Kathryn at the Stone of Scorn

[hazlogs]

DATE: Wednesday, February 11, 1998
Place: Around the Lone Boulder

---- Recall start ----

Erik moves quietly through the snow, coat closed and belted, hat pulled down 
   low, and scarf shrouding most of his face. The metis walks with shoulders 
   hunched against the snow, his hand gloved.

Around the Lone Boulder
The sparse forest gives way here into a vast clearing, entirely devoid of 
   trees or heavy underbrush for great distances all around. Low, thick grass, 
   a palish green in color, grows everywhere underfoot; it sways ever so 
   gently in the chill winds that seem to settle in across this open expanse 
   with unusual frequency. The occasional darker shoot or dandelion weed makes 
   its way up amidst the rest, but the hilly territory is on the whole a 
   uniform color, reminiscent of a moor. Adding to the image is the single, 
   ponderous old stone, a grey-brown in color, settled uncannily in the dead 
   center of the expanse as if it has perched there alone since the dawn of 
   time. Grass grows up around the weathered boulder, but its 
   vaguely-flattened top clears the grass by a good many feet, at least 
   chest-high to a good-sized man. The sky, often grey, is a presence in this 
   sudden openness, appearing from amidst the treetops to arc high over the 
   grass and stone.
Woodland tracks lead off into the forest to the north and south, while the 
   boulder itself stands at the center of the clearing.
Contents:
Rite preparations

Rite preparations desc:
A large, circular area of freshly-fallen snow has been cleared away to reveal 
   the dry, brittle grasses of the field. In the center of the cleared space, 
   the turf has been carefully peeled back and ringed with stones; the makings 
   of a large bonfire have been laid out within its confines, and spare wood 
   stacked up beside it. Off to one side is a good-sized chunk of obsidian, 
   it's shiny surface and sharp edges reflecting back the watery moonlight 
   even as in other places, its ebony blackness absorbs it into nothingness. 
   Near the rock are two pint-sized plastic bottles; one red, one yellow, that 
   might be recognizable to some as tempera; and two medium-sized paintbrushes.

