Beast Speech, Bulbs, and Broken Laws

2/1/2006

06:18 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (23% full).
It is currently 18:10 Pacific Time on Wed Feb 1 2006.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 48 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the north at 8 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.79 and steady, and the relative humidity is 86 percent. The dewpoint is 44 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius.)

Highway 22, Railroad Crossing
The faded asphalt of the highway crosses a set of rusted old railroad tracks here, the crossing warning lights half-hidden behind the roadside trees. The tall conifers on either side of the road have begun to encroach on the shoulder of the road and the railroad. The rails are rusted and a number of the support boards are rotted, indicating that the railroad likely isn't used much any more. The underbrush beneath the pines and firs is thick, blocking any view further into the woods.
Highway 22 runs southeast toward the National Park, and heads back toward Kent Crossing to the northwest. The railroad runs eastward and westward through the woods, disappearing almost immediately into the trees.
Contents:
Dillen
Fang(#3140J)
Obvious exits:
East on the Tracks  Northwest on the Tracks  North  Southeast  

A howl rises up at the border of the territory for the Fenris pack, closest to the bawn. ~Fenris' favored! Runs-the-Gauntlet seeks out Bane-of-the-Bloodsuckers!~ The Bone Gnawer waits in patience, though her ears and tail flicks restlessly.

Dillen perks up as he sits on the stoop of the shack. He narrows his eyes for a bit and then shifts down to speak back, ~I am here.~ As he trots off towards the border. Once he is in sight he stops and allows Runs to come to him. ~What is it that I can do?~ He says with a short nod of his head.

Runner sits on the other side of the invisible, yet marked border. When the galliard comes, it is the lean but strong lupus form of the ragabash that he sees. Soon as her ears catch his arrival, she stands up and chuffs a brief greeting. This one is spreading word to the singer-moons, she explains. I ask if one of them knows how to speak with any animals.

Dillen shifts back into his human form and nods his head, leaning against a tree. "I can." As he apprises the other wolf. "What can I do for you?" He says with a slight smile.

Waiting for a few moments to let her request sink in, Runner licks her jaw and then joins the Get in birthform. "You do? That will save me a lot of running." Combing a hand through her hair, she continues, "I am looking for someone, like you, to speak with the rats in the city. The ones near Garcia's Pizza." She gives this as a starter, watching Dillen's reaction to this info.

"Sure. Yeah. I can do that. What do you need to know from them?" Dillen pops off from the tree and walks towards the wolf. He runs a hand through his hair and then shoves his hands into the pocket of his leather jacket. "Let's rock."

Yi holds up a hand to stop the Get. "Not tonight, not yet," she says. "It is an act of chiminage, for Rat. We asked the rat spirits for information, and they asked for us to stop the pizza parlor from killing them. But we are going to ask the owners to try using different traps. Ones that do not kill... and as a caution, tell the rats to avoid that place.'

Dillen stops in his tracks and nods. "I'd be glad to help. So tell the rats to avoid it? Explain how to stay away from the traps that kill them? Which?" He looks a little bit confused, "Or both?"

Yi nods slowly. "Both," she says quietly, "if it is possible. I do not think they will change lives easily. I told Basil to look for traps that will catch them live. Wrong Way, Kaz and I, all the Bone Gnawers are working on this problem with a spirit in the city. You heard me speak of it a little at moot. This is connected to that."

Dillen nods. "Okay. I'd be glad to speak to them about that. Spread the word and all." He contemplates this for a moment. "Just do this whenever I like or is there a certain time frame? Does this have anything to do with the scrags?"

Yi shakes her head, standing with the Get deep in the woods and out of immediate view. "Those are further up in the city. This is about the homeless, but I have not yet spoken to Kaz. Hopefully, we can convince the owner to let us take the rats away, without killing them." Just speaking about the subject makes the ragabash a little uncomfortable. "If you do this, I will see to it that you can call upon the Bone Gnawers for a favor in return." It isn't bribery - simply a fair trade.

Dillen thinks about this for a moment and then nods his head. "Done. First, I will try and get the rats to move. Saying when we will take them away. If not that, teaching them to stay away from the traps and the restaurant. Okay? That it?" He scritches at the side of his head, in thought.

