It was well beyond time for her pack to come together again, her children were old enough now to start training. Not to mention she had to make the two demotions official. The moon had risen above the volcano, the night in full swing at this point. The woman climbed the mountain, her cherry gaze set on a rough outcropping of porous stone. The woman made the climb until she could jump onto the platform. Then the woman threw her head back and called for her pack to join her. Lilith was coiled in her usual spot around the woman's neck. Then Recluse sat back onto her haunches. Her children would be allowed to congregate at her paws, and they would each be instructed to behave themselves once they did, everyone else would be expected to settle themselves before her. The woman couldn't help but smile a bit, even with all the problems that had beset them early on her pack was flourishing before her, at least for the most part. OOC. The due date for the first-round is February 28th, attendance is mandatory unless I've specifically told you otherwise. Also please remember to sign up your members or pups for Habari mentorship/apprenticship as pairs will be announced during the second round, the deadline for signup has been extended until the first round due date. "Speech" Think

Art by Ulfeid3

"Speech" Izanami was doing great as part of Habari, but her mission of gathering important information wasnt happening as she wanted, and she wondered when would Hattori call for her to know the results. But it wasnt like she was afraid of him, she wasnt afraid of anything and no one, she could stand on her own without him nor anyone following every single one of her steps and moves. Calmly she was patrolling their land, eyes of silver focused on the way that opened before her. Digits widened upon climbing the rocky terrain around the Volcano. She didnt know why someone would claim a volcano within their lands. This could be a ticking bomb and in any time it could explore. She thought this as foolish but she wouldn't speak out loud about that. Her job here was merely to have a close eye to these wolves. Calmly as she heard the summon, walked forward until she found the leader. Not hers as for the Koi only Hattori had her full respect but all she had to do here was to pretend and that was something she knew how to do pretty well. She sat down and just observed the alpha but keeping her distance.

I JUST WANT A TASTE

A meeting. Eraithus stretched his jaws open wide in a yawn while he heard the call, jumping to his paws he turned and headed towards the meeting. It really didn't take him long as the mount was a place he enjoyed. She sat and what he could only assume her children would be close behind her, his eyes moved to the only other member in the group at the moment. Someone he had yet to meet other than Mikko.

Eraithus found a seat a bit away from her and Recluse. Hanging back knowing full well he had no right to be elsewhere. Part of him was hoping that would change this meeting. At least so he wouldn't be at the end of the food chain. It didn't matter though he would try his best to serve the family unit as he always had. He needed to remember he was raised in a pack and he very much respected Recluse. His eyes glowed with interest watching the alpha.

MADE BY MINNIE of BTN

Deathbelle kept her nocturnal ways even now as her life changed so much. No longer Empress, no longer the center of the known universe, Dethbelle was a much different woman. Now she was heavily pregnant, due to give birth any day now, as she followed the call of her leader. Deathbelle settled easily into a more secondary position, the stresses of life were reduced but her feeling of importance was greatly diminished. Even the father of her children couldn’t devote his life fully to her.

There were many regrets that lingered with the aging woman, and they had begun to weigh heavier on her as time went on. Like the weight of the children developing within her belly. Belle waddled forward, thankfully Recluse held the meeting somewhat close to her current den so she didn’t take very long to appear at her niece’s call.

Her ivory splotches glowed in the moonlight as she did her best to make herself comfortable. The task was difficult these days, but her attention was fully on Recluse.

The placid babe was wide awake as she welcomed the night sky and she watched patiently as her mother went along her ways to do her duties. For once Carnage removed quiet, observing everything around her and seeing what the activity was about. Her ears would twitch and her eyes widening with wonder as she heard her mother calling all those who resided her. Wasting no time the little girl would skip to the meeting intruiged to see so many wolves in one place and what her mother had to announce. It seemed she was the first upon her siblings but no doubt they would all show. Their were 3 strangers present so far and she would take them all in. They all looked so different! so many colours and sizes!
The pup could keep her thoughts to herself and would not mutter a word moving towards her mother quickly to lean against on of her forelegs in comfort. The little girl couldn't wait for the rest to arrive.

