Welcome, Guest!

OOC: For current band members as well as any potentials in process at the moment. Also, this is a one time opportunity for loners to come and hear him out and what his plans will be to take steps towards becoming a full pack. Those who are interested in what he has to offer are free to join and should it not appeal to them they are free to depart the territory peacefully this one time only. On the chance that 10 or more wolves show and interested I will be sure to get the last few points I need in order to make it into a full pack. =) Deadline for first round is Sunday, September 18th. Note that posts do not have to be long. It was time to see what he had accomplished thus far. There was not much from what he could estimate, but a society was not founded overnight. He still had much to do and the first step would be to assess where he stood with members. This would not be just for the few he had gathered though, it would be open to all, to see how many loners still lingered in these lands. With no hope and no home to turn to, he would offer shelter and food to them for the right price. Spring was on the horizon and the chance of larger game returning to the vargo was a high probability as flood waters had receded and lush grass would soon appear from beneath the ivory blanket. Large paws shifted the snow as claws churned with determination. He stood regal atop one of the larger hilltops that littered the lands; a lone tree acting as his marker for those who could not see him. Borders had been scented with his thick musk due to the season, a warning to those to steer clear of his territory. But not today. Today he would extend a helping paw to those who sought it out. His temper subsided for the present moment though the aching in his body still surged with the heat of the season. It was a dangerous time for him to be calling a gathering, but there was no other option presented to him if he wished to get things moving faster than the current pace. Tilting his head back, ears pinned against his head as he released a deep baritone song into the air, summoning those of his band and calling out to any loners in search of a home. The strength in his voice could not be denied as it rang out into the clouded atmosphere. His russet fur blew with the winter wind. With each passing day the air warmed; an oncoming sign that spring was nearing and the harsh weather would soon subside. His offer was made clear, a moment of peace to cross the borders so clearly defined without prosecution. It would not last long though. The window was closing fast as the seconds ticked by. Morpheus let his song die out, his two toned gaze set on the horizon. It was high noon, but it was hard to tell with the thick cloud cover overhead. Ears swiveled forward as he listened to his haunting song echo until it faded into silence. Now came the waiting and he hoped he would not have to wait long for those to answer his call. Behemoth frame remained fixated where he stood. Watching. Waiting.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

Annoyed and aggravated by his most recent company Azren had stepped back into the lands of Aro'lahn with a moody air about him. He wasn't happy with Athena and the look of disgust she seemed to give him when he spoke highly of his alpha. She was lucky she hadn't crossed into their land because he surely would have ripped her to shreds in a matter of minutes. He hadn't liked her since her rude behavior at their first encounter. Azren, like Morpheus was a proud man and he wouldn't befriend someone who could simply shrug off a friendly gesture as if it had never happened. In fact he wasn't sure why he'd been nice to her at all and almost wished she'd crossed that line. He shook his head, almost disgusted with himself for showing the wench the kindness in which he had. Since leaving her Judas and Heroin had been silent and he supposed he could at least be thankful for that.

He stalked along the borders, watching, waiting for someone to make the mistake of crossing into the land he was set to protect. He almost dared someone to step forward, his blue eyes hiding the darkness within his soul. There was something bothering him other then the season. The lands were quiet other then the cold winter wind that blew at his fur. No other wolves were to be seen, other then Morpheus himself. The thought haunted him. There needed to be more but could he possibly bring more into the band, could he help make it strong and proud. He'd damn well try, perhaps die trying if he had to. He shook off the thought however, reminding himself that, for the moment he was on patrol and needed to keep his mind on that. His eyes slowly scanned the terrain. There was nothing so far.

It was shortly after this that he heard the call of his master. His ears perked and he listened until the sound of Morpheus voice was nothing but a memory and then he ran. His muscles pumped him forward with speed and grace, his feet kicking up a dust of snow, a trail behind him. He'd be the first one to this party and as the only soldier of the band he would protect Morpheus during this meeting, as well as participate in the meeting. It didn't take long for him to get there and after a short bow he stepped up beside Morpheus but off to the side, giving him a knowing look. He felt it his job to be sure the other man was safe and so he would stay near in case of conflict, his blue eyes watching, waiting. No words fell from his lips for there was no need for words at the moment.

