Sepdet makes a soft mewling sound and stares at the ground. ~The star fell down, mother. You weren't there. You didn't see. Don't call her up yet, she's still broken.~
Quiet nudges Sepdet with her nose. Do not despair, moon sister. Does not Phoebe fall every night to rise again? Does not the day mask the stars until the coming of night? You are strong. I believe in you.
Seeker nods. "He died in battle, with great honor." He looks at Eligio. "To atone for my infraction, I am at you and your pack's disposal. If you at any time require aid, my services are always available."
Sepdet goes silent again, wiping her face with both hands. She doesn't seem to notice the cold.
Eligio Sacateca looks at Sepdet with something beyond concern. One might guess it to be pity but the old Sepdet would know that would never be. He nods, once to Seeker, accepting this.
On the southern curve, Moon Otter comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Moon Otter pads out of the woods and shakes his coat off as he looks around the wheel.
Seeker nods to Eligio. "Thank you." He turns to leave, then stops, looking at Sepdet. "Sister, we will talk. At another time." He heads around the Wheel to the east.
Seeker follows the Wheel north past the Pool.
Seeker has left.
On the eastern curve, Seeker heads east, back into the forest and away from the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Moon Otter follows the Wheel to the Pool.
Moon Otter has arrived.
Sepdet says softly, not looking up at Seeker, ~As you will, Mother's claw.~
Distant Sun watches the oddly behaving Groundskeeper with unease.
Moon Otter pads over to Drew and jostles his packmate in greetings. Hey.
Sepdet shakes her head sharply. ~Uncle. I bring a warning for you and...~ she stops, looking around the Wheel. ~I tried to bring a Keeper, but she is still lying in a hole somewhere and doesn't really know what to do yet.~ Her voice goes wistful and almost normal for a moment.
Eligio Sacateca makes his way around the pool towards Sepdet. Not touching her, he crouches close. From his expression, it is noticeable to those who know him well, that he is uncomfortable with what has just passed between him and the other Strider. He shrugs it off. "Welcome back, Groundskeeper-who-is-not-a-keeper." He attempts to force a bit of levity into his conversation. "When I put the restriction on the Caern, I didn't mean to include you in it, heh?" He fails, rather miserably, not having the heart for it himself.
Distant Sun begins to back away, slowly, then starts at the jostle, and turns about sharply. Oh. It is you. The wolf chuffs a greetings in return.
Sepdet looks up and meets Eligio's eyes for a brief moment, then stares back at her hands. She holds them up carefully to his face. ~See? The Frog came to me, yesterday. She was very good.~
Eligio Sacateca reaches up to take one gently in his own. "Brought you back out of the sand after a long winter, did she?" His voice is tinged with regret.
Sepdet nods slowly, then jumps like a struck rabbit. ~Hey. I had to tell you something. Ibis, listen.~ She shuts her eyes as if trying to concentrate, and begins to scowl furiously. ~The Wheel burning. I saw /that/ again. The Raven warned me about it.~
Quiet's ears twitch at the mention of a Raven, but she remains wordless.
l eligio
Piercing black eyes glower back at you, set in a fierce, hungry countenance. A hawk-like nose juts out under a single, black eyebrow that runs the width of the man's face. He is large, perhaps 6'4" with a strong, wiry body. His hair is literally a black mane, partially bound into a ponytail with gold wire, cascading down the length of his back. It is hung with feathers, the largest being an osprey's hanging from a thin leather braid. His skin and features are dark, south-of-the-border Native American, with high cheekbones still visible on the heavy face.
He wears a fleece-lined denim jacket with little adornment. A leather string with delicately etched gold, lapis and turquoise beads encircles his neck. Each step he takes is with snake-skin western boots tucked under his worn denims.
Carrying:
Lizard figurine
Sepdet quietly and apparently unconsciously gropes to feel Eligio's face with her free hand as she speaks, tracing his hawk's face with light fingertips.
Moon Otter splays his ears and gives Distance Sun a rough lick. He looks to say something, then stops and looks curiously at the Strider.
Eligio Sacateca simply sits there, not moving. When his lips are free to speak he says, softly. "It is not the Wheel that burns, I fear, it is Magpie. Cyllan has gone to Cypress Rising, to see what can be done."
Distant Sun watches the Groundskeeper concernedly. Fire? He glances at the Lord. There was fire in the dreams.
Moon Otter has had no dreams. Well, none that made any sense.
Sepdet flinches. ~Oh, but that's now. Magpie. Crow, and--~ she breaks off, lost in her own head again, and pulls her hand back. She mutters almost conversationally to herself. ~Lightfeather's worse than you are, Uncle. She never tells me anything straight out. And it was another g'dachting nightmare. You'd think they'd just write a letter, once in a while?~ She snaps at the air with a click of near-human teeth, and then gets out, in a cold, bitter voice, ~The Wheel was burning, my dear Rain Walker, because all of you, every one of you, let your shadows get the better of you. You betrayed each other, betrayed the Wheel, and the flames and trees were the answer to your folly.~
Sepdet falls silent then and draws back, pulling her arms in and around her thin torso.
