06/03/2006
Rainbow Lake
It's a bit nippy out, but it's much drier up at the higher elevations than it is back on the bawn, and that seems to suit the Uktena just fine. He limps along at a good pace, tail waving behind him as he moves.
The chill hasn't kept Fledgling inside, or away from the lake. She's in wolf form, hunkered down on the shore. She's having a drink as the Ahroun arrives, but the sound of someone incoming brings her head up. She gives a short 'buff' sound, to catch his attention.
Circle Keeper's posture immediately elevates, carrying himself quite high despite the limp. He almost seems to strut as he notices the cub, lifting his head well and high as he returns the vocal greeting.
Fledgling prances in place a moment, her posture deferring to the elder. Then she jogs towards him, her tail waving behind her. Circle Keeper-rhya, hello! I have not seen you in a long time!
Circle Keeper's pace picks up also, running at the cub in an awkward lope, and rearing up to attempt to `ride up` on her the best his lame leg will allow.
Fledgling chuffs at him, skidding as she tries to stop herself just short of him. Her tail wags even more, the entire cub nearly bending in half as she celebrates seeing the elder again.
Circle Keeper takes his feet from off her back, hopping down to quickly walk around the cub. This one is Fostern! he announces 'loud,' immeasurably proud of himself. This one finishes Fights for Hopes Warder's challenge and is Fostern!
Fledgling frizzes for a moment. Somehow, all of the cub's fur stands on end. Then, she howls, rising onto her hind feet to do so. Circle Keeper-rhya-rhya! she proclaims happily, spinning in a circle. When she comes back down, she patters her front paws again. New Fostern! Happy happy happy happy happy!
Circle Keeper starts to counter-circle the cub, strutting about the best he can with assorted wounds; it looks like, from up close, he's been wounded lightly in the gut also. This one wants to tell his sister, and Untangler, and Walks-Middle and Blue and Sky Chaser and Kills-Wisely!
Fledgling drops into a playbow. I could call! Can howl loud, or run to caern? What did Circle Keeper do? Did elder kill something big, to be called greater warrior? She makes a bit of a pest of herself, falling down in the snow, then scrambling back up to lick at his jaw.
Circle Keeper almost does the reciprocal of the play bow, dropping his hind end down and sticking his front end up high. He seizes on the Cub's suggestion, and howls loud and jubilantly to the sky, the call echoing off the faces of the valley.
She gives him...around two seconds of howling on his own, then joins in with a boisterous, celebratory sound. The effect is somewhat ruined as Fledgling wags all through the howl.
Circle Keeper takes his jolly old time for his howl to die off, too exuberant to even care about such paltry things as air supply and oxygen to the head. The Uktena's tail wags even more rapidly as it tails off, clearly pleased with the prospect of attracting the others.
Desiree comes out of the longhouse, just after getting her son asleep. She blinks as she steps outside, bundled up in her winter attire and crossing her arms over her chest.
Fledgling suddenly surges into her homid form, ending up head over heels on the ground. "We need to celebrate!" she says, scrambling to get to her feet. "Like, food and stuff!" She turns around, all ready to run for the Longhouse, when the kinswoman emerges. "Circle Keeper's a Fostern!" she yells, waving one arm over her head. "Like, just now!"
Circle Keeper turns as the kin emerges, tail wagging furiously. His underside is stained a light red from some sort of gut wound, but he otherwise seems in great spirits. He killed lots of things and is Fostern Uktena! he tells the Kin rather uselessly.
Desiree lifts her brow as she hears the cub and her eyes look over to Circle Keeper. "Oh!" she says with a sudden start. The kinswoman disappears back into the building.
Veronica looks at Circle Keeper, then the vanishing kinswoman. Back to the Uktena, then, with Desiree gone. "I'm gonna tell everyone I see," she promises him, landing on her knees in the snow. "Everybody. This is so cool!"
Circle Keeper watches the kin go back in side, and starts to hobble forward a few steps before spinning back around to face the lake. He starts howling again, sitting his back end down to do so.
