Birthright
02-21-2014, 11:26 PM
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02-21-2014, 11:29 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-21-2014, 11:31 PM by Erani.)
Erani |
They came, slowly at first, but they came. It gave her a sense of pride to see them answer to the call. She began compiling a list of what to say to the pack, how to tell them what they needed to know. Some would already know what had transpired at the Field. She could see the fury in some of their eyes, the trepidation in others, and worry in all of their gazes. Imena was the first to speak, and Erani nodded, deep blue pools settling on her niece-in-law. Where was Cael? Her eyes lifted away, searching the crowd as they filtered in. A brown figure caught her eyes and she spotted Newol, taking a seat, looking slightly uneasy in the presence of those he?d had yet to meet. He spoke up, however. We?ll just have to see if it truly does? I?m so late in taking this step? I never thought I would ever need to? She wouldn?t allow self doubt to come between herself and keeping Valhalla together as a family and pack. Flamesong, a wolf she had not yet met, but Surreal had spoken about during her visits, spoke next. Erani considered his words, before answering, simply, ?I will say how once everyone who will com has gathered.? Her words would be for all the pack, and any who happened to come to her call. Sephiroth, whom Surreal had said was promoted to Beta, was next to greet her. Though his eyes were full of the same questions that filled everyone else?s eyes, he seemed content to allow her to give answers once all had come. ?As am I, Sephiroth.? A faint sound to her right, lower down caught her attention, and her head turned. Her eyes fell on an unfamiliar female. Dull brown with unique snow flake-like white markings dappling all four legs and around the edges of a snow-dipped face. The blue eyes in that face were wide, but what really caught Erani?s attention were the two upright scars centered between the females brow points. Nomad marks. Half Trained. ?Nomad, you are welcome to this meeting.? With a nod toward the group, Erani turned her attention to them, noting Valerius, who looked a bit lost. She couldn?t blame him. After all, he had traveled so far, only to find his father was dead. Perhaps you will still have a chance to meet him. Ashtoreth and Leon approached, both with questions. Caerul arrived as well, and Erani paused to give her eldest Nephew a quick return lick across the muzzle before he sat beside his brother and father. To Ashtoreth and Leon, she answered, gently, ?I will reveal all once everyone who will come ahs arrived. But I fully intend to make sure we?ll all be alright.? A glimpse of snow, of black swirls. Her ears perked, a tendril of joy prodding hopefully at her heart. Lyric? Sure enough, her youngest daughter?s eyes, so unusual and beautiful, found hers. Lyric was alright. And so grown. She?d far outgrown the original measurement Erani had thought she would reach, coming close to Surreal?s height instead. Erani offered her youngest a smile that said After the meeting., before Odette arrived. The scent on her fur told her Chrysanthe was home, and that Odette had been with her only minutes ago Erani would have to track her daughter down and be sure she was alright. And then, a second wolf that was a stranger to her arrived, though he too carried Nomad marks. Come to think of it, she?d heard an unfamiliar call moments before? He approached, and she took in his words. ?Nomad, feel free to stay and listen. I am Erani.? Erani nodded, then lifted her eyes to sweep the group of wolves gathered before her. Noting the late entrance of a grey and black male. His markings fit Surreal?s description of a wolf named Rune. He seemed to be the last to be coming. Not all of the wolves of Valhalla had arrived. Azalea was back at the Battlefield. That the girl had challenged the usurper for her life Erani was unaware, having left just beforehand to gather the wolves and make sure they were safe. Until they were a pack again, they could do nothing to truly stop Isardis taking Azalea?s pups. And she would do her best make the pack strong again. Like they had been when Cairo had reigned strong. Seraphine had Challenged Isardis for Glaciem, and she hoped the girl won, and wasn?t killed in the fighting. Her eyes swept the group again, before her head lifted, and she addressed them. ?Valhallans. Family. Friends. As some of you may know, our pack was challenged for today, by a member of Glaciem. I regret to inform those that do not know, that Chrysanthe lost the challenge. We were released, all of us, save for the children of Azalea Adravendi. Until we are a pack again, we can do little to stop them from being taken from us. However, there is a chance of hope. Seraphine has Challenged Isardis for Glaciem. May she win in her endeavor, and bring the Ice King crashing to the earth in shattered fragments. In the meantime, I will be taking over. We will be leaving the Island shortly, two days at most, to return to the mainland. ?We will be taking a large portion of the west, beginning with Vericona Plains, though in my excursions to gather around the west, I?ve noted some places that would do well for us. Wolfpaw Lake, Druids Moor, and Whisperer?s Gorge. As for Ranks, I will be keeping the system Chrysanthe set up. We are a family, if not by blood, than by unity and our faith that this is not the end for our pack. We will stay strong, even through the darkest hours of our lives. We will hold one another up, keep one another strong. We will not die.? Her voice rolled through the gathering, firm and strong, tones fierce as she reached the end of her long dialogue, deep blue pools locking in turn with the eyes of each present, before she turned to Ashtoreth and her mate, Leon. ?Ashtoreth and Leon, Surreal has told me that you two intend to mate. I would like to hold a Ceremony for your union, once we have settled in the West, if that is alright with you.? It would be a good start to a new chapter in the pack?s history. She also left the floor open for the group to ask questions, or say whether or not they would go with her, or make their own way in the world. |
(1088 words!)