The demon's are speaking... Do you hear them?


who have i become ; oh god, everyone, everyone, everything

CODING BY KENZ

OOC Hope you don't mind some OOC drama... Athena had gotten several feelings from Azren, one of which was the thought that he disliked her. The dislike of which could only grow slowly into a loathing. The other was that he seemed displeased with her being so close to their new clan's borders, of which she knew little about. When Azren had left her standing bewildered in the cold, she had stood there for quite some time, unsure what to do. It wasn't long until a familiar voice lit up the sky in a beckoning song. With Athena already being so close to the place, she simply couldn't resist the urge to join. But the costs were high, and she feared being caught on the lands outside of the meeting would be the end of her - whether she was traveling to it or not. Backing up a few steps, she stretched, readied, and burst forwards, willing every ounce of strength and speed out of her muscles as she possibly could, hurtling in a straight line towards the site where the call had originated from. -- Her limbs had begun to burn and she knew she could not keep up this pace for very long. It was then that she spotted the man from a far, looking almost regal. She slowed, and at last stopped at a comfortable distance away. Athena had no tail to tuck, but she did what she could to hide the stub of her tail in the same gesture. She also tried to make herself appear smaller. Feeling rather exhausted, she couldn't help but pant quietly. Only now that she had arrived did she realize her mistake, perhaps it would have been better to call for a private audience later. Being a wolf from another pack, and in heat at that, it was a stupid thing to do. A different, distinct smell wafted to her nose and she realized that Morpheus was not alone - Azren was here as well. Oh boy. Athena averted her eyes, not wanting to look into anyone's for fear of it being construed as a challenge, and waited silently to be called on. "#ddd"

A conflicted heart resided within the Vargo. A tormented mind as well, but it was not as pained as the heart looking across the sloping meadows with uncertainty.Was this the right choice? 'Right' was subjectivve in and of itself, for while the heart felt certain, the mind was anything but. A home could be had here, a role fulfilled and purpose met. But what home was there without familiarity? Thrust again into the open world, the heart was lost, longing for the comfort of a familiar embrace, yet it longed more for its reason of being within these lands. The mind had known better, known these wants were nothing more than the fancy of a longing heart when what it truly desired resided far, far North perhaps never to be seen again. So why remain here in this place that was anything but home? Because the heart was tricked? Perhaps so... shamefully so. Where was her beloved sister when she needed her? Where were her pups to bring a smile to her worn face? How long mst she be here til the inevitable play itself out and she was left standing like the fool she knew herself to be? A behemoth's call stole her attention, her ears lifting to receive though her body remained still. Nahrus turned her muzzle toward the resonating voice. What did he want now? Had he grown tired of the stillness? Reluctantly she left her solitude, her thoughts in her wake, to be within the company of her few comrades; the deranged child bent on pleasing his superior and the self-assured King of two. Her greeting to both was nothing more than a curt nod of her head, her regal stature maintained though the cold of winter sapped her energy weakening her otherwise proud strut. Their leader's call was an invitation, as far as she heard, but there was little to warrant excitement. It was to the descresion of those that passed whether or not they would hear the grump out. His disposition undoubtedly unchanging, the lady wouldn't have been surpised if their numbers remained as they were. Less their hides were tough and their feelings ironclad, it was doubtful many would carter to this...distinguished brute's offer. Of course, she wouldn't allow herself to miss the events as they unfolded.

