Wheel and Deal
3/11/2007
11:14 AM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Currently the moon is in the waning Half Moon phase (50% full).
It is currently 11:14 Pacific Time on Sun Mar 11 2007.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is raining lightly. The temperature is 57 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the east at 13 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.05 and steady, and the relative humidity is 89 percent. The dewpoint is 54 degrees Fahrenheit (12 degrees Celsius.)
Bawn: Eastern Forest(#2990RA)
Gradually, the dense forest gives way to more mixed vegetation, as trees become less pervasive and undergrowth takes over. Spotty clearings filled with short scrub and bushes dominate the forest floor, with only a few game trails to make paths through the tangled growth. The forest that is here seems to loom, as if resenting handing over land to lesser plants. Small rustlings come from the bushes and patches of high grass. Who knows what is concealed here?
To the north, the sounds of the interstate are audible in the distance, while to the east, the ground begins to rise into tumbled piles of rocks and shallow gullies.
Contents:
Long-Suffering
Obvious exits:
Bone Arches Into the Caern Southern Bawn Northern Bawn Central Bawn Eastern Mountains
[look Ayita (lupus)]
This wolf appears to be a defined best as a red wolf, commonly found in the continental United States. From nose to tail, she is about four and a half feet in length and weighs between 45-50 pounds. Her ears stand erect at the top of her head, sloping down her angular muzzle to her charcoal black nose. From either side of her muzzle, there is a pair of golden-brown lupus eyes. Characterized black lines mark out her maw, filled with pearly white fangs. Her undercoat is thick, trapping in air to help keep her warm in a harsh winter storm. The guard hairs are coarse and hollow. Her legs are long and muscular, making her create graceful and purposeful movements. Her angular muzzle slops from a broad skull down her neck, shoulders, and back. Narrow, muscular shoulders shape her form as they lead down the rest of her form. The length of her fur is a fine blend of tan, nutmeg, bark-brown, gray and black. The tan is briefly seen in splotched on her cheeks, chin, upper chest, belly, and the underside of her limbs. Her posture seems generally neutral unless provoked.
Spring has finally arrived, and a young red wolf is making the best of the slushy mud puddles around the bawn by giving them all a playful splash as she runs through the dense gathering of trees before breaking into the open patch of ground. It is here that she slows her pace and sticks out her nose to sniff randomly at the air.
Runner watches in silence from afar, standing upwind of the Uktena. Ears attracted forward from the sound of the puddles splashing, the Gnawer draws closer. Care is taken to remain unnoticed - a sort of miniature test.
It might be difficult to smell upwind, thus, Long-Suffering doesn't catch the Gnawer that easily. However, the Uktena, even though her perception appears to be low, she takes to the vegetation, stalking along behind it and out of sight of the Ragabash.
Runner licks her chops. Supposedly assuming she's gone unseen and unscented, the ragabash gets low and scoots her way through the area, using nothing but her own wits and experience to track the galliard and move even closer.
Long-Suffering must have better things on her mind and still does not catch wind of the Ragabash stalking closer towards her. She stops, sniffing and listens finally to see if there is anything worth tracking. Perhaps she might pick up footsteps of the other wolf behind her?
There's a sound off in the distance, fleeting as it is, of something past beyond Yi. The sounds are only there for a moment, before they vanish again.
Runner busily tracks Ayita up until the sound snaps her attention in two. An ear swivels towards it, and the no-moon comes to a halt, thus her already carefully placed footsteps pause. She listens again for the sound, though it's long disappeared into the quiet patter of the rain.
Long-Suffering is a bit too far ahead of Runner to hear the fleeting sound behind the Ragabash. The Galliard continues on, heading in the eastern direction towards the longhouse. Slowly, she weaves her way up along different paths, finding a nice stream of rainwater to follow so that her scent would be difficult to pick up from anyone trailing after her from a conciderable distance.
The sound happens again, this time a little closer, and a little louder. It's then followed by a much louder, and un-missable sound: The should of one Uktena fostern howling over to Runner, asking where in the heck she is.