The far away sound of a car engine can be heard slowly approaching the area. Each pothole and crack causing a crunching of metal upon metal as a small station wagon ambles in from the north west.

Given their relative proximity to the highway, it's not easy to hear the sounds of cars passing by on the road. Yi still has an ear attuned to her surroundings, even though her focus is on the galliard. "It would be best if we discuss this when it comes closer to a time. I wish to see if the owner of Garcia's will agree to our bargain. But, it is better if you speak to the rats in more simple ways. They are more interested in warm places to sleep and good food anyway. And they should be warned away from the restaurant... but -not- threatened if they do not go." She looks straight at the Get, being very serious on this point.

"Not threatened. Got it. Warmth and food, got it. Got a place in mind for them?" Dillen looks to the other, taking all of this in and filing it away for future use. The crunches of the station wagon only bring notice when they make a loud enough crack.

Yi nods again. "I think it will not be possible to keep them away permanently. Where there is food, they will go. But the goal is to have the owner clean his restaurant better, and make a different place for the rats to go that is close. We will see," she concludes, shrugging slightly. Then, she changes topics abruptly. "Is there any news that should be passed on? Have you heard anything before about the adren, Vera?"

The station wagon pulls up to the old train crossing and comes to a stop. Out steps a young woman with camera in hand. A long braid situates on her back, and glasses rest on her nose as she begins looking around.

The newcomer gets a look from Dillen. He shakes his head, looking away from Yi. "I haven't heard much. Freya has me running all about getting things for her cravings." His eyes search over the woman by the road. "Check it out." He says quietly as he looks at the woman.

Yi raises her brows. "Freya?" she asks, clearly not familiar with the reference to kin. That is put aside, though, when Dillen points out the woman. Yi turns and steps a little to the side, sliding halfway behind a tree trunk and squinting in the darkness. "Someone you know?" she whispers softly.

The photographer squats near the old worn tracks and begins snapping away from a handful of different angles. Some shots seem to pan the whole landscape, others have the camera pointing straight down. After what must be a half a roll is shot, she starts walking the old tracks, snooping about.

Dillen shakes his head. "No. Newcomer to me." A step towards a tree. "Interesting place to take pics, don't you think?" He then waggles a ringed finger over at Yi. "I'm married. My wife, Freya." His eyes look towards the makeshift shelter that looks worn out and old from the outside and then back to the woman. "Don't get many snoopers out here."

Yi nods in response to the galliard. Soon as the woman starts taking photos, though, she's ratcheted up in levels of wariness. To Dillen she turns briefly and mouths the words to him: Do Not Shift. Then, she's looking back towards the woman and her camera. A brief moment passes, and she signals to the galliard, two fingers to her eyes and then pointing highwaywards before moving through the woods in the direction towards the woods.

Dillen mouths the words back, DUH. The following gestures run through his brain as he tries to understand. Then he understands and nods his head, eyes staying on the woman who searches about. He stays hidden back in the trees, watching.

The woman veers away from her car, seeming interested in the railroad tracks more than anything else. Every few steps she stops and kneels down, examining something for a moment before moving on. Then the camera is picked up again. Snap snap snap. "Damn." The last picture is taken and she moves hurriedly back to the car to change rolls.

Yi is almost to the highway, peering out from behind a tree and watching for cars. With the darkness difficult to see through, she looks up and down the road. The ragabash draws her coat closed, tightening up so that her clothes don't snag against bushes. Slow as a stalker, she moves from one shadow of a tree to the next, searching the surroundings. It's when she spots the parked car that she starts moving towards it, warily so. The woman's hurrying back makes the newmoon pause, listening to the footsteps.

While the woman moves away, Dillen moves to another portion of the trees, a little more in the shadows.

The woman returns to the car and fumbles with the roll change. "Ah there we go." Just as she goes to get the camera resituated, her flash bulb slips from her grip and shatters on the ground. "Damn." A heavy defeated sigh escapes her lips and she tosses the camera lazily into the car, "Well it's a start anyway." A glance to her watch and she puts herself back into the vehicle.

