THE GREAT HUNT: (Level 2) This rite is performed every Midsummer's Eve. This is the longest day of the year, and the time when the dark powers of the Wyrm are at their weakest. After a ritual bloodletting by all particpants, the Great Hunt takes place. The target of this hunt is almost always a powerful creature of the Wyrm, though Gaia has been known to sacrifice one of her own; those Garou slain as the target of a Great Hunt immediately become avenging angels of Gaia. Failure at the Great Hunt is seen as a great omen of doom. It is said that on the eve of the Apocalypse, every Sept will fail at the Great Hunt.

Center of the Caern

Contents:
[A lotta Garou.]

The afternoon is fading and evening is coming on strong, but the sun still burns bright and brilliant, and the air is thick and heavy with the sweat of Garou, of lingering smoke, of summer flowers in full bloom, and of anticipation. It's like breathing ozone, it comes in and sits in your lungs and doesn't want to come back out. Tonight the caern is transformed. Dead, dry grasses, withered by the sun, like straw, form a rough circle around the brilliant white cairn at the centre. The falling sun makes the grasses glow a blazing gold. Here and there the yellow carpet is dotted with a clump of some summer flower in full and wild bloom, ragwort or sagebrush, and the aroma is heady and stifling. Untangler traces a slow, steady, and meticulous path over the grass, beating it down with a switch of purple sage, purifying the ground and sending off great plumes of scent. Megan's gathered together the troops and told them to assemble into packs.

Seeker chuffs quietly. ~Let us not go into a Great Hunt expecting to fail. Every Hunt that succeeds is a wound in the Wyrm's side! Go and honor Gaia and the caern. I will be staying behind to coordinate the bawn's protection while the majority of its guardians are drawn away. Any who would stay and assist me are welcome to do so.~

Aubrey watches as Karl slips away, although Aubrey remains with her pack to lead them. Her eyes look towards Taslyn, telling her to remain for a moment.

Taslyn nods to Aubrey and stays put where she is. Her eyes look after Karl for a moment and then go to other's faces, nodding to those that may catch her gaze.

[Seeker pages to the room: That was my Inspiration speech. :)]

Fearless-Strike blinks and snaps her head in Seeker's direction. Her ears and tail perk at the offer and she trots over in Seeker's direction. If you don't mind, I'd like to help guard the place. Be of some use here.

Alicia reaches over and squeezes Karl's shoulder and tugs him a bit close, then nods her head towards Jean. "Anyone else joining us?" She asks, raising up a brow slightly.

Michael pumps his fist into the air upon Seeker's call for guardians, "The Wendigo remain! The Wendigo preserve!" That said, he makes his way over to join Seeker.

Owen meets Jamethon's look just as flatly, but after he has his say, he just winks to the theurge. Another nod towards Seeker, he then calls out as well into the crowd. ~I will know the faces of those that will run under my lead should we have to split into a second group. Give me your names.~

Emma sticks close to Ashley, her face solemn and intent. Her eyes flit about to her packmates, and then focus on Signe to await instruction.

Cutter pushes up to two legs. "I'm obviously too short to be seen in that form," he says, "But I'll be hanging back with those who heal."

Alicia nods her head to Cutter, grin growing a bit. "Great. Gives me a lil bit more confidence on our own firepower." She says wryly.

Signe gathers her pack around her, looking at how each of the others form up as well and noting any stragglers that have yet to find a place. Her eyes linger for a moment on her other Get--Jamethon and Owen--and then they move more purposefully to the Wendigo's ritual. The Get is unusually quiet and tense for a thin moon.

Both and Jacinta and Josh make their way over to Seeker as well, Jacinta ahead of the other as they make their way over to the Warder.

Seeker nods to Jacinta and the other Wendigo.

Firewatcher counts noses up, and chuffs with some small amount of satisfaction at the number of warriors going and those healing. She makes another chuff to invite Aubrey and Taslyn, alone of their pack to fight, to join with the three of Resonance fighting tonight alongside Three-Blades, then looks at Untangler for the Rite to do something visible.

Dakota glances over towards Alicia and lets out a soft breath, staring for a moment, then joins Megan and the other's in their group, fidgeting nervously.

Nothing happens. A long while passes; Untangler continues his ritual beating, robotic and surreal, sending up the dry and pungent smells of summer into the air. The sun continues its slow and steady descent into the distant ocean. Occasionally a distant nightingale strikes up a tune. Those Garou that choose talk amongst themselves. Suddenly everything changes: the birds stop their singing and the air gets heavy and thick, hanging around the Garou's shoulders like a heavy cloak. Just outside the circle of grasses there's a disturbance in the wind: the grasses start blowing against it, and then it picks up, growing stronger and stronger, the winds swinging lazily around in a circle. With a wild screech like a hawk's as it begins its dive for prey the tempest breaks from its teacup and surges into the air, a great swirl of wind and light and madness; and just as quickly it falls as if it were a hunted creature finally struck through the heart by an arrow, collapsing onto the ground and heaving up and down. All is quiet: it's like a silent, stationary tornado which has been tipped over. Lights flash along its side and its impossible to see through it, but the inside, the tornado's eye, is dark, mere specks illuminating it, like a night sky. It's about three metres across: about big enough for Garou to pass through doublefile and still have room to move their arms. Some here might have seen one of these before: it's a moon bridge. It waits, lying there bloated and expectant, patient as the grave.

Aubrey shifts into lupus and chuffs at Taslyn as she seeks the Alpha's invintation and joins the other pack. Her ears flicker forward, noticing the change in the weather. Her nostrils flare, sniffing the air as she watches as the moon bridge opens.

Seeker gets to his feet and walks over toward the opening of the moonbridge, shifting to crinos as he does. He gives the fighters enough room to get on the bridge, but stays close to it in case something tries to use it to gain entrance to the caern.

Taslyn follows suit, joining the others as Megan spoke. Her eyes grow wide and her ears lay flat along her head as she shifts into lupus as well. She gives a bow to Megan, herself, one of thanks.

Alicia glances to her small pack and rumbles to them, motioning them to shift in case they haven't already. She herself, takes the war form, rumbling to them loudly. ~We are to heal and fend off the rear if we have to.~ She instructs. ~None of us leave each other's back open and form up on me if we have to.~

Karl bulks up into warform, then snorts and nods curtly to his Elder.

Fearless-Strike stretches and digs her claws into the ground as she sprawls out, watching the warriors and healers prepare to depart. Curious eyes watch the moon bridge while she shifts into crinos, just in case.

Owen eyes the newly opened bridge for a moment. ~Pretty. Now... Where does it go again?~

Erika grips on her weapon a little more tightly as she looks into the moon bridge, her lips curling up as she looks towards her elders individually.

Severs blinks in dismay, cigarette still in his mouth. ~Did a war leader just ask where we were going?~ he murmurs to anybody standing near by.

Shadow chuffs and shifts up to crinos at Alicia's instructions, gravitating towards Severs amidst the four healers.

Three-Blades shifts into her warform, glancing around at her temppack, awaiting the next step.

Signe watches the moonbridge take form, one hand lifted to abate the wind as much as it can. When the mystical bridge has settled, she looks around. "Havoc will go first. Scourge, Resonance, then the rest." With that she falls down to hispo and leaps onto the bridge first.

Fire-Dancer looks to Ashley and nods, taking a deep breath as she shifts through to Crinos. She enters the bridge at Ashley's side.

Owen shrugs. Whether its to K-mart of the bottom of the Marianas Trench, he shoulders his packmates into following him onto the bridge.

Crescent Wing heads out behing those of Resonance, entering onto the bridge. Shee chuffs towards her packmate as they enter.

Jamethon slaps Owen on the back and shakes his head, "It goes to destiny!" That said he takes his place on the bridge behind his pack alpha.

Firewatcher leads Resonance in after Scourge disappears, shifting down to hispo as she goes.

Helen shifts up into Crinos, and so does her packmate Olga; the two of them approach the moon bridge together, slowly.

The Healer Crew, a significant factor of The Rest, bravely and boldly leap onto the moon bridge.

Three-Blades eyes the moonbridge hesitantly, before she steps into the moonbridge.