Runner perks her ears at the sound of that howl, though it's immediately followed by a flip back of her ears against her head as she determines Circle Keeper's askance in the howl. Straightening to her full (though still relatively short) height, she blows her cover open more with a replied howl. Here I am! The reply howl is followed with, Long-Suffering, I saw you!
Long-Suffering perks her ears into attention when she hears Circle Keeper, which to her surprise, is followed by the other Fostern. She snorts loudly and turns to head in the direction she had been just now traveling from. She chuff-howls back in an annoyed tone as she approaches the Gnawer, Why?
A little while passes, before the Uktena fostern howls again, this time closer: Where is Runner? He asks loudly.
Runner flicks her ears forward again, following the howl of the ahroun with its close proximity. The ragabash lifts her voice again, revealing her position, and purposely travels towards Circle Keeper. She doesn't yet respond the Long-Suffering's query.
Long-Suffering picks up the Ragabash's scent eventually and follows it towards where the Gnawer is heading.
Circle Keeper heads in towards the other Fostern, the gatekeeper's posture high as he limps to the equal sized wolf. He offers a short vocal greeting to the other as he approaches, but pauses mid-stride when he sees Ayita. The Galliard gets a slightly more chipper greeting from the ahroun.
Runner bobs her head with a greeting reply, keeping just a little lowered in respect to the position the Uktena fostern holds on these grounds. She casts a glance towards Ayita when the other Uktena arrives, offering also a warmer chuff of hello, and a note that she saw Long-Suffering /not/ suffering, but playing in the puddles.
The younger Uktena, indeed, look splattered in mud. She narrows her eyes a little as rain falls gently on her muzzle but remains silent as she looks submissively towards her elder.
Circle Keeper trots towards Ayita, giving her a brief sniff over, before he bumps her with his head, and heads for the Gnawer. He doesn't sniff at her, or, at least doesn't do much beyond an accidental sniff from a distance, which seems rather out of place for one such as Circle Keeper, who's become so fond of using his nose. This one wants to talk at Runner, he tells her. About trade.
Runner stands content to go unsniffed, though her ears splay at the ahroun in query. Trade?
Long-Suffering remains still while being inspected by the higher-ranking Uktena. Her ears then swivel from the Ragabash to Ahroun, keeping her silence.
Circle Keeper's head skews to one side, before the Uktena fostern indicates an affirmative. This one is almost finished making things for trade to Runner for her teaching Untangler, he tells her. But, Untangler is lazy and not wanting to learn... there's more than a bit of bitterness as he talks about Horace, from the Fostern. This one wants to trade the things to Runner for other thing, if she will.
Runner stays away from the delicate situation of the Uktena fostern's feelings regarding the Wendigo. That doesn't, though, deny her curiosity that shows itself upon this change of terms. In fact, the ragabash does consider for a longer moment before indicating she is fine with such a change. What other thing? Long-Suffering is glanced at again like the galliard were a silent witness.
A curious expression flashes across Long-Suffering's body language. The young wolf sways on her feet a little and perks her ears in interest towards her elder again. As we all know, curiousity only kills cats.
Teach Howls-Accord rite things, Circle Keeper tells the other. Howls-Accord is good and will learn. Or teach this one's sister rite things. The white wolf takes a half step back, before giving his pelt a light shake to dislodge the water from it. This one would want teaching Howls-Accord, mostly.
Long-Suffering slips her ears back against her head and looks disappointed that her elder requests that the Wendigo Galliard be taught things from Runner, while this Uktena Galliard has been very eager to learn. Yet, she continues to be turned away. She tries not to silently protest yet, although there would be somewhat of a human equivalent of a frown that crosses the wolf's physical features for a moment.
Runner shuts her eyes for the span of Circle Keeper's pelt shaking, holding back from doing so herself. Her fur puffs just a bit, though, lifting the dampness away by fractions of an inch. Howls-Accord is not one I know well, but if she is good and wants to learn, then this no-moon's knowledge could be hers, the ragabash rumbles in thought, still giving consideration, but looking quite inclined to agree to teaching either of the two mentioned. Long-Suffering's 'frown' does not go unnoticed. Runner looks towards her, head tilting in a silent question towards her mood.
