OOC: Mandatory for Purgatorians.
Other ranks can get by with saying they were busy with their duties. :P
First round due 6/5.

Winter. Like every season, Winter held meaning to the wolves of Ruina. It was the season of their predator cull, it was the season that the new imps would be born. There was a lot to keep Elias busy, but it was a difficult time for the once again risen Apollyon for multiple reasons. It was the season of his father’s death, but it was also the season of inner chaos for the frail mind of Elias.

His short coat never did supply much insulation from the chill of Winter, he wasn't looking forward to the midseason blizzards up in the mountains of the Maw, but his fur was already thickening from the time he had been spending up there. His mantle held an unkempt look as it nearly stood on end from the push of his undercoat growing in underneath. He would have to be careful when the temperature dropped too dramatically, but for now, he was confident in his capabilities to withstand the cold. There were much more pressing matters weighing in on the scales of importance to him.

He had never been a father, not really. He knew that. He had children, but he was not a father. Not yet. In his mind, he had yet to prove himself worthy of the same respect his own father held from every single one of their children. What was it about the late Apollyon that held everyone's attention? Why was he so successful in keeping them from hating him? Did any of his current children hate him? Maybe Kane? And would he be able to raise these new children in the same way his father meant to raise him? There were so many questions on the man's mind revolving around these pups. He was excited, but it was so drowned by his insecurities that he had even been avoiding Zuriel.

Granted he had a lot of work to do with keeping their borders secure, maintaining a political presence with the surrounding packs, organizing the new Purgatorians and ensuring they were on the right path, and finally.. tracking down the bears he planned to hunt this season during their hibernation. Guilt riddled him over his failure to secure at least one sacrifice to the demons of Ruina during the reaping season. They structured themselves in late Autumn with barely enough time to organize anything, yet still... he had wanted to pay tribute to prevent.. this.

His journey ended this afternoon up in the peaks of the Maw, the second highest to be exact. It was the peak that housed the pack, the first den to be sighted along the mountain pass that led up to it would be the grand den of Ruina's citadel where he and Zuriel slept. His eyes were wide with a familiar looking madness and his body movements were unnecessarily quick paced and near frantic. He stopped outside of the courtyard, thoughts racing through his mind and whispers echoing in his ears. His legs were covered in dirt and mud, making it very obvious the man had been traveling for some time. Regardless of his rugged appearance, the colossal wolf lifted his head and rang out a summon for all of his demons. It was time to get started, he was sure everyone was getting… hungry. He knew his demons were, at least.

Black-faced beast stood along the edge of the courtyard, his vibrant gaze peering off into the distance at nothing in particularly. While he was recently welcomed into the Ruina clan, Drakan had not yet taken part in any group activity and for now remained vigilant. Thick, muscular legs held him upright in a guarded state. He felt no stiffness or pain from remaining this way for long periods of time, having been conditioned to stand guard over his previous Warchief. Aside from the long-faced male and the Apollyon Elias, he had not yet exchanged names with any of the others. However, this was to change in a matter of moments...

Movement caught his attention as the form of his newly obtained Apollyon paraded across the courtyard and released a call. No, this was a summoning. Drakan's hind paws scuffed at the terrain, kicking up some dust, as he didn't hesitate a moment to respond. While his pace was hasty, he did not break into a run- The two males were within viewing distance that it did not require such. It took but mere seconds for him to reach the larger male's side, his gaze casting upon his face to search for answers to the meeting. "At your side, Apollyon." Deep vocals rolled past his dark lips, paired along with a slow blink and respectable nodding of his thick skull. Drakan was prepared for anything that was needed of him. As a new recruit, he expected nothing less than to be put to work.

"Speech." Thoughts.

