Rite of Passage: Gareth Shifting-Wind & Devlin Dirt-Tongue
3/4/2009
12:06 PM
Logfile from Garou-Meko.
Grotto(#2863RJ)
The woods part suddenly, here, amidst the quiet roar of falling water. A wide stream spills over the edge of a rocky face that is the western edge of a hill some thirty feet high. The stones are worn smooth with the passing of time, and are slick with moisture and soft mosses, but a climb up the drier rocks would not be impossible, and there is a sense of space behind the falls.
A wide pool has been carved into the earth by the rushing waters, and the tall trees have grown out around it, sheltering the grotto in a pleasantly-cool shade. Rocks, hewn from the cliff face and shouldered along the path of the stream, form a rough ring around the edge of the pool and guide the flow of water further westwards, again deeper into the woods. All manner of animal tracks are visible in the sandier areas of shore; the trees crouch close against the edge of the stream again as it passes further west, muting the dull thunder of the falls.
Faint trails, between the trees, lead off in all directions, while a determined climb eastwards would crest the rock face.
Obvious exits:
Forest Up the Cliff
Jason leads the way into the Grotto, talking the whole way he goes and glancing back over his shoulder at the cubs behind him. Under his arm, he has a potato sack with rope tied around the mouth, keeping it and its contents secure. "...so I'm thinking regular sparring matches for you two first, followed by that climbing exercise I did with Dev. Gareth, you don't know a real workout til you've had to scale the Grotto's cliff-face ten times in less than five minutes."
Devlin follows along and looks to Gareth, "And if you don't do it in five, he makes you start over, no rest until you do." He frowns at that memory. "But no pain, no gain, right. As I'll find out when you beat my ass at sparring." he chuckles playfully to his mock alpha.
Gareth looks over at the cliffs, and nods his head. "It sounds hard, but doable, once you get used to rock climbing." He eyes the potato sack...wondering what it is with the Irish and spuds. He then looks back at Devlin, and gives a encouraging smile, "The strongest doesn't always win. Usually, but not always." He says with a mock cuff to Devlin's head.
What meets the three Fianna as they enter the grotto proper is the sight of a visitor. Largely silent except for the grunts and whuffs and huffs of her breath, the scar-ridden, rusty red and ivory furred crinos form of Runs-the-Gauntlet looks like she's dancing around a low-lying fire and four wooden bowls. She makes a round around the flames, bounding over top of them with her clawed hands up at her ears, a comical sight yet one that looks a little bit like a stag's leap. Twice she leaps over the flames, and the second time she comes to a halt, looking up alertly at the entry of the Fianna. Then her claws drop, and one hand waves them over.
Silently, Jason falls back behind the cubs while they're distracted by the odd sight of the Gnawer dancing around the fire. If either would look back, they'd see the Fianna cliath rising up to Crinos form, posture relaxed and eyes on them.
Devlin looks over at this new Garou, having never met her before, but remembering seeing her at the last moot. He watches her and then turns back to Jason, curiously. He blinks when he watches his teacher, "Jason-rhya?" he asks curious, only a touch of fear in his voice.
Gareth he remembers the crinos from the moot as well, and he wonders what she is doing here. He also looks back at Jason, and sees him shift up. Gareth doesn't say anything, but he stands up tall, and takes a deep breath, and slowly heads on over to the scarred crinos, since she motioned them over.
Mind-Breaker nods to his cubs, and huge hands usher the two of them towards the fire silently. He keeps somber, though those that know him make recognize a certain kind of eagerness in the way his ears turn towards Runs-The-Gauntlet.
As Gareth proceeds forward, Runs-the-Gauntlet holds up a taloned hand to stop him. ~Who comes to the lands of Stag's Children?~ queries the Gnawer in a fierce growl.
The Bone Gnawer seems to be treating the circle that she's drawn with ash upon the ground as this so-called 'territory'.
Devlin nods to his elder and turns to follow Gareth closer to the Crinos garou. He stands just to the left and slightly behind the Ahroun cub.
Gareth he stops when told to, and he takes a moment to answer, in order to collect himself, "I am Gareth Landeg, called Shifting-Wind, an Ahorun cub of the Fianna, son of Geraint -Voice of the Oak-, a Theurge who has gone back to Gaia."
The Gnawer takes a sniff of Gareth and steps aside, gesturing him in. ~You may pass. Enter and stand by the fire.~ She repeats the same for Devlin, an air of ritual about her. ~Who comes to the lands of Stag's Children?~
Jason steps up behind the cubs, and takes a seat on the ground outside the circle, just beyond the ring of the firelight.
Devlin stands tall. "I am Devlin Flynn McIntyre, named Dirt-Tongue. I am a Ragabash cub of the Fianna." His eyes shift between the Gnawer and the otehr cub.
Gareth waits for Devlin, and then motions that they walk into the circle together. When he is in the circle, he looks to the Gnawer for further instructions.
Again ground is given way for Devlin, the ragabash instructed to do the same. The Bone Gnawer then requests with a claw for Jason to pass her the roped off sack.
Mind-Breaker tugs on the knot, loosening the sack before shifting forward to pass the sack over the line of stones to the Gnawer.
Devlin follows his pseudo alpha instructions. Together they walk into the circle. A smile breaks across devlins face. "Thank you Gaia." he says quietly.
Gareth tries to see what is in the bag, but he stays silent and still.
Once she's gotten the sack, the crinos undoes the bindings and lays out the contents. The bits of plants she tosses lightly into the four bowls - which the cubs may notice two have clear water within, two have some pungent smelling mud like substance within. A couple of rocks she sets into the fire itself. Then turning to the cubs she looks pointedly at both, commanding attention with a grunt. ~Shifting-Wind, Dirt-Tongue, you have been trained for this moment. Your Rite of Passage looms before you. How will you be remembered? Take up the bowls of paint and write upon your skin your story. Take up the bowls of water, and drink the waters that have been taken from this very Grotto to keep the memories of home within you.~
Devlin picks up the bowl and looks to Gareth, "I'll do you and you do me?" With the mud he does a rough glyph of the Fianna tribe on Gareths forehead and a full moon glyph around it. He pauses then takes his cubmates right hand and draws a diamond on the back of it. Then he nods.
Gareth nods, "Sure." He takes the paint, and draws the Fianna glyph in the center of Devlin's forehead as well, then two symbols of the new moon on both sides of Devlins mouth, and then a triskele on his chin, a symbol of balance, suggesting the words coming out of Devlin's mouth bring balance to the world. Then he also draws a diamond after Devlin does. When done, he sets the bowl of paint down, and then takes the bowl with water and drinks from it, setting it down when it is empty.
Devlin picks up his bowl and drinks as well, when Gareth does.
The waters within the bowl are cool, and the tiny bits of leaves and whatnot from the forest go down like tea leaves. The paste that contacts the skin at first feels cool like the mud from the banks of the grotto lake. Then the Bone Gnawer steps back and motions the cubs towards the waters of the pool. ~Reach into the Otherworld. Beyond the Gauntlet, young cubs, and there find the one who will guide you into the lands of the spirits on your path to rebirth. From here on, may Gaia watch your paths, and Luna light them well.~ When they go to reach to the Umbra, Runs-the-Gauntlet howls out a cry to the winds. The flames of the fire wriggle in the night and bend towards the direction of the cubs, each lick taking on antler-like shapes in the process before they disappear and reform.
