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Post by Hunter on May 1, 2013 19:04:44 GMT
It wasn’t a secret that the Mistress was planning to step down. After all she had other things to attend to with her puppies, and as for Hueso, he still hadn’t shown much after his mate’s death. And with the General absent, it was only a question about time before it could be felt on the Soldiers of the Bloody Paw who’s training the General stood for. And with Iris being extra thirsty for blood lately, they couldn’t afford growing weak. The Iris Pride hadn’t made a direct attack on Tempest land when the Lexis had marched toward them, but knew they were always lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. Filthy animals, he thought with a huff as he padded along the Tempest border in his patrol. Earlier he’d seen the tracks of small feline paws, and even though the scent was slightly faded by hours, Ryu immediately knew it’d been an unskilled Iris spy lurking around, not daring to trespass though. He’d reported back to other soldiers, telling them to be extra cautious in this area before returning to his comrade whom he patrolled with.
Nose close to the ground, Ryu trotted along with his comrade, both alert in their work. It wasn’t before a howl broke the silence that the two dogs stopped. Looking at each other, a crooked grin appeared on Ryu’s face, his brown eyes lighting up as he easily recognised the howl. It was Brooke’s, of that he was certain without second thought. With an excited bark he rushed ahead with his comrade right at his heels, both canines eager to answer their Mistress’ call. A pack meeting was coming up, and though two years had passed, he still remembered the first he had attended to – the one where Hueso, his mentor, had been called to take the role as the pack’s General. Perhaps a shift of leadership was the cause of this meeting too? Or would they be attacking Iris before being attacked themselves? Nonetheless, the black and white dog knew this was important and it was evident that others knew it too. Big and small alike were the canines of Tempest running to answer their Mistress’ call, and he felt excitement flutter in his stomach. They were coming out of love and loyalty, each and every one eager to stand together in whatever challenges they were facing. This was the family he’d yearned for. This was where he belonged.
”Ryu of the Bloody Paw, my Mistress!” He addressed with bright eyes as he along with some others emerged to the meeting place at Tooth Cliff. His tail waved behind him as he heard the calls, barks and cheers of others addressing themselves toward their alpha, all ready to listen to her words.
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Post by Mika on May 1, 2013 19:26:04 GMT
It was obvious to everyone that Brooke wouldn't be able to continue leading the pack. Gus silently blamed her mate for that. She was a lot stronger before Bane came back and impregnated the soon to be former Mistress. Gus loved Brooke but, he wasn't in love with her like Bane was supposed to be. The disillusioned coyote couldn't help but think badly of the warden the moment he found out Brooke was pregnant, even more after finding out the birthing was difficult for her.
If Bane truly loved Brooke, wouldn't he have thought of the responsibilities she had? Or if giving birth at her age would possibly kill her? 'His head probably isn't between his ears.' He thought bitterly before shaking that thought from his head. Brooke probably wouldn't like it if she found out he didn't think too highly of her mate.
Gus quickly made his way toward where the pack was called, running so he would be one of the first there. No doubt today Brooke would step down and allow someone else to lead the Tempest pack, and he hoped he wasn't even considered for that role. After the disaster rescue mission that he was chosen to lead, he had very little confidence that he would be able to lead a whole pack. He wasn't able to help Kai when she needed it, he couldn't imagine how many others he would disappoint.
"Gusto of the Bloody Paw, at your service." He said to Brooke with a polite bow of his head then joined the other canines who had arrived before him.
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Post by Kezz on May 1, 2013 23:00:06 GMT
"Speech"
It was good to feel the faint autumnal breeze upon his dark brindle back as he padded through the wooded area of Tempest land. September had been a miserable month in comparison to the sweltering summer Hexasol had recently endured, meaning the sun received a warm welcome from Bear. It had been a whole month since Antigone had announced her departure, they had fought and she had disappeared off into the big wide world. He was still hung up on the whole situation despite Zara and Estelle telling him that she had every right to leave Tempest, just the same as everybody else, and that she needed time to forge her own path. The two year old strongly disagreed with his sisters: Anti should be at home, with them, fighting the battle her parents had struggled with their entire adult lives. She certainly shouldn't be flouncing off into a strange place with no responsibilities let alone protection from anyone or anything that decided to attack her. Bear was well aware of his sibling's capabilities but even so he felt uncomfortable not being by her side. But most of all he missed her company and friendship.
