Long-Wind & A Stag Hunt

4/10/2005

01:44 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing New Moon phase (10% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the south at 14 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.20 and falling, and the relative humidity is 61 percent. The dewpoint is 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius.)
It is currently 13:21 Pacific Time on Sun Apr 10 2005.

Big Red Barn(#3420RA)
The barn is built in the old style, a vast three level structure that is greater in height than a mere three stories, actually closer to five. Great wooden posts support the weight of the upper levels and roof, sunk into the hard-packed dirt floor of the first level like a sparse forest of regularly spaced, naked trees. The stalls and flagstones which once were here have been torn out to leave a rather open area where even crinos Garou may roam freely without fear of running into anything but the supports or the walls or the ladder at the back which allows access to the other two levels.
The first two levels are relatively open to each other, the second being only little wider than a catwalk going around all the walls but the front one, which has massive, twenty foot tall doors set into it. The third level is a true second floor except for a place cut out that allowed hay to be tossed down to the ground floor when the farm was actually worked. Now, it is a hayloft where Garou can sleep outside of the house.
(Non-Garou, please "+view curse")
Contents:
Basil
Obvious exits:
BarnYard  

Basil may not know the date anymore, or for that matter anything about world events. But he does know the day. In the hay loft of the barn he sits, perched high enough to see for some ways... If he had his eyes open. His head is bowed and his hands are held together in front of him, his lips moving without words being spoken.

The afternoon light filters through cracks in the barn wall, but then pours in from the door as it opens. Yi enters with a grizzled expression of someone who is only still starting to wake up. Her clothes from yesterday have been changed out of, instead this day the ragabash wears an overly baggy sweater and somewhat ill-fitting sweatpants. Her cap and bandanna are not present; the Gnawer's stubbly haired head gets a bit of a rub.

Basil opens one eye and ceases his silent prayers as he hears the aging barn door creak, listening for a few moments longer for the sound of feet on hay and ground. "Is... Someone there? Am I needed?" He ask, shifting to turn around and look towards the ladder.

"Yes," Yi answers aloud, her own eye roving towards the origin of the sound. "Good afternoon Basil," she greets the cub's general area. "Did I wake you?"

Basil lowers a hand to push himself up to his feet, walking over to the loft's edge to look down at Yi. "Not at all. I was just having some... Time to myself, and a friend. Would you like to come up and join me, or shall I come down?"

Yi looks up still, and makes her decision by moving over to the ladder and climbing up to join the cub up in the loft. She smiles faintly at him, still a bit tired-looking, and glances around the loft. "Where is the friend?" she asks, a moment's confusion passing over her face like a lone cloud in the sky.

Basil offers a hand to Yi when she gets to the top to help her off the ladder, then walks over to the hole looking out over the farm. He places a hand near the side of barn opening, bracing himself should he lose balance. "Ah. He is someone that most Garou think I am stupid for believing in, and one that doesn't exist on this plane with you and I." He closes his eyes again, enjoying the feel of the wind rushing across his face and the few rays of sunlight which pierce the cloudy sky.

Yi takes the offered hand with a gracious nod, and sits somewhere with a short whump, not too graceful this time. "Who do you mean? God?" The ragabash smiles again, the asian woman seems to know, and at least is sympathetic. "It is something that .. well, there is a cub for the Bone Gnawers, and she is also of these kinds of beliefs."

Basil nods at Yi and turns around, walking over to her and sitting down directly across from her so that he may look her in the eyes as they speak. "Yes, God. I believe in him more then I believe in these new things just yet. Theology... I'm not denying the existence of spirits. But the Triat and such, does it differ much from other beliefs in the world? Entropy, creation, and order. We are fighting a fundamental force of the universe... But I wonder. What will happen if we win and destroy it?"

Yi takes a sprig of hay, twirling it lightly around her fingers. "It is... different, but the ways of the spirits are not something we can readily understand. When the moon is bigger, if no one has taken you to see the Umbra yet, then maybe I shall." The hay sprig waves side to side as the ragabash thinks. "There are many, many beliefs that the humans have come up with as well, and no doubt you are influenced by them. The Garou too, all have their own beliefs but in the end... we cannot deny that something was created here, and something has been formed, and something... will cause destruction and death. That is the way of life. That is the circle."

Basil smiles at Yi and bows his head in respect to her. "I would like that very much, Yi-Rhya. I am sure that you would be a most excellent teacher, and would not let any harm come to me. Even at the expense of yourself... You are a very selfless person, aren't you? One who would die for a packmate, even if you'd try to think of another way first? Or so I think, with the way you ran off. And how genuinely sorry you seemed to White Bear. I am sure that you dealt with the threat with haste, cunning and strength... But I was a little worried, just sitting there."

Yi sucks in a sharp breath with mention of White Bear, and her eyes turn away from the cub. She nods slowly, forcing a small smile. "I would die for any of this sept's members if it meant I could save their life," she replies quietly. "Even if I don't trust them as a person, I would trust them as a Garou." The ragabash turns back to the cub. "Without trust, one would be very alone, and very scared I think. We are part wolf, and no wolf truly wants to be alone. I was sincere to White Bear when I apologized. I made a mistake that dishonored him, and I wanted to make amends. To pay my debt." The Gnawer draws up her knee, laying an arm over it. "Though... the 'threat' last night, wasn't exactly so easily dealt with."

Basil's smile doesn't falter and his eyes remain on the woman's face, even if she looks away. "That is very noble of you. And if it's ok any comfort, you can trust me. I won't turn my back on someone, unless they do the same to me. So far you've been more helpful and kind then anyone else, and it's greatly appreciated. I've only known you a short while, Yi-Rhya, but you already feel like a friend. As for being alone... I think anyone can get used to it. I certainly felt like it back in the city, and sometimes there... But while I didn't see much of my mother, I still did see her. Maybe someday, I will again."

Basil says "It was... Difficult then? For two Garou? Was it something like the thing that marked up Brom?"

