Erasmus Toussaint
Lycan | Pack Member | Male | Mentions: Paige, Warwick Pierce, The Travelers (ind)
The young man watched the ragged and unwelcome guests warily. He wasn't particularly happy with these people showing up on their doorsteps uninvited - especially during this time and he gave a soft sigh. He wasn't part of the higher rankings, so it wasn't his place to speak on such things unless promoted so. So he chose to watch and just listen to the conversation - his face neutral as the strangers explained their situation to Christopher. And he could see it be plausible - they looked the part to have been ambushed, yet some didn't look as bad off as off as others which lead to suspicion. Obviously, it seems this group didn't know each other well - telling from the little strings of discord and tension amongst themselves. And he gave a soft hum at the thought as continued his observation of the strangers. And he wondered what else he could figure it out, it seems that one of the young women was of some sort of nobility or higher status than her companions - yet, it seems that her companions weren't that fond of her. Which was telling especially from the poorly veiled eye rolls and words said to smooth over her words. Such disorder, he thought to himself as he listened to the conversation. At the arrival of Colette, his eyes softened a bit and he gave her a smile with a slight dip of his head out of respect. She was expecting, and he was happy for her and Christopher - and he wondered if the twins were up and causing mayhem already.

His thoughts were interrupted as Christopher began giving orders to settle the situation. And his head perked a bit, at the mention of sending others to verify the story - which was a good idea. He gave a slight frown at the fact that they would be housing strangers. And he squeezed his boyfriend's arms in slight nervousness and anxiety - he didn't do well with people, and the fact these were strangers didn't do anything better for the situation. And he nervously twirled the rose, though only his boyfriend would be the one who could tell this about him. To strangers it would appear he was bored and uninterested in this situation which holds some truth, but wasn't the case. He gave a visible glare to the older man as he made a comment about it being larger than expected - such a shallow comment, he thought as he narrowed his eyes slightly. He should be greatful that the Luna had even graced them with her presence, or the fact she chose to have pity on them. He was growing more annoyed by the minute, but he looked at Paige, when he was asked a questions. His thoughts? And he gave a contemplative sight, and he looked at the strangers and how it seemed some pack members were offering support and aide.

"To be frank . . . I don't like this situation. It's a bit too convenient for my taste, but then again - I'm naturally wary of strangers, and this is just all one big coincidence. But I guess once the matter is investigated, we'll find out the truth of the matter. " he said lowly, his voice soft and thoughtful - and just at a tone that only Paige and maybe someone who was eavesdropping would hear, " yet, I worry about how long the travelers will stay, especially with the storm brewing. They're possibly gonna have to stay for more than one night because we don't know how long the storm will last and how injured they are and how long their wounds would take to heal. " he said thoughtful, "however, it's good for our commerce, and we can get information about the outside world - after all it's been a while. So it does have its advantages, but I'm still mulling over the consequences. " he with a bit of sigh, "but, I'm sure The Council will make a wise decision in the end. They always have our best interests at heart and it would be unwise to think otherwise. I must say, though, it does in a way feel good to help others. I just hope this won't stab us in the back." And he said the last sentence with a solem air. But he gave a small annoyed growl at the fact his boyfriend would have to be leaving to discuss this matter. First their walk gets interrupted and then this. It was an outrage, and he crossed his arms, huffing a bit as he warmed his hands.

"You owe me a romantic dinner, to make up for our interrupted walk. " he said as he gave his boyfriend a small glare, yet it was playful and their was a sort of mischief in his eye as he said that. And he turned to note the gathering crowd of strangers - he might as well try and play nice. " I'm gonna try and play nice, with our . . guests, so wish me luck." And he gave a mock thumbs up, before leaning over to kiss his cheek briefly - and embarrassed, pull the hood over his head, before Paige could remark about the growing crimson on his cheeks and ears. He wasn't one for being bashful, but he couldn't help it - he was quite in love and he felt the rumble of his stomach. Hm, he hadn't eaten and was feeling quite peckish at the moment. He would've loved to try his hand at hunting, but that wouldn't do at the moment. And that's when he felt a shiver go down his spine and cause him to shudder as he gripped the cloak for warmth. And then he felt a slight tickling in his nostrils as he gave a rather dainty, almost mouse-like sneeze.

He gave a soft groan as he himself went to the fireplace and found himself a spot to warm up. He hated how he could easily get sick during this time, and he had to stop another sneeze from coming along, and he decided it would be best if he went to his room - in case he was sick, then he wouldn't infect anyone. And he was so disoriented that he didn't realize he was going to bump into one of the new strangers and he had to blink in surprise at how tall the man was. He rubbed his arm awkwardly and gave a polite smile.

"Apologies, I didn't see where I was going." He said in his more formal tone, yet his voice was soft and sweet to the ears.

Kavik and Rhea || Pack Members || M: Travelers (Ind), Azela, Camilla, Pack (Ind)

Kavik stood from his position of being hunched over the anvil and held up the dimly glowing red blade, eyes tracing its edges carefully. With a low huff of satisfaction, he turned and dropped it into his water bucket, watching as steam and bubbles erupted in response. His ears were still ringing from the clangs of metal against metal, but now that it was quiet, he picked up unfamiliar voices. Amber eyes shot up towards the doors of his forge, and he moved toward them. Kavik pushed the double doors further along the rod they rolled on and was hit by the sharp chill of the winter weather. His body welcomed it after the heat of the roaring fire behind him, but he did not step outside further.

