Saulk & Others

A baritone howl echoed through the Temple and the ruins around it, carrying with it a short and simple message - Saulk was calling the Shadow Haunters to a meeting. The grizzled wolfdog stood at the head of the platform so often used for such meetings, waiting with quiet patience for the rest of the pack to arrive.

Tersek sat beside and slightly behind his grandson, squinting his old eyes as those that were beginning to arrive as he tried to focus his failing vision.

Starbane was already seated in front of the platform, having been the one to bring up the concern over his missing mother. Leomar was beside him, waiting with a bit more attention than he normally would have paid during such a gathering.

Zanarah was a little slower to enter, for the ligeress had taken up the role of trainer for the pack's newest younglings, and was currently working with Velvet and Blackmist to corral the bunch into the Temple. "This way, Kandire. Phiron, over here darling! Keep together." As she offered ordered and nudged the two wayward females back into line, Blackmist was guiding Moonfall and Trelstar, while doing her best to evenly split her attention on the whole group, and not just her own offspring. Further behind, Velvet made sure Enumbria and Reveni didn't get lost in the shuffle.

Dally and Cedarwood joined the group, with the former flitting in through one of the high windows, while his larger counterpart had to glide in through the door, as per usual.

Tophee & Zaphren

Like a shadow, Zaphren could be found right alongside Starbanem watching Haunter after Haunter file into the cavernous room. His eyes briefly caught on the pack's new pups, and he glanced at Star to see if the big cat was looking their way or not. But the big liger seemed uncharacteristically somber today, and Zaph conducted himself likewise. Looking away from Phiron and the others, as if he didn't secretly want to pounce their way and incite a game of tag, Zaphren murmured to his idol, "What do you think happened to your mom? Will we go out on a mission to find her?"

Tophee trailed behind Velvet and the pups, helping to make sure none of them wondered off. Once inside, she took up a spot next to the Oracle, and turned her rounded ears to Saulk.

Kazmei, Trelstar, Moonfall, & Kandire

It felt so strange to Kazmei, walking in behind the bulk of the pack, to watch her pups being herded by the others as if they were the trio's mother, and not her. She also couldn't deny the small pang of jealously she felt for the way they tottered after Blackmist now rather than her, and yet... there was also something liberating about it.

The brown and ochre female paused then, her mind filtering away from her three children and towards the fourth soul that had been under her proverbial wing during her time in this strange new fortress. A fae that had been with her before her brief union with Saulk, and one that couldn't be stolen away by the rest of the pack. Kazmei turned her head back, looking to make sure Mystic was near at paw.

Mystic

As the now new mother strolled in behind her brood, watching her pups be lead by the other members of this strange amalgamation of a pack, there was another body that followed behind her like a shadow. Or... as much like a shadow as she could be with her stark white coat and dual tails flicking behind her.

Icy blue eyes darted from form to form, lingering on the muscles and teeth from the more larger feline bodies that crowded the den. Her paws had paused in their steps when she looked around before Mystic noticed that her protector was a few strides ahead into the room without her. Quickly she stepped, moving to press against Kazmei's coat, tucking herself against the side that placed Kazmei between her and most of the pack.

Tyrant

He just returned from trying to find his mother but couldn't. He moved to join his co leader but he would let his co leader do the talking he was too stressed.

Saulk & Others

Saulk waited until most of the pack had gathered. His dual-toned eyes swept the crowd, pausing once on Tyrant as he gave his co-lead a somber nod before continue his evaluation of the others. From the females wrangling the young, to the painfully timid little wolfess that stuck to Kazmei like glue, the grizzled wolf mentally tallied up the Haunters until he saw that most were in attendance.

"Family, thank you for gathering so swiftly." The male started, letting his deep voice carry over the crowd. "As you know, today marks the third moon since our Leader Senka has been missing. Daily searches have brought up no leads, and our enemies have shown no activity in our lands. It's entirely possible that Imre has decided it was Senka's turn to travel to the Lands Beyond." Saulk gave pause there, letting the weight of his words sink in before continue, "However, until we know where Senka is, we will continue to search until we bring her home. To that end, we will be changing our strategy on finding her. I want one capable group to scour the human lands, and two more to interrogate the packs scattered around the Valley. Somebody, somewhere, has to have seen her."

Starbane had given Zaphren a distracted nod, and for once had no witty remark or jesting answer for his comrade. His heart had sunk when his half-brother returned, to stand wordlessly beside Saulk at the platform. Just the look on Tyrant's face told Starbane all he needed to know; Senka hadn't been found, yet again. Things looked bleak for the old tigeress, but Star was not one to sink into despair. When Saulk offered a new strategy for their search, he was the first to pipe up, "I'll talk with the packs."

Saulk nodded, "You can speak to the packs along the west of the Valley. Who will go with Starbane?"

"I will." Came Zanarah's voice, "As long as we have enough guards to stay back with the young, I can accompany him."

Again, Saulk nodded, "Very well. We will need volunteers for the eastern side of the Valley, and for scouting the human lands."

While the discussion went on, Blackmist had glanced back to see that Kazmei and Mystic had joined the congregation. The gray wolf flashed a polite smile to the paler female, gifting the overwhelmed Mystic at least one friendly face to greet her, amid a sea of raptors, felines, and canines that more than doubled her in size.

Tyrant

Tyrant was silent as he hoped that maybe his mother was just lost or something but. he doubted it. I will search the priarie and canyonHe said.

Kazmei, Tophee, Zaphren, & Young

"And I'll go with Starbane, too." Zaphren confidently proclaimed as he stood up next to the pale liger, chest out and head raised in endless self-assurance. "Even if there's enemies, and she needs to be rescued, I can handle it." He was still a few months shy of his first birthday, and certainly far from reaching his full weight and strength, but already the white and beige liger had reached an impressive size.