Filthy Alley(#3412RJ)
A grimy brick walled alleyway threading between tumbledown tenement housing for the factory workers and an abandoned strip mall. Stale grey water stands in pools here, and rotting heaps of garbage provide a breeding ground for the rats and ... other things here. The crumbling brick walls have the ghosts of old painted advertising on them, now mostly obliterated by tags and strangely evocative paintings made by the local gangs. Here and there, wires or ancient laundry lines stretch between the buildings, like tendons gone thin and old. A pile of rusting dumpsters almost blocks one end of the alley, and all the doors facing here are either boarded shut or padlocked with signs saying that all property within has been confiscated by the City. A few old loading docks towards the east end provide sleeping pads for winos and mini-arenas for gang kids to combat dance.
Contents:
[So the order of the Garou conga line goes: Havoc (Signe, Doc, Ashley, Natalie, Emma), Scourge (Jamethon, Owen, Erika), Resonance (Megan, Eamon, Dakota, Yi), Crescent Wing (Aubrey, Taslyn, Isaac), Griphus (Helen, Olga, Reggie), Temp-Healers (Cutter, Jean, Karl, Alicia)]
Obvious exits:
Odeon Theatre Industrial Sector Jermantown Avenue

The assembled Garou spill out of the moon bridge like embryos from an eggsac. The journey is swift and disorienting, as if they'd walked their way up to the surface of the moon and back down to earth all within the space of three seconds and the length of a short hallway; and then it's over, a blink of an eye and a journey of a million miles. It's an alleyway, dank and wet and smelling of urine and alcohol. There's something else there, too, something below the normal range of sense, a nervous, worried tingling which tickles across the nose. There's no one around. Like the moonbridge, the alley's wide enough for a car, wide enough for Crinos Garou to move doublefile, three if they're willing to be close together as sardines in a tin. In the distance there's a gunshot, rattling through the evening, but its far off. Some Garou might recognize this: it's Jermantown, deep in the industrial district, where not even a whiff of clean air or fresh light comes. Behind the last Garou, the moon bridge shrinks and shrivels up like a flower in November, and melts into the ground: Havoc is at one exposed end of the alley, the temporary healer pack at the other. Everything is quiet. The sides of the alley are strewn with foul garbage, sagging out of dumpsters and bursting green bags. Gutters are everywhere lifting their nasty vapours into the air and the Garou's noses, a mixture of human waste and chemical runoff. The sky around is thick with black smoke and the sun struggles to part it. It's the city; but there are no cars, no people. It's like St. Claire is deserted, like it's a city of ghosts.

Once he sees he's in the city, Cutter instinctively shifts down and whirls around to face the empty space behind him, hand reaching into his jacket. Shadow takes a moment to observe her surroundings, also looking behind at the space that's just opened up behind the healers. Guards-Flame heads in, glancing about slowly and intently with claws ready while she makes some complicated signals that indicate the healers should stay quiet, keep alert and stay close. Finds-the-Path breathes in shallowly, keeping as many of the smells in the alley on the outside of his body as possible. On the whole they are a very watchful and observant protopack.

Defiant-Storm's nose flares at the foul stink of the city. The eerie quiet brings the hackles up on the massive wolf's back. With a growl she orders those around and behind her to search the alley to make sure nothing hides from them among the filth. She takes a step forward to test the air and see what she can see beyond the alley. Heart-Taker says "Heart-Taker wrinkles her snout in utter disgust, growling softly, eyes narrowing to slits. But after a moment only the slitted eyes remain, that and the ears going back. She simply looks to Defiant-Storm, utterly confident in her Alpha's leadership and ready to act on her slightest signal. Lures-The-Beast continues to hang close to Fire-Dancer as she clutches her war axe between her large paws tightly, having her sharp eyes glance about quickly, trying to pick out any detail. She trusts her nose as well as she sniffs lightly at the air, looking eager and anxious. Fire-Dancer remains close to Lures-The-Beast, her shoulders rising and falling with the deep breaths of anticipation. Eyes searching the area, but keeping in touch with her Alpha.

Owen stands there for a time, nose wrinkled, muttering something about what a lovely stench they've all found. Gebirgsteiler comes down off his shoulders into a two-handed ready. He follows alongside Defiant-Storm, watching ahead. Fights-For-Hope is closer to the front than the middle, of the entire hunting group with the small portion of Scourge that is here tonight. He sniffs at the air immediatly with a sense of hesitation at what he might find. Judges-Souls flickers her ears at Fights-For-Hope with her muscles tense as they roll through her near sable pelt. Her nostrils flare, breathing in deeply as her fingers curl tightly around the 4*4.

Firewatcher remains in hispo, nose going to scent the air. Eamon, next to her, suddenly blurs as he takes a side-step into the shadows of the alley, only then shifting into crinos, preparing for an ambush. Just behind the two older Fianna are Rifthealer and Three-Blades, the Children of Gaia sticking close to the Bone Gnawer and looking around at her surroundings, the Bone Gnawer immediately shifting down to lupus to give more room in the confined space but retaining the better sense. She raises her hackles. The two Fianna members of Crescent Wing join the four; Defends-worth looking all about, trying to take in the details of where she is and the layout, Sheeaghan beside her looking to her packmate, then up towards Firewatcher. Both react to their environment with distaste, silent snarls, ears laid back.

Cycle-Breaker's lips curl back a little at the disgusting Wyrm taint that invades her senses, a low growl sounding deep in her throat. She remains where she is, glancing back to Rags, who bares his yellowed teeth in anticipation, straightening to his full crinos height to peer over Helen's head at the surroundings.

The Garou tense, weapons ready, claws and fists ready, paws and feet finding purchase on the slippery alley floor. There's nothing to find but garbage; nothing to fight but shadows. It's dark, dank, and grim, and numbingly empty. Anxious seconds pass, and the only change that can be seen is the smog, which begins to lighten as the breeze blows quietly along above the alley.

Firewatcher barks sharply from amidst the searching, the lack of an enemy, an attention-getting sound directed towards Defiant-Storm. There is natural fear and trepidation radiating off the Alpha's hispo form, unhideable in this form, but she calls out, ~It is down. Under us. And all around.~

Guards Flame twitches her hears and looks toward Firewatcher. ~Be ready,~ she rumbles as she narrows her eyes and flexes her claws, ~Get a lil bit of distance between each other. Be prepared for anything.~ Cutter slowly draws his gun and pushes backwards into the mass of Garou and away from the ever-more-threatening empty space. Finds the Path growls low in his throat, taking a step or two back, then suspiciously eyeing the wall nearest to him. Still a very observant protopack.

Fights-For-Hope coughs loudly as he inhales with a sense that is not scent, from the sour look on his face and the balling of his fists it is clear that he has detected a level of taint that makes his body at least, want to be elsewhere. He does however grab enough of his wits together to look around the group for trouble, not to mention looking up above. His voice doesn't carry far but he growls out, ~Grouped together too much. Don't know whats out there, but not safe all in one big target.~ Judges-Souls moves closer to the Fenrir Theurge, fearing the look of disgust that lingers on his muzzle. Her hackles stiffen at the back of her neck, tail curling under as she lurks forward. Her ears fold back and she sniffs the air, perhaps looking for a scent. Owe continues following Signe's exact lead.

Defiant-Storm hears Firewatcher's warning, and the keen eyes of the Get look down and all around her. Her lack of patience, however, is notorious, and after finding nothing of any significance, she offers up another frustrated snarl. ~What?~ she asks, turning to look back among those behind her, and seeking Firewatcher out particularly. Lures-The-Beast rumbles loudly in her throat as she shifts her weight some, eyes glancing downwards towards the ground as she waits, looking tense. Fire-Dancer snorts anxiously, glancing sidelong to Lures-The-Beast. Her claws twitch at her sides.

Among Resonance and Crescent Wing, Defend-Worth looks over at Firewatcher and immediately blurs into crinos, letting out a chuff of air and growling a bit as she clenches and unclenches her fits. Sheeaghan tenses also shifts to crinos,snugged in the alleyway with the rest of the Garou like fish in a tuna-can, her bow for now remaining on her back, listening for the slightest sound. Three-Blades immediately looks down at Firewatcher's words, backing up slightly and whining, scratching at the ground once. Ever-Grinning remains hidden in the shadows, but moves up against a wall near one of the overflowing dumpsters. Rifthealer tenses at her alpha's words, looking around and waiting for the shoe to drop. Firewatcher growls warningly to Defiant-Storm. ~I sense the Wyrm, a lot of it, beneath us. The sewers?~

Impatiently, Rags twitches, eager for some great charge or action, and he directs his tnese energy into examination of the walls and ground, looking for a grill or gutter leading downwards into darkness. Cycle-Breaker stands firm, tense, and anxious, waiting for something--anything--to happen. Fat-Ripper stands behind them, examining the ground and area around, tense just as everyone else is.

Isaac, with Crescent Wing, backs up, almost into whoever is directly behind him in Griphus, testing the surface of the alley beneath him. He scratches, sniffing toward the ground, and then looks to Sheeaghan for direction.

The light grows brighter, and softly, barely a twitch in the Garou's ears, there's a breaking, piercing sound, just like at the caern, like a raptor after its prey. Soon the alley is bright as noon; the windows above the Garou's heads shining like floodlights. Sooner still they can hear a roiling churning sound beneath their feet, like the sound heard when one holds ones ears right up to the dirt of a bait-container of worms. All along the alley the smell of decay and faeces increases, building like an orchestra crescendo. Suddenly the tension breaks, as from one end of the alley to the other there's movement: the mounds of garbage shift and bulge, as crawling up through and over them come cockroaches, massive foot long cockroaches with green-dripping razors instead of feelers. Through every drain, gutter and manhole they crawl up: there's one at the feet of Shadow, one at Erika's, and who knows how many hidden beneath the garbage mounds, and even more filling the alley on other side of the knot of Garou. Now there's only one or two at each opening; but from the sound and smell of it, there's hundreds.

[Horacebot pages to the room: So, OOCly, just to make things clear: you can see them bubbling up in the distance, closing in on each side of the clump of Garou. There's an obvious grill at the feet of both Erika and Jean, and there's enough of the things clambering through the garbage for you all to have a shot at one. Also, I'm going to let you all take care of your frenzy rolls unless you don't know how (just page me if so).]

