Silver and Blood

[hazlogs]

6/20/02

Umbra: Lake Arthur

In the center of a vast rippling lake stands an island, an outcropping of
pure, untainted stone.  Groves of ancient trees, their foliage an incredibly
deep green, stand sentinel over the raw granite.  A single tower of
weathered grey rock juts from the island's southeastern end, its sides
creased and scarred by the elements.  A faint shimmering marks the side of
the tower toward the lake, and the sound of cascading water reaches your
ears.

The lake waters surround the island, but Luna has provided a path that leads
east across the crystal liquid.

Kristine shakes her head after stepping through, and flicks her hair. The
moon seems to be showing heavily on the otherwise calm Fang's expression.
Something's gnawing at her leg.

Nightflash and Rides-Fire appear from the Umbra, and immediately move off to
one side of the gathering.

Andrea stands a little away from the rest of the Garou, making some final
preparations to something on the ground.

Laura arrives quietly, takes a place quietly, and starts to center herself.

Dreams-Deadly flinches slightly at her tribemate's affections, but swings
her head and eyes up to meet his, nonetheless. Her expression is bare. Been
fine.

Susan touches the head of her Wendigo packmate gently and moves to take
her place next to Andrea. "Grave times this," she says softly. "Gaia keep
us all."

From the City, with, apparently, no incidents, Kaz, Anneka, and
Defies-the-Apocalypse appear. Kaz is, for once, in hispo.

Milah's eyes scan the gathering crowd, and makes her way over to stand
near her packmates.

Quiet Wind is by Susan's side. The scarred Wendigo's attention is
everywhere, however: his nose, eyes, and ears scan the area frequently for
signs of danger.

Apocalypse's eyes are everywhere, her gaze flicking here, there,
elsewhere. The stranger Kaz brought looks keyed-up and not a little
excited, high-spirited as a racehorse.

Jamethon reaches through quickly. On a simple rope belt he wears is a
sheathed ritual dagger. He moves to his place. Quietly yet with anxious
breathing he sits, waiting for what will come."

Anneka jogs alongside her tribesmate, tangled, curly, sandy hair trailing
in a halo behind her, her eyes bright and certain. She flows up into the
war form as she slows and stops.

The two Glass Walker philodoxen, accompanied by their Gaian packmate,
arrive on the scene. Salem cracks his knuckles, tensely; Francisco looks
calm and intent, carrying a sheathed carbon steel knife.

Geoffrey just sort of shows up, per usual. A quick glance around at the
crowd and the young man settles into something that has grown to be more
comfortable than his birthform. Four legs are better than two.

Hope-Star arrives with Yi and shifts, brushing her hand against her
packmate's back. ~Guard our backs,~ she whispers with a smile. ~We may be
attacked once the rite starts, and I'll be busy.~ She sets a satchel down,
removes a clay bowl and stone knife, and moves to join Andra.

Alicia trudges along with Frankie and Salem, looking to be relaxed and
deep in thought. Tonight is the big night. Shit is going to fly. Glancing
to her two pack mates for a moment, then about the rest of the gathered,
she clears her throat a bit.

Quietly, Helen remains standing, glancing about for someone she could
hopefully stand near. At the sight of Laura and Alicia she waves a hand,
and then glances to her feet; it's quite obvious she's nervous about this
whole ordeal.

Reggie reaches through slowly, nearly strangling on the gauntlet. While
recovering his breath, he scans the slowly gathering crowd for familiar
faces, and bellows over to Seeker as the most familiar of these.

Laura notices her tribesister and beckons her nearer, smiling faintly.

Eamon nods. "Good! Gonna kick us some ass tonight. They got balefire banes
out there, so keep your nose up. We'll have to take those on if we run
into 'em."

Jarred stands alone some distance from the circle, watching out into the
gathering night, sedate, but proud.

Andrea nods to Susan. "Shift for now," she advises Touch Deer. "There's
silver in the ritual." She goes among the others, gathering those helping
with the rite, including Sepdet, Jamethon and Francisco. To the others,
she says, "Guard the ritual. It will take some time, and they may know to
attack. Robert will be skirmishing in the realm soon, to draw as many of
the enemy to the realm as possible. Once it is done, we will hear from the
ones that have scouted the umbra, so we all know what there is to know.
Then we will attack."

Little Bear fades into view, shaking vigorously. He pads his way towards
his packmate and noses her encouragingly.

"Laura, Helen, over here." Alicia calls over to the two as she pauses at
Salem's side, sliding her hands into her pockets. Shifting a bit on her
feet, she calmly waits, cutting a glance at Andrea.

Helen inclines her head in a nod, almost bleakly, to Andrea's words as she
moves over near Laura. "Are you scared?" she mumbles, glancing around at
the other Garou. At Alicia's calling the ragabash nods and moves over to
her friend. "Hey, Little Sister," she tells Alicia, her voice quite
apathetic.

Jamethon grunts over to Hope-Star. "I heard you had a rather sever run in
with a bane the other night. You ok for tonight?"

Seeker gathers with his tribemates, then waves Reggie over to them.

Kristine's still just..er..standing there. It's not like she actually came
-in- with anyone. Her hands move to rest on her hip.

Francisco glances at his packmates with half of a hard-edged grin, and
then goes with Andrea.

Kyle makes his way up to the gathering with a look that would curdle
mothers milk. Never one to be the happiest camper in the group Kyle
doesn't quite stomp his way up to where the action looks to be, but he
might as well. A baelful eye peers out and he surveys the motley crew
assembled here for this thing.

Bridge-Mender looks to where the ritual is gathering together, then out to
the lake and the trees beyond. She splays her fingers out, turns her ears
towards the green.

Quiet Wind takes his alpha's advice, assuming his birth form.
Quiet Wind contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Quiet Wind shifts into Homid form.

Sepdet tells Jamethon with a feral smile, ~The bane did not survive. We're
fine.~ She glances towards Salem, evidently including him in whatever
battle the Get was referring to.

Laura just nods to Helen's question. No sense in showing it. "I'll be
right there." She detours slightly on her way over to Alicia, stepping up
to the small gathering of ritualists. "If there's anything you need from
me, rhyas," she says to Andrea, Sepdet and company, "Please ask."

[My connection has a spastic moment.]

Dena, not seen for some time in these parts, comes loping in in lupus, a
tension more than evident in her posture. She gravitates toward
Nightflash.

Salem gives the other Walker half-moon a tight, thin smile and then shifts
upwards into Crinos, stretching into nine feet of black fur and claws.

Eyes widened, Helen blinks once at the appearance of Dena. She says
nothing, and glances to Alicia and then to Laura. She proceeds to make a
point of watching Andrea intently.

Kyle sniffs disdainfully towards the ritual, as if it were necessary to do
what needs to be done. Making his way with little care for who it is, he
takes his rightful place with the group that has designated itself as the
primary attack force.

Little Bear stays at Sepdet's side like a skittish pup, ears swivelling
constantly at the hum of voices in the normally quiet woods. He's got a
determined look about him.

Nightflash chuffs a greeting to the Fury ahroun as she comes up. One has
not run across you in many nights.

Upon the ground is worked an elaborate system of concentric rings,
seemingly carved with painstaking care into the ground itself. The outer
ring shines a dull white from reflected moonlight, though the sand has
been packed tightly enough that little variation in its color can be seen.
Between that ring and the next inner circle are glyphs at regular
intervals. Retribution, Garou would read. Purification. Justice.
Redemption. These complicated glyphs also shine in the moonlight, but not
with the harmless white of the outer ring. Atop of a dark paste that fixes
the inimical powder down, silver dust glows: one of the rarest of rite
components. Between these glyphs stand Garou: Tobin, Jamethon, Francisco,
and Sebastian.

Storm-Singer pads over to Nightflash. May this one join your pack for a
night?

The next ring has a reddish cast, though the ochre paste does not fill the
gouged geometric figure to the surface the way the outer ring appears.
Jagged lines connect this ring to its adjacent partner, which has been
marked with a black paste much darker than the native soil. The black ring
connects to another reddish ring in turn, which connects to another black.
So the series works inward, toward the rite's center. For those looking
carefully, there are four sets of these rings, ending with a black one
around the rite center.

Laura moves to join Alicia, Helen and Salem.

Dena says, tersely, I've been busy. Then the Fury stretches deliberately
and shifts into hispo, moving to guard the Ritualists.

Reggie joins Seeker with his silent gathering of striders, and introduces
himself. Occasionally he looks around at the maddening crowd, when he
isn't trying to evaluate the striders he's not familiar with.

In the rite center burns a small fire with pungent smoke; the smell alone
makes it obvious that more than just wood is contained in the flames.
Patrick tends the fire, keeping most of his concentration turned on its
flames. Susan stands on one side of him and Touch Deer the other. Sepdet
squats on the ground next to the other side of the fire, with a stone bowl
of water in front of her. Elan offsets her on the other side, a drum next
to him. Andrea herself stands in the middle and waits to begin.

The first indication that the rite has begun is the drumming. Tobin, on
the outer ring, and Elan within the circle, begin to drum. The Silver Fang
seems to be following the older theurge's lead, though his hands are sure
in beating out the rhythm on his ornate drum's horsehide surface. Patrick
begins to feed up the fire as soon as the thrum begins, and on his right
Susan begins to chant something that sounds like nonsense to the crowd.
"Glurthramb. Iishmarg. Pluahz. Slrfsnk. Glurthramb. Iishmarg. Pluahz.
Slrfsnk. Glurthramb..." Others--Touch Deer, Frankie, Jamethon--join with
their own murmured chants, but Susan's voice leads the strongest. Sepdet
stares into her water without looking out into the crowd of defenders.

Helen is silent, standing near Alicia, Salem and Laura, watching almost
like a wide-eyed child.

Road-Rage just sort of rests down on his haunches and keeps a watch about
the surroundings. His 'first blood' if you will, so the cub is left a bit
unsure of what to do. Don't mind him, just some random jackal keeping an
eye out for nasties, completely ignoring the ritual.

