Reggie looks cross at the mention of 'Thanksgiving' and heads over to Leonard to muter to him.

Emma gives Doc a nod, and though she says nothing, the Fury's presence is much appreciated.

Olga makes her way into the central clearing of the caern, leading, of all strange things, a blindfolded young man (Kyle) behind her. She looks a round a little embarrassed at the situation, but not so very. She removes the blindfold and looks around, to see what everyone thinks. She looks at Renee first and foremost. She pushes Kyle a bit from behind, just a little, in her direction, and herself walks towards her young elder.

Blindfold off, Kyle squints momentarily before reaching into his sweater pocket for his glasses and setting them back on his nose. He tilts them to one side a bit and looks around quietly, his shoulders slightly hunched up. He replaces his bandanna (blindfold) back around his burst of dreadlocks, cautiously.

"Thanks fer yer time, Alicia-rhya," Craig says as Olga and her new...uh...friend arrive. "Hey Olga. What's up?"

Olga drags Kyle over to Craig, with no concern for the re-adjustment of her eyes. "Hi, Craig," she says. "This is Kyle."

Kyle , looking slightly more reassured, adds "How's it going?"

Leonard glances over at Reggie, snorting.

Craig shrugs a shoulder, offering them both a candy as a matter of course. "'M good, how're you doin', Kyle?"

Olga nudges Kyle. "Introduce yourself, stupid," she whispers, loud enough for Craig to hear, though.

Turning slightly towards Olga and Kyle, Alicia examines the new arrival with a faint grin. "Hey Kyle." She says, eyes lifting to Olga, bemused.

Judges-Souls slips amoung the trees, finding her way into the center of the caern. Her clear blue-ice eyes shift among those gathered, spotting at least one packmate among the party. Judges-Souls slowly lopes towards Leonard.

Yi arrives in the skin of the wolf, almost rushed tonight. Yet, she composes herself quickly and returns to her birth form just as smoothly as her quiet entrance. Glancing about the caern and at the gathered, not recognizing some faces, she heads briefly to the ones she does know - those of her packmates - and says a soft hello while awaiting the beginning of the moot.

Dakota, still hanging off with only the company of a tree, glances around to pick out what few faces she knows. She doesn't make a move to join anyone, just keeps out of the main bustle of folks and watches the activity.

Kyle pauses after taking the candy, then, remembering himself, proceeds with "Starchild, Uktena Trickster" he extends his hand to Craig. His body language is definately less forced than his speech.

Olga elbows Kyle softly in the gut. "Rank," she coughs.

Leonard glances over at Judges-Souls.

Reggie turns aside from disgruntled muttering to Leonard to look interested at Kyle. He elbows Leonard in the ribs and points Kyle-wards.

Craig takes the hand and shakes. "Snake-Bait, Gnawer no-moon. Cliath."

Kyle says "Cliath! I know this stuff, alright?" he glances back at Olga with a friendly contempt.

Leonard grunts at the elbow and looks in the direction indicated, frowning. He hears the lad's introduction and just shakes his head.

Aubrey makes her way into the caern, shrugging up her shoulders as she gives a light shake of her long duster-cloak. The Assistant Gatekeeper looks around her with her golden-eyes flickering to each member, giving those she knows a nod of her head. There are several, which the young Gatekeeper is not familiar with. A look is given to Craig, remaining on him for several long moments before turning away to someone else.

Alicia chuckles slightly and nods her head to Kyle. After glancing around a moment, she waves Dakota over. "Hey, cuz', c'mere an join up here with the others." Ah, there is Yi. "Sis!" She shouts over the buzz of everyone's voices. "Hey, over here."

Final-Hour emerges from the treeline, his fur luminous as it shows by the lantern of the moon. He wends his way past the steam vents to the center of the caern, his nose hovering just above the clayey soil.

Blinking, Dakota looks over to Alicia. Glancing quickly around and hunching her shoulders a bit, she abandons the tree and slips over to stand beside Alicia, carefully avoiding bumping into anyone.

Kyle smiles at Alicia briefly, his shoulders noticably less tense by this point. He even drifts slightly further away from Olga, only a foot or so, but still movement.

Alicia extends a hand to Kyle as well. "I am Guards-The-Flame, Fostern and Moondancer for the Children of Gaia. I am the Voice of her Goddess, and Beta for the pack Rough and Tumble, daughter for the Hidden Walk Sept."

Olga looks with exasperation at Kyle. She explains for Craig and Alicia, ostensibly, though makes sure others can hear. "Kyle's new here," she says, "I just ran into him a couple of times, in the city; he's never seen a moot before, so I thought..." she trails off. "Uh, I don't know him too well," she says by way of an apology.

Emma lets out a soft, nearly inaudible huff. She finds a nice firm tree to lean against and folds her arms over her chest, glancing sideways to Doc. A sort of 'is this almost over yet' look.

Yi does pad over to Alicia, deigning to remain standing while she observes those new to her. The Gnawer ragabash takes a moment to look over towards Reggie and Leonard, sending the two a brief wave.

Kyle repeats his introduction for Alicia, "Starchild, Uktena Trickster -" he glances over at Olga again, smirking, "Cliath. Nice to meetcha."

Doc shrugs to Emma with a half smile. Not exactly social she hardly rushes forward to jump into the rounds of Getting To Know You. She crosses her arms instead, focusing on Kyle, looking him over, her features slipping into sternness.

Whispers slinks out the treeline on all fours, making a quiet lupine entrance to the Caern, and sidling up with the Gnawers.

Judges-Souls notices Emma across the caern and lopes towards her cub. She shifts into birth-form as she stands beside Emma with her hands stuffed deeply into the pockets of her jeans. "Have ya been to one of these yet?" she asks Emma, having forgotten.

Renee returns from checking on something a short distance away. When she catches sight of Kyle, she frown. "Right, I'm sure I'm missin' some intros here."

Craig grins. "Fun hasn't even started yet," he says. When Yi arrives, he grins broadly. "Yi uh...rhya? Is it?" He stuff his hands into his pockets. "Dunno if y'remember me. Think I only met ya once. You took me to th' Umbra in th' Park?"