Circle Keeper not want Howls-Accord to learn no-moon things, he tells Yi. She wants to learn rite things. For a change, Circle Keeper actually catches someone's mood, and reacts as Ayita grow into the lupus-esq frown; its probably because she is, in fact, in lupus. This one makes agreement /long-time-past/, he tells Ayita. To teach packmates. Keep them strong. This one still needs to have packmates learn first.
Long-Suffering perks her ears to attention when Circle Keeper directs a comment towards her. She kindly ignores the look from her potential packmate. She merely twitches her ears in agreement and looks slightly embarassed for her mild jealousy. There is a soft rumble of appology from her throat as she masks her expression for one that is a little more carefully concealed.
Runner licks the front of her muzzle, the water whisked away as she thinks. Yes, it is a long-ago trade agreement. Still going, but can be finished. Would you choose which rite she should learn too, Circle Keeper, or do you leave that to me? She quirks her head back to Uktena fostern.
Circle Keeper indicates a flat negative to her question, the arctic wolf remaining still for a moment, before ammending, rite that Howls-Accord will learn, and Runner will teach.
Long-Suffering waves her tail slowly back and forth while watching the two Fosterns. Eventually, the Cliath grows bored and begins sniffling in circles around them.
Runner looks confused to the negative a moment, but the amendment added brings things to light. With permission then, I go to Wendigo lands and howl for Howls-Accord or your sister, to find them. I will teach them, yes. Trade.
Circle Keeper seems satisfied with this, and the wolf begins to back away, as if he's finished talking to Yi. But no further than a few steps away, he turns and looks back first to Ayita, and then Yi. The asks, towards the Gnawer, if she thinks this one should have a Fostern Name?
Long-Suffering looks up at Circle Keeper and twitches her ears.
Runner cants her head at the question, glancing from ahroun to galliard and back. Is Circle Keeper not a good name? Though that is her initial question, the ragabash gives it some more thought. If Circle Keeper does not think his name is fitting of Fostern, then he could get the galliards to sing him a new name. This one, Runs-the-Gauntlet, did not have a new name from when she passed from cub to cliath, because her elders thought it was not needed. On the mention of galliards, she looks back to Long-Suffering for a moment.
Reflection-Warder has Fostern Name. Runner has Fostern name. Not like going from cub to not-cub, the Uktena counters. He gives himself a bit of a toss, to dislodge more of the rain water, before he licks either side of his muzzle. The wolf turns and begins to plod off, his steps rather easy.
Runner chews over Circle Keeper's rebuttal, her tail physically swishing from side to side. As he turns to go, she is still thinking, and thus any reply is staved off. Then before he is too far away, she barks for a quick 'wait!' and hurries to catch up to him. Once she does, she adds as an afternote, New names mean one has done new things. Circle Keeper should find galliards to sing of his Fostern things done. Then, surely, a new name will be given to him. A good, strong Fostern name.
Circle Keeper pauses as Yi calls over to him, and the gatekeeper turns about to face the the Gnawer Ragabash. This one has done fostern things, he responds, perplexed. It is how he passed his challenge to be fostern. Bloods-Bane already howled those things.
Runner bobs her head again, agreeing that Bloods-Bane has done this. But, there was no Fostern name for Circle Keeper. And the Warder who Circle Keeper challenged did not give him a new name. So, maybe it is time for the song to be sung again, fresh, new, different. With a Fostern name for the one now-called Circle Keeper.
Long-Suffering appears to have already heard this conversation before and slips off to the brush to inspect it instead of paying much attention to two Fosterns conversing.
Circle Keeper gives a sort of verbal shrug at that, before giving that sort of tacit agreement that one gives when one doesn't really have a strong feeling in any which direction. The fostern turns and resumes plodding off.
Runner gives pause at the ahroun's nonchalance, looking a little confused again, but decides that that was enough. The ragabash turns off, giving one last glance in the Uktena fostern's direction, and then looks about for Long-Suffering again. She lowers her nose to the ground, sniffing about for the galliard's tracks to follow once more.
