Celeste had most definitely dropped the ball as alpha to her pack. She, of course, had to take responsibility, even if she didn't want to. No one had really told her that leading a group of wolves would be so... difficult? Maybe she really wasn't the type to lead after all. Really, she wanted to chill, hang out, and lead a lazy life with her friends. Was that so much to ask for? All the semantics, rules, politics, and what nots of packs was so frivolous and tedious and honestly way too much for her to keep up with. Not to mention, after the whole Samhain debacle, she'd fallen sick. Like sick sick. To the point that she was stuck in bed for what felt like an eternity. How can one lead a pack if they can't leave their den? Ugh. Anyway, she had to gather everyone around. There were words that needed to be said. A new future on the horizon for them to seek. Even if they weren't to be under the name Ethyria, they could at least stick together. Standing near the edge of the oasis, a somber expression upon her muzzle, Celeste tilted back and let out a sad call. She would own up to her mistakes and ask for forgiveness. If they wanted to follow her, maybe create a band and travel around Boreas, she would welcome them. If they wanted to part ways and find a stable pack, she wouldn't blame them. Glancing around with those piercing aquamarine eyes, she hoped at least one would stay by her side...

No one had told Ulmaria that Celeste had been sick. It frustrated her not to have been able to help, but there was very little she could do about that now. She sighed, pawing at the rocks around her make shift fire ring. The movement caught the attention of one of her companions. Piper, the black lemur, patted her shoulder. "Don't fret Ulmaria, you're still young and will have plenty of time to prove yourself. Besides, your training is more in combat medicine, not disease."

Ulmaria signed heavily. "I know… I just feel guilty about it." The lemur patted her shoulder again. Getting up she set about her daily chores. The hot dry summers of Auster were excellent for drying herbs and she worked to dry and store the ones she'd collected during late spring. To her surprise she heard Celeste call. Finishing what she was doing she grabbed her pack and headed to the source of the call. "Celeste! Are you feeling better? Word going around is you were sick?"


Speech

Zoey had more than her fair share of fallen packs in her lifetime - perhaps more than most wolves. One had fallen due to a leader’s disappearance, the other a mysterious and violent demise in the snow. This one, well..at least they were all together. The young girl was not horribly impacted unlike the past two disbandments - because the wolves she had grown close to and enjoyed the company of were still here. Alive and well. That was all the scholar could really ask for.

She had heard of Celeste being very ill; the woman had isolated herself away from her pack and Zoey had been increasingly concerned for her wellbeing. The fear of abandonment gnawed at her gut the whole time, her mind racing with worry and fear that she had been left alone then again. But she hasn’t, because the lady she looked up to, as a mentor and friend, was there in the flesh. A sad howl fell from Cel’s lips but Zoey had already trotted towards her, bushy tail wagging behind her. A small satchel containing her prized relics - studies in progress - clutched in her maw. Approaching the koi, she dropped her bag gently on the sand and sat next to her, also offering the brightest of smiles to Ulmaria. Another friend was here! They’d stay by Cel’s side no matter what happened.

"I’m glad you’re feeling better, Miss Celeste," The girl spoke, adjusting her goggles against the always-hot desert wind. "Erm, do you know what’s gonna happen now? We’ll still be all together..right?" She couldn’t help but let her fears be vocal, her brow creasing slightly. Would Celeste wish to be alone? Would they all need to spread out again?
"Speech!"

Art & Code © Skelle 2023

Things didn't always work out the way you wanted, it was a way of life and it seemed as though their little paradise in the desert wasn't meant to be. Sure, it sucked that all his effort digging out those dens went to waste, but then again not entirely, He recalled comfortable nights smushed up with his pack mates, so was it all in vain? Nah. He plodded onto the scene, better late than never as he made sure to gather all of Cel and Cy's stuff. So nothing of real value-mostly sentimental- wasn't left behind. "I don't see no reason to be all glum about it." Oki said, forever taking life as it came. Like water off a duck's back. "I think something a lil more laid back would suit as all better anyway. Packs are for snobby folks and that ain't us." He concluded with a sound nod, sure of himself.