Reggie snorts at something Leonard says and departs the Wendigo to go check out Kyle. He gives the arriving Yi a greet, and raps Alicia on the shoulder by way of greeting. "Hey", he tosses to Kyle.

Leonard nods to Yi, one corner of his mouth quirking.

Alicia tilts her head around and glances to Reggie, grinning. "Hey there Reg'." She says with a smile on her face. "Nice seeing ya still around and kicking."

Kyle looks around at all the people glancing at him, wondering why he's such a draw. He sidles a little closer back to Olga.

Emma shakes her head to the recently shifted Erika, "No, this is the first one." She finds that having Doc nearby is even more reassuring than having her Elder.

Olga exhales really slowly when Renee comes over. She begins to explain to her younger elder. "He's just arrived," she says, "never seen a moot before." She looks a little squemish. "I made him wear a blindfold," she offers, holding it up.

Kyle waves back at Reggie.

Yi, having received acknowledgement from Leonard, gives Kyle a once over with all his shiny piercings, before turning to Craig. "... Yes I remember you." The face, anyway, she remembers. The name, not so much. Seeing Reggie come up, she makes a point to nod her head to the Uktena as well.

Renee's eye narrow and she growls softly, having never really been known for having a good temper. "Why, was I not asked if he could come, or not?"

Dakota remains standing next to Alicia, probably infringing on her cousin's territorial bubble in the process. Arms stuffed into the pockets of her jeans, the cub looks at the small party surrounding Alicia, studying the faces.

Whispers watches the proceedings silently a while, before making his way over to Emma and sitting beside her, wagging his tail. Hello you.

Reggie kicks Alicia mildly on the calf. "Yup. Still kicking." He squints at Olga, as if suddenly finding her somewhat familiar, then returns his attention to Kyle with. "I'm Rags-torn-to-Rags, Ahroun of the Uktena, Metis of the Mohawk, and Reggie Coward in the city", pauses, then adds, "Oh yeah, and Cliath."

Olga talks quickly. "I've been trying to find you for a while," she explains, "got stuff to tell you 'bout the park, too; you seen the mess down there?"

Craig nods at Yi's acknowledgement, then takes a short step back when Renee's hackles go up.

Kyle shrinks visibly, almost retreating behind Olga, like Renee might spit a jet of flame, or something equally dangerous.

"I can escort him out, Renee-rhya," Doc says just loudly enough for her voice to carry, but not so loud that its disruptive. She takes a step forward, lifting an eyebrow, face expressionless. "With the blindfold."

Kyle is in no position to return Reggie's introduction by this point.

Emma looks down to the form of Whispers and gives a little grin. A hand slips from her pocket to scritch behind one of his ears. Then she frowns, oh man, don't go away Doc.

Olga immediately glares over at Doc, though quickly suppresses it. Just because Olga's in kiss-up-to-elders mode doesn't rate her fellow rankers special treatment.

"Well. He's not tainted or anything, Renee. I can tell you that much." Alicia says calmly enough as she rolls her shoulders back. "Long as he is respectful an gives /you/ a proper intro, maybe he can stay?"

Reggie looks nearly gleeful at Renee's temper. "Need me to find a place to stash the body?"

Renee nods curtly, in response to Alicia's words. "I can deal with that." She then turns her head to look over at Reggie. "Tell ya what, if he steps outta line, I'll rip off his head an' then you can stash the body."

Doc simply looks at Olga, though her eyes flash green with a suppressed roil of anger. She's just doing her job. But she returns her attention quite deliberately to Renee. When Renee says he can stay, she steps unobtrusively back to Emma.

Alicia grins faintly and nods to her pack leader, then tilts her head towards Kyle, motioning him towards the Elder Gnawer.

Kyle looks slightly perplexed at all this, but takes a step forward. He looks to Alicia, expectantly. He quickly removes his hands from his sweater's front pocket.

Olga groans and readies her elbow.

Sidelong, Dakota finally spots Emma, though doesn't say anything. The unfamiliar Doc is given a slightly longer look, but even that is soon returned to Renee and the group she is apart of, still not saying a word.

Whispers bats Emma's leg with his tail, but watches intently to see the new guy's introduction - and then maybe see his head ripped off for an encore.

Reggie looks measuringly at Kyle. "Five foot four? That'd fit in my trunk."

Whispers might not know it, but the docile tempered Gnawer has a calming affect on the Ahroun. Throw that together with Doc returning to her side, and Emma almost seems to be relaxing during all of this. She too watches, learn from others mistakes and all that.

Olga steps toward Renee a little, though she's very careful not to seem aggressive or even possessing of a spine in the very slightest. "Ah, Renee-rhya," she says, the foreign honourific stumbling on her tongue, "with all respect due your station, and all," she looks around, not very good at this, "Doc has offered to remove him should he prove, ah, difficult; please rip off _my_ head if you must someone's. He's just poorly trained, he should be at the farm, practically."

Kyle says "Kyle Starchild Hunt, Uktena Trickster, Cliath" he speaks clearly, than bows his head as a sign of respect, "at your service."

Doc gives Dakota a curt nod, huffing a little bit and gritting her teeth. Then she notes Whispers. Ironically he seems to calm /her/ down too. Well, a bit. She gives him a half a smile.

Craig glances in the direction of the two cubs and the cliath, giving a mildly confused wave to Whispers, then turning his attention back to the standoff at hand.

Alicia tilts her head a bit over to Doc and grins. "Hey, Nice seeing ya over here. This here is Dakota, my cousin. She firsted a few weeks ago. Total cubbage here."

"Hey," Doc says to Dakota. "Congrats. You can call me Doc." She pauses for a moment, and shrugs. What the hell, she's unfamiliar to a lot of people. "Black Fury full moon cliath, and Guardian." There, now more people know who she is. "Hey Alicia, good to see you." She has a half smile for Alicia too; its a normal person's equivalent of a wide grin after all.

"Um, thanks." Dakota manages a small grin in reply to Doc's congradulations, though still remains firmly attached to her cousin's side.