Yi runs a hand over her head, a soft sigh escaping. "It was ... just a human. A hiker probably, who was lost. They... killed him." The ragabash clearly is disturbed by this, as her brow furrows. "I took care of the body, but at the same time I cannot help but think it was a senseless death. It... didn't seem like he had anything wrong with him. But at the same time, he was on the bawn. And any intruder on the bawn, must be killed or made sure of that he will not talk about our sacred places. The caern /must not/ be violated," she utters, fierceness of her belief echoed in the last statement. This whole time her eyes do not look at the cub, but the changes in them can be seen. A sadness nonetheless shrouds her dark irises. "I thought though, maybe. I could have saved him."

Basil's nose twitches, and his smile fades into a dull, neutral look, his voice dropping a mere whisper. "Why? There isn't a way that a wandering human could have possibly known what it was. Did he even see anything strange? That... " He lifts his hand to rub his face. "I don't really like people. But it's wrong to just kill an innocent guy you know nothing about just because of where he was. It's... I know it's wrong. And I couldn't do it. If I did, then I really would be a monster like the girl in the house thinks we are. Couldn't you have just turned into a wolf and chased him away, or turned into human and introduced yourself as the owner of the land and ask kindly that he leave? Who... Did it? White Bear? Or yourself? I hope it wasn't you... I'll understand if it was. But I really hope it wasn't." His voice sounds sad and troubled, perhaps also a little concerned for the Garou across from him.

Yi shrugs a shoulder helplessly, and to this point Basil can see that disappointment clouding her eyes. The Gnawer blinks a couple of times as if to will away any threatening tears. "By the time I arrived, others had gotten there. And the human... he was already bitten. Then things became worse and worse. And..." The ragabash softens her voice even more, "And White Bear killed him. Shifted to the warform, took his spear and slit the human's throat." She takes in a long breath, letting go unsteadily. "It could not be helped. Anything that is not welcomed by the Sept, cannot be allowed on the Bawn." She furrows her brows, like she is trying to convince herself of her own words.

Basil stiffens up visibly and looks down at the floor in front of himself, his voice going firm as he speaks, fully believing what he says. "It's still wrong. He could have had a family. Or a wife and kid to provide for. Maybe if we so much as put up a few no trespassing signs on the trees, people would know to stay out of the area." Basil lifts his head to look off to the side, taking a moment to bite his tongue hard and focus his thoughts. "But there was nothing you could do, Yi-Rhya." He whispers in a lighter but somber tone. "You didn't kill him. It was decided by the time you got there. On this, you are free from sin." He says with with the same certainty that he condemned the actions of the others. He feels a moment of hesitation then raises a hand, letting it rest on Yi's shoulder.

Yi lifts her hand and lightly sets it on the cub's hand, half of a faint smile quirking. "Thank you Basil. Although, this ragabash is far, far from being free of sin. The scars on her body tell it so, and though there is no blood now that you see, she will never be able to wash the scent of it from her hands." The hand lifts away, placed back beside her. "And in time, you too... will need to make the kill. Only, when it comes time to do so, you must ask yourself if it is just. A wolf does not kill without reason. Unless, it is sick."

Basil keeps his hand where it is, not used to comforting or being on this level with people... But somehow liking it, and knowing that it makes Yi feel better. "None of us are free from sin. We've all done something. It isn't as though it's possible to get through life otherwise... But what matters is penance. And how you live. I know that someday I'll have to kill someone, or something too... But I pray I do it with a clear mind, and I make the right choice. For both the good of Gaia, and for God."

Yi takes in another deep breath. "You could say God is Gaia. Gaia, is God. But even God can be hurt. And God can be vengeful. God has his angels, the Devil has his demons. If Gaia is God, then the Devil is the Wyrm. No?" She shifts in her seat, turning with a gentle lift of Basil's hand from her shoulder and sitting so that she faces him face to face. "In the beginning, Gaia existed. And she made the Triat. The Wyld, the Weaver, the Wyrm. They were a circle, and they were balanced by each other. The Wyld created, and the Weaver took was was created and formed the world. That which the Wyld and Weaver made that were not good, were given to the Wyrm so that He could take it apart and return things to the Wyld to create again. This was, in essence, how things are said to have begun. This is what the Garou believe." She pauses, looking to the cub with expectance that he might say something.

Basil settles his hands down in his lap, peering up to look back at Yi's eyes again. "We still need the Devil, though... Or rather, evil. Because without it, we can't know good. And if we can't tell them apart, then what is the point of living? But the Wyrm, or the Devil, can't be the source of everything wrong in the world. I'm not naive enough to think that. It's too easy to just blame everything on something like that. 'The Devil made me do it'. I don't know what I really believe out of all of this yet, but I know that I will learn in time... And see whether I'm right or wrong, hopefully." He lets a moment pass before forming another question. "So then in essence, the Wyld, Weaver, and Wyrm are Gods. How do you slay a God?"

Yi wets her lips, thinking on the cub's question as well. "How do you kill something that you do not know whether it lives or not?" she counters rhetorically. Then she elaborates. "It is said that at some point, the Weaver bound the Wyrm up in Her webs, because she was angry at the Wyrm destroying Her creations. Another way it is told, is that the Wyrm was jealous that His job was so difficult, working against Wyld and Weaver. Two against One. And so instead of destroying what the other two made and giving them back their materials, the Wyrm took them and created his own. In all the stories, though, the balance that was, was no more."

Basil sighs a little bit and shakes his head. "It seems so hopeless. That we, mortals, Werewolves but mortals still, should challenge a God. If it exist, and slay it. And should we fail then it will not matter, because all that was and will be, won't be. Unless it's actually true that energy can't be created or destroyed. Then eventually, something might come back... A long, long way from now. Of course if we win, things are somehow restored, and the world is a paradise once again... I wouldn't complain. And I bet there are a lot of Garou who would welcome the chance to live in peace after a long and bitter war."

Yi leans back so that her back rests against the loft's wall. "It seems hopeless, but it is not. We Garou, all the other changers, we have a chance because we are alive." The Gnawer doesn't look to the cub now, but up at the dusty, cobwebbed ceiling. "That is all we can do- live. And when death comes to take us, then follow that path when it opens. And perhaps, we will live again in the next life as something that can be as great as a Chosen of Gaia." Here she looks back at the cub. "But... as a Bone Gnawer, that is only the general thought. While we have this life to live, we make the best of it, and joyfully go about all our hardships. You ahrouns revel in the rush of fighting, and us ragabash... we simply... enjoy the ride." She looks off again, then back, her eyes never truly still unless she wants them to be. "But, you Basil, can't enjoy this ride for free either. I believe if you are to make your choice for a tribe, you should do so quickly, so that your deeper teachings may continue."