Seeing is all Defiant-Storm needs. Her razor clawed paw comes down on one of the things crawling out from behind a nearby pile of garbage--hopefully piercing it straight through the back. Heart-Taker sees nasty wyrm-thing, and attempts to drive her claws straight through the nearest one. Now this? This is more like it. Lets just call it Raid, Black Fury style, shall we? There is a moment where Fire-Dancer feels completely overwhelmed, and her eyes fall to her packmates beside her. With a growl she forces her mind to focus, and letting rage guide her, slashes out at the nearest giant roach. Roaring into action, Lures-The-Beast attempts to slam her heavy foot into the roach that strays too close, keeping her battle axe at the ready to swing for a follow up if need be. Defiant-Storm wheels then to encourage all of them with a bellowed howl of attack. As if the garou need more encouragement, she tells them, ~Kill everything that crawls!~

Shadow savagely slams a furry foot down on the carapace of one of the things pushing up the grill next to her, then spins out of the way as Cutter leaps on top of the grill, pinning it down with his weight as he shifts to the heaviest form he can manage. Pathfinder crouches down to crush an insectoid skull with his fist, as Guards Flame bellows out an inspiring roar, lashing out with her claws to tear into the first roach that creeps too close. A very offensive protopack.

Cycle-Breaker snarls at the sight of the cockroaches, and reaches out with a foot to stomp at the ground, hopefully smashing some of the nasty little roaches too. Rags' impatience is rewarded as the enemy comes to him, and it's with sadistic glee that he flexes his claws, gleaming in the unnatural light, and reaches down from his crinos height to turn a cockroach into a shish kebab.

Judges-Souls growls as one of the cockroaches begin coming out of the manhole below her feet. She swings her weapon like a bat before moving backwards, not realizing that there are Garou in front and behind her. ~Now is a goot time to get out in the open!~ she growls, spitting curses as she tries to beat the hell out of any of the crawlies getting a little too close for comfort. Fights-For-Hope stands close at Erika's side and upon the appearance of one, his spear is raised then driven towards the foul insect without a moment of thought, the same one being swung at by Erika. The sensing of the Wyrm prepared Fights-For-Hope at least partially, for something horrific. ~Watch your feet, your ankle tendon.~ he growls loudly in case it wasn't obvious to most. Owen shifts into the warform as Definat-Storm's charge leaves him a little more room. He swings his axe low over the street to sweep away (hopefully in pieces) and bug silly enough to come his way. ~Bugs? This it? BUGS? There's something else here more worthy of me!~ he snarls.

Resonance, minus the healer in the back of the line, is in the middle of the group in the alley and therefore the most hemmed in. Three-Blades barks out that we should get into the open, but her lupus comment may be lost in the sudden onslaught of danger and squished between hispo and crinos. The Bone Gnawer then attempts to sink her jaws into any cockroach that comes to close. Firewatcher calls out instead, ~Ambush!~, stating the obvious to the ahrouns, and prepares herself for attack, reaching out to swipe at the first cockroach which gets to near, but falling into the subtle corodination of packmembers with Ever-Grinning and Rifthealer so as not to accidentally hit them in the process. Ever-Grinning, seeing the need for stealth evaporate, steps out of the shadows and joins his packmates in going after the nearest 'roach with his claws; Rifthealer lashes out with her own claws at the closest bug that wanders by, growling loudy, trying to shred it between her paws if she manages to get a good grip.

Sheeaghan slicks back her dark tipped ears as the cockroaches with the razors begin spilling from the crevices. The large, pale crinos begins attacking the nearest creature that comes within her radius. The moment that Sheeaghan attacks, Isaac lunges for the nearest creature, snapping with massive jaws in an attempt to rip the bug from its perch and tear it apart. Defends-Worth feels her eyes go so wide open that she feels they may pop from their sockets. She looks to her side and stomps down on the middle of one of the roaches back, hoping to break it.

Claws and heavy furry paws smash down on cockroaches, splitting them like watermelons dropped from a building's fifth storey and spraying their phlegmy yellow blood across the alley and the Garou's fur. The claws do better than the paws, which take more effort: the bugs carapaces are hard, like porcelain. The bugs bubbling up from the garbage bags meet with quick death, but they keep coming, and begin climbing the wall; soon the alley's bricks are dotted with large black dots. The real punch is coming at the ends: the cockroaches just build and build, and, as if to answer Owen's request, there's a clanking of metal as manhole covers are thrust aside, and great brown shapes swarm up from the ground. They're rats bigger than mastiffs, with wild yellow encrusted eyes and teeth too long to fit in their mouths, dripping some vile liquid which burns the cockroaches beneath them. The squeals echo across the alley walls.

Defiant-Storm moves towards the manholes, taking to one of the rats by leaping at it the moment it shows its head. Her own fangs seek to lodge in the thing's throat, and a powerful thrust of her back legs seek to lift it bodily out of its sewer hole and throw it into an oncoming swarm of the bugs. Heart-Taker lets her rage flow through her, and attempts to claw three more of the things out of her Alpha's way, trying to surge forward out of the mouth of the alleyway and give everyone some space as she does it. Fire-Dancer lets out a fierce growl, slashing with her razor sharp claws at the roaches that press forward. She stays close to Lures still, while giving the other enough room to fight safely. Lures-The-Beast growls loudly and starts to circle with Fire-Dancer, looking for enough space and room to manuever, before lashing out with her claws at the wall, hoping to rip some roaches off and tear them apart. She uses the Labrys to defend herself if need be, blurring her movements in a quick manner.

Resonance enjoys some small success in what part of the battle they can touch, but their relative point of safety deep in the alley frustrates them. Blades spits out her dead roach and spies a fire escape directly over the pack's heads. She shifts instantly to glabro then leaps up, trying to make a grab for it and swing herself up. The rest of the pack remains on the ground rage beginning to edge their actions. Firewatcher snarling in anger, whips her claws around attempting to get first one, then another nearby enemy creeping along the walls; Rifthealer attempts to claw-shred some of the cockroaches on the opposite wall; Ever-Grinning balls his metal hand into a fist and bashes it into the ground, playing a deadly game of whack-a-roach.

Shadow growls at the cockroaches, saying *~Go away or the Stormcrows will eat you!~* One more stab should finish her initial victim, and then she moves on to attack another bug. Guards Flame and Finds the Path claw madly at cockroaches, given that those are the only targets within arm's reach. Cutter appears to be at least slowing the flood of vermin by standing on the sewer grill, and breaking a stick in his hands that he points at the rats releases a gout of flame to make them nervous. And flamey.

Cycle-Breaker snarls at the irritation caused by the nasty little cockroach she managed to only partially squish, but her attention soon turns on the sounds of the rats of doom. She stomps at it again, this time hopefully squashing the nasty thing or at least squashing some more of the roaches. Skewering an oversize cockroach on his claws, Rags raises it high in a warning motion towards the larger entities joining the party, then, with a shake to loosen the insect, he throws it towards a rat. Olga has, in the meantime, wandered back towards the healers after killing herself a nasty roach.

In such closed places, it becomes difficult for Sheeaghan to use her long-bow properly, thus, she swings it down from her back and uses it as a golf-putter to the cockroaches to launch them into the rats that begin squirming from out from under the ground. As they come within close distance, Defends-Worth punches and kicks at any roach that comes near to her. She motions to the others in her back to get back to back, so that no angle is left unseen. The rats themselves cause her to growl and punch harder. Isaac continues to lunge and snap, biting through the carapace of one insect, only to toss it aside and grab for another. ~Keep watch!~ the Alpha of Crescent Wing growls before pouncing another cluster of the hideous cucarachas .

Wildfire moves alongside Defiant-Storm, ignoring the roaches to head for larger game. He comes down heavily with his axe upon the first rats bobbing out of the manhole, swinging them aside, dead or alive, to clear the way to strike at the next one. He keeps both hands on Gebirgsteiler, the better to slay things with, my dear. Judges-Souls continues with her mutilations by batting at the roaches with her 4*4, the razor wire beginning to drip with the juices of the insects as she gives them a proper death. She growls deep in her throat as she sees the insects begin to build. Her claws, razor sharp would do better work now as she banishes her weapon for her claws. Fights-For-Hope takes aim at a nearby roach, plants his spear in it vertically and leaves it there for now grunting, ~Only one way to find out.~ He seems eager to try something and he yells out towards a rat with the spirit's voice. *Stop and lay down!* The power of the Fostern's gift of command are behind those words.

The roaches and rats break on the Garou guarding the edges like a flood washing over sandcastles. The vanguard wades kneedeep at places. Defiant-Storm and Heart-Taker, claws slashing, pounding over roaches as they go; but soon they're surrounded. Defiant-Storm lifts a massive grey rat high and it squeals in the air as she sends it flying along, crushing cockroaches underneath. But still they press on, there's no relenting. At the other end a spigot of flame cracks out away from Severs' fingertips, and the smell of corruption meets the smell of burnt fresh and boiling ooze. There, too, though, the rats move like siege towers amongst an army of roaches, snapping and hissing and bubbling with hate, unrelenting. Roaches fall from the walls onto the Garou, their feeler-pincers slicing as they go; those Garou away from the edges don't slacken but they find themselves facing, rare though it is, the worst fate a Garou can face in battle: having time on their hands.

Three-Blades spins through her forms in a blink of an eye and just as quickly hurls herself up to the top of an overhanging fire-escape, which creaks under the pressure and bends a half-inch, but somehow doesn't fall.

