Velvet & Others

Velvet was woken from her nap by a growl in her belly and an accompanying pang of hunger in her gut. The lioness stretched and yawned, showing off worn, yellowed teeth against a graying muzzle. With a clack her jaws snapped shut and she raised herself from her stone perch near the entryway of the temple, her movements fluid and elegant. A hardy thump followed as she leaped down to the ground and stretched one final time, before parting her jaws and letting lose a resonating roar, "Nuovas! Come to me." It was time for a hunt.

Velvet's niece was the first one to respond with a soft but audible chuff as she padded across the length of the stonework ground, leaving her napping place not too far away. Velvet dipped her head and chuffed back at the feline who looked so much like her great-great grandfather, Majikan. Her coat was a great asset to her, too - the pale fur and faded stripes worked well to conceal her in the mountainous region they typically hunted.

"What's this about, then?" Lupanare had also been nearby when the Oracle gave the call to gather, lazily keeping an eye on the surroundings. With her own stomach gurgling with hunger, the caramel-hued femme did not waste time responding to the lioness. She smiled as she approached the larger carnivore, bowing her head respectfully even as her thoughts drifted, 'I swear to Imre, this better not be another lecture.'

Leomar

A deep roar announced Leomar's approach. The lion took his time padding through the ancient landscape, his golden mane bouncing with each heavy step of his massive paws. A light cover of snow cascaded from his shoulders and nape as went, where it had collected during one of his many cat naps today. He stopped once to indulge in a lengthy stretch and yawn before uttering another lengthy roar to the pack that was waiting for him.

When at last he stepped across the drained moat and up the opposite slope to the Temple, Leomar halted momentarily to survey all who had gathered. 'This is? Where's the rest of the dogs?' He could smell them faintly on the wind, but the scent was old. Wherever they were, they hadn't been at the Temple in at least an hour or more. Not too concerned with the lack of attendees, Leomar continued forward towards his aunt Velvet and cousin Zanarah, joining the pair for a brief nuzzle.

Velvet & Others

Velvet's composed expression and faint, thrumming purr belied the worry that was starting to gnaw at her. Of their once formidable pack, was this all there was left? Had their power truly dwindled so low? In the back of her mind, the big cat tried to assess what she knew of the Haunters, how that splintered clan was fairing, and just how much of a threat they might be to her Nuovas.

'What's this about, then?'

Lupa's question and the forceful smash of Leomar's nuzzle against her neck jarred Velvet out of her troubled thoughts, but did not distract her from the potential problems at hand. "A hunt is in order, we need food." The lioness announced with a raised head. She extricated herself from her companions and started for the exit, talking over her shoulder as she went, "And once we've taken care of that, there is another matter at hand that needs our attention."

Lupanare padded beside the Oracle with her tall ears perked and attentive. "Where are we hunting? The marsh or the scar might be a good choice this time of day." The canine's mind was centered more on food right now, as she had always proven herself an adept huntress.

Zanarah, on the other paw, was more intrigued by this other business her aunt mentioned, and moved up on the opposite side of the elder cat. "Another matter?"

Leomar

Like Zanarah, Leomar's interest honed in on his aunt's second priority. What other matter was their to deal with? Calian and the others, who hadn't answered the Oracle's call to gather? Or was it something about their enemies? The lion almost wished it was, so hungry he was for a good fight... almost as hungry as his actual stomach.

A sudden gurgle of his stomach shifted Leomar's interest back to the hunt, which he wasn't entirely thrilled to be partaking in. Normally, the wolves and she-cats would bring the meat back to him and the rest of the Coalition, but with him as the only Coalition member left, and so few other pack members, the big male had little choice but to help out. Withholding any grumbling, Leomar lumbered behind the small gathering, letting the females do the talking while he listened and kept an eye out.

Velvet & Others

Velvet closed her slanted eyes and breathed in heavily, drawing in the scents of the Ruins and surrounding mountains. This was home, even if it was unusually quiet and lacked the thick musk of so many animals sharing one den. Her old bones didn't feel quite so weary, and her muscles ached a little less as resolution came to her mind and to her plans. Slowly, her almond eyes slid back open and she acknowledged Lupa and Zanarah, "The Marsh today. And-" The lioness didn't bother turning to look at her niece as she put the Temple behind her and moved deeper into the mountains, moving down the steep inclines and out towards the lowlands below, "-it's time to expand our pack and assert our authority once again. And ensure no others stand as a threat to us."

Zanarah's eyes widened a stitch. Her tail twitched at the end with sudden excitement, and she nodded despite realizing that her aunt could not see the gesture. She had been born during a time of decline in the pack, and had not been involved in any of the great wars or skirmishes Velvet often recounted to her. To be a part of those things now brought a certain thrill to the big feline.

This announcement caught Lupanare's interest too, though the wolfdog hid her smile behind a hunter's mask, keeping her eyes glued to the trail ahead and her ears on an alert rotation for any nearby sounds. Once the hunt was over though, the caramel-hued femme was ready to shed more blood.

Leomar

The idea of expanding the pack certainly sat well with the big male, who was eager to replenish the ranks of the Coalition. Having a few new cubs underfoot wouldn't be such a bad thing either, especially with spring just around the corner. Despite himself, Leomar almost smiled at the thought as he took up the tail-end of the hunting party and followed the lot of females out of the Ruins.