The scrawny half-yearling made good time in arriving to the meeting, and though he was huffing and puffing from the effort it had taken to run from the nook all the way to Recluse's volcano, it was all worth it to see he'd arrived before his dad and brother. If he wanted to be taken seriously in his chosen profession then he had to be on-time for meetings whether they were patient-doctor ones or boring alpha ones. Either way, he had won the race and plopped his butt upon the ground beside his aunt to wait for the other wolves to gather. He didn't anticipate the meeting being very exciting, though he'd sit through it patiently and spend the time imagining instead the future meeting where one day he'd be promoted to Dawa Tarshishim just like Deathbelle. "Speech" "Thinking" "You."

SHIBA KLEIN

Shiba rose to her paws at the sound of Recluse’s call, moving quickly to join the pack for the meeting. There were a few others already there, some she recognized, while a few were entirely unfamiliar to her, but even amongst her own kin, the healer felt like a stranger. She wanted to go sit beside her sister, but uncertainty clutched at her, and she instead found a spot to sit quietly on her own. There was so much she had missed and she still didn’t really know what had happened to Ashen, or why the former Empress was here and not there. If she had been around, she would have known what happened and maybe she wouldn’t have felt so odd here. Her wounds were self inflicted through and would be endured quietly.

"Speech."

Harbringr trudged slowly through the snow as he worked along his patrol route. He'd been feeling unwell the last few days as he struggled to get his mind back to a centered state. His ears flicked back at the sound of Recluse calling the pack to a meeting and he shuffled around to head toward her call. He'd been about done with his route anyway. Ari loped along side him and soon Ginna joined from above. The trio arrived to see a number of other wolves gathered. Harbringr grinned as he saw Jigsaw and he moved to sit by his son, noticing that Áskell had not arrived yet. He hoped the boy hadn't wandered too far from the pack lands. He had a bad habit of finding trouble.

Áskell raced back into Habari's territory with a mountain goat leg clasped in his jaws and a trio of coyotes on his heels. As soon as he crossed the pack border the coyotes slowed and stopped, not willing to risk racing right into a territory belonging to a pack of wolves. Áskell grinned. Success! He'd gotten away with his bit of thievery. He was about to go to the middle of the redbud grove to enjoy his snack when he heard the alphess calling a meeting. Well… at least he had a snack. He looked around at the wolves gathered when he arrived until he saw his father and brother sitting a ways over. He trotted next to his brother and dropped the leg before he began to eat, scooting it toward Jigsaw in case his brother was hungry too.

Mom had gathered them up and instructed them in her ‘strict mom’ voice that they were going to have a meeting with the rest of the pack, and that they’d needed to be on their best behavior. The girl’s bi-colored gaze looked to her brothers pointedly and she lifted her chin, giving her mother a firm nod. Of course she’d be a good girl, she always was.

As Recluse strutted out into the night, so did Kali. She held herself as tall as she could, trying to emulate the Seraphim who she held with great regard. Mom was beautiful and regal and she wanted to be just like her! When the pale woman settled down, the girl did too, Abaddon’s dark, still small form curled around her own neck. The snake flickered his tongue up at his mother, but that was as far as their interaction went. Snakes were weird in the fact that they weren’t very affectionate with each other, but she supposed that they were snakes, after all.

She sat, the moonlight pouring down over her form so starkly different from her siblings and, apart from the twisting golden markings that had grown bolder over her chocolate pelt and her slim figure, different from her mother. She gave her ear a bored flick.

Talking

Ever since his return, Mikko seemed to see little of Shiba aside from glimpses of her that he caught around the pack lands. He knew why, of course, after the discussion they'd had upon his arrival--and merely because he'd been the reason she'd sacrificed so much time she could've spent at home in the first place--but there was only so much he could do to remedy her discomfort. She'd treated him and taken him in on her own, hardly giving him room to protest; she'd chosen to take on the challenge his once emaciated form had provided her. He couldn't be the one to convince them to accept her back into their fold.

Unless he acted indirectly, that is. With his newfound strength, he felt like he could and would do just about anything to prove his rank, not even necessarily because any of them considered him family but because he yearned to move. To fight. To protect, as he'd always been driven to do. To stretch his limbs without his flesh screaming at the tension was, to him, a luxury. But by putting this new energy toward something productive, perhaps he'd be able to prove, both to Shiba and to her family, that her efforts hadn't been in vain. Especially in light of...recent discoveries about the dark side of his family, he had little to distract him, or keep him, from any desired pursuits.

