The GarouMUSH Log Page of Clemency Haynes

Bawn: Foothills of the Mountains(#2986RA)
The hills that rise here are roughened by the frequent rains, and rocky places show through the grasses and shrubs that grown in the clearings. Trees grow as often from shallow soil on rocky hillocks as from real loam. Occassional boulders show through like the bones of ancient creatures, covered with spreading patches of moss and lichen. The land is rough, and the weight of the ancient hills gives the place a chilling quality. The stones seem to resent intrusion.
No visible delimiter marks the eastern edge of the Bawn, only scent-marks and occasional scratches on trees. To the west, the hills become softer and the covering forest thicker, while to the east, the rocky slopes of the foothills become mountainous in truth, and the tree cover thins. I-90 to the north and the railroad to the south provide the remaining edges to this region.

Promises-Kept is out here, near the eastern edge of the bawn. The white wolf with the faded blue ear has been following up on something. Could be a gut instinct, something just out of sight, that tugs on him, yet, here he is. Nose in the air, and looking about for any sign of the wyrm.

As the last few days have gone, Child-Holder has been walking the bawn in search of herbs for her newest project. She's carrying a cloth pouch around her neck on a long loop of sinew. Her tail is mid-height, her nose low to the ground.

Despite her recent transgressions, it's unlikely that Escapes-From-Money qualifies as "the Wyrm", and nobody calls Fire-Burns that. Except very quietly, and a long way behind her back. The two Ahrouns come bounding onto the edge of the bawn, in the kind of manner that suggests that friendly exercise has morphed into a cut-throat-competitive, but still friendly, race. At this exact instant, the Fury is winning, but only by a nose, her paws throwing up scuffs of mud, her mouth open and tongue lolling as she pants. The one thing it isn't, however, is particularly stealthy. Alert sentries may hear the pair coming for some distance.

If any of the aforementioned alert sentries sees Fire-Burns-Forever approach, they might be forgiven for failing to recognise the Silver Fang; her white pelt is as muddy as if she's been rolling in puddles for the entire two months of her mysterious absence. That apart, she looks well and cheerful enough as she chases after her packmate.

Promises-Kept kicks out of the wyrm looking mode, and into the using your five senses mode. The white wolf perks his ears and raises his tail to assaume a more dominant stance. He focuses towards the direction of the two running, though he dosn't give himself away yet. He still wants the element of surprise. His fur is groomed and clean, the pure white as he just watches, no doubt near the path the two are currently taking.

Child-Holder abandons her hunt for the mainly motionless flora in favor of the racous noise up ahead of her. She sprints towards the incoming noise, her ears higher now, her tail flying behind her. She's in no mood, for whatever reason, to stay hidden or quiet. Who? she howls ahead of herself, her path angling to intersect with the interlopers.

Escapes slams on the brakes, at the sound of the howl, her paws scrabbling as she works to keep her balance. Without thought, she lifts her muzzle and howls in response. The howl, however, is barely decipherable, a horrible mass of squeaks and crackles. "Escapes, of the Black..." her voice trailing off into silence as she realises quite how dreadful it sounds.

And Fire-burns-Forever, adds the Silver Fang in a more normal voice. I have returned, yes, I am back.

Promises-Kept lopes on after the other three when he hears the howl. As he gets closer, he gives a howl of his own, controlled. It's one of greeting, announcing his name and rank, tribe and auspice. His tail still holds the dominant position, but he's none too concerned with stealth now ethier.

There's a moment of pause. Just a fraction of a second, really. Then Child-Holder redoubles her efforts. Her nostrils flare and her tail whips about-in wolf form there's just no hiding how happy she is to hear those names. Child-Holder, Black Fury, pack! she howls back to the pair, finally crashing through the underbrush. The loop around her neck catches on a branch, cutting off the howl and the charge at the same time and sending the small black wolf twisting off of her feet and onto her back.

The Fury Ahroun bounds forwards towards her tribemate, coming to a stop over her. Are you hurt? She enquires, with only a light squeak, peering down at Child-Holder. This isn't a form of greeting I've seen before. She looks over her shoulder at Fire-Burns, tail raised enquiringly.

Fire-Burns is mere moments behind Escapes, her attention divided between her packmate and the fourth wolf whose howl proclaimed him to be a tribemate of hers. She lets a series of excited, staccato barks out at Laura and Mathias indiscriminately. Yes! Back! Who? Good! Yes! Wonderful!

Promises-Kept starts to run back and forth with excitement for a moment before he runs on over to Fire-Burns and gives a few quick barks. Who are you? He seems happy enough, two wolves he didn't know! New friends! His tail is still in a dominant stance though, as is the rest of his posture.

