Smoke & Mirrors: Karl's Dream
4/19/2006
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
[GMNote: Stacey GMed this dream sequence.]
[Setting: Somewhere on the Bawn.]
As Finds-The-Path rests on the bawn before returning to his family, sleep tugs him deeper into the mind, into the realm of dreams. As the haze settles into a clearer image, the Gaian stands before the den they call home. His cubs run around him, playfully pouncing each other, while the she-wolf lays nearby, soaking up the sun and watching them with an amused look.
Pathfinder crosses the distance between he and his mate, chuffing softly and licking her ears as he distractedly watches the cubs tussle.
The she-wolf lifts her head as Pathfinder steps over to her, nudging him lovingly with her nose. One of the cubs leaps onto his brother's back, play-biting his ear and growling softly. A cool breeze rustles the leaves within the surrounding woods, and a few birds chirp happily in the background. All is peace, all serenity.
Finds-The-Path lays himself down beside her, tucking his tail around her and radiating an inner warmth.
Just as Pathfinder settles down, warm and comfortable next to his mate, the peace is shattered. A large explosion takes place in the distance, in the direction of St. Claire. It shakes the ground even where the Gaian lays, and plumes of smoke can be seen rising over the tops of the trees.
Finds-The-Path is quickly to his feet, muscles tense, senses sharp. He briefly checks that mate and three cubs are present and safe.
The mate and cubs are all fine, aside from looking shaken. The cubs back away from the direction of the explosion, while his mate bares her teeth, hackles rising. The smoke in the distance continues to climb into the sky, soon starting to block the sun and drift into their area, filling the wolves' nostrils with the scents of the scab and sickness.
Finds-The-Path snorts and growls at the encroaching offense, then commands to the pack, We move. He turns and begins to trot slowly away from the source, taking the rear and remaining ever watchful of his back.
The pack does not hesitate to follow his orders, but quickly follows behind him, the cubs crowding around the protective mother. The scents do lessen as they move away, but still, it lingers, almost as if following them.
Not convinced of safety, Pathfinder does not falter in pressing on. In fact, he would prefer to increase the pace, but keeping mindful (and watchful) of his mate with her weakened lungs, does not.
The pack presses on, keeping with Pathfinder's appointed pace. They should be miles from the explosion, yet the smoke and scent still trails after them. Something is watching the pack as they move, particularly the Theurge. Watching, and it doesn't feel friendly.
Finds-The-Path growls long and low. He stops and turns to True, the reddish-brown dormant Garou and clear Alpha among the cubs, demanding she lead the pack on. She should howl if there is trouble ahead, but Pathfinder shall remain here and face their follower.
True stands a bit straighter at the demand and moves away to take the lead, the others following her further into the woods, away from the scents and smoke. As Pathfinder turns to face what pursuer there may be, it seems that he does see something... There! Just out of the corner of his eye. There's a dark figure with a wolf-like shape and eyes that seem to reflect the light, like mirrors or glass. Yet if looked at directly, the figure disappears.
Finds-The-Path raises his hackles, bares his teeth slightly, and takes a few small steps backward, averting his eyes to try and catch and hold the figure in his peripheral vision.
The figure does once again appear just at the edge of Pathfinder's vision, yet on the other side this time, watching, observing, waiting. Smoke curls around the wolf-creatures body and the mirror eyes stare unblinkingly at the Gaian.
The Gaian introduces himself with a growl: I am Finds-The-Path, Spirit-Talker of Unicorn. What do you want?
The figure remains silent, watching the Gaian, although a sense of malice does seem to radiate from him. The feeling of sickness in the area, as well as the smoke, thickens.
Finds-The-Path growls and expands outwards, taking the somewhat more threatening form of Hispo. Speak or be gone, he demands.
However much Pathfinder growls, it seems to have no affect upon the figure. It remains passive, observant, just beyond reach, barely within sight. Always watching... But before the Gaian wolf can make further demands, a familiar howl sounds from the distance.
Finds-The-Path snorts at the figure, like a thug might spit at one's feet, before turning and rapidly departing, hurtling himself through the woods at full pace in order to protect his family. He sends a return call, he is coming.
The strange wolf seems to follow Pathfinder, flickering just at the edge of his vision as he runs. Observing, watching, glaring, hating. The Theurge runs swiftly through the woods, and soon reaches his family. It seems that the smoke and sickness has spread even here, twisting and curling about their forms, clouding the vision. The cubs seem to be fighting amongst themselves, in earnest this time, the mother nowhere to be seen. Horned snakes, also with eyes of mirrors, can be seen wrapped around their legs and bodies as they struggle, watching almost as if egging them on.
Finds-The-Path takes but a second to inhale the scene, before charging in with something akin to a roar. His primary targets are his own flesh and blood - he seeks to separate the infighting with brute force, batting the cubs away from each other with huge Hispo paws.
It takes some doing, so intent the cubs seem to be in their fighting, but the large, more experiences Hispo is able to bat them away, separating them into a semi-circle around him. They bare their fangs as they turn now upon the father, and he can now see that their eyes match those of the snakes and the shadowed wolf. And within the reflection, he sees his own... and his own mirror-eyes.
Finds-The-Path roars again but now screws his eyes shut - he's had enough, entirely enough. I quit. End this dream. No more. Wake.
Pathfinder jerks awake. Gone is the smell of smoke, replaced by the clean and familiar scent of the bawn territory. When he does open his eyes, it is to the calm, peaceful, normal forest, and evening approaches.
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