Sepdet's preparations are subtle but pervasive, to anyone who's seen the recent signs of damage and defilement left behind by the dancers. New saplings have been planted here and there, wild roses and berry bushes and other small food bushes brought over from the mainland. Some bowls of suet and platters of dried meat (deer) have been set out and scattered across the island, and even some saucers of milk. Sepdet has a bucket and is watering some manzanita bushes near the hidden cave as people begin to arrive.

From afar, to the room, Sepdet notes that a small boat would've been left on the lakeshore this evening so y'all could ge over without freezing, courtesy of Robin Lightfeather. Yay kinfolk.

Kaz comes scrambling out of a manzinita bush. Kaz has arrived.

Siegebreaker comes scrambling out of a manzinita bush. Siegebreaker has arrived.

From afar, to the room, Siegebreaker swims anyway. We've got to get a moon path established.

The resident Glass Walker having come out of the inner feeling of Wanting To Help Sepdet, she is willing to endure quite a bit. However, this doesn't stop Lucca from complaining, as the boat lands, "Christ it's cold."

Sepdet moves to tend a lodgepole pine whose bark has apparently been stripped and recently bandaged, and then sets the bucket down to step out into the open area before the cave. ~Thank you so much for coming, everyone.~ She gives a little laugh at Lucca's comment. ~Sorry, no fire tonight. This is for wyld spirits' comfort, not ours.~

Kaz is too busy lugging some plants to even bother replying, other than to give Lucca an amused, almost condescending look.

Yi comes out of the bush after Kaz, gently untangling a branch from her sweatshirt pocket. A slight tinkling sounds from inside said pocket, but she ignores that sound and nods to the Strider. "Evening."

Duane comes shortly behind the others, at a distance and remaining so. He watches those gathered here tend to their business with a narrow, measuring gaze. "Hey, 'sup?" he announces after a moment.

Sepdet explains with the hushed tones of one whose mind is already halfway on the ritual planned. ~Very recently, the Enemy took this place and polluted it with their filth, sacrificing animals, ripping up trees, carving their glyphs into the stones and desecrating the cave of Thorn-rhya, our sept's first Master of Rites.~ She waves a hand soberly behind her. ~Many spirits used to make their homes here, both of the Wyld, and of Purity itself, making the lake very sacred. I have been trying to restore the island and shore to its former state. Tonight I want to call the spirits back and tell them it's safe to return.~

Kaz waves her flute case at Sepdet. "You wan', like, music, or what?"

Siegebreaker swims across the lake, disdaining the boat in favor of her hispo stamina and the insulation of her wolf coat. She shakes out as she comes out onto the far bank of the island and then pads up slowly, taking her time to sniff around here and there.

Lucca is wearing, over her usual eclectic punk-ish clothing, a long parka that looks about two sizes over her own and a pair of bright fuzzy pink earmuffs that contrast nicely with her hair. Fashion uber alles. She puts the oars down in the boat and starts hauling it up, cursing herself under her breath for not bringing gloves instead of mittens. The shaking Hispo gets a startled sound, but she's already kind of wet, it won't kill her.

"What sort of spirits would you be calling, Sepdet-rhya?" Yi asks with a natural curiosity towards anything she doesn't understand. Her eyes glance towards the hispo and Walker, then back behind her to Duane before she turns full circle back to face the Strider.

Sepdet smiles at Kaz and spreads out her hands. ~That'd be fine. I want whatever gifts you all can offer the spirits freely, to soothe their fears and welcome them back to their home. I plan to promise a pack for their protection, too, but we should give them something tonight.~

Siegebreaker calls out a greeting as she nears the group, shaking out once more before she reaches the other Garou. She looks around carefully, most of her attention on Sepdet. ~I am called Siegebreaker, a theurge of the Black Furies, a visitor from the Sept of the Burning Skies.~

Sepdet answers Yi by pointing to a ball of suet suspended by twine from a branch. ~Foremost I want to call the Wyld spirits back, the little animals who used to live here. Jay, raccoon, mouse, squirrel, crow, all of them. A lune or three would be lovely. And I'd -really- like to lure a Purity spirit back, but I don't know if they'll be willing yet.

Sepdet quiets down as Siegebreaker shows up (no, really) and inclines her head respectfully to the elder Fury.

Megaera arrives from the eastern side of the island. Megaera has arrived.

Kaz gives Duane a curious look, and tells him, "Kaz. Bone Gnawer. Galliard. Daughter've Rat. Oh," she adds, after a moment, looking through her hair, "Metis. You gotta name?"

Lucca successfully grounds the boat, and then tromps on over to the group as a whole, reaching into the pockets of the oversized parka and rummaging around. "I brought some garlic and - lessee -" Rummage rummage. Out comes a little paper bag, which she half-opens towards Sepdet, letting the smell of thyme and basil waft out. "I heard these're good for purification and stuff. S'all fresh and organic and crap."

Duane steps forward now, not quite joining the others, but nearer. He does a quick, unconscious nod when Sepdet explains what spirits she's hoping return, then follows Siegebreaker's lead: "For those don't know, I'm Duane Flamecaller. Lakota, son of Uktena, wicasa wakan. Seer," he adds, to clarify.

Yi bows in her cultural habit of greeting, introducing herself as well to both Siegebreaker and Duane. "Song Yi Ling, Three-Blades to Gaia's children, cliath new-moon of the Bone Gnawers, formerly from the Sept of Rat's Tail in Hong Kong." The introduction rolls off her tongue rather easily, accented with british/cantonese influence.

The adren looks a bit tired from the swim, but listens carefully to every introduction. ~Sorry to interrupt you,~ she rumbles to the Strider. There is more, but for now, the hispo seems content to listen and wait for the water to dry.

Sepdet shakes her head slightly at the adren, scanning the group of people. ~I've got things prepared on the other side, but does anyone have suggestions, other questions?~ She catches the Fury's manner and cocks an eyebrow. ~Siegebreaker-rhya?~

"Gah, thats cold." Megaera comments after swimming across the lake in lupus, then returning to her birth form. "Evening." Noting faces that she does not reconize, the Fury continues. "Megaera Mist-Walker, Cliath half-moon of the Black Furies."

Kaz glances at her small tree. "I can't bring th' thing over with me. Think they'll take, y'know, just words?"

Yi listens to the introductions, bowing her head to each new face she sees. Then, she blinks as she glances up to the night's sky for a moment, her hand going into her pocket. A quiet tinkling of sound rings as she pulls out a couple of small windchimes.

