Gypsy's Ban

3/10/2006

05:44 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.

Currently the moon is in the waxing Gibbous Moon phase (73% full).
It is currently 15:44 Pacific Time on Fri Mar 10 2006.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is partly sunny. The temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 29.54 and rising, and the relative humidity is 76 percent. The dewpoint is 33 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius.)

Center of the Caern
This is the central point of the 30-meter-wide clearing. The ground is a mixture of dark, rich, muddy soil mixed with clay, though there is an occasional patch of grass. At the center rests a large white boulder, immovable even by the strongest crinos. The boulder is shot through with streaks of quartz that produces scintillating colors when light strikes it just right. It is, for lack of a wholly adequate word, beautiful.
Around you, twenty yards in every direction, stretches the caern. To the southeast, a waterfall plummets over the edge of the chasm into a small pool in the caern; nearby, to the southwest, steam comes from cracks in the ground, perhaps some of the same water. Northwest, a rocky spar juts out of the ground at a low angle, showing a sloping but smooth top. The chasm walls narrow a bit to the northeast, causing some of the mist to swirl in that area.
Contents:
Kevin
Culls-The-Herd
Obvious exits:
Rock Slab  Windy Spot  WaterFall  Steam Vents  

From Center of the Caern, Culls-The-Herd can be heard to howl, ~~Garou of the Hidden Walk, your Alpha has an announcement to make! Come to the Caern and hear my words!~~

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost must have been nearby, for she's quick enough to arrive after Vera's howl. The pale-furred cub, who's looking less chubby than she did a month ago, pauses at the caern's outskirts with an air of cautious curiosity.

The reason Kevin hasn't been seen round the Glass Walkers' house for a day or two becomes clear when he comes striding out of the bawn woods on hearing Culls-the-Herd's howl. The teenage ragabash seems out of sorts, scowling and slightly hunched over, but he leans up against a convenient rock outcrop to listen to the promised announcement.

Runner takes her due time in arriving, and when she does it's not anywhere near her top speed. The newmoon's neck chain clinks lightly as she moves, approaching from the light mist of the steam vents.

Christopher enters the Cairn, seeming a little relieved that he found his way. He takes a seat at his proper place within the Caern. He remains in Homid form for now.

Culls-The-Herd is standing near the center stone, one clawed hand pressed against the crystalline structure. ~I have called you here, so that you may hear my words concerning Gypsy Stalks-Wisdom of the Silent Striders. This Cliath Philodox has shown both a distinct lack of Honor and Wisdom since her arrival and because of her actions, I have banned her from this Sept and its territories.~

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper must have come from a longer distance, since the limping wolf is panting heavily when he arrives. The squat wolf arrives as the Sept Elder begins to speak.

Kevin responds to that pronouncement with a pursing of lips and a low whistle of surprise. "Sucks to be her," he comments to nobody in particular, though on turning his head to one side he realises that if nobody else has heard his muttered comment, the white wolf guardian who's just run up must have.

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost, bemused, skews her ears at the announcement, then perks up at Circle Keeper's arrival and moves to join him, tail wagging low in greeting.

"Oh god," Christopher mutters under his breath once Vera-rhya makes the announcement. "I wonder what she actually did..."

It's this moment in time that Howls-for-Glory arrives, panting from what sounds to have been a flat-out run through the woods. Bits of debris still cling to his pelt. Announcement?

Runner, briefly distracted by all the arrivals, looks back and forth between those coming in and then back to the Alpha. Her ears skew, revealing that she missed part of it. What?

~This Strider,~ Culls' continues, distaste clear in raised hackles and cared teeth. ~Came to this Sept and joined us at our Moot without first offering Chiminage, or even asking to be officially accepted as a Guest!~

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper doesn't return the Cub's greeting, too busy catching both breath and the announcement to which he arrived late.

Christopher frowns, thinking on Cull's words, and his own memories of the previous events.

"/Really/ sucks to be her," Kevin says again with a sage, smug nod to the panting form of Howls-for-Glory as he too comes running up.

Runner eyes the Alpha's distaste, but clearly looks distracted by something else. Pushing herself up to a form where she can use the mother's tongue, the Gnawer newmoon takes on the hispo. ~Who are you talking about? And what about them?~ For a brief moment, she looks to Cole with an expectant wait for some explanation.

~She made use of our hospitality and of our Caern,~ Cull-The-Herd snarls, ~without offering anything in return. I spoke with her and she apologized for her transgressions and since there is no Silent Strider Elder here, I gave her a task for Chiminage. The day after I set her Chiminage, I was informed that she had been /stealing/ from us. That she had taken a Silver Fang Kinsman into her bed some time before and he now declared her to be his Mate. She came here, freely used what was not hers, then conspired to steal our Kinfolk. Even before she offered us Chiminage, while she was still Anruth."

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost tilts her ears back slightly, obviously feeling mildly rebuffed by her mentor, and backs off a few steps before turning her attention back to the Sept Alpha. Her black eyes go wide.

Howls-For-Glory perks his ears, looking toward his Alpha for a long moment. Understanding flickers in his eyes when he meets Kevin's gaze. The nod is returned with a heavy chuff of breath. To Yi's glance, he tosses his muzzle toward Culls-The-Herd.

Christopher frowns deeper, but stays quiet.

Culls-The-Herd looks down at Runner, ears laying back. ~I speak of Gypsy Stalks-Wisdom of the Silent Striders. Philodox and Cliath.~

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper /still/ has no real reaction to the words, tongue rolling out as he continues to heave for breath.

"Death wish," declares Kevin jauntily, "definite death wish." He cocks an eyebrow at Howls-for-Glory. "So sad, so young."

Runner flicks her ears. ~Many of us only know her from the time she introduced herself at moot. And she said she sought chiminage. Explain more,~ the Gnawer replies rather stiffly in tone. ~From the beginning.~

Culls-The-Herd's lips twitch, revealing sharp fangs. ~There is little to explain. I just told you what occurred, Runner.~

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper that gets a response from the exhausted Uktena: He looks up and over to Runner, like she's just donned a Cod for a toga. He's still panting heavily, though.

