Raid meeting! Deadline is 1/11, but if we have a full party before that we'll go sooner <3

Following the birth of his rightful heirs, the children who would take over the mountain, those who would one day rise, Víðarr isn't sure if anything could make life sweeter. It was everything they'd wanted, everything they'd dreamed of, and the culmination of their hard work and planning. In his mind, there's only one way to celebrate such an occasion.

Gore.

The viking king would bring them raiding, the reason? Celebration. There's no better way, in his mind. Víðarr has the perfect target chosen, too. He'd seen the boy rise, uncontested. Unearned. He would make the young gun work for it, seeing as he'd just been handed his pack. This isn't like before, these aren't neighbors, he doesn't have to worry about messy things. There are no politics here, and the vikings could descend as they pleased. A plague upon them.

Feeding the central fire pit until the flames arced high against the late afternoon sky, Víðarr calls his warriors. It was time. They would raid.

"Víðarr"

Vidarr called them together. She frowned as she gathered her things, donning her armor and leaving her den, her ravens following above her. She had been unsuccessful so far in winning her raid battles, and quite frankly, couldn't remember the last time she had actually won a fight. It angered her that she continued to be surpassed by lesser opponents. Though perhaps her training methods simply weren't working like she thought. She had to step it up and maybe bother Vidarr or someone clearly more experienced to teach her. As much as she loathed the idea of asking for help... Shaking the thoughts away, she arrived and found herself to be the first one there. She nodded to Vidarr, though remained silent. She had the drive, tenacity, and heart to fight. But it was her continued losses that kept stabbing at her. She would succeed this time. "Brida"

Úlfr wandered down from his den in the mountains to the hunting fields of the steppe, noting signs of pronghorn movement as he went. The coming of summer meant a shift in hunting opportunities and he looked forward to testing his skill against the wild game of the area. He paused, adjusting his armor slightly before continuing. Word had spread that it was time for another raid and Úlfr did not want to miss it. He was eager to fight again! Above him his ravens soared and danced in the night sky, the fire reflecting eerily off their feathers and shiny dark eyes as the trio approached the gathering. Úlfr entered the gathering of wolves and nodded to the alpha before taking a seat near the fire.

Raiding was just what Vikings did, Oki had worked that out a while ago. It wasn't anything personal as far as he could tell and as long as no one got hurt he didn't see the real harm in it. Material goods could always be replaced, and they never took so much that it'd cause anyone's downfall, he reckoned. Oki was just the muscle, a decent fighter and big enough to look somewhat threatening, maybe if he didn't smile so much.

He stepped forward into the meeting, casual as ever, since pretty much everyone here knew what they ought to expect from him at this point.

"Sup?" Was his lazy greeting.

Oh? Were they going to actually follow through this time? Tomie was finding it harder and harder to care. She was only here for her family and had given up on hoping to see whatever it was her mother saw in the dumb brute of a man who's taken them prisoner when they'd come willingly. Stupid asshole. She bothered to show her face only so she didn't get her family in trouble. And that was the only reason she approached, jaw set and bright blues glaring hard, locked on the man who'd forced her and her family into a position not befitting the actual grace he'd been shown. Stupid, petty, asshole. She didn't give a shit if there was a reason for their raid or not, only that this time they actually did the raid because she was about one more proof of his incompetence away from taking her mother and sister and leaving. Supposedly they had family around, they could probably find a place that'd shelter them until the stupid, petty, incompetent asshole got bored and left them alone. "Speech"

Art by Cloudy!

Róta had been keeping to the lowlands. Sure it was terribly hot, but it kept her and her bad behaviour away from the expecting mother and any children she might be carrying. They couldn't be far off being born... No, they should have come already. The days were more defined when you weren't piss blind drunk picking fights with mountain goats.

When her brother's call came, her stomach dropped, but she made her way up the mountain to where he was gathering the pack together to discuss a raid. She had been passed out for the last meeting, so made an extra effort to get to this one, settling herself close to her brother, but not directly at his side. She could smell enough change to keep her distance for her own sake.

