You paged the room with 'Time to go die with honor!'.

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:
[Garou Defenders (Jacinta, Michael, Joshua, Aiyana, Seeker)]
Obvious exits:
Rock Slab Windy Spot WaterFall Steam Vents

Untangler, by contrast, doesn't look grave in the slightest, not yet at least; perhaps its because he's not going. At any rate, he gathers up the long switch-like strand of sage in his jaws, and trots into the wide circle of dry golden grass enclosing the central cairn. Once a few metres in he begins beating at it with the switch, and only now does he begin to assume the solemnity due his position.

Heading into the Caern's center is Alicia, followed by Dakota at her side as the pair converse together quietly in murmured whispers and hushes. The Galliard appears to look quite serious, absently rubbing the buldge in her stomach.

Firewatcher is settled in lupus on the waterfall fringes of Untangler's preparation as people answer the call, and gives a bark out to Alicia and Dakota to announce her presence.

Sheeaghan ariives in the caern center and emits a short howling-bark, calling her pack to her side as they arrive.

The pair of Gaian's then steer over towards Firewatcher. Alicia appears anxious, shifting her gaze to Dakota every so often, leaning over to murmur again with a soft sigh, shaking her head.

Aiyana steps into the area and glances around, mostly to see who else is here. After watching quietly for a moment or two she goes to stand near a rock, out of the way of the others as she shifts down into lupus.

Erika walks into the caern from the south with a quick, purposeful stride.

Finds-The-Path trots from the treeline, loping confidently toward Sheeaghan once he has located her among the gathering Garou.

Michael enters the caern, bare chested and wearing the loin-cloth, hanging hunter's garb as well as a painted face. The glyph for defender is worn openly upon his forhead. It seems he was chosen for a role, and he'll stick to it with honor and pride.

White Bear comes in from the west, the Lupus formed Ahroun hesitating at the edge of the Caern. With Michael's arrival, the Lupus heads to join the Wendigo. He offers a note of greeting to Kills-Wisely.

Sheeaghan shifts into homid and plants her hands on her waist. The Fianna's face is symbolicly painted in woad, showing Celtic marks along her cheeks, forehead, and even along her shoulders.

Taslyn comes down and into the caern. She stands off to the side for a bit, looking at all the others. She spies her pack mate and walks over to her, reaching to give Aubrey a hug.

Michael turns to gaze upon the lupus that approaches him, eyes wide and searching as if they are already seeking prey to bring down. He then simply nods and continues towards the center, a quick muted hand gesture indicating White Bear should follow.

Firewatcher threads between Alicia and Dakota in greeting, relaxing a notch at their side. When she spies Signe's arrival, she gives a terse chuff to the Get of Fenris ahroun, oddly enough relaxing a notch further.

White Bear does just this, following in beside the Wendigo without further comment as they head further into the Caern.

Aubrey raises her hand to Finds-the-Path, then turns to Tasyln and gives her a light hug in return. "Are you ready, sister?" she says, nearly grinning. She lightly ruffles the other woman's hair before letting go and standing back as she looks towards Firewatcher for a moment.

Hygieia comes ambling in, looking utterly relaxed herself.

Of course, Doc usually has that air, whether she actually /is/ relaxed or not. She heads over to stand near her packmates.

The lupine Get of Fenris Gatekeeper winds his way down into the caern, disturbingly having his eyes up on the moon as he picks his way perfectly through the trecherous pathway in.

Fearless-Strike lays down, head resting on her outstretched paws as she watches the others gather in their little groups. She looks content to stay back out of the way for now and to just observe.

Shadow pads in with Olga good-naturedly grumbling by her side. The Shadow Lord seems about to settle on the fringes of the gathering but the Bone Gnawer pushes along to Cycle-Breaker, making Shadow trail along after her uncomfortably.

Signe acknowledges Firewatcher's nod with an answering one as she makes her way down into the center. The Get Jarl then threads her way to her pack, greeting each with quiet words before assessing the quality of the turnout tonight.

Finds-The-Path shifts to homid and seats himself cross-legged on the ground. He traces a finger along the ground, marking out several squiggles, before closing his eyes and resting peacefully - amid the chaos of arriving warriors.

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.

Erika carried with her Owen's gift, a 4*4 which has been wrapped craftfully in razor wire. She walks up towards her fellow packmate in lupus, and sets down the large weapon as she greets him. "Jamethon-rhya."

