Forest Howl Goes Hunting

[hazlogs]

[IC... I forget the actual date.  But this is going back a ways, before
 Oscar was Rited, before he became a full Shadow Talon.]

Thunder-of-Gaia appears from the dense forest to the south.
Moon Otter emerges from the forest to the north.
Moon Otter pads clear of the woods, sniffing, trailing after the Talon 
  from the caern.
Swift-Claws rumbles a greeting to her packmate and glances briefly at Otter.
Oscar shifts into Homid form.
Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the Female Alpha, glancing at the lord 
  cub as he becomes visible.
Oscar switches to a more conversant form for him. "Um, like, 'member a 
  while back when I told ya that I found out about some people dumping 
  crap in the woods?" He pauses, "Um, I'd still like your help... if you 
  want to, otherwise I'll... just go alone I guess." He shrugs.
Black-Paw appears from the dense forest to the south.
Swift-Claws looks vaguely amused at Otter. By yourself, you would only 
  get killed.
Black-Paw slips out of the southern woods at a sedate pace, barking a 
  greeting to the two Talons. And Oscar.
Oscar scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, maybe or somethin'. 
  I dunno." He asks, "So ya still in'erested?"
Swift-Claws chuffs to the Talon cub and then looks at Otter. Fight the 
  Wyrm wherever it breeds. Of course.
Thunder-of-Gaia chuffs a curt greeting to the Talon cub.
Oscar ohs, "Yeah, that." He looks to the east-southeast. "'s 'bout forty 
  mile...er... couple hours going at a fair speed thataway." He gestures.
Black-Paw picks up her pace at the mention of fighting, pulling up close 
  to the group of Garou. Do you hunt the one who killed Earth-Child?
Swift-Claws rumbles to the Talon cub. Not tonight. Tonight we hunt apes 
  who hurt the Mother.
Thunder-of-Gaia bristles slightly, shaking out his ruff.
Oscar chews nervously on a fingernail. "Well, better get scootin' or 
  somethin'."
Moon Otter contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Moon Otter shifts into Lupus form.
Swift-Claws rises and chuffs to Otter. Show this one where you saw them, 
  No Moon.
Black-Paw looks up quizzically at Oscar, then over at the two Talons. And 
  the Shadow Lord cub is going to do this?
Thunder-of-Gaia glances at the Talon cub. You will hunt as well.
Moon Otter flicks an ear. One did not see them, but heard them speak of 
  where they did things. He thinks he knows where it is.
Swift-Claws glances at Black-Paw. Even Moon Calf cubs have their uses. She
  glances rather irritably at Thunder. Of course she is. They are only apes.
Swift-Claws turns back to Otter. Then show us.
Moon Otter starts off in the general direction that he pointed to earlier.
Swift-Claws lopes off after Otter, limping only slightly.
Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the Talon Elder. This one is not sure 
  what the Weaver of Songs has been teaching the cub.
Black-Paw keeps her expression purposefully neutral, careful to avoid 
  anything that might get the invitation revoked.
Swift-Claws rumbles. Then it will be seen tonight if she knows enough to 
  hunt and kill.
Thunder-of-Gaia pads after the others,soon in a full run.
After a few hours of travel, crossing over a road at one point and Otter 
  getting a bit disoriented at another place, the group eventually arrives 
  at... 

Up the Creek(#4118RFJ)
A large creek bubbles merrily across the rocks nearest the shore. The 
  center of the water looks to be a bit deeper, but the current must still 
  be strong as it hasn't iced over. Snow coats the landscape in a cold, 
  pristine white. Occasionally, a clump of white powder drops off a tree 
  limb, breaking the monotony of the creek's babbling. 
To the south of the creek is a steep incline leading up to an old road 
  that looks to be more-or-less unused in the past few days. In the 
  distance, the sounds of vehicles can just be made out, hurrying to 
  unknowable destinations. A small 'path' seems to lead from the road, 
  down the hill, and directly into the creek. Young trees and brush lie 
  broken or crushed along this path which does not appear to have been 
  used in over a week or two judging by the accumulation of snow.
Downstream, about a fifty yards to the east of the old path, a young buck 
  sits at a slight angle in the snow near the bubbling creek's edge. 
  Frozen stiff, its eyes wide, icicles of blood-tinged foam have grown 
  from its mouth. A light dusting of snow lies over the corpse, indicating 
  that it hasn't been dead for more than a day or two.