Renee still doesn't look that happy, espically when Olga speaks up, lips curling back a little to reveal blunt teeth. "I might jus' gut ya fer brinin' him here in the first place, Olga." A sharp nod of her head and the Galliard takes a step back. "Good, that'll do Starchild. I'm Renee Sees-True-Form, Fostern Galliard an' Elder of the Bone Gnawers. Alpha of the pack R and T, an' Alpha of the Sept until Salem drags his ass back here."

Leonard snorts again at that.

Alicia smiles at Dakota, then turns her attention to Doc. "Guardian eh'? Slipped yourself right into a Sept position already. Rocking. We should totally kick it out here one day an swap stories. Dak' here is ganna spend more time out in the woods the next few weeks an what not, learn what its like to be a Groo."

Kyle lifts his head only after Renee finishes speaking, then lets his hands slide back into his front-pocket. He returns to Olga's side.

Olga grunts, glad to have lost her pride if she gets to keep her head. She wanders over to the edge of the clearing and flops down, exhausted from all that hard and fairly-useless sucking-up.

Gritting teeth, gritting. Emma stands there and does her best to remember her 'homework'. Her hand stays down by Whispers, pet pet.. nice wolf.

Doc lets out a little, 'heh' at Alicia's comment, but doesn't banter about her position, instead says, "I'd like that." Never use four words, after all, when three will do, that's Doc Collins' motto. She glances back at Emma and scrubs her fingers through her hair.

Dakota keeps going over her introduction time and again inside her head, getting used to the feel of new names and new titles. They're heavy words for the cub, but she's delighted to have them. Frowning slightly, she nudges Alicia, asking of her cousin, "When do I go?"

Alicia chuckles. "You can introduce yourself around if you want Dak'. But, the official one starts I believe right before the cracking of the bone. Its when we all discuss politics an what not."

Whispers wraps his tail around Emma's ankles in a kind of firm hug. He looks up at her as he does so. Relax, silly.

Renee shakes her head and mutters to herself, every second word something crude. Hands stuffed into her pockets, she heads over to where Leonard is standing. "Hey."

Craig settles back to watching, his gladhanding over, though he does dig into his pockets, unearthing a half-eaten package of jerky. He starts to eat, taking in the 'atmosphere'.

Kyle saunters over to Craig, untethered from Olga for the first time since he arrived, and with a seemingly more natural step now that he's gotten the formalities and threats of bodily harm over with. "Hey, feel my wrist, is that frostbite ya think?" He holds his hand out for inspection.

Final-Hour keeps to himself presently, interested in some scent or another that he slowly follows. He scratches blunted claws to the soil now and again. His big white paws are muddied already from this activity.

Catherine Stalks-in-Silence slinks in under the guise of Lupus, wending through people and hounds until she reaches Alicia's side.

Emma lets out a sigh and leans back against the tree. Thank god for Karl. Er Gaia.

Craig looks at the other boy's wrist, chewing on the jerky. One finger is extended to poke it gently, then he shrugs. "Could be. Maybe y'should think about gettin' some gloves, if y'don't have 'em? Or hit wolf-form. Keep ya warmer."

Dakota could introduce herself to others, yes, but at the moment she remains quiet and continues reciting her introduction and trying to make it sound the best she can, muttering out loud to herself on occasion to get the feel for the words.

Yi remains quiet while others introduce and converse. Her eyes follow a few of the lupus forms that slink around the area, though she seems to be concentrating on something else in mind.

Alicia reaches over and filters her fingers through Stalks's fur and smiles. "Hey, meet my cousin here, Dakota. Cub of our tribe. She's staying with us now."

Kyle deftly turns the touch into a handshake with a little sleight-of-hand, "sorry I got pulled away there."

Leonard arches an eyebrow at Renee, and nods.

Craig chuckles, then holds out the bag of jerky. "Hungry, man?"

Whispers looks up at Emma. Have you introduced yourself yet?

Renee looks around her and wrinkles her nose. "Well, I had this Shadow Lord say he was gonna be the Master of the Howl tonight, but I ain't seein' his ego floatin' around anywhere. So, since he ain't showin' enough Honor ta keep his promise an' show, do you wanna be the Master of the Howl?"

Leonard stares at the woman a long moment, then nods.

Emma shakes her head to Whispers. "Don't want to really." She scratches at her nose and just watches the others.

Kyle says "If you insist," he takes a small piece and pops it in his mouth and, still chewing, continues with "so, are you a local to these parts?"

"You need to," Doc says to Emma, very quietly. "You wouldn't back down in a fight. You shouldn't back down in any situation. You don't always have to tear into things but you should always stand your ground. In this case, it means politely introducing yourself, even if you don't want to."

Emma looks to Doc, sighing. "What, just jump up in front of everyone and say who I am?" Craig shrugs and looks at the others gathered. "Was, 'n' now I'm comin' back. Yer not, though, what with bein' lost 'n' all. Where're you from?"

Renee nods and offers a brief smile, the expression somewhat tense. "Good. You'll do a good job. Probably better then Jarred could'a managed."

Leonard shrugs.

"Introduce yourself to Dakota," Doc suggests, still quiet. Trying not to let others hear really, though she doesn't care if Whispers does. "She's probably feeling a little lost, even with her cousin here."

Kyle says "San Fran, originally. I just got back from sunny Mexico, though. Road trip," he grins, "it was awesome. I basically tagged the whole west coast!"

Emma grumbles, "I met her already. And I don't want to just look like a fool stepping out to say 'Hey, lookie here.'"

Whispers tries to encourage Emma. Get into warform and /howl/. You're a warrior - prove it to them!

Craig chuckles. "That's cool, man. That your stuff I saw on my walkabout last week? Down by th' river?"

Doc holsd her hands up. "Alright, you're right, I don't know who you've met." She scrubs her fingers through her hair and decides to stick to staring straight ahead. That is what she does best right now.

A familiar halfmoon enters the Caern, looking slightly harried and dangling half of a plastic watch from a piece of yarn, glancing at it and all the people gathered, before frowning and throwing it into the bag around her waist. "I think I'm late," Lyra murmurs idly, sidling up to Renee. "Sorry about that."

