Long distance to Kristine, Joseph, and Sepdet: Three-Blades | IC: A long, midtoned howl floats towards the island over the breezes followed by a trio of yips. Three-Blades, upon the rocky beach! Anyone there?

You walk out onto the frozen water of the lake; the ice is not quite thick enough for safe skating, and you skirt the thin areas carefully, not wishing to fall into the frozen depths.

Rock Promontory, East End of Arthur's Island
A rock promontory juts down from the raised, craggy island. Starting a good thirty feet off the water, over forty feet wide; it descends into the water, creating a narrowing ramp some one-hundred feet long. The dark granite soaks up the sunlight during the day, and slowly radiates it back out during the night, warming the nearby water.

You can climb the promontory onto the island, to the west. To the east, far across the water, lies an inviting rocky beach on the eastern shore of Lake Arthur.

Contents:
Joseph
Kristine
Sepdet
Obvious exits:
Back to the Mainland Up to the Cliffs

Sepdet pages: | Hearing the howl, she removes her hands, cups them to her mouth, and manages a fair imitation of wolf's simplest howls.-- hold on! I'll be there.

Kristine blinks and blushes as she notices Sepdet's arrival and she smiles, "For your concern, I'm eternally thankful." She laughs, at the howl, "Seems no one else wants cold toes either."

Sepdet heads down to the boat she keeps tucked up on the shore around the point and out of sight of the meadow, only to find dripping wolf. She grins down at the Gnawer. ~Speaking of cold toes,~ she murmurs.

Three-Blades politely shakes off the water near the edge of the promontory having shifted to have some more muscle to power through icy waters with. She chuffs her hello with a jaunty splay of her ears and sniffs Kristine a couple times.

Sepdet waves Yi back up to the fire Joseph's building. ~Get warm, you. And introduce yourself. I've still got a bit of rabbit cached; need any?~

Joseph's fire is small, but catching. He feeds it skillfully, settling to the ground and smiling at the Gnawer as she comes up the bech. "Kola."

Sepdet glances at the fire with a certain reckless look that Joseph's probably already started to recognize, but forbears tonight.

Kristine turns to eye the wolf a moment before she relaxes in a smile. "I tried that the other night. Water's cold as hell. I'm Kristine Vaughn-St. David, Stands-Proud, Crescent of the Silver Fangs, daughter of Raven, member of Light and Shadow, and Elder of Fangs here should you need an office to send your complaints to." She glances at Joseph for a moment, and murmurs, "Friend".

Three-Blades licks the water dripping off the tip of her muzzle and obeys Sepdet's orders to move towards the fire. Her hispo head dips towards Kristine as she rumbles off in the mother tongue, ~Evening... I am Yi. Three-Blades, new moon cliath of the Bone Gnawers, packed with Sepdet and Joseph in Avalon.~ Her ear tips towards Joseph as she whuffs to him too.

Sepdet explains to Kristine, ~Yi's the one I mentioned the other night from the East that's west of here.~ She winks, then sobers. ~You two working on lessons when Yi and I showed up? Don't let us disturb anything.~

Joseph looks from the Gnawer to the Strider and then to Kristine, his expression curious. "We were talking of Black Rabbit," he says quietly.

Sepdet's face tightens slightly. ~Is he here tonight?~

Three-Blades finds a comfortable spot around the fire, lying down and tilting her head towards the conversation. ~Black Rabbit? Not another counterpart to a totem spirit is it?~

"I was just showing off, Sepdet, about my Lakota knowledge, what little of it there is," Kristine explains then chuckles, glancing to Joseph, "Perhaps a little bit. Joseph-rhya and I were just conversing, like You and I did the other night."

Joseph looks very surprised at the Gnawer's comment, and for a moment, he actually laughs. "Yes, Hope, he is here tonight." After a moment, he adds, "He is always here." His hand settles in the Gnawer's damp fur and gently scratches behind Yi's ear.

Sepdet forces herself to relax with a visible loosening of the muscles of her face, and smiles again. ~Okay,~ she says meekly, and then turns her attention to Yi. ~Black Rabbit is Joseph,~ she tells the Gnawer with an odd hint of defiant firmness.

Three-Blades rumbles in assent to Joseph's answer, ears tilting almost submissively as he scritches. ~You have many names, Soulcatcher-rhya.~ Her tongue lolls towards the Wendigo, jaws open in a wry lupine grin.

Kristine chuckles a bit and smiles, turning her attention to Yi, "Sepdet-rhya has told me you're from the East? What made you travel here to St. Claire? If I'm being nosey, forgive my rudeness."

Joseph's eyes shimmer a moment at Sepdet's tone, though there's little more than curiousity in his expression. His smile grows warmer at both Yi and Kristine, and he listens to both of them as he watches the Strider idly for a moment.

Three-Blades turns an ear towards Kristine and whuffs. ~From the East, yes. Over the oceans I came, from the Sept of Rat's Tail. My elder wanted me to deliver a message to one of our kin who lived here.~ At this, her ears flatten back with guilt. ~I have not completed my intended task. Maybe because if I did, I would be called back.~ Her eyes avert from Garou to the fire.

