It is currently 15:59 Pacific Time on Thu Jul 7 2005.

Nivek has arrived.

Currently in Saint Claire, it is partly sunny. The temperature is 66 degrees
      Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the 
      southwest at 12 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 29.99 and 
      falling, and the relative humidity is 54 percent. The dewpoint is 49 
      degrees Fahrenheit (9 degrees Celsius.)

Currently the moon is in the waxing New Moon phase (7% full).

Burial Mounds(#3207RJ$)

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.

                            There are +views here.                             

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

Grey treads steadily through the forest, hands buried in his pockets and making
      no effort at stealth. So while he's more familiar with these woods than 
      most urrah, his approach is definitely not quiet. He arrives, and stops 
      at the edge of the clearing to brush bits of plant life from his clothes, 
      his expression quietly solemn.

As garou begin to arrive, they will see not only Clemency but also Alicia
      already there. The Silver Fang appears deep in conversation with the 
      Gaian elder, an intent and somewhat drawn look upon her face.

At times, the Gaian Elder nods her head patiently as she listens to the Fang,
      adding her own input from a Galliard's point of view. She motions with 
      her hand, taps her fist into one open palm, then points towards the 
      bodies, then the sky.

Clemency responds in kind, with both words and gestures, at the three bodies
      lying stark in a row behind her (the middle one lying in some kind of 
      wooden boat-like creation), at the razor-thin moon playing tag with the 
      clouds above, and at herself. She greets the arriving garou with a smile 
      apiece, equally as thin as the moon.

Stacey down the path that leads to the Burial Mounds. Her hands are stuffed
      into her pockets and her expression is blank, closed. She glances at 
      those already present, and then steps off to the side, looking off into 
      the distance.

The wooden boat is carved and notched with a number of runes and glyphs of
      glory and war, obviously a long boat built for Erika, one to send her off 
      to Valhalla. At the head of the boat is the face of a howling wolf, and 
      there is a sword placed over the body. One does not go home without a 
      weapon.

Grey picks a spiny burr thing off his black trousers, flicks it off into the
      treeline, and then turns his attention to the ritual preparations, and 
      the bodies in particular. As at Moot, the Glass Walker's bared forearms 
      reveal the dishonorable glyphs carved into them.

Clemency gives Alicia a long heartfelt silent look, and steps away from her to
      the centre of the clearing. A large, round slice of log has been placed 
      there, presumably by design, and onto this the Silver Fang steps, 
      beckoning the other garou to form a circle around her so that the rite 
      may begin.

Jervis slowly makes his entrance, the Fang remaining silent, opting to distance
      himself somewhat from the other garou for the moment. He leans against a 
      tree, and crosses his arms casually in wait.

Reggie treads heavily through the forest, leaving deep footprints in the
      muddier sections. A recent quarrel with a meddlesome, thorny bush shows 
      its evidence in shirt, red gashes dancing over Reggie's face and arms. 
      Sweat rolls down from his brow, although it's not overly hot for a July 
      day; his furskins are keeping him ambly warm. They're more rumpled than 
      usual, as though they'd been through a war with moths. Reggie slows his 
      pacing as he arrives at the mounds, his gaze directed first at some of 
      the older mounds before inspecting the ritualist and her preparations. He 
      gives a slow, respectful nod, not interruptting her concentration with 
      spoken words.

Jervis approaches closer, given the signal, still slow and almost wary.

Stacey steps forward as Clemency beckons and takes her place in the circle.

Alicia reaching out to pat Clem on the shoulder, she then takes her place at
      the circle, arms resting behind her as she hoods her eyes a bit, her face 
      a mask of neutral emotion.

Grey joins the circle with the other Garou.

Clemency waits for the circle to form, standing in her usual rigid pose on the
      log, as though she's in no particular hurry. The wind, which up to now 
      has been scarcely felt, begins to pick up a little as she eventually 
      shifts up to her massive white-furred Crinos form and speaks. ~Garou of 
      this sept, I bid you to be present tonight to witness the passing of our 
      comrades in arms. Three Garou have gone back to Gaia, and we are present 
      tonight to celebrate their lives, to honor their deaths, and to send them 
      onwards to their rebirths. Let their names never be forgotten: Jana 
      Endures-The-Pain. Erika Judgment-Of-The-Lost-Souls. Tobin 
      Calls-The-Spirits-To-Battle.~

	 Nearly nine feet of solid muscle overlaid with thick pale fur, this beast is
      a picture of pugnacious, ravening aggression. Anyone might be forgiven 
      for turning and running for their life on sight of it, but a bold soul 
      who stays to examine it will note that its fur ranges from pure white on 
      the chest, limbs and head, to a somewhat darker steely shade down its 
      back as far as its tail, which sweeps out behind it like a bristling 
      banner. The fur is broken here and there by bare patches showing the sign 
      of keloid scarring, most obviously on the beast's left shoulder which 
      shows signs of having been thoroughly mangled at some point if the pink 
      furless patches of lumpy flesh are any sign. Its golden-green eyes glint 
      above a cruel muzzle and a set of teeth that seem to be too great in 
      number to fit into any earthly animal's mouth, and these weapons are 
      complemented by wicked claws at the end of each hand. The stuff of 
      nightmares, indeed.