~I mean,~ Runner growls back, ~What does the Silver Fang elder have to say? This matter of kin was to be handled by the tribe elder was it not? And if she is so unwelcome, then why was she allowed to set foot on our bawn and caern lands in the first place? What proof is there?~

Howls-For-Glory makes an exasperated sound before rising into his birthform. "It sure sounds like it, Kevin," he mutters. "I've seen the handiwork she does first hand. Not pretty."

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost plops her rump down and, seated, continues to watch the center -- with regular little sidelong glances at her elder.

Kevin's other eyebrow rises as Cole takes on his human form and speaks. "Do tell," he invites sotto voce as Culls-the-Herd and others speak more loudly above them.

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper takes a deep breath, holding it as he shifts upwards in a sloppy manner until the Uktena rests in Hispo. He finally gives his cub an almost off hand, silent greeting, but past that it's clear his focus is on Vera and Yi, and he's tense about something.

Culls-The-Herd snarls openly this time, hackles lifting along her back. ~Fire-Burns wishes to rip out the Strider's eyeballs and shove them up her behind until they come out of her mouth, according to our last discussion.~

Runner then replies, rather deadpan, ~And she has not done so yet, why?~

Cole winces at the Shadow Lord's...'colorful' description of what might await Gypsy. He keeps his voice well below the general din as he responds to Kevin, dividing his attentions between the ongoing discussion and Yi's questions.

Kevin listens to Cole's quietly spoken words, while sniggering loudly and shamelessly at the senior Shadow Lord's latest words. Then he mutters something back.

~I do not know why she was allowed into the Bawn or Caern at all,~ Culls-The-Herd continues. ~Touch Deer had just rescinded Alphaship to me and she came in with others. I was unaware that she had not given Chiminage until she said as much at Moot. I have no idea why she was let into the Caern at all.~

Culls-The-Herd huffs loudly. ~She searches for the Strider. I believe that she has fled our Sept.~

Cole's expression is sour as Gypsy's tale unfolds. He responds to Kevin again, arching one brow.

Kevin tsks sadly and sanctimoniously before whispering back to Cole.

Christopher remains in his seat, obviously troubled by what he's hearing.

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost fidgets, attention continuing to flicker between the center and the Gatekeeper.

Runner sits down on her haunches, tail slowly swishing behind her. ~In other words,~ she states just a bit too loudly, ~we have absolutely no control over who comes and goes on our Bawn and who enters our caern during the times of our most vulnerable. No control over who eats our food and who drinks our drink, or over who meets with the cubs in the farmhouse, as that was where I met this Strider. And the Fangs themselves have no control over their kin either, because unless the kin was forced...would it not be that the kin /chose/ to mate with the Strider?~ Her tongue slips out, a bit of wry humor in it all.

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper finally speaks up, lifting his head high. ~I will be sure to tell the warder of your challenge, Three-Blades.~ he calls back to the Centre.

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost's ears perk right up when Circle Keeper speaks. A moment later, her jaws part and her tongue lolls out in amusement.

Cole seems about to answer Kevin's whisper, only to be stopped by Runner's conclusion. He winces visibly at the New-Moon's words, and then looks to Circle Keeper. "Always with the challenges, that Uktena," he mutters, so that only Kevin is likely to hear. "New Moons have ever challenged our limits, Circle Keeper-yuf! Why should this constitute anything new?" This is said in as genial a tone as the Galliard can summon.

"What he said!" Kevin adds after Cole's mouth closes, the Glass Walker ragabash standing up a little straighter and prouder.

Culls-The-Herd's ears remain plastered against her skull. ~Gypsy showed a lack of Wisdom in coming to our Moot before completing Chiminage, or even being given a task to complete. She showed a distinct lack of Wisdom and Honor by making use of our Kinfolk, before becoming a Sept member. She showed even LESS Wisdom and Honor by choosing to make use of a Silver Fang Kinfolk of great Breeding and an asset to his Tribe.~ Runners words bring Vera up short and she takes a menacing step toward the Fostern Ragabash. ~Perhaps you do not understand Bone Gnawer, as your Tribe has many Kinfolk, but non of them have any /Breeding/ at /all/. It does not matter if the Kinfolk chose to Mate with that Strider, it was not his choice to make. Our Kinfolk are our bloodlines, our History, and or lineage! But that is not something I would expect a Bone Gnawer to understand.~

In the windiest area, It is the not-Fool-Moons job to show the Fool-Moons where the limits are. Circle Keeper responds with a vocal growl to the Fianna. So the cubs do not think the fool is wise! It is purpose of fool!

Cole shakes his head slowly, as if exasperated, and drops the subject with his silence. Kevin, however, gets a glance unchartiable souls might call conspiratorial.

Kevin's own face takes on an unreadable mask, more suited to a poker game than to an audience of an official sept elder's announcement. "So how'd you know she's fled the sept?" he calls out to Culls-the-Herd.

Runner stands up as there is a step made towards her, and gives the Alpha a short eyeing. Her ears turn back. ~If she showed lack of Wisdom and Honor in setting foot in our borders, then we show even more lack of Wisdom and Honor for letting her live for so long and pass unnoticed with her evil intentions. But you are right. I /am/ a Bone Gnawer, and I do not know the ways of the pure bloods - that is not my place. I only know the ways of surviving in the days of the Fifth Age, and the ways of keeping the wheel from stopping on the Sixth. We have run off yet another defender and turned yet another kinfolk into a machine who only has the choice of living to breed when we say so.~ Her lip twitches up, flashing teeth in defense. ~Kinfolk are not without their own minds, their own destinies given to them by Gaia. They are not /things/ that have no choices they can make about their own lives!~

Culls-The-Herd's tone becomes very cold and dark. ~Are you Challenging and my decisions of Sept Alpha, Bone Gnawer?~

Cole leans back from the confrontation as if it were a trainwreck about to happen. "Christ," he mutters softly.

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper's lips roll up, pulling his tongue back inside his mouth as he stops panting and starts clenching his teeth in tension. His ears shove forward.

Christopher definitely seems troubled by what's happening, though this could possibly be explained by the amount of tension in the air rather than the actual content of the discussion.

Kevin gives a tight smile as his question doesn't receive an answer. He seems to think it'll keep, though, for he doesn't repeat it, just very carefully watches Vera and Yi exchange words.

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost watches all of this with rapt attention, ears forward and eyes wide.