Lucca returns the paper bag to her pocket, turning her head to look mournfully at Megaera. "You swam across? Sheesh," she says with mingled admiration and distaste. Towards Yi and Duane in particular but the entire group in general, she says with somewhat more importance, "Lucca Sonzali, or Dyes-Hair-Often, cliath philodox Walker." The windchimes get an eyebrow raised, but she's not letting things weird her out -too- much.

Sepdet's mouth rounds in an 'o' at Kaz. ~We'll plant it here at dawn,~ she suggests gently. ~That's fine. We'll just tell them.~

Kaz nods silently, grinning just a bit at Yi and her windchimes.

Siegebreaker indicates it can wait for later.

Yi fingers the small chimes lightly, smiling at the Walker then looking to the Strider. "I, thought these would help the... feeling... a bit." If one listened, one chime is lower sounding than the other. Both look a bit similar, kind of crudely made out of twine and some pieces of polished up metal clinging around a disc. At the bottom of the strings on both chimes are a strip of paper, painted with what looks like red designs.

Duane finally comes toward the others now, unzipping his own backpack as he moves. He produces an ordinary brown paper grocery bag, top rolled closed. "Got a whole mess of stuff here," he says, quietly, unobtrusive. "Just let me know when to run them out and all."

Sepdet dips her eyes approvingly at Yi and looks around, eyes shining with the first real smile she's shown to most of the world in many weeks. ~Well. Let's start here with anything you brought for /this/ side of the mirror, for the earthly children of the spirits, and then we'll go across to complete the Rite.~

Kaz shifts her feet. "Just got the tree and some fuzzy stuff. 'Cause, you know, y'need both nourishment and comfort. I'll go, y'know, plant 'em, yeah?" Lucca holds up her paper bag of basil and thyme, along with a couple cloves of garlic, rather theatrically. "I'm going to have to use these here. Should we plant 'em? Burn 'em? I don't know nothin' bout no herbs, Miss Sepdet." Mock-pout.

Sepdet nods to Kaz. ~Why don't you do that while we start.~ At the fresh barrage of questions she looks around speculatively. ~Sprinkle those you use for purity. Plant those that can be planted. Do what the spirit moves you to do!~ she urges with a laugh. ~I don't steer rites. They build themselves.~

Megaera opens up a small leather bag, and tumbles out a handful of tiny objects. Small stones and pieces of shell, all off which are shiny or colorful in one way or the other. The bag remains half full, as she places the stones on the ground. "Raven, and racoon, have always been fond of shiny things." She offers by way of an explination, as she straightens back up.

Duane begins pulling plastic bags from the brown paper one, each one containing something to draw certain animals to the area: bits of bright string and small pieces of metal to attract raccoons and corvids; tufts of cotton and gathered hair for building nests; scraps of dried meat for any creatures that want it.

Yi glances at her chimes, then to Sepdet. "I'm, uh, not sure where you'd put these. I think the light catches on the metal well though. You'd probably want to put them some place... maybe one where the sun rises, another when the sun sets... or something." The Canto-gnawer quirks her lip up in a small smile, knowing she has no clue about any feng shui or stuff like that.

Kaz grins, just slightly, and tugs her apple tree uphill a bit, to a spot that won't get flooded and is mostly sheltered from excessive storms. Lacking a shovel, she shrugs, shifts to hispo, and digs enthusiastically for a few minutes. Then she shifts back, puts the tree in, and tamps it down. She considers her lamb's ear plants, and then plants them in a small circle nearby, humming gently as she does it.

Sepdet smiles wistfully at Megaera's comment and nods. ~Look around and find a good place,~ she tells Yi softly. ~The promontory, perhaps, or the mouth of Purity's cave. Just not on the grave. Anywhere else will do.~

Lucca puts the bags away for the moment and considers the chimes for a moment. "You could get a little sort of niche somewhere - so they wouldn't like fall down or something, I mean. Or rot in the rain. I don't know crap about wood stuff," she finishes cheerfully, before digging out the garlic and weighing it in her hand. Hmmm... plant, spread, burn, crush?

Kaz drops a few pieces of tin foil near the lamb's ear.

Yi nods and looks about, walking around a small perimeter and glancing around for a place to hang the twin chimes. Glancing upward again, she looks through the stars for East and West. She disappears briefly up the promontory, then comes back down one chime less, hanging the other at the said mouth of Purity cave.

Sepdet finally steps back a few paces with head bowed, signalling silence, a moment to listen to the rustle of the wind in the trees and the slap of water against the island's rocky shore. Then she begins to chant, slowly and softly, words at first unintelligible. ~Home. Home. Home. Gaia's people, fourlegged and twolegged, winged and furred, lunes dancing and Purity's shining, all who loved and made this place your home, this Rite is for you tonight.~

Kaz breaks off her humming as Sepdet stills, then joins in again, lower, supportive, as she begins chanting. Dropping a tiger-eye stone near the apple tree, she rises to her feet and heads back down toward the Strider.

Sepdet suggests quietly to the others, as she begins to improvise the beginnings of a ritual, ~Let's call some of Gaia's children, remind them of why this is their home.~ She looks up at the swaying branches of a lodgepole and casts her mind back to some memory. ~Here is where woodpeckers made their nests, in the high havens.~

Sepdet pages to the room: Folks with "realmside goodies" to give to the spirits, herbs or food or whatever's in Duane's bag: give goodies now while we're reciting the names of some of the Critters we're calling tonight. When it looks like everyone's made the offerings they plan to on this side, Sep's moving across to the Umbra to do the second half of the rite.

Kaz breaks off her humming to put her flute together. As she does, she says in a low, almost rhythmic tone, "Raccoon'll want both the apple /and/ the lamb's ear, 'because Raccoon, he has an eye for survival and comfort. So c'mon, little brother, and come to us again." That said, she heads across to join the Strider, flute in hand and nothing much else.

Yi takes a little bit of time to shift up into glabro and sprinkle some seeds around trees and such for the birds. ~Sing freely, sing proudly, and sing your songs to greet the sun. Songbirds, I invite you.~

Lucca decides to go with crush, splitting out each clove from the bud and walking up to one of the trees and painting a vague scrawl on it in gooshed garlic. ~Owls perched here, and here, and here-~ The basil and thyme get similarly picked up and crushed, although this time she lets them fall in the center of the little clearing, fresh and pungent. ~And ravens would perch and watch things in the peace and calm.~ Brushing her hands off and then wiping her face with them - to get herself all herbally scented - she walks over towards Sepdet as well.

Yi contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You shift into Glabro.

Shiney stones and bits of shell scattered around her feet, Megaera calls on the spirits they were intended for. "Remember that you used to come here, raven and racoon. We would be glad of your return, and bring gifts for you children." The Fury moves over to Sepdet as well.