Table and Image by Jay

wolf photo to khevyel, beauuuutiful table by jay! <333 Her aim was clear, though her direction was questionable, the reason being that she had never traveled there before. Azren had told her of the Whispering Vargo and the band Aro’lahn, but her knowledge of Torva and it’s vast expanse was limited to the idealized tales that swam in the back of her memories. She knew now, how wrong those spinning fairytales had been, and though it made her bitter to think of how she was so wronged by everyone in Romanov… she had to make the best of her situation now. The idea of returning to them almost made her feel ill, now, and the longer she stayed, the more she felt she had to accomplish… it was a terrible cycle but she’d trapped herself and now she couldn’t escape. Her lips curled into a bitter and ugly snarl, uncommon and unused to her pretty, angelic features, and Isidore had to drop it after only a few moments. Her mind continued to broil in heated discontent, however, continually displeased by how nothing, absolutely nothing was working. Momentary hope had been instilled by the appearance of Morikiah and talk of Vladimir and the hopes of some pack, Drachma, filled with grandeur… only for them to also be snatched away and stomped upon. A laugh left her mouth, cold and frigid against the chilled air as she continued her path, the sky of her eyes searching and searching for some sign of life. But it seemed she would have a guide there after all. A sudden, powerful howl ripped through the air, similar to Morikiah’s that she had heard, urgent, calling all of those that wanted to come. It was interesting… from what Azren had said, this was already a group of wolves, not like the lack of Drachma that Morikiah had called for? So then, what the aim of this particular howl… it called for anyone, someone like her, wandering… to attempt to get her to join? It was very likely, and she did not dismiss the idea. Her attentions shifted from her bittersweet relationship with home back to the present and her current goal, her angelic face settling into one of expressionless determinism as she paused in her step, listening to that incredible sound. Her lips slowly, gracefully, curled up the side of her muzzle, dancing along her face in the most complementary of gestures as she started forward again, knowing now that her direction had been the proper one. Isidore’s original plan had been simply to investigate, maybe linger around the borders and try to see if she could find someone to talk to, maybe even Azren once again, but it seemed like today she would be lucky. She was being invited inside, without any complications rules. How trusting, this Morpheus. Her travels did not carry out to be much longer, and before long the dark shadows of wolves upon snow were seen on the top of a hill, and her lips curled further as she slowed her pace, taking her leisurely time to make her way to the gathering. It felt dangerously illicit to be here, walking where normally she would be severely punished for. It was incredibly interesting, this exhilaration, like nothing she’d felt before. Though she liked to play with minds, Isidore was careful to follow the rules set out for her. It would do no good to break them and get herself in trouble… for then, what games would she be able to play? None at all. Letting her gaze remain easy and apparently friendly, she noticed the two females first, possibly from scent, possibly for her immediate assessment of competition, though what competition was she if they were already a part of Aro’lahn? Isidore almost chuckled at her thoughts, before slowing to a pause, her eyes landing on Azren first, their blue eyes matching and hers resting on his with recognition. ”Hello again, Azren,” she murmured, before turning her eyes on the beast at last, the one with two different colored eyes. She liked the look of him immediately, and her smile widened slightly, her body and her skull poised perfectly. A graceful, small cursy was made on her part, before she allowed herself the liberty to look right in Morpheus’ eyes. "And you must be the Morpheus I’ve heard so much about. A pleasure to meet you. My name is Isidore Romanov,” she told the leader, keeping her body low in dominance but high in looks, her head gracefully polite with flattened ears while her eyes remained bold and searching, glances cast over to the unknown females, waiting with youthful excitement for the events to follow.

Thoughts and Narration Speech She wandered aimlessly. Idle thoughts plagued and poisoned her mind as she walked, creating images of hulking beasts and meek pups. Torva seemed promising so far, but even so she doubted severely that she would stay long. She never stayed anywhere for too long, not when her sense of adventure and curiousity was constantly being piqued by the hypnotic pull of the unknown. One would never know anything of the world should they confine themselves to a singular territory. Land was land. Grass was grass. Water was water. The only difference was the impertinent pups that felt the need to behave savagely for control of it all. The plane upon which all living creatures dwelled was vast. Why anyone felt the need to tie themselves to any one parcel of it was beyond her. Didn't they know that there were bigger, better things out there? New to the area, she had not felt the need to force her presence upon anyone in hopes of making friends. Friends never lasted, so there was never a pressing need for them. She hunted alone, ate alone, slept alone, and traveled alone. While her solitary existance pressed in upon her at times, she had found that it was easiest. Never before had she stumbled onto anyone that shared her restlessness, her hunger for knowledge, her passion for adventure. She had convinced herself that such a being simply did not exist. For everyone, it seemed, was tied up in the vie for land and power nowadays. Her ears perked, catching the baritone song that floated lazily about on the breeze. A band meeting? Why not. She moved now with a loosely construed sense of purpose towards the gathering, her curiousity caught and held, hook, line, and sinker. Meandering throughout the foliage, she began the climb up an incline. A smirk wrung itself upon her muzzle as she stared from afar, watching the females gather around the would be alpha. As she moved closer, she lowered her tail to a more respectful height, yet kept her head up, senses alert. This being her first time coming upon any others, she would not be caught unaware. For all she knew, she could be intruding and they would turn and attack. Nevermind that the male's call had been welcoming. Females were nasty creatures if they felt they had competition, and while she didn't want to be cocky, she was anything but plain jane wolf. She began to hum quietly to herself, some melody picked up from a far away land. Within her skull her brain whirled a mile a minute, no longer bogged down by idle ramblings. No, now was the time to be alert. She ventured closer, finding the eyes of the alpha, blinking, and wagging her tail slightly before moving her eyes and attention elsewhere. The others reeked of the area, obviously having been here a great deal longer than she. With a sigh she placed a more regal expression on her muzzle, a captivating smile, and approached the male. Might as well introduce herself. Upon reaching him, she again made brief eye contact, mentally forcing herself to blink, and wagged her tail, lowering her ears a minute amount. Hello, I'm Talith. I don't mean to be rude, but where am I, exactly? I'm new here, maybe just passing through, and heard you calling. Curiousity killed the wolf and here I am. Forgive me if I am coming on a tad agressively, its been a while since I was around much of anyone. One can't keep too much company while traveling, you see.

