"I'm going to kill him."

[hazlogs]

3 July 2003. Jeremy's rescue.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (34% full).

Afternoon.

The search finally comes to a pause at the mouth of a small cavern which could easily been over looked three or four times. Seems that its tucked away behind a boulder, barely peeking out. Alicia has decided to stand watch as the others go in to investigate.

The metis has reconnoitered with the group after a few minutes of paranoid searching.

Salem, in homid, leans down to peer into the mouth of the cave. His mood during the search has only gotten more grim, and it doesn't look like it's going to lighten up any time soon. He glances back at the others. "Anyone bring a flashlight?"

Kaz shifts back up into homid, and rummages in a pocket. After producing a lot of string, a pistol, and a Coke, she finally finds a flashlight, and hands it over. It's old, but very strong.

Tongue lolling and ears back in displeasure, Sees-True finally catches up with the group. Coming to a stop, she shakes out her fur. Releasing a small cloud of grey rock-dust. I can go in, she offers.

There is a flash of light from within the cavern. A few more dots. Flash Flash Flash. If anyone knows Morse, its S.O.S.

There's not one of the group that isn't grimed with rock-dust and hard travel, though it's likely more noticeable on the usually impeccably-groomed Glass Walker. His eyes narrow as he spots the flash from within the cave, then he straightens and nods to Renee. "Go ahead. Looks like he's alive in there." He grunts. "Someone's flashing morse code at us, anyway."

Sees-True sneezes once, before squeezing inside. Nose and ears taking over, in the darkness. She sniffs around, methodically searching for the missing kinsman.

As Sees-True makes her way into the cavern, she winds her way in quite a distance until coming nose to nose with a deep pit. Its about fifteen feet down, and the flash of light is coming from within it. Its Jeremy, curled up in a ball, twisting an turning the cap of the small flash light which Leonard threw down at him. He's pretty much naked, save a pair of dirty undies. Its like he's simply out of it. His eyes are clenched shut and the practiced movements of the morse code come out instinctivly. Call for help. Thats all he can really do. He's become a robot.

Sees-True growls softly, before she can stop herself. The wolf shifts into a human and the gave becomes even darker for her. Feeling around the edges with her hands, she calls down to the kinsman quietly. "Hey, Jer, if Renee. Came ta get ya out."

"What's the situation?" Salem asks, from outside.

The kins is quiet, continuing to flash S.O.S with the light, not replying or even opening his eyes.

Kaz crouches on a rock.

"Just hold on a minute," Renee calls back. "He is here, but too many people wouldn't be good fer him right now." The Gnawer considers the depth of the hole and decides that she can't just reach in and get him. She shifts into crinos before carefully setting her feet on one end of the hole and her back on the other, wriggling her way to the bottom. One huge foot braces on the floor, before the Gnawer retuns to her birth form. Renee places a hand on the kinsman's shoulder, giving it a genle shake. "Hey Jer. Wake up."

Salem grimaces and mutters under his breath, "I'm going to kill him." He's been saying that a lot, off and on, since the rockslide. For anyone keeping track, that's utterance number thirty-four.

"Yeah," Kaz says. "You said already." She sounds tired.

Salem grunts and settles into a crouch at the cave's entrance, his attention on the darkness within. The cavern, that is.

The kinfolk stirs a moment, then snaps his eyes open, shoving himself up against the wall, freaking out. He drops the flashlight and tries to bury himself against the stone, wincing. "Just go away!" He shouts out, his voice craked and strained.

"Come on Jer," Renee coaxes. "Its just me. I ain't gonna do nothin' ta ya. Other then get ya out of this hole an' home, if you'll let me." There is some shuffling in the darkness and a flannel shirt is shoved in the kinsman's direction. "Come on. You want out an' home, don'tcha?"

Kaz yells, "We ain't goin' away, we fuckin' hadda /walk/ here."

Trembling, it takes a few moments for Jeremy to snap out of it. He stares up at her, then bites his lip. "..Renee...?" He softly murmurs, clutching the flannel to his chest. ".. Its you..? I'm not dreaming, right? Is.. is he gone?"

Salem resists the temptation to say something about how he's going to kill Leonard. He shifts his weight impatiently instead, then gets up and moves away a short distance, pulling out his cellphone. Those outside can hear him leaving a message for Rina, giving her a quick update.

