mother had practically adopted him into the Ancora fold, this just felt...right. Together, they headed to the castle and upon arriving, majority of the Hallows wolves had already arrived. They quietly took a seat with Claire leaning gently into Greed's side as they waited for the meeting to begin. "Speak

He'd been resting comfortably with his mate after a long day of hard work. Things were coming together at last for the old male, and he hadn't felt this content with his life in quite a long time. He was almost to deep sleep when he felt Claire nudging him awake, and as he began to stir from his nap, he caught her words. A meeting? Yawning, he began to stir and slowly rose. He quietly nuzzled her shoulder before finally standing, stretching out his limbs before he finally felt awake enough to follow her. His life had changed significantly since Claire came into his life. Granted, he had known her since she was a child, as her guardian after the passing of her parents, but in time, fate would give them more and now they were one and the same. He followed her to the meeting, noting that everyone else had gathered already. Taking a seat beside his mate, he looked on quietly as he waited for the meeting to begin.

Syanna wasn't late per se, but she was definitely cutting it close as she came jogging down the castle corridors and into the Great Hall. She'd been changing out some of the expiring medical supplies in the infirmary's cabinets when Artorias' call for the pack meeting came out and her darn drive to see her work done urged her to just keep going until she finished. Thankfully it hadn't kept her too long, and as the fiery-furred woman slipped into the crowded hall, she realized she had made it in the nick of time. Spotting Ezra was easy—his giant form towered over most of the other wolves in the Hallows—and she slunk her way between the rows of tables to come up alongside her boyfriend.

"Room for one more?" she teased with a flirty smile as she nestled herself in between Ezra's forelegs and settled in for the meeting. She saw Artorias and Dusk up at the head of the hall, little Dusk elevated on a platform of sorts like she was about to give a speech. Syanna knew what this was about; she'd helped tend to Thorn after the accident, after all. She didn't know what the Aegis had decided on to make this a lesson for Dusk, but she hoped it wasn't too terrible for the young girl. It was just an accident, after all.

"Syanna"

Artorias waited as all of the Hallows began to gather to his call. One by one, friends and family began to filter into the Great Hall, taking places around tables as they got settled in for the meeting. Some would know what this was about; others would have no clue. It didn't matter to the Aegis. This was meant to be a teaching moment for Dusk and a chance for her to turn a mistake into something beneficial. It was less of a punishment and more of an opportunity to make something good from this accident. Artorias regarded all those who acknowledged him, but otherwise remained stoic and quiet. This was Dusk's time, after all, and he was just the organizer. Once it seemed that everyone had gathered, Artorias took stock of who was present. He was pleased to see almost everyone in attendance—only Zephyrus was still missing. But when his giant bird boy didn't show up after a few more minutes of waiting, Artorias just assumed he was off on one of his flights. It did disappoint him a bit that his eldest son wouldn't be here to participate with the pack, especially since Zeph had been so withdrawn lately. He could only hope it was a phase and that the raptor would return to them soon.

With everyone present, Artorias cleared his throat to get the attention of the pack, followed by a projected greeting that echoed around the hall. "Good evening, everyone," he began the assembly with, giving a moment for the lingering chatter to die down before he continued. "It's been a while since we've had an official pack meeting like this, and I felt we were overdue for one. I'm glad to see everyone here tonight, and I promise we won't take much of your evening from you." Turning his amber gaze out over the crowd to the cluster of young pups scattered across the Great Hall, the Aegis continued. "It is no secret that part of the Hallows' strength comes from our unique methods of combat. To my knowledge, we are the only pack to utilize weapons as vastly as we do. While this is what allows our warriors to be so formidable and our defenses so sure, it is also a power we must exercise extreme caution with. As our youngest members are approaching adolescence, I know many of them will wish to pursue a path with these weapons. In addition, we've had a few encounters with unsavory characters near our lands recently. That is why I've called this meeting tonight: to emphasize the importance of safety with weapons and the importance of always being aware of your surroundings at all times."

Turning his attention down to his little soot ball child at his side, Art offered Dusk an encouraging smile. "As the pup with the most experience with these kinds of weapons, Dusk is going to give us all a lesson and friendly reminder about how to properly and safely exercise weapon use and how to remain alert in your environment. So without further ado, I present your speaker for tonight, Dusk Carpathius!" Sure, Artorias didn't mention how Dusk's "experience" with weapons came from her accidentally lopping part of her brother's ear off, but he was being very tactful to ensure this wasn't meant to be a public shaming experience. He wasn't here to put Dusk's misadventures on trial before the pack. He was going to let her learn her lesson by sharing what she'd learned with the others. And maybe, just maybe, this would stick with her the next time she wanted to play around with random razor wire in the gardens.