His dual-toned twin had been his best friend from the moment he had been born. Even as puppies they had been closer than with Rech, which only seemed to make her betrayal hurt harder. Tempest needed the youngest daughter of Hueso and Zara; hey needed her fire, they needed her determination but perhaps they did not need her shallow loyalty which had proved less than desirable. Well perhaps Bear was thinking unfairly but every time Anti's face formed in his mind's eye, all he could feel was the burning sense of anger in his chest. She was his sister if nothing else, and had abandoned him when they should have stuck together. Oh well, it was pointless to dwindle over the past when there was so much to look forward to. The pack had been successful in their battle, slaughtering most of Lexis and chasing off the stragglers. Warriors had been sent into the Tribe's territory to kill those left behind so there was no chance of Lexis rising from the flames. Not this time. A strong sense of pride swept aside the pain he felt from his sister's leave, and replaced his frustration with simple optimism: Tempest was moving ever closer to glory.
The familiar, confident call reached Bear's ears just after he'd made his kill. The young male swung his head in the direction it had echoed from with the limp rabbit in his bone-crushing jaws, the blood dripping down his muzzle and onto his chest. A year ago he would most certainly have brushed off the meeting, but then he had been ignorant then. His mother had been alive, he'd never seen a feline up-close, his family had been all around him and the pack had provided him with a cushy lifestyle. Now everything had changed and his devotion to Tempest was mostly all that remained. With a swift, vigorous gait, Bear emerged from the woodland and paused as the open clifftop stretched out before him. The warm wind buffeted the front of his body and he inhaled deeply, before moving forth once again. Upon reaching the location of Brooke and a few other dogs, Bear grinned expressively at his Mistress and then Ryu. Ryu had of course been Hueso's apprentice and Bear remembered watching the pair together as a young pup, oh how proud his father would be now if he could see the Canaan Dog. Gusto also caught his eye and though they had never really hit it off, the brindle male couldn't help to empathize with how he must be feeling: Anti had left him too. He smiled at them both through the small furry body that still hung from his mouth.
After sitting down and placing his catch between his paws, Bear barked a cheery greeting in his usual extroverted manner. "G'afternoon Brooke." Perhaps he should have been a little more reserved but he was still stuck in the ways of his childhood in the respect that he was not so fussed about all the formalities. Little did he know what was about to hit him. The youngster wondered whether this meeting was about the future leadership of Tempest ... everybody knew their Mistress was growing older - you could see it in her silver-streaked muzzle and dulling coat, but still her dark eyes remained as sharp and bold as ever. Bear looked on silently now, his steadfast gaze locked firmly on his leader's and awaited her speech to begin. |
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Post by Pluton Leader Smiff on May 2, 2013 4:47:47 GMT
"Speech"
As the cool Autumn winds swept over the cliff side, they brought the scent of the sea below. Brooke had always relished the smell, the sounds, and the view of the ocean. To her, it was calming. An escape she so desperately desired and needed. But duty had called her away from the life of just a dog, or even just a Soldier. She had been The Mistress of Tempest for so very long now, her life beforehand seemed so far away. She had been so different then, so much more radical - young, perhaps a bit naive too. How things had changed over the many years this battle had raged on. Through it all, Brooke had experienced so much pain, so much suffering, but she wore each scar with some semblance of pride. Today though... today was the day that, at very long last, she could start to appreciate the little things she had once taken for granted. The breeze by the water, being the very first of many good things to come.
Was she nervous about what she was going to do? Absolutely. To Brooke, Tempest was more than just a pack. It was her pack. It was her rock and her support through all the hell she'd endured. It was as though each and every canine here was part of her family - a very extended family that she didn't always want to associate with - but a family nonetheless. And so as dogs of all kinds began to filter into the open space all around her, she acknowledged them with the warm gaze of someone who, above all else, cared deeply for their well-being. Before now, Brooke would have hated to show any sort of emotional attachment to Tempest. It was part of what had made her a strong leader. Maybe not a good one, but a strong one, she thought. It was that resolution to put them before her feelings that had gotten them this far and had kept the embers burning. It was almost surreal to think that tomorrow, she would never address her pack as The Mistress ever again, but simply as an elder, a mother, and caretaker.
She had talked to Bane briefly after the battle. He was more aged than even she, and she knew very well that their time together was limited, at best. Then there was her new litter, who she loved more than anything in the world. Brooke wanted to spend time with them and their father as a real family before nature took course and she too, died. She was well aware that her choice to have another litter of pups this late in her life had raised questions amongst the pack, but there was not a day she regretted it. Even with the horrible agony and drawn out labor that ultimately had claimed one puppy, she felt like, for once, everything she had ever wanted in life fell into place. Sure, she was still upset that her weakened state hadn't allowed her to fight alongside her friends in the last battle, but the fact that they had all so expertly taken care of the threat that was Lexis had proven that they were, indeed, ready for this change in leadership.
Bane and Hueso had agreed after some persuasion that it was now or never to hand Tempest on to the next generation. There had been concerns that the cold winter was just around the corner and that perhaps it would be better to wait until the snows had passed, but Brooke knew there were no guarantees that she would survive in this condition, frail and old as she was, and furthermore, believed in the two canines she had selected to succeed her with all her being.
