Revel: December 2003

[hazlogs]

Date: 9 December 2003, after the Moot
Moon: Full

Umbra: Center of the Caern

A subtly spine-vibrating thrum of power issues once again from the once-dead caern, pricking hairs and fur. Slowly but surely, the rejuvinating actions of the Garou have slowly been transforming the recently spiritually dead caern back into something befitting a caern. The caern is once again alive with a variety of spirits, though spirits of war seem a rarity now, and Wendigo spirits are never seen. The caern, visually, falls just short of the wildest rural utopia imaginable. Only hints of the previous pollution remain--slightly less than green grass, young sapling trees where there ought to be mighty oaks and pines--and these are things that, with time and care, should eventually replace what was lost.

The air crackles with tingles of spiritual potency, though it's obvious to Garou who'd witnessed the caern earlier that the caern just isn't quite as powerful and potent as it was before the BSD invasion.

Lead by Jamethon, and assisted by Luke and Trevor, the Rite of Summoning has been in progress for almost half an hour by the time the storytelling is complete and the rest of the Garou join them in the caern Umbra. There is a circle near the center of the Caern, created from some type of glittering dust. As the Garou are arriving, a shimmering wave of light appears, taking on the form of an amorphous cloud of gas. Not a fog spirit, though, rather an engling. Luke, in glabro rather than crinos after the events of earlier, speaks once the summoning is complete, *In Chimera's name, spirit, I greet you and extend to you the Lady of Mirrors' blessing. Tonight, you serve the sept of Hidden Walk, and we offer you our thanks for this. Tonight, though we will hunt you, you will not be destroyed when you are struck down, but by Gaia's grace will instead grow stronger in your service to Her. Go now, flee, our respected prey.*

As Luke finishes speaking, the cloud alters its shape into that of a Stag, perhaps responding to the Theurge's tribe in choice of prey form. With a mighty leap, the spirit is away, knowing that soon, the sept will be on its heels.

Three-Blades paces towards the ritemasters, only to glance at the transformation of the engling to a stag's form. Ears twitching in the Umbral light, she glances about at the others, awaiting a signal of sorts.


Leonard shifts into lupus, testing the umbral air, ready to give chase.

The Wyrmfoe, that is, Doc Collins, has been in crinos form since the moot began, pretty much. The Black Fury leans forward with a hint of anticipation, watching the spirit, waiting as people arrive. Her eyes glitter a little bit as she watches it go. She nods at it in respect, almost as an afterthought. Then she slides down into lupus form and lets out an ear-splitting howl, beckoning the others to give chase with her.

Scar, noting the form of the engling, drops down to all fours, shifting into lupus. He lifts his muzzle to answer the Wyrmfoe's howl, then springs forward to join the hunt.

Jarred shifts into his wolf form.

Adrian shifts down to Hispo and howls. The young Get looks excited at his first Revel.

Fat-Ripper heads in towards the caern's center from the west in Lupus form, padding up, walking slowly and carefully, looking around her as she does. Her walk is a little stuttering, a little hesitant, and she sniffs gently at the air, watching the fog and the assembled garou. Her mood is inquisitive, reverential: the power of the place, and the occasion, has gotten to her a little. She takes up a place with the others, watching the prey flee into the forest.

Craig slips through the gauntlet just in time. When the howl sounds, he drops to Lupus as well, ears pricked in anticipation of a good chase.

Luke, the Gatekeeper, and the Master of the Rite do not make any move to join in the hunt. Rather, they remain around the circle of glittering dust, each making a small cut across the palm of their left hand and placing the hand into the dust, tying themselves to the circle with the bonds of blood and spirit, likely part of the ritual to insure no harm comes to the spirit.

Her very homid honor name does not translate well into lupus. In lupus the Wyrmfoe is Heart-Taker. Ebony fur bristling, she lets out a yip and a snarl, and then takes off running in the direction of the stag. To the hunt! She lets out another one of those ear splitting howls, to urge on the hunters, to inspire them, to catapult them forward towards the goal.

Reggie prepares pre-ritual stretching to warm up his muscles, and completes with a patting of his feet on the ground in a very lazy 'jog in place' motion. Watching the prey flee with interest, he waits for the others to start the run.

Brings-Buffalo weaves back and forth, nose to the ground, getting the scent. His ears prick forward.

Three-Blades wastes no time given the urging howl. Presented with the opportunity to simply run, the Gnawer belts out her own eager howl. C'mon Buffalo, she chuffs at the Wendigo, let's hunt - like old times. Scent withstanding, she jumps off the start and runs after the Wyrmfoe to catch up.