ooc: Nahrus will be dictated in Bold The Mountains had always been a home to her and the small family of Simul. But it was becoming more apparent as the winter wore on that it would no longer let them remain upon it. A torrent of ice and snow swept away all they kept dear. Only their lives were left intact. Perhaps a few furs and trinkets they could carry, but nothing more. Since they were pushed from their home, the Exultare female had seen little of her mate... if anything of him at all. Her heart clenched with with worst, her mind reeling over what could have happened to him. Had the Fates been so cruel as to rob her of a mate just as her body prepared to give birth? What cruel, horrible mistresses, these ladies of Fate. How unkind... their touch. When most would wallow, and wallow she did, X'yrin did not allow herself to succumb to the weight of tragedy. She would not weep any longer. She would prevail, not just for herself but for the living beings moving within her, seeking the light of life. She would not bring them into the life of desperation or sadness, but of prosperity and promise. As she had done before settling upon the mountain, she would seek a home again. Til her body gave out and there was nothing more to give, she would continue to search for home. And if Fate was not in her favor, if the winter proved to ensnare her, then at least she would not parish alone. Her body was weak, exhausted, but persistence awarded her the grace of warm sunlight and an open vargo. Her paws used to trekking through frigid slush and atop unforgiving rock were suddenly within soft grasses with the cooling touch of late winter upon them. Such sweet relief, the female about lifted her head to cry with joy! Something other than stone! But she thought better than to announce herself; the very pregnant female so weak and helpless. It was a miracle she'd ventured this far with nothing more than an angry badger to hinder her progress. No, she would keep quiet for now, less she was already under the watchful eye of whomever claimed this land. The scents were distant, none the less there; the territorial mark of claim. She lowered her nose to the ground, a tinge of familiarity peaking her interest. She recognized that pungent whiff; the scent of grump was practically embedded within it. So the brute had claimed land for himself... or was this another Samaritan trick used to calm another pack-on-pack dispute? The lady proceeded with that humorous thought in mind, already crafting a witty speech to assault his ears with. ---- She had grown bored sitting still, awaiting whomever would heed the male's call. But was it not her place to be at a leader's side? Hadn't she been raised for that particular goal? But what if this leader was the recipient of her affections? What then? Was she to remain idly by until she was called to speak? The idea was absurd. The colossus had his rabid dog to do his bidding. The female rose swiftly, ignoring the new arrivals as they came trickling in. Her eyes turning to the subtle crest, she found something much more worth her acknowledgement. A blundering form, round and worn, bare;y keeping step as it descended the hill. A mirror image of herself only swollen with life. "YOU IDIOT!" No heartfelt greeting, no tears of joy. Only a high octave bellow and sudden bound for the pregnant fool. And like a fool, the other dame was grinning, tail wagging an tongue flailing from her maw as she sister came to greet her. "It's wonderful to see you too, Sister." X'yrin plopped her rump soundly on the ground then abruptly rolled to her side. She laid still as her sibling towered over her, baring fangs in her tired face. "Although a simple 'Hello' would have sufficed..." Nahrus couldn't believe what she was seeing, or rather she didn't want to believe she sister was this foolish. Weak, starved, and above all pregnant. Had the bitch lost all sense in their short time apart. The female did everything within her power not to snap the woman in the face for her jest. This was far from a humorous matter. "You damn fool..." the smaller sibling hissed. "What if something happened to you...or your children? Why are you even here!?" Still, she bore down at the woman in outrage though X'yrin was anything but intimidate. She looked as calm as ever, quite sure of herself despite her present condition. From the ground, she inhaled the dormant flora... the unique aroma of her sister's scent and felt peace become her. Like returning home after a tireless journey, she felt content. "You would have just found me." She looked up at her sister. "As I told you; that would not be the last time we saw each other. I just didn't preface the conditions... Take solace knowing that I am alive."