Reaching down and brushing her fingers through Fire's fur, Alicia offers a grin down to her lupine Elder, then slowly stretches herself out as she carries her gaze around those who have gathered here. Dakota stares at the circle for a few moments unblinkingly, before finally tearing her curious gaze away and drinking in the fresh air around her.

The two Furies, Helen and Ashley, arrive together, almost side-by-side; Helen looks a little anxious while Ashley's expression screams anger, irritation, something, what with knotted brows and a vague scowl. At Olga and the packmate she hasn't yet met, Helen smiles faintly in greeting yet says nothing. Ashley ignores Shadow and Olga, both Furies turning their attention to the center to the cairn.

Fearless-Strike's ears perk when she spots Olga, although she doesn't move from her spot. Instead she just pants and thumps her tail against the ground a couple times, then goes back to watching silently. She's not quite sure what to do just yet.

By the waterfall, Owen makes his way into the Caern proper, Gebirgsteiler carried over one shoulder. Before he even makes it down into the throng of people here, he bellows out, "DID SOMEONE RENT A U-HAUL?"

Ashley breaks away from Helen with a soft grunt under her breath, glancing over to Owen at his yell. She shoves her hand into her pocket, then tugs out a pair of keys, jingling them. "I did."

Eamon winces as Owen screams in his ear. "Jesus Christ! We're right here, man!" He shakes his head annoyedly and walks over to join his pack.

"What the hell?" Erika mutters under her breath. The young woman shifts on her feet, her eyes flickering cooly as she looks around her with uninterest mostly as she is preparing herself. She shifts one shoulder and looks across towards Owen with a light sneer, or was that just her way of smiling?

Jamethon takes on the homid form, a sturdy and long spear coming into existance in his right hand. Many will probably recognize the spear as something often seen with Jamethon, the glyphs carved in its wide shaft are many and varied. He looks over to Erika and nods, a feint smile touching his lips. As if fighting off any fears before they touch Erika he speaks to her, "Tonight, we are reminded of why we call this hunt...Great."

Firewatcher shifts up into crinos and snarls. ~It would only work if we know our target is in the city or far away.~ She looks around at those gathered, and gives a sharp bark to get people's attention. ~Listen up.~

Seeker quietly enters the caern and listens, watching the proceedings.

Michael turns his head up towards the Alpha, attentive and listening, arms held crossed over his chest.

By the steam vents, Severs trots down the valley into the caern, arriving with minimal fanfare. He does, however, appear to have a cigarette stuck in his mouth.

Aubrey remains with her hands on her curved hips as she looks across towards the Alpha of the Sept. She looks around her, spoting her packmates who were asked to be here tonight.

By the waterfall, Owen gives a simple thumbs up to Ashley before heading into the throng of Garou, pretty much ingnoring anyone else now except the Alpha.

White Bear turns from his location by his proto-packmate, looking over to the Alpha just, as serious.

Karl cracks his eyes open slowly, then smooths over his marks upon the ground, before slowly rising to his feet, standing in formation with his pack.

Fearless-Strike sits up, locking her attention in on the speaking Crinos as she awaits the coming information.

Taslyn directs her full attention to Megan, turning to face the alpha and listen.

Untangler doesn't stop his ritual; the purple switch comes up and down, up and down. He looks transfixed, it's doubtful he can even hear anything.

The pair of Stag packing Gaian's pause in their whispering to glance at the Alpha and listen patiently.

~You know what we do this night,~ Firewatcher says, once people have settled down. ~For those of you who have never fought in a Great Hunt, we go into great danger. It is likely some of us will not return, and we will be howling your spirit back to your Homelands soon. It is likely we will fail, because as the Wyrm grows in power, this happens more and more often. We who go to fight may win great glory and honor, or may lose as much.~ She takes a deep breath, and huffs it out. ~Defiant-Storm as an ahroun of great experience will be leading the war party. If there is need to split into smaller parties, Wildfire will lead another. My packmate, Guards-Flame, will be leading a pack of healers who will be behind the warriors. I expect all Garou, right now, to either find your pack or, if you have no pack, find a pack to run with this night. Those who know Mother's Touch or other healing gifts, please join with Guards-Flame, so we can decide how many will heal, and how many will fight.~

Severs obediently trots over to join the non-coms.

