12/02/2006
Jacinta pages: Jacinta followed Veronica about 15 minutes or so after she left, keeping back far enough that Veronica wouldn't hear or scent her
Long distance to Jacinta: Veronica wandered. A lot. She was completely lost for a good hour, and ended up circling back often. She did stop a couple of times and looked as though she was going to call for help, then continued onward. Finally, she went to Lupus and ran in approximately the right direction. She'd have made it back, but only just.
From afar, Jacinta grins. Okay, then. So Veronica went to sleep just before dawn, pretty much?
You paged Jacinta with 'Yeah. She had a drink, then just curled up in lupus by the lake.'.
Jacinta pages: Okay. Then Jacinta can come wake her up. (:
Long distance to Jacinta: Veronica nods, and hops to the shore. :)
Rainbow Lake(#2713RJ)
Long and narrow, the lake stretches a mile to the north and south, right at the heart of the woodland. Tall, silver beech trunks mix with the even taller evergreens and dominate the mountain valley. Where the canopy has been broken by a fallen tree, a riot of brambles and nettles have erupted, clinging to anything and everything and fighting for light among the thick forest. Underfoot there is a deep bed of mulch and last year's leaves, muffling any footfall.
Other plants have found a foothold where the beeches make way for the line of water. The edges of the lake are overhung by a wall of dark myrtle, their scent hanging sweet and heavy in the air, giving the place a dreamlike quality. The waters of the lake itself are a clear, unruffled indigo, dropping into bottomless darkness, with otherworldly reflections of the sky floating above the depths. Rainbow flashes of light play about the reeds and weeds that break the surface here and there, throwing colors into the air.
Part of the valley around the lakeside to the south is clear of trees, and often here in the brush and grass a small herd of woods buffalo can be seen.
The clouds and the temperature seem to have little effect on the bundle of fur that lies less than two feet from the edge of the lake. Fledgling is practising her winter-sleeping, tail over her nose, her body in a tight ball on the ground. The cub is completely out, not noticing the light, what wind there is, or the temperature in the least.
Jacinta has returned, a few hours after making certain the cub was safely home. She stands at the treeline, watching and considering for a short while. Then she raises her voice in a sharp howl.
Fledgling whines as the howl brings her out of her short, badly needed bit of sleep. With near-audible creaks of muscle and sinew she uncurls, her ears slowly rising. On unsteady paws, she pushes herself up, shakes herself out, stretches and yawns like the teenager she is. Blearily, she looks at the lake, padding stiffly over, then turning back to the sound of the howl. Another shake, then she gives a low, short call in response.
Pierces Ice stands still at the treeline. She gives another call, the howl of calling a pack together, and then turns, disappearing between the trees.
Fledgling whines, then tries to jog after the elder. She stumbles, smacks her chin into the ground, and rises with a growl. Shaking herself off, she stretches out again, then takes off in the direction Jacinta went, as fast as her paws can carry her.
Pierces Ice is long gone, though her scent would be easy to follow.
Fledgling pauses where the elder was standing, sniffing around. She passes over the scent once, twice, then the third time she catches it. With a chuff of self-satisfaction, she starts after the other Garou. Her just-wokenness shows, as she stumbles a few more times, knocks her nose into bushes and the such. As she wakes more, she becomes more aware, and a few minutes after she started the chase, she's tracking properly.
Pierces Ice keeps ahead of the cub. She leads the cub a merry chase, always leaving a scent trail the young wolf can follow, but always staying out of sight. For over an hour she keeps this up, then, slowly, lets Fledgling catch up.
Fledgling is flagging by the time she catches the elder. Her tail hangs limp, and her chest heaves like a bellows. Though the cub's usually nothing but boundless energy, she's been worn out by her long, exciting day at the moot, her long night in the woods, and now, hide and go-seek. Still, she wags when she catches up with Jacinta, ducking her head, whining happily, and licking at the elder's jaw.
Pierces Ice seems somewhat satisfied when the cub finds her. She settles onto her haunches and looks the adolescent over. Good. Better. Why did you not start by using your nose, last night?
Fledgling whines, sitting and curling her tail over her paws. I thought I would know better by seeing the way home. The trees and the woods were so different, and I have only seen them twice, and I have looked, not smelled those times.
Pierces Ice paws at the ground. You could smell your own trail. Now you know. Lead us to the Caern.
Fledgling chuffs, then gets up onto her paws again. She casts about, sniffing to and fro as she tries to find the trail she followed the previous night. It takes some time, as she skitters from one scent to another. Finally, she sets off after a scent older than that day.