Child-Holder fights her way free of the 'necklace' that's become a noose. She coughs and wheezes a few times, her tail still waving weakly back and forth. Fine. Fine. Good. Yes. Good. When she's caught her breath, she rears up a bit and play-bats at Escapes-From-Money with her front paws. You! You! she chuffs happily. Have seen Grey and now you and Fire-Burns! The theurge rambles, not likely making much sense between trying to catch her breath and communicate how happy she is to see her packmates again.

Escapes bats back at Child-Holder, then breaks away to round on Promises-Kept, her demeanour changing to one of wariness. Escapes. Ahroun of the Black Furies. The bark that emphasizes this is a crackling squeal, and she prowls towards him, her tail lifted aggressively.

It's becoming a regular tail-lifting festival. Fire-Burns too adopts a dominant pose as she greets Promises-Kept. I am Fire-Burns-Forever, ahroun of the First Tribe, their elder in this sept, she advises him in a manner that comes close to, but just falls short of, being overbearing. These wolves are my packmates. Grey is also my packmate, do you say he is back, Child-Holder, is he, is he?

Promises-Kept gets rebuked as he realizes who Fire-Burns actually is. Is adopts a much more submissive stance, before he replies simply. You have been gone awhile Fire-Burns-Forever-Yuf...Blackriver-Rhya is now elder, having taken it from Stalks-The-Truth-With-Honor-Yuf. He's much much much more submissive now.

Child-Holder's cubby demeanour slowly starts to fade, allowing her to regain a bit of her decorum. Her tongue lolls and her tail irks to a comfortable mid-height, lower than Fire-Burns', higher than her tribesmate. Grey is back, she chuffs to the Silver Fang. Her posture is respectful, and a little submissive as she pads in closer to Fire-Burns. I found a cub with him yesterday, on the south edge. He is well. She stretches out her neck to inspect Fire-Burns for injuries.

The Fury Ahroun drops her tail a trifle as Child-Holder lifts hers, making the pecking order very clear. She gives a twisted little yelp of surprise at Promises-Kept's revelation, and sidles close to Fire-Burns, just slightly behind her, pushing a flank against the other ahroun in a gesture of support.

Fire-Burns is muddy as all hell, and here and there on her coat are bits of grass and twig, but there's no sign of any injury to the Fang... other than to her pride. At Promises-Kept's words she lets rip with an involuntary snarl loud enough to stir echoes in the wood. I am elder! Not Blackriver! Not Stalks-Truth-With-Honor! I am! Me! Me! She pounces forward as though about to bite her tribemate, but at the last moment regains enough control to turn it into a head-butt that lands around the place where his front leg leaves his body.

Promises-Kept slides back and onto his side when he's hit, though he dosn't move to deflect it. He lays on the ground for a few moments. It gets worse Fire-Burns-Yuf...the alpha tribe no longer has a place to call home. It is gone. He gives a soft whine, and curls his tail around one leg. Submissive, yup.

Child-Holder paces around behind Fire-Burns and Escapes, to provide a similar dark-wolf of moral support on the Fang's other side. As she passes Escapes, she gives her tribesmate a similar sniffing inspection of health.

Escapes is in good physical health, for sure. Apart from a strange throat condition, obviously. She keeps her place as Fire-Burns bounds forward, and flicks a glance at Child-Holder. Silver Fang internal politics, she chuffs quietly.

They take my position, Fire-Burns growls in an icily calm way that is somehow as fearsome, or more, than heated rage. They lose our den. What else have they done in my absence? Speak, Promises-Kept. Speak to me, she commands, teeth bared as she stands flanked by her packmates and glaring at the unfortunate theurge.

Promises-Kept gives a soft whine for a moment, almost like an apology, still laying on the ground. I am scouting this bawn for the next ten full changes of Luna's face. The two philodox judged on Power-Up and Kills-the-Cries as Charach. It is bad, but one is getting money from kinfolk to get a new den, though one is still guest.

Child-Holder's comment on Escapes' is little more than an agreeing twitch of her tail. She stands a little straighter when she reaches her packmate's side, nose working. She watches Promises-Kept almost as keenly as Fire-Burns does, as though she's making sure he reports everything accurately.

Escapes waits, staring once again at Promises-Kept, somehow reminiscent of the guy who hangs around with the school bully.

Fire-Burns growls again. Get out of my SIGHT, she commands the other Fang furiously, and turns her back.

Promises-Kept yelps, the rebuke more then enough as the fang picks himself up and just runs off into the forest towards the farmhouse direction, tail kept low as he does.

