Marshal came, heralding news of the volcano. The morning has risen, clear and crisp and bright. The wings of his bird companion had been black on an ocean of blue behind him. He could feel the change of season in the wind, and a slow smile spread across his lips. He nudged Zee, who slept beside him - a privilege he was still adjusting to - to awaken her. He looked down at his wife with an unmatchable fondness, eyes drifting to the light bulge in her belly. All his dreams were coming true. He kissed the skin above her stomach as he waited for to awaken, and when her snapped upon him, he grinned. “The ash has cleared, today we move the pack, Zee” This home had always been temporary, and he had packed lightly in this land. Most of what he had built already lay in the Plains they would be moving to. The carts Io had build were already in the Oasis, stored for this very day. He knew the move for the Armada would be an easy one. It was the Ashen wolves, more greatly settled in, that would likely take more moving. And, no doubt, Sirius was going to have a fight on his hands when he told Zee she was riding shotgun in the cars not walking with his unborn babies. With Zee beside him, the two Alphas made their way to the Oasis, finding a spot big enough to house their small pack, as Sirius nudged Zee, tilting his head upwards, and waiting for her to follow before he raised his voice, so that they might entwine together as they called for the wolves that they had made their own. "Speech"

It was an amazing thing to finally be at peace, to know she would one day soon have little ones running underfoot and without fear of her husband slaughtering them in his sleep. To be on their way home, where they could begin to build their lives. He nudged her awake to share the news, and Zee followed him to his chosen meeting place with a relaxed and easy grin upon her maw. "Finally." She responded with a pleased sigh. She only hoped it wouldn't be too awful of a walk, as the early stage of her pregnancy brought with it an unshakable nausea. As he lifted his head to sing for the pack she joined in with her own harmony, prepared to gather what they had and start the next step in their life. "Speech"

Odette had woken early that morning as she had been the past several days, trying her best to find a time that got her to the Queen's den before even she awoke. The trouble was, she was either too late or too early! Some days she would wake before the crack of dawn and would sit outside their den, waiting for her mistress to call for her. Other days, she would wake the same time, and arrive too late, the horned woman already up and tackling the day before the handmaiden got the chance to serve her. Today, as she was on her way to the King and Queen's den, it would seem she was late once again. Odette picked her head up when their intertwined call rang out over the Oasis, causing a jolt of panic to shoot through her chest. Late, again?!

With outstretched legs the cream woman took off across the remaining distance, and within minutes found herself before Sirius and Zee. She came to a halt, bowing her head to the leaders as she smiled sheepishly. "Good day, King and Queen." She would greet before moving to sit behind Zee's free shoulder, attempting to make herself seem small behind the woman out of respect. She was her slave, after all, a term she was coming to understand with less fear. Once she felt more like a shadow, she would wait patiently for their meeting to begin.

"Odette"

Meadow was asleep when the call came and she answers it, in her twilight stages of sleep, with a soft, muffled howl. As she rises through the various stages of dreams to the waking world, the howl dies and her ears filter the sound to her sleeping brain. When, at last, the realization dawns on her that the Warlord and Heart are calling her, the wolf finally snaps fully into the awareness. A tangle of limbs and fur tries to shot up onto all fours. What results is squirming mass that stills after a moment.

After a deep breath and a moment to order her actions, Meadow again moves to stand. This time she makes it up and quickly shakes herself down to flatten her fur and shake off any lingering dregs of sleep. Quickly she bolts toward where she heard the call come from. Slowing as she approaches, having the forethought to not go barreling at top speed toward the meeting spot, the light-colored female comes to stop at a respectable distance from those at the front. Bowing her head in respect, Meadow greets them all. As her head lifts back up there is a wide smile on her face.

Not wanting to take up any more time, Meadow moves off to claim a spot for her and Resin to listen from.

永程

It wasn't that he wanted to be slow. No, no. Yong Cheng rather liked being fast and quick and fleetfooted, because that meant he could run away. Unfortunately, as howls broke through his morning sleep, Yong Cheng realised this was something that he couldn't escape from. He was a pack wolf now. He had to do as the pack wolves did. He stretched, pulling at his taut muscles -- yes, he had muscles now -- that still ached from his spar. He didn't know when the pain would subside, only that it was slowly getting better.

Yong Cheng hobbled out of the small den, staring at the sky.

It was so blue.

It was so blue.

He was not a wolf given to crying, but the azure felt like a dream. He wasn't sure that he wasn't still asleep. Look! Cheng wanted to say, Look! Look at how big and wide and clear it is! For a moment, he felt free again. For a moment, he felt like a child again. He'd been forced to grow up after Sirius happened, but now... A tear leaked from the corner of his eye.

The boy wiped it away, standing under blissfully blue open heavens.

Then, he made his way to the meeting-place. A few wolves had arrived already -- Sirius and Zee, Odette, and another wolf he hadn't met. Odette was seated near the queen -- were they close? He'd have to investigate.

It was too early to be speaking, so Yong Cheng simply nodded at the gathered wolves, and found his place.