Desiree emerges from the building again, carrying quite a load with her. "Veronica, Go doen to the lake and fill this pot one-third with water." she replies as she begins putting together the makings of a soup. She also takes out a tin with dried fruit and another with flatbread. Then, she too, goes down to the lake with a small bowl with already warmed water in a cloth. She couches a few yards awa from Circle Keeper, but quietly beckons him forward.
Veronica spins back to her feet, running over to the kinswoman to get the pot. Down to the lake she goes, using her hand and the pot to fill it as ordered. She hums and sings something absentmindedly, the strains of some silly pop song as she helps.
Circle Keeper seems to remember his manners all at once, shifting up slowly back to Homid in the presence of the human kin. His nose snorts uselessly at the air, but he doesn't seem to gleam much from it, being in homid and all. Finally, getting off his knees, he walks forward a metre or so.
Desiree looks up and slowly stands, she extends her arm with the small bowl of warm water and the cloth for the Uktena. "Congrats, Circle Keeper." she replies. "And were you given a name for your accomplishments?"
Veronica, midway back to Desiree with her pot of water, glances at Circle Keeper and gasps. Her foot slips, and one hand comes down hard on the ground. Some of the water spills. She regains herself almost immediately, making sure there is still enough water for the kinswoman to use.
Ciuraq takes the bowl, raising it to his nose where he gives it a good sniff. "Qang'a." He responds, shaking his head a few times to emphasize the point. His head cocks to one side, giving Desiree a questioning look.
No giant by any stretch of the word, this squat adult is closer to the five and a half end of between five and five and a half feet tall. He lacks what most would consider 'refined' features, with a soft, more round jaw, a small nose and dull, dark brown eyes. There's almost a dull quality to his face, like he's still waiting for things to make sense. His hair is a dark auburn, that chestnut sort of colour that's only a shade or two from being brown, and hangs down his back in a thick braid to his shoulder blades. Broad across the chest and arms, it's evident that he works hard to make his living; his whole build is slightly reminiscent of an ox. Coiling up his right bicep is a brown snake shaped tattoo, ending with a jagged spearhead pointing up to his shoulder.
Dressed for the cold, he's currently wearing a heavy pull-over jacket. Another hand made affair, A hood hangs backwards on all but the coldest or windiest days, revealing a mostly grey fur lining within. A large central pocket dominates the front. He favours his left leg lightly.
Desiree points to her neck. "You have some stains," she replies to Ciuaq before she turns as she hears Veronica. "Careful," she says as she walks to the cub and gently takes the pot from her. She turns back to the fire-pit with it and starts a fire there, mixing in the ingredients to be cooked.
Veronica steps away from the firepit, leaving Desiree to her work. "I'm sorry," she says, eyeing Ciuraq again. "Do you need a rag or something, Circle Keeper-rhya?" Her previous enthusiasm has damped somewhat, but she's still bouncing with energy.
Ciuraq's face brightens slightly in understanding, turning to disappear inside of the longhouse. His limp is much more noticeable in homid, with the decreased number of legs to support his weight. Just before he disappears inside, he shakes his head 'no'. "Qang'a. Quyana."
A howl sounding from the base of the mountains announces the arrival of Walks-the-Middle-Road, and it's not too terribly long afterwards that the young Cliath comes into view.
Desiree places the pot on the fire once it is going and stands up to hear a second howl. She freezes in her place for a moment.
Veronica gives a short nod, watching how the soup is progressing over the fire. When the howl sounds, she takes a few more steps back from the kinswoman. Then the young Gaian appears. "Walks-Middle-rhya! Walks-Middle-rhya! Circle Keeper-rhya is /Fostern/!" She does a bouncing pirouette.
Walks-Middle hesitates at the sight of an unfamiliar face, then shifts up into homid to match the others. The little girl grins, stepping nearer to Veronica. "Truly? That is wonderful news!" To Desiree, she smiles, "I'm Stacey, Walks-the-Middle-Road or Peacemaker, Cliath Ahroun and Elder of the Children of Gaia, member of Manitou's Ridgeline."
