[ORP] The Midnight Feast (END)

[Shia bean]

Joy was giddy and chaotic behind the eyes. His words flustered her. His presence frightened her. My dear. She echoed. A fine job.

And her son's face flashed before her eyes.


That single, glorious moment spent before Black Forest, being seen by him, would leave its mark long after the feast had ended. Even as Cloud rendered her silent, did the slightest of grins play upon her lips.

Still, the company of her mate sent those dark ears back, and she flattened herself, for the second time this evening, against the earth. Of course he would have seen her. When did he ever feel comfortable in letting her just be? She held her own. She held her rank. Sure, she sometimes let excitement get the better of her but...

Look at their alpha. Look at their pack. Look at their home.

Alas.

Through their exchange she remained silent, shifting her attention from one dark male to the other... shivering with pride.

---

Cloud cleared his throat. His brows were heavy, frustration clear across his countenance despite his alphas words. Yes, he heard them. Yes, he respected them. Still...

He was annoyed. And Cloud rarely hid his emotions well.

"Yes, well... I will be sure to speak with her. After the festivities." A side-eyed glance found Joy and narrowed there, before returning to their leader.

And that was when Cloud's expression fell. He sent a long, careful look past Black Forest and into the oblivion of thought. His lips quivered, his posture shifted uncomfortably... but he held his tongue, teeth gritting together. And what of your children...? It wasn't the fact that he gave praise to a no-name rogue.

That almost didn't even matter.

It was the fact that Black Forest brought any attention to his children at all.

They were disappointments. All of them. In one form or another, some lesser, some greater, and he hated to speak of them. They all knew. Again, he couldn't hide it even if he tried. Joy argued that he expected to much of them, but Cloud knew better.

They would never amount to anything. No matter how hard they tried. Not even his own true born daughter... although she would certainly get the closest.

When he realized just how long he had been silent, Cloud By Night expelled a heavy breath. "The hunters have indeed done well by the pack. It is about time." Orange eyes made a slow return to the piercing blues of his superior.

"Joy's son is still alive. That doesn't say much, but it's something."  

[Shia bean]

Fight... Fight... Fight!

Players = Roleplayer || Characters = Your Wolf
Just to be clear!


Hello and welcome to a random encounter! This is a test... so bear with me! ;; <3

Quick rules:

1. These characters are NPCs. Your characters would know of them. Maybe they've seen them around the territory? Maybe they've heard about them through the grape vine?
2. I won't be giving them names, so please play into that as you will! Maybe your wolf cannot remember? Maybe they never got the names? Maybe they never cared to ask?
3. Have fun!

This encounter will run for one round, resolving with my next post. My next post will be triggered by either:

1. Two different characters engaging with the encounter. (They can be owned by the same player. See how to engage below!)
2. Two different players posting in this ORP.

You can choose to engage by:

1. Acknowledging the fight. Please BOLD that your character takes notice and quote me!

**I ask that no characters actually move to interfere!**
The only option for engagement at this time is to perceive. When this encounter has resolved, characters can continue to reference this particular event, infer what they'd like on what the teens were 'talking about' and come to their own conclusion on the whole ordeal. If your character wouldn't care, couldn't see, or you simply do not want to utilize the RP mechanic, that is totally fine! This is just to help enrich the scene. Thank you!

-------

The pack had had a successful season, bringing a healthy handful of pups into the world while rearing the previous terms into their adolescence. Under Black Forest’s reign, their numbers had swelled. It was evident on a day to day basis, but clearest on nights like these...

From the looks of it, the Moongate’s youth had gathered together, much to the chagrin of every teenager, and were sharing in the atmosphere along its fringes. The lot of them were monitored closely by their parents, as much in an effort to keep the peace as they were to see the next generation into the appropriate practices.

But the pups were too rowdy to care. Several had been recently weaned and were loud in their protests, either squabbling amongst themselves or eagerly seeking out their mothers. They might have quieted once Black Forest arrived, but only for a moment. Just long enough to ogle at the size of him, coaxed into admiration by their elders, before returning to their milk missions.

