31/01/2006
Rainbow Lake
Off in the rain, Fledgling is attempting to practise her kata. The rain seems to have something to say about that as she works on her form by the lake. The cub is frequently distracted by the wind and rain, and the hundreds of other things that catch the attention of galliards-sounds, movement, shiny objects...
The small moon lends little light as the Walks-the-Middle-Road walks onto Wendigo territory. Her fur clings to her, soaked by the rain. The young wolf appears to be looking for someone, turning her head from one direction to another, trying to sniff scents. Finally, catching sight of the form near the lake, she heads in that direction, chuffing to let the other know of her presence.
Oh look a sound, and another wolf! Fledgling's practice is abandoned immediately, and she drops to all fours. ~Hello?~ she answers the other's greeting, trying to decide if she should change or not. ~Elder?~
Walks-Middle stops a decent distance away and cocks her head to the side as she looks up at the Wendigo, tail wagging slightly. Hello! At the greeting, she bulks up into Hispo. ~I am Walks-the-Middle-Road or Peacemaker of the Children of Gaia. We met once: I dedicated your clothes.~
Fledgling matches the elder's form at once, her head and tail dropping deferentially. Yes, yes, this one remembers. Walks-Middle. Pierces-Ice-rhya's packmate, yes? Her tail wags as well, once it's done showing Stacey's dominance.
Walks-Middle assumes a more dominate stance in response to the younger cub's reaction, almost as if she'd forgotten until then. ~Yes, I am her packmate. I noticed you were practicing. That is not unlike what I was not. My teacher, Flood-of-Flame, was Pierce Ice-Rhya's student.~
~Flood-of-Flame?~ Fledgling chuffs, impressed by the name alone. ~She showed Noisy Ghost and I the way to do the form the other day. And she's going to have questions when I see her next, so...I was trying to get it right. Did it look right?~
Walks-Middle sits back and lifts her head slightly as she regards the cub. ~What I saw looked about right. Keep working on it, practice. You'll do fine. It is good that you are motivated. Flood-of-Flame was an Ahroun Child of Gaia. He decided to remain to the south instead of returning.~
Fledgling allows herself that point of pride, her tail waving at the Child of Gaia's critique. ~I am trying very hard. I want to be a good Wendigo.~ She ducks her head and pads in a circle. ~You are also an Ahroun? And a Child of Gaia? Why do the Children of Gaia need warriors?~
Walks-Middle considers the question, her gaze following the cub. ~A good question. To protect what is good and innocent, to stop the Wyrm from destroying what we all love. To fight for Gaia. There are some evils you cannot reason with or change.~
Fledgling sits on her butt with a chuff. ~I do not know much of other tribes. Only ever see Uktena and Wendigo here. But Pierces-Ice does not speak badly of Children of Gaia...~ She cocks her head. ~Is being a cliath hard? Is the rite of passage hard? No one has told me the stories of theirs.~
~Hard? I would say so, yes. Cliaths are considered adults. Responsible, able to fight and stay alive. And the Rite? It can be hard. It can be dangerous. It greatly depends on the cub, as well as your tribe and auspice. But Pierces Ice-rhya is a good teacher. You should be prepared when it is time for you to be tested. My own Rite involved helping a pack of Furies in a fight against banes, as well as finding a peaceful solution to a difficult problem.~ Walks-Middle says.
