RP:Making a Pact

Synopsis: After Lanara receives her space up in Frostmaw after the wyvern hunt, Tiberius takes the time to work on the pack home for the members. Lanara on her way back to Sage, gets caught in a snow storm, but uses Asha for survival. The Amber Lunation holds a meeting, and rules are set in stone for each member. Each member then make a blood pact to abide by the rules that are set by Tiberius and Lanara.

Part of the New Moon, New Motion Arc

Ancient Forest

Lanara (Post 1 of 3) It had been nearly a week since the couple had left Sage Forest and traversed over the mountain, where the Catalian had fallen to one knee and asked the Kelvarian to be his bride. That day had been filled with unrivaled happiness and they had romanced their way long into the evening, vowing to love each other until their dying day, and eager to start their future as husband and wife. The following day had been the complete opposite of joyful, as they had teamed up with Meri and Magik, to hunt wyverns in the thick snow of Frostmaw. Lanara couldn’t stand the sight of her guildmates butchering the carcass of the beast, and so Tiber had escorted her back to their tent. The witch and her inner wolf are an anomaly, at total ends of the spectrum, and since she felt so at odds with her emotions, Lana had told her fiance that she needed a few days to sort through things. On her own. She then went on to visit her sister, and aside from a brief encounter with some hunters and having to rescue an owlet, things seemed to be looking up! The next morning, Lanara had intended to return home, despite her need to be alone. Being apart from her mate was torture and she missed Tiber terribly, so she stepped into the tundra, without first checking a weather report or giving it much thought. The witch had spent days wandering around the frozen wilderness, trying to shield herself from shards of ice and blinding winds, and she thought that she would truly perish as she found herself lost. Rude-Off didn’t come when beckoned, she couldn’t wield a broom in treacherous conditions, and although she has flawless control over the elements, she couldn’t battle against Mother Nature. Growing hungry, the witch had been forced to let Asha have control, and she hunted down a large moose which they gorged upon until both the wolf and the woman were content. Moments after their meal, Lana had shifted back, and the storm seemed to settle enough so that she could catch her bearings and make the journey home.

Lanara (Post 2 of 3) Lanara enters the newly purchased home and calls out, “Honey! I’m home!” Brushing her windswept locks behind her tapered ears, she takes a gander in each room, before heading upstairs to their master bedroom. Sadly, Tiberius Lowell is a very busy man, and he is not home waiting for his future wife as she had hoped. Even if she looks like something Salem drug in, as she haphazardly wears a moose pelt around her slender frame, and sports some scratches and bruises on her arms and legs. He would still be delighted to see her, right?! Did he miss her -nearly- as much as she had missed him? She knows he’s likely angry that she had asked for a few days alone to think, and she -had- been gone a few days longer than she originally stated, thanks to the stupid storm. Had he arranged a search party out of worry? Could her beloved be scouring every inch of Frostmaw!? Asha grows anxious as she yearns to see Luca, so the witch quickly bathes and dresses herself, before she heads into the kitchen to see if any notes had been left behind. A small ledger atop the counter has the date and time of a meeting with the Alpha Lunation, a meeting that Tiber and her had planned a few weeks back, and though she may be flighty at times the witch is a woman that keeps her word! Lanara backtracks to the bedroom where she throws a few things in a large tote bag, puts on some lip gloss, and races to the construction area a few miles away.

Lanara (Post 3 of 3) Lanara slows her steps and catches her breath as the sight of the home being built comes into view, and she cannot believe how far they’ve gotten in a few weeks time! The structure looks strong, the foundation has been carefully laid, and it seems that the first floor is nearly done! Of course, they still have to paint the walls, install carpet, and eventually furnish the house. Lana remembers glancing at the blueprints and that they were going to put in two extra bedrooms with bunk beds, in case they accept any future recruits. Clad in a sleeveless pale pink sundress with ruffles at the hem, a pair of tan heels, and with a red mum that she had plucked from someone’s garden tucked behind her left ear, the witch looks as though she had stepped off of a runway for a summertime fashion show. Lana inhales the scent of fresh cut sandalwood and admires the construction of the home from afar, feeling more herself than she has in weeks. She’s hoping that Tiber will be the first to sense her appearance, but it seems that Tybalt spied her arrival before anyone else, as he bolts out the front door and nearly throws her to the ground in his excitement. “Lana! Lana! Lana! Can we get a puppy now that we have a house? Can we? Can we? Please?!?” She laughs and ruffles the boy's hair, shaking her head, “Must I remind you that -you- are a pup, Balto? Maybe we can touch base once we all are better acquainted and when the house is complete, okay? Plus! I think I could use another volunteer at the sanctuary where you can play with puppies all day long!” Brown eyes scan the yard as Tybalt takes her hand and tugs her towards the front door, and she surreptitiously tries to catch the scent of her mate. “Is Tiber here, Balto?” Please, let him be here for their meeting, and not searching for her helplessly in the northern wasteland!