Siegebreaker seemingly has been quietly meditating as the others make offerings. This continues for some time, until the elder Fury lifts her bulky hispo head and paces anxiously. She looks eager to reach though.

Yi walks down briefly to the rocky ramp, taking a bag and tossing some glittering pebbles into the water. ~For raccoon to find, and for the fish to marvel at the beauty of their home. For the water-spirits to be proud they can guard such beauty on this island and the lake around it.~

Yi then returns back to Sepdet, glancing around at the others before nodding in signal that she's finished on this side.

Sepdet weaves many more names into the chanting, under her breath. ~Mouse that scurried -there-. Trout that leaps. Kingfisher, flycatcher, sparrow and swallow...~ The litany goes on for some time, as each of the Garou assembled makes their own offerings or hails the animals that belong to the place. When the physical offerings have been given, Sepdet leads the way to the cave, and through. Two largest earthen bowls--slightly lopsided; Sepdet's no master potter-- have been set out on the bare rock of the promontory. One is filled with clear water reflecting the sky. The other is empty.

When the group crosses to the other side, the eerie silence of the island is immediately obvious. It's not tainted anymore, just... empty.

Kaz mutters, "Rat'n mouse, bigger and smaller. Mole and eagle, digger an' soarer," as she reaches over.

Yi reaches over with the others, humming quietly along the way as she steps out into the Shadow.

Lucca says, in a rather thoughtful way, "Beetle and roach, ant and spider, fly and earthworm," as she herself reaches across - recalling the little guys at the bottom of the ecosystem, and granting them their own little piece of the metaphorical pie.

Sepdet straightens her shoulders as she leads the group across; the moon's at only a third, of course, but the group's big and the area's as safe as any nowadays. (Or so she hopes). She turns to Siegebreaker with a nod, then turns to face east and calls loudly and clearly. ~Spirit-children of Gaia, you who loved this lake and island so well.... come home! The enemy is dead! The island is clean! Your home awaits you!~

Once in the shadow, Megaera looks around at the empty Umbra and scowls. A noise comes from the southwest, something in the bushes.

Kaz starts playing her flute, quietly, low even tones to begin with, rhythm even; building a base.

Yi listens intently, watching the direction Sepdet faces, but the noise nearby makes her turn and quirk her head curiously. She walks over and bends down at a small distance, peering into the bush.

Siegebreaker offers up a shallow sounding, soronous welcoming howl. ~Children of the shadow, great and small, we have worked diligently to remove the taint of the Destroyer from this place. We welcome you again to this place and offer you a solemn pledge to tend this place diligently.~

Lucca hums something that probably sounds suspiciously like the 'Pikachu - I choose you' song underneath her breath, looking around for a long moment and taking a deep breath. Then, she squats down to examine the ground carefully... recalling her invokation of Gaia's smallest children and wanting to see if perhaps they remain in any way.

Sepdet's head turns towards the sound with an anxious smile, senses straining too hard to hear a sign. ~Welcome,~ she whispers urgently. ~Come see. Come see. No sign of the Defilers now. Just pure water, green growing things. Come see. We've set out gifts for your earthly kin, to feed them well for winter.~

A small round mustelid muzzle pokes out from the bushes, looking straight at Yi. *Well,* the otter spirit says. *It is about time you wolves got here.*

Kaz's flute is still a support, but at the otter's appearance, it trills slightly, playfully, for just a moment.

Padre pages to the room: Unless I say otherwise, assume all spirits can only be understood by those who have Spirit Speech.

Yi blinks, gazing at the curious spirit creature. She turns to Sepdet, thinking the crescent would know what the otter said, but trills softly down at the spirit with a grin. ~I've only seen your kind in books before, Otter. You look even more beautiful up close.~

Lucca crouch-walks over towards some of the underbrush, leaning close and squinting at the twigs, trying to make out the tiny little spirits that would be present there, if at all. ~It is clear now; your eggs will be safe,~ she says, almost sotto voce. Keep it simple, bugs have small brains.

Sepdet covers a relieved smile with her hand, still listening and smelling for the others whose absence the island feels so keenly. ~Yes, we're here, river-dancer. Perhaps you are summoning us, rather than the other way around?~ she jokes softly.

Siegebreaker's bulk melts into lupus as she pads forward slowly toward the otter. Her amber eyes regard it curiously. *Our absence is a difficult thing to explain. Welcome.*

Siegebreaker contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Siegebreaker shifts into Lupus form.

The otter peers even closer at Yi, before it gazes around the other gathered Garou. He answers Sepdet with: *Nope, Raccoon was doing that.* Then, emerging slowly, he sniffs the air. *It's safe, then?*

Sepdet nods firmly. ~The Dancers are dead. The banes are gone. The pack which patrolled this place is still gone, but I am watching over it now. And some of these--~ she smiles over at Yi, eyes seeking out Megaera and Duane as well, --~have pledge to help me form a pack, so that the Lake will never be unwatched by us again. We will be here for you.~

Yi shifts back down to her breed form, gently placing out a hand, fisted with palm down, towards the otter spirit. Her dark eyes gaze right back at the mustelid with a curiosity and smiling light, with the smile on her lips getting wider at the creature's emergence. "You really are wonderful," she says softly, rather entranced by the little animal. Ah, the wonders that city Garou find out in the woods.

You have shifted to Homid form.

Kaz continues playing, just at the edge of consciousness, a firm presence that does not, quite, intrude. It dances, slightly, it plays about, but intrusion, no.

Siegebreaker offers a short affirmative chuff. *The taint of the Destroyer and his servants is gone. We intend to keep it that way.*

Lucca stands up from where she sits, moving over to another patch of underbrush and squatting down next to it, repeating her murmuring and simple message that it is safe now, extending a hand gingerly into the winter-withered tangles.

The otter considers this. *Others will come, then. Those who are not as ... inquisitive as I. Those who are skittish may yet be wary.* The spirit turns his attention back to Yi. *If you think so much of me, go fetch some fish. I'll be in the lake.* And the spirit scampers off. Meanwhile, a bit of the underbrush moves away from Lucca's hamfist. *Careful,* comes spirit-speech from that direction - soft and slow.

Yi watches the otter scamper off and stands up, gazing to Sepdet. "I didn't realize how nice it is out here, until there is actually something here. What did the otter say?" she inquires either of the two who can speak with the spirits.

Megaera moves a short distance from the group and sits down, as she dumps the remaining objects from her pouch. With a certain amount of care, she arranges the reflective stones and bits of shell.

