2018.5.22:LegendaryRealm

Legendary Realm
Gaining wisdom by living out ancestor's lives
IC Date	May, 2018
Players	Jake Miller, Halle(ST)
Location	The Legendary Realm, and travel to and from via moon path
Prp/Tp	Helios' Quest for Halle
Spheres	Gaian Garou

The pair makes it onto the Moon Path that Dragomir had guided them to. They get far enough down it that they believe they can probably start traveling more quickly without the Banes seeing them. Putting some distance between them and the threat which normally might be a welcome fight, but today would just serve to possibly weaken them at the start of a trip that might take everything they have. "Ok, think they can't spot us now," Halle says, rising from her stealthy crouch to begin running.

As the couple make their rush for the Moon Path Jake transforms into his war form, scoops Halle up in one arm and /flies/ into the tunnel. Light beams shoot by them like lasers and the Ahroun's powerful wings propel them through, faster and faster and faster. Jake's dressed for the trip too with cargo pants, a weapons belt and fire axe which is strapped to his side.

Halle hasn't brought any weapons, doesn't really have anything but her smile and clothes, and a couple of small mirrors in various pockets. Because it's good to have a mirror when you need one. She gives a giggle as she's scooped up by the enormous Crinos. "Don't think I don't get the irony of the wolf picking up the bird to take for a fly," Halle tells him, laughing.

The moon paths are often protected by Lunes, to varying degrees based on the moon phase. Though Dragomir warned the Wyrm were trying to block the Legendary Realm off, and so it isn't a surprise that the Lunes are few and far between on this path. Still, no problems yet.

"So you don't know who any of your ancestors are?" Halle asks him. "So we could end up literally anywhere and anytime there. Or, well, obviously somewhere a Shadow Lord lived, though that doesn't mean we'd have to be in Russia or any of the main homelands.”

Defiant-Storm shakes his massive head. >>NO clue. I grew up in foster homes. But it seems that every Shadow Lord I've ever met have been from Russia. I guess it wouldn't be a terrible thing to find out I'm from Russia but I'm American through and through, regardless of what my ancestors were.<< From his tone it doesn't sound like he's be thrilled to find out he WAS Russian. >>It is what it is, I guess.<< The huge Garou flies with the precision of a hummingbird, as if he's been flying his entire life. He then adds, >>Billy might even shoot me if I turned out to be Russian.<<

Halle rests her head against Defiant-Storm's shoulder as he flies, but the woman is keeping a close eye out. "Well, doesn't mean you are a communist even if you did have roots there," she says with a chuckle. "I'm kind of glad I didn't have any awareness of the Cold War. It sounded like a horrible time," Halle says. Jake will know she's read some history to help her with fitting in amongst humans. They fly in silence for a little bit. "But if he *did* shoot you, I'm sure it would just be to wound," she teases.

Up ahead, the silvery light illuminating the path looks like it has grown dimmer. It's tougher to see what is ahead, and they begin to pass some areas that are closer to a gray than a silver.

Defiant-Storm nods to the woman and thinks a moment. >>You know, a fellow Lord that I knew kept saying that I was destined for something...special. He was shocked to hear that I had been touched by Grandfather Thunder himself and actually spoke to him. According to Dmitri that is almost unheard of and quite rare. He was jealous of that fact too. Held it against me. I tried to be friends with him but he was just too paranoid for that to happen. Yeah, all I know is I'm Shadow Lord.<< He frowns and concentrates on the darkening area ahead and slows slightly.

Halle looks off ahead, growing a little more concerned as well. "Well, that's not a good sign," Halle says.

And it turns out she's right. They fly over another grey area and around a curve and suddenly the grey is giving way to a slick, nasty looking black. And then... shit gets real.

You get a sudden feeling, your fur standing on end as you fly down the middle of the path. It grows stronger very, very quickly. You notice a spot just ahead where the oily black path has a little disturbance in it, and you're heading right for it.

Halle shouts, "Veer off!"

Defiant-Storm doesn't need to be told twice. He's on it before Halle even says anything and immediately takes offensive action. His wings begin to flap in double time and the two barrel roll as if they're on a rollercoaster, veering up, up and away from the black spot which waits for them up ahead. The Ahroun keeps a very tight grip on Halle and he growls, deep and low. >>Hold on!<<

A geyser of black, tar-like goop shoots up into the air. Defiant-Storm just barely is able to dodge it, though little drops of the sticky black substance land on his fur and wings and on Halle here and there. Just a few little splashes, and they don't seem to be harming him so far.

Defiant-Storm growls again as they barely miss getting hit by the black gloop and he continues his defensive acrobatics, doing what he can to keep Halle shielded. >>I don't have any idea what that stuff is but my Spidey sense is definitely tingling.<< Yeah, so far so good. Still, he's concentrating one hundred percent.

The pair continue down the path. The silvery way is completely black now, the Path looking like it's covered with a dull, black, oily goop. And Defiant-Storm's fur stands on end again and with the warning, he sees two spots bubble slightly ahead of him. "Dive!" Halle cries out.

Well, Defiant-Storm has learned to trust Halle so when she says 'Dive!' he dives! It's another barrel roll, in the opposite direction this time, and the wind flies by like a tornado. Two plumes of the black substance shoot skyward, but fanning out as they go skyward, creating a wall in front of them. Diving takes the Garou down low enough that he can do his barrel roll through a gap in the substance, wings just making it beneath the spray of goopy black gunk above them. They pick up a few more droplets, but nothing major.

