Set between Highway 104 and Naiades Lighthouse (ie. the middle of nowhere). Oct 31 sundown! ALL WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED. if you prefer to have a one on one thread or a thread with fewer people but still be in on the celebration, you may post in this thread once or twice set a private thread as an extension of this thread (those tend to move quicker). Just assume others are in the background having a grand old time XD Remember, Samhain is about drinking, dancing, music and good times XD oh, and ghosts. NO POSTING ORDER. THIS IS CHAOS.
Pripyat couldn’t quite pinpoint when all the trouble had begun. He had perhaps grown too comfortable, although under the weight of the braches and logs he hauled one could not mistake his strain for comfort. Although he could have perhaps taken loan of one of the horses housed in the ranch he preferred not to burden any other beast with such menial tasks as moving firewood. It was his chore now. Eika. Pripyat had found that he much preferred this rank to his previous one, especially now that the honey eyed angel had also fled from the Envoy class. No one in the Herald class had approached him or asked anything of him, he could withdraw into himself and his fire making to his heart's content.
And the boy, or rather man that he was now, had indeed immersed himself in fire keeping rather than let him mind mull over what had gone wrong. For a few weeks he had been preparing for this fire, which must last from sundown until sun up. The pile he brought now to the clearing was the last of the wood he would need, and he perhaps did not even need it. The wood he had gathered over the weeks was more than enough, but Pripyat would take no chances, if the fire went out before dawn he left the pack open to any ghosts that might be wandering in the hearts and minds of the pack members that night. The ash colored lad especially had some ghosts he wished to avoid that night.
Two eyes, the color of sun infused ocean, glanced over the other assorted materials. The pile of dead vines from the vineyard was formidable, but Pripyat knew that and all the dead flowers he had collected from the borders would burn far too fast. Yet there was enough that they could add them to the fire all night. The bones from the slain animals was smaller, those that had come from the Lughnasadh feast and those from other's Mabon meals were held apart from the bones that came from ordinary hunts and meals. Also the boy had herbs that he knew to burn sweet, they would infuse the air all night. And yet he could not throw any of this on the flames until the others arrived, and so merely he put a fair amount of wood in the center of the stone circle he had crafted and began to rub the sticks together, letting himself get absorbed in the task.
The sun sank lower upon the large field Pripyat had selected with Nayru. There was room enough for whatever merriment or lack of mirth the members would decide to partake in and the stone circle was large enough that all members of Ichika might find a place around it. Large logs and stones suitable for seats were placed here and there, though Pripyat knew most would not make use of them for too long. Samhain was not for sitting, though he himself had reserved a seat near to the fire so he might keep watch over it all night. The boy had just created the first spark when Nayru arrived, bearing bottles of wine almost too numerous to count. The pack strapped to her back made the tiny lady look a hunch back and the Jiryu seemed to strain under the basket full of the fermented juice she carried. Yet she said no words as she set them down and took a seat watching he boy.
Looking up her's was only the third face he had seen since Arye's, and he was sorry when she did not react to the scar fresh upon his face. He remembered how carefully he had crafted it, the stick not quite on fire but the wood still hot embers. How careful he had been to keep his eyesight when giving himself the same mark his father had bore across his right eye. Pink and raw it was certain that no fur would ever grow back in the place seared clear, and he was glad of it. Too often he had been painfully aware of how closely he resembled his mother and not his father, and thought Jefferson would have scoffed at his foolish action neither he, nor Geneva nor Arye were here to chastise him. Pripyat would need to bear no mask for Samhain for he himself had disfigured his own face.
"Merry Samhain Jiryu." And he turned back to the fire, building it up until it was a great blaze and he had to step back, for fear of catching any of his thick pelt on fire. This was his duty for the evening, Nayru and the others could take care of the rest.
511. Nayru is clearly dealing with the loss of her mateship in a healthy manner.
The piebald lady arrived already a little drunk. That she had enjoyed a bottle of this year's wine by herself was a surprise to the Jiryu, and yet many of her actions and thoughts in the past week had been. Yet any inconsistencies in her actions did not seem to matter. When she did not come home to Cerne Rise no one questioned her, Gideon did not come home either. That she slept on the floor of a wine cellar no one knew, but every morning and until evening she worked to get every grape off the last of the vines. Pripyat had come through and cleared away many of the dead vines that would not survive the winter and Nayru was glad of the help he had given, but mostly she worked alone. If others came to keep her company she chatted with them merrily while going about her work, but such interactions barely registered. If they spoke of anything important, Nayru did not know.
Now she lugged many bottles of the alcoholic stuff to the setting she and Pripyat had decided upon. Samhain. Somehow Nayru was excited for this in a way she couldn't remember being excited before. Lughnasadh should have created such anticipation for her but all Nayru could remember were nerves. There were no nerves now as she took careful footsteps and clutched tightly the basket full of bottles. When she arrived the sun was still showing, but soon enough would set and already Pripyat was preparing the bonfire. That others might bring meats to roast and musical instruments to play she could only hope, but she had done her part and set the basket and then pack down and eased herself easily onto one large rocks meant for a seat. Only when the weight of her packages and her own body no longer was supported by her tiny feet did Nayru realize how pleasantly dizzy she was.
