The Second Pack Meeting

[Taint]

The third cave perched atop a small hill, like all the other caves. Soft afternoon sunlight streamed through the entrance, bathing the large interior in a pale light.

Pounding up the hill t'wards the cave came the russet hued alpha femme of Misty Moors. Brittle leaves crunched beneath her dainty mitts, and a satsfactory smile spread across her lips at the clear, dry sound.

Taint Coppice slowed to a trot as she neared the top of the hill, stopping completely at the crown. There, she turned, lifting her maw and releasing another long howl, calling the wolves of the Moors to her for their second pack meeting.

[©Lou Scarlet©]

The snowy pelt of Lou Scarlet bristled excitedly as Taint's howl reached her audits. Plume swaying, she made her way towards the third cave, dipping her maw in respect to the Alphess as she neared, knowing that it would be likely she would be mentioned in this meeting. The thought made her flush beneath her pale coat as she chose a space, sat herself down on the cave floor and waited for Achillies.

ooc| Bleh really bad writer's block! =[

[HondaRaycer]

Achilles hurried in behind Lou, midnight front mitts pounding the loam and balancing his earth hued chassis. He paced in behind his new mate, admiring her from his viewpoint. The odd eyed beta knew that somehow he and Lou would be brought up during conversation here.

Padding into the cave, he made straight for Lou, pausing only to greet his sister by way of a deep bow, elbows brushing the floor. Once finished he settled next to the swan white fae, orbs shining warmly. He felt content by her side, evident by how he had puffed his chest with banner sweeping the rock 'neath their feet.

He turned and gave her a quick kiss on the maw, smiling.

((Awww! *looks for heart shaped cookies*))

[Taint]

Taint smiled as Lou approached the cave, nodding her inside. A distance behind the snowy femme came Achilles, and Taint gave a soft chuckle as he bowed to her, eyes twinkling.

She followed his ebony and brown form as he made a beeline for Lou, and greeted her with a gentle lick. A smile graced her maw, and her plume began to wag. She was incredibley happy for her brother.

As the cave began to fill up slightly ((excuse the slight powerplay.... this is taking ages!)), Taint bounded to the rear of the cave and leapt onto a small boulder, from which she could view all the inhabitants of the large cave.

"Greetings, wolves of the Moors." She began, her plume swaying. "As most of you know, the alpha male of the pack, and my mate, Keeper, has returned after a long absence. He is not here now as he is attending to his duties, greeting a newcomer."

Amber occuli scanned the crowd, resting on the two happy faces of Lou and Achilles.

"Last meeting, I announced a new beta, my brother Achilles. Now we also have a beta female, his new mate Lou Scarlet!" She gave a soft, aproving bark.

"I also have another announcement about positions. Breeze, our Lead Hunter, has not been seen in a long while. I am not going to take her position away yet, but instead I am going to appoint a Deputy lead hunter, a wolf who can organise hunts in the absence of the lead hunter. This position shall be filled by Cloud Shadow, a loyal wolf and a skilled hunter."

Taint smiled and made to step off the rock, then stopped, adding

"Cloud, please can you organise a hunt now. Call the pack when you're finished. We havn't feasted together in a long time."

The alphess then leapt off the rock, landing nimbly on the stone floor where she sank to her haunches.

[©Lou Scarlet©]

Lou Scarlet looked up as Achilles entered, greeting him with a warm smile. As her new mate sat himself beside her, Lou felt safer than she had done in many moons. Her pale face glowed as his tounge brushed her maw and she returned the gesture happilly just as Taint began to talk.

Lou turned her head reluctantly away from Achilles and fixed her attention upon the Alphess as she announced Keeper's return and absence from the meeting. Her chalky plume began to beat slowly and she blushed beneath her snowy fur as her own name was mentioned, and she allowed herself a glance at the beta male beside her before once more turning her full attentoin on Taint.

