A Day in the Life of a Cub

This is one of my favorite dino logs, although almost nothing happens!

Sepdet is asked into Renaissance by Toxic. Later on, Sep and Tep go out to the caern, where she gives Jess a Tarot reading, talks to Wilhelm and sees Thoth and Hoggie. But the best part of the log is a confrontation between Lyta, Toxic, and Hecate, where Lyta has to browbeat Hecate, and Toxic has to accept the submission of the proud Fury, who happens to be more than a friend.

Upstairs Apartment(#2925RAL)
The large room clearly bears evidence of having once been a storage room for the sweatshop downstairs. The walls of unfinished brick and the steel girders forming the ceiling do little to contribute to the warm of the room. A rather cheery light, however, floods into the apartment from Regan Street. Enormous pillows, futons and several large ragged rugs form a cozy nook opposite the door. And Katlyn has plastered virtually every square inch of the walls with posters and playbills. The names Ken Jarr and The Bargold figure frequently in these colorful posters. One corner of the large room has a rackety bar with several barstools behind which can be found the normal accouterments of a not very well stocked kitchen. On every square inch of space not devoted to something more constructive is arrayed an amazing variety of incredibly healthy plants.
Between the two bedroom doors is a bathroom, where a very large mirror hangs on the wall.
Obvious exits:
Master Bedroom Small Door Bolted Doorway
d
With more than a little bit of effort, you throw back all the locks and slip out the door and down towards the street.
Manueleta Textiles
Manueleta Textiles is a small, family-owned sweatshop servicing a few of the clothing designers who produce local lines. Marcos Manueleta and his mother have made a niche in providing product with many hand-sewn features, and thus the majority of materials in the room are of surprisingly high-quality. On one somewhat grimy wall, a list of Regulaciones de Trabajor curls, virtually ignored. The women chatter in Spanish in a room filled with the sounds of whirring sewings machines and salsa music. The room is fragrant with new cloth and cooking foods. A sign near the door cautions “No Fume”. Light floods in through the carefully washed windows looking out onto Regan Street.
Obvious exits:
Narrow Stairwell Front Entrance
FE
Two steps take you from the warm, fragrant atmosphere of the sewing women and back onto Regan Street.
Regan Avenue, 200 Block
Full half of the north side of the street is an empty lot, weeds covering most of it. The rest of it is tenement houses, their old brown brick weathered by time, just like the faces of the people who sit on their stoops. Here and there, the remnants of impromptu parties litter the sidewalk: broken glass, and empty cartons. The southern side of the street is shops, some empty. The grocery store is thriving; the deli is not.
Second Street lies to the east, and Third Street to the west.
Contents:
AC Cobra Convertible
Obvious exits:
Manueleta Textiles East West Empty Lot
In the Cobra, Toxic waves.
Sepdet smiles at Toxic and walks over.
Sepdet asks softly “All quiet now?” She looks along the street.
In the Cobra, Toxic smiles sadly. “Yah. Y’know th’fellow y’saw earlier? Smelled smoky? That was gunsmoke. Burnt cordite.”
In the Cobra, Toxic says “Th’man who died had been shot inna chest at point blank range. Before he died he said something t’me about Dancers.”
Sepdet nods sadly. “I wondered if that’s what it was. Bastard.”
Toxic climbs out of the Cobra.
Toxic has arrived.
Toxic nods. “Ya know what I said about th’pack…Did Mikey talk t’you about that?”
Sepdet smiles a little. “That, assuming I do well on Rite of Passage, my next challenge is to prove I’m good enough for your pack?”
Toxic looks amused. “Izzat what he said?”
Sepdet shakes her head. “He said you needed a theurge. Theurge ain’t a cub, so I’d damn well better make the stretch.”
Toxic smiles quietly. “What’d ya think it’d take t’prove yourself t’us?”
Toxic watches your face curiously.
Sepdet blushes a little. “Seeing something that might give us the edge on those damn Dancers, like where they’re going to strike next– not that I’m ever that lucky. Learning to fight so I can hold my own and cover friends’ backs. I dunno, what do you need a theurge for? I’ll give it my best shot.”
Toxic smiles softly at you. “You had th’nightmare, th’last time Jack killed while you were sleeping here. Today you saw what I’m sure izza ‘nother Dancer.”
Toxic looks into your eyes curiously, “My book, ya’ve already helped us. Ya already stay with us. When ya have passed your rite I would like t’introduce you t’Coyote and if he likes you, well.” She smiles softly, “You’re welcome.”
Sepdet’s eyes gleam. “I would be honored.” A crooked smile. “Coyote? Thought so.”
Toxic grins mischievously at you. “How’d ya ever guess?”
Sky arrives from Regan Avenue to the east.
Sky has arrived.
Sepdet blinks innocently. “Just a lucky guess, I s’pose.”
Toxic smiles to Sky.
Sepdet smiles at Sky, a little tiredly.
Sky smiles back. She seems different than last you saw her.
Sky says “Hello.”
Toxic says “Yo.” She tilts her head, “How’ve ya been?”
Sky considers for a moment, then answers, “I have been well.”
Toxic chuckles ruefully. “Good t’know someone has.”
You paged Sky with ‘dumb question, but have we met IC yet? ;-)’.
Sky watches Toxic, “How do you mean?”
Sky pages: We were both around the Fire Pit once….(:
Toxic wonders when she last saw Sky. “Time’sre being kinda rough for mosta us.”
Sepdet emphasizes Toxic’s comment with an expressive roll of the eyes.
Sky nods to Toxic, “I have been looking for Thorn.”
Toxic hmmmms. “Have ya tried th’Caern?”
Sky smiles ruefully, “I have waited there. This is not my most favored place to be.”
Toxic chuckles. “Given how many dead people we get on this street per month, M’not surprised.”
Sepdet shakes her head. “Thorn-rhya seems to have been very busy, of late. I haven’t seen him at the Caern since Tuesday last.”
Toxic says “Busy times, with th’War on.”
Sky says “War?”
Sky bows her head, “I have been away, forgive my ignorance.”
Sepdet’s mouth tightens slightly, thinking about the last few victims.
Toxic says “There’s a war on. There’re Dancers inna city. Donna go out after dark alone or unarmed.”
Sky blinks, thoughtful.
Sky’s hand reaches up to the pouch at her neck, she clutches it rather tightly.
Sepdet adds with a scowl, “And watch out for white-haired blokes in gray trenchcoats.”
Toxic nods. “An evil sorceror, of all things.”
Sky wrinkles her brow at that.
Sky hmmms, low in her throat, nearly a growl.
Toxic hasta idle.
Sepdet adds “One other weird thing, I told Anpwhotep about it… do you know a strange kid at St.Uriel’s named Bobby? He was talking to some half-crazed fellow whose mind had been wrecked by Dancers, near as I could gather. Told Bobby to ‘warn the hounds’ danger was afoot. As if we didn’t know.”
Toxic says “Yah. I’ve talked with Bobby. He’s not terribly sane himself.”
Toxic must go idle now. Take care, you two.
You say “No kidding.”
Sepdet OOC bya, love.
Sky will return to the Caern, to await Thorn.
Sky sets off east down Regan Avenue.
Sky has left.
You sense that Michael Powers is looking for you in Regan Avenue, 200 Block
home
You paged Michael Powers with ‘ah well, scratch looking for other folks to chat with until you got here! ;)’.
Michael Powers has arrived.
Michael Powers says “Hi there, Little Star”
Sepdet hugs him back. “There you are. Was thinking about going to the Caern to look for you.”
Michael Powers smiles, “Here I am. Want to walk?”
Sepdet nods. “About… you know. And I guess you heard the bad news from Tox.” She nods in the direction of the Cobra and the watchful driver.
Michael Powers whispers “Unfortunately, no. Tox has been idlefroze since I logged on.”
You say “My turn to make the chocolate,” Sepdet smiles, gesturing towards Manualeta’s.”
Michael Powers grins and follows Sepdet.
Michael Powers takes the two steps up to Manueleta Textiles.
Michael Powers has left.
MT
Mounting the two stairs into the entrance of Manueleta Textiles, you are now provided with a clear view of the women working in the sweatshop. To your left is a small narrow stairwell leading to the upper story converted u
Upstairs Apartment(#2925RAL)
Michael Powers alerts you of his entrance with the noisy unlatching of locks on the bolted doorway.
Michael Powers has arrived.
Sepdet makes a wry face at the mirror and heads over to the kitchen to fiddle with the teapot.
Michael Powers smiles and watches you.
Sepdet puts the water on, comes back over, and hugs you again. “You first, though. Nothing unexpected and unpleasant happen to you lately, I hope?”
Michael Powers smiles and nods, “That’s right. Unexpected, yes. Unpleasant, no.”
Sepdet sighs, stretches, and thumps down on a futon, slipping into something more comfortable.
+shift glabro
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Sepdet shifts into Glabro form.
Michael Powers grins and hugs you.
Michael Powers says “Lovely. So…..Toxic shocked the hell out of me yesterday, you know that?”
Sepdet quirks an eyebrow. “She didn’t mention it. What happened?
Michael Powers says “She introduced me as her ‘second in command’.”
Michael Powers blushes….
Sepdet butts her cheek against him. “*I’m* not surprised.”
l Michael
He’s about 5’11″, with dark brown hair that’s cut very short, although it still seems to be frizzed out, deep hazel eyes, and olive skin, slightly paler around his face and hands. He has sharp, wiry features, and appears to be constantly looking around him, as if trying to see everything. Right now, he’s wearing a plain copper wristband, with a silhouette of a jackal engraved in relief in the center of the band, on his left wrist, as well as comfortable, practical clothes…hiking boots, jeans, flannel shirt, a photographer’s vest, and a down coat.
Michael Powers looks back at you with a calm and peaceful expression. .
Michael Powers hugs you and murmurs, “Thanks. I never realized I was thought that highly of….
Sepdet smiles fondly up at you, resting her chin delicately on her hand. “You underestimate the impact you make around here.”
Michael Powers blushes deeply and sits beside you, murmuring, “I just try to take care of the people I love.”
Sepdet blushes a little herself. “Speaking of which, is my Rite to be soon? I haveta admit I told Cindi, and she wondered when, and who would be running me through it.”
Sepdet can’t keep the eagerness out of her eyes.
l me
Sepdet(#3589POc)
A strange brown-skinned elf of a girl drops her dark, deep eyes politely at your gaze, then peers at you keenly for a brief moment before continuing to scan her surroundings. Her movements are quick and subtle, her gymnasts body lean and fine-boned, her skin almost unnaturally dark, and the tilt of her chin and wide-set eyes gives an alien cast to her long face. Badly-cropped black hair shags around the base of her neck, concealing delicately pointed ears. Fine, dark fur thins out on her face and palms, mostly hidden except in good lighting. She usually wears nondescript baggy clothes, full of pockets, and worn hiking shoes; her only visible ornament is a delicate gold pendant inscribed with an Egyptian cartouche. A leather pouch, stamped with an odd asterix-like symbol, hangs from the beltloops of her jeans. (l TarotDeck to investigate.) Those who know her may recognize the veneer of growing confidence in her more relaxed (though still rather formal) manner of speech, in the lift of her head, in the seriousness of her gaze. Only the most observant will notice her odd habit of avoiding mirrors, unless impossible– her reflection will always give away her true nature.