Devlin nods to the Ritemaster, "Gaia Watch." He turns to Jason, "I won't let you down, Mindbreaker-rhya. Thank you for your instruction and friendship." He then looks into the water and lets his form shift sideways.
Gareth nods, "Gaia keep us all." He nods to Jason with a smile, and then he walks on over to the pool, and looks at his reflection in the water. At first, he just stares, but then he begins to lose himself in the design of the Fianna glyph, and he loses focus, and then pulls himself across the guantlet with Devlin.
Mind-Breaker watches the ritual silently, hands placed across his knees and back straight. When the cubs look over in his direction, those lips pull back into a gruesome vestige of a smile. His massive tail sweeps twice at the dirt behind him before falling still.
In the Shadow of Grotto, the cubs once they've reached past the Gauntlet can hear the last fading calls of the ritemaster while the reach across. The paint that was drawn upon their skin disappears as well, only the lingering tingling still present upon the painted parts of their skin. When they've fully come to the other side, a shining white stag with a full rack of antlers awaits them. The many points swivel and into their minds comes a feeling of understanding of the spirit's way of speech. *The Children of the Wolf have called for two more of theirs to join Stag, have they?* The stag tosses his head, at once amused and yet seeming noble at the same time. It looks upon the pair with eyes that seem to see right through their spirits.
Gareth when Gareth sees the Stag, he gazes upon it for a few moments, taking in the beauty of the spirit before answering, "Yes, we have come to become full members of our Tribe and the Garou Nation, so that we may better serve Gaia and Stag. I am Shifting-Wind, and I was born under the full face of Luna, and this is Dirt-Tounge," he says with a motion to Devlin, "who was born whe Luna hides her face completely."
Devlin lets the Ahroun talk without much complaint. He watches the stag with a proud smile on his face, "We've waited a long time for this chance and mean to show Stag proud by our actions."
*Your brother and sister before you followed me,* tells the Stag with another toss of his antlered head. *Now she is with the Wild Hunt, surrounded by strength and passion, but gone is her will to return. Now he struggles to fight against shadows, alone because he chose to hunt alone a quarry who has evaded him and his frustrations are taken upon the innocent.* The stag-spirit waves his antlers, head hanging low as if saddened. Then his head lifts proudly once more. *Should you have Stag's patronage as your own, then you must prove yourselves. If you succeed, it shall be so. If you fail... maybe you will join your brother and sister.* It may sound wry, but the stag turns and bounds off with a single command. *Keep up!*
Gareth listens to what the white Stag tells them, and his brows furrow as he hears that news, wondering if it is really that bad. But when the Stag bounds off, he nods to Devlin, and then he runs off after the spirit, shifting into lupus in the process, giving credit to his name. He silently thanks Gaia that Devlin and him have been practicing their lupus form so much, and so his feet are sure, and his speed indicates his energy and youth.
Devlin blinks confused, "Is he talking of *your* brother and sister?" He takes off, following after and he too, follows his alphas lead and shift to swifter wolf legs.
Gareth breathes out the answer in his wolf form. He must be speaking of the other two cubs here. I have no siblings.
Dirt-Tongue blinks. I didnt even know they were gone. Maybe we can save them and help them find their way back?
The stag leads them onwards deep through the forests. The speed with which they must pursue is tiring, and tongues are flagging by the time they break through a foggy woodline to come upon a vast rolling green land. No longer does it really feel like the Umbra, but still things seem much more /alive/ than they were before. The air almost resonates with their blood like this is home.
Gareth pants as he tries to catch his breath, and then he grunts out an answer to Devlin. We must make sure that we don't get seperated. That seems to have hurt them in their test. And yes, when we are done, we may be able to help them. However, we must focus on this moment. When done speaking, he then lifts his head up and sniffs the air, taking in the feeling that he has missed so much in this new Sept, the feeling of home.
Dirt-Tongue keeps up, growing slower but pushing himself. I've got my Alphas tail, er, back. Dont you worry about that. He starts looking around. This is different. Like I've been here before.
The stag continues to flee from the pair of lupus, leading them down the rolling hills dotted with rocks. As the wolf pair catch up, the animal-spirit is suddenly struck by a whistling arrow. The stag stumbles and then falls with a great skidding thud, fatally wounded. A whoop - a human voice - calls out from further towards the east of the cubs.
Gareth comes to a stop when the Stag is shot down, and stands there for a moment, not knowing exactly what to do. He crouches down lowly, and inches towards the wounded deer. Still in his wolf form, he asks, What can we do? Tell us to hunt the person down, and we will make his blood soak the earth.
Dirt-Tongue growls and turns his gaze eastward. A lick of the nose to catch the scent and a twitch of the ears to track the sound. He keeps close to his alpha, but the focus is one the attackers.
The smell of human males and horses wafts over the wind in the direction of the two lupus. The stag, so wounded, has no instruction for them. The smell is soon followed by the sound of hoofbeats and rustling clothes. Should they look to the east, they see two young humans, teenagers at best. One has a bow and quiver slung upon him and rides a roan mare, his rusty-colored head and fair complexion making his boyish face look all that much more young. The other looks older, bigger, but slightly slower and has a dark head of hair. "We have to hurry, or they're going to catch us," speaks the darkly haired one with a tone of concern. He looks to his bow-wielding companion. "Don't worry so much O'Dwyer. We can outrun any kingsmen or anyone! You'll see," says the redhead. The two haven't appeared to spot the two wolves yet, but they approach at an eager pace.
Gareth growls lowly to himself...bows, the boys are riding horses, and they are speaking of kings. He gruffs out to directions to Devlin. Quick, we are going to back off. We need to watch and see before we react. Something strange is going on... With that, Gareth stays low and moves quickly through the grass until they get far enough away to watch, and hopefully not be seen.
Dirt-Tongue chuffs, only slightly annoyed to avenge the wounded spirit. He follows the Ahrouns lead though, submissively, staying low and after his alpha.
As the pair of wolves move away, the two boys on horseback approach the stag kill. The horses, seeming to have sensed the wolves, look a little nervous but stay still. Interestingly enough the stag spirit does not disappear at all, remaining where he fell. "Gosh, you nabbed a /prize/, Connor," speaks young O'Dwyer, kneeling by the full rack of antlers and staring at it in awe. Connor hops off his roan mare, scrubbing a hand against his head and grinning like a fool who's won the lotto. "Can you imagine the village when they see us bringing /this/ back?" he says proudly. O'Dwyer, though, looks a little worried. "Yeah. They're going to ask us where we managed to take down such a huge buck. Then the king's men will come and take it, and we'll get switched." He looks almost... resigned. Connor frowns at his companion. "Tch! Use your imagination, O'Dwyer! We'll just... say we prayed really hard to Gaia, and was gifted this buck. After all, you know how long it's been since we had a good feast. I'm sick of eating the stuff we got at home now." Connor then reaches down to try and see about hauling the stag towards his horse. But, obviously, the creature is much too large for the two boys.