There's a sudden roar that carries an angry sound in it. Suddenly on the path ahead a creature rises out of the black. It has a rounded body that is the same black color as the substance that has shot into the sky at them. A giant red eye dominates the center of the body, like cycloptic octopus or squid. A full 15 feet of it clears the murky black surface, and four tentacles of the same color rise up around it, each ending in a wicked looked set of barbs.

Defiant-Storm continues to fly straight at the creature but then, something rather amazing happens. It's as if Defiant-Storm splits in two, both hurtling towards the creature. They begin to crisscross, back and forth and back and forth so it's rather dizzying.

The two powerful Crinos continue to weave in and out as they fly closer and closer to the creature then they both pull a small knife from their belt and -throw- it...except, once the knife is thrown only one that is visible comes from the REAL Defiant-Storm and it manages to nick the monster. Just a nick. And not even in a vulnerable area. It's as if he was aiming NOT to injure it. Odd. Defiant-Storm then stage whispers to Halle, >>I have no quarrel with this spirit unless it absolutely won't let us pass. It could simply be protecting its territory. I don't wish to harm it unless I have no other choice.<< An Ahroun not wishing to harm something? Now, that's unique. Most Ahrouns rip shit apart then ask questions later. Not Defiant-Storm though. >>Now...if my plan works...<< His plan? What's his damn plan? He just keeps flying towards it, waiting for something.

The creature is big and there's a bit of a blubbery sense to it as the knife just bounces off of it rather elastically. But it hits true enough for the magic imparted to the weapon to reach the creature. There's a little ripple that travels outwards from the spot, like you might imagine traveling through a giant mass of jello. The creature goes still and then slowly moves, a combination of falling forward and sinking into the mucky liquid covering the Moon Path. It goes face down into it, and the tentacles fall, sending up splashes of the thick fluid where they hit.

Halle was just starting to let go of Jake, but seeing what happens she takes hold of him again, though her talons are out, the woman being careful not to stick the Crinos. "Is that your plan?" Halle asks him, watching it keel over.

Defiant-Storm sighs with relief when the creature sinks from view and nods to Halle, continuing to keep a tight hold on her. >>Yes, thankfully. The creature isn't harmed, just paralyzed and helpless for a while.<< He seems quite pleased about that too.

The mirror image of Defiant-Storm flies closer and remains at his side as they continue to fly forward on their mission.

Halle comments to Jake, "I was just about to fly free so we'd both be free to attack," she tells him. "I don't know if I can keep up with you without changing back to normal though," she adds. She does keep her talons out as she looks around. They fly over the darkened area. It really is quite noxious looking, one doesn't really need to Sense Wyrm to know what part of the Triat the spirit belonged to. Ahead the Moon Path is becoming clear of the black slime, first turning back to a grey color and then finally silvery again. A few minutes down the path they see a Lune.

Defiant-Storm nods to Halle, his expression still tense with concentration. >>Sometimes...the best attack is...not to attack. I'll never turn away from one but there is no dishonor in avoiding one if it's not absolutely necessary.<< He looks over and nods to his mirror image which nods back and they both make a beeline for the silvery path and the Lune. >>Bingo. Do you see what I see? That IS a Lune, right? Can you communicate with it?<<

Halle nods her head back to Defiant-Storm. "I know Spirit Speech, yes," she tells him. "Probably a good idea if we warn it about the other spirit," she adds. Halle cranes her head to look back behind them along the path. The edge of the corrupted section is just out of view by now, but not too long of a trip down it. Meanwhile, up ahead the Lune has taken note of the pair, but after a brief perusal doesn't seem to be paying them any mind other than to watch them pass.

>>Then go ahead and speak to it,<< Defiant-Storm and his Echo replies, at the same time, before heading toward the spirit and offering a friendly wave of greeting. >>And, yes, do warn it about the other spirit just in case.<<

The Lune is a band of shimmering silvery light, the edges faintly glowing gold. It had moved in a wave towards the pair of you as you first were sighted, about the only way to be sure it saw you, before holding up and then flowing along the path instead. As Defiant Storm flies nearer, the band of moonlight arcs back towards them then stop, flowing back and forth like a flag waving in the wind.

--Good evening to you. It is good to see one of Luna's own upon the Path here,-- Halle says to the Lune in spirit speech. The silvery light wavers back and forth without replying. --We encountered a spirit of the Wyrm just a short distance down the Moon Path,-- Halle tells the Lune. --Defiant-Storm paralyzed it and we passed, though it is a danger to others,-- she says.

The Lune's color changes a bit, the silver rippling and little sparks coming from it in a way that gives the impression of anger. --The Path is under attack. They try to cut off access to the Realm it leads to.--

Defiant-Storm offers a polite nod of the head to the Lune then glances to Halle. >>Under attack? So, that creature back there is actually causing damage to the path itself. Dammit.<< He shakes his massive head and so does his Echo. >>I was hoping it was simply a harmless spirit that was messing with us. This changes things. It will be paralyzed for quite some time. Should we go back and finish it off, Halle?<<

The spirit is still agitated, they can see. It replies to Defiant-Storm, --The Wyrm would destroy the paths, as it would destroy everything if it could. It is, I think, beyond this spirit's ability. Though it can make it dangerous. Indeed, were you not able to fly, you likely would have had a worse time of it,-- the Lune says.