Desiree nods her head slowly and then introduces herself, "I am Desiree Skywatcher Peter, wife of Michael Kills-Wisely Peter, and I have a son-- Matthew. Weindigo kin."
Veronica bounces backwards a few steps, still dancing. She looks at the soup, then the kinswoman. Trying not to interrupt the introductions, she edges over to the pot and stirs it.
Stacey smiles and nods. "I know of Michael. He had packed with some friends of mine. It is an honor to meet you."
"A pleasure to meet you too," the kin replies. "Guardians are always welcomed here." she replies. "I am fixing up some food, if you'd like to stay for awhile."
Ciuraq comes out of the longhouse, having shed the heavy parka in favour of just the shirt, face brightening even more when he sees the packmate. "Waqaa!" He calls out to the Gaian, stepping outside. "Cangacit?" He's limping heavily, but his enthusiasm seems unbounded.
As the food is mentioned, Veronica backs away from it. She looks from one face to the next, bouncing onto her toes as Ciuraq returns. She focuses on him, fidgeting a bit.
Stacey grins. "That would be wonderful, thank you. Hard to turn down good food." As Ciuraq appears, her grin widens. "Hello, Circle Keeper-rhya!" she says, walking over to him. "Congratulations."
Desiree murmurs a little bit at Ciuraq limping gant, but she has more important things to look after. Desiree make sher way back into the building again, quickly returning with bowls.
Circles's lean grey form slips out of the woods and trots along the edge of the lake.
Ciuraq moves to the side as Desiree passes, gesturing to himself repeatedly and with great enthusiasm. "Am Fostern!" He says excitedly. "Fostern!"
Veronica says, "Can I help you, Desiree?", holding out her hands for the bowls. "I can help you make things, or something? Or even just serve?"
"Fill these bowls and give one to each person," Desiree says calmly to Veronica before she turns and smiles to Ciuraq. She disappears again into the longhouse but this time she emerges not with a thing, but her son.
Stacey nods, still grinning. "So I've heard! That's awesome. The best news I've heard in a long while! I knew you'd do well."
Ciuraq notices the arrival of the Wendigo cub, and before he can respond, he slips quickly back down to lupus. Taking a few limping steps towards the Theurge, he makes a loud, vocal greeting noise.
Veronica begins doling out food, taking the first, fullest bowl towards Ciuraq. When he shifts to lupus, she pauses, looking at the food in her hands. "Circle Keeper-rhya, when you are ready to eat, your food will be over here," she says.
Circles comes to a dead stop, ears straining forward and form freezing in place. This only lasts for a moment, before her returns the vocal greeting and continues to make his way toward the group. Only now, his head and tail are held low submissively, eyes focused on the ground.
Stacey turns to glance in the direction of the approaching wolf, frowning as she doesn't recognize him. She hooks her hands in her pockets, watching the two in lupus.
Desiree goes to sit within the boarder of the firepit with Matthew in her arms. She holds him close to her while she looks across to Circle Keeper and Circles.
Circle Keeper struts forward the best he can with his limping gait, looking very high and dominant over the cub; even then, he's remarkably buoyant in his posture. Cub should take two legs or glabro. he starts out. Circle Keeper is now Fostern, so there will be food to eat and nice things gifted. But need to take two legs around two leg kin to get food and nice things.
Circles hunkers low to the ground as Circle Keeper gets close and the pungent smell of urine reaches the new Fostern's nose, as the lupus demonstrates his submission. Will change.
Veronica considers those around her, then doles out Desiree's portion next, hunkering down near the kinswoman to offer her the bowl with both hands. "Here. He's cute," she says, looking at the baby and giving a silly grin.
Desiree smiles at Veronica. "Thanks," she replies and gently rocks Matthew in her arms. He's not more than a few weeks old, but he stays warm next to Desiree's chest and the fire.
Stacey watches the two lupus until Circles agrees to change, then she turns away. The small girl smiles at Desiree and the child as she finds a seat around the fire.
