"Resin" The Hallows had come a long way since their beginning. In such a short amount of time, too. Their ranks swelled, they had moved a world away from their former home. The woman felt as though she was surrounded by the wolves that needed to be here. Anyone who was absent didn't deserve The Hallows. Unfortunately, Ulric's woman and one of his children hadn't been present in quite some time. It was up to the earthen man to decide what to do, but Resin counted them as lost. She wouldn't let that loss damper todays festivities. The Aegis had decided that it was time to celebrate. Having brought down a camel out on the plains, she had brought it back to the castle and had it prepared in a few different ways. Raw, dried, seasoned and cooked. There were other morsels as well. With the comfortable temperatures of Auster, apples and pears had been found. There was rabbit and fowl on the long stone table as well. A fire roared in the massive stone fireplace, warming the expansive hall comfortably. Furs were laid out here and there, providing resting places for those in need. Resin had called for her pack, inviting them all to the gathering. Once they had all trickled in, the woman, seated at the head of the table, addressed them all. "A Feast. A day of happiness and joy. A day of revelry and of reflection." As she spoke, her singular gaze drifted around the room, touching upon each face in turn. "This is to give thanks. Thanks to each and every one of you. Thank you for following me here. Thank you for working together. Thank you for being what I and The Hallows need." Resin bowed her head in thanks for but a moment, then graced the congregation with a rare smile. "This feast is for you." Raising one massive paw, she gestured gracefully towards the bountiful food set on the long stone table. "Enjoy."

Walk | "Talk" | Think
Aranea had wanted to make bouquets for around the castle for sometime, so she took time during the week to pluck flowers from the surrounding lands and keep them watered while waiting to gather enough for everyone. You couldn't just give one wolf a bouquet ad go around the block every so often. Besides, Aranea wasn't really the sort to just hand someone a gift and make eye contact with them and expect a thanks or anything. She would have rather the gesture be from afar, or even not acknowledged at all.

She saw Resin preparing a stone table at the court yard and began the liberty of grabbing each of her hand-pick bouquets and going around the castle to every room the wolves of The Hallows had claimed. She would place the bouquets outside their rooms in a holding place set for what seemed like something decorative, and would find a place for those that didn't necessarily claim a room but instead a part of the roof or courtyard. If anyone had noticed her gesture, she would only return to them with a quick smile and continue on to her next room. Once she was done making her rounds, she passed Resin to put a couple bundles at the entrance of the castle, finally taking her last trip up to her own room to grab whatever extra flowers she had to set up around the table Resin was presenting. She would flash a glance towards Resin with a small grin as she set the flowers on two vertical sides of the table.

Resin would begin to call everyone for gathering and Aranea would only move the bouquets at the table a bit as if to make them perfect, turning around to take a seat before her Alpha and wait for everyone to arrive. When Resin would give thanks to everyone at the table, Aranea wouldn't say much but again, only speak with a smile. Perhaps this would be another opportunity to get to know her pack mates a little more. It was about time she started to come out of her shell.

Indigo shuffled through the castle, lingering in the shadows as Short Round followed beside him. The badger was more than at home in the dark unnatural tunnels and for her sake he debated about staking his claim somewhere in the castle. He hadn’t made a decision yet, but then again he never came to conclusions with any kind of speed. He had to think about every little thing and consequence before he did anything.

Thoughts of the future and of his future lingered in his mind as the smells of food reached his nose. Again, he wished that Aslatiel was here at his side, especially as he emerged into the great hall and saw everything on the stone table. He was taken a little aback but approached and made himself comfortable before Resin began to speak to them all.

She thanked them and offered up the food for their enjoyment. Indigo could feel the revelry rise up but he withdrew into himself. His mood was more often than not the opposite of the joyous occasion that brought them together now. Indy hit it well, a shy smile played on his features and he’d made himself comfortable on the plush furs. He lay like a massive lion, bright blue eyes on the food as he waited to pick out his own morsels once the crowd around the table died down.