These thoughts went through his mind as he slipped into the crowd. He first noticed Shiba followed by Eraithus, the two faces he'd interacted with the most, before padding quietly up to the former and sitting down beside her. There were fresh wounds upon him from his spar with the boy, but after everything else he'd been through, they hardly made him falter. He'd experienced worse, and he was sure that between his own injuries and those the blue male bore, those who questioned it would be able to infer what happened. He observed the gray woman from the corner of his eye, perhaps hoping for acknowledgment, before turning his attention back onto her niece.

""

table by Lowin art by kolokolchek

Wendigo Klein

There were a lot of wolves gathered that Wendigo didn't recognize so upon arrival he roved from stranger to stranger, looking up into their faces, and then wandering away. Clenched between his teeth was a bit of cord from which hung a crow's wing. Between wolves he'd give it a swing and watch as it fluttered in the breeze. Through the cord and his teeth he could feel the wing fluttering in his brain and it was messing with his head, making him feel kinda vibratey which was weird and fun, and a making him forget why he was here in the first place...

His eyes fell on his mother and he remembered. This was a meeting; a thing he had been given instructions to be good in. Well, that was easy because when wasn't he good? Never.

Wendigo raced over to his mother and sought to burrow under her. If not rebuffed he would end up laying under her with his hind legs poking out in front of her right hind leg and his head and paws resting on the ground between her front paws.

screams | actions | whispers

Table coded by Scarlet

Muzet had still been struggling with the healing of her broken leg. It seemed all good and fine, but it was still awfully bothersome. It just didn't feel right, which would have been expected from a break. She may have been a bit dramatic, but it felt like the end of the world to her. She still felt young and like she had her whole life ahead of her, but the leg seemed to hold her back. Was it a mental thought only? A ghost pain? She couldn't be sure. She was still getting out and doing things that were expected of her but she was just so worried about the damn leg it was hard for her to focus and do things right the first time around. Hunting was difficult, and scouting farther out was doable but she had so much anxiety about something happening to her. It was hard enough to make it back to the pack herself after the break occurred. Recluse called the pack together and she wouldn't hesitate even a second to stop what she was doing to attend. But still somehow many others had arrived before her, and she would feel a bit embarrassed not that anyone would be paying attention to notice. She would sneak along the back of the group and find a spot comfortably around the center. She waited patiently for the meeting to start. All her anxieties were just dumb thoughts that no one was noticing because they didn't care to pay attention, or just because what she thought was so awful and horrible actually wasn't. Walk "Talk" Think

A call rang in the air though she didn't know what for. She'd been chewing on a stick when she saw others going past her, and curious as she was, she bounced up and followed behind. With her stick in tow, Medusa climbed towards the top where everyone else seemed to be gathering at a jovial trot, clueless as to her position in what they called a pack. She still didn't quite understand the consequences of her trespass, but at least she got some food and a place to sleep. Though she still stunk to high heaven, it didn't bother her because she considered it normal in her mind. When she reached the top, she stared wide-eyed at the small group that had gathered. She'd never seen so many wolves in one place, and despite the apprehension and anxiety a normal wolf in a new place might have felt, she didn't feel any of it. She trotted along and weaved among them, glancing up at some though she didn't say anything since she had a stick in her mouth. Once she found a spot that looked nice, she plopped down and resumed her stick chewing, all the while softly giggling to herself due to her strange tic.

The black and silver pup arrived truly appearing to be on his best behavior.  He came just shortly behind Kali, rolling his eyes at how regal she attempted to appear.  His sister was far too interested in all the wrong and boring things.  Misery would never attempt to be like anyone else, at least not inwardly.  Misery grinned as he imagined what he would be.  Life would be one huge fun game and he would create his own rules on how his game was played.  Kali would never understand all that life had to offer the way she was going.   The boy strode past mom a bit, bright eyes soaking in all these other wolves and only a few of which he had bothered meeting on his nighttime roamings.  Honestly, he needed to fix that.  The boy inwardly promised himself to meet all of them.  Misery wanted to know all about every wolf here and for them all to think of him as a friend.  Looking over as Askell brought up the leg to eat for the meeting the pup grinned.  Misery would have to meet him later, he gave off the impression of being fun to play with. Once he’d gotten a good look about he went to sit down next to Carnage, “hey brown-ear, Carnage” the words offered with a grin and affectionate nudge shoulder to shoulder.  His gaze went to Wendigo, grinning brightly.  Of all his sibling's Misery would label his brother the next brightest of the bunch, sure he was different but he seemed to have priorities of life in great order.  Have fun, don’t bother with worrying over little issues. Head tilting back to look up at Recluse he gave his best bright-eyed innocent smile with tail wagging.  See? Good behavior!  He was sitting near her and not looking for any trouble at the moment. Speech:"Puppet Master "

