Fall In: Meeting !, Mandatory

[Allison]

ooc - the ranking system has been tweaked, updated and new ranks added, please check the ranks before posting(;



She couldn't put it off any longer, she knew the problem wasn't going away. She couldn't just sweep it under th rug as if it wasn't happening. She was the leader, she needed to take charge and unite them, they needed to know what she knew if she was going to be considered a competent leader in these.. curious times. It was important to feel safe within the pack, she wanted to appear she had as much of a handle on things as possible.

She'd been waiting anxiously for hours, until the late afternoon hour rose. She wanted to be sure that they'd be within the territory, for she knew none of them would dare risking to go into the cities in broad daylight. She felt so helpless, so.. trapped, what could she do? There seemed to be.... nothing.

Taking in a deep breath, the tri-colored, slender wolf titled her slender muzzle to the brilliantly blue sky and unleashed a rising call, beckoning all members of Timber Woods to join her. She had to think of the positive, it would be the coming out of the joining of her and Adelemo as mates, she should feel proud.. and excited. He was eternally hers, it was a dream come true. Yet, it was a bittersweet moment, with the dark times laying ahead like a dark shadow.

[Akai]

He had absolutely nothing to do with his time. Absolutely nothing. The Tex chick had booted him down to 'Acting Sentry'; from how he took it it was basically a scouting rank (it was hard to compare all these new ranks when it was changed so much from the old system he'd grown up with). Course Timber Woods didn't really need "scouting" - he knew the lands like he could feel his heartbeat, so if there was anything amiss he would know; and he couldn't really leave the pack lands to go spend his time elsewhere could he? He was, in a way, tied to the land like some sort of ghost and he had discovered that he couldn't shift into human form. It was just as well...

There was nothing to do with the hours of free time on his hands.

And, wow, no surprise: didn't seem like Hayden was anywhere in sight either. He'd been minding his own business by leaving everyone alone, choosing that rather than see someone and have a confrontation. There was too much built in anger and depression to do that.

One blue eye, then a golden yellow eye, opened as the calling song of a howl drifted on the air. Ah, yes, the high and mighty Alphess was calling another pack meeting... it was about time. The large, lanky wolf rose slowly, stretching, before doing a 180 and walking at an even pace towards the source of the howl. He wasn't purposely trying to be late this time - he just didn't care anymore, and he was so bored seeing other wolves interacting might be funny.

Stepping into the clearing was like a blast from the past; this place looked like where Tex had held the last pack meeting. He'd managed to slip away without so much of a word to the Alphess with his new rank once this young pup and the new... whatever the guy's rank was, he honestly couldn't remember more than the guy's name, had begun to flirt around with each other. Hmph. Coming out of the dream-memory Akai glanced up to stare evenly, a cool, bland expression on his face, at the Alphess. He bowed his head slightly as a small (albeit reluctant) sign of respect before making his way to the old seat: as far from the others as possible while still being in on it.

[Adelemo]

Adelemo -

Adelemo had been with Allison less than a half an hour ago, feeling as if nothing in the world had changed for the worse. He didn't even seem to ashy world that surrounded them as he strolled curiously around, not actually doing anything but grinning widely from ear to ear. They were finally officially mates - Allison and he. He loved saying it over and over again in his head: mates. He was living a completely different life now - there was no running anymore, there was no irrational fear, there was just comfort.

Well...for the moment. He never knew what was the around the next corner. He didn't worry that much though as he padded happily along though because he trusted Ally completely. She was the only one he trusted at the moment (the only one he'd trust his life with) but he was sure that as soon as he met the rest of the group that he'd feel right at home....

Hopefully. He hadn't met any of them in the short time that he had been in the terra....

Just then, he heard Allison's call. He didn't even pause a heartbeat as he bounded excitedly over to where she was sitting. He wasn't that far. He never was. He didn't hesitate either as he took his place beside her. It would all come out eventually. He was sure he wouldn't have to wait that long as he leaned over slightly to nuzzle Allison lovingly between her shoulder and slender neck.

