There's a moment's pause in the young cub's eyes, her head tilting upwards. Drawing in a deep breath, she lets loose with a beautiful song, bayfilled and sad. Her howl rings powerfully from her throat. One paw raises upwards to jab at the air.

From the rock outcropping, Robert raises a single finger to Finds-the-Lost as he listens to Pretty-Paws's howl, then he lowers the finger and nods to the ragabash. "And you found ... ?"

From the rock outcropping, Balancer in fact scrambles down the path from the waterfall and takes a drink before detouring towards the Warder and her recent investigation-mate, whuffling a greeting Lucca-wards as she does so.

Dyes-Hair-Often takes a deep breath and lets it out, ears folding back as she lifts up her head and bursts into the howl along with the cub, a few yips before going into a steady howl a bit deeper in pitch than Paws'. Every few moments she warbles slightly, providing a bit of rhythm. A pause to bark greeting at Tec, pant for a moment, and then -back- into the howl! She's a bit exuberant, but that's just because of the Coggie Peace Field.

From the rock outcropping, Dreamer is about to ask a question of his own to Ethan but when the song rings out he seems to be suddenly drawn to it. He nods to Robert absently and starts to slowly head towards the center.

The Galliard cub holds the same note for as long as she can breathe, allowing Dyes-Hair to follow along in tempo. Stopping for a moment, she gasps, then once more rejoins the Glass-Walker in song. A song for the rain, in blessing for the mother's tears, those which has quenched the earth's thirst through the busy summer. Her black fur stands on end, intoxicated by the glow of her birthmoon in the air.

Three-Blades trots out towards the center with ears perked, pausing momentarily at the long howl. The sound of wolves howling in the night is one that really moves the heart, even for one of the Scab. Her own howl follows the third, just a pitch higher than Lucca's but still rather low and long as it rolls from her throat into the air. Pushing on once the echo fades away, she lopes towards Dyes and Paws with a whuff of greeting.

From the rock outcropping, Finds-the-Lost paces a few restless, impatient steps, a tight circuit in front of the Warder and with eyes toward the center. It's when impatience over the howl ends that he answers. ~We found Garou there who have fallen to the Wyrm. They have a caern.~

From the rock outcropping, Robert raises an eyebrow. "You do have at least the former name, correct?"

From the rock outcropping, Balancer shifts on her feet, evidently somewhat eager to join in such a howl, but inserts, instead, I am not sure they know they have fallen. But Rides-Fire's gift says that it is so. This is Gaia's Tears. Of the Goose spirit.

From the rock outcropping, Robert nods once again, though his eyebrow arches somewhat. "They may not know they have fallen?"

Dyes-Hair-Often gives what is best described as a yap at the sound of Three-Blades, and adds a newer and more complex note into her howl, thanking the sleeping doe and near-countless rabbits and squirrels that have given either their lives or their peace of mind to let her refine her meager hunting skills.

Dreamer steps forward next to the two howlers and dips his head a bit in respect to... something... before he looks up towards the skys and lets out a rich deep howl. It's an undertone at best right now, almost like a rhythm from a bass guitar.

From the rock outcropping, Balancer explains, They speak of fighting the Weaver, and of being One, and of lines and auspices not mattering. They do not speak as Garou anymore, but they do not seem as those of the Spiral Dance I have fought before, who revel in killing and corrupting. That is all I meant.

Pretty-Paws lets her howl trail off a bit into a soft whisper, listening to it echo and mingle along with the other three howls. Twisting her ears to the wind, she keeps her eyes closed, swaying back and forth gently. That is beautiful, we are beautiful together. We created our own symphony of life and death, a perfect circle.

Three-Blades clearly enjoys the howling session, again adding in a howl of appreciation for the beauty of the world around, the rain, the night itself.

From the rock outcropping, Robert nods to Balancer. "I see. Actual subtle corruption. Interesting. I was almost hoping the agents of the Wyrm had forgotten how to do that, given some more recent examples."

From the rock outcropping, Balancer flicks her ears. Apparently not. It was rather interesting, if you ignored the fact that they had clearly become people other than what they should have been. She tilts her head at the Get. What was it you called it?

Dyes-Hair-Often goes into more detail on her earlier themes; the thrill of the hunt, the power and speed of the deer, the strength of its life - and the rich, nourishing flesh that it gave her and her packmate in reward for their skill in hunting and determination in bringing it to ground.