Sepdet chuckles. ~He says if you really loved him, you'd catch him a fish.~ Then she sobers and moves towards the empty bowl, one hand tapping a knee in time to Kaz's music. She drops to a crouch and pulls out a roughly-knapped flint knife hidden by the broad rim of the bowl. Her head tips up towards the moon for a moment, focussing herself again.

Siegebreaker seems to think the otter's words fair; the attitude is reflected in her posture and bearing. The wolf turns to look at the Gnawer for a moment, and then noses around the place where the otter was. It is a good start, Hope-Star. Otter will help us spread the word as he hunts in the lake and river.

As more spirits start making themselves known, Kaz's playing speeds slightly. Although it's still down lower in the register, it's becoming slightly stronger, a little more playful.

Yi laughs, shaking her head slightly at the otter's verbal antic. "Well that, I can do," she says as she moves towards the Umbral lake, gazing around for others. As she stops by the waterside, her eyes cast down, looking for dark shapes, perhaps of spirit-fish, in the water.

There's a flash of black, a caw, and in a flurry of feathers, one of Megaera's carefully set stones is gone.

Lucca gets the gist of the spirit's words, and draws her hand back quickly. ~Hello, small one,~ Lucca says without any rancor to her tone, fingers splaying out and reaching forward, no longer probing but rather just staying outwards and available for 'inspection' by any inclined spirits there. ~Can you come out and let me see you?~ The others get a quick glance at the caw'ing, but it's not -her- pretty big black birdie, so her attention goes back to the hidden rustling.

Sepdet smiles at Siegebreaker. ~Yes, Rhya. He will.~ Then she straightens with the knife in her hand, expression sober, and prays once more. ~Wyld Spirits, Gaia Spirits, to the lake returning. We have fed your earthly brethren. Accept too this offer of spirit, our life's blood given us by Gaia.~

Megaera smiles, as one of her gifts is taken. ~Welcome.~

Sepdet drives the knife into her palm and holds it over the wide offering bowl, letting the blood fall into it as long as the wound stays open. Then she scoops water with her other hand to wash the knife clean and sets the simple blade down, moving away.

Kaz is letting her music speak as her power tonight. It rises, slowly, into higher ranges, sustaining, for a moment, a piping welcome, and then slewing downwards, slurred and playful. She begins walking, slowly, as she plays, letting her rhythm create her steps.

The crow spirit cocks its head from the perch above the Garou, peering down at the other shinies. It caws. Meanwhile, there is just a bit of movement near Lucca again. *No,* is the reply. Yet another flying spirit arrives as Sepdet's blood is spilled. The bright multi-colored feathers of the wood duck seem to shine in the bit of light. *Much blood has been shed here. Much passion has been displayed. Much evil has transpired.* it says, calmly.

Megaera picks up one of her stones and tosses it a few feet away from her. Making it easier for the Raven spirit to pick it up, if it wishes to do so.

Sepdet's hand closes at the complaint and she looks up at the Gaian-spirit with a soft expression. ~This is life's spirit offered freely in kindness,~ she tells the creature. ~Not death dealt out in anger and ignorance. Life, not death. I have vowed no blood shall ever be spilled here again in cruelty or anger. That is part of the mission of my pack, to make of this place a haven for healing.~ She speaks earnestly but quietly.

The words of the duck, capture Siegebreaker's attention. *It is time for the wolf children of Mother Gaia to put down firm roots here. To grow a wall against the evil and defilement we fight against. We rebuild here and we seek your presence at this place.*

Lucca clicks her tongue lightly, not comprehending the words of the spirit, rubbing her thumb and fingers together lightly. ~It's safe,~ she repeats, trying to sound lulling and persuasive. ~Nothing will keep you from your place in life now.~ A glance at Sepdet and a soft hiss of breath.. she doesn't think she could have done that.

Yi takes out her bag filled with stones again, and drops some into the waters here, watching the glistening ripples of the water disappear as they spread. She glances up briefly at the others, then looks back down at the water. "Come on, water spirit, fish spirit, come and see the waters are pure, and can be kept that way with your help."

Kaz's playing has quieted almost to silence, for a few moments, as she lets the speech come to the foreground. The notes are longer, extended, and her steps reflect that, almost pacing around the Strider and the wood duck.

Once again the unseen spirit resonds to Lucca. Apparently it can understand the Glass Walker, even if she can't understand it. *I cannot. This is where the Mother has told me to grow, so here I shall grow. Do not seek to move me.* The crow watches Meg warily before it dive bombs for another shiny to add to its collection. The duck considers the words of the theurges as he lands on webbed feet. *Your vow speaks of faithfulness. This is good. I shall return. Continue your calling. A healer may answer.*

Siegebreaker shares a pleased glance with Sepdet, and then speaks toward Lucca. The spirit you are talking to is a plant. I am to tell you it does not want to be moved. Her tongue lolls out just slightly. The wolf pads toward the bowl and takes a form with hands, her shape changing fluidly in the surreal halfdark. ~Great Mother Gaia, I give to you an offering of the blood which flows through the heart of a warrior dedicated to you and your health, your homes, your purity. Help us bring the spirits home to this place. Guide them and us along the same path.~ Then she too cuts across her thick glabro palm, and lets her blood mix with the Strider's.

Sepdet dips her eyes at the glittering fowl. ~We thank you. And welcome home.~ She begins to circle out and around from the area, touching a tree or stone here and there in a ghost of the Groundskeeper's dance she used to reserve for tending the caern.

Lucca ohs, and rises, nose wrinkling slightly - she was talking with a plant, and didn't even know it. Argh. The urge to shift to wolf-shape and try and investigate things in that fashion crosses her mind, but the borrowed coat obviates that possibility... But after she drops it off, she intends to go chasing rabbits again tonight, oh yes. ~My apologies,~ she says to the spirit with a bow of her head. ~I am used to the ways of the city, not those of the woods.~ After this, she moves on, searching for poor innocent lonely nervous Bug-spirits that need some coaxing or sweet-talking.

Kaz begins speeding slightly again, an occasional trill inserting itself into the music, slowly rising again from plateau upwards, lowering momentarily and rising again, speeding. The metis' movements join with the music -- it can't quite be called dancing, yet, especially since most of her attention is on the playing, but it is rhythmic, and quickening. She ranges outwards, following some path only she can see.

Yi stands solid at the water's edge, humming in time with the water's gentle lapping. As she hums, she shifts back to glabro, feeling more at home talking to spirits with the mother tongue. With an ending note, she turns from the soft waves and walks back towards the group, pausing momentarily at the sight of Siegebreaker's bloodletting. She gazes down at her own hands, thinking. Taking out the bag with stones in it, she scatters the rest of her stones out along with the others. ~If the raccoons don't come soon, I'm thinking the crows and ravens will take all the shiny stones before they can even look at them,~ she chuckles aloud, a little probingly as she looks around in dimly lit darkness.