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

The howl was the trumpet for Judgement Day. Like any mortal being, she marched in an orderly like to meet her Judge. It was not the day that she feared, but the fact that she walked there alone. Niyol would not be joining her on this next big adventure, and while she held no ill will towards her brother, she had to admit that this was not her ideal situation. But there was no way she could drag him with her and make him miserable. They had to go where it would be best for them. it just so happened that their paths did not cross this time around. The shadowy young girl crossed the new borders in the Western Region, a region that she thought she'd never call home again. But this was not Dieu's land. This was Morpheus'. Sure enough, the large russet male came into view soon enough, as well other a few other wolves. One of the females was pregnant and having a chirpy conversation with another female. Yet another male and female sat silently. Na'vi did not know them, but she already held them contempt. Adults could not be trusted, like serpents in the grass that spoke lies. She wanted nothing to do with any of them. Indeed, the only reason she was here was that she needed a place to stay and Morpheus did not seem horrible. But all the rest? She had no interest. Sitting off to the side from the adults, Na'vi gave Morpheus a slight nod of her head in greeting, though she remained silent, waiting for the meeting to begin.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

OOC: Yay! Definitely more than I expected showed up to this so thank you everyone who decided to come check out what Morpheus has to offer. ^.^ Latecomers are still welcome to hop in until the meeting has concluded so don't feel as though you can't join because you missed the first round. Next round will begin September 25th. Morpheus isn't big on long speeches. XD And there is no posting order. There was no surprise when Azren was first to arrive. Thus far he had proven to be an excellent member even with their few numbers. He spoke nothing which was appreciated by the russet male, who spoke few words himself most days. No reason to say a word was given for they both new why they were here and waiting to see who else would respond to his open call. A subtle nod in greeting was given to the obsidian brute with piercing eyes before his two toned gaze returned to scanning the landscape for signs of further life. Ears were drawn forward, his body remaining composed as he stood there in silence; all senses on the alert. What came next however was not something he anticipated. Gaze shifted with a darting glance towards a familiar elder fem. Bulky figure repositioned himself to face her, his stance growing rigid as his hackles rose in caution. Nose wrinkled as he looked her over with a warning gaze. Nostrils flared noting the scent of pack on her and the season thick in the air around her. "You have a lot of nerve showing up here." From what he had seen in the past, she had no intention of ever leaving her merry band of miscreants. Her purpose here could mean nothing more than stirring up trouble when he wished for none. "If you have no thought of joining this band, you best leave my lands now peacefully or I will have Azren escort you out. I will not be so generous if I have to ask you a second time." Gruff voice bellowed in a deep baritone chord. He had never been to one to make idle threats or play around and he certainly wasn't in the mood to deal with her in the middle of trying to gather new recruits. Only a moment was spared from Athena as he noted the arrival of Nahrus. Athena would not win out here if she tried anything brash so he could not fathom why she chose to come in so blatantly if she had no intentions of joining. Unless he had her mistaken and indeed she wished to join; which if that was the scenario unfolding before his narrowed gaze, she would have to prove herself capable enough to join them. Distractions began to pour in as an unfamiliar scent drifted to his ebon nose. Eyes found the ashen form of the fem as she came upon the hill to join them. Curious glance was given to Azren as she greeted him as though they were friend. And hear all about him? That could definitely be a bad thing given his demeanor. He had never been one to earn praise outside of his birth pack and at that time it was forced upon them given his ranking and bloodline. Eyebrow rose as he glanced back to Azren, curious about what exactly he had been saying about him. With her presence alone meant that it had to be something decent or else she would not have shown. A dip of his head was given to her as she offered a name. "And what is it you hope to get out of his meeting, Isidore?" He inquired with half his senses always trained on Athena, not forgetting about her intrusion to his gathering. Attention was split yet again as another unknown fem came upon the hill where they resided. Ivory coating was a constant trigger of a myriad of flashbacks; images of times he'd rather forget so the pain would not continue to reignite with each wolf that might show some resemblance to his little sister. They had little time to invade his mind however as she spoke swiftly. Ears forward he listened to what she had to say, his gaze never faltering from her presence. She had quite the tongue on her with as many words flying from her maw. Never one for conversation, it riled his nerves despite his present expression unchanging. "You have come upon territory claimed by Aro'lahn, though I have allowed a moment of truce to those who might otherwise be trespassing in order to hear what I have to offer. The lands themselves is known as Torva to the current residents." The rest would come with due time. With as much as he despised chatting, he would only offer his 'speech' once to the entire group rather than repeating himself over and over. The brute nearly jolted when he heard Nahrus shout a familiar name. She had seen the fem before he had, distracted with the newcomers and keeping some portion of him focused on Athena. Now his two toned gaze sought out X'yrin as she lowered herself to the ground submissively before Nahrus. Not the best family reunion ever and it caused the brute's fur to raise and his stance grow rigid. Her swollen belly was all too obvious, allowing anger to boil for daring to leave her territory in such condition. So quick to breed with a brute she knew little about. Ears flattened against his head as ivory canines were bared. "This is not the time for a family reunion." His harsh voice fell from ebon lips, his stance shifting as he moved closer to where the two sisters resided before glancing back towards Athena. "Or for Simul to fucking invade my lands when I have given momentary freedom to intrude without repercussions." A rough growl resonated from his throat as he turned back to X'yrin. Harsh demeanor suddenly faltered as a familiar scent greeted his nose. Lips drew forward, his ears lifting high upon his head as two toned eyes found the obsidian youngster known as Na'vi. He noted her silent entrance before sitting off to the side away from the rest. She was definitely not like most pups and, for once, he was actually glad to see someone join him. The colossal brute gave her a welcome nod before turning away and resituating himself before the entire group, his eyes narrowing as glances were shot to both X'yrin and to Athena. Unsure of there reasons for being here, the anger would be hard to squelch until there reasons for being here were divulged. "To those of you who I do not know, my name is Morpheus Aurelius and I have allowed you to enter my lands to hear what I have to offer. The chance for a home and to become the founders of grandeur. All great kingdom's have to start somewhere, and this is Aro'lahn's starting point. To those who accept my offer, you will have food, shelter and a place to return to at night; to start families. However, I do not allow laziness to spread like wildfire among my ranks. To live in luxury comes with a price. I expect hard work. For everyone to do their part. Make no mistakes, and I will not deny I can be difficult to live with at times, but I am an honorable man. If you are apart of my band, I will see to it you are safe and defend these lands with my life." He paused then to let his baritone words recede with the wind as they caught in the air and hovered within the group. There were few times he spoke as much as he did now and he hoped they were not taking it for granted. Then again, who were they to know if it was a rarity or not as most of them had not seen him or been around him little. "Should you choose to accept, I will go into further detail about what I expect." Gaze shifted between each individual that had joined him this day before resting on Athena. "To those of you who have no interest, you may leave now freely without consequence for trespassing. And I will remind some of you that this is a one time offer." His gaze never wavered from Athena's presence as his tail lashed behind him. Leave now or join. There would be no grey area. If she lingered without cause, he would see to it she would reap the consequences for intruding.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