Erik approaches from the woods.
Velia approaches from the woods.
Velia pads into the area, lightly clothed despite the snow and cold. She has a 
   small pack in one hand, held by the straps. It looks very heavy. She smiles 
   to the gathered people.
Esther emerges from the trees like a picture coming into focus, the bright 
   colors of her shawl so masked by snow as to have become invisible. Ice 
   frosts her eyebrows, and the edges of her dress and boots, more snow 
   clumped about the base of her moccasins. She tramps slowly across the 
   snow-covered grass, headed for the cleared area.
Steven approaches from the woods.
Velia solemnly nods to Esther when she sees the woman approach and then moves 
   to Megan. "Megan? Forgive me, but I am not sure what your sept does when 
   performing the Stone of Scorn. Are there any special things I should be 
   aware of?"
Erik ducks his head toward the elder Garou and paces slowly about the 
   perimeter of the clearing, unable to stand still comfortably in the winter 
   chill.
Megan is standing near the preparations, arms crossed over her chest as she 
   fidgets restlessly. She gives a simple nod of greeting to Esther, then 
   quirks an eyebrow as Velia addresses her before responding with a thin 
   grin. "Well, since this is the first time I think it's ever been 
   *performed* here...no, not really. Have you been in any elsewhere?"
Walks-Far-Alone approaches from the woods.
The moon weighs heavily on the fostern Fianna Galliard as he trudges into the 
   clearing. He gives a tight nod to Megan, but stands apart from her and the 
   others, brooding by himself, his face contorted into a half-disgusted, 
   half-angry mask.
Walks-Far-Alone trots in. The Fianna is covered from head to tail, top to 
   bottom with child-sized handprints of every color, bright against her fur 
   even in the moonlight.
Shea approaches from the woods.
Brian approaches from the woods.
Velia nods to Megan. "Yes, perhaps...five or six times. Once at my home sept, 
   and then at places in Germany and France. Some had their own variations on 
   the rite, such as painting on the stone with the blood of the one scorned. 
   I...brought a few things, in the event that such things were done here." 
   She drops the pack, and it lands with the heavy sound of stone-on-stone, 
   and metal-on-stone.
Erik jumps slightly at the sound, glancing at Velia. Then he pushes his hand 
   deeply into his coat pocket and resumes his steady, restless prowling 
   around the clearing.
Kathryn approaches from the woods.
Reggie approaches from the woods.
Windsoul approaches from the woods.
Shadow Eyes approaches from the woods.
Esther stops beside Velia and Megan, giving both a nod. Without the motion, 
   her snow-encrusted form is even harder to see against the white ground. She 
   gives both Fostern a nod, and just waits.
Megan's gaze flickers over to Brian as she notices him arrive with Kathryn, 
   nodding a little in acknowledgement, then turns back to study Velia for a 
   handful of moments before replying. "Well, I hadn't thought of anything 
   that...extraordinary. Just the normal methodology for the rite. If you 
   brought your own stuff to mark with, that's fine."
Shadow Eyes pads in quietly, and flicks an ear to Esther as he passes her. He 
   curls up in a small ball to keep warm, about five feet back from the outer 
   rim of the circle.
Shea picks her way into site, pacing through the trees, with her hands shoved 
   deeply into the pockets of her jacket.
Windsoul moves silently through the foliage, making his approach to the 
   boulder last. He sniffs the air carefully, his gaze running to each of the 
   others before he himself moves in Reggie's, his packmate, direction.
Defends-Wolves approaches from the woods.
Walks-Far-Alone sits off to one side, alert, listening. She waits quietly, her 
   tail coming to rest against her hindleg, almost completing a tiny 
   handprint, though of two different colors.
Brian approaches the boulder with Kathryn in tow, his manner somber albeit 
   touched by the irrational fury common to his auspice this close to the full 
   moon. He keeps a grip on the charach's shoulder: it's not supportive, but 
   instead intended to keep her from fleeing.
Moon Otter approaches from the woods.
Reggie slabs his way into the gathering, making room for himself and, as 
   Windsoul arrives, also his packmate.
Velia nods to Megan. "Indeed. I have no personal tales of this one to relate, 
   but many also tell tales of other traitors they have known. I assume that 
   holds as well?" The moon seem to weigh very heavily upon her.
Erik turns to stare at the charach, sunken eyes shadowed over the folds of 
   thick brown-red scarf.
Kathryn walks alongside Brian, a resigned expression on her face. Her hand 
   keeps staying to the silver bracelet now on her wrist, which has the 
   unmistakable glint of silver about it.
Steven's breath escapes in a hiss as he sees Kathryn for the first time in 
   weeks. His face further deepens into a black frown, with a disgusted sneer, 
   he starts to make his way toward Shea.
Nightflash approaches from the woods.
Her head lifting and eyes narrowing, Walks-Far adds the weight of her glare to 
   those already on Wolf-Dancer.
Shadow Eyes flicks an ear to Defends-Wolves, inviting him over to his place by 
   the circle.
Megan shrugs her right shoulder tightly as she glances around at the Garou 
   continuing to trickle in, answering Velia with a tight, slight smile. "As 
   long as it fits the particular circumstances of this situation, sure."
Velia nods to Megan, and goes to sit crosslegged in the snow, a few feet back 
   from the circle.
Windsoul maintains a look of nuetrality, his tail resting on the ground behind 
   him as he sits to his haunches. He offers a silent motion of greeting to 
   the others gathered here, his eyes lingering on Esther for a few moments.
Moon Otter drifts in from the southern woods, moving over towards the Fianna 
   formerly known as Brightspot. He whuffs a greeting.
Wordlessly, Brian half-shoves Kathryn towards Esther. While keeping a careful 
   eye on the charach, he moves to join his packmates.
Nightflash arrives from the direction of the caern and joins the crowd. He 
   pauses at the edge of the gathering before making his way toward 
   Defends-Wolves.
Defends-Wolves chuffs softly to the Gnawer, padding over toward him after 
   giving a Kathryn a disapproving stare. He bumps his nose against Shadow 
   Eyes, the chuffs to Nightflash as he approaches.
Walks-Far-Alone returns Otter's greeting with a bump of her head, touching the 
   red hand print between her ears to his shoulder. Ready?
Esther pulls her shawl closer around her, dislodging a clump of snow to leave 
   a bright striped patch in the whiteness, the brightness a contrast to the 
   general mood of anger and grimmness. She lifts an eyebrow at Megan, a 
   silent question asking if she can have a few quick words. A motion of her 
   shoulder indicates she's noticed Kathryn's presence, the only sign she 
   gives.
Kathryn staggers slightly at the rough shove, but makes no comment. She looks 
   at each Garou in turn around the boulder, her expression carefully blank.
Megan glances at Moon Otter and the bespeckled young Fianna with a private, 
   wry smile, then looks to Esther. "I'm ready if you are."
Erik seems to give himself a shake, and then returns to pacing near the 
   perimeter of the clearing, edgy with the moon's pull and the need to fight 
   the bone-numbing cold.
Esther murmurs something quitely to the Fianna philodox, before giving a short 
   nod.
Once closer to Shea and Steven, Brian stoops to claim a couple of hand-sized 
   ice-covered stones that sit in the snow. He hefts each, testing their 
   weights.
Megan gives a clipped, faintly irritable nod to Esther, then a tiny jerk of 
   her head to indicate she should go.
Edgewalker approaches from the woods.
Wears-the-Blue approaches from the woods.
Jabs approaches from the woods.
Velia looks to Brian, and taps the pack she has brought. "If there is anything 
   you desire, righ, I am sure it is within." The corvers of her eyes tremble 
   with the weight of the moon.
Shea looks first at Steven, and then at Brian, then frowns, and removes her 
   hands from her pockets, and tucks them across her chest, tightly.
Jabs lopes in, in front of Edgewalker, behind Wears-the-Blue.
Steven's lip twitch uneasily, as he watches Kathryn. He offers Shea, and then 
   Brian a terse nod, as he folds his arms across his chest.
Wears-the-Blue makes it here, with packmate and Edgewalker in tow. Giving a 
   relieved chuff, he says, See! He then shifts quickly back into birth form.
Windsoul twists his muzzle just a bit. He rubs his head against Reggie's leg 
   as he departs as silently as he came.
Jabs scratches a bit before shifting up.
Windsoul steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Shadow Eyes chuffs to his tribe-hermano, Jabs, seeming unusually tense. He 
   gazes blankly at Kathryn, lip curling a bit.
Reggie regards the departure of his packmate with a furrowed brow, before 
   diverting his attention to the diversions arranged tonight.
Edgewalker shifts into Homid form.
Casper shifts up and walks over to sit by Elan.
Walks-Far-Alone sits with Otter and Clouded Sky. The young Fianna glares at 
   the Charach, not quite snarling but not looking far from it.
Defends-Wolves chuffs softly to the new arrivals, nudging the 'Gazer amiably 
   as he goes by.
Casper smiles down at Defends-Wolves, looking distracted and uncertain.
Jose Figueroa shoves his hands in his pockets, standing next to Davy, eyeing 
   the gathered crowd with no reaction. Kathryn, however, gets a disapproving 
   frown.
Davy glances at the knot of Blackwatch Fianna, but then moves toward Morgan. 
   He waves Jose along. He does nod at any of the mentioned Fianna that glance 
   his way, though.
Shadow Eyes nudges Casper quietly and returns to watching the circle.
Andrea comes in from the south, followed by her packmates. Notably, both 
   ragabash from the pack--Patrick and Cassandra--are present.
Jose Figueroa follows along behind Davy towards Morgan.
Morgan gives Davy and Jose a nod as she steps further into the clearing. She 
   eyes Kathryn for a long moment, shaking her head.
Esther manages to give Megan a tight but encouraging smile. She turns then, 
   putting herself beside Kathryn and facing the main gathering of Garou. 
   ~Garou laws are few. Few, but absolute. They may not be knowingly broken 
   without punishment. Kathryn.~ The phrases are clipped, somewhat weak spoken 
   by a Homid tongue, but they carry far enough that they can be heard. ~You 
   let yourself be persuaded into breaking the first Law. I think you know 
   better than to do that again. I have seen you genuinely trying to make 
   amends, with some success and some failure. There must still be 
   punishment.~ Esther pauses for breath. ~It is a punishment, and a test. A 
   test of your will. A test of your character.~ The Uktena lifts her head a 
