Emperor's New Clothes [Pack Meeting]

The rest of the pack began trickling in and to his relief even the few who happened to glance over at him - and his amazing find - didn't do more than just that before finding seats elsewhere. Avalon had carried in a porcupine, and Gryphon studied THAT with some interest as he waited impatiently for the meeting to hurry up and get started so it could be over. He wondered if there was something useful he could do with the quills from a porcupine... they weren't the same as northern porcupines, he knew, but the quills could surely be used for something.

While he was concentrating on that rather than the wolves still entering, he had apparently been approached, and it was all he could do not to jump out of his skin at the suddenness of being addressed. His head whipped sharply about to meet the speaker, and he had to stop himself from scooting his precious bird away before she could covet his feathers. "It's just a peacock," he said in a rough voice, trying to be nonchalant about it and probably failing miserably. "Catching them is not a big deal if you do it before they fly up to roost. The males have spurs though. I'll teach you some other time. Oh look Dragon's starting the meeting." In his desperation to keep his Treasure all to himself and to keep her distracted from it, Gryphon didn't even stop to consider - or even to realize - that he'd just agreed to spend time with one of Vereux's kids. All he wanted to do was move her attention away from the bird and to Dragon where it belonged.

Besides, Dragon really was starting the meeting, though he immediately started it with speaking of the raid. Gryphon felt a sour feeling in his throat, glancing around at the wolves who'd gone out on the raid. At their healing injuries. He didn't believe it had been worth it, whatever Dragon may claim, and he had the sick feeling that they hadn't faced the last of the consequences of it yet either. But he kept his jaws firmly shut, not wanting to diminish the raiders' self pride either.

The alpha moved on to promotions, promoting the young wolves out of their apprentice ranks and moving them into the proper adult ranks. Or, the apprentices that were there, anyway. Gryphon's brow knotted in concern upon realizing that none of Esa's family had made it to the meeting. Had they been that badly injured in the raid as to not be able to join them there? He should have made it a point to find out.

He was startled to hear Dragon speak his name, and turned his attention back to the alpha in time to receive a promotion out of omega... and skipping his old rank right into the elite hunters' ranks. Gryphon could only blink silently at Dragon, not really sure what to say to accept it or if he should accept it at all, but the moment had passed quickly and Dragon was already moving on.

He introduced a new member as being one of their cousins, which interested Gryphon who had not yet met any of the other Ancoras, but immediate confusion followed on its heels at Dragon's next words. Prisoner? Why would the boy have thought he was a prisoner? Oh for goodness sake... Gryphon squeezed shut his eyes and resisted the urge to rub at suddenly aching temples. What had his brother gone and done now?

Distracted by this latest of potential problems, he couldn't put a whole lot of thought into what he might want as a symbol of his rank, though he supposed he should make a point to do so. It sounded like it was important to Dragon, anyway, though Gryphon usually preferred to hide his Treasures away rather than wearing them.