Bring On The Rites
5/15/2007
09:52 PM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Currently the moon is in the waning New Moon phase (7% full).
It is currently 21:50 Pacific Time on Tue May 15 2007.
Currently in Saint Claire, it is partially cloudy. The temperature is 57 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the southwest at 10 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.04 and rising, and the relative humidity is 66 percent. The dewpoint is 46 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius.)
Bawn: Central Forest(#2876RA)
The forest is dark and quiet. No, not quiet. Listening. The ancient firs rear up all around, branches interwoven in a dense roof of dark green. Fallen needles lie in a thick carpet on the ground, heaped up around the drifts of undergrowth clinging to the scarce patches of light reaching the forest floor. Every sound seems muffled, and the sharp scent of pine hangs in the air like the clouds of midges that swarm ceaselessly beneath the branches. Even the many deer who roam here seem to step more quietly than usual, and the songbirds seldom sing.
The forest spreads out around you in all directions.
Contents:
Stacey
Obvious exits:
Burial Mounds Story Tree Caern of the Hidden Walk Western Bawn Southern Bawn Northern Bawn Eastern Bawn
Night has fallen on the caern and bawn, leaving the sky pocked with puffy clouds scattered before the stars. The nice weather of the day gives way to the cooler night temperatures. Deep in the forest of the central bawn, Runs-the-Gauntlet is making her way towards the caern along a darkened, but not invisible trail used by animals and Guardians alike. Her steady ground-eating trot is marred only by the slight limp of her right hind leg, and the even subtler bit of tension buried like a muscle ache in her shoulders. The moon is but the tiniest of slivers of light, making the forest seem even darker than usual. The Gnawer in lupus pauses beside a tree, coming to sit beneath its shelter and rest her paws a while.
Farther to the west sounds a howl of greeting, as Walks-Middle announces her presence, containing within its serious tone a note of inquiry: Whether Runs-the-Gauntlet is within the area. The Child can be heard moving toward the center, making little effort to keep her whereabouts secret, drifting closer to Yi's location.
Ears perk at the howl, especially when the Gnawer fostern hears her name amidst the wolf song. Answering with a pitched barking howl of reply, she sets off again in the Gaian's direction. I am coming! Yi breaks out into a run, weaving about the forest towards the west.
Walks-Middle also breaks into a run as she hears the answering call, barking out her acknowledgement. Once she comes within sight of the Gnawer, she starts to slow, chuffing an amiable greeting before she takes on a more serious demeanor. Runs-rhya is well?
Yi stretches out her legs on the run, actually taking the moment to enjoy it while it lasts. By the time they meet and greet each other, she's panting just a little and dips her head to indicate she is in fact doing well. Her next inquiry comes with standing ears tipped forward at the Gaian elder. Do you need a Guardian for something?
Walks-Middle indicates a negative with a flick of her ear. No, not a Guardian. I seek a scout. We seek your aid, if you are willing. I can help you find one to take your place while you aid our search... She pauses there, tilting her head to the side as she waits for a reaction.
A scout you say, the Gnawer notes with a soft sneeze. Her ears sit back for moments as she adds, Lefty told me about a Bat-spirit. Is this the same reason you ask? The ragabash quirks her head right back at the Gaian.
Yes, the same, Walks-Middle acknowledges, seeming relieved that it had been mentioned to her briefly. Then you know why I ask. Your experience would be useful in seeking out their location.
Runner appears uncomfortable by the thought, tail lashing against her flank. But in the end, she chuffs her agreement. Before I leave the bawn, another must come guard. I will speak to the Warder about my absence.
Walks-Middle tilts her head as she senses that discomfort, taking a step forward with a faint whine. I would not ask if I didn't think it was important. Leaves-None-Behind is a very good scout, but I did not want to risk too much with Dancers. I will help seek another to guard, maybe Cycle-Breaker?
Runner agrees on the point of risk, adding a low growl of simmering rage when the Dancers are mentioned. There is no love lost for them, on the Gnawer's part. Cycle-Breaker, or Rusty the Fianna if you can find him. Both are no-moons. Or the Fang elder, Strikes-Swift-Like-Lightning. He is fostern. Her ears flick in continued agitation as an undercurrent of worry overtakes her. I would ask the Wendigo, but the moot...
Another current of worry moves through the Child at the mention of the Wendigo. No, she answers sadly, her gaze moving toward the East. They would not come. Not now, not yet... I will speak with those you mentioned, see if one will take your place.
Runner flattens her ears against her head, definitely not happy with that decision and at a loss to define how to change it. But then with a shake of her fur, she tosses off the bad feelings and stamps a forepaw on the ground, determined to look hopeful. We will weather through. The Hidden Walk has gone through worse.
Walks-Middle lowers her ears as she adds, I did not say what threat there was in our talk. Hope to get their aid once we know more and can prove it is needed. Maybe their opinion will change when hey see how we work together now. And yes, we will make it through... Her ears perk forward at a sudden thought. Do you know any with the Rite of Accomplishment?
Runner takes a little longer to pick her spirits up, but she does eventually. The ragaash looks quickly back upon the Gaian when she's asked the question almost randomly. Her answer though, is a negative. I do not know it, or anyone who does. It is a rare one, that rite. The rite where battle scars are covered in ash is more common.
Walks-Middle flicks her ears in thought at that answer, then lets out a huff of a sigh. Stills-the-Dance spoke of it. We are looking for the Rite, if any can be found that have it. Perhaps, if needed, one of us will go to another Sept to seek it, once more important matters are taken care of here.
