DATE: Wednesday, January 14, 1998
Place: The Caern
By the waterfall, Nightflash gazes into the pool at the base of the waterfall,
and suddenly he vanishes.
By the waterfall, Jose Figueroa comes down the trail from the rim above.
Pete Barlow smiles as he makes his way into the center, taking up a spot at
the edges of the natural clearing near to the waterfall. He squats down
there, not looking altogether uncomfortable.
By the waterfall, Derrick continues to perch above the waterfall, watching
comings and goings intently.
By the steam vents, Bailey heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Casper appears in a glimmer of red light.
By the waterfall, Nightflash appears in a glimmer of red light.
Clouded Sky tilts her head to the side and looks sideways toward the sky.
Perhaps the snow will come again. She turns her nose back toward her tail
and scratches at her chin with a hind leg.
In the windiest area, Jimmy Wilson pulls a piece of paper from one of his many
pockets and unfolds it, studying it carefully. His lips move as he quietly
reads to himself.
By the waterfall, Jose Figueroa follows the path down, a small metallic
briefcase in hand.
By the waterfall, Elan blurs up into his human form, and waves Jose down.
"Come on, dude."
By the waterfall, Casper steps out of nowhere, coming to ground by the edge of
the waterfall. He sheds a somber look and waves to his Gnawer friends.
In the windiest area, Wolf-Dancer just sits silently, her head down, shoulders
slumped. 'Dancer's posture is one of total defeat, although there does seem
to be a little 'something' there, buried deep inside.
By the waterfall, Jose Figueroa greets Casper with a pat on the back and holds
up the briefcase for him to see.
By the waterfall, Morgan heads into the valley of the caern and glances over
the gathering. She grins at Pete, and moves into the center to stand near
him. "Evenin' Pete," she says, stuffing her hands into her coat pockets.
By the steam vents, Seirian comes into the caern from the southwest.
By the waterfall, Morgan heads into the center.
In the windiest area, Lightseeker curls up near the Fianna, tail over her
nose, and waits.
By the waterfall, Casper smiles to Jose crookedly, "Is that what I think it
is?"
JJ Malone hesitates in his trek as he passes the rock centerpiece, wind
teasing the ends of his short dark hair. "Alpha," he says respectfully, the
archaic word sounding foreign, "I'd like to introduce you to Bailey
Jacobsen, the newest of my family at this Sept. Bailey, this is the Boss,
Brian Flannery of the Fianna."
By the waterfall, "Si. Didn' wanna break it." Jose grins one of his toothless
grins and pats the briefcase lightly.
From the rock outcropping, Shea makes her way down the trail from the northern
wall of the valley.
"Hey sister," says Barlow to the Fury as she comes over, offering her a couple
strands of red licorice. "Davy comin'?"
Bailey moves before the Fianna, and bows slightly. "Ryha. Bailey Jacobsen,
Night's-Justice. Cliath Glasswalker Gibbous Moon. It is an honor."
By the steam vents, Seirian glances around as she walks in, a quiet look on
her face.
Morgan takes the confections and shrugs a bit. "I think he said he would be
here."
From the rock outcropping, Shea pats Megan on the shoulder as she passes, and
fires off a wink, as she turns to walk backward for a step or two, before
heading for the caern's center.
From the rock outcropping, Shea heads into the center.
From the rock outcropping, Megan glances back at the one approaching behind
her, and gives Shea a quick, easy grin of greeting.
By the waterfall, Jose Figueroa pats Casper on the back once more and gives
Elan a friendly nudge with his fist, then makes his way toward the Center
and Pete.
By the waterfall, Jose Figueroa heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Elan grins at Jose. "You guys ready to talk about what you
fought?"
Steven rubs his hands together and smiles at Shea for a moment. He glances at
Bailey for a moment before he puts his hands back in his coat.
By the waterfall, Sarah comes down the trail from the rim above.
Brian clears his throat slightly as he proffers a hand to Bailey.
"O'Flannery," he says. "Nice to meet you." When Bailey bows rather than
simply shaking hands, Brian seems to stifle an impulse to slap him --
probably the full moon at work, there.
By the waterfall, Casper nods to Elan, and says lowly, "If need be..."
Jose Figueroa looks over his shoulder at Elan and nods, then continues up to
Uncle Chugs.
Bailey extends a hand. "Good to meet you, too."
By the steam vents, Seirian tucks her hands into her pockets and turns her
course towards the rock outcropping nearby.
By the steam vents, Seirian continues around the Wheel to the north.
From the rock outcropping, Seirian comes around the Wheel from the south.
Morgan nods at Jose. "Hey, man," she greets him, easily.
Iceheart gives a brief ruff-toss at Bailey's mistake, then comes to her feet
as she ctches scent of her packmate.
Brian shakes, then retrieves his hand. "Have a seat," he suggests tersely to
Bailey, then folds his arms across his chest as if bracing against the
chill in the air.
By the steam vents, Dillan comes into the caern from the southwest.
By the waterfall, Sarah picks her way down the trail, stopping halfway to
squint at the growing gathering. She shakes her head faintly, and continues
on.
Erik sighs quietly, moving backwards until he's almost toward the edge of the
caern. The overtall Metis seems vaguely ill-at-ease in such a large
gathering.
Bailey nods, and moves around the Center, mingling. "Jose, you made it."
By the waterfall, Derrick remains perched above the waterfall, staying far
from the maddening crowd.
Jose Figueroa smiles at Morgan. "How you doin'?"
By the steam vents, Dillan heads into the center.
Pete Barlow gives a nod to Jose and an offer of licorice. "That it?" he asks,
looking at the case.
By the waterfall, Eligio Sacateca comes down the trail from the rim above.
JJ Malone gives Bailey a glance, but then continues on to his usual place,
heading for the foggier, northeastern end of the valley.
You head northwest, into the wind and swirling spray.
In the Swirling Wind
Contents:
Wolf-Dancer
Lightseeker
Jimmy Wilson
At the center, Dillan weaves his way to the center of the caern, moving
quietly. Hands buried in pockets, the theurge comes to rest beside the
closest thing to a packmate: JJ. "What up?" he asks, quietly. "How goes the
freeky-style?"
From the rock outcropping, Seirian catches sight of her packmate from her
position and smiles faintly, seeming preoccupied.
At the center, "Little cold. Par, I suppose," the Fury theurge returns to
Jose. "You know more about this leech business that Pete was talking
about?" she asks by way of a follow up. She cups her hands and blows into
them.
JJ Malone gives Dillan a quick grin on her way. "Not too badly, kid. How's
things hangin'."
At the center, One corner of Shea's mouth twitches upward, perhaps a smile
threatening, as she sidles up to Steven, and bumps his shoulder with her
own. She tucks her arms across her chest, in imitation, but not mockery, of
Brian.
By the waterfall, Eligio Sacateca pauses only a moment by the waterfall,
passing one hand through the cold mist, before joining the others at the
centre.
By the waterfall, Eligio Sacateca heads into the center.
Jimmy Wilson paces back and forth in the snow, reading to himself from the
crumpled paper held in his hand. His other hand makes broad gesturing
movements, making him look the part of a young actor practicing Shakespeare
moments before a debut. He stops and scratches his head, staring at
something on the paper.
At the center, Dillan heads northwest, towards the rocky slab.
From the rock outcropping, Dillan comes towards the slab from the caern center.
At the center, Steven grins back at Shea, his mood improved from last night
some. "Nice," he appraises.
At the center, Jose Figueroa nods at Bailey as he passes, then nods to Pete,
taking a licorice. "I know a bit about it. I know there's one out there I
ain' done with."
Laughs comes down the valley from the northeast.
At the center, Bailey looks around, noticing many familiar faces, and more
unfamiliar ones. He notices the Gnawers by the waterfall, and walks towards
it
At the center, Bailey heads southeast, towards the waterfall.
By the waterfall, Bailey approaches the waterfall from the center of the caern.
From the rock outcropping, Dillan advances around the Wheel towards the windy
area.
Dillan comes around the Wheel from the west.
By the waterfall, Collin appears in a glimmer of violet light.
Laughs trots quickly into the caern from the valley to the east, stops, and
lifts her head, clearly looking for someone.
At the center, Morgan nods slowly. "We should talk about it," she replies. "If
you get a chance after the moot's finished."
By the waterfall, Sepdet appears in a glimmer of orange light.
By the waterfall, Windsoul comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, Elan is sitting calmly by the waterfall. He grins as he sees
Bailey, then the arrival of Sepdet and Collin. "Hey, you guys..."
At the center, Pete Barlow gives a nod to Morgan and Jose. "Ought to ask
FiannaBoy if he's got any shit on what's up with the Leeches these days,
too."
By the waterfall, Derrick's perched above the waterfall, and grins to the
newcomesr.
By the waterfall, Bailey brightens as the Strider Cub arrives. "Col! You made
it! Cool."
Small_Wolf comes down the valley from the northeast.
By the waterfall, Elan nods also to Pete. "Got some words 'bout that, tonight.
You?"
From the rock outcropping, Seirian, after standing for a bit, turns and heads
back the way she came, headed for the gathering by the waterfall
From the rock outcropping, Seirian makes her way back around the Wheel,
towards the vents to the south.
By the steam vents, Seirian circles the Wheel, coming in from the north.
By the waterfall, Windsoul moves along the trail quickly, his tail held behind
him at a medium position as he jogs. He comes within the vicinity of the
others before nodding various greetings and moving in Collin's and the
other Strider's directions.
By the waterfall, Shows-the-Way appears in a glimmer of yellow light.
JJ Malone watches Bailey latch on to the Gnawers, and snorts derisively,
shaking his head as he moves to lean up against a rock wall, looking
towards Dillan.
Dillan shuffles off after JJ, leaving the crowd behind at the center.
"Namuch," he says in answer. "Same old, y'know?" He turns, pausing to greet
Jimmy. "Hey-o, gee."
By the steam vents, Seirian heads back around the Wheel towards the waterfall
to the east.
By the waterfall, Seirian comes out from the warm steam to the west.
At the center, Jose Figueroa nods an affirmative to Morgan. "I'll be watchin'
for you."
By the waterfall, Collin pops out of the Umbra, stumbling a little bit. He
shakes his head a bit, "Man. That is so cool." he chukcles, then waves at
Elan, Windsoul and then Bailey, 'Yo, folks!"
At the center, Eligio Sacateca steps close to Soulcatcher and whispers
something to the Wendigo.
By the waterfall, Sarah heads into the center.
At the center, "If I get a chance, Pete," Morgan says, glancing toward Brian
standing near his packmates.
By the waterfall, Casper wanders over to sit by Elan, cross-legged. He watches
the milling forms with a curious and detached look.
Jimmy Wilson stops reading his piece of paper long enough to greet Dillan.
"Word."
By the waterfall, Bailey grins at Collin, as he heads over to Seirian.
By the waterfall, Sepdet steps out of the water at Collin's back, posture
easing from a watchful stance as she brings him back out into the open air.
She blinks once at the sudden barrage of voices and faces, as if struck,
but quickly recovers and nods to people.
By the waterfall, Bailey says "Seirian. How are you?""
At the center, Brian reaches over with one hand and musses Shea's hair; he
manages this bit of levity without breaking the near-scowl that rides his
features. He sucks in breath at Pete's words, and pushes away from the
crystal formation to turn towards the Fostern Gnawer. "I've asked you not
to call me that once before," he says firmly. "I'm asking again now. Please
don't make me ask a third time."
Esther comes down the valley from the northeast.
At the center, Erik's attention shifts toward Brian and Pete, his posture
tensing.
JJ Malone gives Jimmy a nod when he notices him as well, then says back to the
Shadow Lord, "That's good."
By the waterfall, Shows-the-Way looks towards the center. Alpha and Pete, at
odds. Tell me this is surprising.
By the waterfall, Soulcatcher leans into his packmate in a brief gesture of
greeting.
By the waterfall, Seirian glances up from watching her feet at the sound of
Bailey's voice, the calm look still on her face. "Been better, but I'll
b'fine."
By the waterfall, Bailey nods with a quiet smile. "That's cool, but if you
need someone to talk to, you know where to find me."
By the waterfall, Windsoul sits to his haunches, watching the others in
silence as he looks for familiar faces.
Jimmy Wilson gives a little grin toward the Gnawer Uncle, obviously impressed
by something. "Petey's goin' raggie in his old age," he says quietly to
Dillan.
By the waterfall, Seirian nods, but doesn't break expression. "I'll keep it
t'mind."
At the center, Jose Figueroa watches the Gnawer elder and the Alpha out of the
corner of his eye with playful amusement. To Morgan, "I'm interested in
hearin' what the relationship is with the bloodsuckers aroun' here."
Wolf-Dancer nudges Lightseeker softly. This one notices another's absence.
By the waterfall, Collin asks Sepdet, "So when does it start exactly?" he
grins.
Lightseeker stares at the Fianna balefully. Worry about yourself, not him.
At the center, Iceheart tenses, catching scent of the Litany-Breaker, but
stays calm.
By the waterfall, Sepdet stiffens as she sorts out the topic of conversation
towards the center, brow wrinkling into a ghost of a snarl. She shakes her
head quickly as if tossing something away, and murmurs to Collin subduedly,
"Shortly."
By the waterfall, Bailey nods again, a concerned look across his face. He
turns, shaking the waterfall spritz off, and sits by Casper and Elan,
giving the former a friendly nudge as he sits beside him.
Dillan smirks at Jimmy, obviously not as impressed. "Yeah, well, even *I*
ain't never been that stupid. I ain't playin' that way. Thought you raggies
were a little more swift'n that, nah? Gotta be smooth."
By the waterfall, Seirian trails after Bailey, dropping down to crouch by the
others and watch the goings on.
Wolf-Dancer places her head back on her paws. This one worries, still.
By the waterfall, Casper blinks and looks up to Bailey with a grin. "Welcome
to the caern."
Laughs heads towards the waterfall.
By the waterfall, Laughs comes along the Wheel from the north.
Lightseeker says, shortly, Don't.
At the center, Morgan nods again, with a small smirk. "Me too," she tells
Jose. "Me too." She glances back at Pete, and then toward Brian. She shrugs.
By the waterfall, Bailey shrugs. "That I broke the block? Yeah. I told her
Scott went Dreamwalking. She never asked whose idea it was, though. JJ's
happy about it, but didn't seem that concerned with the details."
By the waterfall, Windsoul turns his attention towards Collin and Sepdet, his
tail brushing against the ground. He greets them both personally, bowing
his head low in regards to Sepdet.
Jimmy Wilson chuckles at Dillan. "Pete ain't smooth. He don't play well with
others, ya know? Anyhow, he's just playin' raggie, I think, with full-moon
balls ta back him up. Who needs smooth when yer the shit?"
By the waterfall, Collin scratches his head, then glances up at Sepdet. He
seems content to stick near her at the moment, then says to Bailey, "Now
the enire group will have to suffer through my presence.'
Wolf-Dancer looks at Lightseeker out of the corner of her eyes.
Esther stands queitly, just at the edge of the valley, away from the crowd.
By the waterfall, Elan shrugs to Collin, but chuckles also. "You're Stud-Boy.
You worried?"
Dillan shrugs, turning away from Jimmy, answerless. HE leans towards JJ,
mumbling something.
At the center, Clouded Sky howls long and loud.
From Center of the Caern, Clouded Sky can be heard to howl, ~To the Hidden
Walk, now, we gather. To bring our strength together in one place for
Gaia's worth - We Moot!~
At the center, Jose Figueroa looks around the Caern, gnawing thoughtfully at
the licorice and taking in the various groups.
By the waterfall, Sepdet gives Windsoul a dubious but warm covered-teeth
smile, then turns and shoots Elan an even more dubious one at his epithet
for her cub. She holds her peace however and nudges Collin to pay attention
to the center.
Jimmy Wilson turns his attention back to his crumpled paper for a moment, then
stops as the Howl is sounded.
