Interviewed by Leslie and Sabina

12/18/2005

02:03 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waning Full Moon phase (83% full).
It is currently 13:57 Pacific Time on Sun Dec 18 2005.
Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 44 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the north at 13 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.92 and falling, and the relative humidity is 34 percent. The dewpoint is 18 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 degrees Celsius.)

Forest North of Kent Crossing(#3819RJ)
A large expanse of second-growth forest grows about you. Douglas Fir and Western Hemlock are the dominant trees, with more deciduous species present closer to the west. The woods are light, with sunlight or moonlight trickling to the floor of the forest on the occasions when the skies are clear. While some large houses and the sporadic older farmstead dot the few small roads that wind their way through the wilderness, most of it has returned to the natural state. The remnants of human inhabitations past can be seen in the rectangular shaped meadows that were once farms. A few abandoned buildings and the rusted remains of farm machinery lay in some of these grassy areas.
To the west of this area, the Columbia River pushes through the land, with the city of St. Claire on the opposite bank. Interstate 90 crosses the Columbia to the north, following it north-south for a few miles on this side, but generally maintaining its east-west path. To the east is Sunrise Road; one of the more inhabited country roads in the area and to the south is the sleepy town of Kent Crossing.
Contents:
Leslie
Guides-Stars
Obvious exits:
East  Southwest  South  

Once the forest has cleared to a lush meadow full of wildgrass, it is clear that the land had once been cleared for farm use. A lone, old and abandoned, weatherbeaten barn looms as its only watchtower - a fort amongst the army of trees that sprawl out beyond the fields. Within a few yards of sprints away, a dilapidated house overgrown with vines and no doubt cobwebbed within. In front of the barn is where the Gnawer fostern reclines, using the slight overhang as a shade from the sun. She looks out over the meadow waiting almost expectantly.

Through the woods come two not unfamiliar Garou; one on two legs, one on four. The taller homid is Leslie, her bloodily-dressed self walking alongside the dark lupine body of Guides the Stars. They do not talk, though the silence is companionable - inasmuch as Garou can be on this big a moon.

Movement. It is what first catches Yi's eyes, and her gaze rivets hawklike to the taller of the two more easily seen over the tall grass. She stands from the strong smelling bale of hay, waiting for them to approach. Once within a greetable range, the fostern calls in greeting, "Good afternoon." The Shadow Lord halfmoon, afforded a second and bit closer look, also is acknowledged with a polite nod.

The Fury has her hands shoved in her pockets as she walks, an old, bloodstained Iowa sweatshirt atop a pair of old, beaten sweatpants. She doesn't seem aware of the way she's dressed, her smile formal and gracious as she nods. "Runs-the-Gauntlet-rhya, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us. You know, I've seen you many times, but I don't know your homid name." She approaches, and offers a hand in a somewhat reserved homid-style greeting.

Pausing slightly back from the Fury, Guides the Stars sits and watches the greeting, lifting her muzzle to show a sliver of throatfur to Yi. Runs the Gauntlet-rhya, she greets with a quiet chuff.

Unoffended, Yi dips her head again. Force of habit. The offered hand taken, shaken, and released quickly, it's obvious from that handshake at least that she doesn't do that form of greeting gesture often. "It is nothing," she dismisses in regards to time taken, moving aside to offer a spot on the bale. "And my formal homid name, is Song Yi-Ling." The way she says it is in her native tongue and order. "Or, easier to simply call me Yi." She affords a slight smile at that.

[look Guides-the-Stars (lupus)]
Blacker than the blackest night, this wolf before you seems almost to soak up the light into her dark fur, giving nothing back. Physically she stands a metre at the shoulder, three metres long including the tail, her build one of lithe speed though with a surprising amount of muscle hidden under that all-absorbing black fur. The only spot of colour is her eyes, an uncanny shade of green that watch with an almost human-seeming intelligence.