Fire-Burns goes on. ~We mourn them, we who are left behind. But by their deaths
      we gather fresh energy, new strength that helps us to fight the fight 
      that is set down for us to struggle in. In our future battles we will 
      feel them at our backs urging us on to glory and to victory, and perhaps 
      those of us who are spared long enough will one day know the joy of 
      meeting a young, fresh cub and recognising an old friend looking out from 
      their eyes.~ She turns to one side, facing the bodies, and after a 
      moment's pause, speaks again. ~Jana Endures-The-Pain was leader of my own 
      tribe, and as such, leader of all Garou, for that is the burden that the 
      Silver Fangs must carry. I knew her not, for she fell just before I came 
      to this Sept. But I have spoken to those who knew her, and those who 
      packed with her, and all tell me that when she took leadership she did so 
      as a Silver Fang should; with assurance and with courage, caring fiercely 
      for her own tribe, while also honoring others. Those of you here who knew 
      her, now is the time to share any memories you wish, before we howl to 
      send her back to the Mother.~

Reggie steps into the circle, his mass towering over small Stacey. With a
      sombere mood, he listens attentively to the ritualist.

With a shift upwards into the Crinos form, the Child of Gaia Elder straightens
      herself out proudly, chin tilting upwards as her ears slant back. ~I did 
      not know Endures the Pain long, but when I did work with her, I knew that 
      she had good direction and a sense of wisdom about her. She was a strong 
      leader and a loud voice among us here in the Hidden Walk and I spoke of 
      her well during the Moots, rewarding her with renown for her wisdom and 
      resolve in dealing with the Hospital crisis." Guards-The-Flame puffs out 
      her fur a bit. ~She was taken from us too early, but at least now she no 
      longer has any pain to endure.~

Jervis remains silent for a while after Alicia finishes, and as if rudely
      roused from more important thoughts, he blinks up at the other garou in 
      the circle. A pause, but he manages to appear collected: "I have scarcely 
      anything to say about the first of my two predecessors we honor today, 
      I'm afraid. Other than that she died nobly, fought with a terrific 
      ferocity that I never had chance to witness, only hear about. She argued 
      with even more such ferocity, as well. That, I _was_ present for." His 
      tone implies nothing but reverance, oddly, but whether genuine or 
      feigned...

Finally, Bug deigns to slink out of her hiding spot behind the line of trees.
      She doesn't seem at all pleased to enter the clearing, however--her 
      shoulders hunch, she hugs herself tightly with all four arms, and she 
      moves with such an awkward walk, so close to the ground, that she almost 
      might do better crawling. The gathered Garou are eyed very, very warily, 
      and the metis cub circles widely to try and get nearest to Stacey.

Stacey glances over and offers the smallest of smiles to the cub, and then
      turns her attention back to the speakers and Clemency, remaining silent 
      herself.

Fire-Burns gives a slow nod to Jervis and speaks once more. As she does so, the
      wind grows stronger still, a strange and supernatural wind which seems to 
      blow not around but through every garou present, through flesh and bone 
      alike. And yet, the wind is not cold, does not chill those who feel it; 
      it is somehow warm, even comforting. Fire-Burns-Forever raises aloft a 
      small glass jar almost like a salt-cellar, containing flakes of green 
      dried vegetation. ~Mother Gaia!~ she calls out, leaping from her log and 
      running in a crinos's loping gait to Jana's body. ~Hear us howl! We send 
      back to you one of your own, one of your true warriors, Jana 
      Endures-The-Pain! Receive her back from us to be reborn once more!~ She 
      scatters some of the herbs from her container over the shrouded body, and 
      the wind grows stronger still, seeming to focus upon the dead Silver Fang 
      until the white cloth painted with sigils flaps about under its force. 
      And then she begins to howl wordlessly, a sound that is simultaneously a 
      dirge of mourning and a wild feral revelling in the power of the ritual, 
      a howl that entreats any hearer to join in.