JJ Malone smirks. "From the mouths of babes," he says with ironic meaning
before leaning in to listen to Dillan's mutter. He laughs fully, still
grinning wryly as he settles down for the beginning of the Moot.
At the center, Iceheart lifts up her muzzle, ears and tail expressing pride,
then settles down for the Moot.
By the waterfall, Collin grins at Elan, "Who, me? Worry?" he winks. He oofs,
then peers to look to the CEntre as soon as he's nudged.
From the rock outcropping, Whitewings makes her way down the trail from the
northern wall of the valley.
By the waterfall, Seirian rolls back from her crouch to sit cross-legged on
the ground beside Bailey.
At the center, Erik stiffens at the howl, for the moment standing up straight
in response to the primal call.
By the waterfall, Bailey looks over to Casper, smiling, and turns towards the
center.
Wolf-Dancer's ears prick up at the howl, and turns her attentions to the Garou
around her.
From the rock outcropping, Whitewings heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Shows-the-Way's ears prick up, and he turns his attention to
the Caller at the center.
At the center, Whitewings arrives, Stormcloud not long behind her. The two sit
quietly as the crowds begin to gather.
By the waterfall, John comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, John heads into the center.
At the center, Whitewings chuffs a greeting to her packmate.
At the center, With Clouded Sky's howl, Brian ceases to wait for a reply from
Pete. He turns his attention to other things -- like the Fianna Galliard
who stands close to Lightseeker. If looks could kill, Wolf-Dancer would be
dead, stuffed, and mounted.
By the waterfall, Soulcatcher noses Sepdet again and then follows after John
to the center.
By the waterfall, Soulcatcher heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Windsoul arches his head in all directions trying to take
all the new, and the old, scents, faces, and muzzles in. He flicks his ears
about, listening to the conversations.
By the steam vents, Quiet heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Nightflash heads into the center.
At the center, Deep-Fires heads southwest, into the hot steam.
By the steam vents, Deep-Fires comes into the steam from the caern center.
At the center, Whitewings rises and pads towards Soulcatcher. She touches her
nose to his shoulder, silently.
At the center, Steven spares an angry glance for Wolf-Dancer too, before he
turns towards the Caller.
Small_Wolf heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Laughs's head raises as the Howl goes out, eyes flaring
inner fire in response to the call.
At the center, Erik glances at the Righ, and then follows his gaze toward
Wolf-Dancer. He stares at her with a kind of morbid fascination.
At the center, John makes his way down into the caern quietly, smiling at his
packmate and settling down next to her. He nods silently at the others in
greeting, listing to the goings on.
At the center, Pete Barlow gives a vague nod to the alpha just before the howl
rises, a nod that slightly hints at fawning...
At the center, Soulcatcher's ears prick as he returns Whitewings' greeting
with a bump of his own, his tail wagging faintly.
Wolf-Dancer seems unmoved by the glances and stares cast her way, but this may
just be strength of will.
By the waterfall, Scott comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, Shows-the-Way heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Casper casts a troubled and questioning look Wolf-Dancer's
way and leans over to say something to Elan.
At the center, Morgan offers a short smile and a nod for Joseph.
At the center, Whitewings licks Soulcatcher's fur affectionately before moving
back towards where John is. She settles down next to her two packmates,
still as quiet as before.
By the waterfall, Bailey looks over to Seirian, and smiles. "It'll be okay."
By the waterfall, Bailey turns back to Casper, and whispers.
By the waterfall, Seirian just watches, nodding faintly at Bailey's
reassurance.
JJ Malone gives the lupus near him a quizzical look for all the looks she's
getting, but then turns back with a hint of dismissal.
At the center, Quiet's body language shows a distancing as she ends up not far
from the small clump of Whispers packmembers. Davy, on the other hand,
glowers at everyone with his hands shoved in his pockets.
At the center, Morgan waves Davy over near by the rest of Edge. She claps him
on the back for a moment, and murmurs something in his ear.
At the center, Not long after the howl, Soren makes his way into the center
from the south, moving quietly to stand beside Quiet.
At the center, Clouded Sky waits several moments more, after the echo of her
howl has died away, for the straglers to find their places and packs.
Raising her voice once more to the sky and oh so carefully avoiding looking
toward Wolf-Dancer she calls, ~Garou must not mate with Garou!~
At the center, Nightflash stands more or less alone, regardless of who happens
to be near him. He remains quiet, watching how things are done here.
By the waterfall, Scott slips into the Caern without much ado, but touchs
Seirian on the shoulder as he passes her, indicating for her to join her
and their packmate in the center.
By the waterfall, Collin tilts his head, then listens, trying to figure out
what's being said. He glances over at Bailey, then Elan, but turns his
attention back to the Center with a rather excited look on his face.
By the waterfall, Bailey nods, and turns from his friends, noticing Scott. he
gives a quick wave, then rapts his attention to the Caern center.
By the waterfall, Scott heads into the center.
At the center, John pats his packmates affectionately, though those closest to
him might get a sense of nervousness from him. He closes his eyes,
listening to the Litany as it is called.
By the waterfall, Casper nods to Elan sadly.
At the center, Whitewings leans against John as the sounds of the moot start
up around her.
By the waterfall, Seirian rises and moves after Scott at the prompting.
By the waterfall, Seirian heads into the center.
Jimmy Wilson reviews his paper momentarily then shoves it back into a pocket.
"Yeah? Why the hell not?" He's careful not to look anywhere in the vicinity
of Wolf-Dancer. "Ya know th'only reason the Fangs wrote that Law was 'cause
they wanna make sure they get all the good tail, ya know? Just 'nother
example a' The Man puttin' his foot on our necks. Metis is just 'nother one
a' Gaia's creatures, ya know? Hell, I seen some a' them that was better
people than some "well bred" types, ya know?"
From the rock outcropping, Megan has no such compunction, and looks down from
the outcropping to the cowering wolf to her left with an expression of
contempt.
By the waterfall, Windsoul stands, and begins to follow the scent of his
packmate.
By the steam vents, Dusty stands by the steam vents, near the edge of the
canyon, his back to the proceedings and his attention focused outwards onto
the Bawn. The lines of his back betray a certain uneasy tension.
By the waterfall, Windsoul heads into the center.
At the center, Lawrence stumbles down the path into the caern a few moments
after Quiet, darting through the crowd to stay close to her. He seems
totally unnerved by all of the Garou present, probably having never seen so
many in one place at the same time before.
At the center, Erik unwraps the scarf from his twisted, malformed, skeletal
face and removes his hat, saying nothing, but simply letting his appearance
be the answer to the Fool.
JJ Malone snorts.
By the waterfall, Laughs stands shadowed by the valley sides, almost out of
sight. She says nothing, and makes no movement.
Lightseeker snorts. ~Another one of Gaia's /deformed/ creatures. Thank you,
no.~
At the center, Shows-the-Way flows back to homid form, and calls to the Fool,
"We mate with each other, we mate not with our Kin. The fewer we would grow
until none fight the War and we all lose. Metis, cursed, can carry no
young, bear no more of Gaia's warriors."
By the waterfall, Bailey raises an eyebrow at Jimmy's retort, but then
remembers something, and relaxes.
At the center, Scott replies to the Fool as he settles down next to Iceheart,
offering the lupus fang a warm ruffling of fur,"Simply put, Metis cannot
produce children. What good is a war without anyone to fight it? Would you
have us breed ourselves out of existance and win the Enemy's battle for
him? Every Garou that mates with another is one that will not with our kin."
Dillan jerks a thumb at JJ. "What she sai- uh, he... whatever." He gives up.
At the center, Morgan's lip curls, slightly, answering Davy, as she looks at
Wolf-Dancer. Her voice rises to answer the fool, "Gaia never meant for the
Garou to mate with one another or She would have made them differently.
Metis make a mockery of Her love."
By the waterfall, Sepdet begins to translate the Litany in clipped, sober
tones with a low whisper into Collin's ear, reminding him of his lessons.
At the center, Iceheart settles near her newly arrived packmate, and then
stiffens at the Fool's words. She chuffs angrily. It is not the First Law
for nothing. It is a dead end. In more ways than one.
At the center, Windsoul looks around in rapture, taking in the surroundings
with a smile and a nod to any who notice him.
At the center, Soulcatcher's gaze also finds its way to Wolf-Dancer, his stare
oddly cold tonight.
At the center, Brian's answer to the Fool is merely a hardening of his glare
towards Wolf-Dancer.
At the center, Quiet herds Lawrence between Soren and herself, so the pair of
theurge packmates flank the cub protectively. She therefore doesn't answer
the fool, though she takes the time to nudge Soren as she gets arranged.
Davy, on the other hand, scowls even further and says simply, bitingly,
"The law is the law."
At the center, Seirian settles down on the other side of Iceheart, listening
to the proceedings.
Jimmy Wilson snorts at the responses to his answer, then looks around. "Well,
whatever, studmuffins. I think some a' the Metis 'round here got better
chances a' gettin' laid then you. Next!"
At the center, Shea directs, at Wolf-Dancer, "Garou have a battle to fight.
We've got better things to do, we *ought* to, than shagging our brothers
and sisters."
By the waterfall, Collin tilts his head in the other way, then, to listen to
Sepdet, nodding to her with this grin on his face still.
At the center, Erik gazes at no one, meets no other's gaze, hat and scarf
gripped in his single hand. He shifts his weight a bit, waiting for the
next law.
At the center, Pete Barlow gives a shake of his head. "Never could figure out
why you'd wanna fuck somethin' that's got them big ass talons and knows how
to use 'em."
At the center, Jose Figueroa looks in the direction of Wolf-Dancer, a sad look
that is unfamiliar on the Ahroun. Anger has been there and laughter, but
not so far pity.
Wolf-Dancer looks at all those mocking her. She stifles a small growl, but
does not rise to the insults.
At the center, Whitewings's calm gaze picks out Wolf-Dancer as the Litany is
started. There is neither judgement nor forgiveness in her gaze, just the
neutrality of a wolf.
At the center, Clouded Sky pulls her ears back then forward and as her tail
lifts and curls over her backher lips pull away from her teeth showing her
true anger toward the plague of Gaia. Her howl cuts through the air once
again. ~Combat the Wyrm wherever it dwells and wherever it breeds!~
Jimmy Wilson grins that crooked grin of his. "Well, if yer sure you can win,
then go for it. If fighting th'Wyrm means yer ass is gonna get fragged, ya
should think again, an' maybe even ask for some help. Hell, look around
here. Who are the badasses? Do ya think any of these cubs is gonna kick my
ass? Hell no. The Old Timers, the ones that _survived_, they're the ones
everyone respects, and they damn well better. I bet every single one a' the
Elder types here ran their ass from a fight with Wyrmthings at one time or
other, since it was the smart thing ta do, not gettin' their ass killed.
'Nuff said."
At the center, Windsoul heads southwest, into the hot steam.
By the steam vents, Windsoul comes into the steam from the caern center.
By the steam vents, Windsoul heads back around the Wheel towards the waterfall
to the east.
By the waterfall, Windsoul comes out from the warm steam to the west.
At the center, Paul's reply: "Choose the fight carefully, pick the weapons
well, always seek to win not just the battle, but the War. But never let
the enemy grow stronger by turning your back on it."
At the center, Steven says "A fool rushes into battles he cannot win; that's a
lesson I've learned. There is more to war than simply fighting."
By the waterfall, Elan's leather half-gloves creak as he makes fists. "The
Wyrm must die. No quarter."
At the center, Seirian pipes up, "Ignore the garter snake at your feet, and
soon you'll have a viper at your heels."
At the center, Iceheart flicks her tail in pride. The Fight is our reason for
existance. Nothing more, nothing less.
Lightseeker snorts. ~Getting help doesn't mean you're not fighting.~
At the center, Scott replies in tone and cant as if quoting something,"For the
hero there is no death. For the coward, no life."
Red-Belly says "Actually, the whole combat the Wyrm thing is a little silly,
when you can just find a cliff and drop a really big rock on the Wyrm
instead. Twice the fun, twice the gore, and no nasty scars to mar my
beauty."
By the waterfall, Sepdet growls softly, ~Bandy not the means. We fight. We die
fighting. Do you forget those heroes buried here because their stones are
not visible? That is our path and purpose.~
Jimmy Wilson looks at Scott and chuckles. "Every turkey dies, but not every
turkey truly lives?"
At the center, Erik replaces the thick woolly winter hat, shivering.
At the center, Jose Figueroa speaks loudly. "Nunca lesionar el rey!"
By the waterfall, Kyle comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, Kyle heads into the center.
At the center, Scott smiles faintly at Jimmy as he speaks, but doesn't add
anything.
At the center, Kyle makes his way into the caern, offering few greetings as he
does so.
At the center, Morgan's attention whips her head around. She peers at
Red-Belly, frowning. Her face reads like: Who the hell is that?
Jimmy Wilson looks back to Clouded Sky, waiting for the next one. He seems to
be enjoying this.
Windsoul moves towards Esther, trotting. He smiles as he nears his alpha.
Hello, Esther- Rhya!
At the center, ~I've retreated from a fight, more than once,~ Brian calls back
to the Fool. ~Only a Fool can't tell the difference between wisdom and
cowardice.~
Red-Belly gives Morgan a nasty grin, his long, Metis-born tongue twisting like
he think's he's Alice Cooper.
At the center, Clouded Sky shakes out her ruff, passing a glance over the
homids nearby before calling out the next law. ~Respect the territory of
another!~
Esther makes a slight sound in reply, no actual word, and waves for her
packmate to sit next to her, and help her keep an eye on things. Too many
things for just one to deal with.
Jimmy Wilson snorts. "Respect's earned, territory's taken. If I 'spect someone
who claimed some territory, I'll give 'em props for their digs. Don't need
no damn Litany for that."
Jimmy Wilson adds: "But I ain't doin' it just 'cause it's in the Book."
Red-Belly says "I got a better law: Don't Get Caught. What you can't see can't
hurt you."
Windsoul sits next to Esther as he's shown. He leans towards her, motioning. I
read some of that book last evening.
Red-Belly says this last with a sarcastic sneer.
Lightseeker says, ~Doesn't matter if you respect them or not. Respect their
territory. They fought for it.~
Jimmy Wilson contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
By the waterfall, Bailey puts his hands around his mouth to fire a retort at
the Fool, but at his words, lowewrs his hands, and mutters softly.
Jimmy Wilson shifts into Crinos form.
By the waterfall, Laughs lifts her upper lip, half grinning, half growling.
It's just good advice. Disrespect territory, feel some teeth in your your
tender parts.
JJ Malone's mouth twitches, but he's silent, pulling out a cigarette and
lighting it to life.
At the center, Davy starts to answer the ragabash Fool, but Red-Belly's second
called out comment distracts him. He swings his attention to the windy
area, glowering.
At the center, Morgan's expression indicates she'd rip that freakish tongue
out, given half a chance, but she answers the Fool, instead. "You do it,
Fool, because it's the way of our people. And because we fight to claim it."
By the waterfall, Elan looks to the Gnawers here and nods emphatically. "Turf
is turf. People hold it, you respect 'em for that."
JJ Malone looks over at the twist-tongued Red-Belly, and gives him a derisive
sneer in return. "One Fool at a time, idiot. Let the Gnawer speak on his
own."
Shakes turns to face Red-Belly. ~Argue against me, not for me! _I_ am the Fool
here tonight, not you. If you have a problem with that, I'll see you on the
Mound after we are done.~
At the center, Erik turns toward Red-Belly as the stranger speaks up again,
eyeing the other Metis with an expression of disturbed unease.
By the waterfall, Bailey's eyebrows raise, as he looks to his Elder at her
comment, and smiles.
Windsoul looks at the other faces or muzzles, and then back towards Esther.
Who did you wish to show me too?
Esther, next to Red-Belly, catches Shakes eye, and grins. No problems with me
if you do, her expression tells him.
Anne comes down the valley from the northeast.
