2018.07.21: Fear, Rage and Compassion
It is now currently Sat Jul 21 18:20:31 2018, PDT.
| Fear, Rage and Compassion | |
|---|---|
| A man becoming Garou struggles with overwhelming fear, rage, lust, and hunger as well as conflicts with Dragomir and his pack. Sanity and life are on the line. | |
| IC Date | Sat Jul 21 |
| IC Time | 18:20:31 2018, PDT. |
| Players | Lleutrim, Faith, Dragomir, Halona, Sergei, Brooke, Jake Miller, Iris |
| Location | Caves - Natural Cavern - and Deep Forest |
| Spheres | Mortal+, Shifter |
---
Caves - Natural Cavern
The tunnel from the outside leads into a massive natural void in the earth. This cavern stretches as far as your lights will shine, concealing the room's true size. Stalactites depend from the ceiling, along with mosses and roots from the forest above.
The farther one travels into the cavern, the father the ceiling pulls away into darkness. The air is heavy, and the weight of the mountain presses down nearly as much as the darkness presses around any lights brought within the seemingly endless natural chamber.
From this vaulted cavern, hundreds of natural fissures and tunnels lead deeper into the bowels of the earth. The place is a maze; without a proper guide, it would be all too easy to get lost and spend your last days wandering in the dark in search of a way back to the surface or a mouthful of water to sustain you. ---
While not on any particular duties, Iris is of course being a super mysterious, wise mystic, doing super mysterious and wise things. That is to say, she's just outside the cavern practicing a hand stand. "Stop it it TICKLES!" she's complaining, due to a small Merlin hawk perched on her bare foot while she balances on one hand, occasionally pecking at her unprotected toes. This makes balance difficult and she wiggles quite a lot, not *quite* ready to topple over yet.
Making her way out of the caverns, the kinswoman cusps a hand lightly over her brow to allow her eyes to adjust to the change in light. The spectacle before her draws a smile as she watches from a distance. Thumbs loop into her pockets and let her rest her empty arms. "That's called Gargalesis.. you have to stop the response at the amygdala.." Faith's voice is soft, her tone still moderated with respect.
And of course Iris is SUPER startled by the sound of Faith speaking! Didn't see her come out, she's totally caught off guard and instantly collapses with a shriek, the bird lifting off rather than going down with the sinking USS Theurge. Sitting up quickly and covered in dry leaves and burrs, Iris picks up her glasses, stuffs them on her face, and affects her very best 'I totally meant to do that' face.
Faith doesn't laugh.. in fact she looks just shy of mortified that she's caused this. The hands that where previously hooked in her pants snap to the small of her back, and her eyes rivet on the ground a few feel in front of her. There's a tension to be observed in her stiff shoulders and tight biceps. Even her breathing is cautious. "My apologies for the intrusion Mercy's Messenger Rhya."
"Oh my gaaaawdess no." Iris says, flopping onto her back and laying sprawled out in leaves and weeds, and probably ticks and slugs. "Quiddit. Formality's groovy and all, but I'm out here rolling around in foliage, no need for it. Just, you know. Iris or Pancake or.. whatever, it's totally fine, seriously. Just come, like... Make leaf angels with me or somethin, be chill. I don't even bite!" she adds with a laugh. She is distinctly un-ragey, Iris is, and typically allergic to over abundance of formality.
"Eye of the Storm would beat my ass if he walked out here and caught me calling you Pancake Ma'am.." She does loosen up a little bit, and even walks forward a little bit with a smile that stops short when the scar starts to twist it into a smirk. Faith crouches down in the soft bedding of the fallen leaves and grass, clearly not uncomfortable with natural settings. "But.. I was looking for you, if you have time for some questions?"
"Yeah, well..." Okay Iris is having a *little* bit of trouble refuting that, given that Drago's her alpha and Faith's his student and all, and decides to go with the old Black Fury standby: "Ugh, men. Cant even give some ladies some informal friend time! Well, fuck it, we'll just say I'm officially demanding down time at the moment." Once she's closer, Faith will see Iris's littlest friend, a small string of color shifting... what is that, yarn? Coiled up like a spring and bouncing around on her stomach in random directions, looking rather like a cartoon thing. "I've *always* got time for questions. Whatcha need, sistah?"
Faith's eyes are drawn to the little yarn.. more curious than bothered, perhaps a little bit bewildered. However, Iris' ready agreement gets her attention back squarely on the face of the theurge. Her gaze lingers around the edge of the woman's glasses, never making direct eye contact. "I'll try.. to be more ..um.. chill." She even sits down instead of squatting as if her life depends on the ability for a rapid retreat. Hands dust against her clothed calves, and she picks at one of the pockets on her fatigues. "I wanted to ask you.. um.. well a lot of things. But maybe first, if the Black Fury tribe is all women, what do you do with the boys? Or are you all born girls? And if I ask anything stupid, I'm sorry. I'm just trying to wrap my head around more than the litany. I feel like there's so much to learn."
"The only stupid question is the question that goes unasked." Iris says in her best sage tone, and grins at Faith. In her relaxed repose, she's content to look up at the sky and pretend she's a rug. "My tribe doesn't have any special ability to make only girls though, no. How we deal with boys can differ here and there, but usually our male children are adopted out to other tribes when they're born. Children of Gaia are usually happy to take them in and raise them as their own, and they grow up happy in that family. Our metis boys usually stay with us though. A lot of people either forget that, or just plain don't think about that breed I guess, or maybe just no one ever asks the question you just asked, I dunno. But, we're not actually *all* women in the Black Furies, we've got a decent number of male metis Furies in our ranks. I guess we probably come off as *only* women though because metis aren't super common, what with their making being illegal and all, and packs and war parties tend to be just the ladies. Some Furies don't want to fight alongside any males, even our own metis. Depends on how hard core femenazi you are, I guess."
Faith's nose twitches as she wraps her head around the answer.. "But if.. the only males are metis, and the metis are by nature sterile.. how.. are you like frogs?" She raises a brow, apparently quite intrigued by the idea that two women can conceive. "I don't really have a preference for the gender or sex of the person I'm fighting with myself - but we get police officers like that too. Usually it's about department or agency.. so I guess politics are just a part of life in both the nation and the human world."