Runner stands very still, looking up at the crinos. ~I did not challenge your decision to ban the Strider from the sept, Alpha,~ she states with a low huff. ~I only want to know, so that /when/ she is hunted down and killed like a dog... that I can sleep at night knowing that we have erased another /enemy/ off the face of Gaia.~

By the waterfall, Blackriver comes down the trail from the rim above.

Culls-The-Herd snorts. ~I never said that she would be hunted down, Fool of a no-moon. You make assumptions.~

~Oh, but she knows where the caern is, the dishonorable cur,~ Runner continues, turning to a side and starting back towards the steam ridden vents. ~I wonder, just how long it will be before the Black Spiral Dancers lurking outside our borders find her and get her to give them the information. Oh no, she will be wise and honorable then, since we showed her her wrongs.~

Culls-The-Herd smiles then, a toothy and totally unsettling grin. ~Very well then, Runner of the Bone Gnawers. I set you the task of hunting her down, as you believe that she is such a danger, to make certain that she is no longer a danger to this Sept. I suggested you start looking.~

By the waterfall, Blackriver comes down from the above path, manner relaxed. She pauses by the pool of water, holding her mouth open to drink from the spray in the air, and tilts her head, watching the Garou at the center with the curiosity of someone who doesn't know what's going on.

Runner pauses, looking back to the Sept Alpha. ~Your wish... is my command,~ the Gnawer newmoon replies, tongue slipping out from between her thick jaws. Turning, the Gnawer lopes off from the others, letting out a bit of a yip of laughter as she shifts down to her lupus form.

Kevin chuckles as his question is, albeit obliquely, answered. "Damn, she's good," he murmurs to Cole.

"Well, I wasn't expecting that," Cole responds to Kevin. He, too, has an admiring look on his face. "Gnawer and for all that..." He trails off. "Looks like she got her way."

In the windiest area, Circle Keeper snorts and huffs as he gives the Fianna a brief annoyed look, before facing back to Vera. His jaws open again as he resumes panting; he shifts back down to lupus.

Culls-The-Herd gives her head a sharp shake, calling out to Runner as she leaves. ~Just because someone is a Honorless idiot, does not mean that they are lost to Gaia! I see no reason to deprive Gaia of a potential warrior, but I will not tolerate allowing idiots into the Hidden Walk.~ With a huff, Culls' returns her attention to those gathered. ~Now, there were other questions?~

Cole speaks up, stepping forward. "Just one, Vera-rhya. Is the kinfolk Cristofer doing well? I haven't heard news of him in the past few days." Circle Keeper's look is missed amidst the conversation.

Culls-The-Herd shakes her head. ~No, he is not. I fear that his mind may be beyond repair. I do not know what was said or done to him before Gypsy fled, but his mind is in a fragile state.~

Runner pauses again with the steam. Her lower jaw drops down, tongue slipping down loosely again as she finds an incredible amount of humor in the alpha's statement. The tail jumps high and then low in a twitch of acknowledgement, and she turns again towards the steam vents and disappears into the white watery mists.

"He's a Silver Fang," comments Kevin. "They /all/ have fragile little minds." These last few words are spoken in a fairly accurate imitation of Eric Cartman.

~It is not wise to speak ill of another Tribe like that,~ Culls-The-Herd growls lowly, eyes fixing on Kevin. ~Your words could easily be taken as a Challenge.~

In the windiest area, Noisy Ghost lets out a amused-sounding snort at Kevin's Cartman impersonation.

It's all Cole can do to keep his somber expression in place. Indeed, a smile twitches at the corner of his mouth despite all his effort. Kevin gets a glance that plainly speaks of amusement.

By the waterfall, Blackriver's ears perk forward with mild interest, although it's not enough to hold her captive, and she takes another step towards the pool and begins to drink lightly from it.

****************

The Pool Hall is relatively empty tonight, save for the grizzled bartended idly whiping down his counter...the drowsy old drunk reclining in a wooden chair by the door...oh, and a pair of rather large, leather clad men proudly sporting the Harley Davidson logo who appear to be growling at each other over a game of pool. The chubbier man is repeatedly stroking his blonde, handlebar moustache as he sets up his next shot. The other man stands off to one side waiting his turn with broad arms folded and a smug grin on his face.

Look Myron Pasbrig-(Cognato)
A notably tall, gruff looking man residing somewhere between his late thirties and late fourties. His hair is dark brown and deliberately shaggy, with bushy sideburns that blend into a fairly well kept and equally dark beard. Built trim and muscular, numerous tattoos are visible creeping down his arms from under his typically dirty black, pocketed T-shirt and extending to about the middle of his forearms in an array of colorful designs and wording. Not much for playing dress up, his faded jeans are torn in several places, and his thick black work boots are a bit worse for wear. His stature along with his obvious biker persona would be imposing if not for the generally light, kind look conveyed by his quiet blue eyes.

Yi enters the pool hall with all the comfortable manner of someone who is a regular. And indeed, she has been around before. The only real kind of discomfort that might be evident is in the barely perceptible limp of her right leg, though she walks smoothly enough. Leaning herself into a stool, she waits for the bartender to finish doing his job. "House beer," is all she says at first, spinning so that she can see the various clientele with one scan of the room. "Hmm.. the usual crowd tonight? Well, it is still early." Her eyes go into an interested glance at the pool game going on.

The bartender grunts lowly at the newcomer and turns to snatch a glass from under the bar and oblige her request, tucking the rag he's been whiping the bar off with loosely into his belt.

  Over at the pool table the blonde man misses his shot narrowly and breaks into a chorus of curses directed at the stick that has apparently failed him. His opponent breaks into a jovial grin as he slaps the man on the back hard enough to jolt him. "Ya gotta talk nice to it, Pete. You be sweet to her, and she'll be sweet to you... just like dealin' with my wife." he chuckles, taking up his own stick and chalking the tip briskly. Pete rubs the back of his neck in aggitation as he mutters to himself. "Ain't no women half as resonable as yer wife... Ya ain't gotta rub it in." he shoots the man a narrow glance.

Smirking in turn in her own quiet manner, Yi turns back to the bar at the back. The Gnawer waits for the beer to come before asking of the tender, "Hey, have you seen another girl around here? Tall, black hair, green eyes?"

