A knock emanates from the church doors, barely audible over the wind outside. Jarred pokes a head inside. "Yi? Nevada? Anyone?"

Yi is up in the rafters, and surprisingly she isn't performing any applaudable acrobatics. Instead, she's dusting. And a lot of dust there is, drifting down towards the floor. "Hello Jarred," she manages out of a bout of coughing.

Jarred smiles up at the Gnawer. "Heya.... I'm glad you're here... you're the one I've been looking for.."

Yi glances down, and if her features could be seen through the dust and dimness, she's curious. Deftly slipping down, she lands on an open space between the first row of pews and the altar and strides down the center aisle. "Looking for me?"

Jarred nods. "Yep... looking for you... I have a proposition for you."

Yi straightens up the handkerchief-like rag wrapped around her hair, dusts off her jeans and looks back up at the Shadow Lord. "What proposition?" She blinks her eyes a few times as she eyes the dust that has moved from the rafters down onto the front row pews.

Jarred grins. "The chance to do some scouting with me and a few other garou. Strictly scouting, though. Shouldn't be any fighting involved."

Yi tilts her head curiously at him, arching an eyebrow. "Scouting? In the sewers again?" She brushes off a few more clouds before coughing softly and clearing her throat. "Who else is going?"

Jarred shakes his head slowly. "Not in the sewers. In Hanford. Do you remember hearing about what happened to the Sept of the Last Days up there?"

Yi rubs the back of her neck, then shakes her head. "I've not heard of a sept called that name, no. What happened?"

Yi furrows her brow, face tightening in a slight wince. "I'm sorry," she says in condolences. "What destroyed it, do you know? Who is going to scout?"

Jarred says "The garou of the sept destroyed it themselves. You see, the Caern of the Last Days was deep inside a system of caves, undergroung. It was a powerful caern, but was taken over by Black Spiral Dancers at some point. The garou of the Last Days fought bravely to reclaim it and drive the Spirals out, years ago... All was well, for some time... but there were still things that lurked below the surface... deep within the bowels of the earth, deeper than any of the garou dared travel. On occasion a spirit from below would break into the upper chambers and the garou would destroy it. They were always able to do so without much trouble. As it turns out, those smaller attacks were meant to probe the strengths and weakness of the Sept. And one night a very powerful spirit made its full-out attack. The garou fought valiently but were losing the battle. Rather than let the caern be taken over again by agents of corruption, they withdrew, except for a single pack which fought at the center of the caern, and then they detonated the entire area with explosives, causing a massive collapse and the destruction of the caern."

Yi had slid down into a heavy, tired lean against the pew she'd been standing next to. A troubled look floated over her face. "There must be something large there," she says softly. Then she glances up at the Shadow Lord. "Who's going out there to see? You, I know."

Jarred says "Owen... a Get of Fenris Ahroun. He'll be leading the pack. Jamethon, a Get Theurge. Quick, a Shadow Lord Ragabash. Myself, and maybe Shadow-of-Blood, a Red Talon. I know it seems odd to take a Bone Gnawer, but Kaz was also a member of this pack until she had to go elsewhere."

Yi nods slowly, brushing a dustbunny off her jeans. "You have only one new moon?" She arches an eyebrow, thinking it over. After a minute or so of thinking, she furrows her brow, and glances up at Jarred. "If you give me a time, I'll get ready," she replies with set tone. "The best to gain experience as a scout, is to be one."

Jarred nods. "I'll let you know when Owen wants to go. First, I'll have to go and tell him that you're interested. He'll be glad to have you. He gave me permission to go out recruiting. "

Yi nods in silent reply. "Just let me know," she says, turning to look up at the rafters again.