Tiber (1 of 3):: Tiberius knew the past week had been rough on Lanara, despite the proposal. After the hunt with Meri and Magik, he knew that the woman had shut down after their first attempt at a hunt that failed miserably. At least they got the wyvern, but it did not go as smoothly as they had hoped. When Lanara confessed that she needed to be alone to gather herself, the Catalian seemed miffed. Mostly due to the amount of protective instincts he felt, and Luca throwing a fit over the whole thing. There might have been a mild quarrel between the two until Tiberius came to his senses. She needed space. To find the balance he had been thinking of. Afterall, he had told Meri and Magik that she needed ‘time’, and time was what she would get from Tiber and Luca, so he would head down the mountain without another thought of concern. The house had been quiet once back home in Sage, but before Lanara, that was all Tiberius knew, so it had been bearable. Through the days, Tiber had helped with the construction of the new home. From early dawn to late dusk Tiber, Greyson, Bjorn, and a few more hired contractors had been working on the new place for the rest of the group. A hard man’s labor. Exactly what Tiberius needed to sort through his own thoughts about Lanara. His own worries. Would Lanara ever find herself? Her middle ground? The man was trying to reflect back on his own journey of becoming a lycan, and he could not piece together the moment he was able to find his inner being and just live. Tiberius still struggled today. Perhaps everyday was a battle, but eventually he learned to live with it. There was a heavy head at that moment. What would Lanara be saying to her sister? What would Talyara think of Lanara’s transformation? “Yo, Tiberius, snap out of it, dude. You almost knocked me over with that board!” Bjorn would holler at the Catalian. Then, Tiberius would continue building.

Tiber (2 of 3):: The day Lanara was supposed to return, Tiberius had taken a day off from building to greet her. A fresh cooked dinner from her travels would be prepared. Freshly cooked chicken, a side salad, fresh bread from the nearby bakery and a glass of wine. However, that bread would soon grow stale due to the woman not coming home that night. Panic did not rise, yet however because several thoughts crossed his mind: what if Taylara wanted her to stay another night? What if she needed more space? Maybe she needed more time. “Or maybe she’s -dead-,” said Luca in full-swing. “She’s not dead, idiot. We would know if she was dead… I think?” Would the line be there? Would he still feel the connection even if she was dead? The Catalian was swept in a pile of ‘what ifs’ before he came to the conclusion that if she was not back in another day or so, he would call out a search party.

Tiber (3 of 3):: Another day passed, and by then… Tiberius had made up his mind, okay? Today was the day, and now Tiberius was going to call out a search party with the meeting he had planned with Lanara. Prior to the meeting, the Catalian packed several hiking supplies along with food and water. Luckily he had the sense to track the woman down, and the rest of them would too. At least it would have been a bonding moment with the pack--a moment of lesson on how to track someone. The Alpha hiked through the woods of Sage before coming into the construction clearing where everyone had been waiting. Several members were greeting Tiberius before they realized the grim look on his face. “Tiber, what’s wrong?” Celeste, the empath, would question before Tiber would start handing out supplies to each member. “This meeting is going to have to hold off. Lanara hasn’t returned from Frostmaw. I don’t know if she’s lost, or if she changed her mind about the wedding. Which I get, you know? Weddings are a little freaky. Maybe she’s freaked out, y’know?” Clearly the Catalian had been getting into his head about Lanara’s disappearance. Everyone in the group begins to chatter in worry--except Corrine, of course. Corrine had a smile of delight on her face. Then, through the crowd, there was a familiar scent, and a small bubbly child talking. Tybalt. Tiberius is quick to push the others out of the way before coming into the clear of the witch who had been dressed in pink and tidy, despite the scratches on her arms. The man stands there clad in his cargo pants, fit for a hike, and simple white t-shirt and he stares bewildered at the Kelvarian. “Where were you?” He is stern to ask, but careful not to have the bite behind his worried words. He might have been flustered with the whole disappearance.