Gareth ears twitch when the kids use the word Gaia. He assumes it was a good thing they did not attack. He looks over to Devlin, and wuffs out quietly, The Hunt is sacred, and Stag led us here, and the kids seem to know Gaia. Perhaps we should introduce ourselves, in human skin? Gareth wants to see what the Raggies mind thinks of this.
Dirt-Tongue thinks this over and looks over at the youth. He cocks his head as he sizes them up. He looks back. Fine. I feel like I'm back at the Ren faire. Hunt may be sacred, but we need our guide. AFter you, Alpha.
The boys have, by the time Gareth and Devlin come up, thought up a plan to lash the stag using some ropes they've got in their saddlebags and drag the animal back to the village. It's O'Dwyer who notices when the horses get a bit jumpy, but he stubbornly tries to hurry about the tying process because of it, not realizing the approach of the others. Connor spots the Garou pair in disguise though, and skillfully, quickly, unlashes his bow and draws an arrow before they get too close. "Who goes there?" he calls out.
Gareth holds his hands out, showing that he is without weapons and not meaning harm, "I am Gareth, and this is my friend Devlin. We are traveling through, and we seem to have lost our way a bit. Can you by chance tell us where we are?" He then looks down at the white stag, and then back at the two other boys. "That's a pretty fine kill you have there. Who was the shooter?" He lowers his hands back down, and tries to look as relaxed as he can.
Devlin holds out his hands as well. As he speaks, the lilt of his Irish brogue is much more pronounced then normal, "Easy there lad, no need for no violence here. We're friendly-like, just lost." He smiles his most charmingist smile to calm the youth.
Gareth's accent still remains Welsh, so the boy's may note that he isn't exactly from their island.
Devlin holds out his hands as well. As he speaks, the lilt of his Irish brogue is much more pronounced then normal, "Easy there lad, no need for no violence here. We're friendly-like, just lost. Gaia be praised we found you two though." He smiles his most charmingist smile to calm the youth.
The cubs get some strange looks from O'Dwyer and Connor. "Hm," speaks Connor with a skeptical air, but his arrow loosens from the draw. "You certainly don't act like you're around here," remarks the boy slowly. O'Dwyer casts a concerned glance around them in a perimeter scan and then says to Connor, "Come on, Connor, we've got to go. Sorry we can't be more help but, if you two are looking for the castle, it's a quarter day's ride to the west." He looks a little nervous.
Gareth stays where he is at the moment, but notes that the arrow is not taunt anymore, "We weren't look for the castle, actually, but a village near by here. That's why when we heard your voices, we came on over, since we figured that you must be from that village. If you wanted, we could help you get the stag ready, and just follow you into town. We'd be no trouble, honestly." He smiles, not big and charming, but it might calm a nerve or two.
Devlin frowns, disappointed, "Surely lads, ya ain't just gonna abandon us? Not gonna show a wee bit of hospitality to lost travelers?" He smirks to Gareth, "Now, my ma would switch me for an hour iff'n I tried that." He looks back over with big eyes.
O'Dwyer and Connor look at each other, then back to the other pair of boys. Connor scans each one of them in an examining manner, then makes the decision. "Alright, alright, don't get huffy. You don't have horses, so it's not like you're going to chase off and rat on us, looks like." He tosses a rope towards them. "Help us with this stag then?" he asks, turning to help O'Dwyer finish another loop of rope around one side of the stag, tying its forelegs together. O'Dwyer helps, but he keeps checking small glimpses at the pair of Garou. He then starts to speak an entirely different language to Connor, and Connor responds in kind in a quiet tone that attempts to be discreet.
Gareth nods with a bit of a smile, "Thanks. This is a really big help." He helps them move the stag however they need it to be. He then suggests, "You might want to actually throw it over the hind part of one of your horses, because dragging it you may break the rack, and that rack is a keeper." He doesn't want the stag to be dragged around, thinking it just isn't right.
Devlin nods only slightly, "Course, it could be draped over a saddle and that way it's safer all around." He looks to Gareth, confusion in his eyes, but trying to mask it from the youth.
Connor and O'Dwyer's covert conversation to each other breaks off when Gareth mentions the antlers breaking off. They both look to the stag, then back to the Garou cubs. "But then neither of you will get to ride. Unless you're thinking of walking?" That seems to be a better idea though, and so they start to untie the stag from the saddle to drag, and attempt to lift the heavy carcass.
Gareth moves to help, while giving a Devlin an /I don't know/ look. He then asks the youth, "If you don't mind me asking, is there someone that you guys are particularly looking out for? It is just that you said we wouldn't go an tell on you. Is there something go on in these parts that we should know about, since we a re traveling through?"
Devlin moves over and helps lift the Stag with the boys, while Gareth speaks. He keeps his palm on the spirits hide a moment longer "Go with Gaia." he says quietly, offering a prayer for the beast. He steps back and closer to Gareth.
It's O'Dwyer who has the breath enough to answer Gareth. "It's Lord Belrad. These are his lands," he says, huffing. "But it's not like he's been really generous with the people lately," puffs Connor. "Or protective," O'Dwyer adds in a grunted grump. "Which is why we're just 'making do'," finishes Connor. Finally, the stag is hoisted up onto O'Dwyer's horse, a dark brown gelding. "Alright then," Connor then says with a pat grateful pat onto the backs of both cubs. "Thanks for the help. We'll bring you back to the village, see about getting some real rest for a weary pair of travelers, eh? Though, you two are awfully young to be traveling by yourselves." After the touch from Connor on their backs, they both feel a bit of warmth, something approving about it coming from the boy that transfers to them two.
Gareth chuckles a bit, feeling a little bit better about the situation for some reason. "We might be young, but we like to see the world. The Mother made it all, so we might as well see all of Her beauty that what we can." He then pauses for a moment, before adding, "This Lord Belrad, has anyone challenged him? Where we are from, when the leader, or king, does not live up to his position, he or she may be challenged, that way the best is always in the leadership position, and it is beneficial to the people as well."
Devlin blinks at that warmth then relaxes, feeling more on track, though still somewhat confused at all that is going on. "Or maybe just checked on him. If he used to take care of his subjects and isn;t now, maybe somethings wrong and he needs your aid." He walks along with Gareth beside their horses.
Oh /that/ gets a laugh - albeit a rather nervous one - from both young teens. Connor hoists himself up to his saddle and O'Dwyer to his. "Got room for one," he says first rather than answer Gareth's question. Neither does O'Dwyer look like he's going to answer Gareth on that one, at first, but then he offers up in a small coughed statement, "Lord Belrad's got his own squad of goons to help him. There's all these proclamations that he's been getting rid of the bandits that keep plaguing our supply lines, but he's been busy fighting off Lord Foster's men. Truth be told, it's not our place. He's lord by noble right, Gareth. And if you don't believe that, well, then he'll show you he's lord by noble might."
Gareth indicates to Devlin that he can get on the horse. Then he looks up at O'Dwyer, and says, "Well, if he is noble by birth, then that means that he has a duty to his people, given to him by Gaia, to take care of his people, and the land. It's like the old stories my mum used to tell me, like the king called Pwyll. He was a king, but only a great king when he did the right thing, and the land blossomed when he did those things." He makes sure there isn't an angry tone in his voice, just conversation, maybe planting a seed.