Michael Powers says “It’s to be soon…..as soon as Anubis has decided that enough of our cubs are ready to run a tribal Rite for all of you at once.”
Sepdet’s eyes sparkle. “That *will* be interesting.”
Michael Powers smiles and nods…..with a thoughtful look in his eyes. “To make things really interesting, Anubis has put the job of coming up with the challenges on my shoulders.
Sepdet smiles mischievously. “See what you get for being nice to us little’uns?”
You say “I’m still not quite used to there being so many of us in one place… was like that in Thebes, I s’pose, but Mother kept me a secret while I was growing up there, and we left after she introduced me to her Sept.”
Sepdet’s face darkens a little, but the pain is more her parent’s sake than for her own memories.
Michael Powers hugs you protectively.
Sepdet relaxes; most of the tension in her face that you saw earlier has drained away now.
Michael Powers smiles and gently caresses your shoulders.
Sepdet’s neck muscles twitch slightly, then smooth under your careful hands. “About the bad news… Dancer struck again today, and I ran into him just a few minutes too late.”
Michael Powers says “Again? Shit.”
You say “Not that I could have done anything except hold his victim’s hand after the fact… Tox and Echen were there, though, and the poor guy told them it was Dancers before he died. By the time I got there the police and emergency people were already swarming. Tox said the guy had been shot point-blank.”
Michael Powers says “Shot? Not cored?”
Sepdet shudders a little. “Yeah. This time. And the Dancer I ran into still smelled of the damn smoke. Not to mention Wyrm.”
Michael Powers nods. “Damn. Did you get a good looks at it?
Sepdet says “I got a good long look at him, but he got a good look at me too. I’m sure my clueless act didn’t fool’m either. ‘Oooh, that’s a nasty cut, Sir, are you okay?’” She imitates her perky-cub voice sarcastically.
Michael Powers says “Damn. What form were you in? Homid, I hope….”
You say “Of course. It was on 13th Street, just a block or two north.”
You say “Lotsa people around… thank goodness.”
Michael Powers says “Good. That means, *hopefully*, that he won’t recognize you in your other forms.”
Sepdet sighs. “Something almost familiar about him. I knew he was Garou. I said hello to stall, and that’s when the wyrm-stench caught up with me. He’s fairly average looking, an old man with brownish hair going white, gray trenchcoat. But he was walking like he would be just as happy running you down, and he didn’t even give a damn about the blood on his sleeve. ‘No, I did not cut myself’ he said. And glared.” She shivers again, her voice taking on chilling cordiality for a moment as she repeats his words.
You say “I keep thinking about it over and over. I didn’t dare say anything else. But I feel like, if I’d just watched him a moment longer, or maybe a split second sooner, something would’ve clicked. I feel like I’m staring at a wall, not noticing the doorknob in front of my nose.”
Michael Powers nods and hugs you. “You’re safe now…..and can help us find him again, right?
Sepdet nods. “I’ll know him when I see him again. Or smell him. So will Toxic, she used Dreamspeech to get the picture from my mind, and make sure he had’nt done anything to me I didn’t know about.”
Michael Powers says “You’ll get it, love. Good. So both of you will be able to track him…”
You paged Michael Powers with ‘OOC, I was already nervous stopping this wyrm-tainted guy on the street; can you imagine what player went through when she realized her little cub was confronting Gah-thhkk?’.
Michael Powers pages: Holy Shit.
You paged Michael Powers with ‘no fucking kidding. I’m still shaking. Seppy’s idiots and little children’s field came through again.’.
Sepdet stirs reluctantly. “Guess I’d better be getting you that chocolate before the water boils off. Be right back.”
Sepdet gets up and slips over to the kitchenette, busying herself with mugs and cocoa.
Michael Powers smiles
Sepdet brings back two steaming mugs and proffers you one.
Michael Powers smiles, takes the mug, and raises it to yours. “To my favorite Little Star.”
Sepdet nestles down beside you again, baps the edge of her mug carefully against yours. “To my favorite uncle,” she adds softly. “Bet my father would’ve approved.”
Sepdet’s dark eyes peer over the rim of her mug as she sips cautiously at the hot liquid.
Michael Powers smiles at you lovingly, “Darling, anyone who was responsible for you had to be the best of our tribe.
Sepdet watches the swirls in her cocoa for a moment, mastering the nervousness/sadness/pride that flashes briefly across her face. “He was.” she whispers, almost shocked to be mentioning something she has steeled herself not to think about.
Michael Powers cups your chin and looks into your eyes. “Dear….it still hurts so much…? Don’t try to hold it in….not as long as I’m here for you to dump it on….”
Sepdet looks away at the mirror, then back. “You know what it is, believing so hard in the Litany and yet hearing those words hammered into your skull. It’s strange, garou dislike humans so much, and yet they find it an abomination to love each other as much as the humans they so often despise. I suppose it’s just as well, if it forces garou to be closer to the ones they’d rather hate. But it’s so strange. So strange.”
Michael Powers nods and slips an arm around you. “I know, dear….it’s one of the things that most bothers me…..”
You say “It *is* wrong, Garou with Garou. Look at me. I cannot have cubs of my own, and came out lucky that size or this–” she points at the mirror– “is the worst of my weaknesses. If it weren’t wrong, metis wouldn’t always come out wrong.”
Michael Powers sighs and shakes his head, “That’s not wrong, dear…..that’s just the way it is…it’s no more wrong than getting hurt from falling off a cliff.”
You say “And yet my Mother lost being Talesinger for an ancient and respected Sept in Egypt because of me.”
Michael Powers nods…”Unfortunately, the Litany is frequently interpreted in moralistic terms….even those parts that are obviously practical, not moral.”
Michael Powers says “And so, good people suffer the condemnation.”
Sepdet tilts her head. “Practical, not moral. I never thought of it that way.”
Michael Powers smiles gently, “Most of our people have never thought of it that way.”
You say “Mother told me it was ‘necessary’ for her to have me, that she would not have broken the Litany lightly, not put me in such a position unless she’d had good reason… she and Father.”
Michael Powers says [at the same time...]“Do you know, I was threatened with punishment for ‘Violating the Litany’, for holding someone in just the same way I’m holding you?”
Michael Powers nods….”Did she say what the reason was?”
Sepdet flinches at Michael’s words. “Even here?”
Michael Powers nods. “Even here. Idiots abound everywhere.”
Sepdet sighs. “Less here than elsewhere, from what little I’ve seen.” She squeezes your hand. “Be careful then, among them. I wouldn’t be the cause of trouble for you, of all people.”
Michael Powers smiles and nods. “Dear, within the pack, cuddling is the norm….outside, we have to be careful. That’s really all there is to it.”
Sepdet nods. “I’m so glad you all want me. I’d do whatever I could for this Sept, but I’d not be so happy elsewhere.”
Michael Powers smiles and hugs you. “Darling, you mean more to us than you realize. Do you know, Toxic told me she had wanted to invite you to join us, even before I adopted you?”
Sepdet lets out a ‘huh’ of surprise. “I had no idea.”
Michael Powers smiles, blushing deeply, “Uh….it’s not all innocent there, Dear..”
Michael Powers seems to be finding it very difficult to go on……
Sepdet goes absolutely still for a moment, paling a little. She hesitantly slips her hand over his. “I… I know.”
You say “It’s okay.”
Michael Powers blushes deeply, “I….it’s not a subject I know much about….except theoretically.”
Sepdet shifts uncomfortably. “Neither do I.”
Announcement: Gaia shouts “Hi, folks. We’re shutting down so that Smoke can enjoy her favorite hobby of debugging databases. No ETA, so don’t ask (but it probably will be in the five-minute range, if we’re lucky).”
Sepdet OOC goes smack as cold water of RL hits her face. ;)
Michael Powers nods and hugs you. “I….I love you, Dear. If I ever have a daughter, I only hope she’s like you.”
Game: Shutdown by Gaia
Michael Powers has disconnected.
Going down – Bye
Thank you for visiting.
Please return soon.
Last connect was from 130.64.2.141 on Mon Mar 14 15:37:42 1994.
Upstairs Apartment(#2925RAL)
Michael Powers has connected.
Sepdet grins and pats the Awkward Silence that has fallen, picked itself up, and is now capering around in the corner. ;_)
Michael Powers laughs and offers it a biscuit. :)

Sepdet finishes off her chocolate with a small sigh, looking up at you trustingly. “So… think we ought to head to the Caern and report the latest? Or perhaps it isn’t necessary.”
Michael Powers smiles and ruffles your hair, nodding. “It never hurts to make sure.”
Sepdet looks, perhaps, just faintly wistful. But perhaps also relieved. Her world is changing awfully fast.
Michael Powers cups your chin and gently kisses your forehead. “Little Star, you are a wonder.”
Sepdet takes the cups over to the sink and washes them, her training not to leave the little things undone too ingrained to do otherwise, then takes your hand again.
Sepdet squeezes it. “So ‘re you, to make me feel so safe, even here, in the city, even with all that’s going on around this place. Hate not being able to go to the Caern at night whenever the moon pulls that way.”
Michael Powers smiles and nods, squeezing your hand. “I know what you mean, dear….for years, I spent as much time in the Umbra as I did in the Realm….and now I have to get used to this world again…..
Sepdet sighs resignedly and steps towards the door. “Oh well, stupid taxi it is, unless you got a better way.”
Michael Powers says “Ready to go, dear?”
Sepdet nods. “After you, second-in-command.” She grins a little.
<OOC> Michael Powers idles for a couple minutes. AFK
Sepdet er AFK? should I head down and flag taxi?
<OOC> Michael Powers returns
Michael Powers says “AFK=Away From Keyboard. :)”
Sepdet OOC is getting better at guessing acronyms, but “A Flying Kangaroo” is all that springs to mind.
Michael Powers says “OK. I’m back.”
Michael Powers says “Let’s go get that taxi.”

[[Move move move to Caern ]]

Near the Fire Pit, Catherine removes her clothes and folds them neatly. She wraps the coat around them nd hides them under a blanket near a rock.
Near the Fire Pit, Catherine contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Near the Fire Pit, Catherine shifts into Lupus form.
Sepdet tags after her large tribemate like a tiny shadow.
On the southern curve, Spooner comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Spooner heads into the center.
Spooner has arrived.
Anpwhotep smiles and ruffles Sepdets head
Anpwhotep grins at Spooner. ~Heya, Spoon.~
Near the Fire Pit, Maury looks out into the center, and smiles. “Sepdet, Anpwhotep.”
Spooner stalks in, rumbling, ~Hello,~
Anpwhotep smiles and waves to Maury.
Sepdet smiles at Spooner, then over at the firepit to whuff a greeting at everyone.
Near the Fire Pit, Hand-of-Gaia watches the people in the center of the caern.
Near the Fire Pit, Gentle Touches wurfs to those in the center.
Near the Fire Pit, Brandi calls out “Hey Spooner.”
