April 2007 Moot

4/27/2007

11:00 PM

Currently the moon is in the waxing Gibbous Moon phase (71% full).
It is currently 19:02 Pacific Time on Fri Apr 27 2007.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the south at 14 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.11 and falling, and the relative humidity is 64 percent. The dewpoint is 48 degrees Fahrenheit (8 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:
Vera (Culls-the-Herd), Cedric (Lightning), Circle Keeper (Ciuraq), Emma (Stone-Spirit), Jacinta (Pierces Ice), Lefty (Ferret), Yi (Runner), Aja (Shrouds), Blackriver (Katya), Cole (Howls-For-Glory), Fred, Jacob (Dance-Ender), Kenneth (Far-Cry), Kevin (Power-Up), Michelle (Seagull), Reggie (Rags) || NPCed: Jamethon (Reflection), Dillen (Bloods-Bane), Stacey (Walks-the-Middle)
Obvious exits:
Rock Slab  Windy Spot  WaterFall  Steam Vents  

Michelle slinks in a bit later than most, waiting around the peripheral of the crowd before slowly heading over towards Circle Keeper and Jacinta.

Stone-Spirit trots into the caern, grey fur well groomed and mood as mellow as one can expect from an Ahroun at moot time. Her tail swishes back and forth and she finds a solitary spot to come to rest in.

Circle Keeper waves his tail once behind him as he notices Michelle, but otherwise remains silent. He watches the other ranked garou carefully, eyes narrowed just-so.

Cedric stands up and gives a languid stretch as he watches garou stream into the caern. Then he makes an unhurried shift as far up as crinos, and unleashes a loud howl of convocation. ~Garou of this sept! Tonight we moot! Come and gather in our sacred place! Come, garou, come!~

Howls-For-Glory looks up at the howl, standing up from his crouch. He adds his howl to the mix, staying low in the register of voices. Dillen likewise takes up the call, going higher.

Blackriver adds her voice to the howl, the sound blending with her packmates'.

In the windiest area, Pierces Ice again lifts her head, her mood seeming somewhat sour, perhaps due to the size of the moon. She shifts upward into Crinos, eventually joining the others in the center of the caern.

Kevin just gives a grin. He remains in homid, and perhaps as a consequence, does not howl. But he looks around the clearing, giving approving looks to those who do.

Stone-Spirit lifts her voice up to join the howl, eyes closing as the dissonant sound pierces the evening sky.

As the howls echo around the rocky caern, the patchworked form of a lupus emerges from the woods, limping his way down the steep trails into the caern, blending into the crowd. Rags raises his muzzle, adding his voice to the volume of howls.

Far-Cry echoes the call to moot with a short burst of his own dissonant baying.

While the others howl, Runs-the-Gauntlet slips towards the pool by the pounding waterfall. She squares her shoulders, flicking her gaze out over the gathered Garou howling.

Seagull turns her gaze towards Cedric as he howls, and lets out a call of her own.

Jacob remains quiet during this, likely because he yet remains in homid. There is though, a passion in his eyes as the howls go up, and a shiver of excitement runs through him.

Lightning lifts one arm up, drawing attention to himself and waiting for the howling to die down. When it reaches a lower level, he begins to call out the Litany in a ringing voice. ~Garou shall not mate with garou!~ he commands the sept, like a hellfire preacher from a pulpit, glaring round at them.

Runner, tonight's Fool, flings her arms out widely, as if appealing to the crowd. ~Listen to me! If the metis are deformed, it is not our fault, but the fault of the Mother for making us this way! Garou are Garou, not human, not wolf! They fear us, our Kin. Our Curse scares them away and drives them mad. Our Rage kills those who would stay. With no one who cares to come close, we have no choice but to follow our deeper instincts to take comfort in those who would understand our plight: ourselves. And /every/ animal is supposed to mate with their /own/ kind to produce young ones who are pure, not thinblooded mongrels. And /Gaia Herself/ put these urges to mate in every animal - even us, Her Chosen! Who are we to deny Her will?~

Kevin remains suspiciously silent in response to both the first Law of the litany, and to the fool's twisting thereof.

Howls-For-Glory's eyes flash as he adds his rejoinder. ~Gaia also gave us the minds to realize not to do things we shouldn't!~

Circle Keeper swells up into hispo, snarling at the fool, Gaia makes it known that she hates metis! She pisses in their blood!

Jacob takes in a sharp breath at the calling, but remains silent and with lips drawn tight in a frown.

