set the morning after this thread

Last he'd been here, these cracks and crags weren't full of flowers. Butterflies don't venture up this high, but birds do, and their sparse, high songs fill the yawning silence. The grass probably doesn't get long enough to tangle an ankle, he muses, comparing the lush green of its color against that of his toes. Odhgrimm sits away from the edge of the precipice, some ways off a trail in a vibrant section of the little plateau. Wind tugs at his mane and the morning is warm, bright. Up here, below the clouds but not by much, one can see how wispy those clouds are today, barely any opposition against the strength of the sun.

It's his favorite type of spring day.

Reaching forward, the lion crooks a curved claw around a stem of buchu, eyes on the waving white petals of its flower. The plant that kid could've benefited from. Odhgrimm has been harvesting up here for a short while now, and wonders now if his body hasn't unconsciously led him here. Snorting, the lion figures himself a fool and clips the section of herb he's holding, beginning another small pile to package up. There's a few more nearby- he'll wrap everything up at the end, when he leaves the mountain. It will be a while, yet, before he does so, he knows. The Rike have things to discuss. As he continues collecting, the male bellows out a few roars, calling the little hellions in to heel.

@Drakka, @Erna, @Karst, @Máni, @Rorik, @Uzma, @Valdis, and @Alaric too if you want Shan!

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Hallowed, but hesitated

Shallow, but full in all your veins

• • •

He was surprised to hear a summons from his brother beckoning the clan to the peaks. Karst stirred from his lazy resting place and stretched with a loud groan. Since he had taken the position of second in command, it made sense that he had his own business to conduct among the group. Especially since they seemed to have been laying relatively low since the first incident. As previous instructed by Eulalia.

Karst called to @Drakka so they could travel together and began the climb skyward. For the most part he was silent as they walked. Before they got too close to the place of summons, Karst leaned over and placed a brief kiss to the side of her face. He knew she didn't like meetings with the Rike.

Coming on the rise he spied @Odhgrimm and closed the distance between him and his kin. "Brother," he greeted flatly, with a hint of curiosity in his tone and expressed on his heavily scarred face. It seemed no one else had arrived yet, but knew they would filter in soon.

    Drakka had already informed @Karst recently of her uneasiness, of her dreams, of her worries of what was to come and a Rike meeting was never good news, at least in her experience. She did travel alongside her made, breathing in a calming breath at his kiss before they made themselves known to @Odhgrimm. Drakka did not speak, as expected, but she dipped her head toward the other male in a silent greeting.

    It was curious that he called this meeting, not Eulalia, and her nostrils visibly flared as she scented at the breeze, searching for signs of the Rike leader or the closeness of the others who would surely be answering the call to gather.

She is expecting the call. How can she not? She'd born witness to the fall of their jarl, and it means that Odhgrimm has ascended a ladder he is uninterested in. And it stands to reason that Eulalia's death will do little, if anything, to bring his wayward wife into line. There are a number of thoughts roiling in Uzma's mind as she ascends the familiar mountain peak where she'd first met Odhgrimm, and none of them are positive. They are even more in the spotlight now, more exposed, more at risk. It's an unfortunate series of events, and she fears that the coming months won't prove to be any easier. Her lips are settled into a fine line as she makes the final ascent to the plateau, prowling towards the growing group with her muzzle slung low. Uzma's gaze sweeps quietly over @Karst and @Drakka, flicking an ear towards them, before her attention spans to @Odhgrimm, assessing him for a long moment with a wordless intrigue in her gaze. How he handles their next steps could spell the difference between life and death for the Rike, but they may well be better off without Eulalia and a woman he won't (can't?) control. She heads for an open patch in the grass and leans onto her haunches, her expression as placid and neutral as ever.

image by yumpy, code by koi

For a time it's peaceful, quiet. This high in the sky, the passage of time seems slowed, and the man feels for a long while it's just he and his plants, a collection growing ever bigger one clip at a time. Soon enough he's satisfied with the amount of buchu that he has trimmed, and so rises to find something else. It will take time for the clan to scale the mountain to reach him. Lingering in the general vicinity, he keeps himself entertained as he waits. Wolfsbane is what holds his attention when the first arrive.