Sepdet stoops to whisper something into an empty burrow, then glances over her shoulder at Yi, expression briefly strained. ~A Raven or two has been helping me watch the place, while all the others were gone. Let them take what they will. I'll put out more for Mask and his friends.~

Katina only gives the briefest wince as the blade slices across her hand. The wound quickly heals anyway, and she sets the knife beside the bowl. Her offering made, she once again slips into her wolf shape as ward against the chill.

A few other spirits make their brief appearances - some fish, a couple more birds, a fox. Raccoon and eaters of plants remain conspicuously absent, however. None others are bold enough to approach the Garou; they are perhaps reasonably wary of Gaia's personal chipper-shredders. Still, the long-awaited ritual seems a mild success, as spiritual life is returning to the island.

Yi nods to Sepdet and glances around, again humming as she sings to the trees. She ends her humming long enough to note the leader of the Rite, ~They are returning.~

Siegebreaker chuffs a bit, a touch warily, even toward Hope-Star. The wolf starts to cross the island, her ears tilted forward, her nose scenting the air every few steps.

Sepdet's chin lifts. Relaxed as she is by the familiar and reassuring sounds of the little ones venturing out again, she is never completely off her guard in the umbra, and something, apparently, catches her interest. She holds up a hand to Yi and starts to prowl her way towards the jutting bastion of rock to the east, nodding uncertainly towards Siegebreaker.

Yi lets her humming fade as she glances in the direction Siegebreaker and Sepdet are going. Casting a quick look around, she tries to look beyond the two in the same direction, pacing forward a few steps.

From afar, to the room, Siegebreaker pings the area with Sense Wyrm.

Megaera frowns, as she notices that the others have turned their attention away from the arriving spirits. After standing, she begins walking toward Sepdet.

Lucca looks up now, finishing her inspection for cute little bug-spirits and not coming up with much. The other Garou are over there, eek - so, she draws closer, looking worriedly over at Yi.

Siegebreaker continues to make her way closer, her gait growing faster as her sense of suspense grows. Her posture relaxes a measure as she scents the air for a longer time. Instead of spoiling the mystery, she slows her pace and waits for something. A visitor perhaps.

All the gathered Garou can tell what attracted Sepdet and Katina's attention now - there's something big and it's coming towards the Garou, lumbering across the island. A moment later, it emerges: a large brown bear-spirit. She stands on her hinds legs, at least eight-feet tall. *Children of Wolf. You have asked for one who heals and protects. I have answered your call. Will you accept my aid?* This spirit, at least, is understandable by all the Garou present.

Kaz's playing falters and falls silent. Still holding the flute to her mouth, she stares up at the bear in some slight astonishment.

Yi casts one glance back at the group's previous area, then follows after Sepdet a few yards back. At the sight of the bear she slows, and eventually comes to a stop a little bit behind the Strider, her mouth open slightly in awe. Holy cow. Or bear, rather.

"Holy shit," says Lucca, quietly, eyes wide. It's the biggest goddamn bear -she's- ever seen, on either side of the Umbra.

Siegebreaker's ears flicker toward the brown bear, her hackles rising a touch in spite of herself. The Adren defers to the Strider, although the elder herself has a wariness her lupus form does not allow her to hide well.

Sepdet relaxes slightly, having come to the same conclusion as Katina, but there's still a certain tension in her shoulders as she looks up at the massive form silhouetted against the cliff. And her hands clench slightly when she realizes who and what is offering. But she glances towards a certain spot on the bare rock, a stubborness settles into her jaw, and she answers firmly, ~We would be honored, Grandmother Bear, if you will help us serve Gaia here.~

The bear spirit is obviously pleased and, perhaps, surprised. *I shall,* is her simple response.

Yi simply nods her head slowly with Sepdet's words, looking up at the bear, speechless at its massive appearance. It's the first bear she's seen with her eyes as well, and the complete wonder scoots out any possible tension.

Kaz lowers her flute, expression unclear, and just watches.

Lucca says, with great gravity, and mostly to herself, "That is one fucking huge bear." She does, however, keep her voice low; mustn't offend the spirit, of course, not after it came this far.

Siegebreaker, too, is plainly surprised. She darts a look toward the Strider, a hint of disapproval in her posture. She, however, remains silent. She chuffs an uncertain, hesistant welcome to the Bear-spirit.

Megaera blinks, then proceeds to stare at Sepdet for a moment. Okay.

Kaz seems to be starting to grin slightly -- perhaps just due to others' obvious disapproval.

Sepdet's furrowed brow telegraphs faint misgivings, but there's a trace of awe in her expression as well. ~For Gaia,~ she repeats, a slight edge to her voice. She takes a step closer to the bear, chin tipped up, eyes seeking the creature's gaze steadily.

Yi breaks out of her reverie to glance around at the others, her attention briefly stopping at the two Furies, her mind wondering why they would be so tense. Her head bows briefly to the bear spirit. ~Welcome, and thank you,~ she says politely.

Megaera shakes her head faintly, as she goes back to watching the bear spirit.

Lucca says, looking over her compatriots and noting the.... weird reservations they seem to have, "What're you guys all antsy about? Ya oughta be happy we got somebody this big and tough to watch over the place." The bear, now that she's gotten over her surprise at it, gets a wave. Ah, the PR work of the humble Pooh.

Siegebreaker replies, simply, and tactfully, that she will speak of it later. For now, the Adren pads away from the bear and the others a short distance. The spirits listened, Hope-Star. Perhaps that is enough for now. We should discuss building a moon path to the edge of the lake soon. It is a long and cold swim with winter closing on us.

The bear gazes among the gathered Garou - awed and skeptical alike. *My path and that of Wolf's Children's are not the same. However, I have answered your call and I will assist you in your task. I ask nothing in return.* She levels her gaze at the small Strider. *Your efforts to cleanse this place have not gone unnoticed. You have gained my respect for this.* To the group, she says, *I shall depart now so I will not sully your honor with my presence. I shall be nearby if my help is needed.* She turns, falls to all fours and moves off with surprising quickness.

Yi quirks the edge of her lip in a wry smile, then gives the departing bear a farewell nod. Turning to Sepdet, she waits expectantly for their next step.

Kaz, regaining her wits, plays a final farewell trill, and lowers the flute again.

Sepdet exhales as the Bear lumbers off and murmurs a blessing after it. Then she turns back to the heart of the island and the others, a mostly bemused smile flitting across her face. ~Unexpected,~ she murmurs. She nods to the Fury about the moonbridge, and tells her, ~soon.~

Kaz keeps a firm hold on her flute, and drifts towards Yi.