Veronica smiles back. "You're welcome," she says, backing away, then turning towards the fire to get Stacey's food next. The pot gets stirred, then the soup doled out and presented to the Child of Gaia.
Circle Keeper seems pleased by this, and not at all put off by the urine smell (surprise surprise). He backs up away from the cub, before slowly shoving up and off the ground as he shifts down to Homid.
Circles straightens up and shakes out his fur, taking a few small steps toward the group before shifting into Homid and continuing toward the gathering on two legs. His gate is a little off, but steady. For those who bother to take a good look at his face, he bears a remarkable similarity to Touch Deer.
Stacey smiles up at Veronica as she takes the bowl. "Thank you. It smells wonderful." She glances over at the others as they approach, now in homid.
"Veronica," Desiree says to the cub. "There is flatbread and dried fruit in that tin there in front of you. Let everyone take some if they want it."
"Desiree made it," Veronica replies to Stacey, still all smiles. She shuttles back to the pot and the bowl next to the fire, waiting for Circle Keeper to get nearer so she can give it to him. When the kinswoman mentions the bread and fruit, she sets the bowl down and picks up the tin, offering it to Desiree and Stacey as she waits for the men to join them.
Ciuraq's brow raises, as if somewhat surprised and alaramed, and he says out loud. "Al..! I forgot the gifts!" No sooner that, then he's /back/ down into lupus and off for the bluff at a bliserin... well, as fast as he can move currently.
Wadiskay's head turns to watch Circle Keeper's departure, then returns his attention to the Garou and kin. He looks vaguely confused and perhaps a little frustrated, as he sits down on the ground with an oof.
Desiree takes a piece of flatbread from Veronica and nods to her with a smile. "Hello Wadiskay."
Stacey nods to Desiree in thanks, then also takes a piece of bread. As Circle Keeper runs off, she raises a brow in surprise, then turns her attention to Wadiskay. "Can't remember if we've met. You are Touch Deer-rhya's son?" she asks, then repeats her introduction, "I am Stacey, Walks-the-Middle-Road, Cliath Ahroun, Elder of the Children of Gaia, member of Ridgeline."
Veronica glances over as Wadiskay has a seat. She offers him the bread, trying to find a way to be submissive without falling into the fire. "Hello Circles-yuf," she murmurs in his general direction.
Wadiskay takes the bread, perhaps a bit more quickly then would be considered polite. "Hi. Wa-si-a-kay. Spirit-Moon. Cub. Touch Deer sire."
Desiree eats slowly while having Matthew cradled in her arms. She doesn't respond much for the time being.
Stacey smiles to Wadiskay. "Good to meet you." Then she turns her attention to the soup, falling silent as she eats.
Veronica quickly serves Wadiskay some soup as well, then takes some bread and a bowl of what dinner is left for herself. After a glance at the sky, she finds a seat near Stacey, digging into the food as well.
Wadiskay sniffs noisily at the bread, then bites off a large chunk and chews with his mouth open.
Desiree understands that Wadiskay is wolf-born, thus she leaves teachings in manners to his elders. She too, looks for a moment up at the sky before quietly eating her own bread slowly.
Into this excitement returns the Ahroun, huffing and puffing as he's run (Or, staggered very quickly) down the side of the valley from the bluff without managing to crash into any trees. His arms are full of what appears to be random junk, but you wound know that from how tightly he clings to it as he huffs and puffs.
Stacey grins at Veronica as she sits down, then resumes her eating, only to pause again once Circle Keeper comes into view. She watches as he approaches, brows raised curiously.
Veronica's attention, wholly focused on Wadiskay for the moment, is irresistably drawn to the spectacle Circle Keeper is making of himself. She watches him stagger-run towards them.
Wadiskay continues chewing food, actually bolting it down faster now that Circle Keeper is returning.
Desiree looks up as Circle Keeper arrives, but she slows down as he arrives. She looks to his arms , filled with things and also raises her brow.
Ciuraq stops about a third of the way there, panting heavily in place for about a minute or so. He motions Stacey over with his head, not quite caught up in his breath.