"Artorias Carpathius" | "Carpathian" | "Corbin" | "Eira" | "Argent"

One after another, the wolves of the pack began to arrive. They settled down in the hall, most of them with quizzical looks on their faces. Some knew what this was all about, but not many. Not until her dad clued them in on the reason for things, that is. Artorias stroked her ego a bit, claiming that she had the most experience with this sort of thing and the girl flashed a big, toothy smile to the crowd. She wasn't shy. Dusk knew that she was good at everything. Why should weapons be any different? Besides, both of her parents had been working with her on weapon safety between the time of Thorn's injury and the time of the meeting. She was smarter now than she had been then and Dusk was more than happy to share this knowledge with the pack.

Once Artorias had finished speaking, the obsidian child cleared her throat and took a step forward, taking center stage, in a sense. She was ready for this, just like she was ready for everything. Dusks cup overfloweth with confidence. Now that all eyes were on her, the girl tried to meet each gaze with her own, acknowledging their presence. She'd learned quite a bit from watching her parents and acknowledgement was important. "Hello," she began, finding the proper volume and tone in that one word. Hyperactive and quirky, yes, but Dusk was also incredibly observant and pliable, adapting to any situation with ease. "As my father stated, I am here to discuss weapon safety. Why, you may ask? Let me tell you."

Midnight paws took the girl back and forth across the raised dais as she spun her tale, informing the pack of just what had happened to lead them to this moment. She'd been chased by a boar, her tail had become entangled in wire, she had realized that the wire could be used as a weapon, and, when she hadn't been careful and aware of her surroundings, she had injured her brother in the process. "It was entirely an accident, but it could have been avoided if I'd taken proper care." Care that she would forever take, for fear of injuring someone close to her again.

Tall, dark ears stood erect as the girl's fire opal eyes once again roamed over the crowd, her expression serious. No doubt she would make the most amazing storyteller some day. "When training with a weapon, always be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of who and what is nearby. Be aware of the length of reach of your weapon." Again she began pacing slowly back and forth across the dais, working on making eye contact as she spoke, especially with the packs younger members. "While you may want to, it's not wise to train alone. Try to train in pairs or in a group. This way you'll be able to send for help if something goes wrong. You'll also be able to give one another feedback and advice."

Dusks gaze sought out her aunt and the child pointed towards the large fae with a motion of her head. "My aunt Tika is a very good fighter." She then looked for Mercury in the crowd. "So is Mercury. And there's Ezra and my Uncle Rudyard." The girl's long tail swished back and forth lightly as she looked back upon both parents. "My father and mother are both warriors as well. There is a wealth of knowledge in our pack, you just have to be brave enough to ask for it to be shared." A mischievous child, but a sweet one, Dusk looked up to many members of the pack and was sure to point out those that she thought would benefit the younger crowd.

Eventually the girl came back and seated herself in the center of the stage, her long tail trailing out behind her. "So, bottom line when training. Be careful. Be aware. Be observant and be vigilant." Dusk finally turned her attention to her siblings, more specifically, her brother Thorn. "And don't give up, even if you make mistakes." Their relationship had changed somewhat. They weren't in competition as much anymore. Instead, they'd become closer and Dusk believed that they would make a good team when the moment came.

With a deep breath, the girl smiled at the pack, giving her head a cute little tilt as she asked, "Does anyone have any questions? I'll do my best to answer!" Answering questions seemed like a fun thing. Hopefully they weren't silly questions or anything that might potentially be embarrassing. She wouldn't know until they began to ask, however.

"Dusk Carpathius"

Caladia settles in with the badger, not bothering to ask to ask if it is okay. Her uncle calls the meeting to order, and the girl perks up, remembering what her mother had told her. Dusk soon steps forward and lays out the tale of what had happened and the girl feels a frown tug at her lips. The whole situation sounds so scary and she is thankful that it had not happened to her. Her cousin goes on to explain that she should pair up and the reasonings why. The girl is impressed with Dusk’s speech and she pays rapt attention to it all.

When Dusk draws her talk toward a close, she then opens up the floor for questions and Callie’s eyes widen with excitement. Paw shoots up in the air and she waves it franticly, saying, “Oh! Dusk! Dusk!” Once she is signaled to speak, she drops her paw and says, “What do we do if something happens away from pack lands? How do we get help then?” Even in pairs, if one of them got hurt, how are they supposed to get help? The question seems valid in her young mind.