The adolescents, however, cared a great deal and were rowdy; but for different reasons. As the feast unfolded, the captains slowly making their way in for the kill, the Moongate teens all snapped and snarled and rammed into one another; riled up both by the show of Black Forest and their raging hormones. Some managed to check themselves, settling in and out of excitement while others... well...

Just as Hellebore tore into her share, commotion from the far end of the gathering erupted. What started out as a jest quickly turned violent as two wolves, siblings, suddenly broke out in a fight. Between the clicking of teeth and the grappling paws, some remarks could be overheard.

"Take that BACK!"

"You're WEAK! She'll NEVER like you!"

"TAKE IT BACK!"

"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY YOU BOTHER!"


All teens, but especially this brother and sister pair, could and often would act impulsively when provoked. It was good that this lot kept their disputes amongst themselves... but the timing could have been better. The other adolescents were quick to pick up on the vibe and fueled the fire with a series of energetic howls.

Initially, it seemed as though none of the adults had taken notice. Or maybe they didn't care? Intervention was a last resort and everyone knew well of that. The kids could handle their own. It was crucial that they did! But if they couldn't, or wouldn't settle on their own...

Their large, lumbering father would be happy to help.

 

[Lunar Mirage]

((This doesn't apply to Massacre...his first day here, he barely knows/been introduced to anyone...lmao))

Massacre had largely kept to his spot (though he did move a pawstep or two a bit further from Blushing Oath, and watched the alpha finish feasting and move off the kill, allowing the next group to take their turn. He licked his lips, his hunger getting the better of him for a moment as he thought of what the elk would taste like, before shaking his head to clear his mind. Should he introduce himself to Black Forest? He was debating what would be a good opening move, however before he could act, the same female who'd earlier made a scene found her way before the alpha instead, and soon joined by whom he assumed was her mate. He was close enough to hear most of what was said, and kept one ear on the proceedings. This would tell him what his next step should be.

He visibly puffed up a bit at the knowledge that Black Forest knew about him, and basically had just praised his work. At this point, he decided that speaking to him wasn't such a good idea. Words carried little weight, and he truly wanted to prove himself and increase his status, he would do well to do so physically. Work hard at the role he was given, and hopefully that would truly earn the alpha's respect. Or at least he hoped....that one scared the fur right off him.

Satisfied at his decision, he went back to pay more attention to the pack itself. It was large, and apparently been very busy as there was a whole grouping of teens that couldn't quite contain themselves. He chuckled a little, not envying the group who would have to deal with that lot, and training them. His attention was about to move on, when some yelling caught his attention and a fight broke out among them. His ears perked as he watched, curious to see how it would be handled by the others. This would tell him some more of about the pack and just what it was made of....and the sort of place he'd walked into.

Shia bean

 

[Shia bean]

Ashfall gave off a heat signal that, be it fortunate or unfortunate for her, a brother would always be able to pick up on. She stole his attention almost immediately, and he wondered what she had been up to while they were away. What sort of 'impression' she had made on Father. The pale wolf would have searched again for Cloud, he nearly made a pass at the crowd, but his father's visage would never compare to the one Ivory flicked to next.

Crimson Tendril.

Ivory's heart skipped a beat. The fight that was breaking out became just another part of the pack melody, lost to his new found focus.

The huntress was skilled, perhaps one of the top wolves in their ranks and Ivory admired that. He respected her, even if it meant that she might be better than him. In a quiet sort of way he also favored her over the others... never outwardly soft in her company, rarely striking up a conversation, but always looking for her side while out on the hunt.

So when Ashfall, all brazen as she was coy, stepped forward, he took that as his in.

He strode over, stoic despite the rile in his gut. His heart continued to race. He avoided Crimson for as long as he could... but then his eyes found her face and lingered a bit.

"Couldn't agree more." Shifting the focus to his sister. "Good to see you out and about, Ashfall."  

[Shia bean]

It was pure, unadulterated chaos for all of three minutes.

