Anger and Pride

4/15/2005

01:50 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Half Moon phase (44% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is raining lightly. The temperature is 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the south at 10 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.11 and falling, and the relative humidity is 86 percent. The dewpoint is 43 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius.)
It is currently 13:26 Pacific Time on Fri Apr 15 2005.

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:
Stacey
Obvious exits:
Highway 22  Overgrown Path  Sunrise Road  Farmhouse  Caern of the Hidden Walk  Creek  Central Bawn  Southern Bawn  Northern Bawn  

Stacey walks purposefully through the western portion of the bawn, taking her time and looking about as she moves. The young girl is once again soaked from being out in the rain for hours, even if it is light rain, and her rain-straightened hair is clinging to her face. She pauses under a larger tree and sighs, reaching up to wipe her forehead.

Making her way through the woods in lupus, Three-Blades revels in the scent-masking and sound-masking quality of the rain. Everything feels different with fur on, and the Gnawer is not one to miss out on appreciating such small things. The ragabash trots through the bawn woods, and only the quiet un-woodsy clinking of the dog chain around her neck is there to give her away.

Stacey lowers her hand upon hearing the faint clink of metal, a dimly familiar sound, and starts towards the sound. "Hello?" she calls out, then clears her throat. "It's Stacey."

Three-Blades pauses in midstep, ears turning and then her head. She pokes her way through the wood until the rusty red and ivory fur of her pelt can be seen passing through the brush. She comes upon the ahroun, chuffing a short and polite greeting, accompanied with a tailwag of friendliness. Three-Blades, Gnawer. But, you knew that already, Walks-the-Middle-Road-yuf.

Stacey nods and smiles. "I know you, Three-Blades-yuf. It's a good chance that we've met now. I was hoping to speak with you. How are you? Is all well?"

Three-Blades splays an ear, curiosity perking to why the Guardian wants to speak with her. In answer to the question though, she replies that she is well. Her fur fluffs a touch, guarding against the light rain. Why does Walks-Middle need to speak with her?

Stacey smiles. "I glad to hear you're well." She pauses a moment, shifting her weight and watching the Gnawer. "I have heard rumors from various people of what happened with the hiker, but I have not spoken with any who actually witnessed it. I am wondering, Three-Blade, if you would be willing to tell me what you saw?"

Three-Blades perks her ears up cheerfully when Stacey smile, tail wagging to one side. Then she mentions the hiker, and everything comes crashing down. Her ears sweep back, and the tail drops to a dejected limp. The Gnawer finds a spot beneath one of the larger, more rainshelter worthy trees and shifts to her birthform. "I told some already. My packmates, mostly, but a few others." Yi puts a hand to the bandanna tied on her head which magically appeared with the rest of her clothing. "I was there with White Bear. And the others, they had the human scared. They were all in lupus, until Brom decided the only way to get information from the human was to shift to homid. He did so, in the woods, and came back to question the human. But arguing happened, and... in the end, White Bear killed him." Yi furrows her brow. "Even though White Bear was the one who kept telling Brom not to kill him. Not to kill the human."

Stacey idly reaches up and tugs on the end of her ponytail as she listens, nodding at several points. At the end of the telling, she frowns and tilts her head. "Why do you think he told Brom not to kill the human?"

Yi shakes her head. "I don't know. I guess because they were in wolf. If all of us attacked the human, he would have been found with wolf bites all over. On the edge of the bawn," the ragabash guesses, eyes downcast. "That would have been even worse." She sighs softly, adding to the end of her summary, "White Bear killed him by slicing his throat with his spear, in Crinos. There was no saving the human, Seth." When she utters the name, it is quiet- almost a whisper. "I did try to get them to let me lead the human away." She touches the chokechain around her neck and glances at the ahroun. "There is a reason why I wear this chain in my end forms." The Gnawer drops her hand down upon a knee. "But at the end, I could only do what I could. I cleaned up the body, took it into the national park and made sure the ranger's dogs would find Seth. Made it look like an attack from a bear or some other creature other than wolves."

