Nina
Cliath
Posts: 22
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Post by Nina on Jan 11, 2009 14:53:51 GMT 1
"Yes," Nina said firmly. She looked around at Corina, Danny, Torsten, and Martin, and felt very certain. She wondered whether they realised that she had nowhere else to go.
Part of her felt a little guilty, that she was here to escape from her other life, like a stowaway at the back of a sailing ship. The others seemed to fit in so well into this world, and have such a passion and a conviction for what they were fighting for. She didn't even fully understand what it was they were fighting. But she was staying anyway.
"I'm staying," she said again, just in case someone had any doubt remaining.
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Post by Danny on Jan 11, 2009 17:03:24 GMT 1
Cloud-Dancer smiled approvingly, and Torsten gave Nina a grin. Martin remained shyly in the background, but offered a smile.
Danny, however, looked serious. "Then you should know the full score," he said. And then if she decided to leave, she wouldn't be the first. "A year ago this city was nothing but a cesspool for Wyrm-taint. Black Spiral Dancers had the run of both East and West sides of the city. No Garou in their right mind would come here for a holiday." But then Kaleb was never in his right mind, not in the traditional sense of right. "But there was one who lived here, despite the danger and hopelessness. When I came here, searching for a cub of my tribe, I looked him up. Slowly, we found each other, the last Garou loyal to Gaia willing to brave this city. Some, like you, were looking to make a difference. Others were just lost wanderers, searching for their purpose. At the heart of this city's defense is a war-pack united under Bear. Then there is Owl, whose wisdom guides this last Caern. We've cleaned up the city. We even struck at the heart of their hive, weakening them." He nodded to Cloud-Dancer. "That is what happened to Micah's arm."
"I was there," said Martin, the younger boy. "I fought them too, on a big stone house at the top of the hill. It is a terrible place. But we killed many of them."
Torsten looked at the younger boy, a little envious of his battle experiences.
Danny simply nodded in agreement. "It is what they do," he said. "They taint everything they touch. The wall keeps us apart, but it will only do so for so long. Perhaps a more imminent threat are the unwitting servants of the Weaver. They are men of science and reason, and they seek to understand our... condition, and cure it."
"I have seen them too," Martin said. "In the big clean place, with white things, and needles and... medicines." He stumbled over the last words, but Danny patiently let him finish.
"They took Martin after his first change," he said. "They took one of our kin too. They are a threat to the veil, but don't underestimate them because they are only human. They know our weakness, even if they do not understand it."
"I've heard of them," Cloud-Dancer said. "They have a large network of labs spread over the country. They have special teams trained to take us alive."
"They have tried," Danny said. "More than once. And they use silver."
Cloud-Dancer flinched when he said that. The cubs didn't react, but then they hadn't felt the burn of silver in their short lives. Neither had Nina, although she had seen what it had done to others.
"So what are our resources," Cloud-Dancer asked. "How many of us, how many of them? What allies do we have?"
"We are still unsure of their numbers," said Danny. "Anna and Martin say roughly another twenty or so, besides the ones that were killed in the attack. But they could have regrouped since then, and called on reinforcements. We don't have their numbers. Most of the new arrivals are kids, barely Cliath. The Bear's pack is united under Judgment-from-the-Skies, a Fostern Son of Fenris, but the rest are scattered."
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Nina
Cliath
Posts: 22
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Post by Nina on Jan 11, 2009 17:39:30 GMT 1
Nina listened, mesmerised.
She had met Galliards before, but no one quite like this. Danny was really incredibly charismatic. From the very first sentence he had uttered, she had become instantly drawn into his story, and could think of nothing else. She knew the others felt it too.
She felt Danny's sadness when he spoke of Kaleb, and she felt a shiver go down her spine when he told of the scientists in the labs experimenting on Garou. When little Martin spoke up, she found it very disturbing that this young boy had seen so much violence and horror.
Slowly it started to dawn on her that despite the fact that they were standing in a surreal spiritual world, this war they were talking about was a real war, a war with pain and blood and suffering. And she was going to be fighting in it. The idea made her heart beat a little faster.
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Post by Danny on Jan 12, 2009 0:07:18 GMT 1
"So where is everyone?" Cloud-Dancer asked.
"Bringing back our kin," said Danny. "Vasara, that's Judgment-from-the-Skies, and his pack have scryed for him. Owl sent the new kids on a search for something, they didn't say what. Anna left on her Rite of Passage the night of Torsten's first change, and hasn't returned yet. That leaves only us."
