Finding Sebek 10/10/95: A bit more than we bargained for...
Sepdet sighs, takes the rest of the bowl over to the sink, and washes it out. "I gave Joseph an' Tep th'address. They can catch up with us; we're not plannin' on doin' any fightin' tonight, just scouting the place out."
Long distance to Slick: Sepdet is antsy. I'm saying I've given my pack and Joseph the address we're going to, and they can catch up with us when/if they log on.
Hazmat nods. "Scoutin's good."
Sepdet grabs Toxic's fedora off the bathroom doorknob, slaps her vest on over the klaive to hide it, and fumbles under the futon, bringing out a sawed-off shotgun. After brooding over it for a moment, she shoves it back where it was. "Owl and Rat go a sniffin' tonight. Le's find out what these lousy snake-spawn are doin'."
Hazmat hops to her feet. "Moooooovin' _out_!" she says.
[...]
Front Yard of Bungalow(#2049RJ)
The grass hasn't been cut for weeks and a few toys lay scattered on the front lawn. A few weeds grow up here and there, untrimmed. Newspapers and mail are stacked up on the front porch.
l bungalow
An older, low-slung bungalow with peeling paint over wooden siding. A bit of ivy climbs up one wall. Curtains are drawn over the windows.
Hazmat has arrived.
You paged Hazmat and Slick with 'We slow down when we get to the block where it is. Describe for us the area? Possible cover?'.
There isn't a whole lot of cover. A few scattered bushes and a bushy flower bed in front of the picture window looking out onto the street. A high fence lines all three sides of the lot with only the front open to the street.
Sepdet hangs back for a moment at the edge of the fence, keeping it between us and the window for a moment, sniffing the air for the telltale scent of the enemy. She whispers, "whatcha think? Know anything about this place?" to the Gnawer.
Hazmat shrugs vaguely at Sepdet. "Ain't noplace special that I know of."
Hazmat looks thoughtful for a moment, thinking. Then she shrugs again. "Nope, nuthin' really."
Sepdet gives the fence an irritated glance. "Now 'f we could just jump over it from th' back, I'd feel better about escape routes. Still, looks quiet enough." She sounds extremely dubious. "Keep your ears peeled. We're not gonna split up. Sniff around it, see what we can tell lookin' in."
Hazmat nods.
Sepdet steps around the fence and into the grass, avoiding the front and the picture window for now. She angles for the front right corner, moving to hug the walls and peek into the corners of the windows, trying to get a glimpse of indoors.
Long distance to Slick: Sepdet sets sensors on Sense Wyrm, oh yes.
Slick pages: Nothing really obvious jumps out at you as being Wyrm-tainted in any really strong way, but it isn't particularly clean in this whole area.
There seems to be no activity inside although with the curtains drawn it is hard to tell. There are some lights on.
Hazmat's form shimmers and blurs, becoming hard to see as she follows the Strider. Her eyes flick here and there alertly.
Sepdet finishes the circuit and drops down into the grass at the back, hiding from passersby on the street. "Light on, someone's home," she murmurs softly. "No more wyrm than th' rest of this area. Question: we wanna risk goin' in? Or a trick t'bring 'em out?"
Hazmat cocks her head to one side. "Get 'em out?" she murmurs. "Then they's split up a bit."
Sepdet murmurs, "You donna have that opening trick, do ya?"
Hazmat shakes her head mutely.
Sepdet grimaces silently, giving the back windows a thoughtful stare.
Hazmat chews on her lower lip.
Slick pages: Old windows, the type that slide up. Not terribly sturdy looking.
Slick pages: A couple of the bedrooms look unoccupied.
Sepdet gets a faintly mischievous grin. "Kids on a dare. Haunted house. You bang on'a front door, and when it opens, give a squeal an' run out to the street. When I hear, I push in one a the back windows to an empty room. How's that?"
Hazmat grins and nods. "Okay. I'll give yuh time t' get 'round."
Sepdet nods a thanks to the Gnawer, and sneaks around towards the dark windows at back.
There is no sign from inside the house that anything has changed in the last few minutes while you talk.
Long distance to Hazmat and Slick: Sepdet invokes the Coyote Takes Risks excuse, when her player's paranoia is screaming "no, no, play it safe!" which is ever so much less entertaining.
Hazmat waits, letting Sepdet get into position and turning off her Blur gift. Then she sneaks up to the front door and starts banging heavily on it with her fist. Her eyes are bright and her body tense, ready to run away as soon as it opens.
Sepdet starts forcing the window as soon as the noise starts, though trying to do it as quietly as possible for someone in a hurry.
There is a long moment of silence before the door creaks open a few inches.
Hazmat yells, "Trick or treat!"
Hazmat then turns and darts away.
The door stops after a few inches, held there in place by a short chain on the inside. A handsome young man of 23 years, short of six feet in height, peers out from behind it. You catch a glimpse of slightly curly hair, long, with a single grey streak on the right side. He scowls when he sees the retreating form and yells "Get out of here ya' damned kids." The accent is Midwestern.
Hazmat stops and turns at the edge of the yard to stick her tongue out. "Hey-hey-hey, it's time for Faaaaaaaaat Albert!"
Meanwhile, at the back, the window catches then something inside snaps and it screeches loudly upwards until it is wide enough to wriggle through. Nobody comes running right away.
Hazmat starts jumping up and down, waving her arms and yelling cereal and candy slogans at the front door in a jeering voice.
Sepdet,wincing at the man's voice, hooks her hands over the sill and pulls herself up, bare feet scrabbling for extra hold (and probably a splinter or three) on the wooden siding.
The door closes a bit and the chain slides back before it re-opens. The man steps out onto the front porch. "What the hell are ya' doin'? It ain't Hallow'een yet, kid!"
Hazmat grins widely. "Yeah it is! Ain't you heard! You deaf or something, fat-ears?"
Slick pages: No problem slipping into the darkened bedroom. The bedroom door is slightly ajar. The room is empty.
Slick pages: Go ahead and enter the bungalow.
Small Bungalow
This small bungalow is fairly non-descript and conventional. In the living room a flowered davenport faces a small, empty fireplace and a 30" colour television set. There are a few lamps scattered about the room, throwing off their light like old lanterns. A glass-topped coffee table sits in front of the davenport on gold metal legs. The rugs are a gentle auburn with russet highlights, close-cut shag, with the occasional stain where the occupants have spilled food or drink on them.
Doors lead into bedrooms and an empty kitchen. The front door leads back to the street and a battered cellar door is tightly closed.