Moon Otter pads along the creek, coming from upstream.
Swift-Claws lifts her muzzle and scents the area, ears pricked and mauled 
  tail up.
Thunder-of-Gaia follows Swift Claws, nostrils flaring as he takes in the 
  color of the area. He doesn't move past the Alpha, allowing her a 
  respectfull lead.
Swift-Claws pads a bit down stream, sniffing, and comes upon the carcass. 
  She scents it carefully.
Thunder-of-Gaia moves slightly away from Swift Claws, sniffing at the 
  grounds, trying to pick up the scents of the two-legs.
Black-Paw trails along near the end of the group, trying to take in 
  everything at once but with a good deal of her attention toward the 
  direction from which vehicles can be heard, and the road.
Swift-Claws sneezes and takes a step away from the carcass of the buck, 
  pale blue eyes angry. She turns to the others. Any scent of the 
  ape-ikthyas' trail?
Moon Otter snuffs about the snow for a bit. He wuffs a negative to the 
  Talon.
Thunder-of-Gaia has not found the scent of two-legs.
Thunder-of-Gaia glances at Swift Claws, then in the direction of the 
  distant noise, then back. His question remains unspoken.
Off in the distance, the sounds of a vehicle can be heard approaching, 
  having diverted off the main highway onto the nearby deserted road.
Black-Paw pads a short distance toward the creek, stops, and scans the 
  area once more. She nods her head toward the road, one of the few things 
  she associates with apes.
Swift-Claws looks at Black-Paw for a moment and then turns, cocking her 
  ears toward the sound. She starts padding off in that direction, a flick 
  of her ear indicating that the other should follow.
Thunder-of-Gaia pads immediately after Swift Claws, ears perked and alert.
It doesn't take too long to realise that the vehicle seems to be headed 
  in your direction. A clanking sound can be heard as well as the rumblings 
  of a fairly large engine.
Black-Paw moves to fall in after Thunder, an attempt to relegate the other 
  cub to the rear of the group.
Moon Otter tags along behind the Talons.
Swift-Claws pads along the trees, silently, her white coat blending in 
  with the snow, her movements that of a confident and practiced hunter.
Coming around a bend in the road, a largish white truck clanks towards 
  you, chains on its wheels. It starts to slow as it approaches the group. 
  Three shadowy figures seem to be in the cab.
Black-Paw drifts closer to the treeline that Swift-Claws follows, following 
  the path of her elders.
Thunder-of-Gaia falls back from Swift Claws, not wanting to be 'bunched' 
  up while the apes are around. he sticks close to the treeline as well, 
  but down the road from the truck.
Swift-Claws watches the slowing Weaverthing with narrowed eyes. Quietly 
  she shifts upward, into the Hispo form and chuffs softly. When the apes 
  leave the man-thing, we attack.
The white truck passes by the group, slowing to a stop where they'd been 
  earlier. Brake lights flash a bit as gears get changed and a door opens 
  up.
Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the Alpha, padding to the other side of 
  the 'road' and mirroring her approach to the vehicle.
Tall Guy climbs out of the truck.
Standing at about 6'6", this man seems well-built and muscular despite 
  his heavy winter clothing. His black hair is short-cropped and spikey. 
  He smokes a cigarette and carries himself like he is in charge.
Driver climbs out of the truck.
A weaselish-looking man with greasy hair slicked back appears to be the 
  designated driver. He's wearing a fake leather black jacket and looks 
  a bit cold, but his face is sweaty. He's a bit overweight. Foodstains 
  are on his white T-shirt and crumbs are adhered randomly about his pants.
Shorty climbs out of the truck.
At 5'5", he may be short, but he is definitely built like a tank. A 
  cap on his head hides his balding scalp. Heavy flannel clothes 
  keep him sheltered from the cold. A perpetual sneer seems to be 
  carved into his face. A scar runs down his right cheek stopping 
  just below his jawbone and almost going up to his eye.
Black-Paw crouches down on the same side of the road as Swift-Claws,
  eyes on the truck as she waits for the evening's prey to come 
  into view.
Tall Guy hitches his pants up a bit. "Yo, Smith. Gimme a fuckin' 
  hand back here." He heads towards the back of the truck.
Moon Otter looks curiously at the scene and the Talons.
Swift-Claws pads slowly forward, still keeping out of sight as she 
  looks from one ape to the other. Her pale eyes are narrowed as 
  she tenses herself for the first lunge.
