Quiet Time at the Caern

[hazlogs]

[12/15/97]

At the center, Casper descends into the caern slowly, walking with his hands 
  in his pockets and his head down.

Erik sits hunched near the vents, humming softly to himself.

At the center, Casper looks up as he distinguishes the humming sound and 
  notices Erik. He alters his course to head to the vents.
At the center, Casper heads southwest, into the hot steam.
Casper comes into the steam from the caern center.

Erik stops short as the young Gazer approaches and lifts his head. His knees 
  are pulled up to his chest, as usual.

Casper flicks a regretful frown as Erik stops his humming, as if he just 
  scared off a rabbit. He sighs and slows his approach, a shimmering figure 
  wading through the steam. He says quietly. "Good afternoon..."

It is currently 15:46 Pacific Time on Mon Dec 15 1997.
Currently on this gusty and chilly fall midafternoon in the general St. Claire 
  area, it is 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3.9 degrees Celsius). The wind is coming 
  from the west-southwest at 15.3 mph. The ground is snowy and it is snowing. 
  Skies are overcast with a definite chance of precipitation.

Erik shivers slightly and murmurs back, "Afternoon." His eyes remain lowered.

Casper stands among the steam and glances around, avoiding Erik's form for 
  now. "This is an odd place to rest, but I see you here often... well since 
  I've been back at least."

Erik's shoulders move in a vague shrug. "It's warm."

Casper goes to sit down on the hard ground, assuming a lotus position easily. 
  He shrugs off his backpack and stops, looking up at Erik, "You don't mind if 
  I sit here do you? It is nice and warm here..."

Dylan comes into the caern from the southwest.
Dylan pads in through the snow.

Erik shakes his head a bit, offering no resistance to Casper and keeping his 
  gaze averted.

By the waterfall, Deep-Fires comes down the trail from the rim above.

Casper sits down cross-legged near Erik, looking at his hands thoughtfully.

By the waterfall, Deep-Fires pads down the trail and pauses near the 
  waterfall, ears perked in wary alert, nose lifted to the breeze.

Casper looks up and sees Dylan, offering him a warm grin and nod. "Hello 
  there."

Dylan slows as he approaches Casper and Erik, coming to a halt several paces 
  away, as soon as the ground beneath his feet is wet and mild rather than 
  frozen. At Casper's greeting his eyes warm, and he smiles. "Hello. How are 
  you this white day?"

By the waterfall, Deep-Fires heads west, fading somewhat into the steam.
Deep-Fires comes through the steam from the east.
Deep-Fires has arrived.

Casper smiles to Dylan, and says simply, "Thoughtful."

Erik glances up and nods briefly to Dylan, his manner quiet and subdued.

Deep-Fires pads closer, testing carefully; when he seems satisfied, he 
  approaches closer still, the steam melting the snow from his fur. He offers 
  a calm whuff of greeting and pads close to Erik.

Erik seems to relax, finally, as Deep-Fires arrives. Smiling vaguely, he 
  reaches out and buries his hand in the Gaian's fur.

Dylan nods to Erik, taking note of the companionship, then nodding to Casper. 
  "May I ask what about?"

Deep-Fires leans against Erik's leg, looking up at him. Hi. You are warm?

Casper nods to Deep-Fires, also noting the gesture and then turns to face 
  Dylan. "My father actually..."

Erik's fingers dig into the pelt, scritching absently. "Reasonably warm," he 
  replies quietly.

Dylan closes the distance between himself and casper to a pace or two, and 
  settles into his accustomed crouch. "Yes?"

Deep-Fires leans into the scritching, closing his eyes. He seems exhausted, as 
  is usual in the last few days. His ears are perked, though, seemingly 
  listening to the conversation between the two Stargazers.

Casper nods to Dylan, brow furrowed, saying quietly and uncertainly, "I think 
  I will go visit him..."

Dylan's brows crook with mild surprise, and perhaps wistfulness. "Is that 
  something you have done before?"

