It is currently 19:49 Pacific Time on Wed Apr 16 2003.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is partly sunny. The temperature is 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the southwest at 7 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.97 and falling, and the relative humidity is 74 percent. The dewpoint is 44 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waning Full Moon phase (98% full).

Harbor Park -- Fountain

Situated in the center of a large, open meadow is a clustering of six trees, a flower bed, a few steel-and-wood benches set firmly into concrete, and a flagstone courtyard that is dominated by a large fountain.

The fountain is a wide circular pool of water some fifty feet across and about five feet deep in most places. The sculpture in the center is a mix of old and new, traditional and modern: eight concrete-and-stainless-steel slabs about six feet high are set in a rough Stonehenge-like circle around the center of the fountain. Water flows from their tops, cascading in bright mesmerizing sheets to the pool below. Rising above the steel circle is a large marble statue of the Water Bearer, an androgynous figure draped in robes of flowing water. It bears a large jug carved with various Greek symbols, from which pours a seething torrent of water into the pool at its feet.

Cars on the nearby street have an excellent view of the park as do any residents of the tall buildings which line the waterfront.

The murky waters of the Columbia River flow swiftly along the east side of the park. Bracketing the park to the west is First Street and the city of St. Claire. Recent construction work is creating an earthen berm several feet high all along the borders of the park in all directions.

Alicia makes her way into the park after getting home an taking a nice, long, shower. She then abused her kin for a bit in the bed, twice, and got dressed.

Salem stalks along near the river, handrolled cigarette dangling from his mouth and trailing smoke. The Walker's hands are buried in his pockets and his coat collar's turned up against the chill.

The Gaian called Salem up earlier, telling him that she an Yi were both coming back alive. Which is a good thing, right? Right. Alicia makes her way towards him, blowing out a soft breath against the cold air. "Boss." She says softly, offering a quick grin, crooked.

Salem glances up. Full moon, and the ex-Ahroun's mood is poor -- no surprise there. His eyes are shadowed in the evening light. "How was it?" he asks Alicia, after a glance down at Yi.

Yi has her own eyes averted, part respect, part disappointment at the results. "The challenge was not successful," she mentions, also looking up to the moon.

"Sucked." Alicia says. "Got as far as the gate when shit hit the fan, and well.. the national frigg'n guard got called after us. Didn't even see a spiral anywhere sight. The place is locked down tighter then.. well... the virgin mary's chasity belt. So pretty much we go through the Army first, /then/ the hive, then the spirals. Wow... what the fuck? James challenging for Elder or Fostern?"

Salem grunts. "Owen probably didn't want him to succeed. Or he underestimated the danger." He shrugs slightly. "You came back alive." His gaze shifts down to Yi again. "Renee's back in town too, after an absense. And I hear you have a couple of new members."

Yi looks back to the Walker, nodding a little. "I saw the notes, but I didn't visit too long. Alicia told me to come here." Mention of Renee, from Salem, makes her wonder. "Is she well?" she asks, eyes turning in the direction of the streets.

"She pop out the Ewok yet?" Alicia asks with a slight smirk on her face.

Salem arches an eyebrow at Alicia. Then he snorts. "So much for her keeping it a secret. She seems fine, more or less. She's popped."

"She kept it to herself, until I found her with the questing stone since I was wondering where the hell she was at, that and I was following Ebony around town." Alicia says with a faint grin on her face. "I kept my lips shut tho'."

Yi glances between the two. Ewok? Popped? "And?" she asks, as if expecting a more detailed conclusion. But, rather than pursue the topic, she simply makes a note to visit Renee later. "Well, we returned with our heads still on our shoulders." Her eyes look to the tall Walker. "How is Synthesis?"

Salem glances at the baffled Ragabash, then at Alicia, significantly. His mouth twitches into a frown. He turns back to Yi. "Tesla has a task for us... something about a cockroach spirit bound by Silver Fangs. Naturally, he brought it up when you two were out of town."

"Of course." Alicia says with a frown. "So... whats up? Silver Fangs binding roaches? As in.. a fetish, or.. stealing a totem? Or is he just miffed? Whats the deal?"

Yi arches a brow. Us? Alright! Or, maybe Salem's just talking to Alicia. The Gnawer does only nod though, to indicate she's listening.

Salem takes the cigarette from his lips and taps ash onto the ground. "Bound into a fetish, or a talen, but not used. Disrespect to the spirit. Yi." He addresses the Ragabash again. "Are you still interested in joining the pack?"

Alicia gives the Asian a hip bounce, grinning wryly to herself. She looks to her expectantly.

Yi was expecting this question. Looking to Alicia, then to Salem, the Gnawer swallows down the first blurb that was bubbling. "If the pack and its totem will accept me, then I would be honored to join Synthesis." With a mild pause, though, she adds, "I will have to tell Renee about it, since she has continued her Eldership of the tribe."

Salem takes a drag off his cigarette. "The pack will have you. I mentioned you to Tesla and he'll accept you, too, though we should do a formal introduction, of course."