Long-Suffering has really just turned around the corner and has been paying better attention this time. She corners around the brush, sneaking up behind Runner and emits a loud chuff to try to startle the Ragabash.
Circle Keeper exits the area, leaving the two to their business.
Runner starts with a jerk of her head up in surprise, yelping and spinning around with a flattening of her ears back briefly. Her fur puffs even more before she realizes what just happened, at which point it slicks back down. What annoyance she might have had doesn't show itself. Replacing it is the no-moon's good humor. Well played, Muddy-Face, she rumbles.
You shouldn't be sneaking up on others, City-Slicker. The Uktena replies in a light-snort. Are you staying in the woods now?
Runner prefers that over Scab-Licker, she comments with another amused tilt of her ears and tongue lolling. At the galliard's question, she replies with a less sure 'yes'. There are still some things that must be taken care of in the Scab before I can fully stay. But I sleep out here now, every night. Much running.
Long-Suffering tilts her head to the side now. What needs to be taken care of? Her tail becomes still as her expression has more of a serious appearance.
Many things, Runner replies, her ears swiveling this way and that as if they were expressive hands. Squeaks Like A Rat's living space. This one's living space she will leave for Leaves-None-Behind, Savages-the-Enemy and the other Gnawers to use if they wish. And her human contacts must know she will be gone, so they do not look for her while she is away.
Long-Suffering dips her head a little, although she doesn't seem like she understand that making a departure should take that amount of time. Oh, is her only reply.
Runner eventually stops her thinking and rambling, turning instead back to the Uktena. I do have a question for you, though, Long-Suffering. It is about what was said at moot. Your tribemate, Rags Torn to Rags. He spoke of you.
Long-Suffering perks her ears. What did he say? Her expression grows concentrative, thinking that perhaps her tribemate had something bad about her. It seems that is all that he has been doing after just following what her elder has told her.
Runner notes, He said you were banned from Vendetta's pack lands because you disrespected their territory. That you would be banned until you apologized to Kills-the-Cries, my tribemate.
The Galliard rises into homid to speak, "They were completely oblivious to what was going on in their packlands, and your tribemate was just sitting there blankly doing nothing while I was chasing around these spirits." She looks particularly flustered. "So, in my anger, I told him that he was incompetent. Is that so bad?" Then, she continues, her face looking flushed. "I have been called /worse/ by your Philodox living up in the mountains. I hardly call what I had said to be a disrespectful, but I will give it to them that I had no right to be their territory, but I had lost my sense of where I was when I was chasing that shadow around the woods. So, yes, I will apologies when I see your tribemate... but only when I see him. I won't make any effort to try to find him; as you probably know, we both have other issues which hold a greater importance."
Runner steps away to give herself a shake. When she returns though, she doesn't look as pleased. Kills-the-Cries asked to be a Guardian. He can be found on the bawn, she informs the galliard. Why were you chasing spirits though? Were they of the Wyrm?
"A tainted Wyld-spirit, I believe." she replies, not at all sure of this herself. "It lead to a large marmot that was taking shadows." Then, she looks a little distured that the Ahroun wishes to be a Guardian. "Why? I thought that Bone Gnawers liked living and serving in the city?" she asks.
Runner looks amused after the Uktena's question. Bone Gnawers were present even when there were no cities. Rat lives in many places, including the woods. We survive anywhere. The Warder asked for help, so we give it. We are not ones to ignore giving back when we have received aid.
Long-Suffering slips back into lupus and shakes herself. She does not answer the Fostern's comment. You done? I go now.
Runner arches her head up a little, still holding that residual pride about her own tribe in her posture. Well, as much as a Gnawer could have. If there is nothing else, then no. Good hunting, Long-Suffering. May we soon find Uktena watching our paths. The latter note is given with another amused tongueloll.
Long-Suffering turns her back on the Fostern and marches towards the east without further adu. What fantastic packmates she is going to have...
Back | Next | 2007 Logs | Main