ooc: Nahrus will be dictated in Bold From her resting place on the ground, the woman looked upon the familiar faces of her sister and bitter comrade with the serenity of looking into the eyes of her lost family. At her cheek she felt the heated breath of her sibling, her whiskered teased by the seething rage. The delicate touch made her smile, giggle even like a pup gently graced by its parent. "Come now, Sister," the larger Exultare coed. "No need to be harsh. This is a joyous occasion; to be reunited with your sister, the soon birthing of my children, you have finally overcome that bastard mate of yours and found love again..." Nahrus suddenly reared back her eyes wide and jaw slack with appall. "Love again?" she contested soundly. "Do you not hear yourself? Have you become delirious in your maternal state, you fool?" Oh but her heart was pounding, try as she might to calm her fluster, it was there... strongly apparent for the Vargo to see. Below her, her sibling cackled up a storm finally rising from the ground; a trunk with a swollen knock in its base. The first born looked to the younger male as he stepped forward as grumpy and self-assured as ever. Finally he had heeded his instinctual call to lead, it looked like. And despite the winter's wrath, he had done well for something, coming out nearly unscathed. "Well now, Morpheus," the mother eased into conversation, her loquacious tongue much slower and careful than usual. "You're looking fine." She gestured with the point of her muzzle to her roundness. "How I wish I could say the same. But alas it is true this is not a reunion. And though I would love to tempt that flaring temper of yours, I must profess this before you scowl me further; Simul is gone." Light demeanor fell away under the weight of the situation. "Lost to ice and rock, the mountain cannot sustain us any longer. We are scattered now... even my mate was lost. I do not know the whereabouts of the others... I fear the worst has befallen them. But in my state, I can do nothing more than wonder. It was by pure chance that I found you." Her mirror image remained silent, listening to the recount of events that transpired in her absence. Had she been there, had she forsaken the promise as she wanted to do many times before, perhaps she could have provided for her sister and her pups. She wouldn't have had to travel so far to seek a helping paw. Nahrus could only imagine the blow to her pride this confession dealt to her proud sister. To be seen like this, vulnerable and weak... it was a wonder the mother-to-be hadn't lashed out to defend herself. As Morpheus addressed the newcomers as a whole, their ears came forward to listen; Nahrus with boredom as a various of the speech had already been recited to her, and X'yrin with apprehension. She was anything but prepared to align herself, not so soon after her own following was disbanded. "Join or leave... is that right?" The female said at last, her soft voice rising to a strong octave. Defiantly, the pregnant dame ruffled her mane. "Your hospitality is lacking Morpheus. An incentive would have done you better..." Beside her Nahrus simply scoffed, shifting closer to cast a protective shadow upon the obviously tired and delirious dame.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee

