LUPUS MOOT, Nov 17 1996

• History of the Talons recounted,
• Moon Otter Returns,
• Patrol of Wolf Woods and Mating Rights discussed,
• Talon cubs sent on their RoP, and
• Thunder's Claws slays Swipes-at-Salmon over the killing of humans

National Park, Mountain Bowl
This is perhaps the most breathtaking scene in the entire park. Sheer walls of rock rise towering into the sky on three sides, forming a U-shaped bowl with the opening at the north end. The cliffs are dotted with precariously-clinging trees in numerous places, and caves of various sizes dot the cliffs all the way up. The floor of the bowl is filled with hardy evergreen trees, mostly pine. The underbrush is scant, and a carpet of old pine needles muffles most sounds to quiet sussurations. A small trail winds away up a hill, and the caves look unreachable. Occasionally you hear the harsh call of a great bird of prey, and on very lucky instances you look up fast enough to notice huge birds alighting in their aeries above you -- the park's small golden eagle population.

From National Park, Mountain Bowl, SwipesAtSalmon can be heard to howl, ~Wolf-born Garou, guardians of the wolves, Swipes at Salmon summons you! We gather in the mountain bowl!~
Eyes-Halfblind pads up, still looking a little tired and very thin. She chuffs a respectful greeting to Swipes.
SwipesAtSalmon stands at the ridgeline, watching for the others to arrive as the last echoes of her howl die away.
Stormcloud comes down the northern path into the bowl.
Stormcloud has arrived.
Long distance to Clouded Sky: SwipesAtSalmon may make some mistakes tonight. Swipes is gonna try to tell people a little about the Way Things Were, as best she remembers, but her memory's no better than mine. And mine's fuzzy prior to Summerfrost...what was it like when Broken Claw, Bloodfang were alive?
Clouded Sky pages: In what way? Mostly it didn't get any RP, except with Chaser and Bloodfang. Even when Broken Claw was in charge, Sky was mostly responsible for the wolves.
You paged Clouded Sky with 'That must be why I don't remember. Mainly, how we looked after and protected the wolves. like, wasn't there a time when only Talons could be here (except Chaser, who never follows the rules?) Prior to Gaia's rage, that is.'.
Clouded Sky pages: Yeah, just before Moon Otter and Hazmat showed up. Elizabeth asked that that be changed, because of Bobby Hanson. And because she didn't think it was a good idea. That (I think) was from Broken Claw...
Clouded Sky pages: But it may have been from Bloodfang - He let specific people in. - Chaser, Elizabeth.
Stormcloud enters quietly to join the gathering.
Shadow-of-Blood comes down the northern path into the bowl.
Shadow-of-Blood has arrived.
SwipesAtSalmon greets those she knows with a flick of the eyes, though she does not, of course, lower herself before any here. She watches North Star guardedly but does not bar his arrival. Talons and their ilk will note that there is absolutely no trace of the jeep at the edge of the bowl. [log note: this is a day or so after Laura the Park Ranger came and got in trouble with the Talons]
Stormcloud pages: What did you do to it? :)
Long distance to Clouded Sky and Stormcloud: SwipesAtSalmon figures Swipes took the jeep back in the wee hours before dawn and flung it on the nearest dirt road, its uphostery peed upon and hoses chewed, assuming Laura didn't come back and move it.
Clouded Sky sits just behind and to the left of her alpha, watching all the while.
Shadow-of-Blood bares his throat properly to Swipes as he comes into the gathering, then pads over to one side, with the other Talon cub.
Eyes-Halfblind circles a place and sits serenely by herself.
North Star dips his head respectfully to Swipes, his posture indicating her dominance in these matters; he comes only to learn.
SwipesAtSalmon relaxes as Shadow-of-Blood arrives, her gaze lingering on him, Clouded Sky, and Stormcloud the longest. She indicates quietly that all of them should gather near her, Red Talons taking the center and highest position in this gathering.
Stormcloud rises to all fours, grunting slightly as his almost healed wounds tug at him in protest. He moves to sit where indicated by his alpha.
Shadow-of-Blood proudly pads over to the position of honor indicated by the alpha.
Long distance to GreetswithFire: SwipesAtSalmon has Sky, SoB, and Stormcloud up where she is, high on the edge of the ridge with the rest of them arrayed with lupus-born nearest and homid-born patrollers farthest away.
Clouded Sky, head lowered and hesitating, moves forward to crouch beside her alpha.
SwipesAtSalmon rises to her feet and gives another dirge of a howl, having taken the prime position for her voice to be amplified out of the deep curving valley. This is pure wolfsong, inviting those gathered to join in the oldest lupine ritual and declare their loyalty to the wolves and Gaia.
Stormcloud lifts his head, joining his alpha's song with his own low and powerful howl.
Clouded Sky's voice joins that of her elder without hesitation. She sings out in triumph of her newfound strength.
SwipesAtSalmon begins to add thoughts to the wordless howls, as the others join adding layers to her crudely-formed narration. We are the wolves, the keepers of wolves. We remember the old ways, the first ways. We are one with the forest. We know our place.
North Star raises his voice only after all the lupus have howled.
Eyes-Halfblind's voice joins that of the Talons, though her voice is softer, it carries with it the weight of the forests.
Strikes adds his voice, a bit harsh, to the howl.
SwipesAtSalmon speaks clearly to the Red Talons, first, although she well knows upon what other ears her words fall. Gaia Mother saw how the apes would grow, would overrun the world. We are the balance. We fight back their tide. We make them keep _their_ place, although they have forgotten.
Shadow-of-Blood throws his head back in a long, pure howl that contrasts with dissonance against the alpha's howl. It rings with the majesty and place of the wolf in Gaia's Realm.
SwipesAtSalmon shifts voices then. We wolf-born here are very few. Listen to the names of those who ran the paths before!
Moon Otter pages: Now huh now?
You paged Moon Otter with 'Almost! gimme _one_ more moment, and then it will be perfect!'.
SwipesAtSalmon belts out, looking straight at Shadow of Blood: Bloodfang and Broken Claw, the first Talons to guard this forest! They have passed on, but their blood runs strong!
SwipesAtSalmon howls a dirge. Earth-Child, Whiteshadow, protectors of wolf-lands and Wheel-caern both! Swift-Claws the deadly, alpha and warrior! Thunder of Gaia, Gaia's Rage, Seer! Black-paw who left with him, back to the north-lands whence we came!
SwipesAtSalmon's snarl and then pure howl of pride are in stark contrast as she names the last two: Blood Running Red, alpha, foe to any who opposed him, homid _or_ Talon. Song Weaver turned Blood Singer, keeper of tales, alpha of Summerfrost, leader before me!
You paged Moon Otter with 'Now. :)'.
Long distance to Moon Otter: SwipesAtSalmon just finished naming all those who used to patrol here.
Moon Otter has arrived.
Winter Rain has arrived.
A howl rises from off to the northeast, asking permission to enter the territory of Summer Frost. A following howl identifies the trespasser as 'Moon Otter'. Another howl, repeating the previous wolf, comes from the same direction. The second trespasser identifies herself as 'Winter Rain'.
Clouded Sky pages: You left out Storm... but it's just as well, no one believed she was really a Talon. (:
Long distance to Clouded Sky: SwipesAtSalmon damn. Sepdet would be pissed, though. I _knew_ I was gonna forget her, and I loved her so.:)
SwipesAtSalmon blinks and her howl wavers for the first time since she rallied the wolf-song. Then, grudgingly, she changes timber. Swipes-at-Salmon salutes too those few born as apes who yet honor the wolves! Come in, Moon Calf With More Cunning than Otters! Come down and be welcome.
SwipesAtSalmon finally falls silent, shaking herself out to cover startlement at the long-absent Otter's arrival.
Clouded Sky's howl cuts off, and she watches alpha, and then trail.
Stormcloud lowers his head as well to gaze at the newcomers.
Eyes-Halfblind lets her howl fade, and watches.
Strikes drops off as the others do.
Shadow-of-Blood watches the trail, curious to see that one again.
Moon Otter pads out of the brush after several minutes pass. He pauses at the edge of the clearing, looking over the assembled, then chuffs a formal greeting. Swipes-at-Salmon rhya. We heard your howl earlier. Do you still have space among you?
North Star looks curiously towards Moon Otter.
Winter Rain comes into view a few moments later, limping on three paws, head lowered and amber eyes glimmering, the fire of rage behind them at low ember. She stops just behind Otter and to his left, silent.
SwipesAtSalmon eyes the pair sharply, both assessing and subtly challenging. If you are the same Moon Otter who left, you still have a place at Swipes-at-Salmon's howls. Come here. Introduce yourself, and your packmate, to all.
Clouded Sky's tail curls up over her back and gives a slight, pleased wag as she recognizes the scent of Moon Otter.