[look Leslie (homid)]
    The woman before you fairly exudes warm, down-to-earth competence. Night-black hair, close-cropped into a spiky boy's cut, is brushed back away from a solidly structured, fair-skinned face with a firm jawline and a mouth more given to smiles than thought or repose. Her nose is out of place in the otherwise strong features, button-like rather than aquiline, but the large-set brown eyes above them are thickly lashed and draw attention away from that incongruity. At 5'7", her solidly built and toned frame suggests an active and even rough life.
    A grey turtleneck hugs her frame, underneath an obviously well-used green winter coat. The shirt is tucked loosely into a pair of well-loved blue jeans; a short string of feathers and beads is looped casually around one of the front belt loops. A pair of sturdy hiking boots cover her feet, the laces firmly double-knotted together. A single band is wrapped around the second finger of her right hand, a steel affair that depicts tiny relief-carved pegasi chasing each other around and around the band.

"Yi it is, then." Leslie offers another smile, this one rather less certain, but she takes the offered spot on the bale, crossing one leg over the other and resting her hands in her lap. "I'm hoping to sort out this entire mess as quickly as I can. Enough time has been wasted, and this has quickly grown from a simple territory dispute into what could be a Litany offense, or even more than one. I remember what you said at the Moot regarding your part in this. You said that you found Rifthealer and Brings-the-Bitter-Harvest fighting in warform, correct? Where exactly was that?"

For the time being, Guides the Stars is content to listen. She licks her muzzle, ears perking forward and green eyes fixing on the Fostern as she gives her answer.

[From afar, to the room, Guides-Stars notes for the record, she's using Truth of Gaia.
From afar, to the room, Leslie nods. So is Leslie, but I'm sure you expected that.]

"Warform, yes," Yi affirms, "but they were not exchanging blows when I had found them. They were chasing the Corax, because Val was trying to move the unconscious cub to a safer spot. They had been trading blows just before I arrived. The Walker, Trent Shades-of-Grey, would likely be able to tell you what happened just before I found them all. As for where it was, I can take you to the spot - though it is closer to the edge of town, compared to here."

"That would be good, but we can stay here for now. I would like to see the place, but would prefer to stay here until we have finished talking." Leslie's gaze is both intent and businesslike, neutral and thoughtful. "Do you know who attacked who first?"

Yi seats herself back upon the haybale, running her hand over her right thigh. "I believe, Dakota said to me that Abraxas was the first to make a move towards her. Until then, it had only been spoken argument."

Leslie listens carefully to this, and is silent for a moment, thinking hard. "I see. And you said that Val...the Corax, you say? Why was the Corax involved, and why didn't anyone else mention that?" she murmurs to herself before looking up again. "So the Corax had the cub while the two Garou were fighting...whose decision was it then to bring the cub to the farmhouse?"

"Val the Corax, also known as Finds-Stories, was there because she had seen the kinfetch as well and followed Abraxas and the white lupus to the scene." She blinks a couple of times, and adds in answer, "I was the one who decided the cub would be taken to the farmhouse."

Leslie's expression closes, and her jaw sets. "Did you know at the time what she was?" She pauses briefly, then adds, "And do you know where to find Dakota? I have a few more questions for her as well. I have spoken to her previously, but I was not using any gifts at the time and it was informal only."

Yi watches the change of demeanor in the Fury philodox, still remaining firmly calm and in place. "Yes, I knew about the cub from what Dakota told me when I asked what was going on. And I will find Dakota, if you give me a moment..." Here she trails off, eyes slightly unfocusing as she searches in that supernatural packlink.

Leslie blinks in surprise at this, but nods, remaining silent until Yi finishes and simply waiting in a thoughtful silence.

Yi explains, as time passes on while they wait for her packmate, "I was told the cub was of the Black Spiral Dancers tribe." She clearly repeats this. "However, she was newly changed. I ordered her to be taken to the farmhouse instead of elsewhere because of many reasons. Dakota's house is in Kent Crossing, but in her house would be her kinfolk mate Jeremy, and her two children. I could not risk them. Taking a Dancer cub to the city would have been a long trip to a much more dangerous place, as the Wyrm's powers are clearly strong there. The cub was checked for Wyrmtaint, which she had none, and I trust my packmates to take the situation seriously enough to have taken less used roads and lose any trackers in the meantime. If Dakota and Abraxas had been attacked, I would have known the very instant. While they were on their way to the farmhouse, Trent and I made sure that my pack's territory was clear."

Some people's ears buzz when people are talking about them. Dakota, however, just hears the voices of her packmates in her head, in a manner of speaking. In a short amount of time, the nearby-living Theurge is seen hiking down along the familiar trails, hands in the pockets of her three-quarter length faux suede coat.