Sepdet murmurs under her breath towards Joseph, dodging something unspoken, ~Little Bear asks if we still need him here. Apparently he's put anger aside for making after all.~ She starts at Yi's answer and drops to a crouch to be on wolf-level, expression distressed.

Joseph takes note of Sepdet's message, frowning, but like the Strider, Yi's comment draws even more concern. "That is not good, Blades."

Kristine's brows arch downwards, "No, it's not." She pauses and thinks for a moment, "Perhaps your former sept would be understanding in your wish to remain here, should the message be delivered?"

Three-Blades turns back to the Garou, shaking her head in an almost human manner. ~I am not positive I would be called to return. It was by Grandmother's bidding that I come to St. Claire to find a kin and give him some news about our sept. Beyond that, I don't know. She could wish for me to remain here, and do her bidding from here, or she could call me back.~ Her low growl pauses. ~I for one, don't think Grandmother tossed me in a box of fish for a whole month to just say 'hi' to a kin.~ Black tipped ears flicker forward, hoping to lighten the other Garou's thoughts.

Sepdet says tightly, ~Messages cannot languish mid-road. That's like leaving prey only half-killed. Get that done; we'll help if you need. But you may tell Grandmother you have a valued place here and would be sore missed. If for no other reason than the children of Rat have far too few to manage a city of this size.~

Kristine nods slowly, agreeing to Sepdet's words.

Joseph seems a little relieved to hear the message was--at least--not urgent. Or so it seems. He relaxes a little, but it's clear he agrees with Sepdet.

Little Bear has arrived.

~But I have written letters to my home sept. It has been almost a month since their last reply, but it is understandable. The Gnawers were I come from have a lot on their own paws as is.~ The newmoon Gnawer rumbles, almost a bit distastefully at the thought of just /what/ they had to deal with. Her eyes turn to the Strider. ~But I should deliver the message, yes. It might take me awhile to find the kin, but the stone's heart should find him.~ At this, her head rises, almost a determined look upon her features.

Little Bear comes slipping and sliding over the ice, head down, finally scrambling over the rocks.

Joseph asks, "Stone's Heart?"

Sepdet looks torn. ~We need you, but duty does come first,~ she tells the Gnawer. Her head jerks away warily at the sound of Little Bear's skittering approach.

Kristine pauses for a moment, "I believe she means Questing Stone, Joseph-rhya." She glances to Yi for clarification, but becomes distracted by the skittering.

Little Bear sits, licking at one front paw. Claws on ice are grandmother's joke on her children, I think.

Three-Blades lifts her head some more and sniffs as Little Bear comes closer. To Kristine she lolls her pink tongue in stark contrast to her coffee brown fur. ~Questing Stone, yes. I believe the moon is making me a bit more puzzling than usual.~

Joseph blinks at Kristine's explanation, his eyes suddenly clearing in recognition. "Oh, ah. Washte."

Sepdet peers down at the Wendigo. ~Gaia, I hadn't realized it was getting that cold. I'd better pull the boat up before it sticks.~ She heads down to the waterline again.

Kristine chuckles at Yi now that she realizes that there isn't danger with the newcomer, and nods, "You get used to the puzzling part, Methinks."

Sepdet calls up suddenly, ~I'll be back,~ and instead of drawing up the little green rowboat, pushes out into the water.

Sepdet has left.

Little Bear starts at just how thin the ice was that he crossed over. Then he looks at Kristine, penetratingly, as if trying to see through her.

"Hau, kola," Joseph says to Little Bear, his gaze settling on the other Wendigo more heavily than usual.

Three-Blades considers rising to her paws and covering Little Bear in damp hispo fur, but decides against it. Her chuff to the ahroun is followed by a glance towards Joseph, then Kristine. An ear is kept towards the direction Sepdet rowed off in.

Little Bear breaks eye contact with Kristine to go and lick Joseph's face. How is Robin?

Kristine blinks a bit as she suddenly gets stared at. "Is there--something I can do for you? Or..have you forgotten we've met..before?" Not that that poses a problem, mind you. She takes a breath as the eycontact is broke and she grins to Yi, "Seems the moon is getting to us all."

Joseph squitns at the wolf-licks, scruffling the fur at the other Wendigo's neck. "She does well. Very well."

Little Bear glances at Kristine. Had to remember. He turns back to Joseph. Good. Is she joining us too?

Three-Blades turns onto her back and wiggles against the rocks, paws flailing limply in the air as she rids herself of an itch and moves around for some more heat from muscle action. At Little Bear's question she pauses in her wiggling, half-turning an ear towards Kristine with curiosity.

Kristine adjusts her jacket around her legs and lifts a hand at the ear, "Don't mind me, alot of things I say don't make a whole lot of sense."

Before Joseph can answer little Bear, a whistle sounds from down by the shore. It's a familiar sound, especially to Little Bear, who gave Robin a whistle just like it. Little Bear jerks his head around, standing, ears and tail alert. He runs for the shore.

Three-Blades simply lies there on her back, again turning her head on the gravel below her as Little Bear tears off at the sound of the whistle. Her expression is followed by a querying rumble. Aroo?