Thunder-of-Gaia pads as close to the nearest two-leg as possible, 
  then sprints all out towards the nearest two-leg, shifting up as 
  he does.
Shorty looks down towards the creek. "Huh. Buncha dogs runnin' round."
Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Hispo form.
Swift-Claws growls at Thunder and breaks cover a moment after he 
  does, aiming directly for the one who seems to be Alpha of the 
  apes, teeth bared and sharp claws gleaming.
Moon Otter scrabbles out after the Talons, going full tilt.
Black-Paw pauses a split second to allow the elders to choose the 
  first of the kill, then makes a beeline toward the third man, still 
  in the form of lupus as it's only an ape.
Shorty spies ToG, his eyes go wide. "Whatthefuck?!?" He reaches into 
  his jacket, producing a pistol.
Thunder-of-Gaia heads straight for the tall guy, leaving the runt 
  for the cubs to kill. His eyes light with fire as his claws slash 
  out towards his stomach, looking to free the intestines held there.
Shorty fires of a few wild shots, missing ToG completely, 
  but coincidentally striking Otter square in the chest. He falls 
  and plows snow, skidding to a halt.
Tall Guy barely has time to scream as Thunder of Gaia launches his 
  claws at him.
Black-Paw lets out a loud howl at the familiar sound and smell 
  of gunfire, aiming a low pouncing leap to strike Shorty squarely 
  in the stomach and knock him off-balance.
Driver looks up from the road and spies Swift-Claws charging forward. 
  A grin crosses over his face. He opens his mouth and sticks his 
  tongue out at her... all six feet of it, probiscus-like.
Moon Otter bleeds.
The male Talon's claws sink easily into the ape's flesh. There is a 
  soft ripping sound, like that of a sharp knife cutting tender 
  meat. Steam rises from the gouts of blood that stream from the 
  Tall guy's mid section. The ape reaches up to protect his wounded 
  gut, but only manages to get his hands tangled in his intestines as 
  he slumps backwards into the snow.
Swift-Claws's eyes widen, startled. Then they redden with 
  Rage. Wyrmthing! Her lunge does not slow or stop. She leaps at 
  the fomor, teeth and claws flashing, intending to overpower him 
  with her greater mass even as her weapons make him bleed.
Shorty gets smashed into by the young Talon, sprawling backwards 
  over the road. He shakes his head and gets slowly back to his feet.
Driver catches a rake of claws across the chest and then another 
  cuts like razors over his face, exposing muscles and dripping 
  blood. He staggers backwards, lashing awkwardly with his tongue 
  and trying to fend off the Talon with his hands. It looks to be 
  a losing battle, though.
Moon Otter gurgles and bleeds.
Thunder-of-Gaia watches the ape crumble, then turns to see how 
  the others fare. His eyes narrow as he spies the obvious 
  wyrm-creature. He immediately darts in that direction, slowing as 
  he sees the Alpha seems to have things well in control.
Black-Paw pulls back in a tight circle as Shorty fails to stay down 
  as he should. This time she shifts up into the larger form of 
  hispo, Moon Otter completely forgotten as she lashes out with claws.
Swift-Claws slashes a huge set of claws at the fomor's face, forehead 
  to chin, a strike to, if successful, tear off its face and slice 
  off its tongue at the base, too. She snarls as she tears into 
  the thing.
Black-Paw contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Black-Paw shifts into Hispo form.
Driver's face peels into little bits as Swift-Claws razor sharp 
  talons cut through flesh like hot butter. Schrapnel pieces of 
  flesh fly about, sticking to the sides of the truck and the Talon 
  as well. The formor slumps down into the snow-covered road, dead.
Swift-Claws snarls once more as the fomor dies and looks up, white 
  fur stained red. She looks to see how the others are doing.
Shorty raises an arm to fend off the younger Talon's claws. 
  Black-Paw's swipe scores deep, drawing blood. The man drops his 
  pistol and swings a punch with his spare hand.
Moon Otter staggers a bit, hacking up blood as three bullet wounds 
  in the chest slowly close back up. He falls back down.
Black-Paw doesn't worry much about the punch, working to complete 
  her relatively simple plan: use her mass to knock the human down 
  and then tear out his throat.
Shorty swings his fist into Black-Paw, hitting her like a bag full 
  of bricks and probably changing any ideas she had about 
  quickly throating him.
Swift-Claws snorts at Black-Paw and leaves her kill to pad 
  over, watching the cub with a cold eye. Judging her, though ready 
  to leap in if the prey is too much for the young Talon.