At the center, Paul waves a hand towards the falls, guesturing concisely.
Red-Belly says "Er... well, you certainly play the part well, my friend. But
I'm not here to kowtow to obsolete hindrances to freedom."
By the waterfall, Sepdet thumps Collin's elbow with a very small smile,
murmuring to him in added explanation, ~We need the niceties of custom and
respect, with so many sharp tempers in one place. Honor their boundaries on
the road.~
At the center, Pete Barlow looks over at Red-Bellly and shakes his head.
"That's why Garou don't do the nasty with each other: you can get really
fuckin' stupid kids." As the metis responds, Barlow's expression darkens
even further, and he shoots a glance toward Brian.
By the waterfall, Sepdet gives an irritable shake of the head at Paul as he
gestures towards the disruptive Uktena.
Dillan leans towards JJ again.
At the center, Clouded Sky's eyes narrow toward Red-Belly and she watches him
with a harsh gaze before turning back to the Fool. ~Always accept the true
and honorable submission!~
By the waterfall, Collin grins at Sepdet, looking kinda amused at her. He nods
ot her, then turns his attention back to the Center.
Shakes raises an eyebrow at Red-Belly, then snorts. ~Whatever. We'll talk
about it later.~ He turns and shifts back down to homid, picking up his
paper from the ground where he dropped it before taking the warform.
Shakes contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Shakes shifts into Homid form.
At the center, Eligio Sacateca turns, slowly, in the direction of the windiest
area. His expression is as dark as his eyes as they flash past Esther to
Red-Belly.
Red-Belly gives a hearty chuckle at Pete Barlow. "Youy should thank me- I make
you look good by comparison. Not too often a guy likes you gets to be one
of the smarter in the room.
At the center, Erik's expression darkens slightly as well. He shifts his
weight again, growing agitated, his attention now split between the Litany
ritual and the long-tongued Uktena mule.
Lightseeker starts to growl, quietly.
At the center, Morgan snickers in spite of herself at Pete, though it's clear
she's walling up her emotion, some.
By the waterfall, Collin mutters to Sepdet, "And they tell *me* I'm asking for
it when I get on people's cases."
Jimmy Wilson contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Jimmy Wilson shifts into Crinos form.
At the center, That last comment makes Sarah turn her head, as well, to look,
narrow-eyed, at the Uktena mule. She tightens her arms, across her chest,
and shifts her weight a bit.
Esther seems to snap, at Red-Belly's last comment. She turns, grabs him by the
shirt-front, and hustles him back down the valley, away from the Caern.
At the center, Jose Figueroa reacts in much the same manner as Morgan, shaking
his head at the Metis. "He dead."
JJ Malone seems, from his expression, to be agreeing with Barlow's comment,
and gives Red-Belly a dangerous glare which he holds from behind blank
mirrored-sunglasses with a 'just try me' look about him. One eyebrow goes
up eloquently, waiting to see if Esther succeeds.
At the center, Steven stares at the Uktena ragabash. "What's your fucking
problem, mule? Pipe down."
Windsoul blinks as his alpha takes Red Belley by the abdomen. He remains
seated, shuffling back on his haunches, confused.
Lightseeker ceases her growling as Esther takes care of the problem.
Red-Belly hoots and hollers, but basically "assumes the position" in deference
to Esther.
Red-Belly heads out of the caern and up the valley.
By the waterfall, Bailey nudges Collin. "I met him," he whispers. "He said he
was the coolest Raggie around. You could crack him in a heartbeat," he
finishes with a grin.
Esther leaves Tsah to warn her if she's needed later on, and goes to sort
things out.
Esther heads out of the caern and up the valley.
At the center, "What a fucking idiot," Morgan mutters loudly.
At the center, Brian's lips twitch into a slight frown as he continues to
observe, though it's unclear whether his disgust is directed towards Pete's
slam or towards Red-Belly's interruptions.
Shakes raises a claw to strike the metis, then holds his blow as he sees the
others react around him, especially Esther. He takes a deep breath, then
rubs his eye, trying to maintain his control. He challenges the question
posed, a bit of the Gnawer street inflection in his words: ~Ya know, this
goes back ta the Second Law: Ya better only fight someone ta the death if
ya _know_ yer right and ya damn well better know, before ya challenge
someone, that yer ass is gonna win. If someone surrenders to ya, but
they're a backstabbing bastard, I hope yer a light sleeper 'cause they're
gonna hit you when you ain't 'specting it. If whatever you was kickin'
someone's ass in the first place was worth doin' it to the death, then them
chickenin' out at the end don't got no honor anyhow.~
At the center, Quiet watches after, her tail flicking slightly, before she
nudges Small Wolf and Lawrence to return their attention to the Fool. Davy
gives a satisfied grunt and does the same, adding, "You said it, boss-lady."
By the waterfall, Collin gets nudged by Bailey, then says to him quietly, "Oh,
yeah. That's me. Studly-Cub to the extreme."
Windsoul looks between the others, still silent for a few more moments. He
motions, finally. That was...awkward.
JJ Malone relaxes a notch, turning back to listen to Jimmy.
By the waterfall, Elan grins to Collin.
By the waterfall, Sepdet murmurs to Collin and Bailey sharply, ~True fools
know when Questioning refines choices, and when silence better serves. That
one is not even a fool. He is nothing. Hush and listen to Shakes and Sky.~
At the center, Erik folds his arm and a half across his thin chest, left hand
gripping the truncated right limb. The Fianna remains restless and uneasy
for several long minutes after the incident is over.
At the center, Iceheart seems to calm more now that the mule has been taken.
At the center, Small_Wolf lays down where he was seated near Quiet.
Lightseeker says, ~No one can know thy will win beforehand. If it is a matter
of honor, fight anyway.~
At the center, Lawrence doesn't really seem to understand what's happening,
but he's bright enough to stay put and keep his mouth shut. Despite
Red-Belly's interruptions, his attention remains focused on Shakes and the
various responses to him -- almost as if he's trying to burn the 'debate'
into his mind.
At the center, Jose Figueroa looks at Pete. "It's like in the movies. You take
the surrender. If he stands and threatens you again, /then/ you blow tha
fucker's head off."
By the waterfall, Laughs watches the interruptionsthen, unperturbed, goes back
to watching the Galliard and the Fool.
At the center, Steven says "Shakes, you're cracked. You offer an honorable
surrender, then you live with your honorable defeat. You can challenge
again, but it proves nothing to circumvent the original challenge."
At the center, Pete Barlow chuckles and nods to Jose. "Make my day."
At the center, Seirian shifts slightly closer to her packmate, watching in
silence.
At the center, Clouded Sky's usual calm and warm demeanor are nowhere to be
found. She cuts her growl short as the mule is carted away and by the time
the Fool has been shouted down she has recalled her calmer self. ~Lower
yourself before those who lead!~ she calls across the crowd.
By the waterfall, Collin murmurs to Sepdet, "Hey. Normally 'Fool' can be
considered a *derogatory* term. Bah." he grins, then looks back to the
debate too, peering at those involved.
At the center, Iceheart snuffs. Honor is the heart of our Ways. If one has no
Honor, then one has already surrendered to the Wyrm.
At the center, Kyle remains stony-faced throughout the debate on this
particular point of the Litany.
At the center, Davy nods agreement with Steven. "Taking someone out from
behind may prove who lives, but it doesn't prove shit about who's better.
Except to show who has a shred of honor and who doesn't."
Windsoul shakes his head a few times, listening to the vulgarities of the
obviously homid speach. He hasn't anything to say, really, it might seem.
How 'Strider'.
By the waterfall, Casper continues to watch with a carefully neutral
expression.
By the waterfall, Elan calls to the Talon he once taught. "Damn straight,
'Sky."
Shakes takes a breath once more, shifts back to homid and answers. Unlike
Clouded Sky, he doesn't seem to be angry in the least, almost finding humor
in this whole situation. "Here we go again. Shit. Ya know, some a' these
Laws just make me laugh my ass off sometimes. If you was really worthy a'
being considered in 'higher station' than someone else, you wouldn't need
no damn Litany Law ta back you up since people'd give ya yer props and
'spect and submission and all that anyhow. I don't give no one 'spect
'cause a' no Law, I do it 'cause they deserve it. If ya gotta quote this
Law from a book at someone ta get them ta submit and grovel for ya, chances
are they might do it, but they ain't gonna mean it. I guess for some people
on their power trips, it don't matter /why/ someone does what they say,
only that they do it an' that they got a Law in the Litany ta "prove" how
damn superior they are."
Lightseeker says, glancing behind her, ~There are certain people who do not
have the sense they were born with, and will not respect anyone no matter
what. Thus, the law.~
Windsoul looks towards Clouded Sky as he finally does find something to speak
about. Then why do we have half moons? What is there job, then?
From the rock outcropping, Megan calls out for the first time, "And that's
precisely why the Law exists. Because of those who think they're above
them."
By the waterfall, Sepdet says, ~They are Elder because they have been tested
in ways you may not even know. Do you think yourself so fine to ignore
them? Then go ronin, and die fighting alone and unremembered, you who are
too proud to follow a leader.~
At the center, Pete Barlow turns and looks back to where the belligerent mule
was recently dragged from the caern. "That little side-show farce about
sums it up, Fool."
At the center, Iceheart sees the Law is what makes us worthy of serving Gaia.
Jimmy Wilson chuckles at Pete. "I'll deal with Red Boy after this is all done.
Don't need no elders ta put him in his place."
At the center, An expression of bemusement flashes over Brian's face as Pete
begins arguing in favor of this particular tenet of the Litany.
By the waterfall, Bailey looks to the Moot's Fool, and grins a little.
By the waterfall, Collin winces a little at Jimmy's comment, saying to Sepdet,
"Oh, man, that sounds like it's gonna *hurt*."
At the center, Small_Wolf looks over up at Quiet for a moment.
By the waterfall, Sepdet looks up and meets Collin's eyes grimly and
forcefully, a silent warning that he might do well to remember this lesson.
At the center, Clouded Sky is fully returned to the now and lifts her voice as
she calls out the next law. ~The first share of the kill for the leader,
then the rest shall feed.~
At the center, Lawrence frowns slightly, a bloom of color rising to his
cheeks. He fixes his eyes on the ground in front of him for a moment.
By the waterfall, Collin tries to look innocent, touching his chest and saying
to Sepdet lowly, "I'd never do anything so stupid. Part of being as cool as
me is knowing when to *not* be stupid."
"Didn't I just explain all that?," Jimmy says. "Damned power-tripping
bastards. Anyhow, sometimes the big boys ain't the ones that _need_ the
coolest Stuff. Sometimes ya gotta give it to the little guys. Us Gnawers
always make sure ta give up some chow ta Uncle Pete, but only after Mama
Rat gets hers and the people on the street that really need it. Good for us
that Pete's cool 'nuff not ta be a shithead an' demand we feed his ass,
just 'cause he's an old bastich."
Windsoul lets out a soft, amused snort; then flashing a toothy grin in
Collin's general direction.
Lightseeker says, ~Sometimes, they do not need it. But you still must offer,
for how are you to know what they need?~
By the waterfall, Casper smiles widely and says just loud enough to hear,
watching the Fool, "Really Jimmy? How is it then you always yell at me when
I forget to bring you back leftovers from McDonalds?"
By the waterfall, Sepdet continues giving Collin a rather sharp glance for a
moment before turning back towards the center and saying with the first
trace of humor all evening, ~Good Gaia, yes. Brian-rhya and 'ligio and
Quiet are so cranky when they don't eat.~
JJ Malone snorts. "Good enough for the Gnawers. But the rest of us live on the
idea that the higher you go, the better you get paid. And kinda like it
that way." He smirks, and takes a drag off his cigarette.
At the center, Brian calls back to the Fool, ~Maybe there's a reason your
leader's so generous, Fool. You might try following his example.~
Jimmy Wilson just smiles at Casper and raises a finger to his lips. "'Cause
I'm fuckin' hungry, that's why. But I don't make yer ass bring me all yer
food then give it to me an' let me give ya my leftovers a' yer food, do I?"
At the center, Morgan snickers at Jimmy, in spite of her lunar-induced
emotion. "Those who take the greatest risks take the greatest rewards. It
is a show of a strong leader when she gives what is rightfully hers to
others."
Wolf-Dancer sits watching, silently. No emotion passes across her lupine
features as she listens to the Litany. The Litany she has broken.
By the waterfall, Derrick shifts down to lupus, but otherwise remains silent.
By the waterfall, Casper smiles to himself and nods a bit.
At the center, Quiet's attention flickers from her tribe's cubs to Sepdet,
with faint amusement.
At the center, Clouded Sky waits until the shouts have begun to fade. Then her
howl again breaks the night. Do not eat of the flesh of the two-legs, nor
of wolves. ~Do not eat of humans or of wolves.~
By the waterfall, Collin blinks at Clouded Sky, then says to Sepdet quietly,
"Oh, now I wish I hadn't of read that one book. 'Alive'. Ew. Gross."
At the center, Nightflash' ears lay back in surprise at this addition to the
Litany, and he glances over at Robert.
At the center, Nightflash's ears lay back in surprise at this addition to the
Litany, and he glances over at Robert.
At the center, Kyle winces and runs a hand through his hair before he crosses
his arms back over his chest. He keeps his gaze pretty firmly on Clouded
Sky.
Jimmy Wilson's stomach growls. "Well, not 'less you don't know yer eatin' it,
like if you went crazy..." He carefully looks away from Kyle. "I mean like
if ya went ta someplace not so classy as McDonald's, like those Hardees or
Jack-in-the-Crack or somethin'. Damn Litany don't say shit 'bout eatin'
kangaroo burgers now, does it?"
At the center, Iceheart growls softly, even hearing this from the Fool.
At the center, Paul shouts, "Eating our Kin puts us that much closer to the
Wyrm's Maw itself."
By the waterfall, Sepdet's expression twitches to one of disgust. ~A mad wolf
who cannot tell a mate from dinner needs to be put down.~
Lightseeker says, ~Something done by accident makes it no less wrong.~
At the center, Paul winces at that.
JJ Malone smirks. "You are what you eat."
Wolf-Dancer nods at this, knowing all too well that this is the case. Her head
hangs slightly.
At the center, Brian exhales an exasperated breath and runs a hand back
through his hair. He paces a little, as much as the confines of the crowd
permit, and as he does so he glares not at the Fool, but at Clouded-Sky.
By the waterfall, Collin starts to say something, but stops himself right and
fast.
Jimmy Wilson shrugs at all the talk. "Don't really matter what ya eat anyhow.
No matter what it is, it'll pass."
Lightseeker says, ~Yes, and perhaps taint you on its way down.~
At the center, Robert's brow furrows as the edges of his mouth turn slightly
downward as he looks towards Clouded-Sky.
Windsoul obviously doesn't agree with Jimmy from the way he flicks his ears
around and lets out a series of soft, sighing gestures. There would be no
law if it did not matter.
At the center, Steven tenses as he watches Clouded Sky call the Litany. A look
of shock, replaced by anger, shows in his face.
"Unless, course," points out Dillan, lazily, "You eat scrap metal or something
nastay. Or napalm, or corrosive acid. That shit won't pass too good. Or,
like, if you ate somethin' bigger'n your asshole, that might not pass,
either. An' with a mouth as big as yours, Jimmy, I can see how that might
happen..."
At the center, Clouded Sky twitches an ear, noting the surprise at her last
call though she does not seem to recognize its source. She continues.
~Respect for those beneath you. All are of Gaia.~
Jimmy Wilson laughs. "Dillan, yer invited for dinner this weekend. Elan's
cookin'."
At the center, Nightflash takes the few steps to close the distance between
himself and Robert. He comments quietly, for the Warder's ears only, You
teach the ways differently here.
JJ Malone reaches out and backhands Dillan sharply on the shoulder, then leans
in to mutter at him.
Dillan beams at Jimmy. "As long as it ain't any of the above, I'm there."