Distant Sun denies having dreams of fire. The Child snaps his attention at the condemnation of the Strider.
Eligio Sacateca reaches out and cups the Strider's jaw between thin fingers. "Is it us you accuse, little Star, or yourself?" he asks gently.
Sepdet cries out and starts to pull away, but then meets his eyes. ~I saw you, semsw,~ she says very softly. ~You, and everyone else I loved, everyone here. Burned to ashes and /laughing/ at me for trying to put out the flames. Maybe it was my fault too-- I don't know--Hope is blind, you know.~
Eligio Sacateca shakes his head and starts to rise, letting his hand drop to his side. ~Only when it wants to be, little one. You've seen me worse than that, I think. Burning, at least, would be a clean death.~
Sepdet shivers. ~Don't fall into your shadows,~ she pleads quietly. ~I couldn't face that again. I will go off the cliff, all of me, next time. Sebek was enough.~
From afar, Eligio Sacateca vows to Sepdet not to GM any more stories, okay? ;)
Eligio Sacateca says, none to gently, ~I can hardly find my shadow in this place and I cannot leave it. Come back to me when you find the Keeper. I need your strength when you have it.~ He straightens the rest of the way and starts to walk across the Wheel. ~I will be at the lone boulder,~ he tells any Guardians about.
From afar, to Quiet, Moon Otter, Distant Sun, and Sepdet, Eligio Sacateca runs. Sorry. It's late and all.
Sepdet nods quietly to him. ~Walk well, semsw.~
Eligio Sacateca does not reply, verbally, though the tautness in his shoulders eases somewhat as he walks.
Eligio Sacateca has disconnected.
Moon Otter rolls his shoulders in a shrug at Drew and turns to the Strider. What is a 'Keeper'?
Sepdet glances at the wolf nervously. ~What, littermate, doesn't Mother pound these lessons into our skulls like Ibis grinding his damned powders?~ She smiles faintly. ~Of the caern's keepers, there are three. The Gatekeeper to measure what comes in and goes out, the Groundskeeper to mind that which lives there, and the Warder above all, to keep it well and whole. But the youngest Keeper fell off a cliff, two days ago, and the Warder is getting irritated, waiting for her to climb back up.~ She tosses her chin. ~He can damned well wait. Nobody should have expected her not to jump. That was a bad tailwind.~
Moon Otter cocks his head at the Strider. What?
Distant Sun tilts his head one way, then the other, trying to make sense out of it. We have three--but we have no Gatekeeper.
Slick pages: Oh, did I OOCly explain what happened to the rest of Sepdet's pack? Or did you figure it out?
All five of them were strangers here. Like any Garou, they stopped by the local Hive before they started to hunt for you. Drummed up some support. While Sebek played into your hands, his packmates stayed with a small enclave south of St. Claire. When they ran, unsuspecting, into Tep and company, they panicked and hastened back to the farm. You know about the fight. Afterwards, as I started to think about it, I had 3 out of the 4 killed in a Dancer version of Gaia's Vengeful Teeth for betraying the enclave. Those are the 'three yechy bodies' from the other night. Just thought I would tie up a few loose ends for you.
Slick pages: Er, Sebek's pack.
Sepdet shivers. ~I wish he hadn't mentioned the winter. My brother's right. It's cold here.~
Quiet pages: What /are/ you wearing? :)
You paged Quiet with 'Nothing.'.
Long distance to Quiet: Sepdet's clothes were destroyed in the fight with her brother. She ran herself under a cold shower before fleeing the sewers, but she was hardly coherent enough t dedicate new clothes.
From afar, Quiet aie. I assumed they just weren't prominant in your desc.
Distant Sun offers helpfully, that being in a different form might be warmer. Or being by the fire, if it would not bother you.
Moon Otter thinks it would be better to wear the wolf, especially with the flying-weaver-things out hunting and the apes in the woods.
Quiet whines softly at Sepdet. Come back to the cave. I will get you coverings, later this evening. You have seen that the Wheel does not burn tonight. Let
Sepdet looks at Oscar in confusion, and then at herself, as if noticing herself for the first time. ~I have fingers now, don't I.~
Quiet whines softly at Sepdet. Come back to the cave. I will get you coverings, later this evening. You have seen that the Wheel does not burn tonight. Let us leave for tonight.
+shift lupus
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.
Set.
l me
Sepdet(#3589POce)
Sized as her true jackal cousins, no bigger than a large fox, Sepdet moves quietly in the shadows on long slender legs. Her Egyptian ancestry is clearly visible in her sleek, dark fur, long narrow muzzle, and large, sensitive ears. Her short-haired ebony pelt is the color and texture of lakewater on a still moonless night.
There is a disturbing dichotomy between the almost cublike newness of her small, unlined body and the wild, deep awareness behind her nearly human-shaped dark eyes. She moves fitfully with the restlessness of a dragonfly trying to find purchase on the ground in a light gusty breeze.
