It is currently 09:29 Pacific Time on Mon Sep 5 2005. Currently the moon is in the waxing New Moon phase (11% full). Small Creek A small creek, no more than a mere trickle, winds through the forest. Small pebbles shine wetly as the water flows past them. The creek has worn a slight indentation into the forest floor and tree roots can be seen poking out of the soil near the creek. Moss grows on the banks of the creek, and the occasional mushroom can be seen sticking out from the soil near the roots of a tree. Scurrying sounds can be heard through the underbrush, probably from field mice or other small woodland critters. The forest looms over the creek on all sides, looking mysterious and foreboding. Resists-Dance is sitting in the middle of his clearing in the form of Crinos, his eyes closed and his posture relaxed. His paws are shaped in the center of his lap, each finger tip touching each other, digits splayed out as far as possible. He seems to be in deep concentration, or at least in as deep a concentration as a Crinos can look. Spider-Eyes's lupine nose eventually tracks Basil down, twisted features making her hard to miss as she walks up to the Gnawer cub. Grey follows the malformed Strider, his tail hanging easily behind him; for the moment, there's only a touch of edginess in his body language; the beast in him sleeps. For the moment, anyway. Resists-Dance cracks open a single eye with a flutter of his large ears, then the other when he spies the unmistakable form of Tamara's wolf body. He bows lowly in front of her and Grey, giving a brief glance to the other Ahroun. ~Hello Grey-rhya, Tamara-rhya. I hope you've been well. I've been looking for you, Tamara-rhya.~ Spider-Eyes's ears lay back, as she sits and wraps her tail around her front paws. Yes? Grey keeps moving, circling around the cub and casually flanking him. His tail flicks higher, though otherwise his manner remains easy, almost (but not quite) casual. It's also pretty clear in this form that the Glass Walker does not like the Gnawer cub. Resists-Dance keeps his eyes on Tamara, even if his ears turn in an effort to keep track of Grey through the sounds of his movement. ~Remember my training? I have to fight with you and win if I'm ever going to get out of here, or get any stronger, Tamara-rhya.~ Spider-Eyes snorts, easily flowing into her birth form. ~That is not exactly the task I set you. I said that I wanted you to show me you could behave like a proper Ahourn in attempting to take back your things... I also set a limit on how long you would be 'stuck out here.'~ The massive crinos shakes her head. ~I do not have you clothes right now. I came for another reason. You are going to tell me who you have sparred with and what you have learned about your weaknesses from each fight and what you are doing to removes those weaknesses.~ Grey, still in wolf form, walks his haunches under him and sits down, watching the pair with ears perked forward and expression intent. Resists-Dance lifts one paw to rub at his eyes, the Crinos trying to shake himself out of his peaceful daze. ~I'm sorry, Tamara-rhya. I'm learning how to get better at this, and I'm trying to learn how to be better. How to follow those tenets, the ones of Honor and Glory Olga taught me about.~ He pauses then starts to think. ~I've sparred with Jamethon-rhya, Kevin-rhya, Touch Deer-rhya, Yi-rhya, and possibly some others I've forgotten. I've learned that I need to be faster and have more strength to drive my claws, and that I should guard my center more from quick enemies. That I should pay attention to my enemies' body so I can react when they change shape, and strike more at their center. I've learned that with weaker but quicker opponents, I can win better by taking away their mobility, taking their punishment, and hitting them as hard as I can. That Hispo is better for fighting the fast and guarding than Crinos. That claws are better than I thought they were, and how curving my fingers differently can affect the strikes greatly.~ He pauses. ~My weaknesses are that I think more than I react, that I don't have the stamina or the sheer strength of others. That I need to be better in raw physical power than I am now, and I have trained more. That I need to learn how to handle my claws better, so I spend hours practicing them. That I need to learn to bite better, so I practice on large, dead branches. That I need to have the Rage flow through me better, and so I try to reach and listen to my beast. That I must be better in spiritual strength, not just physical strength, so I meditate daily.~ Spider-Eyes simply nods. ~And how will you improve on these weaknesses? Have you been obeying the rules I set out for you: To ask any Cliath you came across to spar with you, to remain on the Bawn, and always in Crinos?~ At this, Grey shifts his gaze to Spider-Eyes and utters a low whuf to catch her attention. He did not ask me to spar with him. Resists-Dance nods at Tamara. ~I have. But I have forgotten to ask sometimes, and I'm sorry about that. But I want to become stronger.~ He bows his head to her. ~The only way to train most of them is by fighting more, which I've been trying to do. I have only left the Bawn that one time when you gave me permission.