'He said she saids' were continuously slung back and forth, through grit teeth, through clashing paws, through bites and yelps and kicks. The siblings rolled around on the snow covered earth, the other kids continuing to hoot and holler and enable the aggression. They wanted to see a good fight, not a quick one.

It was what they trained for. And the new and unfamiliar amongst them would bear witness to the heart of the Moongate itself, within both wolves in question. This was what they were. Fighters. It would be best to get used to it quickly.

Their parents, and advisors, continued to watch. A twitch of the muscle here, an impulsive instinct there, would nearly trigger some of the more eager to diffuse the situation, but all refrained from doing so. Because again. This was a customary practice. A rite of passage. And they had nothing to fear.

Nothing.

The male's neck craned to reach for his sisters. His eyes were wide, crazed. He was teeming with an out of control rage... but his sister was clever. She was strong, agile, and easily continued to pin him down and release him, almost as if dancing. Almost as if it were a game. The snapping began to slow as quickly as it started. The pushing and jostling turning into half-hearted shoves. And then, at last, the final pin came when the female leapt up and landed squarely upon her brother; a single word rasping from her bleeding lips.

"Weak."

Followed by her laugher erupting, howls as loudly as any wind brought down from the snowy peaks. Victory was sweet and she relished in it a moment before rolling off the male to find her footing.

He followed in suit, standing tall and strong and proud. Spitting out the blood that that had gathered in his mouth, narrowing his gaze as it fell upon his sister, who teased and poked and prodded at him still. He was bested, but not broken. Not even a bruised ego would keep him down. This fight might have been lost, but their next one was surely on the horizon.

He couldn't wait until then.

But, as it were, that was that. The siblings went back to their familial antics, both a mixture of camaraderie and competition mingling with that stale scent of spite lingering in the air.

And beneath them, the snow was smeared red. It almost looked like the giant swipe of a wolfs paw...

Almost.

-------

This mini-event is now closed!


As mentioned before, feel free to continue referencing this moment should your character wish to. Talking about it with the other members. Or move on, as it seems the siblings have.

Thank you for playing along. >3

 

[KasaiLoki]

Gray's eyes followed to their alpha, watching him consume his meal. As he took a step away, the Captain took his moment to bypass Massacre, as well as Blushing Oath, and careened over to the fallen prey beast. The land slick with the crimson liquid spilling from the open carcass, Gray inhaled, finding the scent almost intoxicating. He wasted little time in going for a particular meaty area, tearing the chunk of meat he wanted before taking it from the kill. The Captain was a quieter wolf, keeping to himself unless otherwise needed.

The sound of a skirmish caused his jaw to clench against his meal as he watched. Intervening never crossed the Captain's mind as he watched the brawl, and the victor named. His nose twitched as the two dispersed, going back to his meal, his eyes occasionally scanning upward to watch the dinner unfold.  

[Shia bean]

Blushing Oath swiveled her head, catching like a fly to a web the tail end of a siblings quarrel.

Her thin frame quaked again, painful and unsettling to look at while the freshest scent of blood carried itself right to her. In its variances the spillage was delightful. Stronger and sweeter than even the grass eating, berry picking elk, yet wielding it's all too familiar insidious bite. Her nose grew wetter with mucus as packed leeches pushed fluids out... aiding in the snatching of Dire Wolf vitae. It taunted her every sense. Brushing against the chains of a bloodthirsty beast, desperate to go feral from within.

But the Moontalker did not move to aid them. For if help was required then the pack would find her. Not the other way around. It was a safeguard against the aforementioned thirst and... certainly she respected tradition well enough. The siblings had turned to one another, gashes bleeding profusely, and resumed their childlike play. The fights were all a part of the game.

And she was playing for keeps, here.

By the time she realigned her focus, Gray and Hellebore had already dove deep into the innards laid out before them. And when they were finished, it was her turn...

She waited not for the warriors to step in along side her. She barely waited for Gray to move on, inching forward, every part of her vibrating. When close, she dug into the snow until the hard soil was visible and unhinged her jaws. The thick black bodies spilled out of her, dozens of tiny red specks welling up all along the face of her tongue. Some tried to cling on still, wriggling irritably at the disturbance but Oath's gentle work with a single paw soon released them all into the snowy hole.