Basil says "Always that slim chance... Even with all those scars on your body. You are still optimistic. Do you look so bravely into the future because of what you believe in runs so strongly in your being, or because the past's pain drives you forward with steely resolve? Maybe both. At least I know when I talk with you, I end up rambling on with all sorts of weirdness. I like it though." He can't help but chuckle as a smile returns to his face, pushing aside some of his thoughts for now. His eyes drift to the woods in the distance again, looking out over it and into space, a dreamy sort of look about him. "I know. I'm not sure I have enough information... But the more I am with you, the more I think of going to your family. But again, I don't know much about them other then that they are the lowest on the totem pole."

Yi glances out of the small cutout window of the loft as well, as if trying to see what Basil sees. "Well," she asks him, "what would you like to know about the Bone Gnawers?"

Basil's path of vision seems to travel just over the tops of the trees in the distance, but focused on nothing in particular. "Yes, I would. Just talk like this. Be honest and simple, casual."

Yi headtilts, watching the cub intently. "I would rather you ask the questions of what you would like to know," she replies, still not giving much indepth info.

Basil lifts a hand to his face when he realizes he missed something she said, then turns to look over at her. "Well... Hm. What are the others like? The other Gnawers in the city, and out. Do you get along with the other city Tribe? What is it like being one?"

Yi tilts her head the other way, and ponders over the question with an evident slow turn of her thoughts. "For as long as I have been with the Bone Gnawers, I have never felt like I was not welcomed by them. In my home sept, things are a little bit different, but at the same time, the same. Family is family. And we look out for each other, no matter what the circumstance." She rubs a finger over her lower lip. "I can't say that we get along very well with the Glass Walkers at all. In fact... I am fairly sure the Walkers here do not care for my company. If it were spoken plainly, my relationship with them is ... 'strictly business'." She glances back to the cub, seeing if he wants to interject.

Basil smiles widely once again as he hears her words, feeling good about how this sounds. "I like that. You kind of sound like the Gaians in that respect. Tribes shouldn't fight among themselves, or at least, that is what I think. But why do you not get along with your fellow city Kin? Is it because you are wolves, and are vying for the same territory, thus making you rivals? Or is it a slight from a long, long time ago like the Get and the Furies?"

"The Children of Gaia," Yi explains, "seek peace, I think. But they too, demand much effort of the Garou in their tribe. Those who seek peace amongst those wage war, have a tough time. As for the Walkers, our domains are similar, but do not quite match. The Walkers wage the high war, and the Gnawers, the low."

Basil says "I see the peace I want as something I will probably never have, but... Possibly obtained through war. If for instance you and I were to have a fight, and I hit you so hard that you didn't want to fight anymore, that is another way to peace... Even if it is unlikely. You are tough as hell. Heh. So if it isn't the territory thing, then why do you two fight?"

Yi turns to the cub, a wry smirk at the side of her lip. "Well, if someone always calls you a mangy dog of a Garou all the time without knowing what you can do, wouldn't you get angry?" She lets the question sit for a moment, but adds, "It is sometimes about territory. Other times, about other things. Families will fight each other some time or another. Maybe it is simply to test each other. Who knows? The Glass Walkers though, even they sometimes do not have the respect of the other tribes, who think the Walkers have become too much of the Weaver. For us the Bone Gnawers, we are the Wyld within the city. Our totem, Rat, is one who does not crawl with the webs of the spiders, but instead chews upon them with many many jaws. By working together, by understanding the strength in numbers, Rat can wage war on the corrupted Wyrm just as much as the mighty Fenris can. But our methods, of course, are very different."

Basil smirks a little bit at Yi. "If someone wanted to treat me with no respect, and treat me as a dog without teeth... I'd let them. If they ever tried to beat on me because of it, I'd go down biting, scratching, and kicking harder then anyone they'd ever laid into before." He lifts his hands and lets them fall back into his lap. "Interesting... But why are you attacking bugs? And what is a totem? Heh, yeah. Your methods sound as though they may be a little more cunning then 'Hulk Smash!'"

Yi blinks a couple of times and realizes her broadness. "Ah. Well, each tribe of Garou has a totem spirit which they all follow. It is said that long ago, the Garou had been one, but for whatever reason their paths split. Each tribe called for favor from a spirit, and each tribe received a great spirit's favor. For the Bone Gnawers, it was Rat. For the Black Furies, Pegasus. Children of Gaia ran with Unicorn, while the Fianna looked to Stag. The Get of Fenris, well, that is an obvious one. The Glass Walkers follow Roach - quite appropriately some may say. The Wendigo have their cannibal wind spirit from their legends, and the Uktena have their totem who is called by the same. The Red Talons follow a feral beast of half bird and half lion, Griffin. The proud Silver Fangs fly with Falcon, while the Shadow Lords are the children of Thunder." She pauses there, and something passes over her before she adds, "And as for the Stargazers, they have left the western Garou's alliance, because they had to return to their tribe lands- near where I was born. Their totem spirit is the same as our caern spirit- Chimera."

Basil takes this all in with great interest, deciding not to criticize the actions in the past this time, but rather focus on learning more in the present. "So then... What do these Totems do? And what is it that they ask of us? Worship? And what does Rat do, and want? Are these actually tangible and visible beings, or are they more of something we have never truly seen like the Triat?"

Yi puts a hand up, smiling at the cub's interest though perhaps slightly overwhelmed by his rapid fire questions. The ragabash in turn, answers rather slowly as she takes things one at a time. "The Totems have charged the Garou of their tribes with tasks that only those within the tribes truly know. One can even say the Garou inside the tribe will see the totem's tasks as something different for them. Some Bone Gnawers, for example, follow Rat as more a totem of war. Ahrouns, usually. Shu, a tribebrother of mine back in Hong Kong, he was a fierce warrior for Rat's tribe, and never faltered in battle even if he was down on his back and exposed. Rat, to him, was a merciless survivor who could take on an enemy many times its size, and still make them run and back off." She pauses and smiles in remembrance. "And others see Rat as a caring spirit. Mama Rat, we call her. But she too, is more fierce than you would think. Hers is a path of generosity and protection, giving those who are not so fortunate a chance to stand and fight for their lives. That is why we Gnawers have taken the city's streets. We are the watchers and protectors of the less fortunate. And when we are combined together, we are a force to deal with. But importantly, all servants of Rat, even the little rats you see running around... perhaps /they/ are Rat himself. You never know if Rat will choose one of his kin to speak to you."

