Meeting Hummingbird
7/5/2007
11:48 AM
Logfile from GarouMUSH.
Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous Moon phase (64% full).
It is currently 11:45 Pacific Time on Thu Jul 5 2007.
Currently in Saint Claire, it's a sunny day. The temperature is 71 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the north at 8 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.08 and falling, and the relative humidity is 52 percent. The dewpoint is 53 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius.)
The Sept Compound(#2075RAM)
Sweeping branches of trees form a sort of natural roof overshadowing most of this clearing, no more than an open space of grasses and beaten earth in the heart of the forest. Some pains have been taken to keep wear and tear on the area to a minimum, so the firepit tends to shift from time to time. The firepit, several sawn logs polished from use, and a stack of firewood discreetly piled up at the base of an old spruce under a tarp, are the only signs of constant occupation. However, a student of such things might think that some minimal landscaping or planning has been done, for the meadowlike profusion of grasses and other plants has an unusually high concentration of brilliant flowers, which attract a number of bees and butterflies.
A faint trail leads off to the east, and a bit north.
Contents:
Hummingbird
Stone slab
Obvious exits:
Forest
Outside under the natural blue of the skies, the sept compound is exposed to the elements. And so is Yi. The Gnawer fostern pushes at a log with a foot, using that instead of say, a more powerful form, to do a minor bit of change to the firewood available at the compound. That's to say, she's adding to it. Ineffectually.
Some creature can be heard heading in the general direction of the compound. Predator, say the sounds of the forest. Not so large as a bear, not so shy as a deer, says the rustling of brush and leaf mould, and from the slight unevenness the creature is a little footsore. It comes into view, eventually- a wolf, unusually bold to be a wild one, its coat somewhat unkempt. It is indeed a little lame, and a little weary, and it looks about the Compound with curiosity that is decidedly unwolflike, then barks softly to announce its presence.
[look Hummingbird (lupus)]
At something over two feet tall at the shoulder, with a lean but solid build and lithe muscle flowing easily beneath his pelt, this young male grey wolf lacks any indication that his age has placed him at the bottom of the social scale. His dense, wiry coat blends from pale cream on his belly, throat and muzzle to salt-and-pepper grey along his spine. The fur about his ruff and shoulders is dark and glossy as a raven's wing, glimmers of blue, green and red reflecting off it when the light is right.
His ears and tail are tipped with black, and two small black lines mark his face, frown lines between his fierce amber eyes. Another pair of longer black lines of hair runs down the front of his forelegs. More unusually, he has a round bare patch at his throat where his skin takes on a golden sheen, and a strange patterning on his right flank could, to the fanciful, be seen as the snarling head of a jaguar.
Any Garou will sense something more than his outward appearance, an aura of ancient nobility that marks him as one through which the blood of Garou heros flows strongly.
Carrying:
Feathered Cape
Yi pauses at her wood kicking, the bored expression on her face changing instantly alert at the rustling she hears. "Hello?" she calls back out in response, leaving the log where it lies and walking out into the small meadow. That's when she sees the wolf, and her lips turn up at the corners. "Hello," she speaks again, studying the lupus with more than just a casual observer's gaze. There's no fear in her eyes for the animal.
This wolf is looking for the one called Runner, the wolf announces, returning Yi's examination coolly.
Yi glances about at the quiet woods before she gestures to herself, pointing a couple of fingers to her chest. "That is me," she replies as she moves closer, finding a log to sit on. The height change brings her down more to the wolf's eye level, and she blinks at him curiously. Brows arching, she leans forward a little in expectance of something more out of the lupine.
Hummingbird huffs, and- rather reluctantly, it seems- lowers his tail as he comes forwards and starts a lupine greeting, muzzle wrinking as he sniffs and snorts at the Gnawer's scent. This wolf is Hummingbird-Comes-From-The-Mountain. Silvertip-alpha told me to see you for teaching.
She might be a Gnawer, but Yi's scent these days carries just the scent of the bawn and the woods, and more recently the sweat on her body from gathering firewood. Nevermind her most recent meal smells like corn flakes and milk. It takes her a little bit longer to process the lupus' postured speech, but she nods one way or the other. "Hummingbird. I am Yi, known as Runs-the-Gauntlet. Fostern ragabash of the Bone Gnawers, and right now Guardian." And now that introductions are 'finished', she stands once again. This time, however, it is to shift down to her lupus form, and conduct a more complete introductory sniff before settling back down. Her ears flip forward at Hummingbird, the left flicking lightly. Did Silvertip tell you what I ask in return?
Lupus form is not good at concealing reaction. It's quite clear that Hummingbird is unaware of the nature of any return favour. He gives a short growl, but it seems to be at himself, as he is taken by surprise, for he shakes himself and relaxes somewhat. There should always be something in return, he says.
Life and death. The prey runs, the predator chases. They complete each other. Yes, they give and take, both. There should always be something in return, notes the ragabash as she paces a couple steps closer to the Uktena. Silvertip asks me to teach, so I ask what I will get. What do you expect to learn from me?
Hummingbird looks at Runner with a puzzled expression, as if surprised to hear such an assertion from her, and rather than answering her question he poses one of his own. /You/ are a gnawer of bone? Strange.
Runner looks surprised that Hummingbird would look surprised. She even goes so far as to look up and down her body - what end she can see of it - to confirm. Yes, she is of the Bone Gnawers. Why is it strange?