Obvious exits:
Yard Cellar Door
Sepdet peers through the door, scouting out the place.
You paged Slick with 'Any mirrors, for future reference? (Somehow I doubt it, but... :)'.
Slick pages: Sorry, distracted. No mirrors, no. There is some activity in the kitchen. The front door is ajar, leading out to the street.
You paged Slick with 'Can I see that cellar door?'.
Slick pages: It lies opposite the kitchen alcove, barely visible from where you are but obviously visible from the kitchen where you hear the occasional rattle of a pan and an occasonal curse.
You paged Slick with 'Ok. I'm going to try to get a peek into the kitchen, popping my head out of the bedroom, to see if I can tell how many people are there, and maybe get a glimpse of them. But then I'm going to book it out the way I came and try to get that window shut, before they catch me. :)'.
Slick pages: Just as you peek around the corner you hear a voice from outside, "Mika? We got company." The man in the kitchen turns around just in time to catch sight of your head. "Fuck!" he yells and throws himself at you, a cleaver in his hand.
Long distance to Slick: Sepdet tries to slam the door with one hand, growling *Shark!* as she drops and retreats, reaching for her klaive with the other.
You paged Moyan Dashe with 'Clarifying: trying to slam the door between her and cleaver-man, while activating the charge on herself in case that doesn't work. :)'.
The door slams mostly closed but not before the cleaver inserts itself between the door and the doorjam. It continues its downward arc, slicing through the tendons in your arm. Sparks flare and there is another curse from the other side of the door as the man drops the cleaver onto the floor. Your arm loses its grip on the door as the fingers refuse to stay closed with no tendons to counterbalance the force of your muscles.
Sepdet screams, "Bloody shit, jeezus!" in the voice of a terrified kid--not very hard to manage, under the circumstances. She risks yet one more moment to try to kick the cleaver as far as possible using the noble klaive as a hockey stick, much to its irritation, then turns to run for the window as fast as she can.
Halfway back up the hall, the flimsy kitchen door is literally blasted into the living room by some great force and a huge Crinos hurls himself through the doorway in hot pursuit.
Sepdet skips grace, elegance, or anything else, leaving her backside wide open as she leaps for the exit.
Rage fuels the Crinos' charge, vestigial wings under its arms pushing it along, and it catches up to Sepdet just as she is halfway through the window. It explodes outward in a shower of glass as the force of a Crinos Dancer and a small Strider slam into it like a bus. Sparks fly and the Dancer shrieks in pain but his claws lock onto your shoulders and he struggles to get his back claws under you even as the two of you are airborne.
Hazmat has arrived.
Hazmat contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hazmat finishes shifting into Crinos form.
Sepdet's fall, on the other hand, is fueled more by fear and a gnawing pit in the stomach behind the pain that screams, "You idiot." Wriggling and twisting like a snake trying to get out of a hawk's claws, she downshifts in midair, scrabbling for the ground with three good legs and tries to break free.
+shift lupus
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hazmat utters a furious howl as she charges in, shifting to the war form and barreling on all fours toward the Crinos attacking Sepdet.
You shift into Lupus form.
One claw slips free from Sepdet's good shoulder but her weaker arm, with its cut tendons, remains caught in merciless talons. Hanging from her side as the two slam into the ground, the sparks no longer flying between them, it rakes huge, curled talons attached to its back paws across Sepdet's side, leaving a gaping wound. At this point Hazmat barrels through the veritable hole torn into the wall of the house and slams into the two struggling Garou.
Moyan Dashe pages to Hazmat and Sepdet: In case you didn't know, Haz, Moyan is not this nasty Crinos. I'm a puppet for this scene. Now a quick summary:
The Crinos is curled into a ball, holding Sepdet's shoulder with one hand with its legs curled up into it so that its hind claws can get at her side where he rakes it merciless down at least once though it is hard to tell with the blood flying as it is. Its back is to Hazmat.
Hazmat gathers her hind legs under her and _leaps_ onto the evil Crinos's back, claws outstretched and aiming for his head and neck, teeth bared to bite and slash.
Sepdet is seriously hindered from doing much, pinned as she is, although she's still wriggling and snarling and generally flailing.
The snarling attack turns into a howl of suprise at the unexpected charge and the Crinos releases Sepdet to roll in the dirt, trying to shake Hazmat loose. It raises itself up to slam repeatedly into the ground, back arching and legs tearing gouges into the earth.
Hazmat tries to roll free before the other can smoosh her against the floor, claws going for a swipe at his face while she gets away.
Neither Sepdet's front leg nor, now, her rear on the opposite side will support her weight as she flails about. Hazmat, no longer holding on, manages to roll free with only a few bruises. The Crinos, on the verge of foxing tonight under the full moon, throws itself free. ~Take him,~ it snarls with a hatred borne of centuries of corruption. ~We will have him back. He will be one of us in the end.~ It begins to back off.
Hazmat snarls at the retreating Crinos. ~Yah, go back and fuck a salamander, stupid-eyes.~
The Crinos snarls and spews bile at Hazmat, glowing green and putrid with its own light. Too far away to connect fully, it splatters off of her shoulder and neck, burning like fire. It turns to leap the fence into the night.
Sepdet holds still with a whimper, trying to get the front leg at least to heal enough to bear her weight. She doesn't even snarl at the Dancer, still dazed and in pain.
Hazmat flinches back, grimacing in pain, but the defiant snarl never leaves her face. She turns and moves toward Sepdet. ~Coyote-sister, you okay? Any others?~
It is gone in a flash, vestigial flaps of skin under its arms helping to carry it over the fence.
Moyan Dashe pages: Non-aggravated damage, your foreleg starts to heal on its own but the back leg continues to bleed.
Long distance to Moyan Dashe: Sepdet figured. The thing that burst through the door was the cleaver-man? Or could I tell? I got confused at that point.
Moyan Dashe pages: You were long gone by that time with your back turned. You'd have no idea.
Sepdet growls. Man in kitchen, with knife. Man you saw. That thing. Three.
Hazmat drops to all fours and lumbers toward the kitchen, blurring out of view again.
Sepdet whines softly. Cellar door. Check cellar...
Hazmat pauses and turns, ears cocking. She bobs her muzzle once and heads for the cellar instead.
The Jackal moves silently through the shadows.
The Jackal has arrived.
There is a gaping hole in the back wall through the bedroom door. Sepdet lies on the grass out there. Hazmat is approaching the cellar door which is closed.
Hazmat snuffles at the cellar door and tries the doorknob to see if it's locked or not.
The Jackal scans the room. Examines the door.
The Jackal looks to Hazmat. "Locked?"