Devlin shakes his head to the youth and Gareth, "I think we'll both just walk. Don't want to get separated or anything, but thanks. If one walks, we both walk." He chuckles. He just listens to Gareth on the subject.
The boys look at each other again and then shrug, again using that odd pidgin language between them. The words are very short. And they're off, heading towards the village. "Eh. Lord Belrad is not a king," Connor remarks. "He's a lord. The king's just some guy sitting on a throne somewhere in a fancy castle stamping his seal of approval on anything the lords want to do. Like bully his people, or take the lands of their fathers from them because some fool was the first to believe him when he said the Mother of All said so." O'Dwyer looks disturbed by Connor's talk. "Connor!" he breathes out in surprise.
Gareth nods as he listens to what Connor says, and he also nods when O'Dwyer doesn't like the talk. Gareth first speaks to O'Dwyer, "I know that this talk is probably one that could get you both in trouble, but you have to understand at the same time, the Balance of nature is thrown off if Lord Belrad doesn't act according to his duty, and the same goes for the king. It is part of what Gaia has set out for all of her children, be they Lord, King, a lion in its pride, or the Alpha wolf in its pack. These are all positions of leadership, and should be used with the utmost care. And there are those who should also be there to question what the leader is doing, isn't that right Devlin?" Gareth looks over at the Raggie with a wink.
Devlin snorts a bit, "Sounds like these Lords are failing the basics of respect to me, as well. He needs all of you to grow his grain, raise his cattle." He pauses, "Has he always been like this or has he changed recently?"
Connor blows out an exasperated breath. He answers Devlin, "Who knows?" To Gareth, "You sure talk big for a lost traveler. What are you, some kind of inspector?" But speaking of inspectors, from afar back they way they'd come can be heard the sound howling hunters. Other wolves, almost, rather than hounds. The horses beneath the two boys shiver and toss their heads in instinctual fear, held in rein by their riders. O'Dwyer grimaces though, looking back over their shoulder. "That's him!" he realizes in greater worry now. "We've got to hurry!"
Gareth frowns a bit, and just gives a shrug, "Well no...I just take these matters seriously, is all." When they hear the noise, Gareth looks back, and then over at Devlin. "We could stall them, give these guys some time to get to their village?"
Devlin nods to that, "Or misdirect them, maybe?" He looks at the youth, "Get going, we'll try and find you two later."
O'Dwyer looks at Gareth like he's crazy, and gives Devlin the same. But the darkhaired youth looks at Connor for what to do. Connor squints in the direction of the hunt squad, then nods to Gareth and Devlin. "Our village is past that crest over the eastern hill," he says with a point in the direction, showing a green covered rise at distance. "We'll see you there!" And with a nod to O'Dwyer, he spurs his mare on to a quick canter away. O'Dwyer is quick to follow, the stag's carcass causing his gelding to be a little slower, but managing to keep up. The pair leave Gareth and Devlin behind, and disappear down a small downward slope just as the first hounds come into view. They really are wolves though, in this case, big ones in shades of grey and red and brown, but each of them wearing a heavily protective spiked collar around their furred ruffs. The lead one, a big red, stops to sniff at the air.
Gareth notes that the hounds are wolves, and so he thinks they must be Garou, or else why would they wear collars. He stands up tall, and mutters over at Devlin, "Well, this could get really bad. So, be ready to run if we have to." Eyes the wolves, though if they get close he will treat them with respect, as if they were Talons. No need to get killed.
Devlin nods, "Meet them like this or take to lupus and run the opposite direction? What's the call, boss?" He counts how many wolves, how many riders.
"Lupus, that way we can run away faster if need be." Gareth says as he quickly shifts down to his wolf form.
Six wolves overall come into view. The big red is quite clearly an alpha male, leading the pack. The other wolves number in four grey and two brown. The greys are three male, one female; the browns are one male and one female. Each one has leather collar studded with metal spike-like protrusions and a brand along one side that is marked with the symbol of a diving falcon over a coiled serpent. The riders are a little harder to count given number of hoofbeats at first, but when they crest the rise after the wolves, it's only three. A lead man in hard studded leather and a metal shoulder pauldron marked with the same symbol as the wolf collars rides after while the two men behind him also ride, both dressed with similar hard studded leather and metal armor. The cubs have time to shift without being seen, given the wolves stop to sniff around the trail that was left.
Gareth looks at the amount of wolves and humans that come over the ridge, and he grunts slightly at their numbers. We need to be careful, Dirt-Tounge. Who knows if these are Garou or humans who try to control wolves. With that, Gareth stands tall, but not agressive, and he takes a few steps in the direction of the wolf pack that is coming their direction. While there is still some distance between them, he howls a greeting, in order to see their reaction from a distance. His howl clearly states, I am Shifting-Wind, a stranger to this land, and I and my packamte are just traveling through.
Devlin chuffs submissively to his cubmate & alpha. I'll follow your lead. He moves to place himself to the left and behind the Ahroun. His eyes scan the location, looking for the quickest escape route in opposite direction of where the youth went.
The howl from Gareth turns all the heads of the hunting party that's come over the rise. With lips peeling back from his fangs, the big red approaches the pair of wolves, pack behind him, with a dominant aggressive posture. The pack behind him rallies together, and overall they look like an intimidating show. The quickest route of escape is the way O'Dwyer and Connor had gone it seems, but the other side of the eastern hill isn't visible here. That route is going to disappear quickly if the wolves surround them. The riders stay further back, watching the pack deal with the two unfamiliar lupus. It's the big red who comes up and growls a demand. What are you doing here, stranger?
Gareth does his best to remain clam, his tail relaxed but not questioning the leadership of Big Red. If it looks like they are to be surrounded, Gareth moves a bit from Devlin's side, in order to make it harder to surround them. We are just passing through to meet family of ours. We are a little lost, this land is new to us, and we do not want to tresspass in anyone else's territory, which is why I called for your attention as soon as I saw you.
Dirt-Tongue remains quiet as the two Alphas speak. He shows submission to the older wolf then stands as strongly as Gareth does. His eyes watch each and every member of the opposing pack, trying to gauge each wolfs strength.
The red doesn't seem convinced, nor does he particularly care of the situation described by the ahroun. But, he doesn't look nearly as hostile as before. What family? asks the red wolf. His ear turns back towards the riders up on the top of the hill, then he adds in a harsher Mother's Tongue, ~Tribe?~
Gareth seems to be more relaxed when he learns that the other wolf is a Garou as well, and says his introduction ~I am Shifiting-Wind, an Ahroun cub and a child of Stag, son of Eyes of the Oak, a Theurge of Stag.~ He keeps to himself that they are on their right of passage. He then looks over at Devlin.
Dirt-Tongue seems impressed when he hears the Mothers Tongue spoken, ~I am Dirt-Tongue, cub of the no moon and child of Stag. I am his beta.~ He eyes the other pack, making sure they know his place and more importantly their own to him.
The introductions get a harsh bark of laughter out of the red wolf, and his ease is more evident. The others of the pack seem to be more at ease as well, but only to a degree of letting their alpha continue to run the show. The red growls out, ~Cubs? Hah!~ Then he bullies way forth and circles around them, sniffing more intently. ~No wonder you are lost. Who are your elders?~ asks a slightly thinner grey male as the alpha goes about his business.
