The Gathering *ALL PACK MEMBERS MUST ATTEND*

[Maybe ♫]

The Gathering

It had been tugging at Darthyn's mind all day: the pack had to be more organized. He was losing track of who was who and who wasn't anyone at all. Snorting roughly as he slouched on his favorite sofa, he began to gather his thoughts. Things needed to be done, organized, finished.

Deciding to call a gathering, he threw back his head and emitted a deep, chilling howl, which the breeze swept away as soon as the leader's jaws shut. Satisfied, he cast his gaze to the chair beside his sofa, upon which a small flaxen-hued chihuahua sat proudly, chest out. With a nod, the compact animal jumped off the torn satin chair and hurried out of the Lodge to gather the strays. Rico had always been good at making a scene.

Able to delve deeper into his thoughts, Darthyn narrowed his formidable amber gaze, drinking in his surroundings. Not so long ago this room was filled with new pack members, most of them female, fighting amongst themselves. Well, they weren't really fighting, but their tones were icy and brutal and their words were sarcastic and rude. Competing, Darthyn guessed, for his respect. Rolling his eyes as he remembered the scene, he silently prayed that this meeting would go better.

ooc // When you bring in your characters, you can add that they either heard the howl, Rico told them, or Darthyn told them in advance about the meeting. (Only really trusted members of the pack can claim Darthyn told them, ones who didn't just join.)

[Malfunction]

The saluki glided in, lifting a wary eyebrow towards Darthyn. She really didn't understand why the other females fought over him. He was easy on the eyes, true, but she didn't see what attracted them to this one male. She liked the mind, not the body. Ava thought that she might just be the only femme in the pack not infatuated with him. The very idea brought a small smile to her lips, though she hastily masked the emotion. Ava moved to a corner and lay down, her cranium resting on her paws. Her body posture looked tired, bored. Anything but interested and enraptured. This was just how Ava worked, she didn't care about a lot of things anymore. She had learned that caring made you likely to get hurt, and hurting wasn't something that she intended to do any more.

Ava sighed and turned her head towards the door, waiting to see the other dogs that would come in. They probably wouldn't take note of her, she was just another dog in the corner. She had learned how to fade back and not be noticed, and she liked this very much. If no one noticed her, no one would attempt to get to know her, and she wouldn't have to deal with pushing others away. She didn't let anyone close, she wasn't above being rude to keep others away from her.

Lila bounded in, a grin on her little face. She was always so quick to smile, always quick to trust. She didn't understand the hardships of life. She didn't know why you wouldn't want to get to know everyone. Lila wasn't immature, or young, she was just innocent. She had led a guarded life, and no one had ever thought about how she would deal with the world when she was on her own. When her parents left her, she was devastated, but not one bit disillusioned. She still believed that everyone had good in them, and that no one could be completely evil. She flashed a quick grin at the leader, softened her smile for another, bigger dog in the corner and jumped up on a chair, turning around once, and sitting down promptly. She wondered what the summons was about, probably just a regulation thing. But how was she supposed to know? Best to wait and find out.

[shy]

Shela walked along in the woods swiftly till she heard a howl ears pricked up as head lifted.She raced through the forest heading toward the direction of the call in a few minutes. She was their she sat down seeing Darthyn, and two Fae's.She slowly sat down with a calm face on.She wondered what the gathering was about.She looked at Darthyn, and bowed.Then she looked at the two femme, and bowed as respect.Then she waited for the rest to show up, and greet with a bow.

[Maybe ♫]

Darthyn nodded and smiled at each dog as they entered, eying Rico as he trotted into the Lodge nimbly. When the little dog nodded to him, Darthyn knew he had done his job. As the little canine assumed his position of his favorite satin armchair, Darthyn gazed about at the assembled members. I know there are more than this, he thought to himself. And just as the thought formed in his mind, into the Lodge trotted a small red and white Husky puppy with one blue eye and one brown eye.

