Still Taking Back the Caern!

[hazlogs]

[The battle to take back the caern. Umbral Battle A]

Once the Garou are gathered and step across, Bitter Cup turns to her small mission group. ~We are the guardians of the purity spirit,~ she explains in no uncertain terms. ~We almost certainly cannot kill the darkness bane alone. It is weak to purity, and the one we have called has agreed to sacrifice her innocence to this deed. We will make certain her sacrifice will not be in vain. We will make certain she reaches Trichlorotrifluoroethaneous.~

Sepdet draws in a sharp breath at Andrea's phrasing. ~Not in vain,~ she echoes. ~Nor ours. Recommend any other winged spirits with us try and lift smaller enemies and drop them in the pattern webs to keep spiders busy, if we get that close.~

Bitter Cup turns to the rest. ~There are winged spirits that will help us,~ she agrees. ~Though that is not what I had asked them to do. I had asked them to give the Garou flight, before Sepdet learned about the webs.~

From somewhere beside Bitter Cup, Quiet Wind scans the area and awaits the order to move.

Apocalypse jitters, padding back and forth restlessly, quickly, stopping to paw at the ground like an eager racehorse.

Sepdet says, ~I meant after they were finished carrying. But nevermind, I don't want to confuse them.~ She glances about with a toothy grin as she shifts up to the ready. ~It's not every day that one gets to save a caern. Let's do something for the Galliards to sing about.~~

Bitter Cup gestures at the skies, as she waits for the purity spirit to join them. ~Are we going to ask the owls and other masters of the air to fly us in closer, with the spirit, or shall we run? And will Wendigo fight with us tonight, Sepdet?~

Jamethon finally takes the Crinos form now, his jacket forming to a spiked collar around his throat that soon starts to glow a faint red, fenris glyphs burning through the glow.

Sepdet says, ~Wendigo said he would join us.~ She spreads her hands. ~Let's fly, sister. Over their defenses, as far as we can, to surprise them most.~

It's hard to whistle in crinos, but the Gaian theurge does her best. As she waits for the birds to come and give what they have promised, and for the purity spirit to also come, she also calls upon her gift. Warm silver light spills out under the dark shadow that protects all of Uktena's children.

Sees-True tilts her head to one side, eyeing the Get's collar.

Sepdet turns eastward expectantly, searching for the wings of her tribes' oldest allies. The lumpy bag she had slung over her shoulder is gone now, dedicated to be called for later.

Fights-For-Hope watches, waiting, for what is to come.

As the Garou wait, the stunted Umbral trees begin to slowly fill with birds--one sparrow here, a couple of robins there, a jay over to the side, an owl near the top of that tree. Oddly, or perhaps not, there are no whippoorwills among the congregating avians. Soon, the scene becomes almost eerie as the trees are full of strangely silent birds. A soft glow makes its way through the woods towards the Garou, finally resolving into a small, almost clear, liquid spirit that floats through the air, glowing with a gentle white light. *I am ready*, it says in a voice that sounds like the clear ringing of small pure silver bells.

Quiet Wind remains in his lupus form. As the Purity spirit approaches, his muzzel touches the ground, in reverence to the being which has agreed to sacrifice itself for the Garou's cause tonight.

Tempered-Blade dips her head in homage to the spirits as they gather. Then she turns to look at her alpha and waits for directions. Bitter Cup likewise bows in respect to the purity spirit. *As are we.* She then turns to the nearest branch, which houses a pair of cardinals, and raises her hands. *We are ready.*

Sepdet bows deeply to the Purity spirit as well, trying her best to push distress aside and concentrate on the work ahead.

Sees-True's tongue flicks across her nose, as she watches the purity spirit. You have your thanks, she rumbles softly, before turning her attention to the makeshift pack she will be fighting with.

Apocalypse huffs out quick, panting, gleeful wolf-noises. Ready-ready-ready! The Fang shows no fear, no worry, no stress. She's chomping at the reins.

Shadow Eyes has stayed unusually quiet, and even now shifts back away from the Purity spirit, as if afraid his city-scented self will taint it in some way. He sniffs the air as the birds gather, and waits, calmly. This is the beginning of the end, then, one way or another.

Fights-For-Hope seems to be a slate of steel tonight, nothing effecting him outwardly. "I have done my worrying and am done with it. Tonight, we will be victors." *We are ready, and grateful for your guidance and help.* He offers to the spirits.