Merry Samhain Jiryu. The boy turned up and Nayru noted the scar across his eye, the image of Jefferson coming to mind just then. Had she been in her right mind she would have concealed the surprise with a steady gaze, but in her inebriated state the scar did not seem to matter. What was one mark or another on flesh that did not last in all honesty very long? So only did she look upon the boy and smile before returning the greeting. "Merry Samhain Pripyat Soul." And the boy turned from her and she knew herself to be forgotten. Throwing back her head she let out the howl that would announce the assembly that would last all night. When Pripyat's strong voice lent its self to her's she did not mind, but let both calls die together before reaching for another bottle and forcing the cork out of the neck. "Mmmm, yes, merry Samhain." The girl's soft voice spoke to no one as she brought the bottle to her lips, happily watching as the fire leaped up the wood pile and soon lit up the whole field.
Shiloh had grown used to Ichika in the few days she had been there. She owed the woman, Eclipse, so much for saving her and her horse. Noah had treated her differently too and she wondered if others could look past the scars and accept her and Kavi like Orin did. She had decided to stay in Ichika, the pack and the pack lands extremely calming to her. She had found a spot by the river that she would frequent that wasn't to far from Eclipse's house. She was still recovering from starvation but she felt like she belonged her more then she ever felt in AniWaya. She still adorned her feathers and still had the habit of wearing Kyra's sleeping sac. She had been laying there the whole day milling over her feelings and how she came here. It was starting to get late and Shiloh decided it was time to go back home.
As she walked back she noticed a woman carrying bottles and aside from Eclipse and Noah, Shiloh had yet to meet any other pack members. She knew she was rankless till she healed but as she hobbled after the woman she wondered what field she would go into. She didn't know the customs in this pack yet and as she limped closer to the woman she watched her howl, announcing something to the pack. Samhain Shiloh though as she came into a clearing. She approached the woman with fear and caution, tapping her on the shoulder softly. "M..My n..n..name is Sh...Sh..Shiloh Gr...Gra...Grant.... I a....am n..new h..here. W...What is ....goi...going on h..Here?" she stuttered before starting to hyperventilate. She sat at the woman's feet while she tried to calm down. She wondered what was in those bottles she had carried over....
YES, love festivals. Could someone pour a bowl of booze for Kiara?
Word Count → 335
Kiara was finally getting used to Ichika no Ho-en and Nova Scotia. She had spent her first month in Nova Scotia wandering around and meeting new people both inside and outside of the pack lands. The she-wolf never really stayed in one place for more than a few days, though she preferred to stay in Phoenix Forest. There was too much too see and too much too do. Two weeks ago the young women noticed a growing pile of wood that just seemed to get bigger every day. Every few days or so Kiara would revisit the site to try and find out what was going on. Kiara had often noticed a young grey and white wolf hard at work gathering the wood, but she never approached the male for fear of disturbing him.
Somehow, today was special. Kiara arrived just in time to see the first people start to gather, though she held herself back for fear of interrupting. The arctic wolf easily spotted the grey male, but several new strangers had arrived. Kiara was about ready to go when one of the females let out a howl announcing...Samhain? A festival? Just as snow wolf approached the Ichikan's with the intentions to investigate, someone beat her to the punch.
Kiara could see the scarred wolf shake as she spoke. In order to avoid startling the poor thing too badly the arctic wolf adjusted her course so she would not come in directly behind Shiloh. Kiara stopped her throat a few paces away before she spoke to them. Hello, I don't mean to interrupt. My name is Kiara Amarok. I'm also new to Ichika no Ho-en. Is this some sort of festival? Kiara sat down and let her tongue hang out. The fire smelt good and the prospect of meeting new friends put her in a happier mood than normal. Kiara tried to give Shiloh a kind look, but she felt like it failed and knew she looked more like a clown than anything else.
WC:??Samantha's last post as a member,( D she is moving to Anathema to live with her mate Rain Marks!!
The Luperci woman was in Ichika for the time being, soon she would trek onto Anathema. It hurt a little to come back, but she had friends in Ichika no Ho-en. Ichika always would be home for her, and she hoped that they would allow her to visit. She carried her backpack, the clinking of glass bottles kept her going, the bottles of liquor in her backpack. Samhain wasn't to be missed, and maybe she would have a little of fun before she left. She saw a fire up ahead. She walked towards the blaze, seeing canines assembled around. She nodded a greeting to the assembled group, seeing new faces such as Kiara and Shiloh. Something rang in her memory, Rain had told her of a female named Shiloh that he had once hurt. Her heart jumped in her chest and she continued on. She hoped that the scent of Rain on her pelt wasn't strong enough that Shiloh would remember and possibly hate Sam. She smiled at Nayru and Pripyat. She put the backpack down and said "I have brought some for us! Happy Samhain! Although I won't be in Ichika long, I hope that when I am settled and moved, that you will allow me to visit. Ichika always will be home." At that moment, Sam almost felt like crying. There was so much to give up, but she was happy with Rain. She tried to brighten up, but she sat there on the ground cross-legged. A weak smile spread across her face. She knew that Kiara wasn't Luperci, but if that was the way that Kiara wanted to go, that was fine. Samantha rarely used her Lupus form, not unless she really needed it. The hands come in handy. Would Ichika hate her for leaving? She doubted it. They were a loving and peaceful people. She lay back and stared at the evening sky. So many things were happening.