Though Leslie listens, allowing the Fostern to finish without comment, she listens attentively and with a curiously unfocused gaze. She glances down at Guides-the-Stars questioningly from where she and Yi are sharing a haybale, the Shadow Lord in lupus nearby, over the knee of her crossed legs. "I see," she murmurs finally, still clearly deep in thought. "When did Dakota tell you about this? I have the impression that the argument continued for some time before you became involved, am I correct?"

"Jeremy called me, and when I arrived the house he explained about the cub," Yi replies. "Dakota confirmed this after I stopped them all in the forest from fighting further."

Closer Dakota draws until she is within earshot of the others gathered. Raising up a hand to wave, she gives her throat a firm clearing to alert them of her arrival.

"Jeremy called me, and when I arrived the house he explained about the cub," Yi replies. "Dakota confirmed this after I stopped them all in the forest from fighting further."

Leslie nods slowly as she listens, but before she can answer, Dakota approaches. "You are truly a miracle-worker, Yi-rhya. Good afternoon, Dakota-yuf." She rises, her expression and bearing both formal and respectful. "Yi and I have been discussing the incident between yourself and Brings-the-Bitter-Harvest involving that Dancer cub, and I was hoping to ask you a few more questions about what went on that day." She spreads her hands, offering Dakota her seat. "I would have asked these at the Moot, but as soon as a Veil breach was mentioned, it became crystal clear to me that it would be best for us and for Gaia for the other half-moons to be involved in the decision." She speaks slowly, choosing her words carefully.

Dakota nods her head once to the Truthcatcher as she reaches the group. "Forgive me for not speaking out at moot, but my agitation would not have helped things any, as the sept was already wired. I doubt little would have been done but spark an endless arguement, and that is not what we needed then. As far as what had happened, I believe I have already related as much as I can, but I will answer anymore questions you have."

Leslie nods and offers the new Gatekeeper her seat one more time , stepping aside and now turning her intent and curiously unfocused gaze on Dakota as well. "When you reached the scene of the cubnapping, who appeared to be in charge?"

Waving as her packmate shows up, Yi looks between the trio. "I do not believe there actually a Veil breach. However, I do not know who the white lupus was in front of the house. No one seemed to have saw her, however."

"I only saw one other Garou besides myself at the scene, and that was Abraxas." Dakota says as she takes a seat. "I think I caught him just after he had subdued the cub. Val had told me of the white wolf, but I saw no wolf there, unless... she, you said?... was hiding and I missed her presence."

Leslie considers as she listens to this, stepping a pace away to settle near the silent Guides-the-Stars. As she drops her arms, the smear of blood along the right side of her old sweatshirt is plainly visible. "The only white wolf I can think of here at the Sept is Blackriver, and she's a lupus Silver Fang half-moon. Did either of you actually see her?" She is silent a moment, then nods to Yi. "I do not know exactly where this happened, so it is hard to tell without seeing the place whether there was even any risk to the Veil or not."

"There are several white wolves." Dakota says to Leslie. "All of the Fangs, Circle Keeper, and the Walker Metis Shelley are all white, just different variations. I did not get a specific description, only 'white wolf'. I remember the location, it is not far, and I did not see any white wolf."

Leslie nods, accepting the correction graciously with one hand spread palm-down in front of her. "You are quite correct, my apologies." Her frame takes on a bit more tension, visible more than anything else in the way she sits, upright instead of relaxed. "When we are done, I have asked Yi-rhya to take us there, but that can wait, as we are safe to speak openly here. So the Corax saw the white wolf. Very well, then. When you made yourself known to Abraxas, did you tell him that he was on another pack's territory?"

"I introduced myself to him a few nights previous, when I healed him after a fight with Brom." Dakota says. "When he began to argue with me about Jeremy's gun, I informed him that he was on the territory of my pack and reminded him I am an officer of the sept. I told him he could either respect my authority on my territory or leave. He continued to argue."

"He continued to argue." Leslie considers this, frowning, her brows furrowed. "Did Jeremy ever actually point the gun at him, and who threatened who first?"

Dakota shakes her head. "Jeremy loaded the gun, in case Abraxas attacked up, but he never raised it." Dakota says. "Upon entering the house, he took one look at us and demanded the gun be put away, before we even had a chance to speak. Jeremy asked if I knew Abraxas, I confirmed that I did, and then asked Abraxas what had happened."

