Seeker nods. "A good idea. I believe many of us have been. I, at least, have been patrolling the bawn regularly."

Sepdet nods, hand scritching the thicker fur of Mitch's ruff absently as she speaks with her tribesmate over by the waterfall. ~Many do. I'm going to ask everyone to volunteer a month of the year, and name it in advance, so that we can see that every moon has adequate patrollers.~

A stormcloud-gray wolf trots slowly up the trail from the center of the Caern, heading for the wall of the valley, near the waterfall. The wolf chuffs a greeting, his eyes obviously on the group standing by the small pool.

Looking up from his scratchings, Mitwitchuck snorts and enjoys the scratching with a lolling tongue. It will keep confusion down. So all know when and where is patrolled by whom. Arcing his back, he leans into the scratching hand.

Three-Blades on the other hand comes from the south, converging towards the caern in a roundabout manner, nose lowered to the ground as she sniffs and tracks down certain target scents. Hearing voices, she moves that way, ears and head twitch up.

Sepdet murmurs, ~I'm calling a meeting tomorrow night to decide--~ she breaks off, expression tightening as packmates and allies emerge from the mist. Surveying Cougar from afar with an intent look, she raises a hand to him before breathing Yi's name in a softer greeting.

Rain-Cougar flicks his tail, lowering his ears and overall posture in front of Sepdet and Seeker. Running the trail... have not seen ~Hope-Star-rhya~ in many nights.

Three-Blades trots right up to Sepdet, touching her nose to the Strider's fingertips. Looking at the others, the Gnawer sits and listens over the conversation for the moment, refraining from inserting a new topic politely.

Seeker glances at Sepdet, interested, then nods to Rain-Cougar and Three-Blades.

Sepdet exhales. ~Hope-star-rhya, being a Strider, is in many places,~ she murmurs, holding Yi's gaze as the Gnawer touches her hand. ~But there is one where I am not.~

Mitch can't really figure which direction to look but its clear from his gaping mouth, lolling tongue, and wagging tail that he's happy to see all concerned. In fact one gets the distinct impression that were he not where he was he might even do something about it. As it is, he's content to be right where he is.

Rain-Cougar flicks his tail again, looking at the Strider, but his posture still low. One can not be all places at once.

Three-Blades flicks her tongue out at the Strider's hand. That is not necessarily true, Hope-Star-rhya.

Sepdet raises an eyebrow. ~I need to sit down,~ she decides, drawing herself down between Mitch and Yi. ~What happened? What did he say?~

Rain-Cougar cocks his lupine head to one side. Sounds of the Sept moving throughout the Bawn cause the young Wendigo's ears to perk up. Gaia's Blessings, all... the warrior trots off quickly down the trail, dissapearing in the mist, while his footfalls on the trail are audible for a few seconds more.

Mitch promptly nuzzles his packmate and leans his furred self into Sepdet offering her warmth and companionship. Still, his eyes are very much upon Three-Blades at this moment.

Three-Blades tilts her ears back, looking like she's not exactly going to enjoy what she has to say next. More formally, the Gnawer sits and curls her tail. He says that he no longer trusts you. That you have... betrayed the ones of the North Wind. She, snorts quietly, indicating a bit of residual disagreement there. As Rags-to-Rags put, he is Mountain. And I, was trying to move the mountain.

Sepdet's expression is sad. ~If I had thought there was any chance of him changing his mind, I would have stayed and made the effort. It is not your part to argue for me. Go on.~

Three-Blades does continue on, What he spoke of was your claim to support Wendigo. Yet, when the totem spirit appeared, you did not support, or even speak for it. The Gnawer looks a little frustrated, and a little confused. He said, such as it was, you should have tried and failed, than not tried at all and that you even spoke against the spirit becoming the totem of the sept. He said you made empty promises. The ragabash flicks her tail. That, I do not know of. I do not believe I ever will. But, Hope-Star-rhya, I don't suppose there will be any change of his attitude until something significant happens. Yi's ears turn back. And on that note, he has left the pack. He will still say good bye to Silverscale, but after that, he will be on his own to strive for a pack of Pure Ones.