Basil says "Maybe they are both in the same. Just different aspects of the same being, the same way you are being kind to me right now... But would probably gut someone that tried to hurt one of your friends. Remind me to ask you sometime about the places you've been, they certainly sound interesting. It sounds nice of you, to try and guard those which have no guardians... But I assume you aren't nice to everyone that is poor, because they are poor. Like the people that try to use it as an excuse to be thugs." He stretches out his shoulders then reclines back on his hands. "If it's ok, I'd like to meet some of your Tribe mates sometime. See what they are like."

Yi nods slowly, looking back to the cub calmly even as her fingers do a bit of excessive wiggling on the side. "Maybe you have met Olga?" she asks, though doesn't stop for the cub to answer. "Joey is a tribemate of mine. I think I remember you said you met her. Olga is the tribe elder here, so I answer to her. And besides the young cub, Christine... and Benny, and Squeaks. Besides them, there are no other Bone Gnawers here at the Hidden Walk yet." She shifts her gaze away for a moment. "There were more, but Rat, and their own callings, have sent them elsewhere for now."

Basil thinks about it for a moment longer before rising up to his feet and walking back over to the opening from which the wind blows in. "I almost forgot about Joey, it's a shame she's gone off so soon after I started to come to know her. Between her and you, I can't think of a single negative thing either of you have done to me. I think that maybe, I might like to be in your Tribe. Maybe. Probably. Unless something suddenly comes to light. It sounds like you are few in these days, but... Quality over quantity, right?" He turns to look at her once again. "Is this new cub coming out here too?"

Yi looks up and at the cub as he walks towards the window, and she smiles, shrugging a shoulder. "Joey will be back," she says with confidence. "And the Bone Gnawers will have a big party for her when she does I'm sure. Lots of food, lots of stories, and really, lots of fun." The ragabash straightens out her right leg into the vacated space. "If you feel like you are being called to the tribe of Rat, then maybe it will happen. I cannot give a final say of whether you are allowed to be taught the deeper ways just yet - that is Olga's to say. But, maybe you will find your place with us. And I certainly would not mind... unless you give me a reason to do so." She shifts about in her seat, fingering a couple stalks of hay. "And the new cub, Christine. She is out on the Bawn with Olga right now, but I believe they will be coming around here soon. She... well, she is a bit of a trouble maker already I see. As we were bringing her here, I think she was going to try and escape by jumping out of the car we came in- Simon's car. Oh, and Simon is one of our kinfolk. He is a good man. Taxi driver." She wiggles the hay in front of her, twirling it in the light. "But Christine is so set in her faith in God. She probably thinks the Garou are demons. I don't think she has realized the truth of her birthright yet. But maybe she will be brought here, and then you can meet her. Maybe you will be able to convince her."

Basil chuckles a little bit at the thought of a big bash with Joey in the center. "Are you sure she'd be able to handle all that attention? When she does come back, be sure to invite me. I'd love to see her face in the middle of all that." He smiles somewhat, then turns to look at Yi. "Maybe I should meet Olga sometime, in that case. See if we get along. In the case of Christine... I'm not too surprised. It's a shock. A big shock. We react to it differently. To be honest... I still think I'm dreaming most of the time. That any moment, I might wake up and forget all about this. That somehow maybe I went into a coma, and this is all a big protracted dream perhaps... Or maybe a normal one that I'm experiencing on a a different scale. There is the question of time, but what is time in a dream? Probably the same as it is in the Umbra. I think, maybe, the Umbra would help convince Christine. But I'll have to talk to her to be sure. See what she's like. In any case, I find myself awake more often then not on some nights. I'll keep an eye out if she tries to run, and tell someone, or catch her if I must. I don't want to see her get into trouble for simply following natural instinct."

Yi nods slowly, accepting this offer to help out. "I will be sure to mention you to Olga," she adds. "I think you and Olga should get along pretty well, but, you should know Olga is a theurge. She has a tendency to be.. mm.. puzzling." The ragabash drops the sprig of hay beside her. "Above all else, the Gnawers will welcome those who seek our help for the right reasons. We won't turn away a Garou who can prove himself to be able to survive. To be able to live." She slowly works herself up to her feet after saying this, and stretches upwards with an utterance of muscle relaxing goodness. "So then, young Basil," she says after. "What do you think you will do today?"

Basil says "Good. I don't want to have more arguments, though they have been less since I've stopped bothering to try and explain my thoughts to any Garou whom I think might... Take it the wrong way. But the Theurges are interesting. They always talk about the spirits, the ones I meet. I like it when people talk about the spirits. It seems like there is a whole new work, unmapped, unknown to explore. Dangerous, but interesting all the same. Kind of like a bomb." He clucks his tongue, grinning over his shoulder at her. "Today is Sunday, and it my chosen day of rest. I can change that day, but every week, I must have a day of rest and prayer. Tomorrow and the other five days that follow it, I will train."

Yi laughs softly, amused at the cub's schedule. "If only the Guardians can say the same; they would either envy you, or think you lazy," she notes while heading to the ladder to climb back down. "Perhaps you would like to go get something to eat?"

Basil turns and walks over the ladder with her, nodding and chuckling. "What can I say? I have beliefs. But yes, I would like to eat with you Yi-Rhya. Is there anything in particular that you would like me to whip up, or are you going to be doing the cooking this time, Yi-Rhya? I assume that we are headed back to the farm house."

Yi laughs again, and starts her climb down. "Oh, I think we should have some fast food today," she tells the cub, letting go and hopping down the last few steps to land neatly on her feet. "I wanted to show you the Bawn yesterday, but the human came along, and well, we had to settle for later, no?"

