"We _are_ going together, then?"

[hazlogs]

It is currently 19:16 Pacific Time on Wed Mar 31 2004.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is partially cloudy. The temperature is 49
      degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in 
      from the southwest at 8 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.18 and 
      steady, and the relative humidity is 61 percent. The dewpoint is 36 
      degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing Gibbous Moon phase (72% full).

Rainbow Lake(#2713RJ)

	Long and narrow, the lake stretches a mile to the north and south, right at
      the heart of the woodland. Tall, silver beech trunks mix with the even 
      taller evergreens and dominate the mountain valley. Where the canopy has 
      been broken by a fallen tree, a riot of brambles and nettles have 
      erupted, clinging to anything and everything and fighting for light among 
      the thick forest. Underfoot there is a deep bed of mulch and last year's 
      leaves, muffling any footfall.

	Other plants have found a foothold where the beeches make way for the line of
      water. The edges of the lake are overhung by a wall of dark myrtle, their 
      scent hanging sweet and heavy in the air, giving the place a dreamlike 
      quality. The waters of the lake itself are a clear, unruffled indigo, 
      dropping into bottomless darkness, with otherworldly reflections of the 
      sky floating above the depths. Rainbow flashes of light play about the 
      reeds and weeds that break the surface here and there, throwing colors 
      into the air.

	Part of the valley around the lakeside to the south is clear of trees, and
      often here in the brush and grass a small herd of three woods buffalo can 
      be seen.

Atcen wanders down toward the lake, following the stream and swinging a stick
      back and forth. The Metis cub is lost in thought, her attention directed 
      more inward than outward.

Holly is even more lost, so much so the metis' approach is completely unseen.
      The theurge is 'dancing', apparently. Or maybe not. It's hard to tell at 
      first, but the closer Atcen gets the stranger it seems. She moves through 
      the meditative forms in slow motion, just like Jacinta showed her. Or she 
      tries to, correcting herself by backing up each time she makes a mistake. 
      eventually, in frustration, she just huffs and falls to the ground.

Atcen comes out of her reverie as Holly gives up the forms. "You almost had
      that one," she offers, encouragingly.

Holly startles, nearly jumping out of her skin. She offers Atcen a soft glare,
      despite obviously being irritated with herself for letting someone so 
      easily sneak up on her. "Ya think?" she says, unconvinced. "Jacinta told 
      me if I got tired and frustrated to stop for a while. so, I'll try again, 
      later. She teach you this, too?"

Atcen nods, moving closer. "Yes... And she told me that, too." Flopping down
      next to the Theurge, she hugs her knees to her chest.

Holly eyes the galliard, and her weariness allows her jealousy to show through
      just a little bit--a flare up of that competitive nature they share. 
      "Somehow I'm betting you're better at it than I am."

Jacinta can be seen or heard by the observant some distance away. She carries
      several saplings awkwardly under her glabro arms. She isn't yet aware of 
      the cubs, paying more attention to her steps and to the burden she 
      carries.

Holly looks over Atcen's shoulder, seeing the movement of the ahroun.
      Scrambling, she gets back to her feet and brushes dirt from her hands, 
      walking toward Jacinta. Curious eyes look over the little trees as she 
      asks, "Whatcha doing?"

Atcen eyes Holly sidelong for a bit, sucking her cheeks in. Rather than answer,
      she follows the other cub's look toward Jacinta and gets to her feet, 
      slowly, leaving the branch on the ground.

Jacinta carries the rough-cut saplings to the edge of the lake, by the building
      under construction. "I am making a maqii for you, for us. It will be 
      ready before you leave for your Rite of Passage."

Holly looks from Jacinta to the skeletal structure, considering it
      thoughtfully. "I'm sorry Jacinta-rhya, but what's Maqii mean, exactly?"

Where the trees meet the shore there is the beginnings of a small structure. At
      the moment, there are 6 vertical poles forming a rough rectangle, the 
      middle two spaced about 1/3 of the way back from the lake side. Four 
      bracing are tied at the top and about 2 feet from the bottom with sinew. 
      Continued work has added several more side poles, and a dug-out section 
      of earth under the far end of the wood side. 

 Not far from this construction, a deer hide is being stretched on a timber
      frame. Sinew is being dried, and bones, thoroughly cleaned, are being 
      prepared for other purposes.

