"Umbra. I come?"

[hazlogs]

2/01/04

Center of the Caern

This area of the clearing is about 30 meters wide and is a mixture of dark soil
      and clay throughout. The ground is mostly mud, but patches of grass, 
      halted by winter's cold, are beginning to peek through the ground and 
      take root. Near the center of the clearing, a small cairn has been built 
      with white stone and quartz--what was left of the beautiful boulder that 
      was once there. None of the stones is bigger than a softball.

Around you, twenty yards in every direction, stretches the caern. To the
      southeast, a waterfall plummets over the edge of the chasm into a small 
      pool in the caern; nearby, to the southwest, steam comes from cracks in 
      the ground, perhaps some of the same water. Northwest, a rocky spar juts 
      out of the ground at a low angle, showing a sloping but smooth top. The 
      chasm walls narrow a bit to the northeast, causing some of the mist to 
      swirl in that area.

Alicia cants her head slightly over towards Dakota and lifts up a brow, then
      smirks slightly. Without comment, she nods once more to the Wendigo. 
      "Great. I can't wait then."

Dakota just grins at Josh and ruffles the fur between his ears as she stands
      up. "Wanna go get some coffee?" She offers to him?

Wolf-Heart just slinks over to the tupperware, looking longingly at it. He
      bends down, taking it in his jaws, turning to face the Gaian cub again. 
      He asks a quick, hopeful question: will you come with him? The 
      destination is unsaid, but it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure 
      it out.

A gaunt, dark-haired teenage girl descends slowly into the caern, barefoot and
      muddy. Gripped in Atcen's left hand is a forearm-length stick that 
      Joshua, at least, will recognize.

Jacinta smiles at the cub coming down into the caern, but does not pause in her
      upward trek. "See to your practice, Atcen."

Alicia glances slightly to Dakota and furrows her brows. "I thought you and I
      were going to the Umbra to learn." She says, giving her cub a poke in the 
      side. At the sight of Atcen, she straightens up, standing, peering at her.

Dakota tilts her head down at the wolf, brows furrowing a moment in thought.
      She looks between Josh and her elder, "Yeah." She murmurs, though further 
      answer to either one of them isn't given at that moment as her attentions 
      fall on Atcen.

Atcen hesitates, watching Jacinta head out with a frown; she chews her lower
      lip as she nods to the older Wendigo. Then she turns pale blue eyes onto 
      the others. At Alicia's stare, she tips her chin upwards, lip jutting out 
      as her frown deepens.

At 16, Dakota is a slender, petite girl of only about 5'4". Her's is a small
      frame, but her body is well fitted to it, tempered through years of 
      activities since she was just a toddler. Her skin is a uniform creamy 
      tan, save around her wrists and arms where a number of pale scars can be 
      seen. They're rather small, and seem like healed scratch marks from 
      something like fingernails, unlike the majority of other small white 
      nicks and scars from an active childhood. Dark auburn hair is long and 
      drapes down to the middle of her back, the texture a gentle wave that 
      curls a bit at the very tips. Dakota's eyes, large and round, are a dark 
      chocolate brown and remain free from cosmetics that would ruin their 
      natural shape and color. There is a shine of intelligence and a sharp 
      mind behind them, and they are constant looking, ever perceptive. Dakota 
      wears a variety of clothing depending on the circumstance, and jewelry 
      only when she needs to.

Here we have Alicia Jackson, a young woman who just turned 18, but has that
      hard look in her eyes which could easily be mistaken for older. Slender 
      in form, her body is composed of lean, compacted muscle. She looks quick, 
      with new budded muscle which has formed on her upperbody. Her eyes are a 
      dark brown, curious and wandering, lit up playfully most of the time. She 
      stands of average height, perhaps about 5'6 or so, carrying herself well 
      when she moves. Her flesh is lightly tanned, kissed by the sun from the 
      many years of running with the gangs on the street. Four ear rings adorn 
      her left ear, two more upon the right, composed of small, goldeny hoops. 
      The Galliard's hair falls down just past her shoulders. Once brown and 
      red streaked to those who's seen her before. Now, pale blonde with 
      slightly darkened roots. 

