You're brought into Toronto, Canada, either ordered by the Council to join the Pack or Clan that resides there for the impending war, to strengthen their numbers, and provide a hand within the war, or you've moved here simply to find a fresher start to life. Will you stand on the sidelines in the Neutral Territories? Or will you decide to take part and choose a side? Your destiny awaits you, make sure to head over to our homesite (link found in the Navigation Section) to begin your journey!
"I'm glad you think so, Christian and I made dinner, so it should taste just as good as it smells." Rayne offered a small chuckle, Willow blinked in mild surprise, nodding and smiling awkwardly. She hadn’t expected the older lycanthrope to reply. “I’m sure it’ll be delicious,” Willow said. Her mind drifted to murderous thoughts.
The Alphess’ voice broke through the layer over the teenage lycanthrope’s mind. "Ah, my my, it appears everyone is now present. Let us get this meal underway. There should be a serving for you all, so do not hesitate to eat what is there. Please, everyone, do take a seat and dig in. Tomorrow we will hunt, but tonight, we will relax."
"So, where do you want to sit?" Rayne inquired. Willow’s mind turned to a blank. “Uh… How about there?” She had seen Kari, the nice one from before, inviting the two of them to sit next to her. She made her way over, greeting the blonde with a quick “Hi.”
Now Willow sat next to her. Awkwardly, she poured herself a glass of water. “So, both of you,” she began, realising a little too later it sounded rather rude. “Got found by the Council too? Or did you find the Council?” Willow took a sip from her glass, waiting for a reply. I suck at making conversation.
OOC: I'm gonna try to bring out Willow's personality a bit better later. Mentioned: @rayne , Kari Varnan
Willow walked into the kitchen, giving anyone who looked over at her a polite nod. She could smell meat, which was quite lovely, and something else... onions? Willow glanced around to see if she could spot Kari, but she was already speaking to someone else. She found herself feeling lonely and wandering over to Rayne, who was standing with her back up against the wall. Willow wondered for a split second if this was a good idea. Maybe she wants to be left alone, she thought. But it was too late and her words were already spilling out of her mouth. "So, the food smells great, doesn't it?" her voice was light, a sad attempt at making casual conversation.
Unfortunately for Willow, now that she'd began conversation, she couldn't abandon it. This is so bloody awkward. She was quite sure that Rayne felt the same about this small exchange. Willow would listen to whatever Rayne said in reply (if she said anything at all), and would afterwards allow her mind to drift off into space while smiling awkwardly at the older lycanthrope. Kitchen. Easy, knives. Forks. Fire. Hot things. Ooh! The oven. I could cook someone in that. I could slam someone's nose into the countertop. The bone shards would stab their brain. I could poison their food. Ah! Drive a chopstick into their eyes. Or their neck. She had strange methods, but Willow was fairly certain they would work.
OOC: I thought that Willow needed someone to talk to... Ah, well. Mentioned: Kari Varnan , @rayne
Willow awoke from her dreams with a screech, startled. She sat up straight, looking around, panicked. "What? What's happening?" Willow spluttered. She saw a young, blonde woman next to her. Hah. Young. She's probably not young. She could be a thousand years old, for all I know. Her breathing eased a little.
"W-Willow, isn't it?" The woman spoke softly. Willow nodded, still a bit shaken. She recognised the woman. What's her name...? It was... K something. Katherine? Karina? Oh, right. Kari. She glanced at the woman again. Instinctively, she began to think about where to attack and bite should Kari be dangerous.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but dinner is ready if you'd like to come and join us." Willow blinked. Oh. Dinner. So she's not dangerous. Not now, at least. She nodded at Kari. "Oh, yes. Of course. I'll be there."
Willow pulled off the covers and dragged herself out of bed. She refused to be rude to this lady just because she had a stupid nightmare about something that happened ages ago. Willow started to make her bed. She looked up when Kari started to speak again.
"I hope I'm not intruding on your personal business, but I couldn't help but notice that you seemed to be quite restless while you slept. Are you alright?" Kari seemed genuinely concerned. Willow offered a small, fake laugh that she hoped to pass as a real one. "Yes, I'm fine. They happen all the time. I just have a vivid imagination," she lied.