Hazmat nods. ~Locked. Can you unlock, or should I smash it?~
Sepdet remains right where she is, ears flickering with agitation in all directions as she forces herself to stay still and heal what can be.
The Jackal grips the doorknob. Closes his eyes and jiggles it a couple times. Tests to see if it opens.
The Jackal swings the door wide.
Slick pages: Your front leg heals enough for you to walk by now, if you drag your hind legs.
A rather fetid stench and the dim glow of a weak light greets your nose and eyes respectively.
Hazmat wrinkles her nose and looks at Tep. ~Who first?~
The Jackal pulls out a railroad flare and lights it. Leads the way.
The Jackal opens the cellar door and starts to descend into the basement. The steps groan precariously.
The Jackal has left.
In the cellar, The Jackal moves silently through the shadows.
In the cellar, The Jackal has arrived.
Sepdet raises her head finally and drags herself to the edge of the hole, right against the shadow of the house.
Hazmat opens the cellar door and starts to descend into the basement. The steps groan precariously.
Hazmat has left.
In the cellar, Hazmat has arrived.
Sepdet just listens for sirens or anything else unpleasant, now that she's as hidden as she can be.
In the cellar, The Jackal examines the situation up close.
In the cellar, The Jackal gestures to Hazmat for silence.
In the cellar, Sebek is cringing in a corner, crying softly. Handcuffs pulls his arms around to his back. "Please, don't hurt me," he cries hoarsely, his eyes squeezed shut.
In the cellar, Hazmat bobs her muzzle at Tep.
In the cellar, The Jackal speaks harshly in Khemite, "Speak to me, boy. What is your name?"
In the cellar, Hazmat remains blurry and indistinct. Her muzzle moves back and forth from her place in the shadows, checking for any unwelcome surprises.
l cd
An old and battered wooden door opens onto narrow, steep and rickety stairs clinging to the cinder-block wall of the foundation of this house and descending dangerously into the cellar.
Darkened Cellar(#1637RJ)
The stench here is thick and fetid, the smell of excrement and urine hanging in the air like a damp fog. A dim, 20 watt bulb hanging by a wire barely throws enough yellowed light around to create shadows amidst the old boxes, broken boards, and scattered debris. In some places water lies thick on the uneven floor, up to a three inches deep in puddles.
The cellar door is ajar, letting in a little bit of light from above.
Contents:
Hazmat
The Jackal
Sebek
Obvious exits:
Cellar Stairs
In the cellar, Sebek tries to move, his legs weakly pushing against the wet stone floor. "Don't hurt me. I've been quiet," whines the young boy.
Slick pages: No sirens as yet. It has only been a few minutes since the fight.
In the cellar, The Jackal crouches. "No one is going to hurt you. Tell me your name. Tell me who did this to you."
Sepdet whines anxiously, the sound coming out as a low rumble. Bring him up. We got to get out, before humans come.
In the cellar, Sebek opens his eyes and looks at the Jackal wide-eyed. "My name is Sebek. Please don't let the other man...touch me again..."
In the cellar, The Jackal moves behind the boy. "Give me your hands."
In the cellar, Hazmat remains in the shadows.
In the cellar, The Jackal grips the cuffs. "This is going to hurt."
In the cellar, Sebek keeps crying softly, unable to do much else.
In the cellar, Hazmat shifts down, sill in the shadows.
In the cellar, Hazmat contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
In the cellar, Hazmat finishes shifting into Homid form.
In the cellar, The Jackal squeezes the cuffs gently, until he feels the locks release. Then tosses them across the basement.
In the cellar, Sebek whimpers, his voice weaker than a whisper. "Help..."
In the cellar, The cuffs skitter across the floor until they come to rest half in and half out of a puddle of water. They throw of sparks where they lie and the lights dim, evidence that the floor is, perhaps, wired like a rat's cage for electricity that the Jackal was lucky to have not trodden upon on his way to the boy.
In the cellar, Hazmat grimaces.
In the cellar, The Jackal emits a low chuckle....a *hunting* chuckle....
In the cellar, The Jackal turns to Hazmat. "Get the boy out of here."
In the cellar, Hazmat nods and moves forward toward the boy, skirting around the bad parts of the floor. "Heya," she mutters. "Lemme pick yuh up, okay? Won't hurtcha."
In the cellar, Sebek squeezes his eyes shut again. "Please don't hurt me." His arms weakly clutch his chest.
In the cellar, Hazmat moves to scoop the small boy up in her arms. "Naah. Treat'cha like my own lil' sister," she says quietly. "Get'cha outta this bad place, feed yuh pizza. Yuh ever had pizza?"
In the cellar, Sebek rests his head against Hazmat and cries.
In the cellar, Hazmat carries the small boy up the stairs, moving slowly but as quickly as possible, muttering to him about pizza and ice cream and hamburgers.
In the cellar, Hazmat leaves the dankness of the cellar for the cleaner air in the main house.
In the cellar, Hazmat has left.
Hazmat has arrived.
In the cellar, The Jackal pulls out a pocket Maglite and examines the floor and walls in more detail.
Hazmat carries a small boy in her arms. He looks as though he's been through hell and back and he's crying against her shoulder.
In the cellar, Sebek leaves the dankness of the cellar for the cleaner air in the main house.
In the cellar, Sebek has left.
Sebek has arrived.
In the cellar, At random points the bare gleam of copper wiring can be seen embedded in the floor. With a brighter light it is not hard to see the grooves where the floor was carved up to sink the wires and then refilled with cement.
Hazmat looks at Sepdet. "Can yuh walk? I wanna get 'im outta here."
In the cellar, There are a few simple instruments of torture scattered about. Dangerous sex "toys", scalpels, a hacksaw. Pliers. And a few items of uncertain origin covered with dried blood.
In the cellar, The Jackal follows the cables to their appropriate breaker and kills their power. Then returns to examine the rest of the basement.
l sebek
This four and a half foot tall, thin brown-skinned boy has a soft, sad look about him. His dark hair is brushed back, revealing his knotted brow, wrinkled with concern and worry. Beyond his hazel eyes lie a wisdom far past his almost fourteen years. The four small claw marks across his face bear testament to his experience. His light body moves quietly, his feet treading gently upon the ground with natural grace. Thin, delicate hands dangle from his scarred, small wrists, moving almost constantly with nervous energy. Sebek speaks with a slight Egyptian accent in a clear and distinctly soft voice.
Sebek is wearing a pair of very old, faded, and work denim jeans, with holes worn in the knees, as well as a faded and stained purple tee-shirt. An ancient pair of grey (perhaps once white) tennis shoes adorn his tiny feet.
