5/16/96 BACKGROUND: This was inspired by the Mirrorzone section of the umbra manual. If you botch reaching through the gauntlet, you _may_ end up in the mirrorzone, which is either a sinister reflection of our world, or an alternate timeline--there are numerous theories about what it is. Almost anything can happen, usually a twisted version of reality as the characters know it. Everything may seem normal at first, but then they run into a Dancer they thought they'd killed, or their caern doesn't remember them, or they are ronin in this world after they made some horrible mistake and are attacked when they come back into the caern. The only way out is to resolve the 'nightmare' somehow: kill the Dancer; convince the caern they really are a member from an alternate timestream; confront the sept about their past crime, say that they are not who they were and are willing to do whatever it takes to prove themselves again.
In _this_ incarnation of the Mirror, Whispers had been banished from Washington State and sentenced to death if they ever returned to the area. Paul and Wayf had gone with Joseph on the Sean Conneff hunt, but Sepdet hadn't; they fox frenzied right through the middle of Kent Crossing, instead of Lake Arthur; and they managed to run down Ian of the FBI, instead of Chloe. The story made national headlines.
Whispers Patrolling the Bawn, New Moon
The queer dark shifting currents of the new moon umbra are hardly the most reassuring, but a run among packmates, and the familiarity of even this umbra, relaxes the tensions from a few backs. The patrol passes uneventfully, and eventually, you turn back towards the pool to reach through.
You paged Wayfinder with 'It's always a bit of a challenge, with nothing but starlight, to find your reflections. And this time, it feels worse. There is a sickening moment where you seem frozen halfway, as if the Gauntlet had suddenly become a wall of thick, opaque glass...'.
Sepdet's eyes stop on the pool and she flickers from view.
[The pack reaches through...or so they believe.]
The 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:
Soulcatcher
Wayfinder
Shows-the-Way
Thunder's Claws
Quiet
Long distance to Quiet, Shows-the-Way, Soulcatcher, Wayfinder, and Eric: Sepdet in fact, does not emerge from the pool after the others.
Shows-the-Way blinks a few times, and looks around a little confused.
Wayfinder looks relieved to step upon solid ground. A strange trip through. Is everyone all right?
At the center of the Wheel, Thunder's Claws turns toward the pool as the newcomers arrive. Surprise is evident in his posture, but he slowly begins walking toward them.
Shows-the-Way is fit, yes.
Soulcatcher gives his ruff a violent shake, and moves up to join the others.
Sepdet still has not emerged from the pool, though usually, she's the first through.
Shows-the-Way looks behind him, suddenly registering the lack of Sepdet. ~Did she already leave the Wheel?~
Wayfinder looks around for Sepdet. Where is Hope-rhya? She chuffs distractedly at Thunder's Claws, a worried furrows appearing on her furry brow.
Soulcatcher chuffs to Thunder's Claws amiably, and only then does he notice the Strider's absence. Ears swiveling forward, he scents for her.
Thunder's Claws walks over to the group and folds his arms across his chest. ~You've got a lot of balls coming back here,~ he says to Soulcatcher.
Shows-the-Way looks back at Thunder's Claws in surprise, ears dropping flat.
From afar, Shows-the-Way loves the Mirror Zone. Presumably.
You paged Shows-the-Way with 'Hee hee. :)'.
Wayfinder's head swivels abruptly toward Thunder's Claws, then back toward the pool, eyes searching hopefully for her packmate's arrival.
Soulcatcher's concern for his missing packmate is abruptly interupted by the Fostern's admonishment and general unfriendly air. His ears lay back as well, confusion glittering in his amber gaze. What?
Shows-the-Way looks up at the sky for a moment, then shifts up.
Shows-the-Way contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Shows-the-Way shifts into Crinos form.
A shimmering announces another presence at the pool. But instead of Sepdet, Quiet's familar yellow form appears. Almost immediately she catches sight of the pack still lingering near the pool and bristles, flowing into the crinos form.
Quiet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Quiet shifts into Crinos form.
Thunder's Claws launches himself at Shows-The-Way as the former shifts up, snarling, ~Die! All of you!~
Seshemw shifts his plain oak staff from his left hand to his right hand, ears still flat. Eyes wide in surprise, he brings the wood around to deflect Alexander's attack, shouting, ~WHAT? Wait! Have you gone mad??~
Quiet snarls and levels a heavy swipe at the back of Seshemw's head, ~You are the mad ones. This is what we get for showing mercy.~
The staff catches Thunder's Claws on one arm, and has to sidestep to keep his balance. He turns, eyes going not to Seshemw, but to the alpha of the pack. He looks at Joseph. ~You were warned that coming back would mean your deaths. Now you'll die. All of you.~ His gaze returns to the Strider. ~You first.~
Soulcatcher's confusion doubles over on itself and he crouches defensively, shifting up to the war form on instinct. He whirls to block Quiet's attack, ~What? Wait!~
Soulcatcher contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Soulcatcher pauses, his body losing its continuity and twisting into Crinos form.
Wayfinder yips excitedly as someone reaches through, expression falling a little as it turns out to be Moon-Laughs-Quiet. And then another yip, this time of surprise at the Gaian's change and the snarled words from the Lord. Wait! Rhyas! What have we done?
Thunder's Claws pages to Quiet and Sepdet: You two are both in Crossing still, right? In this Realm?
You paged Quiet and Thunder's Claws with 'Exactly.'.
You paged Quiet and Thunder's Claws with 'After Whispers' disgrace, Sepdet joined Crossing. It's not that unlikely, really.'.