Child-Holder backs away to make room for Fire-Burns' turnaround, glaring at Promises-Kept's escaping tail. She snaps her teeth once, then huffs and turns towards her packmates. Many things have happened. You have been away for a long time, she says, fairly simply.

The Fury Ahroun skulks away a little, tail dropping. I have been hiding, she confesses, not fighting heroically like Fire-Burns. She turns away from the other two, her body barely two inches above the ground.

A lupus comes bounding in on the trail of a scent. He stops at the feet of Clemency and looks up, almost too into the finding of the scent to realize he found the source. Immediately he steps backward and shifts into his homid form. "Another is back! I found Abraxas last night, filled him in on what has been going on. You have been missing for two months..."

You did not tell me that, Fire-Burns begins to chide Escapes, when her attention is drawn by the sudden and loud arrival of Bloods-Bane. Then Bitter-Harvest has returned too? What of Rags and of Dagger's-Edge? she asks the Get. I understand that much has passed in a time that to me, was less than a day.

Child-Holder's ears cup forward. Grey has also returned, she informs Dillen. We found a new cub of Unicorn yesterday. She paces nearer to Escapes, sniffing at the Ahroun's ears and neck. Should not hide, she chides gently. There is glory and honor for us against fire and smoke spirits, and our cub comes very close to her Rite. Her posture regains some of its dominance, though her movements and gestures still submit to the Silver Fangs.

Oh good, Escapes replies flatly, not turning to acknowledge Child-Holder at all. I'm so pleased. She slinks further away from Child-Holder, a picture of gloom and despondency. Bloods-Bane gets not the slightest attention in the least.

Dillen moves and sits down. "There is much to tell you..." He says quietly, looking between Clemency and KL. "Been looking for others to let them know. Glad to know that Grey is back as well. Those are the only ones that I know for sure and have word of or have seen. Abraxas, you.." He indicates Clemency, "...And now Grey. It seems that all of the ones that the coyote spirit pulled into the umbra." Most of his attention is on Clemency but he does look to the others, his head is somewhat raised as he speaks. "Where to begin..."

Fire-Burns bumps her head into KL's flank; not the furious shoulder-charge that she inflicted on Promises-Kept a moment ago, but a much more gentle contact. Be of strong heart, packmate, she urges her fellow ahroun. Your packmates are here and together we are fearsome. My tribal matters will... be resolved in their own time. Turning, she looks expectantly, head cocked, at Bloods-Bane.

Child-Holder's lips twitch back at Escapes' behaviour, but her ears swivel back to Dillen at news of a spirit. She whines softly, then walks towards Escapes, nose still twitching. We are pack again, whole again, all of us returned, she adds to Fire-Burns' words. She turns to look at Dillen, then back to Escapes. Come back, hear the singer's words.

Escapes' ears drop in submission, and she stalks back towards the homid Galliard, still low to the forest floor. She stalks in a circle, before sitting on the floor, her tail wrapping around her paws and her nose laying flat onto the ground.

"Your tribal matters... Justin took elder. He assigned Mathias to sweep the bawn and clean it up. During all of this, Justin was also called on with the other philodox to judge a situation. I will say more on that in a moment. Seems as of recently, Blackriver challenged Justin to alpha. He just gave it to her with no fight. Blackriver still holds alpha..." His words drift off, almost unsure of what to say about the rest of that. Then he takes a quick breath and starts on the big one. "Requiem is no more. I have disbanded the pack. At the last moot it was found, when Kevin confessed *insert a sort of growl here* that he was a charach. Soon, it was found that he charached with Basil of the bone gnawers. They were brought into the sept compound and after deliberation of all the philodox were given a sentence. They have been branded charachs, castrated, and will serve as decoys in a fight at the tire fire." He pauses there and looks to the formally missing garou.

Fire-Burns walks after Escapes and lies down slowly and deliberately next to her, close enough to be within reach if the Fury wishes, not close enough to invade a wolf's personal space. She looks up at Dillen with cold, angry eyes as he tells the news that has broken in her absence. It seems that all is doom and dismay, she comments with the lupus equivalent of a glare. Is there no good news?

Child-Holder chuffs. They will not be decoys. They will fight where Stone-Spirit says they will. She is speaking to the half-moons about this, and I have as well. We have scouted and seen the spirits, and we are making a plan. She looks at her packmates, who may notice that she's added a few scars to her collection in their absence. Havoc is still strong. We fight, we scout the tire fire. Stone-Spirit is healthy, still in the Scab.