Halle looks to the Garou, nodding, before listening to hear the Lune. --We would help you in defending the path, though Helios has told me to go to the Legendary Realm with my friend here. I am not sure the why of it, though we'd tried to not exhaust ourselves on the trip too much...-- she says. Though she has a troubled look. --Though for all I know, He might want us to help clean it up.-- Halle looks back to Defiant-Storm. --Well, we should not second guess ourselves. If your instinct is to avoid it and continue on, I'd say we should do that. I've always trusted my instincts when obeying Helios.—

Defiant-Storm listens intently, as does his Echo and nods to the Spirit before looking back at Halle. >>Yes, sometimes it's difficult to gauge what our purpose is but I feel we need to continue forward at any cost. I don't know WHY I feel that but I do. There is always a chance Helios sent you here to destroy that last spirit but I really don't think it is.<<

"I believe you're correct," Halle says. "I believe I need to use my head, but also I trust He gives me enough that when I follow what I've been asked, I'll be doing as He wishes." Halle looks back towards the path. "Perhaps on our return, we might deal with it then?" she suggests. Halle turns towards the Lune. --We will continue on. We hope you are well, and thank you for your work guarding these Paths,-- Halle says. The Lune waves back and forth, the sparks of energy gone for the moment. --Be safe, wolf and sparrow. May you find what you seek.--

Defiant-Storm nods again to the Lune. >>Thank you.<< He then looks behind him then back to Halle and sighs. >>If it needs to be dealt with then we should do it now, while it's powerless. Besides, we may not be going back this way. These tunnels...do tend to change rather drastically at times and I'd hate to think I was responsible for others being hurt by it.<<

Halle nods her head. "If that's what your gut tells you, let's do it," she says. She lets go of Defiant-Storm and begins to float away from him. He might worry she's going to fall at first, but he'll realize quickly that he's not feeling her weight, obviously she's flying even though she's in human form. "Let's take it out quick before it can recover," she tells him. She grabs hold of Defiant-Storm's shoulder, letting him tow her partially since she can't likely keep up with the sweeps of his wings otherwise, though she's able to fly on her own apparently.

Defiant-Storm nods and turns with an easy flap of the wings, back towards the downed creature. His Echo stays right by his side the whole time too and it isn't long before they're staring down at the paralyzed beast. >>I don't think a simple cleansing would kill it totally.<< He regards the gloop again. >>Wish I had a Gurahl handy.<<

Halle looks over the size of the tainted area, which stretches about as far as they can see in each direction. "Yeah, I don't think I can even make a dent in this," she comments. "Let's kill the spirit and... I don't even know if you can do a rite on an area this big, you have to circle it don't you? Well, maybe it'll heal itself when the spirit is gone?" she suggests. The Wyrm spirit is visible up ahead, the big body kind of bobbing in the muck. Though it seems like the path should be there just below it, the whole things would make you think it was lying in a deep river of the noxious black liquid.

Defiant-Storm's wings keep flapping as they hover over the creature and muck and he reaches into is cargo pants to show Halle a small vial of liquid. >>Do you think this would work? It's a Clear Water. It would definitely kill any taint in the liquid but I don't know if it would kill the spirit as well.<<

"That might take care of the sludge after it's dead," Halle surmises. She hovers over top the floating blob. "Alright, let's take it out and then use the talen on the goop. If nothing else it should help." Halle drifts down towards the creature, looking to Defiant-Storm to see if he is ready. Suddenly sunlight starts to blaze from her, and then her hands become wreathed in a white flame that could only be called pure and holy.

Defiant-Storm nods to Halle and drifts over above the creature too, keeping a good distance at the moment. His echo continues to stick with him, mirroring his actions completely. He fishes something else out of his pocket which looks like a red jellybean and pops it into his mouth before giving a thumbs up. Obviously he's ready!

Halle dives down and begins slashing away at the creature. With it unable to move it turns into just wailing away on it. The white, pure flame dies out after the first hit, though the sunlight keeps shining. As Halle's talons score the creature, the gelatinous flesh steams from the heat of her glowing hands. Black goop spurts out of it on the woman, as it will from any wounds it takes. It doesn't seem to be harmful though it's sticky as all get out. Good thing they didn't get hit by those geysers of it, they'd have probably felt like they were stuck in a tar pit.

As Halle is shredding the creature to ribbons, Defiant-Storm closes in, bites down on the talen and a burst of high intensity flame shoots from his mouth like a fire breathing dragon! WHOA! The Wyrm flesh sizzles and melts, leaving a stomach churning smell in its wake. The Ahroun just keeps the flames flowing, on and on, until there is no more power left in the talen and the creature is eradicated. EWWWWW, what a mess!

Halle flies back up, luckily the goop she got clawing away on it doesn't seem to prevent her from doing that. But then she doesn't have wings she's flapping, they probably would not have taken well to being tarred (and feathered! get it!?) if she did. "Well, that sucked," she says, laughing as she looks at the black stuff splashed all over her. "Don't suppose I could get a cleansing after you try that talen on this?" she asks, hovering in the air above the black river of goop.

Defiant-Storm nods to Halle. >>Well, maybe we can do you and the goo at once.<< And with that he opens the Clear Water and sprinkles some on Halle before pouring most of it into the muck and...WOW!!! It really is like magic! As soon as the liquid touches the muck it turns into the same silvery color of the tunnel...then spreads out, eradicating all of the blackness!

Halle lets out a sigh of relief. She flies down to the path, and goes upside down to touch it gingerly with a finger, testing it, before landing on it. "Wow, I didn't think I'd ever be so happy to be able to land," she says with a wry smile. "Well, Dragomir and his ancestor certainly knew what they were talking about on this part, didn't they?" she asks. Halle looks around and says, "I suppose we should probably move on, try to make the Realm before we run into more. Though a chance to meditate for gnosis before we enter, if possible, wouldn't be a bad idea."