Moon Otter pads closer towards the gathering, submissive posture as he nears Swipes and huffsto all, then Swipes, Moon-Calf-who-has-no-more-sense-than-an-Otter. No moon of the Lords of Shadow. The same as left before, and perhaps with greater wisdom and knowledge. This one has ordered his pack to remain to the northeast of here. If there is territory to spare, or there is need of assistance, this one may stay for a time. With me is Winter Rain, a Garou capable of patrolling your woods, who can do more justice by introducing herself.
Shadow-of-Blood looks at Moon Otter, then looks around, as if expecting another.
Winter Rain tilts her head to one side and then down, taking in the size of the gathering with some astonishment. She limps forward and tilts her muzzle back in a long, mournful howl, cold and bitter as ice. She is Winter Rain, Full-Moon of the Red Talons, and the last of the Sept of the Bear, from the great North.
Long distance to Winter Rain: SwipesAtSalmon came from an inuit/red talon caern in northern alaska. Would I have heard of yours?
Winter Rain pages: Very small, used to belong to the Gurahl. In past years, barely a packful of Talons.
From afar, to Strikes, Moon Otter, Winter Rain, Eyes-Halfblind, Clouded Sky, SwipesAtSalmon, Stormcloud, and Shadow-of-Blood, North Star must idle; North Star will listen quietly and respectfully.
SwipesAtSalmon examines Moon Otter's scent as he comes in range, and the bitch's too. At the mention of Winter Rain's sept, her ears prick sharply. Well met. Swipes-at-Salmon, Half Moon, born Sept of the Ice Shore.
SwipesAtSalmon settles back on her haunches, allowing a brief moment others to make introductions as necessary, since she is almost the only one here who knows everyone.
Winter Rain lowers head and tail to Swipes, the gesture as natural as a handshake to a human.
Moon Otter huffs to Shadow of Blood. Your sister, Crimson Dawn, is in good health. As are our two pups.
Clouded Sky rises, to introduce herself as Clouded Sky, Crescent Moon cub of the Red Talons.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone:Swipes at Salmon discreetly puts white-out on Sky's +info and whistles innocently. So Swipes has her tribe AND auspice wrong. These little details.
Strikes is known as Strikes-like-Lightning, and Greets-with-Fire among the Garou. He was born under the crescent moon, is of the tribe of the Red Talon, and Cliath.
Shadow-of-Blood chuffs happily. This pleases me. To Winter Rain, he introduces himself as Shadow-of-Blood, crescent moon cub of the Talons, born to the Wheel Renewed here.
Stormcloud rises as well. This one is known as Stormcloud, claimed by the Red Talons as a cub, and born under the half-moon.
Winter Rain greets the scattered introductions with a flick of the ears. Each Garou who is Cliath or possibly higher gets a dip of the eyes; she does not wish to challenge the dominance structure. Cubs, of course, get frank appraisals from the lamed Ahroun.
Winter Rain's hackles rise slightly at Stormcloud, and she wonders aloud why he is wearing the dire wolf form.
SwipesAtSalmon watches the introductions with more than casual interest. Unlike apes, every nuance of interaction between wolves meeting for the first time matters to the alpha, as she sizes up potential packmates, patrollers, and competition.
Eyes-Halfblind this one was called Eyes-Halfblind, this may change. Child of Wendigo, seer.
Stormcloud looks at Winter Rain quizzically, but says nothing in response.
Moon Otter pads around, assosciating first with those he has not met before, then moving on to re-familiarize himself with old acquiantances.
SwipesAtSalmon lifts a paw and gives Stormcloud a light cuff to some less wounded part of his anatomy. She is stranger, but she is Red Talon and your elder. Answer her.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: Hey, maybe that's why Swipes told the Talon cubs to sit with her. :)
Strikes watches the two new arrivals with a critical eye, apparently sizing them up.
Stormcloud glances at Swipes as she cuffs him, and responds as his elders asks. Turning back to Winter Rain, he replies that he is as small as he can get.
Winter Rain's lips peel away from her teeth, and she stares at Stormcloud much as the way one would a freak.
Strikes's eyes seem to keep going back to the missing leg on Winter rain, and his expression and posture get, if anything a bit more critical. He turns his watch to the Shadow Lord.
Stormcloud only holds himself better as he is snarled at, but makes no threatening moves of his own.
SwipesAtSalmon returns to an impassive, dominant stance, tail held at parade rest behind her as she lets Winter Rain and Stormcloud finish working out their mutual positions to one another. She proceeds, however, to the next point, gaze finally acknowledging North Star.
Shadow-of-Blood looks from Stormcloud's bulk to Winter Rain's leg, following Strikes's glances. He conveys no disrespect towards his elders, however.
Clouded Sky watches, low to the ground now that her introduction is past.
Moon Otter finishes familiarizing himself with various scents and settles down on his haunches to join the gathering.
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles softly. Even in our prime, the Red Talons have always been few. We do not breed with the rabbit-breeding humans. So it is that, since the beginning of this Garou Sept, we have always allowed a _few_ of the homid-born help in protecting this forest. The Talesinger who passed us news. Chaser-never-rests who watches over White Pack by the lake. Moon Otter, who worked long and hard through a Red Talon cub's training, to win our trust.
Eyes-Halfblind settles to one side, watching impassively.
Winter Rain snorts and walks her haunches under her, sitting down. She looks toward the obvious alpha of the gathering. Her left ear tilts sideways, and she gives Otter an odd glance, her lupine body position starting to express a frown. She looks at him for many long moments, in fact, missing part of whatever Swipes says next.
Stormcloud turns his attention away from Winter Rain to listen to Swipes' words.
Strikes glances back up at Swipes, looking vaguely surprised by her announcement. There seems to be some discomfort in the way he settles his weight as well, but he continues to listen quietly.
From afar, Winter Rain didn'y ICly know Otter wasn't lupus and is only now starting to wonder, thanks to a few comments from Swipes. :)
SwipesAtSalmon warns that although our numbers are growing again, we are always the first in battle, the first in danger. _We_ choose who is worthy to patrol the wolf lands. _We_ choose who is worthy to mate with wolf blood. We decide what is right for wolves. But we cannot drive the homid-born Garou away, not now. They fought their foolish ape-kin to bring wolves back to this forest. No matter how stupid they are, I ask all of you to remember this.
Winter Rain glances back at Swipes in time to hear the last bit. She shifts her weight apprehensively.
Strikes nods, apparently accepting the elder Talon's words and relaxing somewhat.
Moon Otter simply flicks an ear in agreeance with the Talon elder.
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles softly. So much for apes. Now for _us_. Greets With Fire, eldest, you have come to patrol these lands. And next season, Shadow-of-Blood shall take his place among us. Clouded Sky and Stormcloud too, if they prove their worth. There has been talk of who shall guard which places, and who seeks to mate. State your claims now, elder, and let the others abide by it.
Stormcloud pages: You're quite good at this. Don't know if I could ever do a moot myself. :)
Long distance to Stormcloud: SwipesAtSalmon is utterly winging it. I've never _tried_ to run a moot before.
Strikes will claim the lands in the north of where we patrol, and down twoards the center of the forest. This one has yet to decide which one he will choose as mate, but he will choose one. This one has also heard that one of the cubs wishes to claim territory. This one cannot abide that. Cubs have not earned their rights until the pass, it is as simple as that to him.
SwipesAtSalmon's muzzle wrinkles disgruntledly and she passes a quick glance at Stormcloud. It is time to test him and Shadow-of-Blood. Then we will know if he is worthy to claim his place and a mate.
Clouded Sky shifts uneasily.
SwipesAtSalmon's disgruntled 'but' hangs in midair for a moment, before she continues.
Stormcloud, having remained stoic at Strikes' words, blinks in startlement at Swipes' announcement.
Eyes-Halfblind flicks her ear forward, and studies the two cubs that Swipes mentioned.
SwipesAtSalmon notes one thing. We may _mate_ with the wolves. Then we become a part of their pack, in their eyes. But we do not 'take' their territory. Each pack deserves several Garou to watch over them, in secret or openly. All patrollers should respect those who have mates among the wolf-kin. But Garou may not claim the land the wolves run on for their own. This is the best way, now that there are more than two of us.
Strikes nods again, again accepting her words with seemingly little problem.
Moon Otter doesn't seem to have any problems at all with Swipes' decrees.
Stormcloud agrees whole-heartedly with Swipes.
Eyes-Halfblind merely blinks once.
Shadow-of-Blood takes the pronouncements with equinimity, almost as if they were expected.
SwipesAtSalmon seems relieved by Strikes' agreement. Apparently her pronouncement was mostly directed at him. Very well. Clouded Sky, Shadow-of-Blood, and I watch over the Green pack. GreetsWithFire chooses the north-lands. Moon-laughs-Quiet's pack still watches the small pack by the lake. And Stormcloud, you wish to mind the pack to the south with Touch Deer's cubs. You others, continue to patrol as you have, but defer to these I now name.