Seshemw is staggered by the blow from behind to his head, nearly dropping to all fours but for the prop of his staff moving in a lightning strike as if against the ground. Moving on reflexes alone, he staggers away in an attempt to get clear of combatants and recover his balance.
Thunder's Claws looks over at the Ritemistress. ~Call your packmate. She'll want to know.~
Quiet restrains herself from following up the blow to the fallen Strider, giving a grim nod. She then throws back her head and howls. ~Gatekeeper, the outcasts have returned! Come!~
Soulcatcher looks now between Thunder's Claws and Quiet, squaring his shoulders. His confusion is complete, and his eyes scan the Wheel for anything that might explain it.
Wayfinder's ears flatten, confusion written in every line of her posture. This one does not understand. What have we done?
The Wheel is empty except for those Garou gathered near the pool. Thunder's Claws and Quiet stand between Whispers and the table stone protectively, eyeing the small pack with undisguised suspicion, anger, and even hatred, in the Lord's case.
Seshemw straightens slowly, eyes a little clearer, but Rage much, much closer to the surface. One hand reaches to the back of his head, and then forward, and his gaze studies the blood on his fur. In a low growl he asks, ~Outcasts? I'd have thought we would at least have been present for the Trial.~
Wayfinder whines softly. Where is Hope-rhya?
Quiet's only answer is a low growl, her eerie eyes burning with their own rageful light. To the south, two wolves lope in. Those at the pool recognize Chaser-Never-Rest's grey form, and the mottled-black of Whitestreak.
A slim figure emerges from the trees, shrouded in a pale grey cloak with brown fringe. The walk is unmistakeable, although she carries herself with a faint stiffness lacking in the Strider's normal gait. Sepdet clears the forest, and her gaze turns towards the confrontation at the water and stops. ~Oh, Duat.~
Seshemw shakes his head, whimpering a little with the pain of the motion. ~Something is seriously not right here.~
You paged Wayfinder with 'That's the cloak that Sepdet buried Arcadia in.'.
Soulcatcher's long, tufted crinos ear cocks in confusion again as the Wheel seems much as it did when they left a few hours earlier. He turns his attention to the Gaian, his gaze respectful, ~Tell me, Teacher. What exactly have we..~ he trails off, gaze directed toward the familiar enough voice.
Wayfinder starts, turning towards the Strider. Hope-rhya! You are here! And safe!
Seshemw looks over towards Sepdet, relaxing more than a little. ~Thank God for small favors. Why'd you charge off into the trees 'fore we came through?~
Quiet bares her teeth at Soulcatcher. ~Do not call me teacher. You shamed me, and we no longer share that bond.~ Her ears twitch at Sepdet's voice, and she lapses into a sullen silence, still glaring at the outcast pack.
Soulcatcher's shoulders relax at Sepdet's appearance, his ears falling. He takes a step in her direction, and is abruptly stopped by Quiet's comment. He turns back quickly, eyes flashing in genuine surprise, ~What??~
Sepdet crosses the Wheel slowly from the northern rim, face setting into that stone mask from which little emotion is betrayed. She gives Quiet a small, pained glance, then returns her attention to the arrivals, and holds up her hand for silence.
Seshemw drops into a crouch, confusion writ plain in his movements, staff between his legs and held in both hands. ~I do not.. I do not understand at all.~ He falls silent, eyes on Sepdet.
Soulcatcher's claws ball into fists, tension rising. He nonetheless reaminas silent as well, however, eyes turned to Sepdet. They narrow, faintly, gauging her.
Wayfinder droops, muttering quietly. This is not the right place...
Sepdet's face bears that look of distance which is the Harbinger's retreat from anger. ~Ronin,~ she says very quietly, in a bone-weary whisper. ~I pleaded for your lives. What news do you bring us, that is worth this price?~
Seshemw's jaw drops, and he sways on his feet even with the support of the staff.
Seshemw's hand creeps back up to the back of his head as if he is trying to figure out if the injury is more severe than he thought.
You paged Soulcatcher with 'If you are _very_ observant, you may notice that Sepdet's reflection in the pool is glabro.'.
Patrick has connected.
Wayfinder whines softly, pleading eyes looking up at her beloved Strider teacher's face. Rhya...
From afar, to Quiet, Seshemw, Soulcatcher, Sepdet, Wayfinder, and Thunder's Claws, Patrick logs in to see how things are going, at least. :)
Pack> Seshemw says "Poor Paul. Wondering if he's been whacked into hallucinations."
Quiet remains silent as Sepdet speaks. She falls in to Sepdet's right, between her and Thunder's Claws. The other two Crossing members also come in, Chaser visibly bristling. Whitestreak shifts to crinos and falls in to Sepdet's left. Chaser follows the shift, bringing up the rear in the pack-defensive wedge, with Sepdet at the apex.
Patrick contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Patrick shifts into Crinos form.
Sepdet's eyes burn as she looks at Joseph, and she brushes a hand against Quiet's forearm in the silent gesture of a packmate seeking support. ~Have you lost your minds again?~ she hisses. ~But no, you are not foxed this time; you have not that excuse.~
At the use of the term, Soulcatcher's ears flatten, his eyes widening in complete disbelief. He takes a purposeful step toward the small, cloaked figure. All he can bring himself to voice right at first is her name, ~Hope?~ It is a question, and his gaze lingers for a moment as if hoping it alone will bring the answer.
Thunder's Claws steps foward, claws flashing and he swipes at Soulcatcher. ~Back off.~
Seshemw rumbles uncertainly, ~We just left for patrol a little while ago? What? I..~
Wayfinder looks down, and away, and eventually up at the sky, muttering away to herself. This is not right...that cloak...strange trip through... We do not belong here! Is it a dream?