Titan awoke finally thanks to the cool breeze nipping at his skin beneath that thin coat. Fierce red eyes flashed open, and he could already hear his stomach growling at him. Just another reminder that he had been neglecting his needs in favor of training. The man considered looking to see if there was any food available for the pack, but the smell of others was getting stronger as days passed. He figured the pack was growing in numbers, and he couldn't recall any pack hunts lately. Surely, even if he went looking, he'd surely be disappointed. He shifted his weight as he considered a small hunt. With winter here, he wouldn't have much luck on his own, but it was worth a shot. Large paws helped lift his weight from the earth, he grunted as he adjusted to being on his feet after sleeping for so long. Brute ducked as he made his way through the entrance of the den, it was colder than he'd originally thought. The man couldn't help but shiver, hopefully, his coat would get a little thicker before winter was in full effect. He made his way to the soulless forest, in search of any kind of small prey he might be able to get his hands on. Eyes narrowed and snout pressed to the ground as the man began his hunt. Titan was having more luck than he'd expect in catching a trail. The remains of a rabbits voyage were fresh in the dirt, its tracks leading him directly to the thing. He finally spotted its little tail poking through a bush, and Miach felt his mouth begin to water. He made his first mistake by jumping the gun to go after it. When he stepped forward before lunging after the creature, he crushed a fallen leaf, informing the rabbit of his whereabouts. It sent the thing running, and Miach came barreling after it. Of course, he was obviously not in the right mindset to be hunting, because when he dove through the bush after the rabbit the brambles caught his muzzle. With his luck in the gutter and a new injury, Miach headed back to the Maw with his tail between his legs. He would need to hunt tonight, or ask for some assistance from another pack member. Something he wasn't too fond of doing, but it was necessary if he wanted to survive through the winter. Titan wasn't sure when his father would take them on a pack hunt. By the time he made his way back up after his failed attempts at hunting, it was afternoon. His father's call was heard loud and clear, as he had to be close. Perhaps he had plans for a hunt, it looked like the man's luck might be looking up. He hurried, after the call, until his father came into view. He bowed his head once he approached, out of respect, "Is there something going on?" Walk, "Talk" Think

The call for a meeting interupted her afternoon. She'd been trying her best to clear another space in her den. With the Demon mother bearing children she knew someone might be needed to help with the art of healing. Though she doubted the apollyon would see her fit to aid in such tasks, the least she could do was offer a space for the woman to house patients away from her offspring where they may give them some sort of disease or something of the like. If winter wasn't bad enough already she also expected to see alot of the slaves suffering abuse they weren't used to at the hands of their masters.

With dirty forepaws and a sappy mouth, she moved into the clearing that had been called from. Her nose told her not many were here but that suited her just fine. She had been in a pack before, she knew all were expected to show to these meetings. Even if it did not have anything to do with her own place in the pack, she would not risk angering anyone. Pleasing the Apollyon should be at the top of every slave's to do list. Make him happy and their lives may be better off. She didn't speak just moved with her hobble past the Apollyon and those gathered as she had come from their backsides. A dip of her head was given in the direction of Elias's scent, submissive in posture and greeting like she normally was. She passed them all to take her place silently, behind all so she would not be in the way nor an annoyance to this meeting. She lowered herself gingerly to the ground, to lay so she might be somewhat comfortable, though the knowledge that this crowd would grow larger made her anxious to return to her seclusion at her den.

Now all she had to do was listen and wait and hope.

Walk "Talk" Think

She had been spending more and more time with her mother the past few weeks. Daelos took advantage of the familiarity that being around Zuriel brought while she continued to attempt to settle in to their new home. It helped that Elias hadn't been around a whole lot so she didn't felt strange being with her. If nothing else it had been a good learning experience. Being able to learn more about pregnancies while also helping to care for Zuriel had been just what she needed. It was a distraction as much as it was a source of knowledge. Once Zuriel's stomach grew too large for her to travel easily Daelos had taken over going out of the pack territory in search of herbs for her. It was usually a futile search now that pretty much everywhere was covered in a fairly thick layer of snow, but she was confident that they had at least collected enough to get Zuriel though the end of her pregnancy. Elias' howl made her head pop up and she listened to the call for the meeting with a hesitant frown. Ever since the last time she spoke with Elias she had been avoiding him as much as he seemed to be avoiding her mother. She didn't really know what to say to him, but now she couldn't go back on her word of wanting to learn more about the pack and the roles within it. She felt a nudge on her shoulder and she glanced at Zuriel as she told her go. Daelos reluctantly got to her feet and padded out of the den to join the other wolves that had gathered there so far, only really agreeing so easily because Zuriel insisted she would come as well. Daelos moved to sit near Miach since he was the only familiar face besides Elias that she saw. She was quiet while she waited for the meeting to begin. "Talk" "You" Think

She couldn't remember exactly how long her pregnancy had been the first time around, but if the size of her stomach was any indication she was positive that these pups would be due any day now. At least that's what she hoped. Over the last couple of weeks she had become more and more den bound. There hadn't been any signs that there were complications of any kind, but from the examinations Daelos had done it seemed like this litter was going to be quite large. She didn't want to take any risks and it certainly wasn't all that comfortable to travel long distances any more.