Ryu, Gusto, and Bear approached her not a moment too soon, she thought, and a proud smile graced her as she addressed each one in turn, "Bear has the right idea. You no longer need to address me so formally." she started. "My reign as Mistress is coming to an end." She got up from her spot after that and trekked up to the highest point on the cliff, waiting patiently for the rest of the pack to gather before beginning her very last speech.
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Post by Picasso on May 2, 2013 11:59:49 GMT
""
The Pack had been oddly quiet in the past month since the attack. It had been a couple of weeks since Orion had tricked Virgil into releasing the tortured Tempest dogs, and Orion had been very proud of himself. He would never forget the sights he saw in the Slaughterhouse that day. The stench had been so gruesome, Orion still had nightmares about it. He couldn't bear to think of the dead, rotting bodies the Iris had carelessly starved and abandoned. How could such creatures be capable of such evil? It only strengthened Orion's beliefs on cats; they deserved to die. If Orion was in power, he had often wondered whether he would lock the cats up and do to them what they had done to canines for countless years. They deserved it. However, a small voice in his mind and told him we are better than that. Felines are cowards, whilst canines take the moral high ground. It didn't stop the disgusting images in Orion's nightmares. Shuddering, Orion attacked his opponent on the training field with more force than necessary, startling the mongrel.
Everyone knew Brooke was close to abdication. Ever since her puppies had been born, she had hidden her face. She was too weak to lead as The Mistress. Orion had tried his best to impress her, but it usually came out as boasting. He trained everyday, working on his techniques in the best way to fight, but Orion had a feeling this was not enough. He was still young; a cub in Brooke's eyes. Orion was not capable of leading an entire Pack. However, it didn't stop Orion from hoping, from dreaming of what he could do with the endless supply of dogs. It must be a difficult decision for Brooke to hand over power to a younger, fitter dog than her. She had led this Pack ever since Orion's father had decided to leave on a whim. Orion hated Gravity for that stupid decision. How would the Pack be different, had Gravity continued to lead? It was no use thinking of the what-if's and the what-could-have-been's. This was the present.
Orion parried as the mongrel attacked him again, and he heard a compliment from his mentor. Keeping his eyes fixed on his opponent, Orion lunged at him, but the canine easily jumped out the way. Huffing, Orion was about to attack again when a howl made everyone freeze. Ears perked, Orion gazed over at the cliffs; the source of the howl. "A meeting," His opponent murmured, sounding surprised and excited. Everyone knew what this meant. Brooke was handing over her power. With a pounding heart, they left their training session to make their way to the meeting. His stomach curled itself in knots as he saw other canines begin to gather on the cliffs. The elder canines looked worried, even upset, whilst the younger looked excited and promising. Taking a deep breath, Orion weaved through the sea of canines until he got a decent spot.
Brooke arrived several minutes later, holding her head high and looking regal as ever. It had been the first, true time Orion had seen her looking like her old self. Even the battle a month ago, Brooke had been weary and tired. She hadn't killed a single canine or feline that night. That birth had truly taken its toll on her. Orion scanned the crowd, looking for any recognisable faces. He saw the comrades who had joined in the rescue of his sister. Orion was well aware of the dislike they had of him, so Orion kept well away from them. Whilst the others greeted Brooke, Orion remained silent, studying her closely. He wondered how much thought and discussion had been put into the decision of a new leader. Whilst Orion hoped he would be picked, he knew he reputation preceded him. He was a disliked member who had a mouth full of shit. No one would listen to his orders.
Sighing, Orion turned to watch the newcomers arrive. As Brooke finally spoke, he listened to her with wide eyes. Despite all that she has been through, she still stood strong. She would not be broken. Listening with awe, it was finally confirmed. She will be stepping down as Mistress. An eruption of gasps and whispers spread through the sea of canines. He shared a glance with the canine next to him. Most were not surprised at this sudden announcement, but he could feel the tense excitement as they waited for Brooke to reveal who would be taking her place.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2013 19:54:41 GMT
Autumn was here; it was shocking, sometimes, how quickly time flew. It had been an entire month since the battle. Everything had been relatively quiet as the Pack had recovered from the conflict. Valkyrie's wounds had more or less healed, and she had regained most of her strength, the more plentiful food allowing her to grow to her full, impressive size.
She still hadn't managed to interact much with anyone in the pack, though. It was her own fault, really, but she wasn't the excitable, overly friendly cub she had once been. In unknowing imitation of her father, she kept everyone at distance, and more often than not, her true feelings hidden. Except when she became angry.