Black-Paw staggers back slightly under the unexpected force of the 
  blow, and adopts a new strategy. She circles around to the side 
  of Shorty, moving toward the gun he abandoned and looking for 
  an opening to move in.
Thunder-of-Gaia watches the young cub confidantly, letting the 
  Alpha decide when and if to interfere.
Moon Otter pushes back to his feet again, dribbling blood for 
  assorted bullet holes and his mouth, coughing up blood. He 
  staggers forward towards the others.
Shorty shifts back to his feet, forgetting about the gun apparently 
  as he watches Black-Paw. Realizing suddenly that she wasn't alone, 
  he looks behind him to see where those three others went to.
Swift-Claws growls softly at the prey, but lets the cub take the 
  kill, if she can.
Black-Paw moves quickly as soon as Shorty's attention is 
  momentarily diverted, coming up on the man with unnatural speed. 
  She relies on claw and teeth this time, slashing out at his side 
  and stomach once within range.
Shorty gets blind-sided by the cub as her teeth and claws rip into 
  him once again leaving huge, gaping wounds. Intestines spill forth 
  and onto the road, steaming in the chill air. On hand reaches to 
  keep his guts inside, the other tries to lessen the blow of his 
  fall as he staggers back against the truck's front grill, leaving 
  a dent as the metal crumples.
Moon Otter hacks up a bit more blood and gurgles out some strange 
  curse. ~Asshole daisy fuck chewers.~ Who knows what it means?
Swift-Claws gives Otter a strange look and then turns back to 
  rumble approval to Black-Paw.
Black-Paw uses a clawed paw conveniently placed in Shorty's 
  stomach cavity for leverage as she pulls her body up toward his 
  head, massive jaw opening to clamps down on his throat.
Thunder-of-Gaia turns to consider the lord cub when the Talon cub 
  has finally put the ape down.
Shorty's neck makes as satisfying >crunch< just before a spray of 
  blood washes all over the cub. The formor goes limp.
Swift-Claws barks once to Black-Paw. Good.
Moon Otter wobbles unsteadily towards the others.
Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the cub as his gaze moves towards 
  the Alpha female. We should drag the carcasses of the apes into 
  the woods, so that they are not found by other two-legs.
Swift-Claws glances at Thunder and rumbles agreement. Using the 
  dire wolf form to advantage, she drags her kill into the woods, 
  for hiding.
Oscar shifts into Glabro form.
Thunder-of-Gaia grabs one of the bodies and does the same, shifting 
  back to the birth form when he returns.
Black-Paw spares Moon Otter just enough attention to make note of 
  the fact that he's still alive, then turns back to the one she 
  killed.
Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Lupus form.
Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You finish shifting into Lupus form.
Oscar rubs at his healing chest, getting blood on his hands. "Ow. 
  That fuckin' hurt," he bitches as he looks in the cab of the truck 
  and climbs in.
Oscar wiggles into the truck.
Black-Paw returns from the chore of body disposal and heads toward 
  the other two Talons, shifting into a smaller form.
Swift-Claws pads back from the woods once the kill is disposed of. 
  She narrows her eyes at Oscar and barks once. ?
Black-Paw shifts into Lupus form.
In the cab, Oscar starts rummaging throught the glove box and 
  tossing papers about.
Black-Paw idly licks at some of the blood still on her muzzle as 
  she watches the Shadow Lord, quite obviously confused as she waits 
  for Swift-Claws to deal with the delay.
Thunder-of-Gaia sniffs at the Weaver-skin-that-moves, nose 
  twitching annoyedly as he does.
Swift-Claws growls irritably and barks again at Otter, commandingly.
  Moon Calf. What is it you do?
Oscar climbs out of the truck.
Oscar flicks a thumb at the truck. "Do we bury it or wha?"
Thunder-of-Gaia's eyes narrow at Moon Otter. Speak clearly, cub.
Swift-Claws snorts at Otter. The Weaverthing is too big to bury. 
  She turns to the Shadow Lord. You know to make this thing move?
Oscar blinks, then recovers. He says, very confidently, "Yes. Yes I do."
Black-Paw regards Swift-Claws skeptically. Why would we want it to move?
Swift-Claws rumbles. Left here, the apes will find the Weaverthing. 
  It also should not be here. It must be taken away.
Thunder-of-Gaia chuffs an agreement with the Alpha. It should not 
  be left here.