Kyle says "That tin can on wheels? Yep, she's my special lady. She doesn't get out much anymore, though."

Alicia glances over to Lyra and grins, nudging Dakota. "Thats Lyra, she's in our pack also. As well as Yi, and Raul." She points out to the other Gnawers. "Looks like the entire gang is here."

Renee cracks her knuckles, as she catches sight of Lyra's arrival. "An' there is our Truthcatcher. Anytime ya wanna start now, Leonard." THe Galliard smiles at her packmate, as she comes close. "Hey, no prob. Atleast you made it."

Upon seeing Lyra slide into the mixture of Garou, Yi looks pleased via the brighter shine of her eyes. Clearing her throat mildly, the no-moon glances to Renee, then Leonard. Almost time.

Phew, starting. That means she can just stay back and be quiet. Emma drops down into a squat, resting one arm along the shoulders of the wolf beside her.

Dakota oohs and nods at Alicia's words, peering around her at the arrived Lyra. She takes in the increase in bustle, figuring it must be close to beginning. Excitement, and nervousness, both fill the young Coggie.

Craig snickers at the 'special lady' comment, then shakes his head. Renee's words catch his attention and he holds a hand up to Kyle. "S'about time," he explains. "Better get a good seat."

Don't you chicken out... Whispers warns, then offers a sly lupine grin. We can make it /bad/ for you if you don't do it voluntarily, he says, hoping to catch Doc's eye.

Olga's already got herself a good seat. She tosses a look at Whispers and Emma sitting there together: a blank look, mere recognition. She settles herself in.

Kyle looks around and finds a spot to sit near Craig, but also within view of Olga, who he's just remembered is here as his 'escort'. "What's up next?" He tightens his bandanna.

Emma mutters at the wolf. "When? It's about to start, shh."

Craig plunks himself down pretty much where he is, and stows the jerky. "Th' good stuff," he remarks enigmatically in Kyle's direction as he hunkers down.

Leonard nods to Renee, shifting up into crinos as he steps towards the center of the caern. He takes a few deep breaths before tilting his muzzle to the sky and unleashing a powerful howl. Within are words for those to hear that can. ~ Come now to Grandmother's Heart for under the eye of Luna we gather to sing her praises! ~

Alicia closes her eyes for a moment during the opening howl, hearing her heart sing along with the words. A bright smile crosses over her face, sighing softly, drinking in the cool breath of Gaia in the air.

Yi takes the opening howl into her consciousness, eyes closing momentarily with the wolfsong. As it fades off, she makes her way to a spot where she can hear and see the Caller of the Litany. The Shadow Walker shifts her form to that of war, towering up from what before was just a young asian woman.

Renee's form blurs and twists, bones popping as she takes on the war form. Her massive arms cross, as she looks around at the gathered Garou.

Emma looks to both Doc and Whispers, "We supposed to do that too?"

Craig bows his head as the howl begins, then follows the lead of others as they shift into Crinos.

Whispers shoves Emma with a hip, hoping to knock her off balance. Yep, he says, then steps away to leave clearance while he himself bulks up into a towering ball of fur and claws.

Starchild throws his head back and howls a long call of short yips, still sitting with his knees up and his hands over his kneecaps. He leans back as far as possible without falling over.

Olga shifts into her Crinos, undedicated clothes ripping about her as she does. She stands up, no longer reclining.

Doc tilts her head up to the sky as she blurs and shifts into Crinos form, shaking out her ruff as she does so. That seems to be the ebony-furred ahroun's answer to Emma's question.

Blurring into the Crinos form, Guards-The-Flame clenches her fists tightly together, biting back the urge to hurl her own song of rage into the air. She looks 'juiced'.

Final-Hour takes the warform, lifting from lupus off the ground into a bipedal stance. His yellow eyes turn to the Wendigo, and watch.

Stalks-in-Silence howls from Lupus, her voice strong and sure, albeit not quite as loud as many of the other Garou.

Emma follows suit then, feeling a bit of excitement as she joins in. Her own form blurring upwards to take on the war form, though she stays in her half squat position after all is said and done.

Olga takes a few deep breaths, preparing herself, and adds her voice to the others'.

Dakota summons up the change, feelin bones creak and muscles roll. Black and red and patched with white, Faces-Rage stands beside Guards-The-Flame, feeling the blood run hot with sudden anticipation. Golden eyes glow bright, but her voice remains still silent.

Lyra takes a step behind Renee as she shifts, blurring and twisting into the war form. She stays back, tail taking a swipe at the air behind her and claws placed daintily at her sides, but she does not howl- she just closes her monstrous eyes and listens.

Brings-Buffalo snarls for silence as the howls die down. ~ Show respect for the Rite of the Opened Sky! ~ He steps back, looking around.

What? Raul, Gnawer Theurge and mechanic, has turned up in Crinos,in a rather strange costume. He's wearing a thigh-length dress that has been Dedicated to fit; not just any dress but one that is sewn in with tiny shards of mirrored glass. Doubtless the dress is not comfortable, but he seems to have no plan of removing it. Further, he is wearing a mask that fits oddly over his lupine face, but seems to be an approximation of a clown or mime. Either way, he carries in one hand a large mirror, the kind that is usually hung securely on the wall, but in this case is welded to a post so he can carry it as a hand-mirror. and in the other a scroll with writing on. Well, not writing exactly; words made up of letters that have been cut out of a newspaper and stuck on. It is from this he reads; ~When there is fire in me then I am still cold. When I own your true love's face then you will not see me. To all things I give no more than I am given; in time I may have all things, and yet I can keep nothing. What am I?~

He turns to face all assembled. ~What are we?~ Then, to the skies above. ~Chimera, what are you?~ The question and riddle seems to please the Totem; the sense of being watched-over multiplies tenfold dispite this not being umbral, and the waters of the pool at the base of the cliff take on a peculiar quality, as if the water had somehow been turned into a rippling mirror.

Brings-Buffalo glances at the water uneasily, then turns his attention back to the odd theurge.

Three-Blades opens her eyes as she takes a step back, standing beside Leonard Brings-Buffalo, allowing the ritemaster more room. Listening to the riddle, she looks to the water as an answer comes to her mind and the caern's totem makes itself known to them. ~Welcome, Wise One,~ she rumbles out.