   fraction, now speaking to the rest of the Garou. ~The punishment ends 
   tonight. All the scorn, and all the shame, that the Charach must bear, is 
   given tonight.~ She lifts her eyes, taking in the heaviness of the moon, 
   hanging in the night sky. A full moon is indeed a hard test; her expression 
   reflects her expectation that someone, somewhere, is likely to loose 
   control.
Esther turns, leaves the Fianna standing out in full view, and slips over to 
   join her packmates.
Erik stops pacing as Esther speaks, and turns his attention toward the Uktena. 
   Despite the cold, he pulls the folds of scarf away from his face, frowning 
   at some of the words spoken. His eyes -- sunken, out of alignment, 
   startlingly green -- then turn to Kathryn and stare at her in mute 
   accusation.
Kathryn stands alone, facing the other garou. She appears calm, and ready, but 
   the way her hand keeps fluttering to the silver bracelet on her wrist 
   betrays her apprehension. Felling Erik's gaze on her, she hangs her head, 
   staring at the ground.
Megan, at Esther's words, lights the kindling of the bonfire so that flames 
   begin to lick up through the wood, shedding a lurid, demonic light over the 
   gathering of Garou. Picking up the obsidian stone, she looks around the 
   gathering, voice strong. "Like the deed that was done, is the rock used to 
   punish, and its mirror brightness reflects the evil and scorn for the deed 
   back at Kathryn, lawbreaker. Like the edges of the stone, may the rite cut, 
   salt into the wounds to punish." Opening the red paint, she dabs the glyph 
   of Wisdom on, marring the sleek blackness, then puts a quick slash of 
   crossing the glyph off in traditional, human 'No'. "So new is she to this 
   Sept that many of us probably do not have stories of her folly. My only one 
   was after her stupidity. She is not Garou, but a coward who runs from our 
   ways, just as by sleeping with Quaid she has broken our ways. She shames 
   herself and shames her tribe and continues to do both," the Philodox says 
   scornfully. "Coward. Charach." With accusing gaze, she fixes Kathryng with 
   a look, even as she takes a few steps to pass the stone to the Alpha.
Kathryn flinches slightly at the Philodox's remark, but that is all the 
   reaction she gives.
Laughs approaches from the woods.
Laughs slips in quietly from the trees. She pads over to join Moon Otter, her 
   eyes on the Charach.
Brian watches Megan for cues; it's apparent he's unfamiliar with the form of 
   the rite she's chosen. He fumbles with the chunk of obsidian for a moment 
   before taking it and, in lurid red, first draws the glyph for the Fianna, 
   and then emphatically crosses it out. "Bad enough you bring shame upon 
   yourself, but in so doing you bring shame upon your whole tribe. We have 
   shouldered the burden of making amends for you, and not a word of thanks 
   has passed your lips." He pausses the obsidian stone on, to Steven, then 
   glares at the condemned. "You miserable, selfish, worthless *bitch*." With 
   the last word he hurls the first of the two rocks he picked up at Kathryn. 
   "You shit all over your tribe, your very *blood*, and don't even have the 
   decency to thank us when we start trying to clean up your fucking mess." 
   The second rock follows the first. "I'd challenge your honor and kill you 
   myself if I was willing to dirty my claws."
Esther hunches beside Reggie, looking grimly on as the Rite progresses.
Kathryn flinches as the first stone catches her shoulder, but does not cry 
   out. The second, however, catches her knee, and with a crack, and she 
   stumble with a soft whimper.
Erik twitches visibly, a brief growling sound escaping his throat as he 
   continues to stare at the charach. The metis shifts his weight restlessly 
   from foot to foot.
Steven with a half concealed snarl, the fostern Fianna Galliard, takes the 
   stone from Brian's hands. Staring at Kathryn for several seconds, his face 
   grimaces into a black frown, and he finally does succumb as he draws a 
   breath in, taking the crinos warform. With a pointed effort, the Galliard 
   carves out the glyph for Coward, which he turns to show to Kathryn. He 
   starts to take a step toward Kathryn, perhaps to carve the glyph in her 
   flesh, but he stops after a step, and a touch from Brian. He speaks, then, 
   his voice thick with emotion. ~Charach, you show no honor, no courage, and 
   no wisdom. You are an utter failure to your tribe, to your sept, and to 
   yourself. Too afraid to redeem yourself in the fire of hopeless combat with 
   the Wyrm, you seek instead to slink behind the cover of your professed 
   "love" for this... Wendigo collaborator. Together, you make the Wyrm 
   strong. You should pay for your sin with your blood and with your life. I 
   spit on you, I spit on your "love", and on your awesome lack of 
   self-control and wisdom. You may hope that Gaia will take mercy on your 
   soul. I, for one, will not.~ With another growl and a threatening howl, he 
   offers the stone to Shea wordlessly, as he, after several seconds, takes 
   his homid form again.
Kathryn takes the insult without reacting, much. All she does is look at 
   Steven, sadly, shaking her head when he is done.
Shea takes the stone, turns it in her hand, and then steps over to grab a 
   paintbrush, smeared with yellow paint. She paints the galliard glyph, then 
   switches brushes, and crosses it out, with a thick line of red. "Galliards 
   are meant to keep our tales, and remember all the things that we don't have 
   the time or means to write down. Galliards, therefore, ought to hold 
   yourself to a standard that's a notch, maybe a half, above the rest of us. 
   You, you feeble-minded child, you're so much below us, you hardly deserve 
   to breathe, much less deserve the respect accorded a galliard. Galliards 
   teach, and yet you haven't learned. You've come to us, and asked to be 
   retaught. Aye, we'll reteach you, but if anyone thinks that your shaming, 
   your scorning, and your abuse is ended by a piece of rock, and a splash of 
   paint, they ought to think again. You'll get no forgiveness from me, no 
   mercy, and surely no respect." She stares a long moment at Kathryn, then 
   passes the stone to Davy.
Esther leans towards Reggie, muttering to him as she glowers away towards the 
   paint-smeared rock.
Shadow Eyes watches Casper carefully, seeing the reactions of the younger 
   Garou.
Casper watches with cold detachment, a vacant look on his long face, but 
   something brews slowly in his eyes.
Reggie secretively murmurs back to Esther as he waves a hand towards the rock 
   in question.
Erik murmurs a whisper-soft agreement with the words being spoken by his 
   tribemates; his eyes remain fixed upon the charach. Restlessness continues 
   to invade the metis' stance, and finally, as the stone is passed to the 
   next hand, he shifts upwards, taking the warform with the bitter ease that 
   is every mule's cursed birthright. The cold hits him like a hammer, 
   visibly, despite the coat that transforms with him, but Sings-in-Shadow 
   lays his ears back stubbornly. Ten feet tall, a skeletal, horrifically 
   corpselike figure, he hunches his shoulders against the winter and holds 
   the dingy brown-gray coat closed with one clawed hand.
Esther's mood seems a little lightened by her packmate's reply, altrhough thr 
   frown remains.
Davy takes the couple of steps over to take the proferred stone. He also takes 
   the yellow paintbrush from Shea, giving her a tight smile. He then looks 
   toward Kathryn, all traces of smile fading. He paints the glyph for 
   'metis.', the paint from his inexpert tracing dripping on Shea's mark. 
   "You're lucky for two reasons, Kathryn. First, as far as we know, you 
   haven't conceived." His voice raises to thunder in his usually-warm 
   baritone. "Did you think of that, while you were expressing what you call 
   love? That you could bring yet another mule into the world? The Litany 
   doesn't forbid love, but it does forbid sex, and you're a goddam fool for 
   forgetting that." Face twisted in a snarl, the ragabash takes a couple of 
   deep breaths, then hands both the brush and the stone to Jose. "Second, 
   you're lucky you live here and in the Last Days. Times were that you'd 
   already be dead for your infraction, and not a soul to mourn you."
Kathryn bites back a reply, turning the bracelet on her wrist faster and 
   faster, feeling the pull of Luna's Rage deeply.
Esther's frown deepens at Davy's words, but it seems to be in agreement at the 
   Ragabash's announcement; she nods, starting to shiver a little in the cold.
Sings-in-Shadow bares yellowed, crooked fangs in silent anger, his 
   patch-furred body trembling visibly.
Jose Figueroa takes the brush and hands it to Morgan. He looks at the mass of 
   volcanic rock, concentrating very hard on it. His left arm grows in size, 
   fur sprouting from rips in fabric. He scrapes his Crinos-like claws over 
   the rock once, twice, three times. Through gritted teeth, he addresses 
   Kathryn. "I came when you called, to fight that thing in the mountains. 
   You...seen what I can do. You seen what the Fire leads to. So help me" - 
   and then loses the control, body shifting fully to Crinos - ~This ends it 
   for me, but if you so much as look at another Garou, feeling that longing 
   in you again, you'll be on the other end. I swear.~ A hand from Morgan is 
   all that keeps him standing still.
Jabs eventually gains control again, shifting down and handing the rock to 
   Morgan.
The Black Fury theurge sneers at Kathryn, as she gives Jabs a short nudge in 
   the ribs. She murmurs something soothing in his ears, and then turns her 
   full attention on the charach. She paints the glyph for Fool on the stone, 
   letting the paint drip thick from her brush. "You are the Fool of this 
   sept, Kathryn Breaker-of-the-First-Law. I remember when I first met you." 
   Her chin lifts as she offers a derisive snort to the scorned Galliard. 
   "'Oh, of course, I follow the Litany, rhya,' you told me," the Fury's voice 
   mocking Kathryn's own. "'I know what I'm doing,' you told me." Her head 
   shakes as her eyes blaze with the fire of the moon's size. "Now all your 
   septmates know the awful truth: ever the Fool, ever the pitiful, always the 
   charach, the breaker of the first law." She glances around the clearing, 
   and then sets the stone in front of the cadre of the lupus Garou, led by 
   Moon Otter.
Kathryn's shoulders shake a little, but she calms herself, the silver on her 
   wrist acting as a focus.
Walks-Far-Alone and Moon Otter shift up to warform. The Fianna raises herself 
   to her full height as she growls, ~Garou shall not mate with Garou.~ 
 Moon Otter takes a deep breath, adopting a sickeningly sarcastic 
   whining/pleading tone. 
   ~NotEvenIfHe'sReallyCuteAndIt'sTrueloveAndHe'sTheHottestThingOnTwoLegsOrFour
   And...~ 
 