Spooner looks over at the fire pit, her gaze not quite meeting Brandi’s in deference to the glare, ~Actually, the Foamer isn’t anywhere to be found. More’s the pity. I was hoping I’d find her and she’d start something.~
Near the Fire Pit, Hand-of-Gaia tilts his ears and looks at the center, now that he knows one of the three there is Spooner.
Near the Fire Pit, Maury peers at Spooner.
Sepdet tugs on Anpw’s massive paw and heads towards the Firepit.
FP
You make your way to the northeast, to the edge of the fire pit.
Around the Fire Pit
The small rock-shielded firepit just within the path of the Wheel contains a small, brightly burning fire. The ground is baked near it, and grasses grow in waves away from it, starting scraggly and getting greener near the inner groove of the Wheel. To the west is the earthen mound, and back to the south is the small pool.
Contents:
Maury
Gentle Touches
Hand-of-Gaia
Brandi
Obvious exits:
Forward Back Center of the Wheel
At the center, Anpwhotep heads northeast to the fire pit.
Anpwhotep has arrived.
Hand-of-Gaia nods to Anpwhotep politely.
Anpwhotep smiles to Sepdet, very paternally.
Anpwhotep nods to Hand
Hand-of-Gaia stands up, wincing at the pain in his chest.
Brandi glances over at Brandon. “Wheel of Fortune on?”
Hand-of-Gaia limps over towards the fire, favoring his left side a bit. His face contorts with pain on each step.
Sepdet sits cross-legged on the ground, dipping her eyes to elders and flashing a special smile at Maury.
Hand-of-Gaia settles down closer to the fire, ignoring Brandi’s sarcastic remark.
Sepdet looks at HoG with concern. “Fomor?”
Hand-of-Gaia peers at Sepdet with a total lack of comprehension.
Maury grins at Sepdet a little.
At the center, Spooner snorts. ~He’s not mean enough looking for that.~
Hand-of-Gaia turns his head to look at Spooner. ~You must be Spooner.~
Sepdet shakes her head. ~Pardon. Thought someone mentioned Fomor as we approached. Not another attack, then.~
At the center, Spooner rumbles, ~Yup. Got the cosmic short straw n’ nobody else wanted to do it.~
Anpwhotep says, ~Foamer, Little Star. Foamer.~
Hand-of-Gaia ~No…I recieved my wound a week ago.~
Hand-of-Gaia ~From the leech prince of the city.~
Sepdet growls softly, eyes respectful.
Hand-of-Gaia turns to look at Sepdet. ~It’s dead. We killed it.~
At the center, Spooner rumbles, ~Not mean enough looking for that, either, Teppy.~
Hand-of-Gaia turns his head back to look at Spooner. ~Are you addressing me, the cub, or Anpwhotep?~
On the northern curve, Thoth emerges from the thin treeline to the north.
Anpwhotep chuckles and razzes Spooner. ~You’re right, Whitey. You’re definitely not mean enough looking for a Foamer.~
Sepdet nods, suitably impressed.
At the center, Spooner says ~I would have thought that Teppy would know very well he was being addressed. His name being in the sentence and all.~
Hand-of-Gaia ~Who is Teppy?~
Hand-of-Gaia looks mildly confused.
On the northern curve, Thoth heads into the center.
At the center, Thoth heads northeast to the fire pit.
Thoth has arrived.
Thoth says “Handyman.”
Brandi shakes her head at HoG. “You need cue cards. Really.”
Hand-of-Gaia turns to look at Thoth and nods his head to him VERY deeply, ~Thoth-yuf…it is good to see you.~
Hand-of-Gaia seems to be overly respectful to Thoth.
Gentle Touches wurfs to Thoth.
Sepdet is still trying to figure out who/what Foamer is, also confused, but smiles and dips her eyes at her elder.
At the center, Spooner snorts, ~Oh? Well, hell. That’ll teach me not to take bubble baths at Erik’s house, won’t it?~
Thoth grunts. Pauses. Nods. “Hadda. You still owe me twenny bucks.”
Gentle Touches Sneezes loudly.
Anpwhotep smiles and nods to Thoth.
Thoth chuckles.
Hand-of-Gaia ~I owe you more than that, now, Thoth.~
Thoth grunts at Anpwhotep and Sepdet.
Maury whispers at Sepdet, “I think she means one of our visiting Furies.”
Hand-of-Gaia ~You and Astram both.~
Hand-of-Gaia has disconnected.
Sepdet looks a little less confused as Maury kindly whispers enlightenment.
Gentle Touches curls up near the fire.
At the center, Spooner heads northeast to the fire pit.
Spooner has arrived.
Spooner stalks over to sit near Anpwhotep, her head turned to avoid the glare of the firelight.
Anpwhotep nods to Sepdet. ~That’s right, dear. Foamers are Furies.~
Spooner says ~yup.~
Sepdet smiles ruefully. ~Learn something new…~
Thoth belches.
Anpwhotep grins and scritches Spooner behind the ears. ~Howya doing, Whitey?~
Spooner rumbles, ~Careful with the claws. I wanna keep those ears.~
Anpwhotep grins and is *very* gentle. Just ask all the scritch recipients he’s accumulated….
Sepdet will attest to that.
Anpwhotep smiles and notices he has a free hand…any takers?
Sepdet, of course, scoots over if no one else does.
Anpwhotep scritches his beloved fosterdaughter with one hand, while continuing to scritch Spooner with the other.
Spooner <–who is beloved nothing to noone :)
Anpwhotep grins and considers bapping Spooner gently, but decides that might be a bad idea. Here he thought he was making it pretty plain he’s decided she’s a friend.
Sepdet looks around thoughtfully, a little sadly, and glances up at ‘tep with a raised eyebrow.
Anpwhotep looks down to Sepdet and leans down to whisper to her.
Anpwhotep whispers “What is it, beloved?”
Gentle Touches just watches.
Anpwhotep senses “Sepdet murmurs ~I came here to tell them about the latest, but not really sure what to say.~”
You sense Anpwhotep nods toward Thoth. ~If he hasn’t already heard, he can get the word to who needs it fastest.~
Sepdet clears her throat, face clouding a little. ~Don’t know whether you all have heard; the g’dachting Dancers took another victim today on Regan Street… We got a good look at one of them, this time.~ She shivers a little, looking to see whether this is news to people.
Spooner sits, being scritched but giving the impression of thinking of other things. Her red eyes water a little.
Gentle Touches raises her head to look at Sepdet.
Brandi says “Was it another kinfolk victim? Or not?”
Maury says “The who what?”
Anpwhotep shakes his head. ~Dancer. Not Kinfolk.~
Sepdet takes a deep breath. ~A Black Spiral Dancer,~ she says gently to Maury, then continues.
You paged Anpwhotep with ‘wait, the *victim* wasn’t a dancer.’.
<OOC> Anpwhotep slaps up his typist and reminds him what Kinfolk is.
Brandi looks somewhat confused at Anpwhotep’s statement, but just shakes her head. “Never mind.”
Maury peers at Sepdet and Anp. “G’dachting means what?”
On the southern curve, Alex comes in from the woodland to the south.
Sepdet says ~I thought, from what Toxic said, the man who was shot was probably Kinfolk.~
On the southern curve, Alex heads into the center.
At the center, Alex heads northeast to the fire pit.
Alex has arrived.
Gentle Touches Wurfs to Alex .
Alex smiles. “Hello.”
Brandi looks up in surprise as Alex enters. “What in the world are you doing here?”
Sepdet mutters ~Rougly translated as ‘deserves to be impaled’.~
Alex says “I slipped out for a little while. I’ve been away too long.”"
Sepdet smiles up at Alex.
Alex smiles.
Brandi nods at Alex. “Yeah.”
Spooner sighs.
Alex says “Its only for a little while I hope, until things calm down a bit in the city.”
Sepdet looks sadly at Alex. ~One can hope.~
Gentle Touches curls up again by the fire.
Anpwhotep nods and lays his hand on Spooner’s shoulders.
Anpwhotep whispers “OK. Just so you know, I’m here for whatever.”
Spooner growls very softly.
Sepdet continues, reluctantly: ~So if you see a middle-aged man in a gray trenchcoat, with a beaky red nose, brown hair going white, and big bushy eyebrows, be careful. He walks like he’d run right over you, didn’t even care that he was tramping around in broad daylight with blood on ‘em, and he absolutely reeks of the Wyrm.~
Brandi says “Hey Alex, is this just a brief jaunt out here, or are you actually sticking around for a bit?”
Sepdet shudders slightly, and unconsciously leans closer to to her uncle.
Anpwhotep slips his arm around Sepdet protectively.
Alex says “I think I’ll be here for a little while at least.”
Brandi nods. “Long enough to teach me a little more, then?”
Sepdet looks over at Thoth particularly, hoping that the description will be useful.
Thoth grunts.
Alex says “I think so.”
Brandi says “You want to go down by the pool or something, then, Alex?”
Alex nods.
Brandi hops up quickly.
Thoth mutters to himself, and walks off.
Thoth follows the Wheel west, away from the fire pit.
Thoth has left.
Brandi heads into the center.
Brandi has left.
Alex heads into the center.
Alex has left.
On the northern curve, Thoth turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel.
At the center, Brandi heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
At the center, Alex heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Brandi heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
On the southern curve, Alex heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Sepdet looks over at Maury. ~So how is it with you, friend?~
Maury looks up and smiles. “All right, I guess. Tiring. But I’m…all right.”
Anpwhotep smiles warmly at Maury, not interrupting Sepdet’s chat
Sepdet seems to need to change the subject, to clear the glumness threatening to settle on her face again.
Sepdet nods. ~They keep us on our toes, don’t they?~ She smiles up at ‘tep briefly.
Gentle Touches stands and shakes herself off.
Maury says “Yah. And I made up with Toxic a couple nights ago.”
Gentle Touches wurfs a farewell.
Anpwhotep grins and nods.
Anpwhotep says, ~Evening, Gentle.~
Spooner says ~Night.~
Gentle Touches heads into the center.
Gentle Touches has left.
On the western curve, Jacob works his way free of the dense treeline to the west.
On the western curve, Jacob heads into the center.
At the center, Jacob heads northeast to the fire pit.
Jacob has arrived.
Sepdet murmurs ~blessings~ after touches, though her eyes have narrowed suddenly.
At the center, Gentle Touches heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Gentle Touches heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Maury blinks at Sepdet confusedly.
Anpwhotep shakes his head and murmurs to Sepdet
Jacob hesitates, feeling the tension, then walks to the fire and sits down.
Spooner looks around with red eyes. ~I gotta patrol again. Night.~
Anpwhotep nods. ~Take care, Spooner. OK?~
Sepdet nods up at Spooner.
Spooner rumbles. ~Sure.~
Spooner stalks off, generally looking like she’d just love it if a Bane popped up on her patrol.
(Sepdet says something off-the-mark about Tox being a little intimidating, and explains….)
Spooner heads into the center.
Spooner has left.
At the center, Spooner heads north, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the northern curve, Spooner turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Jess comes in from the woodland to the south.
Sepdet grins. ~First time I saw her, I mean, other’n moot, she was dragging a cub through the coals who was twice her size.~
On the southern curve, Jess heads into the center.
At the center, Jess heads northeast to the fire pit.
Jess has arrived.
Jess pads in, finding an out of the way corner.
