1/24/2005

06:27 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Full Moon phase (97% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is foggy. The temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the north at 3 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.04 and steady, and the relative humidity is 100 percent. The dewpoint is 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius.)

Center of the Caern
This is the central point of the 30-meter-wide clearing. The ground is a mixture of dark, rich, muddy soil mixed with clay, though there is an occasional patch of grass. At the center rests a large white boulder, immovable even by the strongest crinos. The boulder is shot through with streaks of quartz that produces scintillating colors when light strikes it just right. It is, for lack of a wholly adequate word, beautiful.
Around you, twenty yards in every direction, stretches the caern. To the southeast, a waterfall plummets over the edge of the chasm into a small pool in the caern; nearby, to the southwest, steam comes from cracks in the ground, perhaps some of the same water. Northwest, a rocky spar juts out of the ground at a low angle, showing a sloping but smooth top. The chasm walls narrow a bit to the northeast, causing some of the mist to swirl in that area.
Contents:
Rae, Dakota, Jana, Pierces Ice, Howls-For-Glory, Alicia, Erik, Thunder's-Forge, Dillen, Layne, Auggie, Fights-for-Hope, Tobin, Reggie, Olga, Severs, Stacey, Taslyn, Kills-Wisely, Yi, Natalie, Emma, Tu, Jacob, Isaac
Obvious exits:
Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Two more Children of Gaia are soon to enter to gathering mob of Garou. In the lead is Dakota, one hand on the shoulder of a younger girl, Rae, as her other hand gestures and points to various things. She seems to be showing Rae the way to get here and various little stories she knows, perhaps to call the nerves of the young cub.

Howls-For-Glory remains in his lupus form, and gives a noncomittal grunt remarkably useful for either homid or lupine forms. I have not seen our brother, he complains. He relaxes slightly, but still casts his gaze over the slowly growing gathering.

By the waterfall, Fights-For-Hope huffs an acknowledgment that is amused in tone, not even close to pandering however. Good. The Gatekeeper paws the ground in an affirmative gesture. His mother's tongue is quieter and more conspiratorial than his usual, ~You need a new... home.~ He states as case of fact.

The CoG cub is quietly led. When Dakota gestures to such objects, Rae is sure to respond in some way. A nod of the head, a shy smile, to let her elder know that the Ragabash is indeed paying attention. When they arrive, Rae looks about in a quiet awe.

Pierces Ice arrives in the center and moves closer to Layne. She lowers her body, approaching the Master of the Challenge respectfully before tipping her head upwards in question. Faerie Blood-rhya.

Edge picks his way through the caern, nose to the wind and sniffing. Once he does come into view of the center, the black wolf makes his way towards his packmates, Thunder's-Forge and Dillen, not far from the waterfall. The Shadow Lord settles down to Forge's right after greeting them and them only.

By the waterfall, White Bear gives another nonverbal, a silent 'affirmitive' that what the gatekeeper says is indeed true. He remains mute, moderatly distracted by the influx of people.

By the waterfall, White Bear is obviously trying to keep his attention on James, however, despite the commotion.

By the waterfall, Fights-For-Hope continues then, quicker as it is obvious the proceeds look to be beginning to commence. ~You have one in mind?~

Severs finds one of the grassy spots and flops down on it.

Upon spying Dakota and Rae approach, Alicia makes her way over, offering each of them a quick, guarded grin. Her eyes down cast towards the cub, asking her. "So, nervous?" She asks.

Edge diverts his attention afterwards as soon as Severs comes within sighting distance. He stares towards the fostern theurge, but otherwise doesn't move from his spot.

~There you are.~ Thunder's Forge remarks to his right as his pack brother and tribemate sits himself there. The hispo'd Lord has his ears flattened out, but otherwise reached the best state of calm he'll be at all night with his small pack nearby.

Dakota returns Alicia's smile warmly and looks to Rae, stepping aside so as not to look like she's protectivly hoarding the Ragabash but close enough to certainly keep an eye on her.

Dillen reaches out and offers a hand to Edge. "Hey man. How's it going?"

Severs lifts his head and looks around as he sniffs curiously.

Auggie comes down into the Caern, looking weary and rather haggard. He blinks at the gathering, scanning for his tribe and packmembers-to-be. The former he moves to join, the latter, he just gives nods and forced smiles.

A rather twitching smile greets Alicia, "Good evening Alicia-Rhya." Rae takes her eyes away from the massive crowd. "I'm scared Alicia." The cub takes a step closer to Dakota, "I don't want to speak in front of everybody."

Jana inspects the ground and finds what appears to be an acceptable patch for her. She waves Howls over to sit with her even as she settles down. Spying Auggie, she starts to smile. At least, until she sees both his expression and his direction of movement. Nodding slowly to him, she curls her legs beneath her.

Severs cocks his head and looks at Edge and Thunder's Forge.

Edge's stare doesn't waver from Severs until he is looked at, and appropriately the philodox's ears tilt back in submissive greeting. To Thunder's Forge, he thumps his tail in acknowledging statement that yes, here he is, and replies to Dillen with a short grunt that he is fine.

Howls-For-Glory looks over as Auggie arrives, tail swishing once or twice. When the Gaian merely nods, the Fianna looks perplexed. Shaking it off, he settles to his belly on the grass.

By the waterfall, White Bear gives the Gatekeeper another affirmative, even as he tries to ignore all the mess in the rest of the Caern.

In the windiest area, Kills-Wisely remains standing in the swirling mists for some time before moving on to find his way into the center of the Caern.

Dakota gives Rae's shoulder an affectionate, reassuring squeeze. "You'll do fine." She says and leans into the cub, muttering a bit lower. "Just don't forget to take the bones before you speak... I forgot, it was rather embarrassing.."

"Oh, its nothing really. At least you aren't me." Alicia says with a grin upon her face. "As a Galliard, I will probably do the most speaking tonight, with the exception of Howls for Glory, who is taken over my usual chair of Master of the Howl tonight. Its his first time, so I bet he's probably more nervous than you. Its a fun role, once you get through the first night and toss up your lunch." She teases.

Calls-Spirits pads into the caern on four feet, nosepad twitching as he scents the various Garou gathered there. He evidently finds the scent he was searching for, as he makes a bee-line to Jana. He shifts up to Crinos along the way and remains in that form, towering over his elder like some sort of hulking bodyguard. ~My lady,~ he rumbles in greeting to Jana. He surveys the scene with an imperious gaze, though gives deferrent nods to those he knows to be of higher rank.

The only way to describe it is a waddle. The very fat and pregnant Taslyn manages her way into the center of the caern. She blinks as she looks about, taking in faces that have been too long in her sight. A smile comes over her lips as she walks to a rock to settle down on it wit ha grunt.

Jana looks up at Calls-Spirits as he arrives, remaining in her position on the ground. "Come, come," she says in a clipped voice, waving to the place beside her. "Sit down with me and get ready to watch things, hmmm? I was wondering hwen you were going to show."

"Bones?" A nervous look quickly turns into a panicked one. "What bones? What about bones? I do what with bones?" Despite the mass amount of questions, Rae manages to speak in her usual quiet tones. Her brown eyes however betray her, they look close to terrified. Both Alicia and Dakota are given a panicked glance.

By the waterfall, Fights-For-Hope shakes out his ruff, the tension of the night building for him as well. ~The Wendigo I assume? Are you sure that would be a fitting place for you? That you would be welcomed by those Wendigo you find outside of this sept, or even truly by those within it. I offer another thought. You are a fitting Garou, and a fitting warrior, I believe to be a Modi among the Get. Give it some thought and get back to me.~

Erik stares at the toes of his battered, mud-stained boots, still hugging himself and making himself breath steadily in and out. He is neither greeted nor looks around to greet anyone.

Calls-Spirits rumbles assent at Jana and settles down next to her, though he remains in crinos.

Sifhuil's response to Pierces Ice is somewhat distracted at first, as if her attention were being pulled from the depths of some intense train of thought. The Fianna wolf swings her jaw aside, eyes dropping toward the Wendigo... She greets her and wonders what she needs?

Howls-For-Glory happens to hear his name being mentioned, and looks over toward Alicia. There's a shake of his entire body, as if he's agreeing that, yes, he is nervous. ~I will try not to throw up, Guards-The-Flame!~

By the waterfall, White Bear gives a flat no to the Gatekeeper as he asks if it's the wendigo, before falling still as James finishes his idea. When he's dismissed, he turns quietly, the blue and white Crinos lumbering off into the windy spot where he ususally 'hangs out'.

"Yes, Bones.. don't /worry/." Alicia says to Rae, giving her shoulder a squeeze. "They aren't human bones. Its kinda like when your a girlscout and you get the 'spirit stick' to pass around. When you have the bones, only you can talk and give your news or introduction, then you pass them on to the next person and take your place among the gathered." She says, perking up at the Fianna's call, giving a sharp laugh and tossing him a thumbs up. "You'll be fine! Close your eyes and sing if you have to. Just listen to Yi's voice and tune out the growls and insults. You will be OK."

Auggie plops down in the general vicinity of his tribemates, not really next to anyone in paticular. He lets Alicia and Dakota take care of Rae's fears. They seem to do better with her anyway. The Ahroun is grumpy and will probably just make her worse. He feels a tinge of guilt when Cole looks perplexed as his aloofness - he gives the Fianna an apologetic look, and then, whether the Galliard catches it or not, flops down onto the dirt.

Pierces Ice shifts upward into homid as the Fianna turns attention to her. She speaks in a quiet, yet firm voice - not soft enough to be a whisper, but not loud enough to carry far. "Has Seeker returned to you with the terms of my challenge?"

By the waterfall, Fights-For-Hope stands and nods by the Waterfall, a thoughtful expression passing through the Gatekeeper's face. He turns, and taking on the crinos body he sits at the edge of the pool at the Waterfall's base.