To any who have known her, she is herself, and yet not herself. To any who have known her a long time, the reason is clear: she looks like the unscathed, unscarred cub of two springs past who first came to the Wheel Renewed.
Sepdet doesn't respond to Quiet's gentle suggestion at first. Slowly, as if trying to track an old scent, she begins to walk the Wheel's perimeter step by step.
Distant Sun looks oddly at Quiet about the Wheel burning a moment, then turns to the Groundskeeper. If the Wheel burns, we will tell you. But it will not. Moon-Laughs-Quiet speaks well. Go to the cave and rest.
Quiet sighs and waits, thumping her yellow tail against the ground once. She watches Sepdet at first, then her eyes are drawn toward the tablestone.
Sepdet takes a long time to work her way around. She seems to need to reacquaint herself with all the lines, stones, and small tracks that she used to know blindfolded. The fading scents of Garou she doesn't know also catch her interest. Finally, she comes back through the center, crossing right under the Tablestone and giving it a thoughtful lick before proceeding absently out to the woods' edge.
cw
You make your way to the northwest, back toward the center of the Wheel.
Center of the Great Wheel
This circular clearing is about 40 yards in diameter and completely bounded by the Wheel of Nature inscribed in the ground. Soft green grasses cover much of the ground, but several paths have been worn to bare dirt over time. The only landmark within the Wheel is the low Table Stone at the center, but four important landmarks make up sections of the Wheel: the windy spot to the southwest, a small pool to the southeast, a firepit to the northeast, and a large mound of earth to the northwest.
Contents:
Table Stone
Obvious exits:
Windy Spot South Pool East Fire Pit North Earth Mound West
s
You make your way along the pathway to the south, between two Wheel quarters.
Southern Curve of the Wheel
A whisper of wind and a glimmer of light, one behind and the other ahead, bring a faint tingle to your senses. Ahead, light reflects somberly off a clear pool of water, while behind air swirls and stirs the leaves of trees. A pathway of soft dirt winds between the two and south, off the wheel.
Obvious exits:
Pool Windy Spot Center of the Wheel South
Sepdet glances over her shoulder at Quiet uncertainly. This way, mother?
Near the Pool, Quiet whuffles, turning her eyes from her absent contemplation of the stone toward the south. Yes, that way.
Near the Pool, Quiet stands and moves into the center, before joining Sepdet at the south.
Near the Pool, Quiet heads into the center.
At the center, Quiet heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
Quiet has arrived.
Near the Pool, Distant Sun makes a sudden movement, and stops, raising his voice in a bark. Be careful. humans with guns and flashlights are in the woods.
Sepdet cringes and skips sideways. I will hide in the dark. I don't like the humans with hand-lights. They make the scorpions come out, and the lizards go in, and that's terrible for hunting.
Near the Pool, Distant Sun tilts his head. We have...scorpions out here? He looks dubiously at the edge of a bush in the woods.
Near the Pool, Distant Sun transfers his dubious look from the woods to the Groundskeeper, then to Quiet. Moon-Laughs-Quiet? You will take care?
Quiet will, Distant Sun. She turns to Sepdet and whuffles. Whenever you are ready, moon sister.
Sepdet ducks her head. I'm coming, mother. Her tail wags slightly, but the movement is quickly stifled, as if she has somehow been taught that it were inappropriate behavior. Cautiously, she slips into the forest.
s
[...]
You find a path through the trees, and eventually reach a grassy hilltop.
Lonely Hilltop
This is a truly odd place, startling in its abrupt change of scenery. It is a large, grass-covered hill, without so much as a single tree on it. However, all around the foot of the hill, the forest crowds in, trees packed densely together. A large stone, perhaps three feet in diameter, sits on top of the hill. One face has been sheared away as though by a great axe, leaving a glimmering reflective surface. From the hilltop, it is almost possible to see over the treetops, but not quite. The greater heights of the eastern mountains are visible from it, in distant, hazy splendor. There is an air of peacefulness that hangs over the place, almost a sleepy feeling. Most of the time, few noises can be heard except for the blowing of the wind.
The dark green of the forest surrounds the hill on all sides. Going any direction will likely be something of a struggle.
Contents:
Bitter-Water
Touch Deer
Soulcatcher
Always Hungry
Bitter-Water cocks her head and wags her tail slightly. Bitter-Water, Gibbous moon-born, violent Child of Gaia.
Quiet steps out of the treeline to the north.
Quiet has arrived.
Sepdet sniffs along in the shadows of the underbrush nervously, huddled close to the Gaian's shoulder.
Bitter-Water lifts her muzzle, ears cocking toward the new arrivals.
Quiet also sniffs the air, twitching her ears when she catches scents she does not know.
Touch Deer looks over to Sepdet, and then shakes his head. So many others. I am meeting more people this night than I had thought I would.
Always Hungry chuffs a respectful greeting to Sepdet and a much warmer and heartfelt one to Quiet.
Soulcatcher climbs to his feet and gives Quiet a respectful nod, his eyes darting to Sepdet afterward.