Fat-Ripper joins Heart-Taker in the hunt when she hears the loud howl and sees her quick flight; she bolts off and pushes her legs forward, hard, one after another, in a swift run, trying to catch up a bit to the Wyrmfoe's lead.

Storm-Singer is sleek and powerful in lupus, and he sets off at a breakneck speed, following Three-Blades with a sharp bark of encouragement.

Stonehenge pads after the Wyrmfoe, hungry to prove himself.

Snake-Bait gives a series of short, enthusiastic barks before charging after the Wyrmfoe. His tail flicks excitedly through the air as he gives chase.

Brings-Buffalo gives Three-Blades one quick wag of the tail, lifting his head and dashing after her. Remember what I taught you? He teases.

Scar breaks into a run, putting on some speed until he's sidelong with Three-Blades, the Gnawer on his good side. The Glass Walker moves easily on all fours, and shows a competitive streak as he starts pulling ahead of the Bone Gnawer.

Even as fleet of foot as the lupus Garou are, they have difficulty matching the speed of the engling in Stag form. In any form, save perhaps hispo, they would lack the speed to keep up. Gradually, though, the group are gaining ground as they put distance between themselves and the caern, the spirit darts and weaves between the trees of the bawn woods. Though the spirit pushes the Garou until they can feel themselves beginning to tire, soon they have gained enough ground to bring themselves into close range.

Brings-Buffalo dogs the creature's heels...or trail, until he catches up to said heels. He doesn't slow or stop for as long as he has it in sight.

Storm-Singer snarls slightly, nipping at Three-Blades. ~Hurry up, you're slowing me down!~ It's clear, however, that this is merely a friendly encouragement.

Stonehenge keeps up, hyped up on adrenaline as he uses his hispo form to push ahead of the lupus.

Three-Blades glances sideways as Scar pulls up and ahead. The Gnawer, not to be outdone, pushes herself just a little more but keeps a steady pace. Snorting at the Shadow Lord, she sleeks herself even more and shifts up to hispo as she runs, up until they catch up to the spirit.

Snake-Bait flicks his ears back and sprints after the stag, going full out. As much as he pushes himself, he's not quite catching the spirit. His tail still flies, however, as he runs with the Sept.

Storm-Singer shifts up to Hispo as well, maintaining his presence with the group.

A panting Rags makes up the tail of the group.

Scar bulks up into the dire wolf form as well, teeth bared in a savagely amused kind of way. He leaps forward to match pace with Three-Blades.

Brings-Buffalo grrs. Buncha damn cheaters. He shifts to hispo as well.

Fat-Ripper speeds ahead, keeping to her Lupus form, not caring if others push by her. She does not look to the spirit, instead keeping the Wyrmfoe foremost in her sight. So long as she follows her, she can find her prey.

Heart-Taker shifts up to hispo as she runs, snarling a little bit. Her ears flatten. The prey is close! Let us take the prey! She darts and weaves along after the staff, snarling out encouragement and inspiration as the hunting party closes on the prey.

Stonehenge chuffs and yips as he runs along, he tries to break out into the lead. Come on old folks, watch the Cliath teach you something.

Three-Blades glances back briefly at the Wendigo. If you have it, you use it! Amused but seeing Scar coming up the ragabash wolfishly smiles, tongue lolling. Suddenly at the Wyrmfoe's announcement, the ragabash puts on a burst of speed, pulling off to one side to cover it in case the stag decides to randomly change a direction.

Snake-Bait gives in to peer pressure, shifting up to Hispo with a fang-baring grin. He swings outwards as well, eyes on the prey as the Stag finally goes to ground.

Fat-Ripper shifts to Hispo, following the Wyrmfoe's lead, dogging her steps, and in so doing puts on a little burst of speed. Her breath comes a little more heavily, now, but she barely notices, enjoying herself and the hunt.

Indeed, the spirit veers even as the Garou close to attack range. Almost a complete right angle, the leap and turn, so some of the closest pursuing Garou may well shoot right on past and have to backtrack. Still, though, those a little farther back will have more reaction time. Can the hunt really be so close to over already?

Scar twists his body around in mid-stride, trying to minimize his overshoot and compensate for the prey's sudden change in direction. The Fostern Walker snaps his massive jaws, irritated and amused all at once.

Snake-Bait scrambles after the stag with a challenging growl, huge Hispo paws bearing him quickly along. Come on, turtle, he taunts the spirit, you can do better than that!

Three-Blades narrows her gaze briefly as the spirit changes direction like she expected it. Hunting deer with Leonard taught her that much. Ears forward, she digs in her paws and changes direction as well to flank the stag and try and herd it back towards the others.

Rags takes up the end of the chase, clearly hoping to take the shortest path and thus extert the least effort to end up in the same place.