The bartender shoves a mug of beer towards Yi and snorts obnoxiously through his nose. "What, we got a weird one that comes in when we have the dart tounaments going." he smirks. "Makes the folks mad...she cleans up pretty good on the bets." she glowers slightly then. "Orders food, but just drinks water. Damn waste."

  Over at the pool table the dark haired man pops the 5 ball into the side pocket cleanly, grinning to his friend as he walks around to set up the next shot. "Ya ever think she might be underage?" he drones out to the bartender, casting a very brief glance at Yi before returning his attention to the game.

Yi catches the beer as deftly as a pro baseball player would a ball, and gives the bartender a look that is significantly harder put. One of a predator's eyes, unveiled from her original genial nature. One that states, 'Don't fuck with me because there's more to me than you think. A lot more. And you don't want to find out.' "Did she say she was going anywhere?" Now it's investigating, but still with some minute respect accorded to the man behind the bar.

The bartender quirks his lip with indifference, though he begins to regard the woman with a bit more hesitation. "The hell if I know... she wasn't exactly a conversationalist." He begins to busy himself with buffing the back cubboards with the rag he's pulled back out of his belt.

  The darker headed man at the pool table misses his third shot and gestures to his friend. he moves back to the other side of the table as he does, glancing at Yi out of the corner of his eye for a prolonged period now. "Why you so interested, missy?" he intones in a lowered voice, paying more attention to her now than the game as he rolls the stick idly in his hands.

Yi closes her eyes a moment, hovering over the drink before she takes a gulp. Despite her small size, she looks like she's handled alcohol too. The voice behind her causes her to glance behind, over her shoulder. "Because I had something to ask," she replies vaguely but evenly.

The dark haired man scratches at his beard as he considers Yi closely now. he glances briefly as his friend congradulates himself loudly for making a shot. "Little late I think... pretty sure she was leaving town." He reaches behind him and elbows his friend, causing him to abort his next shot and glower at him. he grins and looks back to Yi. "What would you wanna ask her, out of curiosity?" he asks as almost a challenge, leaning a bit of weight into his stick as he plants it into the floor in front of him.

"Oh," Yi replies, looking back to her mug, "I know that. She was a friend - or, I would like to think that we had something like that." The voice she retains is distinctly avoidant, but not without a hint of curiosity of her own. Innate curiosity, that is. She turns around with her mug, sipping at the frothy head. "What about you? You know Gypsy?"

The blonde man growls at the table. "Yer up, Myron." he barks, abruptly. Evidently, he's not a fan of loosing. Myron casts Yi another glance before setting up his next shot. Three sucessive shots later, the eight ball is in, and the game is over. Likely, he could have ended it much sooner. "Tough luck, man. Tell ya what, I'll pay yer tab."

  Pete snatches up Myron's pool stick agressively, but for all his huffing and puffing...he only takes both sticks and replaces them on the rack. "Right noce of ya, considering how much you still owe me..." he mutters, brushing the chalk dust from his pants.

  Myron wanders up to the bar with wallet open and glances back over his shoulder. "Hey Pete, you go on to rally night at Hooters. I'll catch up with ya." he directs morso than offers before returning his attention to the small woman at the bar. "Yeah...I know her." he nods slowly, working his jaw tensely.

Yi watches the game end with no small bit of surprise at the sudden end to it. She makes an appreciative noise, but stays quiet until the pair have finished their conversations and agreements. The whole time, she sips away at the beer. When the man turns back to her, she dips her head. "I would very much like to know where Gypsy went," the Gnawer states simply and without redress. "But, it would be rude of me to make demands of strangers." She sets the beer mug down behind her and offers out a hand to shake, in confidence. "I'm Yi."

The man regards her hand for a moment, then accepts it in a large, firm grasp. "Myron." he nods, though he still looks a bit wary. He mutters and lifts an fist to his departing friend before turning back to her. He motions her over across the room to the pool stick rack and to some semblance of privacy while the bartender goes on about his business, oblivious. "What guarentee I got you arn't gonna hurt her, huh?" he folds his arms in a very big-brother stance, studying Yi expectantly.

Yi follows, taking the beer with. When they get to the corner, she continues to drink little by little. For all the man's big bulk and would-be menacing flavor, she doesn't look like the kind who is easily intimidated by such men. "I do not make promises I do not keep. Not anymore." All her words are foreign-flavored still, her accent showing plain to any native speaker that she is very much Asian. "But, I do not wish for the trouble she got herself into to be any worse than it is already. And yes, I know what she did - kind of. What I need to know is /her/ side of the story. And I think she would appreciate the opportunity to tell it, her way." Everything is plain in as much as the ragabash appeals towards the man's own big-brother sense. "Besides," she adds, "Gypsy can handle herself against a young, short Chinese woman, don't you think?"

Myron's expression remains rather stoic as he considers her words. At the mentioning of "her side of the story" his expression lightens a bit. He stands stroking his beard out of habit, rumbling a low chuckle over her question. "I'd think so...she's a scrapper, never mind the prim and proper exterior. My mother in law taught her herself...and that there is a scary concept." he nods to himself, decidedly. He glances around quickly. "Alright...I'll take ya myself. But just you." he agrees in a low tone. He doesn't appear completely sold on the prospect, but he's enticed enough to give it a shot it would seem. he walks over to a chair where his coat has been draped and grabs it up, lifting and tossing a black helmet to Yi. "Hope you know how to hang on." the big man grins a bit then, the most relaxed he's looked since their conversation began.

Yi catches the helmet with her free hand, balancing it. She looks down to the helmet, then smiles a bit back. The beer is set down, half empty. "Thank you," she replies to Myron. "Oh, right..." Digging around in her pocket, she slips out a five and plunks it on the bar top. Not much of a tip in that, but at least there is one. Then she's out following the man to his bike. At first, there is a moment of hesitation. It's not a long one, but there and noticeable. Then, as if she's worked up the bravery or dispelled what doubts she had before, she slips the helmet on. "How far are we going?"

Myron rocks his broad frame as he stradles the bike's seat, starting the ignition and reving the engine several times. He pets a hand lovingly over the crome before jerking a thumb back behind him. "That's for me to know...and you to wonder about until we get there." his grin broadens. "Won't be too long if I take the back roads. You just make sure you hang on and I'll get you there, sure enough." he reiterates, amiable enough in tone.