Stacey nods, her expression passive. "That was good thinking, then. At least they won't come looking here." She frowns again, looking down as she thinks. "What of the others? What were they saying or doing? And what did Brom do to cause White Bear to talk to Seeker about banning him for a while?"

Yi puts a hand to the side of her temple, eyes closing at remembering the headache of that. "I stayed behind when the others advanced. I don't exactly look like a regular wolf in my lupus form, as I have been told." The ragabash opens her eyes again, glancing to the ahroun. "The rest of us... Nascha was the first to find the human. She was also, I think, wanting to kill the human to protect the caern because too much had been revealed. Michael looked like he was ready to frenzy, but it was taking all of his will to hold down the Beast. And I... I tried to take the human away. I pretended to be a dog and was barking at the others, to try and get them to listen... but by then Brom and White Bear were already arguing right in front of the human." She shakes her head violently. "Stupid Get, Stupid Guardian. They both utterly ignored the situation at hand and instead let their stupid pride take over!" Yi puts a fist on her bent knee, staring at it. "It was clear that the human was scared. Lost. It was getting late. Of course it would make sense that he would stop and find shelter, and he knew nothing of our bawn territory. But the others thought he could have been kin. They tried to find out, but wolves cannot talk to humans. So that is why, I think, Brom shifted. Brom took action and tried to find out information. And he did. The hiker said his name was Seth, and he was just out here hiking." The ragabash grits her teeth. "But then White Bear kept on growling his commands at the Get and the two argued. Right there. In front of all of us. Stupid."

Stacey shakes her head and sighs. "You're probably right about that. Thank you, Yi, for answering my questions. I think that's all I need to know for now. I'll probably seek out White Bear when I can and ask him about all this. Certainly is a sad business." Then she smiles and tilts her head. "I hear that Basil has chosen to join your tribe?"

Yi sighs out, still disturbed by the memory. "Anger and pride. Pride and anger. It wasn't anything to get angry about, if only the two of them had dealt with Seth first before going on their pissing match." The ragabash tightens her fist, and huffs out to try and get rid of the mounted frustration. "As for the human... he was found, a couple of days ago. I heard from Alicia's kinfolk, Matthew the policeman. The humans still think it was a bear attack, or something. So I am guessing that they will be looking out at the park rather than anywhere near the bawn." Then, at the girl's query about the cub, she seems to deflate well. The Gnawer finally looks back to her, and nods a touch. "He told me two days ago. And I am hoping to bring him to the city today or tomorrow, to help him pick out some clothes, and dedicate them. Show him where the Odeon is, and maybe if he truly needs to, find out about his mother."

Stacey is silent and listens as Yi continues, nodding. As the talk finally turns to Basil, she smiles. "That sounds like it will be fun. He'll do well under your guidance, yours and Olga's, I think. I spoke with her some yesterday, told her I'd be willing to help Basil with his sparring, Ahroun training, that sort, if ya guys need. Sounds like you'll have quite a handful over there between Basil, Christine, and Squeaks."

Yi sighs out yet again, but this time it is a softened out exhale. "Yes, we have such responsibilities don't we?" she asks rhetorically, but with warmth. "Cubs in the tribe are good, even if they are a bit... what is that word for it... not strange, but." She pauses, blinking, thinking of vocabulary. The she just dismisses it, shaking her head. Her eyes go back to the Coggie. "I'm sure Olga and I would be fine with you teaching Basil how to manuever in his forms better. A full moon teaching a full moon will be better than myself a no-moon, or Olga a seer's moon." She smiles then, a faint half-quirk characteristic of the Gnawer. "Squeaks has some time yet, but Christine... well, we do have quite a way to go with her as well. She does not even believe in us yet."

Stacey smiles and nods. "So I've heard. Surely she'll come around in time, though, with you two to help her. We're having a hard time with one of our cubs as well," she says, her voice growing softer, heavier. "Hope... well..." She sighs and shakes her head. "I fear that if she doesn't start showing some improvement soon..." She winces and turns her head away, unable to finish the sentence. "I'm sure Christine will be fine, in time."