Gareth still stands tall, ~He-Whose-Words-Burn-Like-Dragon's-Fire and Mind-Breaker.~ He lets a moment pass by, and then asks, ~May we know who we are speaking to and whose land we are in?~
Dirt-Tongue chuffs, agreeing with Gareth. He keeps an eye on the wolf circling them, body somewhat submissive in stance, but still ready to defend the two two if need be.
The wolves look at each other puzzledly at the mention of these two names. However, it is the alpha who answers with a harsh and dominating posture, his ease disappearing. The posture alone summons the urge within the ahroun cub to shrink down to the ground in submission as well. The red's fangs expose, ready to bite. ~These are the lands of our Lord,~ snaps the alpha. ~We are the Sentinels, guardians of his territory and punishers of those who break the laws of our Lord.~
Gareth does indeed crouch down in submission, his tail slightly tucked and hears down. When the growling is done, Gareth stands back up, but not as tall, ~Then we are in the lands of Lord Belrad? Does he hail from a Tribe, or is he human? I ask because Lord does not seem like a Title from our People.~
Dirt-Tongue ruffs submissively to Red then looks to Gareth. Stupid question, Alpha. Of course he is tribe. A powerful wolf like this wouldn't ever be *collared* by someone *not* of Garou blood. He looks over at Red and the pack. This is too great a pack to submit to mere human. He looks back and chuffs enviously to the the wolves.
The comment from Dirt-Tongue draws a few eyes and turns a couple of ears of the pack, but their attention is quick to return to the Red as he snorts out, ~Of course he is of the tribe. The /First/ tribe.~ He stares towards Dirt-Tongue then, stepping forward at the ragabash. But, by now the riders at the back on their horses are looking more suspicious. The lead man on his horse lets out a whistle in signal, which calls up the heads of many of the wolves by reflex. The red keeps his eyes on Shifting-Wind and Dirt-Tongue, though his ears turn. A second whistle sounds. He studies them for a time, but then snorts and turns away from the cubs. He starts to leave along with the rest of the pack, but there is a pause from the alpha. He growls in inquiry at the cubs, ~There was a recent kill of a stag here. Did you see who did it?~
Gareth flicks an ear to the question, ~We caught the scent as well on the wind, which is what drew us here, but we did not see who took it down. They were gone by the time we arrived.~ Somehow, Gareth calls up from within himself the gift bestowed upon them by Connor, and he sounds quite convincing, without a hint of him knowing anything different than from what he said.
Dirt-Tongue chuffs to the Ahroun and looks to Red. We were hungry, hoping to get something to eat. Didn't know hunting one of Gaias creations to eat was forbidden. Your Alpha does not respect those beneath him enough to let them hunt and survive? He must have vile spawn here to order as such, only then could I think of forbidding his subjects to eat and survive. He growls. Tell us of their evil and we will help you hunt them down. We will combat the Wyrm alongside you.
The red alpha looks between the pair and growls, still suspicious, but there's a definite lack of conviction that makes him act any more hostile at them. At least, not until Dirt-Tongue makes his comments. The red turns on the ragabash cub and snarls, lunging forward and knocking the no-moon down. This time it is Shifting-Wind who gets ignored.
It only takes a moment for Shifting-Wind to wedge himself between the two. Looking at Red, ~His words may be strange, but that was an offer of help, -Rhya. There is no need for this. We are of the same Tribe, just from different lands. There is enough out there trying to hurt us already.~ That last was directed at Red. Shifting-Wind tries to make sure people are calm, and then he adds, ~It is just strange to us, that the Alpha would keep people from hunting. As long as the first part of the kill goes to him, all should be able to hunt and eat. That is the law passed to us by the Mother, is it not?~ He looks to the other wolves as well.
Dirt-Tongue submits quickly, baring his throat. I submit. I apologize. I just wanted to help. He whines. We are the same tribe. If you accept the laws and collar of one of another tribe, his rule is just. I will trust in the wisdom of my elder to trust and follow him. He looks to Red and down. Just a cub, please don't cull me.
The Red snarls as a further punishment is thwarted with Shifting-Wind's interception. ~Stealing is what it is,~ snaps the alpha at the ahroun. ~Do /you/ lead the hunt without your pack leader's say? Do /you/ decide how to keep the land from falling to the humans and their inability to keep themselves in check? Let them have their way with the land and all will fall.~ Then a third whistle sounds and the wolves really do turn and fall back to the caller. The red bares his teeth at them in silent warning and turns to trot off back to the men on horseback.
Gareth makes sure to indicate to Devlin to say no more, and just let it go right now. He moves over to Devlin and bumps heads with him to show that he did a good job, and then he watches the wolves and men to see what they end up doing. Making sure not to say anything until the others are out of range, he gruffs out things in regular wolf speech. We must be in the Umbra, since this cannot be the real world. Lords, hunting laws, and I think I just used a gift. Yet things are wrong here...unbalanced.
Dirt-Tongue looks to Gareth. He remains silent abut chuffs at the headbump. Thanks, brother. He watches the wolves and then blinks. I think we're back in the Impergium. What he said reminded me of the history lesson with Jason. Back when Garou hunted humans. Things aren't wrong per say, this is how it was. it's just, pardon the pun, overkill. Until the Fianna and Children of Gaia moved to stop it. Still not sure what were suppossed to be learning.
Once the wolves and horse riders have gathered together again, they continue on their original task. The patrol heads down the west hill towards the one in the east, apparently headed towards the village of Connor and O'Dwyer's homes.
Gareth he watches the way the horses and wolves are headed, and then he gives a slightly nod. I remember, a Talon taught me that lesson, if you could call it that. We might need to go, I think they are headed towards the boy's village. We can maybe beat them there if we run.
Dirt-Tongue growls. Gaia knows what we'll do when we get there. He looks around. They are taking the open path, if we move through the trees there maybe they won't see us moving ahead of them?
Gareth grunts in agreement. I have no idea, maybe we need to warn them, or try and put an end to this. The two of us alone can't go up against a Silver Fang and his patrol packs, but Stag led us here for a reason. He then begins to run through the trees towards the village.
Dirt-Tongue follows after. I don't think the Pack fully believes in this. I almost had them. Key is getting through to our tribemate. He's gotta see why this wrong. He nips at Gareths tail. Faster, boy-o, er, wolf-o
Gareth gives out a chuff as if a slight chuckle. He does pick up the speed though. Maybe we can get through to the pack, or we might have to fight the big Red one.
Dirt-Tongue chuffs in response. Your call Alpha. I'll talk or fight. He looks around. To teh left quick, so the don;t see us. He nudges Gareths further from the other packs perception.
As the pair run, they pass into the forest that borders the village. In this forest, as they're going, it's Dirt-Tongue who first notices that they're being watched and followed. Not long after that, they both have that sense. A ghostly white wolf passes through the trees as they speed along on their right. Then on the left, there is another wolf.