Olga bustles in to the Caern's center from the west, parting the fog at a quick march that makes her big bag bounce against her well-insulated back. Thick Glabro skin and a thicker coat keep her warm, so that she looks rather cheerful all told as she looks over the assembled for a second, and more cheerful still as she takes her march back up to join her Alpha, Sifhuil, where she rests. She tries to be quiet about it despite the crinkle of her plastic bag and the thud of heavy boots.

Severs rises up and pads over to the other two Lords. I didn't recognize you until I smelled you.
Dakota gives Rae's hair a brief tossle and gestures her along. "Come on, let's grab a seat before all the good spots are taken." She says and, granted the cub is tagging along, heads over to hunker down underneath a tree.

Taslyn sits over on a rock, hands resting on her belly. She looks around at new faces, old faces. A kind of peace is around the woman as she gives her belly a rub.

Edge stands up when the elder Lord pads over, his ears kept tilted back in submission to the higher ranked Garou. It is hard to keep track of the scents of so many, the halfmoon does admit.

"Ok." Rae whispers to Dakota, while offering Alicia a brief smile. When following her elder over to the tree, Rae offers Auggie a casual wave if she catches his eye. Everyone else gathered is not looked at in the slightest. The cub's eyes gather to the ground, even after sitting beside Dakota under the tree.

Thunder's-Forge turns his eyes away from his packmates and towards the higher ranking Lord, acknowledging him, and his place, with a slight drop of his muzzle and a lower position of his head and wordlessly agrees with Edgewalker in a grunt. ~Severs-rhya, this is Bloods-Bane, packmate of Edgewalker and myself.~ He says with a gesture to his left where Dillen is.

Stone-Spirit slips into the gathering with little fuss. The small grey wolf moves casually and with a respectful posture about her. She settles herself near her packmates tonight, resting back onto her haunches.

Dillen gives his head a deep bow as he rises to his feet. "Severs-Rhya." And then looks up to smile at the elder lord. "Nice to meet you." A grin coming over his face.

Severs grunts in acknowledgement to Blood's Bane, then turns back to the Lords. I have also been too much away from the tribe, which I should correct.

Howls-For-Glory pushes himself to his feet, looking at Alicia for a moment later as she gives her advice. He bumps Jana's shoulder with his head, and then moves toward the steam vents for a better vantage point of those gathered. He shifts into crinos, settling himself on his feet before drawing in a deep breath. He lets out a howl that's long on enthusiasm and energy, if not quite so much skill.

Natalie and Tu enter through the dark woods, both Walkers reverting back to breed form from lupus at the edge of the clearing. "--Busy tonight," Nat murmurs to him as they pause to give the gathering a once-over. The Galliard heads over to claim an empty spot, chin up and arms folded over her stomach.

Yi slips into the crowd amidst the others who are coming in. Baseball cap tilted so that her eyes are relatively hidden, the Gnawer looks about at the edge of the gathered before spotting her packmates. It's to Olga first though, that she greets with a wave to catch the other Gnawer's attentions before heading over towards the direction of the Coggie trio. She greets them each in turn as well, looking a little bit tense herself.

Sifhuil's gaze drifts upward with Jacinta's transformation, following her eyes. The Philodox watches the Ahroun for several moments, before her nostrils flare outward slightly and her wolfish expression conveys what it can of regret. A look of displeasure quickly replaces that. She tells the Wendigo that Seeker has not returned to her with terms for a challenge. She has not heard from him at all.

Auggie waggles his fingers at Rae, from where he lays in the dirt. His form slowly bulks into Crinos, with his legs stretched out in front of him. The Gaian Ahroun's tail thumps twice on the ground, and his ears prick up at Howls.

Jana smiles proudly as her packmate to be moves off to lead the howl. Then, pushing up to her feet, she erupts into crinos herself. The sleek silver form rests beside her tribemate's, their heritage as plain as can be as they stand there.

Taslyn stays at the rock where she sits, she lifts her mouth and howls in human form. No shifting for her.

Howls-For-Glory howls long and loud.

From Center of the Caern, Howls-For-Glory can be heard to howl, ~Warriors of the Hidden Walk! Tonight, we moot and pay tribute to our wise lady, Chimera!~

Edge snorts at Thunder's-Forge, with the correction that Edgewalker was his cub name. Dagger's-Edge is his rited name, and get it right. There's a short snort tacked on to the end. Perhaps a 'please'.

Erik looks up at the howl, his manner suddenly becoming alert as his masked face turns toward Howls-For-Glory. The Metis exhales a breath, then shifts into his birth form -- tall, skeletal, nearly-hairless, ugly as sin -- with sickening ease.

Shifting into the Crinos form, Guards-The-Flame tilts her head up and bellows out her roar to the sky, eyes closing tightly as she feels her chest swell.

The full of the moon and the news from the Master of the Challenge combine to make for a not very happy Jacinta. Even in homid, her lips pull away from her teeth in distaste and she snarls with a shake of her head to the side. The call to moot is met with an instant shift upward to Crinos, and her howl is one of rage and disappointment, more than the traditional coming together howl of the moot.

Calls-Spirits tips his head back and lets out a full-throated howl, joining his voice to Howls-for-Glory's with a fierce joy.

Kills-Wisely becomes quite alert at the howl, moving to settle near to his tribal elder.

Dakota gives Rae a nudge and whispers in her ear what everyone is doing, then gestures her to follow suit. The Theurge crouches under the tree and changes to crinos, the black and white wolf raising her muzzle and giving voice to an ethereal howl.

Trees' Voice lifts his own voice to join the howl, and the purity, the beauty, of it contrasts sharply with his grotesque appearance and scent.

Natalie takes the war-form, her voice lifting in eerie howl to mark the opening of the Moot.

Reggie marches into the caern, shouldering his way into the crowd of Garou, and belts out his voice, joining the howl.

Endures-Pain leans her muzzle up to the sky, unleashing a loud howl to join the others in their praise.

Olga doesn't have time to return Yi's greeting, nor does she have time to greet or even recognize the better half of those assembled. The howl catches her just as she's setting down her bag by Sifhuil and beginning to pull out blankets, and she lumbers up into Crinos form with reasonably good-natured annoyance, and begins to belt out a howl loud and garish, which sours as she notices the new mule, and she stares at him quite unabashedly for a few long seconds.

Tu stays close to Natalie, as he takes in the sights of the Caern and the many alien faces. After a short while, he spies his packmates. He leans in and whispers something to Natalie before headed over to join Jana and his pack. He shifts, then, and joins the howl.

The sound of so many Garou lifting their voices to the wind perks Flood-of-Flame up a bit. He slowly rises, and raises his muzzle to the sky, adding his own gravelly, throaty voice to howl.

By the waterfall, Fights-For-Hope remains sitting at the side of the waterfall's pool, one hand outstretched and dipped into the water.

Sifhuil's attention leaps toward the arriving Olga, to whom she delivers a lighthearted bark, making a tight circle around her packmate before reseating herself in the grass nearby. Her own how springs upward and out, haunting and sonorous in contrast to the Gnawer's garish one.

The three voices of Requiem fill the air with almost alarming synchronization. Bloods-Bane assumes the Crinos form to join the howl, hearty and full. Thunder's-Forge howls with a deep baying that portrays his tribe totem's influence, and Dagger's-Edge echoes the cry, as full and loud as his two packmates.

Jacob, who was also sort of quietly mingling around in the crowd but largely unnoticed, adds his voice up to the howls.

The howl does make the CoG cub jump. With Dakota's patience, Rae listens softly. She nods her head with her elder's instruction. Whisper said, Rae shifts into crinos form- though she doesn't do it without some effort. Sitting closer to the tree trunk, Rae lends her voice to the night quietly- easily drowned out by the other Garou.

Howls-For-Glory lets the howl die away, pulling in a deep breath. Drawing himself up tall, the Galliard looks over the gathered throng, eyes alight. In a rumbling voice that nonetheless carries clearly to all those gathered, he makes a simple declaration. ~Garou shall not mate with Garou!~

Three-Blades barks a high, grating laugh at the Caller and turns to the gathered. The Fool replies, snorting and growling, ~Who gives a Bloody Fuck about this? Because if you're giving, I'm taking! Hah!~ She rolls her eyes, and shakes her head before crying out, ~Wake up! These are the end times! Times when the Kin are few and the Garou fewer. In times of starvation, the wolves are not picky. If the pickings are slim, we take what we can, and are better off for it. So a metis is born, so what? The ones who survive our tests are just as strong and dare I say smarter than the lot of you, for They are the ones who truly know our Ways! Besides, I can think of quite a few Garou who need a good mount.~ Tongue lolling out from her Crinos fangs, the ragabash throws her tail up and waggles it in outright lewd gesture to the crowd.

Kills-Wisely roars out right away in answer, ~You would bring us an army of the infirm and weak! For every one that /can/ fight we would have to suffer ourselves among a nation of those who would drag us down!~
~You charach with another Garou...~ White Bear snarls at Yi ~And I'll Rip your womb out, trash! Find something else to mate with!~

A skittering Joey, running late and looking sheepish about it, stumbles up into Olga and the others near her just as the howl is sounded. She does her best to look small and insignificant as she folds her hands behind her back.

Trees' Voice's perfect voice howls out at the Fool. ~Metis are cursed! Do you not have eyes?~

Stepping foward, Guards-The-Flame rumbles her disagreement to The Fool, shouting back in the mother's tongue. ~And when we are done 'mounting' each other, and bringing Metis to the world, our population will hit a wall, and we will not be strong enough to fight the final battle when it comes upon us! Gaia needs her warriors to be strong, not crippled!~

~Of course a Bone Gnawer would offer herself!~ Holds-the-Line calls back. ~Give in to the moment, think no further than what's between her legs.~

Endures-Pain growls low and long at the fool before howling to her, ~They bear the very curse of Gaia's displeasure on their forms! And you would have us cavalierly dismiss her very order to us?~

Flood-of-Flame's lips pull back into a snarl. ~Disgusting!~ he barks, and adds nothing more.