 Kasie states the second law, ~Combat the Wyrm wherever it dwells and whenever 
   it breeds.~ 
 Moon Otter leans in closer towards the Fianna, as if confiding something to 
   her while speaking in a stage-whisper. ~Pssst! You're supposed to combat a 
   completely different kind of Wyrm and with a slightly different technique!~ 
 
 ~Respect the territory of another,~ Walks-Far-Alone pronounces loud and 
   clear. 
 Moon Otter raises a clawed hand to his chin, speculating, ~There was 
   obviously some transgression on another's territory here.~ 

Walks-Far-Alone flicks an ear, ~Accept an honorable surrender.~ 
 Moon Otter turns his back to the charach. ~There is no honorable surrender to 
   passions with another Garou. Ever.~ 
 
 The Fianna's chin raises as she stares down at Kathryn, ~Submission to those 
   of higher station.~ 
 Moon Otter moves a little off to one side of the stone. ~That's because the 
   one on top is supposed to be in control.~ 
 
 Kasie turns to look back at the gathering, the brightly colored handprints 
   clearly visible in the moonlight, ~First share of the kill for the greatest 
   in station.~ 
 Moon Otter spreads his hands. ~No top dog wants sloppy seconds.~

Nightflash looks confused at about half of the remarks.
Walks-Far-Alone slowly looks back to the Charach, ~You may not eat the flesh 
   of humans.~ 
 Moon Otter extends his crinos tongue and makes a rather rude and suggestive 
   gesture. 
 
 ~Respect for those beneath you - all are of Gaia,~ Walks-Far-Alone says after 
   watching Moon Otter. 
 ~But will he respect you in the morning?~ the Shadow Lord inquires, gaze 
   sweeping from charach to audience. 
 
 The Fianna sweeps one clawed hand before her own eyes, palm out, ~The veil 
   shall not be lifted.~ 
 ~In this instance,~ Moon Otter announces, ~the /skirt/ should not have been 
   lifted.~
Walks-Far-Alone turns her gaze back to the Charach, ~Do not suffer thy people 
   to tend to thy sickness.~ 
 Moon Otter says, ~Do not suffer thy people to tend to thy morning sickness 
   caused by a metis pup.~ 
 
 Kasie's voice rises, ~A leader may not be challenged during wartime.~ 
 Moon Otter replies, ~Because sometimes Wolf-Dancer needs to prove her 
   manhood.~ 
 