At the center, Scott replies simply to the fool,"If you indulge in such
wrongful acts, then you become the very monster some claim us to be." If he
noticed any change made in the Calling, he doesn't deign to acknowledge it.
Dillan oofs, stumbling at the backhand, microseconds later.
By the waterfall, Bailey turns back to Elan, chuckling. "Hey, you still owe me
dinner."
By the waterfall, Elan chuckles. "Yeah, and him too, really."
Jimmy Wilson turns to Clouded Sky as the next Law is read. "Ya know, I'm
s'posed ta argue 'gainst all these Laws, but I don't give a shit if ya
think I'm gaffin' off my job not ta argue too much 'gainst this one. Only
thing I gotta say is like I did before: if yer followin' this Law _just
'cause it's in the Litany_, not 'cause ya know deep down inside that it's
the right thing ta do, then ya ain't followin' it. Dig?" He scratches his
head then looks around for Red Belly. "But I'm still gonna kick that mule's
ass."
Lightseeker says, ~Even those with no soul must follow the Litany.~
At the center, Quiet's eyes flicker to Brian. She then turns to call out
clearly, ~Respect is required on part of both higher and lower. The litany
shows clearly its need when it goes lacking.~
From the rock outcropping, Megan seems to have been unphased and actually
smiling a little at Clouded Sky's last law. "It's to protect us from the
elders being the fools you think they are, Fool."
By the steam vents, Dusty is silent through the calling of the Litany, his
attention directed outward.
By the waterfall, Bailey nudges Collin, and tilts his head in Jimmy's
direction. "WCW wishes they had it so good," he snickers.
By the waterfall, Collin says to Bailey, whispering, "No, they don't. All
their drinks would explode."
At the center, Morgan says "The Litany simply condenses and reminds us of our
ways: who we are and what we exist for. Even a Fool should know that."
At the center, Brian's eyes flick towards the ground, and his expression turns
from angry to introspective -- as if he's weighing his own conscience for
just those few moments.
By the waterfall, Piddles comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, Sepdet laces her fingers on the back of her staff and leans
comfortably. ~And such patience is sometimes the only way most of our cubs
survive,~ she says in what may or may not be a teasing tone.
At the center, Erik remains quiet, listening, his sunken, misaligned eyes
shifting to each speaker in turn.
At the center, Iceheart shakes her ruff. All Law must be delivered with an
even hand. Else, the giver is no better than the Wyrm.
By the waterfall, Bailey, laughing, turns and sees the new arrival, and waves
him over.
By the waterfall, Collin immediately shuts up and begins looking around,
putting his hands behind his back and clasping them together, trying to
look like he's an attentive and proper little cub.
By the waterfall, Piddles trots over to his packmates and friends.
At the center, Scott remains silent.
At the center, Clouded Sky shifts her weight from side to side and then stands
still once more. As the other calls fall silent, she raises her own. ~The
Veil shall not be lifted!~
By the waterfall, Casper looks up briefly and smiles a greeting to Pids.
Jimmy Wilson shakes his head sadly. "Well, people all look at this one
different but everyone agrees it's a good idea, more or less. As yer
representative Fool for the evening, lemme tell ya, I think it's shit. This
late in the Game, I don't really see as it matters, ya know? We're losin'
the War an' it's 'cause the Wyrm's wearin' our asses down by attrition. Big
word, huh?" He smiles, obviously proud of himself. "No one's willin' ta
break the Veil ta ask our Kins' kin for help, so we're doomed 'cause a' our
own stupid pride."
At the center, Paul laughs. "Kin aren't Breaks. Humans are. Look at History,
remember the past. Humanity tries its hardest to destroy its fears, smart
or clever, or not. They wouldn't join the war. They'd do their damnest to
end it and then look surprised when the Darkness comes for them."
At the center, Shea pipes up with, "You break the Veil, you panic the kin, and
the humans, what's more. You panic the kin and the human, and you've -got-
no bloody people to ask for help. More'n that, it brings down too much
attention, and all the wrong kind. Mind it, or pay the price."
By the waterfall, Sepdet looks towards Jimmy with brow knitted. ~Perhaps you
were not here when flying-machines rained silver death on the caern, or the
mad woman shot down Oaken and many of our other best septmates?~
At the center, Erik murmurs, quietly, "The Inquisition."
By the waterfall, Collin chews on his lip a little, still trying to look
really thoughtful and attentive, but his brow actually has furrowed a bit.
Wow.
From the rock outcropping, Megan calls out with anger in her voice, "You break
the Veil, and you risk a shitstorm bigger than any help."
Windsoul nods definitively, agreeing with what was just spoken by Megan. It
would be catastrophic. We have power, but they have numbers.
At the center, ~It's pride that built the Veil in the first place,~ Brian
calls back to the Fool, his gaze lifting from the ground. ~It's pragmatism
that forces us to keep it: if we rend the Veil, we all die, sooner rather
than later. And that might be the difference between beating the Wyrm and
not.~
By the waterfall, Elan says "Humans got tanks and shit, man. They'd hand our
ass to us. There's just more of them than us, always will be. Gotta fight
in the shadows."
Windsoul trails off slowly, finishing his last thought. And...power.
By the waterfall, Collin mutters, "Quantity has a quality all it's own."
At the center, Scott replies simply,"Never fight a war on two fronts unless
you must."
Jimmy Wilson looks at Sepdet. "Actually, I was here ta see that. I've also
been around when our own people have betrayed us, an' I've seen them go ta
the Wyrm. We're on our high horses 'bout how much better we are than the
humans, ain't we?" He looks about the assemblage, his eye stopping on
Wolf-Dancer, then Kyle, then finally down at his own hands. "We ain't no
better."
At the center, Paul responds again, "We're usually worse, but that is NOT what
the Veil is about."
Wolf-Dancer looks down in shame, starting to show some signs of her discomfort.
JJ Malone smiles thinly with acidity, nodding to Paul's comment, but holds his
silence, expression speaking for him.
At the center, Quiet looks at Jimmy. ~What is not understood is feared.
Through our births, we understand humans. If we were widely known, the
humans' fear would rage out of control. They would destroy what they
feared, and Gaia would fall.~
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, Sepdet says softly, ~The few humans I have ever trusted: I
would not want them to _know_ the world we walk. Them we protect through
secrecy. And the others we avoid out of prudence.~
At the center, Clouded Sky again waits as the sept reaffirms the laws by which
they live, and as they quiet she lifts her voice. ~Do not suffer thy people
to tend thy sickness!~
By the waterfall, Collin lifts a hand to cover his grin, then stage-whispers
to Bailey, "There are some things on heaven and Earth, Horatio, that are
not dreamt of in your philosophy. Man was not meant to know."
Jimmy Wilson pulls out his cheat sheet to make sure he's got all his ducks in
a row before answering this one. He takes a deep breath, then speaks. "What
a bunch a' shit. Ya know, this Law was prolly made up by some damn ahroun
that thought it was more honorable ta die a Sergeant than ta grow up an' be
a General. With age comes wisdom, so they say, but I guess if you're a
decrepit bonehead full-moon that's claws an' fangs ain't so sharp no more,
you think yer doin' Gaia a service by takin' the Long Walk. Hell, I guess
in that case you are. But just 'cause someone gets old or injured and can't
fight so good anymore don't mean they ain't worth a shit anymore. It just
means that they got 'xperience they should try ta pass on ta others, not go
an off themselves."
At the center, Seirian glances down at her hands as the next law is read. She
keeps her face down for a few moments, her hair shielding it from view.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie maintains his hidden position off to the side,
keeping to himself. His location and lack of involvement might be due to
nervousness, or something else. For whatever reason, however, he stays in
his own solitary realm, his own little quiet corner of the world.
By the waterfall, Bailey eyes narrow at the mention of this Law, but holds
comment.
At the center, Iceheart bristles at this. And to hang on too long is to invite
weakness into the tribe or the caern. This is wisdom: to know when to let
go, and make room for the young, who will otherwise never grow as they need
to.
At the center, Paul calls out, "It's for when you're beyond hope, beyond
helping, returning nothing and only using resources needed for the war. Not
for getting rid of a greybeard because they can't dance the swords like
they're nineteen."
At the center, Robert looks at Clouded-Sky again with a vaguely puzzled
expression, then looks down at the ground. He seems to be muttering
something to himself, but the words are difficult to make out in the crowd
and the rebuttals.
At the center, Clouded Sky lifts her own voice to shout down the fool on this
- ~Not old and wise. Sick and can no longer provide anything for the pack.
These are the ones who must not steal strength from the rest.~
At the center, Brian shakes his head emphatically, and answers the Fool in his
clear tenor. ~The law is about recognizing when you're more a hindrance
than a help, Fool, and treading lightly on the world. We don't burden one
another unnecessarily.~
At the center, Scott says in reply to the Fool,"What is more important? Your
pride, or your people? We should not fear death, it is a release from the
obligation of duty, and a return to the Mother. Wisdom comes in knowing
when your part has been played, as well."
By the waterfall, Elan simply nods at some of these replies in agreement.
By the waterfall, Collin says something *real* quiet to Bailey in a
questioning tone, but he falls silent again after that. He goes back to
actually paying attention. That's right, paying attention to what's being
said.
At the center, Lawrence seems to have finally caught on to the rhythm of the
exchanges, and he watches the vehemence with which the Garou refute the
Fool carefully.
By the waterfall, Sepdet looks down at the ground. ~Fight the good fight. When
you have become a burden to yourself and others, take the rest you have
earned.~
At the center, Davy nods agreement with Scott, crossing his arms across his
chest.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie listens quietly, finding Scott's words a reason
to grit his teeth.
Jimmy Wilson scratches his scraggly chin. "If that's the case," he says, "I
guess next time I get injured in battle I should roll over an' croak rather
than ask someone ta help me heal."
At the center, Clouded Sky continues. ~The leader may be challenged in times
of peace but never in times of war.~
By the waterfall, Bailey mumbles softly, so only those near him can hear. "And
what, get rid of the young that are sick. Cures are found, sometimes, and
miracles can happen."
At the center, Kyle shakes his head at Jimmy, scowling hard, finally putting
two cents into the debate. "Kid ain't been in a fight. Not really. One sick
bastard needing mommy can get your whole pack killed."
At the center, Seirian lifts her head slightly so she can hear, but her face
is still shadowed.
Jimmy Wilson chuckles at Clouded Sky, then turns to stare at Kyle with his
solitary eye. "I'm the one supposed to be lying here, not you." He turns
back to answer the question. "Sure the leader can be called out. Bein' a
leader means makin' good decisions. If yer ass can't perform under
pressure, ya better damn well be sure that someone's gonna make yer ass
either shape up or step down." He looks back to Kyle once more, a smile
growin across his ragged face.
Lightseeker growls, ~But not while at war. The leader must organize things,
keep track of things. Losing track of your warriors at all... Could be
fatal.~
At the center, Iceheart chuffs. Fool. THere must be a clear chain of command
in any conflict. People must know whom to look to for leadership; to let it
be otherwise is to confuse. In wartime, confusion kills and corrupts.
At the center, Paul says "The time to find a new leader is NOT while the fight
is on. You'd be as well served leaving a plane in flight without a chute,
just because you don't like the pilot."
From the rock outcropping, Megan frowns as she looks down and over at Jimmy,
shaking her head in silence.
By the waterfall, Sepdet growls, ~Yes, and if fifty Red-Wolves argue with the
alpha while the caern is being attacked, and hinder the defense, we will
have fifty dead-wolves.~
At the center, Scott again remains silent, his lips quirking with faint
amusement at something Jimmy said.
Jimmy Wilson looks around at the assemblage. "I got news for you all: We're at
War right now. We always will be. It ain't stoppin' people from questioning
their leaders, or people who think that they're leaders from bein'
dumbshits."
At the center, Paul says "That Law is for when the battle is at hand, not
during the lulls to plan, heal, teach, and learn."
At the center, Robert allows a hand to drop and rest on Nightflash's ruff as
he snorts at the Fool's repeated exchanges.
By the waterfall, Bailey looks around the area near the waterfall. As his eyes
go to a figure standing in the shadows, they widen.
By the waterfall, Sepdet breaks her attention from the center for a moment to
instruct Collin in another hurried whisper.
At the center, Brian closes his eyes as if grasping for calm. His hand, the
one that supports him against the crystal formation at the center of the
caern, clenches slowly into a fist.
At the center, Clouded Sky turns a full circle, albeit a small one, as she
looks at what of the caern she can see. She turns her head upward, to where
it used to be, and recalls, for those who can watch her postures, the dead
of the time in between. At the end, she raises her voice to the sky and
calls out the last of the laws. ~Take no action which causes a caern to be
violated!~
By the waterfall, Bailey blinks a few times, then flicks his gaze back to the
center of the Caern.
Jimmy Wilson winks at Clouded Sky. "Like, duh." He looks about at everyone
else, balling up his notes and tossing them idly to the ground. "I bet you
people don't watch much TV or movies. Ya know, I saw the last James Bond
movie, and it was pretty cool, 'specially this part in it where they was
watchin' people in Russia or somewhere using satellites an' high-tech shit.
People around here make a big damn deal 'bout not walkin' 'round in Homid
in the woods, or not tellin' people where the Caern is without clearing it
with someone first, but th'only people I think you guys are fooling is
yerself. Ya think the CIA don't see you people jus' poppin' outta nowhere
here, steppin' outta the Umbra? Ya think you can hide? The Wyrm's people
already know where we are, whether ya believe it or not. In the past, maybe
the old ways worked for hidin' our Caerns, by sneakin' around an' being all
secret an' shit, but these days that stuff don't mean squat so we shouldn't
worry so much 'bout worrying _if_ a Caern will be violated but rather
_when_, so we can get ready for it." He looks at the litter he tossed to
the ground. "Anyone gonna pick that up?"
By the waterfall, Sepdet stiffens visibly and chokes a reply, glancing around
for Shea.
At the center, Erik, for those bothering to look at him, flinches visibly when
Clouded Sky reads the last law.
By the waterfall, Collin tilts his head, listening to Sepdt, but he nods to
her quietly and responds to her.
At the center, ~You are,~ Brian answers flatly. The words have the tone of a
command.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie momentarily stretches the boundaries of his
solitary bubble, to raise his head and push away from the rocks he had been
leaning on. He glances towards the group, still using the shadows to
maintain concealment, then looks towards the center of the Caern. Half the
discussion is lost to the cub.
At the center, Iceheart flicks her ears. Our most sacred law. This said, she
feels nothing further need be added.
At the center, Shea clears her throat. "Just because they might know where we
are, or, Gaia, even how many we are, doesn't mean we stop covering our
tracks, and let our guard slip. Fool. Oh, and, you'll pick that up. If
you're wise."
Jimmy Wilson nods at Brian and picks up the trash, dropping it into his
pocket. "Just making a point, leader-dude. Shakin' people up. I hope it
worked."
At the center, Quiet flattens her ears and ruff, though nothing was said
directly to her. Too soft to be called out as her official reply, she says,
Those that violate that which is sacred deserve death.
Jimmy Wilson looks over to Shea, then to Sepdet, a bit of a frown on his face,
but only for a moment.
JJ Malone's mouth twitches, and mutters, "Should be askin' yourself that very
question. But," his tone turns sarcastic, "of course, you won't." Getting
louder, he says, "And if you don't take pains to protect the safe places,
then you might as well invite the Wyrm in now, go home, fuck your mates,
and sleep away the Apocalypse. The rest of us will maybe remember to drop
you a Christmas card."
At the center, Paul snaps loudly, "Surety -NEVER- EXISTS. Beliving in science,
spies or spirits and magic, doesn't make winning or loosing a sure thing.
Or we'd have already won or lost the war forever."
By the steam vents, Though his back is turned, the lines of Dusty's back tense
visibly at the calling of the last Law.
At the center, Steven just looks relieved that this... Calling is finished.
