ooc: We haven't had a mandatory thread in a while and a little gathering is long overdue. Set in the Dahlia Valley, there is No Posting Order. Bring whatever food or item you like that brings you comfort and revel in the company of your packmates. Dated. April 20th.
The air was cool with just a hint of lingering warmth from the setting sun. Shining lights of brilliant violet and gold set the stage awash in the verdant seas stained bronze and finely accented with flecks of shimmering gold. A regal stage for so casual a gathering, but none the less brought a faint smile to her muzzle as she observed the days prior work.
The female had made sure to accommodate the various forms of their growing harem. An elk blanket for the young mother and her pups, and collection of furs for herself to recline on, and various other accents that were welcomed to be shared among the small family as they came to the valley. But of course for a pair she did not have to wait long for their arrival. Always at her heels, the brother-sister pair joined her in the small circle bringing their own gifts as was suggested by their caretaker. A fine collection of blossoms for young Sophie and a carefully groomed fur shawl for Boothe. The Shepard found a more perishable comfort for herself corked in colored glasses in assorted hues and scents of red and white. Fragrant and so sweet to the taste with a pleasant heady burn that for the moment shrouded her heart in an impregnable field that not even the most bitter misery could penetrate. She clung to her bottles like a hungry wolf clung to meat but was careful that her gluttony would not precede her.
Also in attending were the silent specters of the coming night, preened and proper in all their avian glory with the Great male coming to rest upon his master’s healing shoulder. He hooted his content before wheeling around to ensure himself the young female was there before taking himself down into his soft folds and closing his eyes. X’yrin reached a gentle claw to caress the beak of her beloved friend, comforting him before her muzzle tipped to the air and a booming call tarnished the natural calm. When her breath was gone save for a whisper of her song, she pulled her towering form down to recline upon her prized furs, legs folded beneath her as she sat with bottle in hand.
in the day that you were born?
tell me, do you believe?
Word Count → 382
Pia felt guilty for spending so much time outside of the pack territory. She knew that she should be exploring the mountains more, hunting for her comrades, actually meeting her comrades too. She could spend an entire day meandering within the territory without actually meeting one of her pack mates, though, and that made her sad.
These past few days, she had made more of an effort to stay on top of things within Ichika no Ho-en and tried really had to reach out to more people. She had heard of a gathering coming up, for sharing stories and companionship, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to make true friends with those in the pack.
She’d made sure to look nice for the meeting, braiding her hair with more care than usual and weaving some flowers into the plaits. Her clothes had been washed in the river outside her chosen home, and although nothing could be done for the natural wear of her corset and pants, they looked as good as they ever had. The forgotten crushed pine cones and acorns and petals and down collected in her pockets had floated away on the current, but carefully-chosen smooth stones still weighed the pants down as she walked toward the valley. It was one of her favorite haunts, especially the big temple with its gardens, and so she moved at a jolly pace, singing a tune.
The howl of the High Shepard broke over the melody, and the mottled grey she-wolf grinned as she took longer, brisker strides. She finally stepped into a circle of furs, spying a pair of young luperci as well as the leader herself, the great owl perched with her. Her ears fell back against her dark hair as her tail wagged in broad strokes. Her hands clutched one of the bigger, smoother river stones she’d collected; she thought she might float off without its weight, since she was so giddy about the gathering.
Namaste, High Shepard, Pia greeted in a cheerful chirp, finding a soft patch of grass to settle down in. She swung her braid over a shoulder and grinned, waiting for others to arrive. Her nose caught the heady scent of the bottle, however, and served to distract her for a moment. What’s that stuff?
Pia Optime by Me; table code from the Mentors!
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rambly post, sorry. ; ;
Sage hadn't been prepared for the meeting. Although her mood had improved quite a bit recently, she had still been out of the loop, anti-social, and disconnected from her packmates. Hours that weren't spent alone walking with Lennon were spent on the farm, doing her duty. The Lykoi girl was nothing if not dutiful, especially now. She had noticed the fading scents. Too, though, she had noticed several new ones. Three, in fact. Once, she might have sought them out. Now, she only wondered if they would last.