Temo isn't much of a party goer, but is trying. | +316
Rip, munch, munch, the grass is slowly disappears, Ears continuously rotating back and forth listening to every sound that comes by. Looking up sniffing the breeze, looking around, still safe. Move over to a bush and nibble at the leaves. Stop and look around, ears and nose helping in the search for predators. Move to a new spot and munch on the grass. Look up, danger? Look around then suddenly, a black shape from the undergrowth leaping at me. TERROR!. Jump away. Sharp pains in the neck, can't breath. PANIC! Try to run, cannot run, cannot breath, collapse. Getting cold. Darkness.
Temo was downwind of the doe and hidden in the underbrush. He did not move a muscle as he patiently waited for her to work her way closer to him. The sun was high overhead when he first spotted the deer and he had a lot of time to wait and this doe was nice and plump from feeding well all summer long. Jace had told him about the samhain festival, she always kept him informed of the pack gatherings. After some thought, he had decided to bring something for everyone to eat if they so desired. His ears pricked forward as the deer moved in closer. He barely breathed as he waited patiently for the doe to come within striking reach. When she finally got close enough, he sprang forward and his jaws clamped down on the doe's throat, crushing her windpipe.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon as Temo arrived at the festival location. He dropped the carcass near the already lit bon fire and looked around at the others that had already arrived, some he recognized and others he did not, "Hi everyone." He was slightly disappointed Jace had not arrived yet, but knew she would be along soon. "Food is here, come and get it while it is still fresh."
ooc: Don't hurt dear X'y! She's delicate... not. 630 Words
The first step was always the hardest, even if it was nothing more than standing among potential friends and packmates. This a step towards unity just as she had hoped for, but they were awkward, tentative steps like a puppy threading on ground for the first time since leaving its mother's bosom. The open road, a time of solitude was her bosom and now she had chosen to thread the strange and wondrous.
The woman arrived not in Secui, but in Optime form for once, braving against the emotional distraught to appear as she had often seen bother Jaden and Nayru; comfortable. Around her shoulders was her trophy groomed and hung with care. So used to her traditions, she wore the banner as her mark as a Nomad warrior. She did not expect others to understand its meaning, but the nervous female found comfort in elevating her tension through caressing its fur. She breathed deep the many scents that filled the air; the aroma of food and wine, of company and strangers. The Nomad hadn't been part of a gathering like this since her coming of age as an Exultare, and wondered what celebration brought many together like this... but her nervous tongue kept her silent simply observing.
The echo of the assembling call still resonated in her ears long after her approach upon the gathering. It looked nothing like an urgent matter for there were relaxed spirits and ease in interaction. They were happy and talking among themselves, even new members as they announced themselves. The woman's tail swayed hopefully. Perhaps they would be willing to talk? Though her eye had caught the Jiryu and steps lead her immediately forward, X'yrin realized she could not rely on the Shepard's shadow. This was her opportunity to brave a step toward the unknown, not keep to the familiar. Wasn't this what she sought out of Ichika?
Of course it was!
The woman raised her head with swelling chest of determination, then just as quickly exhausted her nervous tension. It would be alright, she calmed herself, retreating from Nayru's shadow to stranger pastures. Her eyes fell first upon the lupus formed Kiara sitting with a smile near the fire, then drifted to the stammering Shiloh, wrecked with nervousness worse than she. X'yrin felt the weight of her ears as they dropped against her skull, suddenly mirroring nervousness of the like. She opened her mouth to speak, standing like a towering fool among the flickering light of the radiant flames. Where had her voice gone since that new-found determination? She at least recognized the arctic female, and after that time working their task together, why couldn't she speak even to her? She felt her lips trembling, the excitement she had nearly giving way to fear. For the life of her she needed to get together, less she look like a fool! Hurriedly her head whipped around the gathering, seeking something... anything to rid her nervous spell. Again her eyes darted to Nayru but to the bottles in her possession.
She was upon the other in a matter of seconds, towering over the petite form with an almost pained look upon her face. "Shepard Nayru," the Nomad asked meekly. Her kempt dark auburn mane obscuring her eyes as carefully groomed long layers cascaded off shoulder as she bowed her head. Her fox pelt fell lifeless to the ground. "May I have one of your bottles to-" her ears twitched as she paused. What was the word? When she had gotten so used to speaking why NOW did her tongue decide to withhold? "-give? No... share. Yes! May I have one of your bottles to share?" She felt the tip of her tail tap her inner calf as she subtly tucked tail began to tremble.
Nayru is never this talkative XD oh dear, what wine will do to a girl. 581.
