It is currently 22:49 Pacific Time on Sun Mar 21 2004.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 56 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). The wind is calm today. The barometric pressure reading is 30.13 and rising, and the relative humidity is 69 percent. The dewpoint is 46 degrees Fahrenheit (7 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing No Moon phase (5% full).

Burial Mounds

This wide clearing in the midst of short, dark pines is rough with wild grass and bare stone. The air is a bit cooler up here in the foothills than below, and the majestic peaks of the nearby mountains rear up over the eastern treetops. There is a vine-covered boulder standing under the edge of the somber evergreens to the east. The air here is prenaturally still and the grass waves not at all for there is no breeze that blows through the pines. It is silent, no call of bird thrown from the treetops to dance gaily in the open spaces. Occasionally chill fingers run up your spine.

A faint path leading downhill to the west is the only exit from the clearing.

Contents:
Alicia
Taslyn
Fights-For-Hope
Anthony
Leala
Signe
Walker
Jacinta

Obvious exits:
Forest

Anthony retreats back a few steps, tugging at his jacket sleeves. "Yeah, what she said," Tony adds, gesturing towards Taslyn with a shoulder.

"Thanks," says the newly-reborn Fostern as he finishes cleaning off the last of the goo and starts getting dressed. Again, it's tricky doing it one-handed, but he manages.

Thomas Walker has the appearance of a man who's survived a tour of duty in hell. It shows mostly in his face, a hawkish visage that's extensively scarred along the left side, twisting keloid making a ruin of aristocratic features. If not for the scars, or for the way his left eye is a blind, dead white, he'd probably be fairly handsome -- in a vicious sort of way. The angles of his face are sharply defined, the nobility in them scoured nearly to the bone. Both face and scalp are clean-shaven. He looks younger than his thirty years, but his shadowed eyes -- the good one dark brown -- are much, much older.

At six-foot-three, he stands taller than most men, and an inherent athleticism indicates that he could probably hold his own in a fight. There's also an aura of pent-up violence about him, a tightly-controlled rage within the leanly muscled body that could be lethal if unleashed.

His clothing is fairly nondescript, even if the man wearing them isn't. A plain white t-shirt is tucked into a pair of loose-fitting, faded blue jeans. For a jacket, he wears a hooded, zippered grey sweatshirt, and on his feet are a pair of brown hiking boots.

Fights-For-Hope sits now, watchful of those gathered, those dispersing, and for any new arrivals.

Natalie troops up the hill and hovers at the edge of the group, arms crossed and not saying much of anything. Perhaps the Galliard's appearance lends a clue to her lack of appearance earlier - she's sporting a lovely shiner that squishes her right eye nearly closed.

A rather dirty, debris covered Get of Fenris Philodox enters the burial mounds after hearing sounds of sept-members gathered from afar. She looks in the gloomist of moods, as always, as she strolls slowly towards the gathering. Judges-Souls has not been seen for months, although it has been rumored that she has been at her uncle's sept and deperately wanting to return to Hidden Walk, which she has. Her cold blue eyes look quietly upon those gathered as she observes what as recently taken place here.

Jacinta continues her cleaning. The branches taken care of, the bowls stacked by the pelt, she turns her attention fully to the fire.

Alicia glances over towards Natalie and tilts her head slightly to the side, curiously and concern plaguing her features. "Um... What happened to you?" She asks, turning around to face her, eyes roaming her person in case she may have any outwardly injuries.

Fights-For-Hope sniffs at the air, once and then twice. Looking around with the look thinking his senses have betrayed him he spots the well traveled Get of Fenris. ~Well...~ He growls as his posture twists into disapproving, ~About damn time...~

Walker looks up from struggling one-handed with the zippered fly of his jeans -- damned if he'll ask for help, though -- and peers at Natalie.

The eyes of the younger Get of Fenris peirce through the elder. ~Shut up,~ she barks with a short-temper. Her ears twist as she looks across to the others and notices the Walker elder, although he is strangly different.

Natalie scowls at Alicia's question, but sidles the Gaian's way. "Bar fight," she mutters, shooting little glances toward the newly reborn Philodox but keeping her voice down. "Bastard had a nasty left hook."

Taslyn stands back to the side, watching all of this. She nods a little and then slowly fades into the forest, headed back to the farmhouse to check on the cubs.

Anthony gravitates towards Natalie and Alicia, waving a little to them both before stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Walker pulls on the plain white t-shirt, hiding again that strange handprint pressed into his chest, and shrugs into the hooded sweatjacket. His eyes narrow slightly, though more at Judges-Soul's snappish retort to Jamethon than Natalie's muttering. Manner fading into a solemnity that those gathered will recognize, he finishes getting dressed in silence.