Heart-Taker snarls madly as she swipes claws at rats, now, two more if she can manage it. She lashes out with her foot, too. One or two at a time, this is how death happens, and that's how she intends to deal it. One or two at a time, relentlessly. Fire-Dancer snarls as well, hissing as she continues to fight alongside her pack. While the others begin to tear at the rats, she goes to work on keeping the roaches that are still around them- away from her companions. Using rage as her fuel, she slashes madly at any roach thing in striking distance. Lures-The-Beast growls out in pain and blurs herself on faster as she tries to ignore her wounds, swinging out with her claws furiously, trying to drive the roaches back away. She continues to stick close to Fire-Dancer's side as best she can, allowing her to mow a path for them. Defiant-Storm's rage makes her little more than a snapping and snarling blur as she moves towards the next rat. As her companions fight to keep the roaches at bay, she concentrates on the bigger targets.

Firewatcher takes the moment of interlude, buried as she is in the middle of everything, to look around and assess the flow of the battle. With a snarl, she takes a brief moment to compose herself before tipping her head back and howling out, a call for assistance, but the sound isn't tinged with desperation but a sense of hope. Ever-Grinning and Rifthealer, still around her down on the ground, continue to attempt to swipe (Rifthealer) and smash (Ever-Grinning) any evil roach or rat spirits that might come near. Yi, from her higher vantage point up on the fire escape, makes use of it to look around, trying to spot a way out for the war party. Her fists remain balled, ready to punch anything that tries to drop on her.

Seeing those near her going under in a sea of vermin, Guards Flame steers herself in front of Severs to take point, growling ~Move with the flow of the other warriors! Heal if need be.~ She barrels into the fray, swiping relentlessly with her claws, howling loudly as she allows her rage to carry her on. Shadow shifts down to four-leg form, quickly following that advice, putting as many warriors between herself and the rats as possible, howling for assistance to those who will heal people once the battle ends. Severs mirrors her very nearly, limping back on three legs, but his call is spiced with a more earthy tone. As Finds the Path continues to fight, he calls out loudly ~Who needs healing?~, preparing to weave back into the narrow crowded alleyway.

With the unholy glee familiar to anyone who's popped bubblewrap or pimples, Rags pops another cockroach on the claws of his left hand, then with the claws of his more unsteady right. He keeps an eye on the 'healer pack' to determine when the rats get past them into the mass of Garou. Cycle-Breaker is agitated with not moving much, so follows Rags example with trying to decimate all roaches nearby, stomping, reaching out to smack at the walls and squish and maim with irritated growls. Fat-Ripper remains behind with the healers, reaching out to swing a heavy sharp clawed paw at the rats that are oncoming in that direction.

As a roach lands on Defends-Worth's head, she reaches up and tries to shove her claws into it, using the momentum then to fling it towards a rat if she can, using it as a projectile. Sheeaghan backs up to her packmates, clawing at the beetles and watching out for her pack as well. Isaac continues to bite and slash at the cockroaches. The Alpha, Sheeaghan, growls deeply as she quickly accounts for the activity around her. She continues to tell her pack to keep at their attack until otherwise directed.

Fights-For-Hope grabs his spear back, and leaps up into the air in a practiced manuver, throwing his spear at a down angle with rage driven speed at a rat at that slight gravity defying pause at the apex of his jump. Judges-Souls continues to use her gift as she swipes at the insects that come into her radius, dancing among them as she rakes through their bodies and tears away their appentages. Then, grapping up her weapon back into her hands, she howls a threat as she lundges for the nearest rat. Her weapon raised over her head, with intent to brutally smash it's skull open like a mellon. Wildfire apparently couldn't follow up on Defiant-Storm's lead and is stuck killing bugs for a living. Gebirgsteiler stays in his right hand, but his left is freed to swat at anything getting to close. The rest get nasty axe wounds.

The roaches swarm past the healers along with two massive rats, snarling and snapping and corroding their way forward. Guards-Flame is the only bulwark there now, and she manages to stop two more: the bad news is she manages to stop two more, and they're now clambering for her flesh. The roaches crawl scuttling up and over Heart-Taker, chewing at her flesh; she's the furthest out of the group, just ten feet from the alley. Defiant-Storm rips great hunks from the flesh of rats which squeal helplessly, while her two packmates tear roaches from her pelt, and block Judges-Soul raging rush towards the thick of the fray. Fights-for-Hope leaps high and skewers a rat, reaching out from the middle of the battle to strike at the end, while Wildfire makes up for his packmates shifted attention so that it's as if they weren't even gone. The other end of the battle doesn't go as well: the Garou are bunching up as they attempt to switch positions, and the roaches just roll over them like an angry biting breeze. For those few with the foresight in this maelstrom to look to the future, the very ends of the alley, where the manholes are, have become conspicuously empty.

Dead cockroaches litter the alley like the wrappers after a group of teenagers has cleaned out a McDonalds, only even less appetizing. They don't just die: they melt, oozing and mixing with the blood of the Garou, rubbing into their fur. It stings to those sensitive enough to feel it, but nothing like the bites. The rats blood bubbles up from within them, splitting their skin open like they're overstuffed sausages. Flies are already gathering, drawn to the feast of blood and flesh.

Defiant-Storm calls back behind her, her voice a clear command over the din of clatter and scuttling bugs and squeal of rats, ~Scourge! Take point!~ The Get Jarl then takes a hold of Heart-Taker with her teeth to help the Fury understand her meaning and drags her back and away from the front. Havoc as a group attempts to pull back, lying low to allow Scourge to jump over them if need to be to get to the front.

Guards Flame roars loudly as she starts to mow down the enemy one after the other, silver fur glowing brightly with each hit she takes. Over her shoulder, she growls ~Path Finder! Try and get to Havoc! Shadow! Make sure Cutter is alive, and scoot in. I will hold the point. I could use help from anyone who isn't dying!~ With that, she continues to back pedal, but puts up a solid front as her claws show no mercy. Path Finder calls ~Healer coming through! Make way!~ and barrels forward to get to the other end as quickly and efficiently as possible. Shadow notices Severs barely dragging himself along the ground, and stops to try and heal him. He makes his best pathetic effort to defend them both as she does so.

Splatters of cockroach goo and fragments of cockroach exoskeleton color RAgs' patchwork fur. Rags growls as he sees the beating that the 'healer pack' is taking from the rats, and he wades through the mix of garbage, alive cockroaches, and dead cockroaches towards them and the rats. Cycle-Breaker continues to try and kill some more of the nasty roaches, but then turns to follow Rags' lead and Guards-Flame's call for help. ~We're coming!~ she howls in return, moving to assist the healer pack with some rat-killing, while Fat-Ripper continues to lash out at the huge rodents that swarm around the healers.

At some signal unheard and unseen, Resonance begins to move. Firewatcher is still in hispo and attempts to move back around Crescent Wing, if possible, to squeeze along the sides of the alley. Rifthealer roars in frustration and begins moving as well, Ever-Grinning coming as well. Yi roars down over the din of the battle, ~We need to /get out/ of here fast! Make a path!~ as if that weren't obvious enough. Then she's sliding down the fire escape ladder to join the fray and Resonance's migration towards the rear of the battle. All four of them will reach out to swipe at any nearby cockroaches as they pass.

Wildfire splats yet another roach before looking up at Defiant-Storm's order. He points the the rats and roaches Havoc was facing and sneers. ~You who try to best your betters, know now that this is that you live! You face the Get! And for that, you will lose!~ Judges-Souls growls loudly and starts slashing madly at the cockroaches that begin to bound up on her. She gives a swing at the insects, making bat swings at them as she lunges forward. Fights-For-Hope got a great vantage point from his leap and yells with the authority of new rank. ~Out of the Alley! The ends are clear! We can swarm /them/!~ And with that he burns his rage just bunching up for another leap intented to take him as far towards the space Havoc is clearing out of. He attempts to swing at any foes he can at his landing with further burning of rage. Judges-Souls growls loudly and starts slashing madly at the cockroaches that begin to bound up on her. She gives a swing at the insects, making bat swings at them as she lunges forward towards Havoc.

Heart-Taker follows orders, and starts stumbling back as soon as Signe grabs her. She rips a final cockroach right off her gut, only to find that quite a bit of her gut goes with the roach. She slams it to the ground, still falling back, blood pouring onto her muzzle. Her eyes blaze and turns them up to Defiant-Storm's. ~I'm done. You're the best leader I could have followed.~ She spits blood and coughs. ~Make sure Fire-Dancer knows I love her.~ She waits to make sure her Alpha understands. And then, howling defiance at the wyrm, she charges forward. It doesn't take long before she goes down in a blur of rats. It doesn't last long before they're running past what's left of her, looking remarkably small in homid form as Haley Hygieia "Doc" Collins, Ahroun of the Black Fury Tribe falls, into the arms of Gaia.

~Make way for the healers!~ Sheeaghan growls in order to her pack as they move to the back of the line while the others make their way forward. ~Begin to make your way out of the alley, but watch your backs!~ Her ears press against her head as she tears at the horrid of insects, her fur becoming dabbled with their juicy guts. Isaac presses himself against the sides of the alley, even as he moves toward the back, following Sheeaghan's direction. He takes any opportunity to snap at a foe. Defends-Worth yells out, ~Fuck no.~ And turns her head to Aubrey. ~Gotta get up and help.~ She still fights anything that gets into her way. Sheeghan growls as Defends-Worth pushes forward. ~Let them through!~ She growls-deeply in her throat as her packmate does not follow through with her orders.

