Center of the Caern
This area of the clearing is about 30 meters wide and is a mixture of dark soil and clay throughout. The ground is muddied, as if supersaturated not long ago. Near the center of the clearing, lies what remains of the large white boulder of stone and quartz. Gravel litters the area around the once beautiful boulder, which has been pulverized to pieces no bigger than a softball. Bits of it have been thrown about the caern and discarded like forgotten toys.
Around you, twenty yards in every direction, stretches the caern. To the southeast, a waterfall plummets over the edge of the chasm into a small pool in the caern; nearby, to the southwest, steam comes from cracks in the ground, perhaps some of the same water. Northwest, a rocky spar juts out of the ground at a low angle, showing a sloping but smooth top. The chasm walls narrow a bit to the northeast, causing some of the mist to swirl in that area.
Contents:
[Alicia, Golden-Eyes, Calls-Spirits]
Obvious exits:
Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Calls-Spirits sighs again as Wilbur leaves and he nods at whatever it was that Aubrey said. He waves a large crinos paw at Alicia in a kind of lackluster greeting. He scowls down at the ground.

Golden-Eyes rolls onto her back and waves a lupus paw at Calls-Spirit's muzzle. Stop worrying for awhile, she growls. We have accomplished so much, you should be celebrating it a bit more.

Alicia peers at them and grins faintly. "So, ya'll a new pack yet?" She asks curiously as she hooks her thumbs in her belt loops.

Moving quietly towards the center, Yi pauses at the edge of the steam vents. Wisps of vapor swirl about her as she contemplates moving closer, or simply continuing on her way along seemingly aimless wandering. The decision is one shortly made, and she walks over to the group gathered with a nod of her head as a greeting.

Calls-Spirits nods at Aubrey but still looks, well, grumpy. ~It makes sense, the way we have things. There aren't so many of us that...~ he trails off and finally looks over at Alicia. ~We are, as of only a few days ago. Merlin has accepted us as her own.~

Golden-Eyes looks to Calls-Spirits and pins back her ears. Don't worry about it now, she growls. Time will choose when that will be needed but now now. She places her muzzle against Tobin's leg and sighs from her muzzle. A look is given to Alicia from her current position.

Alicia smiles at them. "Hey, awesome guys. Congrats. Merlin is one cool bird."

Yi looks at Aubrey and Tobin, offering a nod of congratulations. "Glad to hear a new pack is in the sept," she tells the Fang theurge. "Did you decide on a name?"

Calls-Spirits nods his thanks at Alicia and Yi. ~We haven't run it by Cameron yet, but I'm sure he'll like the name that Aubrey thought of: Crescent Wing.~

Golden-Eyes wags her tail and looks up to the new arrivals to the center of the cearn. Her ears flicker in a lazy fashion towards various sounds.

Yi looks to the Fianna, a side of her lip lifting up in a half smile. "That sounds good. Better than my suggestion." Then she looks at the others. "You are all attending the Gathering?"

Alicia nods her head. "You better believe it." She sighs softly as she glances about the Caern, then over to Yi and the others again.

Golden-Eyes looks to her packmate, before she looks to Yi. The Gathering? It seems that they Fianna was unaware for the news about any gathering this evening. What sort?

Yi answers the Fianna quietly, "For John, and Chaser-rhya."

Calls-Spirits gently dislodges Aubrey's head from his knee and gets to his feet. ~I have some things to discuss with Cameron, but hopefully we'll make it in time to the Gathering. I should hurry, in fact, so that we can attend.~ He nods his respects to everyone and shifts down to lupus, loping away towards the woods.

Raeye works her way quietly around the perimeter of the center, her expression grim. It's not obvious if she's trying to avoid anyone; if they look her way, the faintest nod of acknowledgement before she moves past.

Golden-Eyes stretches her spine as she motions to stand. It would be disrespectful not to attend, she rumbles deeply.

Yi's hand is hidden in one of her pockets, but the fist clenched inside is all that might betray whatever else is going on inside her head. She nods at Golden-Eyes. "They did so much." She'll save the rest of her thoughts for the actual rite. A gaze is turned towards Raeye moving along, and the Gnawer exchanges an understanding glance.

Golden-Eyes shifts to crinos and solemly nods her head. ~I remember the Walker from the time that we had lost the cearn and were herded to the safehouse.~ She dips her head into her lap a bit, seeming to be in a light meditation.

Peacekeeper appears in the middle of the caern, near the new basin, in an iridescent shimmer. He looks around the caern momentarily, then asks, ~Are you all not going to the Gathering?~

Yi looks over towards the Warder, and says nothing more except to movee towards the Gathering area.

Golden-Eyes rises to stand, ~We were heading that way.~ she tells Peacekeeper. The Fianna shifts into lupus and starts to head towards the Boulder.

Alicia crosses her arms as she remains silent, perhaps doing a lot of thinking for tonight.