The spirits begin picking up Garou, though they carry for more than they should. The pair of cardinals pick up Bitter Cup by the shoulders and rise with her. A sparrow and a jay pick up Tempered-Blade, while a pair of robins take Fights-For-Hope. Two owls lift Sepdet, a woodpecker and another robin take Sees-True, and Quiet-Wind is taken by a bluebird and a starling. Shadow-Eyes is lifted by a pair of pigeons, Apocalypse is taken up by a single falcon, and the group flies with the purity spirit towards the caern.

Apocalypse makes growly gruffly noises that sound vaguely, vaguely, like Wagner. Flight of the Valkyries, anyone? Her tails wag, not quite in synch.

Sepdet closes her eyes for a moment, tasting wind and letting it clear her mind, and gives totem-friends a soft thanks or farewell. Then she turns her eyes towards the shadows below, straining to see movement, light, shadow.

Ouroboros appreciates the flight, taking delight in its beauty even as battle looms. Quiet Wind takes to the air with no fanfare or frolic; the scarred wolf keeps his senses trained on the woods below and the air surrounding the group, scanning for signs of friends or foes. Bitter Cup manages to take a stolen moment of joy in the kiss of the cool night air on her face as she flies for only the third time in her life. *Oh, children of Air, thank you for this blessing!* As the very air seems to thicken near the caern and dull her enthusiasm, she still murmurs, *Thank you.*" Tempered-Blade echos her Alphas joy in the flight, and her eyes gleam as she searches the umbral sky and ground for those who she will soon battle. Wheeee! Shadow-eyes lets his mouth gape as he's born into the air for the second time in his life, and he lets his tongue flap in the breeze. *Small city brothers, Rats with Wings, thank you,* he chuffs."

Fights-For-Hope lets his venier of calm break as he is taken airborn, a new view of the world he has yet to expirence. ~Amazing.~ Are his only words as he remains watchful for the enemy.

Sees-True's ears flatten against her skull as she is lifted into the air, eyes a little wide.

The other birds surround the Garou and the purity spirit protectively as the cry of first one, then two, then dozens of whippoorwills splits the night. There is a rush of wings from ahead, and then the battle is joined as spiritual feathers begin to fill the air.

Sepdet watches the fray with eyes narrowed, itching to sink her claws into something; for now, however, she holds on, watching for anything coming too close. Fights-For-Hope allows himself to be carried ever forward alongside the others, trusting in the leader's judgement when to act. Sees-True's lips pull pack from her teeth in a silent snarl, as the battle is joined. Apocalypse's breath puffs out in sharp, quick pants, and her paws twitch, eager and impatient to get her claws and teeth into thing.

Bitter Cup starts looking for a place to land, as their aeriel support comes under attack. She does not struggle to fight yet, and burden the birds carrying her even further, even though she bares her teeth on the ready. Tempered-Blade lifts her muzzle in a silent snarl, but the Ragabash makes no move to disturb those spirits that are assisting her. She too begins looking for a place to set down. As his packmates look down. Shadow Eyes bears his teeth, and narrows his eyes, looking, trying to sort out the wheel and turn of various spirit birds for anything that even looks like a leader in the swarm of soul-eating mockingbirds.

Spirits on both sides fall as the Garou slowly proceed, then finally the Gaian spirits light briefly, dropping off the Garou one by one so that the birds can concentrate on the whippoorwills and mockingbirds. The glowing spirit descends into the midst of the Garou as loud crashing and bubbling sounds come from ahead, towards the caern.

As soon as she lands, Tempered-Blade ripples into the form of the dire wolf and bares her teeth in a snarl. Bitter Cup shifts into hispo as her feet touch the ground, her dark mantle billowing like a sail, as she springs forward in the point of the wedge that works out to surround the purity spirit protectively. The Gaian theurge leads her pack toward the caern as they encircle the one that they have brought. Touch Deer shifts up, assuming Hispo as he moves immediately upon touching the ground to reach the Purity spirit and take up a position beside it. He tries to end up somewhere near the rear, protecting the group's behind while simultaneously attuning his senses to the area, in hopes of locating the Darkness bane. The pack works as a practiced unit, and Shadow Eyes moves into the final position. He drops and moves back towards Quiet Wind with almost military precision to watch rear and flank for unexpected attacks. He snorts, readying his howl or voice to command any spirit foes they should meet.