Lanara stops short when she sees the Catalian breeze out the front door, a strange look on his handsome face, and questioning her whereabouts. She knows him well enough to know he’s holding back the sting in his tone, and she appreciates that he’s maintaining his composure before the pack. They were Alpha and Luna and had to maintain a mostly united front in dire times, right? Still. She knows that with Tiberius there is a calm before the storm, and even though he looks delicious standing there like a jealous badass, she missed him far too much to offer a snarky reply. Lanara doesn’t need words right now, she needs to feel his flesh, to taste his lips, and to inhale that glorious scent that only her one true mate could posess. Tybalt is given a gentle shove away as the witch squeals and runs as fast as her heels will allow, as she collides against Tiber’s frame. Arms lift to hug him around his shoulders, and she raises her chin so that she can peer into those mesmerizing amber eyes, perfectly poised as she waits expectantly for him to bring his lips to hers in a proper welcome. “I missed you…” She eventually states, whether he returns the embrace or not, and her gaze trails to the others that stand behind their Alpha. A smile fades from Corrine’s face, Celeste and Violet exchange a knowing look, Greyson doesn’t react at all, and Bjorn looks downright confused and is snacking on a bag of trail mix. “Hey, Guys… Is everything okay?” Quizzically, Lana eyes each of them and hopes for an answer, before she returns her attention to Tiber, “I’m sorry that I’m so late… I wanted to surprise you and come home a day early, but I ended up in this snow squall and… I was lost for days! I couldn’t send any letters, that darned reindeer wouldn’t answer my call, and I couldn’t ride a broom through that blizzard! It got to a point where even my scent wouldn’t work… Asha and I worked together and we survived.” She pauses, for dramatic effect, and because Bjorn rudely belches, “Asha and I took down this massive moose! And after we ate and regained our strength, the storm broke, and it was safe to come home.” Lana flushes faintly, “I think it was a sign.” From the Goddess? Mother Nature? Some unknown Wolf Queen? Did she belong in Sage Forest? Never to leave Tiber’s side? Or… Was it symbolizing that she needs to bond more with her wolf and hunt every now and again? She’s still trying to process it all, but she looks and feels immensely better since returning, and it’s evident in her relaxed stance and the peacefulness in her expression. “So! How about that meeting, huh?” She shoos the others away, so that she can check on her fiance, “You alright, Babe? I’m sorry! I tried to get back as soon as possible. But! I did it! I hunted! All by myself, too!” Tybalt pouts as he is forgotten, “The meeting was cancelled. Everyone assumed you were dead! I’m going to play with my blocks.” Annoyed, the boy pushes past the couple and storms into the house.