Lightning leans forward and snarls at Runner. ~Gaia it was who made us, and you seek to blame her for making us this way? You would second-guess Gaia, fool?~

Blackriver snorts, shifting up into hispo for the calling. ~Gaia gave us the law to tell us it is wrong. So it's wrong.~

Far-Cry looks towards Blackriver for a moment, but turns to the Fool to bark out his own response. ~When mating with each other produces only the weak, deformed and the mad, you must find other ways to create more cubs. Our Kinfolk may be scared, but it is up to us to calm ourselves, to restrain our Rage, so they will see greater purpose and allow us closer.~

Rags growls at the Fool. Fight alongside your brethen and mate with your kin. That is the order of things. The order of Gaia!

Once jeering of the Fool has died down, Lightning continues with the litany, and back-and-forth arguments with Runner ensue until Lightning gets to ~The first share of the kill for the greatest in station!~

Slipping in closer from the back, Aja scans those around her before she finds her tribemate. Fixing her eyes back onto the fool, the girl slips in to crouch down next to Jacob without saying a word.

Back and forth the Caller and the Fool go, and when it arrives at the next law, Runner once more appeals to the crowd with her 'logic'. ~You have heard the arguments before, that whoever thought of this law wanted only the biggest share for themselves. That whoever thought of this law only seeks to divide us and weaken us with petty squabbles like stray dogs over old bones. But Brethren, we are greater than this! Understand the sinister meaning behind this, and do away with this deceiving order. No longer do we need to fight over the kill, because there is a way! /Equal/ shares for all stops the fighting! Alphas, Leaders, you would be seen as generous. Those of us along the lower ranks will grow stronger when our portions are bigger. We as a whole will become a greater army of warriors to fight against our true enemies.~

Seagull just stares at Yi for a moment. ~We're are /wolves/ you idiot!~ She calls out after boggling. ~Not communist.~

Kevin yawns. "Bigger portions for the little dogs means smaller portions for the big dogs. You see the big dogs signing up for that any time soon?" He gives a meaningful look to Cedric and Vera.

Jacob looks beside him as Aja joins in. It's a silent greeting she gets as he turns his attention back to the caller and the fool.

Howls-For-Glory snorts. ~That works well for the humans who try it! And they came up with the idea! How well will WE do it?~ The Galliard huffs a breath, looking towards his Alpha.

Rags snarls at the Fool. Raaargh! You're wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong!

Far-Cry snarls at the very idea proposed. ~Taking away from those who earned their first share? Giving equal share to those who do nothing in the hunt? How do you propose to split a fetish won in battle? Fool's logic.~

~Those who fight the fiercest and work the hardest need the most~, retorts Lightning, with an unspoken "like me" hanging in there somewhere.

The calling of the litany continues until Lightning comes to, ~The leader may not be challenged in time of war~.

~Are we so caught in the cycle of endless fighting, that we need yet another law to tell us when to fight? Are we so barbaric that we must turn a time of peace into a time of war by infighting? We do not need to challenge our leaders at all! It will be they who helped bring us to a time of peace - and it should be them who help us maintain that peace for as long as possible. As the human saying goes, if it isn't broken, then don't fix it!~ The Fool dances forward boldly, as if to challenge all who look at her. ~The law just mentioned is the same as the one for peace. Why do we need these laws to tell us when to fight at all? Do we not have any sense for ourselves that we must bind our claws and fangs to these limitations? Ah, you say, but what if the leaders /are/ incompetent in battle and lead us wrong? Well then, swift and decisive action should be taken, no matter the circumstances. It's only common sense! The leader who doesn't lead us to victory is only aiding the Enemy, and deserves no better than to meet their end at our own claws. We can challenge even in battle, and kill those who would send us to our deaths. Do not give the Enemy the satisfaction of their twisted Glory - they don't deserve it!~

Circle Keeper's lip curls back, the fostern snarling back that if they were better at leading, then they would have been leader already!

~The leader may be challenged in time of peace!~ Lightning continues, giving Runner another glare. ~Do we need these laws, you ask? The laws have guided us for untold generations. Yes, we do need them, and you are the fool for not seeing the need.~

Howls-For-Glory lets out a growl, hackles rising. ~But it -is- broken! The world is broken, or we wouldn't be needed! And we need a leader who does not have to look over his shoulder the entire time to avoid being stabbed in the back by his pack! The Wyrm fights over every scrap of power! We are better than that!~

Blackriver snarls. ~Don't waste time in battle killing the leader, kill the Wyrm instead!~

Kevin seems to find this quite amusing. "Yeah, no stabbing your leaders in the back," he agrees.