Gareth does notice them, and then lowly growls out to Devlin, They look like Fangs. We can't lead them directly to the boys. Gareth runs through the woods, not heading toward the village anymore, and he runs for a bit until he finds a clearing, and he burst through it with Devlin, hopefully, and then when in the middle of it he stops and turns around so he can face these new wolves.
Dirt-Tongue follows Gareths actions as he circles round and watches these new wolves. He stays quiet.
As the pair divert from their path, they notice the two wolves following them. Once they get to the small clearing and turn around, they get a better look at the wolves. Almost pure white are their pelts, and like twins they mirror each other's movements for a time until one breaks off the routine and sits. The other remains standing. When the one standing comes forward, it is with a vested interest in Shifting-Wind. We watched you from afar, notes the standing wolf to the ahroun. The sitting wolf looks at Dirt-Tongue. We saw you fool them. It was good. Here, both white wolves drop their jaws in unison, smiling in the lupine way.
Whoa, thats creepy. Gareth yet again stands tall, but not agressive, as he looks at the white wolves. I do not know what you mean by fool them. I am Shifting-Wind, and this is my beta Dirt-Tongue. Are you from this land? Obviously, Gareth hopes to get some answers.
Dirt-Tongue pads closer to the sitting wolf. He sniffs him. He looks back to Gareth. We have to go warn them.
We are from this land, answer the wolves. The standing one looks a little more seriously at Gareth. You'll need more than words to deal with your enemies, says the standing wolf. You'll need strength. Courage. You will need to protect those who cannot protect themselves. The sitting one turns to Dirt-Tongue, less serious than the other. And you will feel like doing it all, but patience is what you must know first. Patience while you think. Then the wolves elaborate, filling both cubs' minds with their true voices. *Use the Gifts that we the Spirits give. But remember us.*
Gareth nods in understanding, and walks on over to the two wolves, and shows a body posture of respect and gratitude. We won't forget. If they allow him, he rubs his muzzle against theirs, and then he looks back at Devlin. Alright, let's hurry! And off he goes again, taking a more direct path for the village.
Dirt-Tongue blinks and chuffs to his wolfmate. Thank you ancestor. I'll remember you. And Luna. He turns and follows after his Alpha.
The white wolves look amused again at the cubs, and the formerly sitting one stands as well. The ghostly white lupes sprint off back into the foreboding forest, disappearing in a matter of moments. Meanwhile the cubs run off and head towards the village. They spot the horse tracks and wolf tracks of the Sentinels who had passed by, and speed further. As they crest the eastern hill, they see the village. It's a small affair but it still has a gathering area in the middle, a main 'road' from which the thatched roofed cottages extend, and a short series of rock walls about waist-high on a human that delineate the borders of the village. What they also see, though, is a gathering going on in the center of the village.
Also at the center, even at this distance, the two cubs can see Connor and O'Dwyer. The village is in a bit of a celebration mode, unaware of the encroaching Sentinels.
Seeing that there is still some time before they get there, and the tracks, Gareth puts on an extra burst of speed now that they are out of the trees. Looking back at Devlin, We will have to shift back to be able to warn them.
Dirt-Tongue nods and is already shifting as he moves forward. "They are here somewhere, probably going to ambush the folks. I think I saw quivers of arrows on the men on horses. Between that and teh wolves, the people won;t stand a chance." He speeds forward.
Music and dancing are all going around. The pair of boys from before don't seem worried at all, joining with the others in a series of three circles that dance intertwiningly, something about it ringing with familiarity, deeper in Gareth than in Devlin but still present in both. Laughter and life abound in the village and no one at the moment seems to notice the other two cubs-in-human-form running towards the rocky wall border.
As they both run towards the village, and Gareth shifts up to homid as well, Gareth is keeping a lookout for any indication of where the wolves or men on horseback are. He watches the gathering to see if there are any signs of alarm, but as of yet, he sees everyone is fine. "Maybe they decided not to bother them?" He sounds hopeful, yet also it sounds like he doesn't believe himself either.
Devlin snorts as he runs and regards Gareth, "You know, Alpha, I bet you are right." He says in mock support, "And I hear the Wyrms given up the fight too." He snorts as he approaches the rocky wall border and launches onto it with his hands to flip over it, an athletic display. He moves on, hoping to save some lives.
Gareth gives out a short laugh, "Then I guess we can both retire young, eh?" His breathing is pretty heavy now, since they have been running for awhile, but jumps the wall with relative ease as well.
Alas, Gareth's disbelief is well founded. The ahroun looking for the Sentinels finds them cresting the rise. They hardly seem in a rush, however, taking their time in observing the going ons in the village below just as Gareth and Devlin had done.
Devlin laughs, his adreneline building. "Excellent. Just gotta decide which of these guys to take as my mate and live happily ever after here." His eyes catch the Sentinels and he quickly turns serious, "Alpha, *there*" He points to the group.
Gareth growls, "I see them. Hurry, we might be able to at least hide the evidence or get some people out." He tries to find a road that leads into the center of town so he can talk to the two boys.
The villagers continue with their celebrating. The stag, they can see from the carcass, is being roasted over a heaping communal fire. From where Connor and O'Dwyer are, flirting with a couple of girls, they're easy to find given how Connor's loud bragging can be heard. "Yea, it was a sight to behold! Fourteen points and none broken, leaping through the wood. O'Dwyer was just behind me and I let loose my arrow! Smack! Right into the heart o' the hart." It's after he demonstrates by attempting to press a finger onto one of the girl's chests playfully that O'Dwyer notices Gareth and Devlin wading through the crowd. "Connor, it's the two from the road," he notes with a point.
Devlin looks into O'Dwyers eyes and then shoots his had and gaze to the approaching patrol, hoping the youth gets the wordless warning.
Gareth , covered in sweat, wades through the crowds trying to get to Connor and O'Dwyer. When he reaches them, he says quickly, but quietly not to scare the whole population, "The Sentinels know about the stag. We tried, but the wolves must have caught the scent."
Devlin speaks low to the boys, "Can we get everyone inside nice and calmly? Safer that way."
The look from Devlin is caught, and O'Dwyer looks towards the hills. The boy's breath catches and he turns to smack Connor on the shoulder. "I /told/ you they'd come looking!" he says with fear and worry in his tone. Connor yelps at the smack, and the girls around them look to the newcomers with the same sort of 'who are you?' airs. Connor glances between the two cubs, his bravado and talk of rebellion from before fizzled as he spots the Sentinels. He looks to the pair of cubs. "I thought we'd fooled them," he whispers. O'Dwyer says, "We'll have to stop the music. And... and tell them the kingsmen are here."
"Then let's do that," Gareth says quickly. "There is no reason to get anyone else involved if they do not need to be." He doesn't introduce himself to the girls looking at him or Devlin, because there isn't enough time. Instead, he tells them, "Get inside and take as many people as you can with you, and do it quickly."
Devlin nods to Gareth then looks to the boys, "You ready to defend yourselves? You ready to put some actions behind those words earlier? This can be done if you have the honor to do so." He watches them, eyes serious, but a grin on his face.