Yi, remaining silent as she listens to the question and answer session.

"Andrew told Abraxas that Jeremy had threatened him with silver during his cubnapping, in my presence," Leslie explains neutrally. "I can only assume that Abraxas assumed that the gun was loaded with silver because he saw a gun, though I did not know that Abraxas had ever met Jeremy or knew that it was the same person." She shrugs eloquently. "Do you know of any other reason that Abraxas would have had to be hostile?"

"Andrew was mistaken. Jeremy had told him to try and keep him under control after he was first kidnapped, though even I admit it was not the best idea, but at the time I am fair sure he was terrified and not willing to admit it." Dakota says. "Andrew was corrected by both Alicia and I that it was not silver and he should have told me earlier about what Jeremy had done so things could have been sorted before assumptions went rampant. Abraxas had never met Jeremy, so I can only guess he saw him with me and assumed, correctly, that he was my mate. As for any other reason Abraxas had to be hostile, I know of little." She remarks. "It was a new moon. I know he had recently fought the frenzied cub and killed her uncle, but that is all I know of that could have riled him."

Leslie nods slowly one more time as she listens, and is silent a moment before asking her next question. "And he continued to argue after being told whose territory he was on. When did it go from words to blows, and who was the first to shift to warform?"

"We continues to verbally argue back and forth." Dakota says. "Shortly after that, Abraxas declared he was going to leave and I was to bring Touch Deer to him. Certainly, I did not appreciate being ordered on my territory, and I told him that I did not trust him, a newcomer to the sept at the time, alone with the cub. I said I would either come with him or he could leave me with the cub. I had told him prior I had the idea to take the cub to the abandoned house deep in our territorial woods where I had kept Hope, and that we could bring the Alpha there as well as any other parties needed to decide a permenant solution. He pretty much told me where to stick it and left. I told Jeremy to call Trent to clean up the house. I followed Abraxas. We moved through the woods on the outskirts of Kent Crossing and I took lupus once I felt I was safely out of sight. Knowing I was following him. Abraxas threatened me again and ordered me again to find Touch Deer. I repeated me earlier statement, I was not leaving him alone. At that point, I had to bite back the Beast, and feeling threatened enough I took to the Crinos and was prepared to fight him if he frenzied and attacked. I would not have taken to the form of war if I was not comfortable in feeling the Veil was safe, trusting my knowledge of my pack's territory to know it would be extremly rare for anyone to be out that far in the middle of the night."

Dakota continues. "He joined me in Crinos after, and continued to argue back and forth about him ordering me and me not leaving him alone. Then, he brought up that 'we threaten our cubs with silver' and tried to light my face on fire. I tried to swat him away, and we fought with him on the offensive and me on defensive until Trent arrived with Yi shortly behind."

"And when Yi-rhya here arrived, did he subside?" Leslie inquires, looking over at Guides-the-Stars to see if the lupus has any reaction before returning her gaze to the pair on the bale.

"Not immediatly." Dakota replies, glancing to Yi before turning back to Leslie. "After she had introduced herself and given orders of what to be done, including me taking the girl to the farm and him to return to the barn, he argued he had done nothing deserving of confinement. He knew she was acting alpha on that territory and Fostern."

Leslie looks over at Yi for confirmation of this, inquiringly.

Yi nods to confirm. "None of them had noticed I was there until I demanded to know what was going on," she adds. "The farmhouse seemed at the time, the best solution to keep the cub in safe hands and watchful eyes."

"Dd he ever submit and do as ordered, and did he threaten anyone else?" Leslie asks, pulling both knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

Dakota is quiet at this point, allowing Yi to answer.

"He submitted, eventually," Yi says. "Not without grudging respect, but he still objected to being confined to the barn. I did not mean, however, that he was to be confined to the barn. I did not know he was a sept member at the time, so, I felt it best that he remain in a place where we could watch him as well. Though it was a new moon, he seemed on edge."

Dakota shakes her head as she looks to Yi. "He was not apart of the sept at that time. At least not that I was informed."

Leslie's gaze goes between the two, again, with that curiously unfocused quality. "With regard to the silver," she asks quietly, "Is it common for Jeremy to keep such in his car, or on his person?"

