The Tale of Silver Sorrows

[hazlogs]

(Sometime in 1994.)

Moon Otter emerges from the forest to the northwest.
Moon Otter has arrived.
Brandi takes this brief opportunity to claim a balcony seat for tonight's 
  show pulling herself up onto one of the lower branches of the tree and 
  settling herself back into a comfortable crook.
Justice says, ~Best to tell the tale in our own tongue. This is a tale 
  that Falcon reminded me of last night in a dream. I'm not sure why he 
  wants it told today but tell it I shall.~
Moon Otter slips in trying to be as un-intrusive as possible and curls up 
  on the ground.
Hazmat pricks her ears and looks attentive.
Justice lifts her muzzle in a soft combination of sing song and howl.
Justice says, ~I sing of a pack and the corrupter Wyrm in the sunrise days 
  of long ago when Gaia was strong in her people and the Wyrm dwelt in 
  small  places weak and searching for a way to penetrate this union.~
Justice's voice rises in a strong steady beat. Her eyes look far away
  as if seeing the events themselves.
Sepdet tips the brim of the hat back from her circled eyes and watches 
  Justice and no one else with a thoughtful and inscrutable stare.
Justice says, ~The pack ran wild in the sunrise days bold and wise
  united in blood and strong in each other's hearts. Some say they were 
  of the Lost brothers, the third tribe of the Pure Ones. Others who tell 
  the tale believe them to be Thunder's children, fierce and proud. 
  Whatever their tribe, they ran together under Chimaera's aegis
  and claimed the name of Silver Sorrows.~
Hazmat looks enrapt.
Jalal emerges from the forest to the northwest.
Justices voice continues to strengthen, a proud growl coming in under her 
  voice.
Jalal pads in quietly, and stands at the side of the path in the shadow of 
  an evergreen.
Justice says, ~This pack was mighty, and the Wyrm was jealous of its 
  might. It sent an Elder Bane to plague them, a Bane to break the body 
  and the spirit, the heart of the pack and the bounty of Gaia around 
  them. But Silver Sorrows proved too strong; it refused despair and held 
  against the blight. Their leader was Souls-In-Darkness, a proud but 
  clever Garou who led his pack past the traps of the Bane with Coyote's 
  cunning. His second was Grey Eagle, strong and beautiful, who rallied 
  her pack to their Alpha's banner with quiet purity of purpose. Third to 
  these was Talons-of-Bear, an Ahroun with a rageful pride in his brothers 
  and sisters. Souls-In-Darkness and Grey Eagle were glad of his 
  unyielding strength.~
Justice's visage becomes fierce, her eyes flashing with the proud strength 
  sprung from the deep roots of Gaia's people.
Justice says, ~These three were the bone of the pack, holding together as 
  their pack changed through the years, as members perished in battle
  or chose a quieter life with one Sept or another. But no matter who 
  fell away, others sprang up to pledge themselves to these three great 
  Garou, and none who ran with the pack ever forgot the glories in which 
  they took part. And through the turning of the years, Souls-In-Darkness,
  Grey Eagle and Talons-of-Bear remained steadfast and true to each other. 
  Their love was a monument to all that is good and holy within the chosen 
  of Gaia.~
Justice looks into the sky, her voice rising in a howl that arcs to a 
  soprano peak, but suddenly shatters into a whining bark before that 
  peak is reached.
Justice looks hard at those present.
Justice says, ~But monuments are doomed to crumble, and if the Corrupter 
  knows anything, it is the way of rot within. Souls-In-Darkness became 
  jealous of the bond between Gray Eagle and Talons-of-Bear, not 
  recognizing that their bond was his bond as well. In his jealousy he 
  conceived a sick passion for his Beta and began to look upon the rest 
  of the pack, especially Talons-of-Bear, with a paranoid loathing. He 
  conspired with the Greater Bane that had been set against Silver 
  Sorrows and lured them into a trap. On the eve of the Crescent Moon 
  this Alpha, with the Wyrm's foul help, opened wide the earth to 
  swallow his brothers and sisters, leaving only he and Grey Eagle.~
Hazmat jumps slightly, utterly caught up in the story.
Hazmat whimpers.
Justice pitches her voice in a low snarl.
Justice says, ~Grey Eagle looked upon her once-beloved Alpha with anguish 
  as he held his arms out to her. She threw herself into the same chasm 
  that had swallowed the rest of Silver Sorrows, lest the sight of the 
  Wyrm-corrupted Souls-In-Darkness drive her mad as a Dancer. The 
  Betrayer bayed his sorrow to Luna, but she refused to give him surcease. 
  He wandered across Gaia's face the rest of his days, outcast, hunted,
  and most of all, alone. It is not said what became of Souls-In-Darkness. 
  Some say he lingered on long past the time he should have fallen to 
  dust from the weight of years, becoming in flesh as well as spirit a 
  thin shadow of his former self, etched with the taint of the Wyrm. Some 
  say he came to blame Talons-of-Bear and the love Grey Eagle bore him for 
  the Beta's self-destruction. For in his corruption, Souls in Darkness was 
  too cowardly to face the truth. He became a darkness that would never 
  admit to what it had done, though a cold wind from the north whispers 
  his condemnation still.~
Ali emerges from the forest to the northwest.
Justice ends in a quiet sing-song.
Justice says, ~And it is said that when the rivers run red with blood and 
  Kin turns upon Kin, the betrayer shall come again. But to be punished or 
  absolved, only Chimera might know.~
Hazmat urfs softly.
Ali chuffs a polite greeting, and settles near Brandi to listen.
Desert nods slightly, rising to his feet.
Justice slips back into her usual form, tight-to-bursting clothing loosening 
  about her.
Justice contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Ox emerges from the forest to the northwest.
Justice shifts into Homid form.
Desert makes his way out of the little clearing, away to the northwest.