Basil soon starts down the ladder after Yi, giving her plenty of space between them incase he slips. "You mean going into the city?" He ask, stepping off the last rung of the ladder and turning to face her. "Ah... Yes, the Bawn and the human. It was important, official business. Couldn't be helped. Think nothing of it."

Yi makes room for Basil to climb down, and before he can say more, she's taking off her clothes right there, slipping the baggy sweater from over her head and revealing the dark grey sports bra clinging to her thinnish but athletic body. The ragabash's scars are even more apparent with the utter lack of clothing to hide the most immediate of them, and the lines of light scars made from knives or other sharp implements criss cross with others that look like claw and teeth marks. Her back is turned to the cub, where he can see the crude brand that mixes an ankh-like shape with a spiral, the tail of it winding into an S shape at the bottom. "I think rabbit might be your choice of prey, but maybe we should try something slower or simpler to catch. Some kind of ground bird, maybe?" As she asks this, she's taking off her shoes for a moment to slip her legs out of the sweatpants, literally stripping to her underwear.

Basil starts to speak as he turns around, then just stands there with his mouth open as he sees Yi stripping down. Curious that he is his eyes start to wander over her scars, following the interesting, seemingly deliberate marks of some, and the brutal straight powerful lines of others. When she drops her pants, however, the boy realizes something once again. A girl, or rather a woman, is stripping down in front of him. He knows it would be polite to look away from the woman, but his neck or his feet don't seem to want to work with this notion. "Huh... Rabbit, yeah, those are kinda... Fast. Maybe a turkey?"

"Turkey? I'm not sure I've seen a turkey wandering on the bawn ever," Yi notes in thoughtfulness, casting off the grey sweats and taking in a breath. "We will head to the Bawn in lupus, and hopefully, we can catch something in time for dinner," she says cheerfully, blatantly ignorant of the fact that she's down to her skivvies. Then the Gnawer is changing before the cub's eyes again, melting through the shapes until she's assumed her midsized rather exotic looking wolfdog form. A chokechain has appeared through her fur, which jangles as she gives herself a good shake.

"What other kinds of uh, ground birds are there?" Basil only turns away completely when she begins to shift, pausing a moment to try and compose himself once again before stripping off his sweat shirt and then his pants. He makes it a point to keep his front away from the woman's line of sight as usual, and soon begins to shift into the form of a uniquely patterned young wolf. His posture seems to be much more casual and relaxed once he gets into Lupus and turns around to face her.

Three-Blades sits down on her haunches with a quirk of her head this time, looking off for a bit as if she can read the boy's shyness. She doesn't quite reply to him in a way that is vocal, but when the cub turns lupus, she glances back with her ears flicking forward. Maybe a pigeon? she asks, ears canting.

Basil sniffs at the air for a good minute or so before turning around and walking up to Yi's side, giving her a playful nudge in the shoulders with his own, which then seem to do a weird roll of sorts. Dunno. Whatever I can catch? He walks over to the barn door and gives it a solid push with his shoulder to open it a little more then trots out, waiting for Yi.

Three-Blades bumps back, steady on her four legs as she lolls her tongue at the cub. Come then. We hunt! And maybe we will even eat. The Gnawer trots over to the barn door, staring up at the latch on it intently for a long, good moment. Something clicks audibly to both wolves. Then she jumps up to her hind legs, pushes with her forepaws, and the door swings open a creak. With a glance back to the cub and the lupine equivalent of a wink, the ragabash nudges the door open, looks about with a few sniffs, and then slips out of the barn leading the way to the wood's edge.

Bawn: Western Forest(#3018RA)
Tall Sitka spruce and sequoia crowd around and above you. Many of the trees are old, their branches twisted into impossible shapes, trunks broad and draped with lichen, mosses and creepers. Tendrils of moss hand down from them like green spiderwebs, snaring the unwary with cold, ghostly fingers. The patches of younger growth are dense and pale, needles tinged with silver. Matted undergrowth huddles sullenly in the occasional small clearings, clutching with thorns and burrs at the legs of those who would pass. Deer seldom venture here, but the forest is full of rustlings, and tiny glints from wary, watchful eyes.
The forest spreads out to the east, bounded on the west by Sunrise Road. From farther to the west, one can occasionally hear the distant sounds of the town of Kent's Crossing.
Contents:
Jamethon(#3988PJXYce)
Star-Caller
Obvious exits:
Highway 22  Overgrown Path  Sunrise Road  Farmhouse  Caern of the Hidden Walk  Creek  Central Bawn  Southern Bawn  Northern Bawn  

From the east comes Jamethon, his pace slow but deliberate towards the Farmhouse. He looks fairly typical for the Fenrir.

Three-Blades leads the lost cub out of the barn near the farmhouse and off into the woodsline, both travelling in lupus as they go. This time, the ragabash has time to give the cub a chance to roam around and explore, though never is there a moment where it seems like the Gnawer doesn't know where she's going. When the pair cross that distinctive spiritual line of the bawn, the Gnawer sneezes once at the tingling feeling that runs over her like a spine chill. She turns back to the cub, noting to him. We are on the bawn now. Be careful.

Basil takes as much time as Yi will give him as they go through the woods, sniffing at the air, taking indirect paths winding between trees. The wolf takes a moment when she stops to brush his shoulder up against one of the trees, quelling an itch then turning his attention back to her. He sniffs the air once again, lifting his nose and raising his tail to be level with his spine. Don't worry, I'm ready.

There comes the crack of brush and the crunch of last years leaves as Star-Caller, in hispo, tromps along through the trees and seemingly not concerned with being quiet or paying mutch attention. Unusual. More unusual seems to be her openly bad mood. She has a thick part of a branch in her jaws and is chewing it mercilessly, apparently trying to get out some frustration.

Walks-Middle arrives from the direction of the Caern, staying low to the ground and quiet as she moves through the bawn, heading towards the noise being made by the others.

Jamethon eyes those he passes in his travels, not really making much attempt to address any. His walking does slow a bit however, as if inviting any to speak to him should they desire to.