The question causes Iris to snort a laugh, tickled pretty good by it, and she says, "Well, okay it's like this. Every tribe has things that they're sort of like... predisposed to, right. It's a cultural thing as much as it is a sort of... Mocking fate thing, I guess. Black Furies are all about female empowerment and proving we're just as capable as men and all that, right, but at the same time, you can't throw a stick in a group of Furies without hitting someone that's been abused by males in some way. Beatings, rape, whatever, whether it was them personally, or like a homid girl having had a shitty step dad that liked to beat her mom or whatever the case may be. That's one of the central themes that binds our tribe. A lot of us, not all but a lot of us, have first hand knowledge or experience with the abuse of the male half of whatever species. Whether it's pure instinct and attitude or shitty past experiences, some ladies want little to nothing to do with men, and we make it our personal goal, through the guidance of our pack totem, to lift up females around them out from under the thumb of males. Women's shelters, clinics, vigilante man bashers, whatever, everyone's got their calling where that's concerned. Doesn't mean we're all lesbians though. I mean, I'm entirely straight, chicks are nice and all but I have no interest in fucking them. I'm also straight with the law, I don't break the Litany. That being said, I have a son who is a metis, and that happened through rape. It's not my son's fault or anything, it's just a thing that happened. Some metis are girls, some metis are boys, just like with kinfolk. You've met Branton, right? Fury boy kinfolk. Say we hooked up and tangoed, had some kids or something. If it was garou boy, he'd be adopted out, cause that's just how it is. If it was a kin boy, he'd stay. Sometimes a lady wants to be a mom but doesn't want to *do it*, you know? She adopts a daughter from some Garou mom who dies in battle or whatever."
"Oh, no I didn't mean you were all Lesbian.. I just didn't realize that tribes.. you know um.. mix? Relationally?" Faith's cheeks are bloomed scarlet as she sets her hands on her knees. "Eye of the Storm and I haven't spoken about it at great length, but he was explaining to me how important purity of the bloodlines is - and why my birth tribe was so angry about my parents' choice. I guess I forget that each tribe is a little bit different when it comes to those kinds of values - and I hadn't thought about rape. I sorta talked to Lleutrim about that.. trying to explain that the urges he's feeling aren't necessarily about what he's going to want when he's not under the influence of his first change." She is seated on the floor of the forest just outside of the cave, chatting with Iris, who is sprawled on her back - probably still giggling at Faith's rather limited understanding of relationships within the nation. "Even if Eye of the Storm wouldn't choke me out for it, I wouldn't feel right about being with anyone under the kind of pressure he's got to be going through. It'd be like rape to me."
Howling-Wind will be coming from the forest side of the cave mouth and comments "Back in sibera Cubs were forbidden even recreational coupling, they don't have the proven control. Cliath's could....date was the word, but not formally take a mate. Fosterns could take a formal mate if the Elders approved of the relationship. Adren were encouraged strongly to find a mate. Athro were pretty much required to be in a provenly fertile formal mate bond."
Iris and Faith are just outside the cavern mouth, Faith sitting down on the leaves and weeds, while Iris is sprawled out, occasionally working on a leaf angel while they talk and have a few laughs. Bouncing around on Iris's stomach is what looks like a piece of yarn that keeps changing colors, coiled up like a spring and just basically being weird.
Iris shrugs her shoulders and says, "Welp, see, it's like this. Purity is good, yeah, all that's totally true. Flip side is the heart wants what the heart wants. I mean, history is *full* of just, like, a metric ass ton of stories of people who fell in love, but it was such a *thing* to their families or whatever that they ended up fuckin killing themselves or something. I mean, I don't mean to put down arranged matings or family choice or anything like that, but like, there's also personal things to take into account. It's a fucked up tightrope walk, paying attention to tribe and tradition while also taking care of yourself at the same time. *Personally* speaking, I could give a rat's ass as long as whoever is consenting and happy. The way I see it, we're a dying breed, and if you have the luck and luxury to find someone in your own tribe then awesome. When you're in a mixed bag melting pot like Prospect? ...Eh. Babies is babies, love is love, it's gonna happen wherever and with whoever it damned well pleases. Long as it's in the Nation, then it's good. Start going *out* of the nation, and that's where shit gets really messy and weird and frankly wars have been fought over less." Iris picks her head up to look at Sergei and grins, "No wonder Wendigo are so friggin angry all the time." she says in a completely joking sort of tone.
Lleutrim does not like being inside of the cave, under the earth. As the peace inspired by Journey's gift last night has faded through the day, he's become more and more agitated and restless. Still, it's been a good day. With real sleep last night Donnachaidh has been clearer headed and less easily tipped to anger. He comes now carrying a notebook and a pencil. Lleu comes on up and then stops in the cave mouth to watch and listen before he'll step out into the daylight.
Jake enters carrying yet another bag-o-food. The words Smoke and Barley is stenciled on the side and...whatever's inside smells REALLY good. Since everyone here has a relatively good sniffer it would be easy to ascertain that it was steak. Not just any steak either. Yeah, it's prime! He glances around the area to see what's up at the moment and offers a nod of greeting to everyone. Looks like he's in a good mood too. But then, Jake's usually in a good mood.
Brooke is walking up just in time to catch Iris speaking, and smiles. "We do get our share of weird around here." She stops not far from the gathered group, eyes now on Lleutrim as he walks out.
Faith turns her head to look up at the Wendigo entering the cavern, nodding her head as she greets him formally, "Howling-Wind Rhya.. an honor. Those rules make a lot of sense to me. When I first got here, Defiant Storm gave me some clear guidance on just how much trouble it can cause when a kinfolk takes up bed-hopping as a hobby. I've avoided it to this point, and Eye of the Storm will take care of any decisions for me on that.. makes it cleaner and I can get on with the business of supporting the Warriors without drama. I think I prefer the traditions over more modern schools in just about every area from what I've seen so far." As she's speaking, she gets to her feet and moves her hands to the small of her back, greeting the other garou who are also entering formally.
Speak of the Devil, and a Silver Fang arrives. Stepping out of the pool (umbra) as though he was materializing from nowhere like some kind of B-Horror Movie character here to steal Lleutrim's soul. Okay, not really - but hey look, it's a Dragomir and he looks less.. RAWRripYOURfaceOFF.