Dark occuli then scanned the surroundings for Cloud, wondering how she would take the news of her new promotion, but the other snowy female was no where to be seen.

[Taint]

ooc: Ergh... late post. But yeah....

bic: As Taint padded t'wards the rock on which she was too make her speech, two solitary figures approached the Third Cave, coming from opposite directions. One was a slender white femme, sapphire occuli bright with emotion. One was a large ebony brute, a white mark splashed carelessly across his chest.

The two wolves stopped feet from each other. Gaze met for a moment, and both eyes filled with hurt. Then, Jewel turned away and hurried inside the cave, tail erect. Bullet watched her go, his face lined with regret. His jaws opened and closed several times, as if to call after his sister, but after a moment, he hung his head and followed her slowly, tail drooping.

He arrived just as Taint leapt atop the rock. Jewel had padded forward and was sitting in the front half of the cave, so he kept to the back. Emerald gaze roamed the crowd, and rested upon Lou and Achilles, huddled together. Mild interest spread across his features, but he had no time to dwell on it, as Taint soon began to speak and he turned his attention to her.

Bullet didn't listen to Tain'ts announcement fully, only catching snippets of it, enough to half understand her gist. When she finished, he got to his feet and turned his head t'wards Lou, ready to pad over to her, but a flash of white told him that Jewel had gotten the same idea, and so he turned and made his way out of the cave, auds drooping.

Jewel's eyes held a mixture of emotions as she made her way over to Lou and Aki. Joy was one. She was happy for her elder sister and her new love. But sadness and envy were also prominent. The happy couple reminded her sorely of she and October, and the image of them sitting together had left her with a feeling like a deep hole in her stomach.

"Lou?" She asked softly as she reached her sister's side. A painful lump had formed in her throat, and her occuli were glistening with badly concealed tears. "Achilles." She made a half bow to the pair, respecting their power over her as betas of the pack.

[Wolfcry]

ooc:not quite sure if he is wanted here. i just kinda have him listening. It would be nice if somebody talked to him though, explained something. lol


Corwin slunk in just as Taint began her speech. He listened to some of it, but didn't know most of the names she was speaking of. His mind began to wander like it did during events such as this. Even at funerals, he thought more of other things than the dead. Death was such a negative thing. Corwin sub-consiously keep his thoughts away from it. His two sibs dying in the same winter didn't help too much, though. And now he was thinking of them again. Were they simply rotting carcasses now, or did they have some special place among the stars? He shook himself vigorously. No need to be thinking of such things. He had a new, strong, and welcoming pack.

He pulled himself out of his daydreaming state in time to see Aki and Lou were now mates. He knew Achilles, he was the one who had admitted him into the pack, but Lou was someone new. He hung around the back of the crowd, not quite sure what to do. Plus, there was another wolf talking to them now...who looked extremely sad. His sympathy reached out to her, without even knowing her name nor situation. It was just the kind of wolf he was. Although, he did nothing but look on from the sides, ready to come to aid if need be.

[Taint]

ooc: Wait a moment! i have Taint, don't I? DUH! hehe.

bic: The russet pelted alphess watched the members of the moors mingle, half-seated at the base of her rock. Amber occuli rested on Aki and Lou, then flitted to the beta femme's younger sister, Jewel. Sympathy twisted the femme's features as she watched the younger white wolf, who was so obviously grieving. She felt a sudden urge to comfort her, but it passed. Jewel was speaking to her sister, and she shouldn't interfere.

Taint's occuli left Jewel somewhat reluctantly, visage still displaying signs of sympathy, and wandered aimlessly over the familiar faces of the crowd. They stopped again, this time focusing on the frame of Corwin, hanging back from the rest of the wolves. Taint recalled the brute's name, then got to her feet, picking her way through the throng with tail held high until she reached him. She settled down next to him with a warm smile, tilting her head slightly to the side, ears perked.

"Greetings, Corwin." She began in a friendly tone. "How are things going so far?"