Anpwhotep chuckles and nods. ~Sounds like our Tox.~
Sepdet smiles warmly at Jess.
Sepdet tilts her head. ~Maury, I keep meaning to ask you… do you know Bobby Hanson? Is he really a student at St. Uriel’s?~
Jacob tries to listen unobtrusively, but it’s so obvious that it’s slightly obtrusive.
Jess looks at Sepdet, trying to see if she has her deck on her.
Maury says “Bobby? Yeah, he is.”
Maury says “Friend of Beth’s.”
Jess nods respectfully to Antpwhotep-rhya.
Jess pages: You might have noticed her scanning you visually, and if your deck is apparent, perhaps a smile or feeling of approval…
Sepdet nods. ~Interesting person. Left my head spinning after talking to him for three minutes.~
Anpwhotep holds out the hand that isn’t being occupied protectively holding his fosterdaughter
Jess looks, wondering what is expected of her.
Maury says “He does have that sort of effect on people.”
You paged Jess with ‘alas, no, it would get ripped off in battle.’.
Jess pages: Okay, Jess just was fascinated by it…
Jess grins, moving closer for scritches..
Sepdet smiles at Maury. ~He’s neat. Gave me the creeps, but very neat.~
Jacob has disconnected.
Anpwhotep smiles and gently scritches Jess, being very careful to not spook her.
Jess sighs, a hollow rumbly sound in her skinny ribcage…
Sepdet stretches. ~Pardon me.~
+shift glabro
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Sepdet shifts into Glabro form.
Anpwhotep smiles and watches Sepdet.
Jess watches Sepdet, keeping her eyes open for her deck.
Jess grins.
You paged Jess with ‘bingo.’.
Jess looks up at Sepdet. Will you be doing another reading tonight, Sepdet-rhya?
Jess grins at Anpwhotep… Only a half-hour run ago, Anpwhotep-rhya.
Anpwhotep smiles and ruffle’s Jess’s fur
Sepdet blushes slightly. ~I could, um… Jess-yuf.~
Jess smiles, a woofish grin…
Anpwhotep pages: Those sketches yours?
You paged Anpwhotep with ‘Yep, those sketches are mine, but I based seppy’s mom on a picture from one of my Egyptian mythology books, cause I liked the face.’.
drop TarotDeck
Dropped.
Anpwhotep pages: Who did you base Sashi on?
You paged Anpwhotep with ‘the pose was from another picture of the same woman. But I changed the features to be much younger, and a little different.’.
Jess watches…
You paged Anpwhotep with ‘I’m not a very good artist, so I have to cheat. But it does kinda look like her. I did another drawing yesterday of all five forms using poses from only two pictures, and they came out pretty good.’.
Anpwhotep pages: Are you kidding? I’d kill to be able to sketch that good.
Sepdet looks at Jess. “Do you want one for yourself? Or just in general?”
Anpwhotep smiles and watches Sepdet prepare to read.
On the southern curve, Kate comes in from the woodland to the south.
Jess nods. “I have a friend… He is in pretty desperate straights…
On the southern curve, Kate walks into the clearing quickly, one hand tangled in her hair, and anxious scowl hardening her face.
On the southern curve, Kate heads into the center.
Jess looks at Kate.
At the center, Kate looks toward the fire pit. “Anybody seen Thorn?”
Jess shakes her head. No, Kate-rhya.
Anpwhotep shakes his head. ~Sorry, Kate. Not today.~
At the center, Kate’s scowl arkens. “Well, fuck,” she explodes exasperatedly.
Sepdet jumps a little and looks over at Kate sympathetically.
Maury blinks at Kate.
At the center, Kate’s scowl darkens, and she kicks at the ground, the movement a violent outburst of temper.
Jess looks at kate. Is there anything I can help with, Kate-rhya?
At the center, Kate tosses her head, whipping wet strands of hair out of her eyes. “If anybody sees’im, tell’im I’m looking for him. That’s all.” She manages a thin smile at Jess.
Jess nods.
Anpwhotep nods. ~Will do.~
Sepdet holds out the somewhat worn pack of differently-shaped cards and offers them to Jess. ~Shuffle them as you wish. And think of your friend.~
At the center, Kate’s expression twists wryly. “Yeah, well, *if* y’see him. Later.”
Jess looks at her paws…
Jess thinks, blushes… I’ll be right back…
Anpwhotep smiles and nods.
Sepdet grins, bemused. ~Or I can.~
Jess follows the Wheel west, away from the fire pit.
On the northern curve, Jess turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel.
At the center, Kate turns back southward, her scowl gaining a hint of worry as she makes her way into the woods.
At the center, Kate heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Kate heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Jess says “Sorry, I kinda got, um turned around.”
Sepdet grins. “Wheels do that.”
Jess plops down, next to sepdet.
Jess nods.
Jess reaches towards the cards.
Jess says “Shuffle them?”
Sepdet nods. “Swirl ‘em around, shuffle em like cards… whatever feels right.” She smiles encouragingly.
On the southern curve, Thorn comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Thorn pauses on the southern curve and looks about.
Jess picks up the deck, shuffling the cards moving them back and forth.
On the southern curve, Thorn tiredly walks towards the warmth of the fire.
On the southern curve, Thorn heads into the center.
At the center, Thorn heads northeast to the fire pit.
Thorn has arrived.
Jess looks at thorn.
Maury looks up as movement catches her eyes. “_Thorn_! Oh. Kate was just looking for you.”
Sepdet drops her eyes respectfully at her elder.
On the eastern curve, Hecate makes her way out of the woods to the east.
Anpwhotep smiles up at Thorn….and nods in agreement with Maury
On the western curve, Toxic works her way free of the dense treeline to the west.
Thorn smiles. “Hiya, Maury, Anpwhotep, Jess.” He looks at Maury. “She was?”
On the western curve, Toxic heads into the center.
Jess hands the deck back to Sepdet.
Thorn says “Heya, Sepdet.”
On the eastern curve, Hecate emerges from the woods to the east, her eyes sweeping quickly, almost nervously, around the Caern.
At the center, Toxic walks to the center of the Caern and pivots, quietly, looking around the perimeter.
Anpwhotep looks toward Toxic with a smile.
Maury says “She was. Rather, um. Vehemently.”
Sepdet smiles warmly over at Toxic.
Anpwhotep nods. Exactly. Vehemently. Good choice, Maury.
On the eastern curve, Hecate’s eyes flick towards the center, and she seems to brighten a little. Somewhat tentatively, she paces towards the fire.
Sepdet takes the cards carefully, then sits back, looks up and around for a moment, studying the sky.
On the eastern curve, Hecate follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit.
Hecate circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve.
Hecate has arrived.
At the center, Toxic looks once more to the south, then heads on over to join the crowd at the pit.
Anpwhotep nods to Hecate, smiling quietly.
Sepdet drops her eyes back down, an odd aura of calm having smoothed her worried face, and nods at Hecate too before turning her attention back to Jess.
At the center, Toxic heads northeast to the fire pit.
Toxic has arrived.
Thorn nods. “Hmmm… okay. Well, she has my pager number.”
Thorn nods to Hecate and smiles at Toxic. “Heya.”
Toxic says “Yo, peepz. Thorn-yuf.”
Anpwhotep smiles happily at Toxic
Hecate sits back on her haunches and stares at the ground, her gaze only occasionally flickering over to Toxic.
Jess watches Sepdet.
Maury glances at Hecate.
Toxic smiles quietly around the fire at everyone. “S’up?”
Thorn shrugs. “I dunno… I’ve been sorta out of touch the last few days.”
Sepdet places the first card, a worn blueish painting of a woman garbed in shells, standing on the wavetops.
Anpwhotep says, ~We came out to make sure the news of the latest made it out here. As well as the description.~
Jess watches the cards intently.
Thorn crouches down near the fire. “Which news is this?”
Toxic nods to Anpwhotep. “Good.” She scratches his shoulder for a moment, then nods to Maury and walks over to stand next to Hecate.
Sepdet hmms. “I think this is you, at the Wheel’s center. Queen of cups, lady of the waters…
Jess looks, doubtfully…
Jess says “Me?”
Anpwhotep smiles and enjoys the scritching.
Maury smiles at Toxic, a little strained as she chooses to go to Hecate, but not surprisedly.
Toxic looks to Anpwhotep at Thorn’s question.
Hecate lifts her eyes to glance up at Toxic a moment. The muscles of her throat tense in a swallow, and she drops her gaze again, quickly.
Anpwhotep says, ~News of the latest murder.~
Sepdet keeps her voice low, perhaps slightly embarrassed at the audience, but continues with certainty. “A quiet woman, deceptively still on the surface… still waters run deep, as the saying goes. A very caring person, very loving, some people say she’s a little passive, but I’ve-”
Jess listens, intently.
Thorn’s brow furrows, “Murder?”
Hecate gives a small start, her eyes lifting to look at Toxic again. Slowly, she relaxes, though her gaze stays on the woman.
Toxic watches the fire.
Sepdet her voice shakes a little, then continues softly (another will tell that tale better than she) “I’ve always said the river may flow around rocks, but the rocks still get worn away. At any rate, unless you know of another person like that, you seem to be very close to the heart of the matter, very close to your friend.”
Jess nods…
Anpwhotep nods to Thorn and moves over to talk quietly to him.
Sepdet places the second card, incongrously depicting a heart surrounded by three flamingoes huddled in the rain. “The bridge you’re crossing, or the opposing forces… 3 of swords. Heart-pain.”
Sepdet glances up at Jess’ face, uncertain. “Does that make any sense?”
Jess nods.
Thorn frowns deeply as Anpwhotep whispers to him.
Jess winces a little, “Oh, yes, all over.
Toxic quietly sits down and puts her hand on Hecate’s ruff, still watching the fire.
Jess watches, quietly.
Maury watches Hecate for several seconds, grey eyes unblinking.
Sepdet puts out the next. “The roots of the matter…” It is a woman holding out a tray of fruits, and all are being taken away by hands of many sizes, ages, colors.
Hecate trembles slightly, her eyes still on Toxic. A quiet whimper escapes her muzzle as she settles down a little more.
Toxic doesn’t move her hand from the back of Hecate’s neck. She remains staring into the fire, frowning quietly.
Sepdet places it in the direction of the earth-mound. “Having to give so much…” She breathes a sigh, looking down sadly. “Sharing out everything one has, being pulled in many directions to meet many others’ needs and demands. Sometimes generosity.”
Jess nods….
“You say “Sometimes giving too much of oneself to too many different beliefs, or people. A difficult position. But the card is a good one, for it hints that such giving may be repaid.”"
Jess sigs…
On the southern curve, Brandi comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Brandi heads into the center.
Thorn raises an eyebrow at Hecate’s whimper, but his attention remains on his conversation with Anpwhotep.
At the center, Brandi heads northeast to the fire pit.
Brandi has arrived.
Thorn looks up and smiles a greeting to Brandi.
Brandi plops down next to Jess. “Hey everyone.”
Sepdet smiles at Brandi.
Jess looks up, smiling at Brandi, then looks back to the cards.
Sepdet places the next card in the direction of the fire-pit. “The forces of strength.”
On the southern curve, Lyta comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Lyta heads into the center.