Donnachaidh is hanging back, listening the others. He leans against the cave wall and is mostly watching Faith and Iris but his grey eyes slip from one to another as they speak. His mouth does thin at hearing what Sergei says and Lleu starts to grind his teeth, breathing less relaxed. In a few seconds he finds himself making fists out of his hands and trembling with anger. The notepad and pencil are dropped. His head he presses against the stone of the cave wall and squeazing his eyes shut, focuses on gritting his teeth and trying to breathe. Come on, nice slow, god damn breathing.
"Oh, yeah, no, don't be slutty." Iris says with a sagely nod while sitting up and shedding leaves and twigs from her person, "Male or female, having a healthy sexuality is great and all, but holy crap the amount of stupid, *stupid* drama that sort of thing causes. Just.. yeah. Keep it in your pants and get serious first, make sure whoever is actually worth walking around with your bladder being crushed by a watermellon. I mean, Howling-Wind's not wrong, rank's important, fits right in there with the whole survival of the fittest thing. WHAT UP GUYS! I swear, couple chicks start talking vagina stuff and EVERYONE wants in on the action." she adds with a joking laugh.
Sergei rolls his eyes "Education is important, and this is a subject I'm very mindful of since I've recently taken a mate myself. It is an important part of the culture of garou in general and people that are worried about who's rutting with whom are not focused on their duties or on the war in general. Though I've been told I have a rather low degree of interest in such things even for a wolf-born."
Jake finally spots Lleu and hands him the brown bag. "I hope you like your steak rare. Didn't know if you liked fried onions and mushrooms with it so they're separate." He offers Dragomir a nod of greeting and looks over at Iris. "Well said. Is that the topic of the evening? Mating?"
Dragomir growls, "It better not be." then he turns to look around, fixing a glare on Faith, and then looks to the Elders and nods his head in greeting to them, "Evening Elders." He brings his hands together and claps them a few times, "Find something productive to do.. clean... train.. hunt the Wyrm. We're done discussing who's NOT fucking who."
Iris points a finger at Sergei, "Totally true. I for one wouldn't call the restrictions out of line, myself." At the question from Jake, she shrugs with a smile and says, "Kinda ended up there, any how. It's kind of one of those lady rights to talk about that kinda thing. How stuff works, societal impacts, tribal and racial obligations, personal impact. Stuff like that." Dragomir gets *such* an eye, but she decides now's not really the time to bite his face off over dictating when or how women can discuss women's business. That'll happen later, probably. Instead, she tells Faith, "We'll talk about it later."
Faith laughs as she glances back at Iris, "Yeah.. no. I'm not even dating. And there's been nothing going on without my mentor's express approval. Which means there's been a lot of PT, learning everything .but. the Silver Record since my heritage isn't worthy of it, which I think is just to make me want to learn it more." She looks at Jake then and explains, "I actually started it off asking what happens to men in her Tribe Sir. Then when she was explaining some metis are kept, I thought tribes didn't mix.. so I asked if they um.. you know.. were like frogs." Then Dragomir's growling, and the kinswoman is immediately moving to his side. "My humble apologies Eye of the Storm Rhya. I began teaching LLeutrim the glyphs at the order of Shaderunner-Rhya, I left when we had no garou supervision. Your orders Sir?" There's no amusement left in the girl. She's about as formal and stiff as any Silverfang kin could dream to be.
Jake may have to wait a moment for Lleu to pull his shit back together. He's facing the wall in the cave with his head butt up against the stone, and was looking for a moment like he was going to start punching the rock like a rabid animal. But no, now he's starting to recollect himself. When he's able, Lleu gives a nod to Jake and turns to accept the bag, "Thank you. I owe you." All right. Get the heart rate down a little and then he's picking up the notepad and the pencil he dropped. "Been studying the runes on the blocks. I've copied them all down along with their meanings."
Dragomir is here. Lovely. Donnachaidh gets quiet and looks in the direction of the Philodox. Lleu's face is still busted and he faintly limps as he comes out of the cave. Just in time to hear Dragomir's pronouncement. Wonderful.
The bag of food is dropped like a rock. Lleutrim starts heading for Dragomir! He gets a few angry steps, stops, and makes , frust enraged, sort of strangled sound in his throat as he fights himself. Muscles and tendons stand out, breathing hard. "No! God DAMN it!" For a second it looks like he's wigging out and going to really loose it. But he's determined not to.
Brooke straightens up and raises her brow to Dragomir, "Hello, Alpha." She normally would end up by his side, but she will stay not too far away, but not too close, since Faith is there and she just is not sure about this whole situation now.
Dragomir snarls violently, shifting and growing swiftly in size and shape - taking a horrifying war form
Dragomir was starting to walk towards the group, and then Lleutrim comes at him like that, and says... well, that. There's a flash across those blue eyes of his, and his head turns towards the Marine and his fist clenches. Then he suddenly grows, not slightly - but massively into the War-form of Crinos and looms in -REALLY- fucking close to Lleutrim, with a deep growled toned voice and the rise of his claws up under his chin, >>Say that again, cub.<<
--- l Eye-of-the-Storm
For centuries man has feared the sight of wolf, there was an unexplainable trepidation that overcame all sense of rational perspective at the first sight. A legendary image that has developed over the ages of wolves that stood tall on two legs, and ripped apart men and hunted them in the light of the full moon. This creature stands eight feet in height, and echoes every legend ever told of such a beast. The brilliant white fur of its body is thick except for the silvery coloration along its shoulders and groin. The creature's eyes are an inhuman electric blue, radiant and piercing as though they held the ability to look through the very soul of those they would be leveled upon.
The very image of this creature echoes the embodiment and stylings of a long line of heroes of the Garou Nation. Every aspect of its form, seems to have been preserved through time, and the very way it moves and carries itself is regal and horrifying in the same breath. The white beast is a bi-pedal wolf with a massive chest and arm's extended in a predatory length down to long white fingers which end with thick black talons that extend nearly four inches from the tips of his fingers. The white tail behind this creature's ass is thick, pronounced and solid - similarly to its groin. Solid thighs hold the beast upright, back-jointed like hind legs to support its weight and give it greater flexibility.
