<div></div><br> <br>The city is in high spirits, and for good reason. The siege is broken, and a decisive attack on the shadow nest, the second discovered, has had an immediate reduction in the number of shades daring to assault merchants and the innocent outside city walls. The castle is lit up, banners are hung, but the air in the council room is serious as any day as Gifted are guided inside.<br> <br>Kilsa enters the castle with a small steps not sure what to make of all the serious faces but makes sure to keep mouth shut. She looks around for familar faces to easy her tension, her normally optomistic mood feels a bit dampered by the overwhelming seriousness. <br> <br>Wulf bounces just in front of some hands ushering her into the Council Room. Once inside she looks around for a seat to plop into till the meeting starts, stayin quiet so that she doesn't bother anyone.<br> <br>Zevran slowly walks into the castle, the sharp contrast between the revelrie outside and the seriousness inside keeping him silent. He notices Kilsa and gives her a wave, but remains quiet. Noticing Wulf, he moves to take a seat next to her.<br> <br>Ryusho slightly rubs his eyes just as he enters as he wakes himself up so he will be aware and good to be here, as he looks around once he was ushered in, though he would move to sit beside Kilsa as her retainer, unless of course he was requested to sit elsewhere, the dragon luckly more awake then he was the other day, so hopefully he can actually form sentences properly<br> <br>The King is in attendance, which is near a first since his injury. He's had better days, but he's dressed for the part, and his sword is strapped to his back, as it has been for many Good Kings and Queens through the years. He is seated at the center of the council, as its primary member, above any other who may rise to take a seat in its august body.<br> <br>Kilsa waves back at Zevran then focuses on the issue at hand waiting on someone to explain the seriouness. She looks at the good king a little proudly. Feeling excited that he is well enough to be moving around and even if he isn't he is still keeping his peoples confidence.<br> <br>Wulf offers a wave at Kilsa as well since Zevran seems to know her at least then turns to view the Good King, her tail wagging happily at the sight of his recovery so far.<br> <br>Zevran looks up towards the Good King, smiling a bit at the leader's apparent recovery, or at least partial recovery. "You have any idea why we're here?" He asks Wulf quietly, hoping not to draw much attention as he continues to look at the Good King.<br> <br>Wulf shakes her head in denial. whispering very, very quietly. "No idea... but wait, and listen."<br> <br>Ryusho would also be smiling to see the Good King was at least able to be up and about enough to be here, considering the fact that the last time he had seen the king was...in critical condition when he had gotten his injuries, and then when he was told to finally leave once the king was indeed stable since the king kind of had him in a deathgrip that whole time.....<br> <br>The head of the council, currently a female Blackback, a skunk of course, strikes a gavel, "The council now convenes. I have been asked by the Good King to see the opening and closing ceremonies, and it is my pleasure to do so," she explains, looking out over the gathered crowd, "While there is some usual business to attend to, most of you are here for the Good King's direct statement, which we will arrive at shortly."<br> <br>Kilsa nods and smiled at the speaking Blackback, She looked at Ryusho and gives him a pleasant smiled before whispering, "I'm excited to see what the kind has to say." <br> <br>Zevran remains silent after hearing Wulf's answer. He listens to the Blackback's statement, a bit disappointed that he would have to sit through the meeting before hearing the Good King's statement. He was the type that would rather be fighting something than sitting in a meeting. Still, he does his best to hide his disappointment and waits to see what will happen next.<br> <br>Ryusho shifts and nods to kilsa, "I am interested too, excited even, though I am glad I am awake enough to be able to focus at this time..yesterday was a wreck." he wispers back to her as he shifts his position slightly<br> <br>Wulf puts her hands up to her temples and begins to rub at them... meetings, soooo boring, she needs to be doing more than just listening, but remains quiet.<br> <br>The council meeting progresses fairly normally at first, with people airing their greivances, and being judged by the council members and the King as need be. The only matter of interest comes up with one being steps up, "When are we taking back Mossy Stone?" Which brings up some murmuring in the crowd.<br> <br>Zevran slouches into his seat as the meeting progresses, an expression of boredom on his face. The mention of Mossy Stone apparently gets his attention, though, as he sits straight up and looks towards the council to wait for their answer.<br> <br>Kilsa pales at the menton of mossy stone, Robert being one of her idols she doesn't know how such and operation would even go. "I wonder how such a plan would be excuted." She questions quietly to herself. Looking at Ryusho and the rest of the folk gathered. "What would the losses be?" She asked to her retainer for input.