Nightflash flicks an ear to Storm-Singer, affirmative.

After playing Tag-team with Valoran, Kristine moves over to Eamon, giving
him a thumbs up. "Hey," She comments quietly, "You got room for two more?"

Seeker grits his teeth as Andrea begins reciting the Dancers' names.

Milah nods to Reggie, and shifts to Crinos. ~Good to have you with us. We
will need fangs and claws of all tonight.~

Eamon grins at Kristine and nods to Valoran. "Sure, no prob."

Salem watches the ritual for a few moments, and then turns his attention
away from it and outward. He taps Alicia on the shoulder with a claw.
~Keep watch. In case they come.~ His gaze includes Helen and Laura with
this suggestion.

Laura keeps herself from shifting to Crinos, and focuses outward, watching
for the possible threat, rather than observing the ritual.

Kaz listens to this with a faint shiver, as she shifts briefly to put a
strange talon/tail mixture around her waist. Then she falls back into
crinos, moving to watch the edges, with Anneka.

"We know you," Andrea's voice rings out after a time. When she can join
with Susan, she does so. "Glurthramb. Iishmarg. Pluahz. Slrfsnk." Susan
continues her repeative chant, as Andrea speaks again. "You are of the
tribe of the Black Spiral Dancers. The silver waters were made to wash
away the taint of what you have suffered and enjoyed. We know you, you
that have taken our caern. Those of us who have been born from the silver
river commend you to its womb."

Bridge-Mender skews her ears as she looks towards Kaz, sidelong. Just a
moment, and then her eyes are for the edges.

Taking her crinos form, Guards-The-Flame dips her head in a nod towards
Salem, then glances between the the two Fury sisters. Rumbling lightly in
her throat, claws flex, growing on guard and allowing her senses to
stretch out.

Apocalypse stretches upward into the war form with the ease of a Metis.
The hairless double-tail confirms her breed as she lopes along with Ears
and Bridge-Mender, taking up guard.

Kristine's attention shifts, as she watches the ritual, that Theurge
curiousity taking over.

The Gaian theurge continues to speak as the other participants continue
their tasks. "We know you, Glurthramb. Iishmarg. Pluahz. Slrfsnk. The
taint of the Wyrm has sunk through your spirit and being. Only in pain and
blood may you be purified." As Andrea says the word 'blood,' those along
the outside stand. With a blade--stone for Sebastian and carbon steel for
Frankie--they cut themselves and begin to seal the outer ochre circle.
Jamethon, cutting himself with a natural iron knife marked with various
glyphs, circles opposite Tobin. Only Elan now drums, and he continues to
pulse the beat into the evening. Andrea speaks again. "We call for the
waters of Erebus to rise not for hatred, but because you are the ones for
whom Erebus was created."

Still watching the ritual, Helen shifts into her lupus form, and nudges
Guards-Flame absently.

Taking a small wooden carving, Andrea holds it up. "Glurthramb.
Ritemaster. Those that follow you do not have faith in your knowledge and
are glad you are not warleader. Know the silver river." She tosses the
carving into the fire. Taking another, she says, "Iishmarg. Warleader.
Those that follow you admire your evil and cunning, and speak well for you
to challenge from adren to athro. Know the silver river." Another.
"Pluahz. Raid leader. It was your mind that engineered the assault against
the Glass Walker safehouse. Know the silver river." A last. "Slrfsnk.
Patroller of the bawn you would see become the Wyrm's. Know the silver
river."

Walks-with-Maat intently studies the circles on the ground and watches the
blood fall upon them.

Elan drums intently, steadily, matching the pounding of a heart; life,
blood, a thing of Gaia.

Now all the rite participants speak in unison. "Charyss. Hear us. These
Garou bear impurities that harm Gaia. Take them. Hear us. May the silver
river rise!"

Dreams-Deadly licks her muzzle once, twice, as the ritual intensifies,
shifting her weight to the beat of the drums.

Wildfire has been quietly watching from the sidelines, keep to the woods
and watching outwards from the rite itself lest something try to
interfere. He keeps to himself.

After the last, impassioned call, Sepdet rises. Using a stick, she scrapes
out some of the ashes of the fire to where she can grasp it, hardly
wincing as it burns her flesh slightly. She crumbles the ashes into the
water of her bowl and says, "We know thy names, and thou art as ash. We
cast thy pieces into the waters of Heqet." All the Garou bow their heads,
then Andrea says, "It is done."

Done, eh? This is probably going to get going. Kristine's attention
immediately shifts around them, instead of on the ritual, her eyes
narrowed, watching. Waiting.

Kyle saunters over towards the Ex-Ronin and the... Man-Mountain, and for a
moment something less than a scowl crosses his face as he looks towards
Salem and offers with a grunt. "Yer in the shit tonight? Then I'm fuckin
with you t'nite!" Q.E.D.

Salem's ears prick forward at the Get, and then he jerks his muzzle into a
nod. ~You'd be welcome.~

Andrea carefully steps outside the ritual circle, still seeming somewhat
drained by the experience. Only when well-beyond the silver glyphs does
she shift and call out. ~Little Bear. Step forward and tell all what you
and Chaser-Never-Rests saw in the caern's umbra.~

Susan's hand creeps up to her throat, rubbing it as if the chanting was
causing her actual pain. The rite finished, she looks around and nods to
her packmates.

Guards-Flame dips her head to Kyle and chuffs out. ~An honor to see you
again.~ She states, having not seen the Get since she was a cub and he
wanted to 'marry' her.

Laura nods to the Get of Fenris as well, though she still concentrates on
their surroundings.

Tobin carefully puts away his drum once the ritual is done. His eyes are
level and his face neutral as he comes out of his meditative state. He
looks around for someone he knows and spots Kristine. He steps carefully
outside the circles as he walks towards her, nodding in greeting and
taking a place by her without a word.

Gaia-Will-Judge moves over toward Ears and rumbles quietly, ~Need another
set of claws?~

Cycle-Breaker inclines her head, glancing side-long to Alicia and then
Laura. "What are we going to do now?" she whispers.

Ears grunts at Dane, as she moves restlessly, watching, waiting. ~Yes.~

Walks-with-Maat peers at the sky and the water, waiting. The tension
electrifies the air.

Cycle-Breaker inclines her head, glancing side-long to Alicia and then
Laura. What are we going to do now?

Sepdet backs out of the circle, grim-faced, and slips between her
packmates while Little Bear reports.

Jamethon resheathes the knife after wiping the blood off of it. He moves
over to Ouroboros. ~Let them know the river as you all have. I am honored
to have been included in this ritual tonight. Thank you.~

Apocalypse flexes her legs, bouncing on her toes ever-so-slightly and
displaying fangs in a manic fool's grin.

Francisco bows his head to Andrea, Susan, and Sepdet, and turns to join
his packmates. He shifts up into the war-form when he reaches his pack,
his titanium earrings catching a quick sparkle, and settles down onto his
haunches.

~We wait and we defend.~ Guards-The-Flame rumbles to her sister Fury as
she paces slightly back and forth, glancing over to Francisco once he
rejoins them.

Bridge-Mender glances to Apocalypse, her long muzzle parting in a quick,
enormous grin.

Kristine rolls her head slightly, a look flickering to Tobin. A nod is
given, and she seems to have a hint of..pride..in those eyes, before she
returns to glancing about. She comments quietly to Eamon, "Man, we seem to
be making this a habit."

While Little-Bear gathers his thoughts, Andrea nods shortly at the
Wendigo, then turns toward one of the thicker cluster of ahroun.
~Nightflash, report what your pack saw.~

Eamon nods at Kris and chuckles softly.

Nightflash steps forward and shifts as he looks around. ~My pack went into
the Umbra last night to scout the area surrounding caern and attempt to
determine what we would be facing this night. We encountered little
resistance until we came to a secorched area where the trees had been
cleared away entirely. Without any cover, we proceeded a quicker pace
through the open area to the shelter of the trees beyond it. The clear
zone is large enough that it will be all but impossible to cross it
without being discovered.~

Nightflash says, ~Worse still, they have corrupted some of the local
animal spirits to serve as guards. One such spirit set off an alarm as
soon as it noticed us, and soon the voices of over a dozen other spirits
carried out from the trees to warn our enemies of our approach. The first
large spirit we encountered was a spirit of crystal, but it was too slow
to keep up with our pack and we quickly outdistanced it. It does, however,
have the ability to hurl glass from a distance, and we did not escape
entirely unscathed.~

Nightflash says, ~As we drew nearer still to the caern, an enermous spirit
of green fire, twice as a tall as a Garou in the warform, rose up ahead of
us. We had no expecations of defeating it in combat, especially with other
spirits closing and the Black Spiral Dancers themselves moving in our
direction, so we turned away from the caern and began to make your way
back. A single scrag managed to get between us and escape, but it wasn't
able to slow us down enough to allow its allies to catch up.~ He looks at
his his battered tail ruefully. ~Although I did not escape entirely
untouched.~

Nightflash goes on, ~They responded to the alarm very quickly, and seemed
to be well organized. When we attack, expect considerable resistance and a
fast response to our presence. We will almost certainly be unable to
retake the caern this night, so do not kill yourselves in the attempt. The
goal this night is to lure them into the Umbra, so that their leaders --
upon whom Drinks-Deeply has performed a ritual -- will be forced to come
across to face us. When I give the word, everyone retreats.~ He then looks
around to see if there are any questions.

Rushes-In sticks close to Nightflash, his hero. He scratches at the ground
furiously.

Little Bear shifts to homid, waiting until Nightflash is done. "Also,
there is a spirit, I guess its a spirit. Huge, black, black as ash, black
as death. Fast as death it covers the ground but it seems only able to go
so far and no further. It lurks at the border of the bawn and the caern,
guarding the way in. It makes no noise, and is... terrible to see."

Touch Deer glances one of his horribly-scarred arms, at the mention of the
green-fire bane.