Winter Rain flicks an ear, acknowledging the pronouncements. She remains silent for the rest of the moot, her amber eyes brooding and quiet.
SwipesAtSalmon turns her gaze briefly to Moon Otter. Green Pack is not as large as the one to the south. Your pack may try to move in north and east of their land. If Green pack accepts this without too much ire, you may stay.
Moon Otter inclines his muzzle to Swipes' recommendation. Many thanks, rhya.
Winter Rain has disconnected.
From afar, Clouded Sky suddenly envisions the remains of Sand's pack moving into the mountain bowl and merging with the remains of Summer Frost. We'd have Kinfolk Fianna, Wendigo, and Black Furies, and a Black Fury cub...... and a normal sized pack.
Eyes-Halfblind looks up at Swipes questioningly.
SwipesAtSalmon gives the pups another toothy grin and an expectant glance, but makes them wait a little longer, letting their expectations rise with the moon. GreetsWithFire, second of the Talons, have you any challenges or pronouncements for all wolf-born to hear?
Long distance to Eyes-Halfblind: SwipesAtSalmon will ask you next, then move on to cubs.
North Star has connected.
Strikes looks around at the other gathered lupus. Only one, this one has seen apes in these woods. Twice now, once last night, and once before then. He is not sure if the first two he saw were of the apes that are sent by their kind to watch over this land, so be wary of them if you see them. This one is also a maker of Talens, so if any of you need them made to help in your gaurding of these lands, this one will speak with the Spirits to see what kind of bargains we can make with them. He then turns back to the Talon Alpha, dipping his head and showing that he is finished.
SwipesAtSalmon's manner grows more hostile at the mention of apes, although the theurge's offer pleases her. Yes. There are some ape-kin who brought the wolves here. Now they stay and keep the other apes on the trails. They are to be sharply watched, and prevented from bothering the packs. If they do not scare and keep doing it, or if they know more than is safe for the Veil, kill them.
Moon Otter will assist in concealing the corpse, if need be.
Strikes nods in assent to both Swipes and Moon Otter.
SwipesAtSalmon's tail sways a bit. Yes. Otter, you still know the stinking apes best of us. You can help me teach the cubs how to conceal the kill so that they will find no traces.
Eyes-Halfblind flicks an ear outward.
Moon Otter is.... honored? A trace of humor carries itself in his reply.
North Star has disconnected.
SwipesAtSalmon pulls away again from the side-chafing topic of apes, and finally addresses the lower-in-station and cubs. Is there any other matter that should be heard before the gathering of the wolf-born?
Moon Otter pages: Gee, thanks.
Stormcloud remains silent.
Long distance to Moon Otter: SwipesAtSalmon isn't trying to be _too_ rude. But she knows full well that lupus don't always think of all the things we need to do to keep the humans from noticing disappearances. :) And it's useful that you do.
From afar, Moon Otter just sort of feels like a fifth wheel around here. Not to mention WR probably is going to pound him for (ahem) accidentally forgetting to mention he was homid. :)
You paged Moon Otter with 'Actually, Swipes is very relieved to have you back. We've had some homid problems, and she _never_ really knows how to deal with them.'.
Eyes-Halfblind looks up at Swipes. This one has returned from her testing, and wonders where you wish her to guard.
Moon Otter perks his ears up, apparently pleased and approving of the Wendigo's success.
SwipesAtSalmon assesses the somewhat undersized Wendigo bitch with an appraising and faintly approving sniff, although there's a little bit of veiled hostility in the backwards cant of her ears. You should probably patrol where the pack with Wendigo kin hunts, to the south. It is the largest. Ask your tribesmate who has pups with them if he approves.
SwipesAtSalmon's mention of Touch Deer, each time tonight, is tinged with displeasure and irritation. Her customary title for him, Wendigo sire-of-wolves, is tellingly absent.
Eyes-Halfblind looks at Swipes with confusion. What has my tribemate done to ire you, elder?
Clouded Sky places her chin on her forepaw, ears swiveling back and tail drooping.
Strikes shifts his weight in a manner showing a growing displeasure at this line of thought. His lips pull back just perceptably.
Moon Otter swivels both ears forwards, attentive.
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles, not answering for a while. You were not here. An ape came _into_ the heart of our territory yesterday, here. She knew what Garou were. He had broken the veil with her. And she was threatening to _tag_ us.
SwipesAtSalmon's rumble of incensed outrage at this lets all the suppressed rage boil to the fore. _Tag_ us, Garou Red Talons! And yet he would not let us cull her! She drove her weaver machine to the very edge of the bowl, and brought her gun and her box-that-squawks. She was looking for Garou. To _study_ us, to _tag_ us!
Eyes-Halfblind blinks and flattens her ears slightly. One will discuss this with him.
SwipesAtSalmon snarls. I do not care if she were Child of Gaia kinfolk. She had no respect for the veil. She had no respect for the wolves. She had no respect for Garou. Even if she _is_ truly kinfolk, which I doubt.
Strikes grunts his agreement with Swipes.
SwipesAtSalmon gestures towards GreetsWithFire with her muzzle, indicating that this _ape_ shot him several times, and ran faster than we could in hispo. She also made her scent vanish. It went into the trees and stopped. If she is kinfolk, then the homid Garou have been teaching her things no ape should know.
Moon Otter's breathing picks up slightly in tempo as his own rage slowly creeps forwards toward the surface. Lips twitch in a faint snarl.
North Star listens quietly, unhappily.
SwipesAtSalmon's hackles bristle. Touch Deer has also said he will not _permit_--the Talon manages to convey outright sarcasm with an exaggerated mimicking of a Wendigo's proud stance and over-arched tail--he will not _permit_ Red Talons to cull humans. I beat him and stared him down until he submitted.
Stormcloud nods. Strange that one was. Her scent was odd for a manling, but this one could not tell what it was about it that was different.
Eyes-Halfblind tilts her head. Should we ask spirits to watch for her?
Moon Otter considers an option that is obviously distasteful to him, yet he offers the assistance nonetheless. This one, given a good description of this monkeywoman, could take their own form and investigate at the weaver cave den of the patrolling apes to learn more.
Strikes notes her blood and flesh tasted odd as well.
North Star tilts his head; the option Moon Otter offered is more comfortable for him, and his tribe has contacts in the city.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: I don't know how, but Laura registered as Human on SoTF. Therefore I hope everyone checked with her or the leech wiz before assuming we can tell _anything_ besides the obvious--her ability to outfox a few crinos--that would suggest she's other than she appears to be. :)
SwipesAtSalmon eyes the more silent member of the gathering until now quizzically. North Star, you might be the better choice. I do not want to force Moon Otter to have to walk among apes again unless there is no better way.
Moon Otter looks extremely relieved at this.
North Star dips his head in acknowledgement. What can you tell me of her?
Clouded Sky licks her nose and remains flat, ears turned back and outward.
SwipesAtSalmon can take you to the ape's machine after the moot is finish. I carried it back to one of the ape-paths. I have marked it, but it still reeks of her scent.
North Star indicates understanding.
SwipesAtSalmon glowers a moment longer, then gives a short bark to clear her mind. She lifts her muzzle and tail. Now. To the cubs. You have run with us for a summer...and more...
Stormcloud sits at attention, listening intently to his elder.
Clouded Sky lifts her head, ears pulling forward, attentive.
SwipesAtSalmon gives Sky a gentle cuff, the honor bestowed on the one who's had both the longest benefit of her lessons and the most abuse from her heavy paw, at her last statement, and then goes on.
Shadow-of-Blood listens closely to the elder, ears pricked.
SwipesAtSalmon has a task for you, following revel, which only _true_ Garou can succeed in doing. I have spoken of this before to some: the wolf with no name.
Eyes-Halfblind settles back down thoughtfully.
SwipesAtSalmon cannot afford to leave off her territory, nor can your elders. Therefore you will journey north. You will go to the Sept of Ice Shore, a caern of Talons and Uktena alone. You will carry his story to their ears, which I will now tell you, and you will persuade them to let him go.
Clouded Sky rises to sit on her haunches, fully alert to capture every nuance of the tale.
Stormcloud listens just as carefully.
SwipesAtSalmon met this wolf while on her rank challenge, in the umbra. He was a wolf-born Garou who came to this land long ago. He was bound by the Uktena, after his death, to guard a spirit-path, forever.
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles softly. I asked him why, and he told me this tale. Long ago, when the first newcomers came to this land, some were apes, some were wolf-born. The apes, Silver Fangs, claimed to speak for all. And so they bargained with the Uktena for territory to build their dens. They promised the Uktena they would not hunt the animals, but make their own food.