Three-Blades looks up sharply as the cracking brush sounds through the air, nose working for a scent. Jamethon's arrival is heralded with a low chuff to the Get from the Bone Gnawer, her ears canting back in a respectful submission to him. Star-Caller who arrives in hispo and looking, well, less than pleased, is regarded on a more neutral level though the Gnawer's tail curls up a touch. The ragabash does not yet sense Walks-Middle, seeing as she's focused on Star-Caller for the most part. One might notice the slight step the ragabash takes towards the cub, putting herself between him and Star-Caller. Loudly, Three-Blades chuffs to announce her presence. This one is Three-Blades, Bone Gnawer no-moon. I have a cub, she adds on, part in warning, part in cautious note anticipating possible rash actions.

Basil watches what the wolf ahead of him does, following the movement of her head to see what she's looking at. He watches the man, then to the large, lumbering creature not too far away that he mistakes for a bear. He regards her curiously, then looks down to Yi and watches her. He isn't sure as to what is happening and so the wolf lays down on it's belly, making a smaller target of itself just incase.

Jamethon looks over to Yi at the chuff, and a light smile tints his expression as he nods. He then turns towards the farmhouse and continues the rest of the way.

Even a keen perception can fail, especially when the mind is clouded by anger. However, Star-Caller soon discovers she is not along and pauses quickly, one paw still in the air. Blinking once, she spits out the branch and puts her paws back down, adjusting herself back into a more controlled state, not quite able to hide some measure of embarassment at being caught in a tantrum. Looking to Three-Blades, then Basil, Jamethon, and finally Walks-Middle from the corner of her eye, the Uktena gives her ears a brief flick and then chuffs. ~You were there last night.~ She says in a flattened tone.

Walks-Middle watches Jamethon leave with unmasked disappointment, and then stops lurking about and comes into the open, chuffing a greeting at the others. Her tongue lolls out as she looks at the cub.

Three-Blades remains standing stiff, a tension having creeped up onto the ragabash that is undisguised in her posture towards the Uktena. Still, Yi looks sure of her status to be equal, if not higher, than the hispo- all sizes aside. I was, she replies. I moved the human out far from the bawn. The others will not come here.

Basil lifts is tail as he sees another wolf take notice of him, wagging it up and down for a moment in the only way he can think to greet in this form. His eyes soon turn back to Yi and the other, larger wolf, but he still listens to all the sounds around him carefully.

Star-Caller grunts a noise of understanding and gruffs, ~Forgive my manners. My better mood is not with me today.~ She shrinks down to the wolf skin, giving her fur a rough shake to clear the last of the lingering agitation from her mind. She is Star-Caller, half moon of the Uktena.

Walks-Middle continues watching the cub with that lupine grin, although her ears twist to listen as Three-Blades and Star-Caller speak. After a moment, she takes a couple steps towards him, sniffing. She remarks that the cub of Long-Wind seems to be learning much.

Basil stands again once the other wolf comes closer, thinking that she somehow seems familiar even though he doesn't know her. Then the wolf looks confused for a moment while he wonders how he knows she's a she. Yi doesn't seem to be bothered by the other approaching lupine, and so neither is Basil, his head canting to one side. What?

Three-Blades tips her muzzle up in acknowledgement to Star-Caller's introduction, watching her carefully to make sure the Uktena looks like she's calmed a bit more before turning back to the cub and Walks-Middle. The Coggie ahroun is also sniffed at, and the Gnawer notes that Long-Wind is a funny name for the cub, but works well enough. This is said in a slightly upped humor, as the ragabash loosens herself up. To the two cliaths, she tells them that they were going to go hunting the ground birds, and the cub could learn more of the wolf ways that way. In a subtle twitch of her tail and change of posture, the ragabash looks like she's inviting them along.

Star-Caller tilts her nose in the direction of the cub and gives an exaggerated sniff in an answer. That is how. Pricking her ears back up higher on her skull, the Uktena regards the three before looking towards the farmhouse. She has been in the forest since three sunrises ago. She had planned to rest, but can hunt if her company is wished.

Walks-Middle whuffles at the cub, shaking her head in amusement. She is Walks-the-Middle-Road, she tells him, who helped to find you. The small one. Then she turns her head to look at Yi, giving a lupine grin. She would like to join them and help Long-Wind learn to be a wolf.

Three-Blades takes pride in the cub's new name, sort of looking at him in a congratulatory way. That expression quickly shifts to an anticipation though, as the ragabash lifts her tail and dances a pace on her paws. Let's go then! she wuffs out, and sweeps off further into the wood without so much as a second's wait for the others.

Basil 's black lupine nose twitches, his eyes ticking across to Star-Caller. Oh. Back to Stacey, he walks over to her and gives her a light brush with his side, sniffing her a bit more. I know you. Who is Wind? The wolf soon darts off as soon as he notices Yi is on the move though, taking a position on her left flank and trying his best to keep up, senses at the ready for any howls or signs of danger.

As the newest of them all, Star-Caller falls in at the end of the line, keeping several long paces away from the cub out of respect, since she is not apart of the sept. Nose sniffing at the air, she settles into an easy, loping stride after the rest.
Walks-Middle chuffs as she is brushed against and then turns to follow behind Yi and the cub. You, she calls after him as they run, you are Long-Wind.

Three-Blades leads the makeshift pack out deeper into the woods of the bawn's edge, skirting it at times, swinging in on others like she has almost no sense of self direction. It's not long though, that the ragabash screeches to a complete halt and goes stiff, sniffing the air. Her ears swivel around, listening to the relative silence.

Basil yips as they make their way through the woods, his tail lifting noticeably behind him. Really? Fits. His gaze remains on Yi and the terrain ahead, resisting the human urge to turn his head when he 'talks'. Running into a tree in front other Garou, well, he might aswell cull himself if that happened. He nearly runs right into Yi when she stops suddenly, the other wolf only managing to stop in time by using his hind legs as brakes and skidding forward with a rustle.

Walks-Middle runs along, easily keeping up, sometimes running behind Basil, sometimes off to the side. As she notices Yi stop, she also comes to an abrupt halt, looking around and sniffing in an effort to discover the cause of the stop.

Star-Caller feels her tension leak out as she moves across the ground, letting her mind quiet into the concentration of the hunt. Pausing as the others do, she looks to Three-Blades with her ears up and alert, silently questioning what she sees, before following her gaze towards whatever she might notice.