Around the Lone Boulder
The sparse forest gives way here into a vast clearing, entirely devoid of trees or heavy underbrush for great distances all around. Low, thick grass, a palish green in color, grows everywhere underfoot; it sways ever so gently in the chill winds that seem to settle in across this open expanse with unusual frequency. The occasional darker shoot or dandelion weed makes its way up amidst the rest, but the hilly territory is on the whole a uniform color, reminiscent of a moor. Adding to the image is the single, ponderous old stone, a grey-brown in color, settled uncannily in the dead center of the expanse as if it has perched there alone since the dawn of time. Grass grows up around the weathered boulder, but its vaguely-flattened top clears the grass by a good many feet, at least chest-high to a good-sized man. The sky, often grey, is a presence in this sudden openness, appearing from amidst the treetops to arc high over the grass and stone.
Woodland tracks lead off into the forest to the north and south, while the boulder itself stands at the center of the clearing.
Contents:
[Golden-Eyes, Touch Deer, Shadow Eyes, Susan, Kaz, Patrick, Andrea, Eye-of-Ra, Rina, Salem, Quentin, John (Watching), Sith-Fhuil, Runs-at-Dawn, Sepdet, Tobin, Golden-Eyes, Little Bear, Julie]
Obvious exits:
Forest Boulder

[Rite Preparations]
Set upon a bed of large stones is a sizeable pyre, with torches at each of the four corners set into natural slots formed by the woven boughs. A photo of John and a dramatic wooden carving for Chaser are set up for all to see on top of the pyre.

A wide area in the meadow that includes the boulder is encircled by bowls of clear water, their mirrored surfaces reflecting the cloud-laced sky. Chips of some blood-red stone have been dropped in some of them.

Sepdet starts back and breaks into a wan smile as Andrea brings her pack through. She ducks her eyes to the alpha, then moves back to stand before the pyre. "If anyone has a token to honor the Fallen, will you place it here?" She indicates the pyre.

Sith-Fhuil arrives on four legs, followed closely by Runs-at-Dawn, slow and careful as if in a funeral procession. Eyes trace over the Rite Mistress, the Walker pair, then find the pyre, and the Fianna find a place in the circle.

"Salem-rhya.. Rina.." The greetings are spoken ever so softly as Quentin draws near to the other two of his tribe. Not too near, though. He leaves them both plenty of room.

Eye-of-Ra howls long and loud.

From Around the Lone Boulder, Eye-of-Ra can be heard to howl, ~Garou of the Hidden Walk. Please join us at the Lone Boulder to honor the late Glass Walker John Smith, and the Get of Fenris Chaser-Never-Rests.~

Golden-Eyes arrives on four from a different direction than her two tribemates. Silently she moves close to them, lightly nosing Sith-Fhuil in the shoulder with her muzzle.

Andrea, unsmiling, nods back. She steps toward the pyre, standing still before it for a long moment of thought. She then places a small stone within the wood and steps back. The dim light of the area glints off the rich golden brown of tiger's eye.

Rina straightens a fraction, looking to Sepdet as if for permission; then she paces to the pyre, and sets the rolled canvas there. She pauses for a moment, long enough to whisper a word or two, her hand on the painting. Then, without looking at anyone, she returns to stand a few steps from Salem.

Yi approaches the pyre, eyes glinting darkly. Her balled fist is taken out of her jacket pocket, then opened up over the altar. A knife's opened blade is drawn over her hand and the Gnawer stands there letting blood drip down. Standing silently, she waits until the blood is slowed and then cleans off her blade before moving off to a spot in the shadows.

Touch Deer's does not move forward to place anything on the pyre, but instead quietly waits for the ceremony to begin. His eyes dart to not the arrival of his packmate, and he looks towards Little-Bear.

Alicia strides into the area with Yi, glancing about the gathered Garou. Her chin is up, hands shoved into her pockets. She makes her way over to the alter and pauses for a moment, letting out a breath. Taking her hand out of her pocket, she places down a small glass orb, one that looks strangely enough like an eye. Once done, she heads back over to stand with her pack.

Sith-Fhuil bumps her crown against Golden-Eyes' ruff in silent greeting, then takes inventory of the gathered. Finding Eye-of-Ra, she sniffs toward the Strider faintly, perhaps to confirm her place among the living. Good to see you safe.

Little Bear slips over to stand near Touch Deer, nodding a greeting.

Eye-of-Ra proceeds to drop into her birth form to make room for those arriving. She pulls and unfolds some pieces of paper from her pocket, placing penciled portraits of both deceased on the pyre before dropping back. Sith-Fhuil catches her attention, and Raeye gives her a grim smile and a nod that shares the sentiment.

Runs-at-Dawn remains silent next two the other two Fianna, his posture rigid, formal. As close as a wolf can come to standing at the position of attention.

Shadow Eyes has nothing to place, save memories. He sits back on his haunches, ears flapped back.

Andrea walks back to her pack, inclining her head at Little Bear as she does so. "Will someone sing of how this came to be?" she asks, in a low voice. "I haven't heard more than the news itself."

Touch Deer whispers somethig to Little Bear, and looks around.

Sepdet gives Raeye a nod and steps to the pyre. While people are filing in, she's chanting under her breath. It's a prayer others have heard her use her before, but the minutes stretch out far longer than usual. Apparently this one is more of a challenge than usual, or else she's just taking nothing for granted.

Dane remains on the fringes, where he can more easily watch for unwanted "guests".

Golden-Eyes gives a sundry expression. The tone has certainly gotten a little more heavier than she had expected. Dipping her muzzle, she looks to the pyre with her golden-eyes lightly glint in the dim light.

Salem shifts his weight slightly, but otherwise remains still at Rina's side, watching the others filter in impassively.

Kaz settles down near Elan, flute in hand.

