The Umbral Caern

[Kasiya]

Remaining seated as a barrier between his skeletal companion and his tribesmate, he places his hands out of Hans' sight in his lap, making the small yet precise motions of his fingers that pass for language when needful:

"Let it be. It is a long story."

All three Owls children, seperated by truths not known.

He wonders if Hans might have good reason to fear Danny and how much of Ghost-Chaser's story was yet to be told.
Asked to appraise his peers, Kasiya has to wonder at what insight he might offer, but tries nonetheless.

"Judgment-from-the-Skies is a formiddable warrior.
As at the Hive, so he was today. He fought and led as most Fenrir wish they could.
The other Fenrir, Nadya, is the worst of the Fenrir. Bloodthirsty. Perhaps touched by the Wyrm. I'll be watching her. Perhaps find a way to remind her of the consequence of her killings.
Saxon is a solid and dependable warrior. Both he and Judgment-from-the-skies showed more restraint than I'd expected before they started the killing.
Shadow-Stalker suprised me. A Shadow Lord saved my life. The same one who can't understand my duty and the cost of it. I was honoured to run with him. He is a quiet and patient hunter, and he understands the humans better than I.

It hard for me to run with other Garou. We never understand one another. Is there anything else I can tell you?"

Although he's not quite sure yet what Danny's angling for, he's given it his best shot. Between them Danny and Hans are the only ones in Berlin that he can relate to. The only ones yet worth pushing his limited conversational skills for. Maybe Kamut. Maybe.


((I may have overstepped what Kas knows. Not entirely sure. Please pull me up on it if I have.))

[Danny]

((It's allowed. Nothing Kasiya couldn't have observed and concluded.))

Danny nodded. The objective observations of one of his tribemates meant much. Kasiya saw things the way he did, or at least the way he used to, before this city changed him.

"Our mules are the best of two worlds. They understand us, and the two-legs, more than we could understand each other. Maybe if we treated them with less contempt, we would lose fewer to the Wyrm."

He thought on what Kasiya said about Nadya. To a certain extent, he was not very surprised.
"The Fenrir do seem to get their bad reputation from the few among their ranks who are like her," he said. "But she is not tainted, I would not have let her walk through the doors of the Library if she was. I can teach you to read the signs too, so you can see the Wyrm's touch on others. It is always better to know, before we assume.
I trust Judgment-from-the-Skies will keep her under control.
This pack is the first and last line of the Caern's defense. They will fight to protect Owl's wisdom. When Anna returns, we should perform the rite to strengthen their pack bond. I can teach you the rite, if you don't know it yet."

He paused for moment. Kasiya seemed to have a deeper understanding of Spirits and Rites than anyone at the Caern, but there was always a chance he didn't know this one.

"And after that, there is something else I must ask of you. It is not going to be an easy task. And you will not need to go right away. But it needs to be done, and it needs a wolf."

[Kasiya]

Kasiya displays eager acceptance. Always keen to learn, and well used to working on behalf of others, he rarely sees such compensation for his efforst as he does here.

"For me to learn to scent the Wyrm's taint would help my work and the Pack when I scout for them. I am honoured to accept your offer."

The opportunity to partake in another Rite gets as much, if not more interest. It's his outlet for the pack instinct that gets routinely suppressed.

"And I would be grateful for all your teaching. I can assist you in the Rite, and learn as we work, and you only have to ask and I will do what is needed. There are no easy tasks."

Kasiya looks around at Hans with a small smile of reassurance, well aware that he didn't know what Danny needed but not about to ask if it couldn't be divulged in front of an audience. He trusted Hans, but the twice-born lived for information. Perhaps it wasn't yet time to pass it on. Being here with Hans, he's reminded that they had yet to summon Owl. That would be interesting

[Danny]

"There is no better way to learn," Danny said. Although he smiled, he still remained serious.

"Here is what I need to ask of you," he said. "We must return the Red Talon cub to his kin. This city is no place for a wolf cub. He has put on a brave face, but he cannot stay here. Part of him yearns to return to the wild. It would be cruel to keep him here.
The Talons will not trust one of the homid-borns. Their people have been hunted to near-extinction in this country. You must take him home."

Kasiya had spent most of his Garou life being a lone wolf, and Danny took no pleasure in sending him off alone when he was just starting to reconnect with Garou society.
And that wasn't even the worst part.
"But there is more," Danny said, taking out a small, white bone and holding it gently in the palm of his hand. "I'm afraid you will be the bearer of ill tidings."

They will probably be expecting that.

"It took me a while to find this," he said. "It belonged to Little Griffin, Theurge of the Headhunter pack. They were sent to return the cub home. The last of them fell in the hive, fighting by our side."

[Kasiya]

This was a task not unfamiliar to him. The last part anyway, and eerily reminiscent of his recent experiences with the Ghost-Chaser's victims.

"Ill news is no stranger to me."

He holds out both hands almost reverently to take the bone, unsure of what to expect. Had it been the Theurge's treasured Fetish or all that was left after it fell?
Once he has it in his hands he feels for the tell-tale resonance of a Fetish or Talen.

"Do you know their story? If you tell it I will pass it on."

As best I can. Hans will enjoy it too.

He has to simply hope that the Cub knows where he came from or the name of one of his Sept members. Searching through every wild place in Germany wouldn't be quick or easy. Interesting though...

