Strong-Tree Strong-Arms.

[hazlogs]

[June 6, 1997. The Compound]

Alexander looks between his two former packmates briefly before turning to 
  look at the new Garou. "And who might you be?" he asks casually.
Erik pulls his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them, his manner 
  quiet but attentive.
Soren gives a simple nod to Sky's Mantle, pulling jerky from his satchel. He 
  offers some to the two Shadow Lords. "I've been asked to join the pack 
  Ourobouros, Sky's Mantle."
Strong-Tree settles back, with a grunt. I am called Strong-Tree, named for the 
  tree that grows quickly strong and tall. ~An Caorthann~ in the old tongue of 
  the Fianna. I was born to the Whispering Rovers of that tribe, under the 
  full of Luna's light, to wolf. I come to the Wheel at the behest of Magpie's 
  Child, Watcher, whom I follow. I have travelled far from my originating Sept 
  of the Forbidding Wall, in Lion's Country. You are short of Guardians?
Sky's Mantle wonders at their asking.
Soren gives a slight shrug to Sky's Mantle, an eye going toward the Fianna 
  before he looks back at Sky's Mantle. "Quiet seems to think they need what I 
  bring."
Sky's Mantle Darkens' growl shows his disapproval of the lack of faith in 
  Cougar shown by the fosterlings of Uktena, but with a new arrival present he 
  cuts the emotion short.
The Get crescent looks over at Sky's Mantle. "Why that reaction? Ourobouros 
  has proven themselves capable."
The dark wolf declares himself ~Sky's Mantle Darkens, elder of the Shadow 
  Lords here.~ Born of woman under the waning of the full moon, he runs with 
  Cougar and guards the ~Wheel Renewed~ as best he can.
Crystal toddles into the compound from the forest beyond.
Strong-Tree greets Sky's Mantle Darkens with cautious respect.
Sky's Mantle says for Midnight's benefit that he would like to see the 
  reaction of White Streak if he were to suggest to Mark of Thorns that she 
  were needed for a daughter of Cougar.
Soren gives a simple shrug, chewing on the unaccepted jerky. "A pointless 
  desire," says the Get with a shake of his head. "I intend on joining them... 
  if Uktena will have me."
Crystal's face is deep in thought as she approaches the fire, giving the group 
  a nod.
Strong-Tree scratches idly at an itch, since no one seems interested in 
  answering her question.
Sky's Mantle takes in Midnight's announcement with enforced calm. Have you 
  spoken to Golden Claws? he asks the crescent-born.
"She is gone," says Soren quietly as he slides the rest of the jerky into his 
  satchel. "The turn of the Wheel has come again, Mantle of the Sky. Who am we 
  to walk widdershins against it?"
Strong-Tree pads about the fire to poke her nose in Erik's back. She settles 
  next to him with a wicked, and not very friendly, grin. She glowers at him 
  from the corner of her eye. Why don't you volunteer to Guard, mule? 
  Apparently, she is not joking.
Crystal gives a sideways glance to Erik and the Fianna.
Erik jumps a little at the poke, head jerking up as though he'd just been 
  startled out of a doze. He turns to look at his tribesmate, warily. 
  "...Pardon?"
Strong-Tree rumbles menacingly at her tribesmate. I am not in the habit of 
  repeating myself to the likes of you. Pay attention. She repeats, why is it 
  you haven't volunteered to Guard?
Erik rubs at the back of his neck under the mask. "Um. I didn't know there was 
  a need..."
Sky's Mantle relates that if Midnight's Hand turns to the native spirit, 
  Golden Claws will truly be gone as he says. Sky's Mantle thinks the 
  crescent-born should be sure that Mother Cougar not be embittered to him as 
  she might now be towards Thunder's Claws, as is the way of spirits abandoned.
Strong-Tree snarls, turning on the Fianna mule with an astonishing agility and 
  knocking him flat back onto the ground. She places a large paw on Erik's 
  chest. If you spent more than half your time listening instead of 
  day-dreaming, you /might/ earn my respect, Cursed one. Her fangs hover 
  inches from his face.
Soren looks over at the two Fianna, only briefly though before he picks up his 
  satchel. He looks at the Shadow Lord. "Don't waste your breath trying to 
  teach me the ways of the spirit, Sky's Mantle. Cougar understands her 
  Children and the movement of the Wheel far better than any of us know." A 
  vaguely dark expression chilling his face, Soren slides his satchel strap 
  over his shoulder. "If you ever need me, Mantle of the Sky, just ask." The 
  Get then walks off into the woods.
Crystal glances up for a moment, eyeing the situation.
Erik grunts, the breath woofing out of him at the impact, which knocks off the 
  wide-brimmed hat. The mask remains, thankfully. One gloved hand comes up, 
  stopping /just/ short of gripping the thick foreleg that connects to the paw 
  on his chest. "Could you let me up please, rhya?" he murmurs.
Soren leaves the compound.
Soren has left.
Sky's Mantle has said that he does indeed hope Midnight to have the blessing 
  of the spirits in his choice, but when the Get turns his back, Sky's Mantle 
  Darkens makes no move to regain his attention. He retreats instead into a 
  brooding thoughtfulness.
Strong-Tree rumbles down at Erik. Give me a good reason why. Her large body is 
  implacable. It will take a larger form than the one Erik's wearing to move 
  this large bitch.
Erik sighs, relenting. "Because I certainly cannot offer my services as a 
  guardian if I'm flat on my back." His tone is weary, but there's the very 
  faintest touch of ironic humor in there, too, buried so deeply that only the 
  most perceptive and empathetic could pick up on it...
Crystal slowly rises to her feet. For a brief, lingering moment, her shadow 
  hangs over Strong-Tree and Erik, but then she steps away from them.
Strong-Tree snort disdainfully, but steps back, removing her paw. Next time 
  you will hopefully be more alert. She snaps inches from the downed mule's 
  face. And listen.
Erik flinches from the snap - those jaws are no joke - and sits up, slowly, 
  turning his head to seek out Sky's Mantle. Maybe the Shadow Lord isn't here 
  anymore...
Sky's Mantle stirs bitterly. Seek out the ~Warder,~ he suggests in bitterness, 
  and gets to his feet.
Crystal hmphs.
Stormcloud enters the compound.
Stormcloud has arrived.
Erik hesitates, and then nods, finishing the act of sitting up. Pulling his 
  hat from the dust, he brushes it off and sets it back on his masked head, 
  pulling the brim down low.
Strong-Tree's hackles are still half-raised, and she turns her glance to 
  Crystal, lip curling. Yes?
Crystal turns her gaze to Strong-Tree. She looks at the fostern for a long 
  moment, gauging her. ~I do not believe I was speaking to you, 
  Bitch-Whom-I-Have-Not-Met.~
Stormcloud limps his way into the compound, keeping to the edge of things for 
  the moment.
Strong-Tree lifts her lips back a little farther. That is good. For I do not 
  feel like talking to you. She pointedly turns her back on the woman, and 
  greets Stormcloud with a curt chuff.
Crystal hmms for a long moment, this time she is definately paying attention 
  to the ahroun.
Stormcloud greets the Fianna well enough, as well as everyone else. Settling 
  back upon his haunches, he watches Crystal and Strong-Tree curiously.
Strong-Tree ignores the woman, and regards Stormcloud momentarily. She rises 
  to her feet, and paces, tension in every line of her body.
Sky's Mantle just stalks off.