The Fall of the Caern

[hazlogs]

GarouMush - Tuesday, May 07, 2002, 6:27 PM

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Center of the Caern

This area of the clearing is about 30 meters wide and is a mixture of dark soil and clay throughout, though much of it looks like it's been sodded in recent months. Near the center of the clearing, the top of a large white boulder juts out from the soil like a bone revealed after the skin of an animal has been torn away. The large rock appears to be normal stone at its base, but towards the top stone gives way to a sparkling collection of quartz crystal.

Around you, twenty yards in every direction, stretches the caern. To the southeast, a waterfall plummets over the edge of the chasm into a small pool in the caern; nearby, to the southwest, steam comes from cracks in the ground, perhaps some of the same water. Northwest, a rocky spar juts out of the ground at a low angle, showing a sloping but smooth top. The chasm walls narrow a bit to the northeast, causing some of the mist to swirl in that area.

Contents:

StarEyed

Rushes-In

Shadow-of-Blood

Golden-Eyes

Seeker

Rides-Fire

Nightflash

Obvious exits:

Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 53 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the southwest at 5 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.26 and falling, and the relative humidity is 54 percent. The dewpoint is 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waning Crescent Moon phase (29% full).

Golden-Eyes wanders along the trail, meandering through the steam vents before she comes along to the center of the caern. Her ears are brought forward as her eyes wander the area with intrest. The Fianna cub whuffs softly as she pads closer to the gathering party.

Shadow-of-Blood looks around, calming down slowly. He looks around at the crowd slowly gathering in the caern's center, then looks over at Rides-Fire and Nightflaash. Isthere some moot tonight I did not know about?

Nightflash rolls his shoulders at Shadow-of-Blood. I have not seen so many in this place in many nights.

Rides-Fire glances around at the other Garou, then indicates that he does not know of one.

StarEyed pauses at the edge of the caern's center, still standing attentively and looking about. I do not see this many on my patrols.

Renee arrives in the Caern's center with two other cubs in tow. Showing them around, aparently.

Long-Past comes along the trail, sniffing at the ground and apparently following a scent. Looking up at the sounds from the caern he blinks at all the Garou there. Spotting Golden-Eyes, he trots down into the center to stand next to her, looking and listening curiously at the goings on. He gives a whuff of greeting to Stareyed when he sees her, and beckons her over to him and the Fianna cub.

Rides-Fire yawns in satisfaction. Some nights are busier than others. Perhaps there will be a story, or a hunt.

Rushes-In perks up at the mention of 'story'. That would be wonderful.

Aiyana follows in after Renee, looking from side to side as she studies the place. "Kinda cool, for bein' all nature-y and stuff," she comments.

Four-Leaves barks happily and brushes her head under Aiyana's hand, asking for a head-scritch. Clover-green eyes gaze at the gathered Garou, surprised at their number, and more surprised to see so many lupus. Four-Leaves hasn't seen so many gathered Garou....ever.

Renee shrugs. "Yea. Feel better in the city and shit, personally. I know it better. Tend ta feel like I'm gonna get lost out here, even if I don't."

Rides-Fire turns his yellow gaze toward the two Bone Gnawer cubs. He blinks once, then glances back at Rushes-In and chuffs tolerant acknowledgement.

StarEyed returns the greeting from Long-Past and breaks her stillness to meet up with him. As she nears the two, she gives a more enthusiastic greeting and comes to a rest, sitting by them with ears still sharply alert.

Aiyana blinks, surprised by Four-Leaves' motion, but gives in and scritches the wolf behind her ears. "Well, we'll get lost together, so don't feel bad," she replies to Renee, somewhat amazed by the amount of others in the area.

By the waterfall, Wildfire finishes his drink then takes a moment to shake out the dirt from his fur before sitting down right where he is, making no pretense of joining the growing crowd near the center.

Shadow-of-Blood's hackles go up at the mention of some two-legs feeling better in the city, then he just snorts.

Announcement: Tskilegwa announces "From the West of the caern, a formal howl of introduction rises. It leaves out a name, tribe, breed, and other rather pertinent information."

By the steam vents, Laura jogs by, head turning in the direction of the odd howl of introduction. Looking around, she makes up her mind and heads for the Center.

Seeker's ears prick up and he gets to his feet, then starts off in the direction of the howl at a good pace.

Rushes-In's ears perk up, but his tail goes down. That's rather rude, isn't it?

Rides-Fire's ear flicks again. It is not customary, he agrees with Rushes-In. And I do not recognize the howl.

Nightflash looks west, in the direction of the howl. Informal, at the least. Likely it's a Bone Gnawer.

Shadow-of-Blood tilts his head to one side, looking around. Is one of the Guardians here to answer it?

Nightflash looks to StarEyed.

Laura jogs into the Center, eyebrows furrowing with some confusion. She doesn't say anything, just looks about.

Renee frowns. "Now that is fuckin' weird. Even I gotta 'nuff sense to tell people who I am, when usin' their turf."

Golden-Eyes flickers her ears daintly forward as Long-Past comes to stand beside her. She had been looking for him for a good fifteen minutes now. She looks to StarEyed with intrest, bobing her head in greeting.

By the waterfall, Wildfire doesn't say a word, instead getting smotthly to his feet and pacing back the way in which he came.

Rheen creeps in from the steam vents, not sure if she's supossed to be here or not, what with the crowd and all. She stands at the very edge of the gathering, ready to head the other way if it turns out she's intruding on anything important.

StarEyed's whole body turns at the call, not just her head, pointing alertly to the west. I go to see who is there. Any who wish to follow are more than welcome.

Four-Leaves cants her head, giving Aiyana's hand a small lick, as if in thanks for the headrub. She pulls away, moves up to Renee's side. I recognize one of the two-leggers...Golden-Eyes, Long-Past...but I don't understand what is happening. Is this a ritual?

By the waterfall, Wildfire starts along the trail up to the rim of the valley.

Aiyana blinks at the howl, looking slightly confused. "Huh? What's goin' on now?"

Nightflash looks to his packmates. I'll remain here. Someone should do so.

Long-Past's tongue lolls in amusement at Golden-Eyes. And I was looking for you! He, too, turns towards the howl when it happens and gets up to follow his tribemate to investigate. He looks at the Fianna cub once, beckoning her to follow.

Renee absently touches Four-Leaves head. "It ain't a ritual. Someone basicaly just yelled, 'Hi, I'm here.' Didn't tell us who he is, though. Which is kinda rude and shit."

StarEyed starts off at a lope towards the steam vents and out of the caern, not truly looking behind her to see if any are following.

Bawn: Western Forest(#3018RAh)

Tall Sitka spruce and sequoia crowd around and above you. Many of the trees are old, their branches twisted into impossible shapes, trunks broad and draped with lichen, mosses and creepers. Tendrils of moss hand down from them like green spiderwebs, snaring the unwary with cold, ghostly fingers. The patches of younger growth are dense and pale, needles tinged with silver. Matted undergrowth huddles sullenly in the occasional small clearings, clutching with thorns and burrs at the legs of those who would pass. Deer seldom venture here, but the forest is full of rustlings, and tiny glints from wary, watchful eyes.

The forest spreads out to the east, bounded on the west by Sunrise Road. From farther to the west, one can occasionally hear the distant sounds of the town of Kent's Crossing.

Contents:

StarEyed

Wildfire

Tskilegwa(#2783PJWc)

Eric

Obvious exits:

Highway 22 Overgrown Path Deer Path Sunrise Road Farmhouse Caern of the Hidden Walk Creek Central Bawn Southern Bawn Northern Bawn

StarEyed lopes into the forest with ears up and alert, posture warily inquisitive as she heads for the source of the less than informative howl.

Golden-Eyes follows briskly behind Long-Past, sometimes beside him as she makes her way through the woods. Her ears are strained forward as she lops towards the direction that the call was heard.

Long-Past is a good ways behind Stareyed but keeping pace with her as she goes. He turns his attention from side to side every now and then, just to keep watch.

Seeker slows to a trot as he nears the area where the howl originated. His nose is in the air to catch any unfamiliar scents.

Wildfire didn't arrive with the rest, instead keeping quietly to himself amongst the trees, carefully surveying the area around him as he goes.

The woods are unusually still, as if they sense an intruder. A small group of people waits patiently, in plain view, smelling of the city, inside the bawn's border nearest to Kent Crossing.

You see several people. An older woman stands furthest to the east, while six other people loiter around, fanned out and to the west of the old woman. The old woman is definitely peculiar looking, what with one eye long missing and the socket scarred over. The remaining eye socket oozes blood, indicating it probably was plucked out fairly recently. The woman sports many other scars and crippling old injuries, as if a combine harvester might have accidently run her over. Twice. But she somehow survived.

The other six people look quite fit, sporting the occasional scars themselves, but none of them is in nearly the shape the old woman is. Four of them have backpack, each sporting a whip-like antenna, hoisted casually over their shoulders. They all stand alert, waiting, spread out in a rough semi-circle over nearly 100 feet, and with portable TV cameras in hand. The cameras pan back and forth over the surrounding area. Three of them have very obvious shotguns.

The sixth person, the smallest (but still well-built), stands near one of the cameramen. In one hand, he holds a wicked looking knife. The other hand supports a bound, gagged, heavily battered, but still-alive Malachi--one of the CoGs cubs. The rather silvery knife is held in a very no-nonsense, don't-even-think-about-it fashion at the cub's throat.

The group makes no attempt to mask themselves or their scents. Seeing as how they howled their presence earlier, they probably aren't attempting to be too stealthy.

Laura arrives at a nice, steady lope, narrowing her eyes at the strangers as she emerges from the woods. She raises one hand in greeting, quietly glad that she isn't carrying anything that would immediately identify her to anyone. "Evening, folks," she says, forcing herself to sound casual.