Sepdet flinches almost imperceptibly at Joseph's word for her, and she drops her hand to her hip, pushing back the cloak to reveal a familiar ceramic blade. ~Not for you,~ she replies tiredly to Joseph. She draws the klaive, eyes darting between her former friends, as if trying to settle on a target. Paul's and Wayfinder's questions bring a furrow to her brow. ~What do you mean, a dream? Are you trying to buy your lives, now, having accepted Anubis' judgement before?~
Seshemw cocks his head a little. ~But.. Anubis LEFT, Teacher. Two weeks ago. And.. I.. Megan and Drew and I.. What the HELL is going on?~ He sounds more than a little lost, nearly desperate for someone to explain whatever is troubling him.
Wether at Sepdet's own glare or Thunder's Claw's threat, The Wendigo does back off, taking one step back. His eyes glimmer fiercely, but drop before any would take the look as challenge. When the massive head rises again, his eyes lock on The Gatekeeper's, purposefully. ~Before you purpose our deaths, know that we left this Wheel with you on normal patrol but three hours ago. What you speak of makes no sense to any of us.~
Wayfinder steps forward to Soulcatcher's side. Yes! We are not the ones that you know.
Thunder's Claws sneers at Soulcatcher. ~Your tongue. That'll be the first thing to go, Wendigo.~
Chaser snarls, ~They're fucking loonies.~ Quiet nods agreement, then mutters, ~Or trying a trick, to distract us.~
Seshemw says, ~Urr. I do not understand. At all. Doesn't someone have Truth of Gaia? Just LISTEN to us, if you do. No trick.~ He looks at Wayfinder, ~What happened?~
Sepdet's anger spills over onto the edges of her face, and she starts forward, meeting Joseph's gaze with the full force of her own. ~You broke the veil beyond all repair, one whom I called brother, and we are _still_ paying the price for that crime. But I did not think you capable of lying.~
Soulcatcher's ears lay back at the threat, his eyes going to the ahroun, but when he speaks again, its with a calm tongue, adn aimed at Sepdet, ~Wayfinder speaks the truth. Allow her to go back and see if she can find Sepdet.~ He pauses, shifting his look to the Strider in the cloak, and adds, ~Our Sepdet. We will remain, and if you can hold your anger long enough to explain our wrongdoing, I would hear it before you took that tongue, and everything else with it.~
Seshemw looks.. severely distressed now. ~We broke.. How? When?~
Whitestreak snorts as his hackles rise. ~Idiots. Simpletons. Or else they think *we've* forgotten so easily, and try a stupid child's ruse.~
Whitestreak pages to Quiet, Alexander, and Sepdet: Commercial break. :)
Thunder's Claws snarls, claws flexing almost continuously now. ~What is this shit? Like they don't remember their own fucking crime? Like they don't remember their trial, and being driven from the Caern?~ He levels a finger at Seshemw, ~You, Philodox, should know better than the rest. You were told returning would mean death. Did you think we're so soft we'd let you off?~
Wayfinder steps forward, slowly, to try and nose at the hem of the Strider's cloak. This cloak is buried with the one that you named Shattered-Moon. She looks sadly up at the Strider. Where this one comes from....We are not your outcasts. Cannot someone read our Truth?
Seshemw rises a little shakily back to his feet, and settles himself.
Whitestreak barks a sharp laugh. ~Like we need someone to tell us you're lying, when we *saw* the results of your fucked-up actions.~
Quiet takes a step forward and levels another blow, this time at Wayfinder. Her words are fairly spat out. ~I'll give you truth!~
From afar, to Whitestreak, Quiet, Soulcatcher, Sepdet, Wayfinder, and Thunder's Claws, Seshemw figures he's together enough to get Truth back online himself. And SotTF, and Sense Wyrm.
From afar, to Whitestreak, Quiet, Seshemw, Soulcatcher, Sepdet, and Thunder's Claws, Wayfinder turns on Sense Wyrm. paranoid bitch. :)
Quiet pages everyone: No Wyrm here. :)
You paged Whitestreak, Quiet, Seshemw, Soulcatcher, Wayfinder, and Thunder's Claws with 'No wyrm anywhere in the caern,to make a long story short. And everyone is telling the truth. :)'.
Thunder's Claws pages everyone: My usual Wyrm-taint.
Seshemw says, a little snappish to be sure, ~If you told someone you think was me that he'd die if he came back, and this person was ANYTHING like me, there's no way..~ His staff snaps out to try and deflect Quiet's attack.
Thunder's Claws' hackes go up at the Strider's response. When Seshemw moves into the melee, he jumps in as well, claws aimed for the Philodox's back.
Pack> Seshemw grins. "From behind! WooWoo!"
Wayfinder does not dodge the blow, holding her head up and body steady for whatever damage it might make. How can we make you believe---with a grunt of pain, the blow hits squarely where it was aimed. The stargazer staggers back.
Sepdet rips her eyes away from Joseph's as her packmates and the guardian strike. She does not move to join the attackers yet, but grips her klaive tighter, watching the trio intently.
Quiet also takes her blow, seeming more interested in hitting Wayfinder than dodging the blow. The wood cracks on her flesh dully, but she does not show pain. Indeed, it seems to only fuel her rage.
From afar, to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Sepdet, Thunder's Claws activates True Fear against Joseph, so that he can't jump in as well. Hehheheh.
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet args. I don't know what's with me tonight. I think I've got Thorn slowly types disease, again.