No, it wouldn't be long at all.

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Lex -

Lex, being the clever being he was, was resting below a dusty canopy of trees. He knew he should be doing something but what was there to do in a crisis like this? His ears twitched worriedly as he forced his blue eyes to stay closed. He could fret about it in his sleep...which wasn't going anywhere, any time soon. Alexander sighed sadly as he slid one icy orb open to stare morosely at the leaf-covered ground that lay before his large creme-colored cranium. He wanted to sleep, he wanted more than anything to make the new, dirty world to fade away behind his eyelids...

But that never happened when he shut his eyes. The same scenery still flickered by( with a few other things, like Sheeba, for instance) as he let out a precarious yawn that stretched his ivory jaws and flashed his sharp pearly whites. Then he sat up slowly and scratched his left ear. He blinked his sharp blue eyes as he sighed once more. Didn't look like he'd be getting any sleep...

Especially when Tex's howl reached his ears. He didn't waste a moment as he raced head long to where she and a stranger where sitting. Another member? Were there more? He paused fitfully as his interested glance danced from his leader to the newcomer. They seemed friendly but he didn't comment. He just took his place before her and nodded respectfully to Tex. He even smiled at the stranger as well. And Akai, which he hadn't noticed earlier.

[Faith]

Faith dreamt often; while some dreams lasted only as long as she dreamt them, to vanish once her eyes opened, often the dreams of her old home would envelope her in the lovely smell of the fresh flowers and the bright, open sky above the luscious green fields... only to have her awake and see the ash-covered earth, the place where no green things or pretty flowers could ever grow.

Sometimes she hated those dreams.

Luckily, she was not asleep when a long, melodic howl echoed throughout the terra, and into the den where Faith had taken up residence. The young fae stretched and got to her feet, padding out to sniff the air. She couldn't use her hearing to pinpoint where the Alphess was on account of her bad ear; but all her other senses were heightened. She easily located the scents of the meeting area and trotted in that direction.

Upon entering the clearing, she immediately noticed with a sort of childish happiness that most of the people that were here so far she recognized; Allison Tex, the Alphess, Lex, Akai (she knew him the most; he was born the same spring she was and was only a little older plus he was around when she was first welcomed into the pack - only he wasn't very happy nowadays). Only the guy sitting next to Tex she didn't know.

Faith took a seat midway between Lex and Akai and wagged her tail, waiting for the meeting to start.

[Casper]

Padding in from a distance, Casper's eyes wandered from each and everyone of the strangers. Her pure white tail dipping in between her legs as she began to slow her pace once she approched the other wolves. Casper only tended to recogonize one, but that was the Alpha female. Where was Feroce? Casper's orbs desprately searched for her significant other, but there find was a fail. He was no where to be seen. 'gh, of course he wouldn't be here.' Her muzzled scrunched a bit and she could start to feel her heart pounding against her ribs. Casper hadn't been around so many of her own kind before, nevertheless she barely used her wolf form so she felt more human than anything. To be honest, she yearned to be human.

Shaking her head out of the small train of process that was speeding through her mind, Casper shifted her stance into her rank and stode patently for the meeting to start.

0cc; sucks. Ino.

[Adelaide]

The pollution was growing worse. Day by day, it spread farther and farther into each of the pack territories; threatening to contaminate their water, forcing their prey elsewhere. It was all happening too fast. They hadn't even had the time to think up a solution and already the problem was growing worse. There was also the issue of the wolves not being able to shift. Without their human forms, the wolves were becoming more vulnerable. Not that long ago, the Wolfiends had taken it upon themselves to capture all lone wolves in the area. Their jobs must have been made easy, seeing as the wolves couldn't transform to cloak themselves.

Yes, it was all very troublesome, especially to Addy. As an advisor of Timber Woods, she felt the need to know the answer to this type of thing. She wanted to be able to reassure everyone that everything would be ok, but she couldn't do that. Not when she didn't know much about what was going on herself...