Joseph gets to his feet at the whistle, but with Sepdet and Little Bear running to the shore, he decides to remain by the fire. His visage drops into a scowl, but not an angry one.

Kristine glances up to Joseph's expression, and queries, "Is everything alright?"

Three-Blades finally rebalances herself on her belly, also turning her eyes towards the Wendigo crescent for a moment before sniffing towards the edge of the water.

Joseph blinks at Kristine's question, caught offguard at the question. "Yah," he says, nodding and at least attempting to remove the scowl. He continues to watch the shore, though, almost anxiously.

Three-Blades rises to her paws and shakes her coat a few times before padding around Joseph to gaze at towards the water. One of her brows tilt to a side, as she softly growls to the Wendigo theurge. ~I believe there will have to be a time that I see you smile, Soulcatcher-rhya.~ She lolls her tongue, not looking at the Wendigo though an ear is turned to him.

Kristine lifts up a stick from the side to poke the fire, "Since we're having more company, I'm going to make sure the fire is appropriate to handle such a crowd." Long distance to the room: Three-Blades swims all the time, but that's usually because she travels in lupus/hispo out in the woods.

Joseph blinks in surprise at the Gnawer's joke--if it is a joke. Again, he almost accomodates the Gnawer, his lips turning up briefly in a ghost of a smile. But his attention is too distracted by the activity at the shore to get a real reaction from him.

Sepdet sculls back across the lake from the rocky beach, one passenger aboard.

Robin climbs out of the boat with Sepdet, her words only audible as they near the others. "You've been growing roots."

Three-Blades turns her eyes to catch the fading bit of Joseph's smile and gives him a short, affectionate gentle butt of her head on his arm. ~That's what I'm talking about,~ she grins wolfishly at the theurge. An ear turns towards Robin, followed by her eyes, a quick sniff, and inquisitive tilt of her head. Truly the moon is making even kin puzzling.

Little Bear paces the shoreline like a worried mother, whining softly as he watches the boat approach. Once near enough, he shifts up and pulls it well onto the shore before lifting Robin out and walking her well away from the water before setting her down.

Kristine hrms abit as she turns towards the shore, at the newcomer.

Joseph stands from by the fire where he's between the Gnawer on one side and the Silver Fang on the other. He looks torn between moving to help Robin come up the shoreline and remaining where he is, for some reason. It's comical to see that struggle in the way his body fidgets. Eventually, remaining where he is wins, but robin gets a very soft, very real smile. It seems Yi's wish comes true after all.

Sepdet ducks her eyes at the woman's comment. "Trying to," she returns. She gives Little Bear an annoyed grin as he takes charge and, with a shrug, turns to stow the oars and secure the small craft before following them back upslope to the gathering around the fire.

Three-Blades does catch the Joseph's smile this time, but her grin is kept to herself as she eyes and sniffs the newcomer's scent some more. She would be...? the Gnawer rumbles curiously.

Robin is transported from boat to shore, then, by Little Bear. An faintly accusatory look is cast to Sepdet after he sets her down, but the kinswoman simply murmurs a quiet thank you to Little Bear, adding, "Do not steal my feet, Enapay." She offsets the chide with a touch to the Wendigo's shoulder then moves toward the fire, stopping a few feet behind Sepdet. Whether or not this is in acknowledgement of territory or not is hard to tell. Robin shares a long, silent, look with Joseph, then looks to wolf and woman, neither of whom she has met.

From afar, to the room, Robin forgets to note that Robin's in jeans, a sweater, a scarf, jacket and boots. Ignore the desc.

Leonard hovers protectively a little behind Robin, holding one hand out towards the fire to make sure he can feel its heat even here. He glances over at Joseph as well, and decides to busy himself by throwing more wood on the fire, leaving the introductions to others.

Joseph answers quietly, since Robin couldn't know the wolf asked her name. His eyes remain with Robin's gaze as he does, and there's definite pride in his voice which carries the words farther than one might expect from such a soft statement. "Lightfeather Chases, mother of my child."

Kristine's being rude. Yes. Horridly so. There is no response from her once Joseph's introduction is given, just a rather..stunned..look, and a gaping stare at the woman upon that bit of information.

Leonard smiles a little at the sound of that, as if having a private suspicion confirmed. He places more wood on the fire, then strips off his sweatshirt and lays it on the ground for Robin to sit on. "Here..."

Sepdet seems a little discomfited, as she resumes her place, and at Joseph's words the frown in her expression resolves into a fleeting wince of...jealousy? That's one emotion no one's ever seen on her, and perhaps that's not what it is now. She covers it with a smile and settles down near the embers.

Three-Blades quickly tosses out the conception of Robin being Garou at Joseph's words. Her head flicks between the kin and her 'mate', and a further confused rumble at Leonard's great care towards the kin rolls from her throat. Furred shoulders roll in a wolven imitation of a shrug as she turns to sit next to Sepdet. The tip of her tail twitches, indicating of thought.

Sepdet reaches out and scritches Yi. "This is Robin," she tells the Gnawer softly. "I think I've mentioned her. But not some secrets." She gives Kristine a faintly apologetic smile.