Reggie takes a moment to glower at either Bug or her late arrival, before
      raising his voice into a howl joining Fire-Burns'.

Grey gives Bug only the briefest glance before the ritualist's entreaty claims
      his attention. Dutifully, he stretches upward into a well-scarred Crinos 
      form and adds his voice in a dark, thunderous dirge-like howl of his own.

Tilting her head upwards, Guards-The-Flame lets out her own Galliard roar to
      the heavens, her song beautiful and captivating. She sings for the life 
      and the death of the Silver Fang Theurge, hoping her quest to Gaia's 
      waiting arms will be a safe, gentle one.

Stacey shifts up into her Crinos form and tilts her head back, adding her
      young, sorrowful howl to the others.

Bug only actually seems to notice Reggie when she's almost to Stacey. The cub
      gives a clear start, and forgetting whatever other concern is causing her 
      to stick so low to the ground, she fairly skitters the rest of the way to 
      the /other/ side of the Child of Gaia. It's when Stacey herself takes 
      crinos that Bug gives another jump, and drops into a full crouch.

Jervis swiftly ascends into crinos, staying in the form long enough to let out
      his own, distinctive, but respectful howl. Precisely nothing more or less 
      than what's expected.

As the howl grows so the wind grows too, until both howl and breeze reach their
      peak. Fire-Burns-Forever drops her head and falls silent, and the wind 
      suddenly drops. Silence reigns over the glade for a few moments until the 
      Silver Fang's head comes back up and she resumes her place on the wooden 
      eminence. She takes several deep breaths, composing herself, before 
      speaking. ~And Erika Judgment-Of-The-Lost-Souls~, she goes on. ~Of the 
      Get of Fenris, and filled with the spirit and joy of battle that all her 
      tribe possess. She fell in valiant battle also, bringing down with her a 
      vile, vicious creature of the Wyrm, and thus enabling the other garou 
      fighting to dispose of its lesser brethren. He cannot be here to bid her 
      farewell, but Brom Rips-Face-From-Forath carved the boat she lies in, and 
      entreated me to send her spirit forth in the manner of the Fenrir; and so 
      I shall. But before I do, will any of you speak in honor of the fallen 
      Erika?~

Once more, Guards-The-Flame speaks up in a loud voice, turning her eyes upon
      the body of the Get of Fenris. ~I never spoke to her much, but I have had 
      the pleasure of participating in a number of battles which she fought 
      along my side in. She was a terrifying warrior and had the strength and 
      speed of any in her tribe and she should be recognized for her Glory at 
      least. She was once a daughter of Wyvern in the pack of Scourge which was 
      led by the Fianna Theurge, Runs at Dawn and helped form a strong group of 
      Garou for their time.~

Grey remains in Crinos, looking more like a Shadow Lord than ever, and the way
      his claws restlessly twitch leans more toward his birth auspice than the 
      one he renounced to. ~I taught her, when she was a cub,~ he rumbles 
      curtly. ~She had a good mind, when she chose to use it.~

Reggie lowers his gaze after the howl, ready to glare at Bug again, only to
      find she's moved to the relative sanctuary of the other side of Stacey, 
      and he pointedly ignores her, as he speaks up. His voice does not quite 
      cope with the stress of the Mother Tongue, until he shifts up to Glabro. 
      ~She was brave, never holding back from a fight, quick to defend Gaia and 
      slow to retreat.~

Jervis crosses his crinos arms and remains silent, shaking his head softly in
      refusal when his turn comes.

Walks-Middle also remains silent, looking down at Erika and listening
      respectfully to the others.

Being ignored is very nice indeed, as far as Bug's concerned. She peers
      forward, with her two lower arms unfolding in order to drop to her sides 
      and dig nail-less fingers into the ground. The cub's nostrils flare 
      several times.

Fire-Burns turns to the boat and its dead captain, and speaks again, using the
      same form of words. ~Mother Gaia! Hear us howl! We send back to you one 
      of your own, one of your true warriors, Erika Judgment-Of-The-Lost-Souls! 
      Receive her back from us to be reborn once more!~ Once more, as she 
      begins this speech, the wind picks up and whistles through the branches 
      of the trees above, making the leaves dance and bounce, scattering 
      moonshadows over the gathered garou. Fire-Burns-Forever again scatters 
      herbs from her container over the dead one, and this time, as she does 
      so, the wooden boat in which she lies suddenly bursts into flame; no 
      ordinary color flame, but a silver-golden hue, reflecting from Clemency's 
      white fur in ripples as the ahroun begins again that eerie, mournful yet 
      energetic howl that claws at the hearts of every garou present and bids 
      them join in sending Erika on her way.