I hope he's been made to feel welcome, she found herself thinking, and her gaze flitted to Aki, whom the male had been looking at earlier. Memories of the incident between her brother and Bandarra flashed through her mind and her smile faded. But Achilles has changed. He's grown used to his position. And now he has a mate by his side. I'm still sure that he'll make a great beta. Her smile reapeared, and she turned her head back to Corwin, awaiting an answer.

[Keeper]

Red tongue out, paws churning up dirt, Keeper made his way back to the dens all the way from the borders.

Slowing down as he reached the cave, Keeper snorted in disgust. Geez. I missed another one. Darn newcomers!

The meeting was over and the wolves of the Moors milled around, getting ready for the hunt as soon as the Lead Hunter showed.

The grey alpha grumbled to himself and spotted Taint talking to another wolf. Another newcomer? Keeper thought exasperated.

Chuckling to himself, Keeper made his way over to his mate and nudged her gently.

Nipping her ear gently he whispered "I'm back. Did ya miss me?"

[HondaRaycer]

Achilles didn't know how to respond to the stares he and Lou were now getting. When another white fae, one called Jewel approached, she acknowledged them both, but looked troubled just the same. Aki didn't know about the heartbreak she'd experienced so he couldn't place her emotions. There were so many politics in the pack that he couldn't keep up with!

He looked at Lou, odd orbs flicking from his mate to Jewel and back again. "Is she gonna be okay?" Also conspicuous by their absence was the Mexican wolf, the red wolf. . .and the new deputy lead hunter, Breeze.

[Taint]

Taint turned her head as Keeper nudged her, and a chuckle escaped her lips as he nipped at her aud. She returned the gesture, reaching up with her slender muzzle to tug on one of is silver ears.

"Very much so." She grinned, batting at him with a single paw.

"The pups are alone in the cave for the first time. Maybe they can come to the next meeting? They're growing quickly." A proud glint entered Taint's eyes, and she leaned her head on Keeper's shoulder.

[Keeper]

When Taint grabbed one of his auds, Keeper had to surpress the sudden need to wrestle with her, the way they did when they had first met. He hadn't rough-housed with her for a while. Well, since she had the pups. He thought, beaming down at his beautiful mate.

He looked over at Corwin and bobbed his head in greeting.

When Taint mentioned the pups, he felt a bit worried for them being alone. But they are slightly bigger there. And less helpless.

"Yes, next time they need to come to the meeting. Our pups will become alphas one day and need to know how to run a pack. He answered her gently.

(ooc-Oooo! Another Plot thingy!!!! No.... Must.. Resist.... lol)

[©Lou Scarlet©]

Ooc| Uh oh Chase... Am I thinking what you're thinking?

bic| Lou started when she heard Jewel's voice. Her mind had been wandering dreamily since Taint had stopped speaking. Thoughts of Achillies, the future...but her younger sister had brought her sharply back to the present. Jewel seemed upset and another wave of guilt swept over the eldest Scarlet female. October.

"Jewel?" she asked, trying to sound comorting despite her worries for her sister, "Jewel, what's wrong?"

Lou couldn't remember if she'd seen young Jewel like this before. She heard Aki inquiring about the smaller white femme, but Lou didn't know how to answer.

[Taint]

Jewel's eyes swelled with tears as her sister questioned her. It is a fact of life for some that the more attention they recieve when miserable, the more they wish to cry, and Jewel was no different. A single, translucent drop slid lazily down her cheek.

Watery sapphire gaze darted to Achilles, and Jewel felt an uncharacteristic wave of discomfort. In this present state, she had no wish to speak of her failed love life in front of her sister's new, loved mate. She glanced back at Lou and tried to convey her feelings through a meaningful, yet, she hoped, discreet look.