Kristine's jaw closes with an audible snap. She nods to Sepdet, finally finding her voice, "I remember." She glances back up to Robin, "Hello, I'm Kristine. And, um, Congratulations?"

You sense Sepdet smells indignant. I'm sure that's an easy emotion to pick up. :)

Robin's gaze slides back to Joseph, though her gaze gives away very little in the form of reaction to his introduction. Leonard's cossetting draws Robin's attention and she answers him quietly, though her dark eyes glitter in a way he is most accustomed to. "You wear your shirt, Enapay. Or I will have to swim back to shore." She smiles a bare smile at the young man and kneels just to the side of said shirt, her hands on her knees. Kristine's greeting brings a nod from the kin and a long gaze. "Pilamaye, Kristine." Next Robin looks between Gnawer and Strider measuringly.

Leonard smiles. "I've got my fur coat to keep me warm, and you don't need to be sitting on damp ground." He looks at her, seriously. "Please." He shifts back into wolf form, sitting beside his shirt and looking at Robin expectantly. (no pun intended)

Sepdet holds Robin's eyes intently for a moment and then leans back, apparently relaxing. "Yes, well. Speaking of roots. Robin, this is Yi, of our pack now." She thumps the Gnawer on the back with her knuckles. "City girl who seems to have fallen in love with her fur coat."

Joseph watches Robin so avidly it would be staring in anyone other than her mate. When the kin kneels in the sand by the fire, he returns to his own seat, brushing sand from the knees of his leggings. It's Little Bear he addreses though. "Do not fuss over her, Enapay. You will not like the result."

Leonard's tongue lolls. She whistled.

Three-Blades blinks a few times, just more confused by the words of the kin that she uses. At Sepdet's words, she lolls her tongue and licks the Strider on her face. Guessing it /is/ more polite, the Gnawer shifts to her breedform and introduces herself properly in the way of her own culture. A quarter-bent bow of her head, and, "Evening, Robin. I'm, yes, Yi. Song Yi Ling, Three-Blades, cliath new moon of the Bone Gnawers." Then, with a pause, she asks, "Uhm... what is 'Enapay', and 'pilamaye'?"

Leonard is the first.

Kristine seems to echo Yi's question with expression, but she's not rude to Robin, either, "I'm pleased to meet you." She does blink and glances over to Sepdet with an odd expression.

Joseph continues with the Lakota lessons that started earlier this evening. He answer's Yi's questions, in case Little Bear's statement wasn't obvious. "Enapy is Robin's name for Leonard." He lets Robin explain what it means, if she wishes, and goes on, "Pilamaye means 'thank you'."

Robin's formal expression melts away a bit with Sepdet's words, or perhaps with the news. Either way, she murmurs a sound of approval as she takes in the wolf. "Then you will tell her where I sleep, Hakhata Niyaha, so I can learn her, too." Leonard's tenacity earns him a sharp yank at his ear, but the kin does drape the discarded sweatshirt over her knees. Joseph's comments earn him another look, possibly amused. "He might wake up with his tail afire." Robin seems to do well enough with all the shifting going on about her. Aside from the flickering shadows that the fire casts over her face she shows little reaction. Yi's introduction, though, evokes something very much like intrigue in the kinswoman's eyes. No explanation of the name is forthcoming. And if Joseph's commentary about maternity is true, Robin is certainly not showing.

Little Bear yelps at the yank, shaking his head, tongue lolling further as he looks absolutely thrilled with Robin's reaction.

Sepdet's eyebrows lift up slightly at the mention of fire, and she gives the woman a little more of a smile. "May I? And...Kristine asked, but I did not wish to give directions to your den, Satshu, without checking first." She includes Joseph in this statement.

Kristine frowns a bit, "Damn, forgetting my manners even more." But, there's beginning to be a stiff element to Kristine's posture, as if she was the new girl in school, or something. "Thank you, got it," she murmurs to herself, filing away the new Lakota word into her memory. "I'm also called Stands-Proud, I'm a crescent of the Silver Fangs," She finishes for Robin's benefit. She lfits her eyes to the pair and offers, "Not that I would, show up uninvited of course." Great, dig your grave deeper, Kris.

Little Bear lies against Robin's leg, facing Kris at the tone of her voice. He just watches her with an almost lazy intensity.

Yi finds Little Bear's fawning over the kin quite amusing, but the only thing that would hint at it would be her slender arching of her eyebrow. "Pilamaye, for the translation," she grins at the pair. She gives Sepdet a small bump between friends, mostly for the 'falling in love with her fur' remark.

Joseph returns to tending the fire, picking up his branch and moving the logs Little Bear piled on. His free hand moves almost instinctively to robin's knee, rsting there as unobtrusively as possible. He looks to Kristine, noting the change in her posture. "You said something about lessons, earlier? Or was that Hope?"

Robin's dark gaze, so like and unlike Joseph's flicks from Sepdet to Kristine. "Silver Fangs," she repeats without further elaboration. To Sepdet, the kinswoman answers while settling her nearer hand atop Little Bear's fur, "Without permission. You hold my secrets even more close than I." There is, without any argument, warmth in Robin's tone and gaze as she speaks to Sepdet. Robin looks to Joseph once again. She quiets as the conversation resumes to something sounding like a previous direction.