Dunkan wasnt the most interested in festivals or any kind of celebration of similar intentions, not that he would hate or frown upon the idea of taking part of them. He just didnt have the way of experimenting with joy or happiness others would. He wasnt taught to have fun in life and so far he only thought doing his work was all that should matter in life, to risk his life instead of getting himself the opportunity to just chill and find days of procrastination.

But today their leader organized a sort of an event of thanks, something that at first he wasnt sure if he should participate, he sometimes didnt saw him as the worth of the privilege. But in the end, he was here, but still keeping himself collected as the alpha spoke a few words of thanks and he nodded in response. And finally, they were freed to do what they wanted but where to start? She looked at the rest who attended but for now, he didnt do any advances, just sitting there with Urasa by his side and Kaira landing by the opposite side.


"Speech!"

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Artorias giggled to himself as he bounded down the labyrinthian corridors of the castle, poking his nose into every now and cranny and open door he could find. The castle was huge, and every time he turned around, it was like discovering a new place to explore for the first time! He had found his way into a large room towards the back of the castle, massive wooden shelves covered in dust and moss reaching from the floors up to the towering ceiling. Leather-bound books were in various states of disarray and decay throughout the abandoned library, their weathered yellow pages torn and frail. Artorias' nose crinkled up at the musty smell of the library, but the boy didn't stay in the room for long, his mother's call catching his attention as he withdrew back out the doors and down the hallways to find her.

When he emerged in the great dining hall, his mouth dropped open and his eyes grew wide. Oh wow! On the large table through the center of the room sat a glorious feast of all sorts of meats and fruits, their delicious aromas blending in the warm air. A roaring fire crackled and burned in the fireplace, casting the hall in a welcoming orange glow and chasing away the remnants of cold that lingered in the air outside. Flowers adorned the table, the sweet floral scents complimenting the savory smells of roasting and raw meats. His mother sat at the head of the massive family table, addressing the other wolves of the pack that had gathered for the feast. This was it! This was what Artorias had imagined when he had first wandered through this room imagining what grand spectacles it could host! A family—their family—all together in celebration and community. It made the pup's heart swell with joy, and he did little to hide the smile on his face as he bounded up to the table to find his mother and nuzzle himself against her legs in a silent sign of gratitude.

At Resin's beckoning, he ran up to the banquet table with happy barks, just barely able to reach up when he stood on one of the creaky wooden chairs. Up close, the feast looked even more ample than it had from a distance. He didn't know where to begin! Little black nose twitching with rapid sniffs as he drowned his olfactory sense in the delicious aromas, Artorias selected some chunks of roasted and seasoned meats closest to him, then carried them back to the table to sit with the rest of his family. As he passed the great fireplace, his amber eyes watched the dancing flames with fascination, his gait slowing during his passing, only to resume once he was by. Artorias found a seat at the table and set to demolishing his meal, the flavors of the tender and juicy meats bringing a happy smile to his face while he watched all the other wolves arrive for the festivities.

"Speech" | Thoughts | "Corbin"

The move to the southern island had been stressful for the young man, his mothers grave being so far away now. There was simply no way he could visit her unless he took an adult with him and who would have the time to go all the way back just for him to visit his dead mother and the stone that marked her grave? It had been a thought frequently visiting his mind, leaving him a bit more depressed than he usually was, and with that came his moodiness and intolerance. He'd kept himself separate from the others as usual, even choosing to distance himself from Bowen some so that he wouldn't lash out or hurt her in some way. He was good at hurting others, so he believed he was better off leaving everyone alone.

When a call rang through the halls of the castle they know called home, Grimshaw was curious and strode slowly towards the room the call came from. Resin stood at the helm of the room, surrounded by the others that had gathered seated at massive tables covered with foods of all kinds. Grim had never seen so much food in his life and wondered who did all the work here, preparing it and setting the tables and whatnot. Finding himself moving towards the tables, he found a place to sit at the end and away from the others. Instead of imposing himself on others, he figured if anyone wanted to sit with him then they could.


"Speech!"