[Deborah pages: Rental plates. United Rental stickers on the car.]

Yi slips just a little closer, all eyes and ears on the woman and around her. When the woman looks to be leaving, the ragabash manuevers herself into a spot where she can have a clear view of the license plate. Soon as she has that information, she turns and steps a few more paces back into the woods, waiting for the car door to close.

The station wagon rumbles off, leaving only a dripping of condensation on the ground and a few foot prints as a memory.

Yi is off like an arrow when the car goes, calling out and breaking 'radio' silence. "Well, it seems like you have reason to be more careful."

Dillen lets out a long sigh. "Shit." A hand moves through his hair and he shakes his head. "What the hell was that?"

Yi combs a hand through her hair again. "Someone who is interested in night time photos," she says in that way that's meaning to be obviously 'I don't know, but it's not good'. "Her car was a rental. Maybe I can ask someone," she considers quietly. "She dropped a light bulb."

Dillen looks towards where the bulb was dropped. "Can we find out anything from that bulb? Maybe at least get a sniff off it?" He waits a little longer to let her get far enough away. "Rental car. Hmm. Will do some scouting."

Yi tilts her head towards the highway, and motions to follow. The Gnawer stops at the edge of the woods where the car was last parked, indicating the shards. "Do not worry about the bulb. She has left her scent trail all through the forest," she notes with indication of the woods. "Scent from that instead. But, I would warn your pack about her, and anyone who comes looking for your packmates and you. Howling might not be such a great idea."

Dillen nods. "Planned on that." He turns and heads back to the shelter. "Yeah. Will get on the rat thing. Just let me know when."

Yi sighs softly. "I will find you when the rest of us have organized enough to do it. We could be doing this before the half moon, so that the human owner will not be too afraid." The ragabash looks back to the galliard. "I will get back to my patrols now. Thank you again. If you see any of the Gnawers, tell them I spoke to you?"

Dillen nods his head. "Will do. Hey... you ever hear from Joey at all?" The Get wonders.

Yi turns to go, but pauses at the question. The soft smile that takes over indicates a lot as she nods. "We have. She has traveled far, and from her letters... I think she is doing well."

Dillen nods his head. "If you speak to her, tell her that I asked. That's good to hear."

"If I do, I will," Yi promises. Before she turns to go again, she pauses. "I meant to ask earlier, and forgot until now. Will you be attending the moot?"

Dillen nods his head. "Yeah. I should be there. Barring anything with Freya. Gonna be a father in March. Getting close." He beams with a sense of pride.

Yi smiles a little wider. "Maybe you will be the Caller?" she asks, curious. "Before you become busy with your 'pup'."

Dillen nods his head, "I will give it some thought. Sure."

Yi straightens a touch, and then with a nod, shifts herself down. Good hunting, Bloods-Bane.

[Later on in the evening...]

Currently the moon is in the waxing Crescent Moon phase (24% full).
It is currently 21:15 Pacific Time on Wed Feb 1 2006.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the east at 13 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.78 and steady, and the relative humidity is 74 percent. The dewpoint is 39 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius.)

Bawn: Southern Forest(#3017RAJ)
Evergreen trees spread their overhead branches wide across the forest floor. Each tree limb interlinks with its neighbor, forming a thick overhead canopy of pine needles that leaves the forest floor dim even at noon. An apparent tenseness seems to permeate the air here, and there is a somewhat less than subtle feeling that perhaps something is watching. The behavior of the wildlife in the area betrays a certain wariness that suggests the presence of predators nearby.
The southern edge of the bawn is marked here by the railroad tracks which run from St. Claire and Kent's Crossing to the west, towards the mountains to the east.
Contents:
Ground-Up
Obvious exits:
Ash Grove  Railroad  South  Into the Caern  Sept Compound  Half Moon Pool  Western Bawn  Central Bawn  Eastern Bawn  

Ground-Up is chasing something through the southern forest. He gives a series of barks and growls as he goes as fast as he can over rocks and logs to chase it. It stays about eight feet above the ground. Something with an erratic flight path, brown feathers, and the scent of blood.