At the center, Brian doesn't answer Jimmy, but instead aims a look Robert's
way. There's a question in his expression, a bit of incredulity.
Jimmy Wilson looks to his wrist at a broken Mickey Mouse watch. "Damn, I'm
glad that's over," he says quietly. "Bet my ass gets lynched for doin' too
good of a job."
Wolf-Dancer shifts her postion slightly as the calling of the Litany comes to
a close. Her nervousness is apparent, as she realises her time draws ever
closer.
JJ Malone snorts derisively again, then returns to leaning against the wall in
silence, partially obscured by the fog of the place.
By the waterfall, Sepdet crosses her arms in front of herself and stares at
the ground, obviously taking the last law fairly personally. After a moment
she sighs and nods slightly to Collin.
By the waterfall, Casper leans back, relaxing as the calling is over. He peers
up at the sky and back to the center.
By the waterfall, Collin nods back to Sepdet, asking her something quietly.
By the waterfall, Bailey, at the Calling's end, turns around, looking again.
By the waterfall, Collin grins at her a bit, then runs a hand through his hair.
By the waterfall, Elan looks to Spedet with some concern, but holds his tongue.
By the waterfall, Piddles lies down with head on paws, watching the goings-on
around him.
At the center, Robert simply closes his eyes and sighs very deeply, shaking
his head. After a moment, he re-opens them and looks around for the
beginning of the Opening.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie takes one shifted glance over his shoulder at the
others, then falls back to lean up against the rocks.
At the center, Iceheart shakes her ruff as the Calling ends and stands,
preparing for the next part.
At the center, Soulcatcher steps up to the John and nosebumps him, giving the
Gaiain a brief look. Time.
At the center, John looks up from his packmates at the Wendigo's signal,
ending an intense period of meditation for him. He gets to his feet and
walks toward the massive stone at the caern's heart, shifting up to the war
form slowly. He shifts his gaze around at the other Garou gathered, then
takes a deep breath and begins speaking in a low, almost melodic tones. ~We
gather here this night to strengthen our bonds with the Mother. I ask Fog
to grace us with its presence tonight, to strengthen its children.~ The
usual serious expression on the Gaian's face is replaced with a mixture of
intense hapiness and concentration as he waits.
By the waterfall, Bailey stands, and looks to the others. He stops at the
sound of the Theurge's voice.
At the center, Morgan lowers her gaze and her lips murmur out a soft sounding
invocation, as she too hopes to see Fog show himself.
By the waterfall, Sepdet wipes her face with a hand and forces herself to
relax, an odd mixture of wistfulness and respect mingled on her features as
she settles herself to focus on the caern's unseen currents and inhabitants.
At the center, Soulcatcher watches the younger theurge closely, concentrating
for a time on his movements and attitudes before he too takes the war form.
At the center, Seirian raises her head enough that some of her face is
visible, shifting to tug one knee to her chest.
At the center, Scott, for some reason, doesn't seem to have quite as ruffled
feathers as some of the Fianna and other ranking Garou. He gives Jimmy a
short nod, seeming to approve of his performance as fool, obviously
seperating the man from the duty.
Dillan, suddenly, brightens at the mention of the caern's spirit. He takes a
few steps to the center, away from JJ. Now, the theurge takes a much less
passive interest in the moot.
At the center, Paul sways on his feet but resists the lure of changing to
warform for now, turning to face the center with the barest beginnings of a
smile on his face.
At the center, Clouded Sky shakes out her ruff, tension easing now that her
part is complete.
At the center, The air stills, oddly. The wind, coming cold and unrepantant
from the west, is cut off, almost as if some great hand shut a door.
Stillness settles on the area, despite the chaotic mass of giant beasts so
close together here. The mists by the steam vents, unchecked by the fury of
the winter wind, collect in an ever growing cloud that sends tendrils of
smoke-white air out across the caern. Wisps move and tangle just a few feet
above the heads of the garou as the cloud begins to encircle and then
encompass. Slowly, and with a caerful deliberateness reserved only for the
ineffable, Fog settles into the caern.
By the waterfall, Elan stands as the Opening begins, arms spread and eyes
closed. He relaxes as the spirit begins to manifest.
By the waterfall, Collin watches, then just sort of blinks quietly at this.
Yeah, the cub's impressed.
At the center, Quiet turns her attention to her tribemate and long-time
student, letting her ears relax and tilt forward. Davy snorts and rubs his
beard.
At the center, Morgan's expression brightens, as her eyes open. Her hands move
back for the warmth of her coat pockets.
At the center, Scott turns his attention to the Opening, watching with a
silent reverence.
From the rock outcropping, Chase makes his way down the trail from the
northern wall of the valley.
JJ Malone relaxes and smile into the murk, his first genuine one of the night.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie looks up from the ground, and raises an eyebrow
as Fog appears.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing continues his silent watch into the night,
although his ears flicker as the silence deepens.
Jimmy Wilson seems glad to see the Totem arrive, sitting down crosslegged on
the ground and watching as Fog rolls in.
At the center, Erik passes a slightly shaking hand across damp eyes, visibly
affected by the arrival of the caern's totem.
From the rock outcropping, Chase heads into the center.
At the center, Seirian closes her eyes and lifts her face to the sky, wiping
it absently with one hand briefly.
By the waterfall, Sepdet breathes out as the caern breathes in its silent
Totem, holding up a hand in silent respect as the heavy mist descents.
At the center, Jose Figueroa shifts his feet as the Totem arrives.
By the waterfall, Casper closes his eyes and effortly assumes a lotus
position. He tilts his head back and closes his eyes, mumbling to himself.
At the center, Soulcatcher lifts his muzzle, eyes closing as Fog moves about
him, and his fellows, like a parental blanket. He lifts his voice, dark and
grating, into the still air, ~Fog is Welcome. The Sky is open.~
At the center, Brian sinks into a crouch as the invocation to the caern's
totem is made. There's perhaps a sliver of wild glee in the emerald
brilliance of his eyes as the mists gather.
By the waterfall, Piddles blinks.
At the center, Robert closes his eyes once again and feels the mist descend
over the caern, weariness draining from his stance as a soft smile spreads
across his face.
Wolf-Dancer closes her eyes, relaxing slightly, letting the wonder of the
Opening take her mind from what must follow.
By the waterfall, Bailey watches the scene, awed.
At the center, Lawrence watches with wide-eyed wonderment, one of his hands
reaching out, seemingly of its own volition, to try to touch the spirit.
By the waterfall, Collin reaches over and touches Sepdet's arm, still watching
with the vaguest look of awe in his expression. Yeah. Definately awe.
At the center, Shea tucks her hands into her hip pockets, eyes tracking
movement in the fog, for a moment or three.
At the center, Paul stands quietly in the fog, giving into temptation to shift
and feel the Fog swirl around his fur.
At the center, Scott's lips tug into a faintly lopsided smile as he watchs the
appearance of the Caern totem.
At the center, Seshemw's staff stays dark, letting the mists stay lit only by
the moon above.
At the center, Defends-Wolves smiles as the caern's Totem appears, perhaps
looking a little relieved. He nods to the Wendigo theurge and rejoins his
packmates.
At the center, Nightflash looks around uncomfortably, but as most people seem
to be keeping to their birth forms, he does so as well.
From the rock outcropping, Megan pushes to her feet as the fog envelops the
valley, turning the promontory into a minor island in the sea. Smoothly she
shifts upwards to the war form, picking up from the ground the femur of a
large animal which looks like a child's toy in her huge hands. Giving a
sonorous howl, she cuts off to a voice that carries through the Caern, ~It
is time for the Cracking of the Bone, to get the marrow of matters. All
here, honor the bone, and holds your tongues unless you hold the bones.~ A
pause, then, ~Those new to the Hidden Walk, step forward now, to be seen
and recognized.~
At the center, Davy relaxes his shoulders a fraction, some of the scowl
lifting as the totem of the Walk embraces all. But as he turns from the
theurges toward the earth mound, even those with the least skill of empathy
will not find awe in his features.
At the center, Soulcatcher finally opens his eyes, and with a toothy grin,
lays a clawed hand on Defends-Wolves' shoulder.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing noses Tim, at this.
At the center, Velia shifts up at Megan's call, and waits her turn.
At the center, Quiet noses Lawrence foward first, then nosebumps Small Wolf.
Shift, she tells the homid-born in lupus shape. Since we have not yet given
you a proper Garou name.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie blinks, as his bubble is popped by Falcon's Wing,
nudging him. He turns around, and looks down.
At the center, Nightflash looks around the Caern before making his way toward
Megan.
At the center, Small_Wolf gets up from where he was laying down and pads
forward.
By the waterfall, Collin nods to Sepdet quietly, slowly. His epxression
actually is serious.
At the center, Jose Figueroa looks quickly at Morgan and Pete, stepping
forward toward the outcropping.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing motions to the Mound, intent obvious.
At the center, Lawrence looks startled when Quiet noses him, but begins to
move towards the rock outcropping along with the others. He doesn't show
very much comprehension with regards to what Megan's actually said.
At the center, Sarah unfolds her arms, and steps forward, to wait her turn
along with the rest.
By the waterfall, Sepdet reaches up and sets a hand on Collin's shoulder,
then, and shakes her head. "Go. Not all know you."
By the waterfall, Elan pats Collin on the shoulder.
At the center, Morgan gives Jose a tempered grin and a nod.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie shoots his glance in the direction noted, and
chews on his lower lip momentarily, realizing what this part is for. He
sighs, and puts his hands in his pockets, stepping forward.
By the waterfall, Sepdet gives Collin that telltale sharp glance that signals
yet another of her pop-quiz cub-tests.
By the waterfall, Bailey nods, and moves downward towards the outcropping. He
looks to Collin, waving him along.
At the center, Small_Wolf contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
At the center, Small_Wolf ripples and changes, slipping into Homid form.
At the center, Jean shifts into his birth form.
Wolf-Dancer stands up slowly, shakes out her ruff, and pads forward cautiously.
By the waterfall, Collin aughs a little at Sepdet, "Lemme get that right.
*Silent* Strider. One who knows when to keep his mouth shut. Okay. Now I
know better than to ask about something lik that." he snickers, then moves
to follow Bialey.
At the center, Davy gives Jose a thumbs-up, his scowl breaking briefly to a
more neutral expression.
At the center, Jose Figueroa walks forward, briefcase still in hand, standing
proudly and straight.
At the center, Seirian settles back to watch her packmate, rubbing at her eyes
and cheeks quickly.
By the waterfall, Casper grins at Jose.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie stops briefly to glance back at Falcon's Wing
again.
By the waterfall, Bailey heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Collin heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing whurfs quietly, encouraging.
At the center, Pete Barlow adds another piece of licorice to his otherwise
quiet mouth, offering another to Morgan.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie sighs, then follows the others.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie heads into the center.
Wolf-Dancer heads into the center.
At the center, Bailey turns, hearing the footsteps behind him. His eyes widen
at seeing the tall young man.
At the center, Morgan waves off Chug's offer and watches the newcomers move
through the crowd.
At the center, Chases-the-Wind slowly moves through the crowd to the center.
At the center, Sarah turns to face the gathering of Garou. She pauses a
moment, then opens her mouth and says, "Sarah Montoya. Adren Uktena Ahroun,
up from New Mexico and the Caern of Desolation Row. Tastes the Fire of
Gaia's Wrath, Stands at Twelve Rivers, and a whole host of other names.
Pleasure." She nods, finished her introduction.
Esther comes down the valley from the northeast.
Red-Belly comes down the valley from the northeast.
At the center, Velia looks to the assembled, smoothing her long white hair.
"Velia Iceheart, Fostern Silver Fang Full Moon. I now pack with Dawn's
Fire, and have presented my chiminage to the Sept of the Hidden Walk." She
gives a gesture of thanks towards Brian and quietly takes her place beside
Scott.
Esther drags the metis back into the caern, paying no attention to the fact
that he's clutching painfully at his shoulder.
At the center, Nightflash shifts slowly up to the warform and speaks to the
gathering. ~Nightflash, of the Children of Gaia, Ahroun. I come from the
Sept of the One World.~ Then he slips back to his former lupus.
Lightseeker gives a quiet, approving snort at... something.
At the center, Quiet's attention sharpens on the lupus.
Red-Belly grimaces, more ashamed of being dominated than the pain of his
shattered collarbone.
At the center, Tim Carnie blinks, and glances Bailey's way, giving positive
identification to himself.
By the waterfall, Hayes comes down the trail from the rim above.
By the waterfall, Hayes heads into the center.
Red-Belly opens his mouth to say something snappy, then shuts his motuh with
an audible *click*.
Esther hustles Red-Belly through the Caern to the roc outcropping, and leaves
him there with a final growl in his ear.
At the center, Bailey steps up to the center, and in a clear voice says
"Bailey Jacobsen, Night's Justice. Cliath Glasswalker Gibbous Moon. Recent
addition to the Hidden Walk." he nods quietly, and steps down.
From the rock outcropping, Soren goes home.
By the steam vents, Dusty glances briefly over his shoulder at the newcomers,
a hint of a scowl darkening the downy features before he glances back. He
removes his coat with careful motions, tossing it to the ground, and then
shifts up to the warform, presumably for a better vantage point.
Red-Belly heads back along the Wheel towards the wall and the rock slab.
From the rock outcropping, Red-Belly comes back along the Wheel from the east.
At the center, Hayes moves out of the convenient background mass of quiet
people to perform his introduction. "Hayes, Galliard and Gaian. Recently
returned, and barring disaster, back for good." He steps back.
At the center, Collin glances over at Hayes, waiting his turn apparently. He
just kinda grins, though the faint nervous expression on his face is
quickly quashed.
Jimmy Wilson gives a tight smile to Esther and Red Belly as they arrive and
pass through.
At the center, Chases-the-Wind steps forward and faces the assembled Garou.
This one is Chases-the-Wind. Wendigo Fostern Ahroun.
Lightseeker peers at Chase in confusion.
At the center, Steven stares.
At the center, Shea arches an eyebrow.
Esther rolls her eyes skywards, giving Jimmy a quick grin. She seems a whole
lot more relaxed, for some reason. She settls quietly, to watch the rest of
the introductions.
From the rock outcropping, Red-Belly skulks in a small hollow, nursing his
wounds and scowling at the assembled Garou, particularly Esther, whom he
delivers an acidic glare to.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder blinks, and growls softly down at the
Wendigo, eyes looking immediately for Soulcatcher, but then looks to Jose.
At the center, Collin seems pretty darn amused by Red-Belly, but he doesn't
make a comment at this time.
At the center, Chases-the-Wind pages all "Sorry. Cliath, not fostern."
At the center, Quiet had been studying Hayes with her packmates, their mixed
emotions at their ex-packmate's return muted, except for Cassandra's scowl.
However, they also turn to watch the mound, Quiet's ears twitching in
momentary confusion.
At the center, "I am Jose Figueroa. Grande moon. Cliath Bone Gnawer.
Jabs-with-the-Left. Cracks-Skulls. I bring the light of Helios to fight the
filth in the city." He turns while speaking, addressing everyone within
hearing, then walks back to Pete, placing the case at Brian's feet before
standing behind Pete.
Lightseeker's expression clears.
At the center, Quiet gives a satisfied whurf. Davy flashes a tight grin.
At the center, Pete Barlow gives a nod and a wide smile as Jose introduces
himself, looking at the case with approval.
From the rock outcropping, Red-Belly makes his way back around the Wheel,
towards the vents to the south.
By the steam vents, Red-Belly circles the Wheel, coming in from the north.
Jimmy Wilson smiles as Jose makes his intro. "Tell 'em how it is, hermano."
By the waterfall, Sepdet smiles thinly at the new Wendigo's introduction and
flicks her gaze briefly across to Soulcatcher, then returns her attention
fixedly to the Strider cub, observing him with such a critical air that
you'd think she'd need a clipboard to take notes.