Lucca drifts that way as well, mostly because the Furies are kind of spooky (and outrank her) and Sepdet is - well - Sepdet is kinda busy.

Sepdet slips back down to the cave where they reached across and holds her hands outwards towards the sky. ~The Summons is open; the rite is ended. Our invitation remains. Come when you will, spirits of Gaia and old friends.~ She waits for everyone to gather cross over safely--except perhaps Siegebreaker--before following herself.

Yi gives the incoming Gnawer and Walker a smile, before glancing again at the others. Giving one last glance around at the Umbral Wyld, she reaches over to the Realm once more and waits for the others.

Kaz in fact reaches over fairly quickly, although clearly, it's because she feels a deep need to put her flute back in its case, since she heads for it as soon as she's over and begins breaking it down.

Yi squats down in the soft grass, watching Kaz break down her flute quickly. "So, is this a good thing? We didn't call in a Purity-spirit, but we have a bear." She glances at the Strider and leader of the rite.

Kaz snorts, once she's got the flute properly put away and cleaned. "You talk t'some've them, they'll talk about Bear havin' no honor an' bein' some kinda scum. Talk t'me, you get information about Bear bein' healer and patient and damn protective. So anyway."

Sepdet sighs. ~Yes, Yi.~ She looks around to see if any of the food offerings they left out have been nibbled yet. ~There's a problem. The only reason we're not still at War with Bear is because all the Bear-shifters are dead or in hiding. Accepting healing from a Bear-spirit is about as dangerous as accepting help from a mage.~ There's a twist of a smile behind the words, irony too deep for pain.

Kaz twists a grin. "So hey, it's all good. You're just followin' your /own/ tradition."

"Christ wept," Lucca says, voice with that curiously bland quality it gets when she's being unusually intent or sardonic. Or, at least, more honest. "Did we have some kind of actual fight or was this like the fault of some kind of dumb argument?" She does stare at Kaz for a moment, and then snicker quietly, almost guiltily. It's funny, even if it isn't supposed to be, dagnabbit.

Sepdet nods grimly. ~And giving my enemies one more reason to call me mule scum and traitor, no doubt,~ she says without much rancor. Either she's relaxed by the rite, or simply too drained to work up much bile. ~But they don't have to accept the Bear's help if they don't want to.~

Yi's smile only gets a little more wry at Sepdet's irony. ~But if a mage is willing to help, then we should be willing to accept a friend's offer. In time, if we both honor each other, that bond would grow into something deeper. Perrin healed Jay, and I'm willing to accept him as a friend, Garou or not. If the bear wants to heal this island, then I would be equally willing.~

Siegebreaker crosses the Gauntlet after the others, reappearing once more a short distance from the other Garou. The Adren's ears cant forward. This is not the way to win acceptance from your sept, Hope-Star. Bear protects and heals those she favors, but at what cost?

Thunder-Runner arrives from the eastern side of the island. Thunder-Runner has arrived.

Thunder-Runner emerges from the trees, walking cautiously.

Thunder-Runner sniffs the air a few times, and continues on towards familiar scents.

~What cost is there but the favors of a friend?~ the Gnawer no-moon presses. ~The War of Rage is past, just as the time for fighting on this island should be. Now it is time for healing, and if there are hearts not wolven who are willing, then I accept. Our pride should not get in the way of our protection of Gaia.~

Sepdet's shoulders hunch at the Fury's question. ~She said no cost, and at that price, I accepted the help.~ The metis smiles thinly. ~And yes, there is a cost: My honor. But at that very spot, a Child of Gaia killed a Warper for offering healing to his own packmates, simply because she was there. What is honor, Siegebreaker-rhya? Sometimes I have to put hope before hate.~

Siegebreaker snorts faintly. Your words are bold, and your intentions are just, but is this place a place of healing for /your/ heart, Hope-Star, or this sept's heart? The Fury glances around again, disapproving once more and then moves off, away from the others.

Lucca draws rough patterns in the dirt, looking thoughtfully downwards. Cold is forgotten, at least for now. "Hm," she says, quite intelligently. The next part lives up somewhat more to that moniker, as she says with some decisiveness "We may have, as a nation, problems with Bear and her kids. But," she says, lifting up a finger, "We -" She stops, watching the adren walk off with a slight chill. The newcoming lupus she doesn't notice at all.

Kaz shrugs. "Ain't no problem with both, is there?" She doesn't, yet, notice the lupus, either.

Thunder-Runner lopes up behind Sepdet, and drops to his haunches. He chuffs a quiet greeting, letting her know he's there but that he can be ignored if she's busy.

Sepdet's shoulders sag at the Fury's astute question. She makes no answer.

Kaz gives the newcomer lupus an entirely blank look.

Sepdet starts at the chuff and turns, giving the stranger a strained smile and dropping to one knee. ~Heya. Thanks for helping patrol,~ she says in a low voice. ~The Rite went well. The spirits are starting to return now.~ The uncertainties of the previous discussion linger in her tone, however.

Siegebreaker leaves the grove, heading east. Siegebreaker has left.

Yi glances to the Strider at that, and just softly replies. ~What the Sept will notice, will be their island, Gaia's island, restored to its former beauty. Done by bear, or by wolf, the point is to do it for the mother.~ She turns as her ears hear the lupus' chuff and she gives a slight nod to the wolf.

Thunder-Runner wags his tail a little. I am glad the Rite went as planned.

Kaz asks the Wendigo, "So. Should I know who the hell you are?" She doesn't actually sound particularly confrontational, just curious.

Thunder-Runner stands up, and seems to grow in stature and menace as he does, although his demeanor towards Kaz is peaceful and inquisitive....

Thunder-Runner contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Thunder-Runner shifts into Hispo form.

Sepdet laughs weakly at the Wendigo. ~Not as planned. Never that.~ She sinks back on her ankles and opens a hand towards Yi and Megaera. ~Say hello. You might be packmates someday.~

Thunder-Runner introduces himself, saying, gruffly in his wolf-throat, ~I am Runs-with-Thunder, full-moon Cliath of the Wendigo, child of Orca, and last son of the Tcak-Kudi Clan.~ The end is accented by letting it slip into a growl, with a curl of the lip that is almost a smile.

Lucca offers a hand to Thunder-Runner, to inspect if he wants. Then, she finishes her statement - "We shouldn't confuse our own angers with real danger. We are more than our pasts, after all."

Thunder-Runner sniffs the air and eyes all the other save Sepdet curiously, with his dark wolf eyes.