SwipesAtSalmon snarls. This, when half their number were lupus-born, and not Fang. The Fangs would have them to starve. The no-name wolf was a no-moon, a questioner. His comrades asked him to Question the Fangs for them, so that they could have food. The Fangs would not listen. Finally, the wolf-born decided the only way to Challenge was to defy the Fangs' orders. And this wolf, they chose to do it. So he hunted, on land not his own.
SwipesAtSalmon snorts. And the Fangs, who had no respect for the ways of No-Moons, killed him in a punishment rite and stripped him of his name, his rank, his tribe. The Uktena too took vengeance, for he had hunted on their land, without permission. That is why they bound his spirit to guard their gate.
Moon Otter flicks an ear irritably at the tale.
Shadow-of-Blood's hackles bristle at the actions of the apes toward the wolf-born.
Stormcloud simply remains focused on the story at hand.
Eyes-Halfblind tilts her head, absorbing the story.
North Star seems strangely unangered at this tale of his kin. He flicks an ear calmly.
SwipesAtSalmon was asked to judge and free him. I judged him, but did not free him. I say the Fangs were overbearing and wrong to misrespect their Questioner. But I cannot fault the Uktena for punishing a tresspasser, although in truth, he had no other choice. So I would not free him then. But I promised I or another Red Talon would go to the Uktena, and speak on his behalf. He has served their tribe for packs upon packs, generations upon generations, guarding their gate. He apologizes to them for tresspass. I say, he has paid the price for the eating of one rabbit.
Clouded Sky's jaw works, and her eyes narrow thoughtfully.
SwipesAtSalmon wishes you, cubs, to carry my judgement to my old sept. The Uktena there are honorable. Persuade them to let the dead one go.
You paged Clouded Sky, Stormcloud, and Shadow-of-Blood with 'There's a catch, of course. This is just the _excuse_ to send you there. I have a 'B' plot.'.
You paged Moon Otter with 'The Garou at the sept of the Ice Shore will agree, on the condition that the cubs do a service for them in exchange...figure out what's been killing the prey at the edge of their land and get rid of it. It will turn out to be a wounded Gurahl. The cubs may kill it, or, if they're really good ,they may try to befriend it, get it healed, and make it an ally.'.
Stormcloud straightens himself up. This one would be honored to aid in such a quest, and is ready to do so.
SwipesAtSalmon watches the cubs carefully. You may ask me any questions, now, for they will ask you many, later.
Clouded Sky licks her lips, questions in her posture. Where was his pack? This no-moon?
Shadow-of-Blood wonders if this place needs a guardian? If he is freed, will it need another?
SwipesAtSalmon indicates that it was far from here, on the eastern edge of the world, where the first Fangs came from across the great water. The no-moon, though, he was not a Fang. His pack was Fianna.
Long distance to Shadow-of-Blood: SwipesAtSalmon DAMN, I forgot that point. Um um um. :)
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles softly. There are other spirits bound to the gate, which burned my Mark. They were guarding it too. If this is not enough, you may have to catch a spirit for the Uktena to use instead.
From afar, Shadow-of-Blood was hoping it didn't. The Uktena are likely to ask one of the Talons to do it. :)
Stormcloud wonders if the Fangs are done punishing him, or do we need to speak to them as well?
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles irritably that the Fangs wanted him to die and die badly, and to be forgotten. Then they forgot him. _I_ have not.
SwipesAtSalmon's flip of a back foot indicates what she thinks of Fang justice, in this particular case.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: That's the gesture dogs use to clean their back feet... you know what it means. :)
Moon Otter pages to Strikes, Eyes-Halfblind, Clouded Sky, SwipesAtSalmon, Stormcloud, Shadow-of-Blood, and North Star: +poop!
Stormcloud then wonders what of the spirit once it is free. Will it need its name again?
Shadow-of-Blood chuffs. One of us can name it, if it needs a name.
Clouded Sky tilts her head listening to the questions asked by the others. When the wolf without a name was punished. What of his pack, then? His comrades for whom he questioned?
SwipesAtSalmon dips her nose at Shadow-of-Blood. You will. But he is dead. If the Uktena had not trapped him, he would have gone back into the forest and Gaia as dead wolves do.
SwipesAtSalmon takes each question in turn with surprising patience and attentiveness, for the surly old Talon. To Sky she responds: they did not hunt, and they did not challenge. So they were never punished. The no-name wolf could not tell me if they learned to survive on the ape food the Fangs said they must eat.
SwipesAtSalmon wrinkles her muzzle. She obviously doubts they outlived him very long.
Stormcloud wonders if the Uktena still hold that agreement with the Fangs as true.
SwipesAtSalmon thinks sourly that the Fangs ended up breaking _that_ agreement later, anyway.
North Star flattens his ears.
Clouded Sky licks her muzzle, thoughtful for the moment.
Moon Otter pages: Oops! Fang de-idled!
SwipesAtSalmon shakes herself. In any event, the no-moon's wolf pack tried to speak to the Uktena at the time, but the Uktena did not understand then that all those who came were not of the same pack. The Fangs claimed to speak for all.
Stormcloud closes his eyes, concentrating on some thought.
SwipesAtSalmon rises to her full height. This is the story. I am entrusting you with a sign, now, a token which will lead the Uktena back to the spirit, and show you the truth of this tale.
Stormcloud rises to all fours, watching his alpha closely.
Shadow-of-Blood tilts his head to one side, interested in the token.
Clouded Sky stretches her neck forward, curious as to what will come next.
SwipesAtSalmon spits something on the ground. It is a wolf tooth, so worn and old that it is impossible to tell any more which tooth it was, or whose. It is yellowed and bears hairline cracks, beginning to show its grain like a piece of wood.
SwipesAtSalmon then shifts up and drives a claw directly into the spirit-mark in her shoulder, howling, ~Spirits of the gate, Clear-Sight remembers her promise! Let this be our token of what passed before your eyes!~ She stands over the nameless tooth, letting the blood from her scar drip onto it for many moments.
+shift crinos
SwipesAtSalmon contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Crinos form.
Clouded Sky's nose works as she reaches down to the tooth, the tip of her tongue just touching the tooth, testing it.
Long distance to Shadow-of-Blood: SwipesAtSalmon hopes it's not too cheesy to assume for the sake of this quest that the 'spirit' of the glyph given her at that gate will show some imprint as to its origins. I've been wracking my brain for weeks to think of a better way, but one can't do Questing Stone on a wolf with no name. :)
SwipesAtSalmon lets all of them smell it, rumbling softly, ~The spirits who guarded the gate with the wolf called me clearsight, for my judgement of him. The blood of the mark will show where it was given to me, and where he still stands.~ She then picks up the tooth, blowing on it until the blood dries, and slips it into a pouch at her throat. This she removes and offers it to Clouded Sky. ~Take it, Crescent Moon. You are going with them.~
drop pouch
Dropped.
Moon Otter watches the beginnings of a Talon Rite of Passage perfectly still and perfectly silent, lest he mess something up.
From afar, Shadow-of-Blood channels Nemo: Sure, that works.
Clouded Sky looks at Swipes at Salmon for a long moment. The tips of her ears quiver a little in pent excitement mixed with pride and a small ammount of sadness. She reaches down, scenting the pouch, tasting it, and then looks again at her alpha.
Strikes watches the rite with fascination.
SwipesAtSalmon's eyes tighten too. There is the lingering scent of another wolf on the pouch still, although Swipes has worn it for almost a full turn of the seasons now: Blood Singer's. Gruffly, she stands back. Now. Into the den, whelps. Your elders revel, and you...you will see.
SwipesAtSalmon gestures back down the slope with her muzzle, towards the den which her pack has inhabited for several seasons now.
Clouded Sky takes the pouch gingerly within her jaws and follows the orders of the elder.

Pouch has left.
Stormcloud goes to the den obediently.
Shadow-of-Blood goes along behind into the den.
Moon Otter ears twist forwards, attentive even more as witnessed past events circle and come again to meet the present. He watches as the cubs enter one by one.
From afar, Moon Otter knows what's happening!
From afar, Clouded Sky thinks Oscar is remembering his lifetime spent as a wolf, during the RoP Sky sent him on. (:
SwipesAtSalmon drops back down to her birth-form, and begins to howl again, this time an odd three-voice timber that recalls the voices of countless Talons, countless revels. It is a both a summons and a farewell to the cubs. She urges the other adults present to add their voices to hers, as she calls on Griffin and the earth of the den itself to aid in sending the cubs on their way.
SwipesAtSalmon contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.
Moon Otter, having apparently witnessed this particular rite before, falls in with the Talon elder and adds in his own dischordant howl to entertwine with the others.
You paged Clouded Sky, Stormcloud, and Shadow-of-Blood with 'Swipes' howl is amplified in strange ways by the den, even before the others join it. It sounds like the howls of the packs in which you were born. You suddenly feel like you did then, when the world was new and you were wondering what lay beyond the comforting warm darkness of the den that was all you knew. You are in that den again now, somehow, recalled to your senses by the old Talon's Rite-howl.'.