Defiant-Storm looks pleased as well but appears a little bit weary. Hey, even Elder Ahrouns need a rest every once in a while. >>Yes, meditating for Gnosis would be a very good idea. Recharging a bit is always good.<< He then slowly lowers himself to the ground and his wings furl behind him. >>This is as good a place as any.<< He then sits, Indian style, and his Echo does the same. Seems Defiant-Storm isn't ready to extinguish the Echo just yet. Besides, there is safety in numbers! >>Let's meditate for a while.<<

Up ahead the Moon Path appears to be drawing to an end. Both can sense that to take a few more steps forward is to be moving through into the Umbral realm that waits. Jake and Halle pause there to meditate, recovering fully from what they faced on the trip. Finally both are ready, Halle rising to her feet from where she sat cross-legged. She looks towards the hazy, silvery light that marks the boundary with the Legendary Realm. "Are you ready to meet your Ancestors?" she asks, offering Jake her hand to go through together.

Jake stands also, making sure he still has all his weapons still, and nods to Halle. His expression is a bit wary. "The question is...are they ready to meet -me-?" He grins slightly and takes the lead towards the silvery light.

The pair step forward, and are engulfed in a silvery mist. Hands clasped keep them from getting separated. First their vision blurs in the mist, and then hearing and scent and finally thought blur as well. Jake finds himself disoriented, not quite sure which way is up and which is down. He hears murmurs of voices. Talking. Laughing. Crying in pain and in anger. Battle cries and orders. Softly whispered words of love. Each an important moment to someone, male or female. So many voices in his head, one atop the other that he cannot keep them straight.

After the bright light of entering the Legendary Realm faded, Jake's first experiences were a bit odd to say the least. He had his own memories of his life, but found himself in the body of a boy. With memories of a mother and father, and growing up in Phylace, a city-state of Macedonia.

Jake remembered where he was, and the explanations from Dragomir and Dragomir's ancestor that he would relive deeds of his ancestor, and that it might take years, decades, or even centuries. But to actually find himself in this ancestor as a boy was still disconcerting at first.

But that faded as the days passed, one after another. Living as a boy again after knowing the freedoms of adulthood and being an Elder, was likely to chafe. But there was a whole new world Jake had to learn. Living in ancient Macedonia was so different from living in the modern world.

Life was harder, yet people had more respect for the world around them. They believed in gods and magic and beasts that people of Jake's age consider only superstition. And Jake saw with his own eyes at times, that those legends really did walk the Earth, not merely stories as the modern world has convinced itself.

But one familiarity that Jake had was the Sept. Life amongst the Garou felt familiar by comparison. The simple ways of living at peace with Gaia that modern kin use are still similar to how kin of this age live.

Jake experienced his ancestor's First Change, though by then he'd already spent a half-dozen years living his ancestor's life. It was hard sometimes to think of it as the ancestor's life, and not as just his own. It was a traumatic event, and cost him the life of a non-kinfolk friend. Krateros had learned early the painful cost of frenzies.

Jake, as Krateros, had joined a pack with Timandros early on. Not knowing where things would eventually lead, Jake watched as Timandros gradually came into his power. He packs a very hard punch, which made for successful intimidation of others.

Young Timandros learned quickly how to use others fear against them. His star soared amongst the Garou as he led his pack with ruthless efficiency, a trait which was admired by the other Garou. Over time, little things that he saw might have bothered Jake, however. Evidence of a cruel streak in Timandros gradually emerged. Kinfolk and those beneath him were beneath his notice, rather than given the Respect called for in the Litany. Examples of cruelty for cruelty's sake began to slowly mount, enough they might have grown troubling.

Matters got worse as Timandros gained rank and moved up into leadership in the Sept. It wasn't that he was cunning and sought the power that he was able to achieve and hold. It was the selfish way that he did it. Sullen disagreement turned into the occasional argument as Timandros was willing to accept harm to Gaia if it brought him more personal acclaim and success. Seeing a rival's caern fall to the Wyrm was acceptable to Timandros if it sullied the rival's family line and lessened the chances he could unite other Garou against Timandros.

The Alpha clung to his power with the right of an iron grip, as a good Shadow Lord should. But it was easy to find him lacking in wisdom. To see that the way in which Timandros wielded his power made these Shadow Lords less than they could have been under another leader.

The years passed, the examples growing starker. Until finally the time came of the drought, lasting well over a year. The opposition to Timandros had grown in recent years, and the Shadow Lord used his position to make sure those supporting him were in the best shape to make it through a prolonged disruption to water and food. But at such great cost in lives. Lives which even after decades spent living this life, Jake still would think of and how their senseless loss would only hurt the Garou's numbers in the future. In his future.

And then one set of sounds begins to grow above the others. It comes clear and the other sounds fade. With that clarity the mist around him fades and becomes a place.

"No, you've argued this with me enough," Timandros says, the words nearing a snarl at the end. "You will do as I told you unless you mean to challenge me."

Krateros of Phylace looked into the eyes of his Alpha before finally looking down and away. Though Jake's hands want to clench. Jake? Krateros... but also, he knows he's Jake. Yet Jake can remember growing up here in Phylace, a stronghold that holds the border of Macedonia for Philip. For Philip of Macedonia. Krateros-Jake can remember when Philip presented his eldest son, Alexander, after the boy's birth.

Though Jake's thoughts turn back to the moment. His Alpha, Timandros, a warlord who rules the city and countryside. And the terrible drought that is bringing hardship and starvation to the land. The humans and Kin alike are suffering and dying from the drought. Krateros has argued the spirits should be turned to for a solution. But Timandros is content to let so many die, reasoning it will reduce the number that he need guard against taking his rule.