Seeker growls out a warning to the garou gathered in the area. ~Beware, the enemy is near.~

StarEyed pauses slightly upon seeing people, and her hackles rise immediately upon seeing the state of said people. Her growled statement comes hard and fast upon Seeker's warning. ~The enemy is -here-. You have but to look at them to see this.~

Long-Past stops short upon seeing the group of people and scenting, then seeing, Malachi. He growls softly to himself but otherwise keeps quiet and stays back a bit. He watches Stareyed, following her lead.

The old woman croones in a cigarrette-deepend voice. "Come out come out, wherever you are. I can heeeeeeeeear yooooou." A couple of the nearby thugs grin wickedly at one another.

Wildfire frowns to himself, still keeping himself from the main body of Garou, both when he notices the cameras and again when the Mother Tongue is used openly. He eyeballs the kidnapped cub for a moment before backin off a few paces into the shadows of the woods.

Rheen walks in from somewhere in the forest and stops, blinking at the crowd, not sure what's going on. Once again, should she be here? She notices the others, strangers, then thier weapons. No, she definately shouldn't be here... Malachi? She grits her teeth and tries to blend into the scenery as she watches things play out. Definately not a good situation, but not one to go leaping into just like that, either.

Four-Leaves trots to Renee's side again, eyes fixed on the strange scene before her, drifting over the guns, resting on the bound child. Her hackles raise and her lip curls up, but the snarl is soundless. She asks any of the Garou. What do they want?

Golden-Eyes senses something wrong before they even arrive at the scene. Her hackles rise in a natural fashion as somewhat of a six sense seems to indicate something terribly wrong with this situation. The dabbled lupus does nto stride out to the middle of the clearing as she keeps away in the shadows, not too intrested in sudden conclusions. Her gaze travels to Long-Past, shooting him a look before she makes a gesture to Malachi.

Renee arrives on scene and just stares. "Fuck." Turning, she begins herding the other Gnawer cubs toward the back of the group. "Fuck," she repeats, with more feeling this time.

Aiyana steps up to Renee and Four-Leaves, her eyes fixed in on the strange people. "Good call," she mutters towards Renee. "What's this all about, anyways?"

Seeker shifts up to homid, his kopsh flowing into his hand, then steps toward the invaders. He makes no motion to attack and stays silent for the moment.

Bitter Cup, coming from further down on the bawn, closer to her territory, has not yet quite arrived on the scene.

"Don't fuckin' know," Renee rumbles. "But it ain't good stay in the back of things and watch. Don't wantcha getting killed cause of somthin' stupid."

Laura wishes she were a Ragabash. Then she might actually have the guts to say something smartass to these people. She's one of the few in homid here, and the others seem pretty busy herding cubs to the rear of the group. She exhales, looking at the others gathered, and crosses her arms over her chest. "Who...Who are you uh, looking for?" She tries to sound demanding, but it comes off as more of a request.

Aiyana nods, stepping back a few paces. "Good plan. Don't need to get into any trouble. My back still hurts from the last encounter."

Four-Leaves trots ahead of the girls, softly approaching one of the cubs she recognizes, Long-Past. That is one of our own, is it not? she asks calmly, although it's not how she feels. How did this happen?

StarEyed spares a look for the cubs behind her and growls softly at them to stay back and out of the way before turning her attention back to the obvious threat sitting in front of her. She slinks forward a couple of steps, not straying too far from the cubs while trying to remain as hidden as possible.

The old woman tips her head one way, then the other. One ear turns towards Seeker, then Laura--and so do a few shotgun muzzles and TV cameras. The remaining video crew members from hell dilligently continue their watch on the forest. The old woman calls out. "That's close enough there, kiddies. First one who gets their panties in a wad will force us to give your little puppy over here a lovely crimson smile." A hand motions towards Malachi and the two people near him, one holding a knife at his throat.

Long-Past steps over towards Four-Leaves while still keeping his attention on the intruders. We don't know yet. Keep the other cubs back and stay back, yourself. He whuffs softly to Golden-Eyes to be ready to defend the younger cubs if need be. Renee gets an approving glance for herding the cubs back.

Seeker glances at the cameras, then at the antennas on the packs. He grits his teeth and stays his ground, remaining silent.

One of the cameramen flashes a grin at Seeker, notcing the other's frustration. "Good doggie!" he calls out in a mocking tone.

Renee grows softly in the back of her throat and trots after Four-Leaves, when the cub stops to ask questions. Grabbing her roughly by the scruff of the neck, Renee literally drags the Philodox further toward the trees. Once in their shadow and mostly out of sight, she relaxes a little.

The old blind woman seems quite pleased with herself. "Oh, my-my," she chides. "Someone left the door open at the petting zoo!" She then adds. "Smile, you're on Double-you Bee Ess Dee! The Local Network for all the latest news! No sound feed, though." She waggles a finger as if someone did something naughty. "Can't have people listening in to our little negotiation here."

Golden-Eyes growls silently at the old woman. Her ears gazing against her skull as she watches Malachi with a look of pain in her tarnished gold irises. Her attention finally falls on Long-Past as she nods her head once, her paws shifting as she makes sure that the younger cubs stay back behind her.

Aiyana watches the situation curiously, making sure to stick close to the other cubs.

Rheen sinks a bit farther into the leafy shadows, silently clenching a fist at the man's tone. She's doing her best not to be noticed, especially by the ones with cameras. She stiffens as she sees the other cubs heading in her general direction, afraid they might call attention to her hiding place. Down and back, without a sound. The girl should have been a Ragabash.

Four-Eyes wriggles her muzzle, whuffling softly at Renee as her only protest. She'd been just about to turn around, too. But she couldn't handle herself two days ago- she'd be useless now, unable to shift quickly, and it seems like everyone thought so as well. She lies on her belly next to Aiyana's feet, ears pricked forward. Then they prick to the side. Did she hear something?

Laura's pulse jumps when the shotguns move in her direction. She swallows hard, clenching her teeth, and forces herself to remain in place. Arms still crossed, she looks the woman up and down, then glances at Malachi. A quick glance shows no available elders or people who could, y'know, take over the talking part of this. "So, uh, get on with it." She gives up all pretense of bravado on that, just stating the sentence flatly.

The old woman responds. "I propose a little swap. The cub's life," she gestures again towards Malachi. "In exchange for three itsie teenie weenie inconsequential fetishes. What, after all," she asks in her hoarse and scratchy voice, "are a few inanimate toys in comparison to the life of one of your own?" The video crew continue doing their job of watching in every direction. A shotgun stays trained on both Seeker and Laura, who've made their presences obvious.

No. Couldn't have been anything. At most, a squirrel in the trees. The red cub's ears strain forward again, catching every word of that horrid voice. Runs? Four-Leaves asks. What is a Fetish? And why is it so important?

Behind the group and in the trees, Renee begins muttering to herself. Words little more then a murmur, as her fingers flex into claws.

Aiyana glances over at Renee, quirking a brow, before turning to Four-Leaves and shrugging. "I'm as lost as you are."

StarEyed growls lowly, not liking the state of things anymore than the next Garou, eyes darting from one camera-wielder to the next with ears laid low. She slinks back towards the cubs a bit, unpleased, growling once more when she's within easy earshot of Long-Past. Can not shift, cover is not good enough.

Seeker's voice makes the old woman's sound smooth as honey. "Turn off the cameras."

Long-Past steps close to Stareyed and growls lowly. Help is too far away and howling would reveal us. We need a strategy.

Bitter Cup still in the concealing underbrush of the surrounding woodlands, slows as she hears the word 'cameras.' Her ears point forward as her tail stiffens behind her in alarm.

As people mutter and move behind her, Laura just keeps talking. "Any real Garou knows that fetishes are more than inanimate objects. What 'teenie weenie inconsequential fetishes' do you want, anyway? Do they have names? Do you know who has them?" She takes her time with the questions, trying to avoid getting too demanding too fast. Her eyes flick between the old woman and the cub, occasionally pausing on the shotguns.

The old blind woman makes an exaggerated look of embarrasment towards Seeker. "Oh, how rude of me. Of course I'll turn the cameras off. Right after you finish sucking me." She turns her ear towards Laura. "Now here's a negotiator." She gestures towards Laura with a withered and scarred hand that's missing a few fingers. "She might actually save a life today. Tell me, little girlie. How much is a cub's life worth, then?"

Renee doesn't really appear to be 'all here' anymore, as her muttering continues. Eyes fixed on the unfolding drama, she doesn't move.

StarEyed growls lowly to Long-Past to stay put and watch before padding a little back and off a ways, heading off on a vaguely circular route through the forest and around the ugly group.

After Golden-Eyes finds the rest of the cubs out of the way, she swings her attention back to the older woman. Then she draws closer to Long-Past and StarEyed. How cruel, she remarks. Where do they come from? She is curious but at the same time she is very vigiliant.

Bitter Cup crouches down to her belly as the words penetrate. Calling upon a gift shared long ago by her oldest packmate, the alpha starts carefully forward, looking for a break in the brush so she can see without being spotted by whoever speaks to Laura and Seeker. Her ears and tail are the truest indicator of her distress, as she slicks the first back to her skull, and her tail stiffens and rises with the tension.

Long-Past watches Stareyed go, then draws close to Golden-Eyes and talks to her as quietly as he can. They're Black Spiral Dancers, or allies of them, he says, hackles rising involuntarily. We must be wary, and ready to either get the cubs out of here, or do what we can to help.

Four-Leaves looks at Runs worriedly. She'd only heard a few remarks about Renee's Frenzy in Lance's kitchen. She hoped this wouldn't happen now. She watches the older cubs, wishing she could help, knowing she couldn't. The frustration is enough to drive her mad. Fights-While-She-Dances. I hope you do not think all days are- as eventful.

Aiyana crouches down, wrapping her arms around her legs. "I hope not. I'm not all pleased with the idea of getting my ass kicked every other day," she whispers, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

Laura's nose twitches, and her focus continues changing between the cub and the old woman. Forcing herself to stay calm, she watches the old woman. "Nothing, if he's already tainted. What, exactly, do you want?" She manages to keep her tone even, giving Malachi another fast once-over.