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2020

TABLE & CODE © SKELLE 2021

Ever since the move, Fionha hadn't seen much of her mother or her sister, Ever, and wondered where they had ran off too without her or even the rest of the family. It saddened her and she was only left to wonder what was going on. Too nervous to ask her father, she let the worry swell within her and hoped she'd see them again soon. Resin had let out a call when she was exploring the halls of the castle and she was quick to take on the distraction of whatever the call was for. As she hurried her way to the room the call came from, her eyes widened in delight and surprise at the sight of all the food and the others that had gathered. She didn't see any of her family yet and wondered when they would arrive, but for now she was happy to see all the food!

A bit shyly, she stepped into the room and found a place to settle amongst the rest to listen to Resin's speech. She was more than happy to help eat the massive amounts of food that had been prepared and wondered if maybe this was what had her mother so busy. If so, then where was she? It hardly seemed like something Ever would help with, so as she thought about it she wasn't sure this had anything to do with the two of them. A frown played on her lips, but she tried to hide it as she stared wide-eyed at all the food.

"Speech!"

Jane darted after her sisters like a bullet, a bullet made of fluff and joy. Well kinda. She smiled upon such a wonderful view, so much food, fund thingies, and even bright yellow stuff she had never seen. (Fire) But the interest in that was soon put to rest as she found her sister there. And saying nothing she quickly took a seat beside Fio with her tail wagging behind her quick. But Jane herself was also aware of the sudden disappearance of her other and one of her sisters. Her immature mind always came up with possible ideas of where they were. Maybe they were exploring! Doing something and maybe they will come later! Looking around she saw many pups near her age. Friends?! Yesss they are! There in another place on the huge table, a dark pup(Grim) sat there alone. Smiling she walked forward and happily she attempted to seat by his left. "Hey!!! I am Jane, wanna be my friend??" She asked smiling from ear to ear. "Speech"

Outlaw had heard the call from Resin while redecorating his room.  Ducking his head under a door that was halfway off its hinges he left his ‘den room’ and loped to the room set for the feast.  Lots of wolves and food lay in wait.  There were a few wolves in the room who looked like they could use some cheering up and Outlaw passed by Jane, giving her a little nudge with his nose, “Howdy!”  She was so friendly and he’d had fun wandering the castle with her. The kiddo’s always got his attention first and his gaze went down to look at Grimshaw, “Hey there pal.”  Outlaw offered the boy as if they’d been good friends for a while.  Of course to Outlaw it was perfectly reasonable they were great friends, they had met and chatted once and that should be all it took.   There were at least two other pups to say hi to, one of which he hadn’t even met before.  Welp, one thing at a time, it sure seemed there was enough food to have loads of time to chat with them all. It should be a good time!  How could anyone not enjoy themselves? Speech:"Life is but a game " Think

Askan was not and would never be a man of revelry. The food both looked and smelled nice, enough to get his belly rumbling, but with all the clamour and chatter it was loud within the hall. Their voices echoing off the old stone walls. He lingered in the entry way, brows furrowed as his bright Selwyn gaze roamed over the wolves present, it seemed as though certain wife and daughter were missing. Hmmm. Now Askan hated-no he didn't- to say he'd told them so, that he'd seen this coming from a mile away. All the way back in Boreas. He'd tried to warn them and just earned himself a slap on the muzzle, in their insistent attempts at playing happy family it seemed as though they were blind to the truth. That Azariah woman thought spreading her legs and being a mother somehow made her better than everyone else, like it was an honour. And how how quick they'd all been to valiantly defend her, oh the struggles of a new mother, raising five children and yadda yadda. Piss off. Askan thought of Lúta and Ulric and his expression soured, the truth tasted bitter huh?