Her clothing consists of a pair of baggy, over sized camouflage pants. Black,
      green, and brown patterns splashed along the fabric. A tight fitting 
      sports bra hug her upper frame, revealing the curves of her upper body, 
      flat stomach and lean arms. She wears a golden hoop in her navel. Knee 
      high boots travel up her legs, firmly laced in each hole. Finishing off, 
      she has a worn, dusty old black trench coat which hangs just below her 
      knees. Her tongue ring is almost always seen, clicking in thought, or 
      when she speaks with that ghetto accent of hers.

Wolf-Heart pauses at the edge of the forest, tupperware still in his jaws. He
      looks to the Gaian hopefully, but he doesn't ask her again, fearfull of 
      pressing it.

Alicia gives Dakota another poke. "We're going to the Umbra, to learn, and to
      talk." She says, then clears her throat. "Atcen she says your name was? 
      Its nice to meet you." She takes a moment to study her, then says softly. 
      "You're the mule that was brought to us by White Bison, right? How're you 
      doing?"

Wolf-Heart deflates as the elder shoots down his hopes like a missile. His ears
      splay back as he slinks shamed into the woods, tupperware in his mouth 
      clenched tightly.

Dakota watches Josh leave wordlessly before looking back to Alicia, then to the
      metis, as she seems to be.

Bony fighters tighten on the stick she holds, and her eyes flick away from
      Alicia to mark Joshua's shamed retreat. For some reason, this makes her 
      smirk. Then, turning back to Alicia and the other girl, she says, "Atcen, 
      yes. I am Atcen."

"Hey Atcen. I introduced myself ta'ya the other day. Alicia, Child of Gaia..
      yadda. This is my cub and cousin, Dakota. Ya'll should get to know each 
      other sometime. We're 'bout ta' go into the Umbra an do some teaching." 
      The Fostern admits as she rolls her shoulders a bit, chuckling.

Dakota offers a soft smile and a nod to the Wendigo, but a part of her seems
      somewhat distracted, as though her thoughts were elsewhere.

Atcen's brow furrows. She looks over at Dakota as the other cub is indicated,
      then returns her gaze to Alicia. Her reply comes after a moment's 
      thought, and then slowly. "Umbra. I come?" She taps her leg with the 
      stick and, before Alicia can answer, adds solemnly, "Three moon. Then I 
      ~Rite of Passage~."

Alicia glances over towards Dakota, then back to the Wendigo. "Sure you can
      come." She says with a growing grin on her face. "Not a problem at all. 
      You are more then welcome. C'mon, we'll hop over here." She says, making 
      her way to the circle of white rocks.

Atcen bares yellowish teeth in a triumphant grin. She bends down to place her
      stick on the ground, carefully, then straightens up and trots after 
      Alicia.

Dakota follows after Alicia as she heads for the center, glancing aside to
      Atcen and smiling softly. Mention of the Umbra does seem to be pulling 
      her out of her stupor, and she asks of the metis, "So how long have you 
      been here in St. Claire, Atcen?"

Alicia reaches out and touches one of the stones, focusing for a moment, before
      feeling that famliar tug between worlds.

Atcen slants a sidelong, frowning look at Dakota. "Say-int Clay-err?" she
      echoes.

Dakota grins and motions to go sideways, "I'll explain there."

Umbra: Center of the Caern(#3844RJ)

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.

Atcen has little difficulty in following the Gaians across the Gauntlet; her
      connection to the spirit must be strong. The Metis cranes her neck, 
      looking around, and sniffs the air.

Alicia glances around the Umbra and lets out a deep breath, sighing happily.
      She wanders around as she stares, allowing the two cubs to talk amongst 
      each other.

Dakota takes the air of the Umbra deep into her lungs, breathing it out in a
      soft sigh. Seems a bit easier everytime, more and more like she's being 
      welcomed home. After a short time's silence and reflection, the cub looks 
      back to the other and explains her previous question. "St. Claire is the 
      city's name. I wanted to know... how long it's been since you came here, 
      to the city and sept?"

