Velvet & Others

Velvet wasn't a great fan of the cold, but at least the bitter weather meant that the usually waterlogged, puddle-filled area of the Downs was frozen solid in most places, meaning that she could travel through the forest without sinking ankle deep in muck. Navigating deep drifts and the tangle of undergrowth was another matter. In the months that she'd lived in this area with Bandit, the lioness had adapted easily enough however, and now padded across the ground as deftly and surely as if she'd been raised here.

Velvet came to a stop when she reached the edge of the deeply-rutted road, and took her time not only looking up and down the frozen road, but also listening for any sound of distant motors. When she neither saw nor heard any, the lioness stepped boldly out onto the uneven terrain and stood in the center of the road. There she parted her jaws and gave a series of deep, far-carrying roars to call attention to the members of their band.

Now, what do you own the world?
How do you own disorder, disorder?
Somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep
Disorder, disorder, disorder

Bandit & Others

It did not take long for Bandit to reach Velvet. The two-tone wolf hybrid, with that oh-so-familiar black cape pattern around his neck and back, stalked from the tree-line. His whole aura radiated dominance, danger and destruction. He was everything the Shadow Haunters used to be, represented what the old pack under Risen had stood for. He powered forward, feral yellow eyes meeting Velvets, and with but a single nod from his head to his leadership companion, he took his place beside the lioness.

Incalia, Onslaught, Malacath, Vaermina, Ardeth, Kamari, Assari, Dante, Harrow and Dynas all arrived to group round their leaders, listening intently to what Velvet wished to say.

Velvet & Others

Velvet greeted her good friend and fellow leader with a similar nod of the head and a twinkle of anticipation in her almond eyes. She remained silent as she waited for the rest of their group to show up, and looked over each one with a sense of pride stirring in her. Their numbers were small compared to the Haunters or the Lurkers and their allies, but as she saw it, those groups had grown weak and lost their way. With the right guidance and a resurrection of the old ways, the lioness was confident that they would make Risen's dreams a reality some day.

Incalia and the others were joined by a growing list of canines and felines, those few that had departed with Rayne following a change in leaders at the Ruins. Of the felines, almost all of which were relatives of Velvet, there was Camanche, Dulsca, Leope, Ginger, Igans, Shinnan, Tabeskie, Rune, Yarra, Callholm, Hathalia, Yarrow, Dusk Stalker, Stranglethorn, Dune, and Dusquei. The number of canines was fewer, but there were a few mingled in with the big cats; Aerial, Kapp, Boulderdash, Channentile, and Sunburst... the young, small-bodied hybrid that also followed his father's band around.

Velvet waited a few minutes longer, and when her brothers didn't show up, she could only assume they were too far out from the Downs to hear her. But no matter - she'd already employeed them to scout the Basin and secure the land as safe to move into. All that was left now was to see if the rest of the Family was willing to relocate to the dark and foreboding land. "I've called you all here this evening with an important message. Living here in the Downs leaves us vulnerable to attack, and open on all sides - as you all know, our numbers are not yet as vast as our enemies, and despite our great strengths, we could be wiped out if they should choose to assault us. That is why I propose that we relocate to an area that will give as defense, a place where the land will aid us and protect us should we come under attack while our numbers are still low." She watched as a few in the crowd murmured, and tried to gauge how her words were being taken. After pausing for a moment or two, Velvet continued, "I have found a place a short way up the mountain, in an area that few dare to travel to, and a place that suits our needs perfectly. The Suporvestus Basin."

Bandit & Others

As Velvet prepared herself to speak and the rest of the band gathered round, the gathered canines settled themselves into the group, listening to their feline leader. Murmurs travelled through the group, some of uncertainty, but mostly of agreement. Although confident in their own abilities, it was true the group was still in its infant stages, and one of the larger packs would be able to take them on easily. However, where was there a land that could provide protection? Most lands were open, and although they provided cover and were vast to allow packs to hide should they wish, no land could really be able to provide such a barrier to unfriendly rivals.

Even Bandit’s yellow eyes, which had been scanning the group, pride blooming within his chest, but his face remaining eerily empty, looked to Velvet. He trusted her, of course, there was no issue of that, but he was very curious to see what his companion had found that had prompted her to want to move there.

When she announced the Basin, two things happened. One; the crowd burst into chatter, be it either for or against the proposed move, the gathered group becoming animated in their discussion with each other. Then two; Bandit took a step forward and barked once, loudly and authoritatively, to silence the noise, his eyes sweeping the crowd, taking in the faces, and making sure no jaws moved. Satisfied, the wolf hybrid looked to Velvet, a small smile on his face to show his approval of the Basin as a permanent home for the group, before turning back to pack.

“Does anyone disagree with the move? I believe it would benefit us greatly to relocate, but if there is a majority against the proposed land, then we shall have to reconsider.”

Then, he remembered something else he had been wanting to say. “As we are all gathered together, I also have an announcement. Now that we are our own leaders, free to choose our own destinies, no longer bound by Greyfell and the Haunters who have lost sight of Risen’s ideas for the Valley, we must organise ourselves and set out after that ideal ourselves, just as Lady Risen would have wanted us to. We are the new dawn of the Haunters, we are Nuova Alba. With Velvet as Oracle and myself as Commander, we will retain the old ways of the Shadow Haunters, but perfect ourselves into something this Valley has never seen before. We will be what the Haunters were meant to be, and much more. Martimoor will act as my Sergeant, and Incalia as Velvet’s Advisor, with the Coalition as our respected elite force within the group. The rest of you will sort yourselves into the Soldiers and the Strategists, depending on what you believe your strengths are. The Strategists will compose of everyone who would have previously called themselves a Mother, a Healer, a Converter; etcetera. Those who fight with brains will mostly take orders from Velvet, and those who fight with brawn from me, though we will both be obeyed in equal measure. The same goes for Martimoor and Incalia, and our Coalition Brothers. Now, sort yourselves, my friends.”

