The Undying Light (Aerie meeting)

The pack trickled in quietly as the few Aerie wolves made their way down the ravine to the boulder he'd chosen, and when the last few hurried in and sat down Eligos rose to his full height to address them. "In times past," he began, "our family would hold festivals often. Every season our forefathers would hold a different festival to test our skills and show the prowess of our wolves so that we could prove ourselves worthy to rise through the ranks. I would institute the same policy, once we've settled here. Additionally, bi-annual festivals were once held as open to outsiders at the major turns of season. It's too late to reasonably hold the summer/autumn festival in a manner that befits our station, but we have time to gather the resources to hold a trade fair at that time. I'd like us to concentrate on things such as finely tanned furs and leathers, and enough smoked meats and fish to have some left to sell after the winter. Any of you with skill in crafting finished items from those resources, or decorative items such as beading or necklaces that can be done over the winter, would be especially welcome to do what you can. Do try to avoid making anything particularly weapon-like to sell to our potential enemeies, however," he added dryly. "I would prefer not to recognize a knife we made as it stabs me in the back."

"Traditionally," he went on, "Winter would be the time to test and promote our navigators, but we do not currently have any navigators among us so we will instead be using the winter as a time for all of us to work on our skills. I would see the fighters especially working on their skills at this time, in spars with each other and seeking out strangers on the battlefield, as well as keeping our lands cleared of predators who would endanger us and compete for our food. Any furs, teeth and claws from killed predators should be saved for trade goods or for crafting weapons for Aerie fighters. We have some younger, less experienced members among us ranked as apprentices yet. I would like time spent this winter getting them the experience and training they need to move up in rank. Pyrrhic, Proserpina, Aureus - " he turned his attention to his brother and his cousin. "Pyrrhic, you're an experienced fighter. Zagan has chosen to follow two paths, and while we don't have a hunter to help him in his second path, I trust you to mentor him as a fighter. Proserpina, Thalia has chosen to follow the Path of Shadows, but I feel that with your knowledge as a fighter and your experiences you would be the best mentor for her despite your own Path lying elsewhere. Saren, we have no healer to be sure of your skills right now, but Aureus has a great deal of knowledge in working well with other wolves, and can help to ease you back into Abraxas ways after your long absence, and will mentor you until we are able to get you training with a more experienced healer."

He let his gaze travel slowly over the small group, counting their numbers. It didn't take long at all. "You may have noticed that our numbers are down considerably from when Malleus ruled us," he said, softer, and paused to allow the spike of grief and anger he felt subside. "I ask all of you, while you are out in the world, to seek out others that could fill our ranks. I hold little hope for those of our family who abandoned us returning, or remaining loyal to the family and the pack if they do. We must search among the mortals to find those worthy of standing beside us and to be welcomed as our 'cousins' though they do not share our bloodline. I will not allow our ranks to dwindle further because I was unwilling to acknowledge that there are those outside of our line who are more worthy to be included in our family than some of those born into it." There was a grim note to his voice as he said the last, recalling as he did Archon, and his blasphemies that had led to Malleus' death, and the unknown 'Abraxas' who had raped a girl of another pack and abandoned any potential pups she might have borne him. Perhaps his great grandfather had not culled strongly enough, since he seemed to be more interested in the strength of their bodies rather than the soundness of their minds. He breathed out, settling the anger away. "So I would ask you to concentrate as much as you can on recruiting those who are worthy, so that we do not find ourselves fading away into obscurity."

"If anyone," he said in conclusion, "has any news or anything they wish the pack to know, please speak up now so we may all hear it. If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to take this opportunity."