Patrick doesn't even step forward, but just reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out something circular, a hoop with some sort of dark leather woven across it in a web-like pattern. With a flick of his wrist, it spins towards the pyre, the dim starlight glinting off something towards the middle of the web.

Little Bear nods back to Andrea, tilting his head towards Touch Deer to hear what he has to say.

Jamethon steps up to the pyre from the back, a cold gleem in his eyes and movement purposeful and slow. Once he stands before the pyre, he places atop it a wooden figurine in the shape of Chaser's hispo form. The likeness can be seen quite well from the distance most see it from, much less up close. This done, he turns and steps back to his place.

You sense Little Bear gives you a nod.

Little Bear senses "Yi returns your nod with just a look, and then goes back to watching the proceedings."

Raeye swallows, mildly flushing at Andrea's request. "I was there," she offers, "I will sing it."

Rina lifts her head, to watch Raeye with dark, hollow eyes. Her right hand twists the ring on her left.

Tempered-Blade takes a few steps forward so that she's standing over the pyre. She brought no things to send those past to Gaia. This is all she has to offer.

With that, Tempered-Blade snakes her head around and bites her shoulder firmly. She gives a muffled yelp and then lets several drops of blood fall onto the pyre before she steps back.

Stepping back and swelling into the form of the dire wolf, Raeye lets out a soft rumble of foreboding notes, words that would have no rhythm or rhyme in English, but fit well in the Mother Tongue. ~The Ice-Walker felt it time to prove his worth, his hard work, and Challenged the Fostern Bone Gnawer Ears-to-the-Ground for rank. For acknowledgement. For equal status. She accepted, and set him on his Challenge, the mission to slay two Black Spiral Dancers who have offended our Sept. To slay these Dancers in a new pack that consisted of none the members in his present pack. To play the Omega, to learn humility, to be at the bottom of the ladder and learn that success may still be achieved that way.~

Andrea turns her attention to Raeye, crossing her arms in a loose posture.

Salem's lips thin slightly. He leans over toward Rina and murmurs quietly to her, translating.

Rina steps closer to Salem the moment the tale starts, listening to him. Her dark eyes never leave the Strider, though; there is something intense in that stare.

Quentin edges just a -hint- closer to Salem and Rina as the story is told; he doesn't understand every last word of the Mother's Tongue yet, after all, so he keeps one ear on what he can hear of the translation. A shift of his weight to one foot, gaze lingering on the Strider that he doesn't know as she speaks. So to speak.

Sith-Fhuil listens intently to Eye-of-Ra, gaze unblinking, posture stiff.

Little Bear stares at the pyre, face carefully neutral as he appears to zone out. Though maybe he's just listening intently. He's not looking at Raeye, though.

Raeye continues, her song quiet and and hopeful. ~Ice-Walker gathered those he thought fitting for this mission. The Strider Seeker, for his experience as an Ahroun. The son of Thunder, Storm-Singer for his wit and knowledge in battle. Chaser-Never-Rests, the Get of Fenris for her tracking abilities, her straight thinking. Myself, Eye-of-Ra.~ She omits a reason here. ~We searched long and hard, and finally found a lead, one that Chaser tracked, leading into the Dancer-infested city of Seattle. We had our prey. Or perhaps our prey had us.~ She bristles, then continues in sharp stacatto snarls, ~A run-down tenement building in the dingier end of town lay at the end of the trail. John and Chaser made their way inside to the foe while Seeker, Jarred and I scouted the perimeter, searched for exits. Jarred felt it wasn't right to leave them by themselves, and he went in to help.~ She pauses for breath.

Tempered-Blade leans against her alpha as she listens to the story.

Julie finally managed to get a ride up from town, hopping off the back of the old pick-up heading up the road. While it takes a bit of time to get through the woods, the Gnawer eventually arrives, stepping quietly, and along the outside of the gathered, while she looks for more of her tribe. She takes great care in not bringing attention to herself, or making noise to interrupt.

Eye-of-Ra says, ~Seeker and I found the exits secured, though he circled around once more while I went in. The Dancers had taken residence in the belly of the building. In the basement the stench of the Wyrm was the strongest. At that point, the taint was overwhelming. John's voice broke the silence as he warned the others to Get Out. I ran down the steps to find them, and Seeker arrived right then. It was at this point that Chaser, John, and Jarred must have realized that they were outmatched, and outnumbered. They battled, and bravely. The female that they had first come across killed both Chaser and John, and Jarred barely made it out alive after killing another Dancer who'd emerged from behind that who fought and felled the Get and the Glass Walker.~ She bows her head. ~Jarred ran towards us at this point before he, too, would become a casualty in a mismatched war. The Dancers used Shroud in their attack, and the darkness consumed the room. Seeker slashed at one before we had to retreat.~ Her howl grows gutteral and melancholy. ~The bodies are still buried there.~~

Salem's murmured translation to Rina falters slightly at the last, just the briefest of pauses. A muscle twitches subtly in his right cheek.

Quentin's lips tighten as well in a grimace at that last, the fingers of his right hand tightening into a fist before easing slowly. No words, no real change in expression save for that, he glances back to the other Walkers and then back to Eye-of-Ra once more.

Rina's face is blank, her expression numb, as she lowers her eyes. There is a subtle tension in her posture, but she remains silent.

Yi continues listening in silence, fist clenching and unclenching alternatively.

Andrea's jaw tightens as she takes in the recounting of the story. She otherwise listens impassively, nodding slightly if the storyteller looks at her.