Kristine turns to give Nightflash a thumbs up, and a nod of her
understanding. She looks to her Tribemates, to make sure they understand
that as well. Particularly Tobin. "No unnecessary heroics, 'kay kiddo?"

Three-Blades gives her head a brief shake, tail twitching as she looks
around her area. She occassionally looks back to the gathered to catch
what is going on. ~Where are their leaders now?~ she asks roughly through
her hispo jaws.

Cycle-Breaker bares her teeth at Nightflash's story.

Eamon steps forward and shifts to crinos to make an announcement. ~You
heard what Nightflash said, we're going up against balefire. Fianna have
gifts that let them resist the effects of balefire, which I assure you are
extremely nasty. So Fianna and anyone with similar protective gifts, focus
on the balefire bane. Everybody else concentrate on the other banes. Thank
you.~

Storm-Singer's own growl is low and threatening at Nightflash's tale.

Salem flattens his ears, hackles bristling, but makes no sound. His
expression is, unsurprisingly, grim.

Tobin looks at Kristine with his blank-eyed expression and merely nods
once, shifting up to Crinos as he does so. There was a slight twitch of
his lips towards a smile just before he transformed, as if to say, 'Of
course.'

Guards-Flame paces about the group of Garou that consists of the pack,
rumbling in her throat, ears perked at the story. Lions, Tigers, and
Banes, oh my. ~This will be intense.~

Valoran's own shift to crinos is smooth, though not as impressive as some
of the hulks he sees around him. Sheesh.

Kyle smiles with a sharp-toothed grin. If one looks carefully his nails
are pointed... emblematic of something to come perhaps. With a scoffing
look towards the retreat order he shifts quietly from one foot to another.

Bitter Cup answers Three-Blades, ~Hopefully in the realm. Hopefully
Charyss heard us. Peacekeeper took it on himself to make it so.~ She turns
to the group at large. ~If you have the gift of the moon's armoring, that
will not protect you against balefire. As Ever-Grinning said: Fianna and
others with those types of gifts and, to a much lesser degree, my pack.~
She gestures with one arm, and the cloak of shadows around her billows.
~Uktena grants us some small protection, though that is not the strength
of her gifting.~

Nightflash looks to Three-Blades. ~They should be in the physical world,
drawn there by Peacekeepers attack. When they attempt to reach the Shadow,
where we will attack, they will be drawn to the place of silver agony and
purification.~

Laura crosses her arms over her chest, lip twitching as she listens to
Nightflash and Little Bear's words. "No. Shit," she mutters in response to
Alicia's assessment.

~But we must at least get those Spirals to the river,~ snarls
Cycle-Breaker.

Kristine nods at that, and also shifts up to the War Form, then sits back
on her haunches.

Dreams-Deadly shudders noticeably at Little Bear's description of the
single black spirit, and draws herself up into warform within the next
heartbeat, lips a-snarl. Poised next to the pair of Silver Fangs and her
tribesmate, the Fianna waits.

Rushes-In contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Rushes-In shifts into Crinos form.

Eamon contorts and blurs as he is transformed.

Serendipity says, ~No. This Rite /takes/ them there, once they reach
across to this world.~

Eamon grins wider and sharper as he shifts into Crinos form.

Dreams-Deadly contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Dreams-Deadly shifts into Crinos form.

Laura contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Laura shifts into Crinos form.

Guards-Flame attunes herself to the tribal gift of relieving pain, then
focuses her mind for the task at hand.

Walks-with-Maat relaxes slightly at Serendipity's words.

Road-Rage remains right where he is, thank you very much. The cub looks
interestedly on all the shifting and the like. Figuring it would be a good
idea in consideration of what everyone else is doing, he shifts up to
crinos as well.

~And we expect them to cross over? Not just sit like comfortable,
protected prey in the middle while their large army fights?~ Three-Blades
continues to growl in question.

Little Bear wears his war form, still staying near Sepdet, almost hovering
protectively.

Ears mutters to her pack.

Nightflash looks hard at Three-Blades. ~Would you remain behind?~

Salem lowers himself to the ground and, abruptly, rakes his claws over the
raw granite, channelling his rage into sharpening them to a razor's edge.

Cycle-Breaker wrinkles her nose slightly, embarrassed at her
ignorance--but that's why she's a ragabash, not a theurge. Her ears twitch
slightly, and she proceeds to shift up to crinos.

Bitter Cup shrugs at Three-Blades. ~They may not cross. Then this will
only be a battle against those that have taken our caern. A battle we will
need to fight, whether it is today or tomorrow.~

Kyle contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Kyle shifts into Crinos form.

Child-Holder contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Child-Holder shifts into Crinos form.

Rushes-In growls and sharpens his claws.

Three-Blades stares back at Nightflash. ~I only ask this to ensure success
tonight.~ One of her paws scrape the earth beneath her. ~Let the deaths
today of our friends and septmates not be in vain.~

A sizeable group of War spirits lead by a Barn Owl spirit arrives from the
west. Four Cougar spirits have grouped together into a pack of sorts while
two Griffin spirits--scowling at anyone in a form other than that of a
wolf, stinking of the city, or in possession of a Weaver toy--lurk above
in the lower tree branches of an oldgrowth tree. Two Woverines have joined
forces with an ancient-looking Wendigo spirit. They all look to be in good
shape, strong, and ready for the upcoming battle. The barn owl, badly
wounded and almost transparent from grievous injuries, alights awkwardly
in a tree nearish the gathering Garou.

Walks-with-Maat chuffs and protectively nudges Road-Rage. ~Stay behind
Seeker and me. This is not a cub's skirmish.~

Bitter Cup dips her head respectfully at the owl spirit, then her voice
rings out, ~Tonight we fight by the sides of the spirits, who have fought
many nights since this war began. Are we ready?~

Touch Deer contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Touch Deer shifts into Crinos form.

Long-Past perks up as the spirits arrive, expressing his happiness to see
them in his posture. He bows to the old owl and says a quiet thanks.

Cycle-Breaker tenses slightly. ~I am ready,~ she says, glancing over to
the spirits that assemble near the group of Garou.

Serendipity gives the owl spirit a respectful sort of look.

Guards-Flame glances to her pack, then back over to Andrea. ~Definitly
ready.~

Road-Rage tweaks an ear at Walks-With-Maat and reluctantly agrees. He'll
hang back if he has to, but he wants a piece of the action. Typical ahroun
cub attitude.

Jamethon takes up the crinos form and joins with the pack he has been
instructed to fight with tonight, not yet having a pack of his own.
Looking to the spirits arriving he growls a deep thruming call for
victory. ~We will show them tonight, that we are not the stepping stones
they believe us to be.~

Child-Holder looks down at Cycle-Breaker, as reassuring as a Crinos can
be, then nods to the owl. ~Strength, sister,~ she rumbles to the Ragabash.

Quiet Wind takes to Crinos form, hackles bristling at the sight of the old
Wendigo spirit.

Stands-Proud's head bows at the spirits, respectful, and thankful for
their showing.

Sepdet recognizes the owl with a mixture of relief and concern. She barks
once towards Milah, jerking her muzzle towards the owl, then gives Andrea
a tight nod.

Ears growls somewhat incoherently, if affirmatively. Bridge-Mender turns
her ears forward as Bitter Cup speaks. ~Ready,~ she growls.

Dreams-Deadly studies the ancient and faded spirit-owl for a quick and
thoughtful moment, before her attention snaps quickly back toward Andrea
and the rest. A guttural, ~Ready.~ leaps up from her chest and into the
umbral air.

The owl responds to Andrea. *We spirits not of War have pushed harder
these past few days so that the spirits of War would be mustered and ready
for this night and this attack. We would be honored to have you fight by
our side in the upcoming battle.* The various spirits of War look to be
wound up, out for blood, and on the verge of righteous frenzy--Rage
boiling and close to the surface tonight. Taunts, jokes, or even too much
interaction with them might be extremely unwise. *All other spirits have
fallen and been bound or are badly wounded. Some of the fallen and bound
have returned--corrupted. We will do our best to to fend them off while
you strike.*

Walks-with-Maat nods and approaches the owl spirit. She solemnly offers
her hand, and the spiritual energy needed to mend its wounds. ~Be whole
tonight, blessed spirit.~

Storm-Singer signals his readiness to Nightflash and the others of his
pack this night.

Wildfire watches the spirits arrive a little guardedly, but upon
recognizing one of the wolverines, he comes to life, shifting upward into
crinos and howling out in an alomost blood-curdling note, scratching his
own clawns upon the earth, promising a swath of vengeance upon the enemy
tonight.

Nightflash says, ~Nothing will ensure success. We cannot make them come to
us. But they are Garou, as we are, andd they lust for battle, as we do.
They expect an attack, quite likely, and look forward to it, quite likely.
They will fight to defend what they have taken, just as we would fight to
defend what is ours. Tonight we fight our strongest foes, and our greatest
enemies. They are dark reflections of us, a reminder of what happens when
we stray too far from the Mother's embrace. Blood will spill tonight, and
whether it is ours or theirs, it will be the blood of Garou. The Mother
will weep tonight for her children. And when you strike them down, and
tear out their throats, and open their bellies, remember that you do them
a kindness -- for tonight, we are not merely killing our enemies. We are
sending back to Gaia those that have lost their way, we are giving them a
second life. They will be reborn in blood, and in pain, and when they
return, may they stand by /our/ sides, in /our/ war.~

Gaia-Will-Judge rumbles quietly as he watches the spirits.

Seeker stands up to his full height. ~We strike at the heart of our enemy
tonight, to pull it out and leave them weakened and dying. Let your rage
be the claws that tear at the enemy and bring them to their knees. Tonight
the war begins. We will win our caern back.~ The speech gives the gathered
garou strengthened resolve for the coming battle.

Rags shakes his fists at the skies, roaring his agreement with Seeker's
words.