Tiber stands there with some sort of fire in his underlying gaze. Hold back the yelling. ‘She’s alive!!! Oh my god, Asha!’ Luca hollers, and then Lanara is running and jumping on Tiber. His lips quiver, but there is still a straight line like the brood-ish man, but with the connection of her, there is a relief that hits him in the chest as she does. Amber eyes look over her face before she says ‘I missed you…’ and then he supports her with his arms to return the embrace. That was really the reassurance he needed. No runaway fiance today. He slowly slides her off of his form before listening to the Luna address the others of the pack before Bjorn comes out of the blue snacking casually on trail mix. “Really?” Tiber gives Bjorn an annoyed look, and Bjorn is clearly oblivious towards the stare Tiberius gives off. Lanara then explains her reasoning and Tiberius frowns--mostly at the belching--however, the talk of Asha and Lanara working together to get out of the blizzard brings a soft edge to the man’s face. Perhaps Tiber was right, Lanara needed the space despite the annoyance of not being around to protect her. ‘She needed to be alone and figure it out, Tiber’ Luca echoed. ‘You can’t protect her all the time’ the wolf states which makes Tiberius scratch the back of his head in habit. Lanara was always believing in fate and signs, and this time, she got a lesson on survival. How mad could Tiberius be? The crowd disperses once Lanara commands it and Tiberius stares at the woman before looking down at the complaining child who is now storming off in a tantrum. "Kids..." Not a fan. The man then turns back and smiles before he leans down to kiss the woman. Tender, slow, and full of relief. “I want to be mad, but I can’t. I’m actually proud of you. Asha is there for a reason. We don’t just hunt for sport. We hunt for survival. That’s what we are trying to teach, and I’m glad you got that experience… well, maybe. I’m still weary about the snow storm. To think if you didn’t have Asha,” he ran his hand through his hair. “Should we have the meeting? Or should I just take you back home? I can show you how much I missed you.” He smirks playfully as he leans down to nuzzle his nose against her ear.

Lanara leans into the embrace, deepening their kiss for a minute, though as she overhears Tybalt’s obvious stomping on the new floors she pulls away to giggle. “We would be -awful- parents! Give the kid a little milk of the poppy to sleep while we go and neck in the corner?” It feels so good to smile again, and even better to see Tiber smile, as she can never quite get enough of her mate. Asha is content and settles down after the initial excitement wears off, thrilled to be reunited with Luca. The witch nuzzles Tiber and desire flashes in her dark eyes, “I would -love- to head home… So, why don’t we get this business out of the way quick and we can tend to our business later?” Looking up at him she can feel her heart swelling, because she truly is starting to understand what it means to live the life of a wolf. Hunting isn’t done for sport, though if they are hunting Corrine or Skitch it certainly would be fun! Survival. It all comes down to a single word. The witch had to venture out on her own, strive for a hint of independence, so she could fully claim her inner wolf. “Thank you… I think I can continue to make you proud, but it’s all about timing with me. I’m new to all of this… You know I have experience in other areas.” She eyes him suggestively, that signature silken smirk remaining on her face, “So, perhaps you will let me stick around a while longer until I catch up?” She winks, and takes his hand as they head into the house, and it seems that everyone is congregating in the living room. A few couches surround a large table, and it seems that this is the hangout spot and dining area, at least until the rest of the house is finished. Lana sits on the arm of the sofa, next to Corrine, and she just happens to continually flash the chocolate diamond engagement ring everytime she moves her hand. “Now that we are all gathered here, I feel that we can move forward with this meeting! I’m sorry for my lateness, but it’s important that we lay a few ground rules and that we each take a verbal and drop of blood oath to sanctify the union of this Pack.” She narrows her eyes on Bjorn as he belches again, and the oaf offers her some of his trail mix in reply, “I’ll let the Alpha take it from here!” She mouths ‘behave’ to Bjorn, and focuses her attention on Tiber.

Tiber (1 of 2):: Tiber laughs at the thought of being a terrible parent. “I know that I would definitely have the title ‘World’s Worst Dad’,” he smirks as he pulls back before eyes are silently undressing the witch, but then he is frowning because business. “Oh, you tease. They listen to what -we- say, right?” His smile turns lopsided before shaking his head, and he slides away from her. “Why are you always right,” he groans before rolling his head in disappointment. Then again, that smile flashes again when she stares at him the way she does. “Babe, we are growing together. It isn’t easy. I’ll be patient. Always,” and then that silken smirk makes him lean in to snag a kiss on her cheek. “I’m here for the long run,” he points a thumb boyishly to his chest before they make their way into the house. The man stands instead of sitting due to trying to capture the presence of the room. Hands lean against the table to hover, and chatter dies as Lanara speaks. Amber eyes linger on each member when the witch speaks before the attention is given to Tiberius. He would then stand fully, “Right. Like Lanara said, we are making rules so no one gets crossed or hurt. We want everyone to live peacefully and be accepted as who they are. We will take a blood oath to seal our pack.” The man inhales sharply before speaking. “So, because of our previous humanic lives, Lanara and I want to be dedicated to making each of you feel that you are treated fairly. I know none of us asked for this life of a lycan, however, that does not mean we are selective of who will do work and put in effort to make this pack stable. Everyone will have a key role. Everyone will be a member of the society we live in for normalcy. To learn to become social, although hard when lycan venom runs through the veins. It won’t be easy.” The man pauses.