Farmhouse: Hallway and Living Room
All doorways in the front part of the house lead to the front hallway, a J-shaped area with the short tail starting at the stairs, the front door hitting the bottom curve, the doorless opening to the living room halfway up the long side, and the also doorless opening to the kitchen and dining room at the very top. The hall has a simple wooden floor, and decorated with a generic print of soft-colored flowers hanging on the wall to the right of the front door, and a tall table sitting under the print which serves as a place to toss keys. A closet under the stairs serves as a place to hang coats or to toss shoes.
The doorless opening to the living room is halfway up the side of the hall's J, and the word cozy might spring to mind when looking into is, as it seems to radiate comforting vibrations. A long couch sits against the south wall beneath a large bay window curtained only by sheers that manages to obscure the view in but only filters the day's light. A variety of out-of-date magazines are strewn atop a low coffee table; more neatly presented are the plethora of books filling the small bookshelves which line the eastern wall. Three chairs sit about the room, focused inward, to allow group conversations. Large floor pillows are stacked in one corner of the room, except one, which lies carelessly in the middle of the floor, apparently left out the last time it was used.
An opening in the northern end of the hallway allows access to the kitchen and dining room at the back of the house, while carpeted stairs twist up at the other end of the hall, leading to the second floor. A door at the base of the J lets out to the front porch.
(Non-Garou, please "+view curse")
Contents:
Alicia
NOTE: Current Farmhouse Residents (Updated: Nov 22)
Obvious exits:
Kitchen/Dining Room Front Door STairs

Alicia is sitting on the couch, looking bored out of her mind, staring at the wall. She's dressed in full sweats, pants and top, dangling her legs over the side idly.

Yi slips up the porch, though her step is a bit heavy and her breath just a touch winded. She opens the door and shuts it, glancing around for occupants.

Alicia blinks her eyes a bit and idly glances over, scooting upright on the couch again. Inhaling a deep breath, she gives a quick smile. "Hi Yi!" She's excited, the first familiar face she's seen all day. "Thank God someone I know has came by."

Yi turns her gaze to the girl, offering a smile as she walks over to the couch and sits down on the floor beside it, concentrating on breathing for a bit. After a moment, she nods to Alicia, "Hello Arizona."

((Long distance to the room: Yi has a handkerchief-like rag wrapped over her head. She was cleaning up the church before. :) ))

Alicia smiles. "Alicia...." She says softly. "Just call me that, thats my real name." Sliding down to the floor next to her, she leans against the Asian's arms, sighing a bit. "Its been so boring here."

"Boring? How is it boring?" Yi inquires, though the hint of a joke in her tone is evident. "What about the other cubs? Haven't you been getting along with them?" She leans back against the girl.

Alicia shrugs slightly and sighs. "I haven't really talked ta' anyone here yet. I really... haven't met anyone, it seems that everyone is busy." Wetting her lips, she clicks her tongue ring gently along her teeth. "Then again, it is only the first day."

Yi chuckles softly and leans back, resting her dusty head on the end of the couch arm. "Did you sleep well last night? Have you eaten? Anyone of your elders come by and teach you things yet?" Rapid fire questions come from the ragabash, almost motherly in a sense.

Luke comes in from the back door, and the sound of running water can be heard. A pause, then again with the running water, and he emerges into the living room with glass in hand, breathing a bit heavily, hair and t-shirt damp with sweat. Seems the Theurge has been hard at something.

"No... No... and.. No." Alicia says, drawling. Glancing over her shoulder, she spies Luke and gives a quick smile, then tosses the reddish and brown streaked hair over once more. Looking to Yi, she quiets down, resting against the couch.

Luke flashes a grin and a nod to the new cub, and offers both of them a "Heya," in greeting.

Yi is about to say something to Alicia, then glances towards the stairwell as Luke descends the stairs, tilting her head curiously. "Hello Luke," she greets with a none too curious tone. Getting up from the floor, she heads into the kitchen briefly to rummage in the fridge.

Luke says "So, manage to avoid pissing off the elders on your first day?"

Yi comes back from the kitchen after a minute or so, with a trio of Coke cans and a small sandwich for Alicia. The sandwich she offers to the girl, as well as offering Coke to her and Luke.

Alicia blinks and takes the sandwich and coke, glancing over to Luke once more. "Yah.. I'm pretty good at not pissing people off, especially in houses I don't own." Offering a slight smile, she grins, slinking down to her knees, placing the plate in her lap.