Sepdet gives Robin another of those steady looks, accompanied by a rueful smile, and tucks her knees further into herself. "It's my job," she mutters, gaze dropping to the embers.

Kristine was afraid of that, actually. "Perhaps, I should...go." She begins as she starts to collect herself, "Lessons? Lessons of what?" She's obviously beginning to get nervous, "I'm sorry, my mind's a bit misplaced right now."

Little Bear flattens his ears to his head preemptively as Robin touches him, tongue lolling with amusement still. Or maybe he's just sitting too close to the fire. At any rate, they go back up as Kristine starts fussing, and swivel towards her as she speaks.

Yi looks as if she understands the underlying conflict between Wendigo and Fangs, but her eyes show no prejudice towards either. Call her a child of ignorance, perhaps. Her gaze flickers between the Garou and the kin though, not wanting to answer for either of them.

Joseph glances around the fire, as if he was unsure what--among such company--could make Kristine so nervous. Shaking his head when he finds nothing, he looks back to Kristine. "You came to talk to Black Rabbit, about lessons, no?"

Sepdet exhales. "Kristine, if you're going through with your-- plans-- you must not be skittering off from the sight of too many friends at once, yes?"

Kristine's eyes dart between Joseph and Sepdet, trying to figure out how to answer them both without trying to sound disrespectful. She decides with Joseph first, "Yes, more or less, but, I figured, with..present company, that would be put aside for a little while." That..wasn't what she wanted to say. She just sort of gives a defeated moan to Sepdet, and slouches slightly, "Yes, Sepdet-rhya."

If Robin realizes she's contributed to Kristine's discomfiture, she doesn't show any sign of it. Her fingers absently wind some of the wolf's fur into a few, too-short, braid-like strands. Her gaze wanders from face to face of those present, resettling on Sepdet across the fire.

Sepdet just shakes her head and constructs a particularly reassuring smile for Kristine's benefit, a little more obvious than most of her secretive or subtle expressions.

Little Bear just watches Kristine's discomfort lazily, tail thumping now and then as Robin futzes with his fur.

Joseph looks from ristine to Sepdet and then to Robin. His gaze lingers on the kin overlong and then he returns to Kristine. "You are not interrupting. we could walk, if you wish."

Yi's dark eyes meander towards Kristine for her reply.

Kristine decides to make herself a bit more comfortable, realizing the outcome of her actions, "No, Joseph-rhya, that's fine. There's always another time, lest I keel over tomorrow." Not that that would be a bad thing, "I'm sorry."

Little Bear decides to stop staring at Kristine now, laying his head down and closing his eyes. His ears still keep track of what's going on, though.

Yi reaches over, slowly, a little hesitantly, and gives the Fang elder a pat on her shoulder as if she sympathized with the struggler. "Looks like my moon loves to twist tongues, na," she notes quietly before withdrawing her hand back to her lap.

Joseph looks confused at Kristine's reply, as if he didn't understand it. It's not a language problem in this case, though. "There is also now," he adds, in a tone that's almost confused.

Robin's hand smooths the worried fur and then stills, drifting now and then. With her other hand she reaches up to loose her scarf, pulling it from around her neck and loosing her hair over her shoulders in the process. She unzips her jacket and stares into the fire.

Sepdet rises up to work with the fire, that giving her something to occupy her hands. Her habit of handling burnt wood where it's still red or starting to smoke is a little alarming."It does. And Garou are too afraid of humans, for some reason," she murmurs to Yi. She leans over the coals and looks across to Robin with a faint affectionate smile. "Satshu? Did you come with any need tonight?"

Kristine nods a bit, deciding business would be a good thing right now, "Lessons, well, oddly enough I'd like to continue perhaps our Lakota lessons, just as a side project thing, but I need more training with the Shadow, and matters concerning out shared Moon."

Kristine does give Yi a smile though, obviously not handshy, no matter where the hand came from.

Yi fidgets at the Strider and Fang's words, a thought or two surfacing to her mind as she too gazes at the dancing flames.

Joseph focuses his attention on the Silver Fang. At the mention of their shared moon, he actually looks to the sky. "We will be summoning spirits for the pack in a few days time. If you wish, you could help me prepare for it."

"A fire," Robin answers Sepdet, lifting her eyes to the other woman's. "And the sound of the wind on the water."

Kristine thinks on that for a moment, keeping an ear on the other words around her, but not making them the focus of her attention. She nods, "That would be something I would like to do, yes. If you would have me, that is?"

Sepdet's chin comes up sharply at that. "Washte," she says, relaxing visibly for the first time since she stepped back onto shore. She puts her ashy fingers in her mouth and settles back.

Joseph's xpression shows that he would like that. Sepdet's word garners a flicker from Joseph, but he keeps his attention on the Fang. "what spirit does Shadow and Light follow?"

Yi comes out of her reverie for a moment, sharpening up at Joseph's words about spirit summoning. "When?" Her monosyllabic question, soft in tone.