Pierces Ice follows after, careful not to accidentally lead.
The cub is following a set of scents, as soon becomes readily apparently. She follows her own, then wanders off after Jacintas for a few minutes. Lost, she searches for her own once more, follows it for awhile, then hares after Circle Keeper, Stacey or Jacinta's again. She makes gradual progress in the right direction, only losing track for a few minutes when she crosses familiar scents.
Pierces Ice's posture, should the cub look back, is pleased, proud, but she does nothing to encourage or discourage Veronica's progress other than to remain at her heels.
Fledgling doesn't look back. She's having more than enough of a time moving forward. After trailing Stacey for some time, the cub finally stops moving, raising her nose from the ground and taking a long look at her surroundings. She turns her face to the sky, still sniffing, then looks back, to the sides and forward. Then, she carries on along Stacey's track. The route will still bring them to the caern, just not the place Veronica's own trail will lead them.
Pierces Ice continues to follow after, making no note as to whether she approves or disapproves of the cub's choices.
Fledgling picks up a lope as she runs, letting her body stretch out, feeling the burn on tired muscles. She crosses the ground at an easy run, only occasionally slowing to make sure she's going in the right direction. When she spots something, whatever it may be, that is familiar she gives a chuff, rushes at it, spins, then continues onwards.
Pierces Ice, in turn, increases her speed to keep pace with the cub. Her tongue lolls, excited by the youth's success.
Finally, the pup crosses into the far end of the Southern Bawn. Her tail flies behind her as she jogs to a stop, trying to find a better trail to follow amidst the sudden influence of many. Wagging, she runs from side to side, nose plowing into the ground here and there in her excitement. When she can't find anything again, she cranes her neck again, looking into the sky for hints. She rises onto her hind legs for a moment, then 'buffs' and runs onward. She's not _right_ on target, but this way she should make it to the eastern part of the bawn.
Pierces Ice snaps her jaws shut. Still, she follows after with no suggestions or corrections.
Fledgling runs, occasionally becoming confused by other scents. She turns the wrong way here and there, but rights herself. When she reaches the east bawn, she seems to understand she's come to the wrong place. Whining, she circles, searching for the right path. Hesitantly, she goes north, then west. North again, then another pause. She whimpers, confused, then sits, searching the woods for some hint or clue. A few moments of thinking, and she's up again, padding at a slow walk towards the west.
Pierces Ice's ears pin backward when the cub whines, not otherwise commenting or interfering. She stays a bit behind, keeping within easy sight, but not right on Veronica's tail, in case the cub should change direction.
Fledgling walks, nice and slowly, shaking out her head every so often. Her nose tips this way and that. She chuffs a few times as she walks, thinking to herself as she goes. She pauses, her tail waving at one point, then pads onwards. The remainders of the scent of the moot start to draw her in.
Pierces Ice keeps walking quietly behind the cub, but as they near the caern, her tail raises again, ears perking forward with pride.
As the caern itself comes into view, Fledgling stops her progress. She orients herself, looking for the steam, the wind, and the high rock promontory. It takes her another few minutes of consideration before she chuffs, then shakes herself out and jogs towards the appropriate entry point.
From afar, Pierces Ice nods. Keep in mind that we're above the caern until we go down into the canyon. (:
You paged Pierces Ice with 'Oop, aight.'.
Pierces Ice keeps closer to the cub, now that she's found the caern's canyon. As they move along the edge of the cliff face, she watches more closely, though she still does not interfere.
Fledgling finds a place to descend into the canyon, watching where she places her paws. She whines a bit as she makes her way down towards the caern, but her ears cup forward with eagerness at having found her target.
Pierces Ice harruffs as they find the canyon floor and she rises up into hispo. ~Good. Now. Lake and back. You have one hour. Bring me dryfish from the longhouse.~
Fledgling takes a look around, then licks her lips. Yes, elder, she agrees, before turning about and taking off at a dead run.
Pierces Ice waits, not following this time. She settles into the windy spot after walking the seasons of the Caern.
.
The cub goes over the time limit by perhaps fifteen minutes, returning to the caern and walking the seasons as she knows she should. The dryfish container is in her jaws, though, so she at least did what was asked. Here, elder, she says, unaware of her lateness.
Pierces Ice lifts her muzzle as the cub approaches. Better, she allows, and then places one heavy forepaw atop the container. Obviously she doesn't put any weight on that paw, because the container isn't crushed. ~What have you learned?~ As she asks, she shifts into homid form and offers the cub a bit of fish.