Yi drags over one of the floor pillows and sits upon it cross legged, facing the others. "What were you doing upstairs, Luke?" she quietly queries with an amused light as she glances how exercised he looks.

Luke takes a coke as well, and pops the top with a hiss of escaping air. "Very useful skill to have, you'll find. Probably save you quite a few beatings, though the Gaians are usually a bit gentler in that regard. You might be surprised at the number of cubs who show up here lacking it, so you can count yourself ahead of the game already."

Alicia nods her head, shrugging. "Its not that hard ta' keep your mouth shut when its not necessary to open it. I lived on the streets, I know how it goes. I'm new at this, I'm not ganna bother saying anything stupid for attention or whatever."

Yi pops the tab on her Coke and takes a sip, glancing to Alicia with a smile around her can before looking back at Luke.

Squall pokes his head in through the heavy door, rapping a knuckle on the doorframe. "Hellooo? Anybody here?"

Alicia pops the tab of her coke as well, taking a quick sip, then wipes off her lips with the back of her hand, glancing idly down at the sandwich.

Luke points a thumb toward the kitchen (and hence, the back door.) "I do my evening run out on the bawn, and most of the rest of my exercise routine either in the barn or the barnyard, depending on the weather. Decided to push myself extra hard this evening, because I've started taking a cub out in the morning, so I basically have to walk so that he can keep up."

Alicia darts a look over towards Squall, raising up a brow. "Yah.. I guess we're here." She says with a light grin.

Squall wanders the rest of the way into the room, glancing around with both eyebrows up. "Jesus, does Martha Stewart live here?"

Yi pauses in a second sip of her Coke, glancing around her red can of caffeine to the newcomer. Swallowing, she sets down her drink beside her on the floor and greets, "Hello. I'm not Martha Stewart, but I /am/ Yi."

Squall eyes the Coke with an almost frightening look of hunger. Managing to tear his eyes away from the bliss-filled can, Squall grins a little and nods to Yi, then Luke and Alicia in turn. "Hi. I'm Squall, Wendigo." The last word comes out a little odd in it's inflection, as if it explains entirely everything.

Alicia places the coke can down and shifts a bit in her kneeled position. Her eyes roam towards the other cub, sizing him up for a moment. "I'm Alicia, Children of Gaia."

Luke introduces himself, "Luke Cassidy, Cliath Fianna Theurge. Lucky for you, we're all Garou here, so you didn't just breach the veil."

"Squall..." Yi's expression turns thoughtful, then she brightens towards the Wendigo cub. "I think I remember Jay speaking of you once..." her voice trails for a little bit before she gets back up and heads towards the kitchen to dish out another Coke for the newly arrived cub. "Cliath new moon of the Bone Gnawers, by the way," she mentions as she closes the fridge and heads back in with the 'red can of bliss'.

Squall glances around the room again, one eyebrow up and eyes squinting. "Oh goodie, more reminders of Litany?" He keeps sarcasm and acidity out of his voice, but just barely. Glancing back to Luke for a moment he offers a slight smile. "If my manner's suck, it's because my elders have had me holed up on the bluff for about two months now. I'm a little lacking in social skills now."

Alicia raises a brow up slightly, then goes back to munching her sandwich in silence.

Luke chuckles. "No worries on that regard. Just be careful who you introduce yourself to, that's all. Most of the time it's safe, but there are occasionally normal folks around here."

Squall's eyes practically lock-on to the can in Yi's hand as she returns. The mention of Jay manages to shake his focus though. "Jay? How's he doing? I haven't talked to him in forever!" He grins, having taken a liking to the Bone Gnawer.

Yi hands the unopened can to Squall, shaking her head though with a small grin. "You have an entire mountain. Alicia here, has just this farmhouse." At mention of Jay, she swallows hard and returns to her seat on the floor pillow before answering. "He's dead," she replies simply before taking another sip of her Coke.