He watched as a group foreign to him entered. Whoever they were, they had garnered the attention of every high ranking lycan and then some extras to boot. Elias came in with them as well, but he didn't look like he'd brought them in the first place. Kavik released a soft growl upon sensing the wariness of the other Lycans in the courtyard. So, this was a chance meeting. The newcomers did not carry the now-familiar pheromones of the rest of the pack; they were human.

So close to a full moon? The situation must have been dire for Christopher to agree to let them in at all. He wanted to get a closer look, but now that he had paused his work, Kavik felt the pangs of hunger begin to hit him. Perhaps he would sneak a glance on his way to the kitchens. He walked back into the forge and pulled the sword out of the water -- he didn't want to forget that in the bucket -- before once again returning to the doors. The young man heaved the heavy wood closed and flipped over the bar to keep them shut. Normally, they would stay open, but he didn't want any strangers playing with his tools. It wasn't locked, but if they were smart, they'd stay away nonetheless.

Kavik brushed his hands against his apron and strode across the open space towards the castle itself. He spared a cool glance towards the group that now huddled around the fire, taking long enough to get a good feel for them all, before entering the stone sanctuary. He maneuvered through the hallways and came to the kitchen door, behind which he could hear Rhea's eager voice.

"Snackies!" she said, pulling at Adela's leg. "Oo. Um, ves-veni- deer. And teese."

The little girl looked over as Kavik entered and gave him a gap-toothed grin. He nodded to the two women present and gave Rhea a playful growl before moving past her to grab a couple apples. Looking around for a moment, he asked, "What happened to all the knive- oh. Never mind."

Of course Camilla had moved them; there was a tiny terror underfoot. He opted to eat the apple whole instead of slicing it. Leaning against the table, he addressed the two women. "Know anything about the newcomers?"

"Snackies," Rhea helpfully reminded them all, rubbing her belly with both hands. "Hungy."

Gaia Altolos || Traveler || M: Elias, Jhessica, Erasmus, Others

A wary sort of hope sprang up in the young woman as the gates opened. It was dulled a bit as they were told to place their weapons aside -- so much for that kind of protection -- but Gaia was not about to argue. Their hosts seemed just as unsure of the travelers as they were of the castlemen. She doubted they would all be murdered in their sleep, anyway. Gaia placed her sword and scabbard on the table and felt herself down for any other weapons that she or the bandits might have missed. Nothing.

She sighed, taking a moment to mourn the loss of her other blades and arrows, before following the others to the fire. The woman knelt behind her cousin and turned her stormy eyes to the fire before being pulled from her reverie by the man who had held the horses by the gate. Half turning before her muscles became stuck, she murmured a surprised "thank you" as a sturdy cloak was placed over her. Gaia's hands quickly found the gloves and she offered the man a tense but grateful smile before he moved off to the steeds and then Zira.

Another stranger moved across the clearing from what appeared to be a forge; they made brief eye contact and Gaia immediately determined that he was not in the mood for any sort of interaction with them.

The long haired, smaller man that had been standing protectively next to one of the others at the gate was now approaching, seemingly lost in thought. He stopped on the side of the fire opposite Gaia, near Warwick, and began talking to the blacksmith. Watching for only a brief moment, she rested a beaver-gloved hand on Jhessica's arm.

"How are you doing?" she murmured, keeping her voice barely above a whisper. A flash of concern crossed her features, breaching her stoicism in a rare display of actual worry. "What do you need me to do?"

Warwick Pierce

| Male | Assassin/Blacksmith | Traveler | Mentions: Erasmus

Before he could think, Warwick's hand flashed out to steady the shorter man in front of him. A frown pulled at his face as he scanned the man's features, his teal eyes snagging on the stranger's plump lips. His rough exterior clashed with the unexpected softness of this moment. A thought drifted over him, perhaps this stranger could be of use for him. If he worked at the right angle, he could get some information about this place and the people here.

As Warwick studied this stranger, a flicker of recognition crossed his mind. He realized that he had seen this man before, standing by the gate earlier. The stranger had been accompanied by another male, and from the way they interacted, it was clear they were partners. His eyes peered over the man and found his partner again. He knew he had to approach this conversation cautiously. Warwick didn't want to be the one to start anything.

"No need to apologize," Warwick grumbled, his hand still on the stranger's arm. Hesitantly, he pulled his hand away and offered it to the man for a handshake. His gruff voice held no warmth, but he figured he should make some sort of connection around here. "Warwick," he introduced himself, hoping that this small gesture might bridge the gap between them in this unfamiliar encounter. To others, this would appear as a normal conversation between two strangers, but Warwick had a much more sinister idea lurking beneath the surface.

His eyes glimmered with interest as he studied the man. Plump cheeks, soft face, high cheekbones. What caught Warwick's attention the most was the beauty marks that adorned his face. Warwick's eyes caught again on a strand of white-blonde hair that was a stark contrast to the rest of the jet-black hair. A sly smile played at the corners of his lips as he leaned in slightly closer, his voice dropping to a huskier tone.

"Quite a unique look you've got there," he remarked, his gaze not wavering from the man's face. “We are very thankful to be here," Warwick said softly, his teal eyes flashing in the firelight. A dark shadow seemed to swim around him as the fire blazed on, giving Warwick an overwhelming appearance that walked a line between dangerous and attractive. It was as if the flames themselves conspired to cast a seductive allure upon him, making it hard to look away.

“How long have you all been here? I’ve traveled my entire life and never have I heard about this place.” Warwick's curiosity was evident, but it was laced with a subtle allure as he tried to draw the stranger into conversation, his mind already formulating a plan to gather information through this unexpected encounter.