Seeker says "I suggest you let the cub go and leave, unless you have something more substantial to negotiate with. You are completely surrounded. You won't get out alive. The question is, are your lives worth more than what you're bargaining with? Or bargaining for? What use to us is a cub who is weak enough to be captured by you and reveal the location of this bawn? He's worth nothing to us. Leave now or die. That is the only choice you have."

The Fianna cub holds her ears back a moment longer before they cant forward. Understood, she replies again to Long-Past. Golden-Eyes holds her breath as she listens carefully to the words tossed between Laura and the old woman. Pausing in her place, her fangs bare slightly as she lowers her head, watching for an comotion of any sort.

A shotgun is trained on Seeker, its wielder's face twisted in a snarl of hatred. "You first, understand? The rest of your Sept might kill us all, but I'll live long enough to laugh when you try to shift with an ass full of silver buckshot."

"Oh, he's almost as good as new, that one. Low mileage," the old woman claims as to Malachi's condition. Her blind gaze strays back to Seeker. "Feel free to try and kill us. You'll go down first, the cub will die, and you'll be all over local television. You, dear boy, are in no position to bargin with Double-you Bee Ess Dee Network Broadcasting." She goes to snap the fingers on her right hand, but is missing too many to make an actual snapping noise. She pulls it off with her left hand. *snap snap!* "Bring me a fetish now or the cub dies."

Rheen grits her teeth, fighting down the urge to not only snap the old woman's fingers for her, but her neck as well. She tenses as scenarios play out in her head, her clawn ripping into that papery flesh, pressing... no. That's not a good train of thought if she wants to remain hidden. She forces herself to breathe softly, every muscle taught.

Bitter Cup stays where she hides for a moment longer, long enough for the pale golden light of another gift to barely warm the fur of her lupus form. Then she shifts into homid and begins to step forward, both hands held out. "I carry a fetish," she says simply.

Laura draws on one of her Gifts, that of Persuasion, praying as she never has before that it works. "No, no...don't. Please." Her stomach twists with revulsion at having to plead with the Fallen Ones, but she needs time. She's about to continue when Andrea-rhya emerges. The Fury's taut arms relax the tiniest bit, and she looks at the elder Theurge gratefully.

Green-eyes sparkle in the darkness, despite the gravity of the situation. The red cub rubs her head against Aiyana's knee, her ears still pricked forward. Then a few more lines of banter go by and the cub shivers, a soft whine rising in her throat. Fights-While-She-Dances...but her train of thought is interrupted. Her head turns, eyes searching for something in the foliage. She /does/ hear something.

Aiyana lowers a hand to scratch Four-Leaves' ears softly. "Huh?" Trusting the wolf's senses better than her own, she looks in the direction that Leaves is. "Something there?" she whispers, squinting her eyes.

The heavily battle-scarred old woman turns towards the new voice. "Excellent!" she croaks in delight towards Andrea. "Throw it over there." She points towards a patch of ground about midway between herself and Andrea.

Seeker looks about to say something, then turns as he hears Bitter Cup. His face contorts in anger, but he says nothing. His hand goes to the hilt of his kopsh.

"I want to see Malachi first," Andrea says, her hands still held out and her gaze steady. "Surely with so many guards you do not fear me inspecting him before I give you what I have carried so long."

I...thought. The wolf trains all her energy into focusing into the murkiness of the leaves. Something rapid, then, slow again. I can barely hear it now. She looks up at Aiyana. Was it your breathing?

Aiyana shakes her head. "I was breathing like I always do. Maybe.." she cringes a little, "You don't think there's -more- of those people, near us, do you?"

Long-Past cocks one ear towards Four-Leaves, takes one final look at the situation with Andrea, then turns and heads quietly back to the Gnawer cub. You hear something?

Four-Leaves watches Long-Past as he approaches, green-eyes narrowed. Yes, over there. She gets to all fours and gestures with her head, to the trees behind them. I may be wrong. I only heard something like breathing.

Aiyana nods to Long-Past in greeting, then turns to study the area Four-Leaves seems so focused on. "Hope it's nothing come to kick ass."

The old woman seems quite confident in her superiority. "Bring me the fetish, then. No tricks. Or the cub dies. Do it slowly."

Laura takes a step back, looking through the trees behind her, particularily concerned with watching Andrea's back. Spirals aren't known for honorable conduct.

Golden-Eyes cannot seem to tear herself away from either the other cubs or the other situation at hand. Her ears cant fully forward so that they are cupped in the direction of the woods. She moves closer to the other cubs while still keeping an eye on Andrea and the rest of the Sept.

Rheen cringes as the other cubs approach. Obviously she can't just tell them to stay back and be quiet, that would defeat the purpose here. She pokes her head out from behind the trunk of a tree, just enough that the cubs will see and the dancers hopefully won't. She shakes wer head at them, then dissapears into the green again. Now that they know where to look, some might make out her crouching form, barely visible through a screen of undergrowth.

Seeker holds his position, waiting to see what the Alpha does.

Four-Leaves couldn't have been more shocked to see Rheen's head pop into existence, and just as quickly disappear. She looks towards Long-Past, then back at Aiyana with a relieved expression. No danger. Cub. She shakes her head quickly, and settles back at Aiyana's side, a little more at ease. Makes me feel better to know I'm not hearing things.

Wildfire can be heard moving swiftly through the woods just now from behind the main group of camera wielders and nasty hags, though he is not heading towards them in the least. Instead he is making a beeline to the southeast towards the Caern, his head held high.

Wildfire howls long and loud.

From Bawn: Western Forest, Wildfire can be heard to howl, ~There's more! There's many more! Watchful of the Caern and your backs!~

Aiyana blinks in surprise, but at the wolf's words she calms down. "Yeah. Glad to know we weren't gonna be smacked around, ag--" At the howls, she pauses and looks to Four-Leaves. "Let me guess. Not good, right?"

Andrea takes slow, measured steps toward the group, apparently in concern of startling one of the gunmen. She looks at each in turn before always glancing back to her tribe's trapped cub. "Is this only about fetishes?" she asks with surprising calmness. "Really?"

Long-Past tenses at Wildfire's howl and his hackles raise even more as he turns his back to the cubs, nose working furiously and ears straining towards the forest. Very bad. Very very bad. Golden-eyes, stay close to me and watch the other side. I knew it I knew it I knew it.

At the howl, Four-Leaves leaps to her paws again. She does not answer Aiyana right away, rather watching the older cubs. Yes, she says finally, her thought terse. Not good. There are many more of these people. Her eyes dart towards either side. And it is not safe to run blindly.

The old lady responds to Andrea as the howl goes up. "We want the whole enchilada!" Her voice rises to a hoarse, croaking yell. "Kill them all!"

Tskilegwa pages to the room: Jam Tech is in effect. Anyone within 50' of Andrea can kiss their weaver toys goodby.

The one with the knife draws the blade quickly across Malachi's throat. A crimson fountain erupts from the young boy's neck as the silver blade cuts deep, and he crumples to the ground in a bleeding heap.

Golden-Eyes growls softly and sticks close to Long-Past although she can fend as well has he can. How come we, cubs, always get our noses deep into this shit? Her eyes narrow into thin slits as she doesn't looks like the merriful little cub she normally protrays. Her hackles rise once more as she looks back towards the rest of the younger cubs. If you want to survive this, we have to stick together. No wandering off, especially since we don't know what else is out on the bawn. Move.

Well, that's it. As the last syllable of 'all' echoes, Laura snarls, lets her anger surge, and bursts into Crinos. She charges towards the littler man, who is or was holding Malachi at knifepoint. When the cub's throat is slit, she shrieks, trying to cut down the cub's murderer with both paws.

Seeker surges forward with a burst of incredible speed, trying to run around the pack of dancers to the right flank and move into position to attack the old woman.

Aiyana ers, shaking her head a little, sticking close to the wolf. "Aw, shit. About to get rowdy up in here, huh?" she comments, her voice shaking slightly. "What's the plan? Run like hell or submit to an ass kicking?"

The one pointing the shotgun at Seeker pulls the trigger, but nothing happens. He tries again, but he only gets the click-click of a hammer striking an empty chamber. Or something much like it.

Long-Past gives a choked growl when he sees Malachi's throat cut and he barks at Aiyana. Four feet! Now! Stay quiet, stay hidden. Run when I say so. We are in over our heads.

A chill runs down Rheen's spine and her breath catches, her eyes darting about wildly. Malachi just bought it. Oh god, she just killed Malachi. Her mind whirling, she does the first thing that comes to mind- get ready to run. These are Dancers. There's nothing she can for the situation except get in the way. ...Right? Her Shift doesn't take much effort with all the adrenaline and Rage going on, and she slips down to lupus. Good thing she's been practicing.

Aiyana nods, taking a moment to shift herself through her forms until reaching lupus, folding her ears back slightly as she lets out a soft whimper.

Four-Leaves' head jerks up at the cry, in time to see the knife slit the cub's throat. The boy! she wails, edging backwards, body close to Aiyana so the girl knows where she is in the darkness. Her entire body is trembling with anger and fear.

Wildfire skids to a halt as words turn to action in the here and now. Too far to do more than give a warning to the caern in which he's already done, he does a 180, shifts upward, and turns to pursue those that have dares to defile the bawn with there very presense.

A howl colored with rage and denial bursts from Andrea's human throat as Malachi goes down. The Gaian shifts instantly into crinos, also surging toward the fallen cub.

A howl from quite a ways out sounds, StarEyed's voice splitting the air and hopefully conveying the message that she's on her way there as fast as her four feet will take her.

Golden-Eyes flickers her ears back against her skull, although she is also startled over Malachi's sudden death, she has more important things to worry about. Listen up, pay attention... Her fellow cubs come first before anything else. She looks back to Long-Past for further instruction.