At the center, Seshemw looks over towards the steam vents, and Red-Belly, with
a touch of a sharp look.
By the waterfall, Elan gives a grin and thumbs-up to Jose.
At the center, Morgan offers Jose another nod as he comes back towards Pete.
By the steam vents, Red-Belly heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Casper gives both Bailey and Jose smiles and nods.
By the steam vents, Deep-Fires keeps his watch as Red-Belly approaches, though
he does direct a sharp glance at the injured metis, then turns back as he
leaves.
At the center, Brian glances down at the case that Jose lays at his feet, and
follows the Gnawer's progress back to his tribemates with his eyes. He then
turns his eyes back to the case, and nudges it carefully with his toe --
almost as if he were half-expecting it to detonate or something.
At the center, Jose Figueroa winks at Morgan and smacks his fist into his
palm, looking at Casper and Elan.
At the center, Bailey looks back to the waterfall, and blinks a few times.
At the center, Bailey then shifts his gaze to the windy area, looking at his
elder.
At the center, Pete Barlow looks over at Jose. "Tell the Boss what it is,
Josie."
By the waterfall, Casper looks as if he's forgotten something and leans over
to whisper to Elan.
Douglas comes down the valley from the northeast.
Douglas heads towards the waterfall.
By the waterfall, Douglas comes along the Wheel from the north.
By the waterfall, Douglas runs up to Casper out of breath and yells, "WHATS
GOING ON AROUND HERE?!?"
By the waterfall, Casper stands up and wanders over to Douglas, muttering to
him quietly.
At the center, Seshemw's ear twitches idly, and he looks his Tribe's cub over
from head to foot, then whirls at the outburst.
At the center, Jose Figueroa makes an O with his mouth. "'s a talen to use
against the bloodsuckers. Three shots. Make 'em hurt like hell with the
power of the sun."
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing blinks calmly at the 'Gazer.
By the waterfall, Sepdet flinches and shifts up to warform, raising her staff
in preparation for a swing. Douglas narrowly misses getting clobbered.
By the waterfall, Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
By the waterfall, Sepdet shifts into Crinos form.
At the center, Collin blinks, then turns to peer at Douglas, "Wha?"
At the center, Scott whistles with appreciation as Jose explains his
chiminage, and then glances back calmly in the direction of the outburst.
At the center, Seirian turns her head sharply at the yell, rising to her knees
abruptly.
At the center, Red-Belly steps forward, a little sheepishly, wincing with the
pain of his fresh wound.s "Uh. Red-Belly Devils-Shame, Cliath of the
Uktena, formerly of the Sept of the Silent Currents, son of
He-whose-Name-Is-Obliterated, and uh... well the list goes on for a little
while. Anyway, aloha."
By the waterfall, Douglas looks confused.
By the waterfall, Casper gets an apologetic look and brings Douglas down to
the center.
By the waterfall, Douglas says "Introduced to who?"
Lightseeker curls her lip, slightly, at the Uktena's introduction.
By the waterfall, Elan growls at Douglas and nods as Casper collars the boy.
At the center, Chases-the-Wind turns and glares at Douglas.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder suddenly snarls at the interruption,
eyes locking on to Casper with an icy glare, then looks to Wolf-Dancer.
At the center, Hayes comments quietly, to no one in particular, "Our
philosophical inquiry goes to eleven."
By the waterfall, Casper heads into the center.
At the center, Velia turns a cool gaze upon Red-Belly, looking at him as if he
were a cuts chart.
At the center, Brian nods slightly in answer to Jose, and lifts the case in
one hand. He brings it back over to the Gnawer and hands the case back as
he mutters a few hushed words.
By the waterfall, Sepdet carefully wraps her hands around her staff and
subsides, not looking particularly apologetic for her somewhat jumpy
reflexes.
By the waterfall, Douglas looks less confused but still speaks loudly and
firmly, "I am Douglas, without Deed-name, Ahroun Stargazer Cub, of the
Caern of the Hidden Walk."
At the center, Erik's attention jerks toward Douglas sharply, and finally the
Galliard's lunar restlessness and unease prompts him to flicker into his
birth form, reflexively baring yellowed fangs.
Jimmy Wilson watches Brian and Jose carefully, wondering what's going on.
At the center, Collin just sort of peers at Douglas, then shakes his head with
an amused look on his face.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing snorts at the cub, and resumes his watch.
At the center, Casper adds quietly, "He has not yet undergone his first
change..."
At the center, Seshemw narrows his eyes a little at the Stargazer cub, then
looks over at Casper.
At the center, Seirian settles back down to her seat, brushing her hair from
her face and resuming her watching.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer pads forward, shifting up to hispo as she does, a
slight expression of shame on her features as she does so. ~Wolf-Dancer,
Kathryn MacRonan, Cliath Galliard of the Fianna. Lately of the Sept of the
Green, New York.~ She resumes her lupus form, and pads back to her place.
At the center, Davy settles a sour look on Casper. "Sit on him, or he won't."
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder growls at Casper, echoing her
tribemates comment, then looks to Tim.
By the steam vents, A soft growl comes from the direction of the steam vents.
Apparently Deep-Fires' quiet demeanor is not totally impervious.
At the center, Velia nods quietly to Tim, offering silent support.
At the center, Sings-in-Shadow moves a step back and settles into a crouch in
the fog, his ears turned backwards. The skeletal Crinos figure looks a
touch incongrous, however, with a scarf coiled around his thin neck and a
woolly hat sitting lopsided on his head.
At the center, Casper bows in aplogy to Ravenfeeder and returns to Douglas's
side, pulling him down gently beside him.
By the waterfall, Douglas heads into the center.
At the center, Having returned the case, Brian makes his way back towards his
packmates.
At the center, Collin goes back to waiting for his turn to introduce himself,
yup. He grins over at Bailey once.
At the center, Bailey nods, smiling at his friend.
At the center, Robert looks over towards Douglas and waves a hand in the cub's
direction. "That should help a while," he mutters softly.
At the center, Steven just glares at Kathryn. No welcome from this Galliard.
At the center, Seshemw taps a claw against the wood of his staff for a few
moments, then goes back to impassive watching.
At the center, Douglas returns the wave with a half-assured smile.
At the center, Pete Barlow studies Brian's face after the quiet interaction,
watching the Fianna all the way back to his pack. The big Gnawer elder
purses his lips and nods, a respectful nod... possibly.
At the center, Douglas sits down and keeps quiet.
At the center, Tim Carnie blinks as attention is brought on him. He swallows
hard, and steps forward. Once positioned, standing up straight, he gives
one last glance at Bailey before introducing himself. ~Tim Carnie. For now,
given the name Second Chance. Galliard cub of the Silver Fang tribe.~ His
expression is somber, and his voice completely dead-pan, after the last bit
of nervousness departs with the first words.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing whuffs approvingly.
At the center, Casper looks a little flustered, his face flushed. He stares at
the ground quietly.
At the center, Seirian's face goes quiet as Wolf-Dancer after gives her
introduction, expression completely neutral.
Lightseeker gives Kath a not-terribly angry glance, then brightens at Tim's
introduction.
At the center, Bailey stares at the Fang, slightly open mouthed.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder blinks with surprise at Tim's deed
name, an ear flickering with strained bemusement.
At the center, Scott doesn't even seem to acknowledge Kathryn's existance, his
eyes passing right over her where he crouchs next to his packmates. Tim
gets a small smile of approval from the Fostern at his introduction.
At the center, Velia seems very pleased indeed.
At the center, Tim Carnie checkes the reaction before returning to his
previous place.
At the center, Collin blinks at Bailey, then says something to him quietly.
At the center, Brian, like his packmates, doesn't reserve any particular
warmth with which to welcome Kathryn.
At the center, Sings-in-Shadow glances at Wolf-Dancer and then away, the
movement of his head causing the hat, poorly balanced, to fall off. He
glances down at it, distracted, and then picks it up, holding it absently
in his single hand.
At the center, A glint of interest colors Kyle's otherwise stony expression
during Tim's introduction, but otherwise the Get is taciturn throughout the
ceremony.
By the waterfall, Laughs watches the proceedings with quiet interest; holding
back any noise in reaction to the introductions.
By the waterfall, Sepdet resumes her scrutiny of Collin after a faint
speculative glance towards Tim.
At the center, Jean steps up to address those present. He looks a bit nervous
as he blinks a few times gazing out over some of the faces. "I am Jean,
Galliard Child of Gaia and born of the two legs." He then pauses a moment
as if to make sure it is okay before stepping down.
At the center, Collin ooooohs at Bailey.
At the center, Jose Figueroa picks up his case again, turning to Pete and
Morgan and muttering something to the two.
At the center, Tim Carnie merely raises his head slightly, and turns it to
look at Bailey.
At the center, Quiet splays her ears at Jean, then turns to look at Lawrence.
At the center, If it's possible, Lawrence displays even more hesitance -- and
reticence -- than Jean. He clears his voice a few times before speaking.
"My name's Lawrence Hammil. I'm a half moon, and a Child of Gaia, and a
cub." He seems to draw a little courage as he concludes, and speaks his
tribal affilation, at least, with some conviction. Before he moves away
from the mound he looks back up at Megan and mutters, hastily, "Thank you,
ma'am."
At the center, Morgan cuts off her laugh before it slips out. She smacks Jose
on the arm.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing looks faintly nostalgic at Lawrence's
introduction.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder's ear twitches and she snorts with
amusement, looking next to Collin.
At the center, Soren frowns at Lawrence's reticence, shaking his head slightly
from where he stands beside Quiet.
At the center, Now that it's his turn, Collin steps right on up, seeming
totally at east standing in front of all these Garou. Yeah. Right. It's a
given that he's probably nervous as hell but he's certainly doing his best
not to show it. "Name's Collin. A cub. I found out Silent Strider Ragabash,
though I *still( have to learn when exactly to be silent, that's what got
me up here talking in front of everyone." he backs out of the center of
attention fairly quickly once he's done saying that.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing snorts at Collin. Obviously not.
At the center, Bailey stifles a chuckle.
At the center, Seshemw makes a mark on his staff with a clawtip before
returning his steady gaze to Collin. Impassive, or trying for it.
At the center, Quiet gives Lawrence a supportive glance as well, then changes
her attention to Soren. She doesn't react with anger, but her ears tilt
forward.
By the waterfall, Elan seems pleased by Collin nonetheless.
By the waterfall, Sepdet manages to frown from the nose down and smile from
the nose up, lips scowling slightly while her eyes crinkle.
At the center, Tim Carnie raises an eyebrow slightly at Collin's introduction.
At the center, Brian's expression lightens a little as the cubs introduce
themselves. This kind of business, apparently, allows him to put some of
the earlier unpleasantness behind him.
At the center, Collin mutters to Bailey when he reaches him, "I *knew* I'd get
my chance to bug the entire Sept sooner or later. Now they'll never be free
of me. Muah-ha-ha."
At the center, Seirian manages a small smile at Collin's introduction.
At the center, Douglas only slightly chuckles.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder throws Sepdet a brief glare, then looks
to Away for the last introduction.
By the waterfall, Sepdet presses the heel of one fist to the bridge of her
snout for a moment and glances over towards Paul with a faint sigh.
By the waterfall, Laughs's tail thumps at Collin's self-introduction.
At the center, A lean lupus pads nervously from the back, ill at ease
surrounded by so many, especially all the apes. His introduction is short,
and he slips back into a more comfortably distant point as quickly as
possible afterwards: Away, half-moon cub. Being trained as a Red Talon.
At the center, Seshemw simply makes another mark on his staff, then turns it
so his other paw covers the glyphs.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder chuffs softly, then looks to Robert and
waits while offering him the bones.
At the center, Bailey waves Tim over, whispering.
At the center, Collin says to Bailey lowly, "I should go and get whupped by
Sepdet. Catch you later, man." and then he starts right on his way over to
her.
At the center, Robert heads northwest, towards the rocky slab.
From the rock outcropping, Robert comes towards the slab from the caern center.
At the center, Velia follows Tim with her eyes, keeping a casual but
everpresent watch out for him.
At the center, Tim Carnie turns his attention to Bailey, then glances at
Collin.
At the center, Collin heads southeast, towards the waterfall.
By the waterfall, Collin approaches the waterfall from the center of the caern.
By the waterfall, Collin heads on over to Sepdet, then grins at her.
By the waterfall, Sepdet changes to a less-clawed shape, bends down at the
water's edge, scrabbles around for a bit, then picks up an egg-sized
water-smoothed stone and reaches for Collin's mouth.
By the waterfall, Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
By the waterfall, Sepdet shifts into Glabro form.
At the center, Tim Carnie watches as Collin leaves, then speaks quietly at
Bailey.
From the rock outcropping, Robert takes the bones and turns to face as many of
the assembled Garou as possible. "First, Challenge news. Cutter passed his
Challenge from JJ Malone, and is now to be counted among the Fostern. The
Challenge between Nimue Guides-the-Misguided and Megan Ravenfeeder has been
dissolved, and both are free of its constraints."
By the waterfall, Collin blinks quietly at Sepdet as she does this, then looks
pretty amused, accepting what's gonna come.
At the center, Bailey follows Collin back to the waterfall/ He turns to Tim,
motioning for him to follow.
By the waterfall, Elan grins at Cutter.
By the waterfall, Sepdet pops it in and then turns back to watch those at the
center.
At the center, Clouded Sky looks to Ravenfeeder at that news, an ear quirking
backward before she turns back to Robert.
By the waterfall, Collin begins gnawing on the stone a bit, turning his
attention back to th center too.
At the center, Tim Carnie tips the brim of his hat down, and slowly follows,
giving brief glance back at Velia and Scott as he heads out.
Lightseeker's ears go forward at the news of Cutter's success.
At the center, Quiet had turned toward Robert, but she gives a quick
involuntary glance toward Soren before returning her attention to the Arm.
At the center, Bailey heads southeast, towards the waterfall.
By the waterfall, Bailey approaches the waterfall from the center of the caern.
Dillan whistles quietly at the news, giving off the impression that he may be
impressed with his packmate, for once.
By the waterfall, Bailey looks at Collin as he enters the area, and chuckles,
whispering.
By the waterfall, Piddles flicks an ear in comprehensibly.
At the center, Scott meets Tim's eyes, and indicates he should come over to
where Dawn's Fire sits with a motion of his head and eyes.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing looks down at Collin, and then turns back to
his watch, ears amused.
From the rock outcropping, Robert looks around and continues, "Jimmy Wilson
has Challenged Pete Barlow, both sons of Rat, for the Rank of Fostern. The
Challenge has been accepted, with the Challenge to be made clear later." He
looks over the group again, then says, "As for more caern-related news..."
By the waterfall, Bailey looks back at Tim and Scott's exchange. He nods.
At the center, Pete Barlow smiles broadly at the announcement of the
Challenge. Those around him can hear him say to Morgan, "Gonna bust that
kid a new bung hole."
At the center, Tim Carnie stops short, raising his head to acknowledge Scott's
silent request. He gives a glance towards Bailey, signaling 'Later on.',
then heads over towards Dawn's Fire.
From the rock outcropping, Robert gives a short sigh, then says, "The tribal
elders need to inform the Guardians, myself included, when a member of
their tribe has given chiminage and can be allowed on the bawn and into the
caern. Anyone not mentioned will be chased off the bawn. Period."
At the center, Morgan just crosses her arms, in response.
By the waterfall, Bailey nods at Tim again, waving.
By the waterfall, Collin looks like he'd laugh, but he still has a rock in his
mouth, so he's not entirely able. He just kinda grins at Sepdet, then Baily
in turn.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing's ears flicker again at Robert's announcement.
About time.
Jimmy Wilson hears Pete's words and grins, giving the Gnawer Uncle a sloppy,
semi-military salute.
At the center, Brian's expression falls a little when Robert announces the
dissolution of Megan's challenge, but he forces a mostly-neutral look back
to his face. He leans forward a little at the hint of more caern-related
news.