Cockroaches go down like they were tissue paper; no more are coming but there're a great number of them left. The centre is clear of all but their carcasses, slowly disintegrating, their bodies running into the sewers. At what end of the alley the changing of the guards goes like clockwark, like it's something they've practiced a hundred times before. The rats and roaches blanche before Wildfire's snarls and give up briefly, but briefly enough, their charge on Havoc, while Scourge leaps to take its place in front. At the other side of things everything is chaos, a maelstrom. Near Crescent Wing there's a great bottleneck of Garou, Finds-the-Path trying to make his cluttered way towards Havoc while Resonance charges past. Alicia stands alone now, the Shadow Lords bleeding from a thousand small cuts. Two rats charge past her while two more press against her back; one of which Rags soundly thrashes, slipping claws between vertebrae.

Shadow's pause to due her duty and heal her packmate seems ill-advised, in some repsects and in hindsight. Her nose is buried into the Fostern theurge's fur when the rats come, sweeping over both downed Shadow Lords as they make their way through the healers and onto the combatants. Old injuries heal on Cutter as Shadow clings to the flow of the spirit power through her, channeling it in, even as new cuts appear in his side. But no flow of healing goes into Shadow as the claws and teeth and acid eat into her flesh, and she collapses in their wake, lupus form losing fur and muzzle until the bloody and torn homid form of the teen is all that's left behind.

While Fat-Ripper attempts to drag what is left of Shadow's homid corpse to safety, Cycle-Breaker lets out a loud snarl as she mercilessly goes after the huge rats, not very cognizant of much else except the need to get rid of these things. The sight of a fallen Garou drives Rags into a frothing wrath, and, howling, he flings his immense frame atop the advancing rats, his fists formed into hammers to drive the head of a rat into the ground.

Firewatcher and the rest of Resonance (plus Yi!) continue pushing their way to the rear and their beleagured packmate, squishing any cockroaches or even rats which get in the way, as they make their way single file past Crescent Wing and Finds-the-Path heading in the other direction.

Defiant-Storm, as Doc pulls free, gives hackle-rising howl to wake the dead. Rage, grief and Fury mix in that call, and the Get ahroun slips from the direwolf up into crinos. As she does, her skin and fur take on a rough, leathery constitution--and a smell that fights with the other stink already surrounding her. She puts herself between Fire-Dancer and the front, specifically, to keep her from knowing yet of her packmate's fate. As best she can, she swats and swipes and tries to keep the bugs off Scourge, now leading pack. Not knowing her sister has fallen in battle, Lures-The-Beast struggles to her feet and makes sure to stick close to Fire-Dancer and Signe as she aims to pick off any straggling Roach that may squeeze its way through.

There is little that Sheeaghan can do to fend off the insects as she and her packmate are pastered up against the wall. Once they are through she continues to ward them off as best that she can under certain circumstances. For now the Theurge remains beside her packmate, fighting the best that she can from beside him. With a snarl of pain, Innocence moves away from the wall to better attack the many enemies that surround him. With instinct guiding him, a sharp light builds in and around his furred body, shining with the intensity of his tribal herritage. Noticing this, Sheeahgan gets an idea as she adds in her own light, Fae's own gift as she blinds out the cockroaches around her and begins to smash at them as she blinds them in the intense balls of blue light. As Guards-Flame comes within reach of the Theurge, she notices the healing that the Gaian needs and reaches out her hand to touch the woman as her fingertips throb with the intense light. Defends-Worth pushes into the fray, trying to pull off the baddies from the healers so that they can do their work. Her fists fly as fast as she can muster then, claws and teeth ripping anything in sight. Trying to protect those that are hurt and get them healed.

Finds the Path takes the four-leg form, leaping and clambering over Garou to make his way to Havoc--Signe and Ashley in particular--barking and yipping all the way, to alert his brothers and sisters that it is friend going over the top of them, not foe. He burns at his inner Rage to leap and rush over them at superspeed. With a growl, Guards the Flame whirls herself around quickly, yanking the last rat off her back and trying to slam it face first into the wall, while doing her best to scoot past Rags and Cycle Breaker. ~We need a way out!~ Shadow's sacrifice has brought Severs back to his feet, and with a snarl he lunges at one of the rats that slipped past the point defence of the other healer.

Resonance reaches their prodigal packmate making her heroic stand at the end of the alley, finally, and leaps into the fray. They stick together, employing pack tactics to rip through the remaining attackers, concentrating on the rats. Yi especially seems to be invoking great anger and furious vengeance on the corrupted fomori of her tribal totem. Ever-Grinning attempts to use his fetish fist like a sledgehammer, whacking side to side trying to clear a path out.

Wildfire, having done his part to keeps some semblence of order in this angry-mob-formation, charges forward into the front line with the rest of Scourge, this time venting what all he's been holding back so far this night. He's a blur of claws and an axe to large to be healthy. Fights-For-Hope finds himself having lept down beside Ashley's body, looking down as he slashes at cockroaches and rats his eyes widen and his voice somehow finds a way to growl out, ~Oh, /HELL/ no!~ He kicks her axe up with a practices manuver and then does his best impression of a blender. Spining on his heels using the rather sizable and heavy axe as a counter balance he raises and lowers the blade, rage fueling his blitzing strike he makes wide leaping steps into the beasts calling out, ~Blooddrinker! Claim your fill!~ Naming the axe at that moment, the blood channling groves on the blade causing a stream of blood to flow behind the blade, like rivers of pain. Judges-Souls continues on swinging her battle weaponry and racking her claws at any foe that stands in her way. Her razor claws slicing and dicing like a pair of kitchen shears as she makes her way along to the head of the party with the rest of the pack that is beginning to cascade out of the alleyway.

The Get of Fenris go through the cockroaches like a cuisinart through warm butter. Jamethon does so with style, Owen with absolutely frightening efficiency, and Erika with a big freaking stick. As they proceed down the alley, they come upon the collapsed and lifeless body of Doc Halladay, lying in an inch of her own blood, and the phlegmy yellow stuff that ran through her enemies. Havoc gamely stands its ground against an enemy no longer there; Karl has finally reached them, ready to return the warriors to their feet. At the other end things are looking better as well. At the very vanguard stand Taslyn, Rags, and just behind them Helen; three rats and a carpet of spiders stretch on the other side, but they're stunned and bewildered, like a deer trapped in headlights, and don't know which way to turn. Many try to find their way back to the sewers but run blindly into the alley walls. Resonance is right behind those three, having mopped up what little remained between the two groups. Now there're no more enemies there: just an inch deep pool of blood, guts, and phlegm, quickly running into the sewer grates, and Fat-Ripper cradling her dead packmate and rocking back and forth.

Fights-For-Hope falls to his knees when the last foe beside him falls, fists flying to the sky, axe in one and only blood in the other as he releases a howl with so much rage and emotion it tears at his throat and he finishes with coughing some blood from his throat... swallowing that down he stands once more. Heavily breathing he looks around for another fallen that can still be saved with the Mother's Touch.

In the centre of the alley, just where it had been before to deposit them, comes a whirling tornado of lights hiding darkness inside. It flails for a moment like a worm on a hook, before collapsing to the ground, shuddering, pulsing up and down, up and down. It waits, calm and slow as a breeze. The gleam of light leaves the windows, darkness falls suddenly, like a great blanket had been draped over the alley. The oozy liquid which fueled the monsters limbs drips away. It's obvious to almost all what this means: it's time to go home.

Firewatcher takes a deep breath, assessing the threat, or lack thereof as the fomori animals flee, then whuffs it out sharply, getting the attention of those near her, at least. ~Those who can heal should heal the worst off. Fairy-Spirit, can you see to Guards-Flame? She is with child.~

Three-Blades takes what remaining anger she has out on the carcass of a corrupt rat spirit, before being satisfied that she's rended it back to Gaia. As the sounds of battle die down, the ragabash looks around and takes in the grisly scene as a whole.

Guards-Flame wades her way towards Resonance, bleeding heavily from a multitude of wounds, patches of fur torn out and limping a bit. Her fur continues to shimmer lightly for a moment before the gift wears off, leaving only dirt and blood caked black and white.

Cutter shifts up and looks around, wiping the blood out of his eyes and trying to arrange what's left of his clothing. "Where are the wounded? Who needs healing?" he calls, voice cracked and strained.

Yowling in pain from rat bites, Rags has had enough of the rats, and hooks his claws into the u-shape of the nearest rat's lower jaw for leverage to rip it loose from its owner. As long as a rat lives, Rags keeps moving for more blood to split, oblivious to Olga's pain besides him.

Now that the battle is over, Lures-The-Beast tries to catch her breath as she nearly crumbles to her knees, eyes slowly roaming towards Doc's fallen body. She stares silently for a few moments, before finding herself joined with Fire-Dancer, gazing at the torn body of their packmate. The two turn to each other for a moment, then slowly head over to gather her body. The Get looks as if she is about to snap, but the Fury rumbles to her, calming her down as best she can.

Sheeaghan growls and she nudges her neighbor, the Silver Fang, to continue with the intense light that flickers like a spotlight. It seems to be doing its work at blinding the foes from out of the path for the injured Garou.