The brooding boy did not answer her and Nayru did not mind, busying herself with the wine and gazing at the fire. It was not long before their silence was broken by the swift arrival of two new faces. The first seated herself by Nayru's feet and this Nayru did not find strange, but looked kindly down upon the girl, seeming not to note the scars that decorated her body. Before the girl could be answered the other arrived, and Nayru's ruby eyes turned upon the female on four legs. Grinning at them both, for they hadn't even a clue what the festival was about, Nayru swept her hand to indicate the bonfire and the bottles. "Welcome, welcome! This is Samhain, the end of our harvest, the beginning of the dark half of the year, the night to celebrate life and those who are no longer among the walking!" Pripyat's curious eyes turned themselves upon the Jiryu, who spoke boisterously for perhaps the first time in her life, the alcohol taking away her whisper. "I am Nayru and this," she turned and grinned to the grey boy who quickly turned away from the three females sourly "this is Pripyat!"
And yet introductions were interrupted by the arrival of Samantha, who Nayru by name and face but had never truly interacted with. The girl knew what was going on and Nayru grinned at her greeting. "Happy Samhain!" Still seated Nayru took note of the bottles Samantha added to their growing collection. "Ichika will gladly welcome a visit from any of it's children, no matter where their feet take them. And what a grand way to send you off, Samhain!" She lifted her own bottles and drank from it, turning to Shiloh and Kiara. "Do you two want anything to drink?" She moved the bottles toward the two and then considered Kiara. It wasn't strange to see a member in lupus form, but she hadn’t expected anyone to show up so tonight. "Do you need something to drink from?" Nayru knew they had no bowls on hand but something could be improvised, they were creative creatures.
Nayru smelt the dead doe before she smelt or saw Temo, but her grin was wide as the man set down the food and joined their gathering. Her howl had reached them quickly and Nayru was impatient for more members to arrive. No one from Cerne Rise had yet to show themselves and in a way Nayru was glad, for perhaps she would blend in among a crowd but had it been Gideon or Saul who answered her first the woman would have been at a loss for what to say or do. "Temo! Temo! How nice! Fresh meat! Thank you Bensen, ever providing your poor Jiryu with a good meal." Mabon lingered in her mind and Nayru flushed the memory away with a swig of wine, not knowing or caring that the endless flow of alcohol made for the endless flow of words from the normally silent Ryu.
With each new arrival the volume of Nayru's voice increased as the excitement rose. The woman who came next made Nayru especially pleased and she even hopped up from her seat to greet the fellow warrior with a warm hand. "X'yrin!" She bent down and scooped up the fox tail, grabbing a bottle as X'yrin's request registered. Jovially she held both out to the woman, the ever increasing smile spreading on her lips. "Of course! Of course! Merry Samhain."
ooc: 1022 Words. X'y can't hold her liquor.... at all. Feel free to play with her drunkness
Wine was a powerful influence and certainly a mood alternator. It was difficult to remain nervous when met with the boisterous tones of the once soft-spoken woman. As inhibitions fell, the reserved female became all the more comfortable, greeting her followers with contagious smiles and merry wishes to this holiday. Samhain. The Nomad was here celebrating and she hadn't even known what the festivities entailed.
Fox tail and bottle were suddenly thrust upon her, coupled with a beaming grin and holiday greeting. The warrior accepted without protest, her lips quirked in an awkward smile as she tried the greeting for herself. "Merry...Samhain-" was she saying it right? "-Shepard Nayru." She turned to the boy and nooded in greeting. "Friend Pripyat." The inflection of her voice gave way to her uncertainty but in strange reluctance for a lecture, she assumed her mirror of the word was flawless and took the offerings before the loquacious female had a chance to ensnare her. X'yrin knew well the effects of wine and the often... compromising situations they permitted. Upon a single glance, it looked as though the Jiryu was well on her way toward an interesting engagement this night.
Hastily she adorned the tail around her shoulders again, fixing her mane to act as a back for the pelt to keep it in place, then returned her sights to the gathering by the fire. Wine bottle in hand, X'yrin felt a little more sure of herself even without a swig of the courage inducing elixir. Simply having something as an offering (last second as it was) offered a comfort that reminded her of her cherished Nomadic practice; the art of trade. Again the female braved the steps toward the fire, bottle clasped tightly around the neck of the bottle whilst the other tangled with the silken fur of the fox tail. Anxiety crept into her steps again, making them rigid as she drew near the two females. It took all of her strength and composure to compose coherent words rather than thick, mumbled syllables. At least, she greeted them standing just between the two with an outstretched arm offering the booze.
"Merry...Samhain?" Oh, she hoped she was saying it right! "I am X'yrin, a Nomad." Her tail offered a ginger wag as she looked from one shy female to the smiling other. "It is a pleasure to meet you Shiloh. And it is good to see you again, Kiara. Drink?" She turned the bottle toward Shiloh then just as quickly to the Lupus formed Kiara? Did she not have another form? How as she supposed to drink? Her train of thought was nearly derailed by the alluring scent of meat fresh with life taken only a short while before. Such a tempting lure to pull her from this spot of tension, but the determined part of her did not allow escape to easily. Her eyes were fixed upon the pale female, the wheels of her mind turning in an effort of produce a solution.
