It is not mandatory for you to post in this thread, but we are assuming all members (save Kaena, Halo, and her children) would be present.

It was time. Ezekiel could not wait for the whispers of doubt to spread (as he was sure they had) and so he quickly moved to quell them. The coyote traveled in his lupus form, four legs carrying him quickly to the fenced borders of the mansion. A gate, ajar enough for members to slip in and out, greeted him. He saw rust on its edges and decided it would become another project for the spring. As he traveled towards the back of the building, the Aquila debating shifting but decided against it. Red feet trotted towards the large stone that served as the leader’s chair, where he leapt up nimbly and let out a loud, yipping call.

He settled onto his haunches, fluffy tail curling around one leg, and sighed heavily. The news was not good, but he hoped that other news (such as the recent mateship) would provide some joy for the clan. With spring nearing his hope for recovery was fast approaching. Ezekiel further hoped to allow the rest of the clan to speak this time, certain that they had news and ideas to share. A glance to the empty stone seats next to his own was given, reflecting on their position last season, and now glad at least one seat would be filled.

Ithiel is by Kitty!

The dusky man heard the call and came quickly, his long limbs carrying him swiftly toward the mansion. There was no urgency in the call, but Ithiel wished to be punctual, and he did not mind running, in any case. Some Luperci were built to run, and Ithiel was one such canine. His Optime form was well-suited to it, being rather tall but exceptionally well-muscled, lean and without so much as an ounce of superfluous fat on his body. Certainly, should he cease his usual rituals and work, his figure would decay and lose its hardness, but Ithiel was, for the foreseeable future, a picture of youthful strength.

He slid amongst them, quietly making his way through the gate, and stood at the rear of them, blood-red eyes surveying his packmates. He met the gaze of whichever chose to look at him, inclining his head in greeting, but said and did no more. He crossed his arms and peered toward the curious stone chairs, one of which was occupied by Ezekiel. The other was occupied by a paler canine, one he assumed to be Vesper. Myrika had spoken of her, albeit briefly. The dark man did not see his red-haired cousin, and he pondered her absence. Was Halo still incapable of being left alone for prolonged time? Perhaps she was simply late. Kastra and Aemon were present, albeit on the fringes of the gathering, rather like himself.

The dusky man's attention remained focused on his leader, though he did not rush to prompt the man to speak. Nor did he interact with his neighbors -- in fact, he was withdrawn from the pack, feeling very much an outsider. It did not bother him, however -- he had sworn fealty to Inferni, and he served the clan in that capacity. His oath did not involve friendship, after all.

Myrika is by Kiri!

Myri entered the garden timidly, tiptoing toward the group with apprehension written on her features. She did not deal well with crowds, and rather preferred interacting with her fellow canines one-on-one. Her prior experience with groups of Luperci, especially those groups of youth in Thornloe, was not positive. She could not shake the faint fear even knowing she faced a group of grown adults, and out ranked most of them.

Perhaps it was the rank which made her nervous -- the tawny woman did not know how to be an authority, in truth, and she did not know how to lead. Ithiel had not been able to teach her this, and he had told her as much. Though there were many other skills she had started acquiring from her cousin, leadership was not amongst them. This worried the red-haired woman, for she was too frightened of being thought of as weak to ask Ezekiel for his assistance.

The rusty gate creaked as she slid past it, standing taller than most of the group before her. For this reason, Myri hung back, spying Ithiel off to the side. She slid over toward him, offering no greeting but to stand by his side. The man's carnelian eyes flicked toward her once, but he did not greet her, either. She hunkered down a little next to him, even though he was one of the few coyotes to outsize her. However immensely tall Ithiel seemed, he did not seem to notice at all.

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The doggish hybrid yawned widely, massive teeth coming together with a sharp click as his mouth shut. He had been dozing contently in the library of the mansion, sunlight beaming in and onto his pale coat. Their other dog, Rémy, had been experimenting in the kitchen with a variety of meals that were thrust upon Max. While a willing test subject, he had gorged himself sleepy and wound up curled in a large, torn-up chair. Comfortable as he was, the call from Ezekiel could not be ignored. Large paws dropped to the floor and he pulled himself out with a stretch, dragging his hind legs behind him until he stood fully.

With a full-body shake, Max trotted towards the kitchen. Rémy was stoking the wood-burning stove, and grunted at the boy’s approach. With a snort Max went on, the black-mouth cur trailing behind him. The two took places near the edge of the group, Max still in his lupus form and Rémy standing tall behind him. All eyes were on the leaders, one golden and the other sandy-colored. They both wore scars, Vesper’s more apparent, but these were things to be proud of in a clan that valued physical prowess and war.