Wildfire straightens up, axe in both hands now. He surveys the carnagae around him for a moment. ~This ground in hallowed by our fallen. Take them home. We will honor them soon.~ He then makes way for the moonbridge, no doubt in his mind that too much noise has been made here in downtown already.

Cutter glowers at the moonbridge. "Nice of you to come back."

Finds-The-Path places his lupine paws upon Signe and begins to channel Gaia's healing powers into her. Defends-Worth stands in the middle of it all. She looks around and swallows hard, seeing all the blood and her packmates standing in it. She walks back over to Shee and Isaac. She places a hand on each of their shoulders and gives a bit of a smile and adding her light to theirs. Her eyes then go to the moonbridge.

Rifthealer scoots herself quickly towards Guards-The-Flame, eyes concerned as she looks her cousin and packmate over, then reaches out to support her body, ears twitching upwards. ~We win?~ She asks, then glances around slowly.

~If you call it that.~ Guards-The-Flame rumbles softly to her cousin as she leans into her weight, then tilts her head upwards, bellowing a loud roar to the dark sky, shouting the last of her rage and fury. She sings for the fallen, she sings for the victory, she sings for Gaia and her warriors. The howl lingers, until she begins to hack and choke up a mouthful of blood, spitting it upon the ground in a thick goop.

The first thing Cycle-Breaker does as everything calms down is turn towards Fat-Ripper; she lumbers to her packmate and, breathing heavily, crouches beside the Gnawer for a moment to look at the dead packmate she never met. ~Come on,~ she says as gently as possible to Olga. ~She is with Gaia now.~

Three-Blades can't do much by way of healing. And rather than feel useless and standing around, the Gnawer ragabash makes her way to the moonbridge. She pauses just long enough to hear the howls, and then with ears laying back, steps through into the bridge.

Isaac shakes out his ruff, finally allowing the light to fade. He licks his muzzle and his jaw drops open, green goo still dripping from his chin, he shows his pleasure with his pack-alpha's compliment.

~We will hope,~ Megan says drily, ~that the rest of the Realm chalks that up as the cars. We are in the realm, people, let us keep it down until we get back. Can everyone move?~ she asks, looking around.

Cutter looks at Megan. "I'm not a fairy spirit. But I can still heal."

~Wait, Guards-The-Flame!~ Sheeahgan growls as she hobbles on to four paws to catch up with the woman. She sets her healing light on the woman again, caring great care and patience.

Ever-Grinning is still hammering away at roaches and rats. ~Die, dammit die!~ he crushes a few more with his metal hand, then picks one off his back and squeezes it to death, panting. ~Motherfuckers!~ He looks after his packmates, trying to see if they're all right, especially Guards-Flame. ~Hey, can we get a healer over here?~ He points at Guards-Flame.

Firewatcher sees that Sheeaghan is going after Alicia, and chuffs to Cutter. ~See to Havoc and to Scourge. We should not leave until we are all ready. We do not know where that Bridge leads to.~

Olga gathers Jean's body together in her arms, her coat now slick with her packmate's blood as well as her own. She just sits there, numb, occasionally raising her head to glower at something vague and indefinite. When Helen comes over she just as numbly lifts herself to her feet and limps her way. All of a sudden she snaps viciously at everyone: "Shut up!" she screams, though just as quickly she's returned to a sullen state of isolation. She trundles slowly up to the bridge, along with Helen and carrying Jean, and then she steps slowly through.

Guards-Flame lets out a deep breath and relaxes as Sheehgan begins to heal her, then nods her thanks to the Fianna as she notices the majority of the wounds begin to heal. ~Thank you.~ She rumbles quietly, then glances over towards Firewatcher, then lets her eyes dart about the rest of the members. ~Who needs me?~ She questions.

[Blue mooooooon you had me standin' aloooooone...]

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 mostly mud, but patches of grass, halted by winter's cold, are beginning to peek through the ground and take root. Near the center of the clearing, a small cairn has been built with white stone and quartz--what was left of the beautiful boulder that was once there. None of the stones is bigger than a softball.
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:
[Pierces Ice, White Bear, Fearless-Strike, Kills-Wisely, Untangler(#2629PJceq), Seeker]
Obvious exits:
Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Pierces Ice had recieved her own share of wounds in her brutalizing frenzy, but she doesn't care now or then, bleeding from her face, chest, among many other areas. In an imitation of the previous manuver between White Bear and the Midget. On each slash from Seeker, the Dancer anticipates the move and is just, not there when the blade is. The Wart-Skinned dancer feints a couple of strikes, but doesn't manage to get any in of his own. The Midget rolls to the side from before White Bear and starts crossing the distance to Seeker... those are rather short stubby legs though and he looks like a duck waddling. He is good in those short quick movements it seems, running appears to be a different matter. White Bear is on his tail and could be on his ass in a well aimed leap. Pierces Ice finally after much of an extended frenzy starts to come down off of it and a moan escapes her from the pain that flows through her body suddenly.

Pierces Ice's eyes grow hard and cold once the rage clears from them. With an act of will and determination she rises from the body of the dead dancer and turns her attention to the warty creature facing off with Seeker. Taking only a moment to assess the best angle of attack, she pushes herself to attack once more.

Seeker decides to evade and parry the Dancer's next attacks, buying time for the cavalry to arrive. In a sudden flash of inspiration, Untangler shifts to glabro, then begins to tend to Fearless-Strike as best he can, trying to put her guts back in as deep as they will go without tearing the wound more. He bandages the wound and packs clean earth over it, muttering a short prayer of thanks to his ancestors. White Bear was already headed at the Midget, launching himself into the air with his jaws Still intent on mauling the short Dancer... and claws on ripping him open when he lands.

Those who find themselves returning from the fight abroad see within the Center of the Caern the fading whisps of the shroud effect of a Black Spiral Dancer at the center. There are a couple of dead or unconscious Dancers near Aiyana in crinos laying on the ground with Untangler, a bloody mess himself, trying to help her hold her guts in. An unconscious or dead Michael nearby as well. Jacinta is straddling a dead Dancer. White Bear is chasing a Midget Crinos who is running towards Seeker who looks pretty wounded, facing off against a fresh yellow wart-skinned Crinos Dancer who is staying away just enough to buy time for the Midget to get to Seeker.

Three-Blades, having left the Great Hunt early, is amongst the first to arrive at the caern. She doesn't look too pleased about something, but when she sees Dancers, the ragabash, nearly unwounded, just goes berserk with a howl of rage. ~DANCERS!~ Locking straight onto the warty-skinned one that Seeker is evading, the Gnawer's newfound rage speeds her on.

Sheeaghan crests the side of the Caern to see it being attacked by Black Spirals, the Fianna's heart surging with anger. From her place, she looks on the scene with her eyes wide. Her nostrils begin to flare wildly as rage builds up in her form, binding her muscles together like a spring. Then, without hesitation, Sheeaghan comes charging on all fours in crinos. Her jaws are open, snarling. She is ready to kill or to heal any of the injured. Whatever it is, she is going to make sure that her septmate remain and the Dancers are all dead. Every. Last. One.

Wildfire glares only for a moment into the Caern proper. ~How DARE you defile the place with you presence! NEVER again!~The last phrase is used as a battle cry, a summons to charge. He himself bolts down into the Caern, axe swinging at the first uninvited visitor he comes across repeatedly.

Defends-Worth looks down into the center and her eyes go wide. ~Fuck me!~ She says in a unbelieving voice. She burns off what rage she has left to charge down into the center, headed for the yellow-skinned fellow with claws and teeth slashing the air.

Finds-The-Path, now in Crinos, makes a wild four-legged dash for the prone Michael. If someone else wants to heal him instead, they're going to have to beat him to it. He works his healing paws once more, as soon as he is able.

Guards-Flame shifts her way into the area and immediately makes for the fallen Garou, chuffing towards Finds-The-Path. She kneels down next to Aiyana and begins to apply her own warm touch, concentrating.

Defiant-Storm's scream rings out and echoes off the walls of the caern as she crests the southern rim of the caern. The Get practically leaps the length of it, landing hard and then launching herself toward the Dancers at center. The poor yellow-wart-skinned bastard is her entire focus, and the ash-grey blur of the Jarl comes down on him like a hammer with tooth and claw and a ton of rage. Upon hearing sounds of battle, Lures-The-Beast is right at the heels of Defiant-Storm, howling loudly in a feral cry of rage and ferocity, wielding her heavy Labrys. She blurs with the help of Wolverine, aiming her weapon of choice at the yellow wart skinned beast, hoping to take its knee out.

Judges-Souls storms after her elder, filling the need to spill more blood. Rage pulsing though her veins, she seeks out what is let of the foe below.

By the waterfall, Cutter pauses at the lip of the caern, and looks down at the scene. "Hunh," he murmurs to himself, "Looks like you lot have the matter well in hand." He moves carefully and deliberately toward the center, moving in the direction of those sprawled on the ground.