~Was it the Banes you had to find a peaceful solution to?~ Fledgling asks, chuffing a bit at her own joke. ~Pierces Ice-rhya is a great teacher. I trust her. She will show me how to do this right.~ She wags her tail, the picture of hero-worshipping confidence. ~Did you come here to find someone?~
Walks-Middle lolls out her tongue at the joke, amused. ~No, there were some who hunted too many whales. The pack would attack their ships. I was to come up with a solution for that. I wonder sometimes how that all turned out. And I was hoping to find Pierces Ice-rhya or Untangler.~
Fledgling flicks her ears, then shakes off the rain. ~I have not seen them for some time. But I spend too much time in the woods.~ She huffs, then gives a low howl. ~Practising my singing. And my...fighting. And the glyphs.~
Walks-Middle looks around again, as if hoping they would miraculously appear. ~I see. I will have to seek them out elsewhere, then. Perhaps tomorrow, when, Gaia willing, this rain eases.~ Her attention returns to the cub. ~Pierces Ice-rhya should be proud. I wish my own cub was as dedicated to learning. Ragabash can be difficult.~
~I have heard of him. From Noisy Ghost. That he fights, and disobeys rules.~ Fledgling's puzzlement at that shows in the splay of her ears and the twitch of her lip. ~I do not know why he would not like being Garou. It is much better than being human.~
Walks-Middle huffs, looking displeased. ~Noisy Ghost said this? I did not know she knew him. He is a difficult cub, but hopefully his time in the woods has changed that. I have faith that he can still become a good Garou. I do agree. I like being a Garou as well.~
Fledgling confirms that this is what she heard. ~Maybe he has not heard the right stories yet. The ones that make him understand Garou are good.~ She grooms her chestfur, looking nothing but awkward. ~What has he learned in the woods?~
Walks-Middle tilts her head. ~Perhaps you are right. I will have to think on this. Perhaps Pierces Ice-rhya knows some stories that would be useful. As far as what I'm trying to teach him: How to act and think as a wolf, as well as the history and purpose of our tribe.~
~That was the first thing Pierces Ice-rhya told me about. History. Purpose. It was a good thing to learn first.~ Fledgling ducks her head. ~But I am not an elder, and not a teacher. Yet. Just a cub.~
Walks-Middle narrows her eyes slightly. ~Unfortunately, I was not able to be around for his early teaching. And then when I was able, well, he'd already managed mischief. The first lesson I was forced to teach him was how to submit.~
Fledgling gives a little whine. ~I learned from Circles to submit. I was very afraid. I went into the woods for days. It was a stupid thing to do. But it was good to learn that way. Who taught your cub before you did?~
Walks-Middle looks sympathetic. ~Circles? That is Touch Deer's cub? Sometimes the lessons we learn the hard way are the ones we remember best. Before me... I know Guards-Flame-rhya and Heals-the-Rift were working with him some.~
~He almost fought with me, when I still had trouble with four-legs. Some of the tribe...~ Fledgling lowers her head, as though telling a secret. ~And Circle Keeper...they are too stuffy. They don't have enough fun.~
Walks-Middle whuffles, seemingly highly amused. ~I could see why you think that. They have a lot to worry about, a lot they are responsible for, and also, rage. But they have their fun moments!~
Fledgling chuffs. ~Even Circle Keeper?~ She gives a sneeze at the thought. ~He is always so slow to understand when I talk. And he says I am noisy.~ She lolls her tongue. ~But I am noisy, so that is not wrong.~
~Even Circle Keeper,~ Walks-Middle responds. ~He is a good Guardian and packmate, but leans toward the wolf-side. As far as noisy... you're a Galliard, so that seems fitting.~
Fledgling's tail waves. ~I thought so. I will be quieter to Circle Keeper, so he doesn't think I am stupid.~
Walks-Middle chuffs. ~That is probably smart. One thing I've noticed around Circle Keeper: One rarely has problems with him if one knows one's place.~
Fledgling nods, a weird gesture in hispo. ~Always always always. Cries-No-More-rhya said always, so, I always remember my place. Always submit to elders. Always submit to Circle Keeper.~
Walks-Middle lolls out her tongue. ~Good. I believe you will do well, then. Are you from around here? You said you liked being Garou better, was your other life difficult?~
