Ardyn Adravendi

Valhalla had been falling flat on its face. Oftentimes, it felt as though he was the only one hunting, the only one patrolling. The only wolf trying, other than his mother, Cairo, Taliesyn, Eramaya, and Legacy. He’d have hoped the Pirates’ raid would have helped shake some energy into the pack. He huffed a soft snort through his nose, shaking away the ember of anger as he leaped to the boulder, freshly cleaned armor creaking softly as he took a seat on the stone. It had to be some failing of his own that had the pack so dormant, and he’d try his best to remedy it. He had something he hoped might kindle their interest and excitement, aside from the festival on the horizon. It was a late-autumn event, in the end, but it would happen soon. He sent a long, loud howl into the sky, an unmistakable call to war, and let the call rattle the hills and plains grasses as he lowered his muzzle, scanning the plains. He and Medusa had made the agreement just last week, so she had enough time to rattle the hocks of her pack, and he could get Valhalla rolling. _____________________________________________________________________ Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ----  "Hear" ---- Think

Being the King’s beta, he was privy to the flame-cloaked black male’s plans. He’d been spending the morning stretching his way through exercises to limber up, cleaning his armor and working any catches out of the joints, making sure all was in good repair before he donned it as Ardyn’s war cry rolled over the plains. Cairo rose with a grin from where he’d been letting Enito put the final sharpening on the bear claws of his bracers, and set off with a brisk trot, tongue drifting from between his jaws in a casual pant, though his eyes glinted with a spark of eagerness. He’d not won a single fight in any of the raids he’d participated in, either offensive or defending, and he meant to change that trend with this one. The Adravendi arrived and took his seat on the boulder at Ardyn’s right, nodding at the king and noting the cleaned armor Ardyn wore. Seemed he wasn’t the only one who’d been in a cleaning frenzy. Crysta settled on the boulder at his paws, feathers rustling softly as she swiveled her head in that familiar barn-owl head bob, watching the plains for the warriors. Enito plopped to the ground at the bottom of the boulder with a huff, running a last polishing sweep down the staff he'd chosen for the raid. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Aurielle Adravendi

She had to admit, she was getting old. Oh, she still moved with her customary grace, but it came with a lot of stretching and “elder’s medication” courtesy of her daughter, as well as Eramaya and Legacy. But she was still keen to participate in this raid her son had brought up over dinner. She’d already decided it would likely be her last hurrah before she retired to a mentor’s role to the pack. So, she, like several of the pack who’d been made aware of the impending battle, had spent her time cleaning and repairing her armor, sharpening the claws on her bracers, and moving through a series of long stretches to work the kinks out of her muscles and joints. Finally, before donning the armor, she took the time to liberally roll in the pile of charcoal and soot in the fire chamber until her brilliant white fur’s glow was dimmed to nearly nothing by the black. She looked like a completely different wolf in color, but it would wear off, especially during the raid itself. She loped across the plains to the gathering clearing, paws still light, even if she’d be laid up for a few days after all was said and done, even if she somehow avoided actual injury. The former Queen came to a stop and settled, smiling up at her son and Cairo before she turned to watch for more warriors and the healers that would likely brief them on where healing camp would be. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

He’d been out of the loop. This time, but he hadn’t missed the preparations of those who had been in the know, and so, he and Wangui had been preparing. The stallion was intelligent enough to know war preparations when he saw them, so he’d set to rolling in the coal dust he’d been gathering from the fires in his grotto over the past seasons. Once Wangui had finished cleaning his armor and sharpening the horn ornament he’d bear into battle, she prepared a slurry of water and coal, adding to the already darkened coat with the black wash until the stallion looked like a very dirty, natural grey horse that had not only missed a few baths but avoided them like the plague. His mane was braided – with great effort, for the small lemur – and wrapped into leather pouches to hide the glow. His tail received the same treatment, bound up above most wolves’ ability to reach. Taliesyn was considering finding some barbs or blades to braid into the thick locks that might tear the mouths of those who tried to catch the enticing tail in their teeth during a fight – though even without barbs, they’d be fools to try – but for this battle, he’d leave off. He lay out to let Wangui laboriously drag the armor onto his neck and slide the coil of steel over his horn, tip glinting in the light as he rolled to his hooves and set off at a trot, head perking higher as Ardyn’s howl reached his ears. Good, he was right on time. The tall stallion came to a stop and took a place nearby out of the way, ears pricked forward in eagerness for the fight ahead. Whether real or practice, he was ready. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Let's Begin She'd heard word of the upcoming raid against the strange pack, Insomnia. While she hadn't met the leader herself, she understood that Medusa was a bit...odd. And that was probably putting it mildly. She and her macaque companion set to work cleaning her gear that morning, waiting for Adryn's call. She was aware of the tactics that Aurielle and Tal used to hide their glowing hides, but Tel didn't quite have that problem. She had learned at last, how to master her own light. She could quell the glow at will, or shine it as bright as she wanted when she felt like it. Her feathered cloak also helped to hide any remnants of it should she lose control in some way. But for this? This was important enough that she'd need to focus to keep herself literally, in the dark. When she heard Ardyn's call, a smile graced her lips and she donned her things before heading out. The macaque leaped onto her back and the owl flew silently overhead, making its way to the meeting place. There, she spotted a handful of others. Dipping her head to those gathered in greeting, she took a seat and waited for the others to arrive. "Speak"