""
OOC:

IMAGE BY ANTHONY CANTIN ON UNSPLASH

Iolaire had been tending to her newest charge when the call from Sirius came. She quickly finished up checking the man's wounds and made sure that he was comfortable before heading out of her makeshift den. Much as Meadow had, Iolaire put on a burst of speed and made her way quickly towards the direction of the call. It wouldn't do to be the last to arrive. The small woman slowed as she neared the congregation of canines. She caught her breath, lifted her chin and padded to seat herself to the side of Sirius, though back a pace. This was his show, after all. She was simply here for support and a show of solidarity. Obsidian ears swiveled, ready to catch her brother's words as he spoke. Clearly they would wait for the remaining members of the pack to arrive before the announcement was made. She knew what the announcement was, of course. She and Sirius had spoken of it often in days past as they were working on his issue. She had already prepared by taking all of her things to their new home except for the bare essentials. All there was to do now was cart everyone else's things to their new homes. It was an exciting time.

It took the giantess a little longer than the rest to arrive. She'd been out hunting; trying to make herself useful. The woman had managed to fell a mid-sized antelope as it neared the edge of the Oasis, eager to slake its thirst. It was that thirst that was the creatures downfall. A quick pounce and a single bite with serrated teeth brought the ungulates life to an abrupt end. With its neck between her jaws, the behemoth carted her kill back towards the pack. She would provide breakfast for those in need.

Leaving the kill in the shade near the common area of the pack, Resin flicked her dusty blue tongue over bloodied jaws before loping towards the meeting that was about to take place. It wasn't difficult to find Meadow, already seated and ready to listen. The scarred woman took the place beside her sibling, sinking to lay upon her stomach so that she might clean the remainder of the blood from paws and face while they waited.

"Talking" & Thinking

Eliphas made his way on dainty paws to the meeting place after the Warlord’s call. Merlin perched on his shoulders, the big white owl matching his master perfectly. The two were out looking for ingredients, with the summer finally showing itself supplies were much more abundant. Not that Eliphas had made an effort to acquire many things. It was always known that this oasis would not hold the Armada for long so Eli hadn’t stockpiled much.

Dual toned eyes swept over the gathered crowd as he arrived and placed himself near Killian. He perked his ivory ears towards the rulers of the Armada and waited for their words to be spoken.

One by one they filed in, coming quickly to his call. First came the slaves, and his eyes glanced across them. Odette came to sit in Zee’s shadow, and he could sense the excitement in his wife. Was she thinking about her time spent in Deathbelle’s service? He felt a growing fondness for the shy little slave - if Zee loved her, then he could certainly tolerate her. “Odette” he returned to her greeting, but did not open the floor for conversation. The very small healer came in next, and well she seemed a social creature, it did not surprise him that she took a more isolated spot back from the Alphas. He knew exactly who would be joining her soon. He nodded his head in her direction, and cast his eyes to Bird. He looked a little star-struck, perhaps in joy at the cleared land. Sirius had found him at the Shrine, where the territory had been truly terrible, and full of ash. His Io came then, nice and early, and shortly after their meeting call. He grinned at her, and she came to sit beside him in a seat of honour. Odette might be cowering in Zee’s shadow, but Io sat tall and proud. He was glad she sat a little to the side, or despite her posture, she would have been hidden behind his larger bulk. Then Resin, who sat beside her sister. Eliphas who he had seen little of the last season. Killian and Banshee rolled in last, but still in a timely manner. He nodded to each and every wolf as they arrived, and realised that the arrival of the last two meant all of his pack before him. The Warlord sat tall among them, his Queen at his side, his Council behind him in the form of Io. This was the budding first members of his pack, the ones whose presence helped with its creation. The originals. Whomever might come next, he would remember these faces with pride. “As some of you might have discovered already, the Volcano has subsided and our chosen territory is once more habitable. The herds wonder in that direction once more. Most of you have little in the way of possessions, and most of our belongings are already there where our home will be. We do however have bedding, herbs and food stockpiles we will be bringing with us. As we leave the Oasis we will load the wagons with these belongings. I expect everyone to work together to ensure a quick dismantling of this pack. At which point, we will make or way over to Redwater Rocks and assist the Empire in loading up supplies, and travel together as one large group. Congratulations all, today we are going home.” he left room for Zee to speak, and to give the dismissal. As soon as she did so, he work would begin. "Speech"

The pack members flooded in quickly and Zee was proud to witness their loyal response. There was pep in their steps, they all appeared for the most part bright eyed and bushy tailed and Zee couldn't help but smile as her handmaiden took her place behind her - the very way Zee had in her first meeting with Deathbelle. Sirius took no time at all to begin his speech, congratulating them on the coming journey and explaining what they could expect before they got there. Zee didn't have much to add although Sirius politely left room for her to speak regardless, and so she kept it short and sweet. "It will be hard work, and I thank you all in advance. Unless there are any questions, you're dismissed." She nudged her muzzle forward towards the carts as if to gesture that the pack should begin their preparations. "Speech"