Runner makes her way through the bawn, coming from the south. The fostern perks her ears with the sound of a chase, pausing and sniffing the crisp air of the evening. Homing in on the sounds, she waits and listens.

Ground-Up follows the bird as it changes direction towards where it looks like it may be /more/ safe, though that one is directly towards Runner. Running, Ground-up does a series of jumps that lands him on a jutting log that sticks a few feet into the air. Running to the end of it, he makes a leap towards the creature and snaps his jaws...though his prey eludes him. The bird is droping altitude though, another foot lower to the ground.

Runner blinks a couple of times as the sounds come closer, towards her direction. The Gnawer backs up and steps off to a side, around a bush, and waits there instead instead of joining the chase. Her nose works still, striving to pick out scent over the lack of sight.

Ground-Up gives another bark towards the bird, waiting to find another jump point, before he bounds up it and makes another snap at the bird. This time, there is a sickening 'Crack!' of breaking bones. Slaming the poor creature against the ground with a twist of his neck, the bird is a mess of blood, feathers, defeat.

Runner tilts her ears back a tic, and then exits her spot from around the bush. Now that she has a good bead of where all this is taking place, the elder ragabash steps forward and into view from the darkness. The jangle of her neckchain accompanies her brief shaking of her fur. The Gnawer fostern sniffs from afar, and then gives a short whuff of greeting. Good catch, she notes with a drop of her lower jaw in a small smile.

Ground-Up has his jaws around the torso of the bird, teeth almost ready to tear into the center. As Yi comes around, he flattens his ears and instead bites the neck of the bird, killing it. One gives greeting. He replies, before continueing Would Rhya like some?

Runner looks off into the woods, indicating her lack of interest to partake. She quickly glances back, though. Did you thank the spirit of the bird?

Ground-Up tilts his head slightly. How? Is the simple question. One made sure not to let suffer. One broke neck quickly. He gently wraps his tail around his hind leg, sniffing the corpse just to make sure it is dead.

Runner splays an ear in amusement. What do you think you would say to thank the bird spirit? the ragabash replies, circling around the cub and sniffing him over.

Ground-Up chuffs softly, and holds still while he is sniffed. One would say thanks for giving One a chance to hunt and capture dinner, so that One might go to sleep full.

Runner finishes her small inspection, and returns to her spot from before. Then, what are you waiting for? Her ears slant sideways then up, accompanied with a tilt of her head.

Ground-Up flattens his ears for a moment. One thought One was supposed to do more... He pauses then seems to give a series of low yips over the bird, what he means may not actually be clear except for what he had 'said' moments before. He takes a bite of the rib cage of the bird, crushing it between his jaws before removing a bloody chunk.

Waiting for the cub to have his fill, Runner flips her tail side to side. The Gnawer inspects the woods while he eats. Woods are good to you, so you should thank them always. Same with anywhere that has food for you. It is Gaia, after all.

Ground-Up has blood all over his muzzle as he ducks his head quickly, agreeing. One is happy to have caught something. One has been hunting most of day, surprised bird, and broke wing and chased it. He licks his nose a moment, cleaning off some of the blood from there.

Runner dips her head up and down in a rather human nod. Then, she peers a little closer at the other newmoon. Almost going to be tested soon? she inquires.

Ground-Up looks over to runner as he takes a step towards the other, leaving some of the wings and legs of the now skeleton on the ground. One is not sure, and One does not know. One has been in trouble with elders, as well as having been moved from two legger home to leave bad situation.

Runner's ears stand upright. Trouble? What kind of trouble? Questioning as ever, the Gnawer examines the cub nose to tailtip with her eyes.

Ground-Up keeps a submissive posture as he looks down, licking his nose again before replying. One begs not to talk about it? He asks simply, giving a soft whine as he does.

Runner squints her eyes, obviously not satisfied with such an answer. Cub, the fostern rumbles, if you do not tell me, I will hear about it from the singermoons anyway. And they will howl it loudly, for -all- to hear.

Ground-Up flattens his ears back, squniching his eyes for a moment before giving a soft whine and stoping again. One was accused of almost breaking litany. One did not, but One was close. He looks sad about it, keeping low to the ground.