Atcen bites her lower lip at mention of the Rite of Passage. Crossing her arms
      across her flat chest, he wanders closer to the uncompleted structure, 
      peering at it carefully.

Jacinta walks to the back of the structure and crouches down by the area that's
      been dug out, reverting to her breed form as she does. "The fire will be 
      here." Rising, she points at about knee height, still below the floor of 
      the structure. "The frame will heat, and we will put water on the stones, 
      here." Moving around to the side, she gestures to an area just after the 
      floor begins. "This is where we will sit, cleanse." And, finally, in the 
      area closest to the lake she points again. "And this is where the cooling 
      room will be."

Atcen wrinkles her nose, her mouth pulling into a deep frown.

Holly brightens as she gets it. "Ah, a sweat." The smile immediately fades as
      she glances quickly toward Atcen. Concern settles into the expression as 
      she looks back to Jacinta. "You sure that's a good idea?"

Jacinta follows the glance and watches Atcen closely as she answers the Theurge
      cub. "It is important. It is one of the Ways. Cleanse body, cleanse mind, 
      cleanse spirit." Now her gaze shifts to Holly, while her words are more 
      clearly for Atcen. "If one can learn to tolerate the Maqii, one need fear 
      no balefire's heat."

Atcen makes a grumbling, whining sort of noise, more lupine than human, low
      from the back of the throat. Her lower lip juts out. She's not pleased.

Holly looks at the structure. she, at least, doesn't appear to have any fear of
      it. Her comment is a bit irreverent, though, "Cleansing's good and all, 
      as long as it doesn't kill ya in the process, in'it?"

Jacinta's eyes narrow at Holly's tone, though she doesn't react verbally.
      Instead, she pats the palm of one hand against one of the upright beams. 
      "The maqii is a personal test. It cannot kill those with the wisdom to 
      know their limits."

Atcen makes a 'hrmph' noise and looks around for her branch. Finding it on the
      ground nearby, she picks it up and swings it back and forth, scowling.

Holly says nothing at the moment. Her look, moving from the building to Jacinta
      to Atcen, is sympathetic. She remains quiet, looking back to Jacinta when 
      Atcen scowls.

Jacinta drops her hand and crouches beside her pile of saplings. "Have you been
      practicing your forms?" Her gaze, and question, encompass both cubs.

"Yes," Atcen replies, sounding sullen.

Holly's answer is brighter than the galliards. "Just before you came, I was
      working on mine. Atcen said I almost had it."

Jacinta nods once, picking up the end of one of the sapplings. "Let me see you
      practice once through, together."

Atcen grunts. Turning, she flings the branch as far as she can into the lake,
      then takes a deep breath and shifts her stance into the initial form.

Holly looks surprised but pulls away from the maqii structure to stand next
      to--but not too close to--Atcen. She watches the stick fly before she 
      follows suit into the first form.

Jacinta appears to be paying very little attention, focused on the carefull
      placement of the saplings. In fact, she is paying close attention, 
      surreptitious though it may be. The cubs, having known her for two 
      months, may well be aware of this tack.

Atcen, jaw set stubbornly, moves through the forms carefully, like a student
      intent on perfect penmenship, or an artist unwilling to sully her eraser. 
      Her tongue pokes out unconsciously.

Holly concentrates on the form, and thus is fairly ignorant of whether Jacinta
      watches closely or not. The break from her earlier attempts seem to have 
      done the trick, because the form she was having trouble with comes 
      fluidly this time. None of her work is perfect, but she seems happier 
      with this effort, at least.

Jacinta waits until the cubs have finished and then leaves her work behind.
      "Assirrtuq! Assirrpaa!" She moves toward the area in which the two 
      practice and gestures them to join her.

Atcen hesitates, glancing sidelong at Holly.

Holly blinks out of her concentrated effort to look at Jacinta. Breaking
      formation, she moves, slowly at first, toward the ahroun. Meeting Atcen's 
      glance, she gestures for the galliard to come too.

Atcen does so, chewing on the inside of her cheek.

Jacinta nods, not even trying to suppress her grin. "Assirrtuq. You did very
      well. Atcen," she asks, looking up at the Metis, "Do you know the second 
      form as well as you do the first?"