~The end times may be upon us,~ Calls-Spirits replies calmly. ~But we must think of future generations. Some must survive to carry on the fight, and metis cannot breed. Would you have us breed ourselves right out of the fight?~

At any other time, Rifthealer might find amusement in her packmate's antics, but this time her face is serious as the Theurge resumes her birth form and leans into explain to Leafdancer just what is going on.
Pack> Bloods-Bane would shift back to homid, though.

Reggie points an outraged finger at the Fianna metis, "Regard! Cursed indeed!"

Pierces Ice says, ~The Horned Serpent takes root in weakness. Grandmother shows her displeasure through her curse. Listen to your elders, and choose a fit mate.~

Jacob opts to chip his two cents. ~We're Gaia's warriors, not baby sisters for mutants that ride Gaia's short bus!~

Taslyn just chuckles and looks about.

Requiem's alpha sits remarkably still, refraining from any comment to the first tenet of the Litany. Bloods-Bane the Get too, remains silent with this first rebuttal, but Edge's hackles lift at the lewd gesture, and the philodox roars out, ~Slake your passions elsewhere and stop poisoning the last of our kin pool with your sickened lust.~

Trees' Voice bares yellowed, crooked fangs in discolored pink-gray gums, green eyes rolling in misaligned sockets, hairless ears flat against his skull-like head.

Fat-Ripper grins devilishly at her Tribemate the Fool's rejoinder, eyes sharp and amused, and she leans in to snap out her own retort when Holds-the-Line's drags her voice from her lips and throttles it into an angry, sullen, empty growl, all joy pulled from her quick as finger's snapping.

Howls-For-Glory listens paitently, waiting through the Fool's rebuttal and inevitable responses. He moves through the tenets of fighting the Wyrm, respecting the territory of another and accepting honorable surrenders, before crying out once more. ~Submission to Those of Higher Station.~

~You know what this law is about? Fear and Loathing!~ Three-Blades, the Fool, wrinkles her muzzle back in extravagant show of a twisted, toothy smile. ~Every Garou who follows this law is afraid! Cowards, who are scared to fight for fear they'll know the truth - that they're WEAK. Tail tucked, ears flat, belly up and grovelling before their betters, they do nothing but Prove they are weak and unfit to kiss even my garbage-stomping footclaws. I almost piss on myself because I'm laughing so hard! If you entrust the leadership to a snaggle-toothed, bent-tailed, three-legged, one-eyed wolf just because they can lift their tail higher than you, then you Deserve to be beaten down... for sheer stupidity! Survival of the fittest after all!~

In a voice as quiet as she can manage, LeafDancer speaks with RiftHealer. ~The one that started the argument, she must be very brave.~ Ears pin tightly to her skull while LeafDancer watches the verbal thrashing of her fellows. ~I am frightened for her.~

Isaac raises one hamhand in the air, fist clenched around black claws. ~You have to listen because they already know things! They got bigger because they already learned. You have to do what they say!~
Isaac me

White Bear snarls and growl at the fool, leaning forward to bellow at Yi. ~You disrespect the Alpha, after she's done beating you, _I'll_ tear your hide off!~

Calls-Spirits snorts in derision. ~We are at war, and cannot afford to be constantly squabbling amongst ourselves. Those of higher rank /earned/ their station through deeds of strength and wisdom, and deserve respect.~

Dakota smiles to Leafdancer and places a hand on the crinos cub's shoulder. "This is the way it is. We have taught you the laws, join, say why they are our laws and must be followed. Don't be scared."

Kills-Wisely growls out in a vicious tone, ~You know better? Then you challenge! We survive because of the elder among us, they are our power and strength! You want to be among them? Challenge!~

Holds-the-Line roars back, ~Every Garou who doesn't follow this law is dead! They gained rank and renown because of their deeds, not because they managed to hoist their tail higher!~

~So any young fool with more claws than sense can hare off and do whatever they will?~ Endures gives the Fool a contemptuous look. ~The fight would be nigh on impossible!~

Flood-of-Flame snorts at the Fool's words, and snarls out, ~How stupid! The law is not about fear! It is about respect. Those of a higher station -are- strong and wise. That is how they rose in station.~

Taslyn keeps her head low and her voice. She simply watches all those around, not yelling or anything. A faint smile does color her face as she watches though.

Trees' Voice huffs, shoulders hunched. ~There is no shame in submitting to your betters.~

Thunder's-Forge joins in the rebuttal with a Rage-filled howl at the Fool. ~If you think you are better, then challenge! If you lose, then it is beecause you have failed to see they are stronger and deserve the punishment. Bloods-Bane groans, and calls out, ~If you want the honor and respect, Earn It! Nothing is worse than a coward who does nothing.~ Dagger's-Edge bares his fangs, keeping his voice as stable as he can with his rebuttal, ~If you do not submit, then you destroy the entire structure of the pack.~

After a moment, Joey sets herself down into a knees-to-her-chest crouch, watching everything and keeping quiet.

The First Share of the Kill. The Flesh of Humans. Respect Those Beneath Ye. All these tenets are shared with the gathered assemblage before Howls-For-Glory reaches the next point of contention. At that point, the Galliard looks as if he's less nervous, and is truly enjoying functioning as the Caller. ~The Veil Shall Not Be Lifted!~

Three-Blades throws out an accusing finger towards the city. ~Are you afraid that those humans will kill you? I tell you, they are Already killing us. The humans kill our wolf kin, shooting them from the air, poisoning their bodies, trapping them and starving them. The humans kill even human kin for petty reasons, with no regard. We are Losing. We are Dying. And we deserve it, because we are cowards! Why must we cower in the shadows and fear for our lives when each one of us could kill hundreds, no, thousands? Why must we still hide when our friends, our family, our packs... when Gaia herself is dying?~

Reggie rants at the Fool, "Thousands? When there are millions? Billions? Learn to count!"

Despite Dakota's encouragement, LeafDancer doesn't lend her rebuttal. Instead the cub listens softly to the arguments before her, twin ears slowly leaning more forward than back.

Endures-Pain stays quiet this time, suddenly lost in her own thoughts. The theurge holds herself very still, as if only partially listening to the words of the others.

Taslyn shakes her head and finally looks to the fool, lifting her voice. "And what of our children and cubs of others? If we bare ourselves to the world we leave ourselves open for hate and violence, more than we already get in our lives. Leave the veil, it shields."

Stone-Spirit's ears flatten slightly against her head and her weight shifts from one paw to the next as she sits there. A quick licking of her muzzle and a twitch of her tail is all that the young Get does.

Kills-Wisely shakes his head, a note of perverse humor edging into his tone. ~Even the Wendigo know your numbers are flawed. Unlimited hateful and angry Humans by a single sept equals us all dead.~

Holds-the-Line's lips pull back from her teeth. ~One rat, one spider, is not a threat. Thousands of rats, millions of spiders, *this* is something to fear. They fear us and with reason. They fear us and they know how to fight us, and -they know how to kill us-. One human with one gun and one of us is dead. How many more of them are there than of us?~

Calls-Spirits shakes his head slowly. ~How much more quickly will we die if we are known to humanity at large? Certainly we may best a great number of them, but if they do not overwhelm us, then our /real/ enemies will surely find us through them. And why should we fight /two/ wars?~

Trees' Voice tilts his head back and lets out an anguished howl, reverting to more primal speech. There are no words as such, but his cry is full of death and burning, Garou and kin alike. Remembered pain and dire warning mingle in the metis Galliard's voice.

The growl beginning deep in her chest, Pierces the Ice bellows out, ~Before the apes outgrew their pens, perhaps we might have shared our land. But that day has long passed. When you reveal us, you condemn us to fight only the apes, and have nothing left to fight the Horned Serpent!~

~You would have us all killed by the Ape-Herd!~ White Bear snarls at the fool. ~The Veil is there for a reason!~

Thunder's-Forge snarls out bitterly. ~Even our greatest enemies hide in the shadows. We are few, man is many. The Rage of a few cannot defeat the hatred and fear of the whole world.~ Bloods-Bane pounds at the air with a fist. ~We must keep the Veil! If we do not then we will surely fall.~ Dagger's-Edge stamps a forepaw heavily against the ground, snarling at the Fool. ~You truly are a fool if you think the humans are weak and without their own weapons.~

Flood-of-Flame wrinkles his muzzle to bare pure white teeth. ~Humans kill what they do not understand. They would hunt us with silver, distracting the Nation from our purpose, which Gaia has set before us. Our fight is against the Wyrm.~

A snarl shows on Howls-For-Glory's countenance as he finds himself getting into the shouting down of the Fool, even if he remains silent throughout it. The tenets fly faster and with more energy. Do Not Suffer Thy People. The Leader May Be Challenged at Any Time During Peace. Then, he stares accusingly at Three-Blades. ~The Leader May Not Be Challenged During Wartime!~

Three-Blades drops to her knees, acting out her words. ~Oh yes, I will do as I am told. I'd kiss the toes of a leader who has stepped in a pile of fresh shit - if we were running towards a battle and the leader needed to clean his pretty little claws.~ Lowering her head, she licks up a tongueful of dirt, and spits it over towards the crowd like an automatic sprinkler, a little bit at a time. Wiping off her muzzle, she throws up a hand nonchalantly and finalizes, ~I will let you all think of what the pile of shit really is.~

Holds-the-Line's ears flatten at Three-Blades, her hackles raising. ~Which is why you are a Fool, and no one listens to you.~

Dakota scowls and shouts out above the boon of Crinos voices. "The strength of the wolf is the pack. A pack that is not unified is doomed to failure. Stand together and argue after the enemy has been dealt with."