"Raven," Kristine answers almost immediately. She doesn't say anyting else allowing also for Yi's answer.

Robin's eyes remain on Sepdet, the gaze circumspect. The other conversation washes around her.

Little Bear just dozes, or at least appears to.

Joseph looks to Sepdet to answer the Gnawer's question. He, menwhile, continues with Kristine. "I would be honoered if raven would meet with me." It's a request, put as a statement.

Sepdet tells Yi, ~When the moon's higher. We still need to talk to Iustus and Grandmother.~

Kristine nods slowly, "Perhaps I could arrange for Shadow to make a visit. It shouldn't be that difficult."

Joseph smiles again, though not enough that Yi could add it to her record keepig as a True Smile. He nods, and again turns to Lakota for when a deal is struck. "Washte."

Yi looks a bit blank at mention of names. Shadow? Iustus? Her answering nod to Sepdet's answer though, is indicative that it's good enough for her.

Kristine nods, and takes a breath. Definately a step in the right direction, she also give sa puzzled look to Sepdet, though.

Sepdet smiles at her packmate. "Iustus is a Black Unicorn, Yi. He lives in the forest nearby. A... great-hearted creatrue." She remembers her English this time, but finds it awkward describing spirits in anything but her birth-tongue.

Kristine ahs understanding now, and nods, slowly.

As Sepdet slips to a more familiar tongue, Robin's gaze drops to the lupus Wendigo beside her. "You run too far away, Enapay," she murmurs beneath her breath.

Yi nods again, this time with distinctive 'I see' written in her action. "Well when the time comes, I'll be around for the quest," Yi replies to Sepdet, chuckling lightly at Little Bear.

Sepdet shoots Robin another of those oblique looks, at her comment, but probably while the woman's head is turned.

Little Bear blinks awake, snuffling. Hmm? He raises his head.

Robin doesn't repeat her statement. In fact, her hair has fallen in front of her face as her head lowered, hiding what expression does lie there as she looks down at the wolf.

Little Bear noses the hair then sneaks in and licks the woman's nose.

Sepdet tears her attention away and asks the company at large, with a more particular moon-smile in Yi's direction, "If I led an expedition over to the river soon to clear out some of the Wyrm that always collects on shore--just a general hunt, nothing specific--think anyone would mind?"

Little Bear would go.

Joseph glances toward Robin briefly, but Sepdet's words draw an excited reaction from the Wendigo. Mind? He looks ready to go now.

Coming back to attention, Yi glances at the Strider. "Which part of the river? And, in the Shadow or Realm?"

Robin's smile is fleeting as she lifts her head and looks around from one eager face to another, finally looking to Joseph once again as she listens to the plans formulate.

Sepdet grins ferally. "I wasn't asking that, exactly, although it's something I need to hear. If I lead, you'll come. I just mean: are there city Garou who would object to such an expedition, just now, as tresspass." To Yi, she replies, "Shadow, I'm afraid. It's too risky fighting in the Realm; humans pop up at the most awkward moments. The wrong humans," she adds, winking in Robin's direction.

Joseph knows nothing of the city humans, and his expression darkens merely at the mention of the place.

Robin flickers a smile over to Sepdet, a teasing retort staying in her throat, breathed if unspoken.

Yi reaches up with her hand to run her fingers through her hair, stopping at her neck and rubbing slightly. "No packs claim the river," she begins, thinking of territory lines. "And I doubt there will be objections to cleansing the Wyrm from some parts of the river. Particularly near the bridge, I think. You may have some difficulties with Weaver spirits if you approach there, but that is because of the bridge. Were you planning on taking to the river bordering the park?"

Sepdet purses her lips. "Yeah. Some of us made a promise to a spirit there to keep the place clear, so I like to see it get swept every few seasons. I'll check with Chaser; she's a bit protective of the park still since she helped clear it in the first place." Then she spreads her hands and holds them palm-up. "And I did not mean to fall into business. That is not wind on the water at /all/."

Robin's eyes find Sepdet once more and the kinswoman tilts her head slightly.

Yi looks thoughtful some more, then replies not without a shadow of doubt, "The new Get pack might have claimed some of the river. I've not actually seen them going around doing things, but as it is, you might want to ask Signe-rhya. I'm sure she'll understand though, if not help out some." Her mention of Signe is with respect.

Little Bear noses Robin's hand.

At Sepdet's words, Joseph looks to Robin, since they were her words earlier this evening. The stern Wendigo's eyes, as usual, soften considerably when they fall on Robin.

Sepdet traces a sinuous symbol in the air before her face, or perhaps it has no meaning at all, looking through her fingers at Robin. "Good idea," she tells the Gnawer. "But so."

Robin's still hand stirs in Little Bear's fur, though without looking, she taps a finger at his nose as well. Robin lowers her electric gaze from Sepdet to the fire once more, a secret smile lifting the corners of her lips.

Sepdet gets to her feet with a thoughtful expression and walks a little apart from them, far enough to bring chills on her neck and bare shoulders. She holds her gaze on the sky. "Wind on the water," she murmurs under her breath. "Let me find something." She makes an odd clicking noise in the back of her throat and clasps her hands behind her back, waiting for something.