The Dancer facing Seeker seems little troubled by the Strider, fast on his feet as he is and Seeker slowed by wounds. Jacinta joining in causes him to become more serious, but he doesn't retreat just yet, feinting swiping attacks at both, he manages to keep himself uninjured. The midget as well has little to worry about from his slowed opponent as long as it continues to move away, and at the moment of White Bear's leap, it does a roll to the side, grabbing the discarded whip and flashing it back around, it snags on White Bear's legs, and just as soon as he is about to pull the Walker to his stomach... All Gaia breaks loose. Almost in unison the two still living Dancers cry out, ~RETREAT!~ The midget takes on the hispo form and runs a good deal faster than he could with those stubbly little legs in crinos. The warty one takes the lupus to run to the other side of the Caern, Seeker and Jacinta hot on his heels. The midget growls out, ~Fetcher is dead! No bridge back! Game over, man! Game over!~ Like a wave, the coming Gaians pour into the Caern and over towards the defilers.

Three-Blades blurs into lupus likewise, absolutely determined not to let Wyrm-things survive while she's still breathing. The Gnawer's form blurs as she shifts, calling upon her Rage once more.

From Jamethon, a spear arcs high through the air towards the Dancers, missing barely as it thunks into the ground.

The Dancers don't know the paths in and out of the Caern nearly as well as the Gaian Garou do, and as they start to try and pick their way up and out, the wave of Garou crash into them, Jacinta and Seeker first, pulling them down from the rocks and onto the ground, where they are soon unrecognizable as once living things.

Sheeaghan comes bounding up to the injured, knowing well that the Black Spirals left are soon going to taste their bitter reward. Their death. With Cutter, she takes over healing, going to the worst of those injured.

Through all of this, as the rest of the shroud disipates, it reveals at the center of the Caern dry grass still burning... homage to Helios paid and proof that the Great Hunt... a great rarity, was successful.

Wildfire pulls his axe out o whatever it just now got stuck in. Unconscious Dancers? Oooo. ~Line them fuckers up so they can all get their asses whooped!~

Pierces Ice limps back into the center of the caern once her quary has fallen. Eyes cold as the ice for which she is named glower about the caern. She inspects the body of each Dancer, ripping out the throats of those already dead, and there is a harshness in her manner that says she is not to be interrupted.

Fearless-Strike growls softly, managing half a nod at Guards-Flame in thanks for patching her up. She looks as pale as a furry crinos can, her eyes sort of glazed over and not focusing properly. But she's still conscious. Somewhat.

A whip is found on the ground at the center, made from red leather that smells of a human scent... it is made from human flesh. Its very contact with the ground of the caern causes the ground to subtly sizzle, the wyrm energies in the fetish weapon consisting of so much strongly corrupting wyrm taint that it reacts badly with the holy Earth of the Caern. There is also a small workman's sledgehammer fetish with Wyrm glyphs carved all over it. Several used dart talens are found, none that are unspent. As well, someone notices a can with big red letters, "Can of Whoop Ass".

Cutter glances at Pierces Ice as he moves toward the wounded. "Good, good. You found out where they came from and how many of them there still are and all that? Excellent."

Three-Blades returns quite a bit more bloody, but very little of it hers. The ragabash sniffs at the fetish weapons, daring to touch the whip with a forepaw.

Sheeaghan makes her way upon Aiyanna, healing her first and sewing her wounds back into place with a little flicker of her glowing hands over the young Gnawer woman. She then turns, working the same upon Michael.

After Finds-The-Path applies healing energies to Michael, he groans as he reaches for where the dart that knocked him out hit his chest. He waves off Sheeaghan's help, "I'm fine. That was enough." He clearly looks pissed to apparently have missed much of the fight.

Finds-The-Path stands erect and sweeps his gaze over the scene, eyes scanning for anywhere he can be of use.

Fearless-Strike grunts and licks at her muzzle with a partially dry tongue, tilting her head down to watch the healer's work in progress. ~They all down?~ she rumbles, sniffing the air. ~Those bastards...they all dead yet?~ Her eyes narrow and she looks like she's ready to force herself up if the answer's no.

Pierces Ice begins to gather the items dropped by the attackers, her eyes, as her posture, tell of the anger still trapped in her body. ~All,~ she replies to the Gnawer Ahroun.

Three-Blades eventually shifts up to a form with hands - breed form. Hissing lightly at the sharp sting of a couple of cuts around her face, she crouches to gently pick up the fetish whip and start coiling it back up before it burns the ground anymore.

Sheeaghan growls lowly, ~It appears.~ she answers. Her ears flicker as she straightens, shifting into human-form. "You did well," she says softly.

Untangler has been sitting dazed, confused, and horribly injured for a while now, though he hasn't much shown the latter. Only when he sees the giant bonfire at the caern's centre does he seem to regain some sense of purpose, and even then his purpose seems to be mostly to curl up as close to it as he can, whimper, and try to get to sleep.

Pierces Ice snarls at Yi as she coils the whip, a wordless, snarl of defensiveness.

Fearless-Strike smiles at Pierces' answer. ~Good. They deserved no better than to be food for the worms in the ground, or tossed back into the hell they came from,~ she growls softly, eyes slowly scanning the crowd to see who all remains. ~We all did well. We all fought bravely. It will provide many a story to tell around the fires.~ She manages an even wider smile, ~Though it was wonderful to break that bastard's jaw and watch it flop like a fish.~

Cutter moves about, checking the less hostile of the defenders for damage. "Good, good," he murmurs to himself as he goes, "Morons. A whole collection of them."

Yi turns her gaze towards the snarling Wendigo, her own dark eyes in all seriousness as she continues to coil the whip up. Once the complete length is off the ground, she stands with it in hand. She'll not let the thing touch the caern's ground any longer than it should.

Defiant-Storm crouches down, first, and then goes to her knees not far from where Pierces Ice is. The Wendigo's fierce, angry manner doesn't seem to phase the Get, who looks weary and still blood-soaked form the battle in the city.

Cutter pauses as he comes upon the corpse of his tribesmate. Then he looks up and around the caern. "Jarred Storm Singer," he shouts, "This woman is dead; she died defending me on this night. And where were you? You who might have aided us. Who might have saved the life of a warrior. I say now, before the sept, that you are not fit to command this tribe, and I challenge you. If you are a coward, you will demand a contest by tooth and claw because you know that even if I am perfectly healthy I cannot possibly defeat you."

Pierces Ice's form shifts and changes and blurs upward into Crinos. She lifts the warhammer in one hand and holds out the other to Yi, dark eyes demanding.

Cutter looks around the caern and frowns. "Alas, we've tired out all the Galliards. There's nobody to take this word to his lair."

Cutter adjusts the tattered remains of his clothes and settles the shreds of his hat comfortably on his head. "If I thought I could get in without breaking the Veil, I'd go wake him up and tell him now."

Wildfire looks the grounds over one more time. ~Then take the word straight to him yourself, Cutter of the Shadow Lords.~ He lumbers over to eyeball Defiant-Storm for a moment, saying nothing but nodding just once before turning to Jamethon. ~I will need to take this to a place to hav it cleansed. Where do you recommend?~ He holds out Gebirgsteiler.

Judges-Souls stands quietly to the side, her eyes looking upon her elders as she seems to wait like a patient guardian.

Yi stares back at Pierces Ice, standing her ground. "You'll not take both into your claws," she growls lowly, her fist clenching in discomfort. But her tone isn't menacing. "I'll not hear of one of the Pure Ones being tainted by these... things."

Cutter smiles broadly at Wildfire, but it doesn't seem to have a great deal of joy in it. Rummaging through his pockets, he draws out the remains of a pack of cigarettes and pops one into his mouth.

Fearless-Strike shifts around to make herself comfier, watching the others with a blank look in her eyes.

Fights-For-Hope looks to Owen, spear in his right hand and nods, "The Wendigo. The river at their bluff has some cleansing properties. Just tell them you seek to clean what was used to fight along side them. They will allow you... don't linger for too long though."

Pierces Ice snarls, teeth showing, and gestures toward White Bear. ~Give him.~ With that, she starts toward the edge of the caern, managing only a few steps before she stumbles, falling onto her empty hand.

Finds-The-Path moves over to Untangler, curled up by the fire, to offer Gaia's healing unto him.

White Bear is rather oblivious to all the goings in the Caern, the Hispo prowling around snarling at and otherwise acting hostile to the Dancer remains. The spear remains where he left in the course of the fight.

Untangler is quite asleep. Probably he will thank Finds-the-Path in the morning. He lies at the fire edge, blissfully confident that it will not spread.

Cutter pauses, about to light his cigarette, to look over to the fallen Wendigo. "What's the word, Pure One? Ready to receive the healing of the mother?"

Wildfire grunts. ~Never been there. You will take me, then.~ Odd in that it doesn't sound much like a request. He then turns to Judges-Souls, nodding once. ~You put my gift to you to good use.~

Fights-For-Hope steps up to Jacinta now, kneeling down and giving a gesture of respect taught to him by Little Bear. ~Let the wounds go.~ Is all he says, a slight questioning matter to his words.

Aubrey finds a patch of ground in which to rest, her eyes drooping as she looks around her, remain alert as she watches the caern with her eyes narrowed. She blurrs into hispo suddenly and looks around her, her vivid golden eyes seen only in narrowed slits of her eyelids.

Yi watches the Wendigo elder go, but doesn't make a move to hand over what she holds to anyone. She swallows hard, blinking away some eerie feeling of wrongness as she watches Jamethon approach Jacinta. Again, she's just there.

Judges-Souls nod her head to Wildfire, taking the weapon and leaning against it slightly. ~I fight like a Get,~ she grins in crinos, showing her whites in more of a snarl that you see her even display in homid at times.