Seshemw's staff strike, pulled at the last minute because of the rush of wind at his back, bats ineffectively at Quiet, then Alexander. Twisting frantically, he seems to be moving to fend off Thunder's Claws more than anything else.
Thunder's Claws barrels forward as Seshemw draws back, one hand swinging out to slap the Strider. At his touch, the latter falls to the ground again and he stands between Seshemw and the other Whispers members. ~The next agressive move you make - any of you - will get you killed. Don't speak unless you're spoken to. Don't move unless told to. Don't fucking breathe too loudly.~
Soulcatcher takes a step to the side, hackles rising, though he fights to keep his composure. His eyes shift back to the pool, and after a moment, his ears swivel at something. He turns back anxiously, speaking to get her attention, ~Hope, if you /are/ Hope, even not mine, then I appeal to you. Give us the few minutes it would take to explain.~
Seshemw stays motionless, iron control leashing in his reflexive responses.
Wayfinder reels back, blood springing from deep, jagged claw-gashes upon her right shoulder. She howls, frustration and rage building, and pain almost more spiritual than physical.
Thunder's Claws looks from one Whispers member to the other. From his posture, he's half-hoping someone tempts him.
Sepdet's growl is her first answer, but her second is to step forward into the midst of the group, to Quiet's side. ~Wait. Something _is_ wrong here. Packmates, hold for a moment.~
Quiet stands over Wayfinder, her mismatched eyes blazing. She the whirls to face Sepdet. ~Don't give them that time. I fear they have allied with the one that look, and are just distracting us while others approach.~ She favors the group with another look of hatred. ~I lost tribemates because of you. I will never forgive you, and if you do not leave now, I will forget my alpha's request to let you live.~
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet started thinking like I were really in this situation, and suddenly remembered something.
Pack> Seshemw grins. "Paul squashes the urge to say, ~You're their ALPHA, Sepdet??~"
Pack> Wayfinder says "And Joe is ours! Coolish! :)"
Soulcatcher's eyes widen, his suspicions brought to life as his gaze shifts back to Sepdet. They narrow again, discerningly, and he waits for the Strider's next word.
Sepdet says reluctantly, ~Sister, I would gladly slay them now, and they may well be the foe...but why does he hold the spear again, which I took from his hands?~ She nods towards Joseph. ~Where is Macon? That is _his_.~
Thunder's Claws moves back to his previous position, letting the small pack regroup itself. He shoulders roughly past Soulcatcher, grinning to himself.
Confusion clouds his pure amber gaze again and he shakes his head, ~Again I have no idea what you speak of. I won this spear in a challenge given by Oaken fo the Fianna. I know no Macon.~
Seshemw picks himself up, moving very slowly and cautiously, ears still flat. Obviously holding down the urge to leap to combat (and death).
Quiet falls back a step, reluctantly. Chaser growls in the back, ~Maybe he took it back. Haven't seen Macon all day.~
Wayfinder crouches, trying hard to ignore the wound that trickles blood down her shoulder and foreleg. We are not your outcasts, she repeats stubbornly.
Soulcatcher asks, ~When was the last you saw of us? What was it we did?~
Soulcatcher's question is aimed at Sepdet alone.
Whitestreak's eyes narrow slightly. ~If he's taken that back from the Uktena, Luz *will* make sure he's dead meat.~
Sepdet crosses her arms. ~The night you stepped into the umbra and left us.~ She locks Joseph's gaze again. ~Can you truly tell me that you do not remember? The fomor left you three foxing in frenzy. You tore through two houses in the human village, in full sight of Ian, before he was foolish enough to get in your path.~
Thunder's Claws rumbles, ~The night Burns-Bright died. Remember him?~
Seshemw growls softly, ~Where -we- come from, Ian is missing, being hunted most likely. Our pack has never foxed from anything that I can remember, not even the river of Silver. And we were on patrol, -this- night, as the Guardians for the Wheel that we are. You, Sepdet.. Well, not you, but OUR you, was angry about Chloe being raped.~ He pauses, ~Burns-Bright is -not- dead. He -isn't-!~
In a blur of motion, Thunder's Claws is at Seshemw, fists moving too quickly for the eye to follow. ~Don't *ever* call me a liar, you *fuck*!~ Near frenzy, even under the new moon, the Ahroun's mouth drips saliva.
Chaser barks a laugh. ~Now I know they're lying. Even if anyone could rape the mage, Echen would stuff his balls down his throat for his trouble.~
Wayfinder stands upright, a leaning a bit towards her damaged shoulder. This is wrong! We do not belong here! We are NOT YOUR OUTCASTS! Desperation flashes in the Stargazer's eyes, as she all but howls out the last part.
Soulcatcher's ears fall again, shock and sadness clear in his eyes. He surpresses it, shaking his head. He turns back to Sepdet. ~What else? And I do not claim to not remember, but it not have happened. I cannot say what /has/, not yet, but I would hear what you say we did.~
From afar, Quiet is about to completely lose it on Wayfinder. :) That okay?
You paged Quiet with 'Sure. :) I was thinking you might.'.
Whitestreak Rolls his eyes in disgust and mutters lowly, yet loudly enough to carry, ~Well, she got two out of three right. Their being here *is* wrong, and they *don't* belong here.~
Sepdet doesn't answer, eyes snapping towards Wayfinder and her anguished howl.
Seshemw drops to a defensive crouch, mortal wood moving in defense, but Alexander's blurring speed overmatches him. Quite a few of the strikes pass the sluggish defense, pummeling Paul to the ground, and homid form.
Seshemw contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Seshemw shifts into Homid form.