The anger of Wendigo makes hasty reply. Such are the enigmatic growlings of Mitwitchuck. Exhaling through his nose in a heavy sigh, he turns his muzzle towards Sepdet. Perhaps I may have better luck in creating understanding. I at least must try.

Sepdet says quietly, ~I wish he had taken me to task long ago, when he asked me to summon the Wendigo spirit, and I could not promise to force the totem on the caern. I asked his forgiveness then, before the caern was even recovered. He is late in revoking it. But that is his choice.~ She looks up at the swirling mist. ~So far you say what he told me when we last spoke. Was there more?~

Three-Blades dips her muzzle, causing a drop in her eyes. With the leaving of Little Bear, I took this back with me and thought. Watched the stars, and asked them what should I do? The Gnawer ragabash looks back up at the Strider. I once thought that it was the bonds between us, the pack, weakening. I thought I'd felt it before, and thought it an omen. Now though... now I think it merely has changed. She looks to Mitch, a little unsure. Little Bear will no more listen to you than he will to me, I think. He is Mountain, and just as stubborn at the goat that lives upon one.

Staring now into the falling waters, Mitch replies to his packmate. You may very well be correct. But I would consider it a failing for me not to at least try. And I imagine there will be assumptions on his part regarding myself. Assumptions that when proven in error will go a long way towards fueling his rage...

Sepdet sighs and rests her chin in her hands, staring at the moving water. ~I love Salmon,~ she murmurs. ~And you have been a good friend and true, Yi. And Mitwitchuck, I have felt it easy to rely on you, though you have not been here so long.~ There is an unusual hesitancy in her voice. ~Did the stars tell you what you should do, Yi?~

Three-Blades slowly nudges the Strider's hand. They did not tell me. Rather, they simply told me I have to decide, whether this will be the way I go or not. She looks to the water as well, and then to Sepdet. And I think it is time.

Sepdet's fingers tighten, digging into her cheeks, finally admitting, ~I still miss Joseph.~ She takes a deep breath. ~You and Mitch I trust. But he and I... we have packed together so long. He helped me build Whispers. He was with me for First Strike. And it was his word that gave Salmon's Leap a place to grow, when Ouroboros returned. I try to carry on without him, but I have never had deep roots with anyone, even my own pack, since he left. Perhaps it was his love that kept me from being Strider.~

And he in turn, did some striding of his own. The Gnawer lifts her nose and touches it to the other's shoulder. Still it is not the end of the world. The main thing is, we cannot remain hanging in an imbalance. To place regret in one end, and hope in the other, and run from one side to the other... is a foolish venture. This much I realized, while I gazed at the stars the way my master had before. So it comes to this. I think it is time to let Salmon swim back to her ocean, and us to tend to our lands.

Sepdet brushes a hand through Yi's fur. ~I think my heart agrees. My mind says the river /does/ needs work, and Salmon was wise to suggest it. But my spirit was already saying goodbye the other night, when we met at the lake. My heart puts forth my new Gatekeeper-duties, and Little Bear's wish to make a pack of the very people we would keep for Salmon, as reasons why it is time to move on. Let it be so. The caern would not exist now, if not for the waters of Salmon and her defenders. We can take pride in this, and call our work done, though not our friendship.~

Three-Blades agrees wholeheartedly on that. And, remaining for a moment to let this sink into the mist, she ponders. Not for long though. In the passing of that short minute, the ragabash quickly rises to her paws and leaps over to tackles the short Strider with her front half.

Sepdet gives a startled yip and wrestles with her, back hitting the ground with a whoosh of breath. ~Coyote!~ she accuses, grabbing for the sides of Yi's muzzle.

Three-Blades ducks her head to dodge the Strider's attempts in grabbing her muzzle, whuffling loudly with lupine laughter. Not so! Not so! she yips and cries, hopping off with her tail waving around in triumphant victory. I am no coyote, though I would protect them. I have told this to Fox, and so received teaching from the small red furred brother.

Sepdet continues pawing at her until she twirls away, but the wriggly ragabash definitely has the jump on the Strider, in spite of Sepdet's years of experience. ~Gaia help us all,~ she breathes, eyes bright again. ~With his aid, we'd better all look to our "wallets" around you!~

Three-Blades lolls her tongue at the Strider, before hopping once in place. Showing mock-indignance and innocence, the no-moon holds her head up proudly. I won't steal from the undeserving, really.