Atcen nods hesitantly. "Yes... I show you?"

Holly stands still to watch, her eyes intently on Atcen.

Jacinta nods. "Run it full speed. Let me see your body flow through the shifts
      as water over broken stones."

Atcen nods back. She takes a breath, then does as the Ahroun instructs. At full
      speed, she makes mistakes that aren't made when she does the motions 
      slowly, but it's passable.

Jacinta watches with a critical eye. One hand ticks off the mistakes, making
      note of them silently. "Assirrtuq," she says as the cub completes the 
      task. "Very few errors." She turns that same critical eye to Holly, 
      looking her up and down several times without speaking. Eventually, she 
      grunts, and turns back to Atcen. "Teach it to her by tomorrow. Practice 
      together so that in three suns, I can watch you both do it without," She 
      holds up the hand that counted mistakes and pulls down 3 of the extended 
      fingers, "more than 2 errors. Understand?"

Atcen shifts back into a normal stance, hands laced together behind her back.
      "Yes, Jacinta-rhya," she says, sounding solemn and subdued.

Jacinta reaches a hand up to Atcen's chin, grasping firmly, but without malice
      or causing pain. "Smile, cub. You are doing well. Soon you and Turtle 
      will leave for your Rite of Passage, and when you return you will be 
      adult." There is excitement in the Ahroun's voice, anticipation in the 
      sparkle in her eye.

Atcen looks down at the elder -- though her height makes her look gawky and
      unfinished by comparison -- "We _are_ going together, then? Are any other 
      cubs going with us?"

Jacinta's grin shows teeth, but not in an aggressive way. Her hand drops away
      from the cub's chin and her arms cross over her chest. "Yes. You will go 
      together. No, there will be no others. It will be a Wendigo Rite of 
      Passage, a Wendigo test. I hope your punishment is close to complete, 
      because you still require training in the spirit world." There is a smirk 
      as she finishes, some mixture of pleasure and annoyance.

Atcen bites on her lower lip and nods. "I have a story," is all she says on
      that matter.

Jacinta purses her lips, apparently waiting for more. When no more seems to be
      coming, she sucks in a breath. "You are ready to perform for those of the 
      Sept who would listen?"

Atcen nods again, wordlessly. She appears apprehensive.

Jacinta also gives a slight nod. "Good. Then, as Galliard, I charge you with
      spreading the word of your upcoming performance. I suggest when it be 
      done soon, at a time when the moon is rising, and while it still wears 
      your face."

Atcen's brow furrows. "That is... it will be full _soon_."

Jacinta's eyebrows rise and fall, signifying her agreement. "Ii. Sooner is
      better, you have much left to learn."

Atcen wrinkles her nose a bit and nods again. "Sooner is better... Ii."

Jacinta moves back over to the maqii, continuing work on its construction.

Atcen watches for a moment before moving slowly forward. "Can I help?" she asks.

Jacinta turns a grin to the cub. "Ii. Of course." She picks up the end of one
      of the saplings and gestures with her head toward the other end. "This 
      will go here." She points to a position about halfway up the wall.

Atcen grabs the other end of the saplin and assists with a will, apparantly
      putting away her apprehensions about her Rite of Passage, her 
      up-and-coming 'performance', and the insidious purpose this structure 
      will be put to.

Holly watches the exchange between Atcen and Jacinta, and the theurge looks
      oddly amused--especially when her eyes find her sister cub. It's clear 
      she hadn't know the galliard had finished readying her story, and now her 
      eyes are hungry with curiosity.

Jacinta waves Holly over to help. "Your gifts are complete?"

Holly nods emphatically in answer to her elder. "Yes, Jacinta-rhya," she says
      as she helps Atcen lift the one end of the sapling. "All five of them are 
      ready, and I'm ready, too, to explain why I chose the laws inscribed on 
      each."

Atcen casts a pale, sidelong look at her fellow cub, appearing just as curious
      as Holly was earlier.

Jacinta bows her head to each. "Assirrtuq. I am pleased. Work with Atcen, then,
      though it is her role as moon dancer to spread the word, work with Atcen 
      to prepare your presentations. I will do anything you require, at your 
      direction."

Holly glances from Atcen to Jacinta before asking, "Who should we invite to the
      storytelling? Eanyone and everyone? Or just.. 'certain people'?"