Apocalypse reverts to Crinos, her birth form, as the falcon drops her off, and straightens up to her full height, teeth bared in a feral, fatal, cheerful rictus as she looks for a target to shred. Sees-True hits the ground with a soft thump and she shifts into crinos. Claws flexing as she searches for a target. Any target. Rage and a touch of insantity, reflected in her golden-brown eyes. Fights-For-Hope lands with a loud grunt, one hand going to the pouch at his side as he does. Something catches his eye above and he looks up to the sky. ~A larger spirit has joined against the enemy. A great bird fights for us.~ With this he falls in with his impromptu pack, pulling forth an orb from his pouch, covered in a rainbow tie-die cloth. Sepdet lands lightly, shifts up, and turns in place, taking mental stock of their surroundings, obstacles, or cover. She then moves to the front of her small group with claws at the ready.

There's more rustling, and six figures come out from the trees. They're only seemingly partly physical, somewhat transparent, gaunt and grey with razor sharp fangs and claws. Spotting the Garou, the spirits snarl almost as one and charge.

Wisdom, not Glory is Ourobos mission tonight. Rather than charge to engage the scrags, they remain focused on conveying their charge to the Oil Slick bane. Bitter Cup tilts brown-tipped ears back toward her skull. *Attack another scrag,* her voice lashes out at one of the six that menance her group. And still she moves forward, ready to defend against attack, but not pausing to engage if any chance that the wedge may move by. Quiet Wind turns so his tail is to the Purity spirit and his terrible jaws are poised to tear to shreds any Bane which attacks his portion of the defense-wedge. He too continues to press forward, watching with Tempered-Blade for any spirits that seek to lash out at their protective circle. Shadow Eyes bristles as he sees the fanged and clawed spirits emerge, and bares his teeth. He growls low in the back of his throat, looking for one between two others. *Destroy your fellows on either side!* he Commands, his spiritual voice ringing with power.

Sees-True's claws twitch almost spasmodicly, as the spirits charge. Still, part of her attention is on Sepdet. Waiting for the Theurge to pick a specific target. Sepdet selects three of the charging monstrosities on one side and angles her group towards them with a growl. The Strider lunges forward and points towards one of these three with outstretched claws, snarling loudly, ~Fight your own kind, Soulless One!~ Apocalypse lets out a mocking howl at the enemy. ~Come and get some, donkeyfuckers!~ She claws at the air, ready to charge the foe but keeping with her temporary pack. Less vocal then the Fang, waits with claws tensed, small orb held tightly in his left hand. His growl is one that defies angry and goes right on to pissed off, something about the Get of Fenris blood within him that he just can't repress urges him to leap forward towards the enemy. Fights visibly struggles with this impulse, hackles flaring, as he waits for orders from Sepdet or Andrea.

At the commands of the Garou, the three indicated Banes turn to the side and begin fighting their fellow spirits. The three so attacked yelp in surprise and begin fighting back, strugling against their fellows. As the fight begins, one fighting pair suddenly freeze, rime glistening all over their bodies. Overhead, the avian fight continues with the cawin and shrieking of dozens of birds.

~Keep close!~ Bitter Cup calls, as she follows her nose toward the foe they seek. Ignoring the birds overhead, Tempered-Blade continues her protective lope on the side of the Purity spirit. With Bitter Cups call, she moves in just a little more tightly. Quiet Wind also does as commanded; he is glued to the Spirit he the group protects, moving deftly as the sensitive noses of his pack locate and hone in on the Bane that is their target. Shadow Eyes turns satisfied from the fracas that he and the Strider have helped cause and falls in to plug any hole in the Purity spirit's defences. He looks sharp, ready to defend the spirit at any cost.

Sepdet watches the creatures with narrowed eyes, then, satisfied, howls defiance and turns back to the course set by Bitter Cup, moving to help surround the Purity spirit. We go forward. Let the pathetic Wyrmspawn destroy one another. Sees-True growls at the banes as they attack eachother, wanting a hand in their distruction. Obeying Sepdet's orders, the Gnawer drops to all fours and turns away from the banes. Following the Striders' lead. Apocalypse moves on, snarling gleeful and mocking obscenities at the discombobulated spirits. Jamethon agrees with the elder theurge and steps in with the rest, his blood calling for action but wisdom holding him back for the real enemy. He mutters a prayer in crinos breaths and the ball in his hand, covered with the cloth starts vibrating, throwing it forward into the trees. When it hits the ground it cracks open, lighting up the area in the woods well in front of the Gaian Garou like the day.

