The Clearing Formerly Known As 'Bone Arches'

This clearing stands deep in the forest, hidden by tall trees, and feels strangely ...empty. Though it's a perfectly normal clearing, there's the haunting feeling that there should be something here, beyond the grasses and small shrubs that stand sheltered from the wind by the surrounding woods - but those are all that can be seen.

Winding through the underbrush, a number of trail-like impressions can be seen in the dirt. The most prominent of these leads southwest.

Contents:
Wolf-Heart

Obvious exits:
Forest

Holds-the-Line
On the small side for an adult, this beige female wolf probably doesn't tip the 100 pound mark. Unlike many wolves she doesn't sport a darker mask around her eyes; instead a scattering of darker brown hairs fleck her entire body. Frequent small scars suggest she is the survivor of plenty of fights. She isn't as long-legged as other wolves, her build more like a brick than a gazelle, hinting at stamina in addition to speed. Her eyes are not a typical wolven gold, but more of a pumpkin-orange.

Wolf-Heart comes out of the underbrush, about on his morning duties. There's no warning as he appears out of the shrubbery, the wolf simply appearing as he slinks into the clearing, giving it a good smell over. He pauses by a tree, scratching it to refresh the faded marker there, before he resumes padding his way around the clearing.

Holds-the-Line paces into the clearing some moments after the wayward Walker. She watches him about his duties, ears flicking to catch the sounds of the forest, then sits, waiting for him to notice her.

Wolf-Heart does notice, but goes about his job anyhow, waiting until he made his way around the entire clearing to where he entered before he turns to the Walker. The Ahroun makes a sharp whuff, an almost polite greeting to Holds-The-Line.

Lithe and sleek, here is of a classic display of Canis Lupus Arctos. His thick coat is a clean gray, near-white of a wolf of the arctic, stretched over a crisp frame. He stands about two and a half feet tall at the shoulder; from tip to tail he's just about four feet long. His ribs are slightly apparent and his hide shows where many of the bones are from months of lean eating. But he looks well worked, muscle sliding under the coat when he moves. Four legs connect with the ground, ending in slightly blunted claws. If you look closely enough at his face, a few light red hairs might be visible amongst the coat. Erect ears cap his head, and brown eyes peer out from under this beast's brow with unmistakable intelligence.

Holds-the-Line curls her tail about her paws and watches him calmly. You wished to speak with me? Overhead a squirrel scolds, its own tail flicking madly.

Wolf-Heart grunts, flicking his ear in an affirmative. Bones twist and contort as the Lupus grows to dire proportions, making a few last popping noises as he stretches them into place. ~I assume Scar-Rhya informed you of the problem with the 'ghosts' in the Roach Home of 'Paints-with-Light'.~ He starts, voice a low rumble.

Holds-the-Line hackles at the other's change, her ears flattening in distrust. He spoke of them to me, yes. The smaller wolf stands, stretching first front then back, returning to a sit with her decorum less in tatters. I have not seen them but I do not say Scar lies.

Wolf-Heart walks his butt forward into a sit, the Dire-Wolf Curling his club of a tail behind him. ~Scar-Rhya does not. They disappeared unexpectedly. This was not expected, they did not warn me such a thing would happen.~ He lets out a quiet breath, nervousness showing through clearly. ~But that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. If they do re-appear, I ask if I would be allowed to assist.~

Holds-the-Line considers this for some time, half an eye on the Hispo while the other searches out the furious squirrel. At length she turns her full attention back to the Ahroun and wonders what sort of assistance he had in mind.

Wolf-Heart, on the other hand, keeps his attention focused on the Glass Walker. Squirrels in trees can't be eaten, so why bother? ~Simply put, I know more than any other person in the Sept about the Restless. I have seen more of them, know a few by name... I have even conversed with them at length. I can attempt to talk to them again, since some of them trust me, and I can help figure out the exact nature of their problem. Or, if they are unwilling, I still know more about the Restless than anyone else in the Sept... Save Sepdet-Rhya, and no one knows when she will return, or if she will at all.~

Holds-the-Line has not heard of this Sepdet-rhya. I will consider it. She stands as if to leave, ears and tail high. Paints-with-Light will probably wish to speak with you if she has not already. You are her challenge for Elder of those who walk on glass.