Yi considers for awhile longer, just over the span of a few seconds. "It is not That, that worries me," she says quietly. Her muttering is muffled over the noise of the motorcycle. Carefully she seats herself behind him, clutching the man around the waist and gripping on. She's not inexperienced in riding bikes, or on the back of one. No more questions come from the newmoon, as she gives herself to the mercy of Myron.

Myron seems to thoroughly enjoy himself throught the longer than originally indicated ride... the added length likely due to the man's caution over being followed. He's heard all sorts of crazy things lately from Gypsy after all...concerning spirit spies and the like. Not that he'd likely be able to shake something so intangible, but he'll be damned if he isn't going to give it a try. Myron hoots and hollars periodically for no apparent reson along the winding roads, stretching out an arm to signal in greeting to other passing bikers. Finally their destination draws close, indicated abruptly by the overhead roar of a small charter jet in it's final descent.

  Myron slows, rolling to a stop beside the relatively small terminal dropoff. He idles the engine low to the point where his voice can be heard. "Not sure where she is in there...but she's there. She woulda told us if she'd decided to leave yet." He gestures, pulling the bike up over the curb without regard for the fact that it's deffinately not a parking place. "I'm gonna be around...I promise ya that. You just keep your promise and I'll get you back where you came from." he rumbles to Yi, giving the woman a meaningful look.

Yi keeps her eyes open for as much as she can during the trip. Throughout the ride, Myron can feel her grip tighten and loosen accordingly in line with keeping as much of herself on the bike and off the road as possible. At the same time, she's looking out over the landscape and trying to take it all in. When the come to a stop at the state airport, it's with a certain degree of awe and unfamiliarity that she unclasps herself from him, getting off the bike and looking around. She almost misses his words, but then comes back to reality shortly and unstraps the helmet from her head and returns it. "Thank you," she says in return politely, even dipping her head down in a formal, though a bit casual bow of gratitude. Then, she's off to explore the premises. Somewhere along the line, she snags an airport directory with map, and looks for the women's restroom. Inside, the Gnawer checks for occupancy, waiting for reassurance that every stall is quiet and vacant, before drawing out a shined obsidian black rock attached to a string. She lays the map on the floor of the restroom, dangling the strung rock over it, and starts to enact the rite. It seems to only be a lot of prayer; she calls for Gaia and the spirits of the earth to connect with the stone, to lead the stone and the holder of it towards the target. She says the Strider's names that she knows and the details like she were describing to a police artist. Nothing but a bunch of voodoo, it would seem, for the casual observer. For over ten full minutes, she does this. Hopefully, uninterrupted. And hopefully, the rite will be done correctly and succeed in location of the Strider.

The small airport is relatively busy, at least in the immediate baggage claim and at the ticket counters. Plenty of connecting flights coming and going from the otherwise insignificant location. No Garou would be comfortable amid such a mess, and accordingly, Gypsy is nowhere in sight. But the stone in all it's endowed wisdom will actually point to a relatively logical portion of the airport. behind the small food court with it's array of pre-made preservative laden food stuffs is a small wing of windows lining one arm of the runway. Benches are set here and there to allow bored patrons to observe the landings and takeoffs of the metal birds from the floor to ceiling wall of windows. At regular intervals along the windows, exceptionally large potted plants sporting broad drooping leaves bring some color to the section. There...all the way at the end of this wing sits a coiled figure, concealed between the last window, one of the giant plants, and the ending wall. One wouldn't likely notice the woman without knowing what they were looking for...

Yi slips the rock's string up into her hand, letting just a part of it dangle to pull when she feels it. The map is folded, and she takes her questing stone for a little stroll. Like walking a pet rock, really. Trying her best to appear like 'not a terrorist', she walks along casually following the stone until it leads her to the very end of the wing. The ragabash slips up from behind the Strider, taking a breath and observing aloud, "I saw this movie once. Tom Hanks. He was trapped in an airport, and had to eat their free salt crackers and ketchup. Everyone thought he was strange, at first, but everyone liked him after."

The young Strider appears strikingly different, her somber expression aside. Her long black curls have been nearly shaved in an uneven sectioning that would suggest a knife of some sort had been used in the task. Her haggard, unkempt appearance along with the cold, poorly restrained anger and cumulated exhaustion in her eyes has aged her considerably. Her clothing is dirty, crumpled, and looks as though she's been living in them for several days now. She sits folded tightly into herself, hugging her knees to her chest as she stares blankly out the window in front of her, despite the fact that there's nothing to see at the moment. She doesn't seem surprised to hear the voice behind her. Her only physical reaction seems to be to lower her head slightly. She manages a humorless smirk even. "Never seen it... But I think I know how he felt." she turns her head slowly to look up at Yi. If anything she seems vaguely surprised that she's alone. "Have you come to put me out of my...and everyone else's misery, Yi?" she asks, very simply. As though her response to the affirmative might be a relief in some way.

Yi looks down at the Strider - not particularly a thing she's used to, given her height. "I was ordered to find you and make sure you were not a threat," she answers. Then her tone dips down. "But no, I am not here to be a head-taker. Only a listening ear." Once more, the hand stretches out in offer. "Let us go somewhere more quiet to talk."

Gypsy lifts tired, questioning eyes to study Yi's face for a moment before she accepts the hand up, her dull, resigned expression softening to a certain extent. "I see...someone must have been vague in their instructions to leave it so open to interpretation." she forces a dry chuckle as she rights herself, stetching as she works out her range of motion. She nods slowly then, glancing down the length of the wing. "Wherever you like...as long as it isn't far." she agrees, dipping her head in a base gesture of respect to her wishes.

"Many things were said," Yi states evenly as they walk. She doesn't lead, persay, but stays one step ahead nonetheless. The pair stop in a corner outside the airport's building, where the horizon can be still be seen and the people are hardly noticing the pair. So much for security. The Gnawer turns around after, and regards the other. "I admit, I prefer honesty these days to secrets. You know who I am, yes? I know you as Gypsy, or Gathers-Foxes. But you were announced as Stalks-Wisdom. Which will it be?"