The sudden light illuminates about a dozen more of the grey ghoulish spirits coming through the trees, as well as inky blackness that cuts off the light abruptly. The Banes, their positions already revealed, shout loudly and charge the Garou. Almost immediately after, a blast of cold wind comes out from the woods near to Sepdet, and a large, monstrous-looking humanoid appears, with teeth as sharp as the Banes'. It charges to meet the Wyrm spirits, tangling up a pair at once as the others swarm around it.

Fights-For-Hope pages to Sees-True, Apocalypse, and Sepdet: ; burns a rage for extra speed here. | Fights-For-Hope curses as you-know-who destroys the light he sent forward, but then as the chill air is felt and Wendigo shows, Fights throws forward a mighty battle howl. Running in and surges forward with a mighty double batting of his claws at a near by scrag, dancing back afterwards, harrying them as Sepdet commanded.

Apocalypse's pale eyes go wide at sight of the cold spirit. ~Holy shit,~ she growls softly, in awe. ~Is that...?~ Sepdet's lips peel back from her teeth in an affirmative grin, then she jerks her muzzle towards those spilling around the right side of the great Wendigo. ~Surround and harry! Keep them from Purity!~ She herself moves with them, trying a second time to turn some of the ghoulish creatures against one another with a snarled command. *Fall on your fellows, miserable Scrags!* Apocalypse jerks herself back into motion, shaking off her astonishment to harry the banes. Sees-True lifts her muzzle in a brief and powerful howl, as she charges forward. Singling out on of the inky banes and she snarls profanities at it, while trying to keep away from its claws. Fights-For-Hope curses as you-know-who destroys the light he sent forward, but then as the chill air is felt and Wendigo shows, Fights throws forward a mighty battle howl. Running in and surges forward with a mighty double batting of his claws at a near by scrag, dancing back afterwards, harrying them as Sepdet commanded.

Bitter Cup uses the distraction Sepdet and her mission pack provides to continue to lead the purity spirit toward the darkness bane. The wedge, berefit some of its members now, rotates so the Wendigo and Fianna sit on the flank, ready to defend and enter the attack if movement fails. Bitter Cup and Shadow Eyes make up the far corners, front and back respectively, as Ouroboros plows forward toward its goal.

As the ghoulish Banes close, the Garou launch their attack. Two of the spirits fall again to fighting at Sepdet's command, one struggling to get past its fellow to the Garou. Apocalypse slashes at one, drawing its attention as it slashes back, its claws gleaming in the halfmoon's light. Sees-True and her opponent tear into each other, but the defenses of each are too great, and their cuts only result in small, superficial wounds. The Get slashes at the scrag wildly, but his enthusiasm makes up for expertise as he scores deep gashes into the Bane. One scrag makes it around the Garou and attacks the Strider who was commanding its fellows. Sepdet twists and dodges, but is nonetheless scored, blood welling up from a cut across her abdomen.

The rest break off to attack Ouroboros as the wedge attempts to circle. Five close to attack, trying to get to whatever the Garou guard. Two attack Quiet Wind, one managing to cut his shoulder wile the other fails to connect through the encompassing shadows. Two more attack Tempered-Blade, again one raking her leg, though deeply, while the other also fails to connect through Uktena's blessing. The last just watches for the moment.

Pain seems to add madness to Sepdet's usual coyote mode of attack, and she lunges to one side at unnatural speed, trying to plant herself between the Scrags and Ouroboros. Suddenly she is darting, slashing, dodging, howling, barking, and striking out with claws like a frenzied gibbon, practically bouncing off the foe(s) she's taunting and attacking, as much to keep them off-balance and at bay as to deal damage. Apocalypse bursts into motion a moment after the Strider does, and that gleefully. ~Hey, motherfucker, hey, motherfucker, hey, motherfucker, hey!~ the New York Fang taunts, bouncing and slashing and snapping. Sees-True pages to Apocalypse, Fights-For-Hope, and Sepdet: Claws slightly bloodied and Rage making her blood boil, Sees-True throws herself at her opponet. Jaws gaping wide as crinos teeth seek purchase in spiritual flesh, while the Gnawer's claws slash downward. Fights-for-Hope dances around a bit more, waiting for the right time to strike more precisely this time. When the scrag makes a move Fights counters it with a powerful raking of his claws.