Little Bear begins to chant to himself quietly, voice low but loud enough
to carry. ~ Nothing lives forever. Nothing lives forever. Nothing lives
forever, but the mountains and the sky. I will sing the song of the sky!
Now this is the owl flying downward, circling, tired of all songs, the
salmon where the swift current moves circling, runs circling. Their call
is urgent. The sky turns over. They are calling for me. Nothing lives
forever, nothing lives forever. Nothing lives forever, but the mountains
and the sky! ~

Bitter Cup touches the bag at her waist and promises the Owl spirit, *If I
can get close enough to them, I will free them.* As Nightflash speaks, she
straightens to her full height, throwing off the weariness of the intense
ritual. Silver light, warm and comforting, plays under the shadow of her
protection. When the ahroun turns to lead the way, she is running, running
after.

At the quite inspiring speech, Stands-Proud's posture stiffens, she
glances upwards, around the gathered, and she murmurs a quiet prayer,
~Allow our claws to strike true, this night.~ Alright! Now she's ready to
go carve into some Spiral butt! Or at least, that's what her demeanor's
saying. She waits for the signal to move out.

Nightflash rises his to his full height, lifting his head to the sky. He
howls out an open challenge to the world, and then launches himself into
the lake, and to the north.

Long-Past stands straight, and even though he doesn't reach the height of
most of the others around him in Crinos, he gives the impression of height
from his proud bearing. Cold readiness fairly radiates from him here in
the umbra. He crosses his arms in front of him and waits for the signal to
move.

Nightflash howls long and loud.

From Umbra: Lake Arthur, Nightflash can be heard to howl, ~Spirits of
darkness and spirits of fire, we come for you this night!~

Fights-For-Hope's eyes burn with rage at the speech. ~We will cleanse them
with claws, and teeth, and silver.~ He then follows quickly and silently
when the ahroun leads the charge, focusing on the umbral landscape for
changes in who the shadow world decides to work tonight. His massive frame
and obvious desire to kick some ass tonight are all that is evident about
the Godi.

While Bridge-Mender reaches down for stone, sharpens her claws on it,
quick and quiet and tempered with Rage, Kaz gives Nightflash an odd look.

~We will get our caern back,~ Cycle-Breaker growls in the mother tongue,
the claws on her feet digging into the ground.

Serendipity's own howl is not so articulate as that; merely a warning, and
a promise.

Dreams-Deadly's breath rumbles with aggression as it spills past her
opened jaws, breath quickening with the anticipation of blood. In the next
moment, the Fianna tosses her head up toward Luna's widening eye, and lets
go a strong and sonorous howl.

Sepdet snaps something under her breath that sounds like ~Phoenix,~
touches her packmate's backs, then they surge forward together, moving
with Ouroboros.

Guards-Flame lifts her chin up and roars out her own inspiring howl to the
Garou, ferocity glistening betwixt her dark eyes. Taking after the others,
she prepares for the battle ahead.

Seeker roars again and charges after Nightflash, leading his group off
after him.

Ouroboros charges forward, most in crinos but with Tempered Blade in the
form of the war-wolf. Quiet Wind runs silently, eye bright with the
glories of future battle, but he makes no sound or growl. The shadowy
protections of Utkena shalter the pack as the lope towards the front of
the mass of Garou.

Child-Holder can't help but be inspired by the Ahroun's snarls and howls.
She raises her own voice to Luna, using no words, then charges after
Alicia.

Trouble and Company also charge forward, claws out and ears forward.

The Fang-Fianna combo, after being properly inspired, and a few giving
their howls to the fray, bound after the rest of that have moved forward.

Walks-with-Maat adds her furious wailing howl to the cacophany and charges
ahead, awaiting the approach of Wyrm spirits.

The war party is off and moving at a quick yet conservative pace through
the umbral forest as the caern is quite a distance away from the island.
After an hour or so of travelling, the group approaches the bawn's outter
edge and presses in. Another 15 or 20 minutes pass as the group moves
through the bawn, occasionally passing a scorched spot on the ground every
so often--with increasing frequency as they draw nearer to the caern
itself. About 3 minutes away from the caern, the war party comes across a
scorched and charred ribbon of land that seemingly surrounds the caern
from the south: No Man's Land. The stink of sulfer is in the air and there
appears to be no means of crossing it without being spotted.Those able to
detect the scent of Wyrm can sense it in rapidly escalating levels, though
any experienced Garou knows that it is obviously present. The war spirits
run or fly with the Garou on their left flank the whole time.

There already seems to be some activity and sounds issuing forth from
further in towards the caern, as if something else has diverted their
attention closer in.

Ears looks fairly grim; Anneka wrinkles her muzzle at the scents, the
sighs, but she keeps the pace, hackles raised. Dane's nostrils flare as
the stench of sulfur assails them, and Apocalypse bares her teeth at the
burned ground and gives it a defiant middle finger.

Stands-Proud's quiet, and watchful, looking every which way possible and
still not trip over her own paws, others, such as Ever-Grinning and
Dreams-Deadly, and King's-Gambit follow suit. Long-Past remains to the
back, like a good little cub, yet makes sure the group isn't going to be
flanked.

Ouroboros presses onward, although their quiet approach is remarkably
unlike many of the other packs. Tempered-Blade slips into the front
position, taking up the lead as scout. Behind her, Quiet Wind and
Fights-For-Hope take flanking positions around Shadow Eyes and Drinks-Deep
who runs with the rest of her pack, staying near the center for now,
letting the Fianna lead. Sebastian follows closely behind guarding the
tail end of the pack.

Nightflash doesn't hesitate when the pack reaches the edge of ribbon. He
leads his pack onward, deliberately having to slow down to keep from
outdistancing the rest of the war party. Stormsinger lumbers along keeping
a respectful distance from Nightflash and Wildfire, his shaggy head taking
in the scorched land that he once admired so. His growl is a constand
rumble in this throat. Rides-Fire runs closer to his packmates than the
Shadow Lord, though his growl also punctuates his loping movements.
Rushes-In sticks close to Nightflash, watching the sides and loping in
quick strides. Wildfire runs with his pack in a somewhat close formation,
in crinos but on all fours. Dena runs, near the Unicorn pack, perhaps
closer to the other lone wolf. She is snarling faintly.

Thunder-Eater is, if not leading the pack, nipping at the heelsof whomever
is. And we I would think as a group are right up there near the front.
Salem keeps his teeth bared in a dour grimace as he lopes easily along,
followed close by Cycle-Breaker and Child-Holder, both who keeps their
pace, snarling at the darkness. Guards-The-Flame sticks to the back of the
group, pack healer, waiting, watching as she flicks her ears forward.

Salmon's Leap moves forward at a determined pace, Sepdet slowing for two
steps to scan the sky before leading them into the no-man's-land close by
Ouroboros. Her two packmates all but vanish: Little Bear blends into the
shadows on her right, Three-Blades with ears alert keeping pace on her
left in hispo, shimmering into an indistinct blur.

The Garou rush across No Man's Land and no nearby alarms go up. Activity
is certainly going on further in towards the caern, however. Lots of
activity that the Garou are drawing ever closer to. About two minutes away
from the caern, a single whipporwill in a nearby tree sends up a song to
the umbral winds. Smaller, corrupted animal spirits hide out of reach in
the tops of trees, falling prey and being ripped to shreds by the two
crazed griffins if they aren't fast enough or stealthy enough. Other
nearby calls begins to go up from nearby and spread like a wave through
the nearby woods. The Garou press on regardless. Noises nearby seem to
grow louder, as if a storm gathering is about to break suddenly. A mere
minute and a half out from the caern, the opposition begins to show its
face. Two crystalline spirits, a group of 3 scrags, a cluster of various
animal spirits further off on the left flank, and a 20' tall pillar of
greenish fire further in towards the caern can be seen. The beginnings of
some spider webs can also be seen behind the pillar of green fire, running
through the trees. The War spirits on the Garou's left flank separate and
move to attack and attempt to fend off the corrupted animal spirits.

At sight of the enemy, Apocalypse lets out a brassy, defiant howl. ~HEY,
FUCKTARDS! YOU'RE GOIN' /DOWN/!~ Bridge-Mender looks strangely elated at
the arrival of monsters, snarls out a sharp howl, a laugh. ~Now you're
gettin' squished.~ She howls again, joins in with Apocalypse. Kaz casts a
half-delighted, half-appalled look at the Fang, and growls, ~Scrag camp,~
to her pack, heading for the scrags with intent.

The pack, Synthesis combined with others make their move, the Get leading
them on. With usual Get circumspection Thunder-Eater turns his crew
angling towards the Scrags, the desire to spill some actual blood, feel it
flow between claws, taste the bitterness between teeth.. yes. This shall
be Retribution. Salem makes no sound, no snarl, no growl, no howl of rage.
Moving with the pack, he heads for the scrags. Cycle-Breaker uses her gift
of Blur to try and sneak up on the scrags as she follows after her group.
Skyscraper does the same, teeth bared, ears back. Guards-The-Flame,
continiung to take up the rear, roars out towards the banes they are about
to decimate, becoming the inspirational war Galliard. ~Time to destroy
those who stand before us! Death is coming, you sick shits!~

Nightflash alters course as the enemy comes into view. ~Fianna, to the
green fire!~ He leads his own pack toward the larger of the crystalline
banes. Behind and beside him, the others spread out, loping toward their
foe, eager to battle. Wildfire lets loose with an unnatural snarl that
seems almost palpable, his attention focussed on the bane in front of
them. The Shadow Lord's face is a mask of hatred. He will go wherever
Nightflash leads him, as long as his claws can find purchase in
corruption.

On the left flank, some whiporwills and bats flutter from the trees, only
to be struck down in force by the Griffons. Several small spirts ...
corrupted rats, pehaps, part before the Wolverine advance, some
unfortunate bodies being flung about brokenly. The Cougars bound past the
edges with ease, though one stops to maul a weak-looking Scrag which
wandered too near. There is much fluttering in the safety of the branches,
however, as the whiporwills' haunting calls are repeated further and
further away.