Karl turns and gives Sheeaghan a silent, knowing look, murmurs a "Be well," to his packmates, and departs from them to join his Tribal Elder's side.

From the East comes Jacinta, just in time for the announcement from Megan. She quietly approaches the other two from the Protopack, careful not to draw any attention from the Alpha.

Helen, after Megan's announcement, looks towards where Olga and Jean are and heads in that direction. "Let's hope we all stay in one piece, huh?" she mutters to the two of them, trying to affect a light-hearted tone but failing miserably.

Alicia glances around the memebers of the Sept anxiously to see if any will step forward to join her side. Her eyes are critical, nodding towards Karl, then glances off after Aubrey for a moment.

Fearless-Strike glances around, looking slightly confused as she tries to figure out where she's supposed to be going. The Gnawer lets out a huff of air as she paces in her spot, keeping an eye on the others to see what everyone else is doing.

Hygieia stands near Signe, looking rather proud of her pack alpha. She waits for further instructions, looking just as unruffled as she did when she walked in.

Jamethon heads over immediatly to Wildfire, and for the briefest moments meets his eyes, looking then only to his face and not looking away... quite stubbornly. His voice is serious, and the pinging of rage underneath is palpable, "Forget all that was said. You, I will follow."

Shadow looks at Helen, but then gives Olga an apologetic bump with her shoulder before padding over to join Guards-Flame and the other healers.

Ashley rolls her shoulders a bit and glances to Emma at her side, giving her a slight nudge of encouragement. She hefts up the war axe in her hands and grunts slightly. "Just remember what I said earlier." She says softly, then nods her head towards Signe.

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.

[The Hunters go through the moonbridge.]

From afar, to the room, Fwiffo appears in a puff of ominousness as the Defender GM for tonight!

As the last of the Attackers went through the Moon bridge, White Bear shifts up to Crinos in a single smooth motion. His dedicated piece of war spear steel appears in his right Handpaw, the Ahroun setting the butt on the ground and leaning on the shaft. He looks over to the Warder expectantly.

Michael as well turns to look to the Warder, as if expecting some order to be issued from the ranking Garou here.

Fearless-Strike sits up and idly claws at the ground, her eyes never leaving the area of the bridge except to give a curious glance back to the Warder as well. ~Somethin' tells me this ain't gonna be a quiet night,~ she rumbles softly, one ear flipping back.

Untangler continues his ritual; he barely even seems to notice the moon bridge beyond a quick flicker of his ears. Apparently he feels his part of the Rite is not yet over. His slow circuit continues, beating softly along.

Seeker stands before the bridge with his arms crossed, watching the opening. ~We will stay here and guard the opening, as it is the most vulnerable point. Be prepared for anything, however.~

Fearless-Strike nods to Seeker as she pushes herself up to her feet, sniffing the air and glancing around as she scratches lightly at her side. ~Thanks for the warning, boss. Muchly appreciated.~

Michael just snorts at nothing in particular it seems, and taking on the lupus form bounds out to be closer to the path out of the Caern near the waterfalls, staying about halfway between the edge and the center.

It isn't long before the Defenders are greeted with their task of survival, protection, honor, and glory. Suddenly with silence punctuated only by the noise of the Defenders themselves, large perfectly cubic patches of inky pitch black darkness appear all up and down the path that comes down into the Caern from the Waterfall, totally obscuring it from view. Nothing follows this occurance just yet, and no sounds betray enemies.

Seeker's hackles raise as he senses something. He turns to face the black cubes appearing at the waterfall path. His kopsh materializes in his hand, but he doesn't attack yet. ~Wait,~ he calls to the others. ~Something is not right here.~ He quickly scans the perimeter of the caern.

Kills-Wisely raises his hackles as the one closest to the darkness and in the lupus form he growls back. ~No change in scent overhere... What is this we are seeing, Warder?~

Fearless-Strike's fur between her shoulderblades starts to bristle as her ears fold back, a low growl rumbling out of her throat as she moves close to the others. ~What the hell are those things?~ the Gnawer snorts, nose wrinkling in distaste. ~This isn't cool at all.~

White Bear's tail rises in alarm, no longer leaning on the mammoth Spear as he readies it. He snorts out an agreement at the 'not all right' comment, hackles raising.