This poor young boy has seen almost every conceivable form of torture imaginable. His face is puffy and his eyes are swollen shut from repeated pummelings, his hair is matted down with blood, his clothes are stained with blood and many other bodily fluids, and are ripped and torn. His pants are unfastened and his belt has been ripped to shreds, the denim jeans falling off his hips and variously stained with urine, blood, feces, and semen--only some of the fluids are actually his own. The child's shirt is torn to shreds and his bloodied chest can be seen, carved upon by a scalpel repeatedly. These scars are recent and are trying desperately to heal.
Sebek opens one of his swollen eyes and looks around.
Sepdet raises her head, nose sniffing as she cringes from the smells coming out of the basement and tries to get a look at the captive. Making a small dry sound between closed jaws, she splays her ears in an angry negative. Back leg lame.
Sebek clutches Hazmat desperately and shuts his eyes again. "I'm so sick."
Hazmat sighs and turns toward the cellar. "Tep!" she whisper-shouts. "Carry Sepdet an' lets get outta here, huh?"
Hazmat nuzzles the boy in her arms. "Yah, I hear yuh. It's okay. We getcha out soon an' getcha better."
From afar, Hazmat watches Hazzie's maternal instincts kick in.
In the cellar, The tools look as if they were certainly used and the blood and other stains on them are very real. There are no unnatural things laying about.
Sebek whines, "They're going to come back and hurt me."
Hazmat shakes her head fiercely. "No they're not. I won't let 'em. Nuh-uh. Gotta come through _me_ first."
In the cellar, The Jackal sticks the burning railroad flare, spike-first, into a convenient floor joist. Avoids the stairs and swings up to the upper level.
In the cellar, The Jackal leaves the dankness of the cellar for the cleaner air in the main house.
In the cellar, The Jackal has left.
The Jackal moves silently through the shadows.
The Jackal has arrived.
The Jackal says "We got a maximum of 20 minutes before this place comes down in flames."
Hazmat says "Then pick up Seppie an' let's fuckin' _go_. Factory's closest. Or to yer place?"
The Jackal says "Factory. Move."
Hazmat heads out, carrying Sebek close and moving fast.
Hazmat has left.
Sebek has left.
The Jackal scoops up Sepdet and straddles her across his shoulders like an injured wolf.
Sepdet gives a sharp, angry whuff at that, defiant protest in spite of her obvious inability to do much about it. Tell him I'm here. Tell him who I am.
Abandoned Factory
This enormous room was once the production floor of the Wesler paper mill's cutting and packaging facility. The mill itself lies near the river, but the cost of riverfront property forced the company to build this factory deeper in the city. The factory has a lost, timeless feel to it - the company collapsed years ago, and nothing has changed here since then except the pattern of the dust and grime on the floor. The floor is marred by deep gouges, left when the expensive machinery was removed and sold to pay the company's creditors. There was no need to avoid damaging a factory no one wanted. Machinery too heavy to move or too old to bother with still stands scattered around the room in isolated clumps, only making the room feel more empty. Chains hang from the rafters, and the floor is coated with industrial grime and soot from the nearby power plant, which is now beginning to coat the newly replaced windows. Sunlight filters through them, in tired sepia tones. An enormous collection of crates and barrels, too cheap to bother taking, is piled in the far corner of the room.
A large door at one end of the room leads out to the street, as does the cargo door next to it. Doors lead to other parts of the factory, but are locked with brand new padlocks - those rooms are unsafe. Through an open door in the corner, you can see a staircase leading downwards. Against the far wall, a set of stairs leads to an office nestled in the beams high above the factory floor.
Contents:
The Jackal
Sebek
Hazmat
Obvious exits:
Front Door Stairs
Hazmat hurries in, carrying a small, battered boy in her arms, followed closely by Tep carrying a wounded Sepdet.
Sebek falls unconscious along the way, breathing in short, ragged breaths.
Hazmat pants a bit, still jived up. She jerks her head toward the crates.
Hazmat slips between two stacks of crates, disappearing from view.
The Jackal slips between two stacks of crates, disappearing from view.
The Jackal has left.
crates
You slip into a gap in the pile of crates, traveling down a twisting path that is almost tunnel-like in feel. Eventually, the path widens into a large cleared space.
Among the Crates(#2339RAVa)
This cleared area is hidden deep in the pile of crates, concealed from the main factory floor. The crates are piled high, and the walls of the cleared area slope in, lending the space an almost cavern-like feel. A metal drum in the middle of the space has a bright fire burning in it, which fills the area with flickering orange light. The firelight lends the wooden crates a soft glow that makes the entire area seem warm and cozy. Some of the crates that make up the walls have been opened and turned into shelves. The shelves hold an oddly eclectic mix of objects, worthless junk mixed with items of value seemingly at random. There's a pile of blankets near the fire that looks like someone has been sleeping on it. Some new additions have been to the decor recently - a refridgerator and a small microwave stand on a crate in one corner, with silverware, plates, and bowls on a shelf nearby. The cords from the appliances run through the hole in the floor. Three beds with low wooden frames and heavy blankets are taking up much floorspace on the other side of the room.
There's a gap in the crates that surround you that looks like it may eventually lead out onto the factory floor. A hole in the floor opens into the boiler room downstairs - there's a mattress on the floor below to cushion the fall.
Contents:
The Jackal
Hazmat
Matt
Martin
New, Improved Fianna Chow
Obvious exits:
Hole Factory Floor
<------disconnected!!!-------->
Matt returns with a rusty pan , cool water spilling over it's side. "What happened?"
Out on the factory floor, Michael Powers pulls the front door open, stepping in from the street.
Out on the factory floor, Michael Powers looks around, confused.
Hazmat shakes her head. "Not me. Nuh-uh. Like I said, they gotta go through _me_ b'fore they try t'hurt _you_." She looks at Matt. "Sepdet asked me t'help her check out this house, an' looks like there wuz Dancers there. Had th' kid here all chained up an' messed up inna basement."
Hazmat blinks. "Matt. You c'n heal, can'tcha?"
Sepdet shakes herself and raises her head, evidently zoned out for a moment with the effort of shifting.
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Glabro form.
Cleared.
Matt nods. "Yea, I mean..shit. Yea, I can try." He glances around, then pull his shirt over his head and tears it into rags. He looks over the kid and doesn't seem to know where to start.
Sebek pulls the blankets up to his neck, struggling all the while to use his arms.
Out on the factory floor, Michael Powers creeps through the factory, silently searching and listening.