OOC: This is my first post in a while o: I'm sorry I didn't make it for Round 1 but Kiril is interested (:The ghost wandered aimlessly through his home, his padded feet pressing quietly upon the ground and leaving nothing but disturbed blades of grass and a few misplaced rocks that fell from their ledge as a hefty weight was placed upon them. A wolf of size strode silently out of his cavern, of which he had not been to in a while. This was a feeling of deja vu, for had it not been little more than a year ago when he was returning back to Renatio after having been distant and nothing more than a shadow upon the land? He remembered that moment fairly well, the beauty in which he returned to the caves, the smell of fear and the desire that struck him so suddenly, like a lightning bolt out of the blue sky. He had been glad he had left, at that point, for he would have never been able to feel the same sensation of returning when he had.And now, it was the same. He had been distant, and while he had been in Torva, he had no social interaction with any of the wolves here at all. He would hear short little conversations between peers, perhaps, though he would leave no trace of his existence. He did not want to know what was going on in the world. He wanted to be left alone for the time being, to figure himself out, to find out where he would be going next. Perhaps it was a time of mourning, when he should have been doing so in the beginning, when he had returned to Renatio a couple of months previous and had left his children in the heart of Caelius. They had been safe, and that was why he had trusted them in the eyes of the pack wolves. He would not be bringing his pups to the birthplace of their sister's murderer.Now, none of that mattered. Renatio was gone, as was Caelius, in the blink of an eyes, swept away by the hurricane. It may have been an event that was bound to happen, but with it and the disappearance of the packs, nothing seemed to truly matter any more to Kiril. The politics had lost their entertainment as quickly as it had been found. and now with his return, he found nothing but the stale scent of Simul. They must have been gone, as well. In his heart he felt something, a pang of guilt, perhaps, for having been gone as the pack met its end. He would have been more emotional had he been more involved, but it truly mattered not any more to him. His solitary life for the month or so that he was gone had been enough for him, and he was ready to get back into the swing of a pack life, if he was able to find one.Voices beckoned to him in the form of a nearby gathering, and for a moment Kiril found it instinctive to walk in the other direction, though he caught the soft tones of a familiar character. X'yrin was among the wolves who found themselves gathered before a male, and as Kiril came into view of the group he caught what the creature was saying. The male was a handsome fellow, who seemed determined to get his words out to the small gathering before him. Was this the beginnings of a new pack? Kiril wondered this, and sat before Morpheus. Across from him sat X'yrin, obviously pregnant, with another female whom he did not recognize, but who his friend apparently did. Sisters. They carried the same scent, and Kiril wondered when the other female had appeared. Would she be staying long? His attention then drew back to Morpheus. He seemed able-bodied, a quick thinker, one whom Kiril wouldn't mind being ranked under. He remembered his first impressions of Callista, his true Queen, who he may or may not have been dutifully in love with, though had betrayed in the end with his marriage to Copper all the same. He had been foolish then, far too young for perfect judgments, though he had been right in allowing himself to follow a female such as Callista. She had proven herself worthy within the first five seconds of their meeting with her rough ways of ruling. Now new leaders graced, or cursed, Torva with their presence upon her land, making way for new kingdoms to rise and for others to fall. So far, Morpheus seemed a promising King. Would he be able to sell himself well furthermore, though?"Speak" "!"

There were a few things Azren hadn't expected, one of them was the turnout but another was some of the people who had turned up in their lands. His curious blue eyes scanned the group in front of them. His face didn't show a hint of what he was feeling at the moment and he supposed that was a good thing because he was furious that Athena had even dared show her face here. Quite obviously, Morpheus didn't particularly like it either. Still, Azren found no need to part his lips and speak to those who had gathered here, unless he was asked to, he probably wouldn't. It would seem his gaze sized up and judged everyone in the group which was indeed larger then he'd expected. how many will join Aro'lahn today, he wondered.