"But we're here to fight," Martin said. "We're Ahrouns."
"You're here to learn," Danny corrected. "There will be a time to fight."
"Bloodthirsty boys," Cloud-Dancer said, but her smile showed she didn't disapprove. Torsten grinned.
Danny looked at Nina. She didn't seem to be as enthusiastic about fighting as the boys, and she hadn't said anything about combat. But if she was Cloud-Dancer's student, then there was a good chance she at least knew the basics. "So," he asked, deciding to dispel all doubts. "Can you fight?"
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Nina
Cliath
Posts: 22
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Post by Nina on Jan 17, 2009 12:31:32 GMT 1
Nina hesitated. She didn't really know the answer to that question. She did know some things, and she knew a lot more now than she had three years ago, but she wasn't sure that the things she knew would in any way measure up to what Danny was expecting. Learning with Corina had been fun, tiring at times and completely exhiliarting at times, but it had been a sport, a game, and she hadn't really realised that she would have to use these skills in an actual battle.
"I know some things," she said, glancing to Corina. "But as you said, I'm really here to learn. I've got some basic skills, but I guess now is where I get to put them to the test."
The truth was, the fighting worried her a little. She didn't like blood and gore. That was one of the reasons she had skipped out on medical school in the first place.
Brilliant. I'm a werewolf who's afraid of blood. That's going to be a useful one when the action starts.
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Post by Danny on Jan 17, 2009 13:39:34 GMT 1
"She can fight," Cloud-Dancer said. "She lacks experience, but she's fast on her feet, and can go for a round or two without tiring out." She seemed quite confident in Nina's abilities, even if Nina herself wasn't.
A tall figure approached, and Nina recognised him as Micah, the man from the gate. He stopped near the group and spoke to Danny. "Slagbröder are back," he reported. "All of them, and in one piece more or less. They have Jan."
"That's good news," Danny said, and the others were going to have to take his word for it, because he didn't elaborate. "What's the bad news?"
"Always the pessimist," said Cloud-Dancer, but Micah looked grim. Apparently there was some bad news. "You should see for yourself," he said.
Danny nodded. "But first I need a word with Kasiya," he turned to Martin. "Come." "I'll let him know," Micah said, heading off. Danny turned back to Nina. "We will talk more soon," he said. "Torsten will introduce you both to the other pack. I will meet you back at the Library." He nodded to Martin and they both walked off in search of this "Kasiya" character.
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Post by Corinna Cannstein on Jan 17, 2009 13:43:43 GMT 1
"Wow, he's become so bossy," Cloud-Dancer remarked. She looked at Torsten. "When did that happen?" Torsten replied with a shrug. "He always did like to hear himself talk though," Cloud-Dancer assured Nina. "You're lucky he let you get a word or two in. Shall we head back?"
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Nina
Cliath
Posts: 22
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Post by Nina on Jan 17, 2009 13:56:08 GMT 1
Nina grinned. Not having to do much talking had suited her just fine. It took her a moment to realise what Cloud-Dancer meant by 'back'. She had forgotten that they were still in the Umbra. Not forgotten really, but become so used to it that it was hard to believe that another world existed.
"Yes," she said, almost reluctantly. She turned to look at Torsten. Danny had said something about getting to meet the other pack. "You coming?"
Goodbye strange spirit world. I will be back soon.
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Post by Corinna Cannstein on Jan 17, 2009 16:33:42 GMT 1
"Yeah, of course," Torsten said, following behind the two women. Though only sixteen, he was much taller than them. He was just as reluctant as Nina to leave. He couldn't believe that only a day ago, he had been scared silly by the concept of the spirit world."Alright, let's go meet this war pack everyone's been talking about," Nina said, stepping sideways once they'd reached the confines of the Library. >>Clicky<<
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Kasiya
Cliath
Treads the Darkest Path
Woof.
Posts: 598
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Post by Kasiya on Jan 22, 2009 2:26:06 GMT 1
((Actually, quite a while later.))
Kasiya slips easily through the tenuous gauntlet as a black Wolf. Raising his muzzle high into the air and sniffing around, he satisfies himself that not a lot has changed in their brief absence.
No blood, none of the gun-stink. All fine.
He barks a short greeting to Danny and awaits a reply.
Not greatly inconvenienced by the sting of a shoulder wound, he still unconsciously favours his other three legs, and sits on his haunches better to reach around and lick it clean. The Slagbroder could keep their needles and thread.