Sepdet's ears splay. There are more in the world than you know, wild stranger, she growls softly, Quiet's presence making her bold. Cautiously, with the steps of one ready to bolt at a sharp move, she starts out of shelter and comes partway up the slope, ears twitching wildly.
Touch Deer looks at the two arrivals and chuffs a greeting. Hello. I am Touch Deer, cub of the Wendigo born under the full moon.
Bitter-Water's ears tilt, confused and uncertain. She hobbles forward a bit and then stops. Her eyes glance at Quiet and then at Sepdet. Uh, have I met you?
Quiet splays her ears at the two that she does not know, slipping her eyes back away from them to catch Touch Deer's greetings. She climbs the hill after Sepdet, a comforting presence a shade behind the Strider. She turns her muzzle to look at the other speaker.
Sepdet's nose twitches at the other mule in equal confusion. I think I met me, when you were around. There are some who say I've been here before.
Sepdet is...?
Quiet sniffs the air again. She then states, simply, I do not I know you.
Sepdet stops, mid-introduction, and tries to explain. She is a Strider, yes, and then doesn't know what else to tell you. She looks uncertainly across at Soulcatcher and backs away.
Bitter-Water starts to sniff at the small, unscarred jackal, but is distracted by Quiet. Oh. Bitter-Watter, Gibbous moon. Violent Child of Gaia. Not a cub. Hi.
Touch Deer pages: Just wondering, are you using the gift Aura of ConfidenceYou paged Touch Deer with 'Not at all. :) I'm just weird.'.
Always Hungry chuffs, slightly amused at Sepdet's mistake.
Soulcatcher pads toward the Strider with slow steps, nosing her gently and then simply standing still.
Touch Deer moves a little closer to Soulcatcher, his manner acquiring a hint of nervousness.
Sepdet quiets down visibly at the Wendigo's touch, her ears and tail no longer fretful like a sick wolf's. She glances back across at Bitter Waters. I have met you, she insists firmly. But something was different, then. Me, perhaps.
Quiet looks at Soulcatcher and Sepdet with a hint of amused weariness in her eyes before turning to the two newcomers with her introduction. She says to Bitter-Water first, Well-met, tribemate. Are you of the One Tree? She then, without pause to let the other answer before she finishes, says, I am Moon-Laughs-Quiet, Voice of the Children here, seer daughter of Raccoon and Mistress of the Challenge. Greetings.
Lucas Moonblade steps out of the treeline to the north.
Lucas Moonblade has arrived.
Bitter-Water runs a tongue over her chops, confusion over the Strider and her own general mood, not to mention Quiet's higher station, overriding her usual scorn and arrogance. I don't have much to do with camps, actually.
Touch Deer looks at Quiet. Hello. I am Touch Deer, cub of the Wendigo. I was born under the full moon.
Always Hungry glances at Lucas, the only one here she hasn't met before.
Lucas Moonblade steps quietly onto the hilltop, head haloed by the bladed moon. Wordlessly, he dips into a shallow bow of greeting, first to Quiet, then to Sepdet, and then to the others.
Touch Deer gazes over at Lucas, also. His eyes examine the stranger's clothing with obvious confusement.
Stands-No-More steps out of the treeline to the north.
Stands-No-More has arrived.
Stands-No-More walks on, sniffing around.
Sepdet glances absently at Soulcatcher. You have a new cub to teach, brother. I'll help.
Quiet splays her ears politely at Touch Deer before remarking to Bitter-Water. Ah. I wondered, as the One Tree tend to fight more than any other than the Crest. Many of us here are One Tree. She turns as Lucas approaches and dips her muzzle to the Fang. Welcome, Phoebe son.
Sepdet ducks her head in sudden embarrassment. Of course not. That's the other's job. Did you tell her what happened, after she chased me? I don't remember...
Stands-No-More looks up and around at the other wolves in the area.
Always Hungry chuffs a greeting to Lucas and Stands-No-More and introduces herself first since she is the Cub. One is Always Hungry, Cub of the Silver Fangs.
Soulcatcher dips his nose to Moonblade respectfully.
Touch Deer's gaze shifts from Lucas' garb to his eyes. I am Touch Deer, Ahroun cub of the Wendigo.
Soulcatcher nuzzles Sepdet again, trying to keep his words even and reassuring. I have not seen her yet.
Bitter-Water glances at the new arrivals, shifting her weight in vague nervousness as she answers Quiet. Which is the One Tree again? Most of the ones back home were Patient Deed or that stupid No-Violence-Ever camp.
Stands-No-More looks over to Touch Deer.
Lucas Moonblade takes stock of those here with eyes silvered blue by the moonlight. He murmurs, quietly, ~My apologies,~ and shifts form.
Lucas Moonblade contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Lucas Moonblade shifts into Lupus form.
Sepdet sees two more appear and starts backing down towards the edge of the hill.
Always Hungry chuffs encouragement to the strider, Stay, groundskeeper.
