Assembly Hall
Deep within the cave, beyond the winding tunnels and nestled in the very bones of the earth, lies the Assembly Hall—a vast, natural chamber where Haru and Momo's pack gathers. This is more than just a space; it is the heart of the pack's unity, the place where decisions are made, where stories are passed down, and where bonds are strengthened beneath the watchful eye of stone and shadow.The Structure and Atmosphere
The Assembly Hall is an immense cavern, its ceiling high and adorned with ancient stalactites that hang like the fangs of a great beast. Some have snapped over the years, their jagged remains forming pillars along the walls, adding to the grandeur of the space. The walls, dark and earthen, seem to pulse with the warmth of life, carrying the echoes of countless pawsteps from generations past.
At the center of the chamber, a great stone slab rises from the ground—a natural platform worn smooth by time and use. This is the High Stone, where Haru stands to address his pack, his voice carrying through the chamber like a rolling storm. It is from here that judgments are passed, strategies are formed, and oaths of loyalty are sworn beneath the glow of moonlight that seeps in through a narrow crack in the ceiling.
On the far edges of the hall, small, dimly glowing fungi cling to the damp walls, casting a faint bioluminescent shimmer that makes the chamber feel alive. These blue and green lights flicker like fallen stars, creating an ethereal glow that dances across the wolves' fur as they move.
The Gathering Rituals
When the pack is called, they gather in a circular formation, their eyes reflecting the dim light as they listen to the words of their leader. The wolves sit in hierarchical rings, with the strongest and most experienced warriors closest to the High Stone, while the younger wolves and newcomers sit along the outer edges. This is not a place of idle chatter—every wolf present knows that when the Assembly Hall is filled, something important is at hand.
Here, councils of war are held, alliances forged, and disputes settled. When a new wolf joins the pack, they must stand before the High Stone and be acknowledged by the alpha and queen before they are truly considered one of them. This is also where coming-of-age ceremonies take place, where young wolves prove themselves before their kin and are granted their roles within the pack.
But the Assembly Hall is not just a place of order and governance. It is also where legends are spoken—where the old wolves tell tales of ancestors long passed, where Momo whispers the stories of her grandmother, weaving the old magic into the very foundation of the pack's history.
The Sacred Howl
At times of great significance—whether to honor the fallen, celebrate a victory, or simply reaffirm their unity—the wolves of Haru's pack raise their voices in unison, their howls echoing through the cavern like an ancient hymn. The sound reverberates through the very stone, climbing through the tunnels and spilling out into the night, a song of power and defiance, of love and legacy.
For this hall is not just a place of stone and shadow—it is the very soul of the pack, a place where every voice matters, and where the echoes of the past blend with the future.