Runner looks out to the heads of the caern. The tribal elders, the sept position holders, each one gets a glance. ~Peace or War, never will it end until we stop fighting each other. Challenging each other at a time of peace? What will happen when that peace is broken not of our accord? Who will you name the leader then? All will be lost in the chaos and confusion.~

Aja remains quiet, glancing once towards Jacob before refocusing her eyes onto the center of the moot. At Runner's words, a corner of her lips curl up faintly.

Pierces Ice's black lips curl back to reveal pink gums and pale teeth.

Lightning finishes the Litany with a flourish and a final snarl at Runner.

And once the Calling of the Litany finishes, Runner sags back. The derisive howls and jeers complete, and she looks down and away as if to submit to the will of the sept's protests. However, at the tail end when others begin to look for the Warder to Open the Sky, the ragabash flashes a rather fox-like grin towards anyone still peering at her and slips away from the pounding falls to a position closer to the others of her tribe.

Jamethon stands by the Waterfall, facing the center of the Caern, his chimeric spear held firmly in his right hand. He rises to the crinos form and growls out, ~Chimera! Lady of Mirrors! Hear your warriors and know of our devotion. On this moon we moot. Chimera! The Many-Faced! Come and join us on this celebration of Gaia at her heart! Hear us and be led to your Sept!~ With this he turns towards the waterfall and tilts his head back in a powerful howling, arms raising up to welcome the Sept in joining him.

After the howling has been joined by all who will, the waters swirl up from the pool in thin streams, what appears to be little ramps that twirl around each other, meeting at a point at about the height of the Get Warder's head. Up these ramps from the water runs and flies animals and creatures of all kinds, formed of the water. Horses, lupines, chimeras, birds, cats, bulls, even humans... they meet at the point and collide forming what looks like a small blue star at the apex of this sculpture of spirit waters. The star shines a blue light out, casting eerie and interesting shadows over about half of the Caern.

Reflection turns back towards the gathered Garou and calls out, ~The inner sky is open! Let us moot!~

Blackriver throws back her hispo head to join in the howl, quieting down as the water raises and looking at the eerie blue star almost nervously. Seagull on the other hand seems enthralled by this form of Chimera's appearance.

Circle Keeper howls to the totem at the appropriate moment, giving it his all, before the totem appears. After the inner sky is opened, he moves around, coming along side Jacinta.

Howls-For-Glory joins in the howl when it begins, as does Bloods-Bane. When the glowing blue light of the star bathes him, a look of discomfitted wonder comes over the Fianna's face. When the announcement of the Opening is complete, Howls-for-Glory lets his cry die off.

Jacob lets out a deep breath and looks again to his tribemate, offering a half grin to her. A whisper is offered to her as well before all attention goes back to the event at hand.

Joining others in the call for Lady Chimera to show her thousand faces, Far-Cry howls in earnest reverence. The Shadow Lord watches the animals of water in a curious wonderment.

Runner sings out with her wolfsong, modulating her voice instinctively to a dischordant harmony. As the blue star appears, the expression the ragabash wears is awed, tinged even with a little bit of fear for the magical sight.

Kevin punches one hand quietly into the other happily as Chimera appears.

Lightning bows low to the manifestation of Chimera, with a soft howl of respect for the sept's totem.

After the calling fades, Blackriver slowly shifts up into crinos and leaps up to the rock outcropping, holding a large bone in her hand. She raises it above her head. ~Hidden Walk, now it's time to hear the news, and find the truth among us!~ She cracks the bone above her without fanfare, and looks over the sept. ~New ones first, come show us who you are.~

Blackriver pages to the room: Okay, anyone who hasn't already contacted me and has something to say. Page me now.

Aja blinks up at Jacob before she smirks and whispers back quietly, although she does a good job of keeping her eyes on the center of the moot.

Jacob looks to Aja with a faint grin and then moves up to where Blackriver stands. Taking the bones, he draws in a breath and looks around to those gathered. "I am Jacob Seth, Galliard of the Children of Gaia. I am called Stills-the-Dance and am of the rank cliath. I am working through my chiminage now, and by the time the moon is next full, it should be complete." He keeps it short and sweet, handing the bones back to the Fang as he moves to retake his place by his tribemate.

Pierces Ice watches Jacob as he moves to the dais, eyes narrowing. She growls lowly, ears turning backward.

Seagull settles back as the cracking begins, ears turned forward and giving the Gaian a friendly nod.

Lightning inclines his head ever so slightly to Jacob.