Atcen focusses on Dakota; the bony Wendigo has a way of _staring_, almost
      unblinkingly, that could easily strike a human-raised person as being a 
      little 'off'. "How... long. You ask, time?"

Alicia watches the spirits dance about in the air, flitting along the trees as
      she smiles warmly to herself. "Oh, to be able to fly again." She says 
      with a sigh of content, rubbing her neck, then turns around to watch the 
      cubs.

Dakota nods slowly, "Yeah. Time." She affirms, tucking her hands into her
      pockets.

Atcen shrugs, looking away from Dakota and toward Alicia. "Small time," is her
      brusque answer.

Alicia nods her head and smiles towards the two. "Just a few days now Dakota."
      She grins, then reaches around, trying to tag a spirit dancing by, 
      chuckling. "Alright Atcen. Do you know much about spirits?"

Dakota oohs softly and nods to Alicia. She turns her attentions to the spirits
      whizzing about, a smile playing across her face.

Atcen drops down into a crouch, squatting down with her elbows on her knees and
      looking like she's all limbs and joints, skin and bone. "Spir-its," she 
      pronounces carefully. "Two parts of Gaia. ~Realm~ and ~Umbra~. Hurt here, 
      there hurt too. Hurt there, here hurt too."

Alicia nods her head and smiles at Atcen. "She sure is hurting everywhere. But,
      we're sure ganna try an heal it." She says, glancing around the Umbra. 
      "You know how to fix it?"

The Wendigo's dark eyebrows furrow together as she mentally translates Alicia's
      words. "Fight," the metis cub answers.

Dakota rolls her shoulders and shifts herself down into the hispo form,
      trotting a small distance away from the pair to investigate, her nose 
      pressed to the ground.

Alicia smiles to Atcen and nods her head. "Yes, fighting is one way, but so is
      healing. You have to combine the two. Fight the Wyrm, heal the Mother." 
      She glances off after Dakota, then offers up a grin to the Wendigo cub 
      once more. "Is Jacinta going to be your mentor?"

From the other side of 'there', the homid form of a seventeen year old boy
      materialises. He eyeballs the unfamiliar form crouched on the ground, 
      before turning to Alicia and saying "Hey, you left without me. Uh... 
      what's going on?"

Atcen's frost-pale eyes shift over to fix on the arriving boy. She stares
      intently at him for a moment, frowning, then cocks her head to peer back 
      up at Alicia. "Men-tor?"

Faces-Rage pauses with a paw in mid-air, ears pricking up at the voice of her
      tribe mate and friend. Tail whisking side to side happily, she turns and 
      trots towards him, and the hispo-sized Gaian bumps him playfully in the 
      leg with her muzzle in greeting.

Alicia smiles to Atcen. "Yup. I'm their mentor. Thats my other cub, Karl." She
      says with a smile on her face, settling upon her rump, waving the boy 
      over. "C'mon over and meet Atcen. She is a Wendigo cub who has joined us 
      for the night."

Atcen scowls faintly, shoulders hunching. Her thin fingers dig at the umbral
      ground. She glowers again at Karl, staring at him.

Standing at 5'6" is the mid-teen named Karl. He has borrowed Raul's trademark
      of /brightly/ bleached blonde hair and tanned skin. Now that the cheap 
      imitation-Raul coat and the layer of grime are gone, it's much clearer to 
      distinguish the boy's own form and features (that suggest the bookish 
      'computer geek' type), even if artificially darker. Even Karl's oversized 
      blue jeans are gone, and are replaced by neat, clean, 'military green' 
      cargos, which are only /one/ size too big, but thanks to drawstrings, fit 
      snuggly at the hips. A bland brown tee can be seen if his black hooded 
      tracksuit jacket isn't zipped up. It keeps him warm, but its sleeves are 
      a little on the conservative side and don't quite cover his wrists as 
      they should. A pair of scuffed sneakers, a shade of white, have been 
      cleaned up pretty darn well and protect his feet.