Starchild looks fascinated and pensive. His eyes glance to the right as he thinks, and he scratches at his snout gently with one paw.

Fixes-Stuff turns to face the assembled Garou once more. ~The rite, as many have been, is lost to us. Do not fear - Chimera watches over us regardless, ~ he rumbles lowly, gesturing to the mirrorlike pool as 'proof'. ~Now let the next stand up and speak.~ He holds no pretenses, simply bowing and stepping down to let the next part of the Moot be done, still wearing his odd dress.

Brings-Buffalo steps back up, looking over the assembled, then glancing at the pool once more. With a low rumble, he begins.

A plume of breath twists slowly to the heavens as he begins to impart the age-old Laws. ~ Garou shall not mate with Garou. ~ The fool mocks, the sept shouts her down. He pauses and looks at the gathered, growling, ~ Respect the territory of another. ~

Sees-True's nostrils flares and she looks around her, then slowly shakes her head.

Black talons flashing as Yi performs her role of the Fool, the no-moon howls out in reply to the first law and the Garou gathered refute her. When the second law is called, she barks out with cynicism and again is pelted with the gathered's rebuttal. Proceeding to the third law, she replies. ~The power of Gaia grows smaller and smaller with each setting of the sun. Our caerns and sacred places fall one by one to the Wyrm as we speak. Now is not the time to draw boundaries and fight over the mere scent of whose piss marks a tree!~ Three-Blades shakes her head in a play of frustration about this dilemma. ~This is a law only for those who haven't learned how to cooperate with others. If all territory belonged to all, then we wouldn't have this problem.~

Rags snarls at the fool's reply. "We are not communists!"

Snake-Bait raises his eyes as the Litany begins, focused on the Fool. ~If the territory is too big, and if the territory was everything, it would be, it's too easy to lose track of who is protecting where, and then where are we? Fucked. Better to watch over small parts, seperately, keep better track.~

Sees-True snorts. "Right and then we can tear eachother apart! We're wolves. Keeping territory is part of our nature!"

Olga shouts out ~One's territory is one's home; without the right to protect our homes, and those in them, from _all_ comers, what protectors of Gaia would we be?~

Guards-Flame rumbles loudly in her throat. ~May as well just invite the Wyrm to have supper with us, for without territory, we don't know where one ends and another begins.~

The Wendigo growls out the next laws as the mocking dies down: ~ Accept an honorable surrender. Submission to those of higher station. First of the kill to the greatest in station. ~ Again the fool ridicules and the Garou gathered ridicule her in turn. ~ Combat the Wyrm wherever it dwells and wherever it breeds. ~

~The Wyrm is everywhere; in the cities, in the humans, in the rivers, in the skies... in our very hearts. The Wyrm sinks its many fangs into all. How can we expect to make war upon it all?~ Three-Blades gazes around at the gathered, staring at each face yet not really looking at a single one. ~It is a fool's errand, and an impossible task to defeat such a powerful force. What more, if this is so, that would mean we spend our entire lives fighting against everything - it would be a meaningless, tiring existence.~

Snake-Bait chuffs. ~And being a gutless excuse for a coward's somehow more restful and enlightening?~

~I will not lay down and die,~ growls Doc. ~We must never give up hope, nor turn our backs on Gaia, but step forward and fight evil with all we have! I call coward any who would suggest otherwise!~

~It is our duty to the mother to do such, fool!~ Shouts Guards-The-Flame in an angry rumble. ~If we don't battle back, we'll lose all that much faster and never even /have/ a chance! The Wyrm needs to know that /we/ are that powerful force!~

Sees-True snarls. "The moment we start thinking like that, we've failed. Only those who have given up on our Mother, think like that."

Starchild says, ~We fight to restore the balance.~

Brings-Buffalo continues: ~ Ye shall not eat the flesh of humans. Respect those beneath ye for all are of Gaia.~ The fool responds, and so does the crowd. ~ The leader may not be challenged during war, but may be challenged at any time in peace. ~

Four-Leaves flicks her ears, eyes closed and listening.

Three-Blades growls back her reply to the Caller, her voice resonating low and dangerous with the point she makes. ~If we are always fighting the Wyrm, then we are always at war. If we are always at war, then the leader will never be challenged. What logic is this? These laws were made by the Garou leaders to escape any questioning of their rule and power, so that while the warriors have fought long and hard and earned their share, their leaders run in and grab the best shares for themselves, without being challenged!~

Fire-Dancer listens desperately, certainly getting a large dose of practice with this form of communication.

~During times of stress, challenging a leader may confuse all, and thus, leaving us open for an unprepared attack!~ Guards-The-Flame bellows back.

Faces-Rage snorts, ~If we are fighting among ourselves, then who is there to guard our back against thw Wyrm?~

~Our leaders earn their place,~ Fat-Ripper calls, ~they are not given it. To take down our strongest during war when we need them mos is beyond foolish.~

~War is battle," Sees-True snarls. ~You do not Challenge a leader during a fight, but you can once the battle is over!~

Snake-Bait's ears prick. ~There are times of peace during our war. Challenge then!~

Brings-Buffalo resumes his recitation. ~ The veil shall not be lifted. Suffer not they people to tend thy sickness. ~ Again the fool belittles, and again she is belittled in turn as the Garou shout out their obedience to Gaia. ~ Ye Shall Take No Action That Causes a Caern to be Violated. ~

~We have all done things that cause caerns to be violated. Spitting on the ground may dishonor the territory, making that as a violation. Spilling the Wyrm's blood inside the bawn? That too, may be a violation as it invites the Wyrm's taint directly onto the face of Gaia.~ The Gnawer ragabash swipes her claws to the sky, pointing at the dark of the skies where those who know may even feel the burning of the Red Star hidden in the Umbra. ~When the roar of the Apocalypse is upon us, and the spawn of the Wyrm rises from the dead to assault that which we try so hard to protect... when we know we fight a losing battle... which will be better: to die and lose the caern anyway, or to cut our losses and develop a new strategy of fighting to regain it? One, the other, or both will be a violation of the caern. As well meaning as this law is, it simply is too broad, and the answers we have are too few. The halfmoons interpret as they may, but to those who do not understand this law fully, what good will their ignorance do them? This law then, also needs to be changed -- and soon.~