Sepdet's voice shook slightly when Patrick's web went winging past the corner of her vision, and she belatedly focussed on the tiger's eye. But only now does she conclude her chant as Raeye finishes her report. She turns to face the Gathering and begins to speak, eyes flicking to Salem briefly. ~So runs the tale. They fell as they lived: fighting the Wyrm. And now we are gathered to hail and send Chaser-Never-Rests and John Icewalker back to Gaia. Chaser has defended this caern since the dawn of the Wheel Renewed; John has mustered and organized the city-Garou during the years since he came to us. Their legacy remains.~ Her gaze pans across the Gathering. ~Who will speak for the Fallen?~

Touch Deer is completely calm. At least, outwardly. His eyes watch the storyteller as she speaks, rarely straying to note reactions from the rest of the crowd.

Owen clenches his fists at the last before shrugging his shoulders under his jacket.

Dane's ears fold back and his tail droops at the end of the tale.

Eye-of-Ra makes it clear, now that her voice has petered out, that she is done. The drooping of her posture shifts as she returns to the less-expressive form of her birth, and she dips her head twice -- once towards the audience who received her tale, once toward the pyre. Then she seats herself, watching Sepdet.

Julie's gaze flickers over Rina a moment, lips pursed in contemplation, then to others she knows as having been here for years; Andrea, Sep, TD, Owen, and more, then a quiet sigh as she crouches by herself, head falling and gaze coming to rest on the ground before her.

Salem finishes muttering a translation to Rina, then lifts his head to address the gathering. His voice carries easily, smooth, well-controlled, and terribly formal. "I hate eulogies," the Philodox says bluntly. "But, that being said..." He takes a breath, lets it out. "John Smith was a good Glass Walker. And a good Elder. I'm proud to have served under him, and the tribe is... lessened by his death." He pauses a beat, as if he might say something more, but then shakes his head slightly, clearly finished. The flat, neutral expression on his face doesn't alter one iota.

Kaz stirs, not quite looking at Salem.

Owen steps closer to the pyre, pulling a glass flask out of his jacket. "I don't fucking remember giving you permission to die, Chaser. I will remember that when it is my time. Surely you, if no other, sit by Fenris' side. Rest assured that those ass-fucks that took you will never rest easy." He takes a moment to clear his throat. "Willkommen zu Valhalla. Fahrt gut mit dem Valkyries. Seien Sie sicher, Fenris zu erkaren, mehr Nahrung auf die Tabelle zu setzen. Und ist hier das Getrank, das wir nie teilten." He then unstoppers the flask, takes a swig, then tosses it into the fire before returning to his place.

[Nargalsius translates: Welcome to Valhalla. Ride well with the Valkyries. Be sure to tell Fenris to put more food on the table. And here is the drink we never shared.]

Rina glances up, when Owen speaks--and then quickly looks away, to stare hard at the ground again.

Jamethon stands beside Owen now, a quick glance exchanged before looking back to the next speaker.

Moving up from the shadows again, Yi comes with her rage held in tight rein. Turning first to Chaser's pyre, the Gnawer ragabash bows her head deeply in honorary respect. Then, again to John's pyre. Yi turns to the gathered, her hand still sticky with the remains of her offering. "Chaser-Never-Rests is a name that I have come to respect and admire. Same auspice as myself, and tonight's moon. I had thoughts to bring myself under her teaching, to better learn how she followed the ways of our paths. But as it goes, this is not meant to be. I accept this. Perhaps, she will teach me from the floating worlds beyond this." A pause. "Even though her body has stopped, her spirit will continue to run for Gaia." The Gnawer gives a moment of silence to signify the end of that part, then continues with her words for John.

Yi looks to the Synthesis pack members, Rina, and then back to the majority of the gathered. "I have a habit of befriending fullmoons. Any of you would know that between a no-moon and a fullmoon, the bond between is a strange one. But with Walks-Thin-Ice... we had an understanding. He'd gone to my homeland before. He knew how to speak my language, and not just from voice, but from his body and mind. I felt him to be a teacher and I even say close brother. I still owe him much. I owe his tribe much. I will repay these debts." She takes a short breath and continues, "He did not need to challenge, in my eyes. To me, he was already fostern. I understand though. This is the ways of the Sunset People here. This is how rank is achieved. He has done so much for this place and us. He had earned our respect, amongst city-walker or not." She lifts her lip up briefly, and then finishes with a growl. "Even though he did not return, the Ice-Walker will be of second rank in my eyes. To me, he has not failed his challenge." She turns back to the pyre, and adds something in her native language to the Walker's spirit before shifting down and trotting back to her spot to sit.

[John pages: What'd she say?
You paged John with 'She said, 'You've gone on, but the deal is still there. When you have decided what to do, tell me.''.
Long distance to John: Three-Blades adds, 'If we ever meet again in the next life, don't you dare run off again, bitch.']

Kaz angles a glance at Yi. Then she rises to her feet, leaving her flute on the ground. Not looking at anything but the fire, she starts, "I ain't got much to say about Chaser. She was a bitch ass Get, and that's pretty much all you need to know. Well, and she was goddam loyal, and goddam scary, sometimes. John... I got more to say about John. Me an' my damn challenge ideas..." She trails off, voice tightening.