Looking around the room, Luna felt her tummy bubble with excitement. My first pack gathering! Trying her hardest not to bounce up and down happily, she went to sit near the old fireplace, which was black with soot of days gone by. Looking at it, she wondered how long it had been since a fire burned steadily within it.

Darthyn gave the pup a warm smile, but quickly averted his gaze to the left, where Rico's sister, Twitch, came padding quickly into the Lodge, her tiny paws hardly touching the wood panels that lined the floor as she sped toward the congregation. She seated herself at the foot of her brother's chair, shaking feebly. Rico got to his feet and wagged his tail, inviting her to sit with him. Once the female was firmly sitting near her brother, they touched noses and Rico gave her an affectionate lick on the ear, before turning his attention back to the eagerly waiting alpha.

As if on cue, the golden body of Lochnivar strode slowly into the abandoned lodge, smiling dreamily as if he was in a trance. With one look, Darthyn grinned at him and gave a proud nod. The steel-gray leader knew that Loch had mated with that pretty farm dog, Rita, and she was expecting his pups. And by the look on Loch's face, the bonny mother-to-be was happy and healthy. Seating himself on the floor, close to Darthyn's right side, her stared around the room, unable to erase the smile on his rugged features.

[Kato]

OOC: I've been feeling kind of museless. Bear with me.

Akira padded into the cozy lodge lobby where all the dogs were waiting patiently for the meeting to begin. Akira spotted the worn wicker couch with the pillow top that she so frequently sat on. It was towards the front. As she took her place she looked around. Wait, where have all the others run off too? Are they so busy that they can't attend they're own packs' meeting? she thought.

Akira nodded to Darthyn, one of her closest friends.She had always wondered if they're friendship could spiral into something more. But she didn't get her hopes up. There were plenty of other way worthy-er females than her, still she couldn't help but hope.

[/size]

[koraun]

It's Kez

The haughty female trotted inside with ease. Though she was about to be surrounded by possibly dozens of unknown strays, she was cool and ready for anything. Quickly, she spotted Darthyn, and her eyes glittered with a smile. She nodded smoothly to him, then turned her gaze to Rico and the chihuahua beside him. Rico had been the one to summon her and most of the rest, and she knew that he was Darhtyn's close friend. That in mind, Kez briskly nodded to him as he settled himself on the chair. Looking around, Kez paused, her gaze resting on a pretty black female laying on the wicker couch. She caught the glance she gave Darhtyn, and thought that something else might be there. Twitching her orange ears, Kez padded around for a moment, avoiding the little husky pup, the saluki, and finally settling beside the large golden beast. She couldn't help but notice the air about him, and the proud look plastered onto his face. She knew. Smiling, she felt comfortable beside him knowing that he had a mate. Odd, no? Perhaps Kez would seek a friendship with this one. He seemed gentle, calm. Looking up to Darhtyn, she curled her tail around her paws, waiting for the meeting to begin.

[shy]

Shela watched as all the groups of strays gathered in she watched one by one as they walked in she had no interest in none of them.Her mind was set on the meeting.She slowly got up, and moved a bit near to Rico so she could hear Darthyn well for which some might speak out of all the ones that might have something to say.

She just sat their, and waited for the rest to come in she notice how their was a lot more Femmes, than males in the pack it made her sad for which she new it was rough not having males in to keep the hot temper ones under control.An leaving her single.

[Noodle!]

<sub>A champage coated pitbull walks through the entrance of the lodge she had earlier graced like a plague of the subconcious mind to the shock of reality. Her eyes, by a tweak in nature, are the color of blindness, azure as the depths of the ocean, but she indeed sees. She sees other canines. She stops at the back of the room, clinging to the shadows like some lost lover. Her maw is lifted to test the air and she takes in the scents of her new pack mates. A slight breeze blows, so slight that the hinges on the old door are barely even moved by its presence, and with the slight squeak of the rusty metal she realizes she is no longer alone.