As the fire burns bright and warms the fur of the Gaian Elder, Guards-The-Flame
      once more howls back in her beautiful voice, sending this daughter of 
      Fenrir to Valhalla's waiting gates. She seems to soak up the songs of the 
      others, crooning out her own tune as if she was leading a choir of 
      violence and sadness.

Grey's ears turn backwards, his muzzle wrinkling back reflexively at the sudden
      flames. Then the charach once again raises his voice to howl the Get of 
      Fenris home.

Reggie howls out his hopes for a safe journey and quick rebirth.

Walks-Middle blinks at the appearance of the flames, and then she also raises
      her voice to join the others in the howl.

If possible, Bug huddles even further to the ground at the appearance of the
      mystical fire. As before, she remains both silent, and in homid form.

Jervis does as before: a simple, rasping howl loud enough to be distinct to
      those who are listening for him, soft enough for it to be lost to any 
      that aren't.

A proverbial streak from the direction of the farmhouse arrives, on four legs
      and darting between tree and brush the youngest of the Silver Fangs slows 
      to a near silent trot a ways away and slips silently into the light of 
      the fire. No-Fuss looks rather pissed off, unhappy, and otherwise 
      disgusted with the world in his arrival, the the light bringing out a 
      blue reflection in otherwise silver-gray eyes. Any sounds made are 
      drowned out by the howling as he breaks the brushline and not two steps 
      into the burial area blurs swiftly to crinos. He simply takes a place 
      with the group as things die down, eyes and muzzle turned down in respect.

As the howls echo round the clearing the wind whips itself up to a frenzy --
      sufficient to blow any normal flame out, but the fire that consumes the 
      boat and the body of Erika burns on as though the air were completely 
      still. The howl reaches its climax and the flame leaps up, consuming the 
      pyre of the Fenrir philodox utterly in a matter of a few seconds. As it 
      does so, Clemency again falls silent and her head drops, the Silver Fang 
      seeming now more than a little wearied by the length and intricacies of 
      this ritual when performed for three together. Nonetheless, she steps 
      resolutely back onto the position atop the log. ~And the third great 
      fallen one,~ she intones. ~Tobin Calls-The-Spirits-To-Battle. I knew 
      him,~ she states, a hint of personal sadness creeping into her voice. 
      ~Not for long enough nor well enough, but I knew him. He welcomed me to 
      this sept when I came here, a shattered and honorless anruth, and he as 
      much as any other gave me encouragement to make it my home. Shortly 
      thereafter, he fell, in circumstances that are known to us all; he gave 
      his life directly to save another garou, there in the dirty river. Which 
      of us could say with certainty that we would have made that choice, as he 
      did, without hesitation?~ Her eyes scan the group of garou. ~He led the 
      Silver Fangs for only a little while, but he did so with honor and 
      wisdom, and he died with glory. Come, brothers and sisters. Speak, those 
      who will, of what Calls-The-Spirits-To-Battle meant to you, or did with 
      you.~

~I met Calls to the Spirits when he was a cub, a arrogant, full of himself,
      cub, but it was obvious that he would be destined for great things.~ 
      Guards-The-Flame speaks. ~When the spirals attacked and stole the Caern 
      from us, he took charge of the cubs and helped me get them to safety. At 
      the time he was more than willing to throw away his life against the 
      spirals and die for Gaia, even at a young age before his Rite. He had the 
      raw passion of any Garou and the command and strength of the proud Silver 
      Fangs.~ The Child of Gaia pauses a moment, before continuing. ~He was 
      wise and was always a good student, who would take any lesson taught and 
      pass it down to the next within compromise, and when he joined my pack of 
      honor, Resonance, I was more than proud to have him apart of our family. 
      His loss is something great to the Sept here, for he was up and coming, 
      and he was a true go getter. He was passionate about the hospital and 
      gave his life away during the Revel in a manner that would make any Garou 
      proud. He killed that beast by himself and he weilded his sword 
      valiently. Tonight, not just any Garou has died, but one that I proudly 
      call my brother!~

Reggie's gaze seeks out Jervis as Clemency mentions another garou being saved,
      considering a long moment with compressed mouth and sour expression, then 
      he turns back to the ritualist. ~Tobin fought with all of his heart, all 
      of his might, in the Revel, and he kept the Revel from failing. With his 
      might, his ability, would the Great Hunt have failed if he had lived to 
      take part? It might not! Gaia mourns at his fall, may he be reborn soon!~ 
      At the completion of his short speech, he looks expectantly at Jervis to 
      fill the silence.