(541)

They came, one by one or in pairs, moving with trepidation. It did not surprise him. Inferni was a large clan but words spread quickly. He felt the weight of leadership toiling against his shoulders yet, but held himself as if he had been carved of stone and shaped of fire. This was how his father would have done such a thing, and Ezekiel wished to reassure his coyotes of their place in the world. Amber eyes trailed over familiar faces and some less familiar yet; a puppy contained by the woman, Omni, who had just begun showing signs of the life growing inside of her. This pleased him; it would do well to have more children born into the clan.

Each greeting was returned with equal acknowledgement, though he found time to linger on a pale shape beyond his half-brother. Kastra had become familiar to him, and he felt a yearning desire for her yet—it was only his own behavior that kept them apart, for he was unsure how to act around her and hated the cross-examination that came with each conversation.

Vesper joined him and the golden coyote gave her a faint smile of approval, though it was short lived. His attention turned out as the final few stragglers trailed in—Enkiel was the last to come, looking sour and remaining far from the central circle. He resented his downward shift in the ranks, but it had been of his own doing; Halo had needed extreme and dedicated care, and he could not fill any duties beyond those of his co-rank. Still, Ezekiel knew it stung to see his position shift so suddenly.

Still, they all made sacrifices. “Inferni,” he began, his voice strong but not by volume alone. It had been strengthen by war, and battle, and blood. “Some of you know why I’ve called you here. As of today, Halo Lykoi no longer serves as the Triarii—she was grievously wounded by a deliberate attack by wolves upon her son.” The Aquila paused, took a breath, and exhaled steam into the cold air. “Let this serve as a warning to you all; none of us is above harm. If you engage in combat with a group of enemies, call for aid. Especially you younger ones.” He looked to Omni sharply, indicating she was within this group. Shifting on his rock, the scarred hybrid looked back amongst the odd mixture of coyote, hybrids, all different shapes and colors. How peculiar that they would become something like this.

“Once the winter passes, I want to repair this building behind us. Many of you live in it, and I’m sure you’re aware it needs it. Keep this in mind and look for supplies as you can; I’ll be going to Salsola to trade with them soon, but we should not rely on them alone. Look in human places, or cut down dead trees. If we intend to keep the mansion standing I suggest you look for areas that need repair.” Satisfied his point had been made, the golden male glanced to Vesper. Perhaps as their head scout, she could introduce the news about their newest neighbors (and changing leadership) that might not have reached ears that did not travel.

Ithiel is by Kitty!

The dark coyote listened with a increasingly grim appearance as his half-brother spoke, then the scarred woman beside him. The rest of the world did not abide by Ithiel's ideals, but he was not one to bend the rest of the world to him. He was no leader, and he could make no decisions on this pack's leadership. He listened to the scarred woman with increasing understanding of her prowess and ability, appraising her with sharp reddish eyes. Surely one bearing so many marks had engaged in battles before, and surely she was fit to lead the clan? His uneasiness did not abate entirely, however, and he frowned deeply at her conclusion, sparing a glance toward the snorting coyote who saw fit to turn his back. Such was not Ithiel's jurisdiction, though the dissenter seemed distinctively Lykoi. Ithiel had not yet met him, however, and he could hardly speak for all his family here.

The man's ears perked up as he heard the sounds of low voices, too much a murmur for him to make out. He peered from one face to the next, his face appearing as grim as it ever had. Carnelian eyes flicked toward the stone seats, and he considered speaking himself for a long moment. In the end, he decided it was best not to say anything at all. There were hybrids present here, half-wolves and canines barely carrying any hint of coyote's blood -- could he trust all of them? Ithiel did not think so. Anything he needed to say could be addressed to his Aquila and his Optio, in private. The Vigiles could make no carp regarding Inferni's defenses or treatment, and he had nothing to contribute, after all -- swearing his fealty over again did nothing to guard Inferni.

She didn't really want to be here -- she belonged back on the Great Village, caring for her horses and isolating herself there. The last thing she wanted to do was face the rest of Inferni, but thankfully, it would seem no one noticed her at all -- and even if they had, Myri's blue-green eyes never rose from the dirt directly in front of her, though her pricked ears indicated she listened to the Aquila and the Optio speak in turn. Frowning, she thought of the shadow-dark alpha of New Dawn. He had seemed reasonable to Myri, though terribly frightening at first -- perhaps a less placating member of the clan (Ithiel, perhaps?) would have ended up engaging the man in a fight.

She also remembered her visit to Ichika no Ho-en and the uncle that had lived there, though to hear Vesper tell it, that uncle no longer resided there. Sage was there, though. Myri frowned harder, and her ears flicked downward as Vesper ceased speaking. She heard murmurs somewhere in the crowd, inaudible whispers fluttering through the clan's assembled members. She was glad Vesper and Ezekiel seemed to want caution -- she did not know if she could bear more bloodshed, no matter the reason. Surely, her objection was a mere carp to most of these hardened members of Inferni. They'd be better off without her, if it came to war -- as it had so many times in the past.

Myrika is by Alaine!