Isaac says, ~People have to listen. Even if some people die, the leader maybe has a plan and if you stop and make them tell you what it is, maybe it won't work anymore. You have to do what the Alpha tells you. All the time!~

White Bear seems pretty confused by the sarcasm, losing a lot of his steam before he manages to work himself up to shout her down again. ~The leader is Alpha! You do what they say, or you will get your pack killed, mooncalf!~

Fat-Ripper's jaws snap and clatter together, though the anger in her words is confused and seems misdirected, her voice is quieter than the others. ~If you've got a better head on your shoulder than Alpha, you'd be Alpha,~ she snaps back at her. ~If you got enough respect for somebody to follow him into battle, you damn well better be willing to follow him out.~

Flood-of-Flame's ears flatten at the Fool, and he regards her with a look of pure contempt, fully worked up now. ~The shit is between your ears, Fool. We listen, or we die!~

Endures-Pain delicately wipes the dirt from the spray off her coat, eyeing the Fool thoughtfully. ~You talk and talk and yet you say nothing.~

The three wolves of Requiem do not add more words to the many shouts and growls of the Garou's rebuttal. Bloods-Bane leans against a nearby tree, shaking his head with a low chuckle, while the two Shadow Lords simply glare and leer at the Fool, twin mirrors of black Rage itching to tear the Fool apart for her impudence.

Unease ruffles LeafDancer's hide. So many angry voices yelling at one 'Fool.' Trying to become one with the shadow of the tree behind her, tail pressed tightly against her side.

~Again you would have us arguing instead of acting,~ Calls-Spirits says, calm as ever. ~It all ties together. The leader is the leader for a reason, and you must put your trust in them so that the pack may act as one. Else all will fall to ruin.~

Howls-For-Glory stares directly at Three-Blades as he pronounces the last tenet of the Litany. No Caern shall be allowed to be violated. Looking as if a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders, he stares around the group, and wends his way back to his pack's side. He drops into lupus as he moves, sitting on his haunches.

Three-Blades calls her last attempted refute, shouted down for her argument and silently threatened with horrific manglings after for even suggesting otherwise. Once the last tenet has been Called, the electric energy still pulsing through the moot, the Gnawer dips her head in acquiese to the crowd's logic and looks once to Fights-For-Hope. The Fool's role for now, retracts with her.

Moving from his kneeling posture, Fights-For-Hope stands at the base of the waterfall, facing it as if at an altar. Arms held out of sight in front of his body. When the caller and fool are finished, the Gatekeeper and Opener of the Inner Sky raises his arms up towards the skies. In one hand is clutched his Chimeric spear, seen often in his possession as a long wooden spear engraved with many different runes of the Garou and the Spirits. The other hand has fingers spread wide likes points of a constellation. A powerful Crinosed voice roars forth, ~Chimera!~

Endures-Pain reaches one clawed hand over to absently ruffle Howl's ruff, chuffing at him in approval. ~Good job,~ she says quietly before raising her face to the skies again.

With this word the surface of the waterfall's pool becomes still like glass and lights are seen to dance below its surface. ~We gather to thank and to serve!~ The lights gently lift from the dark depths of the pool and become like ghosts when they part from it's surface and a great number of them fly out into the caern proper. Touching one Garou, leaving behind a feeling of electricity yet with no real contact they then bound off to another and another. Leaving fur and hair standing on end as they pass over, between, below, and as their speed and numbers begin to grow, even through the gathered Garou. As the last of the lights leave the pool, Fights-For-Hope turns his muzzle to the sky and releases a welcoming howl, inviting others to join him with wild 'gathering' gestures of his arms.

Tilting her muzzle upwards at the prescence of their Totem, Guards-The-Flame howls her welcome, stretching her thick arms upwards to the sky as she soaks in the energy about them. The fur on the back of her neck bristles as she weaves her song.

Trees' Voice pants quickly, nerves wound up from the Litany calling and then further wound by the coming of the caern's Totem. He hardly needs any encouragement to raise his voice again, and howls with enthusiasm, completely unreserved.

White Bear tips his head back, the blue-blue painted Ahroun lifting his own spear skywards as he howls out deep, loud and long to the spirit above, even as he shudders and shakes.

Howls-For-Glory chuffs agreeably to Endures-Pain before looking surprised as the spirits bounce about him. Fur bristling, he swells into crinos, enthuasiastically adding his voice to the chorus to welcome the spirit.

Calls-Spirits once again throws back his head and howls, his pure voice singing of respect and welcome for Chimera.

Holds-the-Line lends her voice to the throng, throwing her energy into the welcome.

Isaac's grin nearly splits his skull as he smiles broadly at the presence of the totem. He howls, joyful and welcoming.

Dakota reaches out to give Leafdancer an assuring pat, "Relax, kiddo, take a seat." She says quietly and then her attention is utterly absorbed by the Opening, the Theurge shutting her eyes and tilting her face upwards. She takes the lupus form and throws her voice up haunting and reverently in welcome.

Flood-of-Flame drops to all fours and tips his head back, belting out his own rough howl with gusto.

Endures-Pain's own howl joins that of the others, a joyful greeting to the spirit, her voice mingling with that of the others.

Despite the anger that she holds this night, Pierces the Ice is able to throw back her muzzle and howl a welcome to the caern Totem.

Thunder's-Forge's howl booms out, joined by his packmates in concert. The Get's song is more befitting his galliard auspice, while the Shadow Lord philodox's tone is raw and telling of the inner energy he senses.
By the waterfall,

Three-Blades joins the others as well in the howling despite the previous tensions, a special appreciative call to the Mirrored One coming from the Gnawer ragabash.

A sharp end comes soon to his howl as Fights-For-Hope slams the butt of his spear against the ground once and calls out again while the other's still howl, ~Chimera! Look upon us!~ The spirits stop in their motion, as if giving their attention... beside garou, before their eyes, and even inside a few leaving a great tingling sense of power within these lucky few. ~We honor you! Come before us so we may moot and together bring low the Wyrm and restore the balance!~ Then do the spirits begin their ascent once more, twirling together into a giant inverted twister up into the sky, where as they arrive they spread into a giant line. Once the Caern has been left entirely by the small representations of Chimera, the sky burns bright swirling green with what many call the Northern Lights, the Aurora Borealis.

Eyes widen as the waterfall shares it's secret. LeafDancer is completely in awe! Inquisitive looks replace her fears for the moment while she moves to sit closer rather than farther from Dakota. Oversized ears and muzzle watch the lights, trying to take in their movement, their feeling.. everything!
By the waterfall, Fights-For-Hope turns and lowers the butt of his spear to the ground at his side as the lights shine down from so high up in the sky as to make one think they are truly in space, ~The Inner Sky is open. Let us moot, and know that our lady sees our potence and intent.~

White Bear washes in the warm fuzzy feelings that always come from this part of the moot, all worked up and read to go a-reveling as he plants his weapon back on the ground firm. Too bad they have to go through the bone cracking before they get there...

Sifhuil doesn't howl. The Fianna's greeting to the Lady is something that stays inside her as she turns eyes toward the waterfall and the lights that dance within the pool, looking serene and collected. Something stirs within and slowly pushes its way out, illuminating the halfmoon's eyes as breath spills from nostrils into the crisp, winter air. When the lights have painted the sky and the song of the Garou begins to fade, the Truthcatcher makes her way toward the rock slab to address her gathered Septmates. A long white bone that seems to shine like Chimera's presence rests across the upturned palms of the crinos Philodox. ~I bring this bone to crack before you, so that like its marrow, Truth may shared between us.~ -Snap!- The bone breaks almost cleanly in two, and she rumbles, ~Those with announcements for the Sept, come forward and be heard!~ A beat, then: ~I will remind you that we speak formally and respectfully in the Mother's Tongue during the Cracking.~

Fat-Ripper watches the little dancing balls of light, long ratty jaw opening curiously, rage not completely washed away but certainly given a different flavour. Her tongue lashes out to lick at her teeth, and feeling the need to consummate things with some action at least, she begins to dig into her bag with Crinos fingers to draw out a beef jerkey snack, which she gnaws through while she listens and watches her Alpha crack the bone.

Howls-For-Glory trails off, his eyes nearly as wide as the Gaian cub's when the spirits bring that spectacular display to bear. He watches as Sifhuil begins the Cracking of the Bone.

Rifthealer relaxes fully and returns to the homid shape, drawing her knees up to her chest and looping her arms around them. Leafdancer is given a wide grin and a subdued chuckle at her enthusiasm before she turns her attention to the Cracking.

Trees' Voice sinks down onto his skinny haunches, tail tucked under the tails of his coat. Still in his birth form, the metis continues to pant nervously, ears slicked back.

Holds-the-Line's ears flatten for a second at Sifuil's pointed reminder, but are quickly upright again. She takes half of a step forward to signal that she bears news, but waits to be called upon.

All the cub's enthusiasm dissipates once she sees the bone. Her throat tightens considerably, ears once more tight against her skull. Nervousness doesn't consume her entirely however- the encounter with the light-spirits has left her with courage, even if it is very little. The Cub watches on.

LeafDancer than tucks her tail behind her. (My pose, sorry!)

Fights-For-Hope steps forward a half-step, waiting for his turn to speak.

Joey remains as she has all night; silent and still, her place beside the Gnawer Elder.

Guards-Flame shifts her shoulders back a bit to pop her joints, waiting patiently as her large arms cross.

Dillen also steps forward, head high and arms folded across his chest, waiting to speak.

After the cracking has been announced, Tu takes a moment to give Howls a pat. ~well done~

When Dillen steps forward as the first to speak, the Truthcatcher passes him the bones with a sharp nod.
Bloods-Bane steps forward and takes the bones. ~A new pack has formed under Fenris. Requiem is our name and we sing the song of death for the Wyrm and all its minions. We number three: Lucas Thunder's Forge, myself, Dillen Bane-of-the-Bloodsuckers, and Kenneth Dagger's Edge.~ The Get galliard gives a wide grin. ~We patrol and protect the wharfs and docks and parts of First Street within the Scab, as well as territory bordering on Griphus' pack territory. If anyone feels themselves worthy of joining a strong and young war pack... speak with us.~ His eyes scan the crowd and possibly seek out certain people. The other two of the pack, the Shadow Lords, stare out as well with held-in fierceness that tells of the war pack's strength.

Trees' Voice seems to have the same level of opinion of Requiem as White Bear, but instead of seeking the new pack out, he studiously examines the well-trampled ground.