Heart-Taker does shoot forward. She has to leap around to get back on the trail. She snarls with frustration. Onward! Get it! Because she's now farther from the prey than closer, the Black Fury races to catch up and barks encouragement instead. Underlying that is a sort of glee, though. Of course things couldn't be so easy!

Brings-Buffalo uses Yi's body as a lever to help him turn more quickly, sending her off-balance as he realigns himself with the beasts' hindquarters. Baying, he shoots off after it.

Fat-Ripper had been a fair bit behind: she turns in a tight arc, just as the spirit does, running quickly along, picking up speed now. She's no longer chasing the spirit so much as running alongside it, though slightly behind and a fair distance off.

Three-Blades swivels her ears back and snaps as the Wendigo pushes off of her. It takes her a mere moment to rebalance, but it's a moment that slows her. Now that's just a little annoying. Ears tilting back a bit, she pursues Brings-Buffalo so that she's close enough to nip his tailtip before pulling off to one side again. Just like old times.

The group closes in on the stag of light suddenly as if it were beginning to tire. Just when Heart-Taker finds himself within distance of a quick pounce to be atop the prey, the light splits in two. Mirror image duplicates of the Engling darts off in two directions, one into a thinner path to the right, and another takes a strong leap into dense and thicker brush off to the left.

Brings-Buffalo's tongue lolls in amusement (and to cool off) as he feels Yi coming up behind him. He tucks his head down and ears back and opens up with a speed that tells exactly why he was named 'Fastwolf' when old Two-Souls first found him. He keeps on with the one going to left.

Stonehenge chuffs and turns to keep up with the spirit. The Cliath does his best not to lag behind.

The ones closest to the right, stay right. The rest, to me, to the left! Heart-Taker lets out a howl as she springs to the left, pushing for more speed. Her ebony fur ripples as she runs.

Snake-Bait gives a light bark of glee, then swerves to the right. Fat-Ripper! Keep up! he cajoles his tribemate with a howl.

Three-Blades might as well be tied with a string to Brings-Buffalo, as she turns and follows him with determination to prove herself.

Scar verges off to the right -- his sighted side -- and races after one twin of the spirit-prey.

Rags sets back on his heels as he tries to decide which stag might be slower, and he decides on the left as being most promising with the brushes in the way, and starts using his hispo form to muscle his way through the brushes rather than spring over them.

Fat-Ripper picks up her speed, pushing herself to her limit: now that the spirit has turned, so to speak, she finds herself racing at right angles with the one stag which had turned off to the right, and set to collide, if, that is, she can reach it in time. She pushes herself hard, keeping her mind clear of distraction.

The Shadow Lord seems to concentrate for a moment, his speed diminishing ever so slightly as he activates a gift. As knowledge lights in his wolfen eyes, he blurs off to the Left.

Those heading to the left suddenly find themselves confronted with a seemingly very angry stag running not away from them, but right at the group. Exploding through the brush and ramming massive horns into Heart-Taker's face, ellicting a good deal of pain and knocking the lupine Garou on his back after a little trip through the air. This done, the angered Stag stands, snorting violently and pawing the ground as he backs away a bit trees too thick at his back to run any further... daring anyone to attack.

And attack the Shadow Lord Elder does. Darting in, jaws wide to sieze one of the Stag's legs in an iron grip.

You paged the room with '...Heart-Taker's female, isn't she? :>'.
Jamethon pages to the room: Er, her back, not his. Excuse me.

Brings-Buffalo immediately begins harrying the cornered stag, leaping around and barking, growling, and generally making a nuisance of himself, trying to nab the thing's nose and dancing away.

Stonehenge chuffs and charges at the Stag, teeth going low, for the stags ankles. He gives a battle cry, not unlike a certain 80's cartoon. Fenris HO!

Meanwhile, those off to the right find themselves in yet another brisk run after their prey. The Stag makes leaps in a zig-zag pattern into the trees once, then again across the clearing. His speed doesn't seem to diminish even as he leaps in and out of sight while moving seemingly the same speed as the group. However, up ahead, the perceptive can make out a larger circular clearing the path you are on breaks out into.

Heart-Taker lets out a snarl-yelp and rolls off her back, staggering a little. Now the barks and growls demand blood as she darts to the side and then doubles back, her teeth snapping as she attempts to try to hamstring the charging stag, trusting the other hunters will all find different parts they would like to chew on.

Rags takes up the challenge as he continues his momentum to leap, hurling his massive body at the stag, with the intent of bowling the stag over with his weight.

Snake-Bait howls short encouragements to those who went right, plowing onwards towards the Stag and the clearing. Get it, get it, get it! he barks, charging onwards.