Gypsy shakes her head slowly, regarding the Bone Gnawer intently. "I don't deserve my rited name. I've contradicted it. Call me Gypsy, if it pleases you." she invites, making no attempt to veil any of her emotional range. She's far too worn for keeping up appearances at this point. "I don't know if you posess the gift of seeing truth...I wish more did. But if you do not, and value the truth as you say...then I want nothing more than to give it to you to any length and width and breath that you ask. I never wanted secrets..." she reaches down then, lifting a pant leg and drawing out a small, ornate knife. She grips the blade in her hand and draws it out in one swift motion, slicing open her palm. Blood immediately pools in her palm and she turns the hand over to drip steadily onto the ground. She drops the knife and its sticks in the ground blade first. "You have my blood oath now. Whatever you ask I will answer as a full truth, to the best of my ability." she vows. "I will swear on my mother's grave...my grandmother's grave... and on whatever honor I might have left." she declares with an even sort of calm.

Yi looks down at the knife, and remains quite stoic through the blood oath. She bends down to pick up the knife, digging into a pocket to draw out her black bandanna, and wipes it down. "I believe you will speak the truth. You are a halfmoon, after all. And though I am no longer of Stag's pack, his honor I wish to carry still." The Gnawer's eyes lift from the knife cleaning. "What happened between you and the Silver Fang kin? He is not someone I know, but I only heard his mind has not been well since all of this."

Gypsy lowers her gaze to the ground at her feet and drives though her memory of the last several weeks, with the painstaking effort it would take some to sift through years. "I...found...the Kin Cristofer originally...as I told you I believe on the porch one day. He was speaking at the college in town...I convinced him to be introduced to the Sept. I brought him to Vera. There was conflict with his herritage...one I didn't understand at the time." she closes her eyes for a moment, realizing she's not answering the question. "If I say that we are lovers...it would not be an adequate description." she shakes her head slowly. "His tribe...had treated him with cruel ambition from a very young age...married him off for nearly a decade to an ill-minded Lupus who beat him...severely and frequently. He could hardly be around the Farm...all Garou made him nervous...even me." she laughs slightly at this. "It pained me to see his mind having been so...conditioned. I set out to prove to him that he had nothing to fear from me...if noone else. I didn't expect...I didn't see what was happening. One night he asked to be my mate... can you imagine? A pure breed fond enough of a mutt to ask such a thing. I argued with him...I knew it would not be looked upon well. He thought that perhaps...if he took a mate from the Silent Striders his grandfather would be enraged enough to disown him...and free him from his obligations of service as a breeder... He wanted so badly to be free. To make his own choice for once in his life..." she ends in a murmur at the recall.

Through the story, the Gnawer continues to devolve in expression, from a neutral state to a tight-lipped neutrality, and further down and down into a full out frown. By the end of it, Yi turns around and walks off a few paces, away from the Strider, looking up towards the sky and out towards the horizon. "Did Clemency know about his background?"

Gypsy squeezes her hand once, reestablishing the trickle of blood from her palm to the thirsty ground. "No...frankly he was too scared to get near her. God...she terrified him. He told me...she reminded him much of his dead wife. He expected violence from her. I...wanted to tell Clemency. I had to finish Chiminage first...I thought perhaps if I earned her favor...offered something in exchange for him..." she shakes her head. "I was never afforded the option of going to her...for permission or forgiveness." she states, quietly.

Yi draws herself up to as full a height as she can. "Clemency was my packmate. She would not hurt her own kin," she says firmly. There is not a bit of doubt in the ragabash's gaze when she turns to look back at the Strider. "Gypsy... remember when I said I would like to hear about your name? I think, this is the time to tell of it. I do not know you. I only know what I have heard, and what I have heard is not good. You need to tell me your story, Gypsy. And how it is that a Strider like yourself would even dare to touch the kinfolk of another tribe. Especially that of the Silver Fangs."

Gypsy sighs heavily, her shoulders slumping. "I would like to believe that...which is why I pray Clemency wins him in the challenge against Vera. Her temper is notable, but there are trustworthy qualities in her..." she fills her lungs with air again, shifting her gaze to the sky. "I have never been in a Sept before, Yi. Never in a pack... I was rited by one Garou only...my aunt. A Roma Strider from Italy. My parents...were kin to the Striders and the Stargazers. My aunt herself had two offspring by a Silverfang Kin. Her daughter...my cousin...chose a Bone Gnawer for a mate..." She lowers her gaze slowly. "The Striders have never considered Kin to be...objects...property. They are family." Of course I had been told the view varied. But I had never seen such a thing until I found myself in the middle of it... And it was only made worse that he was half Shadow Lord..."

Yi narrows her eyes at certain parts on the elaboration. "But you at least know the Litany, don't you? That alone is not hint enough?"

Gypsy regards her mildly. "If you are refering to respect for another's territory...then yes, I know it. The problem is the difference between the letter of the law...the spirit of the law... and the traditions that are regarded as law." she shakes her head. "I should be obvious now why I am not suited to be Philodox." Her hands hang limp at her sides, the left one still bleeding slightly. "If the road to Hell is truly paved with good intentions, then it's little wonder why I'm standing at the gates of agony now." she lowers her head, defeatedly. "I wanted to help him heal. I wanted him...to be happy. And I suppose if the deal with Vera hadn't been broken, I might have achieved that much... but it's all a moot point now." She balls both fists loosely. "I'm a fool, Yi. I chose to love him. That one thing...I can't regret."

A long silence follows the Strider's words. "Why did you run?" Yi asks after that. Her eyes fall upon the halfmoon, her voice quiet still.

Gypsy lifts her gaze slowly to meet Yi's. "Because...Vera told me to. She told me...she'd told Clemency where I lived...and that Clemency was coming to kill me. And she did hunt me... in a mind set that I doubt I could have reasoned with. I had no desire to fight her...I only wanted the chance to say what I hadn't been allowed to say. If she killed me, the truth would die with me."

"A philodox keeps the ways of the Garou," Yi says after another long, tense silence. "A philodox cannot change the laws by breaking them, Gypsy. And a cliath cannot be treated like a cub who knows no better." She takes a step forward towards the Strider, looking eye for eye despite the height difference. "What did you do, after your Rite of Passage?"

Her gaze shifts back to Yi as she closes the space between them. She acknowledges her points with a nod. "I am not worthy of my Auspice." she agrees quietly. Vague confusion at the question then passes behind her eyes. "After...my rite of passage...my aunt returned to Italy. She told me I couldn't go with her, because I had to make my own way. I stayed in Minnesota...for two years. I took care of my brothers...I worked... But there were no other Garou. I had to go somewhere else... I came here."