Willow didn't want to rely on anyone. It felt too... Too personal. Kind of terrifying in a way. Awkward. Though she did seem nice... No. You can't.
"If you are not comfortable with explaining that's quite alright. I was just wondering if you would like someone to talk to about it." Oops. Obviously she could tell that Willow wasn't telling the truth. Normally, Willow would've just blurted it out that she didn't want to talk. But something about Kari made her not do that.
"I... I guess that would be... Good." Willow said slowly. Maybe, in the future, if she had any more problems, she could talk to Kari. She shook her head, sighing. "You know what, my brain's kind of all smush. But yeah, It would be nice. I'll see you at dinner.
As she began to get her clothes to change, Kari left. Willow shut the door gently behind her. When she was done changing into a pair of comfy black jeans and a blue top, she followed her nose to where the scent of food was coming from.
It wasn't that long until Willow found The Room. It was warm with earthy colours, and had the space she wanted. "Perfect," she breathed. Then she remembered her mistake, and sighed, with a miserable tinge to it. She might not even get to stay here. Willow plopped onto the bed and collapsed like a sack of potatoes. I made such a horrible mistake. I'll never join the Pack now, she thought, wallowing in self-pity. So much for a fresh start. Acacia doesn't even seem to like me.
She rolled over, onto her stomach, and groaned loudly and miserably into the bedsheets. But what would Mom and Dad say? What would Zephyr and Ruby think? New thoughts formed in her mind. Willow suddenly felt ashamed. I don't intend on leaving, she thought fiercely. "I am going to stay for as long as I live," she announced loudly to the room.
As if to prove her point to whatever was watching, she unpacked all her items into the room. Filling it up. Making it hers. Some parts of the room were dirty or dusty, and so Willow had to venture out once or twice to ask Christian where the cleaning supplies were ("Hi, Sir, sorry to bother you, but where do you keep the window cleaner? And the brooms?"). She wiped the windows till they shone, and polished anything remotely metallic until they sparkled and gleamed. Willow tied her long hair up into a messy bun at the top of her head to keep it out of the way. She'd even cleaned the fireplace.
When she was done, she sat on the bed. Her bed. Willow just sat there for a while, not doing anything. I probably stink. I should take a bath. That thought motivated her enough to move. She slowly got up and grabbed some fresh clothes. Willow headed straight for the closest bathroom.
OOC: THE FAULT IN OUR STARSSPOILER ALERT
She curled up in bed, in her pyjamas. Willow knew she would have to go back out to dinner with the rest of the future Pack later, but she didn't want to get out of her comfortable clothes now. She had a book she'd recently picked up with her, titled The Fault In Our Stars. Apparently, it was really good.
She picked up the book from the bedside table. Hm, I ought to read it. She flipped open the book, and snuggled deeper into her sheets.
Willow started to read, and felt more and more drawn in. She also felt more and more sleepy, and more and more cozy. I'm so tired... My bed is so warm and cozy... And... OH MY GOD. HAZEL. THAT EULOGY. FOR AUGUSTUS. OH MY GOD... NO! GUS, YOU CAN'T BE DEAD. You can't KILL A MAIN CHARACTER, GREEN. YOU CAN'T. She sometimes jolted wide awake at different parts in the book. It really was good. And sad.
Willow snored lightly. After finishing three books (The Fault in Our Stars, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets) because she was a relatively fast reader, the coziness of her bed and the warmth had made her conk out. Besides, the whole walk from where she lived (on the curb of some street somewhere, she couldn't remember which one) to the Pack House had really made her sleepy.
Willow ran around the backyard. Her small feet left footprints in the muddy ground. "Come get me! Come get me!" She squealed as Zephyr swooped over and picked her up in one smooth motion. "Got you now, my little sapling!" He began to tickle her, and contagious giggles erupted from her. Ruby walked over, looking both amused and disapproving. "Zephyr, put her down. You're going to drop her."