From the rock outcropping, Finds-the-Lost decides to shift into homid form, as some explanations are just easier like that. "It was weird," he says, after that quick change back to his birth form. "It was like... you ever hear about the Borg? They're this super-advanced humanoid species from the delta quadrant, and-- well, they're like a collective mind or something." He pauses in his rambling to think on the question, and shrugs. "I dunno, what did I call what?"

From the rock outcropping, Robert chuckles wryly. "I think the Borg are more Weaver, but I can see the point you're trying to make."

Three-Blades turns an ear towards the rocks when sharp senses hear 'Wyrm.' The howlings though, still stay in her as she listens to Dyes' new song. Once that too fades, she tilts an ear towards the Walker. Deer? A quick blink of confusion. You hunted?

From the rock outcropping, Balancer flicks her ears. The time of near night.

Pretty-Paws listening to the song, she opens her eyes up. Nuzzling Dyes-Hair, she skirts by them, chuffing in thanks and approval to Dreamer and Three-Blades for the sonnet. This one is going home to get dry clothing. May Luna guide your way home.

From the rock outcropping, Ethan gives Balancer a blank look and another shrug, but he answers her question obliviously. "Or, if you're old and don't know new Star Trek stuff, it's like the Twilight Zone. It really was freaky, like they were just mind-controlled zombies who had their brains sucked out. Oh, and their spines, too."

Three-Blades turns her head at the nuzzling, giving the Coggie cub a nice lick and a chuff. Don't shake inside the den. She whuffles, jaws open in lupine laughter.

Dreamer maintains a counterpointing undertone, not offering any particular message but only strengthening the messages already being put forth.

Pretty-Paws barks a good night to Robert, then leaps and bounds home.

From the rock outcropping, The goose said there were not any lowering spirits in the Umbra, but then, when it first came, did it not say that they had been taken under the ground? The Fury pads restlessly, the howls forcing her to movement if nothing else. There is much we do not know yet.

Dyes-Hair-Often does much as Three-Blades does, panting happily and letting the howl fade out for now. No need to set endurance records, after all. Yes, she asserts to the Gnawer, with Mouth's help. The deer dragged me surprisingly far!

From the rock outcropping, Balancer whuffles a farewell to the cub, as well.

Dreamer chuffs good night to those around him and starts to pad off towards the general direction of the city. An odd twitch can be noticed in his eyes by the perceptive as he turns away.

From the rock outcropping, Robert nods slowly. "Interesting. More and more interesting. We'll have to play this one carefully."

Three-Blades twists both her ears towards Dyes, lowering onto her haunches despite wet ground. Who is Mouth? And what is a 'deer'?

From the rock outcropping, Ethan says, "There was an Uktena there. And they spoke of a Groundskeeper. Something about how there were people to talk to outsiders -- I think that's what they said, outsiders -- but it wasn't them. They didn't admit to having tribes or auspices or even names." He gives Robert's observation a nod. "Yeah, we're guessing there's a dozen of them, maybe 15 or so. We'll need more than just a couple packs to kill them all."

From the rock outcropping, Balancer agrees with that, although we cannot go in half cocked. Thoughtfully, the Fury adds, They also referred to their Alpha as their Master, I believe.

Dyes-Hair-Often's tail wags, not really listening to the talking people quite yet. Yes - they are... The Walker pauses, ears flicking a bit as she thinks. They are similar in ways to horses, but smaller. They feed on grass and plants, and are very quick - it is difficult to kill a healthy one without the aid of your pack. And Mouth is Collin, she finishes.

Collin, collin... Three-Blades flicks an ear thoughtfully, tiny droplets of water sent grasswards with the motion. Like horse. Does it taste good? Her fur seems to droop a bit more at mention of packs. She doesn't have one, and it just briefly bothers her. But, that thought is fleeting since the mention of hunting has perked interest, and her eyes find Dyes' with curiosity.

From the rock outcropping, "Oh!" Ethan says suddenly, before the Warder has a chance to respond to anything. "And there's some really big ass dam up there. I mean, this think is freaking huge. I wanted to poke around in the Umbra, because I bet there's tons of cool spirits there. But Nightflash wouldn't let me, not this time. It really looked cool, though," he concludes wistfully.

From the rock outcropping, Robert purses his lips and strokes his smooth-shaven chin in thought. "Decidedly interesting," he says. "I wish someone knew the Rite of Luna's Spear. This sounds like an excellent candidate for that rite."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan asks, "Why, what's that one do?"

From the rock outcropping, Balancer wonders if Siegebreaker perhaps knows it? It does not seem likely, but we could ask.