Pierces Ice leans forward, lifting one massive paw toward the strange appearances. Her nostrils quiver with the intake of breath, released in a snort of rising tension. Yes. Not right.

Silent continues to permiate the night for sometime, then there is a skittering. Like the sound of many claws running on stone, the sound has been heard before when people have taken that path into the Caern. Something approaches through the darkness.

Seeker says, ~I feel the presence of the Wyrm, but not cirectly from there.~ He points at the cubes, then picks up a stone from the ground and throws it at the cubes.~

White Bear's head jerks from side, nose sniffing overtime. ~If not from there, from where, Seeker Rhya?~ He rumbles back to the Warder, staying near the protopackmates.

Ears perking quickly, the metal in them clinging softly against one another, Fearless-Strike hunches down and growls louder. Her tail quivers with anticipation as she peers into the shadows, trying to figure out where the noise is coming from.

Seeker says, ~It may be in...wait. Something approaches. Be on guard.~ He takes a few steps toward the black cubes.

Kills-Wisely sets forward, while standing stock still, looking almost like an Irish pointer that is more than ready to track the hunted and pounce upon it. ~I do not like to wait as the foe just walks within our Caern.~ He growls, no, more snarls out with rage on the upbeat to every word.

Pierces Ice glances to the Warder for direction and with a grunt calls her packmates into formation, White Bear near her and Ragabash furthest away.

Kills-Wisely moves now, backing up slowly towards Pierces-Ice while still watching the darkness intently for signs of the foe.

Untangler doesn't seem to notice the leader's call, he doesn't even twitch; but he must have, because he responds with a quick flick of his tail. I'm not done yet. He continues to beat down the grass; if he's doing a full circuit, he's about three-quarters done.

Fearless-Strike steps near the others, keeping towards the rear and glancing behind her every so often. ~Just tell me what to do and I'll do it.~

Seeker's eyes widen as he feels something. ~A moon bridge opens!~ He shouts. ~Prepare yourselves now! The enemy approaches!~ He readies his kopsh, waiting for the bridge to open.

White Bear asides close to Pierces Ice, reading the steel even more. His whole body quivers as Seeker calls out the warning.

As Seeker is in midsentence, calling out, his words are given validity as a near mirror image of the earlier opened moon bridge spirals out from a point in space not that high above the ground. It is a blood red, the color of an attack moon bridge. It seems some energy of the Rite of the Great Hunt is being somehow drained in opening this moon bridge. A mighty howling, tinged with corrupt laughter, is given both from the darkness of the path and from within the moon bridge, suddenly a single Black Spiral Dancer leaps through and before you can even really get a look at him, he raises an arm and the area around the moon bridge is covered in darkness as well, out to a ten foot square with the moon bridge at the center... the one leaping through had ears of a bat. More laughing howls eminate from the darkness as it seems more foes join the fight. From the darkness of the path, a single hispo Garou leaps out a might jump, angled right at Darkfeather, who was luckily still watching that direction and is able to run off to the side and avoid the wicked claws of his attacker.

[Fwiffo pages to the room: Kills-Wisely is closer to the center than the waterfall path (covered in darkness). This darkness is obviously the gift 'Shroud' to any who are familiar with it IC. You can still see whatever is outside of the shroud, even from within it... just the area inside has had it's light canceled. Those who know that BSDs use shroud also know that a decent amount of them have supernatural bat-ears that allow them to opperate in the darkness with little difficulty. The hispo that leapt at Kills-Wisely is not all that impressive in size, but looks ferocious and it's claws drip with a green liquid. In it's jaws it appears to be holding a metal can of some kind. Seeker, Jacinta, White Bear, and Fearless-Strike find themselves in the Shroud. Kills-Wisely and Untangler are just outside of it. No idea what is going on inside the Shroud.]

Seeker lashes out with his kopsh at the place where the Dancer who dropped the shroud should be, assuming he hasn't moved. He prays that his gift will allow him to get to him before he can move.

Untangler remains outside the shroud, snarling ferociously and ready to attack anything that steps outside the shroud near him. White Bear and Pierces Ice retreat to the edge of the shroud to wait for something to emerge that they can attack.

Fearless-Strike reaches out to touch the hispo Dancer attacking Darkfeather, hoping that her gift will knock it off its feet.

Kills-Wisely circles around quickly on his heels, not bothering to wait a moment of time before leaping into the side of his attacker, claws and teeth brought to bare against the Spiral's side.

