Kotori made his way to the meeting area, normally a grassy patch of grass with a few rocks forming a diameter around the opening to help give it shape.  Today though all the grass was speckled white as much as green from snow. The sun was just starting its descent, and soon the earth would be cloaked in greys.  Kotori hopped on a larger rock, howling for the members of Valta to show up.  This would be an excellent chance to let the newer members prove themselves and earn the respect of not just Kotori but the rest of the pack.  

After some consideration, he had decided not to let the pack have any clear idea of ‘when’ the raid would happen only that it was coming.  While Kotori waited he went over in his mind what all they should prepare for on a raid.  In Kotori’s time in the Armada he had never had the fun of a raid so this was to be an enjoyable first experience.  Really, in the future, Valta should attempt a practice raid of their own at some point. Well, one thing at a time.  Valta had to prove it could defend itself first but Kotori was confident in his pack and the abilities of its members.

"Kotori Fatalis"

Dusk is upon the wintery lands of Boreas and Tove is running a patrol around Valta’s pack lands. The scarred woman prefers to be alone, especially after her meeting with an old friend, but the pack life has meant that she has to interact with others. Luckily, in these darkening moments, the woman has some time all to herself.

A call to meet suddenly rings across the land and Tove inwardly cringes, not wishing to gather but knowing she must. The polar bear’s claw lightly bounces against her chest as she turns to where the meeting area is and makes haste. Her life is bound to Kotori’s now and, keeping his pack thriving is what keeps her alive. Arriving quickly, the older wolf dips her head to Ko before finding a spot to settle in. Soon, more would arrive and she hopes no one notices her.

She really hates meetings.


"Tove Baade"

Athena is in her den, sorting through some items that she had brought with her from Fenmyre. Usually, the nomadic woman had never been one to keep possessions but then again, she had never thought she would find a true home. They are just some small knickknacks; one a carved wooden figure she and Albion had used in their game of strategy and another a polished black stone that she herself had carved in the shape of a certain wild dog. Oh, how she misses Kione and the hot summer days spent on that island. Setting them on a small shelf, Athena steps back to admire them a moment when a call to meet sings out across the land. Nodding to herself, the woman hastily finishes tidying up before setting off to the meeting area. She arrives fairly quickly and offers the Sumatar a friendly nod and smile. Turning her gaze to the gathering area, she finds a rather scary looking, scarred woman that looks like she does not want to be bothered. Choosing a space away from said wolf, the earthen woman settles in and waits to hear why they have been called. "Athena Nocturna"

Strix is lounging by the rushing water, enjoying a brilliant view of the winter sunset. He watches the colors dance across the sky, feels the chilly wind rustle through his fur and tries to  feel happiness at be alive. Yes, everything is quiet and peaceful… but that is actually kind of boring. It also gives the boy time to dwell on things better left alone. For example; next season the boy will turn two and, to many, that signals the entrance into manhood. Yet, he feels no reason to celebrate or draw any attention to that fact. His family is scattered, his siblings all off doing their own things and he… feels lost.

Storm clouds darken the edges of the horizon and begin to roll into his thoughts when, suddenly, a call sounds out for them all to gather. Latching onto it, Strix swiftly stands and shakes out his coat while also giving himself a hard-mental shake. Trotting to the meeting area, he offers Kotori a respectful dip of his head before angling to join the only wolf he knows here. The boy does not ask if he can join Athena, he merely comes to a stop next her and seats himself with her. They have been through so much together and he has found himself leaning on her whenever he needs to. Together, they wait to hear what the meeting is for.


"Strix Klein"

Satira had been out on a patrol with Cináed helping him get familiar with the lands of his new home. She didn't think he needed a guide or babysitter, she just liked hanging out with him whenever they were both on patrol. Plus she had also vouched hardcore for him to her uncle, so she had to make sure he was making a good impression, or it was her ass on the line for the both of them. Halfway around their route, the call from Kotori for the pack to convene at their meeting point went out, making Tira's little folded ears bounce up alert. "Woo, first pack meeting for you, big guy," she teased Ciná with a playful bat of her tail against his leg, motioning with her head for him to follow her. "C'mon, I'll show you where the pack meets up."

Tira led the way for them across the snow-covered fields the rapids cut through, navigating with deft paws around the worst of the rushing waters to places where crude bridges had been set up by Abaven when they used to be a thing. In no time they arrived at the meeting point, dusk slowly claiming the lands as day began its shift over into night. Satira led Ciná to the meeting point and took a seat where they would be to themselves so he could get a chance to see the pack in its entirety without being overwhelmed. Taking a seat, the little wolf-dog gave a smile to her uncle and settled in to hear what he had to say.