Defiant-Storm gets back to her feet, body shrinking down to a more acceptable city persona--glabro--and clasping a hand on Owen. ~Thank you,~ she says simply to both him and the other members of Scourge, like Jamethon. ~Now I go to see to my dead packmate.~

Fearless-Strike hefts herself up, wobbling a bit at the sudden movement, and she takes a few test steps to see how the healing will hold up. Pain jolts down her side and she hisses, one hand clasping the wound tightly, the other curling into a loose fist. She keeps walking though, eyes moving up and locking in on Yi's form as she limps towards the other Gnawer slowly.

Pierces Ice forces herself to her feet. The dark glance her only response to Jamethon or Cutter as she begins again to make her way to the edge of the caern. She stumbles again, but does not fall.

Cutter dips his head in salute and lights his cigarette before starting up into the darkness of the forest himself. "Groovitational," he says to himself.

Jamethon acknowledges Signe with a nod, before looking back to Jacinta, a quite serious expression on his face. When she stands and moves away he only takes on the human form, nods and standing himself goes over to Owen and Erika. "I am proud of you tonight, Erika." He then looks to Owen, a grin forming with some tightness, "Fuckin' A. I feel like we got to finally stretch our legs tonight after being cramped up forever." He says, in a way, knowingly. Then adds, tone again a question, "Scourge?"

White Bear prowls over to where he did abandon the weapon, stooping over to pick the shaft in his equally massive jaws. He sits himself back down, setting the spear in front of himself and looks for something more to snarl at.

Yi, seeing her tribemate approach, gives the ahroun an iffy smile. "Tried and true, Aiyana," she murmurs, taking a pace towards her at first, and then remembering what she has in possession. "Looks like it's a few days of rest in the caern for you."

Cutter pauses by the Walker as he moves to the edges of the caern. Reaching back into his pocket, he retrieves a foil packet. It is rent, something brown vaguely visible inside and under the yellow ichor smeared on the foil. "Sorry, it's a little banged up, but it's still magic." He reaches down, offering it.

Sheeaghan licks the corner of her muzzle and rises to her feet. ~There is still work that need to be done, a caern that need to be guarded.~ she replies. ~My rest has pasted, and now I will watch it until another is fit enough to do so.~ The Fianna Theurge looks around her, finding if any are about to agrue with her.

Wildfire returns the gesture with a heav, crinosed hand on the Get Jarl. ~Tend to her. She has beaten you to the final battlefield, remmber that. Honor her now. But in three days, time will be for the living again.~ He turns back to James and Erika. ~Scourge.~

Fearless-Strike snorts, but maintains a fairly jovial look on her face as best she can. ~Glad to see you made it out alive, sister. Otherwise I would've been hunting your spirit down and dragging it back in my bare teeth.~ Her ears perk up, ~Me, rest? You're kidding right? This place will probably need a bit of cleaning and I, for one, plan on helping. I don't want this place to be lost again. We don't need that. I'll rest when the work is done.~ She shifts down to Glabro, her face taking on a hint of a stern expression, her eyes crinkling up in defiance.

Defiant-Storm gives one last glance to James, Owen and Erika before silently slipping out.

Finds-The-Path now moves from the fire's edge to Sheeaghan. ~There is much fight left in me; I too will remain to guard the Caern.~ This said, there is a touch of weariness and sadness in his eyes and tone.

White Bear sniffs at the foil, before leveling his head back up at the other. He grunts out what must be... or rather might be, a thankyou to the Shadow Lord.

Yi's smirk is a shortlived one. Glancing after Signe, the ragabash turns back to her tribemate and bows her head slightly. "We've lost a couple," is what she tells her quietly. "Olga's pack, I think. And hers." The no-moon indicates the departing Get Jarl, and takes in a deep breath of the air.

Pierces Ice stoops to pick up the Can of Whoop Ass, steadying herself against the hard soil before continuing on her way.

Cutter crouches, putting the packet on the ground. Then he straightens up, tugs at the brim of his tattered hat and strolls up the path toward the woods, whistling the Andy Griffith music.

White Bear, catching the motion of his Soon-to-Be Alpha, looks around the Caern... eyeing over the ground for the sledgehammer carried by the Dancer he had faught with.

Sheeaghan chuffs towards her packmate. ~Come with me,~ she says, ~We will guard together.~ The pale wolf leaps, heading to the edge of the caern as she turns back to wait for the other Theurge.

Aiyana's eyes close and she's silent, giving a moment of respect for those who passed on. "A shame. It's never easy t'lose people. Especially durin' times like these, y'know?" She wraps one arm around her waist, gingerly touching the wound. "But I'm really glad to see you." The Ahroun smiles and looks like she might be on the verge of tears, but isn't about to cry in front of everyone.

Finds-The-Path nods once and drops down to shift into lupus and follow his Alpha.

White Bear's lips curl back as he discovers the lack of the Sledge Hammer, growling out loud at being denied his trophy. ~Where is the Hammer? Where is the Whip?~ He snarls out.

Yi nods in reply, looking to Aiyana's wounded side at first, and then looking towards White Bear. "Pierces Ice has the hammer." And should he look her way, it's obvious what she's got.

Pierces Ice turns at the edge of the caern, her own lips curled in a snarl. She holds up the hammer, and then turns back again, to leave the caern.

Aiyana glances over at White Bear and moves to stand beside Yi, waiting to see what the other Garou has to say about the loss of the hammer and whip.

White Bear paces to the Ragabash, hackels rising as he sees the Wendigo has it, turning his regard to Yi. He wants the whip, he notes darkly. It is his to take. His Kill. His.

Jamethon claps Wildfire on the shoulder and gestures towards Gebirgsteiler with his spear. "Weapons that served well on a successful Great Hunt will be spoken of. These are worthy of becoming Fetishes."

Yi narrows her eyes at White Bear. "This weapon belongs to no one. It will be destroyed, as all things of the Corruptor are."

Aiyana folds her arms over her chest and watches White Bear with a neutral look on her face.

White Bear bares his teeth, the Hispo snarling. His to destroy! She will give it to him now!

The Gnawer ragabash again stands her ground. "Don't argue with me tonight White Bear. Seeker will get this."

Wildfire nods once more, then turns his arm holding the axe so that the axe is held behind him, where it disappears. ~Ever since it came to me that first day, I knew it could be. It is a real shame no one here know that rite.~ He looks off into the woods. ~We should go and do this.~

Aiyana narrows her eyes just slightly and doesn't move from Yi's side. "It is late. Rest now, and we will discuss who gets what in the morning," she comments to White Bear.

Jamethon nods to Owen's words and then offers, "I seek knowledge of the Fetish. I will craft one before my final day... that much I promise. The first was to be the spear I wield, I have had it for long and it has bloodied many foes upclose and from afar. But... we shall see." That said, James heads off with Owen to purify weapons used in a successful Great Hunt.

White Bear steps forward to the Ragabash. Seeker Rhya Will get it, but it is -his- to give to Seeker Rhya. His! Aiyana's comments fall on deaf ears. He snarls some more, stopping only when he gets almost right up into Yi. His to do!

By the waterfall, Pierces Ice is gone for a short while, eventually making her way back down into the caern, hands empty.

Yi stands there, facing down the ahroun. "It doesn't matter, White Bear. It really doesn't."

Aiyana keeps silent for now and makes sure the hispo doesn't try any funny moves.

Wildfire follows, shifting down to lupus as he goes.

If it does not matter, then Bone Gnawer will surrender it to him right now, he Snarls. He doesn't seem... deturred in any way shape or form. At all. He does, however, start pawing at the ground.

By the waterfall, Pierces Ice slowly, haltingly, but with determination, returns to the center of the caern and begins picking up pieces of spent talens. Her short ears swivel to focus on Yi's voice. Once every few steps she falters and rests for a moment on her haunches. But always part of her attention is on her soon to be packmate, and the Bone Gnawer.

Yi seems to gauge the ahroun's warning signs rather well, and then with a glance to her tribemate, she relents. Without a word, she takes the coiled whip and slips it around the ahroun's head like some demented collar. A collar that feels just so very wrong the moment contact is made. "I trust you with it then." That's all the ragabash says. With a look to Aiyana again, the no-moon sighs softly. "Think I'll go... do another patrol around the caern just to be safe."

White Bear turns away the moment it is surrendered, the Hispo headed back to the rest of his stuff. Shifting to Crinos, he picks up the spear and foil bag, hefting former over his shoulder as he goes to his proto-alpha.

Meanwhile, Michael is out doing patrols. From his expression as he had left, it almost seemed as if he was hoping to run into something.

By the waterfall, Pierces Ice gives a silent nod of her head, some of the ferocity easing in her glance as Josh approaches. She turns and manages several steps to the edge of the caern before glancing back over her shoulder. ~And the dead.~

White Bear stands there, chest heaving deadpan for a long moment, before he turns around again to gather the bodies. He's terribly quite as he goes about the Grim task of moving the bodies, two at a time, to the compound.

Yi only waits long enough for a small silent moment to pass, before she too heads off into the forest, shifting to the lupus with a heavy shake of her fur. She'll let White Bear and others do the cleaning up, having had quite enough grisly guts for tonight.

[Check out the Defender's Side (i.e. those who stayed behind at the caern to defend it) log: here]

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