Howls-For-Glory looks over, giving a toothy grin to Tu. ~Thank you, brother.~ He looks back, face shwoing amusement at the declaration Bloods-Bane makes.

Calls-Spirits stares at Dillen, Lucas and Kenneth each in turn, his gaze vieled and unreadable. He seems to come to some conclusion after a moment though and looks away.

Fat-Ripper watches the new pack for no more than a second or two, then turns her attention elsewhere, eyes wandering the crowd. She bites down hard on her jerky and then drips down into Homid form, perhaps to make the chewing a bit more satisfying, a bit more of a distraction.

Edge meets White Bear's sneer with one of his own, lips pulling back to reveal a full set of fangs at the tribeless one.

Holds-the-Line considers Bloods-Bane evenly, then his two packmates, but keeps her thoughts to herself.

Flood-of-Flame watches the Fenris pack with a mostly even gaze, though distrust and skepticism flickers behind his dark brown eyes.

The hispo Thunder's Forge sits rigidly and tall under the scrutiny, the great mass of scarring on his abdomen evident and his eyes defiant.

White Bear pulls his lips back as well with almost thoughtless ease, hackles raising as the airy noise grows slightly. It stops short of being of a growl, though.

Endures-Pain watches the pack coolly, though her eyes briefly flick toward White Bear. She shakes her head slightly.

Endures-Pain steps forward, her bearing proud and her muzzle raised high. Remaining in crinos, the Silver Fang waits for a moment, surveying the gathered folk. ~Garou of the Hidden Walk Sept. I am Endures-the-Pain, elder and crescent moon of the First Tribe. I bring you news of our efforts to locate the cause and nature of the Wyrm-taint of the City healing place.~ Her shoulders twitch slightly as she speaks but she seems oblivious to it. ~My tribemate Calls-the-Spirits-To-Battle and I went into the Umbra and approached one of Owl's brood, seeking its assitance in scouting the so-called healing place. The spirit was willing to assist us and to repay it for its effort, we have set a family of owls to live in the city park, guarded by humans who care about such things and by myself and my tribemate. The spirit went out and observed for us and brought back dire news. Calls-the-Spirits-to-Battle will explain further.~ The theurge turns to her tribemate, holding the bone out to him.

Endures-Pain took the bone too. Honest.

Kills-Wisely seems actually quite thoughtful of the alpha of Requiem's announcement. After, aside from looking up towards Bloods-Bane and licking at his muzzle a couple of times, he makes no sign of concern even as Endures-Pain makes her announcement.

Howls-For-Glory watches Endures-Pain with interest as she makes her announcement. He's rather obviously interested, and somewhat disappointed when no further news isn't immediately provided. He looks hopefully to Calls, hunkering down on a patch of ground.

Flood-of-Flame watches Endures speak with a much more favorable reception, dipping his muzzle approvingly to her. His gaze turns onto the other Fang Theurge out of politeness only, rather restless for them to get on with it.

Isaac licks his nose as he looks toward Tobin, waiting for what he has to say.

Three-Blades perks her ears forward when the Fang tells of the hospital. The Gnawer shifts about, her crinos hackles rising with innate Rage at the sheer thought of the tainted place of healing, but turns her attention to Calls-Spirits for more.

White Bear flares his nose one, before turning from the young Shadow Lords to the Fangs, looking considerably more curious at their announcement then he is impatient for the revel.

Calls-Spirits steps up and takes the bones from his elder, looking almost reverent of them as he does so. His bearing, too, is proud as he looks about the caern. ~Brothers and sisters, you heard me speak before of the evil that Iron-Eyes and I witnessed in our expeditions to hospital. Now I bring news even more dire. Brave brother Owl flew to that place for three nights and saw many things. He saw that though the place was powerful with evil, it had grown complacent. It has gone unchallenged for too long, and we will take advantage of that. But first, we must deal with what lurks over it.~ He pauses then, possibly to gather his thoughts, or possibly for drama's sake. ~A spirit larger than any it had ever seen this close to the Earth's shadow, it dwarfed the hospital building. Something not of Gaia. Something from the far reaches of the Deep Umbra. Reality twisted and warped in its presence and madness spread from it. From this description, we have concluded that it is a Nexus Crawler, or some cousin thereof. Against a foe of this magnitude, all our might and Rage would not prevail, therefor we seek to find out /why/ it is here. Whether it is bound and if those bonds may be cut. Or if something has drawn it here and that thing may be removed so that this foe would leave the battlefield. That is the work that we continue. We will spread the word when we learn more.~ He bows deeply to all assembled, then, and hands the bones back to the Truthcatcher.

Guards-Flame rumbles deeply in her throat, ears flattening as she paces along her tribe mates, shaking her head quickly. By the look on her face its easy to see that she is not terribly happy with that news.

There's not a shred of surprise on Endures-Pain's expression and she listens to her tribemate with the utmost calm. Except for that twitching of her shoulders. Twitch. Twitch twitch. She nods sharply at his ending words and steps back, motioning him to move with her.

Trees' Voice shudders violently at Calls' description, and he crouches down, ears flat and lips pulled back in a fear-filled grimace.

Holds-the-Line's ears flatten entirely at the Fang's news, her eyes gone wide.

Flood-of-Flame's ears flattens, his claws rake at the earth and his coat puffs up as he lets out a long, low growl. He had already heard this news, yet Calls-Spirits' description awakens both Rage and fear from deep within the Gaian Ahroun.

Isaac's ears twitch forward and back as he tries to understand the scene Tobin described.

Three-Blades peels back her lips not in fear but in Rage. ~Inside or outside of the building?~ is the Gnawer's question, but as Calls-Spirits has already relinquished the bones, she has to settle for a lack of more information. A worried glance is sent towards Guards-Flame.

White Bear doesn't show much shock, or of anything really, at the announcement. He turns his head to Jacinta, rumbling a question low.

Howls-For-Glory rumbles deep in his throat. The news is as bad as he'd already heard, but the Galliard shifts restlessly about.

Fights-For-Hope was growling deeply to himself in anticipation of the revel to come, but as Tobin describes the foe he looks up with eyes wide in shock and anger. His fists clench around air and spear.

Dakota swallows quietly as she looks to GUards-Flame, but then directs her gaze back to the center again. Her mood, however, has gone sharply downward.

Olga doesn't show much, not that she's down in Homid form she doesn't have to. She stops chewing, though, and drops her eyes to the ground, jerky hanging limply out of the corner of her mouth.

Pierces Ice waits until the Silver Fang has returned to his place before she rises from her crouch and makes her way to the rocky dais to take the bones from Sifhuil. Though she appears to hear her packmate's question, she does not respond verbally. Even after the Opening of the Sky, the Wendigo's posture is full of anger, the news of the hospital having done nothing to ease her mood. Clawtipped fingers clench tightly around the shards of bone. Turning to face the gathered Garou, she takes a single slow, deep breath. ~For those new to this place, I am Pierces the Ice, Elder and Full Moon of the Wendigo. My pack, Manitou's Ridgeline, Guardians of The Hidden Walk, seek new members. We seek those who will follow Bison's ways of balance, and put the needs of the caern above their own. We seek the strength of the Law Moon and Dancing Moon, though any who would defend the caern are welcome to approach us. See my Tribesmates, Bites the Belly of the Spider, or Untangler, or my Beta, White Bear, if you cannot find me here.~

Joey looks up at her Elder with large brown eyes, then glances back to those who do the speaking. An idle hand reaches up in request of a piece of jerky.

Trees' Voice shifts his weight, fidgeting now. Sunken eyes stare almost woefully at Pierces the Ice, then drop back to the ground.

Calls-Spirits follows his elder away from the center. He glances at Three-Blades and gives a minute earflick towards her. He'll tell her more later.

Pierces Ice hands the bone shards back to Layne and makes her way back into the crowd, toward her packmate.

Holds-the-Line steps forward, claiming the bone from Layne. She turns to look over the group, her fingers closed tightly around the halves of the bone. ~I have a story to tell,~ the Galliard begins. ~It is a long story, and in deference to those who are easily bored I will make it as short as possible. However, the entire story of the Veil Breach in the city deserves to be heard from start to finish.~

Edge, being a law-moon, looks up to Pierces Ice when she mentions his auspice. The Shadow Lord keeps his peace though, pointedly not looking towards White Bear.

White Bear falls dutifully silent as the Alpha speaks, making no further noise as she returns.

Thunder's-Forge leans forward to pay more attention to this and with a low noise directs his packmates to do the same.

Howls-For-Glory looks to Holds-the-Line as she takes the bone. A deferential nod is given to the Walker as he focuses intently on her.

Flood-of-Flame's ears prick up at the mention of a Veil breach. He looks at Holds-the-Line with grim curiousity.

Stone-Spirit tenses once more, the somewhat nervous posturing of the slight wolf noticable to those who look. Her ears flicker forward and back, her tail active. After a moment of hesitation, she shifts into Crinos, and again resumes her haunched sitting position.

Guards-Flame tilts her chin up some, ears flickering forward. She looks interested as well, as well a bit concerned.

Endures-Pain nudges her packmates as she settles back down with them then leans forward to try and catch Floods-of-Flame's eyes.

The Walker pauses for a few seconds to collect her thoughts. ~The beginning: At the end of October, one of Pierces Ice's kin called Havoc to tell us about a boy who was getting threaten by a gang known as the Bridge Street Brothers. Their territory overlaps with ours, so we looked into it. That same night Defiant-Storm and I frighten off the driver and his gunman, and corner the one who drove. He gave us the names of two of his leaders after we talked to him. "Big D" was the gunman in the car. "Captain Plague" is the other, higher ranked. Everything was quiet for a few weeks after, so I figured we scared the gang off the boy.~

Three-Blades dips her head once at Calls-Spirits, seeing his earflick, and then collects herself to keep attention on the speaking Walker.

Edge snaps back to attention on the speaker once there's mention of Veil Breach and city in the same breath.

Dillen leans in to listen intently.