North Star raises his voice in song, purposefully picking a note that contrasts with the others.
SwipesAtSalmon continues to build on the dischordant howls, shaping them with the power of the rite into that of many voices, into one timeless current of wolfsong. A high-pitched keening joins in as the rite builds, a scream like that of a bird of prey. Finally she releases it with a last bellow, and listens with satisfaction to the echoes. They are on their way, she notes with a sway of her tail.
Strikes adds his own harch voice to the howl, and quiets as the others do.
You paged Clouded Sky, Stormcloud, and Shadow-of-Blood with 'Before Swipes' howling ends, the howls start to fade, as if the pack is moving off. The sound is so familiar it sets your minds to rest, and--though your excitement is great when you enter the den--it feels like you have been asleep for hours when you finally stir, realizing it has been quiet for some time now and that there is no sound in the den beyond your own breathing.'.
You paged Stormcloud with 'Rite of Passage. :)'.
You paged Stormcloud with 'Swipes' own unique version thereof.'.
Stormcloud pages: Ah. :)
Long distance to Stormcloud: SwipesAtSalmon sends y'all back to the den to be 'reborn' a second time from the earth as Garou. I'm just pulling this outta my butt, but a few of the other players liked my idea and have been re-using it.
Peacekeeper pages: Would you mind too terribly if the Avenging Force swept down en masse right about now?
You paged Strikes, Clouded Sky, and Stormcloud with 'Okay. That's it. When you come out of the den, you aren't in Kansas anymore. You're in a woods in Alaska.
You paged Peacekeeper with 'Come on in.'.
Clouded Sky has left.
SwipesAtSalmon's tail continues to sway as she looks from Strikes to the others. Now we revel, she announces, with another more bloodthirsty howl. For Griffin! For the Talons Renewed!
Thunder's Claws has arrived.
Peacekeeper has arrived.
Quiet has arrived.
Strikes pages everyone: Or maybe we don't revel quite yet. :)
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: Well, no, since I didn't actually plan a revel, I thought an argument might do just as well. ;)
Peacekeeper, at topping the ridge and starting down the path, howls commandingly, ~Swipes-at-Salmon!~ Directly behind him come three more Garou. None of the four look happy.
Strikes glances up the ridge, and his tail drops a little. His eyes look over the other forms upon the ridge critically.
Serves-Honor has arrived.
SwipesAtSalmon's first bounds up the trail come to a sudden halt, as her summons to revel is met with decidedly unexpected and unwelcome visitors. Her ears flatten against her skull and her exuberant howl breaks off in a snarl.
Eyes-Halfblind raises her head from her paws, where she had slipped into trance again, and looks around.
Moon Otter breaks off in mid-howl, turning to look at the newcomers.
SwipesAtSalmon paces up towards the homids on the ridgeline with tail stiffly erect, dignity and self-righteous anger bristling from every fur-tip. Only the rank of the eldest among them keeps her from venting her outrage at the interruption, but it's quite clear in her narrowed blue eyes.
The alpha of Ouroboros flanks her tribemate, though her stiff-legged walk does indeed reveal a deep-set anger. Quiet's fur is still bleached, and the light from the dagger moon above glimmers on her pale golden fur.
North Star stands behind the Talon alpha, watching.
Thunder's Claws doesn't bother to conceal his own anger, and contempt, for the Talon alpha as he approaches with the others.> North Star pages: Is this your death-night, then?
You paged Thunder's Claws with 'Actually, I've sent the cubs off now. If it comes to a fight, I'm perfectly willing to deal with whatever happens naturally ICly here...including Swipes' death.'.You paged North Star with 'It looks like it may be.'.
Strikes glances over at the other lupes assembled for the moot briefly, and then heads up the hill after the elder Talon.
Peacekeeper walks down the trail, his anger evident in his pace, his hackles, his whiskers, his tense manner. Meeting Swipes halfway down the bowl, he glowers at her for a moment. I have heard of your attack on Kin, wolfling.
Serves-Honor approaches alongside his pack alpha, opposite the Gaian Theurge. His emotions are as easy to read as always, so there is nothing to hide the disappointment that flows from him as he watches the Talon Elder approach. His breeding does nothing to dampen the effect.
SwipesAtSalmon doesn't give Robert any answer beyond coming to a halt before him, but stands coolly with her eyes, tail, and posture canted with exacting precision to register respect for his rank and status. Her lips curl back in a snarl at even those few words, though she checks her first response.
Eyes-Halfblind watches the confrontation with an odd set to her stance.
Eyes-Halfblind pages: Didn't they get on the Gnawers for ganging up on someone? :)
SwipesAtSalmon finally replies dourly that your 'kin' went beyond all Garou laws, _as_ did a Wendigo that I thought I could trust with my own pups.
North Star pads up next to Swipes and sits down, calmly.
Serves-Honor strains himself to speak in the Garou tongue from this form...a reminder, perhaps, that despite appearances, those gathered here are NOT wolves. ~Your attack on a human who guards the wolves land lacked Wisdom. Your attack on the Wendigo lacked Honor.~
Scab-Survivor comes down the northern path into the bowl.
Scab-Survivor has arrived.
Eyes-Halfblind pads closer and settles behind Swipes.
Quiet's ruff bristles, her ears laying back against her skull. She continues to let the athro speak for now, though a wordless growl trickles from her throat.
Scab-Survivor comes limping (he avoids putting weight onto his left foreleg at all) towards the large group gathered inside the bowl. His manner and mood are low and angry.
Peacekeeper looks down at Swipes, moonlight glinting off his silver fur, then snorts. ~This will not happen again, wolfling. Your attack was an attack on the blood of Gaia's Chosen, on one who is protecting, not killing, the wolves whom you claim to protect, as well.~
Strikes seems to bristle a little at the insult, his hackles raising a little, but he stays quiet.
Serves-Honor turns his head slightly, his gaze locking onto that of Strikes as the other registers his disapproval. His eyes narrow.
North Star seems displeased, but not yet angry enough to speak of it in the presence of so many who rank him.
SwipesAtSalmon gives Serves a dour glance, suggesting she might have words to respond to him, but her attention is focussed on the elder. Rhya. I am an honorable Garou. If you choose to believe a Wendigo who gave orders to a Fostern like she were a _cub_, when an ape had strayed into her territory to _tag and study Garou_, that is your choice. But I must protect the veil, and I must protect the wolves. I cannot obey your command.
Peacekeeper pages everyone: Hmm ... over 30 points of Rage in this little disagreement.
Scab-Survivor goes toward Quiet, coming to rest against her side. He shuts his jaw and listens, and watches.
Serves-Honor pages: Serves, maybe alone of the newcomers, doesn't seem ANGRY at Swipes or the Talons. He seems to understand what happened, but simply not approve.
Strikes dips and tilts his head just enough to the Fang to indicate that he would not challenge him right now, not while this matter is being resolved but the others, but by motion, that as soon as it is finished, Strikes would be more than willing to accomadate the Fang.
Peacekeeper snorts at Swipes-At-Salmon's arguments. ~If a Fostern acts like a cub, she should be treated like a cub. What were you going to do when you killed that one, and fifty more came in to find out what happened? What happens to your Veil then? Did you think that her Kin would never find out of your treachery? What happened to the Litany and 'All are of Gaia'? Do you pick and choose as you see fit?~
Thunder's Claws paces restlessly back and forth, eyes going from one Garou to the next. His attention lingers very briefly on Moon Otter, then he looks away. His eyes stop on the one wolf he doesn't recognize.
Eyes-Halfblind pages: Ask him if he does this as well...go on do it...he's violating your territory. :)
Quiet breaks out with a sharp comment, ~And do Talons always attack in a mob, like the Gnawers of Bones?~ Checking herself, she again subsides into a wordless growl, turning only to touch the injured Wendigo in question with her muzzle.
SwipesAtSalmon glowers up at the mob surrounding her, but keeps her concentration first on the elder.
Eyes-Halfblind looks at the numbers here confronting, and flicks an ear ironically, but says nothing.
SwipesAtSalmon lowers herself somewhat before Peacekeeper's words, honor clearly stung. But there is no peace in her eyes. I do not attack and kill the apes that come into the woods. I _know_ the risk better than any, Rhya. They killed my own pups. But what of a human that knows Garou, that tresspasses, that calls out to us, that mocks us with speech of TAGGING? What of a human that can outrun a Garou, who can make her scent disappear without trace? I do not question what you teach your kinfolk, but I will not have them using their gifts on me and mine.
Strikes meets Thunder's Claws gaze vaguely questioningly.
Scab-Survivor wonders what SwipeAtSalmon expected her to do? Lie down and be torn apart?