The Sentinel pack break from their position. The wolves start trotting down the hill. O'Dwyer and Connor take Gareth seriously, but it's a bit of an odd look that they give Devlin. O'Dwyer goes to stop the musicians that are playing. "Listen!" he calls out once the music's stopped. "You all have to get inside! Sentinels are coming! Get inside!" That gives a shudder through the crowd, mentioning the Sentinels. The people as a whole looks around dumbly, fearfully, like a herd that's just been alerted to the predators surrounding it. Connor groans quietly, then backs up O'Dwyer with, "Do you want to lose your heads?! Get inside! Go!" And that seems to spur them into movements. There are shouts and bustling movements as people en masse attempt to hurry back to their homes. Meanwhile, the two cubs and their two companions seem to be the only ones not moving.
Gareth does what he can to help people, either by taking an elderly person's arm or picking up a child to help thme move quicker to a house. When it seems like everyone is either inside or getting there, he comes back to where Devlin and the two boys are, and he looks around, not seeing anything to help them out much, and so he turns to them all, "I have been waiting to see some action, and it seems like today is a good day. With Gaia and Stag on our side, we will see this through." He smiles at them, and then turns to see where the sentinels will be coming from.
Devlin nods to Gareth, "Gaia be with you Brother, let's end this. I've been waiting so long to do this. I'll see you when you throw the first punch." With that the redhead moves to the shadows of a nearby building and moves to Blur himself.
Over the wall come the wolves, not even when everyone's gotten inside. They don't attack, but the villagers frightfully move out of the way as they barrel in. The three horse riders don't leap their mounts over the barriers, but instead go through the opening that's the gap for the main street. Those who remain outside cower and bow in deference. Even Connor and O'Dwyer drop down to their knees in the mud, though out of the corners of their eyes, they look towards Gareth and Devlin.
Seeing that Devlin has moved off, Gareth is the lone person standing in the center of the village, and he looks at the wolves and men on horses come up. He does not make any motion to bow, and so he stands there, and says "Greetings."
Devlin wills himself to Blur from sight and shifts to Glabro, watching silently the events unfold. He readies himself to defend and attack.
A growl rumbles forth from the big red wolf who sniffs around with the rest of his pack. "Gareth, get down!" hisses O'Dwyer, but the warning comes too late. Of the riders on horseback, the lead man walks his horse over and stares down at Gareth. "You. You are not kneeling before the lord's men. Why?" The man's voice is an intimidating tone, deep and commanding.
Gareth keeps his back straight, and his anger seems to be rising, since he is getting tired of all of this. "How am I suppose to know the lord's men when I have never been properly introduced? Therefore, I cannot bow to everyone I pass by due to assuming they are the lord's men, or else I would get nothing done during the day." He looks at the big red wolf, who never did state his name or Tribe.
Devlin smiles at Gareths words as he watches and waits from cover of shadow.
The man on horseback steadies his horse beneath him and eyes Gareth some more. "You're bold," comments the man in return, "if dull-witted and blind as well. Do you not see the mark of Lord Belrad? This is his land. These are his people. And if you are a stranger to these parts, boy, then you best learn to respect the territory and the lord of it. Not that those of this village have done so, of late." The man spurs his horse on, riding up to the fire where the stag's carcass continues to roast. Devlin can see the wolves snarling and growling at the people, causing quiet whimpers and gasps. Though, they do not attack. The big red meets Gareth's eyes, and growls deeply. There seems to be recognition present. One grey and one brown wolf slip closer towards Devlin's hidden position, sniffing around at the ground as they scent him out. The pair look at each other. The one from the road?, notes the grey to the brown.
Gareth nods slightly before saying, "I have done nothing in Lord Belrad's territory that would suggest that I am not a friend. And if you are speaking of the deer, I am sure the village would not protest in you taking the first cut to you Lord, since it is his right." He then glances over at Connor and O'Dwyr to see how they are doing while looking for the nearest rock.
Devlin stands stock still, eyes on the two wolves sniffing him out. 'Damn' he thinks yet remains silent. His eyes move to Gareth watching his Alpha.
A long moment is taken to observe the setup. The man on horseback turns his horse around then, and in a commanding pull of his reins, the horse whinnies loudly and kicks out its hind legs, knocking the ensemble over with a crash and thud. The wolves and other pair of riders look on, save the pair that have found out the ragabash's trail. They continue on, peering and sniffing, getting closer to the Glabro's position. The man on horseback turns back to Gareth with a sneer. "A kill taken from Lord Belrad without permission. This is a punishable offense," booms the man to the townspeople. "And the Sentinels will not stand for this breach. Who is responsible for this?" At the kick down of the feast, Connor winces. O'Dwyer looks up, then looks down again quickly, eyeing Connor sidelong. He seems to be mouthing something to his companion.
"I am!" Gareth says easily enough. "I hunted that deer because it was a scared hunt, between the deer and I, and had nothing to do with Lord Belrad. I offered a cut, the first cut, to a Lord who hasn't even introduced himself, and it was mine to keep if I wanted. If someone wants to fight me for it, then come on! Maybe one of those collared whelps over there?" He asks with a vicious grin as he points to the two wolves near Devlin, to hopefully get their attention away from him.
Devlin eyes the wolves and Gareth, alternating his attention. He frowns at Gareths words, but knows he won;t be harmed too badly... hopefully. As the wolves attention is diverted, he quietly and slowly moves away from them, circling around the man on horseback if possible.
The man on his horse narrows his eyes at Gareth. "Boy, you've no idea what you've just done for yourself." He rounds his horse around, and with a whistle calls the wolves of the Sentinel pack to close in, including the pair that was searching for Devlin. "Since you so confess to the crime of stealing from Lord Belrad," proclaims the man, "you're hereby sentenced to--" "Wait! Stop!" The interruption comes from O'Dwyer, who shoves up to his feet and speaks, "That one's a total liar! It wasn't him who hunted the stag it was..." He looks apologetically towards Connor, and points right at the boy. "It was all his idea!" Connor in turn, looks horrified as he's called out.
Gareth looks like he is ready to put up a fight, when all of a sudden O'Dwyr throws Gareth for a loop. Looking over at him, he gives the kid a /what the hell?/ look, then Gareth looks at Connor, not knowing exactly what to do. Gareth looks back at the man on the horse, "I want to speak to a lawgiver."
Devlin shakes his head at O'Dwyers actions as he moves to a better position away from the wolves and hopefully to be able to intercede easier.
O'Dwyer bites on his lower lip, then turns to Belrad's man. "That's right, he did it. I saw the whole thing," claims the boy of his friend. Connor bounces up to his feet. "O'Dwyer, what the hell?! How could you?" But O'Dwyer keeps on, moving closer to the man on the horse. "Don't listen to him," says the boy in regard to Gareth. "He and his friend're just outsiders and liars." The man on horseback frowns down at O'Dwyer but turns to Gareth. "I /am/ the Lawgiver here!" And to Connor, the man looks balefully. He raises his hand up to blow a sharp whistle, alerting the wolves and making them close in. There is a fearful look from Connor, then he shoots another look towards O'Dwyer, and another at Gareth.
Gareth growls a bit, and looks at the whistle in the man's hand. Gareth remembers that the man used it before when they were outside the village, and it commanded the wolves, and now it does again. In a swift motion, Gareth makes a running leap for the man's hand to try and take the whistle away from him, hoping that Gareth's idea is right.