Lucas Moonblade settles back on his haunches, calmly. With soft and noble howl, he introduces himself as Moonblade and Falcon's Son.
Sepdet's head jerks up at the cub's gentle command. She stares at Always-Hungry, licking her muzzle unhappily. Groundskeeper. All she did is dance around tonight. Duat. Maybe they should find a new one, you think?
Quiet twitches her ears, moving closer to Sepdet as she begins to appear nervous again, chuffing reassuringly to the younger wolf. She then answers the other Gaian: One Tree believe Gaia gaves us our gifts to fight for her. To kill the enemy without hatred, but to kill them utterly, as one's body would wipe out a disease.
Always Hungry meant that as a plea. One wants to get to know her elders if you will stay please.
Touch Deer looks over to Quiet with interest. Yes. This One Tree, it has a wise philosophy.
Bitter-Water starts to pad closer toward Sepdet and stops, tail twitching uncertainly; she doesn't want to crowd or startle the small Garou. Instead, she moves toward one side, bringing her closer to Quiet. That actually makes some sense, I guess. Back home fighting was a big no-no, always. It was pretty stupid.
Soulcatcher's nose scents the air, chin high. One Tree is much like our camp, brother, yes.
Lucas Moonblade listens, quietly.
Soulcatcher's eyes fall on the still strange wolf at the edge of the hilltop.
Quiet rolls her head to one side. I do not understand the teachings of those that never fight either, but then my earliest teachings were not from out tribe. That may be the difference.
Sepdet suddenly stands straighter. All the other announcements being done, she seems to be in some sort of distress. She nips Soulcatcher's shoulder softly. There's two here who don't seem to know their own names.
Bitter-Water's ears cocks forward at Quiet. That must be it.
Soulcatcher nods at the Strider's words, though his gaze is still on the strange wolf. He chuffs inquiringly. Name yourself.
Stands-No-More's gaze falls from wolf to wolf. I am Stands-No-More. Ahroun of the Wendigos.
Touch Deer, upon hearing Stands-No-More's greeting, looks at him with interest gleaming in his eyes.
Soulcatcher's ears splay, looking back at Touch Deer. It is a day for Wendigo Ahrouns it seems.
Stands-No-More chuffs. I followed your scent to this spot.
Quiet looks to Lucas. She asks, do you know the cub Always-Hungry? She indicates the Fang cub, saying, She is of your tribe, and without teacher.
Stands-No-More pads down the little hill and comes up to Soulcatcher.
Touch Deer swings his head over to Soulcatcher. Yes, it seems so. Then to Stands-No-More: Why don't you come and stand with us, brother? I am new here, and am looking to meet all of my brothers and sisters.
Stands-No-More looks over Soulcatcher. You ask my name. Are you in charge here?
Lucas Moonblade absorbs Quiet's information, then turns to Always Hungry. He regards her for a time before saying, finally, ~I had heard. What says Thorn-Slowly-Wins?~
Soulcatcher's head turns back to the new Ahroun, scenting him to learn and rememebr. Lifting his head, he howls his greeting. I am Black Rabbit, called He Catches the Soul by the Wendigo, and one who runs under the Sacred Hoop here at the Wheel Renewed. Cliathed, and born under the Horned moon.
Sepdet's ears splay at the ahroun's curt manners, and she draws herself up to meet his eyes with the first sign tonight that she's anything more than a skittish cub.
Always Hungry looks at Lucus, One is not sure what you are asking.
Soulcatcher's ears splay with amuesment. I would not say that, no, but well met anyway, tribemate. Too few of us walk this land.
Quiet has not had time to inquire with her packmate, with the situations in the city and without. He has drawn away to meditate, after the summoning of your tribe's patron.
Sepdet snorts. It is a full pack, Sen. I am going down into the gully. I will not be far away. With that, she gives Soulcatcher's shoulder a soft nip, and pads back into the safety of the trees.
Lucas Moonblade pushes to all fours, pacing regally towards Always Hungry. Thorn Slowly Wins leads the children of Falcon, here. You are my sister under Falcon's wing.
Stands-No-More looks around at the other wolves again, a smile coming across his face. It is glad to see that Wendigo have begun to.. repopulate the area.
s
You push southward into the forest, through the dense underbrush.
Dense Forest
Surrounding you on all sides are many trees, most of the evergreen variety. Thick underbrush, some with prickly thorns, others with trailing vines, covers the forest floor, making it quite impossible to see very far into the distance. The occasional hawk can be seen flying through the trees and off in the distance the low bass-like croak of frogs can be heard. The occasional beam of light breaks through the forest canopy, illuminating a small area before it vanishes.
The forest underbrush is thick all around, but can probably be pushed through with enough effort.
Quiet emerges from the underbrush.
Quiet has arrived.
Sepdet looks faintly bewildered, and has settled down under a dripping branch to chew on her front paws. There are many jackals in the place with trees, mother. I had forgotten.
Quiet says reassuringly to Sepdet. There are many, yes, but that is well. Usually they do not gather all together. The pack is still our strength.