And then, an idea! Without much thought, she snatched the cork from the neck and brought the bottle to her muzzle and drank deeply...and deeper....and deeper still, guzzling the fragrant liquid down in hardy gulps til her eyes began to water and stomach churned in protest. When her throat began to burn and she could take no more, she tore the bottle from her lips and held it up to the light of the bonfire. A portion above half the bottle remained, just enough for what the Nomad had in store. Carefully she seated herself and the bottle, facing the fire as she hunched over the glass shape. When she discovered she had eyes in her paws, she didn't know, but she felt around whilst staring at the bottle as if by 'feel' she would find the object she was looking for. Something hard and pointy... a rock? Yes a rock. Then something hard and rigid fell under paw. She snatched it too and held it too the light. "Rock!" She proclaimed excitedly then brought it to the bottle. Now... if she could just tap it gently...
And by gently, she of course meant 'smash the neck of the bottle til it shattered'. And shatter it did. The neck and curve of the bottle fell away to the thunderous taps, fragments of glass continued to fall away bit by bit as the crafty Nomad chiseled down the bottle in careful descent. Gradually she began to notice she had grown another pair of hands to work on the second bottle that magically emerged, and she must have been good at using them since they worked in time with the other pair. Had the always had them? She must have... it would have been silly not to notice something this extraordinary.
"Finished!" X'yrin announced, holding the tall saucer above her head with pride. Abruptly she set it down in front of Kiara, a bit of wine sloshing out of the cracked rim. "Now you....two?-" There were not two Lupus wolves? Well more the merrier! "Yes! Now you two can drink!" she exclaimed, setting a friendly paw upon the other's shoulder. "But wait," she paused. Hadn't she forgot something? She turned to the silent female, ears twitching anxiously. "But...what will you drink...? I know!" Yes, she knew it all! She would just get another bottle! Hadn't Nayru offered it freely? And what was better were now two Jiryu's parading about! The Nomad could ask one of them! "I know! Just a moment!" X'yrin braced herself to stand, all fours pressed to the ground since it didn't want to keep still for some reason. She'd never known the ground to move like this! Try as she may to keep the ground firmly underpaw, it always seemed to sway and she was right back down on the ground again. Determination gave way to defeat and eventually the she-wolf just planted herself by the fire looking from one female to the other. "Well... how about we share?" Anything to keep her from having to fight with the ground.
This was extremely weird to write, but that's just the kind of mood I'm in today :x
We'll kindle a Fire, A light 'neath the Moon & Sun
The going was slow, peaceful, and easy. Trails of sand and shadow followed her, accompanied by fallen leaves that clung to the ends of an earthy cloak like a babe to its mother. The vast ocean was left behind the old woman, the sounds of the waves playing happily in her ears as calm winds rolled its waters, waving a natural farewell. The air grew chillier, as scents of the night had just begun to make themselves known when the light colored figure moved along the sunset world, a foreshadowing figure flapping overhead.
Bones creaked noticeably as Nehalennia waddled along, following her senses. Within a delicate, silver palm she carried the old skull of a large creature, its features withered away since its discovery along the earthen floor. It was a sign of the night's events, the grand festival before the welcoming of Mother's chilly gaze, a ceremony of life of children above and below the earth. Bran quorked up ahead, stirring the wind above her as he hovered closer towards the hobbling silver form. Raising her muzzle, she breathed out a simple, well known command. "Yn fy llygaid." With that, the yin and yang colored raven took off, as swift as a long, drawn out breath.
Like a storyteller drawn to its candle for inspiration, the large bonfire surged before her clouded vision in the distance, visible even for the crone's limitations. Bran swooped down from the air and landed near the fresh carcass, lain down near the large fire by a familiar figure. 'Meal!' It proclaimed, repeating Nayru's single word when she spoke her gratitude. With a soft jingling of crystals, Nehalennia followed suit among the open field, scenting inhabitants new and old. Faces both familiar and unfamiliar. It mattered not the lands they once came from, for they were all one tonight - behind masks of fright or reality - the dead and the living were treated as a single entity.
The fire's warmth engulfed her, warming the woman's bones behind her earthen cloak. Her cowl remained around her face, and when the silver hybrid's form halted near the flame, she lifted her eyes, the only thing visible behind a cloak of darkness. The raven hopped along the ground until he reached the woman's feet, when he flapped up onto her decorated shoulder. "Samhuinn hapus, my children," she greeted with a dry voice, nostrils flaring as the old sage took in the scents of fire, blood, wolf, wine, and life.
The longer Kiara stayed in Ichika no Ho-en the more welcome she felt. The pack was kind and generous and its peaceful ways would surely mellow out the young wolf in a few years. It was an event like this that Kiara had been waiting for. Samhein would provide the she-wolf with the perfect opportunity to fully integrate herself in the pack and learn its traditions. The more people that arrived, the more excited the arctic wolf got. The two months that Kiara had spent traveling were lonely to a wolf who was used to the social life of a pack. All these new faces enthralled the snow wolf, especially because most of them were the mysterious Luperci.