Fledgling considers laying in lupus form, but takes homid out of respect for the elder. "Today?" she asks, crouching. "Or since yesterday morning?" She takes the piece of fish and has a bite.
Jacinta strips a bit of fish from skin and watches the cub. After a while she says, "From when we left the lake, for moot."
Veronica sits back onto her bottom. "I have learned the way to and from, and which smells to follow and which ones not to," she starts, looking at the dryfish in her hands. "I have learned...not to talk in the parts of the moot with the bone-cracking. Even if I think I should." She has a bite of the food. "I learned the story, the history of the caern, and what Bison did for us. The others too, but..." She goes quiet, chewing pensively. "But Bison's sacrifice didn't have to happen, if the Wyrmcomers hadn't messed up and woken up that great big bane. A lot of us Pure Ones died after that, because they did that." She swallows, putting a hand flat on the ground next to her. "And...um...I learned that the Guardians stay here, all the time, to make sure the Heart of Grandmother is safe. Even when there's Wyrm to kill. And..." She trails off. "Some other things. Little things, about people."
Jacinta nods slowly. She considers for a long time. "Ii," she says, at last. "What else did you learn?"
Veronica lowers her head a bit. "I learned about Challenges, how they're supposed to work. I learned about that...Wyrmcomer Shadow Lord and his bloodsucker friends. Um, that other one, the elder. Her weird ideas about taking over everyone's kin. And Touch Deer going away." She chews her lip as she repeats that. "I learned that Bone Gnawers disobey the rules too, even when they're elders. I mean, I have an excuse, kind of, because I'm a cub, but she just yelled out too, even though she didn't have the stick."
Jacinta continues her slow, repetitive nod. "Ii," she says again. "Bone Gnawers often break rules. They understand rules differently than we, and are less bound by honor. Understand?"
Veronica nods. "Okay. But...still, I shouldn'tve followed her example. Even though they were being disrespectful to you."
Jacinta nods. "Ii. We follow the rules. What you said was true, but it was not time for it to be said. Understand? We respect the Bone Gnawers, because they survive. But we do not follow their ways."
Veronica bobs her head again. "Yes, elder. I won't do it again, I promise."
Once more Jacinta gives a nod to show her acceptance. "Assirtuq. Because I have asked Ears to the Ground to teach you of being a Galliard, as I cannot. And it is important that you are able to hear the difference between what it is to be a Galliard, and what it is to be a Bone Gnawer, in what she tells you."
Veronica closes her eyes a moment, trying to remember what she learned about Bone Gnawers so she's ready to 'filter' the information. "Okay. When do I start? What should I do to thank her, or help her?"
Jacinta grunts. "You will say, Quyana. You will do what she tells you to do, as you would listen to me. I will give her Chiminage, because it is for me that she does this favor. You will start when she is ready, and tells you so." With another soft grunt she pushes to her feet. "Now. There is one more place you must learn about."
Veronica gets to her feet as well. "Quyana," she practises quietly, stretching as she unfolds herself upwards. A bit of her energy's returned, despite all of the running she's done these last few hours. "Where are we going?"
Jacinta leads the way around the caern and up through the canyon to the west. "We go to the place called the Farmhouse. Cubs of many tribes are kept there, until they have learned enough. Circle Keeper calls it the two-leg den, or the Wyrmcomer place. Many Garou from go to this place to rest, or eat. We do not stay there. But it is important to know it."
Veronica follows where her elder leads her, going quiet again as they head towards the farmhouse. As the building comes into view, she looks it over. Instinctively she draws in closer to the elder.
Jacinta leads the cub into the yard and then up the steps to the back door. "When we come to this place, there is a rule: No Fur. Only in homid because there may be prying eyes. If you must fight another while here," she says, pointing to the barn, "Take the fight to the barn. It is closed to others' eyes."
Veronica follows obediently, turning her head to catch sight of the barn. "Okay. So...go into the woods to run on all fours, then?" she asks quietly as she reaches the back door.
Jacinta nods and opens the sliding door for the cub. "Ii."
Veronica follows her elder quickly, looking around as though she's never seen a house before when she sets foot inside. Amazing what a month will do.
Sipping coffee in the kitchen, the Get cub known as Poe has apparently just made some late lunch, which he's devoured and is now currently digesting. And taking his time about it, too. Looking to the door as people enter, he raises a brow curiously.