Aiyana glances towards Four-Leaves. It'll be okay...I think. Her tail droops slightly and she looks around, body tensing under her fur.

Bitter-Cup and Child-Holder manage to close on Malachi's killer before the man even has a chance to shift. Between the two of them, they tear him open, front and back, and he falls to the ground next to the bleeding cub. He gasps for breath, desperately trying to hold his insides in, unable to concentrate through his pain even enough to shift. The leader shifts, and as she does, the fur sprouting from her body turns hard and metallic, sticking out sharply like some sort of steel porcupine. The remaining Dancers all shift as well, calling upon various Gifts -- one grows almost too bright too look at directly, while two more disappear from view as the area around them grows suddenly pitch black. A fourth stares intently at Seeker as the Strider charges in at his leader and the fifth, roars a challenge, but otherwise produces no visible effect.

Child-Holder pulls back from the wounded one, giving her elder the honor of the kill, and presses one gory paw to Malachi's throat. If he still has a pulse, she calls on the presence of Gaia to save him. If not, she lunges at the next Dancer, jaws wide and ready to tear at it's flesh.

From Center of the Caern, Peacekeeper can be heard to howl, ~Come to your death, pups! If the Wyrm wants this place, it can pay with your lives!~

Seeker bursts into crinos form instantly and leaps in the air with a howl of rage, bringing his blade down on the old woman with all his strength.

Green eyes flash with Rage, still staring at the fallen form of the cub, and then the strange people /shift/. Four-Leaves freezes. They're Garou, she says softly, shocked. She tosses her head, trying to ignore that fact. Golden-Eyes, let Fights and I go to the city, get help...we can't fight Crinos.

Fights-While-She-Dances watches the battle intently, her amber eyes narrowing as a low growl rumbles forth from her throat. They may shift, but I get the feeling they're not Garou. After all, Garou don't kill each other. Right? One of her ears flips up, and she nods to Four-Leaves. Sounds like a good plan.

Long-Past snarls at Four-Leaves and the others. Stay quiet! Stay hidden! Stay with me and Golden-Eyes! Help in the city is too far off. We will see you safely out of here. Riverstone, Runs, come closer to us. Stay close. He watches the Dancers and the surrounding forest keenly, waiting for an opening where they can escape cleanly.

Riverstone stays down as she pads closer toward the group of cubs. She looks back over her haunches at the battle, fighting down the growl growing deep in her throat.

Golden-Eyes steps beside Long-Past as she addresses Fights and Four-Leaves. Not now, you'd never make it there with just the pair of you. Or at least wait until there is a break, when it is safe.

Andrea doesn't bother with the kill, at least not yet. Narrowing dark eyes at the leader, she says harshly, ~May Luna abandon you, as you have abandoned Gaia.~

Four-Leaves looks at the new cub, probably Rheen, helplessly, then back at Golden-Eyes. Tell us what to do, when to do. And then she falls silent, drawing close to Fights-While-She-Dances. Tonight will be a night to remember.

Wildfire keeps running, his sneer deepening as he let's Fenris' own presence within him show. He keeps the closest of the Dancer's dead in his sights as he closes the gap.

Fights-While-She-Dances looks to the other wolves around her, waiting as patiently as she can for them to find a safe way out of this situation.

StarEyed single-mindedly drives herself towards the Dancers, pounding the ground hard beneath her paws as she races back through the trees like a white bullet.

Riverstone snarls toward the battle, then turns and bobs her head at Fights-While-She-Dances. I will follow. Which way do we go?

The steel-furred bitch rounds on Seeker as he lashes out with his blade. It cuts deep, the pain reflected in her eye-less expression. She reaches for him with what's left of her claws, trying to grapple him, to impale him on the sharp points of her steely fur, but the fight seems to have left her, and he pushes her back easily with one arm. He reverses his blade on the backswing, and his second cut slashes her throat, much the same way poor Malachi's was. The leader falls to the ground without so much as a twitch, her arms still feebly grasping toward Seeker. As Wildfire and StarEyed close in, Child-Holder dashes for the brightly-lit Dancer. He waits for her, and when she's in range, he jams his claws into her back. He returns the favor, biting onto his leg at the knee and holding on, and both Garou bleed. The two pools of darkness move as one toward Quiet, while the remaining two Spirals close on Seeker. The one that took the time to study him catches the Strider at precisely the right moment, and his claws dig deep into the Ahroun's back, near the kidneys. It howls triumphantly as its claws are bloodied, while its partner's attack does nothing but pull away some fur.

Child-Holder pulls and tears at the muscle of the Dancer's leg, trying to do to it what a Weaver Spider did to her some time ago. She grinds her teeth, trying to strip flesh from bone and cause as much pain as she can.

Seeker roars in pain as the Dancer tears at him, then turns to attack the one who attacked him, kopsh flashing out towards his neck. The instant after he attacks, he tries to dodge away from the next incoming blow.

Lupus becomes Hispo as StarEyed comes into striking range, and she plunges in, seeking to even up the odds here. The two darkness-enveloped forms closing on the Alpha are her targets, and she does not deign to favor them with a growl as she leaps for one with all her natural arsenal at the ready.

Wildfire doesn't even to bother to slow down as he goes headlong straight for the bastard that's been in his sights, aiming to take him down.

Andrea crouches as she turns from the fallen leader toward the two black shrouds. Taking a deep breath, she then takes the initative away from her enemies, charging into the cloud of inky black not being attacked by the charging StarEyed.

Long-Past, who has been watching the battle keenly, finds the opening he's been looking for as Dancers are slain and the others engaged. With no Dancer reinforcements apparent he turns to the other cubs and addresses them gravely. Riverstone, lead us. Golden-Eyes and I will keep the flanks and watch the rear. We go back to the farmhouse. Remember, stay together. Now run!

Riverstone takes a last look at the gory battle and launches herself off into the trees. She stays as low and silent as she can, running as if she's hunting rather than being hunted herself. She glances back toward the other cubs to make sure they're following her. Keep out of sight! There might be more!

Fights-While-She-Dances glances back for a second, then prepares to follow the other cubs with little hesitation on her part. The sooner we get there, the better.

Golden-Eyes watches for the other cubs to start the head of the line before the Fianna cub reacts in anyway towards making a run back to the farmhouse. Her head rises on her shoulders as she watches her surroundings with her alert senses. Be steadfast! She watches as the cubs file past, making sure that all whom she had spotted before are now in the line that are on the run back to the farmhouse.

Long-Past watches the last of the cubs file past and takes up his position off to the right. With Aubrey on the left the cubs leave quietly and quickly.

======== Meanwhile, back at the caern======

[.... Robert was instructing his new Gatekeeper-in-training on opening moonbridges, when...]

Sepdet gestures with her fingers, miming a cub bouncing around and wiggling. ~So when can I see how it's done?~ she asks, voice more patient than her hands.

Robert chuckles. "Not at the moment. It'll take some more understanding first. Let's drop Realmside, though, and talk about the Pathstone a bit."

Robert looks into the pool at the waterfall's base, gazing upon his reflection.

Sepdet dips her eyes obediently and heads for the water.

Robert has left.

Sepdet looks into the pool at the waterfall's base, gazing upon her reflection.

The landscape shifts wrenchingly, and you are through.

By the Waterfall

Contents:

Robert

Obvious exits:

Steam Vents Center Windy Spot Up the Trail

Robert looks around he caern and nods, then heads with Sepdet towards the center. "Pathstone lessons," he says to the Strider, smiling as they walk along.

At the center, Nightflash looks over at Robert and Sepdet as they arrive, and quickly moves in their direction. There was an odd howl of introduction offered some time ago. Several went to investigate, including one guardian. They have not returned.

At the center, Rushes-In wants to go scout and see what is happening.

Robert heads into the center.

Robert has left.

Sepdet starts to follow Robert towards the center, then pauses at the news. She glances up at the Warder, a silent question poised on one eyebrow.

You head into the center and heart of the caern.

Center of the Caern

Contents:

Robert

Rushes-In

Shadow-of-Blood

Rides-Fire

Nightflash

Obvious exits:

Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Robert frowns slightly. "Nothing at all? Go ahead, Rushes-In, but take one of the others with you. That's a little concerning, though not too bad yet."

Rushes-In looks to Shadow-Of-Blood. Come with me, Shadow-rhya?

Shadow-of-Blood snorts. I can go. Calm down.

Sepdet chews her lip. ~Who has already gone to scout?~ she asks.

Robert's vest chirps in a decidedly electronic sound. "Must be the new antenna," he mutters. "Reception is usually bad out here without the satphone." Nonetheless, he steps over to one side and pulls out a mobile phone and flips it open. "de Rath," he says into the phone.

Shadow-of-Blood glares at the Warder, but says nothing to him directly. Wildfire. Star-Eyes. Some scab cubs.

Nightflash affirms. More cubs than not. Seeker, as well.

A frown appears, then deepens, on the Warder's face as he talks into the phone in hushed tones.

Shadow-of-Blood chuffs at Rushes-In. Come along.

Shadow-of-Blood heads southwest, into the hot steam.

Sepdet frowns at the mention of cubs, stepping a little away from Robert to give him privacy.

Robert snaps the phone shut suddenly. "Sounds like Andrea's out there, and there are people with cameras and silver buckshot, holding a knife to a cub's throat. Which means someone knows what they're doing. No gunshots yet, so something's screwy."

Nightflash turns back toward Robert, his hackles rising. What?

Robert repeats as moonlight intensifies around him, "People with cameras and silver buckshot. I have a feeling life's about to get interesting."

From Bawn: Western Forest, Wildfire can be heard to howl, ~There's more! There's many more! Watchful of the Caern and your backs!~

Robert contorts and blurs as he is transformed.

Robert shifts into Crinos form.

Nightflash shifts as the Warder does, looking up at the edges of the caern nervously.

Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.

You shift into Crinos form.