Merry Samhein Naryu, Pripyat. the she-wolf parroted. Although Naryu offered Kiara a drink, the young wolf did not see how she could possibly drink from the glass bottle. Kiara, unlike most in Nova Scotia, was not a Luperci and many concepts such as wine were still foreign to her. I am alright for now, but thank you for the offer. Kiara eyed the bottle with curiosity as the sweet smell of wine drifted towards her sensitive nose. However, the bottle was quickly forgotten when the juicy smell of a fresh kill wafted towards the her. Kiara sniffed the air and forced herself to be content with the beast's fragrance. As a low ranking wolf, it was not her place to be the first one at the kill. She would just have to wait until the higher ranks had their share.< p>
Kiara decided to turn her attention towards the golden luperci that was making her way towards Shiloh and herself. The approaching wolf seemed unsteady on her feet and in her drunken swagger seemed to sway like a willow tree in the breeze. Merry Samhein X'yrin, its good to see you again. Um...I appreciate the offer, but I... Kiara stopped mid sentence and watched inquisitively as the drunken nomad's mind began to wander. X'yrin wasn't like this when the two first met. What could have brought about the sudden change? Kiara became even more confused when X'yrin slugged the drink and picked up a rock only to declare it as such. With a loud smash, the bottle broke and was left with only a little wine in the bottom.
Oh, she was making a dish for us, how curious. Kiara bent her head to stare at the puzzling liquid and just barely processed the nomads desperate attempts to stay vertical as she retrieved more wine. The young wolf took an uncertain sip of the liquid and brightened immediately. The sensation of alcohol was new to the arctic wolf and she was overjoyed as the sweet substance ran down her throat. Kiara looked up a Shiloh and nuzzled the dish a little closer to shy wolf. You have to try this, its wonderful! When X'yrin returned with a promise to share more wine Kiara happily exclaimed, Oh, yes please! The night was just beginning and Kiara's tail was already thumping the ground at a high rate. With promising friends before her, wine at her feet, and a blazing fire on her back; the she wolf could only look forward to the events to come.
She had heard of this celebration before, but didn't know much details about it. Wretch had felt rather disconnected from things as of late, being more reclusive than ever. She often shut herself away from the world in her apartment, not answering the door if someone knocked and not going outside for days at a time, only emerging for these large group celebrations or meetings. Wretch only had a few select individuals that she enjoyed spending time with willingly, but she wanted to make it appear as if she were invested in things.
The girl did like to wander the lands and explore, charting things out on large slabs of paneling that she carried with her as she went...but she didn't often come across anyone else. The last canine that she'd gone to visit had been Jace. She wondered if the female had given birth yet and, if she had, how many children she'd had. Wretch had considered skipping the celebrations altogether but chose to alter her course at the last minute, heading for the group of canines that had gathered. She had brought nothing with her so she hung around the outskirts of the group, simply watching and observing with her arms crossed.
She was already fast asleep when the call reached her home deep in Westville, waking her from her exhausted slumber. The wolfdog stirred and opened her mismatched eyes breathing heavily as her large weight pressed down upon her. She moved from her back onto her side and that eased the discomfort a little.Despite the tendrils of dreams trying to pull her back to sleep Jace got up from the bed with some amount of difficulty and sat on the edge of it. Getting herself upright was a struggle the female only just won and she sat on the side of the bed with her feet on the floor and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
Rubbing tiredness from her eyes she got to her feet and ashen paws carried her as she waddled from the room and down the hallway and finally out into the rapidly approaching night, shutting the doors behind her to keep what little heat the house gathered inside it. Jace yawned widely and stretched as much as she could feeling her neck and spine crack, her stomach threw her widely off balance at sometimes.
Besides the house the horses were contained in their paddock, she muttered a greeting in low speech to the stallion that was guarding his sleeping half sister and niece, he responded by not baring his teeth at her. She nodded her head in respect, her mouth twitching in amusement at his antics and she turned away from the trio, setting off in the direction the call had come from.
By the time she arrived with her slow waddling gait lots of the pack had already arrived and were in the process of drinking themselves stupid. Sighing wearily the Yakuso tried to slip into the samhain party inconspicuously, she wasn't in the mood or state of mind t have everybody fussing over her, the birth was days if not just hours away she really should be just resting instead of attending social functions. There were a few here that she knew but many she did not. The pregnant woman instead nicked the seat that the Jiryu had just vacated on the log and grinned cheekily up at the black spotted white woman. She searched through the crowd optically until her eyes met Temo and she gestured for him to come over and sit with her. She also saw Wretch hiding in the shadows, and called softly to the girl as well, just a question of company, she could refuse if she wanted.
The smells of Samhain wavered slowly toward Jaden as he trudged forward. The large man’s Optime paws fell hard under the wait of his gift to the celebration: a deer fine deer. He was late to the show and he knew it. It was easily made clear by the on goings and how they had developed into a low buzz of consistent activity. Long shadows cast by the party goers danced and flicked against the surrounding woodland where Jaden would soon emerge.
The Shishen was a little tense. Ever since his hesitation in leading the first Ichikan pack hunt, the man realized that he had a terrible nervousness when approaching a large group of strangers. Leading was one thing but partying with them should be so much easier. There was nothing to stress about, no pressed judgment, no authority to assume or trust to be given. So why was it so difficult to approach his pack members? These were not logical fears for trained a warrior to have! Then of course, neither is aquaphobia, but Jaden didn’t scrutinize himself for that now. The only thing on his mind was how moronic a fear of friendly strangers really is. Besides, they were all distracted now. What better time to assimilate into the group?