Addy sighed at this, resting her chin on the tips of her forepaws. She turned her gaze upward to glance helplessly up at the clouded sky, a soft whine escaping her maw. It seemed all she could do now was hope - hope that this problem might just fix itself. She sat in silence for a few moments, deep in thought. It was then that she heard the long, melodic tone echo across the pack lands. A signal for the pack to assemble. Silver audits slid forward as Addy lifted herself from her place on the ground, shaking her pelt free of any cling-on. At least the meeting would pose as a small distraction until she was able to clear her thoughts...

She started off at steady gait, padding along until she finally reached the small clearing. It seemed that she had arrived earlier than usual, seeing that only a few of the pack members were gathered. She noted a few familiar faces from before, nodding a small greeting to Lex as she passed him. Addy then turned her gaze to Tex, a small smile stretching the corners of her lips. "Hello Tex." She inclined her head as a sign of respect, lifting it again moments later. She gave a small glance to the male sitting beside Allison, nodding her greeting to him as well. "And hello to you too. It's always a pleasure to meet a new member."

[Feroce]

This was all new to him. Being a wolf was really awkward for him because he had grown accustomed to living as a human. He was raised human. It didn't feel right. He knew he had a lot to learn about living as a wolf and the challenged seemed very daunting. He wasn't sure if anyone else in the pack was just like him, besides Casper. But when he looked at Casper, he felt as if she knew what she was doing more than he did.

When Feroce showed up the meeting, he saw a handful of wolves and only two he recognized. The alphess and of course Casper. He lowered his head, feeling late and made his way beside Casper. He said nothing to her because there was a slight embarrassment that he may have been the last to show up or late to the meeting. He looked up at Tex with curiosity, wondering what the meeting would be about.

ooc: my post looks super short stretched out like this xD It's not THAT bad.

[Stryker]

At the time that Stryker had heard the call from his alpha, he had been wandering his new home, becoming familiar with each part of it. Auds twitched faintly as he listened for a moment sniffing at the air. Stretching slightly he moved evenly to where he heard the call. Upon reaching the group, he tensed some what, since he knew none of the others other than Allison. He finally moved closer his body still some what tense since he did not know how the others would react to him, so he moved some what timidly which was totally different than how the young brute usually acted. He smiled faintly bowing to Allison and the brute beside her before moving off to the side slightly to sit by himself.

ooc: oo that was crap XD

[Aspen]

It had been awhile since he had made an appearance, but due to current events, he felt the need to. Aspen wasn't sure what Tex had to address, but if he hoped it was related to what was going on. He felt powerless, he had no powers and all he could really do right now was just sit and watch. Wait for good news. His estranged sister Aslym was up to no good again and this time she stripped powers from all of her siblings and none of the shifters could use their human form. He was so frustrated with her, usually he just brushed it off and was patient, but there were times where he would actually confront her for things. He was close to at this point.

Silently making his way to the meeting, he walked past all the pack members and sat up at the front where Tex was. He kept his distance from her because it was her pack after all and her meeting aswell. He wasn't going to intervene unless he really needed to. Lots of new faces... He looked around, taking mental notes of what every wolf looked like and the mood they were giving off. He could tell some felt uncomfortable and some didn't. I'm happy seeing new members, but some of them had to join because of Aslym...I can tell.

[Allison]

The first to come slinking their way in with Akai, and she couldn't help but feel a rising feeling of dislike. He had no respect, and seemed to be drowning in his own self-pity. She, would spare no pity on him, for she didn't believe he deserved it. His family had betrayed their lands by leaving them behind, he could have shown some authority. She believed that he hadn't really wanted such a responsibility, and simply seemed to see the situation as something to dwell over. He could have put things behind him, and actually care about this pack and its current members. She'd over ranked him, in her mind. He didn't seem to appreciate having made it to an official rank above the enlisted ranks, considering he only seemed to loaf about the pack lands, never interacting with any of the other members. She had to swallow her displeasure at the sight of him, knowing that a meeting was not the time nor place to address such issues.