Yi holds that gaze awhile longer. "Your aunt. What was her name? What did she teach you? How could it be, that she could be mates with a Silver Fang kin and they did not find out about it?"

Gypsy answers her as matter-of-factly as she can. "Sophia Delano. Holds-the-Line." she offers quickly. "She taught me to fight...she taught me my rites...she taught me...to choose compassion at my own expense. She was Ahroun...but she tried to teach me to make decisions as a Philodox." she pauses slightly. "I know little about it, she spoke of him rarely. I know that the Roma accepted the outcast and the runaways, kin and Garou alike. She said once that his breeding wasn't..sufficent in the eyes of his tribe and they had rejected him."

"Always the breeding," Yi mutters in a half-growl to herself, loosing a frustrated snort. Then, back on the philodox, she moderates her expression to something slightly softer, though not by much. It's obvious that much of what has been said does not sit well in her. "Bear with me, Gypsy. I am no philodox myself, but I must ask. Who allowed you to set foot on the Bawn? Who said you could go to the moot, and to the caern?"

Gypsy watches her pensively but nods. "I was introduced to Pierces the Ice and deemed free of taint...she permitted me to enter the Bawn. As for the moot..." she sighs "I neglected to recieve separate permission to attend. They called, and I followed..."

That gets an added frown out of the Gnawer, at which point she shakes her head. "There is much to be said about the defense of the Hidden Walk," she says with her eyes closed. When they open again, she levels all the accusations. "You have been banned from the Hidden Walk. You were accused of taking our hospitality, and then coming to the caern before you gave chiminage. You are also accused of stealing... kinfolk of the Silver Fangs." She looks straighton at the halfmoon. "What did you plan to do? You knew that the others would not react well knowing all this, did you not?"

Gypsy lowers her head at the rounded up offenses when she'd been prepared for just the one. She closes her eyes for a long while, swaying slightly where she stands. "I planned...to die." she replies simply, without opening her eyes. "My fate has been sealed for some time now. I expect no fogiveness. And I tire of being a pawn for the agenda of others."

"And that is it? You have simply given up?" Yi folds her arms over her chest. "You want to just crawl into a hole and lay there until your spirit passes back to the Mother?"

Gypsy opens her eyes slowly with the faint glow of a rekindled intensity therein. "I have failed as a Philodox, and I'm unworthy of my rited name. I have erred greatly, and incurred the wrath of the Sept Alpha, and the Silver Fang Elder. All attempts to repair the situation failed when the deal was broken. The only penance left is death. To stay is Suicide...to leave is to be a coward." she points out, calmly and quietly. "If I die physically...well...Cristofer has been through too much pain as it is. That leaves only death of personality."

Yi inclines her head again. "As far as I can understand it, you have done what you said. But. You have not failed as a Garou." She waves the philodox to walks with her, even further from the airport. "I have my own stories of my own past that I could share, but they would not help you much. At the same time, Gypsy, I feel one thing strongly out of all of this." She looks back to the halfmoon. "And that is, that you failed your Rite of Passage."

Gypsy appears vaguely confused again, she tilts her head slightly, as if that might help her understand what the Gnawer is driving at. "Why...is that the one thing you feel strongly about, Yi?" she asks her finally.

"When I learned how to perform the Rite of Passage," Yi says slowly, coming to a stop quite a few feet away from where they were standing, "there were many elements. Much of it was the choosing of a Rite of Passage task for the cub to perform. It would be something that not only the spirits recognized as acceptable, but more importantly... this rite is a test to prove to the Garou /Nation/ that you are in an adult in /our/ eyes as well. You have not done so to anyone but your aunt. And your aunt is not a whole Nation of Garou." She skips a beat, before continuing, "I understand that it is possible the spirits will accept you. That you still live is maybe Gaia's will, but proving to other Garou that you are deserving of the rank you claim to be is a difficult task. So you can work by yourself. But to survive with others... you must learn how to work with others. And you must not run away when you have wronged someone."

Gypsy stiffens slightly at her last sentence. "I didn't intend to run. Being told to leave now or die by the Sept Alpha tends to force a decision." she sighs slightly, shaking her head. "I do not disagree with what you have said. To have been trained by only one was both an honor and a disadvantage of...exposure and experience." she admits. "I've recieved only one perspective, and it's limited me." She pauses to regard her in faint curiosity now. "Are you proposing...something?"

Yi shifts her hands to clasp behind her. She gazes upon the Strider carefully, consideringly. But instead of answering, she asks, "What was this 'deal' you speak of? Your Chiminage to the Hidden Walk, set by Vera. What was it?"

Gypsy is caught a bit off guarg by the shift in subject, but doesn't complian, groaping for the most accurate answer instead. "The Chiminage she had set...was for me to collect 200 bags of trash from around the outskirts of the Bawn and the river. She estimated this to take 3 weeks working 8 hour days..." she recalls, hesitating a bit then. "The deal she made with me...was separate. When she found out about Cristofer...she decided to use the situation. She offered...a fair deal. In exchange for my silence for not going to Clemency and confessing my error...for not telling anyone...she would challenge for Cristofer. If she won, she would take him as her mate in title and duty only, and turn a blind eye to our relationship. My role would be to keep him happy and keep him here. I was not to have any children by him and if I fell pregnant by accident the child would be taken and given to the Shadow Lords of another Sept. It was the only option given. But Cristofer broke the vow by going to Clemency...that's when all of this..." she makes a dull, sweeping gesture. "...went straight to hell." She combs her fingers through her cropped hair, still unused to it's lack of weight and length.

Yi drops her brows down, expression bunching. "She had you collect two hundred bags of trash...? For Chiminage? And she made you keep quiet in exchange for..." She quickly shakes her head, fingers coming up to rub at her temple. After a fair amount of rubbing, her expression relaxes a touch and she even manages a short laugh. "How much, do you think, does Clemency know? Of this deal?"