----------------

Taint smiled as Keeper spoke, and the proud spark in her eyes strengthened. She licked his maw, then butted him in the chest with her cranium. 'Twas as if his thoughts had trickled into her own mind, and she thought, like he had, of the times they used to spend play fighting by the river.

A sudden craving to horse-play once more popped into her head, and she turned her head to meet Keeper's gaze. Taint wanted to enjoy some more time away from her pup's and the Fifth cave. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the time spent with Cotton, Solo, Bantam and Pearl. But she was growing restless, feeling confined to one area. And her lively spirit wished to do more.

"Keeper," she began, her eyes twinkling. "Let's go."

She turned to Corwin and go to her feet, a smile spread across her maw.

"I wish you the best of luck in the pack, Corwin. I hope you find peace." She said, then, with a nod of farewell, she skirted him and sprinted out of the cave, tassel rippling behind her.

[Keeper]

Keeper whuffed gently as Taint knocked into him, icy orbs sparkling. He blinked happily, for he felt lucky to call Taint as his own.

Let's go. Taint turned to him, eyes glinting mischeivously. With a bit of a low growl, he tried to nip her, but she quickly spoke to the brute Corwin and leapt off.

Keeper nodded at Corwin. "I hope we meet agian." He said before sprinting off after Taint, a howl of pleasuer escaping him.

(ooc- Taint, you better not go to the river!!!!!!! No!)

[©Lou Scarlet©]

Having not got a reply from Jewel, Lou cocked (lol! roostered!) her head sideways quizzically, wondering why her sister was not replying. Then the swan hued femme caught the look in Jewel's eyes and understood.

"Erm...Achilles?" she said to the brujo beside her, "I think Jewel would like to talk to me alone...I'll be right back," Lou kissed him on his muzzle before getting to her feet and nodding at her sister, telling Jewel she was willing to follow her to a more private place to talk.

[HondaRaycer]

The large brown beta stood up, plume giving a half wave, as he watched Lou walk off with Jewel. Concern was evident on his face. Each orb reflected one of the white faes as they padded away to talk. Achilles knew it was a female thing that he would never understand, yet he wondered why Jewel would seem so upset. A moment earlier when she had looked at him her eyes were watering, and he saw some sort of wall there.

But being a male he would never be able to place what she was thinking. "O. . .kay" He responded as Lou kissed him before she made off to speak with her sister. :: I will never understand faes. . .:: He thought, feeling exasperated.

The brown and black painted brute reclined now, mismatched eyes focusing 'pon the karst floor of the karst feature he was located in. Aki puzzled over what Jewel might have been thinking, but his mind was nowhere close to understanding the real reason she was sad. He was drawing parallels between her and Bullet at the moment.

[Taint]

ooc: lol. Poor honda.

[Taint]

Jewel watched Lou kiss Achilles with a jab of longing, causing fresh tears to spring to her eyes. She turned away quickly to hide them from the beta male and began to walk slowly away.

Reaching the cave's broad mouth, she glanced over her shoulder to check that Lou had followed. Reassured, she bounded out itno the night, turned a sharp right, and disapeared into a clump of foliage just outside the cave.

Jewel settled herself on her haunches, icy blue occuli illuminating the shadowy, secretive little corner. She licked her lips tentaviley, desperate to tell Lou of her problems, to allow her older sister to comfort her like Bullet couldn't, but now she couldn't find what to say. A tumble of thoughts pressed against the inside walls of her crania, fighting to be the first said. With a flustered sigh, Jewel Scarlet closed her eyes tight, willing her roudy thoughts and emotions to get into order, so that she could speak to Lou.

[©Lou Scarlet©]

Puzzled and anxious, Lou bit her lip and trotted hurridly after Jewel who was moving suprisingly fast. The eldest Scarlet female pushed herself into the bush and tried to find a comfortable position which was rather difficult as the bush was rather small and cramped.

Having settled, Lou turnde her dark occuli 'pon her younger sister, fixing a sympathetic look on her features.

ooc|...don't have much to post...