The light outside was gently fading, leaving ghastly shadows of skeleton trees on the floor. She couldn't help but fixate on the shadows like one obsessed, eyes twinkling in the last bit of light. She sat her backside gently on the ground, trying not to make herself overly noticeable, and her scarred sides heaved in quiet breaths.

Nostrils twitched as she caught scent of the leader she had met earlier. Did she catch his name? If she had, it had slipped her mind. She made a mental note to speak further with the handsome leader, and perhaps thicken their alliance. Trust was like gold in the lives of the strays of late, change was on the wind and even Damacre could sense that fall times would soon fall upon Harlow.

((Ghastly post! gah!))</sub>

[moonlight]

Kipcha's ebony ears pricked to the chilling howl of her leader. A small shiver was sent up her spine, as she began to pad quickly toward the tarnished lodge. Her walk turned to a slow jog, then she began to go faster and faster for fear of being late and looking stupid infront of the alpha.
She hadn't actually met him, nor any other wolves except Rico, the one who let her into the pack.
Which is why, when she arrived at the lodge at a speedy run and glanced at the small group of strays who had already arrived, she instincively sat nearer to Rico than any of the other strays.

She nodded to him, and then Darthyn politely.

[Maybe ♫]

Growing increasingly satisfied with the attendance of his Gathering, Darthyn cleared his throat and emitted a soft, eerie howl, the somehow carried over the whispering of the pack and sent them all into a hushed silence. He looked to his side, nodded to Rico, then looked to his other side and nodded to Akira. With a commercial-like grin, he addressed his pack:

"Welcome to the first pack Gathering." His voice wasn't loud, but it was deep, gruff. It seemed to make the already eerie silence even quieter. After a brief dramatic pause, the leader dipped his head and continued. "The way we have been doing things around here has been rather unorganized, so I've assembled all of you misfits," he spat the word, "here to fix it." Though his tone was mean and condescending, there was a gleam of mischief in his eye. These were his people. Misfits, yes. Rogues, sure. Vagabonds, you bet. And Darthyn was the king of them all.

"First order of business: there will be modified ranks. Dogs who have been with me for a while: Akira, Rico, Twitch, Monster, Loch, Cera, etcetera, will now be referred to as warriors." He looked to each of the aforementioned dogs that were present and gave them a proud smile. "The rest of you will be new members until you have proven that I have your trust. Then, and only then, will I name you a warrior. Pups," he looked at Luna and smirked wryly. She wrinkled her nose, her tail wagging slightly. "will be considered trainees. Each pup will have a mentor. Only warriors can be mentors."

Darthyn looked at each of his warriors, then back to Luna, the husky puppy sitting near the fireplace, her unmatching eyes watching him with great interest. "The pup Eli already has a mentor, but Luna here," he motioned to the red-and-white adolescent and she stood up, padding over to him. The crowd murmured. "Luna doesn't. Akira, I want you to mentor her. Teach her all you know of survival and the ways of the streets." He smiled at Akira, knowing that this was a huge honor to undertake and that she should be very proud.

Luna wagged her tail and trotted over to the black dog. Sitting at the foot of her chair, the husky reached up and touched noses and Akira, taking in her scent. After this, Darthyn spoke about the weather and how to stay cool, what to do if a human finds you, and the new nesting grounds. When he was done, he simply nodded and hopped off the couch, trotting out of the door and into the dark.

The meeting had finished.

[Kato]

Akira listened intently on what he had to say, as she always did. She was proud to have been given the title of a warrior. But she was suprised to be named Luna's mentor. Why her? She was nothing special? Was she? It was a huge honor, ginormous. She touched noises with Luna, taking in the scent she would soon be so familiar with. A big resbonsibility was sitting right there infront of her, could she handle it? Akira had no idea.

She hopped off the wicker couch and turned to Luna. She had to say something! But what was she supposed to say? Maybe she could like, "Hi, you already know my name," No, to, weird. She would just wing it.

"Uh.. Hey." she said, oddly.