Hummingbird shrugs the question off, and returns to an earlier one. This wolf has been told to learn. This wolf expects nothing but what he can learn.
Runner stares at the Uktena a while, her confusion still lingering, but she too eventually shakes it off and finds herself on the new topic. To find what you can learn, find what you already know. What tricks have the spirits taught you, Hummingbird?
Hummingbird's hackles lift a fraction, and he licks his whiskers with a trace of- if not nervousness, then certainly reserve mingled with tension. The confusion of the eye and the force of the tongue, he responds.
Runner reads into that change of posture in the Uktena, and yet she keeps pressing. And what of the rites of our kind, that connect us to the spirits that teach us?
Nothing, the younger Ragabash indicates, backing up a step.
Runner swings her ears up in surprise, head lifting a touch. Nothing? Nothing?! Hah! This is good news! The Gnawer no-moon does a bit of hop-step, actually looking excited by the revelation.
Hummingbirds' ears swivel wildly. It is? He looks confused, and cross at being so.
Of course! answers the fostern with a quick shake of her fur. It means you are young, alive, and Gaia knows you have much to learn. It is a good way to see the world. Tired, old eyes and dry noses sometimes find the land dull and unexciting. Everything slows down like getting caught in Weaver's web for the old who cannot find something new. That is why it is good. Runner wags the very end of her tail still in eagerness. So, what to learn first? Do you wish to know how to look into a fire to see paths to answers in the flames? How to awaken things that will bond to your spirit and travel with you in the Shadow, or when you change shapes? The spirits too, granted me knowledge to do what they do. How to open things that others cannot open on their own, and such.
The Uktena shifts his weight a little from one forepaw to another. What sort of answers? He demands.
Runner pauses with a paw in the air, blinking at the other wolf. Answers to questions you have, replies the ragabash with an air of obviousness. Then a sly look crosses the Gnawer's face. The Water Serpent's child is always looking for secrets, isn't he.
The Gnawer seems to have surprised the Uktena once more. So many half-started and quickly-stopped responses mix that picking out any one would be a hard task indeed. Secrets are well enough, he comes back with in the end. Sometimes things are not secret, only hidden.
Runner looks amused by the Uktena's surprise, her tail flipping this way and that upon the ground. Exactly, she chuffs easily. I think that this is a good rite for one as you, Uktena's Child. But, it is not all that there is to learn. It is only one step up on a range of mountains, where each one has a secret at the top. You choose which path to climb.
Hummingbird's pelt ruffles with irritation as something in the Fostern's words rubs him up the wrong way. And what comea around to you, gnawer-of-bone who speaks as more than just ~Urrah~?
Then it's Runner's turn to look a little irritated, particularly at the slur against urban Garou. Her mental directions change, and she comes back to focus on the Hummingbird. I only go up to the top and come back down each one. A Bone Gnawer has no place sitting at the summit when there are denholes in the valley for us. The fostern rises to her feet again, ears flicking away a fly buzzing at her ear. Then, she fixes the other ragabash with a quirky eyed stare. What do you mean by I speak more than just ~urrah~?
Perhaps it is all just words, Hummingbird replies, lifting a hindleg to scratch at his ruff. This wolf thought... He stops, and shows his teeth angrily. This wolf will not be lied to again. And what is wrong with sitting at the summit? The sun is bright, and burns away the lies.
Runner takes a step back at the other wolf's teeth show, her own lips peeling back in reflex. What is your problem? I tell you no lies, Uktena.
Hummingbird gives a deep whine of frustration, then shakes himself, vigorously, and lies down to chew at a sore forepaw. I am here to learn, he states. My alpha wishes me to learn. I will learn, and whatever is needed to make fair return I will give.
Runner flicks her tail behind her, remaining standing. Licking her muzzle, the ragabash turns and steps away to about a length before turning to look at the Uktena. Silvertip wants you to learn. I do not know if you, Hummingbird, want to learn what it is I have to teach. Find me again later, and I will see what to teach you.
Hummingbird lifts his head, his pride fighting with wolven instinct to obey his alpha. This wolf wants to and does not want to. This wolf would much rather learn on the slopes of home, where the whole Sept howls to welcome the Sun and the land reaches to touch the sky. This wolf would rather learn from family. That is why I do not want to learn. Those things cannot be. That is why I wish to learn from you.
Runner gazes at the Uktena neutrally, though there is a hint of evaluation and scrutiny there. All Garou are family, she remarks with a scratch of her paw against the ground. And you are not the only one who would sometimes want to learn at home. But as you say, it cannot be. Hackles lift in some passing irritation, and the Gnawer shakes herself to shake it off. Anyway, it does not matter where you learn as long as you want to, and do. Find me again later, and I will see what to teach you, Hummingbird.
Hummingbird's ears slant backwards, and the tip of his tail thumps a single acceptance of the command before he returns to licking and chewing at his paw-pads.
Runner lingers in the area for a few moments longer, and chuffs a hasty goodbye before turning and trotting off into the woods.
From afar, to the room, Hummingbird thanks, and notes that Bird is a nasty prickly sod, sorry.
Long distance to the room: Runner is going to go grab some lunch. Thanks for the RP. :) Mm, if you want to, we can put in +teach/+learns now for the Questing Stone (or what else you want? Need to look at my +sheet?) and see what the answer is.
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