Squall nods and sighs to Luke, scratching the back of his head with one hand. "Yeah, I hear ya. My elders haven't exactly been around much to teach me all the little details, so it's become a trial and error deal. Not too good when there's some people who'd gladly beat me silly for forgetting my manners or something."

Alicia grimaces slightly as she listens to Yi's words, already hearing this story three times now from different people. Swallowing her bite, she shifts her eyes back to Squall.

Luke says "I hear that. You're only the second Wendigo I've ever met."

The fresh can of Coke is opened and being poured into Squall's mouth as fast as possible. Until the mention of Jay's death. Eyes wide he chokes and sputters, managing to swallow at last, but gasping and coughing from the burning of carbonation in his windpipe. "Dead? How, what happened?"

Squall takes a smaller sip from the can this time, after wiping his jaw on the sleeve of his jacket. His hand is shaking just a little, as he lowers the can to his side, nodding slightly at Luke. After a moment he responds, as if finally realizing Luke had said something. "Oh.. Who else have you met?"

Yi rubs her forehead with the back of her hand, nursing the can in her lap. "He died fighting a pack of Dancers. Two others fought with him but survived, Jarred and another." The can in her hands gets a small amount of scrunching, and she says no more.

Alicia finds her appetite gone and pushes the plate to the side. Standing up, she heads into the kitchen quickly, carrying the can of coke with her.

((You paged the room with 'Unclued cubs who hear of Dancers, start becoming very wary of any ballerinas that happen to pirouette by.'.
Squall pages to the room: Squall's had a couple indirect run-ins with Dancer info.
Luke pages to the room: But only those in Black tutus, instead of pink ;-p
From afar, to the room, Alicia runs screaming from river dancers.))

Squall's muscles go rigid at the mention of Dancers. From the straining of the muscles in his jaw, it could be a safe assumption he knows more than enough of the Dancers. "Any idea how many he killed, before he died?"

Luke doesn't seem overly affected by news of Jay's death, but then, he only met the Gnawer once, and briefly at that, so the man was a stranger to him. "Two-souls," he answers Squall, then falls silent, respectful of the fallen Garou.

"You'd have to ask one of the others that were there," replies the Gnawer no moon. Crunching the can a little more, she finally looks up at Squall. "Three packs went in. Chiaroscuro, First Strike, and Stonebreakers. All came out - some injured enough they will carry scars for the rest of their lives. All, except one. And that was Jay." She glances away as Alicia heads to the kitchen, then back to Luke and Squall.

Squall lowers himself down onto one of the floor pillows, sighing. He lets the can dangle in his grasp, forgotten. Shaking his head, he glances up at the Gnawer. "I never heard about it.. I wish I had. One of my elders is a tad paranoid though. After an..incident, he was a little worried about my safety." His lips pull back in a slight sneer, apparently unhappy with his elder's choice.

Alicia goes about washing off her plate in the sink, then drains the rest of the coke into the faucet. News of death isn't exactly something thats comfortable to talk about on your second day as a cub.

Squall finishes off his own Coke and says, "Hasn't been real possible to go wandering around until now." He nods at Luke, smiling. "Two Souls, Joseph, agreed to let me wander off the Bluff. Thank god.. I was going insane up there. Started talking to squirrels, and shrubs. When I wasn't eating them. Err..the squirrels, that is."

Yi busies herself for a minute, taking off the makeshift handkerchief around her head and retying it about her neck. "Who is your elder, Squall?" Finishing a quick knot, she swallows the last of her Coke and sets the empty can back down. "I've a question to ask, if one of your tribe would be willing to teach me about the forest."

Alicia tosses the empty can into the garbage, then heads back out silently, slipping next to Yi. Her eyes turn towards the other cub curiously, then leans against her Asian friend, sighing heavily despite of herself.

Luke raises a brow. "Yeah, definately sounds like it was about time you visited with people who'd talk back. There are extra sleeping bags up in the attic, even, or space out in the barn, if you want to crash here."

Squall glances over Yi, sizing up her woodsy abilities with one eyebrow slightly perked up. "Joseph is our elder. If you want me to pass along a message, I can."