Jacinta ushers the cub inside and closes the door. Noting Poe at the table, she offers him a polite nod. "Waqaa, Bites-Bark." She turns to Veronica, gesturing toward the table. "Welcome to the Farmhouse, Ingtaq. Introduce yourself to this one." Then she steps back, letting the two greet each other.
Veronica stops where she is, looking over the other cub. She's only frozen a moment, before she draws herself up. "I'm Ingtaq Cetaaq, Fledgling Little-Bird, Galliard cub of the Wendigo. My human name..." She thinks a moment, then carries on. "My human name was Veronica Eaglefeather."
Poe 's other brow arches into a mild look of suprise, before he puts the coffee down and leans in slightly. "Waqaa, uh, Jacinta-rhya." he offers, the 'Waqaa' badly pronounced, but he made the effort...having no idea of what it means. He finally stands and inclines his head to the new stranger politely. "I am Bites-the-Bark, also known as Poe, Get Galliard Cub. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ingtaq...Veronica Eaglefeather." he pauses, glancing to Jacinta curiously.
A boy that appears to be about in his teens. He's rather tall and slim, skin a light tan, with his face high-cheekboned and smooth, nose straight and lips thin and pink, chin a somewhat sharp point. His eyes are a hazel color, flecks of green within the brown of his irises. He is generally dressed in baggy jeans that hang off his hips and a shirt with some popular logo on it, and he is lithe, looking like something out of those horrible boybands. Trendy and concerned about his looks, it would seem, considering how immaculate he keeps his scruffy-clean mix. His chestnut brown hair is slightly longer than the middle of his ears, strands draping in his face, and occassionally he will slap a baseball cap on backwards to keep them behaving. He wears worn sneakers on his feet, but they're mostly covered by the tattered and saggy ends of his jeans.
Jacinta's sharp nod signals approval and she gestures around the kitchen and down the hallway toward the livingroom as she speaks. "This is the place many cubs stay to learn. Pure Tribes cubs do not need to stay here." There is definitely an air of superiority in her tone as she says that last, but it is tamed as she goes on. "Those who cannot hunt for themselves eat here, and those who cannot fend for themselves sleep here. Many gather here, and messages are left here for those who are not seen often at the caern. If you have need of aid, and cannot easily find those of our tribe or pack, this is where you should come."
Veronica nods quickly, her eyes following Jacinta's indicated directions. "So, I don't have to stay here, but I can come here if I have to?" she asks, gaze slipping to Poe, then back to the elder. "Is this where Kaz-rhya does her teaching?"
Poe itches the side of his nose and relaxes some with the approving nod, and then grins, at Jacinta's speech. He nods in agreement with it, in an amused way, and draws a hand through his hair idly. "Most of us cubs generally sleep in the barn...well, the Get cubs did anyway. When Maggie was still alive. It's a little less restrictive and you can go from there to the woods pretty easy." he picks up his plate and shuffles to the sink to wash it.
"Ii," Jacinta responds to Poe, though she doesn't say anything regarding his fellow Get cub. "Ii," she says again, this time to Veronica. "Kaz Ears-to-the-Ground is the keeper of the house. This is where you may seek her, if she asks for you to do so."
Veronica takes another long look around, noting the decorations and the accomodations. "So...how many cubs are here? Lots? Are there a lot of teachers?" She's unclear whether she's asking Poe or Jacinta those questions, as she looks from one to the other.
Poe chews on his thumb and then continues to wash, plinking the plate in the dryer rack and giving a soft sniff. "Yep. Just don't show up in any form except human...and uh, no fighting in here. I learned that the hard way." he grins, rather widely, before leaning against the countertop. "...mm. There's a few. Me, Sebastian, Bug---er, she's going by a new name now though, Sophie...I think that's all the ones I know of." he looks to Jacinta questioningly.
Jacinta's brows rise and fall. "Ii. Walks the Middle Path's cub was killed. Noisy Ghost and Circles stay to the woods. There may be others kept in the city, as well. I do not keep track of cubs of other Tribes."
Veronica's eyes go round when the dead cub is mentioned. "Why was...why was the Child of Gaia cub killed?" she asks, swallowing hard. "Did she do something wrong?"
Poe blinks slowly. "....oh. I forgot about Andrew. He's dead?" he shakes his head slowly, breathing a sigh out his nose. He smiles a little at Veronica. "Cubs are culled for lots of reasons. Some die on their Rite of Passage. If you behave and are strong, you'll survive." he murmurs, "It's nothing you have to worry about now, though, I imagine. I don't know of Noisy Ghost---is he new?"