Dreams-Deadly's pace quickens to a steady lope as they break across into
'No Man's Land,' and on toward the heart of the caern. The rage-fire in
her eyes grows brighter with each shriek of a tainted forest spirit, and
she readies her claws for the impending fray. Stands-Proud pauses, and
quickly takes in the situation. SHe gets Fang-In-Stereo for a moment ~Yes.
King's-Gambit. You have mentioned that the Talen might be useful against
those spirits. Come up with something. Remember caution with them,
however, but it's your call.~ King's-Gambit takes from his pouch a
wrapped, vaguely conical object, stooping as he moves to grap a solid
looking rock from the blasted earth. Ever-Grinning pretty much disappears
from sight, or whatever it is Raggies Do.

Long-Past begins looking around for a good-sized rock, along with
King's-Gambit.

Seeker charges forward, leading his pack toward the crystalline banes. He
roars a challenge to the usurpers. A surfeit of possibilities. Oooh, maybe
that one, or maybe this one--Rags can't suppress an eager growl as the
targets show up, plump for the pounding, and he awaits Seeker's choosing.
Road-Rage files out from behind the others to the left flank, determined
to fight alongside his tribe and not behind it. No snarling or any of
that, just silent determination as he works up some of that classic ahroun
rage. Walks-with-Maat races along, tears of rage welling in her eyes as
she spies the crystal spirits and scrags. If any corrupted animal spirit
or anything gets near our group, she swipes. ~We will send you back to the
beginning of the cycle!~

Salmon's Leap charges the other glass elemental. As they close the last
few yards, Sepdet snaps out, ~Hold!~ wth a whipcrack of a bark; her
packmates surge forward to try and topple the creature. Little Bear stays
a grim shadow right on Sepdet's flank, following her lead against these
unfamiliar foes. Once he sees her intention, he speeds up to get behind
the thing, shifting down into hispo to try and trip the monster.
Three-Blades jumps to the command and charges a pace behind Little Bear,
gathering herself and leaping for a high tackle as Bear goes low.

Tempered-Blade raises her head and snarls as she sees the ugly green of
balefire. With a howl to the other Fianna and her packmates, she begins
moving towards the bane. Quick gestures send Fights-For-hope and Halfpaw
off with Salmons Leap as Ouroboros flings itself towards the bane. Bitter
Cup angles with the rest of Uktena's children toward the column of green
flame, supporting the Fianna of her pack that still leads them. Her claws
are open, and her breath comes fast as she peels to Susan's right for the
coming clash. Quiet Wind takes the other side, zig-zagging towards the
spirit as he closes in with his packmates in an assault of teeth and
claws. Sebastian hears the call and know he must recede. Taking his
war-form, he guards the passage of others towards the balefire.
Fights-For-Hope's collar glows red and streaks in the night air faintly as
he moves swiftly through the umbral night with Halfpaw, suddenly breaking
away from Ouro as they move to take on the balefire. The nearest bane
becomes a target for the two to protect Ouro's path from being slowed or
detoured by anything.

Trouble and Company lunge for the scrags, Kaz out in front, trying to slam
into a scrag, bowl it over, the rest lunging in after her. They grab at
what limbs they can, clearly trying to pull them apart.

On the left flank, the fist scrag goes down in a furry pile of rage,
offering little resistance to the sheer weight of the attack. The other
two scrags loom at the downed Garou, however, leaping onto the pile with
reckless abandon. Two more scrags approach rapidly, as they scurry on all
fours, madly frothing towards the Gaian Garou, a mix of gibbering and
demented howl along the way.

Dreams-Deadly veers intently in the direction of the balefire banes at
Nightflash's call, barreling toward the putrid green luminescence, fangs
flashing in the watery moonlight. King's-Gambit moves forward extremely
quickly, zigzagging toward the towering crystal creature. He strikes at it
with the shard of ice clutched in his talon with a roar. Long-Past follows
just a few steps behind Valoran, a boulder two feet around clutched in
both hands. As Valoran strikes he raises the boulder above his head and
throws it at the crystal bane once the other Fang is out of the way. Ever
Grinning still continues on his way to the Balefire Bane, though, more
like via Ouruborous. Stands-Proud, not wanting to abadnon her tribesmates,
sticks with the other pair, to offer assistance, while growling a warning,
~Remember~ No unnecessary heroics!~

It takes a moment for the packs to engage the different spirits which are
still at a distance from them. Kaz's group, along with Synthesis and
friends, rush at the three Scrags.Nightflash's group and the Silver Fangs
move to attack the larger of the two crystalline spirits--which seems to
have frozen in place for a moment in immobility. Seeker's group and
Salmon's Leap both combine their attacks on the remaining crystalline
bane, which Sepdet commands to stop--but not before it throws a spray of
shards at the approaching garou, peppering them lightly across their
faces, arms, and chests. Layne and Eamon break off to attack the balefire
bane with Ouro and the Silver Fangs go to attack the larger crystalline
bane.

Gaia-Will-Judge claws at the first scrag to get near him - not expecting
to hurt it severely, just slow it down so the rest of the pack can join in
the fun. Kaz doesn't scramble to her feet; she goes for the scrag's nether
regions, clawing and biting. Apocalypse, meanwhile, beats and claws at
that same scrag with gleeful enthusiasm, revelling in battle with the
fervor of an Ahroun. Between pants and grunts of exertion, the two-tailed
Fang barks out mocking yips and cusswords. She does not fight clean, draws
claws across the thing's arms to sever tendons, bone and sinew, sweeps
another hand across its face.

Wildfire remains back while the rest of his pack attacks the large crystal
spirit. He roars again, directing his fury toward the spirit, cowing it.
While Nightflash and Rushes-In leap at its legs, Serendipity aims higher,
going for the head (or what passes for one). Rides-Fire, rather than
tangle with the rest of his pack, attacks the huge glass spirit down its
left side, while Song-of-Fury, sensing a weak spot, moves around behind it
to strike.

Shards from the crystals fly out as the Fangs make their move. And the
Fangs indeed get pelted with incoming glass, though King's-Gambit seems to
be taking the brunt of it. The Ragabash goes in, up close and personal
with his shard. Stands-Proud, hoping to keep most of the shards off of the
Cub, stays in front. Yet, she's not so obtrusive to Long-Past's aim, that
he can't chuck that rock, which, he does. With any luck, the pair of Fangs
have just pulled off an interesting combo.

Cycle-Breaker turns into nothing but a flash and a blur of motion as Kyle
leads the Large crew into a clawing biting mass. Kyle has singled out a
particular Scrag and lays into it with Skyscraper. The smaller but more
experienced and frenzied one dwarfed insize by the Man Mountain. Salem,
smooth as midnight channels his Rage, claws moving with supernatural speed
as he rips into the scrags, muzzle distorted into a silent grimace.

On the far left, a bat, as large as a man, hurtles from the trees,
streaking past a griffin, leaving it somewhat confused and tumbling in the
bat's wake. Within a heartbeat, it has straightened, and streaks after the
bat, the two spirits begining a dance, high in the sky. The calls and
caterings of the whiprwills, meanwhile, draw into a crescendo, s flock
ascending into the sky to meet the second griffin as a swarm. Those
attuned to spiritspeak can hear them calling, over and over, *consume the
spirit, consume the soul,* in a never-ending loop. On the ground, two
cougars snap at molded rat spirits, skull-headed or diseased, which pop
out only long enough to enrage, then hide once more. A second bat, far
smaller than the first, swoops down at another cougar, taking a clawswipe
for its trouble. The Wolverines rend snakes to pieces, stalking on in
search of prey. Wendigo, alone from the rest, vritually ripples with
power, and casts a bale eye indeed on a massive, almost rhinoscerous-sized
beetle. It opens it's shell, wings rubbing together with the sound of a
hundred cicadas, as it calls for the Wendigo to meet it in battle.

The glass bane targeted by Salmon's Leap flashes brightly as shards fly
from it, most of them landing squarely in the Strider facing it down.
Three-Blades jumps to the side as she runs, fewer shards finding their
mark on her. The next moment she does leap in a furry blur and throws her
weight at the crystal-bane. Sebastian snarls menacingly as he sees the
departing group off, and dashes forward to join the Salmon pack's attack.
Fights-for-Hope also charges that direction.

Guards-Flame, not to be outdone rushes forward with her pack, trying to
rend into the nearest scrag with her claws, aiming for the vitals and
face.

Seeker throws his arms up in front of his face as crystal shards shower
him, then readies his kopsh and raises his arms higher, bringing it down
on the crystal bane's surface, followed by another lightning-quick
horizontal strike. Eyes reflexively closed as crystal sprays across him,
Rags rakes shiny sharp claws across the crystalline bane. Road-Rage hasn't
got much of a choice but to wait until the more experienced attack, and
then go after the crystal bane when its distracted. Cheap duck and dive
tactics that get the job done, he lashes out with splayed claws and
slashes at any bit of the bane that comes his way. Walks-with-Maat folds
her ears back and squints her eyes against the flurry of glass shards,
hesitating only for a split second before attacking the spirit with both
clawed hands.

With a snarl born of refined Rage, Ouroboros slams into the Balefire Bane
with all claws. Elan howls as he approaches the great Balefire spirit. *Do
Nothing!* he growls in the spirit tongue, pressing his will upon the foul
thing and then follows up the command with a lash of furious claws. Bitter
Cup doesn't delay once within range of the fiery column, which is so not
here to lead her people to any Promised Land. With rapid-fire blows, she
strikes at the balefire with amazing quickness, slashing three times in
all. Tempered Blade and Quiet Wind channel their rage into attacks as
well, although the Ahroun is far more deadly than the Ragabash. Quiet Wind
moves amazingly fast, slashing with an outstreached claw at the thing as
he moves past it, never stopping, never allowing himself to become a
standing target.