Oscar nods and jams a wad of papers into his pockets. He pulls out a 
  pad of paper and pen, heads for the rear of the truck, and 
  starts scribbling.
Swift-Claws rumbles impatience at the cub.
Thunder-of-Gaia watches Oscar for a bit, trying to make sense of 
  his actions, then he snorts annoyedly and turns away, looking up 
  the road.
Black-Paw turns from the truck with a disinterested flip of the 
  tail, taking the first few steps back toward the park before 
  stopping to wait.
A slight ripple crosses the center of the creek. Two eyestalks 
  raise from the chill depths like twin periscopes. A slight splash 
  of water, and something rather huge steals out of the pool's 
  depths, clicking it's way free of the creek.
Swift-Claws turns at the sound of the splash, lips rippling upwards 
  from her fangs.
Dripping foul water, sludge, and diseased algaes, a huge crab-
  like thing scuttles towards you. Its twin eyestalks, much like 
  a slug's, pivot to take in motions while its long feelers twitch 
  in the air, testing for prey. The hard glistening shell, a 
  grotesque shade of yellow-green, has random patches of long 
  coarse hairs growing from it. The edges of the shell look twisted, 
  as if it was made of wax and melted slightly. Clay-colored mandibles
  work at a fevered pace, making an insidious 'clickety-clickety-
  clickety' noise that grates in one's ears.
Crawling free of the waters, it measures an easy five feet in height 
  and eight feet in width. Its size, however, doesn't hold your
  attention too long. A dull-red pincer, about a foot in length, 
  quickly and nimbly shovels bits of goo into the mandibles. The 
  other pincer is absolutely huge, easily six feet in length, and has 
  a tainted-orange and bruised-purple hint to it. The claw is held 
  high and protectively in front of the thing, like a monstrous 
  shield, and looks as if it is powerful enough to casually peel open 
  an old Cadillac's engine block.

Crab Bane crawls free of the murky depths and waves its feelers 
  about, testing the air for... food?
Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You finish shifting into Hispo form.
Thunder-of-Gaia's ears perk and he turns from the study of the 
  road towards the water. When he spies the creature, he starts to 
  move more quickly towards it, shifting up as he goes.
Swift-Claws pads toward the creature, steps quickening as she snarls, looking 
  for a weak spot.
Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Hispo form.
Crab Bane twitches its spindely feelers about and slowly pivots in place to 
  face the nearby Garou. It starts to scuttle forward, mandibles flitting 
  hungrily.
Black-Paw assesses the situation as she too shifts up to a larger form. With 
  the elders already claiming their positions in regards to this new foe she 
  moves quickly into position to attack from a third front.
Swift-Claws snarls and increases her pace, loping forward until she's close 
  enough to lunge forward at the Wyrmthing, massive Hispo jaws aiming for the 
  joint where the huge claw meets the Bane's body.
Thunder-of-Gaia moves towards the side of the Crab-Thing, trying to avoid the 
  huge Claws. His claws seek out the bony skeleton, trying to smash into the 
  softer flesh underneath.
Crab Bane swings its massive pincer out and away from its body, trying to 
  whack Swift-Claws with its large mass. One feeler twitches tauntingly at her.
Black-Paw flanks the creature to spread out the attacks, keeping a careful 
  distance from the pincers until she is into position at the rear of the 
  creature. Her eyes hunt out for joints in the shell, a possible weak point 
  to attack.
Crab Bane seems to fixate on Swift-Claws for the moment, leaving its side open 
  to the Theurge.
The force behind the massive claw strikes the Talon Elder too late for her to 
  change directions on her lunge. Knocked aside, she staggers and almost loses 
  her footing. She recovers soon after and snarls defiantly at the bane, 
  facing it.
Oscar finishe scribbling some notes, stands and heads back around the truck, 
  stopping dead in his tracks as he spies the huge thing. "Oh, man. And me 
  without my butter sauce." He squints at the thing, studying it.
Thunder-of-Gaia's claws slam into the side of the bane. There is a sickening 
  cracking sound as part of the shell gives way, but not enough to allow acess 
  to the softer flesh within.
Swift-Claws pauses only a few moments to glare at the Bane while she circles 
  around to the other side, opposite the one Thunder's attacking.
Crab Bane lurches a bit with the Theurge's blow. It pivots in place and snaps 
  out with its smaller pincer as the larger one comes back up, ready to swipe 
  again.