Jacinta grunts. "Andrew was foolish. He would not learn when he was taught. He enraged his teacher when the moon was large, and did not back down when he saw her anger rise." Her attention focuses clearly on Veronica as she goes on. "The moon has power over all of us. Walks the Middle Path lost control. The beast took hold and she frenzied. He was killed." She blinks once, as though clearing her mind and tips her head toward Poe. "Noisy Ghost is Beatrice, a cub of no tribe, claimed by the Uktena."
Veronica wraps her arms around herself, taking little comfort in Poe's smile. Her face falls, and her shoulders hunch a bit. When Jacinta speaks, her words are very carefully listened to, the girl's entire focus turning to her elder for the moment. When the subject changes, she folds her arms a bit more. "Beatrice is a no-moon," she adds to Jacinta's information.
Poe looks down a moment, thoughtfully. "I...think I met Beatrice. I can't remember." his brows furrow heavily, before he looks up again and then gives a half-smile. "That was not smart on Andrew's part, no. You always back down to your elders. Always. Well, anyway," he sighs, "Like I said. Cubs don't die every day, and look---I made it. So did my tribe-mate Maggie, but she died nobly on her Rite fighting the Wyrm. Justin has Rited, and he was frenzied on at least three times, and Basil, who was a cub when I first came, also Rited." he grins a bit, "It's not all bad. If you have any questions or anything, just ask me if you want to. Or, y'know, if you get lonely or anything. It can get pretty isolated out here." he rubs the back of his neck, and moves to pick up his coffee again.
Jacinta's jaw clenches though she doesn't respond verbally to Poe. She turns her full attention to Veronica with a return to her formal, stiff posture. "The second part of your test. Find me tomorrow night. Tell me the chorus of Honor, Glory, and Wisdom."
Veronica looks...a little better as Poe lists the other cubs who have been damaged, and continued onwards to survive to their Rite. When Jacinta speaks, she listens, the habit apparently well drilled into her. The order given, the cub nods. "Yes, elder," she says, traces of unease in her voice. "I will. I can ask anyone?"
Jacinta's brows rise and fall in her peculiar form of a nod. "Ii. Anyone you can find between this house, Wendigo Territory, and the caern. Find me when you have done so." With that, she offers a small nod of farewell to Poe, and turns to the door.
Poe nods to Jacinta in return, "Jacinta-rhya." he farewells, and then itches his chin, which has grown rather stubbly, and finishes off his coffee.
Veronica watches Jacinta go, a faint look of concern growing on her face. "Goodbye, elder," she calls after the Ahroun. She stares at the door a good few minutes before looking at Poe again. She gives a brittle sort of smile. "So...I don't suppose you know what she meant?"
Poe blinks slowly at Veronica. "What, about Glory, Honor and Wisdom or whatever? Nope. Don't ask me, I'm a pretty bad Galliard." he sighs softly, "My tribe has not had much interaction with me lately. I was given my Rite assignment, and...well, I haven't been able to find anyone. All my elders seem to be too busy for me." he shrugs, and turns to the sink to wash it. "So, were you recently 'napped, or just kept somewhere else till now?" he questions, curiously.
Veronica shakes her head, tugging on her braid a moment. "Um...no. I've been at the lake for a month. Over a month, really. The wind called Jacinta-rhya when I was close to my Change, and she took me to the Pure One's place. After the moot..." She trails off, then looks at Poe for a moment. "I guess the elders think I'm ready to learn more of the other tribes now."
Poe gives a soft 'mmm' and nods, "Sounds good. Don't let your elders decide for you---when you meet the other tribe-members, you make your decision on the tribe. While a tribe may be notorious for something, it does not mean all of them are that way." he smiles, "I had to learn that myself. My elders wanted me to believe that all...Shadow Lords, for example, were one way or the other, and I found out that wasn't so."
The other Galliard cub gets a slightly mistrustful look at those words. "My elders are wise," Veronica says after a moment of thinking. "They know the other tribes, and they know what they are like. I trust them, because I am a cub, and I don't know the tricks the others might try. They know the stories I don't, and what has happened that I didn't learn about in the qussak school." Her lecture over, she seems to pull herself together. "Maybe yours didn't tell you all of the truth, but mine have told me more than anyone else. Quyana, for trying to help. I might have to be back, later." With that she turns and darts out of the farmhouse.
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