Sepdet's eyes flash at the mention of a cub, although she doesn't press for names. She moves quietly towards the center stone, recent events with Agatha too fresh in her mind to ignore. ~Veil breach,~ she growls. ~If they have film, they're trying to trick us into giving ourselves away so they can use it against us.~

Peacekeeper snarls. ~If it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get. Be ready, all of you. Welcome to a last line of defense.~

Sepdet takes several deep breaths to steady herself, expression growing rather distant. And suddenly pained, but she's quiet enough it's probably not going to be noticed in the bustle.

Tskilegwa pages to the Caern: Everyone let me know what you've done to prep and I'll hit you with a pose in a sec.

Long distance to Tskilegwa: Sepdet moved to the center to defend the pathstone. Just tried to use Mental Speech to ask Seeker for a report and triple-botched, so I've taken the liberty of declaring she has an instant migraine.

Tskilegwa pages: Mercy!

There's noises first from the southwest, as if a large animal were rushing closer through the underbrush and other spring growth. Twigs snapping, branches breaking, leaves being kicked as something approaches. After the howl, stealth seems to have gone out the door completely. The sounds begin to spread, no longer coming from just one direction, but from much of the entire length of the southeastern side of the caern. It's right at the edge of the caern and probably isn't going to stop.

Nightflash turns toward the sound, his claws flexing automatically as he waits for whatever it is to make itself visible. The moonlight gathers around him in dozens of pinpoints of pale light that sink into his fur.

By the steam vents, Shadow-of-Blood, already near the point for whatever is coming, crouches and shifts into a more massive four-legged form, readying himelf for the assault.

Most garou who see this sight never live to tell the tale later, except maybe as some future Garou's past life ancestor. The noise gives birth to a form--a single crinos breaks free in a charge for the center of the caern. Then two more. Then five. Then ten. Then twenty. Then you lose count as a veritable wave of bodies charges in. No strategy is needed. Casualties on their part won't matter.

Rides-Fire echoes the Red Talon's actions, though not the Gaian beside him. His one good ear lies flat to his head, and a deep growl rumbles in his chest.

Sepdet stands her ground with claws out, her place to fight chosen, her back to stone. The first one that gets near will have fire in its face as it falls on her.

Peacekeeper's eyes narrow at the numbers, and he turns to Sepdet. ~Take the stone and run!~ he barks, then he turns back to the stampeding Spirals and howls a loud challenge.

Nightflash steps up to stand next to Peacekeeper, between the incoming wave and Sepdet. He looks grim, and has no illusions about surviving this.

Rides-Fire crouches his powerful body toward the ground, waiting for the first foe to come within striking distance. He howls as well, and though challenge edges his tones, there are words as well. ~Together! Fall back! We fight together!~

Peacekeeper howls long and loud.

From Center of the Caern, Peacekeeper can be heard to howl, ~Come to your death, pups! If the Wyrm wants this place, it can pay with your lives!~

By the steam vents, Shadow-of-Blood, seeing the wisdom in his former packmate's howl, falls back quickly, lining up with the others as a living barrier.

Sepdet whirls at the command, wrenches the stone from its place, and bolts from sight.

You paged Tskilegwa with 'If I can. First instinct: reach, in spite of the moon.'.

From afar, Tskilegwa tosses a coin. Sep can make it fast enough to escape.

Tskilegwa pages to the Caern: Okay. Every character here is an experienced Garou and knows in a heartbeat that this is a battle that will be lost bigtime, zero survivors. That said, who here wants to live to see another day? I may have an out for your PC.

Tskilegwa pages to the room: Er. Let me clarify. Any PC that would refuse to run, I want to do everything possible to prevent you from dying.

You start to reach through the umbra.

Sepdet lightly touches the shimmering stone at the caern's heart.

The landscape seems to be an overlay of two worlds at once for a moment, then snaps into the Umbra.

Long distance to Tskilegwa: Sepdet kays. She just runs umbrally-- off the bawn, to *BLEEEP*. It's dangerous, but she knows the paths about as well as any Garou in the sept, and she's not standing around to be eaten.

From Center of the Caern, Rides-Fire can be heard to howl, ~Cowards!~

From Center of the Caern, Nightflash can be heard to howl, ~The Caern is fallen! Retreat!~

======= And at the Farmhouse =============

Farmhouse: Kitchen and Dining Room

Alicia is currently hanging her head out the backdoor, staring, taking a deep breath and lookin ready to give a shout of some sorts. Cam is right behind her.

Twitching, and just /itching/ for a fight. Wonder what's keeping him there.

In the front rooms, Peggy is in the living room, attached to a chair by white-knuckled hands, alternating between watching Alicia's actions in the kitchen and peering out the window for any signs of trouble

Shapes are dimly visible in the treeline beyond the yard, and it's soon easy to make out a group of people jogging towards the farmhouse. The sliding glass door is soon opened and cubs are filing in. Rheen, Aubrey, Aiyana, Lyra, Renee, and lastly Aubrey and Tobin. Tobin shuts the door behind him and makes one last head count before allowing himself to relax just a bit.

Aubrey stumbles through the back door of the farmhouse. The Fianna's expression dramaticly changes as she isn't exactly sure what she is supposed to be feeling. "Fuck," is blurted out at random as she emerges into the farmhouse.

Alicia slides a gun out of her belt as she takes a few steps back, allowing the cubs to enter. Sniffing the air, she begins to reach out with her sixth sense. "Guys, you OK? What the fuck is going down there?"

In the front rooms, Peggy leaps from her seat in a tizzy as the door bangs open. She runs half-stumbling into the kitchen, glasses bouncing. "What's happening? Are you okay?"

From Center of the Caern, Rides-Fire can be heard to howl, ~Cowards!~

Cameron's eyes widen slightly at the sight of Aubrey and Tobin. "Thank /fucking God/," he growls. Tempted to add his piece, he simply stays quiet, waiting for the response to Alicia's question.

Aiyana slips in, glancing back towards the woods. "Fuck is right," she mutters in reply to Aubrey's comment. "Least we got out of there in one piece, though. Yeesh..." Shaking her head, she casually brushes a piece of her hair out of her face and frowns.

There's footsteps out back and the kitchen door bangs open, quick and sharp. Anneka slams it shut behind her, stuffs a hand in a coat pocket as she lopes into the kitchen. "Howling," she says, simply. Her hair's stuck out everywhere, she's filthy from head to toe. She has-- a gun, bright and shiny.

If Cam's eyes were widened before, they just about pop out of his head, now. He straightens instantly, as a thought comes to him. "Summer!" he breathes, and then he's striding towards the living room.

"Cam! I got a phone on me!" Alicia says, digging her cell out of the back pocket. "Call 'er from here." Glancing to Tobin, she waits on the Fang cub.

Peggy curls and uncurls her fingers, eyeing Anneka questioningly but not adding her voice to the chaos.

Rheen is still breathing hard and looking at the glass door neurvously. "Are we safe in here?"

The sandy-haired kid shakes her head. "We need to watch out. Who's here?"

Aubrey is silent for a moment as she hears the faint sound of howls from within the Cearn. The Fianna's eyes look upon Aiyana, raising her brow. "For you, that was nothing." she says. "Luckily you didn't haven't have any contact with those fiends." Her eyes turn to Anneka, "My what a bight, shiny gun you have...." She crosses her arms against her chest, then she is suddenly quiet as she looks to Cameron.

Cameron almost snatches the phone right out of Alicia's hand, and then strides off to a corner of the kitchen, dialling like mad. "C'mon, c'mon... pick up.. Pick the FUCK up..." One might think the lad in serious danger of frenzying, the way he twitches and fidgets. And runs one hand through his hair, repeatedly.

Tobin is panting a bit as he takes stock of who else is in the farmhouse. He answers Alicia as he does this. "Black Spiral Dancers are attacking the caern. CAM!" he exclaims as he spots the other Fianna cub. "You're here! Wonderful! Alicia, Anneka, Cameron, we need to go back. Summer will be safe where she is and the other cubs will be safe here, they're going after the caern." His voice is low and quick and tense, though he sounds very much in control. "Follow me, I'll lead the way back. We need to hurry!" He turns towards the kitchen door and makes to head right back the way he came.

Aiyana resists the urge to shudder, although, her shoulders twitch a bit. "I want nothin' to do with...whatever the hell those things were," she mutters.

Peggy near-whimpers to have her fears confirmed. She reaches out a hand as Tobin turns to leave, shouting "Wait!" She sighs, taking half a step forward. Her face is worn and contorted in worry. "Is there anything we can do?"

Stepping in front of the Fang is the ranking Gaian, shaking her head. "Spiral Dancers? Fucking A -- Hell no we aren't going back there." Gritting her teeth, Alicia looks over to Anneka. "This is no place for the inexperienced, we should get them out, take 'em to the city and see if we can get in touch with the Gnawers and Walkers out there. Worst case scenario, we need to bring back a bigger force. These cubs aren't going out there to die."

"Tobin!" Anneka doesn't shout often. She shouts now. "Stop." She looks to Alicia, nods. "We need everyone we can get t'help. How bad?"

Aubrey nods to the other cubs as they ask what they can do. "Help with getting things set if anyone comes in here with any injuries." she suggests. Her eyes travel to Alicia for a moment before finally settling on Anneka.

Rheen shakes her head, rubbing her face as if it was covered in something foul. "Oh god oh god oh god," she mutters. "This... Oh god." Once again, our lyrical Galliard is at a loss for words, or at least words that make sense to anyone but her.

Peggy tentatively touches Rheen's shoulder, watching her with concern. "Rheen...are you okay?"

Aiyana steps away from the group, heading towards a window to look out of it.