Black-Paw darts in from the rear of the creature with another angry howl to to 
  cut through the night. Her claws swing in an arc toward the underside of the 
  creature.
Thunder-of-Gaia again rears, slamming his claws down on the same spot of the 
  bane. Another crunch is heard, this one slightly less loud. A small spray of 
  foul-smelling liquid is released, spraying over the shell and dousing the 
  Talon seer.
Swift-Claws lunges forward, taking the same tactic as Thunder once she sees 
  the damage it causes. Rear, slam, claw.
Crab Bane oozes a bit of light blue ichor across the ground. It's smaller claw 
  lashes out, but the cub's blow from the rear unbalances the thing enough to 
  make it miss the crescent by a few inches, clicking closed on empty air.
Oscar drops the notepad and pen, running over to retrieve the dropped pistol.
Black-Paw works at establishing a small break in the rear shell covering, and 
  once established continues in her attempts to expand it and reach the softer 
  flesh inside. In deference to the goo she uses only claws, avoiding the 
  substance as much as possible without sacrificing progress too greatly.
Thunder-of-Gaia decides on a different tactic, lowering his massive jaws 
  towards the spot where the spidery legs meet the large shell.
Swift-Claws lunges at the crab bane from the side opposite the one Thunder's 
  managed to crack, bringing her Hispo mass to bear.
Thunder-of-Gaia manages to clamp down on a leg, ripping it off. It twitches 
  even after detached from the body, flailing about crazily. The bane seems to 
  be managing fairly well with its seven other legs, though. Irritated at the 
  cub digging into its shell behind it, the thing simply backs up a bit and 
  sits down, trying to squish the minor itching sensation. As it quickly 
  lowers itself, Swift-Claws' leap takes her a bit higher than was intended, 
  onto its back.
Oscar hefts the pistol up and slowly drifts into a firing stance, taking 
  careful aim.
Swift-Claws lands on the things broad back, claws scrabbling on the shell as 
  she shifts to the war form.
Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You finish shifting into Crinos form.
Thunder-of-Gaia , having made a small hole in the creatures shell, again rears 
  up, trying to fit his claw into the hole and stirke down, ripping more of 
  the protective shell off.
Teeth bared, the Talon Elder raises one huge, taloned fist and slams it with 
  all her strength on the shell, striving to crack the foul thing further open.
Swift-Claws wails away on the top of the crab, leaving cracks across the 
  shell, bits of blue juices spraying about annoyingly and getting on her fur 
  as well as ToG's. Thunder-of-Gaia manages to stir the innards of the 
  creature a bit and thoroughly coat his one side in the thing's vile ichors. 
  A >Crunch!< of snapping bones is heard from the rear as the thing drops 
  about a ton of crabmeat onto the young Talon cub, smashing her rear legs as 
  she was unable to get clear fast enough. Oscar continues taking careful aim 
  on the abomination. The Crab Bane pushes back to its legs, leaving a 
  slightly compacted cub in the snow. It pivots towards ToG, stepping on the 
  cub in the process, and lashes out with it's smaller pincer. The large 
  pincer raise up high over its head and tries to scrape the nuscance off its 
  top shell.
Swift-Claws snarls defiantly at the huge claw and tries do dodge it as she 
  continues to slam her huge fist down on the cracking shell, ignoring the 
  blue juice spattering her white fur.
Thunder-of-Gaia ducks easily under the small pincher that swings at him, and 
  finds himself face to face with the slimy maw of the creature. He rears up, 
  trying to bury his claws into the fleshy spot facing him, motions speeded by 
  his rage.
Black-Paw drags herself out of range from the crab bane, her hind legs all but 
  useless at the moment.
Black-Paw waits a few seconds before closing in again on the crab bane, her 
  movements hampered now by the breaks that haven't yet knit completely back. 
  She chooses to go after one of the legs, jaws widening to crunch down at a 
  spot toward the shell.
Crab Bane's huge claw goes up and over Swift-Claws' head, clattering down 
  on its back. With a scraping sound like someone grinding their teeth 
  together, the huge claw dislodges the crinos, flinging her off its top 
  shell. Thunder of Gaia lashes out again and again, fueled by his rage and 
  scoring gouges across its slightly softer front. One feeler tests his arm, 
  leaving a line of sizzling flesh as it withdraws only to be severed off by 
  ToG's next slash. The crab's mandibles work hungrily as it decides it likes 
  the taste of wolf and man. The cresents flury of blows ends abruptly when a 
  flying crinos drops awkwardly on top of him from above, spilling both to 
  the ground a half-dozen feet away from the thing. Black-Paw is ignored for 
  the moment. Oscar squeezes of a single shot. The bullet smacks into the 
  upper shell and ricochets off into the sky.