Sepdet ignores the blood that begins seeping through the right hip of her breeches, leaning forward with a grimace. ~It's all right,~ she tells the boy tightly, her voice still an odd low tenor that doesn't sound at all right to those who know her. ~These are all friends of Ma'i's daughter. I'm right here, little brother...right here...~
Sebek's eyes shift to Sepdet. "Where is Ma'i's daughter?"
Hazmat glances briefly at Sepdet and then at Matt. "Get th' worst ones, I guess..." She trails off, watching Sebek with worried maternal eyes.
Sepdet spreads her hands. ~Right here. I'm right here.~
Hazmat looks at Sepdet again. "Then he's... like us?"
Sebek smiles through the pain and lies back in the blankets, relaxed. He falls unconscious again.
Matt kneels down in front of the kid and plasters a false smile on his face, though it isn't very convincing. He pulls the blanket down off the kid and starts to soak the shirt pieces in the water. "This is probably cold, but it's the best I can do." He starts to wipe the wounds out clumsily, gagging slightly as he does.
Sepdet blinks, confused by Hazmat's question. ~I...~ She's still obviously dazed, looking down at the boy's face in frustration. ~I don't know. He's been calling to us. He knows who and what I am.~
Hazmat chews on her lip. "What else you know about him?"
Out on the factory floor, Michael Powers walks down the stairs.
<-----ANOTHER long disconnect------>
Sebek gasps air as he finishes the little piece of hamburger.
Hazmat considers Sebek thoughtfully. "Maybe I should chew it up fer yuh, huh? Yuh tummy feel okay?"
Mac sits done next to Hazmat, grabbing a couple of burgers and smiling as he watches her mother Sebek.
Sebek's hands go to his belly. He thinks for a moment and shakes his head. "I feel bad."
Hazmat nods and puts the rest of the burger away. "Okay. We'll wait until yuh feel better, then."
Sebek's eyes water and he begins crying again, clutching the blankets tightly to his chest.
Sepdet seems oddly afraid to look the boy in the face, but keeps darting fearful glances at him. For most of this she's been sitting on a crate braced against her arms, head down, the blood beginning to seep through the side of her shirt now as well as the hip of her jeans.
Hazmat curls up next to the kid, wrapping an arm around him over the blankets and pressing her face in his hair, mumbling vague comforting noises.
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow pulls the front door open, stepping in from the street.
Michael Powers says "Sepdet. Let me see your injuries."
Sepdet lifts her head, faintly ashamed. ~Shoulder got ripped. Help me get my shirt off.~
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow walks into the Factory whistling some old, forgotten swing tune.
Michael Powers nods. Helps get shirt out of the way.
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow slips between two stacks of crates, disappearing from view.
Pete Barlow works his way in from the factory floor.
Pete Barlow has arrived.
Sebek whispers through his tears and whimpers, "They wanted me to tell them where Ma'i's daughter was. I didn't, and they hurt me. I didn't tell them anything."
Michael Powers begins chanting in his strange tongue, moving his hands over Sepdet's shoulder.
Pete Barlow pokes his head around a crate, blinks at all the folks gathered there, hears the whisper and whimper, and then leans against a crate, quiet as a mouse... er rat.
Sepdet's left shoulder is, indeed, clawed up, but the main problem is her right side, that's been ripped open almost to the ribs. The wounds don't stop at her pants, either.
Michael Powers shifts his focus to the REAL injury.
Hazmat nuzzles Sebek. "Yuh did real good, then, huh? Brave an' stuff. Real brave. Real good."
Sepdet looks across at Hazmat gratefully and then closes her eyes.
From afar, to Sepdet and Sebek, Michael Powers is chanting a prayer to Aset as the Mother for her Touch of healing. :)
Sebek clutches Hazmat as tight as his pained arms can manage.
Hazmat hugs the small boy back, words falling into a whisper-mumble of reassurance.
Mac looks between both of the pairs and shrugs to himself. He stands up and carefully makes his way over to Pete, stopping only to fish a bellybomber out of one of the bags.
Sepdet is understandably subdued. She keeps quiet as her stepfather works on her, moving slightly to help him reach the wounded areas.
Michael Powers finally finishes and looks dissatisfied, with the results. "How does it feel, Star?"
Mac leans against the crate, looking over to Pete while unwrapping the burger. "What's up, Pete?"
Sepdet grimaces and murmurs, ~Like a coyote that's tried to do something she shouldn't 've.~ She twists slightly and winces. ~Better. Not going to be dancin' for a bit.~
Mosh has arrived.
Michael Powers nods. "Gonna have to give yourself time to heal that."
Pete Barlow looks at Mac and shakes himself. "Not as much as what's goin' on here, I guess." Pete looks at the bellybomber. "YOu heard about the ruckus, I suppose?" Pete's glance toward Hazmat isn't hidden much ata ll.
Sebek's crying stops and he lies, holding Hazmat, eyes shut.
Michael Powers turns to look at the boy intently.
Sepdet sighs and looks over at Sebek, eyes narrowing in pain. ~We got him. Help me over there?~
Hazmat continues murmuring quiet words to the boy, holding him close.
Mosh ducks in from the factory floor, the music from his headphones preceding him. He stops immediately upon seeing all the people in the crate-cave.
Mac follows Pete's glance and looks back to him, his eyes narrowing slightly. "No. I didn't. Tell me."
Michael Powers says "I already started healing, but he needs Cleansing desperately. Saved a canteen of pool water, just in case."
Michael Powers gives Sepdet an arm to support herself on. Will not impinge on her dignity by carrying her.
Pete Barlow watches the Striders casually. "Mama wanted me to put Fiannaboy to the test. So I did."
Mosh tugs the phones from his ears, stuffing them roughly into a pocket. He remains stooped in the entrance, eyes darting around the room, examining strange faces.
Sepdet glances over at the other Gnawers briefly, an oddly apologetic frown creasing her face as she pulls herself up on Michael's arm and crosses the space. She sits down awkwardly, leaning her weight on her good hip.
Michael Powers pulls his canteen out of a pouch and hands it to Sepdet.
Mac tilts his head to the side, curious. "And that means?"
Pete Barlow looks back at Mac. "It means the shitter don't get sat on unchallenged. I still can't believe all those park-dwellers just sittin' on their thumbs while it all happens. Specially the gawddamned Fangs."
Michael Powers stands, once Sepdet's situated. "I'm going out to make sure it's clear."