Is that the way of a Shadow Lord? To see the innocent die for fear he is not strong enough to keep his rule?

Timandros turns away and leaves the room, content that Jake has backed down. Giving Jake a few moments to think. He can remember his own life, but that of Krateros as well. And something else... Halle? He turns, and there she is. Only Krateros knows it isn't Halle, but Liljana. A Kin, a widow of a member of the pack. It is said she is descended from demi-gods, and surely her strength and speed rivaling that of a Garou do nothing to dispel that story. Liljana - Halle - looks over to Krateros-Jake after the Alpha has gone. There's a moment's hesitation there, an eyebrow going up in a mannerism that is one of Halle’s.

Once Timandros is gone Jake blinks then shakes his head as if trying to clear it. It's clear he has WTF written all over his face and when he turns to look at Halle...more confusion. Another shake of the head. He regards her clothes...then looks down at what he's wearing. "Okay, now, this is freaky." Jake doesn't sound scared but he's damn confused, that's for sure.

Halle takes a look at herself, and then over at Jake. "You look like a frat boy on a way to a party," Halle-Liljana tells him with a teasing grin. She looks around the room. Stone walls and nice furnishings. Krateros has done well in Timandros's pack. "I have some really vague memories of this place, but... little more than the layout of town, the farms outside," Halle says, going over to look out a window. "Dragomir said the only way to move on, to leave, is to complete some sort of sacred journey or quest." She looks back over to Jake. "This... Krateros... I'm pretty sure that's your name. His name. Is he familiar to you?”

"And you look like...you work at Caesar's Palace," Jake-Krateros replies, his voice sounding vaguely different. He blinks again, hand going to his throat. "Do I...look different? You look different." He regards the back of his hands then looks over his shoulder and...FUCK! "Where are my wings?" He frowns deeply. "I have vague memories too. I can't explain how but I do. It's like...everything if familiar but it's not." He heads over to the window as well. "Yes, I remember what Dragomir said. And...yes, Krateros -is- familiar to me. Again, I can't explain why. It's like I'm reliving a...dream." He looks back over his shoulder again and even pats it searching for the missing appendages.

"Maybe being here is more like being in our realm, as far as your wings go?" Halle offers. "You do look different in some ways, yet I know it is you." She looks at the door that Timandros left through. "Obviously a spirit, though like many realms, one who probably isn't even aware he is a spirit. Thinks he's a Garou." The woman's mouth turns into a slight frown. "I really can't remember a lot. His name, Timandros. Rite-named Savage Verdict. And... strong. Yet... cowardly?" Halle says, it turning into a question as she looks towards Jake.

Jake can remember much more it seems. Remember what it was like being Beta to Timandros. Very strong personally and tough to best in a fight which is how he's held on to his position. But he is lacking as a leader, and has resorted to means that Krateros has not agreed with to keep it. Often, those methods have cost the pack, or the Sept.

Jake looks really pissed at having his wings clipped. Not good news. Halle would certainly relate. "I...seem to recall quite a lot. I don't know how but I do. And...yes, your assessment of Timandros is rather on the money. He's...well, he does showcase some of the Shadow Lords more unfortunate traits. Timandros is more concerned with self rather than the good of the whole. He...would not last long in Prospect.”

Halle wanders around the room, looking things over. "You have better taste in Alphas," Halle agrees. She opens up a pair of shutters that look off to the north. The land that should be green with crops is yellow and brown from drought. Off in the distance is a mountain range. A storm is blowing over the tallest peak, complete with the occasional flash of lightning and grey where rain is falling. Though Krateros knows that storm is perpetual, always falling on the mountain peak. Such things are not so unusual in this world, Krateros knows. He knows gods are real, the same as Jake knows science is real. "Looks like we're in for a blow," Halle comments as she sees the storm, apparently lacking for the memories Jake has. She turns back to him and looks around. "So, the first I knew what was going on, he was yelling at you for arguing too much. What was that about?" she asks.

Jake looks off to the north, his frown deepening. "There is a terrible drought going on. There, you can see the dead crops. It's causing mass starvation and suffering. People are dying. The spirits could help but Timandros doesn't want to hear about it. Is content with the deaths as it will help keep him in power. His reasoning is the less there are then that will make it easier for him to rule." He almost growls. "He's a delusional narcissistic asshole.”

"Asshole," Halle says in agreement, glaring towards the door. She looks back out at the fields and winces. "Yes, looks like a lot of dying plants out there. Hopefully the storm comes this way." She leaves the shutters open and moves back over to join Jake. Halle plops down on a seat, hanging a leg over the arm of it as she sits sideways in it. "So what's the plan here? These are Shadow Lords if these memories in my head are right, so probably your ancestor I'm guessing? What do you think you're here to do, or to learn?”

Jake keeps looking out the window, staring at the storm and the dying crops. "Yes, these are Lords but many are misguided because they have an ineffectual leader that doesn't teach independence or train them properly. Timandros wants it that way too. Greed, ego and power are his prime motivations. It wasn't apparent as he was rising in the ranks but he was an excellent manipulator and knew how to play Garou against each other. That's his strength. Pitting warriors against each other, exploiting their prejudices, fears and weaknesses." He pauses. "I have no idea why I'm here. Not a clue. Although...while I'm here I -could- help out a little. That is...if my Gifts are all intact here." He turns to look at Halle. "I could make it rain."