The Fury Ahroun, still curled on the floor, closes her eyes and lets out a tiny self-pitying whine, which breaks in the middle with an unpleasant squeak, and shivers.

"Emma is indeed pulling in the ranks to go after the tire fire. It is good that havoc is still on the fight. I have already pulled together a new pack. We hope to form under Wyvern and bring the fight as well. We soon go to find out totem as we hope Wyvern will bless us. Leslie, Blackriver, Helen, Cole, and I will be formidable." Dillen says with pride in his posture and voice. He then goes on to speak of new arrivals and cubs. "It will be good to have more strong garou back into the sept for the tire fire. We have been missing the strength of the ones that the coyote tricked."

Child-Holder settles alongside Escapes, giving her a little more space. There have been dreams, she adds. I will go chasing them in a few days. The Lady warns us of something coming soon. Something of the Wyrm, I think. I know the metis with many arms has had one. The spirits still favor us. She sniffs at her packmates again, as though she still can't quite believe they're there.

Fire-Eyes? queries Fire-Burns. Is she well? Is her Rite to come soon? And what of Stone-Spirit's challenge for the fostern rank, did she succeed? Are there other newcomers as well as your cub and... the one I just met? I have missed so much.

Escapes' ears perk up at Child-Holders' news about oncoming Wyrm-threat, but she doesn't make any other movement, or open her eyes or anything that might imply that she's alive.

Dillen nods to Child-Holder. "Yes. The dreams. Cole and I have been working on them ourselves. Seems if someone is in the city or away from the bawn or caern, horrible nightmares haunt them. Each of us who has had the dreams has to confront a wolf with mirrored eyes. Cole and I suspect that it can only be ourselves that we fight. That something in the city affects us to fight our fears and doubts. As with me, before the pack was disbanded, I would dream of Kenneth dying and Kevin being torn asunder without being able to fight for his death." He continues on with the answers as he can. "Emma is to challenge again as Touch Deer has left the sept. Morgan and Sophie have passed their rites. Sophie left the sept soon after. My child grows and has been found to be kin." He goes on to describe the new cubs as best he can with what he has heard. A slight glance is given to Escapes.

Child-Holder doesn't add her own commentary this time. She listens attentively, dividing her attention between Dillen and her packmates. Her tail's no longer wagging as it was.

Fire-Burns seems to be still diverted from giving Dillen her full attention; she keeps twisting round to peer at the lugubrious Escapes. But she is listening with at least one ear to the galliard.

Escapes opens her eyes at the mention of Emma and lifts her head. She should be Fostern by now, she says with a flick of her ears. It's only her mind that stops her.

Dillen runs a hand through his hair. "I think that is mostly it. The fight still rages and it is good to have you back. Your claws will strike soon enough a wound to the wyrm." He grins wide at those words.

Child-Holder chuffs at Escapes' words. Yes. She has been strong, but she needs her pack. We will all be much stronger together now, than we were apart. Havoc needs all claws, all eyes, all ears, all fangs we can get.

We are together, repeats Fire-Burns, again dipping her head to give Escapes a nudge with her nose. Tell us of what you saw when you scouted, Child-Holder. Was it then that you gained those scars?

Escapes chuffs good-humouredly at Fire-Burns, the blackness of her mood lifting slightly. She lifts her head to peer at Child-Holder. Scars?

Child-Holder stretches out, showing them a few thin, wispy scrapes that have persisted along her ribs. Yes. From smoke spirits on the way to corruption. I think there are ways around most, but not all of them. Power-Up, Stone-Spirit and I ran into the middle of the fire. The spirits inside were of balefire, big as bulls. They are more worriesome than the smoke spirits. If they touch, they leave...mutations. No taint, but twisted bodies. Power-Up-charach had... She snarls. Tails.

Fire-Burns gives a small sneeze expressive of both distaste and disbelief. Tails? More than one? she queries.

Dillen raises a brow. "I hadn't heard about this."

I have been healing him, to remove the tails. They were wrong. Very wrong. But no taint. One rotted, one without fur or skin, one with fingers and one that was... Child-Holder snaps her jaws in inarticulate disgust. It was like a tail-sized penis. Another snap of her jaws. They are burned away and gone. Silver, fire and herbs have been used on them. It was the balefire's work.

The sooner this filth is cleansed, Fire-Burns comments acidly, the better. I am glad that I returned when I did. It must be destroyed. Totally, yes, totally.

Dillen nods total agreement with Clemency. "It shall be. The warriors have returned!" He thrusts a hand into the air.

Child-Holder bumps her shoulder against Escapes and Fire-Burns. Yes. We have returned, Havoc is whole. We will wipe the blight out.