The two other Fianna also move up to attack the green-fired bane.
Dreams-Deadly launches herself at the balefire bane, focusing her attack
at its brightest point, hoping to hit home with teeth or claws.
Ever-Grinning moves past the group of banes up to Ouroboros, then comes
more into focus and leaps to the front of the pack where his gift can do
the most good. He balls his metal hand into a fist and lashes out with it
at the bane's body with a defiant howl.

Ears and Bridge-Mender rake and claw, until nothing but stray bones and
tattered organs are left of the first scrag, its entrails already disolvng
back into bubbling spiritstuff of which it was formed. Apocolypse manages
to take a good chunk out of the leg of a second, which is able to fend her
away from doing too much more with a distracting swipe across the muzzle.
Gaia-will-Judge steps up, to swing at his, which chatters and sways,
distracting the Garou, managing a thin slice across the forearm. The scrag
backs another few steps away, licking the blood from its claws with a
feral grin. The final two scrags now make it into the melee, bursting
shoulder-first into Ears and Bridge-Mender, managing to take both down in
a rolling, confusing tumble. Behind these lurks one final scrag, larger
and more terrible than the rest, loping slowly, methodically, behind the
lot.

The larger crystal spirit hesitates again, but the suddenly press of
attackers seems to stir it back into action. Between the five of them,
Reforged and Company deal significant damage to the spirit. Cracks begin
to appear in its transparent form, and spread out like spiderwebs.
Enraged, the spirit sends a blast of glass shards directly into
Nightflash's face, tearing away most of his flesh and one of his eyes.

The Talen strikes true! The Crystal becomes frozen. Long-Past's rock
whacks it, but it's not enough to shatter it. And yet, as unison, a stroke
of Genius goes through all three Fangs' head a the same time. Be fearful.
King's-Gambit is the first to start, shortly joined in with Long-Past and
the incredibly smaller Stands-Proud. Each Fang delivering strong blows
onto the frozen Crystal, in hopes of shattering it before it actually
un-freezes itself.

The larger crystal bane is staggered as Seeker's group each land a blow on
the spirit. Chunks of crystal are raked off all over it and it is
apparently paralyzed by the damage done, its strength halved.

Bridge-Mender curls right up into a ball, tumbles with the scrag that's
tackled her, her breath a sharp bark. She draws her legs up, claws to dig
into the scrag's stomach and spill entrails, her hands up to keep the
thing from her face and throat. Ears goes tumbling, and then is up again
in a burst of movement, clearly trying to slam into the scrag Anneka's
honed in on, distract it from Anneka's attentions. Gaia-Will-Judge leaps
for the other of the two smaller scrags, clawing with abandon. Meanwhile,
Apocalypse bellows out, ~Let there be LIGHT!~ and activates the gift
that's her heritage as one of the First Tribe: her white fur glimmers, and
then glows brightly.Gaia-Will-Judge focuses on the one he's clawing at, so
he doesn't get blinded by the sudden light.

Shards flew as Yi and Little Bear barrelled into their target bane, but it
did not fall. However, it does not budge either, held both by the ice
talen and Sepdet's command. Salmon's Leap sees which way this is going,
and wade into the fray from the other side. Sepdet backs up a few paces
and flings herself in a running leap and kick, trying again to destabilize
the creature. Little Bear joins in on the pounding, using his fist instead
of claws to try and shatter the frozen spirit. Three-Blades continues to
throw herself at the bane, aiming for a spidery-looking section of the
bane's leg while the others pummel up top.

Two more crystalline banes step out of the forest behind the original two.
A second pillar of greenish fire can be seen in the distance, moving
closer towards the Garou and likely to arrive in the next few seconds. A
tendril of liquidized blackness oozes swiftly out from the caern and
towards the group fighting the Scrags. Three more reinforcement scrags
begin to appear as the battle progresses.

Dena again goes high, redoubling her efforts now that first blood has been
struck. Rides-Fire presses the attack, but this time wtihout moving with
more than his normal, considerable quickness. Wildfire sticks with what
works, attempting to buy the pack the time to kill it before the spirit
can get off another of its attacks. The Shadow Lord Elder cntinues his
assault from behind the bane, tearing angular chunks out of its substance
away with each successive rake. Rushes growls, enraged that the banne
should hurt his pack alpha; he slashes at the bane wildly, trying to tear
and widen the gaping cracks already dealt to it. Nightflash, bleeding and
half-blind, attempts to get jaws on the spirit and squeeze.

Bridge-Mender and her scrag continue to jockey for position, one mounting
the other in turn, with slavering jaws and rending claws shared by both in
an even fight. Ears rolls free from her foe, moving to aid Bridge-Mender,
but, instead, the scrag fighting her grasps the Gnawer's leg, first
tripping her to the ground, then sinking it's yellowed teeth deep into her
calf. One scrag pins Apocolypse down, spittle flowing from it's maw,
before the Fang's brilliant light erupts, nearly burning the bane as if it
were fire. With a hiss and a howl, it rolls off of her, clutching at its
eyes from shock and pain. Gaia-will-Judge is drawn further from the rest,
his scrag slashing and laughing, drifting back and away. He doesn't see
the largest scarg looming behind him, both claws raised high, until ...
Thunder-Eater *plows* into the massive bane, Salem and Skyscraper right
behind. Guards-Flame and Cycle-Braker now move in as well, searching for
scrags to destroy. A handful of corrupt rat spirits scurry through the
middle of the fray, bolting for cover.

Two more join Salmon's Leap. Fights-For-Hope leaps high into the air in
mid-stride. Passing by the top of the crystal to wrap taloned hands around
the bane and using his momentum and massive weight to try and bring the
Crystal Bane down. Halfpaw watches Fights-for Hope's attack and readies
his own, once the Get has dealt his. He barrels toward it at great speed,
attempting to unbalance it further.

Urk. More Banes? Damn. ~Keep at it with this one! Concentrate!~ A Look of
Gratitude is given towards Salmon's Leap's way for their assistance, while
the Three Fangs continue in their synchronous pounding of the frozen
crystal bane. If they can get one down, then, hell, they can get to the
others. One thing at a time, no need to split their efforts.

Green fire lashes out in a whip of destruction, striking all of Ouroboros
and the two Fianna. Shadow Eye's command holds it just long enough to
allow the entire force of Garou to slam into the Bane and rip it into
shreds. The dark shadows of protection granted by Utkena shield Ouroboros
from the harsh fires, and they emerge relatively unscathed from the
battle. The two Fianna are not as well protected, and flames crackle up
their arms and lick their chests before fading into blackness as the bane
dies.

The larger of the crystal spirits finally cracks and splits, shattering
into a thousand shards that begin to fade away almost immediately.

Seeker presses the advantage as the spirit seems paralyzed, raining two
more blows down on it with the kopsh. Walks-with-Maat's courage is
fortified as she takes advantage of the spirit's paralysis. She claws off
one handful of crystal chunks after another, raking as many pieces away as
she can manager. Her hands bleed from the slices of crystal beneath her
claws, but with a thought she puts the sharp pains beyond her mind. Rags
unchivalrously claws frantically at the staggering bane. Road-Rage gets
the bright idea, while the group is the only ones around their particular
bane, he sneaks around towards its backside. Going for the legs to take
the nasty crystal sucker out, or at the least mess it up. However, he
watches his back just to be safe.

Bridge-Mender snarls and barks as she tumbles with the scrag, digs her
feet into its stomach when she can to gain purchase, while she claws and
reaches for the thing's neck, fingers splayed to sever the thing's head.
Kaz, deprived of the ability to help her packmate, growls at her scrag,
launching herself at it with an excess of enthusiasm, becoming, almost,
difficult to see in her anger. Gaia-Will-Judge leaps out of the way of the
charging others, and moves to rejoin his pack, leaping for the scrag that
has it's teeth sunk into Ears. Apocalypse howls, ~Take THAT,
motherfucker!~ at the blinded scrag and lunges after it, tearing and
biting.

On the far left, the air duel of griffins, bat, and birds continues, with
no clear victor yet showing. One cougar lays on its side, breathing
heavily and eyes dazed, as three snakes writhe across its body. The
wolverines mow through opposition with ease, with one, suddenly, being
struck from behind by a maddened Hyena. Several rats swarm one Cougar,
while lesser whiporwills spirits and bats now circle the other two.
Wendigo and the beetle meet with a staggering impact, with the Gaian
spirit driving the beetle backwards, through several trees, and out of
sight. Sounds from beyond that point are ... not pleasant. A shard of
beetle shell hurls through the air, leaving little doubt of who is getting
the better of that side.

The frozen bane finally topples over under the onslaught of Fangs,
Fishheads, and Friends-- unfortunately right onto the trio of Salmon's
Leap. Meanwhile a reinforcement crystal bane has drawn up behind them, and
sprays glass as the group struggle free.

With a howl of joy at the surprise attack, three Howling Garou pile into
the Scrag Alpha, the other two from Thunder-Eaters Crew pile into the
melee for distraction before turning to face the leader of the Scrags.
Five On one should almost be fair. The Pack tactics of Hamstring, claw,
tooth, bite, maim, rend takes place. A look from Thunder-Eater however and
with a Howl ~FUCK UP THAT MOTHER FUCKING FUCKER STRAIGHT TO FUCKING HELL!~
And with that, he bounds out of the Fray Leaving the crew to take care of
their job while tears off around the melee to head off the Black Nightmare
that is rapidly approaching the battling forces.

Wildfire readies his axe as the elemental finally cracks, eyeing the two
newcoming elementals as they approach. Song-of-Fury snarls a gutteral
warning to his packmates before blurring forward, fueling his steps with
his growing rage. As he reaches the vicinity of the next Crystal Bane, he
drops to one knee, bringing his great hands together in a clap that
reverberates across the scene, the roll of thunder accompanying its din as
Grandfather displays his favor. At his warning, the rest of the pack
remains back, letting the Shadow Lord do his thing. Nightflash takes
advantage of the brief respite. He shakes himself out, and the flesh
reforms over his face. Even the punctured eyeball is restored to
usefulness, though blood continues to floow from myraid small wounds. He
growls, bloody spittle dripping from his mouth.