After a moment, she takes a breath, and lets it out. "I went on a fuckin' dissertation, last time we had one of these... shindigs, about how before I got here, I was a punkass asshole who didn't understand what it was to connect to anyone, about how I was a loner. Well, John... John was th' original damn loner. Lone wolf. 'Course, /he/ was a lone wolf 'cause his Sept died, but from what I can tell, he was like that before, too. Brought up that way, forced that way. Whatever. At a fundamental level, he didn't trust other people, an' /way/ more to the point, 'least t'my eyes, he didn't trust /himself/. So... he /hadda/ be a loner, hadda rely /only/ on him. But... none of that was gonna work, all that distancing shit, 'cause he ran into a cub on the way to... wherever it was he was goin'. Sophia." She sighs. "Miss her. Anyways, he couldn't /not/ give a shit, because she was /right there/, all th' fuckin' time, needin' him, an' showin' him /he/ needed /her/. An' his tribe needed him, too. 'Cause it was... kinda down in th' dumps, at that point. So... more'n a year later, he's Elder of the damn kickass Walker tribe, engaged, leadin' his pack, and angling to be the kind of leader in /name/ that he already was in /deed/. An' I ain't even /mentioned/ Rina yet." Evidently, she's not going to, as she glares at the fire for a moment, then shrugs. "I once tol' Max I didn't let a lot of people past my bullshit threshhold, I didn't let a lot of people in far enough to be trusted. I started trusting /John/ the day he pulled a knife on me. Silver knife, to my throat." Her grin is less a grin than it is a baring of teeth. "Riddle me /that/." She continues glaring at the fire.

Tobin slips quietly into the Gathering, eventually making his way over towards Aubrey, where he stands silently, looking very solemn in his black coat.

Sepdet visibly braces as if expecting a strong wind when the Galliard steps up, and is not disappointed. To elders, to comrades, she gives her attention each in turn, murmuring something under her breath after each speaker shapes the ritual.

Andrea listens to the speakers. Without fanfare, she steps up toward where Owen stood and nods toward Kaz before beginning.

Sith-Fhuil pays her respects in the form of strong, meditative silence, focussed on the pyre, the speakers, and the deeds of the fallen.

Rina looks up when the Gnawer speaks her name, and there is something fierce in her eyes. Accusation, almost, that fails to hide the faint shimmer.

"A part of me has died," Andrea starts, looking around the group. "Kate was part of my earliest times at this place. She was my packmate under Mask, when it was Crossing that held Arthur Island." The Gaian stops, a pause before continuing. "A part of me has died, but a part of her will always live. I will carry her with me through this life and into the next. Her mocking, sardonic grin. Her fierce loyalty." A smile touches her mouth, the first hint of sadness to trouble the calm of the adren's face. "I never forgot that you were among those that led the way to rescue me from silver wire and madness." Andrea inhales deeply, letting out the breath again before concluding, "Chaser-Never-Rests has died as she lived. In glory."

Touch Deer looks ready to say something. He steps up a few steps to stand behind is alpha.

Jamethon steps up a bit and seems to be thinking on his words.

Three-Blades continues to watch and listen, looking at Kaz once as the galliard speaks up, then to the others who have things to tell.

Touch Deer moves to step up and speak as his Alpha steps back. "I have known some of the best trackers of this land, and Chaser was among them. All good medicine to you Chaser-Never-Rests." He returns to the crowd.

"Kate Conneff was a bitch," Patrick says bluntly and flatly. "Yeah, she had her reasons--between Fenris and her father, she never really had a choice in /that/ matter. Where she excelled, where she had her choice, was how she channelled her ... bitchiness. She challenged people to greater heights; she forced people to /think/ about decisions; she fought tooth and claw against the Wyrm." He stares into the pyre where he threw the web of leather earlier. "She was a bitch, but damnit, she was a bitch for Gaia and good at it. You'll be missed, Chaser-Never-Rests."

Sepdet smiles wanly at the frank assessment.

Jamethon steps up a bit further now, to be focused on for this moment in time. "Ice-Walker. Chaser-Never-Rests. Their names were so perfect for them. And damning as well. They lived the way they were called, and died as well. John couldn't back down, couldn't walk any direction but forward. Chaser... a ragabash who fought like an ahroun. She was a very definition of a Garou warrior, and it didn't take a full moon to guide her... she was all this despite the darkness of her birth moon. She wouldn't have accepted death any other way. They say Get of Fenris have no fear. They fear nothing! This is untrue... to grow old and die, and not have earned your place in Valhalla? But no, this is something Chaser could never fear... she earned her place long ago. And she showed me and many of us, that despite serving one's place... there is so much /more/ that one can do as well. Farewell Chaser... and John, were you a Get of Fenris, I'd have gladly called you brother and warhammer." Words spoken, he turns to rejoin Owen.

Blue eyes peer past braids veiling gaunt features, as Julie watches the speakers, head cocked to listen to their words. She remains unmoving from her crouch.

Raeye listens to the remarks made with a pinched frown in place of tears. She passes her hand across her face once, leaning back to regard Jamethon's words curiously.

Three-Blades lashes her tail, ears flattening as the words of others push her rage just a little more.

Salem remains stiff and cold, hands pushed deep into the pockets of his coat.

Tobin speaks quietly, probably to himself, but the words carry in the stillness, "I'll see you in the next life, Chaser-Never-Rests."

Owen doesn't respond in any way as Jamethon returns. He is instead as immutable as the nearby boulder.