Three-Blades balks, skidding off to the opposite side of Leonard and separating. Seeing Heart-Taker get butted, the ragabash drops low and wary, hackles lifted. Stepping off to one side as Rags zooms past, she decides too many hispo in the mix will get awfully confusing. The no-moon waits, pacing and waiting for an opportunity to present itself.

Scar bares his teeth, calling on his rage to spur himself even faster after the stag, doing his damnedest to close distance with the prey.

Fat-Ripper turns from pursuing the stag directly and keeps to the path, hoping the clearing ahead will give advantage to the Hispo's speed over the stag's agility, besides which it be thoroughly embarrassing to crash head-on into a tree. She keeps her pace, breathing hard now.

The Leftward Stag bows his head down to intercept the Shadow Lord's attack, but then Leonard leaps in as well feinting a snapping of his teeth. The Stag raises his head briefly to defend against the Wendigo, which gives Storm-Singer a space to snap into that leg. The ephemera of its leg gives way easier than flesh in his jaws, pulling a puff of white smoke away in his teeth which seems to actually enter the Shadow Lord's body... making him actually appear brighter in the umbral night. The other leg is ripped upon by Stonehenge, with much the same effect. As Heart-Taker tries to get in an attack, the Stag grunts and tosses his head towards her, legs kicking out at his hunters. This throws Stonehenge to the side and earns Storm-Singer a very painful hoof right to the nose which gives the sensation of shattering it. Rags makes his move now, and a good amount of Garou are taken with him. The Stag, Shadow Lord, Heart-Taker, and Rags find themselves piled upon each other. Three-Blades just watches for now...

Stonehenge looks around for a bit of Stag sticking out off the wolfpile to latch his teeth into. If found, he gives a fecious snarl and bites down onto his prey.

Brings-Buffalo goes right for the nose and hangs on for dear life, using his weight to keep the thing from rising again.

The Rightward Stag chasers once more begin to close on their prey to be. As it nears the clearing and finds itself with many wolves nipping at it's heels, the Stag ends it's leaping game and runs straight up the path to the Clearing.

Storm-Singer struggles, both with the pain of his quasi-shattered nose and with the weight of those piled on top of him. He snarls in frustration.

Rags' weight is a weighty matter indeed, and he uses it by remaining atop the stag and whoever else as he inhales back in the breath he lost in the impact.

Three-Blades evaluates before deciding a downshift is in order. Circling around so that she has a good angle to jump, the ragabash blurs with Rage-born speed and leaps with lupus jaws ready to sink into the large neck of the stag.

Heart-Taker growls in fury, feeling rather made a fool of. She looks for a piece of stag to sink her teeth into and tries to put them there, as hard as she can, not even trying to get out from beneath Rags. At least he's holding the blasted beast down!

Snake-Bait puts on the afterburners, darting onward with a burst of speed. Tongue lolling, he lunges at the Stag's hindquarters, trying to catch a joint or, well, anything to slow or stop their prey.

Scar's teeth flash white against the deep black of his fur as the Glass Walker lunges forward, moving with rage-boosted speed in order to catch up with the stag and end its running for once and all.

Fat-Ripper chases her quarry, getting low, completely silent, preparing herself for the battle the sounds behind her say she can expect here. She begins to growl, a low rumbling.

As the group on the Left attacks from within and without the wolfpile atop the Stag, pieces of ephemera break away in small flowing streaks of light which hit the Garou causeing the effect seen before... The Garou attacking begin to feel 'full', much like after a meal, though they have yet to consume anything tangable. Soon enough, after a few more beatings and batterings for all around, the Left Stag is dispearsed, the attacking group actually glowing with a faint white light at this point.

Stonehenge looks at his paw and chuffs. Cool!

Brings-Buffalo lifts his nose and howls his thanks to the spirit for its gift.

Storm-Singer gnaws Stonehenge's flank briefly. ~See, whelp! I glow brighter than you! Let us return to the Caern's Center... GET OFF me, you great bison!~ he yaps to Rags.

Stonehenge yips and barks, "dancing" on his front paws. he looks over at Storm-singer. I like this. I look cool. Don't I look cool Storm-Singer-rhya?

Three-Blades feels her teeth meet together as the spirit disappears. Immediately upon hearing the voice in her head, she extracts herself from the pile of wolf and hispo. Lifting a paw to glance at the glowing essence, the Gnawer tongue-lolls, feeling rather satisfied. Her muzzle lifts, and she howls success alongside the Wendigo galliard.

Stonehenge joins in the howl with the Wendigo and Gnawer, learning quickly.

The Right Stag leaps out for the clearing and in mid-leap finds Scar's teeth snap closed around a rear leg, its moan of pain turns into a screaching caw of a raven as the creature turns into that very bird and flys to the top of the clearing... though no higher. Scar, like those who fought the other Stag, suddenly seems to be brighter and more clearly viewed in the umbral night. As the three Garou pour into the clearing, they see the rather oversized Raven divebombing right at Scar, leaving them with little time to act.