Arne was rarely on time, and this was no different. He bounded towards the gathering with a loose body and a lopsided grin, his easy demeanour in contrast to any potentially heavy feelings regarding their fate. He caught the end of what Oki was saying and nodded along to what the other guy was saying. "B'sides, who wants to be tied to one place forever?" Like, sure it was good to have a place to bunk down at with friends, but home could just as easily be a person rather than a place. And it was easier to track someone down if they were always in the same place and when you were prone to mischief, sometimes being findable was... suboptimal.

It didn't bother him if they were or weren't a pack. They wouldn't be getting rid of him that easily.

"speech".

running around like a clown on purpose

Fashionably late as always, and slinging a small bundle of things that Oki had somehow managed to miss, Cy arrived to the little gathering as well. She appraised quietly, studying each of those who remained in turn. It as a quick study, but there seemed to be a good-enough crew left. That, and something in her ribcage may have shifted just a bit. Last time she'd tagged along because it felt like she didn't have anywhere else to go, other than sticking by Kuroki. This time? Well, this time Cyanide was more invested in her ties here. This time it was the closest thing to a family she'd had in a long time. Not that she'd admit any of that aloud, but the wraith may have had a bit of a change of heart. Still, among the gathering she remains quiet. Hanging somewhere approximately between Celeste and Kuroki, watching. Waiting. Was Cel feeling okay to travel, having only just recovered? They'd stick together, but she'd worry about things more than she cared to admit. cyanide he said to be cool but i'm already coolest

Things didn't always work out the way you would plan, and Viðarr would know that above all. The way things had gone with his band, his family-- he understands. With his steady, albeit slow pace, he comes to Celeste's call. He'd been scouting for their next move, trying not to cause too much trouble among the way. Such was the shadow. He'd adopted the koi girl in his own way, and with her he'd stay.

"It is getting crowded in this area besides," his words slow, trying to enunciate around his thick accent. "Another pack moving in to the south. To the north, nothing for a while." At heart, a warleader. All he could do was provide the information he'd gathered, he'd learned in his last journeys out. Between keeping an eye on the ailing alpha and keeping a pulse on the world around him, it was what the shadow could offer.

"Viðarr"

The woman was pleased that her gaggle of friends had all arrived. One by one, she watched them, noticed them, and smiled in a confident manner at them. They all had good points. Out toward the west, word on the wind was that packs were moving in. No longer was Valhalla a lone pack out here. Plus, Arne was right. Who would want to stay in one place? Sure, the desert was nice and comfortable with plenty of space from the rest of the packs, but why not travel? Why not go to the other packs to be friendly, have parties, and get to know more wolves? Maybe they could pick up some more wanderers along the way. Pleased and proud of her group, Celeste nodded. Instead of addressing each individually, she addressed them as a whole. "Then a band we will become. We will all stick together, travel around, and maybe even visit Auster at some point. It will be easier to maintain a band than it will a whole pack's territory," she smiled, knowing that this would be a better decision for all of them. Outcasts that never found a real place in life. One day, they might become something great, but for now, they needed time to find themselves. "We'll call ourselves The Stargazers, something a little less formal but enticing," her gaze moves around once more to everyone before giving a firm nod. "Now, where to first gang?"

Honestly, Oki was just here for the ride. Just here to to have a good time with the wolves he cared lots about, blood ties were great and all but found family was where the real good stuff was at. The feeling of acceptance and security, leaving Oki to feel a little less like the black sheep of the group. Just a dude amongst friends. Cel wanted to know where they should head out first and he thought about it for a moment, knowing full well the Viking dude would want to head as north as could be. He stepped to the side, bumping into Cy's hip in an attempt to get her from looking so glum. This was a good thing, why couldn't it be? "There's some willows to the north of here. Lots of shade, plenty of water." He pointed out, using his snout to vaguely gesture in what direction he thought-and was probably wrong- was north.