"Satira"

Word of a raid had been bouncing about and it seemed like Kotori had finally decided to follow through. Aslatiel gave what aid she could to her younger brother. It was an easy position to take up, considering what her duties had been when she was a part of the Armada. When the call came, the fawn and grey woman made her way towards the meeting place. Others had gathered before she arrived, but it was no matter. As the woman walked past her beautiful daughter she offered a grin, one galactic eye giving a wink. She then settled on Satira's empty side, eyeing the giant red brute snuggling up to her. The older wolf's gaze narrowed and she curled her neck, making sure that the brute noticed her noticing him. Instantly Asla was suspicious. Her children were precious things and only the best would be good enough for them. Even then, she doubted that anyone would ever be good enough for Satira. Asla slid down to lay on her stomach, forelegs crossed. She cast a side-eye at her daughter. "We'll have to talk about that later." Yes, Satira was an adult. Yes, she could choose whoever she wanted. But... Asla was a fierce mother and she would also do what she wanted, and what she wanted was to give this man a grilling. It would have to wait until after the meeting. "Speech"

She was still a stranger here. Still on guard, on high alert. The call came and she was compelled to follow... a raid? To what end? Interest burned in her bright green eyes as she made her way to the source of the sound. A small cluster of wolves had already gathered, strangers, all of them. So many strangers, so many faces. Too many to keep track of, to learn right now. Sanna's nod to Kotori was stiff, careful. Everything about her is intense, and that includes the way she takes in the situation at hand.

But there would be a plan at hand, it seemed. Sanna would give it time. Carefully curious, the girl settled in for the meeting towards the back, doing her best not to draw attention to herself.

"Speech"

Indigo settled into a quiet family life here in his younger brother’s pack. He really couldn’t ask for much more, he was left alone with Asla and Aia, the wolves his life revolved around. Of course, Indigo would be there for his brother, so when Ko called the pack together he didn’t dally in his movement. With Aia settled in his mane he followed Aslatiel to where Kotori bid them gather. Indy joined Aslatiel as she made herself comfortable where Satira sat with a large young man. He perked a brow, but mostly his attention was on his nearly year old Aia as he made sure she was comfortable and could see. With a sigh he settled back on his haunches and lifted his gaze to his alpha and little brother.

"Indigo"

Ciná followed the border of his new pack with Tira, an easy grin lingering on his lips as they walked the patrol route together. So far he liked Valta fine. There was nothing to really dislike about the pack itself and he wasn't all that picky about the location. It was really Tira that was making staying here worth it. He'd never had this kind of companionship before and it had him wondering how he had gone it alone for so long and made him worry a bit when it would all fall apart. He tried not to have that kind of thinking, but given the track record of his life it was hard not to. Still, he kept those doubts at bay and instead focused on how much fun he was having with this beautiful little hybrid.

Their patrol was cut a bit short, however, as a howl went out to call the pack together, making him pause and glance toward the sound before turning his gaze back down to Tira. He chuckled and smirked as she pointed out how this was his first pack meeting and nodded as she offered to lead him to where the pack usually met. Following behind her, they arrived shortly after a few others, all of them strangers to him besides Kotori. Always trying to make a good impression, he gave a polite dip of his head to the alpha before he settled in next to Tira.

He almost put his paw around her shoulders on reflex, but boy was he glad he didn't when a similarly colored woman came up to greet Tira and sit beside her. The resemblance was close enough that it wasn't hard to figure out that this was Tira's mother–as if the pointed glare he got from the protective woman wasn't telling enough. He offered the purple eyed woman a grin in response even though he did make a point not to lean into Tira through the meeting. He didn't want to look like he was intimidated by Tira's mother, but he also couldn't honestly say he wasn't. Turning his attention back to Kotori, he tried to just focus in on what was being told to them instead of worrying about what the smaller woman might do to him later.