Rags snarls at Storm-Singer, then immediately scrambles off, putting paws in any handy and not so handy places in an effort to gain solid ground.

Snake-Bait's paws splay as he tries to pull up short, making the leap that follows horribly clumsy. His jaws snap and his forepaws flail at the incoming Raven, trying to bring it down.

Storm-Singer gives a sharp yelp as a paw finds purchase in a... well, rather delicate locale. ~Curse it!~

Just call him a black-light night-light. Scar lunges upwards to meet the divebombing raven head-on, massive dire wolf jaws a-gape with teeth ready to snap down.

Fat-Ripper throws herself up into Crinos form, as she runs, attempting to claw down the tiny and agile target as swings past it.

Heart-Taker shakes herself off with a whuff as she gets out of the dog pile, ready to return to Lady Chimera.

Three-Blades lets her howl echo off, glancing over at Storm-Singer and Rags as they struggle against each other. Padding over to Leonard's side, the Gnawer whuffs a laugh at the two's comedy. Looking back to the Wendigo she also comments, good nose-grab. I will have to learn that trick sometime.

The three Garou suddenly find themselves leaping in a triangulation at the Raven spirit. Fortunatly, Snake-Bait connects upon the spirit with a single paw, turning the bird up and away with the contact. Unfortunatly for the three Garou, they collide with each other. The three Garou spin in the air upon collision, throwing them about the clearing... you all swear you can hear a light, calm, and feminine laughter. The bird flys around the group once and starts to head back towards the pathway the group came in on.

Brings-Buffalo nods to Three-Blades, shoulder-checking he fondly. If the deer can't lift his head, he can't stand.. Someone should always go for the nose.

Snake-Bait yelps as he smacks into Scar and Fat-Ripper, then chuffs a few choice words as he's sent tumbling. Regaining his feet as fast as he can, the young no-moon scrambles after the fleeing spirit.

Three-Blades noses the Wendigo's side. I thought it was so it can't breathe, but I see now. Spirits do not breathe, so that would not make sense. Her ear ticks as she thinks she hears laughter.

Scar hits the ground with a roll and gets to his feet as quickly as possible, shaking himself with a snarl. He turns to glower at the two Bone Gnawers, golden eye blazing, then takes off after the stag-turned-bird.

Fat-Ripper smashes into the other two garou, flying up and crashing down on her feet just as they are slipping out from under her, landing on her back and losing sight of the damn thing. She scrambles up to her feet, scanning the sky for the bird, racing after it as soon a catches sight.

Brings-Buffalo looks in the direction of Three-Blades' ear ticks, his own swivelling in response. Think they need help?

The engling raven turns now into a rabbit, leaping away down the path as it reaches it. Those grumbling in persuit seem to get close enough to attack often, each time the rabbit puts on speed with large leaps, getting just out of range once more.

Snake-Bait snaps at the bunny every time it looks as though it's in reach, and every miss draws another irritated huff from the Gnawer. He pants as he speeds after the spirit, moving to the side in an attempt to keep the rabbit more to the middle of the trail.

Fat-Ripper throws herself after the spirit, chasing on all fours, slowly shifting back down to her Hispo form, cursing and growling as she goes. She doesn't bother with attacking the crafty thing, just catching it, passing it if she can.

Scar, after a few sessions of this, growls to himself. ~Fuck this with a stick.~ The Walker, keeping chase with the prey, lets out a howl that ought to carry to the others. If the three of them can't catch up to the damned thing, someone else can, perhaps, cut it off at the pass.

Storm-Singer springs up at the howl and sprints off in to intercept it.

Brings-Buffalo snorts derisively. Urrah. He bounds off in the direction of the howl.

Three-Blades blinks a couple of times in thought. She just about starts to reply when Scar's howl rises into the air. The Gnawer ragabash starts back down the way they came, made obvious by the holes in the wood by running hispo bodies and such. The no-moon is laughing inside, silently.

Stonehenge watches for Storm-Singer and pads back at the Shadow Lords side. There's a spring in the Cliath's step. He counters and takes chase as the elger Galliard goes to help. The younger wolf ready to take more prey.

The rabbit twiches in a spasmodic manner at the loud howl whose meaning is lost on it, redoubling its speed the rabbit starts to keep away from the group now.

Heart-Taker starts racing towards the howl, yipping at the others in the Left-Group to come on. Who knows what went wrong over there? Her nose hurts!

Stupid rabbit! Snake-Bait barks, finally drawing on Rage to help his efforts to catch the rapidly escaping spirit. Get back here! He darts forward, tongue trailing in the wind, teeth bared.