Starchild says, ~That's a long and brittle limb you're going out on.~

Rags roars out, ~Our lifeblood is the caerns!~

~Wrong! If we lose our Caern's, we lose the greatest spiritual bindings to the mother that we have! Do you not remember last year? Do you not remember the horror we faced? We all felt it, we lost the connection to our creator! We lose the Caern's, we lose it all!~

Guards-The-Flame roars back, eyes narrow into thin points of rage. ~That will not happen again! Not HERE!~

Snake-Bait bares his teeth, claws digging into the ground at his feet. ~And if every Garou thought this way, and if every caern was abandoned? Better to die and have a chance at saving it than to run and be a traitor to everything She created us for!~

~Thus speaks those who care more for their backs than their honor! Such gutless cowardice surely makes the Mother weep!~ Doc growls out, clenching a fist and holding it high.

~We in particular hold this law dear,~ Four-Leaves rumbles lowly; her words might be lost in more passionate exclaims. ~As those who lost our Caern once before, and retaken it, we are honorbound to give our lives rather than lose it again.~

~Damn fuckin' straight!~ Sees-True snarls. ~I'd lay down my life, before I allowed the Caern to become defiled!~

Eamon walks down into the center of the caern, fashionably late. He doesn't seem to care one way or the other, though. He grins and waves to the gathered garou. "Hey. We havin' a moot or somethin'?"

Three-Blades finishes her role as the Fool, bowing her head as the counters for her argument ring loudly into the air and in her ears. She looks once to Leonard, nodding to give acknowledgement for the Wendigo's good performance, and then steps back to blend into the group once more. The ragabash shifts back to her birthform, gazing back to Renee and the Truthcatcher for the next part of the moot.

Eamon pouts. "Aww, damn, I missed the fool."

Guards-Flame dips her head towards Three-Blades with a bit of pride and gratitute, ears flickering forward as she rumbles softly to herself.

Starchild whispers to Yi, "that was wild!" he smiles, admiration in his eyes.

Whispers glances sideways at Emma, wondering what she thought of that, and how she's feeling about the Moot now.

Brings-Buffalo nods to Yi, stepping down himself and looking to Renee, folding his arms. He, however, keeps to his warform.

Fire-Dancer catches her friends glance and turns to face him, a twinkle in her eyes and an odd, lupine grin painted on her huge head.

Doc grins back at Fire-Dancer and Whispers, a little pumped herself.

Sees-True inclines her massive head in a nod, then walks a short distance away. She returns with a deer's leg-bone dangling from her hand. With a small flourish, she hands the large bone over to Lyra. ~Stage is all yours.~

Yi glances sideways at Starchild, the play of a smile flitting over the Gnawer no-moon's face as she nods and utters a quiet thanks. As Eamon arrives, she nods to him too in greeting.

Four-Leaves opens her eyes now, ears flicking back as she grins at Renee and manages a courtesy, awkward in Crinos. ~Thanks...~ Claws click against bone as she holds it in front of her, for all the Sept to see. ~Now let us crack the bone, to find the marrow of truth within,~ she calls out, voice ringing clear. She grips the bone and it splinters in two, edges ragged. Soft eyes glance around the caern. ~Let those new to the Sept, cub and cliath alike, come forward and be known.~

Guards-Flame turns her brown eyes over towards Dakota and offers her a soft chuff, motioning her forward.

Faces-Rage narrows dark, bestial eyes and nods to her cousin. This is what she was waiting for. She steps forward to be clearly seen by all. A breath fills her chest, and she announces in a clear, strong, and proud voice, ~My name is Stands-Up-To-Rage, homid born under the name of Dakota Warner. I am a newly Firsted Child of Gaia, destined by Luna to be a Seer.~

Yi shifts her eyes to the first of the new faces, taking in Coggie's look and mannerisms. She nods, glancing over to Alicia and smiling briefly.

Sees-True ears flatten and she chuffs softly, amusement in the tone. The pup forgot to take the bones, before she spoke.

Eamon blinks at Faces-Rage and mutters. "Damn, she's a CoGgie? Where's the love, man? Where's the daisies and puppy dogs and cute fluffy bunnies?"

Olga slinks forward, quietly but surely, to take the bone of meat; but when she speaks, she speaks loudly. ~I am Fat-Ripper,~ she calls out to those assembled. ~To the humans I am known as~, and here she switches to her human tongue, sounding awkward and strained coming from her Crinos mouth, "Olga Sergeevna Borodin." She pauses to regain her stride. ~I am a Cliath Theurge of the Bone Gnawers,~ she continues, ~and I offer my service to the Sept of the Hidden Walk in whatever form they care to use them.~ She hands the bone back to Four-Leaves and resumes her place.

Doc steps forward to take the bone from Four-Leaves, she supposes she's still new, and Renee did mention something about her introducing herself at the moot. ~My name is Doc, homid born under the name of Haley Collins, Ahroun, Cliath of the Black Fury tribe, and serving the sept as a Guardian.~

Fire-Dancer grumbles and hates that she has to follow up Dakota. Still, she takes her own deep breath, stands tall and proud and steps out towards the Elders. After waiting to get a go ahead nod, or whatever it is they do to grant her permission. ~I am Dances-on-Coals, Ahroun cub of the Get of Fenris, born to defend and fight for Gaia and her children.~ Then she turns back, resuming her place near Doc.

Guards-Flame chortles slightly at Dakota as she forgot to take the bones out of nervousness, but, proud that she got it all out. A look of pride still falls upon her features as she nods to her cub.

Four-Leaves winks at Firedancer, mumbling something as the cub walks away.

Whispers grins at Fire-Dancer as she returns, wagging his tail at her to let her know she did great.