From the rock outcropping, Robert answers simply, "It opens a Moon Bridge."

Dyes-Hair-Often glances over at Ethan's gratuitious homid-ness. Like she should talk, of course. Yes, it is, she whuffs at Three-Blades. Although after chasing and hunting, really, almost -anything- would taste good. Even Gainesburgers.

From the rock outcropping, Robert nods to Balancer. "Ask, please. She does not seem to be the sort who would know it, butit wouldn't harm to ask."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan shrugs at that, failing to see the significance. "I thought you could open moonbridges. I mean, can't you? Someone here has to be able to, one of the Godis."

From the rock outcropping, Robert adds, "It opens a Moon Bridge even if the caern on the other end doesn't /want/ to open one. Especially if done from a more powerful caern to a less-powerful one."

From the rock outcropping, Balancer affirms that it does not seem like a Rite my tribemate would know, but I will ask.

From the rock outcropping, Ethan starts seeing the significance now, real quick. "Holy shit, there are rites that do that? What's the point of -having- defenses if you just need some old rite to bypass them? That's like locking a house up tight, and leaving a key under the door mat. I mean, Christ."

Three-Blades glances up towards the rocks as well, though her mind is on the hunt and deer, the wonder of how it tastes stirring up a flame of curiosity in her. One ear turns to listen in on the conversation up above, but she whuffs to Dyes. Maybe the Wendigo will teach this one how to hunt deer. Asked Two-Souls about forest teaching, and he agreed. She beams, happy at the thought of learning something new.

From the rock outcropping, Robert raises an eyebrow. "The rite still has to get through the defenses. It just uses the strength of the caern and its totem to help. It is anything /but/ a common rite, though I have seen it used once before, to incredibly good effect."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan says, "That's gotta be designed for attacks, right? That's what you saw it used for? Maybe one of our Godi know it, it sounds like a good Get rite." And then he stops to think, for a few seconds, about just who the theurges in his pack are. "Never mind, no one in the Get would know it. Soren might have, if he was around, but I dunno. He was pretty Uktena-esque at the end."

From the rock outcropping, Balancer, less loquacious than Ethan, notes that she has never seen it used. Where were you, for this Rite?

Dyes-Hair-Often looks thoughtful and licks her chops. You ought to do some practicing upon the smaller animals first - they are trickier, but it is a form of training. Besides, fresh rabbit is very tasty! Just do not get a bone caught in your throat.

Three-Blades licks her chops, the sheer thought of food triggering digestive response. Rabbit, this one hasn't tried either. Have eaten snake though. Many bones in that one. Wendigo cub called Squall wants to teach about hunting squirrel. Must be like rabbit too. Her tongue lolls, and flicks upward to lick the rain dripping from her nose.

From the rock outcropping, Robert says, in a slightly forced casual tone, "Middle East. The Caern of Gaia's Blood was going to fall, and the agents of the Wyrm were laying a close siege. We had to break through somehow. Different circumstances, but it worked."

Dyes-Hair-Often shakes her head a bit, to loose some of the water from it, and gets a little shiver going down from front to back. Squirrels, she says at length, are cuter, bushy-tailed rats that climb trees.

From the rock outcropping, Balancer considers the man. This was a difficult time?

From the rock outcropping, Robert gives the philodox a small smile. "I think that term would fit, yes."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan mumbles under his breath, "Gaia's Bones, Gaia's Tears, Gaia's Blood, Gaia's Belly Button--" Rather abruptly, he turns over and down to look at the Fury. "Innie or outie, what do you think?"

Three-Blades follows suit and shakes off some water on her own fur, reluctant to move from her spot though as it's been warmed beneath her. Perhaps there is a place we can move so to be out of the rain? She looks up briefly at the sky, blinking as drops of water patter softly on her face, then gazes back down at the Walker.

From the rock outcropping, Balancer shifts upwards, brushing her hair out of her face. Without a trace of a smile, she says, as if it were the most important subject in the world, "Outtie."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan gives just as serious a nod. "You're probably right. I was thinking innie, but you're older than me." He cracks a grin with that, and as is sometimes the case with him continues talking without really thinking first. "You know, it's too bad you were born a Fury."

Dyes-Hair-Often glances over at Ethan's words, and her mouth hangs open in silent laughter, since she can see the impending ass-kicking. I do not think there's anything nearby, she whuffs at Three-Blades, unless - there may be a den somewhere, or a dugout. We would have to scent for it, and that won't be easy.