Glancing over when he hears movement (can't be too careful anymore), he briefly looks over both his brother and the braided man's wife. Not wishing to stare, Odhgrimm turns away while they finish their approach, an unconscious wave of his tail inviting them closer. He's calmly sitting again, snip snipping more healthy stems with a scrutinizing eye. "Mein blut," (my blood) the Assassin replies lowly, glancing over once they're closer.

Neither seem ill to be here now. There is vague curiosity in @Karst's expression when Odhgrimm meets the man's gaze, and @Drakka is ever the polite wife, bobbing her head to greet the grey. An ear swings toward her and then away, the only acknowledgement she'll receive. The bearded man begins to speak as @Uzma draws his eye. "Es geht Ihnen gut," (you are well) (half statement, half question) is meant for his brother, but the way he watches the approaching lioness could fool someone.

Their eyes meet and hold for a long moment, and he wonders what she knows. How she prowls in today is no different than any day, as far as he can tell. Do any of them know? Looking away as she goes to settle in, Odhgrimm wonders what the odds are that he's the only one that knows Eulalia is dead. Surely more than just he had been at the challenge, curious to know whether they'd be inheriting a new home or not.

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Some enjoyed the sunshine of spring and the evergreen fields, while others (like Erna) disliked the softness of the weather that began to thaw the little snow this land had. She was not used to this drastic change in temperature. Her thick brown pelt was best suited for the heavy winters of their homeland. She still couldn't get completely acclimated to the fact that this valley was their new settlement, but she was not one to complain. None of them were.

The climb wasn't the only reason for her thumping heart. She had dreaded the call the moment Eulalia's body fell lifeless on the cavern ground, the moment Alaric dropped the crown he was reaching for. The small wounds across her body were a reminder of their conversation last night. The fury had been quick to be replaced by a different kind of passion, but it was returning now, alongside her constant paranoid thoughts.

She couldn't know how Odhgrimm would react, but she always expected the worst. Today was no different. When she reached the top, and the gathered's shapes emerged, Erna slithered to the sidelines without daring to step closer. There only a curt nod for a greeting, and then her eyes sank to the floor. She felt her skin crawl, her stomach churning with uneasiness. The previous Jarl's wife was nowhere to be seen. Sunniva. Her heartbeat began to race again at the image of her head beneath Eulalia's paw. I'm done for. Fuck. There was only this tiny little hope that Odhgrimm will not fault her, but to her such foolish thoughts were useless.

Hallowed, but hesitated

Shallow, but full in all your veins

• • •

It is a polite greeting they share, but there was nothing else. Karst settled beside his wife, leaning over to scratch at his left ear with his back foot. Soon there were others. @Uzma and @Erna strolled in, but there was nothing but silence. He narrowed his gaze, casting them nothing more than a sidelong glance before training his eyes onto his brother once again. "What is the meaning of this?" he questioned, his brows turning suspiciously downward. Drawing an inward breath he returned his attention to @Odhgrimm. "Why have you called us here?" There was emphasis on 'you', but it wasn't a tone of judgement or anger; curiosity, suspicion. He understood that he was their second in command, but the silence seemed odd seeing as their last meeting was full of venom.

shit could not have gone any worse, could it have?

erna was alive and so was he, but the crown was lost and the jarl was dead and alaric felt the weight of it on his shoulders. reason told him it was inevitable, this blood feud between the rike and sigrun was a brutal thing, but he would not fault them for turning the blame his way. he was the one who had called the challenge, after all, and it was at said challenge that they had lost their leader.

alaric is not one to hide from his shame, and he comes with heavy steps, following behind erna for once. this is her land and he allows her to lead, but he holds his head high despite the losses that seek to pull him down. venomous eyes do not shy from those gathered, and he will take whatever lumps they give him.

he would do it again, too -- and rest assured when his wounds are healed he will.

for now he stands and offers whatever strength he might give his mate, though he wonders if she will still accept him now in front of their prying eyes. or has he shamed her too deeply?_{BG — ART — CODE}

This content might touch on topics that are sensitive or triggering for some readers.