Sepdet yawns, her jaws coming together with a snap. Her expression is thoughtful. I dreamed of all the old pack. But many of these are not the ones I am remembering.
Sepdet's sides heave.
Quiet dips her muzzle and repeats from earlier. Cycles continue. They can not be the ones you remember, yet be the ones you know, all at once.
Rholeen emerges from the underbrush.
Rholeen has arrived.
Sepdet's muzzle turns towards the Gaian thoughtfully, at that. She gives a soft whuff. I know. But there is a cycle I am free of right now.
Sepdet gives a sudden bark of surprise. No! Not! She turns, head coming up at the homid's entrance. There is my cycle, mother. She is from the city not the sand, but she will do. She will do...
Rholeen pushes through the underbrush, making a terrible racket as she does. "Why don't they just hang around the arcade or something. Grrrr..."
Sepdet shakes herself, and seems to forget for a moment where she is. She makes a dash out of the bushes at Rholeen's feet.
Quiet growls softly at Sepdet. Your time in the cycle is not over, moon sister. Her statement ends in a yelp as Sepdet dashes away.
Rholeen stops suddenly, not wanting to step on anything. She teeters a bit before regaining her balance, and looks down at the wolf. At first she is unsure, but then her face lights up. "Sepdet? Is that you? I've been hoping to find someone I know around here."
You paged Rholeen with 'You /guess/ it's Sepdet. >grin<'.
Rholeen pages: Well, you are jackalish, right?
Sepdet looks up at Rholeen numbly with large eyes and jerks her muzzle sideways. Forgetting caution, she lurches upwards.
+shift glabro
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Glabro form.
Cleared.
I don't see that here.
Sepdet puts out her hands on Rholeen's shoulders, staring at the girl earnestly. ~I think so,~ she says huskily. ~I mean...~ she ducks her head, eyes half closing. ~I'm sorry I've been away. Things happen, you know?~ She seems to be fighting very hard to speak clearly.
Long distance to Rholeen: Sepdet is missing...um...clothing.
You paged Rholeen with 'But whats a few scraps of fabric between friends? :)'.
Rholeen stares at Sepdet, seeing clearer in this form the changes that have happened to her. Unconsciously she tries to get a little space between her and the other girl, but stops herself as she notices her reaction. "Sep...what's happened to you?"
Quiet hangs back at the edge of the undergrowth, continuing to scent around as the two Striders converse in the open.
Sepdet ducks her head and pulls away. ~I'm...sorry. Sebek's dead, you know. I called the rats to kill him, and...~ She bites her lip, wiping her hands across her face, voice perfectly reasonable with only a faint numb echo of normal grief. ~I'm sorry,~ she says again. ~It's not always like this. I ran to the cliff, but Joseph wouldn't let me go. So I came back to you.~
Rholeen looks concerned, and more than a little confused. She then shakes her head, "Sep? You should probably shift back. It's November, and a cold night."
Sepdet's mouth twitches. She looks down at herself with faint regret. ~But I'm trying to...~ She bites the air again. "I am trying to speak to you, Rholeen. I was down in the pipes, and my brother almost killed me, and... we need you now. Sepdet fell with her brother. She's no good to anyone. Someone else has to be coyote now, and watch in the city, and keep an eye on people to make sure they don't slip."
Sepdet's hands clench at her sides, fighting her own breath to get this out and said. Then she buckles and retreats back to a wilder shape.
+shift lupus
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.
Set.
Quiet growls to herself and moves out in the open. She says, more firmly, to Sepdet. Your cycle is not over. This one has her own circle to walk. You cannot lay down your load, moon sister.
Rholeen scratches her head and sighs. She then pulls off her pack, and sets it down onto the dry pine needles. She then follows the pack to the ground, resting her feet. "Is there any danger?" She carefully doesn't direct this question to either wolf, but looks hopefully at the less confusing Garou. Well, slightly less confusing.
Quiet says, almost wryly, but the concern in her tone is unmistakable. It depends on what you mean by danger.
Sepdet doesn't respond to Quiet with more than an agitated soft whine. She looks up at Rholeen earnestly. Tell Su how her tribesmate fell down off the cliff--you know where I fell from. Tell the others, that Hope's brother is dead, and his pack with him, but there is another pack of Dancers still at large. So I heard before I broke and ran.
Rholeen nods carefully, paying close attention to the wolf. "I'll tell them what you say." She then turns slightly to Quiet. "Well...are we all going to die in the next five minutes?"
Quiet says dryly. Not that I know of, but Gaia has not given me foreknowledge of my death.
Sepdet turns and looks at Quiet almost pityingly, then subsides.
Rholeen nods, and looks around the forest; her features growing less worried. "Well, I came here to see if there was any news of the Caern."
Quiet chuffs. It was quiet when we were there. Distant Sun reports watchers in the woods, so tread careful.
From afar, Rholeen chuckles. "Rho is practical. She realizes Sep isn't herself, so is humoring her without -seeming- to humor her."