Thunder's Claws stands up, his breathing coming loudly now, and he looks at the two remaining members of Whispers to see if they have anything to add.
Quiet snarls and loses it at the howl, her jaws going for the Stargazer's throat. Her eyes show that she has been pushed too far, too fast.
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet erks. Sepdet, IC, has reasonable doubts, because these people sure don't seem like the pack who was banished...who wouldn't come back unless they'd gone completely mad or were agents of the Wyrm. They don't seem insane, and they _don't_ smell like the wyrm.
From afar, to Quiet, Alexander, and Sepdet, Whitestreak, OTOH, is convinced that they're either (a) trying a *stupid* ruse, or (b) have lost their memories somehow. (b) is *tres* dangerous....
Wayfinder lifts her chin to the Gaian, eyes staring at Sepdet. Softly, she repeats her claim. Rhya, we are not the ones you think we are...
Whitestreak looks over at Quiet, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Thunder's Claws lifts his chin a little bit as he regards Soulcatcher. ~You, I've alredy claimed.~ He leers at the Wendigo. ~Never liked you, He-Shatters-The-Veil. I've always wanted to kill you, even before you fucked us all over. I've been hoping you'd come back one day.~
+shift crinos
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Crinos form.
Whitestreak pages to Quiet and Sepdet: Through Mask: Damnit, Andrea, calm the fuck down. Remember what Anu said, and get a fucking grip. I want to know what the fuck's up.
Soulcatcher's hackles come up again, muscles tensing. He meets the ahroun's gaze, violence playing in his eyes briefly. He manages to subdue it and turn his gaze back to Sepdet.
Paul lays crumpled, red blood leaking to the ground from minor cuts and the wounds on his head. Still breathing, still alive, but not even close to being aware.
Soulcatcher's hand tightens on the spear, though he doesnt raise it. Not yet.
Sepdet moves for Quiet's back with a strangled growl and clamps small hands on her shoulders. ~No. It's not them.~
Quiet unresisted, sinks her jaws deep in the flesh around Wafinder's throat. The Gaian's arms come around to grasp the Stargazer's shoulders, but something catches her. She snarls, her tone thick with rage and the other Garou's blood. ~I don't give a damn. They won't leave, and I will punish them for the deaths they have caused.~ She pulls back a fraction and spits bloody spittle in Wayfinder's face. ~That's for Distant-Sun and Waters, you bitch.~
Thunder's Claws stares at Sepdet.
Long distance to Quiet: Sepdet is probably too late...you decide. Whee. :)
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet has a feeling this scene may end up with the Gatekeeper getting killed, and the others fleeing. :) Interesting.
Quiet pages everyone: Just for clairity, Wayfinder is way wounded, but not dead yet. Between Mask and Sepdet, the jugular wasn't quite severed. Yet. :)
From afar, to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Sepdet, Thunder's Claws gives Joseph something to think about for when he returns to the Realm. :)
Sepdet shivers at the crunch of bone and sinew, gripping her packmate's shoulder's tighter. ~Has my sight ever misled you? I know I may be blind here, of all times. And I _will_ kill them, if it is the betrayers. But they can't lie to my face. They never were able to. So either they are Wyrm, or they speak truth. Do they seem Wyrm to you?~
Wayfinder is driven back down to a crouch again by the Gaian's attack. She falters, fighting to stay upright, to keep her eyes on the Strider who is--and is not--her teacher and friend. She looks fully prepared to die without even raising her claws against her attacker. Throat torn deeply, she says not a word. Her misery, confusion, pain, rage and determination all war for dominance over her features.
Soulcatcher's eyes burn as he looks over to Wayfinder, concenr etched clearly in his eyes and the tension in his massive frame. ~Waters death came not on us.~ He turns again at Sepdet's words, and then glances back to the pool. ~But we /will/ leave, as its clear this is not our Wheel, and I fear now for Sepdet.~ His gaze shifts from the pool again to the cloaked Strider to see what she has to say.
Whitestreak notes in a tense tone, ~There are other alternatives, packmate. They may not realize they are lying to you. Remember how those Garou came in, their minds clouded by the worldbender, and they stole power from this very caern?~
From afar, to Quiet, Alexander, and Sepdet, Whitestreak whistles innocently. Close, but not *quite* the same reality. Oh, I enjoy improv. :)
Paul coughs quietly, and his head rolls to the side.
Sepdet closes her eyes at Patrick's words. ~In which case, we must rip into their minds. If these are enemies, we must know who is behind them.~ She barely twitches at Paul's coughing.
Thunder's Claws doesn't even glance at Paul. He watches Soulcatcher, preparing to intercept should the Theurge attempt an escape.
Quiet does not answer, but she does allow herself to be dragged back a crucial couple of steps.
Whitestreak pages all 'round: We *could* rip into their minds the Chrysti way. Claws ho!
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet hmmms. Beth could do it, but I don't know how well I could puppet her. Who else. David? Oaken?
Wayfinder articulates weakly. Then do it! This one volunteers...
From afar, to Quiet, Alexander, and Sepdet, Whitestreak votes Oaken or Anne.
A cheerful whistling breaks across the clearing, totally at odds with the tension in the air. A familiar face bobs into view on the western curve. The Fianna makes it halfway across before he stops, emitting a succinct, "Oh, shit."
Sepdet's head snaps around. ~Brick-Catcher. Get over here and tell me who the Duat these people are and why they're here, before we finish throating them.~
Soulcatcher turns to actually move toward the pool. At seeing the approaching figure, he stops dead, and nearly crouches, eyes wide, ~What the ...~
Wayfinder's gaze doesn't shift from the Strider's face. She waits for a decision to be made.