~Calls-the-Spirits-to-Battle,~ rumbles Grey, as curt as he was for Erika, ~was
      everything a Silver Fang is expected to be. Everything a Theurge should 
      be. The Sept is honored to have known him.~

Walks-Middle looks down at Tobin as she adds she briefly adds her own words. ~I
      greatly respected and admired Calls-the-Spirits-to-Battle. He was kind, 
      noble, and wise.~

A pause from Jervis, and for a moment it appears as if he's not going to say
      anything, when he lifts his up. ~I believe the saying is, "Keep your 
      friends close, and your enemies, closer." Tobin was both to me, nearly 
      from the day we met, and both were cultivated in the time, training, and 
      riting that followed. Despite his role as my adversary, I will not for a 
      moment contest the valiancy, or necessity, of everything that he did.~ 
      The Fang's tone become harsher, more embittered, as he continues ~Fate 
      ripped him from his destiny unfairly, and in doing so, ripped him from 
      mine as well.~ A small pause, tone recollects into one more cool and 
      sure: ~While he may gone, I can say, with full confidence, that his 
      memory, his essence...his soul, will never fully escape us. The crime 
      that Fate has wrought with his death, our own destinies will repay.~

Silence for a moment, until the unspoken Fang cub brings his voice to the air.
      ~He was my teacher, my mentor. He taught me many a valuable lesson, how 
      to wield a sword, he taught me what it is to be of the First tribe, and 
      he showed me who I am. Of wisdom, of strength, of spirits, and of honor I 
      knew no greater. I owe to him my very identity and my strength as a 
      Silver Fang. His voice of wisdom will echo my thoughts until the day I 
      depart this realm."

Fire-Burns gives Jervis a very, very keen look, before she turns once more and
      tiredly lopes over to the third and final shrouded body. ~Mother Gaia! 
      Hear us howl! We send back to you one of your own, one of your true 
      warriors, Tobin Calls-The-Spirits-To-Battle! Receive him back from us to 
      be reborn once more!~ And for the third time, she begins the deep, 
      ululating howl of mourning and farewell to her former tribal elder, 
      glancing about to the others, waiting for their howls to join hers in 
      honor of Tobin.

One may note that the Glass Walker's howl for Tobin sounds somewhat more
      heartfelt than it did for Jana or Erika.

Bug digs the fingers of her lower set of hands further into the dirt, and
      fidgets audibly--or it would be audible, but the howls easily drown out 
      any noises she might make by moving. Her two upper arms are still tightly 
      hugging her chest.

Jervis performs his sibilant howl just as before, with one difference: he waits
      for all the others to being their respective howl before he subtly joins 
      in.

Reggie raises a howl for the third time this evening, sending off the Fang to
      go along with the Get and other Fang.

No-Fuss draws a long, slow breath as he turns his gaze up before release. His
      howl is startlingly low for someone so young, from deep in the back of 
      his throat a call that that blends pain and mourning with unbridled fury. 
      He empties his lungs entirely as the anger burns away and all that 
      remains is a hollow, lonesome cry that wavers near painfully to silence.

The Elder Galliard continues to sing, this time a bit more louder and
      passionate for her dead pack mate. There is definitely emotion in the way 
      she sings this final piece.

Walks-Middle raises her voice to join the others in a long, mournful howl,
      perhaps a touch more heartfelt than her howls for the other two.

The howls for Tobin grow in volume as they did for Erika and Jana before him.
      This time, however, there is a difference; the wind which grew in tandem 
      with the howls for the other two garou is absent. Clemency looks 
      disconcerted as she scatters the dried herbs over the body again, and her 
      eyes flicker over to Alicia's for a moment, and then to Jervis's, before 
      she redoubles the strength of her howl. The echoes reverberate through 
      the clearing, but the air remains perfectly still and undisturbed.

Catching sight of the Silver Fang's gaze, Guards-The-Flame continues to howl
      louder, pitching her voice to the point where it begins to strain. She 
      tries to coax the spirit of the lost one home, her body growing tightly 
      and rigid.

Jervis continues to howl, but all to artfully maintains his drownable volume; a
      small gust in the storm of crinos voices.

Walks-Middle continues to howl as the others do, concern and pleading mixing in
      with the mournful tune.

Bug's vague frown deepens. She digs her fingers still deeper, and then rocks
      back onto her heels and cranes her neck up and forward, the better to 
      look around Stacey at those the Child of Gaia is blocking from her line 
      of sight.