Runner slicks her ears back, standing with a start at the very mention of litany breaking. A growl starts, but doesn't fully develop. But now, the ragabash regards the other with displeasure. Explain, she demands gruffly, hackles puffing.

Ground-Up gives a soft whine for a moment. One was accused of breaking first law with Kills-the-Cries-Rhya. One did not though. He states the last bit with as much confidence as he can manage.

Runner stares at the cub for a long, silent passing of time. You are that one, she rumbles after, not showing any signs of much alleviation. This one has heard about you. She snorts, ears flicking forward and back. And? Your teachers heard this. What do they say?

Ground-Up whines. Whole bawn knows? He just looks depressed as he curls up on the ground. One's Elders came close to culling, then moved One to Bawn.

Runner snaps her jaws together. This one is ranked above Kills-the-Cries. This one is packmate to Guards-the-Flame and Heals-the-Rifts, both your teachers. Of course this one would know, the newmoon states in all obviousness. Clearly, she continues, Your elders see more in you. They see you still can do good for the Mother of All, or else they would have culled you. She eyes the cub appraisingly. And? Are you showing them that?

Ground-Up is silent for a few moments before he gives a reply. No...One does not know how to show it. One is at end without awnsers. One tries to learn...but even learning, and doing well isn't enough.

Runner lifts and sets a forepaw down, thinking for a time. I do not know how much you have learned. She looks down to the paw, then up at the cub. Tell me what you have learned, and what you -want- to learn.

Ground-Up looks down for a moment. One knows many gain respect by fighting the wyrm. One wants to learn enough to fight, and not be left behind. He tilts his ears. One does not think Umbra is required to fight wyrm? One has been once.

The Shadow is much, much more than just another place to fight in. Fighting the Wyrm is a skill of all warriors of the Mother, Runner replies, but there are many ways to fighting. Which do you think is a newmoon's way?

Ground-Up raises his paw slightly. One would use jaws, paws, and claws. That, and to see alternatives where others only see one solution. He pauses then continues, One would try to solve problem before fight started. So that One could end fight without fight.

That sort of answer begets a slightly less agitated fostern. Runner doesn't let up. You speak in long circles around the point, young one. But you are close. A newmoon is one who asks what no one does. If others fight, newmoon must ask 'Why are you fighting?' If others sit around and sleep all the time, newmoons ask 'Why are you only sitting and sleeping?' The newmoon is a watcher of other ways and others' ways. Fullmoons fight a lot, and singermoons sing many tales. Halfmoons keep their watch over all, and knifemoons keep the bond with spirits. But what does a newmoon do? A newmoon can do all these things, but we do it different and make others see the 'why'. A newmoon can be quiet or loud, can make others angry or happy. Newmoons are very much needed to our kind. Without us, the others will forget about asking 'Why?'. She stops here, peering at the pup. So the question is 'why do you come close to breaking our law?' Is it because you thought it was good for others?

Ground-Up gives a soft whine. No, One was selfish. One did not think, and only acted. One did not ask why, only asked what One wanted. He tucks his tail in a bit more. One failed in role of Auspice, and in role of cub.

Runner settles back onto her haunches, tail curling to a side. It is good you see this, she rumbles slowly, hackles smoothing down. Now you see how hard it is, cub. You see how hard is our fight, and how easy it is to forget the 'why'. We are a dying kind. Every rise and set of the sun, somewhere, the Mother too is dying. This is because others have forgotten about the Mother. We let the Corrupter, the Wyrm, bury its fangs deep into Her or spit its burning tongue out onto Her, and we let the Weaver bind her into cold lifelessness. And sometimes, we forget about the Mother and think of only ourselves. We forget about where we are from. But here, near the Heart of the Mother, we can remember. We newmoons can ask, 'Why is our Mother dying? Why are -we- dying?' The newmoons must remind the others somehow. We cannot be the ones who do not ask. That is why the newmoons are the questioners.

Ground-Up chuffs and looks unhappy. It is why One was moved, so that One could learn without two-legger problems. So that one could see more clearly. His tail gives a slight swish behind him before he asks. If One asks 'Why?', and noone listens, what can One do?