Yi nods slowly, rubbing her fingertips along the bandanna atop her head. "How are you, then, Stacey? It seems like though I have your tribemates in my pack, I do not hear much about you, or the other Children."

Stacey looks back at Yi and shrugs, giving a half-smile. "I'm all right. Got my ups and downs, like everyone. Haven't hardly seen the rest of my pack since I rited, been busy, though, especially now. Once Jacinta-rhya's back, I plan on spending some time in the city, gonna help Olga on some of her umbral patrols, and Tobin said he'll teach me some sword-play over at Falcon's Rest. And then I plan on getting a pack together. Joey's gonna pack with me when she returns, and we'll see who else I find that's interested."

Yi's smile wanes a touch at the mention of Joey, but doesn't completely fade away. The Gnawer nods, understanding. "I'm sure Joey will be back when she is ready for us again," she says. "And I'm sure Olga and I will appreciate some help on the patrols in the city's Shadow. But it /is/ very dangerous there. None of us go alone anymore when the moon is thinning. Especially with the reports of the Nexus Crawler Wyrm-monster that makes its home around the hospital." It is at this her smile fades, and is replaced with a pensive concern. "I hear that Tobin and the Birdseye pack are readying some way to investigate even deeper, as it seems like the companies who built the hospital are suspicious. Cole told me as such." She then rolls a shoulder back, and looks to the younger ahroun. "Joey might not be back soon. What will you do in the mean time?"

Stacey nods. "I hope they find something out," she says, and then grins. "As for what I'll do in the meantime, why, there's lots of stuff. Gotta work with Rae, get her ready for her Rite of Passage, there's helping the Guardians, which'll take up two months. That's a long time, you know. And then Dillen owes me a sparring match, and I'll probably spend some time working on combat. And then there's other things that I want to find out about." She shrugs. "I'll keep busy."

Yi lifts her brows curiously at the 'other things I want to find out about' part, but doesn't exactly pursue after it. "Well, if you do want to work on combat," she offers, "I would be glad to be a sparring partner to you as well. Admittedly, I am no ahroun, but sparring is not about seeing who is better necessarily. Instead, we see where we are strong in, and where we are weak in, and then we will know more about each other for when we do need to enter a battle together." She glances up at the Coggie.

Stacey grins and nods enthusiastically. "I'd like that, Yi. And I agree. It's good to see where you need to improve, as well as knowing what those you fight beside are like. Thank you." She grins again and then tilts her head. "So, you've asked after me... what have you been up to? How are you doing?"

Yi smiles again, appreciative of the query. "I am doing well, yes," she notes in thought. "After the incident with Seth, I was not so well, but some times one cannot keep thinking about the past over and over again. It will make you sad." The ragabash nods slowly, as if believing her words. "But other than that, Tobin wants to join with Resonance, and that I am glad for. I admire him, and I am sure Ciancarw will take him in after he has proven himself honorable. But with a Silver Fang, I'm sure, he will pass Stag's test." She pauses, then adds like it's an afterthought, "I also challenged Jamethon for fostern a few days ago. He says he will have my terms ready at the next moot."

Stacey raises her brows and grins. "Really? That is good, I wish you luck with that challenge. And I hadn't known Tobin was trying for Resonance, but I'm sure he'll do well. I admire him also; he's nice. Him and Shaozu are looking into the amulet, I hear." Then she sighs and nods. "And I agree, about not thinking over the past... I faced a similar problem when Lucas... Well, he had always been kind to me, the few times we spoke..." She breaks off, turning away for a moment, collecting herself. "I'm sure you'll do well and learn much from your challenge," she says finally.

Yi quirks the half-smile again, warmer this time. "It will prove to be one, I am sure. Not ever did I truly think one day I would be trying for the second rank. Especially challenging at Get of Fenris for it." She scratches the side of her cheek with a finger, glancing off to the woods at mention of Lucas for a moment. Then, the ragabash turns to look back at the girl. "Who is Shaozu?" she asks, the name striking her as unfamiliar, or maybe something she might have forgotten.