However, when she heard Elias howl near by for the members of their pack to join him she began to pull herself to her paws none of the less. It was easy to see that Daelos wasn't thrilled and after she heard about the conversation Elias had with her she wasn't all that surprised. She nudged her daughter's shoulder with her nose, offering the girl a smile. "Go on, I'll be right behind you." She was sure that under the circumstances she wouldn't be required to attend this meeting, but she felt compelled to none of the less. After all, she was the Demon Mother, wasn't she? She felt like it was her responsibility.

She padded into the clearing, her eyes finding Elias easily. It was honestly the first time she had seen him more than briefly when she would wake up and find him sleeping near her in the middle of the night. She didn't know why he had been avoiding her so, but she couldn't dwell on that much right now. For now she focused on the wolves that had gathered so far. There was one male she hadn't met as of yet, but she was happy to see her son and Tana there already. The small healer's submissive stance made her increasingly curious about the Lamb's past. "It's good to see you again, Tana," she said softly as she passed the girl. She gave the gray-hued man a nod as her gaze shifted to him before she came to a stop and sat next to Miach and Daelos. Her dual-toned gaze settled on her absent mate once again now that she had found a place to rest, searching his face for any sign of what was going through his mind. She could tell he wasn't quite settled, but she wouldn't let herself worry about that until she could actually speak with him later.

"Talk"

Winter wasn't essentially changing where they lived. Though not that far off from the volcano - they most definitely were going to get snow sometime soon. It meant food would begin to get scarce and they would have to be more careful on the mouths they fed. As far as Merit knew at least as his father called his thoughts were broken. The wolf was quick to turn on his heels, not far from the call to begin with. As his heavy muscles moved underneath him it was clear to see what he was built for but Merit had his idea's on food lately. He wasn't one for front line battling and he himself quiet enjoyed taking down prey. It was actually something to think about. As he approached his fathers call, something seemed a bit off. Merit decided to ignore that fact as he was a believer in what he could see not what he was told. Taking a seat he dipped his head towards his sire then remained silent. An observer he would never really be one to voice his opinions after all they were all based upon the facts given to him. Hence the nickname... merit. He merited his choices and based upon that he went through life. Walk, "Talk" Think

Pari had done as she had been told, the pack was to be housed up on the rocky mountain side away from the volcano, and so she'd moved herself into the caves. She hadn't been told where to go so a small alcove away from the rest majority of the pack had become her space. It was cramped but somehow that comforted her somewhat.

The woman wasn't sure what was expected of her in reality; orders had been slow to come but whenever she was told by any of the passing wolves to do anything she'd done her best to do as told. Still as she was now, the woman had no will to make those decisions as her own; nor had she ever been part of a pack; the expectations that brought were a mystery to her.

Still as a familiar voice called out Pari knew she needed to answer. The woman crept from her hole and approached the growing gathering of wolves. Magenta gaze swung, flying over unfamiliar form after unfamiliar form until she spotted the young man that had spoke to her the day she'd arrived, then the man that had brought her there to begin with. Pari dropped her gaze immediately, while her approach had seen her posture submissive to begin with her tail tucked tighter as she neared. Still she would not truly mingle with the group, hanging back. She would stand only a foot or two behind another battered woman she'd yet to meet though she was far off to the side of the woman.

That's the way the woman would remain until instructed otherwise, not even relaxing enough to sit.  

Terra had been doing what had become her usual rounds on Ruina’s land. In search of anyone to teach her more. Though she’d learned much from her conversation with Vale, she was still desperate for any more knowledge of the pack she could gain. Elias, their Apollyon hadn’t shown his face much, so there was no talking to him. That’s when she heard it, their leader’s call. At least she was pretty sure it was their leader.