[Danny]

"I don't know everything," Danny said. "But I will tell you all I know. I am sure their Sept will want to hear their story.
There were four of them, led by an Ahroun whose rank and name I don't know. They tracked their cub from the Black Forest, but lost his trail when they reached the city. Near the wall, they ran across Judgment-from-the-Skies, Saxon and Micah, as they too searched for signs of the cub. Micah tells me they exchanged words, but refused Vasara's offer of assistance in the search. It wasn't long before the Black Spiral Dancers caught up with them. They were outnumbered, and two of them fell before Slagbroeder reached them. One of the two was the Theurge, Little Griffin, Cliath of the Red Talons. The other two gave them their last rites and returned to the wall, intent on repaying their debt to Judgment-from-the-Skies and the others, but they were lured into the bane's pit the very day you were led to our cubs by the children's wraiths.
The Black Fury and I heard their howls and hurried to the wall, but were too late to save both of them. We rescued one. The last member of the pack, Sparrow's Song Galliard and Fostern of the Red Talons, tracked you and Slagbroeder to the hive where she fought her final battle.
This is all that remains of them now."

Kasiya picked up the bone in question. It was indeed a fetish, but he can only guess what its power is. It wasn't something he had seen before, but then the Red Talons did not usually share their gifts with the other tribes.

"I know the location of their Sept," Danny continued. "There aren't many Red Talon Septs left in Europe. The ones that exist are well hidden. But you will find it, if you know where to look."

[Kasiya]

He sits silently and does his best to remember the details. Thankfully it's not a fully formed tale, with embellishments and long deed names. He reckons he might just be able to remember it all.

"Their Sept will know."

The story done, he removes the laces from one of his boots and secures Little Griffin's Fetish around one wrist. To put it around his neck was a little too much like a collar.

"I will use tonight to rest and set things in order."

Tomorrow we leave. Soon is best

His intent to leave soon is evident. No need to wait when something needs doing. Not unless something came up, which it usually did. The main reason he doesn't commit to a day or a time.

[Danny]

"You can't leave yet," Danny said, shaking his head. "First, we must wait for Anna's return, so we can conclude her rite of passage. It could be tomorrow, or it could be next week. But you can't leave, you are the ritemaster."

He was glad that Kasiya had accepted the task. The Red Talons would be less hostile towards a wolf-born, and Martin seemed to trust Kasiya since he rescued him from the hive. Besides, he could sense Kasiya's longing to be on the road again. He felt it too. It was the curse of their tribe.

[Kasiya]

He nods.

"The Rites are too important to leave unfinished."

His whole life seemed it was starting to revolve around them. Not a bad thing per se.

"As well as Anna's Rite of Passage and the Rite of the Totem, there is another to be done.
Slagbroder have fought bravely since I came here. They may be due the Rite of Accomplishment."

[Danny]

"I can perform that Rite," Danny assured him. "And if we have time, I can teach you to. This Sept is starting to come together. We are no longer a bunch of stragglers with a death wish. We have structure. I hope you will decide to stay. Our tribal totem is strong here."

Strong enough to keep me here. Maybe, strong enough to keep you as well.

Danny rose to his feet and looked across the Umbral bawn.
"Someone is coming," he said. "Our young allies, or our cub. Shall we go see?"

[Kasiya]

More tuition. Perhaps it's youth, or the curiosity that came with the expanded consciousness that accompanied the change for Lupus, but Kasiya can't resist the urge to learn stuff.
Owl might have a part in that also, lover of forgotten knowlege that he was.

"I hope I can stay."

But you don't quite know all the forces that drive me. It is Owl's will that I do as I do. If he decides I have work here, here I stay.
And I like you.
And you teach well.

But it isn't the time to discuss cosmic drives and urges, so he nods, checks on Hans to see how the little spirit has fared and if he has calmed down, and shifts to the more comfortable Lupus form.
Raising his muzzle kasiya takes scent before he trots along on Danny's Heel.

[Shehrazad]

The Valkyrie floated towards them from the distance, little different from how she had been when she left. The large, bestial Hispo that plodded along behind her was probably Anna and was obviously exhausted. The journey she had been on had not been kind, she was smeared with blood and mud and other filth and had deep scars in one foreleg and a gash down her side.
The Valkyrie looked on with distaste at the two Silent Striders.
"Where is Judgement-from-the-Skies? He must be in attendance."

[Anna]

Anna shifted to homid and, unlike the Valkyrie, actually looked happy to see the two Silent Striders. They could probably tell, from the look on her face, that she had been successful. She was tired and dirty, and rather torn up from the fight with the banes, but at least she had returned as Cliath.

[Kasiya]

"Yes. He must."

Kasiya's answering bark emotes dispassion toward the Valkyrie. He had to respect the spirits, but she wore her flaws for all to see. He could see where the worst in the Fenrir came from, as well as the best.

Unwilling to let an Athro do the running of errands, even though he was the Ritemaster today:

"I will go."

Easing his way through the weak gauntlet, Kasiya fades from sight.

[Danny]

Danny nodded respectfully to the Valkyrie, well aware of her distaste for both him and his tribesmate. At least they had accepted Anna, and since she had returned, he knew she had succeeded.

"Thank you," he said to Kasiya as he ran off, signing a quick hurry, although he knew he didn't need to.

"So she has returned," he said. "With blessing of Fenris?"