"I was under the belief he was still performing chiminage." Dakota adds before turning to Leslie. "What silver he has is kept locked seperatly even from his other weapons. I know the location of it and he informs me when it is not there and the reason why, be it cleaning or checking. He is a knowing kinfolk, and he would not carry silver on his person or around him. He has no need of it, and it exists in the house to protect himself and our children in case of emergency. After being told there was a Spiral cub, we stopped at home on my request to retrieve it, in case of such an emergency as Spirals coming to claim their cub."

Yi looks back and forth, nodding slightly. "Jeremy... he has been through much. I do not blame him for wanting possession of silver. I would not be surprised if all the Walker kin had silver."

Leslie nods slowly. "That does not seem unreasonable, although I asume that you have also spoken to Touch Deer now regarding that? It is, like it or not, his rule, nd we are bound to obey." Her tone is carefully noncommittal. "So Jeremy never actually raised the gun, just loaded a round, and he took that as a threat and responded accordingly? And did not stand down when told to by his better and a representative of the pack who claimed the territory. I see. A nasty tangle indeed." She shakes her head, and her aze abruptly focuses again as she looks around. "Very well, then. Guides-the-Stars, do you have any questions that I have not thought of?"

The Shadow Lord's ears swivel and she looks to Leslie. I have not, Truthcatcher. You have covered everything I would have asked myself. Her tailtip twitches slightly. I would speak with you on another matter some other time, though.

Dakota responds, "Abraxas took the presense of the gun as a threat, and I assume because he believed it filled with silver." Dakota syas, but nods. "Right now, Jeremy is staying with his family in Portland with our sons, at the very least until this is settled and he no longer feels threatened or could be around to provoke the issue further while it is still open. The silver is locked away."

Yi nods again, finally that twinge of annoyance showing through her about what she thinks of it. "Jeremy's life has been threatened many more times before, at least once from our side of the coin." She wets her lips, drawing them tight with a disappointment and shame to the statement. "Jeremy would never point a gun filled with silver at another Garou unless he truly meant to shoot them, and only then, I believe he would do so only to save his life or the life of one he cares for."

The lupine Shadow Lord looks as if she wants to reply to Yi, but refrains from doing so, fixing green eyes on the Gnawer.

Leslie nods her understanding, expression thoughtful, though she does not quite meet either Yi's or Dakota's gazes. "That is for the best, I think, on all counts." She nods to Yi, silent a moment before going on. "I will definitely bear that in mind. So there is no reason to think that Jeremy's possession of silve is any thret to the Garou of the Sept?"

There's now a slight growl from Guides the Stars, though it's not specificly at Yi. ~Abraxas told me of words the walker kin had spoken,~ she rumbles, going straight for the Mother's tongue for simplicity. ~About starting a war, and not messing with him. Those do not sound like the words of a Kin who knows how to use silver appropriately.~

Yi affixes her gaze to the Shadow Lord. "If Abraxas had laid a claw on him, he very well could have started a war." The ragabash is dead serious on this.

Dakota shakes her head. "I fully confirm he has had encounters with our kind that could have resulted in devestating consqeuences, he has the scars both physical and mental. I do my best to soothe them, but some damage cannot be undone. However, he remains loyal to us all. Did I not believe he was, I swear that I would let it be known. His reaction and words to Abraxas were out of fear and warning. Had Abraxas tried to harm him or me, yes, he would have fired, as I would have attacked in self-defense."

Now it is Leslie's turn to listen to the exchange, and does so in silence, looking from one to the other. As Dakota speaks, she looks down at Guides-the-Stars, questioningly.

~I do not claim to know what your mate has been through, past or present, but the words spoken do not fill me with confidence,~ Guides the Stars states. ~I will tell them as Abraxas told them to me. He said that if Abraxas moved another inch towards him, he would start a war Abraxas could not win. That he was 'fucking nuts' and the last person Abraxas wanted to mess with.~

"I will believe that," Yi states, shifting position on the haybale. "Imagine yourself in Jeremy's position. He gave his warnings. Had Abraxas taken that one step, Jeremy would see a threat on his life. Kin have no other defense against us. And knowing Jeremy, Abraxas' step towards him would have been his last."