Fights-For-Hope pages to the room: That was interesting by the way... :)

*Go!* Andrea urges the purity spirit, as the scrags roll over her pack as well. She puts herself as the lone target between the fifth scrag that has not engaged and the purity spirit's path, though she does not turn more than a fraction of her attention to it as yet. To the darkness bane, she says, *Trichlorotrifluoroethaneous, know Gaia's beauty!* Tempered-Blade snarls viciously at the spirits attacking her and moves to stand next to her packmates, presenting a unified front of snarling Hispo. She lashes out at the nearest, looking to take it out now. Touch Deer blurs, and suddenly a horribly-scarred Crinos bears down on the two Scrags before him. He engages, trying to keep the two Banes busy long enough for the Purity spirit to reach its goal. Shadow Eyes growls, and once more he barks a command. To the lone skrag doing nothing he snaps *Destroy your fellows!*, flicking his ears at it in emphasis.

The Strider's slashing has some effect on the one Bane being attacked by its fellow, cutting it slightly though nowhere as deep as the other bane. Apocalypse's taunts seem to have some effect on the scrag, which charges, impaling itself somewhat on the Garou's claws but also bowling both of them over. To the side, Sees-True becomes a slashing machine, ripping into spirtual flesh, though also being ripped in turn by its sharp claws. Fights-for-Hope scores a slash across the spirit's face as it steps in to attack him, but the cut seems not to affect its movement any, as it also still cuts the Get's right forearm, exposing bone.

Tempered-Blade barely manages to score a shallow strike against the bane, but she does cut it. That one misses her, but the other one cut a shallow gash across the top of her head. The one Commanded by Shadow-Eyes, which had just crouched to leap at Bitter-Cup, instead turns and attacks one of the two attacking Touch Deer. The Wendigo ahroun himself cuts and slashes franticly at the scrags before him, cutting one deeply but being ineffectual against the other. Again, one misses him, while the other strikes, though the Garou shrugs off the blow.

The oily bane rears up over the Wendigo spirit and the two scrags, then stops as Andrea's Gift strikes. The purity spirit moves quickly to it, speaking again in the tinkling of silver bells, *See the purity that was taken from you long ago. I will remind you of the purity of Gaia with every touch.* And it strikes, a small bit of light against the still darkness.

Fights-For-Hope pages to Sees-True, Apocalypse, and Sepdet: ; | Fights-For-Hopes' reaction to being cut is much less ragefilled then it would be were he to not have the gift of resisting pain so common to the Get of Fenris. It does however spurn him on to attack with more speed, and he does so, drawing on his Tai Chi learning. He waits for another attack and when it comes he slashes at the face of the scrag with one claw and grabs for the easiest to reach arm the scrag attacks with and leaps up high and hard, counting on his knowledge of airts in the umbra to be more forgiving then in the realm. This succeeding and if both get off the ground he lets go to let the spirit fall again, and hopefully land on it.

In unison, Ouroboros turns on the scrags and launch into a whirlwind of claws and teeth. Bitter Cup then turns and strikes at the left-hand scrag that menaces her packmate, blurring as she bites twice at the monster with heavy jaws. The Fianna also blurs with Rage as she leaps for the scrag to rake it with both sets of claws. Quiet Wind suddenly darts forward and cuts quickly in a blaze of claw-swipes at the two Scrags suddenly opposing him. Shadow Eyes joins in on the skrags that Quiet Wind is dealing with, movin to their flank to pin them down for the Ahroun. He blazes up to the Crinos form and slashes at the unclean spirits.

Will a Commanded Scrag turn on another of its fellows when its first prey is down? Sepdet's determined to find out. Waiting for the other to distract it, she drops and drives both claws upwards into what would pass for intestines on the beleaguered Scrag. Apocalypse, still grinning like the maddest of mad Garou, bellows in the scrag's face, ~Suck LIGHT, asshole!~ and promptly flares up like a light bulb. Sees-True doesn't seem to care about her wounds, as she continues to attack the scrag infront of her. Teeth snap closed and remain that way, if they find purchase in the spirits flesh. Fights-For-Hopes' reaction to being cut is much less ragefilled then it would be were he to not have the gift of resisting pain so common to the Get of Fenris. It does however spurn him on to attack with more speed, and he does so, drawing on his Tai Chi learning. He waits for another attack and when it comes he slashes at the face of the scrag with one claw and grabs for the easiest to reach arm the scrag attacks with and leaps up high and hard, counting on his knowledge of airts in the umbra to be more forgiving then in the realm. This succeeding and if both get off the ground he lets go to let the spirit fall again, and hopefully land on it.