Tiber (2 of 2):: “For example, Tybalt… this one is an easy one. You still need to go to school,” he stares at the kid who was still playing with blocks. Whether the kid would throw a hissy fit, or not, Tiber would continue. “Each one of you will have a job that Lanara and I will assign you to. We’ve already been thinking. Celeste, Lanara has a friend who can introduce you to the healing world.” The man shakes his head. “Despite jobs, we can get into the details later, while you are in society, I understand that life happens. We are emotional beings. We make connections. Bjorn likes women. We all know that,” and for a moment there is a teasing grin and a smirk as he stares at the dark haired man who is munching on trail mix. “If one of you imprints, no one is allowed to hurt someone else’s mate. It’s all about trust and loyalty. Now, with that being said,” the Alpha begins to pace, and mostly eyes linger on Corrine in this instance before breaking away to the rest of the bodies in the room, “If another betrays a pack member and breaks that trust and loyalty, there will be a result of punishment, or removal--basically an exile. You won’t be allowed to come back.” Tiber saunters behind Lanara in the next moment to place his hands on the witch’s shoulders. “Now, Lanara and I have first say on what goes in this pack. It does not matter if she was the last one to turn. She is my equal. Whatever we say goes. Want a challenge? Fine, but I don’t think you’ll like the outcome,” in that moment there was a dark edge to that statement. An intimidating edge. “Second-in-command is Greyson. Refer to him if neither Lanara or I are around. I trust that he’ll make the right decision.” He looks to his Beta and gives an easy smile. “I’m hoping to have some monthly meetings to check in with the whole group. The most important part for this pack is to live and feel comfortable, but whatever happens in the pack, stays in the pack, so that means that… Don’t go blurbing about the Lunation. People get weird by those things. Some hillbillies might think we are cultists or something which is not the case. We’re just living our life in loyalty and trust in one another.” Pause. “Anything you want to add, babe?” He leans down to look at the witch underneath his gentle grasp.

Lanara (Post 1 of 2) Lanara can feel the heat of Corrine’s stare upon her ring finger and she cannot help but give the woman a wicked grin, especially at the moment when Tiber points out that loyalty is -everything- in the Alpha Lunation. The tote bag on her arm is dropped to the floor, as she bends to rummage inside for her beloved ritual dagger, though she relaxes upon feeling Tiber’s palms press gently on her slender shoulders. Tilting her head back, Lana gives her beloved a lazy smile, agreeing with him on every word that exits his perfect pout. The group seems captivated by the speech, because they hadn’t expected to be treated as equals, nor did they count on the couple following through and actually helping them to get their lives together. No one protests the monthly meetings, the mate clause, the secrecy, or even having to get jobs or attend school. Violet pipes up to ask if she can attend a local university once she gathers enough gold, and Celeste claps her hands and looks excited to meet with Penelope. Tybalt approaches the group and shyly slides a folded piece of parchment into Tiber’s hand and mumbles something about a pack ‘emblem’ that he had spent the week working on. If the Catalian looks at it, he will see Tybalt’s contribution to the Pack, and likely show it off to those gathered. Naturally, the only one to interrupt the moment of unity is Bjorn, who raises his hand like he’s in grade school, “I have a question…” Spittle and trail mix are all over his shirt, which he dusts off of him, and onto poor Violet’s head as she sits on the floor. The teen scowls at the muscular man, but it’s obvious he’s already growing on her, because she doesn’t give him one of her notorious jabs or eyerolls. “So. About the mating thing? Is it cool if I have multiple mates at the same time?” Everyone laughs as though it’s a joke, but knowing Bjorn, he’s dead serious. Lana shakes her head and mirrors Violet’s scowl, “One. At. A. Time.” It’s then that she’s asked if anything should be added, and Lana rises to her feet, her smile fading as she takes on a slightly serious tone, “It’s time to pledge yourselves to the Alpha Lunation.”