Jess watches.
Brandi looks at the cards too. “Who’s the reading for?”
At the center, Whiteshadow heads northeast to the fire pit.
Whiteshadow has arrived.
At the center, Lyta walks toward the Table Stone, her eyes flicking over the Caern analytically.
Sepdet peers at the picture of a gray-cloaked woman sitting alone and distant on a rocky outcropping overlooking the sea and a sunset… eight black swans pass before the setting sun.
Maury glances up, to notice Lyta; her eyes flick towards Hecate, then back to Lyta, then to the fire.
Sepdet nods in Jess’ direction, looking rather self-conscious.
Anpwhotep pages: What’s that desc again? For the dancer?
Hecate’s eyes close tightly, another quiet whimper escaping her lips.
At the center, Lyta stops barely a foot from the Table Stone, and looks down at its surface with a thoughtful expression.
Toxic shakes her head silently.
You paged Anpwhotep with ‘Walter Biggs is a tall, thin man with a long face. His facial features seem weathered ascetic, giving the impression of a man in his mid-forties, whatever his true age might be. His hair is white, well mixed with brown, and he has a pair of thick and expressive snow-white eyebrows that shadow his deep-set eyes slightly. In deference to the current winter season, Walter has a gray trench coat which he either wears or carries about with him at all times. The cold winds have turned the tip of his beaky nose reddish, but the comical effect that it would have had (as it matches the colour of the long red scarf he’s wound around his neck exactly) is offset by the sheer intensity of his demeanour. This would not be a man to laugh at, or take lightly.’.
You paged Anpwhotep with ‘er, sorry, just happened to have the log open. ;)’.
Thorn looks up and smiles as he sees Lyta. He then returns his attention to Anpwhotep.
Maury looks over at Toxic.
Jess watches.
Sepdet hms. “the Hermit is the seat of power. She works best on the solitary path, self-reliant, learning through isolated, hard study. She can sometimes be lonely, but the wisdom she gains, especially that earned through surviving in straightened circumstance, is rich indeed.”
At the center, Lyta’s eyes narrow slightly, and she steeples her black-gloved hands. Then, in an absent gesture, she pushes a wet strand of hair back behind one ear.
Sepdet isn’t sure what to make of that. “A time of loneliness, to be sure. And perhaps hardship. But not in vain.”
Sepdet glances at Jess again, uncertain. She doesn’t trust her judgement too much when reading those she doesn’t know well.
At the center, Lyta straightens, abruptly, from the pensive stance. She lets out her breath in a long sigh, and steps briskly toward the fire.
At the center, Lyta heads northeast to the fire pit.
Lyta has arrived.
Maury looks up from the fire at Lyta.
Thorn nods respectfully to the Fury elder. “Hello, Lyta-rhya.”
Sepdet sighs and places the next towards the direction of the pool. “Emotions, the spirit of the matter. Knight of Earth…”
Brandi has connected.
Lyta smiles slightly at Thorn, and returns Maury’s glance with a hint of the same warm smile still on her lips.
Jess nods.
Toxic looks over, “Good evening, Lyta-rhya.”
Sepdet looks up and smiles respectfully at Lyta-rhya.
Maury’s own lips curve a little. The smile’s not at all warm, just an acknowledgement.
Hecate’s eyes open, and she turns from Toxic, head hung low. Her gaze flickers up to Lyta for an instant, but she refuses to make eye-contact.
Sepdet hunches back over the little Wheel of cards she’s laying out. “Reversed.”
Jess nods.
Lyta has not yet turned her eyes to Hecate, strangely enough. The dark gaze falls to the laid-out cards, flickering a little with interest.
Toxic gently curls her fingers in Hecate’s short mane, scratching her slowly.
On the southern curve, Dr. Wilhelm comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Dr. Wilhelm follows the Wheel to the Pool.
Near the Pool, Dr. Wilhelm follows the Wheel north past the Pool.
On the eastern curve, Dr. Wilhelm follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit.
Dr. Wilhelm circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve.
Dr. Wilhelm has arrived.
Thorn cocks his head. “Um, Toxic-yuf… can we talk?”
Toxic looks curiously at the stranger for a moment, then stands. “Certainly, Thorn-yuf. I presume y’mean privately?”
Brandi says “Hello, Dr. Wilhelm.”
Thorn shrugs. “More like someplace quiet, than private.”
Toxic leans down and whispers quietly into Hecate’s ear for a moment.
Lyta’s eyes flick to Wilhelm, and shock echoes in them before warm affection. She nods, cracking a smile. “I see you’ve found your way home…”
Dr. Wilhelm nods greetings to all present.
Sepdet touches the portrait of an armored figure on a heavy-set horse, standing surrounded on all sides by oaks and the green of the forest. “Well, a person whose roots in the earth are deep, solid. Very practical person. Centered on the physical, material world. Upside-down, perhaps her… or his… roots have been shaken.”
Thorn stands himself up, stretching his back a little bit.
Dr. Wilhelm smiles. “Indeed, I have.”
Sepdet glances up and smiles startledly at Dr. Wilhelm, glad to see him looking a little less discomfited.
Toxic nods to Thorn and steps over towards the pool.
Lyta brushes another wet strand of hair back from her face, and holds out a hand. “Welcome, then.”
Jess nods.
Toxic heads into the center.
Toxic has left.
At the center, Toxic heads southeast to the pool.
Thorn heads into the center.
Thorn has left.
At the center, Thorn heads southeast to the pool.
Near the Pool, Toxic’s eyes stop on her reflection in the pool.
Near the Pool, Thorn smiles faintly before gazing into the pool.
Near the Pool, Thorn’s eyes stop on his reflection in the pool.
Near the Pool, Toxic gazes into the pool, and suddenly she vanishes.
Near the Pool, Thorn gazes into the pool, and suddenly he vanishes.
Dr. Wilhelm takes her hand, and says, “Thank you.”
Sepdet takes out the last card, and OOC whaps the little pieces of paper she’s hurridly made into a shorthand deck…
Lyta grips the man’s hand quite firmly for a small moment, and then releases it.
Turning back toward the fire, Lyta lets her eyes fall to the cards; a small smile curves her lips.
Hecate has partially disconnected.
Jess looks to Sepdet, wondering what it all means.
Sepdet places the last card, a pen-and-ink picture of a dragonfly suspended over a reed-edged pool.
You say “Message of the winds, of the totem spirits… the answer. Dragonfly.” She speaks the name reverently.”
Dr. Wilhelm turns to Lyta. “Did you know?”
Lyta’s smile widens a little, and she nods. “I knew, yes.”
Lyta turns to glance back at Wilhalm, the look in her eyes slightly apologetic. “I thought… you might need a friend, before the rest.”
You say “Dragonfly is the needle that sews together heaven and water with the wind. A union of mirror images, water holding image of suspended sky, sky holding clouds of water. Dragonfly strains to unite two things far apart with dance, delicate maneuvering, yet makes it seem like play.”
Jess nods.
Dr. Wilhelm says “Thank you. You were right.”
Hecate’s eyes lift slightly and flick from person to person, almost frantically. Slowly, tentatively, she rises to her feet, paces over to Maury, and sits down next to her, her gaze falling again to the ground in front of her.
Maury gives Hecate an odd look.
Lyta’s gaze flicks rapidly to Hecate. In a neutral voice, she says, “Something’s troubling you, Hecate?”
Sepdet looks around carefully. “Water and earth too, I see. You.. loving your friend muchly, who seems to have been profoundly shaken of late. The dragonfly’s dance is needed to pull things together, in the long run. In the short run… perhaps the hermit’s path. Withdrawal, for a while, to think things over, and figure out what’s really important. Get away from all the demands being made, if your friend can… I’m not quite sure which cards are for you, which for your friend, other than knight and queen.”
Hecate looks up at Lyta, her shoulders slumped a little. Lotta things.
Sepdet sighs. “I hope that makes some sense. I’m never sure how well Tarot works for others.”
On the eastern curve, Adam-Be-Adam makes his way out of the woods to the east.
On the eastern curve, Adam-Be-Adam follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit.
Adam-Be-Adam circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve.
Adam-Be-Adam has arrived.
On the southern curve, Broken Claw comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Broken Claw heads into the center.
Lyta glances away from Hecate to smile faintly at Sepdet. “I have the same problem,” she murmurs quietly.
At the center, Broken Claw heads northeast to the fire pit.
Broken Claw has arrived.
Whiteshadow flicks his tail at Broken Claw.
Adam-Be-Adam wuffs quietly at Brandi and lays his head down.
On the southern curve, Charlemagne comes in from the woodland to the south.
Broken Claw whurfs a greeting.
On the southern curve, Charlemagne follows the Wheel to the Pool.
Jess nods.
Near the Pool, Charlemagne follows the Wheel north past the Pool.
Sepdet nods respectfully at the newcomers, tilting her head at the ones she hasn’t met previously.
Broken Claw has disconnected.
On the eastern curve, Charlemagne follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit.
Charlemagne circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve.
Charlemagne has arrived.
Brandi scoots over by Adam.
Jess says “Thank you for the reading, Sepdet… It was most helpful…”
Adam-Be-Adam scoots too.
Broken Claw has connected.
Adam-Be-Adam glances up. ~He’s gone now.~
Brandi looks at Adam, wondering if that was supposed to make sense. “Who’s gone?”
Charlemagne says “Good evening all. Broken Claw-rhya, I think I must see a dozen new faces each time I come here. How large is the Sept of the Wheel Renewed?”
Adam-Be-Adam jerks his head toward Story Tree. ~BloodFang-rhya.~
Jess turns her attention to the newcomers, smiling at Brandi…
For those keeping score, this is the first time Adam’s used the -rhya addition.
Maury gets to her feet.
Brandi nods slowly at Adam. “Yeah, I suppose you’re right there.”
Adam-Be-Adam lies near Brandi.
Charlemagne smiles at all sitting here. “Charles Magnus, known as Charlemagne among our people. Philodox of the Silver Fangs, from the Sept of Falcon’s Eyrie.”
Whiteshadow raises his ears at the mention of Bloodfang.
Hecate looks, a little dejectedly, at Maury, and then turns to face Lyta, drawing herself up as straight as she can manage. I gotta tell you somethin’.
Lyta glances toward the newcomer, and quirks an eyebrow slightly. “Ah. The Eyrie. What brings you from there?”
Broken Claw shakes his head towards Charlemagne. ~Not know number. Very many.~
Maury starts to step away from the fire, then pauses. Her face takes on a neutral expression as she waits.
Sepdet puts her worn tools away, and looks around, eyes tightening a little at the mention of Bloodfang-rhya.
Lyta holds out a hand, briefly, to Hecate. ~I’d like to hear this answer first.~
Brandi scritches Adam lightly behind the ears.
get TarotDeck
Taken.
Hecate flinches visibly, her ears drooping. She takes a deep breath and drops her gaze.
Adam-Be-Adam snorts. ~And now… I am hungry.
Charlemagne smiles, “Ah, business, mostly, and I’ve heard a great deal of the Wheel Renewed. And you are…?”
Jess grins. “Like that is anything new, Adam-be-Adam…
Adam-Be-Adam looks up, an almost pained yet patient expression on his face.
