At the Weeping Willow

[Shehrazad]

The group met no resistance as they followed the raven gaffling. None of them knew the city well enough to know where the gaffling was leading them, but it flew north and they ran behind it.

The children of merlin were at home in the Umbra, but the other three were starting to feel nervous here, especially as they ran through the city. Every weaver spirit, every pattern web, put them more on edge they ran, and they constantly expected to run into some trouble.
But then they reached the end of the city and the start of open fields. Things seemed more peaceful here, though no less strange and frightening. Still Merlin's children were oddly at home here. They didn't didn't seem to mind.

They must have run for over an hour before the gaffling reached their destination.
When it finally stopped, they were in the glade of a large willow tree. The gaffling landed on one of the lower branches and said nothing.

[Jona]

Jona stopped and shifted to homid. He didn't look at all tired, but then he had been letting them set the pace.

"That's the tree from my dream," he said. "This is pretty cool."
He looked at Jess and Emelie.
"Do your thing," he said.

[Hands of Mercy]

Hands of Mercy had run near the back of the pack as instructed. The city's umbrascape was still unpleasant to him, but outside its bounds he felt a little more at home. As the group approached the tree, he sits, still near the rear of the group. Knowing he wasn't going to understand the scene before them, he scans the area, trying to make sure nothing unwanted surprises the negotiators.

[Jessika]

Jess also returns to Homid, a little winded after the run.

"I thought you said you wouldn't remember it." She smiles as she steps past her alpha and looks up at the Raven in the tree. Switching to the spirit's tongue, she wonders who exactly she's supposed to be speaking to, and so just addresses the area in general.

"Hrafnsmerki..... hi, we are Wissenfalken, children of Merlin. Your friend here says you might know some secrets we kinda need, so we came to trade with you. Secrets for secrets. We've got some juicy info from the States, if you're interested." She looks to Emelie to expand a little on what her secrets concern.

[Emelie]

Outside the city, it had been hard to not stretch and run faster, after her time on Oklahoma and the open spaces there. But she contained herself and kept pace, neither to the front nor too far to the back.

As with Jona and Jess she shifted to her Homid form when they reached the tree. Looking about the area she listened as the others spoke and then as Jess spoke up she nodded as she switched to the same Spirit language. "Indeed. I can bring you news.." she paused as she had though long and hard as they ran about what to tell. Dropping her voice low and to a whisper she told her secret to the wind. " While I was over in the New World I along with member of the sept of the Two Moons we liberated a fetish, the Dragon's Eye. It is a powerful fetish that can cleanse the strongest of the Wyrm's taint. It was recently return to the Sept south of here." That said she looked about and waited.

[Shehrazad]

There was no reaction as Emelie whispered her story into the wind.

When she was done there was a prolonged and nervous silence.
Then the leaves rustled and the weeping willow opened her branches slowly, and revealed a large raven sitting within the tree. Its coal-black feathers gleamed in the moonlight. Something about it gave off the feeling that this spirit was older than any of them could imagine. Maybe it was the deep wells of wisdom in its eyes. Even Merlin, Wissenfalken's totem, did not see to carry that wisdom.

And it looked at Emelie.

"What was the Eye liberated from?" the bird asked interestedly.

[Emelie]

Em's voice caught momentarily as she looked up at the spirit, it would be so easy to loose herself in those eyes. It was with great amount of willpower she pulled her gaze away to focus instead on the black feathers. Her voice still low she continues the story. "It was about to fall into the hands of one of the walking dead, a vampire. It was imperative we keep it from him as we had other things of power. We fought his minions, the battle was long and fought on the sacred grounds of one of the burial places of the Uktena's kin. We won and with the spirit of the fetish's help the land was purified. the price being one of us would return it to the land of its birth, Germany." Even as she spoke, though no galliard her eyes and voice were passionate, she recalled that fight well, it had been a glorious battle.

"I offer this story, this secret of the returned Dragon's Eye for your story and aid." She hoped it was a worthy secret, the return of such a powerful fetish was a almost certain, since it would not do well for any of the Wyrm's minions to find out it had been returned.

[Shehrazad]

The raven seemed pleased with the offering, both Jess and Emelie could tell from the way he watched them. When Emelie mentioned its own story and aid, the raven ruffled its feathers and spread its wings a little, although it didn't leave its spot.