The scene changed, and now Ruby and Zephyr walked a while behind on the path as Willow dashed ahead through the park, chasing the unfortunate pigeons that happened to cross her path. She howled with laughter, and her adoptive parents smiled fondly. Then the police came into view. Quick as a flash, Ruby darted forward and grabbed her 'daughter's' hand. "Honey, we have to go." Ruby's tone was firm. However, Willow wasn't happy. She protested in a whiny voice. "But WHY? I'm SEVEN, Ruby, I can protect me!" Zephyr shook his head, looking worriedly at the cops. "Not now, Willow."
The image shifted once more, and now Willow was screaming, tears of grief pouring down her face. Zephyr and Ruby lay lifeless on the floor, bullet wounds peppering their bodies. "RUBY! ZEPHYR!" She spun around, facing the police. "YOU! YOU DID THIS, YOU—" She transformed into a wolf, and threw herself at the officers. They were too shocked to pull the triggers, and Willow tore each one of them apart, breaking their guns. Over and over.
Willow tossed and turned, unable to get awake. In her mind, scenes of her ripping men apart with her jaws replayed in her mind. "No," she mumbled in her sleep. "No, no, no Zephyr... Ruby..."
"She will eat whatever is served up for tonight's meal." It was Acacia. She was giving her a withering look. Willow nodded bleakly. In the eyes of the Alphess, she didn't seem to be able to do anything right. Maybe I won't fit in with the Pack as much as I'd hoped... Willow thought. She felt alone and helpless, and so young. She mentally shook herself, trying to clear her mind. "Okay," she replied to Acacia, as calmly and casually as she could, trying not to betray her feelings of dread.
"Everyone will be served the same, and as of tomorrow, I will arrange what to do for those with varied taste." Willow nodded again. She didn't need to be taken care of. She could take care of herself. Willow could hunt her own meals. If she permits it, that is. Willow still hadn't forgotten her first embarrassing mistake on the porch.
People were starting to leave, and Willow realised they were looking for rooms. I should find one myself... She turned to Acacia, not wanting to mess up again. "I'll go find a room for the night, Willow said, dejected. She'd said 'for the night' for a reason. Even if the Council had ordered her to the Pack House, there was always that chance that she would be turned away.
She pulled her luggage behind her and went off to explore the house, and find a suitable room. Maybe I'll get to stay for more than a night, she thought. Maybe, just maybe, I'll stay forever.
--{ A Dispirited Exit to Willow's Room }--
OOC: I think I'll give my exits moods now xD Mentioned: Alphess Acacia
Willow's room is one of the bigger rooms in the Pack House. She enjoys earthy colours, and natural tones, so this is how her bedroom turned out. This photo was taken when it was neat, but it's normally very messy.
She has a fireplace (which she rarely uses, apart from in winter) and a television above the mantel (which she takes full advantage of). Willow has a king-size bed, which is very cozy and warm. A ceiling fan above the bed keeps her cool.
She has three very nice lamps: one standing, one on her bedside table and one on her study and work desk. Willow has a chair and small table next to the window, and she loves the natural lighting. The curtains are never drawn, unless she's changing.
Willow's desk is where she does her work, and her laptop is always lying on it. She often misplaces the charger, but will find it under the bed, in the fireplace, or somewhere else ridiculous.
The door next to the window leads straight into the backyard. There is another leading to the rest of the house, but it's not visible in this picture. There is a small cabinet next to the door to the house, and it's always stuffed full of clothing and very messy.
She has a round, seat thing next to the fireplace, which is her favourite place to read during winter. There's always a small pile of books next to it. On the opposite side of the fireplace is firewood, and things to tend to the fire with. The floors of Willow's bedroom floor are wooden, and there is one, round carpet half-underneath her bed. She prefers not to wear shoes in her room.
"Do any of you drink?" That was the male, Christian. Rayne chuckled. "What's 300 years of living without a bit of alcohol?" Kari was the next to speak. "I've never had alcohol before, but you said 300 years, so I guess I have an excuse. I'm only 203." Willow felt extremely young all of a sudden. Everyone seemed so old. It wasn't like she'd never had alcohol before, though she was still underage. But being underage, she probably should make a good impression by not drinking. Not now, at least.
"No, I don't drink. I'm only 16." Saying that made Willow feel vulnerable, but they would find out eventually. Better to get this part over and done with. She looked at the ground awkwardly.
