3/1/2026, 4:55 PM
They were overdue for a changing of the guard, so to speak. The meetings' tendency to end up fraught did worry her considering the hardships that continued to wear at their little community. But there was no true reason to put it off any longer. These were their traditions, the rituals of equity that their Dawnbreak was built on. To shirk it when they encountered trials would be a sign of weakness. Of unworthiness of the gifts their mountain provided. Solulfur tucked every tuft of fur into its place, and made her way to the summons.
Aurelia led the proceedings so far, with Tiberii notably absent just for the moment. Sol bit the inside of her cheek, admonishing herself for having neglected checking on the Pillar of Power recently. The boisterous and unflappable cheer she associated with the darkest Shakti-Vaes seemed largely absent lately, not that Solulfur couldn't understand why. Still, she must be sure not to become too wrapped up in her duties and anxieties and neglect what was really important.
Her mind was mostly on the voting choices that lay before her, though. Ambition still burned in the Sun-wolf's heart. Was it her time to take the yoke of Wisdom off Aurelia's shoulders for a time? Would Aurelia challenge her for it? The idea of a heated debate over their respective qualifications for the role threatened to set Solulfur's heart aflutter with anticipation, but another challenger stepped up to the plate in Sol's stead.
Euphemia. The Black Sun tilted her head consideringly at the silver she-wolf. She did not hide the way in which she was sizing the other woman up. Solulfur didn't think she had enough sway to win a three-way vote against not one but two Shakti-Vaes. She did think herself foundational enough of a presence in the pack for her judgement to have influence, and so did not make her calculations subtle. Aurelia wouldn't tremble beneath the scrutiny, she was certain.
Euphemia had claimed a positive opinion from Solulfur in their first interaction, but the woman was reserved in the day to day of the pack yet outspoken amongst their convenings. To Solulfur, Euphemia remained an unknown factor, and Solulfur didn't like wildcards. She liked to have her paw in everything happening around her, to guide it to the ends she felt were appropriate, but she hadn't figured out what to expect from Euphemia.
Still, this was the second time Euphemia had offered herself as a candidate for a Pillar. Ambition was attractive, and she was clearly trying her luck with whatever Pillar she thought was most achievable to her. Adaptability was also venerable.
Solulfur's own ambitions had already redirected themselves to the Second Class role - she trusted the Shakti-Vaes twin she did know better than the one she didn't, but would Aurelia offer the favor of the rank to her twin as a consolation prize should Euphemia lose the vote? That didn't seem like Aurelia's style, but Solulfur ironically didn't have much issue with nepotism - and generally expected it - despite living in a democracy. But could Solulfur trust Euphemia to not do the same? If anything, Euphemia would have a greater motivation to favor her sister over Solulfur - Sol suspected Euphemia might not like her, which was obviously a moral failing on the Shakti-Vaes part.
In the end, Euphemia clearly hungered for the bitter taste of leadership. Aurelia had held the role since their founding - a break could revitalize her spirits, and Euphemia would have the advice of two very competent Mediators to keep Dawnbreak's path from veering into calamity. Solulfur set her focus unerringly onto Aurelia, waiting for the woman's attention to meet hers - searching for approval or hesitance to confirm to Solulfur where her vote should lie.