For now, most of what is expirenced is in sound and touch, not sight. Seeker's grunting as he seems to contact with a body that growls in pain, followed by a similar sound from Seeker recieving a blow back upon him. Fearless-Strike is on her way out of the darkness when she is apparently tackled by a heavy foe from within and the two go rolling out of the darkness, one wrestling to get above the other. The creature atop her is a blond furred crinos, large with one ear almost entirely ripped away and bright red eyes who growls out, ~I'm going to rape your ass bloody before I kill you bitch!~ White Bear and Pierces Ice suddenly emerge from the darkness... without a foe to attack or a foe attacking them. Darkfeather swings and gets a single claw on the Dancer he is in a one-on-one fight with now, leaps backwards and taking on the homid form of all things, spits the can in his mouth into his hand and holding it up cries out, "You're so fucked!" The can clearly reads, 'Can of Whoop Ass', and he pops it open towards Kills-Wisely. The result is instantainious and Michael doesn't have time to prepare. The opener of the can is in an obvious frenzy in less than a second and is slashing into Michael's side with intense rage-driven speed.

Kills-Wisely makes his way to the crinos form with such a speed and howl of rage, it appears as if the Wendigo ahroun is lost to the berseker frenzy and claws and fangs are being thrown back and forth between Michael and his foe. Were Kills-Wisely to have started this exchange of blows unharmed, he probably would have had an advantage, as it is, it appears as if he'll go down before his frenzying foe. Pierces Ice and White Bear charge toward the frenzying Dancer. The Glass Walker howls out the Anthem to War as he lunges at the upper body, rage fueling his actions, while the elder of the Wendigo aims her attack at the hamstrings of the foe. Seeker roars, ~Everyone out of the shroud!~ That said, he tries to grapple with his foe and push him out of the darkness, where he can be killed more quickly. Fearless-Strike reaches up to dig her claws into the Dancer's shoulders in an attempt to roll him off her. Untangler sees his tribemate in danger and howls in anger, racing to Darkfeather's side. He barrels toward the frenzied Dancer, jaws open and slavering.

With a loud /crack/ the blood red leather of a whip snaps out of the shroud, wrapping with little difficulty around Pierces Ice's legs before she gets too far away, jerking them off the ground and causing the Ahroun to fall hard, before being jerked with even more force back into the Shroud... inside of which Jacinta's suffering screaming can be heard.

White Bear reaches the frenzying Spiral before Untangler and nails him in the side impacting with such force that the crinosed Dancer is knocked off into the air and thrown a few feet away on his side, already quickly scrambling to stand, facing only in Kills-Wisely's direction... totally focused on his one percieved foe. Untangler however was already on the way and leaps upon the downed Dancer, teeth finding purchase on the Dancer's throat and earning a sharp claw opening his right side for her trouble. Meanwhile... the sounds from Seeker still within the shroud are difficult to make out, even if you weren't all already so engaged. Fearless continues to wrestle with her perverted foe, claws gaining some purchase but the action opens up her side which, with claws extended, the Dancer literally punches into, looking to have fisted the side of her stomach as he roars in pain from his shoulder muscles being shreded at the same time by the claws that are almost two-knuckle deep into them. Kills-Wisely looks like shit, moments from death, but his frenzy neither knows nor cares. His red vision focuses upon the blonde Garou wrestling with Fearless-Strike and with a vicious warcry he leaps towards them. In midair, a dart suddenly flies from the darkness and impacts in Kills-Wisely's shoulder, and he lands upon the Dancer, but unconscious and now bleeding from his mouth. He hasn't just yet reverted to his breed form and the extra weight does little to help either the Blonde dancer or Fearless-Strike.

Seeker disengages from the dancers he was fighting with and leaps out of the shroud, twisting to evade any attacks made against him. Untangler's jaws also bite down on the Dancer's throat in an attempt to crush and tear it out. Fearless-Strike explodes into action, tearing her claws further into the crinos's shoulders. She seems to be trying to tear both his arms off.