Sepdet smiles. ~Spoken like a true follower of Rat. They taught me the same, back when I had to raid stores for clothes and shops for meat.~

Three-Blades slowly trots back and licks the theurge on the cheek. Some of us do that. I have the 'privilege' of 'relieving' some of the weight from robbers' pockets.

Sepdet scratches the dry skin behind her ears. ~Fox, then.~ She smiles thinly. ~Suits you well.~

Three-Blades smiles wolfishly. Fox is clever. But what I had to go through to earn his graces! The Gnawer huffs almost exasperatedly, but lightheartedly. There are such crazy humans out in the world.

Sepdet raises a thin eyebrow. ~I sense a story.~

Three-Blades headtilts, then grins a bit. Well ok, if you want to know. (Not that the Strider would turn her down if she said it anyway, right?) The Gnawer sits up a little more, but then decides it's easier to tell the story with standing and moving around. I was searching for a way to get in contact with Fox. It was a back-in-the-head thought of mine, ever since the old time when the Shadow's forest was burnt. Fox, in my homeland, is very much thought to be wise and clever. A bit like the way you know Coyote. I talked to Runs-at-Dawn-rhya, and Fights-For-Hope both, and others for suggestions. But in the end, it was simply a matter of searching out one of Fox's brood. And I found one, kept tied in the backyard of a human man.

Sepdet's ears would splay, were she in lupus; as it is, her eyebrows execute a peculiar maneuver. ~They never cease to find ways to break Gaia's rules. Go on.~

I chose to approach at night, and with the smelling sense of the wolf I found foxscent near his fence. A very peculiar fence too, the Gnawer notes, because it was low in the front, but to the back of the house it rises taller than a man's head. This was on the west side of the Scab. And there I listened and heard a small fox brother yipping to me. I cannot speak their words, though, so I could not understand if the fox was excited, or maybe scared. I think excited. Someone had come to free him, maybe? But the moment I jumped over the fence, the man's house lights came on. They sensed motion and turn on automatically. The Gnawer makes a short hop from one side to the other, and then crouches as if she were hiding. I hid in the bushes on the side of the house. And the man came out. He had a ~gun~, and was looking around for a burglar. I don't think he anticipated a fox-napper. The Gnawer grins, and then goes on with the story. And then, after he went back in, I went to the backyard. I was wary though, because I wasn't sure if there were sensing lights in the backyard. There wasn't. There was a big maze made out of bushes. And a ~video camera~.

Sepdet blinks slowly, rubbing her chin with her thumb as she listens to the saga.

Three-Blades pauses. Thinking about it, now I remember. The fox was not tied, but was muzzled so he could not bite anyone. The Gnawer flicks her ears in a wolf-version of a remembering nod. I did not expect a maze, nor the camera. But luckily, there was an opening between the fence and the maze's outer wall that was big enough to squeeze through and avoid the camera's sight. So I did, following the maze to the back fence. And there was the doghouse that the fox was kept in. The only way to get in was to gnaw at the wood. It reminded me of when I first came here, in a wooden box full of fish. Instead of gnawing to get out, it would be to get in. So like Rat, I tore away at the wood and the fox was getting excited by the minute. He would not be quiet, and I feared that his yipping would bring the man. Somewhere I found that it would take too much time to chew a hole big enough. So I shifted and used my hands. But, this scared the fox, and he got so loud that the man finally came out of the house. I thought I was going to be in trouble... until some quick thinking told me to shift back to the dog-like form and run back to the front, where the lights were. I thought, if I could get the man to turn to the front of the house, I could have more time in getting the fox out. But as it turns out, the fox followed me as I ran in the wolf's form. And so together, with me on the fox's tail, we both jumped the low part of the fence and ran from the man's house. But the fox still had the bite-hindering muzzle on him, so I had to catch him. Luckily I was fast enough and caught the fox. And afterwards I brought the young brother to the woods and let him go, free to roam. I think it was this that brought Fox the spirit's attentions to me.