Runs-at-Dawn has learned more of the two Garou tonight than he had in his all-too-brief meetings with them in the past. Too late now, to do more than mourn, and remember. The reddish-brown wolf remains still and quiet, only the occasional twitch of an ear or movement of his fur in the breeze.

Sepdet allows a brief silence after the last speaker, then beckons to Salem and Owen, setting her hand on one of the four torches. ~Honored with word and song, we send them home.~

Salem steps forward at the Strider's cue. Impassively, he takes hold of one of the torches, but waits for the others before setting the flame to the pyre.

The stoniness to Owen's features cracks just a little at Sepdet's last words, the set of his jaw adjusting slightly. He lumbers slowly forward and takes a torch. He repeats Sepdet's words in German, "Geehrt mit Wort und Song, schicken wir ihnen Haus," then touches the torch to Chaser's pyre.

Rina takes a breath, and lifts her head, watching as Salem goes forward to light the pyre. Her gaze is distant, the faint shimmer of tears more visible. She wraps both arms around herself. The sharp line of her jaw tightens, with the effort to keep tears and grief at bay.

Tempered-Blade raises her muzzle and howls a farewell to the Garou who are returning to the Mother.

Sepdet nods to Salem as she raises her own torch high and then lets it fall with those of the tribe elders. Almost lost in the sudden roar of leaping flame, she speaks a sharp, blunt prayer some 5,000 years old, then translates. "The sisters who love you are here. The brothers who love you are here. You have the power you need to breathe free."

Three-Blades finally can release some of her rage through wolfsong, howling to the spirits to speed the fallen on their way while the Garou and kin who remain fight on.

Kaz, despite the presence of Kin, falls down into crinos as if it were a blessed relief, and howls, long, loud, angry, dissonant. It goes on for some time.

Little Bear adds his voice to the howl, shifting up to Crinos to do so.

Touch Deer blurs, takes Hispo, and lets loose and low, dissonant howl.

Salem, as he sets his torch to the pyre, mutters something under his breath in sharp, Slavic syllables. The flames dance in the dark-mirror lenses. After a moment, he steps backward to rejoin the kinswoman, John's widow, grim and silent.

Julie rises to stand fully, shifting upward as she does. Thin, piercing, reedy, her howl, keening into the night their sense of loss, their pride, their hope.

Sepdet shifts down to hispo, throws back her head and belts out a high keening howl, thin voice soaring over the stronger ones.

Rina tenses at the sudden, violent advent of the howling, and a choked sound comes from her throat. Her eyes, shimmering, remain fixed on the fire as the tears break free.

Patrick mutters, half under his breath, some dimly-remembered wrds he learned long and long ago that somehow seem apropos. "Hold thou now earth the hand-gift of heroes, what from foe-men was wrested, death wrung from their grasp. Shall the brigt mail which in battle withstood o'er the splintering of sword, the shattering of shield, decay now in dust at the death of its wearer? Harp's joy, swift hawk, and hound at my heel, but dark are delights if deprived of companions." Rather than join the howling, he lowers his head and closes his eyes respectfully.

Tobin and Aubrey both shift quickly up to Crinos and add their howls to the song of grief and loss going on around them.

Raeye shifts into crinos, letting loose a low, melancholy wail that wavers in and out of the surrounding howls.

Sith-Fhuil's howl, shallow and lilting, can really only be described as mournful. While she would typically howl to celebrate the lives of the fallen, she only seems to acknowledge the loss.

Shadow Eyes shifts on his feet, letting a low howl escape his raised muzzle. The howl is long and low, mournful and sad.

Andrea pushes up into crinos, tilting back her muzzle to howl. Distantly to the south, on the bawn, at least one howl can be heard to echo the others; Owen certainly might recognize the atonal call of his Stargazer packmate.

Owen howls not this night, instead focusing on the flames thand sparks that float high. He mouths a few words, but whatever he's spoken lays in silence. His attention draws outward for a moment before he turns back to the crowd.

Gaia-Will-Judge raises his head and joins in the howl, long and low.

Jamethon takes on the crinos form but does not howl. Instead he stands tall, regal, proud. A giant among giants he only growls out a violent near-roar to throw a different life into the howling.

"See you on the flip side, boss." Quentin murmurs that quietly as the flames go up, before shifting up to his own.. less-familiar crinos form, throwing back his head and adding his own long, low howl of loss to the others.. his notebook dropped rather carelessly to the ground beside him as he does so. He'll grab it later.

Rina's shoulders jerk from time to time, and the tears glint on her cheeks. Her grief is nearly silent amid the din of the Garou. Among all the towering beasts, she looks like a hollow-eyed, fragile child, her face set in a numb mask.

Flames curl around the picture and carved wooden figure until they are lost in the rising smoke and howls that swirl up into the sky. Finally flames and wolfsong begin to subside. Sepdet blurs back to her usual guise and bows to the Gathered, signalling the end of the ritual. Her expression is fairly well masked, but weary.

Tempered-Blade bumps her nose into Andrea's leg.

Kaz, as usual, doesn't stay in crinos a second longer than necessary. She crouches, flowing back to homid, glaring at the fire.

Cries-No-More sits, shifts down a notch to Lupus, and then turns to take Andrea's side, ready to leave whenever his Alpha is ready.