Dakota nods her head once, confirming the words spoken. "Yes, he said that. An act against him could have started a tribal war. The Glass Walkers involved, of course, as well as my tribe since I would defend Jeremy and myself, your tribe, and probably all the others in a domino effect. It is a war none of us would win. He was afraid for his life, and I admit as was I. I am no fool, to think I could survive against an experienced Ahroun in outright battle save sheer luck, but I will not back down either, especially when I must defend the safety of my family and territory. Jeremy fears us, even me, because he knows what we are capable of. However, he has no desire to harm us, and would be more willing to dissapear into normal life than take us on if he truely felt at the end of his rope."

The lupus stands. Her hackles are slightly raised, though more out of general dislike for the topic than anything else. ~It is well known I do not like Abraxas. Twice I have threatened to beat him into a pulp for being disrespectful, and I know it is likely all of you have had similar experiences with his lack of respect. This is for Garou to deal with, however. Kin are not made to fight Garou, and nor should they. Carrying silver only means it will end up being used - the very presence of it makes us all on edge. Gaia, even /talking/ about it puts us on edge. I fail to see how a kin carrying silver can be anything but a disaster for all involved.~

Leslie's gaze takes on that curiously unfocused quality again, though she continues to listen actively, looking searchingly at each face in turn. She does not now offer comment, much as Guides-the-Sars served as silent observer previously.

Dakota lets out a brief breath. "I repeat what I said once before. I would not have requested his presence or the silver unless I felt it was needed. I had little information at all, and I was not prepared to risk the safety of any Garou, Abraxas included, or the sept's safety by not coming prepared for the worst. Had Abraxas not responded with that degree of hostility, I was going to send Jeremy back to the car, if the scene was secure, and return the silver to our house and then return so we could take the girl to a safe location. I was still, in any case, not going to leave the girl under the care of just one Garou, especially one who was not a full member of the sept yet. Anything at all I did, I did with the best intentions for the sept's security in mind."

Yi tightens along her jawline. "Kin can only be who they are, and do what they can do. If their job is not to fight the Garou, then our job is not to make them feel like they have reason to. I can see where you stand, Guides-Stars, but our Rage, our claws and fangs... the knowledge of how to use them, and the knowledge that sometimes we cannot even control ourselves - these things are far more dangerous for the world and for our kin than all the silver in it. Touch Deer's ruling was made for the safety of our sept, but I will not risk the safety of our kin in return for it."

Ears splaying a little, Guides the Stars allows, ~For Spirals perhaps. But to point a gun loaded with silver at another Gaian Garou is beyond the pale, in my eyes. Any of the Kin I have known previous to coming here would be sent packing or worse if they even voiced /thoughts/ of carrying silver as a weapon.~ She sounds unhappy though, knowing it's a very fuzzy line to tread.

"That was why he had the silver gun with him, was it not? The possibility of Spirals?" Leslie puts in, quietly and almost cautiously. The cool and businesslike demeanor comes back, and her next question is stronger. "Dakota-yuf, I have to ask, though. How did Jeremy come to be in your company during a cubnapping at all?"

"The gun was never raised beyond pointing at the floor." Dakota re-states. "As far as what is done with kinfolk here, it has always been my awareness here this sept is different than many others. It is all I have known, so I could not say what action applies. The silver was brought, at my request, to defend against Spirals. Was there none, I was going to send it away, but then Abraxas threatened us."

"Jeremy has at times been the driver of cars for transporting cubs we have found to the farmhouse," Yi explains partially. "While Jeremy is not kin I will say I am elder of, I will not deny him his ability to defend himself. I would not say this if I believed him to be anything but trustworthy."

Leslie nods slowly and thoughtfully. "It still seems weird to bring him anywhere where Spirals might be involved. We called Anji for help getting Alesia out of there, but she didn't leave the car. I suppose it is an issue of how each tribe views their Kinfolk and must be decided by the individual tribe." her eyes come back into focus, and she turns towards Guides-the-Stars. "I have a few more questions for Abraxas as well, but I think that will have to wait untila smaller moon. I would not put it past him to attempt to savage me for asking him questions. I think I want to see the place where this fight happened, but I do have one more question for Yi-rhya and Dakota-yuf, if they will entertain it, and it's about something else."