Three-Blades sniffs again, scenting and testing the air as she waits and listens. The sharp, low call of a mourning dove floats through the nearly silent wood, and the ragabash turns to look back at the others, a jaunty cant to her ears. I smell deer, she tells them.

Basil stands from his almost sitting position, lifting his head and turning his ears around in different directions, feeling as though he's tuning a radio dial. Birds? He walks up a little closer to Yi, poking his shoulders just past her flank so he can look around the wolf.

Walks-Middle stands alert, showing through her posture that she has also caught the scent of the deer. At the cub's comment and the sound of the dove's call, she turns her head to look at him, lolling out her tongue, then looks back to Three-Blades, as though looking for further instructions.

Star-Caller gives her jaws a long lick from one side to the other. It has been a long time since she hunted deer. She twitches her nose into the wind and looks to Long-Wind before regarding the other two Cliath.

Three-Blades debates inwardly, though it shows in her indecisive posture as she looks to the cub, and then to the two cliath. Then with a sharp sneeze, she licks her jaws and turns with a swish of her tail. Deer it is. Long-Wind will learn much, she rumbles, before slowly falling silent as the stalk begins.

Basil seems interested at the turn of events, from birds to deer, the prey grows. He brushes up right to Yi's side, looking over at her and nuzzling her muzzle's side. How will this work? Search, find, chase? He sits down again and scratches himself as quietly and slowly at he can.

Walks-Middle doesn't follow Three-Blades, but instead hangs back, staying low and silent. It seems she won't be a part of the hunt, but will be there if help is needed.
Listen to your spirit. Star-Caller whuffs to the cub as she lowers herself and falls in to a flanking posture. She looks to Three-Blades as the leader, watching for her signals and commands.

The scent of deer grows stronger the further the wolves travel from the bawn's edge. Though not far from it, the forest seems to thin out slightly in an area where the soil gets harder underfoot, and the brush gets thicker. Movement is harder to keep silent now, especially for the inexperienced, but Three-Blades tries to lead the others through a natural path found from the passing of larger animals through the area. Hooved animals. The Gnawer bumps muzzles with the cub shortly before nipping at him once and telling him to be silent as a shadow. Maybe that is asking too much for a cub, but the Gnawer doesn't seem to mind. The ragabash then looks back to Star-Caller and indicates for the Uktena to go on ahead and to one side. It is then that a magnificent lone stag seems to magically appear, nearly camoflaged by the way the afternoon's dying light filters through the leaves of the trees and breaks up his coat. The prey continues browsing through the thin grass and brush, ears flicking against his antlers.

Basil isn't exactly the Solid Snake reborn in wolf form, but it isn't hard to see that he's trying his damndest to be quiet and low, mimicing Yi. His tail is kept low and behind him as to not catch any brush, his body finding itself on the ground in a lay when they stop. He watches the deer, sniffing for it's scent, wondering just how hard it will be for the smaller wolves to take down.

Star-Caller lowers her head between her shoulders, using her ruddy brown coat to the best advantage she can in the dead vegitation and taking careful steps, mindful of debris under foot. Her eyes are wide and fixed, watching the stag, searching for weakness or faults.

Basil uses his claws to very carefully feel out the terrain infront of him as he stands up and creeps forward a few steps further, wondering for a moment how well he can taste in wolf form.

Three-Blades panhandles her tail out behind her, seemingly balanced by the fifth limb with natural (or practiced) ease. As the stag continues to browse, it doesn't seem like it has yet to notice the wolves - or it is utterly ignoring them. That condition doesn't stay for long, as the cub's paw snaps a dried twig and shuffles through leaf litter that might as well be a clarion call. The stag's antlered head jerks up and it stops chewing, large ears sweeping forward and listening. The Bone Gnawer stops dead, waiting, tension hanging on the ends of her fur.

Basil might as well be set in stone with the firmness that he freezes. He realizes a moment or two later that he's the one that made the sound, the wolf equivalent of 'crap' crossing his features. He keeps most of his weight on his back legs, ready to take off after the deer should it bolt.

Star-Caller immediatly sinks down and flattens herself out as the branch cracks, even going so far as to narrow her eyes to keep off the reflection of her eyes. Her muscles remains tense and ready, watching the deer with careful eyes.

The stag suddenly, and without warning, bolts with a hop, skip and jump over the bushes, sinking his hooves down into the dirt and rock and bounding up almost like he were light as a feather rather than any hundred pounds of animal. Three-Blades is but a half-second late in jumping to the gun, and the ragabash calls out with a resounding yip to all the hunters, After it!

Star-Caller shoves off thr ground with the force of a whirlwind. She will take left! The Uktena veers towards the indicated direction, stretching out her body into a full, ground-eating run, tongue lolling as she enjoys the chase.

Basil doesn't need any more encouragement then that. The wolf takes off right after her and follows the direction of the elder wolf, not surprised in the least that both of the wolves handle themselves so much better then he does.

Walks-Middle pricks her ears up and scrambles to her feet as the deer heads her way. Baring and snapping her teeth, she growls at the deer, trying to head it back towards the others.

Three-Blades takes note of the Uktena's signal and to the cub the lupus formed Gnawer signals they take right. The trio run at the flanks of the bounding stag as it leaps over and through the bushes that almost seem like they are annoyingly shrinking low to let the deer pass, but reaching out to grab for the wolves' pelts. The stag wasn't watching for Stacey, but running from the others. The sudden growl from Stacey aborts its path almost too late, as the stag coils up like a spring and makes a huge leap right over the Coggie ahroun. More unfortunate, though? The fact that Three-Blades and Basil are also headed right for the Child, and one isn't so likely to catch notice of the cliath ahroun in their path. The Gnawer yelps, and skids, footpads catching, and changes direction in a way the cheetahs on a savannah would envy.

Star-Caller dances past Walks-Middle, her paws carrying her across the ground as fast as the wind carries a feather. Almost too fast, the knowledge of her rite carrying her with the grace and fluidity of water over the course landscape. The red wolf continues the pursuit of the stag, not willing to let it go without a good fight.

Basil growls as he is forced to turn rather abruptly to pursue the fleeing stab, adding a little more umph to his run to clear the bushes without losing too much speed. The Ahroun perhaps gets a little too fast and barely notices the small wolf in his path, trying to dodge... But only succeeding halfway. His shoulder's side plows right into Stacey's hips hard, causing the wolf to yip as he feels pain in the wolf form for the first time and slows down for a few moments but soon charges after the deer faster then before. He's got to keep up with Yi, after all. He can apologize to Stacey when he stops.