Owen turns, gives Rina a short-lived look, not having realized she was here, then stalks out of the clearing. He's howled enough lately. Something is going to bleed instead.

Salem takes in a deep breath, nostrils flaring, and exhales it through his mouth. He takes a step closer to Rina, placing a hand lightly on her shoulder.

Three-Blades finishes her howl, and then gets up to walk over towards Kaz. She looks once towards Rina, before turning back to the Gnawer galliard.

Fights-For-Hope turns as Owen does, and dropping down to the lupine form, follows him out.

Bitter Cup also falls back into homid, though not as quickly as Kaz. Her hand falls toward the Fianna's ruff, and she seems to take a wordless comfort from the contact.

As Yi approaches, Kaz looks up, silently.

Shadow Eyes pads over to Kaz, to say hello to his tribal elder, and give her a good going-over with the nose.

Rina stifles another sob, bringing a hand up to her mouth as if that gesture can silence the tears.

Leonard shifts back to homid, turning in time to see Touch Deer disappear into the woods. He turns and looks over at Kaz and Yi, contemplating something.

Tobin shifts back down to homid, head bowed. He says a quiet farewell to Aubrey, then makes his way over towards Rina.

Quentin's howl dies off as well, his head falling back down as he looks over towards Salem and Rina.. green-gold eyes closing briefly, before he shifts back to his birth form once more. A grimace as he looks away from the other Walkers, quietly reaching down to pick up his notebook and brush it clean.

Blotches growls a bit, before shifting back down to her birthform, looking about.

Sepdet hasn't missed the human's condition but leaves her to kin for now. She gives Andrea a shrouded look, then turns away to wave at Dane and point north. ~Another swing around, please,~ she asks.

Three-Blades, while Shadow Eyes is nosing Kaz, rumbles a quiet indication that she needs to speak with the galliard, but can wait. Fostern theurge nosings will have to take precedence, for the moment.

Raeye licks over her nose, gazing solemnly at the pyre. She whuffs once, dips her head to Sepdet, then blurs down into the form of a black coywolf before slipping out of sight.

Salem squeezes the kinswoman's shoulder slightly and is about to say something to her when he notes Tobin's approach. The Glass Walker looks up, regarding the Fang emotionlessly.

Though Kaz seems tense, still, she nonetheless scruffles the theurge. Apparently able to multi-task, she asks Yi, voice low, "'Sup?"

Rina wipes fingers across her cheeks, and lowers both hands to her sides; they clench there tightly. Her posture is arrow-straight, when she turns her attentio to the Fang.

Spying the trio of Gnawers, Julie quietly approaches. A concerned glance is given Rina, the last she saw her, the woman was flushed with happiness. Now, flushed with grief. A sigh, and glance down at the ground in front of her, lingering near the other three quietly.

Three-Blades tilts an ear. It is about the Gnawers, she says simply. About Sees-True. About this one. Before our own moot of family, I want to speak of things.

Tobin bows shortly to Rina and Salem, very stiff and formal. "My condolences," he says quietly around a tight throat. The words sound hollow after all that went on just a few minutes ago, and he grimaces because he knows it. He looks between Salem and Rina, opens his mouth to say something, but there are no words so he just closes it again. He nods once to each of them, the look on his face conveying his sorrow, then turns and leaves without another word.

Kaz sighs. "Yyyyeah. I got back, an' I didn't know if I was gonna be stickin', so I tol' her t'keep it if she could. But she ain't got no clue, really, what leadership is, an'... I decided, a couple nights ago, I was stayin'. So unless /you/ wanna do it--" She looks at Yi, now, directly, almost challengingly-- "I'll be buggin' her, at our shindig."

Salem gives Tobin a slight nod in cool acknowledgement, then looks down at Rina again. "Ready to go?" he asks her, quietly.

Rina answers Tobin with a wordless nod, as well; then she looks to the smoldering remains of the pyre again. A moment's pause, and she turns to walk away.

Shadow Eyes nuzzles Kaz, then trots after Rina with a soft chuff and tailwagging.

Tobin pauses as he spots a certain Gnawer, a couple of them, actually. He alters his course slightly to go meet up with them. He clears his throat politely when he's near to announce himself.

Salem spares the burning pyre one final glance, then follows after Rina. If he notices Elan, he makes no indication of it.

Tempered-Blade blurs up into her human form, a dark-skinned woman with braided hair. She steps towards Rina to offer her own consolation, but stops when the kin seems to be leaving.

Three-Blades actually doesn't shrink back when looked at. She meets the galliard's gaze, though not in a returned challenging way. Glancing away towards Julie as she comes up, the ragabash turns back to Kaz. I have given Fights-For-Hope my support to go with him on his fostern challenge. That's all she says for now, looking over when Tobin comes around.

Julie glances at the departing Eyes, rather surprised. A shake of head, and attention shifts to Kaz and Blades, until Tobin arrives, her gaze sliding to him at the throat clearing.

Sepdet watches closely as Salem escorts the woman away, but stays by the pyre to monitor it until it's burned itself out.

Runs-at-Dawn slips off with no further word to anyone, though he does pause momentarily before the fires before he goes.

Shadow Eyes whines a bit, then trots back to be with the other Gnawers a bit. He perks up when he sees Julie, and trots quickly over to her, rearing up to put paws on her shoulders and lick her in the face unless she does something to prevent it.