Lanara (Post 2 of 2) The witch focuses on the table in the center of the room and she places a cast iron plate in the middle, before her left hand hovers a few inches above. A split second later there is a hum of electricity in the room and a blue flame exits the woman’s palm, only for a small fire to ignite atop the plate. The flickering flames hungrily reach for her hand, but she doesn’t react to being burned, as she has complete control of the element. “Tiberius Lowell… The chosen Alpha of the Alpha Lunation… Do you abide by the rules that were discussed on this eve and agree to carry them out faithfully, until your final breath?” Lana lifts her gaze to lock with amber, and upon his consent, she will slice her athame across the palm of his hand. A few drops of blood seep into the fire which sizzles and accepts the pledge, before the witch hands the athame to Tiber, so that he may ask her the same questions. Offering her palm, she smiles, “I vow to abide by the rules of the Alpha Lunation and to accept the role of Luna, until my dying day.” Her blood spills, and she retrieves the athame from her fiance, and calls forth Greyson, who stands proud and doesn’t flinch when his hand is cut. Everyone follows suit, though it does seem that Corrine hesitates for a moment with her vows, and she insists on slicing her own palm. Lanara allows her to have this dramatic moment, before she moves to Tybalt, the last to take his oath. The little boy solemnly swears and the witch cannot help but smile, as she only slices the tip of his finger, not quite having the heart to cut deep into his only hand. After they are finished with the pledge, Lana sends the element of fire away, and the thrum of energy leaves the room. She pulls Corrine to the side, immediately, “Tiber and I are getting married, and I choose -you- to be my bridal attendant!” In other words? Corrine is going to be Lanara’s bitch until Tibara says their I Do’s!

Tiber nods along with Violet’s ambitious goals. “You and I can set a plan. Find universities together,” he finds himself at ease with Celeste’s happiness. The aura of the man is one of ease. A group of peace and normalcy. Then, Tiber finds himself reaching for Tybalt’s piece of paper before unfolding it. There is a design on the paper. The emblem. Is it cute? Should Tiber smile? “Rad, little dude,” and then the Alpha ruffles the boy’s hair idly. “Little dude made an emblem. Pass it to the others.” The oblivious ‘worst-dad-like’ man then returns to Bjorn’s next question. The ease falls flatly and he opens his mouth to say something, but Lanara is already in full angst swing of a big fat -no-. As the witch gets up, Tiberius slides his hands away from his beloved. All eyes of the Amber Lunation turn to the cast iron plate that ignites a flame in front of all of them. Slowly, Tiberius inches towards his fiance with a tall back, a face of pride, but somehow calm. As she addresses his name, and the term ‘Alpha’ flows from her lips, time feels like it stops as he takes the time to look at the faces that surround him. To the silver-haired teen, to the small child, to piercing blue eyes of a steady hand, to the ghostly girl with the warming smile, to the man with the dribbling trail mix on his lips, and then to the pouty red head in the corner. Eventually honey eyes turn back to chocolate hues, and he nodes. “I will, and I will carry them out faithfully until my final breath. For all of them. For us.” His hand is held out in front of her and then the blade slices across flesh. The only motion was a flex of his abdomen to absorb the pain. The blood spills, and then her’s as they make their vows. Once each member makes their oath and devotion, Tiber faces all of them with a firm nod before Lanara pulls Corrine to the side. A small smile crosses his features before he looks at the rest. “Thank you for putting your trust in us. Having trust in each member of this group. Get ready because we have a lot of work and training to do. The house should be ready in the next week.” Over off to the side, Corrine is frowning at Lanara’s request. “You’re sabotaging me! Tiber, she’s sabotaging me! You can’t let her do this! I refuse!” Tiberius then walks over. “Hm, someone made an oath,” a smile forms and there is a flicker in his eyes. “Now you rest easy because what she says until the wedding… goes,” he then slowly slips a hand around Lanara's before leaning in. "I think I'm ready to go home now," he says lowly and slowly. A sly edge. He wanted to be alone with his bride-to-be already. “See y’all bright and early,” he has a taunting voice, but it was directed mostly towards Corrine, and in the background the others laugh, for there was truly a balance forming for the Amber Lunation.