The Bane turns quickly at the Talon cub and reaches out with a small pincer.
Swift-Claws grunts and gets off her packmate, shifting downwards into Hispo.
Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You finish shifting into Hispo form.
Thunder-of-Gaia lets out a small combination of grunt and snarl as the Alpha 
  lands soundly on him. He quickly tries to get out from under her and regain 
  his footing.
Swift-Claws lunges forward in two short leaps, jaws wide to catch the left 
  claw at the joint where limb meets body, powerful Hispo muscles ready to 
  crush and tear.
Thunder-of-Gaia works in unison with the Talon Alpha, aiming his attack a 
  little closer to the claw's end. His attack is aimed more at trying to help 
  Swift tear off the appendage than actually peirce the boney skeleton.
Black-Paw's jaw clamps down on one of the bane's remaining legs as the 
  creature's turn brings it within range, locking her jaw and wrenching her 
  head back as she tugs sharply.
Smashing into the things massive claw, crunches and bits of gore fly as the 
  two Talons tag-team the bane. It pivots in place again, one leg ripping off 
  in the cub's mouth after dragging her a bit. The smaller, more dextrous 
  pincer alters course, shooting under its huge twin at Swift-Claws leg.
Oscar sqeezes off another single, aimed shot. One of the bane's eyestalks 
  explodes, spewing black gore.
Swift-Claws sinks her teeth into the joint, massive jaws tightening around the 
  place. Intent on pulling off the huge limb, she's unaware of the pincer 
  aiming at her left foreleg until it closes down on it.
Thunder-of-Gaia continues his assault on the things large claw, trying to 
  completely sever it from the crab's body.
Black-Paw drops the now-unattached leg to one side and resumes her work from 
  the rear of the creature, claws slashing toward openings that have already 
  been laid in the shell to the flesh underneath.
The things clatters in pain, agony and fury! It's smaller pincer clamps over 
  Swift-Claws foreleg and >yanks!< pulling her feet out from under her and 
  dragging her towards the clitter-clattering mandibles, ooze dripping from 
  them as the y work away furiously. Thunder-of-Gaia seems to make some 
  progress on the claw, but it's armored like steel. Black-Paw digs deep into 
  the thing, ripping into innards as light blue goo oozes out with bits of 
  chunks. Oscar pops loose another round from the small pistol and nicks the 
  second eyestalk. It droops over like a fallen tree. The crab focuses on one 
  target, now. The food in its smaller claw. It brings the mammoth claw into 
  play, curling itself towards her midsection.
Black-Paw continues to attack from the rear, the size of the creature enough 
  to prevent her from noticing trouble in the front.
Thunder-of-Gaia gives up on the claw when he sees the Alpha go down. He tries 
  to dodge under the large claw and move to tear at the feeler that has the 
  Alpha trapped.
Swift-Claws howls, anger and pain, blue eyes tinged and angry red as her claws 
  and teeth tear into the already-damaged "face" of the Wyrmthing, her 
  movements speeded by the Rage burning within her. It may think her prey, but 
  she is -not- helpless. Her Hispo jaws tear into the bane unprotected front, 
  burrowing in. The creature utters an insectile shriek as the Talon's jaws 
  rip into it.
Ignoring the acidic burns of the thing's feelers and the claws closing around 
  her body, Swift-Claws-of-Gaia's-Vengeance burrows into the thing with 
  snapping teeth. For several moments there is nothing but the crab's screams 
  and the sound of tearing flesh. Then, with a yank, Swift-Claws' massive head 
  jerks free of the Bane's innards, a greenish-blue organ clenched in her 
  jaws. With another jerk the Talon Elder rips the thing free. The crab Bane 
  spasms, and the claw around the she-Talon's body snaps >shut<.
Thunder-of-Gaia lets out a savage snarl as he leaps for the crabthing, ripping 
  at the claw that holds the Alpha. Spittle flies from his muzzle as he keeps 
  striking at it wildly.
Crab Bane snaps it gargantuan pincer shut with a squishing, bloody crunch. 