Sepdet halfheartedly sniffs at Sebek and cringes. She swears under her breath, then says more loudly, ~Sen, little brother, this is Sepdet. I'm going to clean you up. It may sting a bit.~
Michael Powers slips between two crates and disappears from sight.
Michael Powers has left.
Out on the factory floor, Michael Powers works his way out of the collection of crates in the far corner of the room.
Out on the factory floor, Michael Powers opens the front door and steps out onto the street.
Hazmat looks up and whispers to Sepdet.
Hazmat whispers "Mac sez he's a real Garou."
Sebek opens his eyes slowly and looks at Sepdet. "Okay."
Pete Barlow pushes off the crate and reaches into the bag, pulling out an ahroun fistful of bellybombers. "These free for the eating?"
Mac seems to be more than a little confused. "I'm afraid you lost me. While what happens?"
Mosh turns his eyes to Pete. "Whassup, Big-man?" he asks quietly.
Sepdet nods to Hazmat tightly. As sloowly and carefully as she can, she tugs the blankets back, trying not to let the fear on her face show as she looks the boy over. She begins to sing in a low voice over the canteen, a soothing lullabye that sounds like the sea. After a verse or two, she begins to pour a bit of the water into a cupped hand, holding it there for a moment to warm it before washing it over the boy's heart.
Mac nods to Pete. "Yeah. Eat some."
Hazmat watches quietly, one hand stroking the boy's hair.
Sebek watches Sepdet, wincing every now and again.
Hazmat senses "Sepdet is terrified of Sebek."
You sense Hazmat looks up at you, brow furrowed in puzzlement.
Sepdet repeats the procedure many times, using the water as sparingly as a traveller in the desert. She pauses when she's covered him from head to toe, asking gently, ~Can you turn over, if we help?~
Pete Barlow sits back with his handful of bellybombers, chuckling. "Let me spell it out. I challenged Echen's right to be Claw. He proved it." Pete pops a burger into his mouth. "And I was sayin' how I still can't believe nobody else out at that fuckin' caern stepped up to challenge him. Nobody becomes Claw without a test."
Hazmat glances up, frowning. "Alexander was gonna, but they wouldn't _let_ him."
Mac shrugs. "He proved it to me a long time ago, Pete. I don't argee with him most of the time, and I think there are other people who would handle it better, but I'm not the one for the job."
Sebek looks at Sepdet, then to the others in the area. He looks at the various Bone Gnawer men with fear in his eyes. "Will they not...hurt me..."
Hazmat looks down at Sebek. "Ain't _nobody_ gonna hurt you while I'm around, kid. No way no how." Her tone is firm, and it's obvious that she means it.
Sepdet shakes her head firmly. "They wouldn't dare," she says, with a trace of her usual dry humor. Then she catches herself, explaining, ~They are friends. They will not touch you.~
From afar, to Hazmat and Sepdet, Sebek adds in a near-silent whisper. "...when I turn over."
Pete Barlow looks over at the boy and then back to Mac. "Well... He ain't the first ahroun to do shit worthy of being' Claw. STill don't change things." Pete pops down another burger as he looks over at Hazmat. "Yeah, I heard. Kid coudn't 'a gotten even close to beatin' Echen."
Sebek glances at Pete and Mac again, biting his lip. He glances back at Sepdet and nods. "I trust you."
Sepdet bites her lip and nods, then gently slips her free hand under his waist to help turn him so she can reach his back.
Mac glances back to Sebek and Hazmat. "Wanna take this out of the hospital, Pete?"
Pete Barlow pops down another burger before pushing off from the crate, moving slowly toward Sepdet and the boy. "You don't look real good, kid."
Pete Barlow turns back to look at Mac. "What's that?"
Sebek struggles to lie on his chest. He turns his head to glances at Pete and shivers. He glances up at Hazmat, then lowers his head to the blankets, clutching them with whatever strength he has left.
Sepdet holds up a hand to Pete, gesturing him back silently.
Mac motions to Pete, smiling. "We're scaring him. Give him time to heal before he has to deal with us big scary guys."
Hazmat strokes Sebek's hair some more.
Mosh crosses his arms over his chest and settles into a seat by the entry-way, brow furrowed and eyes slipping toward the injured boy.
From afar, to Hazmat and Sepdet, Sebek's back is bloodied and scarred. The scars were either made by knife or scalpel. One is a phrase written in English: "Get it here" and an arrow that goes all the way down to his rear.
Pete Barlow looks at Sepdet, nodding slowly. "Just tryin' to..." The big Gnawer shakes his head, rather pitifully really, and stands, heading out of the crates with Mac. "Guess so, buddy. And me bein' such a big, cuddly bear 'n all."
Pete Barlow slips between two crates and disappears from sight.
Pete Barlow has left.
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow works his way out of the collection of crates in the far corner of the room.
Mac slips between two crates and disappears from sight.
Mac has left.
Mosh tracks the two older Gnawers with his eyes, then slowly rises and follows, silently nodding to Hazmat once.
Mosh slips between two crates and disappears from sight.
Mosh has left.
<-----The conversation the others are having out in the main factory I spliced out and moved down a bit for readability, here---->
Sebek relaxes as the men leave. His face burns bright red with shame and embarrassment.
Sepdet goes rigid for a moment, spilling some water on the boy's shoulder. She looks at Hazmat with eyes a little too wide, shakes her head violently, and resumes her song a little less steadily than before. She is gentle over the terrible wounds, again, warming the water in her hands before touching his skin, but it still must surely sting.
Hazmat frowns at the words, concentrating to read them. It's obvious that she doesn't quite get it. She gives Sepdet a puzzled look.
Sebek grits his teeth as the water stings him.
Sepdet drops her eyes, giving Sebek's shoulder the lightest touch. ~Done. You're going to be all right, sen. We'll keep 'em away from you.~
Sebek's unhealed wounds begin to heal slowly, but some scars remain.
Hazmat noddles. "Yah."
Sebek pages: The taint is a mixture of things, actually. I can't tell you what exactly, but he's been through enough to give a saint a good sized taint.
Sepdet shakes her head at Hazmat glumly.
Sebek reaches out and touches Sepdet's arm. "I've wanted to see you a long time."
Hazmat sits back on her heels, watching the two.
Sepdet slips one marred hand over his. ~I'm sorry it took us so long t'get you out. Can you... can you talk about it? I still don't know who you are.~
Sebek struggles, and ultimately succeeds, in lying on his side. His hand squeezes Sepdet's hand weakly. "I'm tired."
Sebek whimpers as he discovers another sore spot. He shifts and puts his head down on the blankets, clutching them with his free hand.