Sepdet and the Commanded scrag proceed to rend another scrag apart, its spiritual flesh dissolving into ephemera. It then proceeds to tur and attack another scrag; unfortunately, one of the nearer ones was the other scrag Commanded by Shadow-Eyes, and it is attacked. Still, the second Commanded scrag slices and slashes into the same one it was attacking, which fights back rather than continuing against Touch Deer. As Apocalypse flares up, the scrag fighting against her blinks a couple of times, then bites savagely, ripping off her left ear entirely. Sees-True continues biting and ripping, finding some purchase on the bane's body, though it lashes out with a powerful strike to her chest, knocking her a few feet back and leaving her gasping for breath. Fights-for-Hope manages to execute his manuever perfectly, landing squarely on the scrag. It too dissolves, though not before slashing across his face in mid-air.

Bitter Cup and the scrag she attacks seem to be well balanced, as neither can manage to get much of a good cut on the other. Touch Deer, on the other hand, slashes into the scrag being attacked, joining the now-four-part melee, cutting the bane deeply across its back and shoulders. Tempered-Blade strikes at the bane, slicing into its stomach but at the same time being struck across the face by a gash that shows the white of her left cheekbone. Shadow-Eyes cuts at the other scrag that was attacking Touch Deer, doing little beyond superficial damage but distracting it. Rather than attacking the Wendigo ahroun again, it turns and bites at Shadow-Eyes, taking a chunk from the Bone Gnawer's shoulder despite the protecting shadows.

Beyond, the Wendigo spirit finally just throws one frozen scrag into the woods and starts eating the other, while the small glowing spirit starts circling the still oily bane.

Bitter Cup falls back a few steps, though not for the sake of any wounds of her own. Thrusting her muzzle at her Fianna packmate, she calls about the healing touch of Gaia. The Fianna reels back, bleeding badly and Tempered-Blade devotes her attention to dodging any more attacks while her alpha heals her. Touch Deer lets loose with his claws, striking with both claws at the Scrag which just removed a chunk of Tempered-Blade's face, then whirling to slam one outstretched claw into the face of the Scrag which bit Elan. Shadow Eyes attacks again, ripping at the most damaged of the scrags.

Sees-True coughs and sputters as the scrag bats her aside and she is forced to take a moment to regain her breath. Scrambling back onto her feet, the Gnawer snarls at the bane. ~Come and get me, you fuckin' coward!~ Sepdet pivots on one foot, takes a running leap, and launches herself at the Scrag that just knocked the breath out of Renee, a flying kick to what passes for its ribcage. Apocalypse yowls, ~JesusmotherFUCK!~ and goes into a frenzy of motion, claws raking viciously at the thing that ate her ear, and the earrings with it. As his face is ripped open and his current foe defeated, Fights-For-Hope bellows another warcry of victory, his own wounds that should be slowing him down, showing visibly. He turns now, launching claws first at the scrag that the Alpha of Ouro was engaging, trying to tangle with it from behind so it can not get easy licks in on the healing elder.

A pure golden light coverd both Bitter Cup and Tempered-Blade, who dodges the scrags easily, and some of the Fianna's wounds close. Touch Deer turns into a whirlwind of Rage and fury, lacerating both scrags viciously, though they in turn cut back at him. Most of their attacks vanish into the shadows surrounding him, though one vicious slash does get through, opening his right leg with a deep wound down the entire leg. Shadow Eyes's attack is not as fruitful, though his defense is still complete.

The scrag that had struck Sees-True starts to charge her when its charge is interrupted by a flying Strider theurge. This time, it is knocked back a few feet into the Wendigo spirit which picks it up and rends it, putting a leg into its maw. Apocalypse goes into a puree level of slashing and biting, finding some purchase in the bane with her claws and teeth, despite the bane's tough substance, but the bane gives as good as it gets, slashing across her midsection to expose glints of her ribcage. Fights-for-Hope attacks the scrag that Bitter Cups had retreated from, tearing a chunk from its back, though the wound doesn't faze the spirit in the least. Rather, it turns and slashes back, opening up the wound on his arm farther as his right arm falls limply to the side.

The oily bane is now moving, trying to envelop the purity spirit, which is too fast for it. Here and there, bits and pieces of the bane clarify and wash off of it.