No, they have to know, or at least some of them do. One being @Erna, if the way she slinks onto the scene is any indicator. Odhgrimm's gaze narrows on her, if for no reason other than her determinedly non-confrontational approach. She may be woman and he a temperamental man, but the deference is unexpected of a Rike. It gladdens him to inspire such fear, such respect. But he says nothing to her, watching closely to see if his stare could make her quiver, and perhaps it is this steady silence that spurs @Karst to question him. Demand answers. Knowing his brother, hearing clearly the lack of insult in his tone, it's the only thing that keeps the Assassin's skin from prickling. And his eyes shift, holding the blue-on-blue of his kin, displeased.

"Eulalia is dead," he says, easily, and it's obvious that it doesn't make a difference to him, not really. "The same chimera, Sigrún cunt that mangled her," with a wave of his forepaw, he vaguely gestures toward Erna, "only months ago." For a moment, the lion is quiet, peering contemplatively at the brown man in front of him. "If Eulalia had been patient," Odhgrimm continues, voice low. "Then he would have known better to be so easily found." An example, baby brother, in what a lack of patience begets. Finally those eyes release his kin, and they slouch down to the pile of wolfsbane he has created. "Their number is many. It is hard to tell how many, but their reach is across more than their own pride. I have seen them fraternize with their beach neighbor (Caladan), those of the northern wood (Vermeda)."

The pause isn't pregnant, but it's noticeable.

"Those of the caves as well (Obsidian)," eases out, and as he says it the lion turns his great head to fix virescent eyes on the pair. Erna and the man she has decided to bring home to them, a nearly-late arrival to their cozy family meeting. @Alaric. There's no studying of him, a brief examination all to be given, the Assassin's attention only for his bearish sister. "If you turn up with a belly full of pawns, you'd best be asking for an abortifacient," he tells her. Odhgrimm does not know that her beau can speak their tongue, and the grey wants him to hear it too. Never has he been the type to disguise his threats, the promises that hold weight and substance as they're presented by a barbed tongue.

"He has not earned you," this he breathes as he only then lets green stares lock, the lines of his masked face vaguely disapproving as he scrutinized the man wishing to take one of the Rike as his first wife. Odhgrimm is no fool, he himself willing to collect well-fitting additions to a harem if the opportunity presents itself. And though he holds their bloodline higher than others, their women have been and always will be tools. Valuable in their flesh and in their possibility. If Erna wished to be with this lion, it had better bring value to their clan. What her prospective mate does after he secures her is his own prerogative, and if his actions after his loss tell the Assassin anything, it's that whoever Alaric calls family thinks the same.

Which means that Odhgrimm is confident that his point has been understood, and just as abruptly as they have locked eyes, the bearded man turns away. "It will do you all best to remain vigilant and careful," he says, glancing between them but not really settling on any one for long. "Do not flagrantly associate yourselves with one another, especially we who they know to be Rike." Those words are said as though it is more than he and Erna among them that falls into that category. "We need more information on the prides, of their relations and alliances. If we are to survive here, we must know who the Sigrún have at their back. With so few of us here," and it vexes him to say that, "we need time to build."

Quiet spans twelve seconds, with only the whistling of wind over the precipice, and he lets that ruminate in them.

"Eulalia's death vacates the position of Jarl," comes then, the same volume as before but somehow quieter. "As his appointed second, it is in tradition that I ascend. If there are no objections," he glances at Karst, the only among them that is eligible, but the look is fleeting. Alaric isn't considered at all, unaware of any knowledge the stranger among them has of their clan and their culture. "My first command is a break of camp. Too long we squatted in the far reaches of the north, and it has been time wasted. Our current number is too meager for retaliation, or even to defend an onslaught if their strength is as I am being led to believe." Agitation bleeds into his voice, his eyebrows creasing as he contemplates this aloud, a general discussing further strategy rather than dictator throwing direction.