Sepdet seems uncertain how to touch the boy. ~Yeah, I know. I got caught too, for a while. You rest. Take your time. We'll talk more after you've slept.~
Hazmat considers, and then sets a teddy bear down next to the boy.
Hazmat drops the teddy bear.
Hazmat explains, "This has a Bear spirit in it. It'll help keep yuh safe, too. An' it's nice yuh sleep with."
Sebek looks at Sepdet. "Will you hold me?"
Sebek takes the teddy bear and holds it, burying his face in it's body.
Sepdet looks at Sebek in amazement, her eyes glistening slightly at Hazmat's words. She hesitates a moment too long, then nods, saying forcefully, ~Yeah. I'm right here.~
Hazmat smiles and curls up nearby as well, offering her own presence.
Sepdet shifts herself to lie on her good side next to the kid, and slips her arms awkwardly around his shoulders, lightly, so as not to bind or trap. She murmurs to Hazmat. ~I'm sorry we haveta intrude, tonight. Thank you so much for letting us stay.~
Hazmat grins at Sepdet. "Hey, it's cool. Yer Rat's friend, s'far as I'm concerned. An' I jus' couldn't send either o' yuh away, yuh know?"
Sebek lifts his head from the bear's body and nods at Hazmat. "Thank you mo..." He stops to frown slightly at his slip. "...Hazmat."
Hazmat nuzzles Sebek. "Yer welcome. Now go tuh sleep an' get better."
Sebek bites his lip and clutches the bear to his face.
Out on the factory floor, Mac works his way out of the collection of crates in the far corner of the room.
Out on the factory floor, Mac follows Pete out, quickly catching up with him. "What do you mean about Hazmat having no chance against Brian? Was she gonna fight him or something?"
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow shakes his head. "No, no. Alexander against Brian."
Out on the factory floor, Mac shakes his head, looking a little mad at himself for not understanding. "Does milk make you loose your mind, or something?"
Out on the factory floor, Mosh slips from the mess of crates in the corner, settling on one and watching Mac and Pete talk.
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow looks at Mac, this time he's the one confused. "Milk?"
Out on the factory floor, Mac smirks at Pete. "Nevermind. It's a long story. Brian and I had a good fight one day, but he ended up on top. I wasn't gonna dispute his right to be claw."
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow looks at Mac for a minute and then instructs, "That ain't the point. The points is that no Garou sits on the big shitter without a challenge. It just ain't done."
Out on the factory floor, Mac nods to Pete. "I understand that. But me challenging him wouldn't be any help. If you want to, I'm not gonna stop ya. I might even back you up."
Out on the factory floor, Mosh shifts, throwing a quick, flat look toward Mac.
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow chuckles. "It's alrady done, mac."
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow reaches into his pocket for his pipe. "He proved he's got the toughness to be Claw. We'll see if he can lead."
Out on the factory floor, Mac shakes his head, again seeming a little mad at himself. "Shit, when'd this happen?"
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow takes a deep breath. "I gotta get back to my haunts, my friends. Kids gotta eat."
Out on the factory floor, Pete Barlow opens the front door and steps out onto the street.
Out on the factory floor, Mac looks over to Mosh. "Heya, kid. How's it going?"
Out on the factory floor, Mosh pulls his gaze away from Barlow's retreating form and nods, half to himself. "OK. Things is OK, Mac-man. Nuthin' new."
Out on the factory floor, Mac nods, looking towards the hidden area in the crates. "Any news about those guys you overheard?"
Out on the factory floor, Mosh looks to that crates, too. "Whu- ? Naw. Nuthin'." He looks closely at Mac and says quietly, "What's goin' down in there, man? That kid was lookin'... fucked."
Sebek nods, closing his eyes.
Sepdet stifles a very soft growl, and covers it by beginning to sing her healer's lullabye again, very gently, letting it stand in the way of the tension in her face and the pain she holds in her arms. She looks over the boy's shoulder through half-slitted eyes that are bleak and sad.
Hazmat reaches over the boy and touches Sepdet's face gently. "He'll be okay, yeah?" she whispers.
Sebek's body begins to shudder and he slowly cries himself to sleep.
Out on the factory floor, Mosh tugs unconsciously at his nose-ring, his eyes once more sliding to the crates. "I... I guess."
Out on the factory floor, Mac slips between two stacks of crates, disappearing from view.
Mac works his way in from the factory floor.
Mac has arrived.
Out on the factory floor, Mosh slips between two stacks of crates, disappearing from view.
Mosh works his way in from the factory floor.
Mosh has arrived.
Sepdet shakes her head at Hazmat, silent for a moment. Then she whispers firmly, ~We will hope.~
Hazmat glances up and makes a 'shh' gesture to the other Gnawers.
Mosh follows close st Mac's heels, nodding at Hazmat's gesture. He peers toward the wounded boy, a line creasing his brow.
Mac frowns as he remembers that Tep left. He nods to Hazmat and makes his way quietly over to Sepdet.
Sepdet shifts slightly, raising her head to look up at the Gnawer alpha glumly. ~Can you lip read?~ she whispers with quiet sarcasm.
Hazmat furrows her brow at Sepdet, puzzled.
+You paged Hazmat, Mac, and Mosh with 'Sebek is so exhausted, I say we fudge it and talk very, very quietly.'.
Hazmat pages to Mac, Sepdet, and Mosh: He's been through a lot, yeppers.
From afar, to Hazmat, Sepdet, and Mosh, Mac nods.
Mac shakes his head, whispering back. "No. Just keep it quiet, and it should be okay."
Sepdet stifles a shivver. ~Yeah. He has.~ She takes a long silent breath. ~The people who have been calling my pack. They had him prisoner. We were just scouting the place, but...they saw me, and it turned into a fight.~
Mosh falls into a seat by the entry again, silent and listening. His eyes slide from face to face, eventually returning to the blanket-bound boy.
Sepdet seems more than a little ashamed, and mumbles the bit about being seen.
Mac shakes his head, looking over her wounds. "You get beat up more'an a Gnawer in a Get caern, girl. Anything else you can tell me. If these guys are around our turf, I'd like to know as much as possible."
Sepdet nods. ~There was at least one Dancer; we didn't kill him. He got away. Someone else, probably human. Went after me with a cleaver instead of claws.~ She looks at Hazmat. ~I was sneaking in the back. What happened out front?~
Hazmat frowns. "I was tauntin' that other guy when Tep came. Then he went for Tep an' I started yellin' inside. I ran in when I heard th' trouble."
Mac sighs quietly. "You don't have any idea who they were?"