"Ah. Hi, yeah I'm Karl. Theurge: spirit talker," he says, now scritching behind
      an ear of the big ol' puppy.

Faces-Rage continues to wag her tail, leaning her head into his scritching hand
      with a contented sigh. That feels good. Golden eyes squint in a pleased 
      expression.

Alicia smiles and nudges Atcen gently. "Karl here is a Theurge, just like
      Dakota is." Tilting her head, she offers up a grin. "So, Karl -- name 
      some of the spirits you can find in the Umbra."

Atcen's lower lip juts out sullenly; she looks from one Gaian to the next...
      and Alicia's nudge makes her stiffen and stand up. Her eyes shift from 
      one to the next, and she remains silent, narrow-eyed and awkward.

"Uhm. Okay. Well, you'll find a lot of Lunes dancing around," Karl says,
      mimicking their movement with a hand in the air, "Or up in the trees, 
      you'll find Glade Children who live there. And you'll find all kinds of 
      spirits who are related to the big bosses of spirits, the Incarna. 
      Like... unicorns for Children of Gaia, rats for the Bone Gnawers, and so 
      on."

Alicia nods her head, then glances sidelong to Dakota, asking her. "And, what
      else is out there?" She asks, eyes flitting around from spirit to spirit.

Atcen slips a step or two away from where she was sitting and squats down
      again, listening intently.

Faces-Rage turns her muzzle to face Alicia. All things. Things we do not know,
      places we may not go. Realms of all kinds. Battlefield. Paradise. Dreams. 
      There are places of the Weaver, or the Wyld, or Wyrm. You spoke of the 
      Homeland, where the ancestors live.

Alicia nods her head and offers up a grin, glancing between the two, then looks
      over towards Atcen. "So, how 'bout you?" She asks, smiling towards the 
      Metis cub. "Do you know why its so important for us to have good spirit 
      relations?"

Atcen's teeth worry at her lower lip. After a moment, she just shakes her head.

Alicia glances over to the other cubs, waiting to see if Karl or Dakota would
      like to tackle that question.

Faces-Rage tilts her head and chuffs quietly. The pact. To honor our bond with
      the spirit.

"And....?" Alicia asks, glancing over towards Karl.

"They are our Tribal Totems and our Pack Totems. They teach us Gifts - give us
      powers - so we can fight our enemies and heal Gaia," Karl says.

Alicia nods her head and offers up a proud smile for the two. "Yup, thats
      right. We gotta have good relations because without the spirits, we 
      wouldn't have our gifts, or, our fetishes. Also, because as Garou, we are 
      part spirit, part flesh. Gaia created us part spirit so that we can 
      travel between the worlds, and channel her power through us." She says, 
      glancing to Atcen, nodding.

Atcen continues to chew on her lip; she nods slowly when Alicia looks her way.

Faces-Rage shakes out her coat, following the flitting spirits with her eyes.
      She wonders what else they have to learn?

Karl turns to Alicia, the same question clearly on his mind.

Alicia smiles and shrugs her shoulders. "I think you two pretty much know what
      you need to know. Just gotta brush up with some of the Theurge's. I'll 
      see if I can get ahold of Olga or Aubrey, maybe Trevor to finish up with 
      the rest of it. I want you two to be able to name off spirits 
      alphabetically backwards." She teases, then glances over to Atcen.

Karl gives a 'What the hell? Is she serious?' look to Faces-Rage.

Faces-Rage squints up to her tribe mate and leans into his leg, careful not to
      topple him with her superior weight and strength. She is not. She assures 
      him, her tail wagging. She looks back to Alicia, eyes bright. She is 
      eager to Rite as soon as possible.

Atcen seems to have gotten distracted by a passing wind-spirit, a little chill
      breezling of winter that dipping in and out of the playful Lunes.

Alicia lets the Wendigo cub take in the sights for a bit while she glances back
      to the other two Children of Gaia. "Well. I may not be /too/ serious, but 
      I definitly need you guys to be on par. Study with each other if you 
      gotta." She suggests.