Cináed

Arcturus had been out with Vanille on a hunt when the howl went up from Kotori for the pack to gather, timed almost perfectly with them finishing off the doe they had been hunting. At the very least they were able to finish the hunt, but it did mean he wouldn't be able to stay to help Vanille with cleaning up the kill. He quickly helped her carry it back past the pack borders at least before he had to take up, quickly licking away the blood from his muzzle and chest along the way. He had heard the whispers around the pack of the raid that was being planned, but he hadn't known that there would be a meeting for it or when it would be. If he had perhaps he could have planned a bit better. Regardless, he trotted up to where everyone had gathered, giving his uncle a slightly apologetic grin when he realized he was the last to arrive. He spotted his mother, sister, and Indigo all gathered together–along with a fiery colored male that was sitting closely with Tira. He gave his sister a questioning glance and gave the stranger a more suspicious one before settling in with his family to listen to the meeting.

"Arcturus Indarra"

Right at the end of their hunt the meeting was called and Vanille took a few extra moments to get the deer better prepared and safely stored once Acrturus had helped drag it back. She then made her way to where Kotori had gathered everyone. She made her way beside Arcturus again, not keeping her distance but not showing to be over clingy. She was comfortable among him and his family and she was growing more accustomed to pack life. Quiet, in the shadows, that was normal for her. She didn't have a place among the fighters. But she'd be happy to help Arc's sister in the aftermath which was hopefully not too catastrophic.

"Vanille"
Base By WatermelonCreature

Kotori watched as the first wolf on the scene as  Tove arrived silently and with a look of edginess about the group setting.  Kotori noticed that bear claw still around the neck and felt satisfied with how his plan had worked out on giving her that little thing.  He imagined she’d see soon enough why this meeting would interest her.  He watched Athena arrive and sit apart from the aloof Tove.

Strix showed up followed by the interesting sight of Satira and Cinaed moving to sit by themselves.  Asla appeared and confirmed that he wasn’t the only one questioning how close this relationship went.  Where Kotori was simply curious it seemed Asla already had some doubtful opinions about the matter.  If there really was a growing relationship there Kotori imagined Asla would be making sure Cinaed was worthy enough to be a mate for Satira.  

Sanna, one of their newer members showed up followed by Indigo, a hint of Aia in the wolf's dense mane.  There towards the end was Arcturus and Vanille.  Excellent, everyone showed up for the meeting.  Hopefully, they were all excited by what he had to share.

“Thank you for all showing up promptly.”  Not that showing up late or missing out had been an option but Kotori imagined it was good to show approval of a task done properly.  “We’ve grown in numbers well over this last season.  Hopefully, you’ve all had a chance to meet and get to know each other better.  Valta is going to have an opportunity to prove how strong we are and part of strength is knowing how to work well as a team, and as a pack.” Some of the Valta wolves clearly weren’t as naturally sociable as others so it seemed a nudging reminder might be a good idea.  

“Valta is going to be raided,” Kotori confirmed what others had already heard mentioned. “Our allies, the Elysium pack, brought up the suggestion of a practice raid which I have agreed to.  These are our friends so do not attempt for any attacks that would result in permanent damage.  Go for a clean and obvious win and then see if there are any other targets left.”  

“When I chose wolves to join Valta, I chose those who I believed in.  I believe in every one of you to carry out your task well.” Kotori grinned as he added, “Losing team has to prepare a feast for the winners.  So I’m counting on all of you to make sure Elysium has to do a lot of hunting to fill up all our bellies.”  A desire to win for the sake of pride and the need to better themselves in case of a real raid should be enough to have everyone do their best but a prize could add a spice of fun to it.

“Be sure to keep your senses sharp on those patrols.  I’d hate to hear that we let the Elysium wolves catch us by surprise when we already knew a raid was coming.”  Would the pack take a straight line from their land to Valta or circle around for a different point of attack?  Kotori was assuming it would be from a different angle but there were plenty of hiding places from that route that could be used to get in close if a sharp eye wasn’t kept. “Partner up on your patrols.  If they are trying to move quietly and aren’t aware they’ve been spotted one of you can leave to pass on the message so more can gather and we can start the attack as a larger group.”  That way it wouldn’t end up with a lot of wolves against one lone.  That might or might not end up playing out well but it would be nice.  

Kotori had been in many fights but this was going to actually be his first time in a raid as well so this would be a learning experience for him as well.  He’d thought over the basics, and they all sounded well.  “If you come up with any questions on preparing for the raid or what you need to do you can speak with Aslatiel.  I have full trust in her experience and knowledge to assist anyone who needs it.”  Asla had already been helpful in supporting the pack when he had ventured off to the hallows.  The truth was she was likely more experienced in matters of a raid than he was.  



"Kotori Fatalis"