Leomar, Lupanare, & Blackmist

Leomar returned to the Temple a few hours after he'd initially set out with the group, carrying an older fawn in his jaws as he swam through the moat and climbed up the opposite bank. After a quick shake, the lion sounded a roar to alert the rest of the Haunters, then sat down in front of his prize. A swollen belly suggested he'd already eaten - again - before he'd left the Golden Rose Canyon.

Following after Leomar was Lupa, who also carried a hunk of meat with her, a haunch torn from the fresh carcass of a deer. With her own rounded belly showing she'd eaten her fill at the hunt, the wolfess dropped this morsel off at the edge of the moat for the River Monsters before crossing the barricade and entered the center of their home.

"I take it the task was a success?" Blackmist ventured, as she loped from the Temple and out into the courtyard where Leo was sprawled before his prize. "Where's Zana and the others...?"

"Tending to our new food." Leo replied with a lazy yawn, a smug look plastered across his blooded face. "Erathi found three holes in the fence, so she, Star, and Shadow had to stay and guard them."

Tersek, Velvet, Saulk, & Moon Blink

Velvet stalked towards the returning group, pleased with the sight of fresh blood and meat. And hearing the tail end of what Leomar said, the Oracle of the Haunters knew the mission had been a success. "Sounds like the mission went well. Congratulations on your first big task, Leomar." She praised her nephew, giving him a nudge on the face and neck as she went by, then nodding to Lupa in silent approval. "Our focus now ought to be gathering more prey to fill those fences - how many did you get in there?"

Not far behind Velvet, and exiting from the main Temple itself, Tersek too had heard of their victory. But as Velvet began to suggest their next move, the aging hybrid was quick to interrupt and take command of the discussion. "Our next target will be the humans' land. We're going to take cows." It was an idea pitched some time ago, but delayed by the ongoing problems with the Makucha and defection of Nemu and her followers. "We're also going to need to increase our numbers here, if we're going to successfully protect our new food cache - Zanarah and the others cant be left out there indefinitely; we'll need to establish a rotating schedule to guard the fences."

The patter of excited paws announced the arrival of Saulk and Moon Blink, with the two youngsters charging across the stone floor towards their mother. "Momma, you're back!" Saulk yipped, reaching up to lick at his mother's chin. Moon squirmed in beside him, nudging Lupa's neck, "How did your hunt go? And when can we go on one?"

Leomar & Others

Leomar had been about to answer Velvet's question when Tersek hijacked the conversation, and all eyes went to the wolfdog. In the presence of a leader or not, the bloated lion eased down on his side, his head neatly cushioned from the hard floor by his plush mane. "I'm gonna need at least a day to rest, Tersek." He said, stretching his limbs out at his side, and draping a paw over the fawn he'd dragged with him, even though he couldn't possibly fit another bite into his belly. "After that though, I'll up for a second mission."

Watching the air of absolutely nonchalance from the big cat, with perhaps a bit too much ego inflating that head of his, Lupa kept a quiet chuckle to herself. She was more formal in responding to their co-lead, and did so with a nod of her lean muzzle, "I wouldn't mind taking part in the raid. As for increasing our numbers, there are a few packs around..." Her words were offered with a note of caution, knowing that not all of the Haunters were keen on the idea of using force against younger creatures. That's why she kept the suggestion open-ended, and tried to read the gathered Haunters for their reactions.

"Mommmma!" Saulk nipped at the fur beneath his mother's neck, trying to get her attention. "Tell us about the hunt, Momma!" His persistence earned him a paw against the back, forcing him sharply to the ground. A wordless, piercing look from Lupa was all he needed to see to quiet his antics. With an indignant huff, the pup squirmed away from Lupa and sat down a few feet away, waiting impatiently for her to finishing her conversation with Tersek. Taking his brother's cue, and not waiting to earn his dam's wrath himself, Moon Blink scuttled away from her as well, and headed towards Leomar's prized fawn.

Tersek, Velvet, Saulk, & Moon Blink

A frown decorated Tersek's grizzled face, forming an almost incredulous expression as he looked upon the rotund lion and the fawn that he zealously guarded, despite not having an ounce of room left in his belly to fit any more meat. "Get your rest then, tomorrow you'll be leading a group further south in the Valley." The order was given with a certain level of rigidity, but he didn't bother trying to force the big cat into being more attentive. Maybe a few years ago he might have, but Tersek didn't have the energy to waste these days, and besides, a small amount of pride was glowing in his yellow and blue eyes. The Haunters had reclaimed an old stomping ground of theirs.

Those dual-toned orbs fell upon Moon Blink, idly following the youngster as he dared to approach Leomar's kill. Not bothering to interfere, the old wolfdog answered Lupanare next, "Agreed. Imre's seen fit to bless us with three recent litters, but they've been small, and it will take time for them to grow. Before tomorrow's next raid, I want all able-bodied Haunters to inspect the lands around us, and seek out any promising recruits you may come across." Tersek didn't verge into the 'stealing cubs' territory, but in Senka's absence, he also didn't openly dissuade it, either.

Velvet was keen enough to pick up on this, and also wise enough not to part her jaws and get herself into trouble by advocating such things. She merely watched and listened, watching for a ripple of reaction that never came from the Haunters gathered. After a moment, the lioness spoke, "I will do some exploring this evening, myself. Should we send any of the raptors out?"

Leomar, Lupanare, & Blackmist

If Leomar heard the tension in Tersek's graveled voice, he didn't so much as raise a golden brow at it. Which may or may not be because of how tired he was, and how fervently sleep was calling to him now. In fact, he didn't even notice the patter of little paws as Moon Blink made for his fawn. "I'll be ready by then." Was all he responded with, his eyes now slipping close.

Lupa bowed her head in acknowledgement of her Leader's orders, holding it down for a moment before letting her dial raise back up, "I'll see what I can find." An aud shot in Velvet's direction, and was followed by curious eyes next. She wasn't entirely sure what the old feline had in mind, but thought better of asking or offering to join with her. Instead, the wolfess kept quiet and eventually settled down on her belly, ready for a quick nap once discussions were over.

Feeling similarly, Blackmist had listened to everyone with quiet patience, and was perhaps the only one a little alarmed by the lack of resistance to what Lupa had initially suggested. Sure, she hadn't outright suggested they take captives or pups, but that lingering suggestion at the end spoke loud enough. With quieter tones, she looked to her grandfather, "I can stay and help guard the place, especially with Silver Fyre so close to giving birth."

Tersek, Velvet, Saulk, & Moon Blink

"Good, good." Tersek murmured to those offering their help in recruiting, all the while surveying what length of the moat he could see from his low vantage point, awaiting sight of Mijuu and Quinn. His daughter and granddaughter hadn't returned from the raid yet, and he was keen to hear how the pair preformed. Almost distractedly, the old wolfdog responded in belated fashion to Blackmist, "That would be helpful. You and Mijuu will stay and make sure the pups remain safe; Erathi will remain with you as well." When he still didn't see either of the missing canines approaching, Tersek sighed and cast a look at those gathered, "Eat your fill and rest up everyone. We'll reconvene tomorrow, midday."

As the co-lead departed from the forum, Moon Blink continued his advance on the half-guarded meat. He glanced back at his brother, nodding sharply from Saulk to the fawn as he requested help in his endeavor. Saulk, looking at the mountain of a cat that lay next to the fawn, shook his head slowly, eyes wide as he rejected the offer. Moon scowled and stuck his tongue out at his sibling, then did his best to sneak up to one of the fawn's legs and began to slowly yank back on it, trying to pull it from Leo's grip...