Fat-Ripper spits and barks, angrily after the thing, shaking her head from side to side and growling, and desperately wishing she could do this in a form in which she could curse properly. As it is the best she can do is a loud roar. She keeps trying to outstrip it.

Scar, having taken the time to howl to the others, had fallen back behind the two Bone Gnawers, but now he puts on a burst of speed in order to catch up with them. He's silent now, and grim.

Glowing and grim.

Brings-Buffalo uses his nose more than his eyes to tell him who's where and what's what as he lopes easily towards the persuers and their prey. He doesn't take a direct-on approach but rather circles wide, aiming to come at the hunt from the flank.

Rags shakes his coat and looks up sharply at the sound of the howl. What? These other Garou couldn't handle a stag? He jogs in the howl's direction to see how badly they are doing.

Soon enough, the chase seeming to take longer now going back then it did to reach that clearing in the first place (just one of the umbra's many mysteries), a group of five brightly glowing garou in various forms appear at the other end of the path, charging and howling with flapping tongues from razor filled jaws. The rabbit hits the breaks with a nearly human, high pitched shriek of surprise. Before even turning its head to look behind it, as if it forgot what was there, the rabbit leaps backwards... and right into Scar's mouth, which chomps down hungrily into the ephemera of the spirit actually consuming a piece of it, but also serving to split the spirit in half once more, each half dropping to the floor in the form of squirrels which are quickly snapped up by Snake-Bait and Fat-Ripper before they are able to run to safety.

The three Garou rabbit hunters now glow ever so brightly as the newly arrived Garou, of the three, Salem glows brightest.

Snake-Bait bites down on his squirrel and shakes it, tail wagging as the feeling of fullness washes over him. He gives the spirit a few chomps, just to be sure, and chuffs happily when he, too, starts to glow.

Three-Blades arrives just in time to see the end of the chase, and a black ear splays. The no-moon chuffs once with a 'good job' feel to her voice.

Scar pulls to a halt, shaking his head sharply from side to side, like a terrier snapping the back of a rat. He snorts, then shakes himself again, full-bodied this time. ~Tricksy.~

Fat-Ripper pulls herself up, backpedalling now that the thing is done, rearing up a bit. She stops, and stands there for a moment, the small piece of the spirit still wriggling in her mouth. She huffs angrily and bites down hard. A squirrel? She growls a little at nothing in particular. A squirrel? She rolls her shoulder, shakes her head, and paces about a bit.

Jamethon pages to Scar, Snake-Bait, and Fat-Ripper: You feel a voice within your head telling you, "Return to Lady Chimera with my essence, and let it pour forth and strengthen the holy bond."

Brings-Buffalo comes on up out of nowhere, chuffing, just in time to see the carnage. He looks at the victors expectantly, settling onto his haunches.

Scar stiffens, hackles bristling. He looks around sharply, then once again shakes himself and turns his eye toward the others, focussing on the Wyrmfoe. ~Well?~

Stonehenge sits and watches the others. He yips and howls. This was so fun!

If he's noticed all the glowing Garou, himself included, Salem makes no sign.

Brings-Buffalo narrows his eyes, ears back. You should thank the spirit for its gift, he chides.

The WyrmFoe looks over at Scar and chuffs once. Let us return to Lady Chimera. She turns and starts back towards the starting point at a brisk pace, her ears twitching a little bit as her glowing form streaks across the landscape.

Stonehenge follows along the older Garou.

Brings-Buffalo looks after the WyrmFoe incredulously.

Storm-Singer chuffs. ~I didn't hear you thanking the spirit you took town back there, Brings.~

Snake-Bait shakes himself off, then follows the Wyrmfoe without comment.

Storm-Singer follows as well.

Fat-Ripper shifts back down to Lupus form, panting a little hard. She lowers head a little and shakes it, closing her eyes and then setting off after the Wyrmfoe at a fair trot.

Perhaps we shall all thank the spirit when we get back to the starting point, the WyrmFoe rumbles quietly, at a unified spot in a unified voice, as it split into two.

Brings-Buffalo shakes his head in disappointment and disbelief. He bows his head silently for a moment, then heads after the rest of the group.

Scar glances at the Wendigo, consideringly, one ear twitching toward the Shadow Lord when he speaks. He grunts. Point. Before following the Wyrmfoe, the Walker's muzzle lifts in a short howl of thanks. And then he's off, following the others, shifting down to lupus as he goes.

Three-Blades licks the end of her muzzle and agrees. Glancing skywards a moment to look at Luna, the Gnawer makes her way back with the others to the caern and the ritemaster.