Recluse's pack slowly gathered around her, her children gathered near her paws, Wendigo burrowing himself under her, she shifted slightly to make sure she wasn't crushing him but otherwise letting him put himself under her, it was easier to be able to stop him from this position anyways. She took a moment to nose at each of them, her affection clear and on display for the pack but she cared not. Her children were one of the few truly great things in her life. But as the rest of her pack filled in she couldn't help the swell of pride in her chest. It had taken a while but the woman finally felt as if her life was under her own control. She'd proven herself resourceful and stepped up to claim the throne her father had left vacant and was determined to be a better parent to her own children than she'd ever had... The era of Kleins being allowed to coast along would end with her. The only wolf missing did not surprise her but it still irked her nonetheless. With a slight nod to herself, she finally spoke addressing her pack. "Thank you all for gathering. Habari is quickly getting on its feet and I hope and expect everyone to make sure they are pulling their own weight. Members will not be allowed to coast on by, Klein or no. Those that refuse to pull their weight will not simply be ignored, I am not afraid to dole out demotions liberally as need be. It will take double the normal effort to return to good standing, prove to me you deserve enough respect to return to the fold." Her tone was a little hard, sweeping her gaze over her congregation. "With that being said, Eraithus has been demoted to Nephilim. He has already proved he regrets letting himself slip." She paused for a moment, her irritation about the next topic clear before she spoke. "We had another demotion to announce but as the wolf involved has decided she cannot even bother to show her face... Eirylys is no longer welcome on our lands, if she is spotted near our borders or in the pack again she is to be subdued and brought to me immediately, you need not hold back on harming her." If she had members whom she trusted to attempt to claim her she'd give them free rein to forcibly return her to the pack lands if spotted beyond their immediate surroundings but as she did not yet have any trusted members that would fall to her solely. The woman's expression softened then. "However, Habari flourishes, Muzet I am granting you the rank as the pack's first Ujumbe Hashmallim. Aunt Shiba, I am happy to invite you into the rank of Dawa Hashmallim." She gave each woman a slight smile, her expression growing warmer as she sought out her nephews. "Further Habari's youngest founding members are now a year old and as such are welcome to seek out a proper rank. True to his title as Inakera, Jigsaw has proven himself a dedicated student of medicine and as promised been provided the rank of Dawa Tarshishim, I commend his eagerness to learn and encourage him to continue to study and work together with his aunt to continue to hone his skills." There was a slight pointedness to her tone and expression, Jigsaw was a proven eager learner but she wasn't about to let his ego put anyone in danger. "Áskell," she began shifting her gaze to Jigsaw's brother, "you have been moved to the temporary rank of Erelim, however, if you know in which path your heart lays you may speak now to be granted a new rank. Otherwise please seek me out before the season's end." She would pause long enough to let him speak before moving on to her next topic. "As many of you have no doubt noticed, Habari is growing. My own children were born not too long ago and with my aunt also pregnant it's important we lay a solid foundation for these and any future children within the pack. I would like to assign mentors to as many of the pups within the pack as possible. Those that succeed at this job will be greatly rewarded." She looked down at her children again, expression full of love. "Muzet I'd like you to take on Misery, Mikko, I leave Wendigo in your care." She would gesture to each child and then their matching mentor, making sure the named wolves were indicated clearly. The next set, her daughters was a bit of a harder choice. "Aunt Deathbelle, I ask that you take on my daughters Kali and Carnage, though I will offer my aid as well. Once you are able to. At least until such time as another capable member may help and take one of them as their own apprentice." She slid her gaze towards Eraithus, wondering if he would be willing to take on the task once he had redeemed himself. The woman paused for only a moment, before finishing up what she had called them all for. "Finally, I want to test each and every member with an interest in fighting, I wish to know where we all stand in terms of skill... regardless of rank. I will approach you each individually over the next few weeks." Then she settled herself back down, waiting to see if anyone spoke up. "Speech" Think