Sepdet smiles slowly. ~Persistence and cunning. What a strange thing. And had Gaia not put into the back of your mind that you needed to seek out Fox's gift /now/, the little fox would not have been rescued. She is wise.~

Three-Blades finally slows in her pacing and intermittent story-telling through lupine gesturing and much animation to twitch her ears. Yes, I think that too. It would have been easier to scout if I had known of Fox's gift earlier, but now there is one more free roaming red-furred brother in the wolf woods. She sits and smiles, perhaps, proud of herself. And before I say good bye to Salmon, I will tell her thank you, because without her wisdom of speaking to the spirits, I may not have been able to tell Fox what I had done.

Sepdet gives her an approving smile, then sobers again. ~What do you think you will do now, Yi? For I have plenty of things to keep me busy. But you--~ she gives the passing wolf a light shake. ~--sometimes you have doubts, and do not feel you are getting anywhere. I worry that without a pack, you will feel that lack of purpose again. Don't make me have to poke you as I poke others.~

A puff of wind and a faint, quickly receding glow herald the arrival of Tobin from the Umbra. Palms facing out and eyes closed from his posture when he stepped through the Gauntlet, the Fang falls about two inches to the ground once he's fully-formed. He opens his eyes and looks around briskly, a feeling of suppressed energy or purpose expressed by his body language.

Three-Blades sits back down, partly on her tail to keep it from wagging. Little Bear asked of me the same. I know there are... times when I can be troubling. I apologize for those times, she says with a dip of her muzzle. But I realize I have many things to do as well. The Scab still is heavy with Wyrm, with the ~sewers~ and the ~hospital~ waiting for scouts. There are the cubs to be tested, and there is your proposal of guarding the bawn to do. And the Gnawer jumps a bit back onto her feet, when Tobin appears out of the Umbra.

~Good. You are never troubling, my friend. I simply do not like to see you troubled.~ She looks up at the shimmer and thump. A brief smile greets the Fang. ~Speaking of purpose.~

Tobin returns Sepdet's smile with a faint, brief one of his own. "Rhya, Three-Blades, good evening," he says, sounding distracted. He fidgets for a moment, at a loss of what else to say, then starts quickly pacing a short circuit near the waterfall. "How does the evening find you?" he asks of them both at last.

Three-Blades headtilts, once the initial shock of possibly nearly getting flattened by a Tobin is over. Surprised, she answers with a whuff. But well, and a little curious. The Gnawer tosses a glance at Sepdet as well before looking back to the Fang. One wonders what you were doing floating in the Shadow.

Sepdet murmurs, ~Better watch out, or the Wind-spirits will decide they like you too much to give you to Merlin.~

Tobin grins that faint grin again at Sepdet. "Do I belong to the Wind-spirits already, that I am theirs to give away in the first place?" The grin disappears with a shrug at Yi. "I was standing on the ground on the other side. I always drop a few inches whenever I cross from the Shadow to the Realm. I don't know why, but I never seem to trip, so..." he trails off, giving another shrug as he continues pacing restlessly.

Three-Blades gives the Fang a short grin. Just don't do the same thing when you are near a cliff. Of course there was no ill-wish meant by the comment... Yi licks at the front of her muzzle. What is a Merlin? Like... the name of the ~wizard~ from the sword in the stone story?

Sepdet shakes her head at Yi's question, but lets the Fang speak for himself.

Tobin stops his pacing and raises an index finger as if he's going to point it at Yi, but instead he resumes pacing and uses the finger to punctuate his words. "If I had a fetish for everytime I've had to answer that question, I'd be the most powerful Theurge in the Tellurian...well, maybe not, but it's gotten to the point where we've considered naming the pack Not The Wizard." He pauses to grin at Yi. "A merlin is a bird. A small raptor, like a kestrel. In fact they're closely related to falcons, except instead of birds they tend to eat mice and insects." The pacing, however, does not stop.

Three-Blades' eyes follow the Fang back and forth and back and forth. She blinks a couple times to keep from getting dizzy, and shakes herself. So Merlin is a falcon. I could see why you like the bird. She smiles a bit. ~Not the Wizard~ sounds like a funny name, for a pack. And to further press her lack of knowledge, she asks, What is a ... ~Tellurian~? It comes out very growly, and funny sounding as her Garou language doesn't quite compensate for the new word either.