Sepdet nuzzles Rholeen's knee. The Wheel is where I left it. Soulcatcher promised me, but I have trouble believing it much nowadays. You, city-sister, must be Strider eyes for a while. I'm blind. Hope's blind, and she fell a long way. I could tell you one road right now you could help me follow.
Rholeen scritches behind Sep's ear, almost as if she is afraid -not- to make contact with her, and looks curiously into her eyes. "Tell me how I can help."
Sepdet whuffs softly, eyes closing in concentration again to try to put thoughts together. The physical contact seems to ground her as she explains.
Sepdet growls, There's a man in the city. He might be a tribe-friend, a pack-friend, a sept-friend. Fights Wyrm. Helps Garou. We need to know him, to watch him, a long time before we can trust him. (Sepdet gives an angry bitter growl at herself). I can't trust my eyes; I trusted my brother. But your feet are on the ground; maybe you can. I think he is of your human tribe, but he is also a changer, a Cat. I think you would understand him.
Quiet twitches her ears at this, in surprise. The Gaian, however, says nothing.
Sepdet has been underground a long time. She had almost forgotten him. He was kind to her, a long time ago, but she has not gone back.
Rholeen tilts her head to one side, and considers. "You want me to feel this guy out? Who is he? What's his name?"
Eris pages: It's my b'day next Sattiday. ;) I prolly won't be on either. ;)
Long distance to Eris: Sepdet sparkles. Aha! You turd, I won't be around to wish you well. Happy bday. :)
Eris pages: Turd? Owwie. :/
Eris pages: After I tormented you and...er...never mind.
Eris pages: BTW, Sebek wasn't going to have Joseph rape you...Not at all.
Long distance to Eris: Sepdet saw that.
Eris pages: That would involve hurting Sepdet physically.
Eris pages: Just plain ol' sex would probably be just as bad.
You paged Eris with 'I wondered exactly what Sebek meant?'.
Eris pages: Rather, bad for different reasons.
Eris pages: By what?
You paged Eris with 'Did he mean to impersonate Joseph and make a pass at Sepdet? Change Joseph so he /tried// to make a pass at Sepdet? Or what?'.
Eris pages: Just set you both up. Persuade you that you might want a physical relationship (or just get you confused enough to consider it) and make Joseph think you actually want to take it to a physical level.
Eris pages: Although the idea of him actually comg on to Sepdet had crossed my mind.
You paged Eris with 'Eeeew. It crossed my mind several times--In Egyptian culture, twins and royalty often married each other.'.
You paged Eris with 'And "sister" is the slang equivalent of "honey" in Egyptian.'.
From afar, Eris nods and smiles.That's how I s gonna try to convince you. :) "
Eris pages: Among other ways. :)
Long distance to Eris: Sepdet thinks that wouldn't have worked. Sepdet couldn't do it with Dusty. She recently had a long talk with Joseph about the fact that she loved him, but he mustn't think anything would ever come of that either, because, between her abhorrance for her parents' crime, and what the Dancers did to her, sex is just not an option. :)
You paged Eris with 'Anyway. Go to bed. What you did was effective, and Sepdet might've started suspecting something was wrong if Sebek started doing maneurvers.'.
From afar, Eris smiles. "Very true, but...well. He's a smoothie."From afar, Eris would be quiet-like. :) "Subtle."
You paged Quiet and Rholeen with 'Sebek was suggesting making the moves on Mom, to complete this dysfunctional family's image: Sebek sits beside mom. "So, what're my chances if I come up with some shitty prophesy? Pretty good, right? I mean, Dad, got away with it..."'.
You paged Quiet and Rholeen with '| Sebek giggles. "Just lie back and think of Gaia."'.
Sepdet explains he was the owner of the oversea trading shop in town.
Sepdet growls, using the wolf-name for a hunger to give his name: Gunner.
Soulcatcher emerges from the underbrush.
Soulcatcher has arrived.
Rholeen starts to say something, then looks over at the new arrival.
Sepdet lifts her muzzle from Rholeen's leg, gone quiet again.
Waters emerges from the underbrush.
Waters has arrived.
Waters appears from the woods to the north.
Always Hungry emerges from the underbrush.
Always Hungry has arrived.
Soulcatchers' eyes are dark with mild irritation which is shaken off fairly quickly.
Bitter-Water emerges from the underbrush.
Bitter-Water has arrived.
Sepdet starts as more begin to show up. She looks from Quiet to Rholeen uncertainly, pressing against the other Strider's side as if trying to shield behind the girl.
Moon Otter emerges from the underbrush.
Moon Otter has arrived.
Bitter-Water hobbles in, highly irritated. And here I thought all the morons like that were localized.
You sense Rholeen signs, "I'll handle the cat, sister. Don't worry."
Moon Otter may be a no moon, but he knows a true fool when he hears one speak.
Sepdet relaxes faintly and gives Rholeen a gentle bump.
Waters chuffs softly to Bitter-Water, walking with her. Have you met our tribe's alphas?
Sterling emerges from the underbrush.