There is a predator's aura about this beast, viscous and violent and yet somehow despite being a symbol of death and dismemberment - there is an uncanny sense of calm. The pain delivered by those claws and teeth, will not be without control or consideration. They will be punishment, to restore Gaia's balance.
---
Jake raises a brow as Lleutrim seems to lose his shit and simply regards the exchange between him and Dragomir with a rather unreadable expression. Actually, that's not true. He's studying them closely now, almost with fascination. He doesn't say anything though. Yet.
Ooooookay, shit's getting possibly violent and definitely yelly, not that it's all unexpected or anything but still. Iris jumps to her feet and bounds the few paces over towards the alpha, only to fling both arms around Faith's waist while she doubtlessly tries to make herself small and unstrikeable, rather than dealing with the garou at all, and the pair go.. up. Just like, straight up into the air and damned fast to boot, courtesy of little hawk wings sprouted from Iris's ankles. Not too far, twenty feet at tops, but absolutely the fuck out of the rage zone.
Faith had started to drop down and back into a crouch, having absolutely no intention of getting involved in the lesson for the cub... but then she's grabbed by a known entity, and arms look about Iris' neck. The yelp echoes loudly as she adds legs to that death grip. They're flying! The kinswoman does manage to get her own composure under control rapidly. "I'm so glad you told me you're not a lesbian before we rubbed boobies.." she murmurs in the theurges ear. Because.. fuck. They're flying.
Lleutrim has managed to push down the wave of fury enough to keep himself from freaking out and attacking whoever, whatever. He breathes hard, his hands having been clenching so hard his own fingernails have bitten through the skin of his palms. He's not even looking /at/ Dragomir now, so focused on winning his personal battle against himself that he doesn't see the Russian's form begin to shift... he collapses to his knees, sucking for breath but getting control back.
Just in time for a HUGE beast monster THING comes up close! It puts out a great hand with /four/ fucking inch black claws to Lleu's face as he looks up! One moment he's cursing his anger and fighting it, then next thing he knows, Donnachaidh just looses it. He panics and does anything he can to GET THE FUCK AWAY from the THING as fast as he can! He throws himself back and tries to scramble to his feet - nevermind his aches and pains, to make a dash - in some random direction!
The bag of food from Jake, his notepad and pencil, are left where they fell.
Eye of the Storm watches as Lleutrim bolts, and snorts flatly before shifting back down to his homid form. Dragomir turns to look back towards Jake and nods his head deeply, "Good evening Defiant Storm-rhya. We are breaking in the cub... how can we be of assistance?" as if he didn't just war-form and threaten to physically scratch Lleutrim's deepest thoughts with those claws of his.
Eye of the Storm transforms into a normal looking human man.
Jake looks back at Dragomir, still looking rather nonplussed. "Yes, I see that. And the questions is, how can -I- be of assistance? I simply stopped by to check on our new recruit." He glances up at Iris and Faith flittering overhead, then to the others there before regarding Dragomir again. "I sense some friction going on between the two of you. What seems to be the matter?" As usual, Jake has a real flair for understatement.
"If I grab your ass, I swear it's just to avoid dropping you on your head." Iris says, managing humor even in a tense moment. Oh for fuck's sake this is way heavy. Starting to sink downwards again after initial liftoff, Iris brings them back down under the tree canopy (for Veil's sake if nothing else). She's usually not carrying anyone when she flies! She'd land somewhere, but you never know how exactly people are going to react. Frenzy and zoom everywhere or-- Yep, yep just flip out and haul ass. Up is definitely the safe place to be right now, and she settles for lighting on a thick madrone branch over head instead of the ground.
Faith is definitely heavy. At over six feet tall, and a weight lifter, the kinswoman is solid. She rests her chin on Iris' shoulder trusting that the woman won't drop her - mostly because she's not letting go! From her vantage point, she spots Lleutrim splitting into the forest, and points this out for her fleet footed companion. "I can sit in a tree if you need to go catch him before he ends up breaking his neck jumping off a cliff or something. He's actually admitted to feeling suicidal recently.."
Dragomir offers, "Ahh.. well, would you like to join us in some pack-tactics training?.. seems like a good opportunity to do some harrying." he looks over towards the others to see if they are ready to join in. If there is a such thing as cruelty to cubs, Dragomir does not seem to have gotten the memo. "He is due to change any day now, and has some learning to do about rank and order still." Then he hears what Faith said and turns his head to look towards her, and snarls, "He what?" He groans and then looks back towards Jake, "Why Gaia chose to change him in his mid-life instead of as a young man, like a normal Garou is a Wisdom I do not understand. Nevermind, I will fetch him." and he starts to shift into his lupus form.
Sergei goes home.
Brooke watches, and is about to speak and then so much happens. She is just generally speechless for once it seems.
Halona is generally not a talker sorts, "Well, fuck me." she mutters and then waits fo follow
"I would be happy to join you," Jake replies to Dragomir then looks off into the woods. "Since Terminal Velocity seems to be in charge of his training I will leave it to you however...would you mind terribly if I fetched him? Or at least gave me a few minutes alone with him first?"
Iris pats Faith and says, "Here, get down.." There's plenty of branches to grab, stand on, sit on, climb down, whatever she might want to do at that point. As soon as she's freed up, she launches out of the tree to fly swiftly and land herself in Dragomir's path. It's not like Lleu can't be caught up to. "Eye of the Storm, you're my alpha, I love and respect you but I swear to Gaia if you drive that cub to suicide or to resenting his people for the rest of his life I will fucking stab you! He is NOT prey, NOT an enemy, he is a Garou cub, damn it and you need to respect THAT as well! There's a fineass line between being a tyrannical douchebag and a ranking Garou." If nothing else, it gives Jake a head start?
Faith finds herself quite comfortably treed.. and when Iris gives her schpeal? The kinswoman edges around the backside of the trunk. She'll just stay up here for a while - out of sight, out of mind.
Dragomir.. stops. He takes a moment to look at Iris a bit oddly, and then he says, "Mercy's Messenger.. he is a Garou, not a child. That he is choosing to act like a child, does not mean he needs to be treated like one. In fact, that is the worst thing you can do with him. He is rebellious, angry and disrespectful on a normal basis. His -reasoning- for such, is because Faith won't spread her legs for him. If you wish to -challenge- my handling of this situation, there is a proper way to do so, and I welcome you to take it." he spreads his hands out as if to demonstrate he's welcome to such. There is a twitch of annoyance in this though, likely because there's an Elder present. Dragomir turns his head to nod towards Jake, "Of course Defiant Storm-rhya." and he motions towards the entrance.
