Hope-Star snoozes in a small black bundle at the base of the great stone, resting. Her wounds have healed overnight, apparently.

Alicia heads into the center, glad that the rain has finally let up. Rubbing at her tired eyes, she looks about until she spots the snoozing Hope-Star.

Three-Blades walks along with Leonard as the two also come from the bawn. I haven't seen her in a while, Little Bear. Where do you think she went? I mean we-- The Canto-Gnawer pauses with a sniff. Ears perk, and she bounds into the caern center, hunting for the Strider alpha. And spotting her on a rock, an ear splays. Imagine that... here I'm worrying, and she's here sleeping.

Hurry, hurry hurry. Guides-the-Dead tromps down into the center of the caern, looking like she'd had quite a run -- but not appearing all too tired because of it. The philodox, however, stops, eyes falling upon Three-Blades and the Wendigo, and she chuffs quietly.

Hope-Star is sleeping rather heavily, as a matter of fact; it's probably the first time they've ever seen her not wide awake the moment there's a sound or scent anywhere near her. She smells... not sick, exactly, but off somehow.

Leonard frowns, approaching the sleeping Strider quietly, then stops at the bounding entry of another Strider, nodding once at the chuff and crossing his arms, standing almost protectively next to his alpha.

Alicia glances over to the other three who comes in, then rubs the back of her neck. "Um.. Hey guys." She says, quirking a brow upwards as the light blonde streaked hair falls into her face in a disorderly fashion.

Three-Blades flicks her ears and dips her head politely towards Allie. Good sun, Guides. She gives the halfmoon a grin, and chuffs quietly to Alicia in greeting as well. Hope's offscent, though, draws the Gnawer closer until her muzzle it almost nose-to-nose with the sleeping Strider. She blinks. Sniff.

Hope-Star finally stirs blinkingly awake and peels open an eye, nostrils flaring in a startled snuff at the Gnawer in her face. Her tail skips against the ground faintly. Packmate? Ears flicker as she registers the number of Garou in the area.

Leonard eyes Alicia and edges closer to Hope-Star.

Alicia reaches over and brushes her fingers through Blade's fur, giving a tickle to her ears. "Hey you." With a grin, she lifts up and waves to Allie, then glances to Leonard, offering a smile to him as well.

Three-Blades lolls her tongue and licks Hope on the side of the jackalmuzzle. Morning, Sunshine. She glances up to Little Bear, then around to the others. We have a regular moot here, don't we. With a whuffle, she sits down right on Leo's foot, tail thumping along the Wendigo's leg. Some sense of hers makes her snort quietly. Ah, manners. She looks from Alicia to Leonard. Little Bear, she chuffs, this is Blooms-From-Her-Pain. Gaia Child, moondancer and quite the singer. She gives Alicia a lick. And that's Little Bear, she introduces the cub to the Wendigo. Silly icestorm follower and also talesinger.

Guides-the-Dead moves towards Hope-Star, ears twitching. Everyone else in the area seems not to be of any matter, as she lowers herself upon her haunches. I wanted to say goodbye.

Hope-Star exhales and pulls herself to her feet, as well as her dignity, standing straight and firm and a little more assertively than usual, as if to emphasize that she is /perfectly/ fine, thank you very much. Her tail wags slowly at the introductions, and at her packmates, but her gaze shifts towards the half-moon; the question is answered before the elder can ask. She takes a step towards the young Strider. I feared you heard the call of the road. Is that the reason? Or is there more?

Leonard looks down at his foot, a flicker of amusement crossing his features, then schools his face into a cautious neutrality as he nods in acknowledgement of Alicia.

Alicia continues to smile towards Leonard, wiggling her fingers in the male's direction. Then, just for effect, she clicks her tongue ring once along her lips, revealing the small steel ball for just a moment. Looking down to Blades again, she listens to the other Garou speak, still stroking the Gnawer along her ears, contently.

That is a part of the reason. Guides-the-Dead decides to shift up into her birthform, and here she regards the jackal quietly. "That, and my mother...she called for me. To another sept." She scratches the side of her neck idly, and then purses her lips, waiting for a response.

Three-Blades gazes sidelong to the halfmoon. She remembers when the Strider told her she would be Striding soon. Ears half-flatten in a little bit of mood-dampening. Hope-Star gets a little bit of an eye too, though the Gnawer nips at the cub's stroking hand softly, keeping an ear on the conversation.