Heart-Taker waits until they got to the point where it split in two. Then she lifts her voice in a long howl of thanks to the spirit. She's not entirely sure anymore whether it was one or two or both, so right here seems to be a good spot to cover both possibilities.

The thanking of the spirit seems to go unnoticed, or at least unresponded to.

Brings-Buffalo burps. It sounds suspiciously like 'thank you.'

Fat-Ripper follows, eyes set ahead, and when she reaches the spot where the Wyrmfoe howls joins with her.

Storm-Singer gives an almost human look to Brings at the belch. ~Cretin.~ His tongue lolls.

Brings-Buffalo joins in again with the howl of thanks, cuz hey, better an overthanked spirit that just gaves its essense for you than an underthanked one. He's actually gotta LIVE off deer, no sense pissing their patron off.

Stonehenge lifts his howl, high and perfectly pitched into the voices of teh others.

Snake-Bait pauses when Heart-Taker howls, and lowers his nose to the earth. He looses a short howl a moment later, as though he's afraid he'll lose the spirit-essence inside of him if he keeps it up too long.

Brings-Buffalo looks innocently at Storm-Singer.

Scar howls as well, naturally. Since it's proper procedure and all.

Three-Blades splays an ear as the howls are unresponded to. Briefly siding up to the Wyrmfoe, the ragabash makes a comment. The spirit requested we return to the Mirror-Faced One and give its power to Her. Should we not go back to the caern and do this thanking? She glances around, adding, I don't wish to be a piece of bait for greedy spirits any longer than I need.

Rags slowly pads up to the other Garou, panting from the extertion of the travel, and looks about for surprises such as disemboweled Garou. Then he yelps into a howl of thanks for the hunt.

Storm-Singer acknowledges the wisdom of Three-Blades' words by trotting off in the direction of the Caern.

Heart-Taker chuffs out a breath. Her frustration is still there, and mounting. She lets out an abrupt come on bark and goes racing back towards Lady Chimera as fast as her legs will carry her.

Rags breaks off his howl as he notices the adrupt departure of some of the Garou, looks about for an attack, then jogs along in their wake.

Brings-Buffalo follows along, quite content.

Snake-Bait drops back to lupus and follows the Fury Wyrmfoe, ears flicking this way and that as they go.

Fat-Ripper exhales quickly, sharply, in very mild disapproval. Run, run, run, she barks quiety as she takes up her feet and sets off after the Wyrmfoe.

Stonehenge follows the other wolves, trying to keep up with the older garou.

Scar runs along with the others. Big pack. Big glowing pack.

Three-Blade's words of worry seem to have merit, greedy howls from various spirit animals now respond to the group as they go... it is easy to assume that the animals approaching are hungry, large in number, and not friendly. Soon enough though, the group finds themselves at the edge of the Caern. As each Garou steps one foot into the Caern proper, the glowing energys flow from their very pores, leaving each garou hungry. The energies swirl about the caern, and the three ritualists who brought the spirits for the hunt. They look much like lunes for a good while, with comet tails before they curve down towards the ground, absorbing into it with a slow fading of the light. This done, the caern looks vitalized, brighter... just as the garou were brighter.

Three-Blades blinks owlishly as the Wyrmfoe carries on back to the caern, and with a roll of her shoulders pads after at an easy, albeit quick lope. Now that they are making their return trip laden with spirit power, it would be just about this time that there could be a random ambush. Scouting instinct takes over and the ragabash remains watchful all the way back to the caern.

Now Snake-Bait howls, even as his temporarily full belly returns to the default state of 'empty'. Thank you! he calls to the spirit who sacrificed itself to the Revel.

Brings-Buffalo growls low as the full feeling leaves him, and his growl is answered by a dull one from his belly. His eyes gleam. I want real meat, not spirit flesh. Who wants to hunt?

As Rags's belly empties, Rags looks about for food and looks dissatisfied to find no gleaming refrigerators containing nutrients in cans. He gives an affirmative bark to Leonard. Bloody flesh!

Fat-Ripper runs along, casting wary eyes at the spirits clamouring along the path, and on finally reaching the caern's center, as the spirit's essence begins to flow from her body, though drained, she feels releaved. Yes, thanks, she grumbles lowly.

Stonehenge stops as the energy drains from him. he looks around. Well, crap.

Storm-Singer howls his own spirit essence into the night air. He looks over to Stonehenge wryly. ~Stop complaining, pup. You've had the honor of hunting with a Shadow Lord of exceedingly surpassing glory.~

Stonehenge chuffs and snorts. Really? Who?

Storm-Singer growls and nips at the new Cliath.

Brings-Buffalo snorts. He glances at Reggie, then at Three-Blades. What about you, scabgirl? You think you can remember how to bring down a real deer?