Fire-Burns eventually drops her howl, falling into a crouch by Tobin's body,
      her jaw dropping open as she pants more like a lupus than a crinos for 
      several seconds, staring at the shrouded shape as though expecting it to 
      speak, or give some form of sign to the gathering. But immobile and dead 
      the body of the Silver Fang remains. Eventually Clemency rises, and 
      shambles back into the centre of the clearing before abruptly returning 
      to her homid form. "And now you know why ahrouns don't normally do 
      rituals," she says in a depressed, angry voice.

Fine then, if that was not enough, he will howl again. The Fang cub draws
      another breath and unloads skyward again, this time the ragged edge gone 
      and only a clean tone that rises sharply and peaks before settling into a 
      not a cry of mourning. This time something more resembling the tone of 
      one wolf howling alone in the woods, calling out and awaiting the cry of 
      another to reply on the wind.

Grey's voice trails away as Clemency shifts back to homid. He cocks his head,
      focusing a sharp golden eye down at her, then utters a disgruntled 
      growling noise and likewise reverts to human form.

~Sings to the Spirits had many others in his head, a number of ancestors.
      Perhaps... he has found a new body to stay and exist in?~ 
      Guards-The-Flame asks as she makes her way to Tobin's body.

Clemency leans down for a moment, hands on her thighs, looking utterly tired
      and spent. "Could be," she says to the Gaian elder in tones which suggest 
      that so optimistic a slant does not seem likely to her.

Bug grunts. She drops into a lower crouch again, then looks up at Walks-Middle
      and makes her customary 'Questioning-expression-pasted-on' face. "What?"

The scarred Glass Walker gives Clemency another narrow-eyed look, frowning
      slightly, his jaw tight. Without a word, he turns and heads out of the 
      gathering.

Walks-Middle remains in Crinos, looking between Tobin's body and Clemency with
      a worried, confused expression. As Bug addresses her, she turns to gaze 
      down at the cub sorrowfully. ~Something's wrong. Something didn't work 
      right.~

(Later...)
(Burial Mounds again. Clemency's gone. More people there.)

Stacey scowls at the others and stalks away, going instead to stand near the
      bodies and Andy, who is curled up in lupus at Tobin's feet.

Bug remains completely oblivious to the conversation going on. She's currently
      crouching, back to the clearing, with both arms on one side wrapped 
      around a tree trunk, and the other two wrapped around her torso. She's 
      rocking very slightly on her heels.

Seemingly at random, the remaining living Silver Fang in the area snaps up to
      homid form. Dusting himself off for a moment, the young man paces 
      somewhat at the foot of Tobin's mound before sitting crosslegged again at 
      the foot. After a moment he removes his watch from his wrist, flipping it 
      over and shining the stainless back of it on his shirt. He glances up at 
      Stacey before returning his attention to the mirror-shined surface 
      resting in the palm of his hand and focusing on it, intently.

Reggie pulls back from Cole with surprise. "Guardian? She had Guardians looking
      after her?", then, he snaps out, "Did she come from here?"

Grey once again steps out of the treeline, and as before takes a moment to
      linger at the edge of the clearing and remove bits of plant life from his 
      clothes. His entrance, by some chance, is not far from Bug and her tree, 
      though he doesn't seem to notice the young metis. His mood is obviously 
      rather sour.

Kaz ambles down from the woods, a bit after Grey. She's got her hands stuffed
      in her pockets, and she heads straight for Tobin's body, not really 
      acknowledging anyone else.

Bug jumps slightly at Grey's arrival--apparently she was being oblivious to
      more than just the distant conversation. The metis cub moves her head to 
      one side, sniffing, and peers very, very carefully at Grey's...torso. Her 
      eyes don't rise any farther than that.

Cole clears his throat. "She's not gone senile just because she's pregnant,
      Tu." He shakes his head, heavily. "Oh, Tu. The ground of the daycare. 
      It's poison. That's what did it."

Cole idly watches Stacey and Andy for a brief time, before answering Reggie.
      "Not a Caern Guardian, I'm fairly sure. She's not from this Sept. I'm not 
      sure exactly where she's from, but she had to go in a car to get here."

Grey brushes off the legs of his now less-than-neat black trousers and reaches
      up to loosen his necktie. His eye follows Kaz for a moment, then shifts 
      its gaze downward toward Bug. He squints at her for a moment, then greets 
      her with a bland, "Hello."

Stacey gives a seething glance in the direction of Reggie, Cole, and Tu, her
      small hands bunched into fists. As the Gnawer approaches, she lets out a 
      slow breath. "Kaz-rhya."

Tu lowers his eyes, slightly. "I didn't mean ask the Alpha. I meant ask Bug.",
      he says softly.

Reggie's expression turns incredulous momentarily at Cole's suggestion of Caern
      Guardians and his uncertainty, then settless slightly as he continues on 
      to 'not from this Sept'.