Finally emerging from the dark tree line Jaden didn’t pause to observe all the wolves attending for fear of loosing his nerve. He put on a calm façade that came easily as he passed. Plenty of strangers were about but a few were recognizable. Wretch the young hybrid who’d been part if the Ichikan hunt, Temo who had also been on the hunt, and Nayru their kind leader all happened to be between Jaden and the fire and received a nod, a smile, and a holiday greeting spoken only loud enough to beat the buzz of other voices as he passed. Happy Samhain! It seemed that many of them were drinking and the oddly boisterous tones Nayru spoke in were incredibly amusing. The atmosphere ate away slowly and the Shishen’s nerves and he began to calm behind his smile.
After threading his way though his pack mates, Jaden dropped his kill next to the fire with a slightly aggravated huff when he realized there was already meat present. Someone had already provided some and it made the hunter feel like his present was inadequate. But it didn’t matter now. There wasn’t anything to be done to make up for this unfortunate event so it was not time to mingle. Grabbing a dark bottle of wine from the rather large stalk provided, the male popped off it’s cork and took a small draw. The pleasant bite that ensured made his ebony lips smack around the unfamiliarly bitter taste. He then looked about for a friendly face. There had to be someone here that would be easy to talk to.
The party was coming to life before her eyes, swirls of color and firelight danced gaily to the rhythm of excited chatter. Its burning radiance brought a smile to the Nomad's face as she peered with heavy gaze into it. Her senses were swimming in the sea of alcohol. She knew there was meat by scent and her nuisance of an owl companion hovering around by sound, but couldn't follow either trail to its origin. Though, she tried in vain, gradually picking herself up from the warm ground, nearly tripping over an elderly female. Her scent was strong with nature coupled with the allure of Ichika. "Sorry! Sorry!" The she-wolf bid to the grey female before saunter away toward what she hoped was meat, leaving an elated Kiara in high spirits with wine.
Each step was a trial as if the silly woman were learning to walk again. She about gave up on the attempt all together and sought the comfort of four legs. But that would have been admitting defeat to the ground now alive and churning with a mind of its own. The warrior would prevail and slice herself a portion of meat to subdue her sudden hunger.
And what luck that familiarity would be found on her perilous venture. Curls of obsidian and red caught her swimming eyes lit by the vibrant fire-light. Her tail wagged with mirth, excitable feet finding some semblance of stability as she darted toward her kindred spirit. The quest for meat utterly forgotten. "Jaden!" She called to him, dropping the usual formality from his name. To use it now in the midst of celebration seemed absurd... if not an insult to the relaxed air this celebration entailed. She had no bottle to offer him, nor did she feel she could withstand the journey to fetch another. Yet greeting him somehow felt more important than favoring the Nomad's tradition of trade. Wouldn't company be enough to suffice? It made sense in her muddled head at least.
Smiling, she gestured with a large hand to the fire lit festivities, more so flopping than waving as she had intended. "Happy Samhain to you, Shishen," she laughed giddily like a fool. "I don't know what it means, but it seems very fun don't you think?" She was drawn in closer by the comfort felt from his presence. Her previously gestural paw came to rest around the neck of the bottle still in the male's possession. Her brandy soaked eyes lifted his gaze whilst her smile lessened to a softer glow. "You know... I was worried you wouldn't come. I'm glad you did."
Shiloh watched the golden one with curious eyes. She knew what drunk looked like and the golden one was drunk. She was scared she would grow violent. She stood and asked for a bottle if wine with a stutter from the golden one. She took the one she held and took a swig, downing the strong drink. She sat back down quietly and took another drink. She wanted to forget Saxif, forget her pain and sorrow and down herself in her new packs happiness. She walked over to the golden one and took her hand, smiling happily before giving her her bottle of wine back. She too her hand and started to dance with her before licking her face softly.
"You re...remind m...me of....m...my mate.... sh...she Co...couldn't l...love me li...like I sh...should....no o...on...one ...c...can he...help m..me," she slurred to the golden woman. She took the bottle again and took a long drag of the rich string wine before falling to the ground and crying. She wanted so much to be happy. Why couldn't she be like the pack that took her in? She was battered and lost. She was a lost soul looking foor someone to see her and understand. She wanted so much to be understood
The little D'Angelo girl greatly feared reaching out to other canines. She was afraid of putting her faith in many canines any more because of the losses she had suffered and the pain that she had gone through in her short life. She couldn't trust that any canine wouldn't turn and walk away or that she wouldn't get hurt again if she tried to interact with someone new. A creature of habit, she was. Wretch scratched at her upper arm a bit as she stood in the shadows, watching as even more canines arrived and joined the group.
Wretch noticed others reaching for bottles of wine and came forward for a moment to snatch one up for herself, glancing nervously about before she retreated back to her shadowed hiding place. She took a quick sip, letting the taste settle on her tongue as she pulled the bottle back. Interesting...quite unlike anything she had ever tasted before. She took another sip and slowly looked around. Jace stood nearby, back away from the group as well, and she seemed to have noticed Wretch.