Squall nods to Luke. "Thanks, but I think some of the Wendigos would spaz if I disappeared for a night. The bluff's cozy enough. Nice rocks to sleep on, wind to whip the fire around, wake up with pine needles in your hair."

Squall's eyes light up a little, his grin spreading. "In fact, I think you guys should try it sometime. Big sleepover with the Wendigo. It's kinda like camping. Minus the tent, supplies, conveniences, and pretty much everything but the clothes on your back."

Yi nods gratefully, leaning back against the Coggie cub and making a mental note about her sigh. "I would appreciate that," she replies to Squall, and from the look of her she is definitely one accustomed to jungles of concrete and asphalt rivers. "I thought the woods out here were quite beautiful, nothing like what you see in my home," she smirks. "I guess by the end, I will either appreciate the forest, or appreciate I was raised in the city."

Alicia glances to Squall and lets a slight smile touch her lips. "Can ah' ask yo' a personal question dude?"

Luke laughs. "Sounds nice, for a wolf. As a human, I prefer to bivouac with at least a few supplies."

Squall chuckles a little, nodding at Yi. "Yeah, likely both. For the first week I was having major fast-food withdrawals. Now I'm feeling weird just being in a house again." He looks around at the room, a little uneasy at the adjustment. Glancing back to Alicia, he nods. "Fire away."

Alicia leans over and whispers to Squall.

Squall seems genuinely amused at the Galliard's query. "Want me to blurt my answer outloud?"

Alicia shakes her head.

Squall nods, leaning over and cupping a hand to shield his words from the others.

Yi nods to Luke. "Exactly. Living in the city is very convenient. I felt that learning to track, scout, hunt in the forest, would help me in my scouting abilities."

Alicia nods her head slightly, then reaches out, toying with the ends of Squall's hair for a moment, a smile passing her pretty features. "Cool, I didn't think so. I pretty thought it was all show n' tell shit." Clicking her tongue ring, she leans back once more.

Squall sets down his can, drawing a knee up to his chest. "You're right. Moving silently through a building, and through a forest are two different things. Similar concepts, but definitely different practices. I think Joseph might be hokay with the idea of teaching you."

Squall pulls back slightly from Alicia's fiddling with his hair. He smiles a bit, trying not to be rude. "Some of it is, some of it isn't. For me, it depends on the person themself."

Yi grins a little, even slightly embarrassed. "Well whoever teaches, the woods will be the main teacher." She only briefly glances to Alicia and her clicking, before getting up to recycle her can of Coke.

Alicia nods her head slightly with a coy grin, eyeing Squall for a moment, almost as if regarding him, then goes back about her buisness. Drawing a knee to her chest, she leans against it, staring at her worn sneakers with dirty laces, double knoted.

Squall nods, starting to relax a little. "Yeah, I've gotten more than enough scars learning from the woods. If Linda's around, she'll likely teach you. If not, maybe I can." He grins, creases around his lips deepening. "I'm no virtuoso, but I can at least give it a shot. Show you some of the mistakes I've made, that have gotten me all kinds of unfun injuries."

Luke stays quiet, watching Squall and Alicia. Finishing off his Coke, he follows Yi in to toss his can in the recycling bin, and get a refill on his water. He's back in the living room fairly quickly, and takes a seat on the couch.

Alicia shifts her eyes slightly over to Yi, taking a deep breath. She seems to want to say something, but for now, she keeps quiet to herself.

Yi tosses her can in the bin before coming back and giving the Wendigo cub a wry grin. "And I should hope that you won't just leave me out there to fend for myself while you go hunt squirrels to eat." She sits back down on her floor pillow, glancing amongst the group.

Christopher walks down the Staircase and looks about. "Heya Guys. How's it going?" He steps off of the final step and walks towards the group.

Luke nods to Christopher. "Evening, cub."

Yi glances up and nods to the Fianna cub. "Hello Chris," she greets.