Blackriver takes the bones back from Jacob, and waits a moment for any other newcomers to come up and introduce themselves. When none appear, she holds the bones out towards the sept again. ~Introductions are over. Come now and tell us your news.~

Kevin finally deigns to adopt crinos form, and lumbers forwards to Blackriver. Taking the bones, he addresses the sept. ~Just a little snippet of news,~ he tells them. ~Kills-the-Cries has left pack Vendetta, and I have taken over as alpha of the pack. We still keep the waterfront in the city clean from Wyrm and vermin, and if any of you guys are looking for a pack in the city, we've always got room for more.~ He touches the bones to his forehead in a gesture something like a salute, then hands them back to Blackriver.

Runner doesn't growl, but something about Jacob's introduction doesn't sit well with her. When just that one introduction has passed, she pays attention to the news. Kevin's announcement earns him a surprised look followed by a stare. The no-moon is unable to hold down a growl as it slips out between her gritted teeth.

Howls-For-Glory grunts his seeming disapproval of Kevin's news before settling once more on his haunches to pay attention to the news.

Blackriver takes the bones back from Kevin, giving the Glass Walker a rather dour look before turning back to the crowd. ~I have news. Last full moon my pack and several others went into the scab umbra. With the help of Rag-Torn-to-Rags, we found the scrags that killed Endures-the-Pain of the Silver Fangs. We killed them all. Wildfire, and Ferrets-out-the-Wyrm, and Dance-Ender, and Far-Cry.~ Her news done she looks around for someone else to hand the bones to.

Power-Up half-pauses on his way back to his place, and gives a little shrug at the ripple of disapproval that greets his news, as if to say 'I expected nothing more'.

Lightning gives a very satisfied snarl in recognition of Blackriver's news and the final wreaking of vengeance upon those responsible for the death of Jana.

Circle Keeper watches Kevin's annoucement, the ahroun curling his lips back slighty until the Glasswalker is gone. Blackriver's announcement gets a fairly annoyed look, directed at Cole, before he seeks out sight of the others.

Howls-For-Glory doesn't seem to notice Circle Keeper's glance. Instead, he makes a satisfied sound. Bloods-Bane looks ill-temperedly about before pulling himself up pridefully.

Moving forward, the Wendigo Alpha takes the bones with crisp, clean gestures. She turns out to face the gathered, her tone serious and grim. ~My brother and I have been hunting along the scar to the north. We have found many signs of the incursion of the Horned Serpent, and have destroyed a group of Fomor, and a Wyrm tainted energy spirit.~ Now, expression lightening, she gestures toward Michelle. ~Also, let it be known that Left-Behind has had her Rite of Passage, and is now called Seagull Who Shouts At The Mountain, Cliath Theurge of the Wendigo.~ Her jaw drops open in a brief grin before she adds, ~And we have gained a new cub, a fast learner but not yet on the bawn.~

Jacob settles back at Aja's side, giving a faint nod to the whispered comment from before. He turns his attention back to the rest of the announcements then, filing each away to memory.

Pierces Ice hands the bones back to Blackriver with a curt nod before returning to Circle Keeper's side.

Bobbing her head in approval as Jacob rejoins her, Aja lowers herself back down to a near-seated position, resting her rump against her heels while her arms are crossed over her knees. At the mention of a cub's rite of passage, Aja can't help but grin lightly.

Far-Cry rumbles acknowledgingly when he is referred to. The Shadow Lord does not move any more save to cross his arms over his chest.

Runner looks towards the mentioned new cliath, a grin given to the former cub and a heartened smile sent in Jacinta's direction.

Seagull straightens in pride as she's mentioned and grins sloppily.

Lightning expresses pleasure at Jacinta's news of the new cub and the new cliath. He follows her gaze to Seagull, realises she must be the cliath under discussion, and gives her a wolfish grin of approval. Then he steps up to Blackriver himself, and takes the bones. ~Friends and fellow garou,~ he begins in formal mode, ~many of you are already pack members, and it is not to you whom I speak now. But many of you are not, and it is to you I address myself. We are wolves. We are meant to be in packs. Those of us who are not, deny our very nature. And I have been unpacked for too long myself, with my travels. So Falcon has bidden me to form a pack and to clean up the small town that lies between this caern and the city. Any of you who will join me, should speak to me afterwards. Any of you who are galliards, I ask you to spread my invitation to your tribemates and friends.~ He looks around, the Silver Fang at his most noble and heroic-looking as he regards the sept members, and simply says again, ~Join me.~ And he passes the bones back and steps down.

Circle Keeper's lips curl up, the Uktena making a low growl. The wolf gives a sharp look to Jacinta, before back to the fostern Galliard.

Howls-For-Glory watches Lightning intently as he gives his news, giving a heavy nod of approval as the Silver Fang steps down once more.

Pierces Ice's lips curl almost as a mirror to the Uktena by her side. She returns Circle Keeper's look, tail lifting and eyes narrowing as she turns back to the Silver Fang.