Adam-Be-Adam contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Adam-Be-Adam shifts into Homid form.
Lyta holds out a gloved hand, a thin smile curving her lips. “Lyta, Mother of the Furies.”
Adam looks over at Lyta, and blinks.
Maury murmurs, very low, “Guest at this Caern.” She appears to be appending to Lyta’s answer to Charles.
Charlemagne lets the thought of kissing the back of Lyta’s gloved hand flicker through his mind for a moment, but then quickly discards it. He shakes Lyta’s hand, “A pleasure to meet you. <pause to listen to Maury> You’re a visitor as well?”
Whiteshadow looks up to say something, then notices Lyta and Hecate, stopping himself.
A hint of wry humor gleams in Lyta’s eyes. “Yes. I was… of Gaia’s Bones.”
Adam licks his lips.
Adam clears his throat. “I fear… I fear we’ve met, Lyta?”
Jess moves over within whispering distance of Brandi.
Charlemagne says “Ah, yes indeed, I know of Gaia’s Bones.”
Adam says “I’d hoped it was an hallucination.”
Lyta’s smile widens, and she glances at Adam. “Oh, no. You were quite awake at the time.”
Jess watches.
Adam nods, slightly embarrassed.
Charlemagne nods approvingly, “The leaders of Gaia’s Bones are from a worthy bloodline.”
Maury expresses, without moving, a vague impatience.
Sepdet smiles slightly at Lyta’s tone.
Whiteshadow ~Bloodline doesn’t always keep you from bleeding.~
Lyta nods slightly to Charlemagne. “From *several*, actually. If you’ll excuse me.”
Jess watches Adam.
Charlemagne chuckles at Whiteshadow’s words. “Too true, friend. And your name is…?”
Jess nods to Brandi, turning her attention to those conversing aloud.
Whiteshadow ~Well, most people call me insolent cub, but you can call me Whiteshadow if you want.~
Jess grins…
Lyta steps back toward Hecate, and turns to drop to a crouch. ~Now. What.~ Her eyes narrow.
Jess nudges Brandi, whispering…
Charlemagne smiles. “Whiteshadow it is, then, lad.”
Adam looks up again, and notices Jess.
Maury shoots Whiteshadow an amused look, then turns back to glance down at Lyta and Hecate.
Jess giggles to Brandi, obviously enjoying some joke.
Adam says, to nobody in particular, “Be right back.”
Sepdet guesses if Whiteshadow has introduced himself, other cubs should probably fess up too.  ~Sepdet, Theurge of the Striders,~ she says softly.
Adam heads into the center.
Adam has left.
At the center, Adam heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Adam heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Hecate takes a deep breatha and meets Lyta’s eyes squarely. Last night… I tried t’get th’metis t’fight me again. We yelled and shouted and insulted each other. I almost lost it. I almost attacked him. Her shoulders slump, her gaze falls back to the ground. M’sorry.
Charlemagne nods to Sepdet with a smile, “A pleasure to meet you, young Sepdet.”
Dr. Wilhelm jumps on the bandwagon, “Dr. Pieter Wilhelm, Theurge. No tribe will admit to me yet.” He smiles.
On the southern curve, Adam comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Adam heads into the center.
At the center, Adam heads northeast to the fire pit.
Adam has arrived.
Sepdet grins at Dr.Wilhelm’s remark.
Charlemagne regards Dr. Wilhelm, while trying not to let his attention get drawn away by the conversation between Hecate and Lyta. “A lost cub, Doctor?”
Adam arrives with a handful of wieners and a Guinness.
Jess looks up at Charlemagne… “If you please, sir, Jess, of the Children of Gaia, also of the crescent moon…
Whiteshadow ~Not a cub, exactly, but close.~
Dr. Wilhelm says “Indeed.”
Jess blushes.
Jess says “Also a cub, sir.”
Jess grins.
Charlemagne smiles at Jess, “Nice to meet you as well, young lady.”
Maury glances away from Lyta and Hecate for a breath: “Maury, Fianna, Philodox, also cub.”
Jess nudges Brandi…
Lyta’s expression hardens slightly, and a gloved hand moves to the scruff of Hecate’s neck to grasp the loose skin and fur tightly. “And you did this with the intention of starting a fight?” She says tensely.
Hecate doesn’t look up, doesn’t move; her inaction speaks volumes.
Brandi gives Jess a look, then turns to Charlemagne. “I’m Brandi Cunnings.”
Whiteshadow ears pick up and he looks over at Lyta and Hecate.
Broken Claw listens casually to Lyta and Hecate, most of his attention on the fire.
Charlemagne smiles at Maury and Brandi, while failing to avoid being distracted by Lyta and Hecate. He reads volumes from Hecate’s inaction.
Jess looks sad.
Lyta’s voice drops to a near whisper. “You’ve failed me, Warrior-that-was.”
Jess shakes her head, whispering with Brandi.
Hecate looks up at Lyta, something akin to panic in her eyes. She takes a halting step backwards.
Sepdet leans back and nestles against the hulk of a Strider next to her, expression unreadable.
Dr. Wilhelm shudders as he feels the spirit of a chill dancing on his spine.
Adam bites the cap off his bottle and washes down a couple of weiners.
Lyta’s grip tightens in Hecate’s fur, holding the wolf still.
You paged Adam with ‘perfect timing! We’re way too melodramatic around here. ;)’.
Anpwhotep gently strokes Sepdet, his arm protectively sheltering her.
Jess turns to watch what everyone else is watching.
Adam pages: Heh. I work on it.
Hecate drops her head, trying to back away from Lyta almost frantically.
Adam glances up.
Maury stands a step or two behind Hecate, face and stance neutral, hands clasped behind her back.
Charlemagne watches the drama, opens his mouth as if about to say something, but then doesn’t.
The tight pressure of the single hand pulls upward, forcing Hecate to remain before Lyta despite the wolf’s struggling. “Are you trying to run from yourself, Hecate?” Lyta asks gently. Her next words are a sharp retort. “You can’t.”
Adam licks his lower lip.
Near the Pool, Lightfeather appears in a glimmer of light.
Near the Pool, Lightfeather heads into the center.
At the center, Lightfeather heads northeast to the fire pit.
Lightfeather has arrived.
Adam offers LightFeather a weiner.
Hecate flinches visibly; she lifts her gaze to meet Lyta’s eyes, and then struggles anew to back away, letting the Change come.
Hecate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hecate shifts into Hispo form.
Lightfeather blinks at the Weiner. “Cooked?”
Sepdet turns away tiredly… one less pair of eyes won’t make it better or worse… and signs something to her uncle.
Adam looks at the weiners. “Don’t think so.”
Lightfeather nods and takes one.
Lyta’s eyes remain locked on Hecate’s face; her grip falls away, and disappointment shows in her eyes. Her voice rises to a strident, ringing tone. “We of Seneca Falls, *guests*–” Her eyes flick briefly toward Maury, then return to Hecate,” –of this Sept, are shamed by the actions of our sister Hecate.” Although the focuses on the Fury in question, her words clearly have a wider audience.
Anpwhotep senses “Sepdet looks bleak. I’d hate to be leader. Have to be so harsh on ones I love. And she does love, plain to See.”
Maury doesn’t move even when Lyta’s eyes touch hers.
Broken Claw moves over to Whiteshadow and whuffles quietly to him.
Hecate takes another step back from Lyta, her form bluring back towards the Lupus. A barely audible whimper escapes her lips, and her eyes drop, once again, to the ground.
Hecate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hecate shifts into Lupus form.
Lightfeather holds the wiener with one claw, idley pecking at it while her attention is focused on Lyta…
You sense Anpwhotep signs, <You’re right. She loves Hecate so much that it hurts her to do this.>
Lyta’s voice drops slightly in volume, but still carries through the clearing. “Through her insolence, she has broughht ill favor and hatred upon her sisters and herself.”
Charlemagne glances away from the Furies for a moment, and notices the corax. He seems to make a mental note to himself, and turns back to listen to Lyta.
Anpwhotep pages: I have to go, dear. Going to @tel home. *sigh*
Anpwhotep goes home.
Anpwhotep has left.
Whiteshadow whispers something to Broken Claw.
Hecate’s eyes flick up from the ground to Lyta’s face. She lifts her shoulders, as if against the words, and sits back on her haunches deliberately.
Lyta rises to her feet in a smooth movement, and takes a step toward the retreating Hecate. She speaks, now to the wolf, with an undeniable authority, the syllables snapping out in rapid staccato. “*You* *will* *not* *fight*, Warrior. Not with words, and not with claws. Not until you have learned to sacrifice your foolish pride for the sake of the Mother.”
Adam suddenly turns to Jess. “Want a weiner?”
Adam pages: That was utterly unplanned.
Jess looks startled, having been watching the action at the center of the pit.
Jess says “Uh, no, I don’t think so, Thank you for asking.”
Jess smiles.
Adam nods and smiles back.
You paged Adam with ‘I think the Ragabashes should give you an honorary membership.’.
Whiteshadow watches Hecate with cool, emotionless eyes.
Adam pages: Hee hee. I’d love it.
Adam pages: I’m cheating tho. Half of it is this ridiculous word ‘weiner’
Hecate growls, the sound growing from halfhearted to nearly-angry. I donna have no pride. You, of *all* people, should know that.
Maury lets out a breath that’ss almost a hiss of exasperation, but isn’t quite; almost immediately, the neutral stance and expression are back in place.
Charlemagne gives an odd glance at the hissing cub.
Lyta lets out a sharp bark of laughter. “*Wrong*, Hecate. Or tell me, what *do* you seek by antagonizing the Metis Actaeon? Don’t you wish to prove yourself against him?” Her voice, though calm, has a sharp edge.
Lightfeather watches Hecate intently.
Jess whispers to Brandi while watching the Furies.
Hecate narrows her eyes, her hackles rising a little. T’prove he’s less than a pure blood Fury. T’prove he’s less than me.
Charlemagne rolls his eyes as he shakes his head and turns back to look into the fire.
Brandi nods to Jess.
Sepdet unclenches a fist, then draws her upturned eyes reluctantly away from her name-star and back to the hard lesson the Fury elder wishes us to see. Her eyes are terribly pained.
Jess nods to brandi, then the others, backing her way out of the firelight.
Lightfeather finishes her wiener, wondering to herself if Hecate is going to challenge Lyta, of all people.
Adam looks up at Jess.
Lyta’s expression tightens the smallest bit. “I suggest you pay heed to your own weaknesses before challenging the strengths of others,” she snaps. “It is the Wyrm we fight, not our own flesh and blood. Or is this not clear to you?”
Charlemagne watches the flames dance a moment, and then looks around at the other faces watching the Furies, or trying hard not to watch the Furies.
Jess makes her way south, back around the Wheel.
Jess has left.
On the eastern curve, Jess heads back to the south and the pool.
Near the Pool, Jess grins.
Near the Pool, Jess heads west, back along the Wheel’s path.
On the southern curve, Jess heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Adam glances at Brandi.
Long distance to Jess: Sepdet says softly, ~Gaia ease your path~ as you leave.
Charlemagne glances at Sepdet’s expression, briefly.
Hecate’s eyes flash angrily. M’*not* weak.