Squall snorts, eyeing Yi with an incredulous expression. "You kidding? Part of the learning will probably be hunting squirrels and eating them. They're tasting enough if you cook them right. I'd still kill for some Taco Bell though." He feigns hunger pains.

Christopher smiles to Luke and stands beside him. "What's going on here?"

((Long distance to the room: Yi then goes to the nearest Taco Bell in St. Claire, orders a taco and mentions to the register guy. Tastes like Squirrel.))

Squall glances up to the new arrival, nodding slightly.

Luke says "I'll tell you what I missed, being out here -- pizza. Lucca brought some over a while back, thought I'd died and gone to heaven." Then, to Christopher, "Just some conversation. Feel free to join in."

Alicia glances over to Squall and giggles, then turns her eyes towards Chris, the cub she met briefly yesterday.

Squall grins. "For the past two months all I've had is squirrel, rabbit, and a few fish. And god knows how many plants." He grimaces.

Yi looks for all the world very curious about the world of the Wyld. "Fish," she snickers a little, remembering her self-proclaimed motto: I'll be around fish forever.

Christopher looks over to Luke. "I can't belive that Steven hated my two stories. I don't understand what the hell is with that guy?"

Squall shrugs, sighing. "Ya get used to it, I suppose. And in the end I think I'd be much happier out on the bluff, than in any house."

Alicia scoots over a few feet to her backpack which is resting next to the couch, then huddles over it, digging around the various 'junk' that she has gathered over the past few years.

Yi glances at Alicia, wondering how the coggie cub is taking the conversation floating about before nodding to Squall.

Luke says "You made stuff up and added to them, cub. A Galliard can play up certain details that suit the telling, but you're going against what a Galliard _is_ if you add things just because you think they ought to be there. Who told you Cu Chulainn was Garou? I know Layne didn't, because she and I told his story in front of members of the sept, to prove we were ready to Rite."

Squall nods to Christopher, at last acknowledging his presence by giving a slight salute, touching his first two fingers to his forehead.

Alicia raises a brow slightly in Chris an Luke's direction, listening in on the conversation. Being a Galliard herself, she may find something useful out of it. Finally done searching, she draws out a notebook and pen.

Squall quirks a brow, glancing from Luke to Chris. He snorts a little, looking amused.

Yi also arches a brow at the two Fianna, remembering that odd name from Christopher's storytelling.

Squall grins a little. "Hound of Ulster, I could see as being Garou. But Chu Chulainn? That's a bit of a stretch I think."

Luke chuckles at Squall. "Same person."

Squall scratches his head. "Seriously? I always thought the hound was his dog or something." He shrugs, holding his hands up a little as if to ward off criticism. "Just goes to show ya that a Ragabash should never go around telling stories... Unless they're about blackmail, and sordid details. Then we remember every last word."

Alicia lets a slight smile touch her lips as she draws the notebook into her lap, letting her pen go to work.

Christopher sighs and lowers his head. "Okay. To be quite honest you everyone I made some of that stuff up in the story. I just couldn't remember everything. Perhaps Steven was right. Perhaps I am not cut out to be a storyteller after all."

Squall almost makes a comment, but decides that it's not his place, nor his tribe, to give a pep talk.

Yi gives Squall a look. "A new moon tells a story, just in a different light. We aren't talesingers, but our tongues can be just as swift," she comments before turning to the Fianna cub. "You're just a cub, and don't forget about it. Experience can only be learned through practice."

Alicia shrugs slightly. "Yo Dude, don'trip aight? Jus'cuz ya suck now, don't mean yer'ganna the next day. Practice makes perfect." The words come out without even glancing up from her paper, eyes intent and writing quickly.

Christopher is feeling really bad at the moment, and the expression on his face shows it. "I guess so. It's jsut that... well..." He tries to find the words.

Squall nods to Yi. "Yup, exactly. Galliards are the bards and the minstrels. We're more the jesters. Good at jokes, and unmatched at insults and sarcasm." He veritably beams with pride, apparently happy he can slice someone up with just a few choice words.

