Devil's Tower

Who: Lawliss and Jax
Where: Jackals Lodge
When: Afternoon
Why: Discussing the upcoming meeting

Lawliss stretched his back, listening to the bones crack as he moved. That sound alone made him feel old. Waiting for Jax did too and Lawliss was one of the few who would dare to comment on it to his face.

Jax’s decision to include Lawliss as his back up for this leaders meeting seemed a weird thing, tactically speaking. It was normal really, for Lawliss to have his back; it was part of what made him useful to his tribe. He was also slightly more approachable than Jax and willing to act as a go between if the request was reasonable, but by being visible he would likely be raised above the level of a simple mercenary in the eyes of the tribal leaders of this new territory. It would make blending in for recon all the more difficult.

However, Lawliss knew what he was there for, to make sure Jax remained on a controlled level and if needs be to put the fear of God into the other leaders. As soon as Jax told him what the meeting was about anyway.

Lawliss smiled to himself, from mercenary to trusted enforcer, he muttered his thoughts under his breath. “I should ask for a raise.”

Who: Jax and invited leaders/associates (Wolf, Grey, Jed, Sensei, Hawk and Kestral)
Where: Waffle House on Highway 14 at the intersection of Wolf and TF territory
When: Sunset
Why: Because deception is fun!

It had been difficult to decide on a location for the meeting. Jax wanted something that was at once neutral for everyone, but at the same time, compromising on his part. He wanted to show the other tribes that he was not afraid to be around them with no weapons. It was a demonstration in sincerity, even though in truth there was not an ounce of sincerity about the whole thing. In the end he chose the Waffle House on the highway because it was in a kind of no-man's land, but also sandwiched right between Wolf and Twin Feather turf.

In his letter he'd specified that each leader only bring one companion and that everyone came without weapons. The first specification he'd honored by choosing to only bring Lawliss along with him. Lawliss was always good at keeping Jax in check and he was the best person to have on your side should the need for close hand to hand combat arise. However, when it came to the second specification Jax broke his own rules. He always had his switch blade with him no matter what and so even as he sat on the bar of the Waffle House awaiting the other leaders, it was tucked safely inside his boot.

Thankfully enough of the lightbulbs still worked in the restaurant for them to see by. It was only a matter of time before the first leader would arrive. Jax wasn't nervous, he was trained extensively for this sort of thing. "Lawliss, my friend, are you ready?"


((OOC: Tag to Lawliss first, and then anyone can jump in as they see fit!))

Who: Danni and ?
What: We'll see.
Where: The porch near Danni's room at the Lodge.
When: Wednesday Evening
Rating: n/a

Danni had been keeping track of the days she was spending in her room. Locked in her room was more correct, as she hadn't wanted to be near anyone, especially Jax. Every time she saw him she felt the anger boiling up, the anger and the tears. Those were the worst, she didn't want him to see her cry. He had murdered her best friends. And Ace. Her stomach rolled at the through and her eyes welled up again. She kept replaying that day in her head over and over. Ace had sought her out before he left to fight to tell her that he was leaving but would be back. She had begged him to let her go, but he said she was needed at the camp to keep everything in order. There was fear on his face and that alone told Danni things were not alright. He was trying to protect her again, but this time she wouldn't fight him. Instead, she ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "I love you." she had said to him in a shaking voice. He had pulled back from her and simply put his hands on her face to look at her. Without thinking, she moved forward and kissed him fiercely. After what felt like mere seconds, he was gone. The next time she saw him was in the hands of Jax. She still had bruises on her arms from the people who held her back as she tried to stop Jax from murdering him.

These images replayed over and over in her mind. She knew she was dehydrated from all of the crying she had done, but she didn't care anymore. She'd rather dehydrate and die than spend any more time here. But she had nowhere to go. True, she could go find Ryder. But she was unsure of the safest path there. She also didn't know if he would want her. Then again, he probably thought she was dead. Word of the dead Mountain Lion leaders would surely have gotten out by now. A large part of her wished she had been killed right along with them. Sure, it was a power move and Danni was not the strongest of the four, but she knew more about the camp than the rest of them. She knew where the secret stores of food were, she knew how to fix the power supply when it went out, she was the one to fix most of the wounds the Mountain Lions had received, and the list went on. She had been the mom of the camp, the rational voice. Maybe if she had begged and pleaded with Ace, he would have stayed with her and wouldn't be dead now.

She shook her head trying to make the thoughts disappear. She needed to stop thinking that way or it would drive her crazy. She looked at her armchair and saw the things she had managed to grab from Ace's room to save of him before Jax got to it; she had some of his warmest sweatshirts, shirts that still smelled like him, pictures he had hung up in his room, and so much more. She even had his blanket from his bed on hers now.

She suddenly felt claustrophobic and needed to get out of that room fast. She put on a pair of shorts, a tank top and one of Ace's button down shirts and listened through her bedroom door. Things sounded quiet. It was possible everyone had fallen asleep. She opened her door and then locked it behind her. She made her way onto the porch and sat on the loveseat swing and looked up at the sky. She had spent so many nights out here before everything happened. This was her first time in a long time. She closed her eyes for a minute, remembering the last time she had sat out here, her head on Ace's shoulder as she started calling off the constellations. She opened her eyes and brought her knees up to her chin as the tightness began again in her chest. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

The pain she felt was almost unbareable, but she knew this was only the beginning of her mourning and the pain she would soon feel.