Oaken blinks several times and walks over, a little cautious among all the crinos. He squints. "I'm sure I've seen their faces somewhere before," he says drily. "Wanted posters, maybe? Whatcha need me to do?"
Sepdet looks between Chaser and Patrick tiredly, retreating back to the comfort of her pack and particularly not watching Paul or Wayfinder. She waves a hand towards the latter. ~I need you to cut into their minds. They claim they're _not_ the pack that shredded "Kent Crossing". If they're trying to trick us, we need to know why.~
Oaken's brow creases, and he nods soberly. Carefully sidestepping around the blood spreading out from the wounded, he drops down next to Wayfinder, giving her throat a dubious sniff before locking gaze with her.
Soulcatcher's hand tightens on the spear defensively, and makes as if to step closer to Wayfinder's side, despite Thunder's Claw's presence.
Thunder's Claws gives Soulcatcher a warning look.
You paged Wayfinder with 'It feels horrible. Someone forcing their way into your mind isn't ppretty, when he's searching for answers without respect for privacy or permission. But Oaken is a kind soul, and there is faint apology behind his rough treatment as he scours your mind.'.
Soulcatcher moves as far as he dare, glaring at Oaken, not sure exactly what he's going to.
Wayfinder's eyes go wide, and frightened, and shivering all over she submits to the Fianna's mind touch silently.
Sepdet growls and steps back towards Joseph. ~Give me that,~ she snaps quietly, holding her hand out for the spear. ~Before someone gets hurt.~
Soulcatcher's head turns with a quick dart to regard the cloaked Strider. Again, his hand tightens on the weapon as he considers for a moment.
You sense Soulcatcher's gaze searches yours. It asks, 'are you /really/ hope/?' Do you recognize me at all, and I you?
Soulcatcher senses "Sepdet's eyes hold a tired raw pain walled up behind her Strider mask, the haunted fear of the Strider who knows her duty, and hates it. She is very, very upset, as only the real Sepdet would be, in such a nightmare as this. Oh, yes, it's her."
Whatever answer comes to him, Soulcatcher's hand relents, and he holds the spear out to the Strider.
Sepdet takes it carefully, treating the weapon, if not its bearer, with an attitude of respect.
The minutes drag out, and the pair continue to bleed. By the time Oaken stirs, Thunder's Claws and Chaser the only one fidgeting.
You paged Wayfinder with 'He scours your recent memories, dwelling most on a period when you were with Snow Walker, not even in the area. He seems to be searching for something. Finally he pulls out.'.
Wayfinder pages: Would going unconscious be IC?
The Fianna blinks rapidly and stands up. "I don't think I've ever told a story that wild," he says, evidently shaken by something he's seen. He shakes his head. "If someone's controlling her, I can't tell. And her memories don't match. Some people dead, others alive--" he struggles to crack a grin. "Me, for instance."
Whitestreak snorts, but doesn't otherwise reaxt.
Thunder's Claws says, ~So what are they, then? Or who?~
Oaken sighs and spreads his hands. "That's all I can tell you. Events almost the same, but they don't quite match. If someone was trying to psyche us out, I don't know why they'd think to throw in some of the little details." He glances towards the nearby pool, across which Sepdet's reflection--glabro--is outlined.
Pack> Paul says "Sep's reflection is glabro while she's in crinos? Neat."
Pack> Sepdet grins. "It's always glabro, here."
Pack> Paul likes that touch. :)
The Fianna looks at Thunder's Claws and shoves his hands in his pockets. "If it's not them, you can shoot me." He rocks back on his heels. "But it's not the same ones _we_ know."
Soulcatcher's gaze catches on the sight of the reflection again and seems to firm his resolve more. He turns to her, since here she seems to hold the most authority, ~Let us go back.~
From afar, Wayfinder hmms?
You paged Wayfinder with 'Yeah, you might.'.
Wayfinder is still shaking from the invasion of her mind. Eventually she just collapses sideways, onto her torn shoulder, and lays there shivering in fits and starts.
Thunder's Claws pages to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Sepdet: Lemme try something. :)
From afar, to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Sepdet, Thunder's Claws wants to see what Joseph'll do.
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet eyes TC warily. "We need to wrap this up soon, actually...do I trust you? All right. :)"
Thunder's Claws pages: He might end up having to fight me for them. If he does, since you want to wrap this up anyway, I kill him and he's out of mirror (he was tested to see if he'd stand by his pack)?
Long distance to Alexander: Sepdet grins. All right. :)
Thunder's Claws jerks his muzzle toward the pool and says curtly, ~Go. They're too weak, leave them here. Go back to wherever you came from.~
Sepdet's eyes narrow at Thunder's Claws words, but she adds no words to his, returning her attention to Joseph.
Soulcatcher's lips pull back from his muzzle, as the tension begins to wear on him, ~I'm not leaving without them, and without what I came with.~ He motions to the weapon the Strider holds.
Thunder's Claws shakes his head. ~You're leaving now. Through the pool, alone, or back into Gaia's arms.~ He smiles slightly. ~Your choice. The pool or the mound.~
Sepdet stands as impassive as only a Strider can, observing Joseph's reactions intently as if seeking some sign.
Soulcatcher's hackles rise further, pushed almost to the point where violence would be prefered. He manages, barely, to hold onto himself. His death would not profer the answers he desperately wants to this puzzle. His gaze shifts to the porne figures of his packmates, and he says, ~If I find answers, or not, I will come back for you.~ The gaze then shifts to the cloaked Strider, ~Because, like at the river, we live and die together.~
Soulcatcher turns toward the pool then.