Kaz says, "Check. An' if /you/ don' do similar, sometime soon, I'll make you eat your hat." She manages a smile, faint though it may be, and then she looks away. Toward Julie. She tells Tobin, "Hold that thought," as she regards Julie. "Well, fuckin' A an' begorrah, welcome back t'/you/." She snorts at Elan, and adds, "Yow, it's fuckin' old home week."

Julie sputters and coughs, quietly chuckling while hands come up to push away at his chest. "Yeah well, bleck, yer in need o' a breathmint, dude." And a wet-faced glance Kaz's way. "Not like I've heard you've been 'round all that much either."

Mm. Quentin glances after Salem and Rina as they slip off, green eyes sliding back to settle on the pyre's crackling light in silence.. one hand raising, fingers brushing dark silk from his brow.

Sith-Fhuil circles the burning pyre once, slowly, head bowed, before slinking off into the woods and night beyond.

Shadow Eyes drops, tail wagging, and goes over to rub past Kaz. I need to go, with my pack, but I will be back and see you soon?

Tobin nods at Kaz and waits quietly to give his respects to her before getting on with his business.

Kaz thumps down into a seat, relieving her legs. "Yeah," she says, tersely. "It was kinda hard--" She breaks off, to scritch Elan again. "Sure thing."

Three-Blades splays an ear. She doesn't have a hat. There's a brief (very brief) amusement at Julie's comment to Elan, but otherwise the ragabash looks back to Kaz with a dip of her muzzle. I will think on that, she tells Kaz. 'That' being, challenges. She manages a chuff at Elan too.

"You better," Kaz tells Yi. "If you're livin' as a Fostern, but without the rank, I gotta tell you from experience, it sucks. An' you are, by now. Anyways, Jules, yeah. I..." Her voice gets tighter, again. "Max an' Nev went an' died on us. It's /hard/, bein' reminded of them everywhere. But... well, it'd kinda be fuckin' insultin' their memory to just bail on th' place, so... I'm tryin' hard to stick. Even if it hurts."

Andrea nods once more, silently, toward Sepdet, then also disappears into the umbra.

Shadow Eyes snuffles Kaz once more, then translates across to the Umbra with the rest of his pack.

Julie crosses her arms over her chest, and gives Kaz that eyeing. "Yeah. Same reason I left, cuz o' alla the things I was dealin' with. You ain't the only one, just r'member that. An' it'll work." She glances at the pyre, then back. "I'm supposed t' go with Jamethon onna BSD hunt, just so ya know." Then her attention drifts to Tobin.

Three-Blades flattens her ears back. Hatchet and the Matchbox will always be remembered. The ragabash's gaze is defiant. Always. Angrily defiant. She looks to Julie though. Then it looks like you and I will be together for the hunt.

Tobin turns towards Julie, since Kaz seems to have other things to deal with at the moment, and addresses her quietly. "I wanted to thank you, for the penny. It helped."

Julie half-grins sheepishly, the pyre's light hiding the hint of blush on her cheeks. "Cool. An' congrats." She holds a hand out to him to shake.

Kaz regards Yi, and then nods. "Yeah," is all she says, and then she's explaining, to Julie, "Yeah. I know I ain't. Sometimes..." She trails off. "Well, it's just hard trustin' again, hard not wincin' away from people, but you knew that. Anyways, like I said, welcome back." She tilts her head toward Tobin, though a good deal of her attention is still on her tribe. "Yo?"

Three-Blades returns her ears to a more normal forward facing position and with a swish of her tail seems to be finalizing things in her head. Then I will see you all at the moot. Her eyes turn from one galliard to the other. Right?

Quentin turns, at last, dragging his gaze away from the pyre and heading along back towards the bawn's sparce forest with a slow step. He doesn't offer any farewells as he goes, but then he's barely said anything to anyone since showing up.

Julie glances at Yi. "See ya there, an' see ya when we fight t'gether." She winks at her.

Kaz nods. "I'm aimin'a be..."

Tobin shakes Julie's hand in a firm grip and thanks her again, looking grave. He bows to Kaz. "Some news for you, Rhya. I've got a few more pieces to my introduction now."

Julie nods, shaking Tobin's hand, and when they'd parted hands, hers both get shoved into her pockets, and she steps back.

Good. That's what she grunts out, and afterwards bares teeth fiercely in an all too eager for blood, toothy smile towards Julie. Three-Blades then turns and looks towards Little Bear, dismissing herself from the Gnawers and Fang.

Sepdet is still holding her post, watching the flames. If she's noticed the rendevous of former packmates, she makes no sign.

Kaz tilts her head at the Fang. "Yeah?"

Leonard nods to Yi, stepping up to her and murmuring.

Leonard whispers "Come with me, huh?"

Tobin nods at Kaz, clasping his hands behind his back and rocking on his heels a bit, unable to hide a little excitement despite the somber setting. "Well, most of it's still the same. Still a Fang, still a Theurge, still a Cliath, but now Beta of the Silver Fangs of Hidden Walk, son of Merlin, and Alpha of Crescent Wing." A smile cracks through his grave expression.

Three-Blades tilts her head, then indicates she'll follow the Wendigo. Not without a final look at Sepdet and the twin burning pyres. A sharp pang of mourning twists inside the ragabash, but she turns back to Leonard and waits for him to go on first.

Julie quietly wanders to the pyre, pausing to bow her head formally to Sepdet, before turning to silently contemplate the flames.