"From what I have gathered, a few prides will be safe for our infiltration. The rainforest has recently been overtaken by a lion, pink with a red mane, and the chimera bitch was there, fighting with the ones losing their home. I do not know how they stand with their new king, and it is worth investigating. Erna," and when his eyes find her, it's actually they he looks between, blinking placidly. "Do just that," he tells them. Odhgrimm badly wanted the jungle for himself, but knew he had uses elsewhere. And wasn't he being kind, keeping the happy couple together. "Karst," it was implied that the man's wife @Drakka was being included in this turn of attention, even if the grey didn't look at her. "There is a lioness-led pride in the cliffs to the northwest. Black with stars, like a night sky. Beware, she has no qualms using the brawn of her pride to decimate opposition."

And that left.. Odhgrimm says nothing to @Uzma. Merely looks at her, holding that blush gaze. She isn't of them, not yet, but where they go she turns up, and no time soon will he tell her to scram. Neither will he entrust direction to her either, not like this. Rike business was Rike business, and it did him no good if she winds up blowing their cover. Still, thus far she's been useful, and it won't hurt to at least know where he'd left her. Telling himself it's not because he wants to be able to find her easily, he tells her "you will see to the Brook." It's a bit of a risk. They've had trouble there once before, and he's unsure if she was caught up in any of it. But their leadership was different now, a new man now reigning between the towering trees. At the very least, the lioness might bring gossip of the ghost-chaser's latest woes.

"Or," and it hangs as though he hopes one of them will trash the idea before he can even say it. "Our new base of operations will be this mountain." It's very obviously implied that he will be the one securing it for them. While said rather reluctantly, it can't be argued what he's willing to give for his clan's success, especially not after his next words. "I will need time to make it so. Until then, go as bid to the prides so that we can begin to repopulate and recruit. Collect as much information as possible so we can squash the Sigrún infestation. Move as you see fit for that goal but any risks that you take are your own. What say we?"

ooc: Odhgrimm is offering to switch his sub-master trade to Outlaw and start a band for the Rike at Freyr Peak.

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ooc: Using my Sleuth Lvl. 2 perk for all the info <3

+10 Pass along information that might be important

The long-toothed wench kept her eyes on the ground, on their surroundings, fluttering from the faces of those gathered - but never landing on @Odhgrimm's face. She hid her fear as much as possible, but there was that nagging feeling of her sibling's stare that pierced through her flesh. Much like all Rike men, Odhgrimm was a shark that could sniff out her anxiety even if it was a droplet in the sea. Karst inquires boldly, and the bearish woman is quickly reminded that the pointy-earned man was unaware of Eulalia's demise. Odh swiftly announces the news for the oblivious couple. Nonchalantly, without any emotion for his predecessor. She saw this as a good sign, one that eased her booming heart if only slightly. His gesture towards her - the mangled one - is dismissive and although the words stung, she preferred them over being on the receiving end of his fury.

There is another lesson to be taught. A lesson of patience, he says. The very lesson that Eulalia had wanted to teach Sunniva. Wasn't it ironic, now, that he was dead?

The subject of this meeting's attention begins to unravel. Talk of the enemy was expected, and Erna anticipated ( albeit anxiously ) what the greyed Jarl's next order will be. There was a ray of hope within her that he'd finally let them loose off their chains, but even she knew that would be a foolish move.