Casper shakes his head slowly, looking more uncertain. "No. Not since I was 
  taken."

Dylan nods. "It can be hard, bridging the gap that makes. He is not garou?"

Erik continues to scritch Dusty in silence, his head lowering again.

Casper shakes his head. "He doesn't know where I've been... I should have 
  called him, but I was not sure it was the right thing to do."

Dylan nods sympathetically. "And now?"

Casper pauses and shakes his head. "And now it has been too long, almost a 
  year... he is not a well man and he wouldn't be able to deal with my 
  disappearance... I, I think I should see him face-to-face once more, just 
  once more before cutting ties with him."

Dylan tips his head to one side curiously. "Do you think you will be able to 
  make your absence more bearable for him with explanations?"

Casper shrugs and says in a small voice, "I really don't know. He should at 
  least know I'm alive and that I didn't run away because of something he did, 
  which is what he must be thinking, I'm sure."

Dylan nods, comprehending. "That makes sense to me."
Dylan adds gently, "You have a lot of faith in him."

Casper looks up to Dylan questioningly, "How do you mean?"

Dylan says slowly, "You trust that he cares enough about you that he would 
  rather know that you are well and that you care about him, even if you are 
  not coming back, than otherwise. There are people who would only grow more 
  angry, and would rather that their child was dead than choosing not to 
  return."

Casper frowns and sighs. "I hope things turn out right... I need to go 
  prepare. If you see Elan, could you tell him where I went? He doesn't 
  know..." he stands up.

Dylan nods.

Casper smiles and heads out.

Deep-Fires watches Casper leave, then whuffs at Dylan. Greetings.

Dylan dips his head to Deep-Fires. "Greetings. How are you?"

Deep-Fires tilts his head, pressing it firmly into Erik's leg. He shifts a bit 
  in place, flinching as a cold breeze sneaks in his fur. Well enough, this 
  one thinks. Cold. You?

Erik shudders and keeps his hand buried deeply in the Gaian's fur.

Dylan nods. "I am well. The cold keeps taking me by surprise." This last 
  statement is a little odd, perhaps, given his light apparel and lack of fur 
  or footwear.

Deep-Fires considers this, seeming puzzled as he sniffs at the Stargazer. You 
  are not cold?

Dylan considers this for a minute. "I am cold," he says finally. "But 
  sometimes it seems that if I do not let myself be cold, I do not do honor to 
  the winter. Also," and he smiles ruefully, "I forget to take precautions, 
  sometimes, because I did not use to need them."

Deep-Fires's tail twitches, uncertainly. This one understands, he thinks. It 
  is clear, though,. from his posture, that he does not.

Dylan dips his head, amused. "I used to be warm, always, because my body did 
  everything too fast. Now I move at a slower pace, and I am glad, but it does 
  mean that I feel the cold more clearly."

Deep-Fires seems baffled. This one will accept your word. Do you even have 
  winter fur?

Dylan nods. "I do."

Erik shivers again, violently. "I think I honor winter too much," he mutters.

Deep-Fires tilts his head again. Then why do you not wear it? He looks up at 
  Erik, and licks his hand experimentally.

Dylan flashes a quick smile at Erik. "Do you need warmer clothing?"

Erik's lips twitch into a vague, rueful smile as he pets Dusty. Glancing at 
  Dylan, he nods.

Dylan looks thoughtful. "I'll ask Sepdet," he says.

Erik ducks his head. murmuring his thanks.

Dylan smiles, and pushes himself upright again. "In fact, I think I know where 
  she is. Go well, both of you."

Deep-Fires whurfs quietly. And you.

Dylan turns and pads away, dropping down into lupus as he goes without missing 
  a step. He disappears, a black splotch on an increasingly white background.

Deep-Fires nudges Erik one more time, then straightens. I should continue 
  patrolling. Gaia go with you.

Erik nods. "Gaia... go with you."

Deep-Fires heads out of the caern toward the southwest.