JJ Malone looks mildly surprised at the challenge announcements, and slides a
mirror-shaded glance over to the named Gnawer ragabash, studying with a not
entirely approving, speculative look for a moment, then just as coolly
slides back towards the rock.
At the center, Pete Barlow gives a nod toward Robert. "Can we leave word up at
the Big House instead of trackin' y'all down?"
By the waterfall, Bailey chuckles, and whispers to Elan again.
By the waterfall, Collin gnaws on the rock some more. Yup, he seems to be
busily amusing himself with it.
By the steam vents, Deep-Fires also shifts slightly and glances back, seeming
more than pleased at the announcement. Thank Gaia for small mercies, his
attitude seems to shout.
At the center, Isaac twitches an ear and looks from Collin to Sepdet and back.
At the center, Tim Carnie sits down near Scott, and glances at the elder.
At the center, Seshemw continues to watch Collin, and his activities, with
rarely blinking green eyes.
At the center, Seshemw keeps an ear canted towards the Outcropping all the
same, though.
By the waterfall, Collin leans forward to watch the business get discussed,
though, attentively. Finally, at least.
From the rock outcropping, Robert adds, "Oh, and cubs as well, obviously." The
Gaian looks over at Collin for a moment, then his gaze flicks to Red-Belly,
then over the group as a whole. "One more thing. Please act with some
manner of decorum in the caern during a moot. Anyone who defiles the
sanctity of the moot with horseplay can expect to be summarily quietly or
ejected from the caern." He turns and hands the bones back over to
Ravenfeeder and steps back into the center.
By the waterfall, Collin blinks once.
Jimmy Wilson says quietly, "No refunds."
From the rock outcropping, Robert heads into the center.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder involuntarily chuffs agreement as the
transfer is made, then searches out Esther in the crowd, beckoning her up
with a tiny movement of the ends of the bones.
At the center, Jean contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
At the center, Jean ripples and changes, slipping into Lupus form.
Esther takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders, and steps out of the
gathering, onto the rock outcropping.
At the center, Pete Barlow gives a shrug and a smile. "Guess that was a yes,"
mutters Barlow to Morgan and Davy. He turns though to follow Esther's
movement.
At the center, Sings-in-Shadow's ears swivel backwards and then forward,
fixating on the rock that is now the focus of the moot. His long muzzle
lifts slightly, the dry, discolored nose sniffing.
At the center, Jose Figueroa goes home.
At the center, Brian nods, satisfied, at Robert's last 'suggestion'. His
expression resolves into a hint of a smile.
By the waterfall, Elan grows quiet, brings his knees up, and settles into a
more contemplative position.
Esther looks at Ravenfeeder for a moment, lifts her chin, and turns back to
face the Sept.
At the center, Small_Wolf lays down and quietly watches.
By the waterfall, Bailey grabs his place next to Collin.
By the waterfall, Collin stretches out a little as Bailey walks on over. His
back pops twice.
By the waterfall, Piddles scratches one ear suddenly, then subsides.
Esther raises her voice enough for it to carry across the Caern. ~Lightseeker.
Could you bring Kathryn, Wolf-Dancer, and Quaid, Two-World-Wolf, forward,
please?~
By the waterfall, Collin pauses, then bites at his lip. He's watching this
attentively.
Jimmy Wilson does the opposite of Collin, deciding that comfort isn't what he
particularly needs right now. He stands up, making sure he's not in
anyone's way to watch the proceedings, then puts his full attention on
Esther, Wolf-Dancer and the others around them.
At the center, Seirian pulls her knees up to her chest as she watches calmly
and intently.
By the waterfall, Sepdet continues to let Collin chew on his words, not
looking in his direction right now. Her mouth and jaw tightens as the Moot
proceeds to more unpleasant matters.
JJ Malone looks at this portion of the Cracking with interest, and not
apparently knowing what's going on.
Esther heads back along the Wheel towards the wall and the rock slab.
From the rock outcropping, Esther comes back along the Wheel from the east.
Lightseeker snorts, and rises to her feet, collecting Quaid and Wolf-Dancer,
escorting them to the place of judgement firmly.
At the center, Seshemw turns his head, now one ear cocked towards Collin but
his full attention turning to the Outcropping.
At the center, Tim Carnie tenses up as events cause a push in similar
directions.
At the center, Velia lays a gentle hand on Tim's shoulder.
At the center, Sings-in-Shadow shivers violently, his pale, mostly-hairless
hide goosepimpling. He stands up, shifting back downwards, toward a human
shape with winter clothing. He seems to be forcing himself not to look at
Kathryn, and his jaw clenches.
At the center, Steven glares openly at the Fianna charach. His hands tense and
clench into fists, as his jaw sets, glancing at Esther.
At the center, Tim Carnie looks over at Velia's hand on his shoulder, then
over at Velia. His expression delivers to her the notion that he is
confused about what is going on.
At the center, Brian's mood turns south again, and his eyes narrow as he
regards the pair of lovers -- and Wolf-Dancer in particular -- with
thinly-veiled contempt. Absently, he sweeps the hem of his coat back so
that it rests behind the hilt of his klaive; it wouldn't be particularly
difficult to picture him as an enthusiastic executioner, if that were the
pronounced sentence.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder's green eyes narrow to slits as well,
and she backs off the end of the outcropping as Esther comes up and calls
the two charach up, giving her the stage and fading into the stonework.
By the waterfall, Collin just sort of watches, leaning forward. His expression
is, for a change, pretty dang serious. He seems anxious too.
At the center, Seirian's expression fails to mirror that of her tribemates,
remaining staunchly neutral, if not sad.
By the waterfall, Bailey leans forward as well, worry painting a bright image
on his face.
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing just keeps guarding.
At the center, Chases-the-Wind shifts to homid as he moves toward where Quaid
stands, he makes sure not to interupt anything.
From the rock outcropping, Esther's face is grim, as she watches Lightseeker
bring the two cliaths forwards. ~Let the whole Sept know that Kathryn,
Wolf-Dancer, is found guilty of breaking the First Law, in the Cave of
Winds, and in the Promontary cave. Let the Sept know that Quaid,
Two-World-Wolf, is found guilty of the same violation of the Litany, with
Kathryn.~
At the center, Seshemw is attempting, fairly well, to emulate Anubis of old.
Neutral or simply silent, but not visibly reacting. Well, aside from
lifting his muzzle ever so slightly.
At the center, Pete Barlow listens with a guarded frown, hands deep in the
pockets of his heavy coat.
At the center, Seshemw's resolve cracks a little. Growl slipping out as places
are named. Then back to silence and watching.
Lightseeker raises a lip, slightly.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer does not raise her head, avoiding looking at
anyone, or anything, save the ground beneath her paws.
At the center, Erik's eyes shift of their own volition toward the rock. The
Metis makes no pretence of neutrality; the disgust, horror, and even deep
personal offence as he stares at the charachs is easily visible, the
emotions sketched large across his deformed face.
At the center, Isaac's ears lay flat against his head at this pronouncement,
and he watches with interest for the punishment to be delivered.
Jimmy Wilson shakes his head and says quietly, "This is almost like that
Scarlet Letter movie. Demi Moore's such a babe."
By the waterfall, Collin tries *not* to snicker for a chang at Jimmy's
comment, and manages to succeed for the most part. Having a rock in his
mouth helps too.
At the center, Steven cuts short a feral growl, and looks toward Brian, his
lips curled in disgust and in shame for his tribe. He forces his hands to
unclench, though his jaw remains set.
From the rock outcropping, Esther takes another breath, her stern gaze not
leaving the two charachs. ~For this, there must be punishment, so that you,
and others, will know that the Law is sacred, and cannot be broken without
suffering thesame pain and shame brought on Gaia by that action.~
By the waterfall, Sepdet's grim but weary expression briefly contracts into a
shocked scowl at the Gnawer's joking tone, although, being movie
illiterate, she misses the exact joke.
At the center, Chase barely supresses a look of disdain for the last part of
Esther's comment.
Lightseeker, for her part, growls almost soundlessly at the Gnawer.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder's gaze whips to Jimmy and she growls
softly but with warning, utter contempt on her face briefly.
At the center, Brian's expression remains stony, though the green of his eyes
easily conveys what he's feeling: disgust, contempt, and a bit of shame. He
reaches over to rest a reassuring hand on Steven's shoulder even as he
thrusts his other hand into a pocket.
At the center, Nightflash remains quiet, somewhat tense as the matter is
discussed, but far less reactionary than many of the other Garou seem to be.
JJ Malone, like Erik, scowls with icy anger and contempt at the two with
Esther on the rock.
At the center, Tim Carnie continues to look towards Velia questioningly.
Seeing reactions towards Quaid, but not comprehending Esther's words fully,
his teaching in that tongue incomplete, only serves to tear holes in the
mind of the cub. These holes seek to be filled with answers.
At the center, Velia eyes the two with quiet intensity, turning the full of
her contempt upon them.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer, feeling the eyes of many upon her, finally looks
up. She quietly scans the gathering of Garou around her, turning her gaze
finally to Esther. She does not look at Quaid.
At the center, Hayes listens to Esther's speech with approval. Perhaps not so
much for the words themselves, but for how effectively she's working the
mood of the crowd with them.
From the rock outcropping, Esther ignores the reactions around her, her voice
continuing unrelentingly. ~For your actions, both of you are banished from
this Sept. Kathryn, through your weakness of will,, you will suffer the
Stone of Scorn, so that you can learn more of your failings. Quaid, for
your lack of self-control, will be given the chance to learn to control
yourself without the fires of Rage to contend with. You shall receive the
Rite of the Stolen Wolf.~
At the center, Judging by his expression, one might guess that Kyle's contempt
for the Charach is mild in comparison to that of the majority of the Sept.
At the center, Clouded Sky takes in a sharp breath.
At the center, Seirian's eyes close for a moment and then open, and she
relaxes imperceptibly.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder's ears flicker in reaction to Esther's
pronouncement.
At the center, Tim Carnie glances around, eyes taken off of Velia. They
briefly stop on Erik, then he turns them back towards the rock outcropping.
A momentary check of the reactions to Esther's words, and he once again
shifts gaze to Velia.
By the waterfall, Elan nods at the pronouncement of Quaid's punishment.
At the center, Seshemw's ears flick once as well.
At the center, Pete Barlow shakes his head, a hiss of air escaping out his
mouth at the punishments. "Worse than fuckin' death."
By the waterfall, Sepdet nods grimly to herself, apparently unsurprised by the
sentence.
At the center, Chase growls at the words, his disdane apparent.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer remains impassive as judgement is passed, silently
accepting her fate.
From the rock outcropping, Esther's glare still rests on the charachs. ~Word
of your sshame shall be carried by the Galliards to every Sept they pass
through. If you are ever found guilty of such a crime again, the punishment
shall be worse.~
By the waterfall, Bailey closes his eyes, and gnaws on his lower lip.
Lightseeker's ears go forward, then back again as she stares at Chase.
At the center, Erik's left hand clenches and unclenches slowly, opening and
closing.
At the center, Brian might've been hoping for a slightly more gory conclusion
to the whole affair, but nods slowly, satisfied. At an appropriate pause,
he calls towards the outcropping, "For how long shall they be banished,
half moon?"
JJ Malone sneers openly, focus crystalizing on Chase as the rage of an ahroun
under full moon begins to seethe within him.
At the center, Velia's eyes blaze a bit.
At the center, Steven, unlike his Righ, seems to think that execution would be
too little, little is said verbally. He lets his eyes and stance speak for
him.
At the center, Tim Carnie turns quickly, hearing a mention of the sentence
spoken in a language he fully comprehends. A brief gleam, not of any happy
thought, shimmers over his usually-dull eyes.
Jimmy Wilson looks as if ready to open his mouth and say yet something else
that will be undoubtedly offensive to many, but decides against it. He
simply chews his lower lip for the time being, keeping his mouth closed.
From the rock outcropping, Esther finally takes her eyes off the Cliaths. ~Let
them pay Chiminage again. Such Chiminage as will be accepted here, now.~
At the center, Seirian's gaze flicks once to Kathryn, a vague emotion
flickering across them for the briefest of moments.
At the center, Brian nods again, slowly. For a moment he seems almost amused
by something, but the emotion evaporates quicksilver into the tension
evident through his frame.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer looks from Esther to Brian, then back to Esther.
She seems about to speak, but keeps silent.
At the center, Seshemw rumbles wordlessly into the silence, ears forward.
Awaiting acknowledgement before speaking.
At the center, Chase narrows his eyes even farther at Easther's words. He
seems on the verge of saying something, but is trying his best remain
silent.
By the waterfall, Collin just sticks near Sepdet now, watching real quietly.
Collin's quiet. Wow.
At the center, Erik's hand continues to open and close slowly, tension
radiating from him.
Lightseeker continues staring at Chase, anger more evident by the moment.
By the waterfall, Bailey opens his eyes, and calmly watches.
At the center, Tim Carnie is once again tensed by the atmosphere, but this
time, it is much more apparent.
At the center, Soulcatcher's crinos gaze, watching the judgement til this
moment, finally catches the younger Wendigo's movements and expressions.
Eyes that have been coldly watching the events, suddenly narrow.
At the center, Nightflash tries to get Esther's attention as well, with his
own question.
From the rock outcropping, Esther finally steps down from the rockyy slab,
releif being the emotion most evident in her features. She returns to her
packmat, grateful to be back in the crowd once more.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder takes the bones, and nods to Seshmw,
catching his look.
At the center, Seshemw steps to the outcropping and lays a hand on the bones,
only apparently going to make a short statement or question. ~It is my
understanding that the -condemned-,~ he starts, eyes locked on Chases, ~can
challenge their guilt and be set a Quest to prove that in Gaia's eyes, and
thus ours, they are innocent. They have, however, admitted to what they've
done. Am I in error on this?~
Dillan simply folds his arms and waits, watching. He betrays no emotion, save
some definite arrogance towards those being punished. He moves back behind
JJ, though, interest dimming.
At the center, Seshemw's last, is a bit more widespread than focused solely on
Chases.
By the waterfall, Collin blinks once again.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder flicks an ear, and speaks up
immediately, ~I do not think that is always the case. But maybe Cup-Breaker
will consider it,~ she adds with a nod to the Uktena, immediately looking
out to see if anyone else wants to speak on this.
From the rock outcropping, Esther looks over the assembled gathering, to
Seshemw. ~They both admitted guilt. The Gift of Gaia's Truth did not show
them to be lying. And I had the evidence I could sense with my own nose, as
well.~
Ash comes down the valley from the northeast.
At the center, Chase speaks up. "I for one support the idea for the Charach to
do this Quest."
At the center, Seshemw rumbles after Esther's statement, ~Then while some
might be less than content with the finding, or the sentence.~ His look
turns to glare. ~Silence!~
At the center, Nightflash takes a step forward to indicate that he does.
Lightseeker snaps at the air, about to add something but refraining when Paul
does it for her.
At the center, Seshemw continues without pause, ~There IS NO QUESTION of
guilt. And it is NOT your place to Question this, Cliath!~
Ash slips in near to Lightseeker.
By the waterfall, Collin just seems to be watching rather raptly now, wincing
once.
Lightseeker fills Ash in quietly on events to date.
At the center, Erik's throat convulses, a choked growl escaping from him.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder gives Seshemw a glance, then eases the
bones from his touch. She looks down icily at the other Wendigo ahroun.
~And it is a breach of etiquette to violate the bones. If you wish to
speak, you may wait your turn like the rest.~ She then looks back at Paul
questioningly.
At the center, Chase looks at Seshemw. "That is true, but we lupus aren't good
at not saying what we think."
At the center, Steven turns to stare daggers at Chase. Seething anger crosses
his face like a boiling seascape.
Lightseeker begins, quietly, to growl.
At the center, Seirian turns her eyes to Chase, her expression making it
rather clear that he's grossly out of line.