"speech"

Strai was very much ready for a raid, for this chance to prove himself. He called to his companions, summoning the wintery owl and pale leopard to his side. They blended well to the snowy mountaintop, and together the small group made their way to his leader, and the rest of the Vikings.

He would see immediately that others had already heeded the call, but a glance told him that anyone of note to himself (Delphi and Bylgja) were yet to arrive. He found himself a seat and proceeded to put himself into a waiting pose, keeping a place on either side of him for those two wolves that meant so much to him.


"Speech"

Delphi's streak wasn't anything to cheer for. Maybe this would be her chance! A chance to prove herself as worth as she wanted to be seen. She's out collecting herbs in the valley when the call rings out. Loud, echoing, striking a chord in her that makes her whole body vibrate. Her current task is completely forgotten, the basket she had been holding dropped to the ground as her petite legs race toward the meeting area.

When she arrives, she heads first for Kuroki. Beaming a sharp toothed smile up at her father, she nuzzles her cheek against his legs. "Good luck da," she whispers before turning and heading straight over to Strai. There's no greeting, just a meeting of the eyes, that look and smile is everything he needed, before she turns and sits her rump down right beside him. Leaning her shoulder against his much larger body, she focuses on breathing deep so that her excitement (and anxiety) doesn't show.

Maki had never raided before, she wasn't sure if she was cut out for it, you know? She liked the idea in theory, the drama and intensity of it all was very appealing, but reality often hit hard, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to get socked in the muzzle. Still, she didn't wanna chicken out, not when she felt like she ought to be there, when her Dad and sis were ready to square up, so what was her excuse? Maki fumbled onto the scene a little late but well-intentioned, her tail wagging as she took in the familiar faces.

Plonking herself right by Delphi's side, she waited patiently for the big cheese to do his explanation thing.

Tenshi did not care Vidarr said. As much as he tried to prevent her from attending the meeting, she would sit idly by. Heidinn was as much her's as it was Vidarr's. She was his Queen after all and though the exhaustion was clear in her expression, she would show her support. And as much as she didn't want to leave the pups, one meeting without them wouldn't hurt. They were in good paws. Her leopards would corral them safely within the confines of the den.

Once she says her goodbyes, she makes her way to where Vidarr and the others are waiting. It wouldn't matter anyway. She was taking the pups down to Tojo-Kai at the same time anyway so if they needed her help, fighting or healing, Tenshi would be there. Silent as the snow that fell at the peak of the mountain, Tenshi moves forward and sits herself beside Vidarr. Leaning to press her nose against his scurff, she gives him that mischievous smile before glazing back over with a stoic look.

"Speech"

They responded to his call, one by one. From across the Maw, the Steppe, they fade from the mists and the shadows to his side, each greeted with a grin. There’s something alive in him, excited. Today of all days. The best of days, Víðarr decided. Maybe it wasn’t his choice to make, but don’t let him hear you say it. A brilliance in his gaze as his pack gathers around him, family closest of all. Tenshi by his side, his sister, hell even his granddaughters gathered before him. This is what it’s all about.

Proving to be a viking queen in all ways, Tenshi had insisted she also be here. Víðarr’s arguments had been futile, and he’d relented. He knows her well enough to drop the argument. The pups would be safe while they raided, he’d send for Sedna and any of her lot to come up for them. Her presence, the weight of her by his side, he shines with it. Not shy to the affection, the viking king places a tender kiss on her forehead before beginning his announcement.

“Let me apologize for our earlier change in plans,” the viking king begins, gaze sweeping those gathered before him. “My wife was pregnant, and as our resources are stable, raiding could wait.” Víðarr considers this enough explanation, on his end. While Tenshi’s pregnancy hadn’t been hidden, the puppies were large and her mobility was more limited than he’d initially realized.

“Now we have puppies, they are strong, and we raid!” Víðarr gives a brilliant grin. They would travel together, safety and strength in numbers. The vikings were going on an adventure. “A new pack in Auster, Norad, will be getting a warm welcome.” He tossed his head, rolled his shoulders. “They consider themselves… artisans.” Víðarr allowed the word to linger on his tongue, not sure he likes how it tastes in the common tongue. “We take all the herbs, all the crafting shit we can carry.”

"Víðarr"