Kaz watches the wolf shift upwards, silent, not moving backwards at all. "Yo," she returns, "Glad t'meet you. Me, I'm Kaz. Ears, t'Garou. Bone Gnawer an' Galliard. Daughter've Rat, packin' with Ring of Fire. Umbral reclaimers, that's us. Oh," she adds, hair falling to coincidentally screen her eyes as she studies him, "An' metis."

Megaera nods. "Megaera Mist-Walker, Cliath half-moon of the Black Furies." From afar, to the room, Megaera apologizes, but her brain is dead. G'night.

Yi stands up from her squat, straightening out the dedicated clothes she has on in glabro, and rolls out her introduction again, this time in the mother tongue, ~Song Yi Ling, Three-Blades to Gaia's children, cliath new-moon of the Bone Gnawers, formerly from the Sept of Rat's Tail in Hong Kong.~ This time it's a little less accented, but nonetheless carries a slightly more asiatic flavor in her speech.

Lucca finally registers this and glances at Yi, a little surprised. "All the way from Hong Kong? Damn." She recites, in the mother's tongue, ~Lucca Sonzali, Dyes-Hair-Often to the People, philodox cliath Glass Walker.~

Thunder-Runner lolls his tongue for a breif second, and chuffs, with a toothy grin, ~So many city-tribes here to defend the natural island... things are upside-down here!~

Sepdet rubs the back of her neck. ~So. Everything went swimmingly until a Bear wandered up, jumped over "politics" and old rivalries, and offered to sit in as resident spirit-healer and guardian of the place. And before you go telling me Wendigo think highly of Bear, which I know... that Fury's headed back to the sept to report a bunch of city scum and a mule just pledged themselves to a blood enemy of Garou.~ She smiles sheepishly. ~I was aiming for a Totem of Honor. I'm afraid our choices may just have been limited slightly.~

Kaz's lip curls. "Remind me," she says, a little acidly, "How the /Garou/ think of you affects whether you're gonna get a Totem or not?"

Sepdet glances over at Kaz and shrugs. ~We'll see,~ she replies simply.

Kaz shrugs at Sepdet, then glances over at Geoff. "Dude, like I said, Umbral reclaimin'. 's what I do, recently. An' anyway, someone's gotta do it, don' they?"

Yi gives the Walker a nod and a grin. ~If I told you how I got here, you would be more surprised,~ she adds softly before chuckling at Thunder's comment. Her eyes stray to Sepdet. ~Indeed, but it's our place to keep Gaia's face clean no matter the consequence. If the sept think it wrong for Bear to help us, then they have not learned to let grudges of the past be.~

Lucca has disconnected.

Thunder-Runner growls a low growl, ~Maybe the Fury should stop worrying about _who_ gaurds the island, unless she is willing to do it herself. Or let bear decide.~

Yi casts a glance over at her fellow Gnawer. ~So that's what Ring of Fire is about? Maybe you or Elan-rhya can ask some of the rat-spirits of the dark to lend a hand in the sewers. The scouting would have been more effective, if we could actually /see/.~

Kaz says, ruefully, "Yeah, I'll bug Elan about that. Y'all need metric buttloads more light, t'see /anything/ down there."

Thunder-Runner contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Thunder-Runner shifts into Glabro form.

Geoff shifts form and stands up, cracking his neck, and looking around the island with his limited human eyes.

Yi runs a hand through her hair, nodding at that. ~Some kind of talen to help us see in the dark, without actually alerting the banes of our presence anymore than we have to.~ She turns as Thunder-Runner takes on a more humanoid shape. ~Another Wendigo to bug for lessons about the Wyld, eh Kaz?~ She grins wryly, her intentions goodnatured.

Kaz nods. "Or get a spirit to help out directly, yeah." Tilting her head slightly at Geoff, she nods, with a small grin. "An' maybe one that don't wanna kill everyone in sight?"

Geoff crosses his arms and looks to Yi and Kaz, and says, "I can teach you of the Wyld... as long as you keep your Weaver talk out of my teepee while I'm wanting to kill everyone in sight..?" He finishes with a wry smile.

Kaz's grin rises. "Hey, Yi, can we keep him?"

Yi shifts her eyes and grins right back at Kaz. ~If Elan-rhya agrees.~ She chuckles. ~Agreed?~ Her head quirks slightly to the side as she smiles at the taller than she Wendigo.

Kaz chuckles, silently. Rising to her feet, she asks, "Water, anyone? I gotta go get me some."

Geoff picks up a stone from the ground and brushes the muddy sand off of it.

Yi shakes her head and declines politely. Her eyes cast towards Geoff and his activity, an eyebrow quirking upward.

Sepdet returns from checking on something or other in time to catch the last of the talk, and gives Geoff and Yi a pleased smile. ~Well, you two haven't torn each other to shreds yet, anyway.~

Geoff says, "We just cleaned up well, Sepdet-rhya."

Sepdet nods sagely. ~Well, this pack's for cleansing, among other things.~ She brushes off a largish lump of rock and settles, tucking her feet in and looking between the two of them.

~If we are possible packmates, it's best we not feel like doing /that/ before we join up,~ Yi says to the Strider with a grin. ~I was thinking... of the spirits we saw tonight. I'd like to learn how to speak with them.~

Geoff turns to Sepdet, and asks, kind of quietly, "What spirits did you see tonite?"

Siegebreaker arrives from the eastern side of the island. Siegebreaker has arrived.

Sepdet looks up at Yi thoughtfully. ~Perhaps Kaz can teach you. Forgive me, but there's some secrets I keep. If -everyone- understood spirits, you'd have no use for me at all!~ She winks, then sobers again. ~Otter came out first, bold as ever, and demanded to know why we hadn't gotten there sooner. Mallard, cautioning us to walk gently and not spill any more blood here. Some little ones, and a plant I just transplanted here. And finally Bear.~

Siegebreaker comes back to the grove from her exploration of the island. She skirts the clearing, mostly. Not even offering a greeting, her tail low, ears flat.

Sepdet detects the scent of the Fury when she gets close by, and tracks after her with a pained expression. ~Duat,~ she mutters under her breath.

Yi adds in a few names, ~Crow, Fox, some fish...~ her list trails as she too turns in the direction of Siegebreaker, but lets the adren go along her way.

Geoff rubs his chin, and drops the stone back into the sand. He seems to be thinking about the animal-spirits.

Sepdet tells them soberly, ~My heart still feels Salmon's tug, but that's a personal thing. I'm /not/ giving up on Falcon. As the no-moon pointed out, spirits are a little outside of the squabbles and quarrels of the Garou.~ She rubs her chin. ~You've heard my ideas on the pack ad nauseam already. What do -you- expect of a pack?~

Geoff says under his breath, "Ad nauseam??", but seems wiling to let the others speak before he gives is opinon.