From the rock outcropping, Tecmessa's own grin rises almost at the same time Ethan's does, and it does not even flicker at his last words. "Thank you," she tells him. It /sounds/ sincere, anyway. "It's too bad you were born a Get."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan does a bit of conversational back-pedalling, or an aborted attempt thereof. "I just meant that, well, with you being a Fury, it means-- shit, never mind." He makes a half-second judge of the Fury's mood, and decides it doesn't look like she's going to immediate kick his ass, predictions to the contrary. "So's this where we have to throw down? I'm too lazy tonight if it is."

Three-Blades rumbles her own agreement, gazing about her for possible shelter and not finding much. However, she does get up, and give herself a proper shake, flinging water in all directions before letting her tousled fur settle back down. Ears catch the conversation at the rock, and she gives her own wolven grin, thinking what Dyes was thinking about ass-kicking.

From the rock outcropping, Robert mutters to Ethan, "Sit down and shut up before your mouth gets you into more trouble."

From the rock outcropping, Tecmessa does not, in fact, look particularly angry. In fact, she's smiling, and there's laughter playing about her eyes. "I'm really not in the mood, personally. Too much running lately." Shaking her head just slightly, she adds, "I think I know what you meant. I'm not a half bad person, so it's too bad we're hereditary enemies. That sort of thing. Yes?"

Dyes-Hair-Often reaches up with one foot to scratch behind an ear, making a sort of 'mmmwwmn' sound in her throat and then shaking off some of her own water accumulation. When my Kin finish restoring their home, I shall be glad to give you all the hot drinks and warm bedding you could wish - but that may not be done for a while yet.

From the rock outcropping, Ethan hesitates in his response, having actually listened to Robert's words there. He answers Tecmessa with a shrug, and a half-mumbled, "Something like that, yeah." Time to change the subject, maybe, but there's a certain ragabash pull that, from time to time, can't be ignored. "I'm willing to give you not even a quarter bad."

Three-Blades raises a paw and licks some water off of it, returning it to its place and doing the same to the other. Which kin is that? The only Walker kin she's met is Rina, and it doesn't seem like she was warming.

From the rock outcropping, The Fury regards him for a moment. "I can't resist. So what /is/ it that's 3/4 bad about me?" She looks slightly apologetically at Robert, briefly, but seems actually interested in the conversation.

Dyes-Hair-Often whuffs, Her name is Lianne. She has purchased some of the land next to the bawn, and has been restoring a home there; it will be good, I think, to have something other than the farmhouse available to our people.

From the rock outcropping, Robert nods politely to the pair. "Bonsoir. I'm afraid that I need to patrol."

From the rock outcropping, Tecmessa murmurs, "Walk with the Mother, sir."

From the rock outcropping, Ethan wasn't quite intending for the conversation to take a serious note, and he seems correspondingly dismayed as it does. In fact, as Robert excuses himself he seizes on the departure. "Oh, wait a second, I had something I wanted to talk to you about, Robert. Can I walk a little bit with you?"

From the rock outcropping, Robert raises an eyebrow at the ragabash, but nods. "You may ask if you come along," he says, and turns to head up the trail to the to of the valley.

From the rock outcropping, Tecmessa snorts. "If you don't want to answer, just say so. I'm not an inquisitor."

Three-Blades twitches her tail and registers yet another name into her mind's memory. She whuffs in approval, thinking it is a good idea. For now, though, the farmer's den will do. Straw is warm, in the big barn. Warm inside. She shifts her weight a little, thinking about the warm and dry building. On that note, she stands up and chuffs to Dyes. This one heads to the farmden, to be dry and warm. Thank you for the howl and hunting thoughts.

From the rock outcropping, Ethan relaxes again now that he has his escape route in place. He waves a hand with feigned casualness at Tecmessa. "Remind me later," he says, while thinking very specific thoughts to the contrary. "I gotta run, sorry. I'll try to spread the news about our investigation to some talesingers, too."

From the rock outcropping, Tecmessa snorts softly to herself again and heads over to her packmate.

Dyes-Hair-Often sticks her head over and gives Three-Blades a quick slurp. I'll see you there - be sure you shake dry before shifting back, if you decide to go into the house! After this, she bounds over towards Tecmessa, looking happy in a rather doggish way. Awww! (all together now: Awww.)

Three-Blades whuffs a greeting, then a quick departing note to both of them, and bounds off in the direction of what she /thinks/ is the farmhouse. One hopes the Gnawer at least has a little sense of direction after all the exploring she's done in this neighborhood.