Joseph watches Sepdet curiously, uncertain.

Little Bear drifts off to sleep again.

Yi seems confused by the reference about wind and water, but her arched brow softens slightly. Must be an in-joke. "Well, if you'd like, I can track down Signe-rhya or Kaz and ask her about the river for you. I'm assuming it's part of our pack actions...?"

Sepdet nods slowly. "In part." She seems distracted now, and doesn't elaborate.

Joseph opens his mouth to say something to Yi, but for one reason or another the Wendigo hesitates and doesn't follow through with it.

Yi glances curiously towards the Strider, as her own distracted thoughts turn to inquire silently about what she's doing.

Joseph remains silent, simply watching the Strider's mannerisms keenly--to determine if he can exactly what she's doing.

A silent shape falls down out of nowhere like a puff of cottonwood sheddings, suddenly materializing into the ghost-shape of a small owl, whitefaced and round-eyed. It perches warily on Sepdet's upstretched finger, then bites her other hand as she turns, slowly, to let Robin see.

Sepdet pages to the room: Something like a screech owl--they're little mumps--except, of course, it's a spirit. Only one I can excuse conjuring up without a fancy rite. :)

Though Robin doesn't rise, her back straightens and her dark eyes seem to take on the shadows around the fire instead of the light itself now as she watches Sepdet and spirit with no small amount of intensity.

Joseph's eyes shine, seeing the spirit. Quickly, he looks to Robin, hoping to catch the kin's expression when she sees the bird wing downward.

The Wendigo's hand slides to the kin, taking her hand in his in silent reassurance.

Yi's gaze goes from curiosity to awe and wonder as the owl blinks, well, owlishly. Her silent 'wow' is all that comes from her, though her eyes are probably as big as the spirit owl's own. It takes a few moments before her senses really come back to her.

Sepdet clicks in the back of her throat again, a sort of husky noise, apparently meant to reassure the small gaffling. She lets it chew on her finger like a parrot until it tires of that. Its eyes are very large and quite red from the flicker of the fire. It flutters its wings a few times, shifting from foot to foot.

Robin's lips silently mouth some words, but otherwise, she remains, rivetted, watching Sepdet and the spirit.

Joseph's words come in Lakota so soft, only Robin can hear them. They're meant for the kin anyway, so perhaps it's ok.

The Owl makes an imperious, rather jarring /hiiiiisss/ and launches upwards again, wings battering over Sepdet's head for a moment before it's lost back into the sky. She sits back down with her finger in her mouth.

There is the faint sound of Robin's exhalation as the spirit wings from sight. She rises smoothly to her feet and disappears into the darkness, moving down toward the lake.

Sepdet pages to the room: The Pest used to live here before he was shoo'd off by the Dancers. I expect he'll be back soon.

Yi arches her eyebrow slightly, but fidgets some more. "Maybe the owl didn't like the rat around?" She glances towards Sepdet after watching the small raptor flitter off into the sky.

Sepdet looks after the woman warily, but decides that she knows better than to swim with two or three annoyingly solicitous Garou nearby, and holds still. "Oh. No, it didn't particularly have a reason to sit by our fire, however warm. It told me 'MOUSE' and left."

Sepdet blinks suddenly in the act of shifting, and pauses. "Sen-n-ka'i. Come here." "Even the spirits have to hunt sometime, I suppose," Yi murmurs before blinking at Sepdet.

Joseph's mind's wandered again, his eyes drifting down to wher eRobin disappeared. Sepdet's command jars him back and he stands to move toward her.

Sepdet holds out the finger the owl sampled to him. It's a cut that might cause human mothers to run for the emergency room, but of course, it will heal soon enough, and is in fact already closing over. ~Put your hands here and feel how it seals itself.~

Joseph hesitates, knowing now why Sepdet caled him over. Their heealing lessons haven't gone all swimmingly, and the Wendigo's usual calm, confident manner becomes awkward, uncertain and even nervous when it comes to healing. Nonetheless, he does what he Strider asks, concentrating as he lays his touch on the finger.

Yi tilts her head curiously now, watching Sepdet and Joseph with not a word. Joseph gets a small glance, as the Gnawer hadn't really seen the Spock-like Wendigo ever falter.

Sepdet pages to the room: Doh. It's agg damage from a spirit. I was confused twice. FIRST I forgot Sep heals in all forms, then remembered, and then. Oh well. :)

Sepdet closes her eyes instinctively, remembering what she usually does. "Don't worry about the parts that are wrong. Just think about how it is when it's whole. Find the edge of the part that doesn't fit the picture and coax it out, out, towards the place where it should join."

Joseph's eyes close as he concentrates on what the Strider tells him. The pads of the Wendigo's fingers are calloused and rough, but their touch is gentle. They move over the wound, smearing blood absently, uimportantly, as the wound is memorized.

Yi leans forward a little, perhaps to get a closer look at the wound in a scene that reminds her almost too much of something from E.T. Yes, the TV is getting to her in ways she wouldn't realize, but the interest shines in her eyes.