By the waterfall, Collin looks like he'd make a comment, but he still has that
stone in his mouth, yup.
By the waterfall, Piddles twitches both ears.
At the center, Clouded Sky looks at Chase, ears turning backward and eyes
narrowing.
Ash growls at Chase, hackles raising. I dislike being given his flaws by
nature of birthshape, she indicates so only those close can hear.
At the center, Tim Carnie is quite tense.
Anne crosses her hands over her chest, eyes seeking out Robert with a slightly
twisted smile.
At the center, Brian manages to keep himself from turning to look at Chase. He
keeps his hand on Steven's shoulder, however, as if feeling his packmate's
fury through that touch. ~Let's move on,~ he suggests tersely.
At the center, Velia manages by the thinest of threads to control her anger at
Chase.
By the waterfall, Piddles lays his ears flat.
From the rock outcropping, Esther 's eyes seek out Robert, among the assembled
Garou, her thoughts perhaps echoing those of the Fury's
At the center, Seshemw grinds his fangs, then says, ~You had best LEARN, or
you will be taught. There are times, places, and Ways to change a thing.
This is not it. Heed me.~ He hands the bones back to Megan, and steps away,
shaking with emotion over some part of this whole situation.
Jimmy Wilson finds a place to sit down now and watch the scene quietly as it
develops... from a safe distance.
By the waterfall, Bailey watches the scene, remaining stock-still.
By the waterfall, Sepdet folds her arms and continues to look grim, although a
little bit of curiosity seeps into her expression as Paul lingers with the
bones. She gives a short shake of her head as he concludes, apparently
still slightly baffled, and continues to watch.
At the center, Robert leaves his place near the very center and makes his way
over towards Chase.
At the center, Hayes glances up at the moon, shifting from foot to foot in
tension, glances at the throng of fuming people, and at Chase, and seems
rather surprised to still see a living being standing there.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder gives Seshmw a sharp look, and having
full possession of the bones, sweeps her anger-filled gaze over the
gathered, lighting on Brian and Robert. ~Alpha, Warder, will you please
deal with the next person who violates the order of the bones?~ She waits a
second, then looks over the gathering. ~Do any other wish to speak on this?~
At the center, Wolf-Dancer looks on as Robert make his way over to Chase, in
shock at the Cliath's outburst.
At the center, Nightflash does.
At the center, Steven glances back at Brian, when the ahroun's hand touches
his shoulder, and although he relaxes a hair, his expression is still full
of anger. He turns back to face Megan.
At the center, Tim Carnie glances back at Velia, and sees those visible signs
of anger. He grits his teeth.
At the center, In answer to Ravenfeeder, Brian simply nods. His glance towards
Steven might suggest that his choice of methods for 'dealing with' whomever
next violates the bones would be to allow his Galliard packmate to frenzy
all over them.
At the center, Kyle seems to be taking all this sound and fury in stride,
oddly enough.
At the center, As he nears Chase, Robert gestures towards, then away from
Chase, almost as if showing something to the Wendigo Ahroun. He sighs
softly, then turns and goes back towards the place he stood before.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer indicates that she would like the opportunity to
speak.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder's ears lay back flat on her skull and
peels lips back from her teeth, but she offers the bones out towards
Wolf-Dancer with impatience.
At the center, Wolf-Dancer takes the war-form so that she may hold the bones,
takes them from Ravenfeeder and speaks to all. ~I am suprised at the
punishment meted out here tonight. But hear this, I shall not fail in my
attempts to atone for my guilt, and that of my tribe. Honor shall be
restored to them, I hope, but may never be fully recognised by all, and I
am sorry for that. This bears ill for all, but try I shall, to make things
right again.~ She hands the bones back to Ravenfeeder, and looks to Esther
to see where she must be taken.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder's muzzle wrinkles, but then looks to
Nightflash, offering the stand to him.
By the waterfall, Sepdet tenses again as Wolf-Dancer ascends the rock, staring
across at her through the fog with a pained frown. One gets the distinct
impression that the Strider has watched something very similar before, and
is not particularly enjoying watching the scene play itself out again.
At the center, Nightflash moves up to take the bones, his stiff motions
betraying the tension that the ahroun must be feeling. Rather than take
them in his mouth, he simply stands next to Ravenfeeder as he asks his
question. How long will the male be without himself?
Lightseeker, in essence, shrugs.
At the center, Brian doesn't quite manage to stifle a malevolent little snort
at Wolf-Dancer's speech. One might guess that the gears in his head have
been working overtime to crank out appropriate ways for her to redeem
herself.
From the rock outcropping, Esther catches Ravenfeeder's glance. ~They are no
longer members or guests of the Sept. They are under the same rules that
any stranger would be,~ she says, in answer to the Fianna's question. ~Any
packs are free to ban them from their territory, if they wish. As for the
'male', the punishment will end when he learns self-control, and proper
respect for the sacred sites, laws, and tradtions. In the opinion of a
senior half-moon of his Sept, and his tribal elder, wherever he might be at
the time.~
At the center, Erik merely gazes in silent, disgusted, offended anger at
Wolf-Dancer, his hand clenched. After a moment, he wrenches his eyes away
as if unwilling to look at the charach.
At the center, Tim Carnie's tension does not subside, but is only built upon.
The cub seems uneasy.
At the center, Nightflash drops his eyes to the ground in thanks and moves
back to his previous spot.
By the waterfall, Collin just sort of stands near Sepdet, watching
attentively. In fact, he seems pretty dang quiet. Then again, maybe he just
doesn't want to get his ass kicked for getting out of line, or whopped on
the head by Sepdet's staff for taking the stone out of his mouth.'
By the waterfall, Elan gets up and walks closer.
By the waterfall, Elan heads into the center.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder jerks her head, and looks to Steven.
At the center, Steven clears his throat and then uneasily proceeds towards his
other packmate. He takes the bones from her and pauses, taking a deep
breath.
At the center, Steven heads northwest, towards the rocky slab.
From the rock outcropping, Steven comes towards the slab from the caern center.
From the rock outcropping, Steven coughs once. A slow moving neutrality comes
over his features and he nods towards the assemblage. "I don't want to drag
this out, but Brian asked I share this with the sept. I killed a vampire
last week... and she used to work in Wolf Woods National Park. I first saw
her while I was helping Moon Otter and the other lupus build the thorn
hedges along the paths for the humans. This vampire was a park ranger there
-- she told me her name was Laura -- and I was just concerned that there
might be more about the park. Or maybe even in the city. I've never heard
of a leech wanting to be away from the city before, but hell, I suppose you
discover something new all the time." He hands the bones back and mutely
takes his place near Brian once more.
From the rock outcropping, Steven heads into the center.
At the center, Kyle's cold eyes narrow at the bit of news, and he tracks
Steven as the Fianna walks back to his Alpha. With a small shrug he faces
again towards the bones, to see who will take them up next.
At the center, Clouded Sky listens raptly to Steven's tale, her nostrils
quivering with extreme interest.
From the rock outcropping, The look Esther directs at Steven bears a distinct
similarity to that which a lost mountaineer might direct upon the rescue
team.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder cuts off a growl, and looks next to
Elan.
At the center, Erik blinks a little, for a moment distracted from the sordid
charach issue.
Lightseeker looks distinctly curious.
At the center, Elan comes forward to take the bones.
At the center, Elan heads northwest, towards the rocky slab.
From the rock outcropping, Elan comes towards the slab from the caern center.
By the waterfall, Collin watches Elan, managining a grin now.
From the rock outcropping, Elan looks at the bones and clears his throat, then
looks to the others in the caern. "Two things. We got a revel tomorrow, and
it's in a place Cavall - along with Morgan and Arlen - scouted. I'd like to
meet with people through the night and into tomorrow 'bout what we found
there, and stuff. Got some hot news from ol' Ed 'bout that, too. But it's
something I can tell you guys in a bit.
He clears his throat, and continues. "'nother problem we got that can't wait.
Dunno who knows and who don't, so I'm saying it here. Steven's call is
right; we got vampires again in St. Claire. I'd like t' talk to some people
about it, especially Brian; pick his brain about what's gone down before
with these things. Jose, Bailey, Casper and others fought these new guys
not too long ago - Casper there got his first battlescar from it. He fought
damn well, to have lived. Anyway, I know something about leeches, and I
think we got wizard-vampires, 'cause of some of the stuff these guys
mentioned them doing. If that's the case, we got a shitstorm about to hit."
He hand the bones back to Ravenfeeder, and departs.
At the center, Velia looks to Tim, and makes ready to escort him back to the
farmhouse.
At the center, Tim Carnie stays tense, but notes Velia's preparations.
JJ Malone scowls at the news, and looks over the valley, searching for Kyle.
He holds the look, then looks back to Steven and Elan with predatory
observation.
At the center, Tim Carnie is quietly escorted out by Velia.
At the center, Tim Carnie heads southeast, towards the waterfall.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie approaches the waterfall from the center of the
caern.
By the waterfall, Collin nods his head in agreement with Elan. He bites on the
rock a bit.
By the waterfall, Sepdet is a bit too distracted at this point by the topics
of conversation to remember Collin's predicament. Between charach and her
other most favorite subject, the usually reserved theurge looks like she
could almost match the ahrouns tonight in wanting to rip something's head
off. She is fuming quietly at the ground and counting her toes.
At the center, Kyle's arms cross over his chest, and he observes Elan with a
hard scowl.
At the center, Ravenfeeder next acknowledges Brian, who gives Steven's
shoulder a squeeze before he makes his way to the outcropping. Once there,
Brian accepts the bones.
At the center, Brian heads northwest, towards the rocky slab.
From the rock outcropping, Brian comes towards the slab from the caern center.
From the rock outcropping, Elan goes to join his pack over by the waterfall
once more.
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie continues on his trek back, passing the others on
his way out.
From the rock outcropping, Elan heads into the center.
By the waterfall, Collin taps Sepdet, once, on the arm. Perhaps he's trying to
get her attention.
By the waterfall, Sepdet jerks her head up and nearly klonks Collin on the
chin, glaring at him for a split-second before wind's discipline reasserts
itself. Mutely she reaches up and removes the rock, taking care to set it
down silently rather than chucking it.
By the waterfall, Collin blinks at Sepdet, then mouths 'Sorry' to her.
From the rock outcropping, ~I don't have much to tell about the vampires,
Elan,~ Brian begins. ~I've only ever fought a few of them. But you can pick
my brain some time after the Revel.~ He then exhales, and looks out over
the assembly. ~For a moment, I stand before you not as your alpha, but as
the leader of the Fianna. I want to apologize, on behalf of all the Fianna,
for the shame that my tribemate has brought upon the sept with her actions.
We deeply regret this, and will do whatever is necessary to see to it that
she is not only taught the error of her ways, but also that she repays the
debt she owes you for tempering your justice with mercy.~
By the waterfall, Tim Carnie glances over his shoulder momentarily at Sepdet
and Collin, regarding the former based on their brief encounter during
another 'visit.' He touches the brim of his cap as if to silently bid good
night, and continues forward, watching for a moment longer.
By the waterfall, Sepdet mutters tightly to Collin, ~Not you.~ Then she
blinks, smiles sourly, and adds, ~Mostly.~ As the alpha speaks, she falls
silent again.
By the waterfall, Collin nods real quickly to Sepdet, then turns to watch and
listen to the Alpha-Dude.
Lightseeker accepts this solemnly.
From the rock outcropping, Brian exhales a breath before continuing. ~Now. As
your sept alpha, I want to say just two other things. First, I want to
reiterate what Robert discussed earlier: a moot is not a circus. In the
presence of the totems there are traditions that must be followed, or we
risk giving offense. In the future, the *correct* Litany will be called. In
the future, the Fool will speak *once* for each point of the Litany. And in
the future, the side-shows will *not* be tolerated. We gather here to
reaffirm who we are, to honor our totems and our ways. We will do this
properly, because I for one refuse to give offense to Fog and any other
spirits in our presence this evening by doing it *im*properly.~
At the center, Robert glances over at the silently staring Chases, then looks
back to the Alpha.
By the waterfall, Sepdet has regained control sufficiently to give her cub a
sidelong glance.
By the waterfall, Collin just kinda bites his lip. He does his best to look
innocent. That sort of expression like 'They couldn't be talking about *me*
could they?' expression.
By the waterfall, Sepdet's mouth tightens just perceptibly, like someone with
the faintest suspicion they just swallowed an insect in their last
mouthful. She meets Collin's gaze quietly.
By the waterfall, Collin mutters to Sepdet, "I know, I know."
Ash snaps her teeth idly in her tribe's cub's direction.
By the waterfall, Sepdet exhales forcefully and returns her gaze
front-and-center.
From the rock outcropping, Brian turns the bones over in his hands absently as
he concludes. ~Second is something I've already mentioned to the Garou who
dwell in the city. There are mages in St. Claire; most all of you know
this. Some of them have helped us in the past, and most of the others have,
at worst, stayed out of our way. I expect that we will show them the same
courtesy. Unless you need to defend yourself, unless you or your pack or
your Kinfolk or what we defend is threatened by one of them, leave them
alone. Don't attack them, don't threaten them, just leave them alone and
they'll hopefully leave us alone. I'd like to avoid a war with the mages if
we're going to be fighting leeches -- if you're unsure of whether or not
you should fight, don't decide for yourself. Come ask me. *I* will decide,
with Robert and the other elders, whether we'll go to war with the mages.~
Lightseeker looks faintly bemused.
At the center, Scott seems amused as well, although there is more
disappointment before he turns his eyes from the Alpha than anything else.
From the rock outcropping, Brian begins to hand the bones back, but pauses,
and adds, ~I'm not saying that you shouldn't tangle with them, or keep an
eye on them, or what have you. I just don't want a war with them, not now.
That's all, really -- temper your actions so that we don't end up fighting
on two fronts, like Scott mentioned earlier.~
By the waterfall, Falcon's Wing mutters, very quietly, So when's the wedding,
rhya?
From the rock outcropping, Since Falcon's Wing's mutter is inaudible past his
immediate area, Ravenfeeder doesn't look over to him as she takes the bones
back from Brian, then looks out, ~If there are no others who wish to speak,
this Cracking is over.~
From the rock outcropping, Brian closes his eyes and tilts his head back,
draws a breath, then reopens his eyes and hands the bones back to
Ravenfeeder. "Thanks," he says quietly, and heads down the outcropping to
rejoin Steven near the crystal formation at the center of the caern.
From the rock outcropping, Brian heads into the center.
At the center, Robert nods to Chase.
At the center, Chase steps forward and streatches out his hand for the bones,
respectfully.
Lightseeker's ears flatten again, as she begins paying very close attention.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder, in the process of driving the bones
into the ground, stops as she notices Chase's request. She looks
displeased, but beckons the ahroun forward, offering him the bones.
Ash pricks her ears and pokes at Lightseeker with her nose.
At the center, Chase steps up to Ravenfeeder and takes the bones from her. He
turns to look at the Garou. "I would like to first say I'm sorry for
speaking out of turn. Being Ahroun I sometimes find I do things before
thinking. I would like to comment on this war with the leeches. I was
involved in a battle with a few of them not long after arriving here. I
would warn all of you not to underestimate them as I did. I learned the
hard way that they can be just as deadly as we are. Well, that's all I have
to say. Sorry for taking up time." He turns and gives the bones back and
steps away.
Lightseeker just snorts at this announcement and turns away.
Ash's snarling is a low thrum in her area; she doesn't seem entirely aware
she's doing it.
From the rock outcropping, Ravenfeeder grunts a little, then gives a last look
around again, before driving the bones into the ground. ~The Cracking is
done.~
At the center, Wolf-Dancer cocks her huge lupine head to one side as she hears
Chase's words, then nods as she sees his point.
At the center, Steven snorts at Chase as he steps off the rocky stage.
"There's a fucking astonishing revelation," he spits venomously.
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