"I understand exactly what you're saying," Jake says calmly to Dragomir. "And I don't disagree. Simply give me a few minutes with him." And with that Jake disappears into a blinding flare of light.
Jake moves to Deep Forest
"Yeah, he is, and that's on him for being an asshat," Iris doesn't appear to disagree with Lleu's own faults nor does she offer any particular defense for any of that, "But you are a Philodox, an Adren, you surpass him by every stretch of the imagination regardless of whatever stupid things he does. Respect those beneath ye, all are of Gaia. Don't you joke about harrying him like a wounded deer or a fleeing fomori." Her first outburst might have been pretty heated but her tone takes on something more reasonable and quieter during all this, with an edge of disappointment and worry. "He'll learn one way or another, but you *know* what this time is like because you've been through it even if you were raised in the life. I don't want to challenge you but you wanted me to teach you compassion, well this is it, alpha. Older man or child doesn't matter, he's a cub, this isn't his normal world and he's terrified enough to think about killing himself. I'm *asking* you to respect the fact that he's going fucking insane right now and that's not going to change until he actually pops for the first time. Be a mentor and not an enemy." At that point... There's not really anything else she can say about any of it, so she steps aside. I mean they're in a forest and not a hallway but the gesture is clear, she's not standing in his way.
Halona doesn't have anything to say. At least not out loud. She moves out of the way to let Jake go and then leans against the wall some more
There's no more shouting, things have calmed down considerably.. so Faith climbs down out of the tree, and heads back toward the cave entrance.
Brooke looks a little more calm now, but still has a protective stance for herself, but quite an active interest in the dynamics of the situation here. Quiet for now, as she listens and notes everyone's position.
Dragomir lifts his arms, crossing them over his chest and takes a moment to look at Iris rationally at her argument. She had to go all 'Litany' on him. There is a long moment of consideration given, and obviously he respects her Wisdom and he nods, "You make a fair judgement Mercy's Messenger. I was not aware that he was.. suicidal, until just recently. I have not been gentle with him, I was bringing him through the First Change in a manner similar to how my Father brought me through. He seemed sturdy enough to handle it."
Faith stops inside of the cavern, her hands folding at the small of her back and lowering her eyes after greeting Halona with a serious and solemn nod of respect. She takes up a position of waiting. She can probably still overhear the conversation being held, but the kinswoman makes a point of not stepping into it by act or simple expression.
Halona nods, pushing off the wall, letting out a breath of relief. "He isn't terribly irrational," she has to agree with Iris. "He IS scared. He's tough. Doesn't want help. But he's been thrown into a whole new world and he's scared. He thinks that he's going to turn into a monster. I tried to talk to him earlier about it, but I had to go tend to something and that got put on the back burner."
"You were probably a hell of a lot better prepared for the whole thing." Iris agrees with a nod of her head, "Lleu is a friggin six foot tall babe in the woods with a grown man Marine complex. Go on, you guys go get our cub. I'll take Faith home. When he's finally had a chance to explode and burn off his pent up rage, we can all take it from there. Compassion, Dragomir. Just empathize a bit, okay?" she reiterates - gently - while heading over towards faith and the cavern's mouth. Cause otherwise she's gotta tromp around all on her onesy while all the wolves are out doing wolf junk. Booooriiiiiing!
Faith looks over at the others when she's mentioned by name and approached. The kinswoman has knit her brow and her mouth is turned into a somewhat tense frown. "Do you realize that the babe in the woods came close to assaulting me several times, and Eye of the Storm Rhya's firm and decisive actions kept me safe? LLeutrim's not as.. in the dark as he looks. If it hadn't been for the Rokea he wouldn't even be in this position. Please," she says softer, "Forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn Mercy's Messenger Rhya, but I even asked Shaderunner and Defiant Storm to help me explain things to LLeutrim when they came this morning after Like the Wind had to leave. Lleutrim seems to have this bizarre notion that he's my knight.. oh.." The girl's eyebrows lift even as she's speaking, some of the color drifting from her face. She looks at Dragomir over the woman's shoulder. "I think I might know more about his behavior than I thought I did, Sir."
"I can't." Dragomir offers simply, and shakes his head, "I do not understand his world. We are nothing alike. He grew up in a human society, with human values, and became a human warrior. He has these concepts of self-value that are not ideals, but that he guards with rigorous zeal." He motions his hand and says, "I thought if he realized I was stronger, he would yield. But he did not. I thought if he realized I was wiser, he would understand, but he did not. I thought if I brought him here, and he saw how you all relate to me, he would grasp, but he does not. He does not think like Garou, he thinks like a man.. and a very foolish one." He turns to look towards Faith and says, "And when he is around you, he is even stupider. I cannot seem to get through to him, so it is safer that he fixates on his hatred of me. As that is the only connection we share at the moment." He turns to look towards Halona and offers, "It is good that Defiant Storm is speaking to him, they have similar backgrounds. In my eyes, he is acting petulent and childish, and it is annoying."
Iris puffs air upwards to flip a thin dreadlock out of her damn face, "Yeah, yeah I know. He'll *get* it though. It'll take time and experience and immersion but he will. He can't run from himself, and once he's changed, eh, you know maybe he'll be less resistant by being less jacked up. There's ways and we'll find them. This is a challenge, and we should rise to it and overcome it, break down his walls but not break his spirit, or our own morality or laws. Shit, if this was easy, everyone'd be doin it." Approaching Faith she waves a hand and says, "Eh, sue me, I'm late to the party. S'what I get for spending all that time in a volcano looking for rocks." she mutters and growls about blue balls and manginas. "C'mon, let's go talk about Very Important Things." Probably about Lleu.