It would be an easy enough thing. A Gift that surprises other tribes to learn it is a tribal legacy of the Shadow Lords, bringing merciful rains where they are needed it. Jake knows he knows the Gift. He can remember the day he learned it. But, as he thinks about it... the way to actually perform the Gift seems just out of reach. Like when you almost have the perfect word for something but just can't quite recall it.

And there are Krateros's memories too that Jake has. Krateros-Jake knows that no Shadow Lord of Macedonia has ever known such a Gift. Doubts that any Shadow Lord has even thought of such Gift. Yet modern Jake is sure he heard the Gift came from the Shadow Lord's totem.

"Well, whether or not that's why we're here, it's certainly worth doing," Halle says, hopping to her feet with the supernatural grace he's only seen from her in combat. Obviously she - or Liljana - has something of Halle in her still. "Do we need to head out to the fields?" she asks. "Or can you do it from here?”

Jake rubs his right temple with his fingers as he contemplates Halle's question. "Or worth trying. I...-think- I can. It not a difficult ritual but...for some reason the specifics are...fuzzy." He shakes his head again. "No, I couldn't do it from here. I'd have to be in the middle of the fields. You see...it affects an area of a fifteen minute walk for each rank the Garou has achieved. That means...he frowns again. That means..." He turns to Halle again. "Am I an Elder here? Krateros...is not an Elder. At least...I don't think he is. Am I?" Jake looks befuddled again then shakes his head once more before adding. "I could even teach the gift to others here before I go.”

But even as Jake thinks of trying to teach the Gift, he can't recall how to do it himself. He thinks of a few of his other gifts. Spirit of the Fray he remembers. Razor Claws. Luna's Armor. One gift after another he remembers as much now as he did yesterday. But Rains of Mercy, he just cannot remember how to do, let alone teach.

Halle looks like she's thinking. "I'm not sure, though, I mean I'm guessing at least Adren or Athro. I mean, Asshole said that about 'unless you're challenging me' so you have to be within a rank of him, right?" Halle says. "Well, unless he meant it to mean, unless you're challenging me which you know you cannot do. But, still, he's in charge right? So, you'd think he'd at least be Athro if not Elder.”

Jake frowns again as he thinks. "Yes, Krateros is...Athro. I...I..." he concentrates for a moment and looks at his hands. Then keeps looking. And keeps looking. His frown deepens. "It's not working. Luna's Avenger isn't working." He looks back up at Halle. "Something's wrong. This is like what happened when I arrived in Prospect at Kevin's lab. When I arrived I was missing certain Gifts and abilities. I had to learn some of them all over again. Shit." Jake takes a deep breath, then another. "But, that's okay. We'll just take this a step at a time. Besides, we have to find out what YOU are doing here too. Why did Helios send you here? I mean...I'm really here to help protect you, correct?”

But then, Jake's hands DO start to turn silver and he sighs with relief. "Wait...nevermind. Okay. False alarm." His hands then turn back to normal.

Halle gives a shrug of her shoulders. "Protect? Maybe?" she replies. "He just said I needed to ask the Garou I trust the most to come with me. Didn't say why. But from what Dragomir's ancestor said... remember the bit about how I won't have ancestors here, and so the... was some kind of winter storm scourging the Realm... it would probably get worse around me or something like that because it might not want me here. Since this place is all about our ancestor's deeds, I'm guessing maybe that's why Helios wanted you to come. So there are deeds for me to be here for. Though, I don't know why that's important."

There's a soft knock on the door, and assuming Jake - Krateros - answers it or tells them to come in, a kin woman comes in. Mathia, Krateros knows her name to be. She nods respectfully, and a smaller nod for Halle - Liljana. "Krateros... some of the people are planning to try to leave. Before it is too late, before they are too exhausted to even be able to travel. I've told them not to. Timandros would never let them go," she says. Indeed, Jake knows Timandros would slaughter them, before risking them going to another city-state and strengthening another Sept. "Please, can you please convince Timandros to get help for us, before they risk it? Jake can remember the arguments with Timandros, even being throated and pinned down once over it. Though Jake is a better fighter than his ancestor was, he's sure.

Jake nods to Halle and starts to say something else when the knock gets his attention and he looks displeased as Mathia explains the situation. When she's done he pats her shoulder gently. "Try to calm them. Tell them that a solution may be near and not to act rashly. Ask them to wait twenty four hours. I will indeed talk with Timandros." He smiles at her. "Tell everyone, we will figure something out. They don't have to be fearful. They must have courage and faith in Gaia. The Earthmother watches over us all and will not desert us. She has a plan. Mathia...it -will- be alright." Jake speaks with such resolve. The resolve of a leader. Every word he speaks rings true. There is no doubt in his voice or tone.

Mathia's face shows some relief, but her eyes still show worry lines. As much as she wants to believe Krateros, the kin no doubt knows Timandros is the Alpha. "Thank you, Heaven's-Eye'rya," she says to him before leaving. Halle waits for the door to be shut. "So, two problems. Kin that are starving, and a bad Alpha that is letting them," she says, moving over nearer to Jake once the kin woman is gone. "So, what's the plan?" she asks Jake.

Jake is quiet for a moment before turning to Halle. "I'm not entirely sure yet seeing that Timandros is not one who listens to reason. That said...perhaps I can convince him. It's...delicate. Based on past memories and...what I'm experiencing here I know he's an arrogant bully that has the attention span on a flea. And that might be unfair to fleas." He sighs. "If he doesn't listen to reason I could challenge him. OR...I could request an audience with him and as soon as I'm close enough could stab him through the heart." It's almost shocking how easy those words fall from his lips. "He's not doing a thing for the Nation and is going against Gaia. I feel no loyalty to him. It's a wonder how I ever agreed to pack with him in the first place.”