Trees' Voice twitches long, clawed fingers absently as he listens, with rapt and solemn attention, to the Glass Walker.

Pierces Ice's hackles rise and her ears pull forward sharply, teeth bared for a moment before she settles herself.

Holds-the-Line continues, ~In early December the kin calls me to say that the gang had cornered the boy and given him a beating. --That means they had regained some face from him saying no to them. It was not fatal, just painful. A week or so later, the gang cornered Defiant Storm to apply the same sort of tactics. Six of them surrounded her on a street corner, right next to an open store. They had bats, knives and at least one gun, probably the one known as "Big D". When she fought back they changed tactics and were going to kill her.~

Reggie listens attentively to the various speakers, with distaste at the Shadow Lords, with repressed battle rage at the hospital news, thoughtfully at the Wendigo, then with bright interest to the story of the Veil Breach.

Olga watches Holds-the-Line intently, not showing any relish for the story, but certainly not shying away from it either. The only movement she makes is to dutifully indulge her Tribemate's outstretched hand with a piece of jerky.

Holds-the-Line's tale comes clearly, as though she'd told it before. Her eyes skim over the crowd - not meeting gazes to Challenge, but to keep her audience. ~Defiant Storm killed three of them; another ran away rather than face her Rage. She shifted to Glabro to heal, thinking the shadows were enough to hide her. Unfortunately, she thinks the two survivors both saw her - "Big D", and another who ran off. She was not in any shape to chase after them, and none of her pack was close enough to help with clean up, especially as there were already sirens. When she told me about what happened, we immediately started making plans to raid their headquarters and take them out. That is why this story was not shared with anyone until later - we were trying to clean up quickly.~

White Bear catches on something, demeanour turning rather hostile again. No noises, just a lot of agitated body language.

Kills-Wisely growls more vehemently as the story goes on. With every mention of a gang his hackles raise higher and higher till he strains and seems poised to attack the mere thought alone.

Howls-For-Glory looks on thoughtfully, hanging on every word, as if there'll be a quiz later.

Pierces Ice's aggitation grows. She digs claws into packed soil rather than interrupt the speaker, but she cannot stop the growl that builds within her chest.

Stone-Spirit's shoulders rise and fall in tense, exaggerated motions as she listens to the retelling of the events. Her eyes do not stray from the speaker though, and her ears are pricked forward, save for an occasional flicker.

Severs lets his gaze swing briefly toward Pierces Ice.

Three-Blades sweeps her ears back at certain parts of the story, but keeps a tight leash on her throat.

Holds-the-Line hesitates for only a moment to signify a change in topic. ~As for the headquarters: in the middle of last month we planned our attack. Defiant Storm and Stone-Spirit took the main headquarters, Scratch and I took their drug house. We went in over the roofs just before dawn. We were to clear out both of the houses, killing everyone we found. As soon as we got to the roof we found the problem had spread - the lookouts had silver weapons. They were not good ones - crucifixes on arrows - but silver all the same. The rest of our house went as easily: Scratch and I took out it fifteen of them. We set the house on fire and returned to the car.~

Endures-Pain doesn't precisely -show- anything on her expression. Really, she doesn't. Her expression remains impassive and her spine straight but the Silver Fang still manages to radiate disapproval at the story. She looks like she's listening very intently.

Calls-Spirits listens with eyes closed as Holds-the-Line tells her tale. He makes vague mutterings under his breath now and then but says nothing decipherable.

Flood-of-Flame looks surprised, but relatively calm during the telling of the tale. At the mention of humans, actually wielding silver, against Garou, his hackles puff up and his face contorts into an expression of outrage.

At the mention of 'killing everyone we found,' Dances-With-Leaves is shaken. The cub lowers her head a little, watching the speaker out of the corner of her eye.

Isaac's fingers drift to the scar that runs down his chest, rubbing thoughtlessly at the raised flesh.
Edge curls his lips back at the mention of silver. The halfmoon had his run in, and his opinion of the moon metal is clear enough.

Holds-the-Line turns to her young packmate, pale ears pricking forward. ~Stone-Spirit returned in the near-man, carrying an unconscious and badly injured Defiant Storm. They killed at as many people but Defiant Storm had walked straight into a firing squad. At least one of the bullets in her was silver. We got her back to the safehouse, and she did not regain consciousness until mid-afternoon. At that time I used the Rite of the Questing Stone to search for "Big D" and "Captain Plague" again. They were both still alive; they both managed to escape our attack.~ The Galliard pauses again as if reviewing her story, then nods. ~That is where things are right now. We know they have silver. We have also heard the some say "werewolf". I have heard that if we can point the attack at something - anything - else, something *normal*, the police will leap on it happily. Havoc gave the gang a serious wound, even if we did not kill the leaders. When we do kill them, I believe the entire group will fade away. I have further scouting information, but it will be passed along as needed. Firewatcher-rhya already knows it, as do some others.~

White Bear seems to mirror Pierces Ice's mood, growing increasingly pissed at -something-. He clenches the shaft tightly, glowering at nothing in particular.

Fights-For-Hope just shakes his head, but remains quiet as he waits his turn.

Trees' Voice shudders again, though not as much as when the Nexus Crawler was mentioned. He looks positively horrified, though, at the last part of the Glass Walker's tale.

Her story finished, Holds-the-Line returns the bones to Sifhuil and returns to the crowd.

Tu continues to listen thoughtfully, as Holds-the-Line tells the tale, glancing to his packmates from time to time to gauge their reactions.

Stone-Spirit looks as if a leaf falling upon her could set the young Garou off, either in start or in rage. There is a heavy madness in her eyes, and the cool air is erupted into steam from the heavy snorts of her nostrils.

Howls-For-Glory lets out an ominous rumble at the thought of silver and hearing that the gang has actually drawn the correct conclusions. He looks at Tu gives a heavy shake of his blunt head. ~Dangerous Breach,~ he comments to the Glass Walker.

Thunder's-Forge watches Holds-the-Line as she speaks with an undivided attention and then the Alpha of Requiem speaks out. ~Holds-the-Line, I would speak with you and your pack after the moot.~ And then he goes quiet again, leaning among his packmates.

Olga scratches at her throat, looking around from Garou to Garou, not so much uncertain as curious of everybody's reaction. She looks at Thunder's-Forge as he addresses the Glass Walker, and then looks away, digging in her bag again for another bit of jerky.

~How did they know,~ Calls-Spirits mutters to himself. ~How did they know...~

Tu glances down at his packmate, with a slight nod. ~Most are~.

Flood-of-Flame manages to calm his features from the very picture of shocked and bloodthirsty Rage to a mere snarl. Still, the Gaian quickly stands and walks away a few paces, then squats down to sit, then turns, full of nervous energy.

Endures-Pain looks over at Calls-Spirits and chuffs, ~That, you see, is the question.~ She looks between the two packmates-to-be near her, thoughtful.

Three-Blades seems to catch on Calls-Spirit's muttering as well. The ragabash licks the side of her muzzle, with a shrug for an answer.

Jacob looks around, apparently impressed by all the stuff happening all at the same time in just one sept. Nevermind that it's not good things.

Holds-the-Line looks over to Thunder's-Forge only after someone's pointed out the Shadow Lord to her; she turns to the Ahroun, her chin lifting, but replies cordially enough, ~You may speak to Stone-Spirit and I. Defiant-Storm-rhya was not able to attend.~

Pierces Ice tears her gaze away from Holds-the-Line as the Glasswalker relinquishes the bones. She turns to look off into the trees and up to the tops of the cliffs above, fists still tight around handfulls of dirt.

Stepping forward, Guards-The-Flame takes the bones from Sifhuil and nods to her respectivly, allowing a few moments to go by for the rest of the Sept to settle down their anger. Ears twitching, she begins to speak. ~I have a few things to talk about tonight, the first, is that I wish to commend Edures-Pain and Calls-Spirits for their work regarding the healing place in the city. Once, nearly three years ago, we took the Sept's mightiest packs into a revel there and was crushed like fleas. With this new knowledg they bring us, it is a great step into possibly reclaiming it back into our claws. If /anyone/ has any special skills that can aid them, please let them know.~ Tilting her head, she nods to both of the Silver Fangs, chuffing to them in appreciation, admiration shining in her eyes. ~The other is in regards to a lost cub which Heals the Rifts and Sings to Spirits recovered a few weeks ago. Her name is Hope, a young child who has been abused by the curiousity of man, tortured and experimented on.~ She pauses for a moment, taking a breath.

Trees' Voice lets out a low, emphathic whine.

Dakota comes to immediate attention as she hears both the name of Hope and herself, siting up straighter and watching her cousin speak.

Calls-Spirits looks up at Alicia's words, ears pricked up in mild surprise. He bows his head to her in thanks for the recognition.

Isaac's head comes up to look at Alicia with curiosity and concern.

White Bear bares his teeth, letting out a low growl to himself at the mention of the Cub.

Holds-the-Line turns swiftly to Guards-the-Flame, her attention snapping onto the Fostern Galliard. Clearly this is new news for her.

Three-Blades looks up as Hope is mentioned. The Gnawer tenses, dark hackles standing up. ~By the whims of a monster,~ she growls out lowly.

Dillen takes in a deep breath and lowers his head. ~She is a true wounded soul.~ He adds.

Endures-Pain radiates dignity as she is acknowledged, her head dipping in acknowledgement to the galliard. Her ears perk up at the last bit of her words, her head tilting slightly.

Kills-Wisely at first seems unconcerned with the mention of the lost cub, but then snaps his teeth with a quickly growing howl at those speaking out, quiet or loud, out of turn.

Flood-of-Flame's foul mood becomes even worse, at the mention of a lost cub, who was tortured! He snaps at the air.