Thunder's Claws looks Strikes over critically, assessing the new lupus. Then his gaze slides away, almost dismissively, back to the center of all the attention.
Moon Otter watches the discourse from near the mouth of the den. Listening, observing, and attentive.
SwipesAtSalmon turns towards Touch Deer, frustration making her break contact from Robert for a moment in sheer dismay. I trusted you. And yet you would let Wyrmcomer kinfolk come into my own den and tag my ear while I slept. Touch Deer, what will she do to your pups?
Moon Otter pages: OW! Good one!
Serves-Honor points out, ~The humans who guard the wolves' land 'tag' them to keep better watch over them.~ He uses the word distastefully. ~Are you certain she knew you for Garou rather than wolves?~`
SwipesAtSalmon snarls. Yes. She asked if I was Wendigo, or another one.
Scab-Survivor barks loudly. Leave this one's pups out of this!
Thunder's Claws snarls at the label 'Wyrmcomer', his hackles going up again. The little wolf looks ready to leap at Swipes-At-Salmon.
Peacekeeper shakes his head, though he is somewhat mollified at Swipes's lowering herself. ~It is not the fault of the Kinfolk that the Talons lose her scent. And did you not consider that some of her speech of tagging may have been for others? Can you not stay hidden from clumsy humans, even Kin, so that you need to attack them if they get near? I cannot see any wisdom here, just a lack of forethought.~
Scab-Survivor barks again. She was looking for /this one/! She has met one before.
Quiet quells the Wendigo with a sudden commanding growl, trying to calm her packmate.
Scab-Survivor whines, quieting as commanded.
Serves-Honor looks towards Quiet and Peacekeeper. He thinks this kinfolk bears examination, later. He does not think Swipes-at-Salmon acted wisely here, but he has never known her to lie.
Peacekeeper looks back at Scab-Survivor with a quelling glance, then looks back to Swipes-At-Salmon. ~She sought him. You were not Wendigo. A simple 'no' would have sufficed.~
Strikes snorts at something said.
Eyes-Halfblind digs her claws into the earth at her feet, seeming to draw strength (or patience) from this action. Then she lies down and continues to watch patiently.
North Star's only reaction to /that/ is to flick his ears in ironic amusement.
SwipesAtSalmon does not think she sought him. She would have looked for him in his territory, not mine. She was studying and tagging us. That is a truth. And she spoke of Garou. I do not like this, Rhya, and I do not like her.
From afar, Moon Otter will stopp paging ideas if you want.
Scab-Survivor flicks an ear, wanting to say something.
Thunder's Claws does not like, Swipes-At-Salmon. Shall he kill your kin whenever they enter his land?
Peacekeeper looks steadily back at Swipes. ~You do not have to like her. You have to not attack her. Until she is proven of Wyrm taint, you are to leave her alone.~
North Star says mildly, This one has been asked by Swipes-rhya to investigate the nature of the strange Kin.
SwipesAtSalmon is no less angry than ever, but under Peacekeeper's direct gaze and clear command, she grudgingly crouches down and bares her throat.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: Which is, of course, Swipes' equivalent of Yes, sir.
Serves-Honor rumbles, ~When you were told the human was Kin, you should have told her tribe of her strange behavior rather than dealing with it yourself. She was not an immediate threat. That is what you would expect if one of your Kin acted oddly.~
Peacekeeper lightly nips at Swipes's throat to seal the understanding, then backs off. Looking at North Star, he says, ~This is not your matter. If the Kin has turned to the Wyrm, we will deal with her.~
Serves-Honor moves forward, almost between his tribemate and his pack alpha. Apparently, his philodox ancestor's impulses are stronger than his ahroun rage tonight.
Serves-Honor turns to look at the other Silver Fang to be sure the athro's message was understood.
North Star tilts his head, respect evident as he questions, You know her then?
Quiet still doesn't seem pleased, hovering between her own packmate and the others. She stands on his wounded side.
Scab-Survivor swings his muzzel around, watching everyone. He seems displeased by what has occured.
Peacekeeper will come to know her very well, he feels.
SwipesAtSalmon remains prostrate for an eloquent moment, taking some dignity in observing proper forms, even through her anger. Then she rises and steps back. She glances again towards Touch Deer, evidently having one further thing to say to him, but waiting for him to look her way.
Strikes just stands there, occasionally looking between those 'speaking' but saying nothing.
North Star raises his head, turning it slightly in a flash of respect. Your will, then.
Scab-Survivor locks eyes with Swipes quickly, and hobbles/limps forward towards her. Yes?
SwipesAtSalmon is still angry with you, Wendigo. I thought we understood one another, and I think now we do not. But I apologize for the injury done you. My cub had just Changed, and did not know her own strength. Garou should not maim each other for the sake of apes.
SwipesAtSalmon's anger is clearly more frustrated disappointment than grudge.
Scab-Survivor chuffs acknowledgement and then 'says' slowly. And one is angry at SwipesAtSalmon for lying to this one.
Long distance to Unferth: SwipesAtSalmon hugs.
Peacekeeper pages everyone: And, stealing and warping a CoG line, "And we're all one big, pissy family!"
SwipesAtSalmon's ears lay backwards, startled, as her hackles go up.
Eyes-Halfblind started to relax, but at her tribemate's words her hackles go up as well.
Serves-Honor seems reassured by the respect North Star shows Peacekeeper, and further so by Swipes-at-Salmon's apology. Garou should fight in packs against the Enemy, not against each other.
Scab-Survivor remembers another night, when SwipesAtSalmon told this one she culled humans that came into her territory, her land and the land of the kin she protects, only when they polluted and harmed the land. Only when they harmed Gaia. Laura never did such a thing, and only meant to the opposite. Swipes should not have attacked her...
North Star splays his ears quickly at his tribemate and then turns his head to observe the newest tensions, this time staying where he is.
SwipesAtSalmon stamps. She came into my land, Wendigo, with a wyrm-machine, driving far off the ape roads. Yet I would have let her live, and driven her off with snarls as I have others like her. But I could not stand the insult of the tags. Some things are not to be borne.
Thunder's Claws snorts at the Talon's excuse.
Scab-Survivor snorts himself. Tags. Tags, and SwipesAtSalmon would steal her life from her?
Strikes takes several steps back from the group. His face becomes a mask of anger, and it seems he's having a bit of a problem keeping his control.
Serves-Honor seems to share the Talon's disgust at the thought of being tagged, a concept which revolts him in a way the homids may not understand.
Eyes-Halfblind narrows her eyes ever so slightly.
North Star flattens his ears at Scab-Survivor.
SwipesAtSalmon rumbles at Scab-survivor. It is as much an insult to me as would be a wolf-born pissing on your human burial markers. Worse, for it smacks of Veil. Those were the reasons for my anger. If you cannot accept that, so be it.
Peacekeeper looks calmly down at Swipes-At-Salmon. ~I have been tagged, tattooed, and branded. If you cannot accept that, so be it. Do not use your own weakness as an excuse to kill Kin.~
Scab-Survivor notes the nearly half-dozen Garou glaring at him, but he does not care. One cannot accept that, no. All life is sacred.
SwipesAtSalmon immediately lowers her tail at the sound of Peacekeeper's voice, and takes a step back from the suddenly incomprehensible Wendigo who is rekindling her temper. Then she turns away. You have your answer, Peacekeeper-rhya. Now, if you are finished, I have a revel to lead.
Strikes snorts, and it seems the Wendigo's words have broke him out the the silence he has kept the whole encounter. No, it isn't. That is why we kill. We kill for Gaia, we kill for food, so don't hide behind some weak, ape twisting of our laws. Life is sacred, but that doesn't mean it can't be taken if it must be. his tone and manner are filled with anger.
Thunder's Claws steps toward the Talen Elder. Swipes-At-Salmon.
Eyes-Halfblind flicks her ears in agreement with Strikes.
Stormcloud pages: Okay. Will await your mail. Anxious to RP again soon. What're they doing to you?
Serves-Honor thinks that, like so many human rules and customs which make no sense to him, the wrongness of 'tagging' is something an outsider cannot understand. But honor demands some insults be ignored.
North Star seems startled by Scab-Survivor's thoughts, so much that his ears prick in interest again.
Quiet raises her hackles at Strikes. Is it also the Mother's will that I must call on her healing to keep my packmate from being permanantly maimed in his fight against the enemy, because a pack decided to attack him when he was alone?
You paged Quiet with 'A pack????'.
You paged Quiet with 'Sky did that, all by her little lonesome.
From afar, Quiet chuckles. Quiet knows he was ganged up against, but not the details. OOC, I know that it was just you and Sky fighting him.
Eyes-Halfblind sighs and picks herself up and moves off a little ways where she can still be seen, but her soft chuffs to someone unseen are not audible.