And from there, savoring for but a moment the iron of her own flesh as it slid down her throat, Blushing Oath reached the carcass and rolled her body within it -- successfully covering herself in the brilliant red of death.  

[Shia bean]

It was less the siblings themselves and more Black Forest's interest therein that earned Cloud's glance. He laughed, short and sharp, filling in the silence after their alpha spoke. From his perspective, Cloud was hard-pressed to be impressed by what he saw. The words the two shared, although muffled by distance, were childish. The fight itself short-lived. Black Forest was right to cast a dark look over the warrior. Cloud By Night was never satisfied.

No one would ever be good enough for the Moongate. Except, perhaps, for Black Forest. And himself. To be young... and stupid.

"That it is. That it is." His face concealed nothing of what he felt, but his reply was agreeable enough.

That sensation one got when someone was staring at them burned at the side of Cloud's face, and on his way back to the alpha, after passing over the elk to see their Captains feeding well, his focus fell on Joy. Who was, in fact, boring into him with her brilliant green gaze, the fur around her right eye tinged red from the wound... her expression blank. But watchful.

She couldn't be bothered to pay their alpha more mind, could she?

Again, Black Forest checked the Warrior. He could feel a tension building, so palpable and so in opposition of himself that... he nearly fell into insecurity. Whatever it was that writhed within the alpha, Cloud did not wish to provoke it. So he bowed is head deeply, before stepping back to Joy Departed's side.

"Correct you are, my alpha. As you always are." Another look to Joy, who still watched. And now, smiled

"Come, Joy." His words found the female on her feet, almost as if she anticipated this move. The scarf that wrapped about her tumbled off one shoulder and she quickly gathered it in her jaws to ease their departure. Cloud grit his teeth, before continuing. "Thank you for humoring us... But we have burdened you long enough. Allow us to leave you to the festivities." His hip bumped into Joy's purposefully, and she moved back, bowing within her steps before turning towards the crowds.

Cloud bowed one last time, eyes flitting up to meet with the countenance of his alpha... struck momentarily by the stoicism that enveloped the large wolf.

"May this night prove fruitful for all future endeavors of the Moongate. By her light."

And with that he turned as well, spotting the leave of the Captains and their replacement -- Blushing Oath.

He had had no intentions of filling up on the elk. To get fat with meat was to risk laziness -- and Cloud would never accept that sort of fatigue. But watching her roll in the muck, spreading her bare paws and maw all along the meats surface... It all but eliminated his hunger altogether.

He'd wait. Until she was gone.

And in the mean time he would pull Joy into the throng of wolves, whispering harsh words into her dark ears while her eyes found Ivory and Ash, the son and daughter of a time long, long ago.

And a smile, wider than before, would reveal not the cruelty she received.  

[Shia bean]

It didn't take her long to slather up, consume, and depart; stepping out like a hellhound birthed from the carnage. But before she could leave the carcass entirely, Cloud By Night, and the disturbance he carried on that handsome countenance of his, would bring the she-wolf to a brief pause. Sending her blood-soaked gaze his way, letting it linger for much longer than he would have liked, Blushing Oath contemplated something.

The warriors. They were always so strangely absent.

How incredibly rude?

From there her prints, marked by the devil himself, led to her leeches, and then to Black Forest where a wolfish grin unveiled those crimson peaks and slick black bodies. She mouthed something to him. Perhaps a 'thank you'? Or 'I love you'? Bowing her head before continuing the trail of crimson paw prints out and around the gathering. She settled just along its fringes and waited, impatiently, for their Alpha to dismiss the lot of them.

Oath had work to do back at the waning pools now that the witching hour was upon them. And her babies were getting cold.  

[The Moongate]

[[ And that will end our first pack ORP! Thanks for joining in, everyone! It was super fun! We'd also like to extend a special thanks for your activity:

Lunar Mirage

You've received a red totem for your participation in the random fight event!

For everyone else, you've received a green totem!

Kasai Loki

Ars Naberius

Fea Line

]]