Jake knows Halle has a soft heart when it comes to a lot of things. Animals that can't help their situation amongst humans as a good example. But also doesn't bat an eye at hearing that someone who needs killing may get killed. Then again, animals take the world the way it is rather than idealize it. "Whichever you think would be the best route," Halle agrees. "If it comes down to anyone else trying to help him outside of a challenge, you know I'll have your back." She waits to see which Jake decides to do.

Has Jake ever killed another Garou? Possibly. No one would know that except Jake and probably Journey. "I'm not entirely sure which would be the best route. I would like to be able to change Timandros but we all know it's nearly impossible to change people. I COULD try to talk with him. OR, challenge for Alpha which would give me the power to help the people but then I'd be...or Krateros would be looking over his shoulder just waiting for a knife in the back eventually. Timandros holds grudges. He doesn't fight fair. Straight out killing may be the only choice." He sighs. "I wish I could discuss this with Journey. He'd know what to do instantly."

"Don't take this wrong, but would he?" Halle asks after a few moments of thought. "This is your spirit quest. In a section of the Legendary Realm that represents the Shadow Lord homelands, as I understand it. The Silent Strider's section is somewhere else. Would his tribe's way of dealing with this be the same as your tribe's?" Halle asks. She moves back over to the window, watching the storm which doesn't seem to have moved from the mountain range. "Of course I'm speculating here, but I'm expecting tribe to influence what people encounter here. I would think it would be something tied to your tribe's core principles. If... that is even what your spirit quest is. It could be something else entirely for all I know." She blows out a puff air that stirs her hair. "Ok, now I understand how Dragomir said it could take a long time to complete one and leave here."

Jake shakes his head. "Honestly, I don't know. I don't know how a Strider is raised. Lords...well fear and intimidation can be their trademark. Not ALL Lords but I've experienced that first hand. I'm not like that though. I've never been like that. It's one of the things that made it very difficult for me to embrace my Lord roots. I've moved past that though, thanks to some very wise people who helped guide me." He considers. "You know, it's odd to have Krateros' memories and thoughts surfacing at the same time as my own. I understand the fears and concerns that the people have here...and they're justified." He looks out the window again. "I see ways to make this a better place. I mean, it's so obvious. This Sept needs a touch of what we have in Prospect."

"So there are aspects to the Lords' way of doing things that you have come to see merit in, but also where the limits can... or should, be drawn?" Halle asks. She hasn't quite fit in as well as Jake, not having an ancestor whose place she is taking. Though it has been enlightening for Halle as well. She'd had 4 1/2 years living amongst humans before. Now she has nearly 30, even if most of those were humans from an ancient time, she's learned a lot from having so much more exposure to them.

Jake nods to Halle. "Yes, of course. There are good and bad in all Tribes. I mean, rules can be bent to fit a personal agenda. What matters is how honorable a Garou can be. Without Honor...well, what's the point? Anyone can destroy. It's much more difficult to create." Jake's not necessarily talking to Halle right now. It's like he's having a personal conversation with himself." He looks back out the window again. "These poor people. This can't be allowed to continue. It can't. It's a slap in the face to the Earthmother." He nearly growls.

Halle walks over behind Jake as he looks out the window. There is a slight breeze, the air cooler than he might have thought. This it seems this place is always near to winter, even if they are milder than what he knew in Washington. Not that prevented the drought. Halle rests her head against his shoulder from behind. "And to have any help for them be long term, Timandros has to be dealt with first," she agrees.

Jake nods slowly. "Yes, I know he does. And it's a shame because he could be a good leader IF he wasn't such an asshole." He frowns. "I don't wish to simply attack him about it though. I...have an idea. I may try to...appeal to his Ego first. Try to get him to change based on his own self-image. He's power hungry so...if I offer him more power that may do the trick." He looks back at Halle. "I would rather not simply Challenge him. If he won't listen to reason I would rather he Challenged ME." He considers again then turns and calls, "Mathia!"

Almost immediately Mathia steps back into the room and offers a nod of the head. "Yes, Krateros-Rhya?"

Jake says, in a low voice. "Please inform ALL the members of Titan's Wrath including Timandros that I wish to see them at the pack house. Immediately."

The girl offers a quiet bow. "Yes, of course. Right away." She then scuttles out of the room.

Jake then turns to Halle. "What do you think?"

Halle looks thoughtful for a few moments. "I'm not sure exactly what you have in mind. I think you're probably doing a good thing, trying to improve him first instead of just ending him. Though, I'd keep in mind you might be tipping your hand a bit if it doesn't go as you hope. He doesn't always resort to challenges, after all," Halle says. "And Jake... death here is as final as it was in Prospect. Not like the Battlegrounds where you just wake in the Umbra." She grabs her things then and prepares to head to the pack house with Jake.

It isn’t long before Jake and Halle are at the pack house and come face to face with the other members of Titan’s Wrath; Jakov - Waters-Blessing, Theurge. Rozalija - Swift-Arrow, Ragabash, and Lazar, Strikes-First, Ahroun. Timandros strides in last, looking rather irritated.

Once everyone settles Krateros/Jake wastes no time getting down to business and addresses the group with fiery intensity, injecting more passion and confidence that Krateros is usually capable of. “First of all, I wish to convey my great respect and affection for you, my brothers. Our bond is sacred and our pack is indeed a force to be reckoned with. We are proud warriors of Gaia and we WILL smite the Wyrm wherever it dwells and whenever it raises its ugly head. That is what we are here for and that is our responsibility, as you know.”