<br> <br>Ryusho looks to Kilsa after a bit, "I have no idea..." he says quietly, "...It would depend on how it would go...but.." he shifts a bit as he then rubs his head, "...I'm not a mass tactitian...who would understand the losses on a larger potential scale...at least  at this time I'm not..."<br> <br>Wulf does the classic fidgeting that one does when impatiant or the like, her leg constanly switching sides on which it rests and one of her footpaws tapping at all times as she looks around, until Mossy Stone is mentioned, her head snapping to look at the podium.<br> <br>The Good King rises from his seat at the question, composing himself before he begins to speak, "The shadows are driven from the streets of Mossy Stone, but in their wake, another horror awaits, preventing my loyal people from returning to their homes. This is a matter I wished to speak of in my address, but since it has been brought up, I will begin it now, and all will be explained.<br> <br>"<br> <br>Zevran notices Wulf's fidgeting, assuming that she is bored as well. When the King stands to speak, Zevran leans forward a bit in his seat. His attention is focused solely on the Good King.<br> <br>Wulf looks even more towards the good king, sitting foreward in her seat just as Zevran is, curious as to what the good King has in store for the summoned 'gifted' as they put it.<br> <br>Ryusho shifts as he turns his gaze back towards the Good King, actually quite currious as he slightly shifts and leans forward just a bit as he listens closely to make sure he doens't miss something....<br> <br>Kilsa is on the the edge of her seat. She waits for the good kind to spill the beans on what is causing problems in Mossy stone. "I didn't know there was something else keeping us out. I figured it was only shadows." She whispers to Ryusho.<br> <br>"We owe a debt, as a whole, to the hard work of many of our people. Our gifted, who took the fight to the shadow at every step, keeping them well away from Firmament, and exploring the nature of our enemy, but also who have discovered a new menace, and, perhaps, a new ally. I do not ask you to extend trust blindly, good beings. Only to remember the First Text. Everything has a purpose, it is the challenge to discover the true place of a thing," speaks the Good King, gesturing broadly across the crowd.<br> <br>Zevran is sitting on the edge of his seat now, listening in rapt attention to the Good King. The mention of finding the true place of a thing reminds him of something told to him by Mione, but he only takes a moment to ponder it before continuing to listen.<br> <br>Wulf headtilts, her ears twitching towards the Good King as he speaks, rather confused as to what he is speaking about. Though the best way to find out and not interupt the Good King is to stay Silent, although her mind races back towards her dreams...<br> <br>Ryusho quirks his brow slightly as he glances to Kilsa, "..a new ally?" he wispers back though "...a new menace?" is the next thing, as he is confused a bit by this, as he had no knoledge there was something else to worry about as well...<br> <br>Kilsa looks at Ryusho, "Why do I feel dread..." She looked at the good King and was hoping that he wouldn't propose the insane thoughts goinf through her head or worse is a shadow in disguse. She shakes her head removing such childish thoughts.<br> <br>A door to the side opens, and in strides two skunks, a male and female, the female bearing a seal of the house Blackback. With them is a female plant, with roses about her neck and petals along her legs, making it easy to guess her breed. She bares no clan seal, or house seal, but does have familiar black eyes.<br> <br>Zevran looks towards the entering group, the sound of the opening door drawing his attention from the King, who seemed to have stopped speaking. He seemed a bit confused, unsure what the reason for bringing the rose in is. "What do you think that's about?" He whispers to Wulf.<br> <br>Kilsa looks a little worried, "What..." She grits her teeth and clenches her hands, "Ryu. Please hold my hand under the table and keep me from doing anything stupid." She growls out quietly, Slowly understanding what she is seeing. "I hope I am wrong."<br> <br>Wulf eyes the black eyed Rose being escorted in as she whispers back at him. "I dunno, but it looks like she is soulless... I don't see a gem on her though so... why isn't she going, well you know." Her eyes don't leave the rose for a second, eyeing those depthless eyes."<br> <br>Ryusho shifts slowly..as he begins to adjust his position and slowly takes Kilsa's hand, as he wispers back, "Just...make sure that I don't do something stupid either..." he mumbles softly as he glances to Kilsa, something seems..odd here to him...<br> <br>"This person," he gestures at the rose as they stop before his elevated stand, "Has pleaded for asylum, sanctuary, from the shadows she once called kin. She has petitioned to join us, as a peer, and to throw aside the mantle of war in the doing. She asks much of us, and tests our convictions. Will we strike at her, as our emotions demand, or rise to the teachings of the Creators?"