Art by Ulfeid3

Muzet while very respectable listened to all Recluse had to say during the meeting. Her more anxious attitude simmered while Recluse explained her expectations. Muzet nodded thankfully as Recluse announced her new ranking, something she knew she could excel in easily. She didn't see it as a way out of more difficult tasks, it was that she knew the general knowledge of most everything so asking to be a fighter or a healer wouldn't make sense on her end. She glanced to Recluse's son as she mentioned, she would be eager to please her with the apprentice assignment she had been given. While she continued to openly try the best of her ability to show her worth, it never seemed like enough in the mind of her own. As Recluse would come to a conclusion for her piece, Muzet could only offer, "I don't mind sparing to help evaluate if you need an extra hand Recluse." With Recluse's observation of course. Muzet wasn't entirely skilled in fighting, as was the same with each skill. But she certainly wasn't a pretty little princess who refused to fight or get her paws dirty. "I will proudly help defend if a raid arises, on that matter." Walk "Talk" Think

I JUST WANT A TASTE

Eraithus felt his ear twitch at the mention of his name. Somehow shame washed over him, a feeling that was both unfamiliar and unwelcome to him. How could laziness befall him? For a heartbeat he thought perhaps she'd be promoting him this meeting, then again he understood her frustration. The guilt and shame that rippled through him was replaced as his eyes widened with interest at the young ones that were cuddled around Recluse's body. Eraithus smiled to Misery and the mentions of the mentors and the others had him staring particularly at Kali. Curiosity pushed through him making him perk his head. The notion that even now Recluse would trust him to train her own kin meant a lot to him. His tail twitched, he had to do better for his pack regardless.

"I'll do what I can for you Recluse." his words were sincere as the gentleman dipped his head. A soft grin on his face. Eraithus found himself gleaming at Recluse with wide sparkling eyes. They betrayed no emotion, his need and want for something more. His paws itched, making him push them into the soil beneath them. Spreading dirt to build it up, making tiny craters in the earth in the shape of his paw pads. Nephilim or not, he would soon be shedding such a title. Somehow it didn't effect him what the others wanted to call him. He was a member of Habari wanting and able.

MADE BY MINNIE of BTN

Kali watched as other members filtered in, her pink and blue gaze committing their faces to memory so she could recognize them when they came across each other later. She didn’t know most of their names, unfortunately, though she was able to learn a few when her mother began her announcements. Her eyes flitted to Eraithius, whose gaze bore into her with a peculiar intensity. Unbothered, she stared right back, a brow raising in questionable challenge as Abaddon slithered to rest his black, hooded head on top of her muzzle. Her attention turned to look around when her mother mentioned another name, also noticing the absence of the uncomfortable movement that should have come with the demotion. It seemed they hadn’t shown and were no longer permitted in their borders. Kali would have to ask her mother to give her a description of the traitor later.

Next were promotions; Muzet, her great-Aunt Shiba, Jigsaw and Askell. She didn’t quite know yet what their new ranks entailed, but she would be sure to assault the Seraphim later with a barrage of questions. Her mom then began assigning them mentors and the golden-ribbon clad girl sat up a little straighter, curiosity sparkling in her gaze as she waiting excitedly to see who she would get. Misery and Wendigo were given their own, and it seemed Carnage and Kali would share their great-aunt Deathbelle and Recluse. A triumphant grin curled itself onto her maw and she gave her siblings a smug look. Well of course she would be trained by the regent herself, since she would be following in her pawsteps. This was only the proper beginning to her story of glory and success.

Talking

Harbringr listened as the meeting started and the demotions were handed out, he noted the name of the woman who was no longer welcome on their lands. Along with the demotions came promotions, including one for his son Jigsaw. Hari grinned proudly and gently leaned over to bump his son's shoulder affectionately. And it wasn't just Jigsaw, it seemed Áskell would gain a new rank as well if the boy had settled on an area of study. Recluse continued, noting that she would test each warrior in turn to see where their skills lay and Harbringr made note to be ready in case she felt the need to test him as well though he felt he'd exhibited his skill fairly well. Áskell, however, would need to be tested. He'd done what he could to train the boy in fighting and so far was pleased with the youth's progress.