"That sucks Nat'." Alicia says. "You should take me next time, maybe we can pull a Charlie's Angels or some shit." She says with a grin on her face.

Jacinta is eventually satisfied with state of the former fire, and removes the stones placed to contain it. That done, she scatters the ashes with her bare foot.

Natalie only grunts, shrugging faintly. "Yeah, well. S'not your type of dive." Her eyes light on Tony and she grimaces, shifting so her back is to the man of the hour. "Anyway, just came to say g'bye." She jerks her head over her shoulder at her target.

"Not my type of dive? Why? Cuz its filled with bikers or something?" Alicia says with a grin upon her face. She looks amused, curious.

Walker looks up from doing the fastenings of his hiking boots (no laces, thankfully) and nods to Natalie. "Thanks. Take care of the family for me, all right?"

Fights-For-Hope growls at the response he recieves from the wayward philodox Get. Stalking over towards her he eyes the other in dominating fashion, ~If I wasn't glad to see you, I'd make you answer to that now. But since you look like shit, I'll let it wait till you've cleaned up. What brings you home, Judge?~

Natalie doesn't answer Alicia, but lifts a hand to gingerly test the extent of her bruising as she turns. "Long as they'll let me Sa... uh." Insert foot, swallow to knee. "Sorry."

The Fostern's thin smile is wry; he shrugs and corrects, without rancor, "Walker. Thomas Walker."

Jacinta picks up her various items, stacking them as well as she is able, and carries them out of the clearing. Before she leaves, she gives a final nod to Walker, a quiet, almost unheard, "Well met."

Judges-Souls side steps as the other Get nearly seems to loom over her. She gives him a long look, then looks to the others to which some are un familiar before she returns her attention to Fights. ~What wouldn't?~ she chuffs. Her ears twist, catching the Walker Philodox's new name and she looks at him puzzedly.

Walker stands up as Jacinta passes him and briefly grasps the small Wendigo's shoulder in a comradely sort of way. "Walk with Gaia. And thank you again."

Fights-For-Hope just growls to the younger Get in explanation, ~Scar is no longer. He has broken with the past and has been reborn with a new name.~

Jacinta gives Walker another smile before she passes out of sight. "Ii."

Natalie mouths the name, staring fixedly at the man as if overwriting the name she knew with this new one. "...Nice to meet you," she finally manages. "You'll, um. Keep in touch, right?"

Walker nods. "I'll be in Portland off and on." He glances over toward Alicia. "Drew went there with Di and John's son." Back to Natalie. "Anyway, I'll be calling in a few days with a new contact number. Don't bother with any of the old ones, e-mail either."

Judges-Souls looks to the Philodox Glasswalker to whom she had remembered before her disappearance from the sept for a long moment before her gaze returns to Fights. ~I undertstand,~ she replies. There is something that registers on her expression but it is soon done as quickly as it had arrived.

Alicia nods her head slightly over towards Walker and mm's quietly. "Tell Drew I said Hi then when you see 'er, if you do, an stuff."

Fights-For-Hope turns to face Salem now, with some mild interest. His growling in the mother's tongue is still directed to Judges-Souls over his shoulder, ~You sticking around this time? I've had enough of people coming and going, oh and you'll want to see the elder now that you're back. I'm sure she has some news for you. She has packed with... others, under Wolverine.~

"Couldn't be satisfied with being a Walker," Nat grumbles over her shoulder to Ali, though there's more than a hint of good-nature behind it. "No, he's gotta be the damn definite article."

Alicia grins slightly as she looks to Nat. "True. If thats the angle he's going for." She says teasingly. "So, 'Thomas', you want me to take you shopping before you go or you going to pick out your own clothes?" She asks, gesturing with a finger slightly, trying not to laugh.

Judges-Souls tilts her head towards her elder, regaurding him with a silent inquiry to who is on this pack that he speaks up and perhaps has a look of some interest but not much.

Anthony wanders away from the area after a bit more milling around.

Walker actually chuckles a bit at Natalie's good-natured griping. "Consider it my tribute to the family that took in a frothing whirlwind of rage and turned him into someone useful." Then he shakes his head at Alicia, still smiling faintly. His words, though, are serious. "I arranged a few things. I don't dare go back into the city. One person mentioning my description to the Russians and Konstantin's a dead man."