Stacey sets aside her food, curious gaze on the things Circle Keeper carries, and stands as she heads over to him.
Veronica finishes her soup and bread, turning her body around so she can see what's about to happen. She cranes her neck, not worrying much about blocking anyone else's view.
Wadiskay continues to gobble down food, nearly choking as he does so.
Desiree sits up a litlle and readjusts her infant son in her arms.
Ciuraq unceremoniously dumps everything into Stacey's arms, bending over to plant his hands on his knees to get a 'standing rest' for just a moment more. When he's caught enough of his breath to move again, he starts to hobble over to Desiree. "I have gift for you and Michael..." He breathes as he goes up to her.
Stacey blinks and struggles to keep it all in her arms and off the ground as it's passed to her, then follows behind Circle Keeper as he approaches the kin.
Veronica shuffles out of the way, blinking.
Desiree looks up at Ciuraq as she holds her son in her arms. She looks around her briefly before nodding her head to Ahroun. "Michael is not present, but I will gladly accept your gift." she replies.
Ciuraq takes a few more moments to catch up on his breath, still heaving for breath, before taking one of the long length of rolled cloth from Stacey's arms. It's a visually striking, and perhaps a bit gaudy, blue and gold, with a diagonal pattern on it. He digs through a small bag, tucking odds and ends back in as he goes to pull out four little things. He turns and starts to hand the stuff to the kin, only to realize her her arms are already full. "I... um. Have new needles and new cloth for kuspuq. So you and Michael can look nice when you go to the good sept." He hesitates, before adding in offering. "I will put it inside?"
Stacey shifts her arms to allow Circle Keeper to get the items he needs, then stands obediently nearby, waiting.
Desiree's face lights up and she smiles, nodding. "Please do," she replies. "That's beautiful." Then she adds, "Thank you."
Veronica looks over the cloth, tugging at her braid. She pulls her knees up to her chest and watches, setting her bowl aside.
Wadiskay finishes his food and looks around, before attempting to snatch up the nearest unattended bowl or plate.
Ciuraq balances the length on the crook of one of his arms, before starting to take things back from Stacey and stack them on his own. He holds the bone needles in his fist, before looking a little at a loss at what to do with all the stuff. "Noisy Bird. Put Sky-Chaser's things inside." He says suddenly, thrusting it out to her direction.
Stacey waits until Circle Keeper has taken the things back, then returns to her previous seat, still watching the Uktena curiously.
Veronica stretches out her limbs and accepts the needles, cloth and...everything Circle Keeper gives her to take to the longhouse. "Yes, Circle Keeper-rhya," she says, balancing everything, then running off to the longhouse.
Desiree looks over the things that Circle Keeper presents to her and the absent Michael. She thanks him once more and replies, "I will make sure to show Michael these things when he returns."
Ciuraq flusters slightly, before pulling a long something out of the bag, a pair of shoe laces, before holding it out to Veronica to take also. He then grins nervously, before hobbling over to Stacey. He bends as far as he can, setting down a smaller square of much more plain cloth, a single needle, and what looks like half a smushed candy bar. He grins nervously again, and wordlessly backs away to start hobbling inside the longhouse.
Stacey watches as Circle Keeper places the items near her, eyes and smile widening with surprise. She starts to reach down for the cloth, then hesitates, looking up. "For me?"
Long distance to the room: Veronica is in the longhouse. :) Skip me.
Wadiskay looks around, then reaches out for the bowl that was originally put out for Circle Keeper.
"Ii-i" Ciuraq answers over his shoulder, stopping at the door. "Giving gifts. For Fostern." He attempts to explain, before looking to Desiree, motioning her to Stacey with his head before he pops inside.
Desiree returns to eating, too busy watching Stacey to notice Wadiskay. "Potlach, Stacey." the woman replies. "Its like a party among us Wendigo and Uktena when there is a marriage or special occasion, the host distributes gifts according to each guest's rank or status."