From Center of the Caern, Nightflash can be heard to howl, ~The Caern is fallen! Retreat!~

"Well, its fucking bad I think Anneka." Glancing from one cub to the next, Alicia lets out a quick breath. "I got the car out front, it holds five. I can shove three in the back, the rest can shift to Lupus an sit on laps. I also have a small armory in the trunk if anything decides to fuck with us." Gripping her hands tightly together, she listens to the last howl, eyes widening. "Everyone.. Out! Out! OUT!" She looks to any who will oppose her in the next five seconds, ready to bust a cap in their knee to drag 'em off.

Peggy stares in a mixture of panic and disbelief. "Nnh...what?" Alicia's shout snaps her out of her trance, and she makes for the door in an awkward run, holding her glasses to her face with one hand.

Anneka is wiry and ashen, lost in her giant coat, her eyes huge and green in her freckled face. Then she's moving. "That's the call. We're goin' now." She rushes upstairs, three steps at a time and shouts, her clear voice carrying through the higher halls, then bounds back down and after everyone. "Go!"

Cameron looks back at the ordering cliath, but turns his face stony, and stays in that corner. There's an expression of immesnse relief and he cries out "SUMMER!" More calmly, Babe-- babe. baby.... /shit/ has hit the fan, you /gotta/ get out. Take the car and go to the city. Go, aright? Just go... We'll meet up. Uhm. Fuckin', fuckin'... uni? OK? Yeah... no. Dancers. Shh, shh... just go. Love you. I love you too. I know. I know. I'll be there. Just fuckin' GO already, aright? NOW."

Aiyana blinks, tensing visibly. "Fuck." She turns back to the others, nodding to Alicia as she sprints for the door. "Fuck me sideways!"

Barnyard

The lane wends its way back and around the farmhouse to here, where it widens into a broad, grassy sward contained only by the woods which encircle it on three sides. Buildings break up the purity of the landscape: an open-sided structure which serves as a garage and the big barn, empty of livestock, to the east. A good-sized vegetable and herb garden furrows the land south of the barn, while a pyramid-like pile of rocks, of similar consistency to the gravel of the lane, rests a few yards south of the garage.

North of the buildings, the fields have long been fallow, hastening a conversion from farmland to natural prairie. A sliding glass door allows admittance to the farmhouse, the interior obscured by Levolor(tm) blinds in a wood-grain pattern. The lane leads out around the house to the southwest. The discerning can just barely pick out the beginnings of a faint path into the woods towards the southeast.

(Non-Garou, please "+view curse")

Contents:

Aiyana

Anneka

Peggy

Obvious exits:

FIelds BArn Farmhouse Lane Woods

Aubrey growls, followed by more curses. She grabs Cameron by the arm as she pulls him out the door as she gives Tobin a hard look to do the same. *tosses that in*

Tobin starts shifting to Glabro and baring his teeth at the Gaian but stops when the howl is heard. A spasm passes over his face but he's back in control quickly and nods at Alicia, acknowledging her authority. "Cam, Summer is getting out? Good. If there's not enough room in the car then Cam and Aubrey and I can run in lupus and at least make it to Kent Crossing." He strides quickly out the door and watches everyone carefully.

"C'mon, to the front!" Alicia says, pushing stragglers ahead of her quickly as she motions to them. "Into the Car, skinny ones shift down into the wolf. Anneka, you are up front with me." She starts heading for the drive way quickly.

Peggy follows Alicia as fast as her legs permit, nearly taking a header more than once as she crosses the short distance between the back and front yards.

Anneka doesn't stop, not for a moment. She races to the car, catches up with Peggy and paces her. At the car, she throws the shotgun door open and tumbles inside.

Aiyana waits until she has some room then shifts, her form quickly increasing in size before shrinking down into the more compact lupus form. Once fully changed, she heads for the car.

"I am small enough," Aubrey replies to Alicia promptly. "Now being petite comes in handy." she mummers. She shifts into lupus just before she jumps into someone's open lap.

Cameron simply piles himself in, in the manner of hurried college students everywhere.

Peggy shifts into lupus, pulling to a halt just outside the conveyance. Won't she be seen this way? Where are they going? What's happening?

Rheen shifts down to lupus and runs for the car, then stops when she sees how full it is already. Hmm. She puts one paw up in the car, then cocks her head. This is not going to work.

Alicia slides into the driver's side of the car and then waves them in. She reaches forward and pops the trunk. "OK, see if we can get two or three of you back there." She calls over her shoulder, watching them pile in. "Try not to freak out, I swear, I won't wreck us."

"Don't stop! No time for questions now, ask later!" Anneka looks at the back seat. "Push those down. Room's in the trunk!" She leans out of the car, reaches for Peggy. "You can sit up here on the floor, come on!"

Tobin looks at the seating situation and sighs. "Alicia, I'll get in there. Rheen, Renee, come with me." He shifts down to lupus and hops into the trunk that Alicia has opened."

Peggy attempts to leaps into the trunk, but misses and tumbles back to the ground. Hearing Alicia, she runs back to the front of the car and gets in. This is terrifying; she's doing the best she can.

Fights-While-She-Dances paces outside of the car for a moment, then looks for a spot to hop in at without causing anyone too much discomfort. If/when she finds one, she jumps in. It's like watching some of my relatives pile up their car for a drive.

Rheen gives the wolfish equivalent of a shrug before scrabbling up onto the bumper and into the open trunk. Good thing she's not claustrophobic, but at any rate, this isn't going to be fun.

Alicia waits patiently, turning on the engine and gunning the V6 under the hood, listening to it rumble. She glances over her shoulder now and then, letting out a breath. "C'mon guys! Hurry up." She calls back.

Anneka bangs on the side of her door once everyone's in, looks to the driver's side and Alicia. "Drive fast."

"Fast is the only way I know how." Alicia says once the trunk is shut. Soon there is the squeal of tires, and that is all she wrote. The red hot mustang blazes down the driveway, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

Once Renee is in with him and Rheen, Long-Past snatches the underside of the trunk lid and pulls it shut. Hang on!

Golden-Eyes growls lowly. She hunkers down in the someone's lap, staying below the window.

Alicia calls back to Cameron, who still has her phone as they drive. "Hit speed dial number two. Thats Francisco. I'm taking you guys to the Walker's lil fortress. Its the safest place in the city."

Walker Safe House - Lobby(#2832RAJL)

This small tenement building is a work that any interior decorator would be proud of. The building is somehow filled with light and space, despite the fact that the room is far from large. Mirrored surfaces and lush green potted plants are much in evidence - jarring only slightly with the video cameras that perch unobtrusively in various locations. A small sign on the wall lists the number of apartments upstairs as eight, though there are no names next to the apartment numbers. A very thick door leads downstairs, with no visible method of being opened - except a keypad next to it. A monitor is perched above the entrance, showing images from the hidden camera that watches the outside of the building.

The lobby branches off into what appears to be a small recreation room; for use only by residents and their guests.

(+VIEW Enabled)

Contents:

Golden-Eyes

Aiyana

Riverstone(#2434PVc)

Peggy

Anneka

Alicia(#3470PVc)

Francisco

Current Safehouse Residents (Feb 19/02)

Obvious exits:

Rec Room Basement Stairway Out

About fifteen, twenty minutes of hitting the freeway and shortcuts, the red hot Mustang squeals to a stop outside of the safehouse, full of.... wolves? "Out!" She says, turning the engine off and opening up the trunk upon grabbing the release. "Francisco should be expecting us."

Anneka scrambles out of the passenger's side window, herds wolves up to the safehouse before tumbling in herself.

Peggy shifts back into her native skin as she piles out of the car, tripping and falling on all fours as her legs change form mid-gait. Seemingly unperturbed, she snatches her glasses off the ground and clambers back up, running the rest of the way as though she has a monster at her heels.

Francisco is watching the monitors and buzzes open the door when he sees Alicia and her sardine-tin full of wolves pull up. He's standing just inside the door with a shotgun leaned against the console. "Hurry," he says, unnecessarily.

Fights-While-She-Dances hops out of the car with a grunt, stretching her legs and giving her fur a good shake, then follows the others into the building.

Riverstone jumps out of the trunk, shaking herself out as she runs for the door. Ow.

Alicia hips the door shut, glancing down the street from where she came. After the last cub gets inside, she soon follows after, glancing up to Francisco. "Thank you so much."

John stands in the Safehouse lobby, arms folded. The monstrous Walker is standing with eyes ablaze, and his trenchcoat and jacket are missing - leaving simply the bare-armed T-shirt, and the hideous, numerous scars. And ominous holsters, crammed with weaponry. He watches, waiting for someone to explain.

Long-Past makes sure Rheen and Renee are out first, then follows, letting someone else take care of the trunk lid. He waits until the other cubs, including his proto-packmates, are in before going in himself.

Golden-Eyes bolts as soon as the door is opened. She has not been inside a car in for more than ten minutes in more than six months. Rushing through the door, she heads for the nearest bathroom utility as she begins to look a little pale.

Francisco shuts the door as the last Garou comes bolting through, activating the electronic locks on the door, then picking his shotgun back up. He turns to the room, tipping his head towards Alicia with a grim look. "What, exactly, happened?"

John's voice booms out over the general confusion and noise of movement, towards Francisco. "Seal the doors. Lock the place down. Watch the monitors. Alert the rest of the Tribe. We'll get the story a dozen times." Looking to Alicia, he adds, "/One/ Galliard at a time."

Anneka doesn't even blink when she sees John, pushes her curly hair away from her brow as she sets herself near the door. Her green eyes are sharp and bright, a wolf's eyes in a girl's face. She looks to Alicia as well.

"John, Frank... The Caern is lost.. Spiral Dancers attacked. Anneka and I got the cubs out as quick as we could." Alicia explains, shrugging off her jacket, revealing two heavy guns strapped to her sides. "Rides-Fire called for a retreat from the Caern and we heard it from the farm. I have -no- clue whats going on down there, casualties, wounded, whatever. I could hear Robert, Owen, Rides-Fire, all of them out there howling.. then I suppose it was over. You guys were the first on my mind. So, here we are." She lets out a quick breath, glancing to John, the Ahroun. "Fuck."