Fights-For-Hope looks over his shoulder at the younger Get as he licks at his muzzle lazily, ~Urrah, the lot of them.~ He mutters, ~Definant-Storm, Heart-Taker of the Furies, Lures-The-Beast also of the Furies. Holds-The-Line, elder of the Glass Walkers,~ At this he gestures towards Natalie, talking with Thomas Walker in form of indication, ~And the recently rited omega, Fire-Dancer.~ He grunts thoughtfully at that and adds, ~Who I never thought of as becoming one to walk the streets of the city.~

Natalie lightly touches her shiner again. "Yeah, well... you wanna ride to somewhere, or something? I can get you a few hours down 90, if you want. Got a couple of hours of work in the morning, but who needs sleep, right?" She offers him a knowing smirk.

"I think I'm going to head back to the farm and check up on Dakota. She was picking up a cub today who has yet to first. His name is Sly." Alicia says with a nod of her head. "So, speaking of sleepless nights." She trails off a bit, glancing to Salem. "One hug for the road?"

"I've got a ride," Walker tells Natalie. "Go get some sleep." Then he eyes Alicia and, after a moment, says, "Sure." Agreeing the way a cat will deign to be petted.

Judges-Souls follows with the same lazy stare as she looks to her elder and grunts softly under her breath, seeming to give the impression that she will concider it. ~There are new faces,~ she growls, not exactly pleased.

Alicia grins slightly and steps forward, sliding her arms around the Walker's neck, giving him a strong hug as she presses her cheek to his. "You know, its practically you and I that is left of Synthesis. When you leave, its just me now.. until Yi decides to come back across seas or not." She murmurs softly. "I'm going to miss you so much."

Fights-For-Hope seems at least a bit amused by this though keeping that in check he answers in kind, ~There always will be.~ A moment of pause is given to silence and then he looks back to the philodox again, quickly looking back to the reborn Walker, ~Good jouney to you Walker of Roads.~ And with that and a nod of his lupine head he turns and starts towards the Caern, grunting to Judges-Souls, ~Welcome home. I've missed your warm personality and sunny smile. Where are you sleeping tonight?~

Walker stiffens, his jaw tightening in a displeased way at mention of Yi's name, but otherwise he lets it slide, returning the Gaian's embrace in a dignified and utterly platonic way. "I'll be back when I can," he says. "If I can." Then he pulls away from the hug.

"You will be, you can't resist Lish's lasanga." Teases the Child of Gaia as she pulls back from you, staring eyes to eye. Offering a warm smile, she pats him on the shoulder, then turns, heading off. "Luna light your footsteps safely on your journies. I'm a phone call and a plane ticket away."

Walker winces. "Not lasagna. Anything but lasagna." He lifts his right hand in a wave, directing it toward the departing Fenrir as well.

Natalie refolds her arms across her chest, doing her best to ignore the Gaian's little display. "You, or certified mail. Anyway. I, um... Cockroach watch, huh?" She doesn't immediately head off, letting the others make their escapes while she continues to stare past Walker's ear.

Judges-Souls gives a small yawn and looks to Fights again. ~Under the stars,~ she answers, seeming to not be picky about where she sleeps.

"Likewise," Walker responds to Natalie. As people leave, he seems apt to linger at the burial mounds, at least for a short while.

Fights-For-Hope continues walking, but huffs an affirmative in answer to her statement, ~Then come, the Caern is as good a place as any.~

Judges-Souls cocks her head in reply and spares one last stare towards the Walker Philodox before she follows her elder out towards the caern.

Natalie rocks forward and back as if internally debating the wisdom of approaching the other 'Walker. Wisdom wins out - or perhaps the lateness of the hour - so with one last look she turns to follow the Get.

[Scene change]

Lane

Stretching a good quarter mile from the road, this gravel lane leads back to the Escrowe farm. Trees line the lane, their limbs bare but for the snow still clinging to them. In the distance, the farmhouse looms above the treetops, gleaming white as the snow from its yearly coat of paint. Silence prevails here, save for the rustling of the tall grasses in the fields when the wind blows.

The front entrance to the farmhouse is on the porch alongside the gravelled road which continues on around the eastern side of the house back to the barnyard. The opposite end of the lane turns back west to empty out onto Sunrise Road.

Obvious exits:
PORch BarnYard Sunrise Road

Natalie's leaning up against the hood of her truck, arms folded once again - or, knowing Nat, perhaps still folded - with her head tipped back to study the sky. Fragments of a song drift across the lane: We Both Reached for the Gun.

Making her way from the barnyard, Alicia is humming her own tune under her breath, hands shoved into her pockets, lumbering about from left to right. When the song catches her attention, she lifts her eyes up and makes her way over, curious.

Natalie's usually fairly oblivious to her surroundings, and tonight is no exception. She doesn't notice the other Galliard until she pushes off the hood, turning. "Cripes!" "--Jeez Louise, Alicia, Alicia-rhya, give a girl a little warning!"