Gypsy frowns slightly, kniting her brow. "I was in the process...I had not completed the task before...all this." she shakes her head at the last question. "I'm...not certain. I know Cristofer divulged to her my identity, but I suspect that was all... I'm quite certain he thought he could protect me by doing so. But I'm sure...if Clemency had all of a the facts she would not have directed so much wrath my way. She's missing something...or being told something. A half-truth is worse than a lie...because it is so much more easily accepted. Once Cristofer had told Clemency...she went to Vera. And since then Vera has worked -very- quickly. She is...quite adept at playing both sides against the middle..." she observes, tone lowered as though something might be listening.

Yi shrugs vaguely. "She is a Shadow Lord. They are masters of politics." It's said quite baldly, not being hidden any more than necessary if only by the volume of her voice. Then she goes quiet, considering and pensive once more. "After all of this - if you were given the opportunity to return to the Hidden Walk... to start anew. And I mean, to the point that you might even die and be reborn... Would you?"

Gypsy takes her comment as a dismissal and lowers her head again in contemplation. She mulls her question over very carefully. "I..owe the Sept my services. I want the chance to prove that I am more worth than I am trouble. To have a second chance..." she sounds almost wistful, shaking her head. "As difficult as it has been for me there...there are those I don't want to leave behind. So...yes." she says quietly. "I have considered...the rite that permits rebirth." she adds after a moment's thought.

"I do not consider that so easy an escape," Yi says, for a moment her tone turns stiff. "There are those who consider renouncing to be a grave offense to Luna, to the spirits... to Gaia. Those who do manage to be reborn still have a long and hard journey. So is their karma." Her lips pull tight and wry. "You owe /Gaia/ the chance to defend her heart with your claws. And that, I feel, is more important than who you slept around with." She levels her eyes upon the Strider. "I would not imagine a child of Rat to be helping out a child of Owl so much... but I have my own reasons. I suggest, you want to take the risk to prove yourself... that you do it. Come back with me, and show you would risk your life."

Gypsy jerks her chin slightly at the Gnawer's choice of words, working her jaw slightly. She doesn't comment on it however, her expression remaining fairly flat. She hesitates slightly. "Who...will you be taking me to?" she asks, finally.

"To those you should apologize to," Yi answers evenly. "Even if the Sept Alpha will not accept you, it would be good of you to return and set things right, do you not think? Cristofer deserves at least this much of a voice. He did not have someone to speak for him before, but here he has you. You, a philodox, who could remind others to respect those beneath them. To leave him in mental pain and worry is not, I would say, respect. You are Garou. You are strong of body, and given the gift of fast healing from Gaia. If there is one who would be hurt, do not let it be the kinfolk. He is not a bone to be fought over, not a prize to be claimed. You wanted to show that to them, did you not?"

Gypsy nods first solemly, then emphatically to Yi, blinking hard. She's got her there, hook line and sinker. Her expression pinches up. "They will take it as an insult...even a hypocrisy... that one in my situation would be reminding them of the Litany..." she shakes her head, apparently arguing with herself externally. "But...he does not deserve to be treated poorly... And if there is a chance I can still make his life more barable..." she clenches her fists now, resolve slowly forming behind her eyes. "Alright, Yi. If I'm torn apart for this, at least my consience will be clear." she agrees, lifting her chin. "I will go back with you."

"You may not understand the ways of the sept," Yi replies quietly, "but those are only learned by being in one. It is good that you decide to come back with me. But..." And here, she gazes out back towards the airport, something of a deeply worried look crossing over her face.

Gypsy frowns slightly at Yi's expression. "But...?" she inquires, expectantly assuming that whatever is troubling her can't be worse than anything that's already happened.

"But," Yi continues to finish the thought, "I came here on the back of a motorcycle belonging to a man named Myron. And that motorcycle certainly cannot hold three."

Gypsy gapes at Yi for a moment, before literally falling onto her backside with a heavy thud as she begins to laugh outright, and entirely too loud. She's been stressed to the breaking point for the last three weeks, and that had to have been the first glint of real humor to catch her. She rocks back and fortch, stuggling to get a handle on herself. "THAT...dear Yi...is the most easily solved problem I've heard in a very long time." she chokes out, waving dismissively.

Yi's brows do a quick jump when the Strider falls over, but they return to normal when the halfmoon laughs loud enough to be heard all the way to the terminal and even a little bit over the planes. Naturally the humor is contagious - and perhaps a bit purposefully, the Gnawer fostern smiles as well in a much more genuinely warm manner. That expression changes of course, to something more of a casual mock-pout. "He has no side car. How do you expect us all to get back?"

Gypsy pulls herself back up into an upright position slowly, drawing out a cell phone from the front pocket of her pants. She flips the phone open and hits a single button before holding it to her ear. "Cognato! ...yes...yes." she quips quickly. "Send in the Goons." comes her last odd statement before she flips the phone shut again, casting Yi a sidelong glance and the most genuine smile she's mustered in many days. "Myron is more...resourceful than he looks." she promises, gesturing to Yi and heading back for the terminal drop off area.

"I would have guessed," Yi observes aloud thoughtfully, this time falling back a pace or two. "He did not seem uncomfortable in the presence of Garou, either. Though I do not get as strong reactions from many humans as others do."

Gypsy nods a bit as she moves, glancing back at Yi, and then making an effort not to get ahead of her. "Neither do I... but Myron is quite...accustom." she assures her. "He's my cousin in-law." she explains with a small smile. "And Bone Gnawer Kin, to boot. Aunt Sophia was always impressed with him..."she remarks offhandedly. As they near the drop off there is not one but four motorcycles parked up on the curb. Two men in addition to Myron and a weathered, middle age woman stand waiting. Myron lifts a hand in greeting as they near.

Yi blinks twice, at least, in reaction to first the mention of Gnawer kin and second to the sight of a whole biker gang. "Ah," is what she manages to say, though it is somewhat emphatic. She peers at Myron a bit more closely afterwards when they are within the group. And true to her more perceptive tendencies, she greets the men and woman with polite utterances and dips of her head. "Well, let us be going back, then?"

Gypsy is greeted by Myron with a bear hug, one which picks her up off the ground a few inches. Gypsy laughs at this with a more familiar ease as she is set back down. She nods "Lets." she gestures with her chin. Apparently, the group is fairly used to not asking questions. Myron flashes Yi a broad grin. "Figured she was alright..." he congradulates his character judgement in a proud rumbling tone as he mounts the bike. Gypsy secures herself behind him and glances back to make sure that Yi picks a buddy for the trip back.

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