Tobin stabs at the air for his next statement, "It /would/ be a funny name for a pack! Which is why we're not actually going to use it. And a merlin is /like/ a falcon, only much smaller. And the Tellurian is actually our word for all of creation. Gaia, the Shadow, the Realm, everything we know. I think."

Sepdet watches him with mild amusement, steepling her fingers under her chin. ~Surely one of your old lives can find a name in some language that fits.~

Three-Blades grunts and goes over the word a few more times in her mind, so as to commit the sound and meaning to memory. Tellurian. Interesting name for the world. She looks back at Tobin and simply wonders aloud, Why are you so jumpy? It isn't your moon... is it? The Gnawer looks up towards the sky for a moment to confirm.

Tobin sighs in exhasperation at Sepdet's suggestion. "I'm trying to keep the old lives /in check/ tonight, actually. And that is why I'm so jumpy. It was a night just like this one when Kevin got to run with the Hunter's pack on the Wyld Hunt. His memories are coming back very vividly tonight, and he wants to go run and find something to fight." He resumes his pacing. "I'm trying to work off my energy and stay grounded in /this/ lifetime to avoid getting into trouble."

~Ah.~ The Strider leans back. ~Ask later then. Perhaps in a Galliard's moon it will come to you in a song.~

Three-Blades switches her gaze between the theurges, confused as she is. Old lives? I thought Tobin was... She glances curiously at the Fang. How many voices do you hear in your head?

Tobin nods at Sepdet and pauses in his pacing to consider Yi's question. "I...lost count, when I tried to count them. They were all jabbering at once, then, and I couldn't keep track of them all to get an accurate count. Dozens. More. Some are stronger than others. I've seen flashes of memory from before the time of human civilization, from the Impergium, from the War of Rage. There could be hundreds of voices, but most are dim and incomplete." He stops as he realizes he's babbling and starts his pacing again.

Sepdet whispers softly, ~Seek one voice among many.~

Three-Blades traces a nod with her muzzle's end. I imagine you either must feel very crowded in the head, or very lonely. She quirks the end of her tail upwards. A talesinger would have loads of fun listening to your voices, too.

Tobin shrugs without stopping. "Crowded sometimes, lonely others. I never want for company, but sometimes I'm not too thrilled with the choices for companionship." He shoots another faint grin at Sepdet. "I've /got/ the one voice among the many, at the moment. I'm trying to get him to /shut up/."

Sepdet chuckles. ~The problem is trying to find the right voice. I run into the same problem with the dead, though at least they are around, and not in me.~

Three-Blades pokes glances at both crescent moons, and then snorts once with a flick of her ears. You seers are So Weird.

Sepdet breaks into a rare, full laugh.

Tobin nods knowingly at Sepdet. "The right voice is not always the strongest. Most often, the strongest voice is telling me I need a woman, or whiskey, or both. Right now, well I told that story already." He stops respond to Yi. "I am /supremely/ weird, thankyouverymuch. I was the easily the weirdest boy in school and proud of it." He blinks at Sepdet as she laughs, then grins widely and sits down on a rock. One knee bounces nervously as he attempts to contain himself.

Three-Blades looks at Sepdet, surprised her comment actually incited a whole bout of laughter from the normally sober Strider. Muzzle poking forward in closer examination, the Gnawer sniffs at her before turning to Tobin. I won't acknowledge, or deny that fact, she responds with a wolfish tweak of her lip. Who else is in your pack, anyway?

Sepdet draws a finger across the Gnawer's nose before retreating back into herself, lacing fingers over a knee.

Three-Blades wiggles her nose a little bit at the ticklish line resulting from Sepdet's finger. And her tongue peeks out from between her teeth.

Tobin beats a staccato rhythm on his leg with his fingers as he answers Yi. "Cameron and Aubrey, who I Rited with. As noted before, we seek Merlin, who is wise in the ways of discovering secrets." He grins widely. "Good for a pack of all Theurges, wouldn't you say?"

Three-Blades thinks on this, putting up faces with names and then putting the three of them together. That is an interesting pack, yes. At home, when my ritemates and I finished our rites, it was decided that instead of packing together, we would each lead one of our own packs. But I was the 'wild card' and Grandmother picked me to be sent here instead. Puttering around a little more in her head, the Gnawer sits up straighter and suggests, How about Sun-Smoke as a pack name?