Scar, emptied and back to his nice, normal, non-glowstick self, stretches and then pushes up to two legs, reverting smoothly to his birth form. He's not planning to join any further hunts tonight, it seems. What a surprise.

Three-Blades closes her eyes as the energies leave. Meditatively the no-moon rumbles her own thanks to both the engling and to Chimera. Though tired from the run, she lifts her voice to sing out again and howl, long and flowing to the skies to even thank the moon and Gaia for tonight's Revel. Then, with eyes reopened she looks back at Brings-Buffalo, tongue lolling. If you want meat, you'll have to reach back first - and this time I'll get the nose. However, she remains waiting to see if the ritemasters are also ready to return to the Realm.

Stonehenge wolfy laughs at Storm-Singer. he turns to the Caern and chuffs a quiet, humble thanks.

Snake-Bait trots over to Fat-Ripper, tail flicking from side to side, and bumps against the other Gnawer. He chuffs happily to her, acting like a silly pup.

Brings-Buffalo trots on up to Luke, looking over his shoulder to see if he's done yet.

Jamethon stands from where he sat chanting during the entire ritual of the Engling hunt. He stretches, the full height of his glabro form impressive. ~Very good hunters... Chimera was pleased... and apparently entertained.~ He speaks the last word with some confusion apparent, but then shrugs it off quickly.

Fat-Ripper looks at Snake-Bait and cringes, in no mood for play; she shakes her head and turns back to him, but when she sees the silly look in his face, she can't help but respond in kind. He gets a gentle shove back.

Salem grunts, passing a hand back over his stubbled scalp. "So long as the Lady is happy."

Stonehenge watches everyone quietly, still buzing from his first Revel.

Snake-Bait chuffs contentedly and flops down next to his tribemate, panting. His ears flick back briefly at Jamethon's comment, then he echoes Salem's sentiment. We do what we can.

Three-Blades shakes out her fur and notes with a snort, it is good she is pleased, but on our return there were many hungry spirits. Glancing to Gatekeeper and Groundskeeper accordingly, the no-moon simply postures the fact to them. It worried her a little bit.

Brings-Buffalo barks sharply at Jamethon to get his attention. We go to hunt; Chimera has given me a taste for deer. You coming?

Heart-Taker joins her howls to the others. She nods solemnly to Jamethon, then shifts back into homid form. Slipping her hands in her pockets, the Black Fury watches everyone start grouping up to go Hunt and Three-Blades making her report. Then she steps out of the Umbra.

Luke stretches as well, and it seems the long process of the ritual has done good things for his temper. At the very least, the calm and control required to be part of the rite has removed the ragged edge from his rage. "The Caern is recharged, for the first time in months -- you have done the sept a great service today, all of you." To the Fury, specifically, "Well done."

Brings-Buffalo thinks we have done what we were born to do, no more, no less. He nudges Luke with his nose. Come hunt!

Heart-Taker pauses before she goes and gives a small, tense smile. "Thank you, Luke-rhya," she says quietly. /Then/ she bows and steps out.

Fat-Ripper flops down next to Snake-Bait. I got a squirrel, she tells him, thoroughly unimpressed with herself.

Jamethon looks to his Wendigo packmate and with a grin not too appealing in his current form nods. "Yes, Chimera has had her fill of us tonight anyways. And yes, there will be hungry spirits about the Caern for some time... but that will be remedied. We were too long without opening the inner sky. With that ritual returned to us, our Caern will be healthy once more."

Me too! The Ragabash says, his tail flailing at her. Want to go get something real to eat? Still good meat in the house!

Brings-Buffalo leaps around Luke now that James has been won over, worrying him much like he worried the spirit stag. Come on come on come ON I'm HUNGRY!

Luke shakes his head, declining the offer to join the hunt. "Any other night, I'd come in a heartbeat. After tonight, though...I need to stay here and clear my head."

Storm-Singer shifts to his homid form, black longcoat still immaculate. "Anyone need a ride into the city? My car is at the farmhouse."

Three-Blades whuffles, seeing the Wendigo dance about amusingly. With a toss of her head, the Gnawer darts in for a nip at the galliard's tail before making her way to the crossing over spot readying to make the pass back through the Gauntlet.

Brings-Buffalo snorts, headbutting his alpha. Nothing clears the head like a hunt and a belly full of venison. If it was meant to be, it will happen. If not, it wasn't, and who are you to gainsay Grandmother. Come now, Lone Wolf, you have a pack!

Stonehenge shifts as well. He looks at Jamethon. "I got some of it, it was tasty!"

Salem shakes his head slightly. "I have my own ride." He nods to Luke and then stalks toward the waterfall, steeling himself for the trip back across the Gauntlet.