"Also, I was getting ready to make Acacia and I dinner for this evening, are any of you partial to a specific diet?" Christian inquired. Rayne and Kari both offered to help. Someone else spoke up. It was the one with the blue hair. "Do I drink? Well, I've never done it before, but why not try now?" Willow looked at the ground, still feeling young and inexperienced. She wondered whether or not to mention her raw meat thing. Ah well. Can't hurt to say. Besides, it would lessen their cooking time. She turned to the three. "If you don't mind, I prefer eating meat raw."
"You may certainly not. Christian will have something planned for the evening and I will not have someone I do not know hunting before I've had a chance to assess them." The domineering way in which Acacia spoke told Willow she had made a grave mistake. Oh, crap. She shouldn't have spoken like that. In the human world, she may nearly be an adult, but in the Lycanthrope world she was merely a pup.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," Willow said, the back of her neck heating up and her face flushing pink. She was embarrassed to have been told off, especially in front of what could be a future packmate. "I didn't..." she began, but even as she started she knew it sounded stupid. She didn't what? She didn't realise Alphess Acacia was the Alphess? She didn't realise that Acacia took her hunting grounds so seriously? She didn't know Christian, whoever they were, had something planned?
"I expect you to follow everyone else to the living area," Acacia said. Willow was relieved that she was no longer using that slightly terrifying voice. "I will be right behind you all." Nodding, she grabbed her luggage and entered through the door. She didn't want to make the Alphess angry again. I'm going to have to work hard. I'm going to redeem myself, she decided. I'll be a great fighter. Then maybe, hopefully, this incident will be forgotten.
--{ An Embarrassed Exit to the Pack Lounge }--
OOC: Sorry for the posting twice-in-a-row thing... Just excited. Mentioned: Alphess Acacia , @rayne
Willow was dragging her suitcase behind her. It was a comforting shade of green. It reminded her of the forest.
For a while after her second parents, Zephyr and Ruby, had been killed, Willow lived in a forest by herself, in the wild. She trained hard to be a fighter, a warrior. She hunted her own food, and made her own dens. She even made friends with a fox. Willow was independent then — but she knew a time would come when she needed to go back to civilization. And she had, at age eleven. She'd stolen money off unsuspecting humans to pay for her education. It hadn't been a good time. But now, the Council had sent her to this new place. The Pack House.
Willow chewed her lip nervously. It was a habit she'd had since she was young. Are they gonna be nice people? I hope they're nice people. Shaking her head, she drew herself up taller. Don't be ridiculous, Willow. You're brave, strong and independent. Don't let them smell your fear scent. She looked up, and could hardly suppress a groan when she saw the wooden staircase. Am I going to have to pull my suitcase all the way up? Willow thought despairingly.
Gritting her teeth, she hauled her luggage up the steps. A pale haired woman and a brunette were speaking, and she saw a head of blue locks and a male enter the Pack House. She heard the brunette one say: "It's nice to meet you, Alphess Acacia. My name is Rayne and, as you've probably already guessed, the Council has sent me here." Ah. So those were their names.
Willow felt awkward and clumsy. When she finally plonked down her baggage, she did the best curtsey she could in her tan knee-high boots, comfy blue jeans and old green hoodie. "Hello Alphess Acacia and Rayne, sorry to interrupt any fantastic conversations you may or may not have been having. Oh, and sorry for eavesdropping. I'm Willow, and I was sent here by the Council to join 'The Pack'."
She paused, waiting for a response. God, I hope I haven't stuffed up already, Willow thought. She knew she'd been a little rude — okay, more than a little — but that was kind of her 'style' of talking. Not knowing what to do, she listened to the background noises of birds tweeting. I'm hungry. I could do with a bird. Hm, perhaps I'll catch some prey later. Or should I just eat human food? That might be easier. Willow still preferred fresh, raw prey over cooked, tasteless human food. She'd always eaten her meat raw, whether under the influence of her first parents, Lycans, or under the influence of her second parents, Vampires. It was only in public that she ate cooked meat. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm kind of hungry," she announced in the way she did when she was at a lost for words. "Could I go hunt? And, uh, if you'd like to come, that would be good too."
OOC: First post! Well, this ought to be fun. Mentioned: Alphess Acacia , @rayne
Get better Zoe 