The Shadow Lord looks up at Leslie. ~We can ask him this moon~, she replies. ~I will be there. He will not savage me. Her tone suggests that if he even tries it, he's in a world of bad.~ She shakes herself off. ~Anyhow, I have a kin to call and a cub to speak to. Gaia's blessing upon you all.~

Dakota nods her head to Leslie at her request, though also turns to Sabina as she moves to leave. "Take care, Guides-the-Stars-yuf." And then her attention goes back to Leslie.

Yi dips her head to Sabina. "Good hunting," she replies to the Shadow Lord as well. She watches the lupus leave for a time, though her attention divides back towards Leslie.

Likewise, Leslie noids agreement o the Shadow Lord, though she adds with gracious smile. "Thank you for coming with me. You've been both helpful and instructive, as usual. Gaia light your path." With that, the Fury turns back to look up at the other two, shifting to sit cross-legged in the gras. The cool and businesslike demeanor fades, leaving a quiet and almost shy reserve. "This is a somewhat personal question, an d I am not sure that it is even appropriate to ask. You are aware that Alicia Guards-the-Flame has expressed interest in inviting me to join Resonance, are you not?"

Dakota nods her head once. "I have, but I have not sought to bring it up. I did not want to crosss any professional boundaries, given the state of things at the moment, nor make you seem unbiased by doing so."

Yi glances back to her packmate before answering the Fury with another nod. "With Megan-rhya's departure, and Eamon leaving to go on his own quests, it would be better still if we could expand again. Our territory has not gotten smaller, even if our numbers have."

Some of the tension in Leslie's frame clears, though by no means all of it. "Then you are not unaware." She is silent a moment, then asks, simply and openly, "Why me? What do you feel that I have to offer you that another, more experienced one could not? I would be the least experienced of all of you."

"What does experience matter?" Dakota says. "I was invited to join two Fosterns and an Adren when I had barely just passed my Rite of Passage and hadn't even made a true name for myself. It is the will, as Chimera said. The desire, the way you act and not how long you have been doing it. You seek our the honorable path, most difficult of all, and one Stag demands of us. Who better to join us than one who cherises Honor?"

Yi chuckles softly. "You have experience. If you do not see it in yourself, at least others have seen it in you. You are a half moon, too, a judge and keeper of tradition. And, as Dakota says, this pack started with the top Garou of the sept. Dakota and I joined with Alicia's blessings, and it is in this pack I learned about leadership and great Honor. Look at Dakota. From cub, to cliath, to Master of the Rite, and now she is Gatekeeper. Now /she/ is challenging for fostern rank. This is a pack for growth. For finding one's path."

"Oh, is that what she said?" Leslie asks, relaxing further and apparently reassured by the answers she receives. "I see." She is silent for a very long time, and in that silence, looks almost lost. When she speaks again, though, she smiles formally, and she is once more the reserved and thoughtful Truthcatcher. "Both fair and helpful answers. It is true that I can do nothing yet, both because of personal issues and because I dare not make any open moves to any pack until this issue between you and Abraxas is settled and dealt with. I want to avoid even any suggestion of a conflict, and this is part of the reason why we as half-moons here do not work alone for any but the most minor disputes. This is no minor dispute, which is why I asked Sabina to come with me this afternoon." She stares briefly off intospace, thinking again. "Thank you both very much for your time, and for coming out here on such short notice. With a new and unstable cub of the tribe, it is difficult to arrange a great deal of time to search for people"

Dakota nods her head. "Understandable, and I wish you luck with Alesia. I saw her briefly in the company of KL at the farm and I think with time and patience, she will be a fine Garou. Speaking of duties, I should make my way to the caern to work on mine."

Yi stands as well, nodding. "Well, if that is all then, we best get to our own duties. If you are interested though, Leslie, we would welcome you. And Ciancarw will have his own words to say if that time comes."

"And I should find the nearest grcery store, get the groceries I was sent for and get back to the house," Leslie answers, standing as well and dusting herself off before smiling formally and respectfully to both women. "I certainly hope so, Dakota-yuf. We need to find her a teacher or her auspice work -- she is a crescent moon, and the Furies don't have any crescent moons among them. Very well, Yi-rhya, Dakota-yuf, Gaia light your path, and I will inform you should any of the other half moons have questions. I myself am satisfied. Good evening to you both."

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