  Swift-Claws' body, severed not-too-neatly in the middle, comes apart with a 
  great deal of gore. The bane wobbles for a mere half second before slowly 
  collapsing, legs folding every which way, onto its side. Dead.

Swift-Claws's eyes start to glaze over, the vital organ of the beast still 
  clenched in her jaws as her form grows smaller.
Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You finish shifting into Lupus form.
Thunder-of-Gaia continues his almost frenzied attack on the claw of the dead 
  beast, shell and ichor flying in large chunks, spraying the male Talon. He 
  does not seem to notice the thing is dead, for he shows no signs of ending 
  his attacks.
Oscar watches, stunned. The pistol slips from his hand and drops silently into 
  the snow. "Oh, god." is all he manages.
Swift-Claws is quite still.
Black-Paw abandons her attack when it becomes readily apparent that the 
  creature is dead and starts around toward the front of the creature. Now 
  that her attention is no longer so narrowly focused it is quite evident what 
  other events have transpired. She's left only to stare at what's left of 
  Swift-Claws, and Thunder-of-Gaia's relentless attack on the now dead 
  creature.
Thunder-of-Gaia's claws continues to fly until the claw is almost severed, 
  then he suddenly stops. He shifts to the birth form and pads over to the 
  remains of the Alpha. He sniffs once. Twice. Then raises his muzzle and 
  releases a melancholy howl that seems to continue forever.
Thunder-of-Gaia contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Lupus form.
Oscar looks back at the battlefield, eyes blinking back tears of rage and 
  sorrow as he shifts.
Moon Otter contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Moon Otter shifts into Lupus form.
Moon Otter raises his muzzle, howling out his sadness, tinged with rage.

Swift-Claws(#3459POc)
        Before your eyes is a lithe she-wolf in the prime of her life. Her 
  long-legged, narrow-chested body is lean and hard; wiry, whipcord muscles 
  move smoothly under her fur. Her coat is almost entirely white, a color 
  suited to the northern climes from which she most likely originated, and her 
  eyes are a pale, icy blue. Her tail waves like a banner behind her, and her 
  expression is one of alertness and knifelike intelligence. Her right ear 
  looks rather chewed, and hairless scar-lines mark her shoulders, sides, and 
  flanks. The whiteness of her coat is marred (or perhaps enhanced) by a 
  irregular splotch of red fur on her left shoulder, a ruddy mark that looks 
  rather like a bloodstain in coloration.
        Currently, she's not looking too well. Something's cut her in two, and 
  not cleanly. Her white fur is streaked with blood and bluish goo, but it's 
  clear from her expression that she died fighting.

Black-Paw waits until Thunder's frenzied attack lets up before stepping 
  closer, a closer look to verify that the body is in fact dead. She adds her 
  own howl in with the other two, the larger hispo form adding to the volume.

(Scene change.)

Burial Mounds
Contents:
Thunder-of-Gaia
Grave Markers
Obvious exits:
Path  
Dropped.

Thunder-of-Gaia drops the body, more gently then you may expect. He pads away, 
  shifting to his birth form once more. He pads up to the carcass and lowers 
  his muzzle to it, rubbing against the remains to leave his scent.
Oaken comes up the trail from the west.
Oaken has arrived.
Oaken looks at you.
Moon Otter comes up the trail from the west.
Moon Otter has arrived.
Thunder-of-Gaia raises his muzzle from the body of the other wolf, his 
  actions, whatever they were, now done. He glances once at the arriving 
  Garou, then looks back to the body of the dead Alpha.
Oaken lifts his nose a bit, taking in the smell of the ichor, of 
  Swift-Claws, of the dried blood. ~Does what you faced still threaten 
  the Wheel?~
Thunder-of-Gaia raises his muzzle in a long and melancholy howl, which reverts 
  off the trees and echoes into the darkness. He still ignores the presencs of 
  the others.
Moon Otter hovers quietly at the entrance to the burial mounds, mourning in 
  private in the shadows of the trees.
Thunder-of-Gaia slowly lowers his muzzle and looks at the Fianna. Any trace of 
  what emotion there once was is now covered with a cold stare. He snarls 
  low. There is no danger to the wheel. The Elder slew it. He stands and 
  pads back towards the woods.
Oaken stands still for a moment, thinking, then tilts his muzzle back.
Oaken howls long and loud.
In the distance, Oaken can be heard to howl, ~Let all honor Swift-Claws, who 
  in dying slew her foe; the Talons, the Sept, have lost a brave warrior this 
  night.~