Fledgling rumbles, then flops onto her side, limp as a trashbag. ~My family was not good at human tribe things.~ She growls as she tries to figure out the right words. ~I was white inside, red outside. My father wanted us to be white, all white. And no Garou. I was unhappy, wanted to be red. My father said no.~
Walks-Middle lowers herself down into a Sphinx-like pose, listening intently. ~I would not have been happy either. It is not good to deny a part of yourself. My parents were more understanding, but my mother died a few years ago, when we lived to the south. My father wanted to bury the grief, but I clung to her memory. We were not as close after that.~
Fledgling whines. ~I am sorry to hear about that. We lost no one. I miss my brothers, but Pierces Ice-rhya let me send them a letter, so they know I am alright, but gone. They will think I am in the north.~ She licks her lips. ~I could not lose my mother. It would be very hard. I'm sorry you did.~
Walks-Middle lowers her ears, posture drooping. ~It was hard. I still miss her. A lot. It is hard to think how much has happened, all that I have done... as young as I am. I wonder how different it would be if she had lived to raise me longer.~ She lifts her gaze to the cub. ~It is good that your family knows you are well. That must be a comfort.~
Fledgling sniffs at the elder. ~Yes. It was good. Pierces Ice-rhya trusted me a lot to let me send the letter. I am trying to thank her by being a good cub. Even...fighting.~
~That is the best way to thank her,~ Walks-Middle affirms, then tilts her head quizzically. ~Do you have a problem with fighting?~
Fledgling whines and lays her head on the ground. ~I am a girl. A girl-girl. No fighting, ever. I did not even see a real fight. I am not good at even trying to pretend to fight.~
Walks-Middle gives a sympathetic whine. ~My teacher Flood-of-Flame, was often frustrated with me. I was Ahroun, but did not wish to harm anything. I did not see the need to fight. It took a lot of effort for him to get me to use my Rage, and it wasn't even until my Rite that I finally realized how necessary it is. Pierces Ice-rhya is a good teacher. She will help you. And it is good for you to learn. You will need to know how. Maybe, when you are more experienced, she will allow me to spar with you some. Perhaps I will ask her permission sometime.~
~Now I just get to be dominant over Noisy Ghost, and spar with her.~ Fledgling considers this, her ears cocking oddly again. ~It is not that hard. But fighting...even sparring...my instincts say swing arms around so much people stop hitting you. And that is just girl fighting.~
Walks-Middle looks amused again. ~What you were practicing before, that will help. It trains your body so that moves like that become your new instincts. Practice that daily, and you will be on your way to fighting decently.~
Fledgling chuffs. ~It is easy to learn that way. Cries-No-More-rhya tried another way, and I looked like I was swatting bugs. And having a seizure, too.~
Walks-Middle whuffles. ~That would have been funny to see! At the cub-den in the west, there is a bag that can by used for practicing punches and kicks, which many use.~
Fledgling whines, exaggerating her pain at the memory. ~I look much more graceful now. When I can go to the caern, I will practice on the bag. Here, I have the wind, and it fights hard enough. And Noisy Ghost, who will probably beat me up when she figures out I can't fight.~
Walks-Middle shakes out her fur. ~It is not good to think that way, or you lose before the fight begins. Half of the battle is hope, just a little under half is skill, and what is left is luck.~
~I am the hope-part,~ Fledgling states, obviously still in a bit of a silly mood. ~Full-moons are the skill-part. No-moons and knife-moons are the luck-part. There. Now I don't have to fight.~ The cub's tail wags at her joke. ~I am trying to stop thinking about getting beaten. I might win.~
Walks-Middle stands to her feet. ~You seem to have the right attitude. I wish you luck with your lessons, as well as with dealing with Noisy Ghost. I ought to return to my patrols.~
~I am always here. If you want to visit, or talk. Or watch me practise. Or anything. Thank you for talking to me, Walks-Middle-rhya.~ The cub rolls onto her stomach. ~Have a good patrol.~
~Thank you. I enjoyed the talk and will come by to see how you are now and then, when I can. Gaia guard your steps.~ And with that, Walks-Middle turns away and begins walking back toward the bawn.
Fledgling lays there, watching the elder go, then decides to take a page from Circle Keeper's book. She curls up right where she is, nose under tail, and starts to doze.
Built by Text2Html