Blackriver nods towards Cedric and looks around for any more announcements to be made. Seeing none she straightens up. ~Now it's time for challenges. After the last moot there was a challenge for Master of Challenge, and I won. Now I'm Master of Challenge.~ Her nose twitches. ~Now anyone who wishes to challenge for rank should come forward.~ The Fang turns her head slightly to look towards her Fianna packmate.

Howls-For-Glory, when he is looked to, stretches to his full height and squares his shoulders. ~I am Howls-For-Glory! Elder of the Fianna and Beta of Wildfire! Tale-singer and caretaker of the farmhouse! And Cliath! For the turning of three years I have been among you! I have known the pride of coming together with a pack and the pain of losing the same! I have felt the touch of death as it took my comrades and friends, and I have felt the joy of love with a fine Kinfolk! I have followed and I have led. I have shed blood for the Hidden Walk, both that of my enemies and my own! And for all this, I stand before you tonight. I wish to join the ranks of the Fostern in this Sept. All the better to defend my home, my kith and my kin!~ Here, he turns to face Runner. ~Runs-the-Gauntlet-rhya, it is you! I bring challenge against you for the right to call myself a Fostern!~

Runner stands straighter, ears perking to her name. The Gnawer ragabash gives a wide grin, and turns to the sept. ~Howls-For-Glory came to me twice before along these lines of a rank challenge. Once, it was for a part of his first challenge attempt, trying to learn secrets. I saw he was unable to handle the sensitivity of the information he asked for, long ago, and refused. He failed his challenge then. The second time he came to me, I was uncertain. Uncertain about his worthiness when he was faced with what he'd done, and what he hadn't done. I refused to accept his challenge. Now, he challenges me again, in an attempt to prove his worth! And this time I feel a distinct urge to see how different he was from that past.~ She turns back to the Fianna galliard, head held high. ~Howls-For-Glory, I accept your challenge. On next waxing half moon, at the Story Tree, we will face each other. We will tell stories of each other's past deeds at this caern, and see who can hold their temper better when faced with the reality of what they have done.~ The no-moon then briefly turns back to the others. ~All are welcome to come and listen. I'm sure it will be not only entertaining, but we'll all end up learning something.~ A final dip of her muzzle and she takes a step back.

Stacey remains at back, watching the challenges.

Power-Up lets out a sudden, sharp bark of amusement as the import of those terms sinks in.

Blackriver flicks her ears in acceptance of the terms, jaw opening in a grin at her packmate's challenge.

Pierces Ice's opinions are mixed, but judging from her expression, not terribly pleased.

Howls-For-Glory listens to the terms as they're laid out, giving a toothy grin when they're completed. He nods his acceptance of the challenge, watching Runner for a moment before moving to settle beside Bloods-Bane.

Blackriver pulls the bones back and her ears twitch once before she turns to Cedric. ~Strikes-As-Suddenly-As-Lighting-From-A-Clear-Sky-rhya!~ She calls out, using the Galliard's full deedname. ~I challenge you for Fostern!~

Pierces Ice's ears turn back, lips pulling away from her teeth and the growl that she gives is not so well controlled or contained as those earlier tonight.

Circle Keeper bristles at Blackriver's challenge, his eyes widening as the wolf shoves his posture upright.

Lightning walks forward slowly to confront Blackriver, the huge white crinos looming in the darkness eerily. ~Your challenge is noted, tribemate, and accepted,~ he responds. ~Firstly, let it be noted that as Master of Challenges yourself, you are debarred from judging in your own challenge. Far-Cry of the Shadow Lords has offered to act as judge on this occasion.~ He turns to Far-Cry with a polite nod, then continues, without responding at all to Circle Keeper or Pierces Ice's vocal disapproval. ~You are lupus-born, Blackriver, a noble birth. But a lupus who would be fostern must be able to show competence in shapes other than their birthform, and with matters alien to wolves. Furthermore, you are a philodox, and a fostern philodox must show that their judgment is sound even in matters of life and death. So your terms are these.~ He pauses for breath, or possibly for effect.

Howls-For-Glory lets slip a soft growl at the visible reactions of the Wendigo to his packmate's challenge, having to force himself to turn back to listen to Lightning as he lays out the terms of said challenge.

Far-Cry gazes only between Lightning and Blackriver as he is announced as the judge of the next challenge. His ears twitch forward to the fostern galliard's words.

Runner offers but a wry grin back at Howls-For-Glory and settles in to listen to the next challenges made. She looks about the caern with intent, though, watching the reactions of the Pure Ones off to one side with interest.