~Heals the Rifts had visions of a young cub being transported by giant spiders at a fast pace. She and Sings to Spirits put together that she was being transported by vehicle and thus, recovered her. With her, was a scientist that is still alive and in our possession. He calls us a plague, a germ upon the planet. He thinks that we.. Garou.. are a /disease/ that can be simply cured by modern medicine, and unfortunately, the cub feels the same way. She is young, misguided, and has many injuries mentally and spiritually. She is weak, has ... things.. implanted in her.~ She says with a growl, shaking her head. ~I called upon the Half Moon's to speak with her, those with patience, and I wish to commend Innocence for his efforts in helping calm her. The scientist.. will need to be killed. I have a kinfolk in the police force working on this as we speak and has gained valuable intelligence. He is from Idaho and was on the run when the Sept there demolished the lab. He claims that this is /bigger/, that it is not just one lab, but many, and that we will be /cured/ soon.~ She shakes her head once more, ears flattening. ~I do not know the truth of his words, so if any Half Moon with the gift can please speak to him, it would be appreciated. Until then.. Hope has now been ushered to the farmhouse after being checked out. She isn't of the Wyrm, there is no traces planted upon her. She is just fragile. If any wishes to take her into their tribe, give her a /chance/.~ She says, glancing to those around her.

White Bear turns his head around, turning his growling and glowering to the people out of turn; those terrible people making this part of the moot more drawn out and keeping them from the revel that much longer.

Fights-For-Hope is attentive, and up until now patient, but he edges forward a bit more in hopes to get through with this portion of the moot.

Dakota sets her jaws in silence and her eyes bright with emotion, but she keeps silent and seated.

Clearing her throat, Guards-The-Flame rumbles. ~I have been over seeing this for awhile now and I am at a dead end. The lab is destroyed, there was an obvious cover up. There is something that I am missing and I could use all the help you can provide, Hidden Walk Sept.~ She twitches her ears slightly, then slowly hands the bones back to Challenge Master.

Flood-of-Flame tries to stifle his Rage as his Elder describes the horrors that were enacted on this cub. And another instance in which the Veil was breached, too! All the bad news seems to overload his circuits. He lets out a sharp bark of anger, which settles into a snarling growl.

Trees' Voice hunches his shoulders and stares downward again, huddled in his Crinos-sized overcoat.

Olga pulls her jerky from her mouth, smiling an ugly smile that isn't anything near happy, face twisted and wry. "The Coggies not gonna give her a `chance`, then?" she asks Alicia as she walks back, curious but with a bit of a bite to her voice, slightly sullen.

LeafDancer shakes her big shaggy skull at such words. However, her look doesn't appear to hold sadness, but instead a hint of determination. The cub takes mental notes now, eyes shifting to Flood-Of-Flame- briefly.
Guards-Flame tilts her head to Olga, then touches her nose silently, giving a quick grin.

~Why is he not...~ Holds-the-Line begins, biting her tongue on her own words. After a second she bares her teeth again, clearly angry, but keeping silent this time.

Edge clicks his jaws together, the philodox turned thoughtful before looking back to the Truthcatcher.

Endures-Pain snorts at something--perhaps the situation or her own thoughts. She glances at those sitting near her before returning her attention to the one with the bone.

Jacob waits a moment for people to settle down after that last bit of news. He then steps out of the crowd of Garou in the center to take the bones from Sifhuil with a quietly offered ~Thank you.~ He looks nervous, as if hes never done this before or hes about to deliver some bad news--perhaps even a combination of the two. He clears his throat, stands straight, and says what hes here to say. ~I am Jacob, Lost Soul, a Galliard Lost Cub found by the Uktena, trained at the Sept of Midnight Fire, and here as part of my rite of passage and acceptance into the Uktena. I bear the following message from the Alpha of Midnight Fire:~
Olga doesn't seem to know at first quite how to take the gesture with which Guards-Flame responds, but after a moment she must get something from it because she closes her eyes and rubs at her forehead in dull frustration, before turning again to her beef jerkey.

Pierces Ice, calmer though not calm, turns her attention to the cub from Midnight Fire.

White Bear turns from the noisy folk to the Cub, tilting his head as he peers at Jacob. He's not a whole lot calmer.

Jacob begins delivering the message from the other sept's Alpha. ~In late July of last year, emissaries from the Sept of the Hidden Walk traveled to the Great North with two tainted fetishes taken from fallen Black Spiral Dancers. These emissaries--the pack called Crescent Wing, led by Sheeaghan of the Fianna--traveled to find the Sept of Midnight Fire, an Uktena sept, to perform this cleansing. With Crescent Wing came Rags-to-Rags, an Uktena homid to serve as a guide. A very obvious and intentional stress is added to Reggie's breed name. There was some miscommunication prior to the groups arrival, likely due to using a spirit as an intermediary rather than a galliard, and it was unclear what the Hidden Walks true intent was for their mission. Fortunately, Sings-to-Spirits, a Galliard Fianna of the Crescent Wing pack, was more glib of tongue than his pack alpha, and was able to clarify why these two tainted fetishes were being brought to Midnight Fire--for cleansing and to see if either of the fetishes could be reclaimed for use by the Garou in defense of caern and Gaia.~

Jacob looks over the assembled garou, signaling the importance and gravity of his upcoming words. ~Sings-to-Spirits and the other members of Crescent Wing negotiated the following pact with Cold Lake, Adren Philodox Uktena and Alpha of Midnight Fire.~ Jacob pauses, then states the terms of the agreement agreed upon by the pack from the Hidden Walk. ~In recompensation for the Sept of Midnight Fire taking and cleansing these two fetishes, the Sept of the Hidden Walk offers first pick of the reclaimed fetishes. The one not chosen by Midnight Fire will be returned to the Hidden Walk.~ He waits, letting the gravity of this sink in.

Three-Blades swivels an ear in the direction of Jacob. Nose taking in his scent, she suddenly remembers the tainted fetishes and her ears flatten back. The Gnawer looks to Pierces Ice first, then White Bear, and then falls back to gazing upon Jacob.

Endures-Pain just -stares- at Jacob. ~This is a joke, right?~ she asks of Tu, clearly stunned by the news. ~How is that a good deal?~

Isaac looks around for Trevor and then turns back to Jacob with a lick of his nose and a twitch of his ear, curious and hopeful.

Jacob resumes speaking after a pause to let the assembled garou fully digest the terms of this agreement, an agreement proposed by members of the Hidden Walk and not Midnight Fire. He then promptly addresses the thought that many garou have likely already considered--and Endures-Pain just vocalized. ~Cold Lake was careful to point out to the pack the strong possibility that one or both fetishes might be damaged or destroyed during the attempt to remove the taint from them, and that if this occurred with even one fetish, the Sept of the Hidden Walk would receive either a damaged fetish or nothing at all. Crescent Wing agreed to these terms, gave the fetishes to the Garou of Midnight Fire, and departed.~

Pierces Ice's eyes darken with remembered pain and anger from the Dancer attack.

Holds-the-Line watches the young stranger in some confusion, but patient. Clearly this too is news to her.

Kills-Wisely growls at memories of those who left the Fetishes behind.

Guards-Flame nods her head slowly in understanding as she listens, having already heard of this news. She steps forward a bit, ears canting, paying close attention.

Fights-For-Hope is huffing in large breaths now, eager to hear this news.

Jacob finishes the last of the message he has been tasked to deliver, aware of the growing unrest and quiet comments from the members of this foreign sept. ~I am here to announce the results of these cleansings as part of my rite of passage. Both fetishes were cleansed, but only one survived the process. The second fetish was unfortunately destroyed. As per the pact made between Crescent Wing and Midnight Fire, Midnight Fire has first pick of the two fetishes--and chose the fetish that survived the cleansing process. We offer our regrets that the second fetish did not survive.~ Jacob tactfully ends his message here so as to not rub in the fact that the Hidden Walk is getting absolutely nothing out of the deal. Finished, the cub offers the bones back to Sifhuil and hesitates to see if he ought to run from--rather than return to--the mob of Garou in the center of the caern.

Pierces Ice's hackles rise once more, but her anger doesn't seem directed toward the cub. Instead, she searches the caern for the members of Crescent Wing, lips curling away from teeth and the growl building once more.

Edge snorts once at the news, a large paw digging against the ground. The Shadow Lord makes no comment, but keeps his eye on the passing bone.

Endures-Pain just -stares- at the cub, apparently reduced to just mute shock at this point.

White Bear can't get much more angrier then being right and pissed, but he manages anyhow. His head pivots from the Cub to Crescent Wing, then back to the cub as if contemplating shooting the messenger.

Holds-the-Line turns, dumbfounded, between the cub and the members of Crescent Wing.

Flood-of-Flame snorts quietly. He seems neither disappointed nor angry - the Gaian doesn't seem to care at all. Or maybe it just doesn't sink in, and he is still stuck on the news of the Veil Breach and lost cub.

Isaac's ears turn outward and he seems momentarily deflated, though that lasts only a brief while before he grins again toward the cub at the rocky outcropping.

Trees' Voice seems more dispirited than angry, though the anger around him makes the nervous metis twitch.

Guards-Flame nods her head slowly, then rumbles quietly in her throat. Do not kill the messanger. Her ears twitch some as she searches the crowd slowly for members of Crescent Wing.

Fights-For-Hope does not search the crowd, his eyes are firmly locked on the cub as he waits.

Thunder's Forge lays both his ears back at the pulse of anger, but like Edge, seems rather indifferent to it all - a deal's a deal, isn't it?

Dillen shakes his head at the loss.

Jacob tentatively heads back into the crowd once it's obvious he's not going to be tonight's pre-revel appetizer.

Severs watches Jacob's wary retreat.

Holds-the-Line finally rumbles, ~Crescent Wing did not make a very good deal with the Sept of the Midnight Fire.~ Stating the obvious, yes.

Endures-Pain shakes her head in an abrupt motion, displeasure on her expression. ~An understatement,~ the theruge says to Holds-the-Line.

Reggie shifts his weight from one foot to the other, uneasy, as he listens to the visitor's tale, and settles into a sombre posture, shoulders slumped in remorse.