When Avantika arrived at the gathering, she held back against the wall. The voices were loud, a busy babble of festivities, and they echoed off of the hall. She wasn't the first to get there by far. A prickle of shame hit her at that. She was trying to be the best wolf the Hallows could have. She'd have to try harder. Her gaze flickered over all of the others, her packmates. There were quite a few she still didn't know. The pack was so big, it seemed to suddenly be an impossible task to earn all of their respect. The sinking feeling pulled at her paws, but she steadied herself. She had nothing but time now. She would make it, even if it took everything she had. Kaata, perching on her shoulders, suddenly pressed her tiny talons against Avantika's skin. "Hey, kiddo, let's go talk to them!" She jumped off of her shoulders and stood before her, wings fluttering. "This is a party, not a classroom. You can't make anybody respect you if they don't know you!" Avantika almost regretted telling the hawk her dream, but she decided there was logic in what she was saying. She just wished she didn't have to do it. Maybe Kaata really could read her mind, because she bounced over to a man who was also staying away from the action. Askan. Before Avantika could think to resist, she followed. Askan had been in the melee fight she'd participated in a bit ago, although she still didn't know him very well. She stood awkwardly, wanting to say something, but what? She kept a few feet of space between them and looked out at the revelries. Ignoring him until he spoke first. "I'm going to kill you, you dumb bird." Kaata gave her a sassy grin in response. "Avantika to Kaata telepathy" "Kaata to Avantika telepathy" "speech"

Walk | "Talk" | think

Rudy had failed again.  Sure, he caught prey more often than he did at the falls but not every time.  Ok, on his own he never caught a rabbit around the falls but that wasn’t the point.  So far he had killed one rabbit, one gopher, and some type of bird that hadn’t flown off.  Rudy wasn’t going to talk about the numbers that got away from him before he caught something.  The boy wasn’t worried about the loss, instead of acknowledging how close he got and how great the chase was.

Now walking into the room with all the food, his eyes widened and his gaze turned from face to face.  Askan and Tika were still close to the entryway so Rudy gave Tika a friendly shoulder bump, “Hey Tika, whatcha doin all the way near the door?” Glancing up at Askan the boy offered a cheery grin to at least acknowledge him before focusing back on Tika.  “C’mon, lets go try some of all that food, and I know just where we should sit!”

About two steps forward, pause and glance to make sure she was coming before heading over where Art was, “Hey, Art!”  Rudy wouldn’t try sneaking up on him here, it just wouldn’t be the same with all the wolves around.  Unless someone told Art it might be extra easy but Rudy was also thinking of Tika.  He wanted to get her near Art and make sure the two got to chat.  Tika had to learn to be social!  Who would be better than his brother?  Also, Rudy just enjoyed his brother’s company.  

She had thought that the move to their new home and getting settled in here would be more difficult than it actually was, but it seemed like everyone was taking to the castle and the areas around it very well. She of course had a bit of nostalgia for the falls where their pack was formed and their family was born, but this was an even more grand and impressive home that she was proud to have for them. She spent a lot of time these days familiarizing herself with the castle's lay out and doing through patrols of the grounds - both to learn every inch of it and to make sure that any last trace of strangers was gone. This was their home now and she didn't want there to be any doubt about that.

Resin's call made her head lift from the ground where she was sniffing out a stale scent, listening while a smile pulled at her lips. Well, how could she possibly turn down a feast prepared by her lover? She immediately started to head toward the castle from where she was at in the plains, the distance alone causing her to take a bit longer to arrive than she normally would have liked. As she was walking into the castle she spotted her daughter settled among a plant that she couldn't possibly identify about a dozen feet from the entrance. She chuckled to herself and trotted over to where Gwyn was laying, giving her shoulder a nudge with her nose. "Come on, darling. Time to get your head out of the leaves." With her healing obsessed daughter in tow, she finally made her way into the feast and grinned when she saw how many had gathered. Their pack had grown so quickly and it was heartwarming to see them all together like this.

Tamsyn weaved between them to give each of her children an affectionate lick on top of their heads before finding her way over to Resin's side. Sitting next to the Aegis and leaning into the larger woman, she looked up at Resin with an adoring grin and gave her cheek a quick kiss as well. She waited for Resin to speak to the group and invite them to the spread that had been prepared for them, watching as they all began to take their turns and pick what they would eat. "This is quite the spread you've made," she commented with a smile, leaning her head into Resin's shoulder.