Sepdet lapses, with voice cracking slightly, into the wind-music they use seldom anymore, which sounds to outsiders like odd multiphonic humming on the Strider's part. It's easier to communicate nonverbally, although perhaps he may not remember it so well. //Bone to muscle to tendon and blood skin. Bone to muscle to tendon to blood skin// an interwoven chant, woven together and blended in a way akin to the flesh itself. It knits slowly but properly under the Wendigo's care, and after a few seconds, the Strider looks up at his face with a smile.

Surprising to the Strider, perhaps, Joseph answers in kind, flawlessly, intuitively, perfectly. His own musical thrum matches Sepdet's in some ineffable way, despite being different notes. It's an answering chorus.

Sepdet leans her head on his shoulder for a moment, although it certainly can't be weariness from the wound, and tells him, ~The Lady wouldn't do better. You'll be ready by our next battle.~

Joseph pulls his hand away. It's not jerked, but the motion is quick, almost as if Sepdet's announcement startled him. He brushes his fingers together, spreading the little amount of the Strider's blood along his fingertips, feeling its texture. From afar, Cari ummm. Worked all day. :p

Yi pulls her own self in a little, huddling beside the fire with that feeling of awe and the cold feeling of witnessing something just so foreign it's rather incomprehensible. "One wonders just how strange the world can be sometimes," she murmurs, mostly to herself.

Sepdet would blush if she weren't so dark, and mutters, ~Well. Maybe a little better.~ The Stider's rare moments of flattery often crash and burn on the side of honesty. She looks hastily over at Yi. ~Very strange. It's got humans and Garou in it.~

Joseph lowers his hand, Sepdet's words sinking in. Now it's the Wendigo's turn to blush, and that stern expression returns. His eyes drift to where Robin disappeared, and he looks as if he's dying to go find her. He does not move yet, though.

Yi glances from the fire to the Strider, and dips her head. The action only seems to make the Gnawer seem smaller, as she voices something that has been tossing about in her mind. "I was thinking... would Iustus or Grandmother Salmon require things from us individually?" Her eyes turn back towards the fire, perhaps thoughtfully. "I heard of spirits wanting things in exchange for their help, and... I had been thinking, what could I offer to the ones we call." She rests her chin on her drawn up knees. "Not much," she answers her own internal questions.

Joseph's eyes settle on Yi, and the Gnawer's perceptive question draws another faint, approving smile from him.

Sepdet shakes her head. ~No. We ask a boon as a pack, so it's as a pack they will ask us in return. Oh, Sen--~ she breaks off, catching his look and brushing two fingers against his cheek, including the one just healed. ~Shoo. Sorry to keep you. Especially after someone else did.~ Her eyes go towards the sleeping form of the other Wendigo, and the tone in her voice is just the faintest bit inappropriate for the impartiality of an elder.

Joseph gesture's to Yi, commenting on top of what Sepdet said. "They will welcome favors, though, little sister. When we call them, bring something you think the spirits will like. A gift. When talking to elders, always bring something from yourself."

Yi looks up at the two for a moment, before her gaze also goes to the sleeping Wendigo. "Well... yes, I'd still like to be prepared if they should ask me what I'm doing in a pack of Wyld-children." Her features quirk a little in a smile, before she unwinds herself and stands up slowly. "Looks like I still have some more thinking to do," she adds softly, before gazing back over the icy waters. "I... don't suppose it'd be too much to ask if I took the boat back to the other side?" The Strider's touch brings warmth to the Wendigo's eyes. His ghostlike smile returns, a knowing expression shared between them. With a nod, and a look to Yi, he starts for the shore, where Robin disappeared.

Joseph pauses not yet out of the fire's sphere, and he addresses the Gnawer. "I will help, if you let me come to the city with you."

Sepdet smiles at Yi. ~Let me take you across,~ she says, casting a significant look in the direction Joseph's headed. There's a certain quiet fondness in her manner which is less obtrusive than Little Bear's bustle but obviously part and parcel of the same game.

You sense Sepdet is doing that 'let's leave them alone for a bit' body language. ;)

"The city is not mine, Soulcatcher-rhya," Yi replies with a more sincere grin. "You can come whenever you'd like. I still owe you a few lessons as it is." Her gaze falls to Sepdet, and she nods to the Strider. "Pilamaye, thank you, and all of that." The newmoon smiles with a sort of knowing nod.

Sepdet senses "Yi nods to you in that 'Sure thing boss' nod."

Joseph looks amused, and perhaps there is another smile. The firelight denies either garou proof, however, and the Wendigo is nothing more than a shadow, and then gone.

Sepdet grins faintly at Yi, a simple and unusually direct flash of joy from the deeply serious young woman, and heads down to the boat.

Yi tags on the Strider's heels, shifting back down to lupus for the love of her fur coat, the warmth it gives, and the ease it will bring later of running back towards the city.

Sepdet paddles her across, taking to the human form herself out of caution as long as she's in range of shore (although surely no human would be about now, nor see her clearly enough to notice the differences). She wishes Yi a more fond goodnight than usual, put into her best mood by the ones they've left behind, and goes to take a walk around the lake before heading back herself.

Three-Blades gives the Strider a parting whuff and bounds off towards the city, running silently.