Walks-Middle yips as Long-Wind run into her, and decides to pretend to be annoyed. She leaps up and chases after the cub, nipping at his tail, although never quite catching him. After a moment, she veers off and starts actually joining in the chase, perhaps feeling bad for slowing things down.

Three-Blades has to dig her heels in if she wants to catch up with Star-Caller, but the fast and furious nature of the chase continues. The Uktena is unbelievably quick, and to her credit the halfmoon is nearly on the stag's heels before any of the others are. The stag however, is as clever as a fox, and just as cunning to have survived this long without getting touched. As Star-Caller is just within pouncing distance, the prey stops short, turns back around, and lowers its rack to sweep the points right into the Uktena's side. Though the horned ends don't pierce, the blow knocks her off her light-footed paws and into a bush.

Basil doesn't seem to mind the nip aside from raising his tail up higher, making it harder for any future tail bites. Basil slows down a little faster as the prey does, this time more prepared to do so after his run in with Stacey. He turns so that if the deer continues on it's current course he'll eventually meet it, getting on one side and trying to get close enough to encourage it towards the more experienced Garou while keeping his distance.

*Crash* Goes the Uktena into a bush. And she was doing so well too, sigh. Coughing out a leaf that she half engulfed, Star-Caller pulls herself free of the vegitation and snorts at the deer, indirectly giving a look very similar to one called: It's -on-.

Walks-Middle finally catches up to the others and circles around to stand in the direction that has not yet been covered. She bares her teeth menacingly and watches the deer, crouching low and ready to leap up at any moment.

And 'on' it is, as the stag has stopped running, and is holding its ground. Backed up against thick brush so as to be unapproaching from behind, the stag swings its head back and forth, back and forth with its front hooves stamping hard against the ground, that would otherwise prove to be a healthy male that would no doubt be The Winnar at the rut. Three-Blades pulls up a few feet from the front, warily stalking around in that 3/4 circle at the edge of the personal bubble zone carved out by the stag's menacing armory. The prey snorts as if challenging the wolves, eyes rolling.

Basil falls into place, taking up a position on one of the stag's sides. He isn't going to make the first move and that is for damn sure. The wolf keeps out of what he thinks is the deer's strike range and adds a few feet to that, growling lowly under his breath.

Star-Caller approaches the stag with her head low, teeth bared, moving again slowly for the animal's left but out of range of the antlers. Get him to turn away from me, her posture and scent reads as her eyes fix on the throat. No doubt, once he is distracted, she can go for the killing bite.

Walks-Middle catches on to Star-Caller's plot and does just that, circling over to the opposite side of the Uktena. She then lets out a yip and charges in, leaping up towards the deer's side, trying to divert it's attention.

Clever the deer was said to be, and once again it proves to be a match as rather than turning its horns towards the charging ahroun, the prey turns its hind hooves at her. The stag kicks out like a mule, stubborn the same, catching the ahroun not at her face but at her shoulder. The force, though, knocks her right back to where she started her jump from. For a second, the stag and Star-Caller meet gazes. Three-Blades takes her chances in that instant, leaping forward to try and snag a place she can hold onto, but the deer breaks off staring at the Uktena, lowers its antler rack and false charges the Gnawer. Yi wisely backs off just far enough out of range as the stag does not pursue her.

Basil sees a chance when the deer turns to deploy it's hooves against Stacey, edging in just a few feet to get a little closer. When it turns to rattle it's horns at Yi Basil takes a chance and lunges at it's side with a snap of his quick snap of his lupine jaws. It's more of a wild shot then anything else and the cub doesn't even check to see if he hit, or apply much force with his jaw, jumping back in an immediate attempt to get to safe distance. He wasn't looking to make a killer blow, just merely a wound.

Catching the moment the deer turns for Three-Blades, Star-Caller rushes forward, but not for the stag's neck. She takes a gamble and moves for the rear leg of the animal, trying for a hamstring in the brief span of time the deer might not be paying attention to her.

Walks-Middle scrambles back up to her feet, trying to recover from the blow. She does leap in right away, but waits for an opening.

Stag snorts as the cub charges forward at the same time it does at the Gnawer, the pack tactics having just the slightest edge of providing with more points of attack. Basil's attack doesn't score, with the deer dancing off to one side, but the Uktena's low hitting hamstring does catch. Her teeth sink down into the stag's leg which causes it to bellow loud and grunt in pain. It swings its hundreds of pounds of weight around, bucking up at the back and trying to catch the Uktena under hoof, trying to crush her, but the cliath is just out of reach. The scent of blood sharply hits the wolven senses.

Basil smells the blood more then anything else as it fills the air and cuts through his mind, giving him the courage and the drive to lunge in for another bite. The cub directs this one on the stag's 'arm pit' area, snapping at it and darting back again. He doesn't need to hit, he just has to lay down 'suppressing fire' for the pack.

Star-Caller dances and skitters back from the flailing hooves, the pink of her tongue lolling out from her mouth and stained with blood. Again she jumps in and snaps only to jump back, harrying the Stag, trying to drive it into a terror and make it forget about the other two cliath to give them a shot at taking the animal down.

Walks-Middle rushes forward after Long-Wind and Star-Caller do, aiming for the deer's throat, hoping that the others will have it distracted enough. If not, well, ouch.

Three-Blades jumps in as well and soon the stag is latched onto by two wolves, the Gnawer on a section near the shoulder, and Basil more able to sink his fangs into thick and powerful neck muscle. The stag bellows again, rearing up and striking out with its front hooves in lightning quick, curving slashes, but the awkward weight of the wolves hanging on drags against the deer's efforts. Nascha gets another score into the flank of the beast, and in a brief tense moment, Walks can see the fright in the wounded prey's eyes just as the Child catches her own fangs deep into the stag's throat. It groans, the sound crying out into the wood like some savior creature could come and beat away the wild hounds, but no help comes. It is too late for this buck. All four of the wolves taste blood in their mouths. And for the wolf's mind... it tastes Good.

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