Seagull watches the two challenges wearily, and frown fixed on her face.

Blackriver's ears are turned towards Cedric as she listen intently for her challenge terms.

Lightning then goes on. ~Firstly, you will obtain a firearm. It makes no matter what particular sort, but it must be a firearm. Secondly, you will learn to shoot the firearm in homid form. There will be no test of the shooting as such, but you will need to learn it for the remainder of your challenge.~ He fixes Blackriver with a steely eye. ~Within two turns of Luna, you will use the firearm to shoot a prey animal for the feeding of any of the sept who wish it. You will not use teeth, claws or any other lupus ways to bring it down; it must be shot. And within that same time, you will also go to the city and using your skill as a half-moon, you will identify a wrongdoer or lawbreaker whom you judge is deserving of death. Then you will find a witness of this sept, neither Far-Cry nor myself, and with that witness in attendance, but without their aid, you will kill the wrongdoer with your gun. Then you will return here, and you and your witness must show Far-Cry and myself that you have slain the evildoer, and furthermore, you must persuade us that he did indeed merit death. Having performed all these tasks~, he confirms, ~then will you be worthy to claim the rank of fostern.~

Circle Keeper shoots up into hispo, the fostern stamping his foot against the ground repeatedly. His posture is bristled, and he appears to be biting back a growl. Just barely.

Jacob goes wide-eyed at the terms offered, looking genuinely surprised. A slight grin comes to his lips, and he mutters a very soft 'wow' to Aja.

Howls-For-Glory drops into the wolf-skin, his posture showing he very much approves of the terms laid out. He seems genuinely pleased, for once.

Pierces Ice's claws bite into the palms of her hands, small beads of red begin to form, then drip to the ground. A snarl remains firmly in place.

Blackriver's ears turn, first up in surprise and then back in discomfort. Her fur bristles slightly and it's clear to see she's not very happy about her challenge terms. Nevertheless, she gives a loud 'okay,' to Cedric, posture straightening up again as she looks around for the next person to hand the bones to. Circle Keeper's rather violent reaction is noted, but beyond that ignored.

Rags shifts upwards to the Crinos form as he steps up to the rock outcropping, and looks over the assorted crowd. ~I am Rags-Torn-To-Rags, an Ahroun of the Uktena. Some of you might have heard of me.~ He turns his study to Emma. ~Stone-Spirit-rhya, I challenge you for Fostern.~

Stone-Spirit rises into the warform as she steps forward, looking to the Uktena that has challenged her. She gives an open-jawed growl in thought, and then nods. ~Rags-Torn-to-Rags, you have been a warrior of Hidden Walk for longer than most of these gathered have been rited. You have served faithfully, bringing glory to the sept and sacrficing blood, pelt - and limb - for Gaia. You tend her care now as Groundskeeper as well. There is little doubt that your time and effort have earned you the right to challenge. But. There are also whispers that you are not always the honorable Garou you should be. Not long ago, you defiled the territory of another, did you not? And does not such an action scream out in dispute of the very codes we would seek to judge you with, and jeopardize your entire challenge?~

Power-Up turns his head slowly and stares at Stone-Spirit. Then at Rags. Then at Jacinta. Then up at the heavens.

Pierces Ice snaps at air, biting down with a clacking of teeth, and the tears to her palms grow, blood now flowing freely rather than falling drop by drop. It is with a force of will that she slows her breathing, closes her eyes, and turns away from the dais.

Seagull snarls at Reggie, hackles raising and claws burrowing into the earth at her feet in anger.

Far-Cry finally takes notice of the increasingly displeased reactions of the ahrouns on the side. His eyes narrow, but he keeps his distance and his silence. His own hackles raise involuntarily.

Runner does take note of the Wendigo and Uktena Alphas, splitting her attention between their growing tension and the challenge brought forth.

Lightning also looks between Rags and the Pure Tribes' alphas, tension mounting in his own pose.

Aja listens intently, holding her breath in before glancing in Jacob's direction curiously. Her eyes finally scan the area to look for her elder as well.

Blackriver's head swings up to look at Reggie, and then Circle Keeper and Jacinta, then back to Reggie.

Well, if there was anything to get Circle keeper even more angry, that might of been it. He stamps his foot even more, almost as if it's a proxy of what he'd much prefer to be shouting right now.

Howls-For-Glory first at Rags, chuffing something equivalent to 'about time'. When he hears the low growls and the pronounced stamping, the Fianna, perversely, seems even more pleased. The 'about time' is repeated, with more spirit behind it. When the tension starts to rise, Bloods-Bane for his part glares about the clearing, hackles rising.