Ouroboros surges into action. Tempered-Blade shifts up into Crinos form and rakes a handful of vicious claws over the nearest scrag. Working with Shadow Eyes, Touch Deer continues his assault upon the banes as the ahroun and Theurge attemt to rip chunks out of the creatures. Having taken the breather, Bitter Cup again regathers for the fight, throwing herself to help the Get theurge that came to her aid. Twice more she bites at the emaciated spirit, attempting to rend it quickly with Fights-for-Hope's help.

Sees-True throws herself at Apocalypse's attacker. The linguistically colorful Fang collapses under the Wyrm-spirit's attack -- and then, just as abruptly, Defies-the-Apocalypse is on her feet again, living up to her name as she renews her attack on the scrag, howling like a banshee. Jamethon takes the hit with a grunt and his arm does numb, not that he could feel much as it was with his pain resisting gift. When he starts to realize how injured he is he draws on his martial arts training again and jumps up and does a double clawed-foot rage driven kick into the scrag designed mainly to knock Fights-For-Hope far away from the thing as well as well as injure it best he can to assist Bitter-Cup. Sepdet raises claws in a slashing salute towards Wendigo, taking a second to size up the situation and glance anxiously upwards at the brave little glimmer of light. Target acquired, she barrels towards Jamethon, howling at their Scrag like a banshee to try and distract it.

Between the two of them, Apocalypse and Sees-True rip at the scrag, tangling it up so that it has little change to damage either of them. Bitter Cup, Sepdet, and Jamethon all attack the same scrag at different times, first Jamethon pounds it into the Gaian theurge, then Bitter Cup slashes into it, then Sepdet barrels it /and/ Bitter Cup over, and the three go down in a tangle of Garou and scrag, the scrag finally dissolving. Jamethon, in driving himself away from the scrag, inadvertantly slams himself to the groud just within the reach of the oily, inky bane, which drops a black puddle of ooze onto him. However, the purity spirit manages to clarify most of the ooze, but Fights-for-Hope still goes down for just a moment before struggling back up, fur and skin smoking and steaming where it had been eaten away.

Touch Deer and Shadow-Eyes continue cutting and biting, still slowly damaging the thing until the large Wendigo spirit steps over, swats the theurge out of the way, and rips the scrag's arm off with one bite, then reaches over and rips the arms off the one tempered-Blade had just cut into as well. The oily bane, noticably smaller now, finally envelops the purity spirit. In a flash of light, the bane shrinks to half its size and flees back toward the caern, leaving behind a very, very faintly glowing purity spirit on the ground.

Bitter Cup says briefly to Sepdet, ~Heal them.~ She then turns toward go toward the purity spirit, Touch Deer and Tempered-Blade close behind her. Leaning her muzzle down toward the spirit, she says, *Can you take strength from us, that went to Erebus? We will give you strength if you will take it.*

Sepdet scrambles to her feet with a nod and moves towards the damaged Get post haste.

The spirit shakes its head. Its voice, though weak, is still the tinkling sound of silver bells. *Pure as you are, it is not enough. I might return, though not as before. I can never be as before.* Again, the sorrow in its voice is as pure as the mountain spring from which it came, unalloyed by any bitterness or regret. *Watch my friend, and guard the spring,* it finishes, then fades, leaving the faint ringing of silver bells in the Umbral air.

Apocalypse, her white fur streaked with blood from her wounds, her left ear entirely gone, drops to a four-legged Crinos stands, chest heaving. Still, the look in her wide blue-lilac eyes is joyful. She manages a howl of mockery at the retreating oil-bane. ~WUSS!~

Sepdet moves towards Jamees warily. ~You still there, warrior?~ she murmurs befroe setting hands on his shoulders-- barely reaching them. Fights-For-Hope roars at the pain that kicks in as Resist Pain disipates when he was 'dead' for a moment. Pushing himself up and away from the bane he focuses his sudden almost overwhelming rage on the Strider approaching him to heal him. Forcing down this rage in a way that most Get would never try or know how to do, he simply stands there, staring forward into space. His grunts coming hard and exasperated from a heavily melted chest, the Get of Fenris glyph that was there, wiped from existance.

Bitter Cup trembles in sorrow as she stares at the empty air that once housed the pure spirit. Pushing to an upright position, she tilts back a muzzle bloodied by her packmates wounds and howls. ~Hear us, our enemies! We. Are. Coming!~