Adelemo arrived next, with Lex not far behind. She was delighted about the appearance of any other wolf, let alone her mate. Her slender tail begun to wap against the cold earth slightly, as she returned the loving nuzzle to the much larger black wolf. She didn't care what any of the other members thought, her personal life was none of their concern - then again most, if not all of them, would nothing but pleased to see the new face. Hopefully there were even a select few that could find it within them to be happy for her. Though she was glad to have Adelemo joining her at her side, she knew she couldn't just ignore the other members. She'd ignored Akai, for he hadn't even come close to where she sat - merely circled around the outside. Though she nodded her head to Lex, offering up a gentle smile.

Faith came next, and Tex made sure to take a step forward, and flash a warm smile. She had a soft spot for the half-deaf female, she was so gentle in nature and seemingly so innocent. Faith was another member whom had been apart of this pack for quite some time. It was wonderful to see members whom had stayed so loyal, even though the many power changes. She held in a sigh, as she looked around, catching the approaching forms of Casper and Adelaide. Nodding her head first to Casper, whom chose to stand off aside a bit, she still said nothing. It wasn't until Addy approached, that a grin split her slender muzzle. "Hello Addy, I assume you will be getting with Lex after the meeting?" she greeted warmly, with a slight nudge of a reminder towards her only Adviser's mission. She wasn't rushing her though, she knew it was something that would take time to accomplish.

The last of the members trickled in, the new male Feroce taking his place beside the young Casper. She couldn't help but wonder if this male was the one the young girl had been so torn up about the one time they had met prior to their joining the pack. She hadn't seen Casper alone since they'd joined, so she was left speculating. Her acknowledgment given to Stryker and Feroce, she knew she needn't wait for Hayden nor the pup Sheeba whom had interrupted the meeting the last time. The former had been missing for months and it was a darn good thing Allison had come around when she did.

Having take a step forward, it was obvious she intended to start the meeting and a serious quiet seemed to settle over those assembled. She hesistated though, her virbantly green gaze landing upon the white wolf that had come amiits them. She could tell by the look of him, that he was not of the living. It clicked within seconds, though she wasn't sure how she knew - she just did. "Lord Aspen!" her voice rose in appreciated surprise. A sharp glance was cast around the group, a silent signal for them to do as she did. In a surprising but not odd move, the tri-colored female swept down into a deep bow, remaining arched in such a position until she was sure every member had followed in suit. Those who did not, would face a sharp word from her later on in private.

Returning to her dominate stance she took a step closer, her surprise having faded to concern. "Lord Aspen, do you bring news on the current situation?" She then knew, some forward explanation should be done, turning to face the members again. "As you all know, it has become impossible to cloak ourself in our human forms. I have no true facts, but I have assumed it to be accountable to the strange increase in darkness within the sky.. the smog. In short, the pollution.." she paused here, turning back to Aspen leaving the floor open for him to explain what he knew.



OOC - NEW POSTING ORDER Myself, Aspen, Akai, Adelemo/Lex, Faith, Casper, Adelaide, Feroce, Stryker.

[Aspen]

"You don't need to call me that. Just Aspen is fine." Aspen replied, slightly embarrassed by the title. Even though he was the guardian of the pack, he never felt like he was of a high status for the most part. He was just a guardian and he looked out for the welfare of the pack and his siblings aswell. Nothing big to him. Just business as usual.

Once Tex finished mentioning the current issue, he nodded to let her know that he did have more to add. He was willing to clarify everything as best as he could. "Well...my sister Aslym, who is a guardian aswell, has created the pollution to keep shifters in their wolf forms and she has also stripped all of her siblings, including myself, from using our powers. Unfortunately the things I could do for this pack, I cannot until my powers are returned. And there isn't much anyone can do until this subsides." He bowed his head down a bit, showing that he felt helpless to the fact that he could do nothing to fix this situation. He wasn't even sure why this was going on, but he was no stranger to Aslym's love for creating trouble among the people and wolves who inhabited the packlands and the cities. "I don't know what her motives are...but she is always up to no good."