How could she even hope to become a leader with such flaws? She had always dreamed of being a leader - of being the Mistress of Tempest, of leading the pack wisely - as her father had done before his capture. She wanted to be able to look after Tempest, to lead them in battle and to be the last one to retreat if they lost. To be a canine that any in the Pack could approach with disagreements and problems. . .
Blinking and shaking her large head slightly as if to clear it, the young she-wolf gripped the carcass of the young doe she had caught, trotting towards the centre of Tempest territory. She was most of the way to the Asylum when a voice - summoning all who could hear to a meeting - sounded. Valkyrie's heart pounded in her chest, for she knew there could only be one reason for this.
Quickly trotting into the Asylum with her catch, she handed it over to a waiting greyhound, smiling her thanks before loping back towards the cliff and the spot where the pack was beginning to gather.
There were a few dogs she didn't recognise, but she did see Ryu, Gusto, and Bear, three young males - two of whom had been involved in her and Ares' rescue. She remembered with some warmth how Ryu had run to assist her in the batte, and she nodded briefly to all three of them.
"Brooke." She addressed her leader simply, meeting the elderly bitch's eyes before dipping her head respectfully and moving back slightly to sit near Orion. She greeted him with a nod like the others, making it clear that she was not crawling back to him to apologise. Even so, he was family, and she believed that family should stick together.
The multi-coloured female sat silently as she waited for more of their packmates to gather as she gazed at Brooke. She had led the pack for so long - refusing to give up, putting her life on the line for her followers, her family, more than once. She deserved to be able to retire peacefully at such an age. . . But what about Gravity? What would he be like had he been the one standing in front of them right now? No-one would ever know - and to some extent, it didn't matter. Brooke was the one who had been loyal, giving her everything for the canines who gathered here, putting them before her.
And now she had to choose her successors.
The wanting was as sensation almost like hunger - but noting like lust. For Valkyrie, it was not about the power.
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Post by Hunter on May 4, 2013 17:46:02 GMT
Bear and Gusto were among the first ones to turn up too, and he dipped his head toward both of them, returning Bear’s grin. Gusto had lead the last rescue mission and also aided when Ryu himself was in need of help to get out of the Slaughterhouse. Even though poor Kai had fallen, Ryu still thought the coyote had done a great job in getting them all out. Though not among the biggest of canines, Gusto was definitely a soldier to respect. As for Bear, he didn’t know much of this young dog. He was young but seemed to have great potential, always loyal to the pack and eager to do his deed in the war. His spirit could perhaps turn out to be a great motivation in the pack. He felt sorry though for the fact that his sister had left Tempest, but hopefully the twin would eventually come back, just as Zara had done it. He knew very little of Hueso’s youngest daughter’s departure, but he still sympathized with the brindle male, hoping she would come back. Perhaps Nikita’s death had been too much for her, and she therefore needed to clear her mind for a while. What would he do if he lost someone dear to him? Would he leave too? No, he couldn’t imagine doing that at all. His place was in the pack, this was where he belonged and where he would find happiness, even in hard times.
Ryu’s ears perked up as Brooke spoke, quickly informing those already at the gathering that formal introductions weren’t needed. That she would step down. The Canaan dog felt a rush in his stomach of excitement. Who’d take her place? Who could take her place? She’d been the leader of the pack ever since he’d joined the pack, which made it hard for him to imagine someone else taking her position. But he had to have faith in Brooke, trust that she was more than capable of choosing her successor. He’d follow whomever she might choose. He gave a short laugh while his tail still waved calmly behind him. It felt odd that the Mistress wouldn’t want them to be so formal around her, she was after all a beloved alpha as far as Ryu knew. He looked around, seeing other members quickly emerge from all corners of the territory. He saw the elders, Nemesis and Clegane sitting beside each other, speaking and occasionally jesting in their own brutal manner, while waiting for Brooke’s speech to begin. Half a year ago they’d have been fighting if being so close to one another, but luckily they seemed to have found each other again. He also saw Maevin not far from her parents and soon also Orion. The black wolf wasn’t popular in his eyes due to his at times rude behaviour, and Ryu therefore didn’t quite understand when his sister Valkyrie went to sit beside him. Well, perhaps he was just being too judgemental toward the black youngster. He had after all done well in both the rescue and the battle against Lexis. It didn’t take long before the Siberian Husky and Beauceron mix named Victoria joined Orion and his sister, puffing Orion’s flank with her own hip in a playful way.
It was good to see so many coming, to see so many different canines uniting just because of a single call. When he’d first been here, he’d had no one but Hueso to sit beside, but everything felt much warmer now. Though he knew many already, it felt most natural to go and sit beside Bear, who’d caught a rabbit just at the time of the meeting. ”I hear you’ve done well in the battle, congratulations. Want to take a patrol together sometime?” he quickly asked while sitting down beside the brindle as they waited for Brooke to start her speech.
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