Luke says "Storytelling is a skill, not an innate ability. Being Fianna, it's going to be expected that you be very, very good at it, because our Galliards are the best storytellers among the Garou. When even the _other_ tribes admit it, you know it has to be true. So you _are_ going to have to learn. If I were you, I'd be asking Steven quite a few questions about the Galliard's art, and soon."

Yi finally notices Alicia writing something, but refrains from asking for the sake of her privacy. "Or any of the other gibbous moons of your tribe," she notes to Chris before glancing at Luke. "How long would it be until he is allowed out of the house?" she queries, thinking maybe the cub just needs to get out more or something.

Christopher looks up towards Luke. "I... I..." He heaves a sigh and looks down on the ground. "You're right. I just don't know how I can approach him. I think he absolutly hates me and he keeps saying that I won't ammount to anything. I try to keep himself from breaking down in front of him when he speaks to me like that, but it's really hard to hold my feelings inisde of me. I barely manage to do it."

Squall nods to Christopher. "Hey, only way to learn is to ask questions, otherwise people might be expecting you know stuff you don't. No shame in admitting you don't know a lot about something. Christ, I was totally ignorant about /everything/ Garou, when I first came here. Jay had me convinced I was going to be initiated into some freaky wolf-loving hippy cult." He grins fondly, though it quickly fades, remembering Jay's cracks and jokes are now stilled.

Alicia glances upwards to Christopher slightly at that next round of words and feels her rage boil in her veins. Taking a deep breath, she lets it all out. "Well Chris, guess what? Life isn't going to be fair ok? Some people just need to take the first step, get the confidence they need, and approach their shit. Its how ya deal with life. Prove to this..Steven dude that you have guts and do it with a high head. Otherwise, your just ganna get kicked around k?"

Christopher nods his head once and sits down on the floor looking up at Alicia. "I'll try."

Luke looks a bit sympathetic, but he nods to Alicia. "She's right. That's just something you're gonna have to get used to, cub. You're Garou. No matter what tribe you're born into, it automatically means there are at least a few tribes who hate you."

Squall snorts, muttering. "Or in some cases, your own tribe hates everyone else."

Alicia grins. "Or in some cases, your tribe hopes to help everyone else, and give a few tree's a reassuring hug."

Squall snickers. "In the scheme of things Chris, I think you're stressing too much. Try waking up to 35 degree weather, when the only thing keeping you warm is a coat of fur, not to mention the fact that your hips and back are popping like crazy from sleeping on solid rock, and you've just realized you have to /chase/ your breakfast and kill it before you can even taste it."

"And the Gnawers are one of the worst on the ladder of pride," Yi notes with not too much of that in her tone. Squall earns a slight arch of her eyebrow. "I think the trees like it," she grins at Alicia. "Being a cub means you're going to be down near the bottom until you prove you can rise to the top. It's just like any other trial in life."

Christopher picks up a carpet fiber from the ground and plays with it in his fingers and looks at it. "Man... this is going to be harder than I thought. A lot harder."

Luke says "The things that matter most are usually the hardest."

Squall says "Name one thing in life that isn't hard, bucko. At least you got a roof over your head and people willing to bail your hiney outta trouble, if need be."

Alicia giggles a bit. "Ya thought that being a werewolf is ganna be easy an fun? Shit yo', I'm on my second day an it takes every bit of willpower not ta' piss my pants cuz I'm scared as hell. I'm hearing 'bout people dying, getting ripped apart an shit, an my role is to 'heal' the others. Man. Just see it like this tho', this is yer basic training, if ya pass, that's dope dude. If not, fuck it, try again. Your a galliard right? If ya can't tell stories, fuck it, teach people how ta' dance. Every bit helps an counts, just try yer'best."

Squall grimaces at Alicia's comment, glancing to Christopher. "Just no square dancing, or tap dancing alright? I think we'd all be forced to beat you silly then." He adds a shudder and a look of disgust at the idea of Garou dancing in either of the aforementioned forms.