Scab-Survivor limps to rotate himself a little towards Strikes. Must. The deer must fall so it's death can become your life, or the life of your pups. A kinfolk that wants to keep track of wolves to understand them better, and does not know the error of her ways for you would kill her rather than explain to her the wrongness of her ways...she must die also? For what? For her death to feed your hatred?
Peacekeeper looks over at Strikes. ~You. You misplace your anger, and thus misuse the gift given to you. Life is sacred, in its cycles. The Litany says not to eat the flesh of humans. She showed no taint, or you would have spoken of it. You speak wrongly, allowing your rage to speak for you. Calm down.~
Quiet pages: And you were fighting just to subdue.
Runt appears through a small opening in the rocky side of the bowl.
Runt has arrived.
North Star rotates his ears in exasperation and moves away, quietly. He does not leave the area, only removes himself from any easy possible involvement in the argument.
Strikes snaps back. Perhaps it is, or do you think you can know her will so well? Your pack-mate stood against other Garou for the sake of...of..of...an ape. He nearly spits out the last words.
Moon Otter, closest to the den's mouth, whuffs over at Runt to distract him from the other wolves.
Quiet's ears flatten. For a living creature not of the Wyrm. So we would fight for a wolf that the humans meant to cull. It is the way, to defend /all/ of Gaia.
SwipesAtSalmon looks up at the Shadow Lord with abject frustration, at the whole indignity of being forced to bow and scrape at her first moot, at a revel for Griffin--for of course, that is what it was--being interrupted by a group of homids. So her barked ~yes~ at him isn't particularly polite.
Scab-Survivor chuffs at Strikes, louder than before. One certainly /did/ stand against you for the sake of an *Ape*.
Runt trots toward Moon Otter, but the size of the gathering daunts him, and he veers away, farther up the mountainside.
Serves-Honor growls loudly, hints of anger showing at last. Who it is directed at is unclear at best.
Thunder's Claws chooses to speak in the Garou tongue, but unlike others, he doesn't bother to strain his lupus form; instead, he shifts up into Hispo. ~The Impergium is over. Perhaps your teacher never mentioned this. Perhaps you have forgotten it, so isolated from your own kind. Perhaps you simply ignore it in your hate. Your cullings of humans will end. It is a disgrace that this Sept has endured too long. You will cease killing humans simply to feed your own rage.~
Thunder's Claws contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Thunder's Claws shifts into Hispo form.
Moon Otter isn't about to let a young cub anywhere near the side of the mountain bowl. He darts off to intercept.
Stormcloud pages: Alright! You got everyone where you want them! Cleanse this place of homid scum while you can! ;)
Strikes blinks several times, and glances around. He doesn't answer anyone, but takes a another few steps away from the group, eyeing them this time with suspicion.
Serves-Honor looks from Strikes to Scab-Survivor, not turning to see what passes between Swipes and Thunder's Claws until he is certain they are not about to come to blows.
Scab-Survivor watches Strikes back up, and then he turns to watch Thunder's Claws as he berates Swipes.
Quiet continues to watch Strikes, though she makes no further move to challenge him.
Moon Otter herds the smaller wolf away from the side of the mountain bowl and towards a safer area.
Strikes says with a surprising calmness in Scab-Survivor's direction that you attacked Garou for the sake of an Ape, so, no, he supposed you did not *stand* against him.
SwipesAtSalmon stares up at Thunder's Claws with a slow measured scrutiny, sizing him up. I am a Red Talon, she says quietly. We remember the first orders Gaia gave us. We know the humans have spread across this land like rabbits, and are killing it as we stand here arguing and chattering like apes. They have destroyed almost everything. No predator checks them. My kind can do little against them, now, for it is far too late. But we are Red Talons, and we do not change. I will take the human that comes into the forest in the night and befouls the forest with weaver filth. I will give to Griffin the human that shoots prey-animals for sport and takes the heads. I will do it seldom, and only to those who tresspass beyond the bounds and do not leave when snarls of the wyld are not enough to teach them better. But I _will_ do it when I must, and no human will ever find a trace of any I destroy. I am Red Talon. And you cannot change me with words.
Scab-Survivor's head snaps back towards Strikes, his hackles flaring. He limps once in his general direction. First, one never attacked anyone, but only attempted to save the life of another by keeping you away from her /without/ harming you! Second, explain what you mean....did not *stand* against you?
SwipesAtSalmon stance is proud and immovable as the mountain upon which she stands. She shifts upwards to match his size, but otherwise doesn't twitch a muscle.
+shift hispo
SwipesAtSalmon contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Hispo form.
Peacekeeper looks back at Scab-Survivor. Silence. He has calmed. Do you need to, as well?
Serves-Honor looks from the Talon Elder to the guardian, and an understanding of what must occur here obviously comes upon him. He turns away from them, facing the other gathered Garou and shifting upward.
Serves-Honor contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Serves-Honor shifts into Crinos form.
Thunder's Claws tosses his head back. ~Then I will change you with claws, Swipes-At-Salmon. You are a disgrace to the Garou. Your own student informed me that you intended to take him into the woods to teach him to hunt humans. This does not sound like one who kills those who despoil the woods. Unless you believe that they do so by their mere presence here. If you insist on culling the apes, then I shall treat you like the dog you are.~ He swipes at the ground with one claw, 'throwing down the gauntlet', so to speak. ~I challenge you, Swipes-At-Salmon. Duel. Name your terms.~
Strikes will explain nothing to you. This one was there, he knows what you did. He has no words for you, nor will he ever. He will not sit and argue with you like some pathetic Ape. If you have challenge to give me, then give it, if not, leave this one be.
Serves-Honor crosses his arms resolutely, facing away from Thunder's Claws and Swipes-at-Salmon, and towards the others. From his posture, it is obvious that he will brook NO interference in this challenge.
Quiet again quiets her packmate, the growl softer this time. Swipes's apology has seemed to go a long way to dispelling her anger, though she's still looks ready to close with the strange Talon if he pushes it.
Scab-Survivor shuts up quickly with his alpha and Robert commanding silence. He backs up and takes a place next to Quiet. His hackles smooth over, and he watchs the ritual challenge taking place.
North Star sighs, from his distance, and moves closer to his tribemate; obviously intending to support him, not argue with him. And perhaps also to get a closer view of the precedings.
SwipesAtSalmon rises to her full height. I, Swipes-at-Salmon, teacher of Red Talons, am no dog. I teach my cubs how to kill the humans that stray, in the ways I have said, in a way such that the veil will not be broken--so that they know the _right_ way to do it. Red Talons alone of Garou remember the purpose of our claws, and why the Mother put us here--it is you who have forgotten your way. I stand by my teachings. I do not fight Garou gladly, but I will fight you if I must. In the umbra, in lupus. And I will _not_ submit.
Eyes-Halfblind has her back resolutely to the whole thing. There is something in all of this that is disturbing her deeply. She chuffs once more, then retreats into trance.
Thunder's Claws growls simply, ~Then you will die.~ He looks around, for a convenient place to reach through.
Strikes watches the challenge, looking somewhat shocked that Serves-Honor has taken the position he has. He blinks several times, and shakes his head as if trying to clear it of something.
From afar, Eyes-Halfblind grins. Eyes is fighting her past life at the moment, actually.
Scab-Survivor's ears lie flat against his skull as things run their course.
SwipesAtSalmon leads the way down to the stream where her pups come to play each morning, as quietly as if it were still only her own packmate she were walking before. Challenge is something she understands better than any words.
Serves-Honor looks surprised and disturbed by this final revelation. He turns to face the combatants. ~Is this matter so dire that one of you must die? Will you deprive Gaia of your service over this?~
SwipesAtSalmon looks back up at Serves-Honor, and her eyes narrow. He is telling me not to be a Red Talon. If I cannot be that, then I will die. The world may change, but Talons do not.
Thunder's Claws answers the Silver Fang in a tense voice. ~One life for the many she would end?~
From afar, Thunder's Claws is curious: why the Umbra? I can understand wanting to fight in lupus.
You paged Thunder's Claws with 'Check your manual for umbral combat. :) I don't have mine handy, unfortunately, but I think lupus have more of an advantage there.'.
Thunder's Claws pages: Well, they do when fighting spirits, but Garou fighting other Garou still soak with Stamina, even in the Umbra. :) I can see why she'd want to fight in lupus, though.
You paged Thunder's Claws with 'Besides. Griffin's presence should be around the mountain bowl. We just promised him blood, for the revel. And we just sent the Talon cubs to their RoP with his aid. So...if she's gonna die, she wants to die in front of him.'.
Scab-Survivor's eyes looks about. He agrees with both Swipes and Serves-Honor, apparently. His ears stay flat, and he moves closer to Quiet.
North Star shakes his head angrily, sneezing.
Serves-Honor's words are no doubt meant to be in a low tone, but his huge frame seems incapable of speaking that quietly. ~I hope you are wrong, Swipes-at-Salmon, or your whole Tribe has little time left to them.~
Quiet glances at Peacekeeper, then turns her head to nuzzle the wounded Wendigo. Her amber glance goes to Strikes, then back to the central group.