Sterling has arrived.
Soulcatcher chuffs, the irritation returning momentarily. He does not seem willing to speak of it, however.
Bitter-Water glances at Waters. I met Moon Laughs Quiet just before.
From afar, to Sepdet and Rholeen, Quiet twitches.
Rholeen frowns at the wolf convention, "Something driving you off the hill?"
Stands-No-More emerges from the underbrush.
Stands-No-More has arrived.
Stands-No-More walks in slowly.
Always Hungry nods. Wisdom of Moon Otter, she seems surprised at this some, and outlandish comment about Metis being the best and purest of garou.
Long distance to Quiet, Moon Otter, Soulcatcher, Waters, Always Hungry, Sterling, Bitter-Water, and Rholeen: Sepdet >grumble< Purist? Naaaaah. That's what you get when a mage with a Purity avatar has a head trip on you while trying to give you first aid.
Stands-No-More looks up at the comment and then passes on.
Quiet twitches her ears and chuffs, softly, to Waters. Her posture becomes more protective as the other wolves come in, though she does not crowd any closer to Sepdet.
Stands-No-More pushes into the brush and soon disappears.
Stands-No-More has left.
Waters notes you should meet Windrunner, the alpha male, as well. Did you see the holy-place before it was closed by the Warder?
Sepdet pulls away from Rholeen and begins edging back into the undergrowth, ears twitching.
Bitter-Water shakes out her ruff and limps off to one side, sitting down near a thicker part of the undergrowth. I saw the caern, yeah. I don't think I've met a Windrunner.
Soulcatcher watches the ahroun Wendigo disappear in the brush and then pads toward Sepdet. His nose touches her shoulder once, and comes up again.
Sterling looks at Sepdet.
Rholeen stands up, and lifts her pack back onto her shoulders. She carefully keeps herself between Sepdet and the main group of yapping wolves.
Waters pauses in his conversation long enough to greet the others, eyes pausing on Sepdet. He takes a step toward her (still a good dozen paces away), nostrils twitching. He tilts one ear in query. Sepdet?
Sepdet stops and whines at the name, one ear going back noncommittally.
Sepdet doesn't retreat further, however.
Moon Otter fixes his gaze on Rholeen. What are you doing wandering the woods in that form?
Waters pauses where he is and looks from Sepdet to Quiet with that same questioning posture.
Soulcatcher chuffs. There's no word to his voice, just sound. His ears lay back faintly and briefly.
Rholeen frowns at Oscar, "Hiking. It's good to keep healthy. Why in two months I've lost fifty pounds."
Long distance to Rholeen: Sepdet applauds.
Quiet flicks her tail, telling Waters that she will explain at the den.
Waters dips his head in acknowledgement and falls silent.
Moon Otter thinks you should take a more appropriate form. Humans do not walk among wolves and the apes are looking for us, both on ground and from the air.
Sepdet snorts. She was a human with two dogs, until this pack of wolves appeared. Perhaps we should go elsewhere.
Quiet agrees. There are too many here.
Waters quirks one ear. To the den? He looks to Rholeen. If she will shift.
Always Hungry thinks this is forest, wolves roam forest in packs, there are not too many here.
From afar, Moon Otter dum-dee-dum-dee-dums. This is all the Talons' fault.
Sepdet looks at Quiet, ears drooping. I will go back to the den, mother. I am not sure that the wolves should see the runt. She makes them nervous.
Waters notes that we are north of the wolf lands, Always Hungry. The true wolves are farther to the south.
Waters pages to Quiet, Moon Otter, Stands-No-More, Soulcatcher, Sepdet, Always Hungry, Sterling, Bitter-Water, and Rholeen: At least, I think that's the case. If I'm wrong, just retcon that pose. Waters grew up in these woods, he'd know even if his player doesn't. :-)
You paged Always Hungry with 'There is a human hiker here, two dogs...and now suddenly there is a human hiker here, a couple of dogs, and lots of wolves. :)'.
Always Hungry notes we are in lands of SummerFrost, Wolf and garou mixed pack.
Bitter-Water cocks her ears toward the other Children of Gaia and the small, nervous, unscarred little Strider.
Stands-No-More sits down on his haunches.
Rholeen arches an eyebrow, "I'm just here to talk to Sepdet, and I'm not in the wolf mood. I'll gladly hike somewhere else if I make you nervous."
Waters is not made nervous by you, Strider, but Moon-Laughs-Quiet's cubs are true wolves and do not know our nature. You could not approach her den in the form you wear.
Sepdet nuzzles Rholeen tiredly. I will speak to you later, if you wish. I am sorry. It was good to see you.
Sepdet draws away from the others, obviously uneasy. She looks up at the human girl. Look after the city, for me? Just watch. Listen. Learn things. It is the old way.
Rholeen looks down at Sepdet, her features softening. "Ok. I'll look for you later after I learn a few things. Be well."
Sepdet gives a soft whine at that, and shakes her head sideways. She turns away from the others without another word, and runs off into the shadows.