Renee nods. "Yea, its me. I figure yer talkin' 'bout Leonard. No, he ain't here. Even if the fuckin' mountain tried fallin' on my head. Come on..." She reaches out and lightly touches the kinsman's face. "See, I'm real." Renee smiles faintly. "Willin' ta have me go crinos? Can get ya outta here, if ya can hold onta my back as I climb out."

Letting out a breath, Jeremy pushes himself up to his feet shakily. He has a swollen face, and a bit of blood around his nose and mouth still. ".. I.. I think so." He says in a soft voice, trying his best to not be scared.

"Jus' keep thinkin' 'bout that computer you love so much," Renee rumbles, as she turns her back on the kinsman and swells into crinos. She crouches down and patiently waits for Jeremy to climb on board.

Jeremy winces at the sight, then tentaivly reaches out, grabbing ahold of her back and trying his best to climb on. This is embarrassing. He's just about naked and down in his skivies, an he's ontop of a werewolf. Kodak moment?

Well, atleast he has the flannel top that Renee gave him. Sees-True crouches down and jumps a foot of two, claws lating onto the rim of the hole, she hauls herself out. Once Jeremy has slipped off her back, she returns to her birth form and leads him outside.

Kaz plays a welcoming cheer on a kazoo.

Salem returns to his post at the cave entrance in due time, the call made and the cellphone turned off and tucked back into the inside pocket of his coat. His eye scans Jeremy's form, critically noting every visible bruise and bump and scab. Cataloging, tallying them up.

Squinting at the sun, Jeremy covers his face a bit, not used to the bright light. He has the flannel tied about his waist now to cover his underware. After a few moments, he peeks out from behind his fingers, his skin pale and dirty, blood crusted from having his face smashed into the floor by a Crinos. "..cold.."

Kaz sticks the kazoo back in her pocket. "You want my jacket?"

Salem mutters, "Probably fit him better than my coat." He shakes his head, adds something underbreath in Serbian. Two guesses what it translates to, and the first guess doesn't count.

Kaz tells Salem, evidently in response to the Serbian, "Yeah, we know," and whips her jacket off, handing it over to Jeremy. "Salem, give him your pants. Or I can. Whatever. It ain't like we can't shift."

Jeremy takes the jacket in trembling hands, trying his best to clutch at the fabric. Slowly he inches it over his body, pulling it close to him, glad to have a sense of warmth again.

Renee slowly shakes her head and gives the kinsman's shoulder a squeeze. "See, ya got two girls here willin' ta take their pants off for ya. Not bad, eh? Seriously though, I'll jus' give ya mine." Putting words into action, the Gnawer undoes the her belt and slips her pants free. Handing them over.

Salem eyes Kaz for a moment, but Renee sheds clothing before he's decided whether or not she was serious. He shakes his head slightly. "He's in no condition to walk all the way back."

Kaz shrugs. "Don't matter if we carry him or not, he still ain't gonna feel so hot if he's nekkid. So anyways, I prolly shouldn't carry him, 'cause my leg sucks doggy dick. Y'all mind if I go lookin' for his shit? Prolly won't find it, but..."

Salem nods. "Check on Aiyana, too. You two can scout ahead, while Alicia and Renee and I carry him back."

Jeremy takes the pants from Renee and lets out a breath, squinting a bit. Well, at least they'll fit. He tugs them on and zips them up. Well, at least he's warm, but he still feels miserable.

Renee scratches at one bare leg. "Its a long way back. I sugest we get goin'. Jer, you wanna lift? Be jus' like ridin' a real fuzzy horse." She smiles a bit, trying to make Jeremy feel a little better.

Kaz says, "Check. She oughta be wakin' up by now anyways."

Salem nods to Kaz, then drops down into lupus form. He will take point. Sees True Form and the kin, in the middle. Guards the Flame, you take the rear. We can switch out periodically if necessary, take turns carrying the kin.

Nodding her head, Guards-The-Flame leaps back down into the lupus and stretches herself out, lightly giving a chuff in affirmitive. After a hesitant moment, Jeremy nods his head a bit and puffs out a breath. ".. Fuzzy horse.. yah.. ok..."

Renee settles into Hispo and pushes her nose under the kinsman's hand.

Jeremy lightly rubs Renee's muzzle, then climbs onboard her back. He grips her fur, trying to keep himself in tact. He's still scared and its hard to pay much attention when your starving and dehydrated.