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Post by Shehrazad on Jan 22, 2009 9:12:38 GMT 1
Hans, the skeletal little mouse spirit, found Kasiya as soon as he stepped sideways. He approached, skittering on bony feet towards the black wolf. "Have you been fighting again?" he asked curiously, staring at Kasiya's shoulder. He climbed up Kasiya's leg, which was probably a strange and not-so-welcome feeling for him. The small spirit touched the wound that Kasiya had been trying to clean, and it started to heal up immediately. Soon, there was nothing left to see of it under his thick black fur. A small scar would probably be visible if he were to shift to homid, but then it had been a silver shot.
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Kasiya
Cliath
Treads the Darkest Path
Woof.
Posts: 598
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Post by Kasiya on Jan 22, 2009 20:06:37 GMT 1
"Not by choice. But when Fenris' children lead, the hunt turns bloody."
He leaves off twisting around as Hans climbs, and makes himself stay still, though the tiny pinpricks and tugs at his fur make him want to plant his ass and scratch like a mutt.
Kasiya does evince a brief whine of suprise at Hans' healing touch. He'd not known that the little mouse and his ilk professed those charms. He probably should have. The least he can do is offer what the little mouse craves above all else:
"That was the smallest hurt. But it was the only silver one. Want to hear what happened while I wait for Mephi-Walks-with-Death?"
He could always sit like a human and practice speaking for a while. He did need the practice.
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Post by Shehrazad on Jan 23, 2009 11:11:03 GMT 1
"Oh yes," said Hans excitedly. "Tell me, what evils lurk in the Spider's lair." He kept looking around for signs of anyone else, ready to disappear as soon as anyone joined them. There was still no sign of Walk-with-Death, so Kasiya probably had some time to talk.
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Kasiya
Cliath
Treads the Darkest Path
Woof.
Posts: 598
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Post by Kasiya on Feb 7, 2009 23:13:59 GMT 1
Doing his utmost mot to dislodge his passenger, Kasiya furrows his brows and concentrates on shifting to Homid. He could talk better as a two-legs.
"We scried. Every Garou who was here. We scried and found Jan Stoltz. Felt like they hadn't joined in a Rite in a long time. Did you see?"
There's a certain degree of pride in his voice. It's not often he gets to lead a Rite, even less often one that brings about such success.
"Jan had been missing some time, they tell me. He's Kin. The questing stone led us to a tall de... building in the middle of the city. There were five of us hunting. Judgment-from-the-Skies, Saxon, Nadya, Kamut and I. The warriors walked in the front while Kamut and I entered through the Penumbra. We circled around, and I used the Questing stone again to make sure Jan was inside while Kamut guarded me. He and I scouted the place as much as we could from beyond the Gauntlet. The place was not old. It was unfinished and infested with the weavers spiders, treacherous to enter, it's umbral reflection incomplete. We pushed our sight through the shadow, but then I got. Stuck."
He pauses and swallows. He'd been pushing himself, using words he heard the two-legs using, trying to make his accounting better than a jumble of facts, and he'd forgotten this part of the story. A shiver passes through him, goosebumps rising in a pitiful parody of hackles at the memory of the nothing between two worlds.
I wonder if the spirits even know about what lies in the gap between worlds?
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Post by Danny on Feb 8, 2009 21:29:34 GMT 1
Hans hopped onto the ground and sat staring up at Kasiya. He listened with intent fascination as Kasiya recounted the events of the day. He was so engrossed in the story, that he didn't notice the winged black wolf as it moved silently towards the storyteller and his audience.
"It is not a pleasant feeling, is it?" Danny shifted to homid too when he reached them Hans immediately skittered away and hid behind Kasiya, poking his head out tentatively to look at Danny. "Your friend is shy," he said. Owl's brood didn't usually hide from him. But he didn't have Kasiya's affinity for spirits, and he didn't know their language. He wasn't a Theurge, and it wasn't his to know. "But Owl's children are always welcome here. This is his Caern, we only tend to it."
Hans stayed where he was, however, behind Kasiya, and watched apprehensively.
"Thank you, for your hand in returning our kin to us," Danny continued. "I have not met with Jan yet, but Vasara tells me he's unhurt. That was very lucky, especially with you all returning alive."
There was a point. Kasiya could tell when Danny asked to speak with him, that he had something important to say. However, it wouldn't be like him to get to the point straight away.
"So, what did you think of our allies?" he asked. He could tell that Kasiya was not used to dealing with the other tribes on a level this close. It was something he could relate to.
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