Leonard shifts uneasily, looking away from Alicia towards the conversation between Hope-Star and Allie.

Hope-Star looks up at the half-moon quietly. Then Owl watch your steps. But listen and learn on your travels. Watch carefully. There is a reason our tribe is here which you may learn best while away. A purpose to our presence. Find yours, find your path, find that which you believe in. Then bring your strength and wisdom back to us. I will not say goodbye, for Striders' paths cross and recross. But I say: good luck. And thank you, Truth's feather.

Hope-Star contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Hope-Star shifts into Glabro form.

Alicia furrows her brows a bit at Allie's words, glancing down to Blades once more. Slipping her arms around the newmoon's furry neck, she hugs her tight. Two of her friends leaving in as many days, hard.

Allie tilts her head, regarding Sepdet quietly. The half-moon then moves forward to give her tribesmate an awkward hug, arms wrapped gently around the theurge's shoulders. She breaks the hug, stepping away and looking somewhat sheepish, but says, "No, thank you. For being my friend and teacher." A small smile appears as she adds, "Ankh ma'at." Well, some of Sepdet's Egyptian teachings didn't go unheeded.

Leonard gets a bit ooked by all the hugging and moves his foot out from under Three-Blades' backside, moving over to the rock to lean on it and practice his James Dean impersonation.

Three-Blades moves off Little Bear's foot, leaning into the hug and lifting her muzzle to lick at Alicia's chin. It'll be all right. She'll come back sometime, as Shows-the-Path will. She turns her head towards Allie, chuffing softly. Gaia speed your journeys and give you wisdom along the way. And the sun will always be a good one.

Alicia gives another quick hug, then pushes herself up, dusting off her baggy jeans. "Yah.. I know.." She softly says to her Gnawer friend, then glances to the cliath strider.

Sepdet squeezes out of the comforting circle of packmates, friends, to embrace the taller girl with a hug that's oddly formal, as well as fond. ~I will see you among the Painted Stones,~ she whispers with a twinkle in her eye, some secret shared. ~Enjoy the roads between here and there.~ There is some regret in her eyes, but more pride.

Allie offers Sepdet a small, almost sad smile. "I'll see you. I _will_ come back," she says, with some determination enunciating the word 'will'. Then she glances over to Three-Blades and Alicia, and approaches them. "Bye," the Strider says quietly, somewhat uncomfortable at this.

Three-Blades' ears flatten into her fur, the only show of some sorrow held inside the Gnawer. After a few moments, they perk up again she watches the Strider approach. The sun rises and sets, but each day we see it in the skies. Just remember to look up every once in awhile, and remember us back here. Good?

From the rock outcropping, Piotr picks his way into the caern quietly.

Sepdet releases Allie and steps back, sinking carefully to the ground again. Sitting, not crouching, with hands loosely resting on her knees. Her complexion is a little grayish, but her manner is relaxed, if subdued. A thin reassuring smile plays across her features as the leavetakings progress.

Alicia takes a deep breath as she nods her head to Allie, softly saying. "Um... Bye.. I hope ya write to the farmhouse. I'm sure I'll /still/ be a cub by the time you get back, at this rate at least."

From the rock outcropping, Piotr blinks, several times, watching the goings-on at center. Oh, dear, this doesn't look right.

The half-moon laughs quietly, grinning at Three-Blades. "I'll see you again, Good-Sun," Allie says, sharing the joke with another quiet laugh. Her eyes move to peer at Alicia, and she tilts her head. "No, you'll be Rited. Trust me, took me twice." She bites her lower lip and moves a hand to scritch at the Gnawer's head, and then she smiles at Alicia.

Leonard vanishes into the underbrush before he gets pulled into the hugfest.

From the rock outcropping, Piotr shuffles centrewards.

Alicia shrugs her shoulders slightly with a sigh. "Need a tribe to teach you stuff first Allie." The girl offers a quick smile, then moves off a bit to let the ranking members speak to each other.

Three-Blades gives the Strider cliath a lick on her arm. An ear turns towards Little Bear as he leaves, and she snorts. Come back here, you! With a short chuff to the others, a long look at Piotr, and a small nudge against Sepdet, the Gnawer makes a somewhat hasty exit. Before disappearing after the Wendigo, though, she chuffs to the Strider alpha. Rainfall! Then, the Gnawer disappears to leave the enigma of her word ringing from the bark.