Snake-Bait steps up, taking the bone from Four-Leaves and giving her a lupine wink. ~I was here before, and now I'm back. Six months ago, I went by Takes-Chances. Now, I go by Snake-Bait. I'm a No-Moon, I'm a child of Rat, and I'm a Cliath. And now, I hope, I'm home.~ He hands back the bones with a grin, then heads back to his spot.

Yi takes in each introduction, perking a little bit at the mention of new and returned Bone Gnawers. As Snake-Bait returns, he gets another nod from her, as if she finally remembers who he is.

At -that-, Four-Leaves almost drops the bone- she grabs it again in midair as her ears flick back, eyes wide in surprise. She glances over her shoulder at Sees-True, head canted puzzledly.

Eamon blinks. "Snake-Bait? Fat-Ripper? Who named these people?"

Faces-Rage heads back to Guards-The-Flame's side, an ear bent back in a lopsided expression made good-natured by the toothy grin on her face. She forget, yeah, but she's not perfect.

Starchild crawls forward from his seat and then stands, accepting the bone. He glances back over his shoulder at the gathered Garou and turns suddenly with mock surprise, as if he just noticed them all there. ~Oh hi! My name is Starchild, Homid-born Uktena. Trickster and Cliath. At your disposal,~ he half-grins to Four-leaves and the others assembled. He hands the bone back and trots back to his spot.

Yi could think of a few people who would name their cubs such, but doesn't reply to Eamon's question. She just smirks.

Olga glares at Eamon. ~My elders, jerk-rhya.~ Having only a faint idea who he is, and not knowing his name, she figures that's good enough.

Finally getting over her surprise, Four-Leaves yips to get their attention. ~Children, children,~ she calls out, trying to shush the sept back into relative quiet. ~If all newcomers are known, then those with new news, come and have the bone.~

Whispers flicks his eyes around to those who are in on his secret... He is not ready to share that particular piece of news yet, and he hopes they realise and respect this.

Brings-Buffalo stalks up, taking the bone from the Truthcatcher. ~ There is a new pack in the sept, as you may have heard. Scourge. We follow Wyvern, and Runs-At-Dawn of the Fianna is our alpha. ~

Brings-Buffalo lists the pack members and hands the bone back to the person who's passing it out, and goes back to take his place amongst the crowd.

Four-Leaves smiles as Leo hands her back the bones. ~Gaia watch your steps,~ she murmurs, then looks back out at the crowd. ~Who else here as something to declare?~

Yi nods over at the Wendigo again, peering about partly wondering where the alpha of Scourge is, but otherwise glad to hear the formation of a new pack.

Sees-True takes the bones from her packmate, then raises them above her head. ~I have taken on the roll of Sept Elder, while Salem is not here. But all of you should know that already. No, I have something far more important to tell all of you.~ THe Galliard pauses for a moment, as she looks over the gathered Garou. "Kaz came to me not all that long ago and with her, there was a child. She told me how how she had been asked to care for this kid and how she had, for a short period of time. Still, she is busy looking after a group of young cubs and new Cliath's to the south of us. Kaz told me that she did not have the time to look after this child and asked if I would adopt the kid. My pack and I have agreed to adopt this child and to raise her. To teach her what it means to be Garou.~

Having wandered off a bit into the woods, Guards-The-Flame returns, carrying the child in her arms, that of a squirming and squeaking Metis baby with a bare tail, like a rat.

Yi steps aside as Guards-the-Flame comes through with the child. She looks upon the metis with hardly any expression, rather, gazing about to see the reactions of the others. The memory of the Litany calling returns to her mind momentarily.

Brings-Buffalo wrinkles his nose with distaste.

Fire-Dancer blinks widely at this, not having ever seen something like that. Heard of it, once. Learned that it's not supposed to happen? Tons. Seen it? No, and now she just stares.

Starchild watches the metis child with interest.

Snake-Bait's ears flick forward as Guards-the-Flame enters the moot with the pup. He cranes his neck to see the child, then huffs, watching the reactions of the others.

A look of disgust crosses Eamon's face. "Oh, Christ."

Faces-Rage has never seen such a creature, and her head is tilted in a gesture of uncertainty. It confuses her, yet she feels pity for such a sad looking thing. Ears are folded back, and she watches what will be done with the child. She knows the Law, but not how it will be upheld.

Fat-Ripper's seen him(?) before; she's had time to get over her initial reaction, and her face is blank, maybe even a little supportive: she'd like to get back in Renee's good books. ~What's his auspice? And his name?~ she asks straightforwardly.

Guards-Flame bobs the child up and down in her arms a bit, causing the Metis to giggle and flail her arms about. She stares at the other Garou, almost daring them to take a stab at snatching it from her paws.

Sees-True points the pointed ends of the bones at Alicia, as her packmate returns. ~There is the child we have adopted and agreed to raise. Her name is Squeaks-Like-A-Rat and was born during the waxing crescent moon. We shall be keeping her at the zoo. Any who want their cubs to see the child and why we have the First Law, may come to see her. Any who mistreat her, will regret it. She has been adopted by my pack and we /will/ defend her. It is not her fault that she was brought into this world and it os not our place to punish her for being born.~

Starchild whispers to Olga, somewhat skeptical, "did they say the zoo?"

Yi silently notes the looks of disgust and others of curiosity or ambivalence, all the while glancing every so often at the metis.

Fat-Ripper smiles a bit and whispers back to Starchild, ~Not what it sounds like.~

Fixes-Stuff rises from his crouch at the edge of the Caern, wading through people towards Sees-True and extending massive hands towards her, as if to take the child. ~She will be a great Seer,~ he rumbles quietly, still wearing his odd dress.

Fire-Dancer taps Whispers with the backside of her paw, then nods to the baby. ~Start like that?~ The metis she means, though it's hard for her to grab the words she seeks in this form yet.

Doc looks at the little metis and just half shakes her head. Not in disgust, or even pity, but just acknowledgement that the child has a hard life coming.

Guards-Flame reaches out with the child and hands her over to Fixes-Stuff as he asks for it. She rumbles quietly to herself, glancing about the other faces.

Brings-Buffalo looks away, face expressionless. Might as well not even exist to him anymore.