The mention of the Hollows sets the hairs along her spine on end, her violet, dark gaze freezing on the pile of wolfsbane at the Jarl's feet. Her muscles tense up, and she wants to lash out at @Alaric who stood confidently beside her. But she doesn't. She would never display such disrespect towards a man, for the consequences would be dire. And still, she wanted nothing but to yell out that it's his fault, to snarl and growl like a rabid beast. To prove her innocence, as if she hadn't taken a part in this plan. What comes next is a warning, a threat should she turn up with a belly full of her lover's children. The children of a man unworthy to father them. There is now fury in her gaze as it finally meets Odhgrimm's, but it wasn't a fury for the Jarl. Erna lets go of a breath she wasn't aware she held. The long-toothed woman nods curtly, without hesitation. A demonstration of loyalty and a warning for Alaric. "Ja, mein Jarl." She would never put Alaric above her kin. She was a Rike first and foremost, and whatever she and Alaric shared was beneath the loyalty she had for Odhgrimm and the Rike. Alaric must keep his promise first.

Relief washes over her as the family head moves on from the couple. He continues to instruct them, and she listens intently. It was unfortunate that they had to keep hiding, but knowing how little they were in the face of the Sigrun rats, they had to remain in the shadows. We need time to build, he continues. The call for information compels her to speak, her tongue itching to let free everything she knew. Speak. Apprehension to interrupt her half-sibling's speech restrained her. Speak, Erna urges her voice to rise when there was an opening. But it doesn't.

Instead, she continues to stay silent and listen to Odhgrimm declare his ascending as Jarl, leaving a moment for the only eligible man present ( their brother ) to object. She watched the braided Karst, curious to see if he would stand to fight for the title.

The first command was intriguing: break camp. She felt the chain around her neck loosen, and the air caresses her bruised skin. Each of them was to infiltrate a pride, and when Odhgrimm spoke her name, she perked up. The Rainforest. The two-faced wench was there, fighting with those who lost their home to this new King. This little nugget of information was a delight. However, she couldn't help but glance at Alaric with the corner of her eye. He was soon to challenge for another pride, and she wondered if he'd follow her to Firnen, or go straight for another crown. Either way, it was her wheat lover's decision to make, but he had to make it quickly. "Verstanden. Wenn ich hinzufügen darf, der Name des Firnenkönigs ist Zoticus. Ich habe ihn beobachtet, wie alle anderen Rudel. Es scheint, als hätte er noch keine Allianzen mit irgendjemandem geschlossen. Er hat eine Frau namens Arjana zu seiner Co-Anführerin ernannt." She added with a firm voice and a diplomatic expression that in her case meant business.

If there was a silver lining in their laying low, it was the vast knowledge that Erna had obtained of each and every pride. Who bore what title, their dens, their alliances - she knew them all. Erna hoped that this will not only help her family, but also win Odhgrimm's favor. Karst and Drakka were sent to Wolfbron, which was the one place that surprised Erna considering that it was led by a woman. It was a bizarre thought that the lions here would let an emotional female lead them into battle. Everyone knew that men were better suited for leaders. She dared to look @Karst's way, waiting for Odh to be done before she spoke. "Ihr Name ist Amara Dieudonné. Ein Mann führt als ihr Co-Leader – Vermier Dieudonné." More like as her second in command. What kind of pathetic man would allow that? She glanced back at Odhgrimm. "Sie scheinen sich mit den Sigrun-Rudeln Scilla und Andal im Krieg zu befinden. Vermeda ist ihr Feind, und es gibt einige Spannungen zwischen ihnen und Firnen." The Rike could use Wolfbron to their advantage. Who knows, maybe Odh may consider an alliance?

@Uzma was sent to the Brook. It was risky, not to mention that she'd have to be alone. Perhaps a single rogue woman won't look very suspicious, though. She spoke in the common tongue for the healer woman. "Aquila Valour rules there. He's appointed Talisa Valour to be his Sovereign. The Brook seems to be well allied, especially with Scilla, the Hollows, and the Mire." She kept her silence then.

Odhgrimm presented a second option. Instead of infiltrating, they set camp here - on this mountain. She couldn't help but think that would guarantee stagnancy again. They need a pride, and she hoped that Alaric will secure it so they wouldn't need to hide on this lump of rock. For now, though, it was a good backup plan. She nodded without voicing her opinion.