Edge steps forward to take possession of the Cracking bones. Waiting until most of the eyes have settled onto him, he growls out, ~I am Dagger's-Edge, rited Philodox and Shadow Lord.~ His eyes are kept at neutral, though the tension in the air seeps into him. ~I seek a teacher of Garou rituals, and especially wish to learn the rite that dedicates clothing to the shifting body. Call upon me later, if you are interested in dealing with this Shadow Lord.~ His announcement made, the philodox casts another gaze over the crowd, turns to the Truthcatcher and returns the bones before returning to his seat.

Sifhuil watches Jacob, tight-lipped, expression otherwise blank. After Kenneth has made his announcement, she reclaims the bone fragments... The Truthcatcher turns stiffly to her Septmates and proceeds with the Cracking, assuming her position as Master of the Challenge. ~There is one rank challenge still in progress. I will allow Fights-for-Hope to relay the details. There was to be another challenge issued here, tonight--but the Fostern and Warder, who is not present for this Sept moot, failed to come up with terms for a fair challenge. This has been deemed unacceptable...negligent for a ranked member of the Hidden Walk, and Seeker will be approached and dealt with appropriately.~ The Fianna's eyes twist toward Jacinta, to see if there's anything she'd like to add.

White Bear clenches his jaw. Tightly. The Ahroun's head scans from Layne to Jacinta, the Ahroun growling out loud once more.

Three-Blades looks then from the Trutchcatcher and MotC to Fights-For-Hope, her interest rekindled with the talk of challenges.

Pierces Ice's reaction is a simple growl that builds from nothing into a roar of pure frustration as she shifts position from a crouch beside her packmate to stretch upward to her full height, arms flung out to her sides. She looks at the others gathered, eyes brimming with rage, and her jaw snaps shut. She has no words to say to this, only anger.

Fights-For-Hope seems rather concerned with the news of the Warder, shaking his head deeply at Seeker whom he fought for the position. Never the less, Fight-For-Hope steps forward when his turn comes and taking the bones in his hands he turns to call out to the Sept, eyes pausing for a moment over the rage filled Jacinta before looking on. ~First. I'm surprised at Midnight Fire's choice in sending a cub with information when we honored them with a pack, however that pack may have handled themselves. I have to question just which fetish was destroyed and which remains and if honor is truly being served. But that is not the reason why I am up here. Rags-Torn-To-Rags has but two final portions of his challenge to me for Fostern remaining. I call upon any who would find glory in battle and honor in helping their fellow Garou. He must hunt down a minion of the Wyrm, any creature under its fowl wings. Killing it, Rags must return a trophy of his hunt to me. Those who join him can not assist in him in that kill, only in fighting others that might distract Rags. Find the Uktena Ahroun, should you wish to test your mettle on the Foe. If he is wise, he will not turn down the eager claws of his brothers and sisters.~ His piece said Fights returns the bones and steps back down.
Reggie looks resigned as the Get takes the bone, then, as the Get details his Challenge, he straightens with hopeful surprise, his focus sharpened on Jamethon. After Jamethon completes, Reggie looks about the crowd with speculation, his gaze resting on some longer than others.

Jacob's eyes grow wider as the Get delivers the first portion of his speech, then the initial shock disappears and outrage is painted across his face.

Edge looks back to Thunder's-Forge and Bloods-Bane after the the Gatekeeper has spoken about Rags' challenge. Though he evidently isn't entertained at the thought of helping the Uktena ahroun, the philodox does give his two packmates a thoughtful cant of his ear.

Dillen turns to the two others in his pack and nods his approval.

Guards-Flame turns her eyes over to Reggie and nods her head sharply, thumping herself upon the chest, ears twitching.

Flood-of-Flame looks at Reggie, considering, with the flick of an ear.

Isaac sniffs toward Layne, leaning forward. His expression turns sour when she talks of the Warder's failure in his duty, and then thoughtful as Jamethon speaks regarding Reggie's challenge.

Signe appears at the edge of the clearing, mixing with those at the edge of the collected garou. The Get's shoulders and back are tense, even more so than the moon's weight alone can cause. She remains there at the back, not drawing attention to herself while she tries to catch up on what she missed.

Thunder's-Forge retains a look of thought at best as he looks between his packmates, but the indifference and rejection of earlier seems to make him reluctant, if not loath, to fling out his assistance. He mearly grunts in a non-commital response and regards the Uktena of discussion.

The Fianna metis remains hunched in on himself, though he does spare Midnight Fire's young emissary a sympathetic look.

Endures-Pain's head turns toward Fights-For-Hope and again, she radiates disapproval without so much as a twitch with her ear. She leans over and murmurs something to Calls-Spirits, low enough that it can't be heard.

Holds-the-Line's ears go flat back against her head when Fights-for-Hope suggests that the Sept of the Midnight Fire would be so dishonorable as to lie. ~Are you accusing Cold Lake, the Adren Philodox,~ she stresses the other Alpha's rank and auspice, ~Of dishonor, Fights-for-Hope?~

Fights-For-Hope growls out something to the effect of, ~If the Walker wishes to speak, she should step forward and claim the bones. As for accusations, I simply am worried about the presence of a cub as our messenger and the vagueness of his message. I accuse no one of intentional falsehood, after all, if at least one fetish survives then it will be used to fight for Gaia and not against her, this is enough for me. But I would hope that the Midnight Fire would share with us knowledge of this fetish so we may know it is now in the service of Gaia. We are all on the same side.~

Three-Blades hadn't wanted to say it, but with Holds-the-Line's voiced train of thought the ragabash stands from her squatted pose. ~Fights-For-Hope-rhya only speaks of what we should be asking. However, I do not doubt the cub's words, nor do I doubt our Truthcatcher's abilities to sense lies. The Midnight Fire has shown their trust to us by sending the cub,~ she adds with a glance to the Get theurge. ~In trusting their young in our hands, that we allow him to return unharmed.~

Kills-Wisely seems rather unimpressed with all the shouting as his growling powerfully increases in volume, ~Respect the bones!~ he roars out in lupine equivilant to throwing his arms up in frustration.

Sifhuil bobs her muzzle slightly at Jamethon's announcement, and then the Challenges portion of the Cracking is closed. Attention is turned toward cubs and new members of the Sept. ~Those of you who have just arrived at the Hidden Walk, come forward--introduce yourselves,~ the Fianna rumbles.

Trees' Voice seems almost reluctant as he gets to his feet, but the ugly metis approaches the Truthcatcher nonetheless. His manner is meek; he introduces himself simply -- ~Voice of the Trees, mule Galliard of the Fianna.~ -- and then returns to his place at the outskirts of the gathering.

Isaac's ears perk and he lifts his head to follow Erik from his place beside the Truthcatcher back to the center. His expression registers pleased surprise, before he wrinkles his nose and sneezes twice.
Nervously, glancing back at her tribe mates, Leafdancer slowly makes her way out to take the bones carefully, clearing her throat. ~Dances with Leaves.. Ragabash Cub for .. the Children of Gaia~ She darts her eyes about nervously, then gives the bones back, scurrying towards Guards-Flame and Rifthealer once more, letting out a loud breath.

Endures-Pain's lip curls up slightly as Trees' Voice steps forward, her pale blue eyes following the metis as he moves.

Holds-the-Line's earlier lack of ill-temper comes creeping as the Fianna Metis introduces himself. She stands a bit straighter, watching him, and continues to watch him for several moments even after his introduction is completed.

Edge watches the newcomers as they come up. Trees gets a longer stare than usual, and Leafdancer barely merits more than a glance from the halfmoon.

Flood-of-Flame looks at the metis evenly, forcing down the initial disgust the poor Fianna's appearance brings, and makes it a point to give the Galliard a small tail-wag. Leafdancer gets an encouraging nod and a more emphatic tail-wag, pushing down his Rage from the bad news and fat moon.

Olga looks at the new arrivals, watching Trees' Voice as long as she can stomach and then looking away. When the Cub comes forward though, she smiles at her nervousness, though the expression is tighter and her amusement less pleasant than it might have been any other time.

Three-Blades cocks her head to a side, regarding the metis with a twitch of her ears before they tilt back. The ragabash then puts her tight expression away and forces on a pleasant gaze as Leafdancer braves the many eyes of the gathered Garou.

Pierces Ice keeps her head turned away from the gathering while she seethes, doing all within her power to maintain until the Revel. Even so, there are twitches in the muscles along her spine as others speak.

Trees' Voice avoids the stares and glances and, yes, even the lone charitable tail-wag. He keeps his sunken, misaligned eyes fixed on the ground.

Making her way forward, Guards-The-Flame takes in a deep breath and reaches out, gathering up the bone once more, turning towards the Sept. ~Firewatcher gives her regards for not being able to attend tonight, but she passed some information on to me to give to you. First of all is in regards to the Veil Breech. She needs those that can help, to help. You all heard Holds The Line story and this needs to be resolved. Please speak with herself, or Deifant-Storm and Holds The Line for more information. This is a spill that needs to get cleaned up as quick and quiet as possible. The GlassWalker is wise in thinking we need to cause a distraction elsewhere while we handle this. Ideas are always welcome.~ She pauses for a moment, then continues.

~In regards to Hope, we are treating her like any other lost cub. Firewatcher wishes for those who wish to take her in, to show interest and follow the same set of rules.~ Guards-The-Flame rumbles in her throat. ~The last thing, is that for the tribal Elders, she is not happy that only two Elders have been giving her weekly updates on going ons in the tribe and territory, and that she wishes for it to be followed, immediately, even if your news is simply, that there is no news. If any has new kinfolk in the city, she wishes to meet them as well and she will make herself available upon request.~ With a tilt of her head, she turns and gives the bones back to the Master. ~That is all that I have from the Alpha. Thank you.~

Edge eventually lowers down onto his stomach, shoulders twitching with effort to stretch the limit of his patience. Guards-Flame's words only seem to make the philodox even more agitated.

Trees' Voice retreats to the very outskirts of the caern as the Moot comes to a close; the metis shows no inclination for joining the Revel. Then again, _someone_ needs to stay behind and guard.