Kaz completely ignores Stacey for the moment, as she crouches down near Tobin
      and, apparently, meditates. It's not long, but there's clearly a prayer 
      involved. Eventually, she stands up again, gives Stacey a look, and asks, 
      "Who pissed in /your/ Wheaties?"

Bug's eyes remain fixed at the level of Grey's chest. The greeting seems to
      relax her very, very slightly, though she doesn't return it. Instead, she 
      rocks back and forth, bare heels crunching quietly and repeatedly into 
      the forest loam. And then, quite abruptly, she responds with, "Am Bug. 
      Fian-na me-tis Gall'rd cub."

Cole rubs his face. "Oh, I'm sorry, Tu. Yeah, we should ask her. But only when
      she's an adult, and can understand the consequences." His expression 
      becomes faintly drawn as he watches the newcomers. He simply nods at 
      Reggie.

Andy remains where he sits at the foot of Tobin's burial mound, staring
      intently into the shiny surface of the back of his watch. After a few 
      moments of concentrating and trying to lock nearby conversation out of 
      his ears, his form glimmers slightly and he begins the somewhat slow 
      process of the unpracticed sidestep.

Seeker quietly makes his way into the mound area and glances around. "It seems
      I have missed the rite. I apologize."

(Bug)
She looks young, maybe somewhere around eleven or twelve years of age. Her
      limbs are gangly, a little too long for the rest of her, a little too 
      clumsy to be anything but the product of early puberty. As far as her 
      build goes, she's whipcord thin--and her cheeks are a little hollow, her 
      bones pronounced despite skin and muscle, suggesting that this thinness 
      is more a product of ill nutrition, not good exercise and a high 
      metabolism. 

 	Her hair is red, not the carrot top redness that is more common, but a dark
      auburn--it would look quite nice if it weren't so dirty, scraggly, and 
      generally ill kept. The hair reaches just past her shoulders, though the 
      length is definitely not uniform, and there are split ends galore. 
      Someone doesn't understand the concept of a hair brush. As far as her 
      face goes, it too looks as though it has the potential to be rather 
      attractive, given a few years. That is, if one is able to look past the 
      dirt, grime, deathly pale skin, and ignore the overall general /feral/ 
      look this kid seems to possess. Her eyes are a muddy sort of green, 
      almost hazel but not quite. 

	She's wearing a pair of very worn looking khaki pants, no shoes or socks, and
      an old t-shirt that is so faded the original slogan is unreadable. There 
      are holes torn into either side of the shirt. This allows for her metis 
      deformity to show clear and obvious--there's an extra pair of arms about 
      halfway down her torso. They look even thinner than her normal pair, and 
      the hands themselves are ill formed, with somewhat stubby fingers that 
      are mostly the same length apart from the thumb, no fingernails, and a 
      missing middle finger on each hand (and a space for where that finger 
      should be).

Reggie glances over to the person adding his two bits to the discussion, and
      studies him for a few moments, scarred brow creasing into puzzlement. "I 
      know I've seen you--in town. You deal with motorcycles?", he addresses 
      Tu. "What'd you say--to ask her?"

Stacey blinks at Kaz's question, thrown off by the wording, and then shrugs,
      lowering her eyes. "No one, I'm sorry," she murmurs. She hesitates a 
      moment before adding, "Tobin... it didn't work right."

Kaz goes slightly still, then asks, with faint urgency, "How d'you mean, didn't
      work?"

Seeker arches an eyebrow at Stacey's statement. "Can it be redone?"

Tu lifts his eyes to look at the Uktena. "I drive a motorcycle", he agrees. "I
      don't know that I would call that 'dealing'. And yes, ultimately it's her 
      choice. If it were me, I'd probably vote for removal, but it's not me."

Grey grimaces tightly and mutters a short phrase in Serbian. After giving a
      quick, narrow glance over toward the others, he turns back to the thin, 
      ragged-looking carrot-top. "A pleasure," he says, and curt as it is, the 
      tone's polite enough. "Thomas Grey, Philodox of the Glass Walkers."

Stacey bites her lip worriedly. "With Jana, we howled, and there was a wind,
      and her spirit departed to be at peace and reborn, and the same with 
      Erika. But there was no wind for Tobin. His spirit didn't leave, 
      something kept him. It failed. I don't know why, and I don't know if it 
      can be done again."

Cole cocks his head upon hearing Stacey. He frowns briefly, but shakes his
      head. "Tu, when you get a chance, I'd like to talk to you a little bit 
      about the hospital and taken vengeance on those fuckers that killed Jana."