Runner dips her head, acknowledging the question. Then, you think of a new way to ask about the 'why'. Sometimes it is not about asking. You can ask without asking. You show others your question by doing whatever you do. If they are not listening, you find another way. A newmoon is also a seeker - we look for what others do not or cannot find. Sometimes it is the newmoon that is sent to scout. That is because the others want to find out something, but they know they are not the best to look for it. The newmoons are. Sometimes the newmoons are told to stay back and watch behind, because the others know that when they are in front and busy fighting, the newmoons with their sharp senses can be trusted to watch for the enemies. And sometimes, the newmoons are sitting in the middle, because everyone looking every other way outside forgets to look inside too.

Ground-Up looks to Runner. How does a no moon know which way to look? If One listens to others, One may not see corruption, not having looked for it there. But if One only looks, then One might miss it, not having reacted faster.

Runner finally cracks a bit of a lupine smile. Watch. Listen. Then Do. If do not know where to look, then look everywhere. Inside, outside, up, down, left and right. The ragabash's muzzle points. Patience is what you need. I know there is a lot to learn, but it will come in time. Watch your elders. Listen to them. And learn from them. Even Kills-the-Cries' actions, though they may have hurt you, were done for a reason. A reason that was meant to help you.

Ground-Up looks down for a moment. One worries that he cannot see what is wrong, and cannot fix. One was hurt to One's heart by Kills-the-Cries-Rhya. One cannot find in self to forgive, or forget. He blinks a moment, if the no moon becomes corrupt. Who watches the no moon?

Runner licks her jaws, thinking aloud. The ones who watch the newmoon... are all the others, of course. Everyone watches everyone. The Mother, too, watches everyone. If a newmoon turns bad - if any of us turn bad - then there is a problem that none saw, not even the newmoon. She looks to the cub, head tilting. This one does not ask you to forgive or forget, but do not let it become a hole for the Wyrm to hook its teeth into.

Ground-Up takes a step slightly back, a paw raised, though it points towards the ground. One does not know the wyrm, just that it corrupts. What if One already has hooks of wyrm in One? Would One know the difference? One has felt pain from it, and One knows the Wyrm works with pain.

Runner stands and steps forward, head held high and tail flagging up. Do you feel the Heart of the Mother inside you? Search deep and answer. As she asks, she looks the younger wolf straight in the eyes discerningly.

Ground-Up keeps a submissive posture as his head lowers and his ears lay flat against his head. He just sits there for a few moments before he says One feels Mother deep inside. One had to search, but One could still find it. He looks back into the other wolfs eyes, though it's not a stare or a challenge.

Runner brings her muzzle close, breath issuing forth in short huffs. Then as long as you have that feeling, the Wyrm does not have you. Her posture relaxes and she looks off towards the darkened forest. Trust me. You will know when the Wyrm has you, because it will try to make you lose that feeling. It will try to bury it over with many many hurts, many many angry things inside. It will try to make you forget that feeling. But if you search deep and search long, you will find it.

Ground-Up gives a slight lick under Runner's chin, keeping to the submissive. Maybe One was brought here so One would not be so far from feeling. Even in darkest times, One might still search and feel it. He then sits back. One needs to think about it.

Runner tilts an ear towards the cub with the lick to her chin. This close up, it's easy to see all the scars that draw their map of a rough past on the Gnawer. Yes, she agrees in the quiet of the night. But, you should sleep, too. In dreams, the Mother's voice can be heard too. She moves, her muzzle going to bump the cub's shoulder. Sister Moon will watch you, and Sun will wake soon enough.

Ground-Up ducks his head slowly. Blackriver-Rhya showed One where to sleep, so that One would stay dry. He takes a step back, One thanks. One does not know the words yet, but One thanks all the same. He turns to start moving towards the Sept Compound, providing there is no objection.

Runner makes no protest or move to stop him. Her muzzle tilts down and up in another 'nod' to acknowledge the thanks, and she sees him off. Good hunting, young one. Then she too turns and trots off into the darkness, with only the soft clink of the chain looped around her neck to signal that she is heading away.

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