It spoke again, but this time in the Mother's Tongue, for them all to understand.

"You seek Hrafnsmerki," it said. "I am Hrafnhild, the spirit of Hrafnsmerki. I am Victory. I am Death. Who among you has the courage to carry Hrafnsmerki to battle?"

[Hands of Mercy]

Hands of Mercy looks up as the Raven speaks as he can understand. A few seconds pass before he steps forward. There was no reason that any one here in particular should carry the curse, and no reason why he should not. He doesn't say anything, giving his answer with actions rather than words. He stops at the abse of the tree, looking up, but keeing his gaze below the great spirit out of due deference.

[Jessika]

Jess grins widely as the ancient spirit revealed itself, another step on their road, another sight, another experience. It's poise and gaze are truly magnificent, and she can't help but gaze upon it in wonder. She almost forgets to eavesdrop on Emelie's secret, and misses a few details as she watches the spirit. Then it asks its question, and her heart drops. She'd hoped it would be something else, that the curse the Fenrir had spoken of wouldn't hit them. Fear grips her as she waits for the others to respond, fear that the next voice she'd hear would be Jona's. She stands stock still, barely breathing as she waits as the silence draws out.

[Zachary]

Zachary watched Hands rise and felt a bit guilt in his heart, he was the only ahroun here and he was to fight and die, bards should live and tell the tales of the fallen than die in vain. But on the other hand, he did not want to spoil this whole operation. Finally he decided it was time to act.
"Wait!" he hollored as he ran next to Hands. Shifting to homid as he arrived.
" I, Born From Dark Wish, child of Granfather thunder,Born under the fullmoon, will take it!" he said, keeping his respects for the spirit still.
" I am a warrior, born to live and die in glory, for others to live instead of me. Let this Fenrir still have living days to help, I have nothing left but a glorious death to clear my family name" he said, again.

[Jona]

Jona gave a sharp look at both his pack-mates, but said nothing. He wasn't really sure he believed in this curse before, but the spirit seemed to be backing it up.

It was easy to stand here and let them fight for the glory and honour of taking the banner. If the rich boy wanted to fight the Fenrir over who got to die a glorious death, then who was he to step in?
He'd rather live and fight a hundred fights than die the next one anyway.

But even as he thought that, he knew he couldn't talk himself into this. Dispensing with Zachary's melodrama, he spoke up, a little quietly.
"I would carry it too," he said. "If you would find me worthy of such an honourable task."

[Shehrazad]

Not the most articulate of people, Zachary mutters and stumbles over his words, and what was supposed to sound like a glorious speech ends up sounding more like an embarrassing outburst. He blushes violently at being humiliated in front of such an ancient spirit, but at least manages not to lose his cool.

(Zachary manages not to frenzy)

[Simeon]

Simeon had remained in Lupus through the first bit, it was easier to track enemies that way. Scratching his ear he wondered what was being said between the blonde and Raven. But when the bird spoke in a language he could understand, he straightened up. Head tilted he listened to the other three step up and speak, to say some were a bit of a shock would be lying, as he didn’t think there would be so many volunteers.

Shifting to Homid he looked at all three carefully before he spoke. “It seems we all have the same thoughts. Normally I am not one to quibble over something as this but I think we need to look at this clearly. “ He glanced at Jona and smiled “Sorry of the four I don’t see you as a likely candidate. You have a pack, one that is growing, it will need you guidance to grow and prosper.” Then to Zach, shaking his head sadly “Your old sept has filled you with such crap….you are not responsible for what ever crime your father did. Everyone walks their own path and makes their own choices, and those choices are their responsibilities. You father chose his sin it is his to bear in death and beyond. Throwing your life away to clear your family name, is a cop out. How easy that is. I can die and it will all be better. Sorry, life don’t work that way.”

Finally he turned to Hands of Mercy who’s quiet acceptance was loud and act enough. Of us four, it should be I or Hands. We are packless and our loss will not affect the caerns strength. We are expendable and for the right reasons, not because of some misplace twisted honor.” His words weren’t overly harsh, no scornful, just a simple stating of the facts as he saw them.

[Zachary]

Zachary look at Simeon.
"This has nothing with my father" he said and looked at others.
" I... I am a ahroun...Protector,cannon fodder.." he started and looked at Hands, then at the pack.
" M-my job is to make sure others live...a protector" he muttered.