He knew this would stop one day, but he wasn't sure when that day would be.

[Akai]

ooc: eep, sry for the holdup *bows, bows*

Akai couldn't help but sense the disdain that crossed Tex's features as she looked at him. He only lowered his head slightly below hers to show his rank compared to hers and grinned, the expression in his eyes kept blank of the expression he longed to give her in return. The feeling's mutual, He thought to himself with an inward laugh. No amount of hate from you will ever scare me, because I'll just match it right back.

Waiting for the rest of the members to show was the most boring part when he was a child and still the most boring now. He recognized most of the faces as they arrived, and a handful of the names - Lex, Faith, Adelaide - but the others were new here. The scents were all familiar because he'd crossed them many times over the pack lands. One was even getting all buddy-buddy with the Alphess - poor bloke, wonder what she did to him, blackmail him? Surely the cold-hearted "Commander Tex" who'd come charging onto the pack lands with weapons blazing would fall in love! Akai couldn't even fathom it.

Finally, it seemed a few missing faces - noticeably Hayden, thank God, he KNEW she wouldn't stick around - weren't going to show and the Alphess set about to get to ready only for an unknown wolf to come suddenly into the clearing. He sniffed the air for a moment before the hairs along his back stood on end. His suspicions were confirmed a moment later when Tex cried, "Lord Aspen!" It was the long lost Guardian of Timber Woods, Aspen... the guardian Akai had never seen in his whole time in the pack. From the sudden reaction of the Alphess bowing... neither had she. Well at least on that plain they were equal. Not even bothering to hesitate Akai bowed as well, though he kept his gaze level on the Guardian... now that the Guardian had finally made an appearence after a long, long time, he was burning with questions for him. If he could catch him after the pack meeting, he would have to talk to him before he vanished again.

After a long moment, it seemed, Tex raised herself and Akai raised himself faster, just barely restraining from straightening before her. He no longer payed any attention to Tex, or the other members - the young, multi-colored wolf stared directly at the Guardian and nowhere else as he began to speak. He would look away eventually, but that time wasn't now...

[Adelemo]

Adelemo -

Adelemo sort of watched the whole procession with an eager but bemused look upon his face, his mind torn between thoughts of Allison and his old pack Lookout Mountain. Through the latter was only fleeting, he still felt insecure as he tried to read the faces of the other members of the pack. He knew none of them and yet he could tell that some were friendly enough to maybe greet him or glance at him inquisitively. He swallowed hard, becoming more uncomfortable as the seconds ticked by. The one thing that kept him sane was his mate. He almost leaned against her for support as he lavished her quietly with love. He didn't care what anyone thought - he loved Ally more than anything in the whole wide world.

Everything seemed, well, dull until a 'strange' wolf entered their mix. He stared curiously at the wolf in silence as he tried in vain to figure out who the figure was until Allison gasped something about 'Aspen'. The guardian of the pack. Immediately he followed his mate's suit into a deep and respectful bow. He listened intensely as he spoke about other guardians and their current situation. He soaked up every word like a sponge. He kept his peace as he waited for more. Hopefully there would be. He didn't like to see his new home in such turmoil.

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Lex -

Lex was disappointed. His smile didn't waver as he glanced at the faces around him but his blue orbs wavered slightly as he noticed that Sheeba wasn't among the wolves who had gathered for the meeting. His gaze flickered from face to face as his tail twitched with rising anxiety. It wasn't good in the least. He wondered what was holding the fae up. He let out an impatient sigh as he kneaded the hard ground. How could he be happy when she wasn't here? He shut his eyes for a moment as he organized his thoughts and feelings...