Halona hasn't got much to say. She wanders over and gives Dragomir a pat on the shoulder, then goes to get nekkid and take a baff
"He acts like he's here to save me - because he doesn't understand or accept the relationship I have with you. No matter how much I protest the idea that I am being somehow abused, controlled, enslaved, despite the fact I stand here and extol the virtues of the traditional ways I am learning, he takes on a mantle of a white knight.. attempting to save me from the clutches of some kind of villain." Faith doesn't look particularly excited about the prospect of leaving with Iris, looking first to Dragomir for his guidance, dropping her final thought with a quiet, flat comment. "He acts just like Catherine."
Brooke sighs audibly now. "Catherine." She says no more than that.
Dragomir watches and frowns as Iris begins to head off. The man's hands lift, and motion to slip within his pockets. When Halona pats his shoulder, he turns his blue eyes towards her, and then back and offers, "Stop." He pauses for a moment and then he looks between them, then towards Brooke and says, "If you all believe I am handling this poorly, then one of you needs to step up and challenge me. I am not perfect, I recognize that. If you disagree with how I am leading, and how I am handling this.. then it is your duty to stop me from doing so, and lead our pack better." He is very calm.
---
Deep Forest
The cycle of life and death is prevalent here from mother nature's harsh touch. The landscape is dryer here than other parts of the forest and so too has it been affected more by regular brush fires that have swept through the hot summer months leaving the wide area to rot and decay only to leave the natural process of seeds from various adapted plants into the air and spread again to renew the process once more.
Trees and foliage within the area have seemed to adapt to the various fires during certain times of the seasons as they too live and die and return again all year round. The animals as well seem to have no problem with knowing when and what times are best to enter or vacate the area, having lived here for millennia and will thrive here ever more even when man has gone and passed away.
There is a large number of birds prevalent in this area, and no traces of small animals or vermin. The birds of prey stalk the branches and swoop overhead, watching anything that takes place in the area.
---
Jake comes in from Caves - Natural Cavern
As Lleutrim flees there is suddenly a BEAUTIFUL flare of light that appears right in front of him in which Jake casually steps out. For a moment it almost looks like...Jesus, with his arms outstretched. In fact, Lleutrim basically runs right into him and Jake grasps him by the shoulders with enough force to stop him yet with no unnecessary roughness. "Hold on there, Sir. It's okay. It's just me. Jake." His tone is calm and very soothing.
Run, RUN, RUN!!! Forest, RUN, mother fucker! And he does! Lleu runs as hard and as fast as his legs can carry him, nevermind the abuse his knees and body has taken recently. Muscle and bone strive, heart /hammering/ hard and fast. The mind simply blanked and bolted. The Marine runs, leaps over a log, slides down a dry creek bed and scrambles back up the other side right through the briars that tear him up, only imaginging claws trying to snag him! Man runs and runs and runs through the trees with no mind to where he's going or where he is...
Until Lleutrim trips and falls face first when his boots get snagged in grapevines. Down he goes, 200+ lbs to hit the earth. The air is knocked out of him! Donnachaidh lies where he fell, all scratched up and now dirty. He forces himself up, rips his boots loose, dares a look back to see if that THING is after him and staggers to keep running. He gasps for breath.
Despite all else, he's in pretty good physical shape and has been running almost every day for hours. On the beach, and here under Sergei's physical training. Onwards Lleu goes, pushing on and making progress through the trees even as his lungs burn from the exertion. His boots are making plenty of noise. Overhead the birds no doubt are keeping watch as a 'man' flees like a prey animal, heading towards the west. And light! Jake appears and Lleu runs SMACK dab into the garou elder full force! Harsh breathing, stunned for the moment, hands cling to Jake and then try to thrust him away! "Did you SEE it?!"
"I saw it," Jake replies in that same calm voice and keeps a firm grip on the man's shoulders. In fact, the strength in his hands is quite noticeable. They are very warm too. "Unfortunate that you had to see it this early in the game but...there's no going back now. Please. Calm. You are safe. This is not easy for you, I know. I've been where you are. I understand. Now...listen to me and listen closely. You've been in the military. You know what that's like. You've played the game. You've walked the walk. Well...-this- is the military. You have to look at it like that. You're in boot camp. You WILL get through this. I promise you."
The rage that had turned FIGHT into FLIGHT is ebbing. Lleu's starting to get sense back into his eyes, panic fading. He has stopped struggling to suck breath and thinking. Even so, he can't help but turn his head and look back again to make /sure/ that thing isn't after him. "I ... what was THAT?" A nod, a couple of them, "I'm trying. I don't know what happened. So angry, then ... " blank. Not even sure what happened. He thinks about that a few more seconds and then focuses on Jake, "That thing, that was one of the forms you were telling me about? /That/ is what I'm becoming? Jesus Fucking Christ."
Jake doesn't release Lleu yet. No, not yet. He's looking the man straight in the eye too. Not a staredown. It's a look of intense understanding. "That was what we are in our war form. That is the ultimate shape of our strength. It is our armor. It's what you will ultimately become, yes, but that shape will protect you. It will allow you to fight any enemy. It is your...superhero suit. Because that is what we are actually. Superheroes." He smiles a little. "That sounds daft, I know, but we are. You were born with powers you can't even imagine yet. True, the war form is terrifying but it's supposed to be. You know how important it is to intimidate your enemy. Well, that form is the ultimate intimidation." Jake takes a deep breath. "Listen to me, please. I may not be able to talk with you alone again for a while so...listen to me. Dragomir is your commander in chief. You simply must obey him. As I said, it's just like the military. You wouldn't speak like that to your General and you can't do it here. Our world is wonderful in many ways but it can be harsh too. Harsher than you realize. You -must- play the game. What you're feeling is the Rage that will allow you to shift forms eventually. Your Change is coming. But you have to fight against it. You have to, basically, go with the flow for now. It will save you tons of grief. Please make this easier on yourself."
Donnachaidh does listen, watching Jake. He blinks at the part 'You wouldn't speak like that to your General and you can't do it here.' and it takes him a few seconds to track back to try and figure out ... what the fuck is Jake talking about? "I didn't say anything to Dragomir." He looks confused, trying to think, "He ordered everyone to ... go back inside, be useful, something. Anger flared, I don't even know why. I wanted to ... tear something apart. I was trying not to. To fight it, to /make/ it stop." And Donnachaidh had snarled and yelled. There's a pause, thinking through what he can piece together, "I yelled at my anger to STOP. He thought I was yelling /at/ him?"