02-23-2014, 12:50 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-23-2014, 08:21 PM by Imena.)
Walk | Talk | Think
Leon had followed to stand beside her, and the worried hunter glanced his way as the aged healer answered their nervous questions. Nothing was said, just promises that she would speak to them as a whole, as soon as the gathering seemed to be at its capacity. It was not the answer Ashtoreth had been longing for by a long shot, but with nothing to say to get news out of Erani sooner she muttered a quiet, "Okay," before turning with Leon and walking away to find their own seat. She let Leon take the lead and settled beside him, shoulder pressed to his and ears turned to sit nervously back against her petite skull. None of this sat well with her, and forcing a few deep breaths the Psi proceeded to glance around as if seeking answers from those surrounding her.
To her great relief, the wait was short. A few stragglers and Erani was addressing them with the news of the challenge's results. And what was said was far from what had been expected. Defeated. Chrys had lost. But how? She was such a strong leader, such a capable warrior. Defeat was hardly in her vocabulary to describe her. And yet as she looked among the faces of those who returned, still half drenched from the swim across the water, Ashtoreth could see that it was true. It was written within their expressions, plain as day. It was no less disconcerting.
Erani mentioned the pups who were being ordered to remain, the subsequent challenge that had been made in time with the one for Valhalla, and the grey hunter struggled to wrap her mind around it all. Babes stolen from their home, still incredibly young, as well as one of their own - one of her hunters specifically - trying to singularly take down the kingdom of ice. Why? What had happened that they should be tormented by all of this uncertainty and hardships? But it seemed at least in one respect they were still well off. They were sticking together; Valhalla was reforming under Erani's command.
This was just as surprising as the rest. For all her experience and knowledge, the kind-hearted healer had never shown much drive to lead, save where it concerned her healers. It must have been the circumstances that had changed her mind. Whatever the case, Ash was relieved. With Erani leading, it meant Valhalla was not simply a band of rogues cast out of their home and clinging to the last remnants of their family and home. No, their home would remain, their family wound band together, and they were to rebuild not here upon the island but back in Vericona. Despite the circumstances, the grey wolf could have smiled. Mainland at last, and no longer feeling separated by that strip of ocean water. She chanced a glance at Leon, wondering and secretly hoping that the den they had abandoned might still be open and suitable for the both of them.
She turned to stare up at the seated healer wolf when she took a moment to address her and Leon directly. Apparently Leon's proposal before the pack had managed to make an impression. Even embarrassed, Ashtoreth smiled, tucking her head slightly as she turned and peered at the brown male seated next to her. If she had had it her way, there would have been no big to do about it, they would have quietly settled in together and continued to go about their business and duties within the pack. But she knew things were not done that way, at least not in Leon's family. This was all probably customary for him, expected even. How could she possibly think of denying him this silly little ceremony? "If Leon wants to," she answered at length, turning her sheepish smile upon him in resigned agreement.