Slowly, the cub begins to succeed in his self prescribed mission. With a slow
      wavering of form he begins to fade from sight. It is a tedius process for 
      Andy, still not entirely wonderful at stepping sideways. He lingers a bit 
      longer, caught in the barrier between realms for a moment or two until 
      success is finally granted to him. With a decided lack of fanfare, the 
      Fang simply winks out of sight into the umbra.

Kaz says, slowly, "Well... fuckin' /hell/." Somewhat less slowly, she asks,
      "Any theurges around we could get answers offa?"

This return introduction relaxes Bug even further, if again only slightly. She
      lifts one finger and slides it into her mouth, chewing on it for a moment 
      as she looks to the side of the man, then down to the ground. "Is..." She 
      grunts, frowning. "Is pl-e-asure. Meet. Hnn." She points toward Grey.

Seeker shakes his head. "I know the rite, but I'm not sure if it can be done
      again if it has failed once."

Reggie snaps his fingers at Tu's answers. "Ah, that's where I've seen you,
      then. I've a motorcycle, I must have seen you at the shop, or somewhere 
      about", he settles the faint mystery. He picks up on Cole's words, 
      turning his head sharply. "The hospital. Did you hear anymore about the 
      vision of that Gnawer--Wrong Way? The one who came to the moot and told 
      of something dire and disturbing, was that to do with the hospital?"

Tu nods his head politely to Cole. "Sure. My bike is at the farm, we could
      discuss it as we walk back." He adds, after a moment thought, "If you're 
      headed back, that is."

Stacey opens her mouth to answer Kaz, but then stops. "Andy, the Fang cub!" She
      points urgently to where he was. "How do we get Umbral from here? Where?"

Grey glances over at the others once again, then settles himself into a crouch
      next to Bug, scarred forearms resting against his thighs. He's about to 
      say something more to the Metis cub, but is distracted by Stacey.

Kaz blinks, and stares at where Andy was. "I'd go find the Pool. Right now.
      C'mon, people, we got work to do."

Bug also jerks her head toward Stacey. Apart from a forehead wrinkle and a
      deeper frown, however, her expression remains bland and static. "What?" 
      she grates.

Cole looks around, grunting. "Frigging cub," he utters. "Probably can't get
      into real trouble on the Caern grounds at night." He shakes his head. 
      "Batshit insane, just like the rest of 'em." He nods toward Tu in the 
      end. "In a little bit, I'm heading out." He shakes his head to Reggie. 
      "Not about the vision, no. Hard facts. The place is tainted up the wazoo."

Stacey doesn't need anymore direction than that, she takes off running toward
      the pool.

Seeker blinks and stares at Stacey for a moment, then hurries out of the burial
      mound area.
Reggie adruptedly turns about as he notices people taking off at dead runs, and
      he looks around hurriedly in one direction then another, unable to find 
      the source of what's sent them fleeing. "Where are they going?", he calls 
      out to no one in particular.

Grey shakes his head slightly and pushes to his feet. "Idiot cub," he answers
      Bug flatly. "Not you."

Jervis returns silently, looking a tad surprised, if not disappointed to find
      the gathering of garou still here. "I couldn't agree more," he says to 
      Cole, momentarily distracted by the fleeing party. He takes a moment to 
      parse the statements around him. "What's Andy gone and done now?"

Bug grunts. If she takes any offense at the first comment, there's absolutely
      nothing in her expression or body language to suggest at it. Once again, 
      that finger snakes back into her mouth, and this time she doesn't remove 
      it right away.

Tu watches the others run around with only a passing interest. "I heard the
      vision second hand. It seemed to focus on Signe, and wasn't very 
      promising. The hospital fills with blood, until it overflows."

Cole shudders. "He's gone into the Shadow," he answers Jervis dispassionately.
      He seems to either not have realized that Jervis heard the crazy remark, 
      or just isn't feeling very abashed. "Yeah, sounds beautiful. Probably 
      Garou blood, at this rate."

Reggie turns around and around again, trampelling a circle in the long grass.
      "They're off after a cub? That's--", and he counts people who've left. 
      "--well, if that many can't take a cub, it'll be quite a song for the 
      Galliards."

Grey offers Bug a thin, tight almost-smile, then excuses himself and goes back
      off into the forest. Perhaps to look for the Fang cub. Perhaps just to go 
      home.

Jervis snorts disinterestedly. "Better, maybe, that they would have let him go.
      Andy's in need of a harsh lesson or two to supplement his learning." That 
      commented on, he turns to Tu. "Sorry for eavesdropping, but...what's this 
      about a vision? Who had it?"