Tobin blinks at the suggestion, but looks curious. "Why?" he asks simply.

Sepdet tilts her head at the no-moon. ~They're all dazzled with sun in their eyes?~ she teases.

Three-Blades explains, though her own logistical reasoning is not as straightforward to herself either. You are a pack of three theurges, and so are ones to search through smoke that clouds the sun and bring the answers to light. At the same time the light is hazed with grey, because Gaia knows only a crescent can understand the truth of some enigmas. If I remember right, falcons fly in the day time as well. Unless Merlin hunts at night as does Owl. The Gnawer rolls her shoulders with a very human-like shrug. I am not sure why I thought of it.

Sepdet offers, ~Wait until your Rite is done. Sometimes it is what happens on the quest that tells you the name for the journey. Also,~ she cautions, ~there is no guarantee Merlin will choose you in the end. Another might, if your actions suit their path better.~

Tobin listens to the somewhat convoluted explanation and responds with his own shrug. "Well, it's the best suggestion we've had so far. I found some names I like in Latin, but I don't think the others will go for them, honestly."

Tobin nods at the Strider, resisting the temptation to stick his tongue out at her for her previous comment. Respect your elders, and all.

Three-Blades looks pleased that her suggestion would be taken so well. Still, she does agree with the Strider in a way. The packbonding rite is, rather delicate. It can be so easy to mistaken one thing for another. Especially when the totem wishes to disguise itself. The Gnawer glances over at Hope-Star, a light, nostalgic smile on her face.

Sepdet smiles faintly at that. ~Yes. That's part of the test. Making sure you recognize them.~

"Well, I do expect riddles and such along the way, what with the nature of this particular spirit," he says thoughtfully, then grins. "Actually, I'm looking forward to them. I've always loved solving puzzles and figuring things out. I'm having trouble being patient in waiting to see what we'll find next!" He bounces a little on his rock before regaining control and settling down to just a fidget now and then.

Sepdet looks up at the young Fang with a speculative gaze. ~Will you be required to fight or solve puzzles, though?~ she queries badly. ~Merlin has two sides.~

Three-Blades blinks back to Tobin and his bounciness, feeling a little jumpy herself. It's catching. It would be interesting to meet this Merlin spirit, if I had a chance to.

Tobin fidgets a little more and glances up at the moon. "Honestly, Rhya? I'm hoping it's both." He holds up his hands to forestall anyone telling him what he says next. "I know, be careful what you wish for, you just may get it. I'm no doubt being overconfident, but I /want/ to be tested."

Three-Blades chuckles mentally, but nods with a muzzle-dip. You three have fought well together, that much I know. Defending Salmon while She performed her power to disrupt the Betrayers was a crucial step.

Sepdet murmurs, ~You are Fang. I'd expect nothing less.~

Tobin practically beams at Sepdet, leg bouncing again with his energy this evening.

Three-Blades on this note gets back up from sitting, swishes her tail and gives herself a hefty shake. Well then, I wish the new pack to be much wisdom and luck in earning the graces of Little Falcon. The Gnawer noses Sepdet again once, before she whuffs softly, And I think I should be trotting back towards the night lights tonight.

Sepdet sets her fingers lightly on either side of Yi's head. She starts to say something, then simply smiles, presses forehead against wolf's head for a moment, and releases her.

Tobin watches the exchange and somehow finds it calming, as he stops fidgeting quite so much. "Goodnight, Song Yi Ling, and thank you for the luck-wishes."

Three-Blades pokes Sepdet in the stomach area with her cold nose after the quiet exchange, and then looks amused as Tobin calls her through formal means. Someday you'll have to call me by just a regular name instead, she tells the Fang with a bit of a tongue-loll. Good night to the both of you, then.

Sepdet rises to her feet to move towards the pool. ~Keep well you both,~ she says formally, and slips back to her usual haunts.

Tobin rises to his feet and gives a short bow to Sepdet. "I think I'm going to go run, after all. Hopefully I won't find anything to fight," he says with a grin, and does indeed take off running, slipping down to lupus in a few strides.