"Tamsyn" | "Blue" | think

Gwyn was so wrapped up in examining the plant that she found near the castle that she barely registered her mother's call even though she was so close. She had never come across this particular herb before and she was right in the middle of picking out the very best looking parts of it so she could take it to one of the other healers - maybe Indigo or Luta - so she could ask them what it was when she felt her momma nudge her shoulder. Her wide, swirled eyes popped up to look at Tamsyn with confusion for a beat before her mind caught up with itself and she realized what had happened. "Oh! Coming!"

Scrambling to her paws, she hurried to follow after her momma and soon she found herself confronted with a big crowd of pack mates. There was a bunch of meats to eat it looked like and she saw her mom up at the head of it all, waiting for them all to arrive so they could begin. It was daunting at first to figure out where to go. She started to make her way over to where Artorias was sitting, but there was a bunch of others around him too and she started to shy away from the group a bit. Indigo's big, purple frame was easy to spot and without really meaning to she found herself drawn to his side just cause it seemed a little quieter there. She gave the much larger healer a smile before she settled onto her haunches next to him, scanning the room and watching everything happen around her. Mom announced the feast and officially invited them to enjoy. Gwynevere hung back for a bit, quietly taking it all in until she spotted an opening to slip in and grab a piece of the dried meat that she could take back to where she was sitting and began gnawing on it happily.

"Gwynevere" | "Eilwen"

He was lingering near one of the trees outside of the castle, sitting at its trunk and leaning his shoulder into the trunk while Aquila was perched on a branch immediately above him. His mother and Everlyse disappearing worried and frustrated him all at once. He didn't really know what he was frustrated at - maybe himself, maybe his father, maybe at his mother herself - but it made him even more withdrawn than normal. Aquila chittered above him, pulling his icy gaze upward till it connected with the eagle's. The large bird cocked his head to the side questioningly and Ezra gave him a shake of his head before looking back down at the ground. No, he didn't feel like training today. He didn't really feel like doing much of anything.

A howl made his ears twitch with recognition before they folded back against his head. He didn't want to be around them all or have a feast or celebrate. He wasn't particularly in a celebrating mood. He sat there for a while, watching as they all began to file into the castle. An insistent sound from Aquila made him sigh and he begrudgingly got to his paws. "I know, I know." His father would be expecting him to be there... though he hadn't seen him arrive just yet. Probably out looking for his mother again... that was all he seemed to do right now. Ezra followed in behind Tamsyn and immediately sat just inside the entrance, just about as far as he could get from the others and keeping the entrance within easy reach. The feast looked tasty though and that was at least enough to make him stay.

His father came in a few moments after he did and he didn't do much more than glance up at him before focusing his attention back on the floor. His ears pivoted to listen when Miss Resin spoke and addressed them all and even after she invited them to enjoy he took a while to actually get up and navigate his way to the table. He picked up the closest piece of meat - and snuck another piece to take out to Aquila when all of this was over - and then moved away again to where he was originally sitting to eat.

Walk | "Talk" | think

When he caught the echos of Resin's call he wasn't even within the pack's territory. He had continued to linger near the land bridge that connected the two continents and searching the land between their new home and there for any traces that Azariah had ever made it to the new land mass. He had originally had reservations about letting her stay behind and follow after them and even more reservations about Everlyse staying with her as well, but she had insisted that everything would be fine, that there was just a few things she need to gather from a bit further north before the move. Because the move had been moved up and done so quickly there hadn't been a lot of time to prepare so he had finally conceded to her pleas. He desperately wanted to stay with her, but one of them needed to go with their other children to watch after them. With her promise that she would follow after them within a couple days he had left her and Everlyse behind at the sunset falls and now he couldn't shake the guilt and regret he felt.