Rags bows his head in shame. ~Respect the territory of another~, he recites, his shoulders sagging. ~I carved a name for the Wendigo elder on her place. It was wrong to do. I told my deed to the Philodox, Swims-the-Blackriver, and I abide by her judgement.~

Pierces Ice drops to four legs, still facing away from the rocky area. Her bloody palms meet the packed soil in which her claws now find purchase.

Stone-Spirit lets out another thoughtful huff of breath. ~You speak now, and in so doing, have been truthful in the face of adversity. In admission, you are faced with the failure of your challenge.~ She paces a few steps to the side, holding her voice now. ~You have also proven, in so doing, that you *are* an honorable Garou.~ And at this point, the Get smiles in a wicked, lupine fashion. ~You have passed your challenge Rags-Torn-to-Rags.~

Circle Keeper, apparently can't keep his peace anymore. He bursts out into a loud snarl, fangs abare, ~WHAT?! What is this /TRASH?/ You wave your paw and HE'S FOSTERN?!~

Pierces Ice roars upward, turning again to face the Garou. ~What challenge is this!? What challenge is this?~ She aims first to Emma, then to Blackriver. ~He was already judged for this. This is NO CHALLENGE!~

It takes some time for Stone-Spirit's words to sink in. Runner only reacts after the outbursts from the fostern ahrouns, adding her own surprised snarl of disbelief to the mix.

Howls-For-Glory's eyes widen at the quick nature of Rags' Fostern challenge. His tail raises high, and after a moment's hesitation, wags. At the outburst from the Pure Tribes, the Fianna looks over his shoulder, then 'comments' to the air. Challenge made. Challenge accepted. Challenge successful.

Rags' shoulders continue to slump and he starts to move away from the rock outcropping. It's more the outbursts of the other Pure Ones, rather than the softer words of the Get, that wake him, and he halts with a blank stare at Emma, then a hesitant turn towards Blackriver.

Seagull's face melts into one of shock and disbelief. She looks over to Circle Keeper and Jacinta, as if expecting them to make this all right.

The Get raises her voice to a growl as well now, turning to those that would speak out. ~That he can fight the Wyrm, is no question. That he can teach gifts and rites to others, is no question. That he is willing to sacrifice all of himself for Gaia, is no question. He has shed blood for nearly a decade, and if that is not a challenge in itself, then we are blind to his worth. What will another hunt tell us? What will the loss of more blood tell us? He knows glory. And by his words he was willing to confess his past wrong doings were a failure of his challenge. He had the courage, the -honor- to face that outcome willingly.~ Stone-Spirit is tense now, brimming with rage. ~Of this, there can be no argument. Rags-Torn-to-Rags is worthy and befitting the rank of Fostern.~

~I don't expect /you/ to understand the law, Fianna! But Stone Spirit should know our ways!~ Circle Keeper roars, apparently directed at Cole. ~Dishonourable filth!~ That's directed at Emma.

Howls-For-Glory is in Crinos in an instant, his teeth bared in a snarl. ~And I would expect an Ahroun and Elder of his tribe to show enough honor not to shout down a challenge approved of by the Mistress of the Challenge,~ he roars back.

Pierces Ice's words are for Blackriver. ~You challenged me for Master of the Challenge, and I told you - Find what was wrong with challenges past. You could not do that, and failed. It is clear, now, why that is. You are Silver Fang. You are Philodox. You are charged with keeping the ways. This is NO Challenge!~ Her voice fills with scorn. ~You would be FOSTERN?~

Jacob tenses as the eruption of emotion comes to a boil. His jaw clenches and he peers at all those involved. Pulse racing with the thickening aura of rage, he looks to Aja for support.

Aja reaches out to snag Jacob's arm and squeezes it before letting go, her eyes fixed towards the people. She seems so focused on the fight, as if trying to decipher another language that she barely understands.

Blackriver's whole body tenses, and she bellows out to the crowd. ~RESPECT THE BONES.~ She cries, looking primarily at Jacinta and Circle Keeper but also at Cole. She's seething, too much it seems to form a more coherent reply. ~Respect the bones! Respect the moot! Respect this place!~

Ferret's hackles rise with the thick tension. The Gnawer's instincts kick in, and she slinks to the edge of the meeting space, her back to the nearest and quickest exit. For now, however, she remains, crouched and tense, teeth bared, watching the interaction.

Circle Keeper snarls wordlessly in response to the Master of the Challenge. There's a few more loud growls, the fostern seething visibly as he clenches his jaws so tightly closed, those next to him can hear his teeth grinding.

Runner flattens her ears at the shouting and howling going on. But the Gnawer ragabash moves forward instead of back, to the Truthcatcher to take those bones.