Stacey chuckles. "Certainly sounds like it will be interesting. As for Shaozu, he is a Silver Fang kinfolk. I suppose he is still fairly new to the city. Tobin was showing him around the farmhouse when I met him."

Yi nods once, and then twice, accepting the summarizing answer to her inquiry at first. Then after a short pause, she looks up again with brows furrowing in confusion. "Wait, you said Silver Fang kin? But... but his name sounds Chinese." The ragabash's brows go up and down, then up again and then down again. She can't make up her mind whether to be curious or confused by the clash in her mind. "I thought..." then she trails and shakes her head, looking to the ahroun for some semblance of explanation.

Stacey spreads out her hands and shrugs. "Don't look at me. Strange things happen every day, don't they? Evidently, there're Chinese with Fang blood. Perhaps he's not completely pure of breeding?" she shrugs again.

Yi rubs at the side of her cheek with a strange expression, as if one could imagine the animated question marks above her head. "I will have to ask Tobin about him when I see him next time. A Chinese Silver Fang..." the Gnawer muses aloud, lips pursing at the image that comes to mind. An asian Tobin? Amusing, enough to the point that the ragabash breaks out a grin and laughs at herself. "Ah, well, Grandmother Rui never did tell everyone all the details to her stories. There very well could be Chinese Silver Fangs." The ragabash shrugs in a 'c'est la vie' way, and glances up to the ahroun. "How are you finding your stay on the Bawn? I remember being a Guardian for a time, but in the end, I am a Bone Gnawer and my heart is born of the city."

Stacey grins. "I like it here well enough, getting used to staying out in the woods. I don't really have a favorite between the city or the forest, but I tend to spend more time around the Farmhouse. I mean, before Jacinta-rhya left. For me, I'd just rather be around people, talking, learning, sparring, ya know? But I like it out here, and I get along with the other Guardians. It's been good."

Yi nods as the conversation flows back to an easy current. "It is truly beautiful out here, I will say. I wouldn't be able to say anything like this could be found near Hong Kong. Maybe farther up in the mainland," she muses aloud. "But out here, you get lots of exercise, and learn to hunt very well."

Stacey nods. "Yeah, that's true enough. Took me a bit to get used to the hunting bit. Auggie, when he became my teacher, had been pretty adamant about me not hunting on the bawn, said it was unfair to the Guardians who needed to. Only rules I pretty much had: no hunting, who could or couldn't be my teachers, and, of course, no going into the city alone." She grins and scratches her head. "Yeah, I broke that last rule a couple times."

Yi chuckles softly, not about to go pinning accusations on the ahroun. "Well, I would not blame you for feeling the need to get out," she remarks. "I wonder if I shouldn't say the same rules to Christine and Basil, see if they will follow them. But, Christine still cannot be trusted to carry our secret. To keep the Veil." The Gnawer rolls a thin shoulder. "I went back to look for her bag that she dropped on the street when we were bringing her here to the bawn, but, such things are never easily found unless they are found within a few minutes." The ragabash shakes her head. "I hold faith that Olga will be able to talk to her better than I can."

Stacey chuckles and then nods. "I'm sure it will work out, but, yeah, I probably wouldn't trust Christine either. Of course, even I got in trouble big time from Alicia-rhya for running off, especially the first time. the second time I was with someone, but didn't quite have permission to be..." She shrugs. "Anyways, I'd better get off to my patrols. I'll see ya around, Yi." She starts to turn to leave, but then stops and looks back. "Hey, Joey said she might send me letters now and then. If she does, I'll let you guys know how she is, huh?"

Yi stands up as well from the tree base, patting off the damp dirt and leaves from her bottom as she does. "Yes, I believe we would like that very much," she replies to the ahroun. "Thank you again, for this small chat. I will see you around," she notes, her other hand lifting in a send-off wave.

Stacey nods, smiling. "Thank you as well," she says, and then turns to disappear into teh woods.

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