Yi rubs the back of her neck, a little hesitant at that. ~We are trying to cleanse the island and restore it... and also bring our healing favors to the city, yes?~ Her question lingers a little. ~Falcon may not give the pack of this island his favor, but what a shock it would be if he did.~ Her grin is one that is curious of the fate that would bring.

From afar, to the room, Kaz doesn't, btw, reappear till later with her water, and then she's Strangely Silent, because I'm bugging out of this scene.

Geoff says, looking to Yi with a curious glint for a second as he speaks but quickly back to Sepdet, ~I think, if we are to have a cause, the cause should be represented by the spirit. Falcon, like all Gaia's creatures, is home on the island, but moreso the salmon, or the otter, or the bear. Spirits are often aloof, unless the pack's cause hits home.~

Sepdet purses her lips. ~I confess,~ she says slowly, ~I have packed under Coyote, and packed under East Wind, and I am well and truly tired of not being taken seriously, or scorned. So I have a selfish reason for wanting Falcon. But also stubbornness. To see if the spirits truly judge us differently from our own kind. Their opinion is one I honor more. And finally--~ she casts her eyes up towards the clump of trees on the promontory-- ~The Lady who died here was spirit-sister to Raven. Raven is not a totem I can follow. But white Falcon, black Raven: there is symmetry. Just as the Lady was a human who left the scab to bring healing and cleansing to the Wyld, and we are a pack who will leave the island where her work ended, to bring healing and cleansing to the Scab she defended alone.~

Geoff nods slowly, tugging the choker around his neck subconsciously as he thinks about this.

Sepdet looks up at them. ~But again, those are my own reasons. Foremost: we serve Gaia. But her memory gives /me/ the strength to keep trying.~ She waves a hand towards the lonely grave on the clifftop and sighs, resting her chin on one hand. ~What did you dream of for a pack, before I asked you two?~

Geoff slowly drops to sit cross-legged on the ground, a few feet in front of Sepdet, and shifts position to get comfortable. ~What do all full-moons dream of in a pack? Glory, honor, danger, a powerful war-leader, a ferocious totem. But maybe those days are dead, or my place is not with them, for the moment, you know?~

Sepdet rubs the back of her neck with a bark of laughter. ~Mostly. But there's still that Wolverine pack, and they're short two since Little Bear and I left.~

Geoff tilts his head as if to say, 'oh well'.

Sepdet raises her eyes to Yi.

Yi's gaze casts briefly to Geoff, then back to the Strider. ~Before Jay died... I had hoped that he, Banecruncher, Nevada, and a few others would form a pack to protect and clean up the southern side of the city. One of our priorities would be to clean the sewers of the blight. Banecruncher still wishes to form that pack, and the problem is still there and growing.~ A soft sigh passes her lips. ~It is a difficult decision, choosing a pack. Even moreso, as both causes are pretty much the same. I do not know, Sepdet-rhya. The city is my home, but the Wyld is quite alluring.~

Geoff says, after Yi, ~I don't know how much I'd enjoy swimming through sewers, but if the need is there, it isn't my place to say where I should go.~

Sepdet nods to Yi quietly. ~It is a difficult decision. And I put a great strain on a friend I sorely miss, two years ago, asking her to choose when she was not ready. In the end my last pack shattered, which it might well have done anyway, but I think her leaving was partly guilt over--as she thought--letting me down. So let me say once more: do not feel forced.~

Sepdet tells Geoff grimly, ~It's the last place I ever want to go again. I almost died there. But the Wyrm is there. /That/ is where our claws and teeth are needed, more than the Wyld, most of the time.~

The fire in Geoff's eyes alites a little at the mention of the physical Wyrm in the city, and he seems like he is about to say something, but falls short as he shifts position on the ground again.

Sepdet steeples an eyebrow his way.

Yi isn't sure whether to nod, or to shake her head. ~The feeling is not forced at all, Sepdet-rhya. Rather, whether Gaia is calling me closer to her heart, or calling me out to fight for her.~ She gives a shrug of indecision, perhaps a little frustration. ~A newmoon like me, has hard times trying to find her place.~

Geoff shakes his head once quickly, and avoids Sepdet's gaze, as if to say, 'It's nothing'.

Sepdet nods at Yi, but doesn't give up so easily with Geoff. ~I lead by listening. I don't /just/ talk,~ she tells him softly.

Geoff smirks, and replies, quietly, ~And this alone proves your strength as leader over the rest of us, Sepdet-rhya.... but what I was about to say, I can't say, without making myself seem vainglorious. I'll leave the thought to myself.~

Sepdet laughs softly. ~Then I will do so instead, to put you at ease.~

Sepdet leans forward. ~You are looking for heroes, I think, Thunder-Runner. I remember that feeling so well. I challenged for Fostern soon after our one Hero fell, five years ago. 'What this caern needs,' I said at Moot, 'Is Warriors to scour the Wyrm from the lands, Storytellers with words to set fire to every heart, and Seers with spirit's magic spilling from both hands. But warriors have fallen, the stories are silent, and the spirit-walkers are lost on the umbral winds. So small hands do the work because they must. Such as I am, I'll try to fill bigger shoes. I challenge you to let me try.~

Yi runs her hand through her hair again, gazing up at the night's sky and the stars shining in the darkness. Another soft sigh drifts from her as she quietly marvels the beauty. ~One would think the Wyrm is not even a danger, staying here in this place,~ she murmurs. Her gaze floats back down to the others, and she remembers her duties. ~I don't wish to leave, but I've patrol back in the city. Sepdet-rhya, I thank you for letting me participate in this Rite. It was good to meet you, Thunder-Runner.~

Sepdet stirs then and heads down to the shore to where the boat's pulled up on the rocks. ~I'll give you the easy way across,~ she tells them gently. ~Thanks for coming to help, Yi, and thank you too, Thunder-Runner. I will see you again soon.~

From afar, to the room, Sepdet handwaves the "ferrying Yi and Geoff to the beach" and waves goodnight to you both. :)

~And if a Gnawer scout can see in the darkness, a talesinger can light a match to set the tinder alight, and the crescents give their magical aide in sparks, then we will have something going.~ Yi smiles, one expression of hope still in her eyes. ~Good night.~

Geoff stands up and brushes himself off, nodding to Yi first as he readys to leave, and then turning his attention to Sepdet, before he leaves. ~I have no doubt that you will try, and be succesful in your goals... but I debate whether or not I should expect more from _all_ of us. Goodnite, both of you.~

Long distance to the room: Yi rides the merry boat ashore, singing shanties along the way. No wait, that's Nevada's job.