Shit, no wonder things went south. Only, Lleu suddenly laughs because it's so FUCKING ludicrist. "He thought I was ... son of a bitch." A negative shake of his head, "No, no... I wasn't yelling at him."
Jake smiles more and nods. "Yes, he did. So did I actually. At least that's what it seemed like. That's why he...acted the way he did. Higher ups do not take kindly to any sort of backtalk. Sure, you can speak your mind but it always has to be done in respectful tones and words. Dragomir...is a first rate warrior. In fact, he's one of the best here. You can learn much from him." He pats the man's shoulder. "So, there's been a misunderstanding. How about we go back and you explain what happened and apologize." He pauses. "Apologies here go a long way. Even if you think you're in the right. It's important to always show respect to those above you." Jake smiles again. "I sense a tremendous warrior in you and eventually you'll understand everything. In the meantime, just trust us." He releases the man's shoulders. "So...ready to go back?"
"I ... trust .. isn't easy." Donnachaidh sighs and tightens his jaw but he nods, "Yes, I suppose I owe him an apology for that. He's been such a dick since I met him, we have quarreled over my seeing Faith, and it made me so angry. I'm still /angry/ about it, but ... maybe I'm starting to understand. Some of it." He's gotten most of his breath back. Lleu moves to turn, all scratched up, ready to head back with Jake. No, not even going to ask about appearing suddenly out of a bright light.
"I know," Jake replies. "Trust has to be earned usually but, to be brutally honest, you don't have the time. Your change is near. You simply must trust us. Dragomir is old school. His tactics are more to the point. Hey, I'm sure you had commanding officers that you didn't see eye to eye with. Again, play -the- /game/. And as far as Faith is concerned...that's not your main issue now. Faith isn't going anywhere. Learn. Change. Get to know her better. There's plenty of time to get serious later on. You don't need any complications now. You have enough as it is. Just remember...and I don't mean to scare you...but Dragomir could break you like a match stick without even trying. Make him your ally." He takes a deep breath. "Okay, let's go back."
---
Caves - Natural Cavern
The tunnel from the outside leads into a massive natural void in the earth. This cavern stretches as far as your lights will shine, concealing the room's true size. Stalactites depend from the ceiling, along with mosses and roots from the forest above.
The farther one travels into the cavern, the father the ceiling pulls away into darkness. The air is heavy, and the weight of the mountain presses down nearly as much as the darkness presses around any lights brought within the seemingly endless natural chamber.
From this vaulted cavern, hundreds of natural fissures and tunnels lead deeper into the bowels of the earth. The place is a maze; without a proper guide, it would be all too easy to get lost and spend your last days wandering in the dark in search of a way back to the surface or a mouthful of water to sustain you.
---
Okay, so it's been more than five minutes, but eventually Jake emerges with a much calmer Lleu. Jake's got a hand on the man's shoulder in a reassuring way and is smiling. "Hey, everyone. Sorry that took so long. We just had a nice talk."
Iris does stop, and looks back to Dragomir, giving him a cheeky bit of a grin, "I did, but you're the one that's alpha material. No offense to anyone else in this pack's abilities, but you lead us for a reason, we follow you for a reason. But, just cause you're the boss doesn't mean you have no where to go cause there's always up. We're your family, and if there's something wrong then we're gonna say so, like I just did, and like Halona offered her two cents. And you're gonna take that like an alpha, smoosh it into your ways and grow with it, and we're gonna keep following you because of that. You're Wyld, embrace change and growth, reject stagnancy." And then there's Lleu and Jake! So, no parting now, it seems, and she doesn't continue any particular idea to escort Faith while Cool and the Gang go after Jake and Lleu. She does hang by Faith though, near the cave mouth, and tells her with full confidence, "He'll get it, he will." concerning everything she's just said. Iris has mommy brand confidence in the cub.
Lleutrim returns walking with Jake. He doesn't look really any worse for wear and most not have face planted into any trees, nor fallen down any deep holes. He is dirty and has bloody scratches from forcing his way through brambles, but nothing worse than that. As he sees the others gathered and waiting, and Dragomir in their midst, Lleu gives Jake a glance and then walks towards the pack's alpha.
Donnachaidh goes up to where Dragomir is and then stops about a body length away to stand at parade rest and quietly wait to be noticed. No making any eye contact. Looking at the ground at Dragomir's feet will do while he waits.
Faith remains standing quietly near to Iris, she gives Jake a respectful nod of greeting on the return of the two of them - but Lleutrim receives only a level stare. It's not particularly harsh, nor is it warm.
What's worse?.. Dragomir wears boat shoes.. he doesn't even have laces. He's THAT crunchy. Though there is a strange tone to the room, and Dragomir is standing with his hands resting within the confines of his pockets at the moment. He turns to look towards Lleutrim, then towards Jake and nods towards the Elder respectfully, "Welcome back Defiant Storm-rhya." obviously have a deep respect for the man, before he turns to face Lleutrim simply. "If you wish to speak Lleutrim Robert Donnachaidh, please do so." the Russian says calmly, obviously recognizing the change in body tone and posture with some intrigue.
Brooke watches the return of Lleu and Jake. She eyes him, and now, she will step forward closer to her Alpha, but still not up into any of this at all.
Jake watches quietly as Lleu approaches Dragomir and offers, matter of factly. "Apparently there's been an unfortunate misunderstanding, which does often happen in times of stress." He then signals for Lleu to continue with a gesture towards Dragomir.
Lleutrim draws a slow breath and lifts his gaze - and of course instantly makes eye contact because that's the sort of man he is. Then he glances aside. Dragomir's ear will have to be interesting enough. He hears Jake speak up but he's ready to speak for himself, "I owe you an apology, Eye-of-the-Storm-Rhya. I lost my temper, badly. I don't even know what set it off. I stopped myself and fought to force my fury down. I yelled .. at /myself/, at my anger to STOP. I wasn't yelling at you, I did not intend to defy your orders. I lost track of you entirely. Then I saw you in your ... war form, and .. I am ashamed to say that I paniced. I am humiliated. I ask you to forgive me. I -am- trying and I will do better."
Iris thunks a shoulder against the stone wall beside Faith, watching and listening quietly and with interest, taking a moment to lift her chin and whisper something quietly to the kin woman.