Bowing her head a bit, Runner makes like she'd be apologizing for the whole of the Garou Nation. The ragabash perks up, afterwards though, at a thought. If there was a way to contact my teacher long ago, Watches-From-Above-rhya, she would know the rite. But then, Yi's ears flip back again. She is very very very far, though.
Walks-Middle perks up at the mention of this possibility, only for her hope to diminish at the mention of distance, but it's not long before her mood lifts once again. Wait! She bounces forward eagerly. Maybe she has a weaver-calling-thing! Maybe you could call her closer! Or maybe she could call you closer.
Call her closer? Yi looks utterly baffled by the suggestion. Watches-From-Above-rhya has never traveled outside of the Rat's Tail. And... I am not sure she would come. Not for this one. The Gnawer fostern shakes her head, looking quite the doubtful one.
Maybe she wants to travel, if she never has, answers Walks-Middle, apparently completely convinced that her solution will work. Never know if you don't ask! Might work. If not, no harm? Maybe there is something she could learn here in exchange.
Runner barks out a laugh, harsh and disbelieving. But then she quickly reins it in, realizing in the face of such staunch belief that it's no use to turn away the Coggie ahroun. She is old-old-old, the Gnawer warns, and does not speak the western human tongue well. The fostern's ears splay. Or does she? A flash of doubt about that also crosses Yi, tacking itself on to another skepticism. Do you think it would take her long?
Oh, definitely no use. It is clear that Walks-Middle has already latched onto the idea that Yi might be able to miraculously help in this matter as well. Old ones teach, Walks answers, not too certain what Yi meant by bringing up age. And we will be respectful. Can you speak the Eastern Tongue? You could translate. And she could teach you. She tilts her head at the last question. Long for what? To get here? To teach? You could learn fast! the young Elder adds, full of confidence, it seems, that Yi could do just about anything.
Runner backs up from the Gaian's extreme enthusiasm, ears splaying in a 'Just what did I get myself into?' manner. She even looks around the darkened woods, as if in hope some miraculous happenstance could help her escape. Licking the end of her muzzle, the fostern utters a soft whine and explains, somewhat. It took me almost a month's turn, stuck in a box full of stink, ice and fish, on a floating Weaver box to get here. Then, some time ago, I went back on a flying Weaver bird. It took less time. But I had to ask others for Weaver paper to give to others so they would let me go. There seems to be much more to it, but Yi doesn't seem so inclined to continue on that end.
Walks-Middle lowers her ears at the long list of what all it took to get Runner over to this side of the world, some of her enthusiasm leaking away, her posture drooping. That is, until the mention of weaver paper, and then she looks hopeful once again. I have some weaver paper! To get things with. Know another who has LOTS of weaver paper! He said to say if /anything/ was needed! Could ask, might help!
At the rate Walks-Middle's tail must be going, Yi's going to have herself a headache staring too long. Good thing she doesn't, though, and instead scuffs a paw against the ground. Would have to call her from a Weaver-caller, unless you use the paper way, with marks made by hand. That takes a long-long time. Her ears twist as she thinks, all quiet and poking mentally through things. Then the Gnawer gazes back upon the Gaian. Find one to take my place here, and I will go scout. Then, I will go with you to find a Weaver-caller thing to ask Watches-From-Above if she would come.
Walks-Middle continues to give Yi the most pathetically hopeful, pleading look possible until that confirmation that the Gnawer will help on both points. She lets out a pleased yip, her tail wagging. Yes! Good, that would be good. Both will be good. A great help. Thank you!
Walks-the-Middle-Road, you certainly know how to get what you want without doing much, the Gnawer rumbles in halfhearted amusement and a hundred percent thoughtfulness. Still, the enthusiasm is contagious enough that even the ragabash gives her tail a bit of a wag. Just as long as you know, this will be more burden on you when I come asking for your help.
Walks-Middle lolls out her tongue in amusement at Runner's words. Although her posture contains an odd sense of 'wait and see', the Child only verbally comments with, If you ever need aid, Runs-the-Gauntlet-rhya, you have only to ask.
Runner swivels her ears back and forth, pursuing a line of thought that waxes on her expression. It soon fades back like a receding tide, and she lifts a hind paw to scratch at her head in stall tactic. I will settle the trade later, she determines after, paw setting down again.
Walks-Middle actually shifts up into her birth form, looking at the Gnawer for a moment before she nods, her expression serious. "Good. There is much to be settled already. I know that you have already helped myself and my tribe a great deal. If times were different..." She gives a shrug, an almost helpless gesture. "The Sept has been through worse, I merely don't want to see it go through worse again, no matter what I may have to take on myself. But I have always respected you, Yi-rhya, and have thought fondly of your tribe over the years, so know that I mean it when I say that whatever it is you ask if me in the future, I will do whatever is within my power to aid you."
Runner angles her gaze at the ahroun, a long, almost blank kind of look given to her. Yet it is evident the fostern's attention is all there, because she parts her jaws in a lupine smile. Gnawers and Gaians work together. Help each other. It has been a long friendship, I am told. Unicorn's brow has a long horn to perch on. It is a good vantage point. The ragabash wags her tail again, looking comforted. She then shifts to breed form too, coming a hand through her hair to straighten out some tangles. "I do have something to ask you then, if you are not too busy in the near future. How well do you know Cole Howls-For-Glory?"
[And Fade Out, assuming they continue talking...]
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