He forced himself to turn away from his searching for a moment, moving at a loping run to get back to the castle in time. The pull he felt between being a mate and a pack member was something he had been wrestling with for a while, but now it was even more so. He wanted to focus on the pack and his children and believe that Azariah was okay, but a nagging feeling in the back of his mind told him that there was no possible way that she would willing be away from him and their pups. There had to be something else going on. Pushing that thought out of his mind, he walked into the castle where the others had gathered and he first sought out his children to make sure they were all accounted for. Ezra, Jane, Fihona... He picked them all out as he scanned the room. It looked like Emile was the only one missing. He turned his attention toward Resin when she began to speak, though he did keep an eye toward the door as well to watch for his son to make sure he appeared as well. It was comforting whenever they were all together even though Ezra seemed to only want to be on his own and made that desire all the more difficult for him to attain.

Walk | "Talk" | think

Emile was more than aware the hole his missing mother and sister had left, his father was more and more focused on trying to find them, which was only making it feel worse, while Emile was too young to understand why he felt as if his missing mother had taken his father from him as well... more than anything he needed his remaining parent there with him... and he just wasn't. But he also knew his siblings were struggling with it too, and so he tried his best to not let his own grief show, Jane was the only one who seemed unaffected, she seemed to believe it was a temporary effect on their life. Emile wasn't sure, the perpetually sunshine boy was struggling to keep his spirits up, he desperately wanted to be able to lean on his father, but with him seeming more distant that wasn't an option. Still, when he heard the call the boy put his happy face on and trotted towards the gathering, feeling his spirits buoy a bit when he spotted his father, and sliding up next to him, pressing his small frame into the man and hoping he wasn't about to disappear again. Then when Resin spoke the boy watched his brother pull away from the group. Emile grabbed his own portion of the food and settled himself beside Ezra, nudging him and offering him a soft if a bit weak smile. "Speech"

Art by Sigath

Lúta worked swiftly to finish her project so that she could attend the feast with an eased mind. She had carefully dried a number of holly berries and was prepping them for her companion Raga, who deftly used a mortar and pestle to grind the berries into a powder before emptying them onto a piece of hide. Lúta then folded the hide carefully in her jaws and tipped the contents into a jar for storage. The dried holly berries could help to slow bleeding when added to a poultice. With that done she stretched and headed into the castle.

When she arrived most everyone was already present and there was a gorgeous spread of food laid out on the table. Lúta hardly knew where to start. She smiled shyly at the others gathered there before reaching for a pheasant leg.

This glancing life is like a morning star

Shilah continued his task of getting more familiar with the lands in Auster and of finding various resources during his travels. So far he'd stuck close by but this past day he'd travelled to the Wildberry Grove they'd pass through on their journey into Auster. As it was summer in the southern continent there were berries to be found and he gathered a large number of them for the feast that was to be held. He didn't know which were the best so he gathered several kinds including raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and gooseberries. With the haul of goods safely secured in a bag of deer hide he worked his way back to the castle and arrived just in time.

Well, he was probably the last one here but he did have goodies! "A fine assortment of food indeed! If I may, I have some berries to add from the grove to the north of here." He unwrapped the hide and laid out clumps of berries here and there for his pack mates.

Resin waited until the last members of the pack drifted into the warm, food filled hall before addressing the wolves once more. She cast a side eye at Tamsyn as the smaller, dark woman kissed her cheek. With Tam resting against her shoulder, the Aegis called the attention of her wolves. "Not only is this a feast of thanks, but it's a feast of family. Family is important and it's not always by blood, but by choice." As she spoke their names, the giantess's singular, burning sulfur eye rested upon each pup. "Artorias, Daphne, Gwynevere, Bowen, Rudyard, Grimshaw and Avantika... I grant you the surname Carpathius." By this decree, the scarred fae was claiming the lot of them as her family. Not that they weren't before, but it was official now. "And Tamsyn... As my mate, I grant you this surname as well." She had never publicly declared that they were mates, but there would be no denying it now. Raising her voice so that all would hear, she continued. "By name or no, all who call themselves part of The Hallows are family. So eat your fill. Enjoy yourselves fully, and thank you to each and every one." As the attention turned to the food, Resin turned her attention to Tamsyn, wondering just what her woman might say to her declaration. The children would be happy about it. Some of them for certain, at least. She hadn't informed any of them that this would be happening, so she would simply have to gauge their reactions by their expressions. "Speech"