 The Fianna's ears lay back, ~The leader may be challenged at any time during 
   peace.~ 
 ~Two-World-Wolf needs at least some time when Wolf-Dancer wouldn't question 
   his manhood,~ the Shadow Lord responds.
As she gives the final law Walks-Far-Alone turns to face the Charach directly, 
   ~Take no action that causes a caern to be violated.~ 
 Moon Otter adds to Walks-Far-Alone's final verse of the Litany, ~Or yourself 
   to be willingly violated.~
Sings-in-Shadow blinks, forgetting his rage and cold for a moment to focus on 
   Walks-Far and Moon Otter. For a moment, his ears lift and then splay, 
   muzzle gaping open, tongue lolling over yellowed fangs in an expression of 
   approval.
Walks-Far-Alone's voice drops to a low, rumbling growl as their reading is 
   finished, ~Our first law is 'Garou shall not mate with Garou'. There are no 
   conditions to that law, no 'But we really loved each other!', no 'But we 
   were careful'. Wolf-Dancer is not a pre-change cub who doesn't know or 
   understand the law. She is Cliath. She is an adult in the eyes of the 
   Garou. She knew the law.~
~Wolf-Dancer knew the law and she broke it. Willingly. She was not possessed, 
   Two-World-Wolf didn't hit her over the head and tie her up so he could 
   force her. She was an equal partner; she claimed loving him as an 
   acceptable reason for breaking our first law.~ The Fianna growls, ~It is 
   not!~ Here she pauses, looking towards Moon Otter.
Moon Otter nods once towards Megan, steps purposefully over towards Kathryn 
   and grasps her chin, holding her head still. The other hand, index claw 
   extended, begins carving the Garou glyph for 'charach' onto her forehead 
   for all to see--a deep and dishonorable scar designed to last a 
   lifetime--the scarlet letter for the race of the Garou.
Walks-Far-Alone says, ~Wolf-Dancer selfishly put herself not only before her 
   tribe or her caern, but before Gaia herself. ~ Walks-Far-Alone now raises 
   her voice and stands tall, the lines of her body harsh and unwavering, 
   ~From this night on, Wolf-Dancer will have a new name:~~
Megan snickers aloud and loudly at Moon Otter's and Walks-Far-Alone's turn, 
   looking at the latter with merry approval, eyes narrowing and glinting at 
   Moon Otter's action, amusement turning acidic.
The Fianna pauses, then both she and Moon Otter speak the Omega's new deedname 
   together, ~ Spreads-Her-Legs-for-the-Wrym!~
Velia's smile is a cold, black thing. She gives a soft, wolf-like 'chuff' of 
   laughter, but it's hardly something mirthful.
Steven, in spite of himself, breaks out into loud guffaws.
Davy also laughs, giving the pair a thumbs-up. Andrea is more restrained, but 
   gives a nod of approval.
Shea grins lopsidedly.
Shadow Eyes gives a wag of his tail, and a tongue-loll at that.
Moon Otter finishes the glyph and, after a slight bow, passes the obsidian on 
   to Esther.
Esther turns away, leaning against Reggie. Her shoulders shake, shedding snow 
   onto her packmate and the ground. Those closest might hear her stifled 
   giggling.
Casper looks away to the trees.
Sings-in-Shadow's ratlike tail moved underneath the tail of his coat, wagging. 
   The metis utters a short howl of affirmation and approval.
Kathryn snarls, as the Lord carves the mark into her forehead. Her shoulders 
   heave as the Rage starts to overcome her, but a sharp pain in her wrist, 
   and a yelp of pain brings her back to the homid, as she clutches at her 
   wrist. Blood flows from beneath the bracelet from the melted flesh, and she 
   cradles her arm to her chest.
Walks-Far-Alone remains next to Otter, nodding to the group before shifting 
   back down to lupus.
Jose Figueroa sniffed back laughter during the Litany recitation and mocking, 
   but just looks sadly at the charach during the rest.
Defends-Wolves shakes his muzzle from side to side, though his lupus form 
   betrays the faintest hint of amusement at the Fianna and Shadow Lord's 
   'testimony'.
Casper runs his hand through Shadow Eyes's fur.
Sings-in-Shadow's tail continues to wag, his eyes following his former student 
   with obvious pride. Then his gaze shifts toward Kathryn 
   Spreads-For-The-Wyrm, studying the blood flowing from the newly-carved 
   glyph.
Esther composes herself, turning back. "How the hell do I follow that?" she 
   asks the Shadow Lord. ~Kathryn, you're a pathetic, snivelling little idiot 
   who blames everyone but yourself for your mistakes. All of this is /your/ 
   fault. You hear me? /Yours/. I don't know how you can even stand up and 
   face the Sept. As if you had /rank/, as if you had /honor/. You've got 
   /nothing/. You /are/ nothing.~ At the last, she spits on her palm, and 
   wipes the stone totally clean and bare, before shoving it towards Reggie.
Reggie settles for a simple, violent accusation of "Slut!", as he waves the 
   stone at the Charach, before giving it to Quiet.
Andrea concentrates, her hand at her waist. As if pulling it out of her own 
   body, a twisted knife appears in her hand. It glimmers with a 
   stomach-wrenching light under the full moon, despite its rusty blade. She 
   uses it to scratch a human four-letter word into the stone: Fool. "The 
   first time I met you and Quaid, the pair of you were gambolling in my 
   territory in hispo. I told both of you then that you wouldn't live long 
   without more wisdom. I wish you had listened to me, and thought before you 
   acted." She gives the charach a long look, her eyes dark with 
   disappointment. She then hands the stone to Patrick, with Cassandra also 
   gleefully waiting to speak with him.
Reaches-High stays close to Andrea without actually moving close enough to be 
   in line for the stone. He studies the goings-on carefully, absorbing the 
   minutiae of the event.
Sings-in-Shadow crouches down slightly, muzzle still hanging open, his breath 
   puffing out in visible clouds in the below-freezing winter air. Shivers 
   wrack the metis' deformed, patch-furred body, a trait which only adds to 
   the truth of what he is -- a freak, his mother a lawbreaker just like the 
   one being publically scorned tonight. His jaws close with a soft growl, and 
   then open again, panting.
Kathryn clutches her wrist, trying to stop the blood flowing. She wipes the 
   blood from her forehead, trying not to look at any of the Garou present.
Teethgrinder approaches from the woods.
Her part now finished, Walks-Far-Alone remains seated quietly next to Moon 
   Otter and Couded Sky, glaring at the Charach. She no longer makes an effort 
   to keep her muzzle smooth, and instead flashes her teeth at her fallen 
   tribemate.
Teethgrinder comes barely into view at the edge of the trees and sits, 
   watching the Sept members.
Patrick takes the stone lightly, tossing it from hand to hand, as if not 
   wanting to touch it for too long. "Silly bitch," he says. "Turning tricks 
   isn't for the Garou." He lightly tosses the stone to Cassandra, who looks 
   at Kathryn as if looking down, saying, "Slut who denigrates her gender, 
   letting herself be ruled by her thighs and what's between them." she tosses 
   the stone back to Patrick, who continues, "Fawn-child, embarrassed by 
   Stag's virility, you had to go get more from Wendigo." He tosses the stone 
   back to Cassandra, who finishes, "Putting your own wants of lust and your 
   romanticized images of desire before the laws of Gaia and the needs of the 
   Garou. Wear it well, whore." She tosses the stone lightly back to Patrick, 
   who quickly hands it on to Velia.
Velia takes the stone, and hefts it, as if testing if it's weight is suitable. 
   Her words fall like the stones in her pack, sitting unused. "Oathbreaker. 
   Litany Breaker. Forsworn. Chaaarrrrach." She growls softly, the full moon 
   reflected in her eyes. "I name you Traitor to the Litany you swore to 
   uphold...Feel the shame you are stained with as a white-hot knife in your 
   vitals." She continues to stare at the Fianna. She snarls, teeth pointing 
   and hands becoming claws for a flickering moment. She turns her moon-bright 
   gaze on Kathryn. "You were born to be a creature of duty, to carry the 
   fight against the Wyrm. Do you do this? No! You think only of your own 
   pleasure. Selfish creature, I watch you now, thinking yourself ill put 
   upon. Pah! Your tribemates show you mercy, a mercy you should pay back by 
   grovelling before them like the worm you are and /begging/ their 
   forgiveness. In my former sept, they would use silver nails to crucify you 
   for a month, and use their claws in such ways that no man would look upon 
   you again without weaping in sickness and terror." She swallows hard, using 
   every ounce of her control to stay human. "CHARACH! /This/ is what you have 
   done. There is good reason it is the First of all our laws. Carry the 
   memory with you always." She traces an intricate rune on the stone, the 
   symbol for shame. She takes the stone, and passes it to Laughs.
Sings-in-Shadow snarls, jaws snapping together, teeth meeting on air with a 
   sharp click that punctuates Velia's words.
Jose Figueroa grips and ungrips his hands, still standing relatively still.