~You have not heard of her, because she has been gone for a long time.~ He rumbles back, standing with an grunt' as well. He squints his eyes, looking at the Glass Walker. What sort of challenge? he asks suspiciously.

Holds-the-Line is not sure how much she should say, the wolf replies evenly. She may tell you details if she wishes. I do not wish to weight her challenge either for or against her.

Wolf-Heart's size shrinks as he fades back down to normal-wolf proportions now that he was done with all the fancy words, shaking off his ruff once the shift was finished. Bad enough to have none-tribe, he grunts back to the Walker suspiciously, but he does not wish to be harassed further. He says to Scar-Rhya, he leaves without being thrown out, and no bad blood between him and roach-wolves. Scar-Rhya lead him to think this is true. But roach-wolves do not leave him to find new people in peace. So if Holds-The-Line sends Light-Painter only to harass him more, he will not cooperate.

That is up to you, Holds-the-Line replies evenly. I have no say in how you behave. Nor have I ever. I should not keep you longer from your duty.

Wolf-Heart licks his nose, sneezes, then dumbly watches the Walker for a moment. Yes, he finally agrees. Duty. Must guard and watch home. Important.

Holds-the-Line can't roll her eyes in this form, but her ears flatten and lip curls in disgust. I will leave you to it. Gaia watch your steps. With no more fanfare than that she turns and trots off down the path leading from the clearing.

Wolf-Heart sniffs at the air a few times, before crouching and slinking back off into the brush.

[Scene change]

Farmhouse: Kitchen and Dining Room

Homey is the first word to come to mind when looking at the farmhouse's kitchen. Dark, wood-paneled wainscoting covers the walls to about waist height, dark beige wallpaper continuing to the ceiling. Twin refrigerators occupy the north wall, facing the large six-burner stove on the south. The kitchen counter runs the length of the eastern wall, broken only by the double-basin sink. Cabinets run above and below the counter and a twin-pane window is set in the wall above the sink. A small pantry is set into an alcove alongside the refrigerators, presumably holding the deep freezer as well as shelves of dry goods.

Some twelve feet above the floor, a large chandelier hangs from the ceiling, lighting the dining room and casting long shadows over the bar to the kitchen. A long table occupies the center of the dining room, three chairs setting along each side, and one on each end. On the west wall, a large window looks out on the trees alongside the western pasture. Set into the north wall is a large cabinet, its glass doors closed on shelves containing a full compliment of fine china and glassware as well as a few decorative nicknacks. On the east, a wide bar separates the dining room from the kitchen.

An opening in the southern wall allows passage to the front entryway of the house, while a sliding glass door in the kitchen opens to a clearing behind the house.

Contents:
Trevor
Emma

Obvious exits:
Hallway/Living Room Back Door

Emma smiles a bit, "Yah I guess, but what kinda name will that come up with? Kills-the-Mirror? Smites-Herself?"

"Will, give me a few to think about it." Trevor replies. "Smites-Herself sounds just a little dodgy, if you ask me." He grins.

Natalie comes across the barnyard from the woods, then lets herself in through the sliding door. "...Oh, hey Trevor, Emma. How're you two doing?"

Emma laughs at Trevor, "Yah I guess it does.. great. See, no good names for me." When Natalie arrives she looks over, "Heya, Ashley is on the warpath so look out. Ya got her fairly pissed off ya did. Was pretty amusing."

"Greetings." Trevor nods to the Walker Elder, before turning back to Emma. "Hush you, I'll get you a good name, don't you worry."

"Yeah, well," Nat smirks as she pokes her head inside the fridge, "What was your first clue? She still wanna hang me by my intestines from the nearest tree, or what?"

Emma gives Trevor a fond poke in the shoulder, "You better. I feel all stupid not having a cool new name." She makes a whining noise and hams it up, 'All the other new Cliaths are doing it!' To Natalie, she grins, "She beat her knuckles bloody on the punching bag, and was mumbling about how awful this, how awful that. You all gonna fight for Beta, you better win."

"So, what got Miss Arty's knickers in a Crinos-sized twist now?" Trevor asks the two. Despite his words, he's clearly fond of the Fury.