Yi nods in agreement with Alicia's words; evidently the coggie talesinger is already having a way with words. "If you aren't a story teller, you at least showed me and Nevada you could sing. Why do you think we offered you your cubname of Strings-Singer?" She smirks, remembering the /other/ name Nevada added.

Christopher smiles and looks up to Yi. "Well, sing and play the Guitar well. I guess those are two things I can do much better than storytelling."

Luke grins at Alicia. "Think the Coggies got themselves a good one, from the sound of it." That said, he grows more solemn, "But I'll amend this to it -- work damn hard to make sure you don't _have_ try again, once it comes time for your Rites. Because there, you don't always get a second chance." He knows, he's seen it happen.

Squall nods a little at Luke. "I'm not even close to my Rite, and already I'm on edge about it. I have no idea what to expect... Though, meeting the Wendigo spirit, I think it's going to nearly kill me."

Alicia can't help but grin at Luke's praising, a light hue touching her cheeks, allowing her eyes to stray back to the lines of writing she has scrawled upon the pages of her journal.

Luke nods. "Totally different for everybody, or I might be able to give you some idea what to expect, other than to put everything you're supposed to know to the test. I didn't even meet Stag on mine, myself."

Squall offers up a slight smile to Luke, seeming a little preoccupied. "Well, one thing I've learned is to never /ever/ greet Wendigo with pleasantries, or use the words "thank you" or "please" or pretty much any niceties."

Luke raises his brows, surprised. "I'm glad I haven't met Wendigo, then, or I'd have made a lousy impression, and I don't imagine I'd be on his good side to begin with."

Yi chuckles softly, remembering her own rite of passage. "I was thrown into Shanghai for a couple of weeks with about 50 US dollars, and a couple of other Gnawer cubs. We were told to make it back into Hong Kong in 14 days, with presents. I would say I met plenty of Mother Rat's children on the way back."

Alicia closes the book and stands up. "I guess I'll be heading back to the barn now, get some sleep." She's hestitant for the moment, then finally gets it off her chest. "Yi, have you seen Nevada yet?"

Squall shakes his head at Luke. "I made a big mistake, I can tell ya that much. He went easy though. Just cuffed me across the face, about as hard as a "gentle" lovetap from a friggin' polar bear."

Yi glances up at Alicia, blinking for a moment at her question. Then, decidedly, she replies, "I've only seen him briefly."

Alicia feels her heart pound for a moment, eyes lighting up. "Is he going to come and visit me? See if I'm doing ok?"

Luke tells Alicia, "Probably be warmer for you upstairs, and there are plenty of extra pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags." To Squall, a small whistle escapes him. "Fun, fun."

Squall snorts derisively, adding in a dry tone. "Oh sure, lots. I made a comment to Sepdet and Chloe, asking if next time I should throw a rock at Wendigo and tell him to go fix me a pot pie or something. They didn't quite see the humor in that. Can't imagine why."

Yi looks thoughtfully towards the girl. "He'll come when he can," she replies. Long distance to the room: Yi wonders if Squall knows that Chloe is dead too. oy.

Alicia scratches the back of her neck, then glances over to Luke with a nod. "Um.. Ok...I guess I can..do that.." She's slightly hesitant, but she gathers up her belongings, then heads to the stairs. "Um.. Yi...can.. you tell him that I miss him..and that I hope..." She pauses. "That he's thinking of me too...?"

Luke, on the other hand, does. It's all he can do not to crack up.

Squall watches the brief conversation between Alicia and Yi, not being at all subtle of his interest in what they're saying. Then again, he would say Ragabash and subtlety hardly go together in many circumstances.

Yi nods to the Coggie cub, offering a smile of reassurance. She gets up from her pillow on the floor again, this time to head on out. "I'll be in the barn," she notes to the others before exiting.

Alicia heads up the stairs after a quick wave to everyone, the last thing which passes her lips is a longing sigh.

Luke offers Alicia and Yi a wave. "Night."

Squall waves to Yi. "Take care." He almost says something about Jay, but remains silent, remembering once more about his death.