Fidelias was rarely without his small bits of armor these days, useful as they were in his daily life. Patrol, hunt, crafting traps, that was all he really did with his days and he didn't think much of whether or not it was out of the ordinary. It wasn't until Ardyn's howl called them together that he blinked, realized that he had not seen his packmates except in passing for months. He'd never sought out company, and hadn't noticed that he had been putting in less effort than usual to interact. Takama and Emre had been more than enough company for him. But recalled to it as he was now, he was forced to conclude that he'd been acting more like a lone wolf than a pack wolf. He couldn't make the excuse that it was simply his nature, though it was - he did have the responsibility to work through that. So he heaved himself to his paws and dropped down from the wall where he'd been keeping watch, and made his way to the meeting. Though he maintained his collar and bracers well enough for what it was, a working wolf's armor, it made for a dull and worn sight next to the cleanly polish of his packmates' various armors. Both the hunting cats that flanked him had a more glamorous appearance than he did with their lithe forms and sleek hair groomed to shine, but the stolid bear that was Fili didn't seem to notice the difference, his purple-eyed gaze instead fixed over Ardyn's shoulder as he settled himself awkwardly at the back of the group.

To say Caelia had been reclusive would be an understatement - but who could blame her? Most the of the pack had been stagnant for awhile now, and her own withering presence was as much a cause as it was a result. Perhaps a younger her would've gotten her head on straight, but the truth was that she wasn't getting any younger. It wasn't like she was ancient, but she noted the way her joints were a little stiffer first thing in the morning, and how they ached when a storm was on the horizon. It wasn't like she'd been particularly active as of late, but her opportunities to stretch her limbs felt few and far between... until she heard Ardyn's call. It was a call to arms, drawing the pack's warrior's together. It seemed like a battle was to come though the details Caelia wasn't sure about. As quickly as she could she loped toward her leader's call, not surprised to see that Cairo had promptly arrived. She cast her brother a smile as she settled down on her haunches, noting who else had arrived - and wondering who was still to come. Idly she thought of Tyto, certain he wouldn't miss this, and she kept her eye out for him.

Aoife heard the call, but had to take extra time to shrug into her new armor - even with Anja's help and her own paws' dexterity, the armor was unfamiliar enough that she wasn't efficient and it went slowly. It wasn't the first time she'd used them, though, and the leather was well-conditioned so once it was in place, it was very comfortable and broken in enough that she wasn't worried about fighting in it. The helmet would still take some getting used to, with the way the cheek pieces and the nasal guard sectioned her vision, but it would do. She took a moment to glance over herself in a still puddle, studying the lay of the armor and helm, raising her quills experimentally to be certain that they weren't trapped under the helmet and fit through the gap as they were supposed to. And to preen a little, honestly. The thick leather, oiled to a deep mahogany and studded in golden rivets to match the gold color of the helmet, and the bright metal of the matching blades looked good against the colors of her pelt, almost matching her auburn-and-gold markings too. So she was a bit late, but moving with a jaunty stride as she joined the rest of the pack at the meeting.

He was tracking a doe in the nearby lands. But when he heard Ardyn's call summoning the warriors of Valhalla, he figured the doe would have to wait. There were plenty around here, the pack had plenty in their stores. It wasn't much of a loss to return without it, so he abandoned the hunt and headed back to Valhalla. The pack was quiet, that much he had gathered since he joined. He didn't know why, or if it was just the way of life here, but he found that he was...okay with it. It certainly beat the chaotic life he had previously. When he arrived, he found that most of Valhalla's prominent warriors were gathered. Quietly surveying the group as he approached, he spotted Caelia and couldn't help the small smile. He made his way over, magenta gaze finding her presence...comforting. "Is this seat taken?" He asked jokingly before taking said seat next to her. "Speak"

Amorielle Adravendi

Oh goodness! Her brother was calling the pack together? Or rather, the warriors, it seemed! She hurried to stuff the last of her dried herbs into their respective jars, sealed them, and quickly shuffled things around so that they looked...not as messy as it was. She would have to stack and organize them afterward, for now, her brother was requesting her attention! She rushed out, calling to her companions to come with her and the trio raced their way there. She didn't know if she was running late or not (she usually was and she knew it), but she always got lost in her work. It was something she was trying to work on, but she was also learning to just accept the fact that this was how it is. Luckily, she wasn't late this time. Ardyn hadn't yet started to speak and she spotted Tyto barely taking a seat next to Caelia. With a grin, she sauntered and weaved her way through the group to take a seat up front huffing and puffing as she tried to catch her breath. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think