Stone-Spirit casts a hard glare toward Circle-Keeper, ears flickering with rage and her whole body rigid with tension. She remains silent though, and with an almost physical effort of willpower, turns her attention to Blackriver to confirm that what is done, is done.

Pierces Ice reaches out with one blood-muddied paw-hand to point, each in turn, to Cole, to Cedric, to Blackriver, to Emma, to Kevin. ~You Wyrmcomers. You lazy "Qussaqs"! You let the Horned Serpent come to your very doorstep before you lift a single claw. You will not learn the ways, no matter how long we try to teach them. Let the Wyrm have you all!~ And with that, she turns and heads toward the windiest spot, on her way out of the caern.

Howls-For-Glory seems to have a hard time forcing down the anger down again. His hands flex in frustration as he visibly strains to follow his Alpha's commands. His shoulders heave with his breathing. And then Pierces speaks. His jaw drops open in surprise, and then rage. A ribbon of slavor drips from his teeth as he growls in the direction of the commotion.

Blackriver glares daggers at Jacinta, but manages to push the anger down enough to offer Runner the bones.

The quick squeeze of his arm is enough to pull Jacob half back from his dangerous focus. He closes his eyes fiercly and pumps his hands into fists. Once again, he utters something to the girl, and then turns to stand up and slink off away from the volcanic like boiling of the moot.

With a slight sigh, Aja rises up as well and begins to follow Jacob out, glancing towards the moot with a slight frown before hurrying to catch up.

Once the bones are handed over, Runner turns to look squarely at the Truthcatcher she took them from. Her gaze lingers there, waiting for a moment's silence before she turns to Stone-Spirit. ~Stone-Spirit-yuf. It is true that Rags Torn to Rags spent his whole life as one who clearly fights for Gaia. He has spilled blood. He has sang songs of Glory with the rest of us. The scars that riddle his body tell of the battles he has gone through. We have all seen him fight. But you should know as well as I that these terms are not worthy of being called a fostern challenge. These terms do not test what else is important to being of the second rank for those of the full moon. Honor.~ The ragabash lets the word sit there. ~That Rags broke the Litany so recently puts a stain on that honor he would have had. Being a Groundskeeper is not enough. Being able to admit wrongs is not enough. His actions have spoken loudly for him. And I would not dare to believe that Rags would accept /this/ as his challenge either.~

Circle Keeper growls his loud agreement when Yi says that the terms are not worthy, the fostern curling his claws into the earth. He pulls his lips back, staring many evil thoughts at Emma oh-so-blatently.

Runner continues with a turn towards Rags, a glance sent towards Pierces Ice as she moves away. ~Rags, I have known you a long time. We've fought together for the Hidden Walk ever since I came those years ago. But that you could let your judgment falter so greatly? Can you honestly see yourself gaining such a position in this manner? Take the bones afterwards and tell me whether or not you would accept yourself in this way. I want to hear it from you.~ She turns back to Blackriver afterwards, setting the bones down before the Truthcatcher. She stares for a long moment at the Silver Fang as well before moving away, to stand and wait.

Blackriver takes the bones back, her anger cooling somewhat. ~All challenges are not equal, and for those of us who have fought so long and so hard, they are easy. The elders said that Rags deserved the rank, a few said that his honor should be tested. So, his honor was tested. Now it is the spirits that will decide whether he is Fostern, they who will teach him a new secret or not. If they do, then it /was/ a fair challenge.~ The Fang slams the bones against the ground. ~The Cracking of the Bone is over.~

~WHAT?!~ Circle Keeper all but bellows. His outrage is palpable.

Stone-Spirit leaves it at that as the Fang brings things to an end. Coiled with tension, she turns and drops again to lupus so carry her away from the caern and ready herself for the revel.

Circle Keeper doesn't stick around for the revel. The Uktena storms off, fury not even beginning to cover the emotions he's expressing.

In the windiest area, Even as she begins to head up the valley and out of the caern, the Wendigo Elder turns to regard Blackriver with an icy stare of disapproval. Then she continues in her original direction.

Rags stands numbly, watching the caern boil and various people disperse. He turns towards Runner, with his head tilting more and more as her speech goes on. He starts to reach out a hand, then flinches back at the slamming of the bones. He wanders off like a concussed person, hands cradling his head.

Runner turns her attention back towards Blackriver as the Cracking ends with such a suddenness that again, she is surprised. A tense line shoots over the ragabash's shoulders and hackles, but she says no more. The Gnawer turns to move towards the pool, to wait in silence through the stories to be sung and for the Revel to begin.

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