Fights-While-She-Dances shifts herself back to her breed form, studying the room with a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Uh, nice place?" she comments.

Peggy blasts right by the pair of intimidating Walkers, glasses in hand, nearly hyperventilating despite (or perhaps because of) the long trip.

After being cooped up in the bumping trunk with two other wolves, the first thing Riverstone does once she's inside is sit down until the world stops lurching underneath her. Dancers in the Caern, they killed Malachi and fought... This isn't working. Riverstone needs a human mouth to explain. She concentrates and shifts up.

Francisco is on the phone now, calling the rest of the pack and tribe. Everyone's on speed-dial, baby. He's listening to Alicia with one ear, which is enough to make him go pale with rage. The plastic of the phone creaks ominously in his hand.

John looks over to the assembled group. "Whoever can howl, sound it. Cubs, remain calm - frenzy on my carpets and I will gut you personally." The Senior Ahroun's voice is cold and calm, but... very loud. He hasn't moved, though there's something about his face that's gone beyond stony.

Peggy doesn't look terribly reassured by John's threats. Or by John, for that matter.

".. Malachi is dead..?" Alicia asks, stammering suddenly. ".. Oh god.." Gripping her fists together, she sucks in a breath through her teeth, then composes herself, shaking just a bit. Working her lip for a moment, she glances to Anneka, tilting her head.

Long-Past shifts himself back to homid and listens to Alicia tell the tale. He seems calm, but his body is taught as a steel cable and he looks slightly more pale than usual. He's keeping it together though. He'll add details if he's asked for them, but for now he seeks out Aubrey to see how she's doing.

Aubrey steps out of the hallway, already shifted into homid. The Fianna's face still looks a little pale as she eyes everyone with a simple stare. Either she had bad motion sickness or she is getting out the image of a cub's throat being slit, no one would be able to tell at this point. She brushes back her bangs from her shoulders as she steps towards Tobin, looking a bit sluggish.

Cameron's with her, putting an arm around her shoulders, quietly. The Aussie's face is grey, and he's not saying anything. John is shot a vaguely unhappy look.

"A bunch of Dancers came in with cameras and guns. They had Malachi, I don't know how they caught him, but they had a silver knife to his throat. They said they wanted fetishes in exchange for him, people tried to negotiate, then all hell broke loose. They killed him! They cut his throat with silver, I saw it all!" Rheen's story comes out in a breathless rush, but she's too nervy to really grieve right now.

Aiyana sticks towards the rear of the group, somewhat near the entrance while she folds her arms over her chest. She appears to be mostly calm, but there's a slight edge to her stance, evident in the way she clenches and unclenches her hands every so often.

Peggy sits down hard on the nearest available piece of furniture, folding her ashen hands in front of her and squeezing them so hard it looks as though she's going to hurt herself. Her eyes stray across the crowd, eventually settling on the carpet.

Heaving a deep breath, Alicia winces at Rheen's story, tears breaking at her eyes. Holding up her hand for a moment, she turns and walks away from the group, needing to calm herself down. "I'll do the howl..give me two seconds.. please.."

John gives Francisco a sideways look. "Hand out keys to the apartments to the cubs." He tosses a set of keyrings to the immensely tall philodox. "Security control room has 'em." Addressing the rest of the assembled garou, he calls out lowly, "You'll all be bunking up together. As of now, no-one is allowed on Bawn territory without express Elder permission. Sort yourselves out and calm yourselves. You are alive, and in the safest place you can be, at this time."

Tobin, seeing Aubrey being taken care of by Cam, takes a few steps back over towards John and adds his part of the story. His voice is low, and as tense as his body. "They created a diversion by trying to barter Malachi's life for fetishes. It worked beautifully," he says, choking over the bitterness. "Owen saw through it, but they killed Malachi before we could get to him. Those Dancers, at least, were destroyed, I'm sure. Aubrey and I got the cubs back to the farmhouse. Alicia took it from there."

Francisco hangs up the phone and nods to John, rising to snatch the ring of keys out of the air. He almost bends one in his grip, but realizes it in time and lets the pressure up. "All right, folks. You heard the alpha." Keys to the spare apartments get passed out. "He's right. This is the safest place you can be right now. There's some snacks and drinks in the fridge, help yourselves."

Anneka glances back at Alicia. In the midst of all of this, the sandy-haired girl is comparatively serene for something made of muscle and bone drawn taut. She looks to John, the sandy-haired kid quite a contrast to the giant ahroun. "We're gonna need everyone. I can find Gnawers, bring 'em here."

Rheen shoves a piece of hair over her ear so violently that she leaves a red scratch mark along her cheek. She nods, perhaps not looking quite as relived as she should, really. Taking a key, she squeezes it until she can't feel it anymore, staring off at nothing in particular.

Aubrey quivers her lip for a moment. "They took the cearn away from us," she says with a bit of anger in her voice, "It's sickening, their displays." She brushes another strand of tress away from her face. The girl stays at Cameron's side as she glances to everyone else. Finally she resorts to saying nothing at all.

Peggy pries her hands apart to accept the key, turning it over and over and staring at it with a dull, glazed expression.

Alicia wipes at her eyes with the back of her hand, then shakes her head a bit. "Fuck.." With that, she glances back over to John for a moment, dipping her head. "John, I probably won't be getting much sleep ta'night, you need me to do anything in paticular?"

Aiyana walks over and gets a key, tucking it into a pocket. Glancing around at the others, she too is silent, simply because she can't think of the right words to say at a time like this.

John looks down at Anneka. "Do it. Bring everyone here who you can. Including other tribes, and whoever remains." Looking up, the Walker Elder adds, "If any of you have family in the city who are knowing kin, suggest that they leave. Soon. All Garou are to come here to at least check in, so we can take a census. Finally... do not go anywhere in the safehouse that has a sign on it saying 'staff only'. Basement has an infirmary. Rec room and some apartments are well furnished with food and drink, and entertainment. Go nowhere without permission of your Elders." The Walker kindly neglects to add, 'if they are still alive...'

Booted footsteps come down the stairs, at a normal rate--and then suddenly stop when the dark-haired girl is one step from the bottom. A guarded look comes to her eyes. "The fuck, over?"

John looks to the newly arrive Rina, and there's the first softening in his expression. Slight. And soon gone. "The Caern fell," he says flatly.

The sandy-haired kid nods once. "I have a gun, John. I don't know what bullets it's supposed to use but I've been practicin'." Anneka tugs a shiny revolver from a pocket, a memento from a rite that seems forever ago now. She holds it out, grip first, to the ahroun.

All expression is rather suddenly erased from Rina's features, replaced by something blank for a moment--and then something grim. Her jaw sets. "Don't tell me it was the fucking Russians," she mutters. The deep-brown eyes look over the roomful of people, narrowing slightly. "Do we have a casualty report, yet?"

Alicia rubs the back of her neck and paces a bit back and forth through the safehouse as she ponders what to do or make of the situation. "Not ganna be able ta'get ahold of my Elders most likely..all of 'em were probably in the fight." She pauses, looking over to Tobin, then back to Rina. "Yah, one of my cubs was killed." She grits her teeth, hard.

Peggy watches the girl, silent and expressionless. She seems defeated. Her glasses sag precariously, but she makes no effort to nudge them back up.

Aiyana sits herself down in a corner, pulling her legs up under her body and resting her hands in her lap.

Tobin sees that his information is irrelevant for the moment, so he goes to stand by Cameron and Aubrey. Tentatively, he puts one arm around Aubrey's shoulders, then the other around Cameron and he hugs them both in a rare display of physical affection. Thus does he express the magnitude of his reaction to what has happened.

Rheen stares dumbly as Anneka produces her gun. After tonight, a little thing like a revolver doesn't seem so bad, if she realizes what it is at all. She grabs ahold of her frizzing braid and pulls, looking at the wall.

Real Men aren't afraid to hug. Cam hugs the potential packmates, and remains silent. Distant.

Francisco intercepts Alicia and wraps her up in his long arms, holding her tightly against her grief.

Rina's gaze is fixed on John, as she takes that last step down to the floor and heads for his side. "Talk to me."

John takes the gun, and frowns at Anneka. ".357. Big gun. Quite a kick. There's bullets in the basement. Code's 382852. Learn it." Turning to Rina, he puts his arm around her waist, but that's the most contact from the stiffened Ahroun. "Dancers. Dunno how many we lost, but these cubs just all turned up on our door. Lotsa Dancers by the sounds of it. There were some real asskickers guarding that Caern."

The arms of the skyscraper is like coming home to a warm flame for Alicia, instantly melting into his embrace. Her own arms curl about his body, face pressing into his chest as she lets out a soft choke, eyes closing, tears sliding down her cheeks in slow rivets.

Rina purses her lips, and nods curtly. "Not many of 'em, though." She lowers her eyes. "The elders sent 'em over here before the shit hit the fan?"

Aiyana pulls the key from her pocket and studies it quietly, leaning her back against the wall.

Rheen continues to stare as she speaks, her voice emotionless. "We were the only ones there."

John pulls Rina a little closer, rubbing her back, absently. "After, I think. Still waiting. If they can knock out the Caern, s'gonna need a lot more than just us Walkers to take it back. So we wait."

Aubrey pecks both the two boys on the cheek before she slips away from them silently and picks up a key to the apartment explained earlier by John. "I need some rest," she says quietly. Perhaps more of time to calm her breathing would be a better way to put it. "You two will be alright?" she asks, "If you need me, don't be afraid to come in."

Rina's gaze flashes to Rheen, hard. "At the Caern? There were no Guardians?"

Peggy chews on the end of the key for a moment, then, realizing what she's doing, stops and palms it. Her eyes fall on Aiyana for a moment, scrutinizing the other cub.

Rheen doesn't move. She doesn't even blink. "No, I mean we were the only cubs in the caern when it happened. I don't know where the others wre, or where they are now."