Alicia bobs her head at that and crosses her arms over her chest, stubbing her booted foot into the ground. "Congrats Sis. This rocks."

Yi

Vigilance is a shroud around her, ever watchful of her surroundings and the beings around. Almond-shaped coffee brown eyes gaze out evenly for awhile, though sometimes they turn distant in memory. A cascade of deep brown highlighted hair layers off to outline the curves of her face and sometimes mask her eyes. Scars peek through the hems of her clothing, hinting at the wounds not quite healed that seem to cut much deeper into the spirit. (+detail Yi's Scars) Always, she tries to keep herself behind a calm, invisible mask, hiding away the darkest pits in her heart and mind. Her clothes are aimed for a silent edge, humble yet hiding something. A black long-sleeve shirt is covered with a waterproof zip-up navy blue jacket. Her black pants are comfortable, held by a steel-buckled belt. Scuffed, worn-in black sneakers make up her footwear. A Native American looking bear pendant tied on a sinew thong around her neck is added as a finishing eccentric touch. (+detail Yi's pendant)

Yi doesn't hide the faint smile that comes with knowing she's accepted. She does, however, have to make sure. Being the ragabash she is, she questions, "And /you/ are ok with this too, Salem?" Her query, full of implications regarding tribal tensions, and perhaps personal preferences. In a way, it's like the new wolf seeking out the alpha's favor.

Salem holds the handrolled cigarette between two fingers of his right hand, his expression bland. "If I weren't, I would make it quite clear." Then he gives her a thin smile. "Welcome."

Yi first narrows her eyes to examine the Walker's face, but the glance is fleeting. That thin smile is simply more than she had expected. "I am honored," she replies, with a bow of her head. Then, she sweeps her gaze to Alicia. "The next step is meeting Tesla, then. But, what was that about the spirit with the Silver Fangs?"

Nodding her head, Alicia gives Yi a faint punch on the shoulder. "Welcome ta' the family sis. Rock on." A thin smile tugs at her lips some.

Salem takes another drag off the cigarette. "Tesla didn't go into detail. I imagine that he'll speak more on this job when we introduce him to you. Hopefully, it won't take us out of town for _nearly_ as long as James' task."

"Even if it does, least we're doing it as a pack and not as a buncha dumbasses without a plan." Alicia says with a scowl on her face as she cracks her neck to the side a few times. "It was super hard to keep my mouth shut the entire time down there. So, anyways, shall we summon the love bug or what?"

Yi says, "I hope it does not take that long. I just got back, and without any souvenirs except nightmares." The raggie shakes her head, hand moving some hair out of her face. "Why didn't you say anything, if you felt something was wrong?"

Salem shakes his head slightly. "I've been looking for him since I got your message. He's not around. Not tonight, anyway."

Yi sways a bit on her feet, just to keep them loose. "Well, I will be around and in contact when the spirit returns. Is there anything specific I should know, when addressing Tesla? Or about the pack in general?"

"We have no set territory," Salem says, inhaling another lungful of smoke. "Things in the city are... loosely structured, but you probably already knew that. That may change. I'd like to see a bit more cohesiveness within the pack. Where are you living these days, Yi?"

Yi points towards East Bridge Street with a brief gesture. "Flat 15, Mcaffe Court." Everyone familiar with downtown probably has passed by the low rent, Shitty Ass Ghetto Villa at some point. "It is pretty quiet in there, at least."

Salem nods curtly; there's a touch of approval in his answer. "I know the place." He considers, taking another drag. "Apart from Tobin's pack, which has some very minor interest in city doings, Cameron at least, Synthesis is it for city packs."

Yi takes a step back, to observe her new pack, and to look beyond to the fountain. "Trouble is still recovering," she mentions quietly. "And I think I remember Renee also looking forward to a pack for the city." Will that approval last? She wonders.

Salem's eyes narrow. "Trouble? Kaz's pack? Hm. Thought they'd disbanded."

Yi's head perks. Disbanded? Her own brow furrows. "After Nevada and Max... I guess they might have. But, if they were to come together, the remaining, they might form a new one." This she says with dubious tones, though. Her own information, rather unsettled because of her absences.

"Kaz is gone," the Walker says sourly. "If the others are around at all, I don't know about it. Anneka, possibly."

Yi clears her throat, masking over the surprised look. "Kaz did return to turn the Eldership to Renee," she murmurs aloud. "Anneka... I have not seen either." Now the Gnawer is looking thoughtful. But then, she nods once to herself. "Even if they are disbanded, Synthesis remains. I will try to make sure it does, in the ways I can."

Salem nods once. "I have your number. We'll see about meeting you up with Tesla, find out what he wants us to do, precisely. In the meantime... well. You're not a cub. You know your job." It's a form of praise, one might suppose. He sets the cigarette between his lips and speaks around it. "I'm going on patrol. Care to join?"

Yi could read it as praise. The moon rides even the ragabash, and she nods silently. She'll go see what Salem does, and accustom herself to the ways of her new pack.