Thunder's Claws watches as the Wendigo disappears through the Gauntlet.
Paul continues to sprawl in his untidy heap, breathing shallowly.
Thunder's Claws pages: D'oh!
Long distance to Whitestreak, Quiet, and Thunder's Claws: Sepdet blinks. Well, that actually works to resolve the scene. It's going to shatter now.
As Joseph's eyes step on the pool, strangely, it is not his form that shimmers out of existence. The whole caern wavers, and lines along the surface of the earth seem to spread out from the pool like cracks on a mirror. For those unconscious or nearly so, there is a wrenching, sudden clarity, then utter darkness.
[All three materialize back in the wheel's umbra, by the pool]
Long distance to Paul, Soulcatcher, and Wayfinder: Sepdet notes that Wayf and Paul are stunned, but unwounded, and Joseph has his spear.
You whisper "As the world shattered around you, you heard Sepdet's murmur: ~Go back. Go back to a world where my pack did not die.~" to Soulcatcher.
Paul looks up from the ground, gaze very, very confused.
Wayfinder scrabbles to her feet, swaying. She makes her way slowly to her fallen packmate's side and lays her head upon his shoulder with a quiet sigh. Where now? The words are faintly articulated, sounding almost far-away and dreamy. Her eyes are distant.
Paul whispers uncertainly, "What.. what happened? Did.." He reaches a hand back and feels the back of his head. "Should I ask?"
Soulcatcher's hackles, still aroused, shudder at something, and the crinos looks around, alertly.
Sepdet stands by the Pool, eyes wide with worry. ~What? Are you all right? I was afraid you were stuck!~
Soulcatcher wheels at Sepdet's voice, coming around to face her. His shoulders square again, looming near her, and his burning, discerning gaze locks on hers.
Paul rolls over to hands and knees, eyeing his staff carefully, still looking out of it and confused as hell.
Soulcatcher asks, already sensing it to /truly/ be her, as he sees how she's dressed, ~Hope?~
Wayfinder looks around the umbral darkness, squinting. Home? /Our/ home?
Sepdet steps forward questioningly to lay a hand on Soulcatcher's forearm, eyeing his hackles with alarm. ~Yes. Catch your breath. The Gauntlet's thicker than it used to be, remember?~
Paul says haltingly, "Not caught. I don't think. Getting caught doesn't have Alexander caving in my head."
Wayfinder murmurs softly. Or Moon-Laughs-Quiet tearing our one's throat, and Brick-Catcher...She shudders.
You sense Soulcatcher's eyes look deep into yours, searching for any sign of the pain he whitnessed earlier. His worry, and retreating fear clear.
Soulcatcher's hackles slowly fall, and after a long look at his Hope, he adds, ~Or you..and not you.~ His voice is tired.
Soulcatcher senses "Sepdet seems concerned indeed, but it is not the haunted look of a Gatekeeper forced to slay her former friend."
Sepdet holds onto Soulcatcher's arm tightly. ~What are you talking about? You've never even reached through the pool; you just froze.~
Paul climbs stiffly to his feet, leaning on his staff a little and shaking his head. "And I collapsed into homid. Feh. We're either quite insane, or something else happened."
Sepdet says soothingly, ~All of you, just sit still for a minute. Feel the caern under you. Tell me at your own speed. You all look like you've seen ghosts. Oaken?~ Her expression is pained and worried.
Paul rubs his face with one hand and mutters, "I don't remember anything about Oaken. He must have happened by after Alexander beat the stuffing out of me. Assuming he didn't kill me or something." He checks the back of his head again, then murmurs, "No blood. So Quiet's claws didn't really touch me?"
Sepdet suddenly stiffens as she tries to sort through the words which, of course, to her, make as little sense as the last hour has to you. ~Oh Gaia. You _were_ stuck. In the Mirror.~
Wayfinder looks at her own shoulder (still favoring it, unconsciously.) It's gone...but this one still feels..the touch. In the mind. She pads over to Sepdet, trembling. It was real...?
Soulcatcher does as Sepdet had suggested, crouching and simply feeling the Caern beneath him. Eventually, he shifts down to his birthform, calming.
Soulcatcher contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Soulcatcher pauses, his body losing its continuity and twisting into Homid form.
Sepdet lets go of Soulcatcher, a little reluctantly, to kneel and gather the she-wolf into her arms. ~I don't know,~ she says earnestly. ~Ibis told me stories of Mirror, to scare me into taking time to concentrate before reaching, not just jumping through blindly. He said...if you ever get caught halfway across, you might get stuck there. I don't know what it is. I just have heard the stories.~
Paul says quietly, "Mirror. Twilight zone is more like it. We were.. They said.."
Wayfinder leans into the Strider, hiding her face against her teacher's front. She is quivering now, reaction setting in from the stresses the three of them underwent.
Sepdet holds the wolf comfortingly. ~That was a different world. You are not there now.~
Joseph continues what Paul began, explaining to Sepdet, "They said we broke the veil, and brought great hardships to the caern. We were banished. You, Hope, were alpha of Crossing, and the only reason, apparently, we were not killed instantly."
Paul says quietly, "Thank whatever watches out for that. I think I'll avoid going back." With a look fixed concentration, he fixes his eyes on the pool.
Paul looks down into the shimmering pool, contemplating his reflection.
Sepdet's brows draw together in pure confusion. She sighs and shakes her head, repeating softly into Wayfinder's fur, ~Over now.~
Paul has left.
Wayfinder looks worried. Don't want to go back!