Hearing his name spoken by a familiar female voice he allowed a smile of sorts and nodded in response to her. He thought he might be starting to like this woman, perhaps to much but ah she was beautiful, witty and although she knew how to push his buttons and get on his every nerve, he truly enjoyed her company. More came, some he knew and some he didn't know. he wondered where a few were from but didn't ask. It was the appearance of X'yrin that perked his curiosity the most. When he'd arrived in Torva she had tried to convince him to come stay with her "pack" but he'd refused and after sharing a meal with her he'd left. How lovely. Her pack had fallen apart and now she may or may not be seeking the shelter of Aro'lahn. He wanted to chuckle but held it back.

He wondered if more would come. He hoped more would come. Aro'lahn would be strong, he was determined and he knew Morpheus too was determined. There was nothing for him to say or do at the moment, so for now he simply waited, wondering if he would have to escort miss Athena out of the land.

The demon's are speaking... Do you hear them?


who have i become ; oh god, everyone, everyone, everything

CODING BY KENZ

Athena noted X'yrin's appearance in both dismay and relief. Because the woman had higher rank, it would mean that perhaps her words would have less meaning. It also meant that what she had come to say could also bring Athena reprimand from the lady later. No one liked getting words put in their mouths, but Athena was still set to do it anyways. When Morpheus spoke to her, she answered. "I have come to tell you that should you ever require assistance or company, Simul would be happy to help.", she cast a quick nod to X'yrin and turned tail to leave, thoughts of the bands swelling numbers in mind, quite the contrast from their own. --exit--

Thoughts and Narration Speech She listened to the rather inspiring speech that was spewing forth from the leader as he addressed them all as a whole. Still unsure as to whether or not she really wanted to be tied down, she watched from the sidelines, keeping herself separate from the rest of the band. While it had been made apparent that all were welcome here at the gathering, she still felt as though she were an outcast. Idly her thoughts began to cling to the idea of leaving, as it so often did when the numbers swelled in such tight spots. She was never one for crowds and the guest list for this little soiree was lengthening by the second. Never one for authority, she simply stuck to herself most of the time, and kept her distance and opinions to herself. Coming from a decent line of alphas, she had a problem when it came to submitting. While she would avoid conflict at all costs, if it came down to it and she was pressed into a corner she definitely would not choose the route of submission. Understanding the need for respect, she managed to swallow down her inhibitions and show at least some form of deference, but this was not an often occurrence. Accustomed to being surrounded by her own company and her own company alone, she had allowed the walls of domination and submission to melt away. After all, who would she submit to or dominate? Her alter ego? Right. She moved fluidly onto her haunches, her tail curling around her hinds to rest over her paws. Finding a speck of dirt on her otherwise flawless pelt, she quickly removed the blemish and heaved a contented sigh. She would stay for now. The worst that could happen would be her leaving when she left Torva altogether. He promised protection and the opportunity for families. She rather liked the way it sounded, even if it all did end up being empty promises. Besides, families required mates, which she lacked, and sorely doubted she would come across. The chances of her finding one to put up with her for an extended amount of time was probably slim to none. Though there was that Cicero character. A tiny smile pulled at the corners of her mouth as she dwelled over the male she had accidentally stumbled upon. He seemed nice enough, strong enough. Her luck though, he was tied to someone in both interest and heart. Oh well. It was probably for the best that she remain mateless. Goodness knows it all only ended in disaster anyway.

Morpheus began the meeting not long later, discussing what Aro'lahn was about and what he would expect from its members. Listening in silence, her face was as impassive as a statue as she took in the various information. Truth be told, the thought of working hard did not quite appeal to the young woman. Perhaps one reason was that she did not have any task that interested her, no real passion in life other than her childish stories and fantasies. What good would she be to any pack? It would take some soul searching if she was going to be a good, contributing member of any pack. What irked her further was the conversation of the wolves around her. The pregnant female launched into some kind of speech to Morpheus, chiding him for not being more inviting. Then leave. No one is making you stay, Na'vi mentally hissed. In fact, the whole group of wolves around her began to annoy her for one reason or another. Cold, golden eyes swept over the scene in a silent rage. She did not like them. She did not want to associate with them. But at the same time, she did not mind Morpheus, and aside from the idea of hard work, she did not mind accepting his offer. It was not home, and maybe it never would be. But it was a chance. Na'vi said nothing, but merely gave a nod of her head. She would accept.

Table by Pann, Image by Jolee