Stacey nods, smile returning. "They're very nice. Thank you," she calls to Circle Keeper and reaches once more to picks up the gifts, admiring them.
Veronica emerges from the longhouse after Circle Keeper enters, her hands free again. She rejoins the group by the fireside, giving Wadiskay an odd look as she notices the bowl he's eating from.
Wadiskay eats out of Circle Keeper's bowl with the aid of his fingers, gobbling down the food as quickly as he can.
A minute later, Ciuraq returns with much less in his arms, Holding just a wrapper and a bowl. He goes for Circles, stopping about half way to rub at his thigh before finishing the last of the short distance, where he thrusts out the bowl once more without ceremony. The bowl has a small dwallop of some blue looking glop, roughly gelatinous in it's consistency. He doesn't even seem to notice whose bowl the lupus is currently eating from.
Wadiskay cringes as Ciuraq thrusts his hand out toward him, nearly dropping the bowl already in his hands.
Desiree rocks Matthew slowly in her arms. She looks up for a moment as Ciuraq returns from the longhouse.
Ciuraq shakes it twice, before setting it down. He doesn't even bother explaining what it is, letting Circles figure it out for himself.
Stacey tilts her head as she watches Circles receiving his gift, then sets aside her own to return to what was left of her food.
Veronica shuffles around, stretching her neck to see if she can identify what Circle Keeper's given to the other cub.
Desiree watches before she places her empty dish aside, the kin looking interested.
Wadiskay relaxes as Ciuraq backs away, then goes back to finishing off the food in the bowl in his hands. Once that is licked clean, he snatches up the bowl Circle Keeper gave him. After a brief sniff, he eats the red glob on the inside.
Ciuraq spins about, looking for Veronica and nearly missing her in the process. He starts forward, and thrusts out the half wrapper. It looks like the other half of Stacey's chocolate bar, and it's no better off. "Um... I give the rest... when I see my sister and Untangler and Blue." He decides outloud, starting to grin again.
Veronica accepts the half-chocolate bar with a grin. She thinks on the treat for a moment, then tucks it carefully into her pocket. "Quyana, Circle Keeper-rhya," she says, sitting back on her butt.
Desiree stands up from her place, looking to Ciuraq. "Thank you," she says. "I must go inside with Matthew now." She turns around to look to Stacey, "It was a pleasure meeting you," she says to the Gaian.
Stacey looks up at Circle Keeper. "Thank you, Circle Keeper-rhya. And congrats again on becoming Fostern." She smiles to Desiree. "And to meet you as well."
Ciuraq waves sloppily at the kin, but shifts down to lupus the moment she's back inside. He gives himself a /through/ shake of, before scratching at his side with his good leg. He seems to have some manner of gut wound, visible in the form. Tongue lolling, his tail starts sweeping behind him. Bloods-Bane says he will tell story at moot! He says happily.
Wadiskay laps up the last of his food and now that the kinswoman is gone, returns to his birth form. Comfortably full, he curls up in a ball and promptly falls asleep.
"Goodnight, Desiree," Veronica says as the kinswoman leaves. She then lays down on her back, looking at Circle Keeper a little critically. "I can't believe I have to wait for the moot," she pouts past a smile. "I bet it's a great story, too."
Stacey finishes up the last of her food, and then grins at Circle Keeper. "I can't wait to hear it!" She then slaps a hand to her forehead. "Dillen had to tell Jamethon-rhya... You would have been there? I could have..." She sighs, rolling her eyes at herself. "Ah, well." She then nods to Veronica. "It will be awesome."
Desiree slips into the Longhouse with her son in her arms.
Circle Keeper's tail sweeps behind him. Yes, yes! He agrees enthusiastically. Kill lots of little banes. Bite them until they're dead! Fights big bane of glass and does things and them bites it until it dies. Works strong medicine!
Veronica scratches at her head, then rolls her way to her feet. "I've gotta go see if I can find Jacinta-rhya. She's want to know this," she says, turning towards the west. "Congratulations, Circle Keeper-rhya!" And off the cub runs, to spread the word.
Built by Text2Html