Walks-Far-Alone's growl rises, slowly at first, underscoring the Fang's words.
Megan grins at Velia's remarks, first at her then with malice at Kathryn.
Laughs drops the black rock to the ground, squats over it, and shits on it. 
   Paws dancing lightly through the snow, she begins to dance round it, every 
   movement, every hair radiating scorn and contempt for the Charach before 
   her. Voice edged with the same scorn, yapping and barking, she lifts her 
   head in wolf-song.
There's a cave in the mountains,
There's a hole in the ground,
Where the monkeys go to play
With their nuts.
They squirm like worms
(But worms have more glory)
They pant like dogs
(But dogs have more wisdom)
They breed like rats
(But rats have more honor)
Making little Wyrmlings, in the dark.
She picks up the stone again, gingerly, by an edge, shakes the worst of the 
   dirt from it, and tosses it into the air, so it lands near Shadow Eyes.
Teethgrinder's eyes glitter in the dim light as he watches the Talon. A slight 
   lupine smile twitches on his muzzle.
Steven's lip twist into a feral smile, and low chuckle.
Brian sinks into a low crouch, his expression twisting in perverse amusement.
Sings-in-Shadow snaps his jaws again, muzzle still wrinkled into an ugly -- 
   well, uglier than usual -- snarl.
For those close enough to hear, and with obvious distaste on his visage, Jose 
   quips, "Aw man. Poor Elan."
Shadow Eyes lolls his tongue at Laughs, then flicks an ear and pads forward. 
   He regains his human shape and takes up the stone. "You once said you 
   wanted to cleanse yourself of this." He spits. "I fought there in the 
   mountains also. When Walks-Far-Alone fought the traitor Red-Belly, you 
   stood by, and did...nothing. Yes, you were pretty screwed up, but you was 
   the one that kept saying you wanted to cleanse yourself in someone's blood. 
   'Cause you didn't help, my tribemate almost had a crushed arm, and your 
   tribemate could'a been bad hurt." He uses his finger to draw the rune for 
   'Coward' on the stone. "This rock has more wisdom than you got." He looks 
   around and passes the stone to Casper.
Elan wipes his hand and goes back to sit by Defends-Wolves.
Casper takes the stone and shifts up into Crinos. He pauses for a long while, 
   staring at Kathryn with disappointment and cold focus. He cocks his head 
   and without looking down at the stone, he carves with his claw the symbol 
   of Man. He clears his voice and as he speaks quite evenly, he slowly 
   rotates the stone on his lap, cutting a spiral. ~You are not a Manchild. 
   You are Garou. You think like a Manchild. You feel like a Manchild. You 
   weep like a Manchild. Live like a Garou. You dishonour us by fighting 
   against us. You turn open hand into fist. Smile into frown. Weep like a 
   Garou and start acting like one...~ he closes his eyes, shifts down and 
   passes the stone lightly to Defends-Wolves.
Walks-Far-Alone looks away from the Charach long enough to seek Elan's gaze, 
   dipping her head to him once she does. When she turns back to the 
   lawbreaker, her anger has returned to the fore.
Kathryn looks up at the last comment, confusion on her face, tempered by the 
   pain of the silver. Still, she says nothing.
Reaches-High seems a bit nonplussed by the poetic nature of Casper's retort, 
   but saves his confusion for Andrea.
Defends-Wolves splays his ears back, sighing at the dishonored Fianna. Word of 
   your deeds have been repeated many times this night. There is no need for 
   me to speak them again, for everyone here knows of them. Seek to mend your 
   ways in the future, that you do not shame yourself, your tribe, or this 
   sept again. He makes no mark on the stone, but pushes it with his muzzle 
   toward Nightflash.
Nightflash eyes the stone for a moment before shifting up as the others have 
   done. Rather than take the warform, however, the ahroun takes glabro form. 
   ~The Mother forgives her children for everything they do,~ he says as he 
   reaches for the paint. ~Though we try, we cannot be so generous.~ He picks 
   up the stone, then, and with a few quick motions paints a rough copy of the 
   sigil for honor, and then strikes it out as others have done. ~The only 
   time I have seen you before tonight, other than at moot when your 
   punishment was announced, was a time when you were brought, unconscious, to 
   us by Stormcloud, after he had beaten you nearly to death. After your 
   crime, he had expressly forbidden your presence on his pack's territory, 
   but just as you had before, you chose to ignore another law and paid the 
   price for it. How many of our laws will you break?~
With a final, long glare at the charach, Luc passes the stone on to 
   Teethgrinder and shifts back into his birthform.
Teethgrinder paws slightly at the stone. I am no member of the Sept, to speak 
   of your crimes. But know this: The first law is one that in my sept, we 
   kill the offender for. Count yourself fortunate to be let off so easily.
Velia nods curtly to Teethgrider, seeming pleased.
Teethgrinder flips the stone with his paw toward Lawrence.
Reaches-High blinks his eyes a couple of times as the stone lands near him, 
   and looks questioningly towards Nightflash and Andrea before stepping 
   forward to take hold of it.
Nightflash gives the young half-moon an encouraging whuff.
Quiet also nods at the cub, eyes on his face rather than the charach.
Reaches-High looks at the stone, looks back at Kathryn, and then places one 
   paw on top of the obsidian icon. You have broken our laws. I am ashamed for 
   you. I hope you learn from this humiliation.
Reaches-High then steps back, and nudges the stone along towards Erik.
Laughs nosebumps Moon Otter and Walks, informing them that she will go back 
   and help Hunter with patrolling, now that she has said her part. Her tongue 
   lolls with amusement, letting her friend and teacher both know that she 
   enjoyed their own contribution. Then she slips away.
Laughs steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Sings-in-Shadow crouches down, taking the stone up, one-handed. Then he 
   straightens to his full towering height, coat hanging open over the 
   rib-wracked torso and hollow belly. By contrast to his grotesque 
   appearance, the rumbling voice has a startling lilt and beauty to it. ~Gaia 
   gave you so much,~ he says, with visible anger. ~And you threw it away. You 
   knew how to recite the law, but when I asked you its meaning, you said you 
   hadn't thought about it.~ He trembles with rage and cold, struggling for 
   further words, but the depth of the metis' hatred is too much for him. ~I 
   am ashamed to call you Fianna.~ he finishes finally, and passes the stone 
   to Megan.
Teethgrinder's eyes slide from Sings-in-Shadow to the Charach and back again. 
   His jaw tightens slightly before he looks away toward Megan.
Kathryn scratches at the silver shackle she wears, trying to work it from her 
   wrist. The blood does not flow as freely, now, and the flesh around the 
   wound looks raw. Her face holds an expression of complete concentration, as 
   she holds herself still by sheer force of will, something she wishes she 
   could have done before. Blood from the wound on her forehead drips steadily 
   down her face, and she makes no further move to wipe it away.
Megan is glaring balefully at the object of the gathered Garou's derision, and 
   cradles the sharp-edged stone in her hands carefully; not carefully enough 
   to prevent tiny cuts from developing, and blood to begin to drip down the 
   edges and into the grass. She inhales deeply, and then lets it out, control 
   falling into place and anger leeching out along with the air. She looks at 
   Kathryn more steadily. "You have heard the sentiments of your tribe and 
   your people about the foolishness and the dishonor and the cowardice of 
   your actions. With the cutting of their words, take it not only into your 
   heart but into every bit of your being, and *never* forget it. If you have 
   even the slightest desire to atone, then use this shame to make yourself 
   better, worthy of being called Garou. This punishment is ended, along with 
   your membership in this Sept. As Esther has told you, if you wish to be 
   counted among us, again, you will present chiminage. Again." Her gaze 
   flickers to Brian. "To him." A sudden smirk mars her solemnity, which moves 
   swiftly into a genuine smile as she looks around at everyone. "Thank you 
   for coming and participating."
Brian rises from his crouch and steps forward, towards Kathryn. He spits on 
   the cringing Galliard, then turns his back on her and begins making his way 
   southwards, in the direction of the caern.
Walks-Far-Alone doesn't head straight out, instead she takes the long way, 
   forcing her to pass the Charach. She shifts up to warform as she walks, the 
   brightly colored handprints remaining on her pelt even with the change.
Teethgrinder melts away into the woods as quietly as he came.
Teethgrinder steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Jose Figueroa turns and shifts down to the wolf, heading out quickly.