~ He glances back at Grey and nods, then turns back to Tamara. ~I had just finished a spar with Yi-Rhya. Should I have sparred back to back? I will fight him now if you wish it, Tamara-rhya. The only times I haven't been in Crinos is when I'm sleeping, I can't really hold the form, and.... I think I might have shifted a few times during fighting, or when I was with people after just waking up, or training with Touch Deer when he commanded me to shift. Spider-Eyes gives Grey a brief nod, then launches herself at Basil, bitch slapping him across the muzzle before he can get more then four words of his little speech out with Rage driven speed. Grey boils upward into Crinos a moment after the Strider leaps forward, one heavy fist rocketing toward the cub's ribs. From calm observer to whirlwind of violence in .5 seconds. Resists-Dance takes Tamara's hit unexpectedly, his head turning easily with the force of the blow. He doesn't even have time to react before Grey hits him too, sending the Crinos falling to one side. He tries his best to carry through with the fall, to roll through until he's in an almost sit, watching the two of them with an unsure but angry expression. ~I gave you simple rules and you have failed to follow them on more then on occasion!~ Spider-Eyes snarls, teeth bared and foam building around her muzzle as she snaps at the air. First, you did not ask Touch Deer to spar with you, because he was injured. Then you did not spar with Grey, because you had just finished sparring with Yi. You shifted when Touch Deer ordered you to, instead of telling him that you had been forbidden to take any form aside from Crinos. It does not matter that Touch Deer is a Fostern. /I/ am the one who was given permission by your /Elders/ to teach you, not Touch Deer. My orders to you are more important then his, when it comes to your training. You argue with those that outrank you and constantly question what your are told, or try to wriggle out of your own failings with words!~ Grey, though far calmer in appearance than the Silent Strider, looms tall over the Gnawer cub, his clawed fingers twitching as though eager to sink themselves into flesh. Resists-Dance resituates himself on his knees, and bows as low as e can in front of Tamara with his tail brought low behind him, his ears splaying out ontop of his head. ~I'm sorry, Tamara-rhya! I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!~ He coses his eyes as he stays there bowed before them, speaking as quickly as he can. ~I swear I'll follow your orders to the letter! I'll do better! Just give me one more chance! I... I don't wanna be... Please?~ Spider-Eyes snarls, foam and drool flowing freely from her muzzle. ~Your tongue is your worst enemy, so you will loose it. Grey, help me hold him down.~ Grey rumbles a growl of assent and moves to take firm hold of the cub. Quickly, in case the Gnawer decides to make a run for it. Resists-Dance is pinned down before he really has a chance to resist or do anything, though he struggles somewhat when Grey pins him, then goes still underneath the Garou with his eyes squeezed shut. Spider-Eyes picks up a rock and pries open the cubs mouth, then jams the rock in between his molars to keep him from biting her fingers off. The next few moments are rather agonizing for the cub, as Tamara pulls out his tongue with one hand and cuts it free from his mouth with the claws on her second hand. ~Keep holding him Grey," the Strider snarls. Grey grunts. ~No problem.~ In truth, the Glass Walker probably has little trouble keeping the cub pinned down and still. Resists-Dance tries his best to struggle at the last minute, writhing and trying to thrash his head in an effort to stop her, but it's all for naught. All the Garou can do is let out a strangled scream, muffled by Tamara's paws and the blood pouring down his throat. It's a good thing that the Garou is so very tiny, but he's trying to break free as hard as he can. Spider-Eyes shoves the still-warm tongue back into Basil's mouth, taking damage to her hand as she knocks the rock from the Gnawer's teeth. Hand bleeding from Basil's teeth, she hold his muzzle closed and covers his nose. Forcing him to swallow his own tongue, or suffocate. Much the way some people force pills down pet dog's throats. Grey does quirk an ear at this, muzzle wrinkling in distaste, but utters no protest and keeps his grim hold on Resists-the-Dance. Resists-Dance tries his best to snap his jaws shut as soon as the rocks are free from his jaws, unaware of his own tongue being stuck back in his mouth right away. The Garou isn't fast enough despite his panicked state. He swallows with no other choice, not entirely sure what he's just been fed, trying to break free of the grip on his muzzle. Spider-Eyes lets go of Basil and takes several steps back, shaking her damaged hand. ~Want to go back to the farmhouse and get a beer, Grey?~ She is calm, perfectly controlled and downright cold toward the cub's pain. Grey releases the cub slowly and straightens up. He eyes Basil for a few more seconds before turning to Spider-Eyes. ~Maybe later. As long as I'm out here, I ought to take a turn around the Bawn, stretch my legs.~ He, too, sounds terribly calm. Resists-Dance struggles free of Tamara and Grey as soon as he's given the chance, moving a good distance of twenty feet or more away beforet urning and facing them, staring at the two Garou in a low, crouching posture. His claws dig into the ground in front of him, and blood seeps out of his muzzle. The Glass Walker dips his muzzle to Spider-Eyes and then, without another glance at the maimed cub, drops down to wolf form and lopes off.