[Claiming] An Omen In The Stars

They came quickly, Kavdaya first, followed by an unfamiliar little female. Surreal's mismatched gaze settled curiously on the girl, who greeted Regulus so easily, then cast a sideways glance to her son, a slight smile pulling at her jowls, one ear perking in question. She nevertheless greeted the tiny green woman with a warm smile, flashing a grin in answer to Kavdaya's statement. She did indeed know.

Creed and Faite came next, and Surreal greeted them each with a warm smile and a nod. But in this instance, the worry she felt wouldn't fade until she saw her younger son's thundercloud colored frame arrive. She ached at the wariness she spotted in his eyes, and, Alpha or not, she had to go to her boy. So, in the lull between arrivals, she slipped from the boulder and padded to him. In a low voice, she switched to the family's language, eyes earnestly gazing into his. She wanted him to know the truth in her words. "Tórnach, mo scamall toirneach. Ba mhaith liom tú rud éigin a thuiscint. Tá mé bródúil as do ghníomhartha ag an léigear. Tá mé bródúil as do chroí chineál, agus do toilteanach chun cabhrú le duine éigin atá i ngátar. Bhí mé brash an lá sin." There was no mistaking the honesty in her voice.

"Is breá liom tú, ar fad agat, níos mó ná is féidir liom a fathom riamh. Má chaill mé aon cheann de tú ..." She trailed off, the hitch in her breathing enough of a continuation to say what she really meant. That her heart would break, and never be whole again. But she composed herself, leaning in, seeking to press her nose into his neck. "Bheadh Do seanmháthair a bheith bródúil as tú. Is mian liom d'fhéadfaí tú féin agus do dheirfiúr gurbh eol di." She murmured.

She lingered a few seconds more, before pulling away and gazing at her youngest boy, offering an encouraging smile before returning to her place on the rock. The smile held a suggestion that she wanted to talk to him more later, after the meeting. Her haunches lowered, settling upon the stone of the boulder. Moments later, a surprise arrived in the form of the Imperium boy Tórnach had won against in his first spar. He took a spot by her son, and though his low voice didn't quite allow his words to reach her ears as he spoke to Tórnach, she could guess, by the speed of his mouth, that whatever he was saying must have been coming out in a speed akin to Báine's hummingbird capacity. A faint chuckle left the silver timber Archangel before she nodded to the boy as he finally turned to dip his head to her.

Miksa was next to arrive, and Surreal greeted him with a warm grin. He looked nervous, and his eyes searched the crowd, as though looking for someone. That someone in question arrived soon after, clearly familiar with Miksa. She even recalled the face, and the memory of the Festival Frith and Novella had held in Redbud Nook. The markings on the girl's eyes, the heterochromia, and her white base all pointed to her being a child of the missing pair of Authors. What must the girl have been going through all this time? Did she know where her parents were/. That she had relatives in Abaven; Bass Destruction, for one? Despite these thoughts, she gave the girl a warm smile and a nod.

Falk, Zuriel and Báine arrived, and at last it was time to begin. She gave Zuriel a relieved smile. Her second eldest had been so sparse that Surreal wasn't very surprised when she saw Faite and looked amazed, and thankfully, delighted. She allowed the last three a moment to settle in and get comfortable before she straightened her spine and cleared her throat, loudly enough to catch every ear and gain all eyes. She gave the group a smile that held both confidence and affection, and for a moment, she had a flashback to her mother, sitting regally upon this very boulder and addressing the pack. Stand beside me, Mother.

"Welcome," she spoke, in a voice that carried without her needing to shout, "to the founding of a pack that, I know, will be around for generations to come. Many of you have been waiting for this moment; I know I have. So, let's get down to the fun part!" Mismatched blue and gold gaze swept the crowd with a twinkle of amusement before she continued on. "Celestial is to be inwardly a family; which means I wish for you to interact with one another. Befriend one another. Form close bonds that won't break under pressure. Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success." Her mismatched gaze met each wolf's eyes, before she continued.

"We will be mostly peaceful, unless our allies need our assistance in battle, but we must always be ready to defend ourselves as well. Thus, I wish you all to partake in learning to fight, bettering your skills that you already have, and sparring frequently to keep your skills in action and sharp. Even if you are not in an actual siege in the event of one, someone will be needed to guard the wounded, elderly, pregnant or nursing mothers, and children. Defending them is pointless if the guardians cannot fight off an attack."

She paused, allowing everyone to absorb the words, before she went on. "Equally important is Healing. In the event that we have too few experienced healers, I want you all to learn at least the basics of wound treatment. Those who have participated in a battle and are only lightly wounded should be able to tend to themselves while the worst wounded receive the healers' main attention. This is also useful for anyone going out abroad, where a healer might not be available in the event of an accident."

She paused yet again, then lifted her head and gave each a warm smile. "Now, let me tell you how our ranks will be laid out..." While she wasn't exactly fond of laying everything out clearly in front of a wolf from another pack, the next several minutes were, nevertheless, given to explaining the ranks, what each rank's role was within the pack and what was expected of the wolves carrying the rank. Finally, she finished with, "... Falk will by my Consort. Regulus here is our Future by way of being the eldest born. Kavdaya, by way of being the most experienced healer, will be our Master Healer; go to her if you wish to be trained in healing.

"The rest of you may tell me what rank you wish to aim for, and if you need more time to decide, you will become a Unit until you work your way up with your decisions. Those wishing to be Legionaries must spar to show your worth and what needs work. Those who are yearlings, please tell me what you wish to work towards and graduate to upon your second year." Despite each long line of speech, she never seemed out of breath, and each pause was a chance to continue her measured breathing that only Falk, Regulus, Cinder and Ganja might be able to hear. It kept her voice strong, and gave the others time to absorb the words and think on them before she plied them with more information.

Finally, she continued on to the next subject. Her smile held steel as she gazed at each wolf. "Now for our laws. You are to follow them, but if you have suggestions for improvements, please, come to me in private." Each law was outlined clearly, and she made sure not to trip over any words. There could be no loopholes that someone could say 'Well I didn't hear it, I misunderstood...', or any other excuse. She made eye contact with everyone present, and that mismatched gaze was as unbending as the stone under her paws, even as she made it clear that trespassers who didn't leave after being warned could become force claimed and given to other packs as their punishment. It wasn't a savory law, but perhaps if that word was spread, loners would be far less likely to risk crossing their border. As she finished, she gave them all time to digest it all.

Finally, a bright smile formed on her face. "Now for the fun part. I would like to hear from all of you about what sorts of customs you would like to see in Celestial. Would you like to see weddings, for instance? Festivals held to celebrate things like Spring, or Peace? Inter-pack events like special fighting games and hunting games? Please, if you have any ideas, come to me, and I shall announce which ones will become a part of Celestial customs in our next meeting." The warm smile that followed that announcement was given to each wolf present, before the silver and black timber Archangel straightened.

"And finally, before I give the floor to you to suggest your wishes for ranks, I have my own announcement. I intend to lead for only a couple years longer before stepping down and handing the pack to Regulus. He has been well trained, so I think you will find him as trustworthy an Archangel as he should be as our Future. I would like to enjoy retirement and old age." Here she bent low enough to place her muzzle near Falk's ears and added in a voice only for his ears "And a litter, or three... or six?" adding a soft chuckle before straightening and gazing out at the wolves before her.

"Now, tell me what you want to aim for." Her ears were given to the crowd, eyes intent and interested. They had her full attention. Every single one.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think