Kills-Wisely looks like shit, moments from death, but his frenzy neither knows nor cares. His red vision focuses upon the blonde Garou wrestling with Fearless-Strike and with a vicious warcry he leaps towards them. In midair, a dart suddenly flies from the darkness and impacts in Kills-Wisely's shoulder, and he lands upon the Dancer, but unconscious and now bleeding from his mouth. He hasn't just yet reverted to his breed form and the extra weight does little to help either the Blonde dancer or Fearless-Strike. Pierces Ice's howls of fury can be heard from within the darkness, madness fills the sound. Seeing Untangler having his foe well in hand, White Bear turns to the shroud following the sound of Jacinta's voice toward the source.

The frenzying Garou struggling with Untangler opens his eyes wide with a deranged clarity when the sound of his throat crunching closed is heard. In this moment his frenzy seems to be somehow gone or just... different and he reaches both his claws towards his attackers crotch with a precision make a final raking strike in that most sensitive of areas. The pain this causes bringing about the tearing out of his own throat by Untangler, whose pelvic region is now a mess of blood and pain. This Dancer falls dead, reverting to a human body covered in scars and blood... a small can of whoop ass laying nearby.

Seeker explodes from the darkness and a dart can be seen sticking from out of his neck. Another snap sounds and the red leather whipcord lets fly at the Warder, but he is too quick in this instance to be caught by it. Leaping after him out of the Shroud are two Garou. One holds a blow gun in his left hand, the other a whip in the right. Both weapons are dropped as they start to circle their foe... and the very ground rejects the whip, the Caern dirt it touches sizzles slightly where the leather rests.

Fearless perhaps foolishly, but lost in the moment and the rage, tilts her head back slightly with a massive howl and her clawed hands begin to close into fists, crushing muscle and bone within them quite audibly. The Dancer atop Fearless was about to rip his hand back out, a good amount of guts with it, but the impact of the Wendigo falling from above only served to drive his arm deeper into her. He draws his head back slightly and looks as if he is about to bite for Fearless' throat.

White Bear nearly bounds into the shroud, where he is engulfed in darkness along with Jacinta and whoever her foe is. Seeker plucks the needle fron his neck, then lashes out at the Dancers in front of him with his kopsh, rage giving speed to his attack. Each foe before him gets one strike with the curved blade. Untangler howls in pain as well as triumph as the Dancer attacking him falls. He limps away from the dead body, in agony but still ready to attack anything that comes near. Fearless-Strike extracts her hands from the Dancer's shoulders, then reaches for his jaws to prevent them from gaining purchase in her throat, or to crush them if she can.

White Bear near buckles under under the War-hammer blow, using the spear head to scathe back and forth. Not Jabbing, sweeping at where the Hammer came from. Hard, and ragey as hell. Jacinta's frenzied battle continues, her howls and snarls the only clues to her location within the darkness.

Seeker keeps the two Spirals he dances with at bay with his wicked blade, his swipes only serving to keep them just out of reach and they appear to now just be circling Seeker, waiting for the perfect oppertunity to strike. Getting a look at them, you would notice that one of them possess Ears of the Bat, and the other's skin is covered in yellow and blue warts skin beneath the fur. Untangler is indeed limping pretty painfully but is close enough after some movement to act in the conflict between an unconscious Kills-Wisely, and Fearless-Strike and the Dancer she is in a death lock with. Fearless-Strike can consider herself lucky that Kills-Wisely's massive crinosed body is there to pin her foes' other arm as she reaches up to pry open her Dancer's jaw. The two struggle for some time and it is clear that they are evenly matched, but the strength of two crinos arms soon beats that of a crinosed jaw. With a satisfying crack and a tourtured whimpering howl of pain the Dancer's jaw snaps open a good deal further than it should and then hangs loosely in the skin of his muzzle. This however earns the Dancer something Fearless should fear... a Frenzy. It is apparently a Fox frenzy as he tosses his weight hard, throwing Kills-Wisely a foot or two away and scrambles to get up, right under Untangler now... and arm still half-way to elbow deep in Aiyana's side, gripping her intensines. Those who look notice that the shroud that was covering the path by the waterfall has been fading since the one Dancer died and is almost gone. The other shroud goes strong and within it, sounds of battle continue between Jacinta, White Bear, and their foe.

White Bear whips around with the Spear, arching the steel head around to where the new threat came from. He's almost gasping for air, unable to even snarl at this point.