Sings-in-Shadow tosses a final ugly snarl at the charach and then shifts 
   downwards, winter clothing reforming around him.
Jabs steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Sings-in-Shadow shifts into Homid form.
Elan shifts to wolf, and nudges Casper and Defends-Wolves.
Walks-Far-Alone alters her course once she's past Spreads-Her-Legs, shifting 
   back to lupe as she heads for Megan. Do you have a moment?
His face contorting in a snarl, Steven too spits in Kathryn's face, walking
   slowly into the forest behind his Righ.
Reaches-High steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Brian steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Shadow Eyes licks his muzzle and pads out, obviously deep in thought.
Steven steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Defends-Wolves turns without a word and nudges the lupes near him as he heads 
   back toward the caern.
Shadow Eyes steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Esther smiles grimly as Megan mentions the presenting of Chiminage, although 
   it appears she expected it. It seems the fact that it would be Brain who 
   would accept, or regect any offering was something she'd already considered.
Kathryn slowly wipes the spittle from her face, and watches the two Elders 
   leave. Still, she says nothing. She has been silent throughout this Rite.
Shea, rather than leaving, walks directly up to Kathryn, chin lifted, and 
   orders, "Say something."
Velia stands, retrieves her pack and looks to Kathryn. Slowly, she smiles a 
   cruel smile, then spits on the charach. Stiff-spined, she exits the area, 
   carefully, as if she does not trust her self to remain human.
Erik shivers a bit, but compared to his suffering earlier, it's nothing. With 
   one hand, he wraps the scarf around his face, lingering in the area to 
   watch his tribemates.
Kathryn looks up at Shea. When she speaks, her voice is low, and cracked. 
   "What can I say, except that I am sorry? There is nothing to say. Enough 
   has been said." Her voice is pained, and her accent thick. She starts to 
   bow her head, then stops, continuing to look up at the Fianna, without any 
   hint of challenge.
Rage floods the Fianna theurge's face, in an instant, and her lips curl back 
   from her teeth, despite the fact that she wears the homid form. Green eyes 
   narrow, and she spits, through her teeth, "If you have to -ask-, you stupid 
   shit, then you're not sorry enough. If you have to -ask-, you apology's as 
   good as a lie."
Walks-Far-Alone sits, waiting. Her angle allows her to watch Shea and the 
   Charach.
Brian approaches from the woods.
Shaking his head irritably, Brian works his way back out of the woods towards 
   the boulder.
Velia stiffens again, then turns at the edge of the woods, to watch like a 
   ghost at the banquet.
Andrea watches this a bit, then turns toward Patrick and touches his shoulder. 
   "Ready?"
Moon Otter remains a while, to observe how the Fianna continue to treat the 
   offender. Perhaps even taking mental notes.
Cutter approaches from the woods.
Kathryn sighs. "I did apologise, you misunderstood. I was saying that all I 
   could do was apologise. I do so again, I am sorry for not making myself 
   clearer. I'll keep it in mind. I'm sorry." She bares her throat, hoping the 
   gesture will be recognised.
Erik shakes his head angrily. */No change,/* he says in Gaelic. */No change at 
   all./*
Cutter makes his way into the clearing, motorcycle helmet in hand.
Patrick shakes his head. "So damn clueless," he mutters, then nods at Andrea. 
   "Good and ready to leave," he replies.
Walks-Far-Alone rises, her lips lifting, baring her teeth. She does not sound 
   sorry.
Cutter clears his throat. "If I could talk to a talespinner, f'r a minute?"
Erik glances up, wearily angry eyes turning toward Cutter.
Nightflash glances quickly at the Shadow Lord, but his attention returns just 
   as quickly to the Fianna confrontation.
Megan's mouth thins, but she glances over at Esther and tilts her head in 
   silent question, head tilting southwestwards.
Shea shifts upward, into the warform. Muzzle wrinkled, Thatcher lifts a clawed 
   hand, and swings a fierce backhand toward the charach's head.
Walks-Far-Alone's eyes cut towards Cutter, then back to Kath. She lifts one 
   paw restlessly, then returns it down.
Cutter shrugs and steps back. "Dead woman in the park. Thought I'd mention it. 
   You guys get back t'the important stuff."
Kathryn makes no move to avoid the blow, and accepts the strike wordlessly.
Brian stops, leans a shoulder against a tree, and folds his arms across his 
   chest. He makes absolutely no effort to prevent his tribemates from further 
   abusing Kathryn; his expression holds only encouragement, not admonishment, 
   for them.
Esther grimaces at Megan, gives a nod and a sigh, and heads over towards the 
   Lawbreaker and the performer of the Rite. It doesn't seem like she's 
   looking to interfere with the Fianna, though.
Erik pulls the brim of his fedora further over his eyes and lowers his head, 
   muttering under his breath.
Cutter steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Velia watches, the cold not seeming to bother her at all.
Walks-Far-Alone circles back to Otter to wait for one of the two female 
   Fiannas in good standing to finish. Her eyes never leave Kath as she paces.
Patrick steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Reggie coughs, blowing out clouds of frost breath in the cold, and heads 
   towards other areas.
Andrea and Cassandra follow Patrick.
Reggie steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Davy turns toward Cutter, looking after him with a frown.
Thatcher stoops to lower her muzzle to scant inches before Kathryn's face. 
   ~You misunderstood,~ she rumbles. ~Give me one reason why I shouldn't rip 
   out your throat.~
Megan watches Thatcher with a tense interest, but isn't engrossed. She catches 
   Walks-Far-Alone waiting out of the corner of her eye, and turns to her and 
   smiles. She crouches down in front of the small lupus and reaches out a 
   hand to ruffle her ears, saying softly, "You did good tonight, Kasie. I'm 
   proud." She looks up in a snap to study Thatcher uneasily, but remains 
   still for now.
Walks-Far-Alone leans into Megan's touch, her tail starting to wag for the 
   first time tonight. Thank you. But I have a question. She turns her head to 
   nose one of the handprints which seem a part of her fur. Do you know 
   anything of the ~fae~?
Kathryn turns back to face Thatcher, blood running from a swollen lip. "Gaia 
   needs all the warriors she can get. I can still fight for her. And I shall. 
   But I cannot stop you from killing me. I'm helpless while wearing this." 
   She raises the silver bracelet for Thatcher to see. "This is meant to teach 
   me control. I think it might be working. And I do not know your name, Rhya. 
   May I know who intends to kill me?"
Nightflash makes his way over to Esther.
Brian's eyes stray away from the mob discipline being handed down to Kathryn, 
   over towards Walks-Far-Alone. Rather than interrupt he watches -- though a 
   fragment of his attention remains focused on Thatcher and Kathryn.
Megan mutters incongruously. "Arrogant pups," to no one in particular, but 
   then turns back to Kasie. "Hmmm? Fae? Some. Brian or Shea'd know more. I 
   run more to fairy *tales* than any facts," she says with a grin.
Velia finally seems to gain a measure of control. She shifts down to Lupus and 
   bounds off into the woods.
Iceheart steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Moon Otter paws at Brightspot's other side where a fae-print is painted. Young 
   fae have no respect for the Garou.
There is something about Kathryn's attitude that seems to cause Erik physical 
   pain. His arm strikes out, hand closed into a fist, toward a nearby tree, 
   and then stops, pulling the punch with an effort of will so that his gloved 
   fist comes to rest against the bark, causing harm neither to himself nor 
   the tree.
Walks-Far-Alone's ears splay somewhat. I ran into them two nights ago. A horse 
   brought me to a party of theirs. I cub-sat for them before... Well, we did 
   some stuff for them besides that. I liked their young, but then the next 
   morning I looked like this. I can't help patrol until the marks and scent 
   are gone.
Thatcher reaches for Kathryn's throat, deliberately, rather than with the 
   speed of anger.
Davy turns to watch Thatcher and Kathryn, crossing his arms across his chest.
Esther steps back from the Fianna violence, looking away. The action brings 
   Nightflash to her attention, and she looks down at him, one w#eyebrow 
   quirking upwards in a question.
Brian pushes off away from the tree and ambles in Erik's direction. "You'll 
   keep teaching her," he informs the metis. "You will drive this shit out of 
   her one way or another."
Nightflash looks up to address Esther. ~I had thought that the punishment and 
   humiliation was to end with the rite.~
Kathryn holds her ground, keeping her throat bared. She makes no move to stop 
   Thatcher's hand.
Erik tilts his head slightly, then nods in acknowledgement to Brian. In a low, 