"Caladia Carpathius"

Meadow wasn't alone by her mom's side for long. Elowen and Kip both came to join them, and Meadow squished happily among her siblings. Kipling's words in particular were comforting, and she offered her brother a small, grateful smile. Being sandwiched between them and mom, that was enough to have her feeing a bit better about being in such a crowded, noisy room. Between the safety of her family and the ear plugs, it was enough to keep the girl from getting too badly overwhelmed. There's talking. Not just a little, but a lot. Artorias starts, and then her cousin Dusk. Meadow did her best to read their lips, not truly listening. She was processing it at her own pace, and tat was probably enough. Not like she was much of a fighter anyway. Past the basics of defending herself, the girl doubted she'd be doing much when it came to fighting. Not only that, but Meadow didn't want to bring harm on anyone else. Sure learning the theory was important, but beyond that? Meadow would keep that thought to herself. Callie was the first to speak up with a question, breaking the ice. Meadow tucked against Fern's side, looking between her and Kip. Maybe there was an expectation that she asked one as well... and suddenly she felt sheepish. Anxiety rising once more, she shifted nervously beside her mother. "Speech"

Audra smiles when Callie comes bounding over to talk with Mel. While Mack was smart to hide off to the side to avoid socializing, she silently would applaud Mel for being willing to interact with everyone. Stifling a giggle as the pup settles in with them, Audra can feel other eyes upon her. A shift of her working eye toward the door as Tika enters and not long after, Mercury, who both give her uncomfortable glances, she sighs. How drama always seemed to follow her was beyond her understanding. Ignoring the fact that some wolves would never be okay being around her, Audra turns her attention to the front of the room. As Artorias gives his speech and then Dusk her own about weapon safety, Audra listens intently. While she will stay quiet for the time being and allow the young pups and fighters to speak up, she is proud of the little pup for speaking in front of the entire pack.

Bramble would settle and listen intently as her father gave his speech. A quiet gasp left her lips as it was revealed that something had indeed happened to their brother. While she had come across her own dire situations, nothing severe had happened like missing ears. Feeling sad for her brother and sister, Bramble looked over to Dusk as she began to speak. The speech was enticing and Bramble's tail began to wag happily as it came to an end. A question rested on the tip of her tongue but before she could ask, her cousin Callie spoke up. Instantly, Bramble's ears flickered back at the question. Oh boy, hopefully, Dusk had an answer for that one because she definitely didn't want to be called out. Holding her breath for a moment, Bramble hurried to remember the question she was going to ask. "Oh, Dusk, I have a question!" She was quick to chip in as she raised a paw for attention. "Can we train with each other like you and me? Or do we gotta have an adult?" It was an honest question and probably an obvious one, but it wouldn't hurt to ask. Bramble Carpathius

As was maybe expected of her, Ash settled in and kept silent as her brother started their intro, and soon Dusk would take her own stand. Ash's heart ached just a little, more because it was a situation she wouldn't want to be in even as an adult. But Dusk did incredibly well she thought. As much as she wasn't entirely personable with her young nieces and nephews, she was proud of her. Maybe at least her own siblings could see that had they looked at her.

She wasn't much a fighter herself as was her history. She of course wanted to tune in more for self defense especially if she planned on leaving the pack lands anytime soon. A big jump for her, and a far stretch in time she thought. Still she took Dusk's words to heart. She wasn't a tiny reckless pup but the lesson meant something. "I think those are valuable words for this lesson, Dusk." Was all she managed to respond with really. Hopefully something to boost her niece's spirit.

"Ashelia Carpathius"

Rinoa greeted both of her brothers with a soft smile as they joined her, she hadn't had time to sit with them one on one while she settled into the castle again but she was sure soon after this meeting she could finally get the rest she needed from her travels and then get to spend some time with them again. She watched intently with a little bit of a humored grin on her maw, not offensive but she did enjoy watching the young girl give her speech. It was a little different than a usual meeting, that was for sure. She stayed quiet as the lesson went on, a raised brow as the girl explained what had happened and why she was the one presenting. Sad maybe, but a lesson worth learning. It was just a tad funny to Rinoa.

She could admire the girl for finding such courage, but as Artorias' daughter? Well, it was expected. Still she admired her and for what she learned on her own. Sometimes it had to be that way. As some of the younger pups asked if they needed a chaperone for spars and other fight training and lessons, Rinoa raised a paw, "I'd be willing to help watch after them if that's something they need." No doubt one of them would have some lessons with her in the future anyways. There were many pups at this time in The Hallows, but there were many warriors to share and learn as well.