Devlin moves quickly into Red as Gareth takes the man on the horse. He reaches to grab the wolfs collar and yank it back. "You want to keep them in check, yet allow yourself to be enslaved by them. I am ashamed that we are tribe together."
The whistle in the man's hand gets yanked away, but it appears to also be attached via a leather thong to the man's wrist. And so in doing so, the man is yanked with. O'Dwyer lets go of what part of the saddle he'd been holding on to, and with a laugh and an extra push, helps Gareth in taking down the guy. "Wahoo! Get 'em Gareth!" The Red alpha looks like he's about to pounce after Gareth, but instead is tackled by the ragabash from behind. A snarl and a twist follow as the red wolf bursts into crinos form, Rage fueling his actions and instead rolling atop the ragabash. Chaos ensues in the panic within the village, people screaming and fleeing from the scene. The two men on horseback who accompanied the leader draw their swords with metallic *shink!* sounds, warily casting about for any other attackers that might jump out from behind the huts. Of the wolf pack, only three, all greys, leap forward to help the man who fallen from his horse. But while Connor and O'Dwyer tackle one down, the other two leap and bite onto Gareth with snarls and painful teeth sinking into his legs.
Holding onto the whistle, Gareth shifts up to crinos due to the pain he is going through with the wolves biting his legs, and using his strength he yanks on the whistle, hopefully tearing off of the man's arm, and he uses the momentum of the pull to hopefully slam a crinos fist down on one of the leg biting wolves.
Devlin bursts into crinos as well and moves his head up to bite into Reds shoulder and neck. The Ragabash more aims to bite off the collar, freeing his tribemate from it, but will inflict damage as well to protect himself.
The man screams as his arm is torn, not /quite/ off his limb but there is nonetheless a spray of blood that splatters upon Shifting-Wind as he shifts. The crinos form he blurs up into aptly crushes a wolf down, the male yelping in pain and then laying still, back broken. The second grey, however, shifts into a Hispo form, collar protruding spikes all the more in this form, and harries into the ahroun with painful bites to his softer midsection, opening a deep wound on his waist. Devlin's ploy is avoided as he gets a mawful of spikes and none of the leather he was hoping to grab. A rage-fueled Red rips and tears huge swathes into the ragabash - it's clear that the cub is at the moment outmatched. What's worse, the pair of riders left start to move in as well, swords drawn. Connor's trapped underneath the grey wolf he and O'Dwyer had tackled, but he spots the riders moving in. "No!" he cries out.
Gareth breaks the whistle in his claws while he rakes them down a nearby stone to activate his gift, hoping that it will make the other garou stop attacking them. If they Garou don't stop, Gareth goes into overdrive, using the anger how Rommy taught him to in order to faster than humanly possible. He claws at the face of the one garou still biting him, and then leaps towards Big Red who is attacking Devlin, claws outstreathed to sink into Red's back. Also, if the Garou do stop attacking, Gareth obviously wouldn't go on attacking them.
Dirt-Tongue delves into his inner fire as he is seriously injured and uses it to fight harder. He looks up at Red, ~You are *no* brother of mine.~ One hand moves to rake claws against Reds face, going for his eyes. There's a pause, as if to distract Red with just the initial slash, and then the other clawed paw reaches out to slash him between his legs as he taps into his Rage. The Ragabash fights dirty.
It's a whirl of motion. The whistle breaks easily, crushed by the ahroun's crinos strength. If there is a hesitation in the wolves' attacks, it comes and goes almost unnoticeably. The claw to the face against the grey hispo drives him off, and the rage Gareth harnesses in attacking the Red devolves his mind to a red-haze, frenzy licking up into his brain and taking over. Devlin's attacks gouge out an eye and perhaps a sensitive portion of the Red's body, but it doesn't come without a price. The last thing he can remember is a snarling visage of a bloody-eyed red-furred crinos shortly before he bites down on the ragabash's neck, and his world starts to haze out.
...
For one it's a world of red. For the other, it's a world of black. Then a voice. *Shifting-Wind... Shifting-Wind... Gareth...* It's Gareth who comes to first, and when he does he sees the white stag spirit that he and Devlin had been chasing at the start of all this. Upon the spirit's back is the ragabash, lying prone and unconscious, torn and bitten into, a terrible sight to behold. The ragabash's blood drips down on the spirit's hide. Gareth as well, can feel the pain of his wounds, particularly in his legs and in his neck where he'd been bitten.
Gareth's eyes slowly open, and he sees the white stag standing above him. He is in too much pain to smile, but he sees Devlin and he reachs out to try and touch his friend. "Devlin?" The sound of his voice is sad, and choked up.
*Your friend is near death,* answers the Stag for Devlin. *Both you and he have a poison in you. The Wyrm worked its magic, corrupted the blood of your brothers. Those who were free before were no longer.* The stag turns so Gareth may lift the ragabash off the spirit's back.
Gareth gets up, shifts to glabro, to both hold Devlin's weight and start healing, and picks Devlin up as carefully as can, and then stes him down gingerly. "What can I do? He can't die...he needs to shift so he can heal." He looks for places where Devlin is bleeding, and if he finds anything, Gareth teas his shirt or pants and starts to cover the wounds up.
Dirt-Tongue slowly dies.
The stag tosses his head, snorting and pawing a hoof along the ground. *So is the question. But do not worry. This is my last Gift to you, for we know the secret to avoid poisons. You must remember that poison comes oft without warning. And there are many kinds. Share this knowledge with your friend, your brother. Help each other recognize when the Unbalancer has corrupted the ways of the people, as you had done. Share this in your tale when you return to your people. And tell them Stag has accepted you.* The spirit steps forth, breathing its hot 'breath' upon the face of Devlin, then the face of the ahroun holding him, transferring the knowledge of resisting poisons within them.
Gareth nods as he gets his intructions, and he looks up at the beautiful spirit, "Thank you, Stag. We will go and do our duty to protect Gaia and bring honor to our Tribe. And thank you for the gifts, and for seeing us through to become full members of the Tribe." He moves Devlins hair out of his face to see if the kid is waking up yet.
You paged Dirt-Tongue with 'With the breath of Stag upon you, there's a bit of help in waking up. But you won't be operational for a while.'.
Dirt-Tongue slowly comes to with the contact. He looks over at Gareth, then the stag, "Fuck, we're dead aren't we?: He tries to move and cries out, "Holy Zombie Jesus, I'm in pain. Wait, if I'm in pain, then I ain't dead." He looks over at Stag, "Did we pass?"
The stag tosses its many pointed rack again, head held high and noble. The spirit stares at Devlin, looking puzzledly at him at first. Rather than answer directly though, the spirit turns his head in such a way that looks at them both at once. *The Black Spiral Dancers were once your brothers. As you saw, they could be deceiving. Poisonous. They will twist your words, twist your laws, twist like the black spiral they have danced madly around within Malfeas. Now you must fight against them, for they are corrupt. Remember these things you have learned, Children of the Wolf. And seek out your brother who came before you, and left behind your sister to the Wild Hunt.* The stag bows its head once more to the pair, and turns to leap off into the forest. Noticeably, they might recognize the familiar umbral trees of the grotto surrounding them.
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