<br> <br>Zevran seems rather surprised, if the look on his face was any indication. "She was possessed by the shadows, then? But...I thought the possession was permanent." He whispers to Wulf, his eyes still fixed upon the rose.<br> <br>Kilsa growls but keeps her teaching to heart. Her hand raises in a questioning guesture, waiting to see if the king will aknowledge her.<br> <br>Wulf doesn't know herself, in a moment of ponderance she calls out, no use in dleaying the inevitable. "Give us proof first, so that we may judge for ourselves if she is truly free of the influence of the shadow!"<br> <br>"What proof," asks the king, "Can one give for one's intentions? There is no proof, but two citizens have stepped forward to speak on her behalf." He gestures, and the two skunks step forward. "If you would, we will begin with Lady Ironsoul. The council recognizes." All this said, the king settles back into his seat, the spotlight on the skunks instead.<br> <br>Wulf blushes as she realizes that she just left the protocol to be followed in meetings, oh well, what can one expect from a more or less commoner? Wulf sinks back into her chair and crosses her arms as she looks down at the ground.<br> <br>Kilsa stands up, "As you know the Church is all about good will and such. I would like to know what do we know about her. What has made her choose to defect? Is she even fully defected? What can we do to ensure our safety and lastly what do the shadows want besides our annilation?" She asks rapidly before looking at the creature, "Do you have a name miss?" She looked at the shadow with a soft smile and tries her hardest to keep an open mind.<br> <br>The female skunk, the one bearing the Blackback seal, speaks, "Hello everyone. It's been quite a week for most of us. I'm Jessica, Blackback, of course." She gestures back towards the rose, "She is Jeremy, a dear friend. She lost her original body defending us from the Cliffside invaders, and rescued Clyde," A gesture towards the male skunk, "From the sea without prompting. She is a good person, even if she was born differently than us."<br> <br>Wulf blinks at the name, isn't that a guys name? Shaking her head she reaches up and rubs at her temples with a quiet sigh.<br> <br>Zevran listens silently to the exchange, unwilling to raise his hand to offer any questions. His gaze is still focused on Jeremy, and he finds himself wondering how exactly the rose was able to defect from the shadows.<br> <br>Kilsa looks at Jeremy, "I'm glad she was their to help, Is Jeremy capabal of answering questions for the meeting? I'm interested on knowing the thoughts of creatures I've been fighting if peace is possible as good folk we aren't allowed to turn it down with a good mind." She speaks formal but is still fighting with her confusing and slight bit of fear.<br> <br>Jessica reaches back, taking Jeremy's hand and guiding her forward. She looks a bit hesitant, eyeing all the people that look at her, many with unfriendly expressions. "I am not used to speaking, especially on matters of feelings. I am new to many of them. I could not say when I changed my mind entirely, but my mission was first to capture her, but..." she pauses, looking down towards her feet, "She captured me instead. I do not wish to leave her, or Clyde, or even Timothy."<br> <br>Ryusho shifts his position a bit as he looks from one to another then rubs his head slightly trying to figure out an opinion if he even has one..as he hums softly, scratching his head curriously...<br> <br>Kilsa nods, "I respect that." She says matter of factly, "Can I ask what are your kind intentions for us?" she smiles softly, "I doubt its to send us gifts and keep the day from being so bright. More importantly do you have a leader? That will be my final question I don't want to overwhelm you Jeremy and I am sure everyone else is curious." <br> <br>Jeremy shakes her head, "I have no leader anymore. He was dissapted and has not yet reformed, and when he does, he will have no kindness for me. I follow the direction of my friends, my family." She looks to Jessica, then, Clyde, "We can't speak as well as I once did my shadow kin, but we are family all the same. I will do what I can to help them."<br> <br>Wulf raises her hand, having the presence of mind to do this before speaking wiht her eyes looking back up to Jeremy's black eyes.<br> <br>Zevran continues to listen as Jeremy answers questions, although he is still unsure whether or not the rose can be trusted. When she mentions that she still considers shadows to be her kin, his suspicion increases. He turns to look at Wulf as she raises her hand, curious as to what the Husky will ask.<br> <br>Kilsa nods and waits for Wulfs question. "Hmmm." She says in her seat calmly. "This is an interesting development."<br> <br>Jessica points towards Wulf, "Yes, miss? What is your question?" she asks, looking curiously.<br> <br>Wulf puts her hand down and tosses out the question she'd been itching to ask. "All right, this leader of yers... that wouldn't happen to have been the huge shadow me an the grup i was with managed to slay was it? And come to think of it... weren't you all there?"