"Speech"

Wolves continued to trickle in as Mercury settled in, and he kept an ear on the motions around him, even as he kept his attention on the young wolf ahead. He did however turn just enough to catch the wolf that settled in beside him. Fern, the wolf who had eventually led him to joining the Hallows. He smiled at her, nodding his head. “I’ve been well.” He said, keeping his voice soft.

His head shifted to the small wolf that settled in besides Fern, with enough resemblance for him to identify her as one of Fern’s young children. “Hello… Meadow was it?” He said in a gentle greeting, seeing her shyness. “And who’s this?” He asked to Elowen as the darker toned pup joined them.

Next to appear beside them was Avantika, and he gave his Commander a quick nod of his head. Deep enough to be a subtle bow. His lip twitched at the way her eyes constantly roved. He watched her close enough that he noticed the swift and subtle change in her. “Everything alright?” He asked, turning his head so that the words were only for Avantika.

He felt more then saw Anthea as she joined them and he gave her a paw a soft pat of greeting instead of speaking - he could see that the meeting was about to begin. Artorias began, before drawing attention to his daughter. Dusk spoke of her accident, and of some safety measures to take. To his surprise - calling out his name among others. Perhaps it shouldn’t have surprised him so. She had done well in his lesson with the other children. SHe opened the floor for questions, but Mercury let others speak. Dusk had already called him out as a potential source of knowledge, and he would happily take on any students that wished it.

"Speech"

@fern, Meadow, Elowen, Avantika, Anthea for mentions

Kipling was right there too, heading to protectively sit with Meadow. Elowen glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, grinning a bit. “Darn right we will, Kip. No one will mess with anyone in our family.” The words were spoken protectively, her gaze shining as she let her gaze slide to the man of blues and blacks. He took notice of her and Elowen dipped her head in greeting. “Elowen Carpathius, sir. One of the younglings who intends to rise to the knight rank.” She tells him calmly. She motions towards Kip. “...and this is Kipling! He’s our brother. Don’t count him out either - He’s tough.” She shot him a grin. “Right Kip?”

She didn’t have any longer before Artorias took the floor and her attention shifted. A meeting… the subject of which made her curious. She tilted her head to the side, frowning a bit. Weapons safety? As the dark-furred pup spoke Elowen listened, absorbing the advice she had to give. Callie poses a question, and Bramble too, and some of the others give Dusk words of encouragement. Elowen is quiet for a moment, but once she is sure she won’t speak over the others, the pup speaks up.

“I have one too.” Elowen wasn’t used to speaking up when many others could hear her, but she kept her focus on Dusk, alone, ears perked forward. “I would think that weapon safety starts with knowing what type of weapon you are suited to use, since some are bulkier or used differently from others. How would someone like myself know where to start exploring with weapons to avoid potentially injuring myself while testing them?”

[@ Kipling, Mercury, Dusk
Mentions Meadow, Artorias, Bramble]

Fern sits next to Mercury as Callie moves off to talk with Laeta and Audra. Meadow appears, tucking her small form into the gray woman’s side and she gently lifts her leg to wrap around the girl so that her daughter can tuck herself in more tightly. As she pulls her sensitive daughter to her, Meadow’s sweet siblings join them. The woman’s heart swells with pride as Elowen sits next to her pale sibling and Kip sits behind her. Love surrounds her nonverbal daughter and she couldn’t be prouder of their small family. From her position, the woman looks over to where Rudyard sits with his sister Tika and tries to convey how utterly proud she is of their children in a single look. A smile rests on her lips as Mercury addresses Meadow and Fern speaks for her child, “That is correct Mercury. This is Meadow, my wise, silent daughter. Elowen is going to be giving you a run for your money soon. Better keep your eye on her. And don’t forget Kipling! A fine young protector.” Looking at each of her children in turn, pride and love softens her features. For a moment, she wonders if this how her mother felt when she had her and her brothers. Sadness tugs at her heart for a moment but Artorias’s speaks up, beginning the talk and the sad thoughts flee. As Dusk gives her presentation, the gray woman keeps stealing glances at all of her children and her mate, thankful to have them in her life. The floor is opened to questions and Caladia is the first to speak up. A soft chuckle causes her sides to move slightly and she feels Meadow tuck herself further into her side. Using the leg wrapped loosely around her daughter’s small frame, she gives the girl a gentle, reassuring squeeze. Artorias knows that Meadow is nonverbal and he does not expect her to say anything. When Elowen speaks up, Fern looks to her daughter with bright, encouraging eyes. With a proud nod to the girl, the gray woman turns her attention back to Dusk and asks, “How do we prevent injuries when we have to handle weapons to sharpen them?” A gentle smile is offered as she hopes the question will give the girl something to ponder. "Fern Carpathius"