[h3][center][b][color=f26522]Dracul[/color], [color=ec008c]Valerie[/color][/b][/center][/h3] The red-haired hunter crouched, form hidden by one of the many ancient trees that ringed their sacred place, gleaming eyes targeting the young woman who was also the pack’s Lupa and, apparently, their priestess. Although Dracul knew there was a special term for such a position, her knowledge didn’t extend that far, due to the private nature of such werewolf packs. Hatred contorted her features into something bestial as she watched two male werewolves carry her previous two victims into the clearing, followed by a young female and another man - one she hadn’t seen before. Narrowing her eyes, Dracul slid a long blade free from its sheath, breathing accelerating with excitement. Valerie entered the Lupanar ahead of the others, turning to gesture to James and the other werewolf that carried Ted and Susanna. Her hand swept from the two men, ending its arc when she was finally pointing at a long slab of [url=http://b.vimeocdn.com/ts/861/457/86145786_640.jpg] rock [/url] that lay nearly flat in the middle of the Lupanar, raised up enough to avoid being buried in the snow. Near it towered a tree that was ancient, rising upward to stand taller than any other within several miles, and the only tree in the clearing. One side of the clearing was a tumble of large boulders that led upward to a throne fashioned of stone, roughly hewn but worn smooth by the passage of many Ulfrics. [color=ec008c]“Place them there, please,”[/color] she directed, slightly unfocused eyes catching stray streams of sunlight that filtered through the trees. [color=82ca9d]"So, uh, what exactly are you four doing?"[/color] [color=ec008c]“Completing the circle, Blanc,”[/color] the Lupa responded, recalling the man’s name from Sasha’s passing introduction that had been little more than spat out words before she bolted. [color=ec008c]“It is our way of letting them pass on to the next life.”[/color] A briefly suspicious look crossed her face as she considered the strange man, wondering if it wasn't dangerous to allow him such a glimpse into their life. Valerie dismissed the concern, chalking up the situation to a tangle of fated pathways. She would wait until the bodies were set upon the altar before sitting down in the snow, digging her feet downward until she met frozen earth. The contact between feet and ground initiated a whisper of energy that worked up her frame, inciting a riot of murmuring voices that only she could hear, but the others would likely feel - the energy of their fallen comrades, of their ancestors and previous pack members. She closed her eyes, reaching outward with her own sixth sense to feel the rushing, trembling energy that bridged the current pack members from those who had passed, the barrier that she had been selected to bring down upon occasion. A sudden wind blew through the trees, offering a surprising warmth as it gusted into the Lupanar, whisking the Lupa’s hair across her face. The energy imbued in the sacred grounds rose, bringing warmth up from the bones hidden beneath the snow, from the soil that lay beneath the strewn bones. Burials did not exist for the Lukoi, as they instead devoured their fallen pack members so as to take into themselves the energy, rather than lose it. The ceremonial feast was a tradition that allowed for the [i]Munin[/i], or spirits of the werewolves, to rise around Valerie now. She saw them as she could see nothing else, flickering figures that danced around the clearing and wove amongst the other oblivious werewolves, leaving only a trace of simmering heat in their wake. She was absorbed into their world for the moment, stirring the energy higher and no longer the master of it, but merely the door through which it blew. Dracul watched the Lupa and her gut tightened, telling her the moment had arrived. Slinking forward, she flung a second blade she had removed, but this one was small and slim, designed to be thrown and to be fairly inconspicuous. The blade made a blurring path directly for Xavier, only to plant itself deep in his chest. Startled, the young man looked up with wide eyes, hands drifting upward almost lazily. He scratched at his chest, emitting a surprised ‘oof’ as the silver inflamed the organ that struggled to beat around the intrusion. His legs collapsed beneath him and his arms failed to hold up his falling weight, resulting in the man striking the edge of the stone altar. His own body striking the stone caused the blade to be thrust deeper, but the damage was already quite sufficient. Xavier slid to the ground in an ungraceful, loose-limbed tumble, eyes dulling as he lost his grasp on life. Dracul was already moving, two more blades flinging free of her hands towards North and James, but she didn’t wait to see if they found home in anything vital, instead darting forward towards the distracted Lupa. The long, curved blade of her machete was raised, positioned for a long downward arc designed to decapitate. Shoving past the pale man who seemed so confused and rather out of place, she leapt the final few feet that separated her from the Lupa and swept the blade along its course, glittering eyes focused on the slender curve of the girl’s throat. [@WordstoLive100][@SevenStormStyle][@TheHangedMan] [color=00a99d][center][b][h3]Adam[/h3][/b][/center] [/color] Dressed and modestly armed, Adam hurried down the steps from his apartment, arm extending to knock on several doors as he passed. He reached the ground floor of the building, exiting the front alone while his followers slipped out the rear door and headed towards the other Ulfric they’d come to know quite well due to a long season of incoming intel. Adam paused to eye the newcomer moving into the same complex, a warm and inviting smile flashing teeth that shone white against his darker skin tone. [color=00aeef]“Good day,”[/color] he greeted easily, voice yielding a hearty cheer. [color=00a99d]“Always nice to have a new neighbor.”[/color] He didn’t bother to offer a hand for shaking, seeing as the man was currently occupied holding a box. The intensity of Adam’s focus was singular at the moment, allowing the man his undivided attention. In many cases, being the object of such importance was enough to soften people towards Adam, though he had come across some exceptions. It had taken time, but Adam had found that it was easy to win others over, because ultimately he was not some malignant devil trying to slaughter innocents - he was simply trying to protect werewolves worldwide by removing those who presented a risk. It was this, perhaps, that allowed him to charm others: he meant well, and his friendliness was genuine. As their Ulfric paused to make a new acquaintance, nine figures moved into the town’s center, of varying size and appearance, but beneath the surface all were of the same mold: fighters. They quickly spread out, a small woman and taller man linking arms and striding towards William, while two more women chattered as they moved towards the bonding figures of Acacia and Ryan. Two men drifted towards the bookstore, though they would only settle their weight against the exterior, with the remaining three kept tabs on Sam, Markus, and Emil. They were to wait until Adam gave the signal unless otherwise provoked. All seemed of fairly ordinary appearance, voices rising and falling in easy conversation as they blended into the fairly easy crawl of the early day’s activities. [@Spybuster][@AcaciaMalikov][@Guess Who][@Urukhai]