Brooke gets a message sent to her phone. "Excuse me, Howls at High Moon'rhya has time to meet with me now." She walks closer to Dragomir and touches his shoulder lightly before she takes off. It will take her some time since she cannot shift and run off and all.
Faith listens attentively to Iris' whispering.. but gives her a funny look. There's a pause before she leans in to respond, her hands folded gently at the small of her back. Her eyes remain on the Alpha and the Cub, and the Elder watching over them as things unfold.
Iris whispers back. It's a total whisper campaign over here! But like, super quiet and not at all disturbing anything happening up with the other 'roo.
Halona is not about to interrupt. She wanders over to gossip with the hens.
Dragomir listens to Lleutrim's words, considering him thoughtfully with those hard blue eyes the Judge looks at the world with. A glance is given towards Jake, nodding to the man once more at this, before he turns his head to look back towards Lleutrim and says, "Your words are sincere. You have properly demonstrated Submission to Those of Higher Station. I accept your Honorable Surrender."
Dragomir offers, "I have failed to be a positive mentor for you. You are different from any cub I have ever dealt with. My father is a greater man than I, and perhaps he would have not made the mistakes I have made in trying to help you through this transition." He lifts his hand and motions, "My own pack is divided on this topic. Which we cannot afford to be. You are important to the Nation Lleutrim Robert Donnachaidh, and you will one day be a great warrior within it."
He takes a physical step backwards and withdraws his hands from his pockets. "I do not wish to be the cause that leads you to taking your own life. We are divided, and weakened, and already losing this War. We cannot afford to lose anymore, and I will not be the cause of such." He turns to look towards Jake and says, "He is born of Fianna blood. I will contact them, and ask they handle his tutelage. I shall atone for my failings in this Defiant Storm-rhya." and he kneels and tips his head to the side to display his neck to Jake in submission.
As Halona arrives, Faith indicates quietly that she had simply asked to be excused to retire for the evening. But the words from Dragomir draw her attention, and the kinswoman stares without expression at the event unfolding.
Jake seems pleased and relieved at hearing Lleu's apology as well as Dragomir's calm reply. "You have not failed. On the contrary, you are doing splendidly. Please give yourself credit where credit is due. This is a unique situation which is beyond many of us. Still, I'm convinced everything will turn out just fine. Thank you. And with that said...I need to get home to Giselle but before I do let me thank each and every one of you for helping our new cub. I know that you will give him a first rate education and if I can be of any help, please don't hesitate to call me." He looks at Lleu. "You are in very good hands. Terminal Velocity and, especially Eye of the Storm have my highest admiration and respect. Listen to them, learn from them, and trust them. Goodnight everyone." A light, moonlight to be exact, enfolds the man and when it blinks out, he's gone.
Lleutrim makes that brief eye contact again when his name is used, then stares off slightly past Dragomir, "May I speak, Eye-of-the-Storm-Rhya?"
Iris is quiet, though she leans to bonk heads with Halona lightly when she joins their lady party. For her part, she seems pleased, and smiles at the way things are going over there, maybe a bit more as well when Jake super diplomatically declines failure and pass-ons. "Night, elder!" she chirps though, cause it's just rude not to return the sentiment when given.
Halona returns the headbutt with one of her own and leans idly there with Iris and Faith and she nods her approval at Dragomir as well. He's a good Alpha.
Dissed! Damn it Jake. Dragomir remains in submission until the Elder has left, and then returns to a stand since he was not killed. He turns his head to nod towards Lleutrim, giving him permission to speak.
Faith's body language is closed, her expression tight. She continues to linger with the women, both of whom she shows clear deference to, as she watches Lleutrim and Dragomir.
Lleutrim hasn't moved. He stands his ground at parade rest until he is dismissed. "I only wish to say, that if there is any fault, it is also my own. Because of my anger, my desire of a woman whom I care much for, that you have kept me from. I named you my enemy, when ... perhaps ... you are not. There is much I still do not understand yet some things /are/ becoming more clear. I ask that you do not send me away. Give me a little more time, Eye-of-the-Storm-Rhya. I will keep my word. I will do better."
Dragomir listens, studying Lleutrim and considers him. "In the Nation we are bound by our connections, affinities to the spirits, the land and to each other. We are never individuals, we are always apart of something. We derive all our strength from our connections and our trust in one another. To be divided, in any fashion.. on any topic, weakens all of us." He lifts his head to look towards the 'hens' and says, "So I will not make this decision Lleutrim Robert Donnachaidh. The pack will decide, and we will honor their decision."
"I think we should keep 'im." Iris says with a grin, "He seems like a good guy and the potential is pretty clear to me. Besides, you kept me and I've got baggage for miles and expert level sass. Personal opinion, we're a fuckin great pack, one of the best and most cohesive in the area I'd say, he'd do well learning from a group as tight knit and active as we are." That's her opinion though and she hasn't been as involved as long as the rest, so she looks to Halona for hers.
Faith draws back as the pack discusses the fate of the cub, her eyes drift to the alpha and linger on him in her silence. The kinswoman looks nothing short of exhausted on every level.
"I agree with Iris. We have seen him this far. Let's see him through his change. Once that is out of the way, we can introduce him to the Fianna and see where he wishes to go from there."
Lleutrim is pretty wiped out himself but not as badly as he would be if he hadn't finally slept well the night before. He stands quietly as the 'pack' members present cast their votes to let him stay a while longer or cast him off to these 'Fiana', whoever that may be. His own gaze follows Faith as she turns to fade away. For his own part he says nothing and waits.
Dragomir takes in a breath, and nods his head as though he has been listening to an internal dialogue. "It is unanimous Lleutrim Robert Donnachaidh. The pack wishes to see it through, and ensure you are properly educated and have a chance." He lifts his hand and brushes his face slightly, "You run with us, cub. You have a lot to prove, and you will have your chance to do better. The pack has spoken, as such.. I remain as your mentor. I will not compromise my teachings. My lessons will not be soft. But I will attempt to make my decisions with more.. Compassion." He looks towards Iris and nods, then back.
Iris beams a little grin back at Dragomir and then over at Lleu. "Woo! We should do somethin fun. I vote brownies and charades!"