Sepdet growls in frustration. ~That was why I risked sneaking in. Wanted to find out. They've been calling us, or makin' the boy do it, for over a month. Remy finally traced calls to that address.~
Mac glances over at the uncommonly quiet Mosh, then back to Sepdet. "How about descriptions. It would be nice to at least know who they are if we see them sniffing around again."
Sepdet adds, ~The Dancer could've stayed and fought. He was hurt, but not down. I was onna ground. Hazmat covered me or he prolly woulda killed me. But instead he said somethin' about--take the boy, that they'd get 'm in the end anyway.~
Hazmat frowns. "No," she says firmly. "They ain't gettin' him. No way."
Sepdet sighs. ~Point is, we better move him tomorrow--I don' want to get you in trouble over him if they start huntin' for him. Okay. One I saw...the Dancer. Bat wings. Smelled horrible.~
Mac can't help but smile at Hazmat. "We won't let that happen. Caern might be safer for him, though. Unless you think they have a way to track him."
Sepdet shakes her head. ~Wish I could, but I can't risk it, Mac. That thing might've let him go on purpose. Just might."
Hazmat frowns. "Where yuh gonna take 'im, then?"
Mac nods, stopping as Hazmat asks his question for him.
Sepdet bites her lip. ~Don't know where to take him.~ She squeezes her eyes shut. ~Maybe Di's, Eris' place. I don't think they've tracked them yet. But we need something good.~
Mac looks to Hazmat, as if asking her a silent question.
Mosh coughs once, then again louder. "We c'n... keep 'im here, can't we? Secret 'nuff, an' we c'n all keep lookout... ya know?"
Hazmat cocks her head at Mac. "Th' shelter below?"
Mac nods to Hazmat. "That's what I was thinking. I don't usually think it is worth the risk, but this time it might be. Easy to defend, too.
Hazmat glances at Sepdet. "Our pack has a place down inna sewers. Real secret an' hard t'get to, unless yuh know th' way."
Sepdet looks halfway between tears and smile. ~Are you sure/? You've already been so much help. I don't want to endanger your pack, Mac.~
From afar, to Hazmat, Mac, and Sepdet, Mosh needs to go sleep. Mosh'll help move the kid and watch, too... Later all!
Mac shrugs. "I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't sure. It mostly just me and Haz anyway, most of the time. There's only one way in, so it's not too hard to protect, and if we lock the door, a crinos won't be able to break in."
Mosh has disconnected.
Hazmat nods. "An' we gots plenny of good food an' supplies an' real beds an' stuff."
Sepdet looks down at the boy. ~That's perfect. I wish I could take him out, show him the world is still out there...~ there's a pained yearning in her voice. ~I know what it's like to be caged. But safety is the most important thing, until we've nailed these damn snake-spawn.~
Mac pushes his hand through his hair. "You have to promise not to tell anyone where it ius, though."
Sepdet's face does crack into the smile at that. ~I may be coyote, but I honor secrets. I promise, with my name and heart.~
Hazmat grins.
Mac says "It's not that I don't trust you, Sepdet. I just have to watch out for my pack. You understand."
Sepdet nods. ~I do quite perfectly, Mac.~
Sepdet goes silent a moment, thinking. ~Hazmat. What did the man look like that you saw? He's the one whose voice I've heard before. American accent, right?~
Hazmat nods slowly. "He was, um... like younger'n Mac bu' older'n you. And he hand curly hair... uhh, red, I think, but it was kinda dark out."
Mac nods, listening carefully. "I'm more worried about the dancer, though. You see him at all in Homid?"
Sepdet sighs. ~No. Soon as that man inna kitchen saw me, I slammed door, and didn't see anything else til the Crinos came through it. I bet it was same man, but I'm not sure.~
Sepdet suddenly hisses. "Mika. He turned around and looked, just as I was there, 'cause the other guy called his name. Mika."
Mac says "Mika? Okay, I'll remember that. I might stake the house out for a while and see if any of them come back to get their stuff, if they haven't already. But not tonite."
Sepdet sighs. ~Michael set the house on fire. Probably just as well; there was a crinos-sized hole in the back wall and blood everywhere. But Mac. I have a way of finding people, if I know their names. They /never/ let the kid say his name, when they made him call us, so they were obviously afraid of that.~
Hazmat perks. "So you c'n find 'em?"
Mac nods. "Makes sense, I guess. Shit. I hope this dancer can't track like that."
Sepdet bites her lip. ~That's what I meant, when I said they might track us, if we keep him here too long. I don't know if any of them can do that, but there's a chance. It's not infallible.~
From afar, to Hazmat and Sepdet, Mac needs to get to bed real soon. Mac will keep guard all night, and then help move him to the shelter in the morning.
From afar, to Mac and Sepdet, Hazmat nods.
Sepdet looks back at Hazmat. ~Unfortunately, there's something blocking me. I think they may have my father, 'cause one time that bastard called me, said he'd kill "the old man" if I didn't stop hunting them.~ She sighs. ~I been tryin' to find Father, but something's blocking me. Maybe them. Still...they may not think to shroud their own.~
Hazmat nods slowly.
Mac has disconnected.
Sepdet finally settles down on her side. ~Hazmat,~ she murmurs. ~You saved my life back there, you know.~
Hazmat smiles. "Yeah?"
Sepdet grins weakly, shutting her eyes. ~Yeah. Thanks. For everything.~
Hazmat grins back. "Sure thing. Sleep good, huh?"
Sepdet shivers. ~Do my best...oh!~
Sepdet shifts very carefully, so as not to wake the exhausted boy.
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Homid form.
Sepdet's still not wearing her shirt, so her trick is quite obvious: as she shifts into homid, a necklace, obviously dedicated, appears. It's a hoop of some kind of vine with an intricately-woven dreamcatcher within. Tied to it are several long eagle feathers. Sepdet fumbles at a bit of wire twisted around the top holding it onto the thong around her neck, and pulls it free, then hooks it with the wire onto the edge of a crate.
Hazmat watches curiously.
Sepdet smiles and murmurs, ~Soulcatcher gave it me, to keep me safe. It and Bear will do us well tonight.~
Hazmat grins. "I talked t'him once. He's cool."
Sepdet smiles almost peacefully. ~I love him very much...~ her eyes flutter open to add meaningfully, ~as a friend. He is a good person.~
Hazmat nods. "Yah, I see why. He's not nasty like summa th' other Windy-go."
Sepdet sighs tiredly. ~Yeah. Wish he was here. Dream well, Tipper.~
Hazmat nods and puts her head down. "You, too."
