build upon the foundation [Ashen Meeting]
The routine of being well groomed had become just as much a part of his identity as his name, if not more. Bath from mother, then waxes and oils from Obi. The bristles of the brush and the gentleness of the monkey's fingers in his fur- he didn't get whacked with the brush very often for being naughty- they were things he enjoyed starting his day with. Morning prayers were already coming smoothly to him, muscle memory rather than something he needed to use his sleep fogged brain to recite. By the time there was a chance for free time in the day, there was a resounding call through the shrine. Their aunt was summoning everyone! As the four children trudged along through the snow behind their mother, she made a point to outline in detail what constituted best behaviour. He wasn't eager to have Obi drag him away by his ear, or have his mother leave him on a high branch for the eagles, so he would be sure to stay still and silent for the entire meeting. Keeping all of his limbs was in his best interest, and in the event something tempted him to break in his manners, he just had to remember how much he liked having all of his toes. Amongst the bodies gathered to attend the meeting, shades of charcoal and soot seemed prominent. It made the pale forms stand out, even against the snow. In particular, the tiny, pale bodice of a wolf he'd never seen before, sitting at the flank of a titanic male who'd been split down the middle between those opposing shades. He did his best not to stare, and instead let his dual toned gaze roam over the assembled wolves. He recognized a few, the orange and black man from his naming, and his aunt, namely. The more he looked, the more he was certain that he had no idea just how many wolves shared the lands with him and his family. He glanced behind him, where his aunt Calamity had been herding them along in their orderly line, hoping her features might offer him guidance in the face of such a crowd. They filed before their aunt, and the familiar address tumbled from his jaws, just as his mother had taught him. "Hail Empress Venom." he said softly, gazing up at her and the mountain of a male at her side. Off they went yet again, padding through the snow until their mother found an appropriate place to sit. He settled in with a sister on either side, and arranged himself carefully. Shoulders back, chin up, tail wrapped neatly around his paws to avoid the urge to fidget. Now, the task at hand was to sit still, be silent, and pay attention. It was important to know the state of things, in order to best serve the empire and Abraxas. "speech" |