She padded over to the pregnant canine, noting her large belly. Soon her pups would come, hopefully. Wretch didn't know how it felt to carry around pups inside, but it didn't look like it was too comfortable. "How are you feeling?" She asked the other in a slight whisper, head tilting to the side. "They'll come pretty soon right?"
It didn’t take long before Jaden’s wandering eyes fell pray to X’yrin’s presence .The fire to his back warmed the man’s fur and flickered him with a vibrant orange silhouette as he watched his friend advance. The calamity in the air fit her press forward. If not for the setting Jaden may have looked at her approach as something way off norm. Compared to the nimble warrior who seemed fond of ambushing him this female was utterly clumsy and informal. But it fit the occasion! It was a little surprising to see her this way, however, it didn’t warrant anything more than an amused chuckle from the Shishen.
The same to you, X’yrin, pronounced Jaden merrily and took a few steps forward to meet the lady. Her laugh was contagious and brought a warm smile upon Jaden’s ebony muzzle as he listened. You know, I’m not too sure the word’s exact meaning either, but the festival does seem lively. With that acknowledgement his eyes fell from the female and onto the wine in his hands. Drinking had never been a pass time for Jaden. He admired the dark glass which was still mostly full due to his feeble draws from it. To be honest, Jaden had only ever been drunk once. That had been a lesson on just how susceptible wolves could be under the influence. During that night, Jaden had agreed to pick up a majority of the pack’s chores for the next week for no better reason than because he wanted to see his friends happy. Apparently his mood was a very easy to influence when liquored too, because reportedly not twenty minutes after pledging to do everything he possibly could for Uva Atka, he’d gotten into an angry drunken spar with a younger braggart. Of course, he’d won but after both having to deal with the pack elders for his disturbance and clean every weapon in the land planned to never loose his head to the poison again.
But just how bad would it be? The kindness of Ichika would more than likely ensure safety for a susceptible to suggestion Shishen, but he was yet to be convinced that indulging as heartily as X’yrin would be appropriate for him. Having a brief moment to let these thoughts pass, Jaden brought his gaze back up and had it completely stolen by the female in front of him. The very power of those eyes on him was startling. Even with their intoxicated sheen, Jaden felt his belly flutter oddly as she spoke and, for a second, he was unsure how exactly he should respond. Well… thank you. he breathed finally and managed a convincingly calm and regular smile, I wouldn’t want to miss out on all the fun. He took hold of her hand gently in his and freed the bottle from her grasp before taking a fine draw. Have I missed much? You seem to be well into the festivities… Jaden teased, using his friendly banter to hopefully patch up and distract from his clumsily breathed response.
The other members proceeded to get themselves more and more inebriated and act out on the blasted thoughts their brains supplied them with Jace casting a slightly disapproving eye over all of them. Staggering about and slurring their words, or in the case of one grey, scarred female, rolling about on the floor and crying. Jace looked at her with a small amount of disgust before turning away. If you couldn't handle your drink then you had no right to be drinking it in front of everyone, the honorable thing would be to remain sober in a public setting and drink alone if you were prone to such fits of pathetic behavior. The hybrid wasn't usually so sour in her thoughts towards the drunk, hormones and a general grumpiness was making her less amiable towards them all, especially the more drunker members, she was scared someone would trip and fall on her.
The young girl did spot her and made her way towards the pregnant hybrid and Jace gestured for her to sit down so the two could sit together. Jace was glad to have a bit of sober company although the blue eyed fae did hold a bottle in her arms she had not consumed any significant amount. The Yakuso smiled up at the Antei, sensing the younger's apprehension at being around so many people, Wretch was a solitary type, Jace knew this. Speaking in the same whisper as Wretch was, not wanting to draw attention onto herself and subsequently the girl as well,
"Tired and a bit grouchy but I will survive, will take more than a single party to do me in." An ashen paw tenderly stroked her swollen stomach as she spoke in an unknowing gesture. "Yes, anytime now It could even start now or in an hour. It is not really exact. They will come when they want." She stifled a chuckle.
It did worry her a bit that the pups hadn't come yet. Wretch didn't know anything about the things that happened between luperci who loved each other or about what could result from such an act...even less about pups or birthing them. She only knew that it seemed that Jace had grown since the last time she had seen her, if that was possible. "I don't know much about them, pups. I don't remember my own puppyhood much...just coming to Dahlia de Mai and then to here. I'm glad our packs merged together, Jace, or I wouldn't have found you though."She said.
Wretch took another drink from the bottle, glancing about the group. There were a fair number of very attractive young luperci there, she noticed, but she made no effort to go and speak with any of them. It wasn't her style, really, to approach others. She often found herself unable to figure out what to say to other canines or what topics were socially acceptable to talk about. "Can you have any of this?" She asked Jace, holding the bottle out to offer it to her. Wretch knew that she couldn't finish the whole bottle by herself, even if the taste was rather addicting.
she is moving to Anathema to live with her mate Rain Marks!!