Sepdet keeps a tight hold on the Stargazer. ~I've never known anyone else who actually had it happen. I cannot promise, but it's a chance in a million that it would ever happen once--and then only when the moon's gone, or the Gauntlet's very thick. I can't imagine how unlikely it is to happen twice to the same person. I'll hold you, this time, to make sure you cross safely.~ She glances up at the moon.
Wayfinder licks the Strider gently. This one is glad you are you and not the other you. That one was hard.
Joseph sits crouched, weary, and watches Sepdet with Wayfinder, simply glad to be here.
Sepdet drops her eyes. ~One fights truth,~ she mururs very quietly, almost to herself. ~Come on. Let's get you some sleep, under Soulcatcher's dreamcatcher. I think you need it.~
Wayfinder nods, putting her complete trust in her friend.
Pack> Wayfinder is heading out now. Assume I stepped through and went nitey-night at the shelter. :)
Sepdet strokes Wayfinder's fur to calm her, after another glance at Soulcatcher to make certain he's all right too. ~Look down,~ she whispers softly, as if she were giving a cub lessons for their first brave journey across. ~Look down into your eyes, and through them, as if you were on the other side of them looking back up at the sky.~
Pack> Wayfinder is going to wonder what would have happened if Quiet had managed to tar out Wayf's throat...
Joseph appears in a glimmer of light.
Joseph has arrived.
On the Earth Mound, Paul is standing on the mound, looking down at something with a mixture of disgust and something else.
Joseph's glance around the pool carries an almost wary tension at first. Slowly, he relaxes and steps away from the water's reflection.
Sepdet is intent on Wayfinder, who is barely on her feet. The Strider glances towards the earth mound and pales slightly, then quickly masters her expression and manages to get the Stargazer turned before she sees. ~This way,~ she whispers softly. She walks Wayfinder as far as the Wheel's edge before letting her go, trusting her to reach the den safely.
[They go back through to the wheel, and disperse their separate ways, after investigating and dealing with Kincaid's body on the earth mound]
Joseph is quieter than normal, though he seems to have recovered from the ordeal in the umbra. His voice, when he speaks is light, but carries a timbre of vulnerability. "Sepdet?"
Sepdet slips her hand over Joseph's as soon as we're beyond the Wheel's scrutiny. She doesn't speak, simply adds her presence.
Joseph's hand slips into the Strider's gratefully, and he finishes the question, voice soft and low, "Would you sing grandfather awake with me this morning?"
Sepdet smiles, remembering a morning a long, long time ago like a caress. ~Of course, sen-n-ka'i.~
Joseph's hand squeezes gently, and he smiles. He comments, after a time, "Wayfinder was right. I dont know what rift rose up and cleft Whispers in that other place. what caused the hatred I saw. But it cut."
Sepdet returns the grip tightly. ~I can't possibly imagine anything that could cause that, here. Even if one of us was taken by the enemy, we would still love and try to help the one lost.~ She looks up at the Wendigo earnestly. ~But it was the Mirror, which is a twisted reflection of what is. I've never heard of good happening there.~
Joseph stops, still holding her hand, tighter. He looks up, as if this is important. 'Is it just illusion? Or does the place exist? Is it real?"
Sepdet sighs. ~I'm afraid I really don't know. Tales meant to scare cubs...how much truth lies in each?~
It seems important to him to know, and his gaze shimmers for a moment. Joseph then looks down, and starts to walk again. "It pains me to think it real."
Sepdet asks urgently, ~You said...there had been a veil breach, but that I had pleaded for your life?~
Joseph nods, and explains in a low voice what he could puzzle out from the strange things said. "She accused us of frenzying and attacking the FBI man. the one that had Megan's pictures." He pauses, "Alexander called me He Shatters the Veil."
Sepdet cringes. ~She's one to talk,~ the Strider says ruefully. ~Ai.~
Joseph asks, "Who?"
Sepdet taps the side of her face with a finger. ~One who has shattered the veil,~ she says soberly.
Joseph says "Megan? Megan wasnt there. Alexander..and Quiet." his voice softens as he remembers the Gaian's fury, "And Crossing."
Sepdet looks wistful. ~Well, at least _some_ things are better there,~ she whispers softy. ~But I meant myself. Remember when I foxed, and Chloe's wounds caught the eyes of the human spies. That's why they sent the helicopters.~
Joseph remembers, and his hand squeezes hers again. "You think that might have been what they meant?"
Sepdet's eyes close. ~Gaia only knows. Perhaps. It must have been something like that, unless your mirror selves were very different from you.~
Joseph shakes his head, sighing quietly. In eyes shimmers a faint pain from the tensions of the night. "There must have been something more. Foxing and nearly killing Ian, and running through Kent Crossing is bad, yes. But it seemed, from what I saw in them, that they looked on us like we'd committed the crimes on purpose.'
Sepdet leans close. ~Maybe they were just...very angry, because they did not want to have to kill you,~ she says tiredly. ~Or I don't know. If Ian dies...if you had been seen in Kent Crossing...it might have been the end of Garou life as we know it. The veil has been frayed so badly, that one more disaster could let the humans know about us. Once that's happened, it can never be undone, and it would probably be doom for the Garou race.~
Joseph shudders as the name given him tonight comes back to him.
Joseph's free hand goes to his neck to rub the back of it as he takes a deep breath. "Gaia let it never be."
Sepdet props her head against his shoulder. ~We have enough to worry about. That is _not_ one of the things the prophecies warn of, in the last days, if it is any comfort. Come. Come rest. We'll get up for the dawn.~
Joseph's arm moves around her small frame and he walks with her to the shelter.