Eyes-Halfblind stands up suddenly as if hit with a bucketful of cold water, looks at the would-be combatants, and snorts in disgust before she leaves.
Eyes-Halfblind goes up the northern path out of the clearing.
Eyes-Halfblind has left.
Scab-Survivor looks about, and then chuffs Quietly to his alpha.
Strikes thinks it is simply their choice, their challenge. Let them fight it. If Gaia's will is that their Fire should be extinguished, she will let it be known. If it isn't, it isn't.
SwipesAtSalmon meets her opponent's eyes, then slips across.
Thunder's Claws looks into the water and reaches through, taking far longer than Swipes.
The mountain bowl's umbra reverberates still with leftover rage and the echoes of howls from the cubs' opening of their rite still faintly audible in the vast emptiness beneath the darkened sky.
Scab-Survivor moves to a place near Quiet, back from the fight but able to watch it clearly. He sits down on his butt, to rest his leg.
SwipesAtSalmon contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.
Thunder's Claws looks up from the water once he arrives in the Umbra. He shifts forms to match the Talon's, and asks her what her decision is regarding Gifts? She did not specify in her terms.
Thunder's Claws contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Strikes has arrived.
Thunder's Claws shifts into Lupus form.
From afar, Moon Otter is just going to have to dedicate the death of each ape he kills to Swipes, now.
Moon Otter has arrived.
SwipesAtSalmon faces her opponent squarely across the stream, locking eyes with him. This may be a fight to the death, but some wolf habits die hard. At his question, she considers for a long time. No. No gifts. Wolf to wolf, for the sake of the wolves who matter most.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: This is going to be the first battle in which Swipes actually feels pain. :) Coool.
Scab-Survivor pages: Wow, neat. ;)
Quiet settles near her packmate. There is a shimmering dark shadow clinging to the fur of the children of Uktena, dimming the pale gold of Quiet's fur and making the more naturally-colored Wendigo even darker. Perhaps it's just the shadows of the thin-mooned Umbra.
Serves-Honor hopes the Red Talon's totem takes some joy in this challenge. He doubts Gaia will.
Serves-Honor takes up a position where he can see the battle clearly, so there will be no questions later what transpired.
Strikes watches the whole thing quietly of to the side away from the other Garou, his peace said.
North Star settles himself alone, fur glimmering in the thin umbral moonlight. He tilts his head, following the terms carefully.
Moon Otter shakes his head to clear it, clearly unpleased at being in the spirit realm.
Thunder's Claws returns the look evenly, flicking his ears in a simple affirmative that doesn't distract either of them.
SwipesAtSalmon then stands. She seems quite content to cede the first move to the ahroun, as she studies his every sinew and ripple of muscle under fur like a hunter examining a deer carcass.
Ehni shimmers in the dark night and hovers not too far from North Star.
Thunder's Claws moves foward slowly, studying his opponent so closely that those who have seen him use Thunder's Gift for detecting weaknesses might think he's using it now. But of course, that would break the terms of the challenge.
@doing It is a good day to die
Set.
Thunder's Claws finally seems satisfied, and he lunges at his opponent. Unlike his typical fighting style in the larger forms, he relies on teeth here, trying to get the first blows in early.
SwipesAtSalmon braces for Thunder's Claws first attack, apparently content to wait til the sun comes up if need be. However, she isn't quite prepared for the homid-born's speed in fourlegged form. She starts to step to one side so as to bring her own teeth to bear against his throat as he falls upon her, but in doing so bares her own neck and shoulder to the full brunt of his jaws for one critical split second too long.
Thunder's Claws' jaws close over the the exposed shoulder, not quite getting the targetted neck. As Swipes retaliates, Thunder's Claws pulls away. His own move, fueled by his rage, gets him free of the stronger wolf's jaws in time, and a chunk of shoulder is his reward.
SwipesAtSalmon lets out a loud snarl at first blood, but instead of pulling away from his jaws, she throws the weight of shoulder and body into him, trying to push him over into the stream.
Thunder's Claws is nearly knocked over by the larger wolf, and he does slip into the stream. Rather than try to follow up on his first strike, the Shadow Lord leaps across, using his speed advantage to keep well out of the way of Swipes-At-Salmon. He starts circling, on the defensive now.
SwipesAtSalmon doesn't repeat her first mistake and let him have time to regroup for very long. She smacks the stream with one paw in a move highly reminscent of a bear striking a fish out of a river, trying to blind Thunder's Claws with the spray as she shoves off the opposite bank and leaps for him, jaws bared.
Thunder's Claws recoils, but he's caught off-guard by the manuever and Swipes is on him before he can move away. The two fall to the ground, with Swipes using her weight to good advantage. Her jaws miss their intended target and instead close over his upper leg and shoulder with a crunch of breaking bone. Thunder's Claws gives a sharp cry of pain and the little Ahroun begins tearing at the other wolf's underbelly and side with his hind claws. Swipes retaliates in kind, bearing down with her jaws while her own rear claws tear at Thunder's Claws sides again and again.
From afar, Thunder's Claws lets you do your own death pose. :}
Stormcloud has arrived.
SwipesAtSalmon worries at Thunder's Claws shoulder with a sickening side to side motion that's been the death blow for many a rabbit's spine, never loosening her grip enough to get free. Her ghostly fur goes red with his blood and hers as she shreds at his flanks. For a moment, there's nothing but white and red, as the larger Talon bears down on Thunder's Claws. Then he lets loose with his rage. The old wolf's belly is ripped open in a frenzy by the Ahroun's sure claws, and at last, her jaws slip open, and she collapses, still moving weakly, on top of him.
Thunder's Claws struggles to get free as the Talon collapses. One too-quick motion brings another sharp cry of pain and he sinks to the Umbral ground, blood mixing freely with the Talon's. For a moment, he's unsure which of them is dying.
SwipesAtSalmon's last snarl fades to a gurgle and silence. The only movement in her unyielding mass is from Thunder's Claws struggle to free himself. As he pulls away, she rolls gently on her side and into the stream.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: I'm not going to do icky poses about guts on the grass. I'm squeamish. Consider it said.
Scab-Survivor watches Swipes die, and he seems none to happy about the fact despite the anger he openly confessed to feel for her.
North Star, when it is apparent the fight is over, and what the end is, rises to his feet, chuffing unhappily.
Strikes watches the other Talon die fairly dispassionately, at least from his expression. He lets out a long breath, though, and glances over the others briefly before starting to turn to go.
Scab-Survivor turns to go as well.
North Star barks to Strikes. ~Who will perform her Gathering?~ His tone is harsh.
Ehni shimmers cold blues and soft purples, almost white, as it hovers above the scene.
Quiet also doesn't seem pleased, almost all of her earlier anger gone. She pads toward the pair to sniff the fallen, to see if either or both live.
Strikes pages to Quiet, Moon Otter, Thunder's Claws, SwipesAtSalmon, Scab-Survivor, and North Star: Do Talons *do* gatherings? It seems, well, it doesn't seem like they would to me, but maybe I'm wrong.
SwipesAtSalmon pages everyone: Talons do not _mourn_ or dwell on death, is my take, but they do howl for the fallen, and set the spirit free, just like the good ones thank the prey they eat before diving in. They do a Gathering. Then life goes on.
Long distance to Strikes and North Star: SwipesAtSalmon notes that the burial markers say the first Red Talons received a gathering, but were not buried at the caern..their bodies were left to the forest. However, I'm in no position to inform you of this, so do as your characters would naturally. Swipes doesn't care, being dead. ;)
Moon Otter watches as his previous mentor and friend falls. Eyes close in pain that goes far deeper than any claws could hope to reach. He tips his muzzle skywards, and releases a long howl of pent-up anguish and despair along with a plea to Griffin to guide both the fallen, as well as himself. This done, he looks one final time at the corpse, and departs for the realm.
Thunder's Claws lives, but his pack will be covering for him for several days.
Ehni drops, hanging in the air just before Moon Otter. Purples color the edges of the curtain of light, shimmering to almost red at the corners.
Moon Otter pages: The blood of a million apes will flow.
Strikes motions in a subdued manner. That decision does not need to be made this moment, but it will be done. He glances back to the body, as if considering.
North Star says quietly, ~I have the Rite. I will take care of her body, with your leave.~
Between the members of Ouroboros and those of Gaia's Shield, Thunder's Claws is returned to the guardian's lair. Strangely for some people's perceptions of the Children, neither Peacekeeper nor Quiet rush to heal either combatant. As Quiet leaves the dead Talon to her tribe and friends, she noses the glyph burned in her shoulder sadly. Then she turns her back on the corpse of the one that challenged her for rank, and follows Gaia's Shield home.