Rides-Fire has to fight against his intincts not to charge after him, but
the Stargazer manages it. Instead he takes the brief seconds to assess his
packmates' wounds.

Four more scrags emerge from the forest to further reinforce the existing
ones as additional corrupted animal spirits arrive with them. Another
glass elemental arrives to back up the remaining balefire bane, throwing
sprays of glass shards at the attackers. Eight scrags arrive to back up
the glass elementals being attacked by Nightflash's group, Sepdet's group,
Seeker's group, and the Fangs--two for each group. The liquid blackness
pours forth at a blisteringly fast speed over the ground from the caern's
direction, straight towards Thunder-Eater in a tendril-like puddle that,
once it touches his feet, begins to pour rapidly up the surface of his
legs and torso. The Get roars as it engulfs him, then chokes as the liquid
pours into his mouth, nose, eyes, and other bodily entry points. Sound
from the fostern ahroun stops completely as his entire form becomes
completely covered in the black fluid in the space of just a heartbeat or
two. Kyle's liquid-coated crinos form is perfectly still for perhaps the
space of a second or two, then it rapidly begins to melt away--as if an
ice sculpture that was being blasted by a flamethrower. The black tendril
oozes a retreat from the already half-disolved and puddling Get ahroun,
who tips over as he melts away--now little more than an oily black smear
befouling the umbral landscape in a 10' diameter circle.

Dreams-Deadly reels back in agony from the dying bane as its flames race
over her chest and arms. The Fianna's howls in the mother-tongue are
shrill and damning: ~You're done burning here; BURN IN HELL!~ Seared chest
heaving, she turns her eyes and ears to the others she's joined, and
poises for the next attack. ~Corrupted fire!~ Bitter Cup calls with a
howl, as she recognizes the effect. ~Not balefire!~ She immediately
presses the attack with the second fire elemental, which approaches
quickly, though this time she does not strike nearly so quickly. Following
the lead of her alpha, Tempered-Blade spins to meet the new creature,
claws flashing. Quiet Wind snarls with rage as the ahroun releases his
claws upon the spirit, slashing with deadly precision into the blaze of
fire. Ever-Grinning echos Bitter Cups warning: ~The green fire is not
balefire!~ He strikes at the bane twice with rage-fueled speed, once with
the metal hand, then his normal claws.

The fire elemental lashes out twice with its whip of green fire. First
Bitter-Cup shudders under the assault, but quickly shakes off the effect
as does the Wendigo when he becomes the target of the lash. Crackling with
frustration, it suddenly blazes up with a terrible fury as green fire
erupts into a volcano of towering heat and destruction. Garou on the far
side of the battlefield can feel the heat released from the Bane as it
envelopes those Garou who are attacking it in a conflaguration of sickly
green death. When it fades, all of the Garou are still standing, but the
two not protected by Utkenas mantle are badly burned.

The Frozen Crystal Bane falls backwards, thanks to the efforts of the
Fangs and Salmon's Leap. Though, doesn't look so well for anyone that
might be behind it. Yet, from behind that little mess, comes up one of the
new two Crystal banes, Shooting a Volley of Glass! Again, King's-Gambit
ends up taking the brunt of it, while the pair of Fang Theurges manage to
be able to get by with the belting. The Ragabash doesn't look so good, and
thus, isn't eager to rush in to fight the new threat. But, there's no
need, for the one that toppled over seems to still be there. And as Kris
said, finish this one off first. And so, that's what the Trio of Fangs
move off to do! They all join in, beating it repeatedly, hoping that this
round of beating will finally make it go bye-bye.

The Scrag-Alpha, for a moment, does well, rabbing Skyscraper by the neck
as it pushes its way out of the pile of bodies, looking to crush his
windpipe, but the numbers are just too much. With a howl, it collapses as
the legs are taken out from uder it by the Garou, and a pile of enraged
Gaians well and truly begin to rend it anew. Bridge-Mender and her friend
are well matched, and, at this rate, it seems that one may well kill the
other in concert. Kaz and Gaia-will-Judge make short work of their bane
... before a growling Kaz begins to bristle fur, and snarl at the halfmoon
who helped her! Apocolypse, and the temporarily helping cavalry, lash into
the blinded scrag, which is able to slash back with some small success.

Seeker howls as the crystal bane shatters into a million pieces, then
leaps at the next bane with zeal, slashing at its legs with his kopsh.
Walks-with-Maat cackles with triumph as the bane falls, and quickly
turning to leap onto the next oncoming one, forearms crossed in front of
her face and claws extended. She pulls two long diagonal swipes across its
body, ripping pieces of crystal away and leaving a trail of blood across
its glittering surface. Rags' howl of triumph is short, as he turns his
attention to the approaching bane, and he leaps, claws bared. Road-Rage
does the sneaky thing, trying again to slip onto an undefended side of the
next bane in line. A bit overcautious at first, he unleashes a whole lot
of pent up rage all over the target crystal just as the others set into
attack.

Tempered-Blade jerks her head at Eamon and Dreams. To the Unicorn pack.
Get healing. Go now.

Kyle's death and pain and loss now enrages the rest of his former Crew,
howls spill out from those that saw it and more know what has happned,
amidst battle on has fallen. Mourn later, kill now! Salem's low, steady
rumble suddenly erupts into a roar of rage, the bile and tension of the
past weeks bursting out of him. He bleeds, yes, but his claws continue to
rend and tear. Skyscraper, having been in the initial charge upon the
alpha makes a play for the arm. Teeth barred he makes for the *CHOMP*
Focusing her mind at the task at hand, Guards-The-Flame fuels her claws
with slash after slash, attempting to rip deep into the heart of the beast
and claim a victory for Gaia. ~FUCKER!~ She howls out. Cycle-Breaker makes
a play for the Alpha with 'Lish and fur flying, teeth and claws and pain.

Nightflash looks on with despair as more and more spirits join the attack,
but no Dancers show up. ~Fall back!~ he calls. ~Help the fallen. Reforged
and Ouroboros, form a wall!~

Bridge-Mender is carried along with the river of her rage, her eyes wide
yellow lanterns. Claws flash in circles and crescents, a hand reaches for
one of the scrag's arms while another sweeps down to tear it free. She
looks fully intent on beating the thing to death with one of its own
limbs, her hackles raised in a halo around her head. Gaia-Will-Judge leaps
for Bridge-Mender's partner and tears into it from behind while it's
paying attention to his packmate. Kaz, on the verge of frenzy, barely
manages to, at the least, attack a scrag instead of a packmate. Apocalypse
continues to claw and tear at her scrag.

Suddenly a series of spine-tingling howls begin to go up, dischordant in
the night air, over the sounds of battle. Distant relatives from the bad
side of the family might be showing up very soon.

A black tentacle-puddle oozes its way out from the caern, moving towards
Ouroborus and crew at a rapid speed.

Fights-For-Hope, being at the top of the band and with forward momentum
already, lands on his feet as the Crystal bane topples over and turns to
leap claws first at the scrag now attacking them. Right beside him is
Halfpaw, who dives at the legs of the new bane attacking Salmon's Leap,
ripping into tendons with tooth and claw. The two attempt to end the scrag
quickly so escape can be made. Sepdet is trapped by one leg, but as the
pair of scrags bear down on their party, she turns and snarls, ~Hold
/still/!~ Little Bear struggles to free himself from the body of the
toppling bane, and just as he pulls free he's met with a hail of glass in
its death-throes. He howls in pain and anger, eyes reddening, and turns on
the glass elemental that just attacked him, ready to fight until the
retreat is called. Three-Blades scrabbles with a growl, pulling herself
out from underneath the fallen glass bane. She eyes the two scrags, and
circles off to one side. Her howl goes up as she calls plaintively. ~Feast
on your own allies, twisted ones!~ Her gift is aimed to sweeten up the
body of the other scrag, hoping to appeal to and draw off the corrupted
rat spirits and turn them upon the second scrag.

Dreams-Deadly, nearly doubled over with the pain, seeks out Ever-Grinning
through heavily squinted lids. She sputters to her tribesmate, ~Am...go.
Get HELP. Come!~ Through the smoke, she seeks out the Unicorn pack, or
anyone willing to hang back and heal. Despite her ailments, she hisses
defiantly, wanting to be well and /battle/.

In the sky, a Griffin plummets, a badly battered, but living, Bat hovering
above. Whiporwills descend from the trees, feastng upon the griffin's
essence as it wafts free from its dying form. The first cloud of
Whiporwills surround the second griffin, in a mad cackle and chitter of
calls. When the flock parts, nothing remains of the Red Talon's father. On
the ground, one Wolverine, bitten by snakes, fights against a Hyena,
tearing at its throat even as venom and damage proove to great. The second
Wolverine, headless of danger, fights on. One cougar lies still, a second
crying and howling as white worms pull it underground, while the remaining
two swipe at passing bats, numerous bleeding wounds on their flanks
slowling them, but cougar will not run. Wendigo howls in triumph, a howl
answered by the whooping cries of teh WHiporwills, as the flock dives dwn
into the trees, after the victorious spirit.

Seeker howls to his pack, reiterating the order to retreat, then slashes
at the crystal bane twice to cover their escape. Once the others are away,
he relies on his gift of speed to join the others retreating. Rags' steely
claws dig into the crystal bane, even as Nighthack calls the retreat, and
he's reluctant to let the bane go. Road-Rage releases one last swipe of
rage bearing claws into the crystal bane before heeding the call for
retreat. Theres nothing else left for him to do, but he's going to get his
last licks in before retreat. Walks-with-Maat's vigour begins to flag with
the onslaught of two scrags and another crystal bane. Hearing Nightflash's
voice over the din of battle, she begins to take the defensive. She
glances at the other parties and sees that soon they may be fatally
outnumbered.