Incalia moved to sit beside Velvet, her head dipped to her Oracle. She was old now, useless for fighting, but for knowledge and ideas, still as sharp as any of the gathered group. She was there when the Haunters began, and so she would remember the old ways, and see her old friend Risen’s ideas realised. Of the group, Kamari, Vaermina and Harrow moved to sit near to Velvet, signalling they were to be part of the Strategists. The others, Malacath, Assari, Dynas and Dante, moved to sit more towards Bandit, signalling they would be the Soldiers. Onslaught and Ardeth were part of the Coalition, and so sat apart from the Soldiers. None said anything against the proposed move, and most seemed eager at the prospect.
BANDIT
COMMANDER OF NUOVA ALBA

Velvet & Others

"The Basin?" "Isn't that place haunted...?" "It'll be safer." "Shhh, guys! He's gonna talk!" The various whisperings and excited chatter that sprang up among the members went quiet almost instantly in response to Bandit's authorative bark. From little Sunburst to the larger Leope and his offspring, they all obeyed the canine and his lioness co-lead without question, such was their dedication to Risen's old ways and their unshakable sense of bond with the Family. There were some among the group that were a little skeptical about the proposed move, but none of them dared to speak up before Bandit and Velvet finished having their say. In fact, towards the end of their Commander's speech, there were various nods of approval from those that had been initially startled by the announcement. Maybe a move wouldn't be so bad after all...

After Bandit had finished speaking, the talking started up again as the members began to organize themselves into their new assignments, taking little time to figure out where they belonged in the new rankings. A vast majority filed into the Soldier's group, leaving Aerial, Kapp, Dusk Stalker, and Dusquei as the additional numbers that composed the Strategist group. Once everyone had found their place and had settled again, Velvet smiled to herself as pride swelled further in her heart and mind. "It will take some time for some of you to get accustom to the rugged landscape around the basin, but that in itself provides us another defense. The land is too steep and uneven for the likes of elephants and other such creatures to navigate-" That left the graveyard of mammoth bones in the basin itself a hard one to explain, as Velvet had no idea that glaciers had once afforded the giant beasts access to the otherwise inaccessible area, "-similarly, we will be immune from attacks by the low-bellied crocodiles and other Water Dragons." On the downside, it meant that they could not have such creatures in their pack, either - or at least, not living with them in the basin itself. "There is more I wish to tell you, but before I do - are there any questions?" The lioness took another time out, giving the band time to question or criticize, as well as handing the reigns over to Bandit again if he wanted to add anything.

Bandit & Others

The talking started again in ernest once Velvet had stopped speaking. Most chatter seemed excited. More and more of the group were becoming inspired by the speeches from their leaders, and were eager to move to their new home and begin rebuilding the pack Risen had always wanted.

Bandit took the brief pause from Velvet to speak once more. His voice was without the gravity of his previous speech, but it was obvious from his manner he believe this was an important item of business. As he began to speak, the voices fell quiet again, “If our plans are to succeed, we will need to expand our ranks. It will be the job of Soldiers and Strategists alike to seek out new members to join the Nuova Alba Family. As strong as we all are, we cannot compete with the larger numbers of the other super-packs in the Valley. You must use your intuition and knowledge of our cause to handpick those who would be useful to us, who share our views or could be moulded to adopt them, and bring them into the Family. We want the best, and I trust in each of you to find the worthy ones who could join our esteemed group.”

Once Bandit had finished speaking, from within the group, Vaermina stood. The wolf mix dipped her head in a sign of respect to her Commander, before turning to her Oracle and dipping her head once again. “Oracle Velvet? I have a question. I know our enemies will be vast. The Lurkers have a lot of allies, and I’m sure the Haunters will not take kindly to our split. Are we to face them all alone, or will we seek allies? Enemies to the Shadow Packs are scarce...”

Velvet & Others

Eyes and ears of varied hues and shapes were directed towards Bandit once again, and the more they heard from him and Velvet, the more the thrill grew. The few that were most hesitant about the move were even caught up in the excitement of it, and couldn't help but listen with eager ears to what their Commander and Oracle had in store for the Family. "Who could we find?" Dusk's quiet voice whispered, and was answered by a shrug from Kapp, "The young are the best. They're not as ingrained about their allegiances as the adults." Aerial added to the hushed but eager conversation, getting the last word in before Vaermina began to speak, "Loners too, even if they are adults. We just have to be more careful with them. Or unhappy members of enemy packs... those are often the best, but they can be tricky." Truly, the ex-strategists of the Haunters had been trained well in their field.

The Oracle raised her dial and put her undivided attention on Vaermina. Before the canine had quite finished speaking, the lioness had a slight smile tugging at the side of her muzzle, "A very pertinent question, Vae. We will need allies, what few we might find that are not already aligned with our enemies yet. To secure our Family while we are still so small..." Velvet's words trailed off, and she gave a careful look about her surroundings, her dark eyes narrowing in thought, "...perhaps this conversation would be best finished at our new home? We will be safer there from prying ears, and there is so much more I wish to tell you all." Deciding it just wasn't safe enough to get into the details of her ideas, in the off chance that an enemy was lurking around nearby and eavesdropping, the lioness cut herself off before she could say anything more. With their band looking more or less enthused about the move, she waited only for approval from Bandit before they would move their group to its new home.