From afar, Jess answers you with, “And yours, Sepdet-rhya….
Maury takes a step back, her neutral expression breaking into a mildly disgusted one.
Brandi catches Adam’s glance out of the corner of her eye and turns away from the Fury drama once again, this time to speak quietly with Adam.
Lyta’s eyes flash. “Oh? Then why do you feel such a need to prove others weaker than yourself?”
Adam nods and murmurs back.
Hecate’s hackles rise more, a quiet snarl rippling from her throat. Why d’you ask questions ya already know th’answers to?
Maury turns away, with a muttered, “Because you don’t.” She moves over to the others.
Adam smiles and nods to Brandi.
Charlemagne glances over at Maury with a minorly disapproving look.
Maury murmurs a good night to Sepdet and to Brandi, then walks, head held up, into the center. From there, she gives Charlemagne a flash of a smile.
Maury heads into the center.
Maury has left.
At the center, Maury traces Buffalo’s symbol with her fingertips, glances back once more, and continues out of the circle.
At the center, Maury heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Maury heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Lyta narrows her eyes, and steps closer to the wolf; she drops to a crouch again, just before Hecate. “If you feel the need to prove something, Hecate,” she says in a low voice, “prove that you can walk through each day without bringing shame to your packsisters. Prove that you can do what you must–what *we* must– to keep the Garou of this Sept from our throats.”
Sepdet, without looking down or even seeming to notice she’s doing it, begins to draw in great detail a vulture with outstretched wings.
Charlemagne turns back to watch the Furies after watching the rather, uh, impudent cub head off.
Sepdet only nods at Maury.
Hecate steps forward a little, eyes on Lyta’s. They donna care. They donna want our help. They want our throats, no matter what we do. It donna matter what *I* do, anyway.
From afar, Lyta meeps. What’d I do? Do you even *know* the shit Hecate’s been pulling to deserve this?
Adam blinks. He didn’t know he wanted their throats.
You paged Lyta with ‘The vulture is the Egyptian symbol for the great mother, who is fierce in protecting her young, but also pushes them soon from the nest so that they must learn to fly with their own wings. Isis wore a crown of lapis shaped like a vulture, and kings were buried with a vulture pendant at their throats. Seppy can see how much this hurts you.’.
Lyta’s right fist clenches briefly, and she says, very softly, “And do you know *why* so many at this Sept would rather see their comrades die than have us fight alongside them?”
From afar, Lyta draws a hand across her forehead in relief, and smiles sheepishly. “Oh. Uh, thanks.”
Hecate growls quietly. Donna even *say* that it’s my fault. They were ready t’throat us from th’minute we got here. Her hackles rise again, a dark, angry light coming to her eyes.
You paged Lyta with ‘you got one cub who would fight for you already. ;) You act just like her mother.’.
Near the Pool, Thoth appears in a glimmer of light.
Sepdet looks sadly at Hecate, shaking her head slightly.
Adam says “Excuse me?”
Lightfeather blinks evenly at Hecate.
Lyta’s nostrils flare. “And you’ve helped matters so much, Hecate. Provoke our *allies*, the people we wish to help, into anger against us.”
Adam says “Is this true? Anyone?”
Lyta says quietly, “Our reception may have been… less than warm. But the Sept of the Wheel Renewed has its reasons.”
Adam nods quietly.
Near the Pool, Thoth follows the Wheel north past the Pool.
On the eastern curve, Thoth follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit.
Thoth circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve.
Thoth has arrived.
Hecate’s growl comes louder now. They donna *want* our help. *That* is why they hate us. Not because of anything *I* did.
Lightfeather nods to Thoth.
Thoth wanders up and sneezes.
Lightfeather personally wouldn’t mind having her help.
Brandi looks over long enough to smile at Thoth.
Whiteshadow has disconnected.
Charlemagne says quietly, “Speaks-to-Fish” in greeting to Thoth, still watching the Furies.
Thoth scratches the back of his head.
Lyta does not break eye contact with Hecate. “You truly believe that, sister? Is that why you insist upon forcing everyone — ” Acid stains her tone. “–with one exception, of course — to hate us still more?”
Sepdet says softly, to Adam, “It was a strained night, Horus-rhya’s going. Angry words of one of my age-mates were curbed by elders, but the flint had struck bad fire… and so here we are now.”
Adam looks over at Sepdet. “I rather wish I’d been there. Instead of utterly pissed. My job is to balance and smooth.”
Charlemagne ponders the acidic tone of Lyta’s words.
Adam glances down at his green bottle and tosses it into the fire.
Hecate’s eyes flash, her form once again blurring towards the Hispo. I fight t’protect my sisters and myself from people who hate us.
Hecate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hecate shifts into Hispo form.
Thoth stands off to the side, leaning against a tree.
Near the Pool, Toxic appears in a glimmer of light.
Lyta still crouches before Hecate, balancing on one gloved hand; her posture hardly changes, the angle of her gaze simply adjusting to Hecate’s new height. Very quietly, she says. “You fight against the Wyrm, sister, or you do not fight at all.”
Near the Pool, Toxic looks around casually, then blinks and heads quickly over towards the fire pit.
Near the Pool, Toxic follows the Wheel north past the Pool.
On the eastern curve, Toxic follows the Wheel to the Fire Pit.
Toxic circles the Wheel, arriving from the eastern curve.
Toxic has arrived.
Sepdet’s eyes meet Thoth’s sadly, a short nod of acknowledgement.
Thoth grunts quietly.
Lightfeather hops quickly over to Toxic and updates her on what hapened.
Charlemagne glances up at the oddly-adorned blue-haired woman.
Toxic frowns, listening to the raven, her eyes not leaving the faceoff between Hecate and Lyta.
Hecate’s form quivers with anger, a growl echoing from the back of her throat. Am I t’*let* them step all over us? Am I t’*let* them hate us, despise us, insult us? The Wyrm ain’t th’only enemy.
Sepdet stands silently and moves closer to Toxic, still not noticing the bizarre artwork she has sketched in the dirt.
Lyta’s eyes remain locked on Hecate’s. “We came here to offer our help to this Sept, Hecate, and for no other reason.” Her jaw tightens. “Perhaps you think your dalliance is more important than the safety of this Caern?” The icy voice has a penetrating quality despite its calm tone.
Sepdet bites her lip for the hundredth time.
Charlemagne has connected.
Lyta’s voice sharpens. “*Do* you?!?”
Adam winces involuntarily.
Toxic twitches, tensing. Her eyes remain invisible behind her mirrorshades.
Charlemagne pages: Damn. I always miss all the good stuff. What happened?
Hecate’s growl softens a little. What I do here makes *no* difference. You know that as well as I do.
You paged Charlemagne with ‘only 2 more exchanges much like the previous ones. Poor fool still won’t believe her alpha. Damn, I wish Sepdet was higher rank. She’s screaming *we DONT hate you!* inside.’.
Dr. Wilhelm glances away from the Furies (my, how literal…) at the ground before Sepdet, and says quietly to her, “Symbolic?” indicating her artwork.
Charlemagne pages: Thanks.
Brandi whispers something to Adam, then stands up and slips out quietly.
Brandi heads into the center.
Brandi has left.
At the center, Brandi heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Brandi heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Charlemagne glances over at Sepdet’s picture, distracted by Dr. Wilhelm’s question.
Sepdet flinches at his voice, so soft it startled her, and glances down at what her hands did while she wasn’t watching. Her lip twitches in a stale smile. “I suppose so,” she mouths, reticently, and wipes it away with a foot.
Lyta’s expression subsides into icy calm; only a remote, disappointed pain behind her eyes softens the hard lines of her face. “No, Hecate, you are *wrong*. What you’ve done here has made every bit of difference. If you think otherwise, you’ve been blinded by your own anger and lack of self-control.”
You paged Dr. Wilhelm with ‘hmm, folklorist, wonder how well you know Egyptian myths? (Vulture is the symbol of strong motherhood, Isis, etc in Egypt)’.
Dr. Wilhelm pages: Not too well, if the truth be known (player, anyway), but that tidbit was nagging in the back of my brain for some reason.
Hecate’s eyes narrow dangerously, the black glinting with anger. Or maybe yaz too blind t’know an enemy when ya see one.
Toxic chews quietly on her tongue.
Adam nods to Toxic.
Dr. Wilhelm sighs at Hecate’s last remark.
Lightfeather blinks, maybie a little startled at Hecate’s answer.
Lyta’s eyes narrow. “Do you truly think so, Hecate?” The quiet voice has a hint of pain behind it.
Charlemagne studies the interaction between Hecate and Lyta, and gives a puzzled glance or two at Toxic, certain that she fits in the picture somehow, but not sure how.
Dr. Wilhelm pages: Bad Hecate. No biscuit!
Sepdet whispers “oh, Hecate, *no*”, not quite managing to keep a cub’s silence.
Hecate’s growl cuts off quickly; she blinks, and takes a step backwards, form blurring back again towards the Lupus. The muscles of her throat tense in a swallow, and she shakes her head mutely.
Hecate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Hecate shifts into Lupus form.
Toxic takes a few steps to the side, moving to stand a couple of yards behind Lyta.
Thoth sneezes.
Lightfeather glances at Toxic, before returning her attention to Lyta and Hecate.
On the southern curve, Porthos comes in from the woodland to the south.
On the southern curve, Porthos heads into the center.
At the center, Porthos heads north, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the northern curve, Porthos heads into the center.
At the center, Porthos heads northeast to the fire pit.
Porthos has arrived.
Toxic crosses her arms, face expressionless.
Porthos nods quietly, sitting by the fire. “Elders, Beta, others.”
Sepdet freezes for a moment, nodding at Porthos absolutely silently.
Adam nods to Porthos.
Charlemagne looks up, silently waves Dog-of-War over to sit beside him.
Toxic doesn’t seem to hear or see Porthos. Then again, she hasn’t seemed to acknowledge anyone but Lightfeather since coming onto this scene.
Adam thinks LightFeather is special.
Porthos silently moves to sit with Charlemagne, leaning to whisper to him very quietly.
Lightfeather /is/ special.
You paged Dr. Wilhelm with ‘too bad you had to run that other night. Much more cheerful company then. If it were like this all the time, the Striders would be going their solitary ways, not thronging around this place like it was Mecca.’.
Dr. Wilhelm pages: I don’t doubt it! Though seeing this after seeing a bit of last night helps make things seem a bit more regulated.
You paged Dr. Wilhelm with ‘I want my uncle now. :( Shoulda left when he did.’.
Dr. Wilhelm pages: And to think I only logged on to take another look at which symbols were used when the Caern was built…
Lyta’s eyes soften slightly, holding a mixture of pity, disappointment, and pain as she watches Hecate. “You will not fight any member of this Sept, Hecate. Not even in the defense of the pack. I would sooner suffer death at the claws of a sister than see you disgrace us again.” Her quiet voice sounds calm, except for a barely-discernible flicker of anguish.
Adam blinks. He looks impressed.
Toxic looks on, face frozen.
Hecate’s eyes close, her head bowing forward; her tail echoes the movement, dropping between her legs. A soft, almost pleading whine escapes her lips, but she cuts it off quickly. As you say, Lyta-rhya.