His sister weighed the options given, though she did glance to Zanarah for support before speaking out herself, "I can help look after the pups, if we move them to Dima's Temple?" Tophee then turned her mocha eyes towards her two leaders, "Or if we have enough pup-sitters, I can travel with you, Tyrant?"

Kazmei was at a loss for what route to pick, having not known Senka that well, nor was she familiar with any of the packs or the local two-legger population. On the other paw, staying back to guard the pups didn't sound all that enticing either. After a moment of thought, the wolfess spoke up, "Mystic and I will search the borders of the human lands. We'll be less conspicuous than the cats. And if you send one of the birds with us, that should help." Poor Mystic had not been consulted on this, and Kazmei hadn't bothered to even ask her diminutive friend if she had a preference. In lieu of that courtesy though, Kazmei did provide the gentle blanket of her tail over Mystic's back, in a sort of show of protection and connection to her friend.

Mystic

As the meeting began, Mystic settled down next to the larger female, eyes turning toward the leader and ears swiveling to listen around the crowd. The slightest of tinkling coming from the plastic ID tag onher right ear. Senka. The large feline leader that had went missing soon after Kazmei and her were taken in for the winter. Still not found... The scared part of her felt maybe it was good she wasn't here...

Mystic scanned the crowd as they started volunteering, locking eyes with the ashen wolf who appeared to be taking on the role of 'mother' of Kazmei's pups. The smile she gave Mystic made her a bit surprised. Was it that obvious how nervous she was? Her ears went down, eyes flickering away for but a moment before she gave the smallest of smiles back at Blackmist.

The voice of her friend beside her made her jolt a bit, standing straighter to look up at the white masked wolf as she spoke. The inclusion of her name on this quest made her eyes go wide. "K-Kazmei!" She startled before her voice lowered. "I-I don't think I-Im safe to go near the h- humans... Wh-What about my tag? They might see it and... and-" The familiar touch of her tail made her pause.

Looking over to Saulk and hoping he didn't catch her words, Mystic gave a breath before nodded. "W-Well make sure to check everywhere we can." She dropped her gaze in a half bow, hoping she didn't have to many eyes on her in that moment.

Saulk & Others

Saulk's attention flit from one pack member to the next as volunteers spoke up and offered their assistance. Star, Zaphren, and Zanarah to the west, Tyrant and Tophee to the central lands, and... Kazmei and Mystic to the humans? He found the large female confident enough for such a role, but was skeptical about the abilities of the dual-tailed Mystic. Heterochromic eyes sized up the smaller fae as she sputtered a frantic response to Kazmei that, while he didn't quite hear the words, could at least see the fright and surprise in her body language. "Can you handle yourself out there, Mystic?" Came the wolf's blatant query, as all Haunter eyes turned to the poor wolf. "You obviously have some experience with humans, I trust that you can use such interactions to your advantage?" Now several eyes turned to the tag that graced Mystic's ear, and even Saulk took in the garish bit of plastic with a look of clear disdain. He'd not said anything about it yet to her, but depending on how this mission went, the subject was bound to be brought up on their return.

Blackmist had done what she could in the moment - offer a wordless show of support to the new female that was struggling to adjust to such an abrupt new life, letting her know she had a friend in this frightening new place. But that was all she could do right now; there was no way Saulk would let her leave the Temple when there were so many pups to look after.

"If I may, I agree that the pups be sent to Dima's Temple." Zanarah was the one to shift attention away from Mystic, "It would be good experience for Tophee to join Tyrant, and that still leaves plenty behind to keep an eye on our young. I would also suggest that Dally go with Kazmei and Mystic? He has the most experience with that area."

Saulk's gaze finally broke away from Mystic, "Agreed. I will speak with the eastern packs then - Cedarwood, I'll have you accompany me. Unless anyone else wants to join in, you all have your orders."

Tyrant

He then moved down from beside his co leader and headed out without a word. He knew his mother was old. But the thought of her passing away alone or without a word didn't sit right with him. His ears were back as he headed out. He'd start at the priarie

Kazmei & Pups

Kazmei visibly stiffened when Saulk directed his attention on them. Not out of the kind of fear that Mystic was experiencing, but more of an uncertainty of how to handle this big brute who she briefly assumed would become a mate of hers. There was no soft emotion hidden behind his gaze, or kindness in his voice; he was all business, and spoke to them as if she hadn't born his pups just a month past.

Kazmei flexed her shoulders and spoke up, nearly cutting the wolf off at his last words, "Mystic will be fine. We won't get close enough for the humans to be a harm to us." Again, she spoke for her smaller companion, and then dropped her voice to a quiet murmur, "You'll be okay. I won't let the humans touch you, but you have to stay near me, alright?" And, as if to soften the fact that she had just volunteered Mystic for a duty that clearly frightened her, Kazmei offered a quick but gentle touch of her tongue to Mystic's forehead, "You'll be okay."

Mystic

When Saulk's attention was turned towards the duo, the small fae had to resist the urge to flinch or shudder although her ears did fall back. His words hurt more as well, the clear disdain against whatever mark the human had given her written in his gaze. Mystic struggled to find words without divulging that she was an escapee. A possible target.

Without missing a beat, however, Kazmei spoke in defense of her. Shutting down the need for her to stutter out a response and get herself into trouble with their new pack mates. She even went so far as to assure her that they would not go near the two legs, all in the same breath. When all the attention was finally away from them, she was finally able to sigh as Kazmei placed a small lick against her forehead. Her tails giving a small wag in response, she finally let a nervous smile grace her. "W-We'll be okay. I'll st-stay close."