"Can call me Alicia." The Child of Gaia says, relaxing her arms somewhat. "Sorry. I was going to say something right before you turned around. I was actually trying not to startle you. Whats up? You seem to have a full mind."

"...Yeah," Nat admits. "Maybe. A bit. Um. You ever have a day when everything goes merrily to hell in a handbasket?"

"Of course, thats the life of being a Garou." Alicia says with a faint grin. "We are always going to have those days. You know.. days that you go to the farm, just to find out the Caern gets over ran by Spirals and you have to usher eigh cubs out in a car that fits four, so you pack three of them in the trunk in Lupus and the rest in the back."

Natalie scrubs a hand through her hair. "...Or a day when you go to save your Elder's bacon only to get knocked out and do squat-all useful? Some damn child of Wolverine I turned out to be. Plus there's all this crap with Joshua and Megan and Leala... Dammit."

Alicia nods her head. "Ah, don't sweat it. I've been taken out a fight or two in my time. You just get wiser and more experienced each time. Shit happens, you'll always find someone bigger and better to smack you down." She gives a wry grin. "Just gotta rely on yer' pack to have your back, ya'know? It'll be all good. As far as Josh and Megan goes.. I heard 'bout that and... well... no comment. I don't know what to think." She shrugs absently.

Natalie only grunts at Ali's first words, but at least she doesn't argue. "I can tell you none of the Walkers - none of us - are real thrilled about a Fianna sticking her fingers in our metaphorical pie, that's for damn sure."

"Megan has her fingers in everyone's pie." Alicia says. "It goes with the rank. Adren an all." She shrugs her shoulders back some with a sigh. "I think she is just trying her best to.. be a real Sept Alpha. We haven't had one in awhile, ya'know? We kinda have an Alpha, but nothing gets done, there is no involvement or buttkicking to get things started -and- finished." She offers a quick smile. "Maybe she just wants to help out since the entire tribe is practically new save Leala."

"Maybe she should trust the tribe's Elder to do what needs doing," Nat retorts, leaning one hip against the hood. "Dammit, Alicia, this... this damn meddling of her completely screws with Leala's Challenge. The Challenge, I might add, which I tailored to Megan's damn requirements in the first place. If she doesn't want Leala to be Elder, that's one thing. But screwing us both over? Hell, all over? Josh doesn't want the Walkers, the Walkers don't want Josh. In fact, you know what? After Megan's little cease-and-desist, I find out from the Wendigo elder that the nutjob wants her to perform a damn vision quest!"

Alicia nods her head slowly as she listens carefully, then offers a quick smile. "I don't have much to offer unfortuantly in the way of input. I don't know all the details since it doesn't involve my own tribe. Maybe you should tell her exactly what you told me, just.. in a calmer, more thought out way. Let her understand that you want to handle things your own way, to... instill some confidence in your abilities as a Elder and a tribe as a whole. Show that you guys can work together and not against each other?"

Natalie snorts and looks away, off into the night. "Crap. Well, if that was her goal, she's succeeded in that part at least. Me, Leala, and Tony - maybe Quentin and Cat if he's back from the Umbra - are gonna hunt her down tomorrow. It's just... crap. Since Josh is Leala's Challenge, I'm, I don't want to get my sticky paws all over it, right? Only this sort of crap doesn't have anything to do with her Challenge, so I have to deal with it, 'cause I'm Elder. Which leads me right back to Sal... to the Philodox, and Friday, and... dammit, picking fights in bars on Sunday night."

Alicia nods her head slightly and pats you on the shoulder. "Well, my advise would be to get a good night sleep and prepare yourself then before you talk to Megan. I'm sure after your dealings with her, you know how she is. She has an answer for everything." She lets out a soft breath, almost sarcastically. "She asked me to join the pack she is forming. Something I'm still struggling over with at the moment. Ya'know? Not sure if it would be the 'sane' thing for me to do." She shrugs and starts off down the path again. "So, you aren't the only one who needs to have a talk with her. I think I'm going to hit the hay. Talk to you later?"

Natalie snorts again at the 'good night's sleep'. "...Yeah, sure. Thanks, Alicia. I know I'm... hell, I'm not the easiest person to talk to." And that little obvious statement seems to be where she's content to leave things, watching the Gaian elder for a moment or three.

"You aren't." Alicia calls over her shoulder. "In fact, you are down right difficult, but, I still love ya. Night!" Headlights flash in the distance as she pulls out her keys, pointing her hand forward, then heads in the direction of her car, before sliding in and taking off. Vroom Vroom Vroom.

[End of log]