Terra approached the scene with caution, lookin over the few that had gathered. Was this a meeting of sorts? Perhaps even an initiation? There was only one way to find out, she’d have to stick around for the whole thing. Golden gaze was now fixated on Elias, as she bowed her head. A show of respect for the mighty Apollyon. The others would surely get their own one on ones woth her after, but for now it seemed only natural for all of their attention to be on the pack’s alpha. Femme sat upright, scanning the area, poised beauty watching the others as she waited for the man to make himself heard.

The first appearance of a Purgatorian was a title held by Drakan, one of the newest that Elias had recruited. His intense stare found those of the trained soldier and his jaw tensed as he did his best to quiet the racing thoughts running through his head. Now was a time to set things into motion, to let these Purgatorians know what was expected them and how they could ensure the success of their pack as a whole. He raised his head and gave Drakan a nod when he spoke, Elias was thankful for the ambition flowing from the young man before him though for now he remained quiet.

His red son was next, greeting him with eyes just as intense as his own. He seemed curious, eager.. perhaps a little uncertain, but that uncertainty was a product of not knowing his direction in all of this. He would soon find out. Elias offered him another nod to answer his question. This was a meeting, but not everyone had assembled quite yet.. so again, he was quiet.

One of the slaves poured in next, and Elias seemed to let his stare linger on her as he thought over the plans he had for their Lambs. The next reaping was quite some time away, which gave them plenty of time to mold these souls into something more valuable.. but without Zepars, it was nearly impossible to expect anything to come of it.

Daelos came in quietly and seated herself next to Miach, and the thoughts that had been troubling the Apollyon seemed to quiet to nothing as he offered her a slight smile. He was thankful for her presence. Not long after her came in Zuriel, and still the sight of her dual-tone blue gaze made Elias' heart beat faster and force himself to be aware of the spell she still had on him. Even in the midst of a meeting, Elias stepped forward and greeted her with a strong and loving lick to her cheek, standing beside her with his tail raised and an air of confidence. She was a large reason for that confidence, though he would do his best not to let his attention linger on her and remained focused.

He stood tall beside Zuriel and peered over to Merit when he came in. The black and gold of the boy was something that still struck chills down Elias' spine, but those ruby eyes were something the king found comfort in. He offered him a smile and a thankful nod for his appearance and continued to wait.

Pari and Terra trailed in and no one else seemed to follow, leaving the Apollyon to believe these were the wolves that had been on the land today. He would have to track down the rest in time, but for now, he was focused on these souls that had stepped forward.

"We are a new pack on these mountains, but our presence here is something that I feel the land recognizes as old. I plan on securing our presence here for many generations to come, and in order to do that.. it is time I have told you what your part in this plan could be." He peered over them as he thought for a moment.

"For each of you that I placed into the rank of Purgatorian, I am sure you realized that this rank was never meant to be a permanent one. Purgatorian is the rank for those that have wandered in and shown interest in our strength. In order to become a part of that strength, you must first find what role it is that you can fill here in Ruina. The work of Ruina is something that has been in order for eons, and our work is never done. Because of that, you can expect to have a duty and a purpose for the rest of your days.. and with that duty, I would hope a sense of accomplishment and glory. Your soul will rest here with honor, like the many that have fallen before you. Ruina, in our native tongue, means The Fallen.. and everything we do is in honor of where we came from. Part of your test as a Purgatorian is first a test of trust in these spirits. You must connect with them, honor them, feel them.. because they are what molds everything that we do here. If you do not have a connection with them, you will not feel your sense of accomplishment.. and that is no use to the pack."

He paused for a moment, taking a good look at each of their faces.. as if gauging for any sort of distrust or doubt. He hoped to see curiosity but knew that this concept was.. farfetched to some. Hopefully, not them. He continued.

"As a Purgatorian, you are not required to remain on our lands or even remain loyal. This period is a period of time where you may decide if this lifestyle is right for you. If you decide to remain on our lands and dedicate yourself to the cause of Ruina, to the collection of souls, then you will be oathed into the pack. You will become blood of my blood, and you will gain the protection and service of the pack as a whole.. with the price of lifelong loyalty. So think hard on this." He took a step back from Zuriel and began circling around those that had gathered, reading them.. he even offered a nudge of his nose to Merit and Miach as he tested the muscle tone in their shoulders. They were his sons, of course, he was most curious about them.