Even Saluce had gone, she knew. It was a shock, and she had thought him so happy here. Not that long ago, he had tried so hard to cheer her up. It had helped, a bit, but now who would cheer her? The thought made the frown return to her face even now as she rode towards the Valley. Everywhere was quieter, and aside from the aging Macarius, all of the scents were female. It didn't bode well for their safety, and Sage worried about it daily after her dealings with Magnolia.
Her meeting with Clover had confirmed her sister's safety, and she had seemed well enough-- thank the Mother--, but Sage was still uneasy. Her blonde sibling seemed to enjoy her new home, but did she really know what they were like? The tawny Lykoi couldn't understand it. They had been raised in the same way; when had they all become so dissimilar?
The trek to the Valley didn't take long on Lennon's sure back, but Sage's brooding had made a worried crease in her brow. She tried to hide it as she approached, dismounting to greet the High Shepard traditionally. "Namaste," she said, nodding her head. The Lykoi thought she recognized the two pups beside Xy'rin, but couldn't recall their names. Ambers flickered to the new face among the four, a mottled, silvery brown girl with dark hair and a pretty smile. Sage was thankful for smiles, and tried her best to return them with her own.
Reaching into her bag, she took out a thin joint and lit it, puffing gratefully as she relaxed on the ground beneath the falling sun, letting the flames warm her fur and color her face. The herbal cigarettes were the one thing the willowy Lykoi always had plenty of, and she was happy to share. As she breathed out the fragrant smoke, she held the thing out to the others in offering. "I've got plenty to share," she said, trying to be friendly. She still felt awkward here, and knew that she needed to bond with them. This meeting was her chance. After all, Xy'rin carried a bottle herself, and Sage could smell it's strong scent from here. Perhaps she would share that, too.
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Kiara had spent most of the month relatively isolated. Although she was often forced to leave her young puppies, all of her trips had been for hunting rather than socializing. Her desire to protect the infant wolves was outweighed by the need to feed them. Lucia and Kohaku had both started the weaning process and she also needed to feed herself. Although Tharin's regular visits helped elevate her burden, it wasn't enough to allow Kiara to spend all of her time at the den. Even after Amy's attack, Kiara had still been forced to travel and hunt. However, the new scar on her shoulder only increased her reclusive behavior. The scarred mother was reluctant to show her pack mates her scars, and the small size of the pack had allowed her to keep herself hidden.
For the arctic wolf, Amy had become the stuff of nightmares. She had managed to attack Kiara twice physically, and once mentally. All three times, Kiara was practically helpless against the onslaught of Amy's brutality. Even so, the most recent attack had been cast with a purpose. Amy had infected the snow wolf with the luperci virus. Yet days passed without Kiara ever feeling the need to shift. The miracle boggled her mind and left her stumped. She wasn't sure why she hadn't shift yet and a question had begun to creep into her mind: would she ever shift? The young female spent her resting period praying that she would never change, that she had somehow escaped the wrath of the luperci virus. During her active hours, Kiara was forced to go on as if nothing had happened.
The young mother had just returned from a hunt. Several small rodents were stuffed into her mouth, and Lucia and Kohaku both whines and licked her jaw as she prepared their meals. Unfortunately for her, a call rang out through the forest. The two puppies listened, and returned the alpha's summons with calls of their own. Their high-pitched howls were weak and only vaguely sounded like a wolf howl. Kiara smiled at their feeble attempt and nuzzled her puppies affectionately. Lucia and Kohaku weren't even a moon old, yet they had grown so much. Their bodies had grown exponentially and both weighed just under six pounds. Their senses had sharpened a little and only fueled their curiosity. However, both still had trouble walking and could only move on shaky limbs before falling over.
Reluctantly, the young mother stood and exited her den. She moved as quickly as her injured shoulder would allow her to. Kiara moved through the familiar, but nearly empty lands. Soon, she arrived at the gathering. Already many had assembled around a circle of furs. Sage held some sort of stick that smoked and made the air smell strange. X'yrin held several colorful bottles filled with a sweet smelling liquid. Kiara's ears flicked back as she tried to recall her original encounter with the strange drink. All she really remembered was the massive headache she had suffered through the day after. With a low tail, the new mother approached the golden giant. "Namaste X'yrin. What's going on?"
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