Fixes-Stuff gathers Squeaks into his arms, lightly rubbing his muzzle against the baby's ears, ignoring the swipes of her clawed hands as best he can. He carries her to the edge of the Caern and then sits there with the metis in his lap, letting her watch the Moot from this safe distance.

Whispers snorts quietly to himself, the thought of Raul in drag trying to raise a child. Then he turns to Fire-Dancer, ~Hmmm?~. Seems he doesn't quite understand what she's asking.

Sees-True looks over the gathered Garou, ears laying back and all but challenging anyone to question her decision. When no challenge is heard, she hands the bones back to Lyra.

Four-Leaves blurs and dwindles down into homid form. "For this moot, I am the Truthcatcher. If you feel this a breach of the Litany, then you seek me," Lyra murmurs firmly, bright hazel eyes watching the Sept calmly. Holding the bones again, she offers them once more. "If you are to speak, step forward."

Eamon stands and takes the bone from Four-Leaves, shifting up to crinos to accommodate the lupus present, if any. ~A visitor came to the Fianna's grotto not long ago, asking to be in the center of the caern on Halloween, which we Fianna call Samhain, for some sort of ritual. What that ritual was to be, I don't know, since he was refused entrance into the caern. It may have had something to do with the Samhain ritual or with the Faeries of the Winter Court. The Fianna received a sign or warning in the form of spoiled food and bitter water in the grotto. I can't say what this bodes for the caern, only that the faeries seem to be angry with us for some reason, and I believe at the Fianna in particular. So be on your guard for anything. I doubt they'll attack the caern openly, but strange things may happen. If you should run into a faerie, notify the Fianna immediately. You'll know 'em when you see 'em, trust me. I intend to investigate the manner further, but until then, be on your guard. Carry cold iron with you to defend yourself, it is to them what silver is to us. That's all I have to say." He gives the bone back to Four-Leaves and shifts back down to the wolf-form.

Snake-Bait watches Fixes-Stuff wander off with the pup, then returns his attention to the continuing moot. His ears settle, and he sits back on the ground, an odd posture for the war-form.

Sees-True's ears flatten against her skull, as eamon finishes speaking and hands the bones back to Lyra. ~If the Fianna had been willing to tell my about what was happening before, things may have gone differently. Your Fae friend, was spotted wandering around the farmhouse without anyone to watch him. Wandering loose, around our cubs."

Eamon says "I never said he was Fae, I said I thought he might be. He told me he was kin." "If you might, Eamon-rhya," Yi pipes up briefly, "tell us what these Faeries of the Winter Court look like so we will know what is it we are guarding against, or what this Samhain looks like?"

Fat-Ripper pipes up too. ~Yeah, and's iron really necessary?~ she asks. ~We got these,~ she adds, raising a clawed paw and wiggling its clawed fingers. ~Sorry,~ she admits, ~everything I know about the faeries I learned on a Lucky Charms box, and leprechauns just don't seem to scary.~

"And what is 'Cold Iron'?" Catherine wonders, changing up to Homid. "How is it different from normal iron?"

Fire-Dancer nudges Whispers again, ~Happy man, think it was him? One we spied on?~ Now she is all caught up in the intrigue.

Eamon says "Samhain's not a person, it's a festival. Faeries are tall, with pointy ears like elves. Cold iron is just iron, or steel. Like I said, it affects them like silver affects us.""

~Hmmmm. Yes, I wonder...~ Whispers rumbles back to Fire-Dancer. ~And the prank in the kitchen?~

Reggie raises his hand duriong the questioning, "So warm knives work fine on them? Or knives heated red-hot on coals?"

Eamon says "Something could happen or nothing could happen. You never can tell with faeries." He shakes his head at Reggie. "It's not the temperature of the iron, it's the purity. Actually, forget what I said about steel, it's not pure iron.""

Yi peers over at Whispers and Fire-Dancer, before gazing back towards Eamon. "You said someone had come to the Fianna's territory asking for admission to the caern. What did this one look like?"

Snake-Bait speaks slowly, flatly and very clearly. ~So. Just pure iron works then. Better make a note. Put up a fence.~

Fire-Dancer nods to her friend. ~I bet.~ A paw reaches back to scratch at her ear and she keeps paying attention to the conversations. Oh, she should get some iron stones for her slingshot too, and oh, iron bb's for her new rifle?

Yi waits until the questioning and information sharing from Eamon is finished, before she steps up to take the bones from the Truthcatcher. Respectfully she regards them for a silent moment, before she turns to her packmate Alicia and the gathered. "When I first came to this Sept, 3 years ago, I was only with 1 year of experience as a cliath. During that time, I met my packmate, then a cub, and now fostern - Alicia Guards-the-Flame-rhya. I watched as she grew into the Garou role, and she was tested. She has earned her place well. So it is tonight under the growing eye of the moon, that I turn my eyes to her, and challenge her to give me my test. Alicia. Sister. I Challenge you for the rank of Fostern."

Slipping down into her breed form, Alicia lets out a soft breath, nodding her head firmly to Yi. "Three-Blades, sister. I accept your challenge. In my eyes, you have earned the right to challenge long before I was able to make my own mark. I am honored to be the one you came to."

Faces-Rage , who has been silently watching and listening from her place, is now snapped to full attention. A challenge involving Alicia? She has only but barely heard of such an event, and ears are folded back with uncertainly. She looks to her cousin, than Yi, and then the cub steps back to watch and learn of apart of her birthright that will one day belong to her.

Lyra rocks back on her heels, watching her packmates with a pleased little smile. "By next moot, do you think you'll have a challenge, Lish?" she asks softly.

Alicia is almost dancing on the balls of her feet as she bobs her head up and down. "Oh hell yah. I'll have one by next week."

Yi smiles at this, nodding with respect to the fostern's words of acceptance. She looks too to the Master of the Challenge, tonight's Truthcatcher. "Whenever the terms meet your satisfaction, Lyra. Alicia. I will be ready to accept them." She brings the bones back to the Truthcatcher, completed with her announcement.

Sees-True claps her massive hands together. Drawing all attention to her position. "If there are no more anouncements to make, it is time for our Talesinger to take the stage. When she has finished, we shall sharpen our claws and Revel!~