   strained voice, he murmurs a reply in Gaelic. */I hope I don't kill her./*
Megan's mouth quirks into a smile at odds with the lethal threat happening not 
   far from her. "I'm no expert, but I think you'll need to find some offering 
   to appease them. Or, wait until they get bored. It's nothing you won't 
   recover from in time."
Lightseeker approaches from the woods.
Brian shrugs his shoulders. "She has an obligation to learn from you. If she 
   doesn't, you are within your rights to call her out and fight her until she 
   submits to your teaching or she is dead."
Moon Otter noses his newest cohort in crime. This one thinks, if all else 
   fails, you could chew out the patches of fur and a good roll in dung will 
   rid you of the smell.
Walks-Far-Alone repeats, They were good cubs, we played a lot. She glances 
   over towards Shea before continuing, Where would I leave the offering? The 
   white horse took me ... somewhere. It wasn't here, but I don't think it was 
   the Umbra, either.
Thatcher lifts, with the hand at Kathryn's throat, until she looks the charach 
   eye to eye, standing at full height. ~I am Thatcher, Kinsinger, Fostern of 
   the Fianna tribe, child of the Badb, and member of this Sept. You are 
   nothing. No one. Tonight you live. I make no promises on tomorrow.~ That 
   said, she opens her hand, and lets the galliard drop back to the ground.
Erik wipes at his mouth with the back of his gloved hand and nods wordlessly 
   to the Righ.
The corner of Esther's mouth twitches at the Lupus's question. ~It 
   traditionally doesn't end until the night is over. I've no objections to 
   people keeping to tradition.~
Megan tilts her head, narrow-eyed gaze studying the interplay between Fianna 
   Galliard and Shadow Lord Ragabash with a reminiscent smile that is not 
   entirely sunshine-and-roses. "And they may have it grow back the same way, 
   and the only thing she's gained is patchy fur and a stink."
Kathryn hits the ground hard. She lies there for a moment, then stands slowly. 
   "Then, if the rite is over, I shall leave, and not aggravate you all with 
   my presence." She waits a moment, to see if any need to ridicule her some 
   more.
Nightflash indicates his understanding and lowers his eyes in respect.
Walks-Far-Alone tilts her head to give Otter an amused look, Or we could try 
   hunting again. Back to Megan, Maybe they'll just go away?
Lightseeker pads in. But I had this peach...
Brian's attention is caught by Kathryn's announcement, and he stalks quickly 
   in her direction. "You stay here," he snaps, "until the sun rises. You may 
   leave at dawn, and not before."
Kathryn nods to the Righ. "Then, as you command, Brian-rhya, I shall stay." 
   Kathryn turns, and goes to site by the stone, bloodstained and battered.
Megan shrugs her right shoulder. "Maybe. It's up to you, o' course, how you 
   handle it. Shea's probably the best person to ask, if she's done with her 
   fun."
With another look towards the indicated theurge, Walks-Far agrees that she'll 
   wait and ask her next. Leaning over towards the Lord, she rubs her 
   handprinted cheek against him. Maybe I can rub it off...
Once nearer, Brian rests a restraining hand on Thatcher's shoulder. "Let her 
   wallow in her own shit," he suggests to his packmate. "Don't dirty your 
   claws."
Lightseeker shifts upwards, and rummages in her pack, thoughtfully.
Nightflash looks one last time at the criminal and then excuses himself. 
   Slowly, he turns and heads back in the direction of the Caern.
Nightflash steps out of the clearing and into the forest.
Moon Otter playfully dances a few steps sideways, away from the fingerpainted, 
   bubble-gum scented cub, tongue lolling in amusement. Hey, watch it!
Erik rubs the back of his neck and sighs tiredly.
Walks-Far-Alone splays her ears at Otter, then rises. Arching her neck, she 
   informs him, ~I am Wyrmslayer, Lawkeeper! I follow the law. 'First share to 
   those highest in rank', and these prints were my gift from their children. 
   Am I wrong to try to share them with you, rhya?~
Moon Otter backsteps with mock fearfulness away from Walks-Far-Alone. No, no. 
   You may keep their gifts heaped upon you. This one insists.
Megan says softly with sadness and an odd meaningfulness to Kasie, "Be 
   careful, little one." She flicks a bright-eyed, narrowed glance at Moon 
   Otter, then pushes strongly if not gracefully to her feet, moving to join 
   her pack for the first time tonight.
Arlen calls, "Hey, Kath, catch," and throws a ripe, perfect peach at her. In a 
   blur of movement, she throws a marvelously overripe peach right at the 
   Fianna's head. "Symbolic, like," she mutters, and leans against a tree.
Davy moves over toward Arlen, now. He's uncustomarily quiet, but he flashes a 
   grin at his packmate as she turns toward him.
Walks-Far-Alone hrumps, looking down at Otter with feigned loftiness. Megan's 
   words draw her attention, and much of her playfulness, away. Cocking her 
   head, she sits again, glancing towards Shea to see if she's finished.
Kathryn catches the good peach, on reflex, while the bad one hits her on the 
   shoulder, due to her turning. She looks at the good peach, and lets it fall 
   to the floor, untouched.
Arlen says, quietly, "Hey. You ok?"
Esther squats down, a way back from Kathryn, pulling her shawl about her. She 
   settles down, waiting to escort the Charach back off the Bawn, come the 
   dawn.
Kathryn just stares at the bracelet on her wrist, blood dripping slowly from 
   the claw-carved glyph on her forehead.
Shea shifts downward again, nods once, then nods again, looking over her 
   shoulder at Brian. "Aye, righ. It's over, now."
As Kasie looks away from the Lord elder, he turns for the woods. His form 
   rapidly disolves among the black shadows and in the space of scant seconds, 
   he is gone, leaving only tracks in the snow.
Brian gives Shea's shoulder a squeeze, and then half-turns to welcome Megan.
Davy nods. He glances toward the charach, then back at Arlen. "I think I need 
   a drink. Or to veg. Or something. I've never been to one of those before. 
   Pretty intense." For once, the ragabash doesn't simply seem to be making 
   fun of a rite.
"I'm glad that's over," Megan says to Brian, moving over to encircle Shea's 
   waist with an arm and squeezing in a quick half-hug. "There's someone 
   needing to talk to you about funner things for you, m'blood," she nods 
   towards Kasie.
Arlen nods shallowly. "Been to one. Rather... Distressing. I'd told Kath I'd 
   be here, just for moral support, but when I got stuck with patrol, I must 
   admit I wasn't terribly sorry about it."
Shea leans briefly against Megan's shoulder, then looks over toward Kasie, and 
   her printed fur.
Megan says to her remaining packmates, "I'm going to stick with Esther 
   tonight, hey? I'll see you tomorrow."
Walks-Far-Alone rises as Megan brings her situation up, then starts towards 
   the knot of Fianna. Her ears splayed at herself, she explains, I was 
   cubsitting for the fae, then the next day I looked like this. I look ... 
   silly. And I can't patrol like this. And I smell funny. The former cub's 
   scent has changed: human noses could easily detect the buble gum smell, 
   along with paint and chalk, lupine noses would catch the Wyld, too.
Davy shakes his head. "She deserved what she got," the ragabash says heavily. 
   "But I don't have to feel great about it. I'm headed back to the apartment. 
   Catch you later?"
Arlen puts a hand on his shoulder. "She did. And I don't have to, either. Yes, 
   I rather feel I should stay here a bit longer. I'll see you later."
One corner of Shea's mouth quirks higher than the other. "Babysitting what?"
Davy nods and turns back to the woods. After a few minutes of walking, he 
   returns to lupus for the long run back to his van.
~Fae,~ The young Fianna explains. ~They were having a party, and wanted Garou 
   guests. A horse found me and brought me. Later we had to get something from 
   a dragon for them, but before that I was taking care of their cubs. They 
   liked me and were playing on me, mostly.~
Megan shifts down to lupus and then pads over to join Esther, giving Arlen a 
   long study before relaxing bonelessly, head on her paws. She yawns once, 
   then appears to start drifting off.
Arlen eyes Megan back irritably. "Did I kill your favorite dog, Ravenfeeder?"
Shea arches an eyebrow. "Have you thought that maybe this was just their way 
   of saying they liked you, then? Not meant as anything cruel?"
Ravenfeeder's eyes open a crack at the sound of her name, to look at Arlen. 
   Having no dog to kill. She lolls her tongue. Talk later, if you like. When 
   the moon is not so full.
Arlen sticks a thumb into her pocket, slightly defensively. "I'd like that, 
   yes. G'night."
Walks-Far-Alone indicates that she did think that, yes. They were good cubs, I 
   liked them a lot. And, She turns her head to touch one with her nose, they 
   wouldn't be that bad if I could still do my job. But I can't. Think they'll 
   just fade away on their own? Maybe it won't take too long?
Ravenfeeder whuffles once, then fades out again.