And there seems to be the sounded retreat. Stands-Proud guestures to
Long-Past, and the two move to help King's-Gambit up. She makes sure that
none of their current opposition doesn't take any freebie swings.
~Long-Past, get King's-Gambit to safety.~ She orders the cub. Salmon's
Leap's struggle gets her Attention, and she notes her Mentor still stuck
underneath the bane. Moving over to the crystal again, Stands-proud moves
to try to help unstick Sepdet from her stuck spot. Long-Past snarls at the
order to retreat, both from Nightflash and Kristine, but he obeys. He
helps Valoran to his feet and makes back the way they came, getting
himself and the wounded Ragabash out of danger.

As the Scrag-alpha dies, a new wave of four scrags reaches the pile,
seeking their fallen master. The Garou who finished the fell bane have
enough time to notice, to turn and face them, even as a red haze begins to
fall over their eyes, with Salem, in particular, starting to ... foam?
Anneka, in a panic, lashes out at her scrag, and, with the aid of
Gaia-will-Judge, finally ends it's life. Two scrags, fresh for battle,
lope towards the wounded gathering, and Ears can take no more, finally
breaking into a run, tail between her legs as Frenzy takes hold.
Apocolypse, with a leap, is able to cut off the last new scrag in her
area, the fresh bane licking its jaws with a serpentine tongue as it
mutters, *Meat...* Bridge-Mender, coated with blood and banegoo, howls and
whimpers, as trapped in frenzy as the fleeing Bone Gnawer, but far less
able to run. The clawed grip of her dead 'playmate' rests on her shoulder,
that last piece after the mauling she gave it.

Wildfire shoots Nightflash a look that seeths in anger at this command,
just as the Dancers finally make a showing. He stands forward, however, as
commanded, bringing his axe to bear on anything that dares his presence.
Serendipity also shoots a look, but shifts to crinos and forms a wall,
labrys in hand. Rides-Fire stands next to Owen's right side, teeth bared
as he prepares to make short work of anything that charges the retreating
Garou alongside his Get packmate. Rushes-In prepares to retreat, flanking
the nearest packmate to watch their blind side, with Nightflash next to
him. As one, the pack begins moving back slowly, allowing others to fall
back, providing shelter for the injured.

From towards the caern, a series of high-pitched screams emerge, rushing
through the trees like guided missiles and finding homes in the garou
present. Touch Deer, Road-Rage, Apocalypse, Francisco, and Little Bear are
struck by the screaming arrows, and each in turn lets out a scream of pain
and agony.

Having killed the second of the Fire elementals, Ouroborus begins to
retreat as well. The howls of the Dancers indicate that their mission here
has been as accomplished as it can get. Shadow Eyes acts as rear-guard for
the heavily injured Fianna, sheparding them over to the Unicorn pack while
Tempered-Blade stands beside her Alpha as she studies (quickly) the
blackness of the bane. As the retreat is called, Bitter Cup backs up,
claws ready, though she seems more concentrating on the approaching oil
slick than on any other attack. ~May the beauty and purity of Gaia be
yours,~ she murmurs, as she stares at the creature that just dissolved
Kyle. Quiet Wind is pierced by an arrow, but the Ahroun ignores the damage
as the pack obeys the command to leave.

Anneka is fleeing, tail between legs, tearing at the arm to get it off as
she goes, following Kaz, who is off somewhere in the distance by now.
Apocalypse howls in pain as the arrow buries itself into her flesh.
~MotherFUCK!~, and retreats, as ordered. Gaia-Will-Judge, in rather more
organized fashion, follows his packmates in the direction of retreat.

On the far left flank, the whiporwills have descended onto the dying
cougars and wolverine, draining their spiritual essence as they continue
to call, *Eat the spirit, eat the soul,* in repitition. Both heynas lay
dead, with one wolverine dead, the other, quite literally, dead from
snakebites but not knowing, as it kills and kills again. The final two
cougars stagger and fall, as bats fall upon their bodies.

As the magic missles fly through the air and the Scrag Alpha downs,
Guards-The-Flame turns around and snatches the arrow from her brother's
form, yanking it loose, pressing hands of healing upon his body. She tries
to heal the scraper of skies as best she can, focusing her love from the
mother into him, while pulling back. ~Not good, get back.~ Salem abruptly
stops for a moment, good eye rolling around in its socket. Focussing his
will, he drags himself back from the brink of the Berserker. Skyscraper,
damaged and hurt...then struck by a missle howls in pain, fury, and
anguish. Blood flows freely from open wounds. The retreat sounded they
begin to make their way back to the Wall. Skyscraper moves slowly, but
aided by those with him they being the trek back behind the cover of
safety and healing.

Seeker begins to fall back with the others, keeping Road-Rage in front of
him so he doesn't lose track of the cub. The arrows plunging into a member
of his fighting pack jerks Rags' head away, and he departs the crystal
bane with a touch. Road-Rage gets nailed with an arrow. Nailed. A lot of
it is just taken, but it screws him up none the less. With whatever he's
got left, he knows enough to take off before he gets wiped out completely.
So angrily, he turns to scram, enough of this bane arrow crap.
Walks-with-Maat falls in behind the Garou wall as fast as she can, helping
the wounded Road-Rage. She growls with fangs and claws bared, swiping
blindly at the animal spirits.

As the Garou begin to fall back, a number of BSDs--5, then 10, 15, 20, 30
or more begin pouring out from the scorched earth area where Ourobus took
on the second fire elemental earlier. They charge after the Garou, several
of them being engulfed in inky blackness in the process as they approach.

Little Bear flings up his arms as the arrow catches him square in the
back, eyes wide, a howl of agony splitting the air. He goes to one knee,
attempting to catch a breath that is suddenly elusive prey, indeed,
glaring up at the bane before him. Sepdet hauls herself up on Kristine's
elbow and punches her shoulder in a hurried thanks before snarling,
~Salmon. We are LEAVING.~ Three-Blades turns from the second scrag and
snarls in rage as her Wendigo packmate gets hit in the back. ~Little
Bear!~ The Gnawer runs, shifting as she does to a form with hands. The
ragabash moves to protect her packmate from the scrag he was fighting,
teeth snapping once at it. ~Shift Little Bear, let's get out of here!~ The
Wendigo reluctantly complies, gets scooped by the Gnawer after she shifts
to crinos, and the trio haul ass.

Fights-For-Hope commands Halfpaw to run and headbutts the scrag with rage
driven strength so the Uktena can get the moment to so do. When Halfpaw is
gone, Fights hits lupus form and dives between the Scrag's legs to run. In
this attempt he recieves massive rakings of the Scrag's claws over his
back, inflicting a massive amount of damage that doesn't impeed Fights'
retreat. However, even with the help of resist pain, the attack was enough
to drive Fights over the edge into a fox frenzy, which is all the better
for him to get away. He is however now running in a way he would never run
before, screaming out through a lupine throat in fear and yelping like a
scared bitch.

The Strider out, and Thanks given with a nod, Stands-Proud makes a bolt
for the retreating Garou, and that wall, falling behind with the rest of
them. Her Tribemates already having been behind in 'safety'. King's-Gambit
doesn't seem as hurt, but still seems to be taking the help that Long-Past
is offering. And damn, that's a lot of Bad Guys.

Ouroboros continues to hold the line, standing side by side with
Nightflash and his pack as they retreat, protecting those Garou who are
behind them. Tempered-Blade trembles once as she sees the horde of Garou
pouring into the Umbra, but she glances at her packmates and her fears
ease. Quiet Wind touches her in silent reassurance and continues to stare
his defiance even as he retreats. As the Garou behind her flee, so that
she need not guard, the Gaian theurge reaches into her pouch. Her teeth
bared at the charging Black Spiral Dancers, she says clearly, ~Be free!~
With that she hurls a pair of handcuffs as hard as she can toward the
charging throng. Even as it flies toward the enemies, Bitter Cup shifts
smoothly into the quickest, lupus form. As soon as the talen flies, the
rest of the pack joins their alpha in shifting and begins to move,
hurrying out of the deadly area as fast as possible.

Trouble having left already, the speedy way, Dane and Apocalypse continue
to retreat, Apoc' bringing up the rear, bleeding and shouting insults to
the Dancers all the way.

As Wildfire spies a certain wolverine spirit get taken down, he howls out
in rage and defiance, breaking forward a step from the 'wall' Reforged has
made to lash out at the nearest evil spirit. Song-of-Fury makes himself as
wide as possible, claws lashing out at anything that comes within their
range, falling back with the others in line. Serendipity, despite Owen's
example and her own tightly held rage, does not break the line; she waits,
swinging at any spirits that come close to her. Nightflash snarls as
Wildfire breaks ranks. ~Wildfire, fall back now!~ He shifts the line over
to account for the sudden hole left behind by the Get's desertion,
swinging at anything that gets within reach. Rides-Fire starts forward,
but Nightflash's snapped command keeps him from charging after his
packmate. Snapping his teeth at the air, he continues to hold the line.

A few screams--earthly and unearthly--arise from the ranks of the Garou
after Andrea's handcuffs land in their midsts. Confusion erupts within
their ranks and their advance is momentarily stalled. One BSD wanders
around flailing and on fire before falling onto the ground, twitching, and
burning. As Wildfire dashes off to save the fallen and dying wolverine,
two of the black spheres close on him with equally fast speed. The mass of
Dancers begin to advance again as the sudden nasty surprise passes.

Synthesis and Co. are running like... well like dozens of BSD's are on
their tails. A bark of an order from Salem has the group shift to Lupus to
gain the speed, that includes the critically wounded Man-Mountain. With
barely a pause, a pickup worth of a World Cup Keeper, Salem scoops up the
Bleeding wolf and runs.

Wildfire apparently get's a clue from Nightflash's order and bolts back
with Unicorn's grace and a touch of rage.

As the 30-some BSDs regain some semblence of order back, the charge
towards the remaining garou resumes. The BSDs are joined by a number of
the other remaining banes in their retaliatory attack.

Once Ouroboros has retreated, the last pack turns and runs.

Reforged quickly outdistances the pursuing Dancers and their howls of
anger and calls of threats and cowardice are hurled towards their backs.