Atcen cocks her head and joins Holly in looking at Jacinta.

Jacinta tips her head to the side, considering. "Invite any you have met and
      respect. Invite any of our tribe, or Elder Brother. Invite the elders of 
      each tribe and ask them to send their cubs. And, as you tell the other 
      Galliards, let it be known that it is open to any members of the Sept."

Holly glances to Atcen before she nods in response to Jacinta. "I can help do
      that, ya. Am I going to be presenting the spirit gifts at the same time?"

"And where should we do it?" asks the Metis.

Jacinta answers Holly with a simple, "Ii." With a grin, she turns to the Metis.
      "At the story tree, where you watched the challenge last night." She 
      pauses, grin traveling to her eyes. "What did you think of what you 
      heard?"

Atcen's brow furrows a bit, and it's a few moments before she answers. "They
      talked a lot," she says. "And I think that Josh-wa is easier to be with 
      when you are not _with_ him. Because when you are _with_ him, he says 
      stupid things and gets angry and is hard to talk to."

Holly stands back, listening to Atcen. Her expression remains neutral on the
      subject of Joshua.

Jacinta listens to Atcen with a carefully masked expression, though one corner
      of her lip twitches in amusement. When Atcen finishes she turns a glance 
      to Holly, to see if she has any reaction, but when the cub doesn't seem 
      to, she returns to Atcen. "What did you think of Leala's decision? What 
      did you think of the resolution of the challenge?"

Atcen purses her lips. "I think it was good... Try to keep him in their tribe.
      But I do not think Josh-wa will want to." She shrugs. "That Glass Walker 
      that winned... she is in the city lots? Never seen her before. The other, 
      sometimes I see her at the house. But she is not good elder, maybe. I 
      hear, she and Josh-wa fight, and he beated her."

Holly seems surprised at this. Having not spent much time near the bawn the
      past two weeks, she's missed all the excitement. All this comes as news 
      to her, apparently.

Jacinta's lips curl back from her teeth at the cub's last comment, though
      previously she had been nodding with approval. "And do you think fighting 
      is all there is to leading a tribe? If you and I fought, now, and you 
      beat me, would that make you better able to lead, than I?"

Atcen's lower lip juts out. "No, but how can she lead him if she _submitted_ to
      him? If she is not a good fighter enough to beat Josh-wa, she should have 
      thought of another way."

Holly seems like she might say something, but for now waits to see what Jacinta
      will say.

Jacinta allows her snarl to shift into a grin and she nods. "Yes. Fighting is
      important, it is what we are built for, why we live for Grandmother. But 
      it is not all there is. And if one cannot use ones brain to make good 
      decisions, one will lose, no matter how strong or fast or brave."

Atcen nods firmly. "She did not make a good decision. But maybe she learned,
      or... or." The metis shrugs. "Her challenge was _not_ fighting. That was 
      good, yes? They talk, and no one hurt. Glass Walkers want a _wise_ elder, 
      not one that can beat them all up in fight." She grins. "If they did, 
      maybe _I_ would be Glass Walker elder." Oh, look, Atcen made a joke!

Holly reacts to it, too. The mere idea makes Holly burst out with a bright,
      softly musically laugh. She holds her hand to her mouth, eyes dancing at 
      the image.

Jacinta laughs aloud. She steps back so that she can take in both cubs without
      turning. "I am proud to have such promising young ones in my charge." 
      After a moment smiling at them, her expression turns more serious and she 
      speaks in lower tones. "Practice your forms. Spar with each other - with 
      care, it would not do to find one of you dead. And prepare for your 
      presentations. Soon the time of playing will be done."

Atcen looks pleased at getting the reaction she was aiming for, though as the
      elder speaks her expression turns more solemn. She nods.

Holly's eyes remain mirthful, even Jacinta speaks of finding one of them
      'dead'. Her only reaction is a slight wrinkling of her nose. She nods to 
      Jacinta and moves away from Maqii, tagging the solemn galliard with a 
      playful hit and then running off--daring her to try and catch her.

Atcen utters a short, wordless 'yelp', then takes off after the other cub,
      grinning.

Jacinta watches the cubs go, a broad grin remaining long after they are out of
      sight.