Fwiffo pages to the room: 2 Dancers fighting Seeker. One very close to dying but close to killing Aiyana as well on the ground on top of her. One in the darkness fighting an a bit of an outclassed White Bear (sorry to put it that way... but just the way it is while you're still in the Shroud) :(

Seeker draws himself up to his full height and, focusing on the bat-eared garou, he activates a gift to bring out the Dancer's greatest fear to paralyze him. Fearless-Strike slashes at the Dancer's wounded shoulder with her claws, trying to remove the arm before he can escape and take her guts and life with him. Untangler comes to Fearless-Strike's rescue as well, jaws snapping at the fleeing Dancer's legs, hoping to prevent him from leaving or perhaps kill him.

Clear of the darkness, Pierces Ice shakes her giant head, seeking the next foe. Her eyes alight on the bat-eared garou attacking the Warder and the deep growl that builds in her throat gives voice to the recognition that surfaces briefly in her mind. That brief clarity is all that she is allowed, however, as her rage surfaces again in her charge toward the foe. Seeker just barely misses his foe, who actually managed to shrug off the effects of the gift used upon it. But suddenly, with a flying death tackle and a roar of rage Pierces Ice seems to come from nowhere, through the tip of the corner of the shroud and they go down together, the Wendigo Ahroun reaching back mightily before each clawing strike... like she was attempting to dig through him. Unfortunatly this opened up Seeker to attack from behind and he recieves a rather nasty double claw slash to his midback. Untangler gets to the leg of her target just in time to prevent the messy disembowling death of Aiyana... but not in time to prevent a simply messy disembowling as he was able to pull his arm out enough to spill a little more than handful of what should be inside of Fearless... outside of her and hanging from a rather large fist-sized hole. It is Fearless' weakened strike that places the Dancer into unconsciousness and on death's door. She isn't doing that great herself, looking just about as close to being not-alive... she'll probably need some healing attention. The darkness begins to fade around where the moon-bridge was and with a great sense of humiliation White Bear finds why he can't hit this guy. This crinos has to be four feet tall at the most, and is rolling and leaping around like a flea. His muscles are massive though and he wields what appears to be a workman's slegehammer, with Wyrm glyphs carved into it.

Seeker steels himself against the frenzy building within him, then concentrates his attack on the warty-skinned Dancer, hacking at his side with the kopsh. Fearless-Strike holds the Dancer's arm in and tries to keep herself from bleeding to death. She tries to find a place out of the way to avoid being wounded further. Untangler helps guard Fearless-Strike, attacking anything that comes near.

Fwiffo pages to the room: 2 Dancers remain. One practically fresh one with a well wounded Seeker. And the wonder Midget with a hammer. And the one under Jacinta... but well... ripshredsnarltearkillbitedead and all that stuff.

The sight White Bear's enemy only serves to send him to the edge of his limits: the Ahroun, barely able to breath moments ago, suddenly finds himself able to positively Roar at the dancer, abandoning the spear as he explodes, in Hispo, at the Midget. And Rages. And claws. And Rends. And mauls.

An unconscious Michael, reverted to breed form now lays beside a very bloody Aiyana who is in desperate need of at least the attention of a Garou with knowledge of how to treat such injuries so she can heal herself even if no magical healing is used. Seeker chokes down a rage filled howl, spinning about to swing the wicked blade he carries at a foe that is just a little too prepared and two quick to be hit by that particular strike. The Dancer fighting Seeker reaches in to try and swipe at Seeker in return, barely missing himself. White Bear leaps forward at the same moments his foe leaps back. The little guy is fast... too fast. He swings out with his hammer while jumping back and barely nips White Bear on the nose with it, cracking the bone at the tip of his muzzle. The action closed the gap between the two just enough however for the young Walker to get one slash across the Dancer's chest. The wart-skinned Dancer fighting Seeker calls, ~To me, forget the pup, kill /this/ fucker!~

Seeker unleashes his full fury on the warty Dancer, blurring into action as he slashes three times at him. Untangler guards Fearless-Strike as she hangs on as best she can, trying to keep the bleeding under control.

Pierces Ice's teeth and claws sink deep into her foe, rage-blind eyes seeing only his final twitches. She rends, unthinking, until no movement, no life, remains in the former Dancer.

White Bear keeps in after the short Dancer, Rearing back as he lunges at the midget with his jaws Agape, snarling all the way: ~_Sister_!~

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.

[And from here on, it is the same as the Great Hunt's Hunter's Side log. Check there for the rest.]