"In order to claim your place in Ruina, before you can even think about sharing our blood.. you must first complete your Rite of Passage into our ranks. From Purgatorian stems three main duties, the duties of the Dommiel, Dagon, and Zepar."

"Dommiels are our warriors, our soldiers. They spend time training off pack lands on many different terrains around the continent, they set up camps off-site and make our strength known to other packs. They report back periodically, and in times of war they are summoned immediately. They are our defenders, our attackers, our glory. To be a Dommiel takes a lot of guts, and to apply for one could be your downfall if you do not have the strength to be doing so- so think wisely. Think confidently. You must travel to The Battlegrounds here in Boreas in the company of a higher as a witness, find yourself a challenger and defeat them in a spar. You have two chances to do this, should you fail your first attempt. If you fail your second time, you will be placed among the rank of the Lambs for your foolishness.." He glanced to Pari, "Dommiel is our most sought rank by young and capable males, but combat is not any greater a glory than what is found in the ranks of Zepar and Dagon, know yourself. Know your capabilities. Know how you will most help the pack grow in strength."

"Dagons are our hunters and healers, swift and strong.. capable of taking down prey here around packlands and keeping us strong, at full health. To become a Dagon, you must prove your worth as a hunter even if your primary work will be in medicine. As an herb collector, you will travel to foreign lands in search of the best herbs.. and this rite I have set up for you will prove if you are capable of awareness in lands you are not used to. You must bring back a meal equal or greater to your own weight in my chosen trial grounds. You might think.. how will I possibly prove this in the middle of Winter, when prey is scarce? I have set up traps all across the Rock Garden to our northeast, where this rite will be held. Find these traps, execute them to the best of your capability. Do not find yourself carelessly stuck in one of these traps, be alert and aware. That is part of this test. If you end up trapped, you have failed.. and again, you will be deranked as a Lamb and the fate of your duties will no longer be your own choice."

"The last path is that of the Zepar, our guardians.. our shepherds. They watch over these mountains and train in them daily, they keep themselves fit for endurance runs in the event that one of our Lambs escape. They are our first defense in the event of a siege, their strength is vital to our survival. On top of their training, they care for our Lambs. We will set up schedules for those that choose Zepar and it is important that you arrive on time and in good health to perform your duties and care for these Lambs. To be plentiful in Lambs is to be rich in souls, and strong as a pack. We work with each Lamb to strengthen them and mold them into something useful for the good of Ruina. Your test to become Zepar is to find a new soul to claim for Ruina, either willingly or by force. Find someone to recruit and bring them to me to be weighed in worth. You should be searching for someone strong in either mind or body, a useful soul for Ruina. If they are deemed unworthy, so are you.. and again you will be placed as Lamb, and deemed unable to decide your own fate."

He stopped in the center of the crowd that had gathered, looking around to each of them as he retired his weight to his haunches, ending his piece. "I appreciate your presence here today, and I will be here to answer questions should you have any, though for now you are all dismissed. Make Ruina proud, our ancestors are watching you closely during this trial."

Ash-dusted brute watched as the Apollyon 's motions as he moved about the gathering, judging the participants. Glorified ear holes listened closely as his newly claimed leader spoke of the available roles for the rank he had currently held- Purgatorian. The choices provided were typical of a pack stature, in his honest opinion. However, what is it that he would choose to go after? Warrior, Hunter, or Scout?

Drakan's toes tensed in the dirt beneath him, grasping for the answer he so badly needed. While he was best suited for all three, at heart he was most self-recognized as a wardog. This was his calling in life, and so it was only fitting that he go for what he knew best. The male's nostrils flared as he took in Elias' masculine scent as he passed by. Drakan felt his body tingle from excitement of getting the taste of blood and the sting of wounds across his body once more.

The next step would be to obtain a higher up to accompany him to the sparring grounds that were mentioned.... And a sparring partner. However, with being so fresh to the ranks, his knowledge of the others in the pack was lacking. Perhaps that long-faced beast he encountered before would accept his proposal. Or one of the Apollyon's sons? Drakan remained silent as he looked over to the younger males, deep in thought.

"Speech." Thoughts.