Then he was whole again. He smiled like always and greeted the members with cheery enthusiasm. Especially Tex and Adelaide. He nodded and saluted them in his own little way. His mind went fuzzy once more as he overheard Tex mention something about Addy and he. His eyes shifted to stare directly at his Alphess for a second then he resumed his aloof demeanor. He kept the facade up quite well until the guardian showed up.

He knew from the moment the wolf showed up that he was different. He had heard some about the guardians and he just guessed until their leader burst into praises. He would have laughed out loud if he didn't have manners. Although he smiled in slight amusement, he bowed with the rest of them. He took his time get back up though - didn't seem like there was much to stand up for. He sat down as soon as Aspen began to speak. His ivory auds took in the vital information the guardian passed on as his orbs began to scan the landscape again. He sighed once more. He couldn't stop him from asking silently within himself: where was she?

[Faith]

ooc: sry for the wait, again *bows, bows*

Faith waited patiently for the others to arrive, occupying her time by donating a few minutes to each new member coming into the clearing; she'd notice their gait, position by how they sat in the circle, who they knew and who they didn't by who they were sitting by and the looks they gave each other... when you couldn't rely entirely on your hearing for observation, you used anything else at your disposal. If any of them happened to look her way as she was staring at them, she only offered a bright smile and wagged her tail.

In no time the last member had wandered in and Allison was about to start the meeting... only there was a brief interruption when a strange wolf waltzed into the clearing. Allison gasped something about an Aspen and sunk into a bow, and, seeing the wave of others follow, Faith (confused as ever) sunk into one as well. It wasn't until everyone had straightened back up again and the Alphess and the strange wolf had both begun to speak that Faith realized this wolf must have been a Guardian.

With an interested but guarded gaze, the yearling wolf began analyzing this wolf the way she had the others. Faith herself knew very little about the Guardians - nothing except the faint memories of the bedtime stories her mother had told her - and the only one she really knew was Jade, the Guardian of her once-beloved pack of White Flower Canyon. Whoever the Guardian was, Faith didn't like her; she was not around when her family was falling apart, nor when her siblings died from complications after birth, and never did she even attempt to contact her and Bailee when they lost WFC. She was the Guardian of Wellness, for goodness' sake; she could have had mercy and healed her hearing problems! A simple explanation could expel all the wonders she had over why the Guardians decided until now to return, when they had no powers and were of no use, but her still rather child-like brain would dislike Jade until then.

Aspen, however, would be a different story... he was a different Guardian, after all.

Shaking herself slightly the bicolored fae focused on hearing to catch was the others would be saying and, as a precaution, focused on reading their lips as well. She was good at reading in both human and wolf form.

[Cammie]

skipping casper; so next is Adelaide, then Feroce, followed by Stryker.
lets speed this up a little guys(;

[Adelaide]

Everything seemed to unfold so quickly; Addy was almost sure she'd missed something important. Auds perked at Tex's sudden outburst, gaze falling upon the white brute that stood before them. She was quick to put the pieces into place, lowering herself into a bow even before Tex shot a glance back at the rest of them. It was truly unexpected to have Aspen in attendance today, but she was grateful for the chance of being able to see him in person.

Adelaide lifted her head only when he began to speak, amber orbs glistening intently as she listened to what he had to say.

ooc: sorry it's so short. since it's getting closer to the holidays, i've been pretty busy. i just wanted to get this up so you guys could continue with the meeting. :/

[Feroce]

Feroce was rather confused about Aspen, but when he saw everyone bow to him, he lowered himself aswell to respect the guardian. The concept of guardians was new to him and he had no idea what they all did, but he was sure to find out soon. He listened intently to Aspen's words, understanding why he was now stuck in his wolven form and not able to be a human. Did he fully understand the situation? No, but he wanted to find out soon. He wanted deep down to speak up and ask more about the situation, but seeing as he was one of the newest members, he felt awkward. So he held back.

He looked over to Casper, watching her reaction to the scene. Things between them since reconciling were not the same and he wasn't sure what to do about it. It was hard to adjust to being a wolf full time and fix things between them. There was too much going on at once and he wondered how she was really taking it.