Natalie retreats from the fridge with an apple in each hand. "She got pissed because I was offended she insulted me," is the Galliard's explanation, tossing the spare apple to the middle of the table as she claims a chair. "Or put another way, I figured she was her usual arrogant self when she made a snippy comment, instead of obviously knowing that of course she was making a joke." "--You having a hard time coming up with a deed name too, Emma? Sheesh - I don't think any of the three have a new name yet."

Emma laughs at Natalie and nods, "Well at least you two agree on what caused the fight to erupt. And yeah, no luck. I've never done anything stupendous so I can't think up a good name."

"Ah, I see." Trevor nods thoughtfully. "And I'll sort you your name out Emma, stop worrying." He smiles.

You say "I just hope we avoid finding each other until tomorrow," as she crunches into her apple. "You wanna toss ideas off me, Emma? See if anything rings a bell?"

Emma grins a bit. "Ideas? Names? I dunno. I want a cool name, that represents something I did, and sounds bad ass."

"Well that was... less than helpful." The Walker grins over at her packmate. "So what've you done? What did you do on your Rite? I've heard Josh's side, but what about yours?"

Trevor listens to the two talk, considering deed names for Emma.

Emma shrugs her shoulders, "That's just it. Nothing. Nothing cool. I lead them in there, we killed the bad things, got tricked up by the mind warper, killed it... then that was it. God, I am a boring dreadful Get!"

"No, you're a boring dreadful Galliard," Nat corrects, waving her apple at the Ahroun. "What about the rest? What did you learn on the thing? Or, hrm, have you changed since your Rite? Deed name doesn't have to be something you did, you know. Can be something you are, or what you want to be. Or even a pun. I knew a Theurge back in Minnesota named 'Talks with the Wind' 'cause he was always chatting up spirits."

"Sounds like deed name." Trevor laughs. "Except I did the whole singing gig, rather than trying to get a date with them."

Emma thinks about that, then looks to Trevor. "Have I changed since my Rite Trevor? I still get pissy, I still dislike Josh, and I still think, uh, sorry- Nat yer excluded from this, that Walkers are pains in the ass. I still like fighting, still like winning, and okay, well I think I am starting to like boys.. that's new."

"Didn't hear a thing," Natalie solemnly assures. "Though I don't think 'Wants a Date' is going to get you the sort of attention you want. Plus all the Furies will hate you." "--Be right back," she adds, leaving her half-eaten apple behind as she heads up stairs.

"So, any boys in particular?" Trevor asks Emma teasingly.

Emma rolls her eyes. "No. Just, the idea doesn't seem too repulsive anymore. I think I am jealous. For fucks sake, Kota is married. Even Ashley has a beau.. That's just sad."

"Awww, come on now." Trevor grins, and an evil glint enters his eye. "Why so jealous. I don't have a boyfriend."

Emma pffts, "And you better not. We have enough gay Garou around here, how the hell are we supposed to populate the world if no one is procreating!"

"Well, I'm not gay, but I'm not procreating either." Trevor says, suddenly staring into space. "Shit! Emma, can you get me to the city really quickly?"

Emma blinks, looking around, "Huh, what? No, I don't drive.. what's wrong?"

"You can't see... maybe only Fianna can." Trevor trys to point out the small, sparkly fae-like spirit he can see. "That's a Kinfetch. I've a cub to kidnap. We've got to get to the city."

Emma huhs, and then nods. "Ok uh, yah. Ok. Any cars around here? I could drive... just not legally." She stands up, all set to go with the Fianna.

"No cars that I know of." Trevor stands, heading towards the door. "You got a mobile? We could call a taxi, maybe?"

What a coincedence. Nat's truck keys are there on the floor by her chair. They must have fallen from her pocket.

Emma looks down, "This is an emergency right? Okay, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Cmon." She grabs the keys off the floor and rushes out to the front door, "Let's go!" She smiles excitedly, this is going to be fun!

"We're stealing the Walker Elder's car." Trevor replies with a sigh. Following Emma, he suddenly seems a little excited. "We're stealing the Walker Elder's car! Yes!"

Emma grins, "No, we are stealing my packmates car, big difference." She is heading out the front door. "Just tell me what to do?"

"Drive. When we get into the City itself, I'll direct you." Trevor replies, following. "After that... follow my lead."

[End of log]