Charlemagne blinks, quite visibly, at a whisper from Porthos.
Hecate settles down on the ground, rolling onto one side. To Lyta, she bares her belly and throat.
Lyta rises a little stiffly, and looks down at Hecate with sad, angry eyes. Her hand clench at her sides.
Charlemagne frowns, and continues to whisper to Porthos, a bit louder than before.
Toxic’s face shifts slightly. She draws her upper lip back unconsciously, baring just enough tooth to reflect the firelight.
Without a word to Hecate, Lyta turns away to leave the Caern; she stops short upon noticing Toxic’s presence. “My apologies, Talesinger, for the actions of this … packmate of mine. And for disturbing the sacred blood of Gaia with our conflict.”
Charlemagne whispers to Porthos, “Did she just say…’Talesinger’?”
Lyta’s voice remains soft. “I will answer for her actions as well as my own, before the Elders of this Sept, if you think it is necessary.” Her eyes darken slightly.
Toxic tilts her head upward, gazing at the taller woman at scant arm’s distance. “I accept your apology, Hippolyta-rhya, for myself and on behalf of this Sept’s elders and Garou. You do what you feel is necessary.” Her head cants slightly to the side, “May we speak privately a moment?”
Toxic’s voice is flat enough to please a mathematician.
Thoth pads off.
Thoth follows the Wheel west, away from the fire pit.
Thoth has left.
On the northern curve, Thoth turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel.
Lightfeather looks up at Toxic questioningly.
Charlemagne looks at Toxic with a frown.
Hecate simply lies on the ground, perfectly still except for a slight shiver that runs through her body. Her eyes remain closed, her belly and throat remain bared.
Lyta takes a deep breath, and lets it out in a fainst sigh; she nods to Toxic, and favors Dr. Wilhelm with a pained look before walking westward through the Caern’s center.
Toxic blatantly ignores various frowns and stares.
Toxic pivots on her heel and walks after Lyta, looking rather…Set.
Charlemagne hrmphs, and settles back a bit.
Adam wurfs.
Adam says “That’s one impressive woman.”
Dark-Dancer has connected.
Lightfeather looks at Charlemagne for a bit, then goes back to work on that weiner.
Dr. Wilhelm agrees with Adam.
Charlemagne glances at Dark-Dancer.
Lightfeather sighs and shakes her head. “I had hoped that this wouldn’t happen.”
Sepdet drops abruptly to sit hard on the ground, eyes only on Hecate, half-blind to everyone else.
Dark-Dancer nods a greeting as he walks out from the trees.
Charlemagne ahems, mainly to break the uncomfortable silence that has descended, and turns to Porthos. “So, Dog-of-War, you carry a good weapon…but can you wield it well?”
Lightfeather snorts.
Porthos nods. “Yes.”
Hecate flinches a bit at the various voices, her ears flattening back against her head to block the sound. Aside from this, she remains still.
Charlemagne smiles, “Perhaps we should fence then, sometime. Practice is good for the soul, and hones the arm.”
Porthos shakes his head. “Not with this weapon. Maybe when I get another, to use in spar.”
Charlemagne grins, “I didn’t mean with that weapon, I’d not favour having your family relic cleave my head from my shoulders. Back in town I’ve a pair of swords, but no one to fence with. Would you be interested?”
Porthos shrugs. “Sure.”
Charlemagne says “Splendid! We shall have to find a time that is good for both of us.”
Porthos shrugs again. “I’m not busy now.”
Porthos grins.
Porthos shrugs for a third time. “Suit yourself. What blade do you favor?”
On the western curve, Toxic works her way free of the dense treeline to the west.
On the western curve, Toxic heads into the center.
At the center, Toxic heads northeast to the fire pit.
Toxic has arrived.
Lightfeather hops next to Toxic.
Toxic strides back across the caern purposefully, ice crunching against stone beneath her boots.
Charlemagne says “I’m best with sabre, myself, but am more than willing to improve my skills with any sword.”
Toxic looks down at Lightfeather and nods.
Adam makes his way south, back around the Wheel.
Adam has left.
On the eastern curve, Adam heads east, back into the forest and away from the Wheel.
Porthos nods. “Try your luck with a man’s weapon?” He grins.
Lightfeather cocks her head at Toxic. “I see.”
Dark-Dancer is sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, with his back to the fire.
Charlemagne snickers. “As you will, Dog-of-War, as you will.”
Toxic looks around the fire quietly, her voice at least as cold as the ice that dots the ground beyond the fire’s ring of warmth, “Does everyone here understand th’apology that was accepted here t’night?”
Porthos laughs. “A joke. I’d not go against Hand-of-Gaia-rhya with this toothpick, against his two blades.”
Charlemagne looks up at Toxic, but says nothing.
Dark-Dancer opens his eyes. ~What is this?~
Porthos looks up to Toxic. He nods, his face grim.
Toxic ignores Dark-Dancer. Flagrantly.
Broken Claw turns up to face Toxic and nods.
Lightfeather says ~Perfectly.~
Sepdet looks up at Toxic, sad eyes eliminating the need to speak. She nods curtly.
Dark-Dancer, receiving no response, recloses his eyes and sighs.
Dr. Wilhelm nods.
Toxic tilts her head, the movement somehow reminiscent of a sidewinder’s preparatory bunching. Much more quietly, much more icily, she asks, “Does anyone here -not- understand?”
Porthos turns slowly, his nod given, to whisper again to Charlemagne.
Toxic looks around the pit, noting a few strange faces, lingering on them, memorizing them.
Charlemagne regards Toxic’s stare with a raised eyebrow.
Dr. Wilhelm pages: Sometime, you should probably talk to Bobby Hanson’s player. He is CWRU’s graduating Religions major, and has a major hobby of looking into symbol sets, ritual, etc. (his profession being GMing)
You paged Dr. Wilhelm with ‘I look forward to running into him again and being delightedly confused.’.
Toxic untenses slightly, rolling her shoulders back with a muffled staccato popping of vertebrae. She looks down at Hecate. “Get up, Nicole.”
Charlemagne nods to Porthos, and stands, “I must be off now, Dog-of-War, it has been a pleasure as always. To the rest of you, a good night to one and all.”
Dr. Wilhelm pages: He has that effect on a lot of people… you should see us after some of the gaming sessions.:)
Porthos nods.
Hecate slowly, tentatively, rises back up to her feet. Head hung and tail between her legs, she stands in front of Toxic, muscles bunches as if to take flight. Lemme ‘lone, Toxic… please…
Toxic looks at the huge form of Charlemagne as he stands. “I donna think I’ve had th’pleasure.”
Charlemagne hurmphs and *cough*s at Porthos’s whispered commentary. He turns to Toxic.
Charlemagne says “I am Charlemagne Smites-the-Wyrm, known as Charles Magnus the Third to the homids; Silver Fang Philodox, Lieutenant Steward of the White Lodge of the Sept of Falcon’s Eyrie…and you are Toxic, I am told?”
On another night, Toxic might have smiled. “You are told. Galliard of th’Glass-Walk. Alpha of Renaissance. Talesinger of th’Sept. M’pleased t’make your acquiantance.”
Dr. Wilhelm notices the time, and nods farewell to all present.
Dr. Wilhelm follows the Wheel west, away from the fire pit.
Dr. Wilhelm has left.
Charlemagne nods. “And I yours. Perhaps we can talk later, though, as I must be getting back to the town. Goodnight, all.” He nods to all around the circle, and heads back.
On the northern curve, Dr. Wilhelm turns to the north, and leaves past the rim of the Wheel.
Toxic nods.
Charlemagne follows the Wheel west, away from the fire pit.
Charlemagne has left.
On the northern curve, Charlemagne makes his way forward along the Wheel, toward the earth mound.
Toxic returns her gaze to Hecate. “Come.”
On the Earth Mound, Charlemagne heads into the center.
At the center, Charlemagne heads south, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the southern curve, Charlemagne heads south, out of the Wheel and into the forest.
Toxic heads into the center.
Toxic has left.
Hecate dips her head in a mute assent and slinks after Toxic.
Hecate heads into the center.
Hecate has left.
At the center, Toxic looks back over her shoulder, “Goodnight, folks. Gaia forfend.”
At the center, Toxic heads west, away from the center of the Wheel.
At the center, Hecate heads west, away from the center of the Wheel.
On the western curve, Toxic heads west, out past the rim of the Wheel.
On the western curve, Hecate heads west, out past the rim of the Wheel.
Dark-Dancer says ~What was that about?~~
Near the Fire Pit, Lightfeather shakes her head. “Don’t ask.”
Near the Fire Pit, Dark-Dancer nods.
Sepdet looks back and waves sadly at everyone, then heads silently into the forest.

Toxic starts up the Cobra with a thunderous roar.
Sepdet looks up doggedly and slinks in after you before you leave. Sorry, rhyas. Anpwhotep doesn’t want me wandering alone.
enter Cobra
AC Cobra Convertible
You sit in the Cobra, its custom black leather seat quite comfortable… If you’re a small person. Otherwise, the tiny vehicle seems rather snug, albeit luxurious in ways other than spatial. A top notch sound system has been retrofitted, speakers cleverly concealed in the thin door panels. The interior is clean and relatively neat. Presently, the Cobra is running, its engine’s throaty roar clearly audible over the noise of more modern and restrained traffic.
Contents:
Nicole
Toxic
You unlock the Cobra’s door and settle into the plushly upholstered leather seat.
Sepdet falls asleep in the back. Pardon.
Toxic blinks, then reconsiders. Sepdet IS small, but this car hasn’t GOT a back.
You set off down the road, further into town.
Nicole swallows slightly, pain flickering through her expression. “Y’still love me, after th’things I said back there,” she says softly. She reaches out and puts her hand in Toxic’s.
Toxic shakes her head. “I still love you, Nikki. I donna know alla what you said. I donna know how much of it ya believed.” She pauses, biting her lip. “I hope ya believe in me.”
From afar, Toxic will assume you were in lupus. In reality, this car is tighter than a front-seat-only VW bug. No back seat at all. It’s a sportscar in the OLD style.
Nicole nods a little. “I do,” she murmurs. “Always.”
+shift Lupus
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Sepdet shifts into Lupus form.
Toxic has left.
Outside the Cobra, Toxic has arrived.
You paged Toxic with ‘sorry, at 3 am, player’s more tired than cub!’.
Outside the Cobra, Toxic steps around and gets the passenger door.
Nicole has left.
Outside the Cobra, Nicole has arrived.
Toxic pages: It’s okay. I wish I knew how to set it so it only held 2 at best.
Sepdet stirs and crawls out from wherever she was, and pads tiredly after, a silent nuzzle on Nicole’s leg as she passes.

Upstairs Apartment(#2925RAL)
Obvious exits:
Master Bedroom Small Door Bolted Doorway
Nicole has arrived.
Toxic briskly strips off her wet coat and hat, hanging them behind the door.
Toxic also peels Hecate’s flannel shirt off and hangs it up, then gently pushes Hecate down on the couch and begins peeling her boots off.
Sepdet murmurs ~Gaia give you peaceful dreams. *Both* of you,~ and pads up to the loft to go sleep on her uncle’s feet.