Rina nods curtly. "Right. So they might've nailed the Farmhouse and whoever was there. Has anyone been out that way to check? Find out where the front is?"

Aiyana tilts her head, then glances up, looking towards Peggy. She offers the other girl a hint of a smile before getting up and walking towards her. "Uh...hey," she greets.

Cameron looks up to Rina for the first time, calling over to the familiar girl, "We were there, Rina. We got out."

"I just dragged 'em /from/ the farmhouse, Rina." Alicia says, finally stepping away from Frank, wiping her eyes for a moment. Letting out a breath, she pats the huge half moon on the stomach, then blinks her eyes a bit. "Peggy, Rheen, try and get some sleep ta'night too, OK? I'm staying here, I won't leave.. promise. You'll be safe, probably more safe then you've ever been in yer' life."

Peggy looks up at Aiyana, attempting to form a smile and failing miserably. She nods, answering "Hi," in a near-whisper.

The Aussie also gives Aubrey a little nod. "I'll be in, after, in a bit, K?"

Rina lets out a breath, looking over at Cam and giving a grim nod. "Good." She presses her lips together, hard, and looks over at John. "Any plans to go in and sweep for stragglers?" she asks quietly. "Or at least try to make contact with whoever survived?"

Tobin gives Aubrey one last squeeze and murmurs. "Go rest, we'll likely be in later." He turns to Rina and tries to tell his story one more time. "We weren't in the caern when the attack came. They howled a diversion and we all went to look. Lucky the cubs all followed like they shouldn't have. When the fighting started Aubrey and I got them back to the farmhouse."

Anneka slips off towards the basement, running, curly hair trailing behind her. Just a skinny girl with a pistol, out of place. When she returns it's hard to say what she carries with her, her giant coat wrapped about her rail-thin body, then gun tucked in a huge pocket. "There's a lot of stuff down there," she says absently. " She looks to Aiyana, near Peggy, the other Gnawers about, then to Rina.

Aiyana hmms softly. "You, uh, gonna be all right?" She's trying her best to be comforting, but it's obvious it's not something she's all that used to.

Francisco gives Alicia a gentle stroke over her hair, and looks at Rina, then John. "I'm willing to go, if we've got a plan." The Philodox playing Ragabash, or something.

Alicia fishes out her ringing cell phone, putting it to her ear and listening. She wanders off for a bit, gasping. ".. Laura!? Oh God, You alive?"

John shakes his head slightly in the negative, to Rina and Francisco. "No-one on the bawn. At all. /My/ orders. They'll be securing it. Fifteen minutes to get to the Bawn by car? They're either in or they're out. First thing the Dancers'll do is secure it."

Peggy bites her lip. "I guess. I mean...no. But...I can't...complain." She speaks in starts and stops, all the while fiddling anxiously with her hands.

Rheen jerks up at Alicia's exclamation, all signs of apathy gone. She's pulling hard on her braid behind her head, and her teeth are clenched.

Laura gives her friend the affirmative from the nearest payphone she could find to the safehouse. "Open the damn door. I've got a Guardian with me, and we're both hurting a lot. Sorry." She hangs up, then leads Brigid the last few paces to the door of the Safehouse, thumping on it with an aching fist.

Rina nods minutely, her expression darkening. "'K. I'm gonna make a call. Be right back." Pacing over to the rec room, she digs a cellphone from her back pocket.

Quickly, Alicia starts for the door, calling over her shoulder. "John! Laura is here, brought a guardian from the fight. Both are fucked it seems." The phone gets shoved back into her pocket as the dial tone hits her ear.

Francisco dips his head to John, aquiescence and submission and rage all at once in his body language. And then the Fury at the door, and he goes to buzz them in.

Aubrey nods to Tobin and Cameron faintly. Then she turns to the elders, "I'll be up in the room." she says bluntly. Then she begins to head up the stairs, only to pause for a moment as she gives Rina a look of reconition. She remembers the woman from the time she was with Luke at the gun club but that was eons ago, or so it seems now. Finally the Fianna vaniches from out of site as she leaves for their rooms.

Brigid murmurs quiet thanks to Laura, having stifled her reactions for the most part on the way here. Her eyes stay glued to the door as she waits dazedly for it to be opened.

Aiyana nods a little at Peggy. "Yeah, I feel pretty much the same way. That was a majorly fucked up situation," she replies, shaking her head. "I still feel like I'm lost."

Peggy leaps to her feet, the life suddenly shot back into her.

Leaning against the other side of the rec room wall, right by the portal, Rina keeps an eye on the room from time to time as she makes her call. Her voice is quiet.

John lifts a hand to massage his temples, and reaches to back pocket to pull a cell phone of his own. He, too, begins dialling and rumbling lowly into it.

Francisco holds the door open for Laura and Brigid, letting them get in while he keeps an eye on the street.

As the door gets opened up, Alicia is right there, throwing her arms around Laura, giving her best friend a hug. "Get in here!" She exclaims, tugging her forward, glancing over to Brigid as well. "You guys look worse then shit. Sit down, quickly and let me tend to you."

Anneka finds her way through the growing crowd to Aiyana. She glances at Peggy, then at the new ahroun. "Hey," she says, quiet. "I'm goin'. You listen to John, okay? He'n the Walkers're family." Then she's running for the door, quick, blurring past the folk coming in.

Laura makes sure Brigid gets through first, following the woman through. She's not doing much better than the Fang, but Brigid looks about ready to pass out and die. As Francisco opens the door, the Fury helps Brigid through, being hugged and sitting as ordered. "Fucking bastards. It fell. The fucking caern fell." And those are the last words she speaks for the rest of the night.

Peggy tackles Laura, grabbing onto her like a lifeline. "Laura! Oh my God oh my god..." She sighs, pulling away and wiping a stray tear from her eyes.

Brigid manages a tight smile as she sort of wobbles through. "Look like it? I feel like it. In more ways than one." she murmurs, pale eyes a bit muddy.

Francisco closes the door and reactivates the locks behind the quick transfer of people, and leans against the wall running his hands through his hair, completely at a loss for words.

Aiyana nods to Anneka as she leaves, then turns to study those who have just entered.

Alicia reaches out and places her hands upon Brigid first, giving the guardian and friend a good sized hug. "This may tingle." And with that, the healing begins, pushing her gift from her fingertips, into the injured woman.

Brigid lets out a sigh of relief as more of the throbbing pain in her back goes away. "Thank you....I'd almost forgotten how much silver hurts." Her eyes close for a moment as she somewhat braces herself against Alicia.

Rina finishes her call and tucks the phone into a pocket, then turns to scan the room. A slight frown comes to her lips as she spots the numbly staring Rheen. She paces over, touching the girl's shoulder cautiously. "Come on. I'll take you upstairs. Come on." She's familiar with this kind of shock, and uses gentle urging words to get the young woman moving.

Tobin's eyes widen as he sees Brigid come through the door and he takes the few steps towards her and falls to his knees besides where she's sitting, but out of Alicia's way. "Laura, Stareyed, thank Gaia," he says in a voice gone breathless with relief. It seems some of the willpower that's kept him together for most of the night is waning.

Peggy shuffles back over to her seat, sitting down and watching with silent, serious interest.

"Well, lets not try and remind yourself again of that feeling anytime soon." Alicia says softly as she draws away from the Elder Fang in the room, now offering the same to the wounded Fury. "Who else is alive out there? Do you know where the Elders went to?"

Rina disappears upstairs, briefly, shepherding Rheen to her room.

Brigid starts to move her right arm to touch Tobin's shoulder and hisses in pain. "Damn...bastard got me worse than I thought...time will tell if this pain goes away, or not." she squeaks the words out, managing to succeed in her goal of touching the cub's shoulder before letting the arm flop. "Before we split to the winds, I saw the Alpha alive. Owen went after survivors, and Laura got me here. That is all I know at this point."

Aiyana wanders back over to her little corner of the room, sitting herself down and leaning back against the wall.

Francisco starts pacing himself, now. "We should try to find survivors," he urges John, restlessly. "If any have retreated to the city."

Alicia dips her head a bit in a bobbing gesture. "What about the pathstone at the Caern? Did the Spirals get it? If they did.. they'll be dragging things from all over the place here."

John nods to Francisco, turning and putting the phone down. "Frankie. If you want, come with me. We're patrolling the city. Lupe. Sniff out and howl. If there's dancers, they won't be in groups of more than four or five, hopefully. I can take that many if I need to. Silver bullets - we need more." He starts stalking upstairs - probably to get the trenchcoat and jacket.

Brigid carefully schools the pain from her expression and answers Alicia frankly. "I have no idea. By the time the howl came, it would have been suicide to go in there."

Alicia gives Brigid a quick squeeze, then leans back some, sighing. Rising up to her feet, she looks over to Fran. "I want to go also. I know the streets like the back of my hand, and I'm packing as well. I can be a good deal of help."

Brigid settles into a position with a modicum of comfort, clearly not putting a great deal of weight onto her back if she can avoid it. Her dedicated clothing looks beyond worse for wear, there, and will probably need to be discarded at some point.

Francisco grins ferally, his rage at last having an outlet. He looks at Alicia, thoughtfully. "Okay. The rest of the tribe will stay here to guard."

Shortly John returns, loaded for bear, and the three Garou go out into the night.

Rina comes downstairs a short time later, glancing to the door and then scanning the room. "Right. Does everyone have a place to sleep?"

Aiyana looks up and nods to Rina. "Yeah, I think." She holds up the key she was given earlier. "Just gotta find it."

"I'll probably need someplace, once I feel like moving." Brigid says softly, eyes half-closed as she holds absolutely still where she sits.

Tobin sees that his elder is alright for the moment and that there's little for him to do here. He gets to his feet and sees also that Cam has gone up after Aubrey already. Wishing quiet blessings of Gaia on everyone he follows his two Fianna friends upstairs. He doesn't sleep for a long time, though.