As he continues to speak his voice only gets more commanding, sounding quite authorative. “We are all children of Grandfather Thunder and, as you know, he instructs that we must be an instrument of change, sweeping away the tethers of the past as we build a new and better future. This is the essence of what Grandfather represents. To ignore it is to ignore him and that is unacceptable.”

Krateros/Jake then turns to face Timandros directly, his gaze steady. “My Alpha, as Philodox you are aware of the spirits, a pathfinder and are a seeker of truth. Your power comes from the ability to show the tribe truths that go beyond the simple concerns of the Garou. Truths.” It seems he’s leading up to something and glances from face to face again before looking back at Timandros. “My Alpha...I am here to help you. I am here to help our pack and I am here to help our people. You know me to be of sound mind. You know me to be truthful. You know me to be a warrior that would protect this Sept with my life. That said, I must point out one more time that we are currently on the wrong track when it comes to our people and our Kin. The path we are on is not honoring Grandfather Thunder or the Earthmother. We need to bring the waters to our people. We need to make our crops healthy again. We need to drive the sickness and fear from our Kin. It will help unite our Sept, bring about renewed loyalty from our people and establish the name of Timandros as a one of the greatest living Theurges of all time, perhaps even greater than Margrave.” Another pause. Margrave? Jake might have gotten his time tables mixed up. Perhaps Margrave came later. Oh well, he already said it.

“Regardless, I am here to help. My insight is valuable. I’ve had a vision and know that we can implement Grandfather’s wishes in a way that will be historic. You can lead with compassion rather than fear. You CAN lead with strengthening our people. You can lead by uniting our people. Unity IS the key. Unity will give us true power. Unity will make you a legend, my Alpha. Let us become that instrument of change and make that better future. Let me be your advisor in order to make this happen.”

Timandros sits and listens to Jake. His eyes narrow slightly a little way in, as if he senses where this is going. A discussion that Krateros/Jake has raised a number of times. If less directly than to do so in front of the pack. The Alpha's lip curls in disgust as his Beta speaks of acting to help the kin. But he holds his silence, letting Krateros finish. The other members of the pack glance between each other and between Krateros/Jake and Timandros as the Alpha rises to his feet.

The Shadow Lord's eyes blaze as he says. "Words of weakness. Are our Kin Shadow Lords, or are they wretched Bone Gnawers? If they are too weak to survive this test sent by Gaia, then they are too weak to breed the next generation of our tribe!" he proclaims. Timandros paces up and down, eyes going to members of the pack as he speaks, assuring their gaze drops before their leader.

"Enough of this! If our Kin have grown too numerous for the land, then they should be cleansed. If the other packs cannot see to their own needs, then they weaken our Sept!" Timandros thunders. "This is MY land. My Sept. And the humans in the city are mine to rule." Timandros turns quickly and stalks over in front of Krateros/Jake. "I have made my will known. Obey me like the whelp you are, or make your challenge," he says, clenching one finger at a time into fists, as if relishing the thought of a challenge should anyone be foolish enough to offer one.

Krateros/Jake is quiet for a long moment…then two…before he inhales softly and glances back over at Halle. Not Timandros, or his other pack mates, just Halle. It’s as if the others don’t even exist right now. “You know…over the years I’ve encountered many people who just won’t listen to reason no matter how hard I try to convince them. I try to give everyone a way out and usually warn them to take it before things get out of hand. I think it’s only fair. Especially when I know my opponent is at a disadvantage. I mean, contrary to public belief about Ahrouns in general, I don’t enjoy hurting people. Never have. I don’t enjoy pushing my weight around either. It’s so…distasteful and vulgar. But sometimes there’s no other way and some people are just so /thick/ that the only thing they understand is brute, -cruel- force.”

The Ahroun then turns back to Timandros, his piercing gaze locked on the Alpha, and speaks very low, tone unnervingly calm. “My offer to you was beyond generous and you threw it away. Very well. Have it your way.” His voice then strengthens, rumbling with authority. “As Grandfather Thunder said to me personally when he plucked me from this earth and into the sky…’WHAT DO I CARE OF YOUR WILL AMONGST TINY WOLVES? A STORM CARES NOT FOR WORDS. A SHADOW CARES NOT FOR WORDS.” It’s almost as if he’s channeling the voice of Grandfather Thunder himself. “WHAT AM I, WOLF? I. AM. **POWER**. I AM **MIGHT**’” Krateros/Jake’s eyes begin to turn a light amber-silver hue, his words almost hypnotic. “GRANDFATHER TOLD ME ‘THE WEAK AND UNWORTHY ARE /MINE/ TO DISPOSE OF AND UNSEAT. AS THE WOLF PICKS THE WEAK AND THE OLD FROM A HERD OF DEER THAT THE STRONG AND WORTHY MAY RULE SO MUST I TEAR DOWN THE WEAK AND UNWORTHY IN ALL THINGS. CONSUME THEIR POWER, BECOME MIGHT, TEAR DOWN THE WEAK AND THE OLD FROM THEIR THRONES AND SEAT THEM WITH THE STRONG. IT IS MY DUTY TO ENSURE THE MIGHT, STRENGTH, AND SURVIVAL OF THE GAROU NATION. TO PROTECT IT NOT JUST FROM ITS ENEMIES, BUT FROM ITSELF. ALL ARE MY PREY. **ALL**.”

Krateros/Jake remains rock solid still. Unblinking. Staring the man down with the intensity of a laser. This is a part of him that is rarely seen, locked away, hidden, and for good reason. It’s goddamned terrifying. There is no sign of ‘Jake’ here. Jake is gone. This is a Warrior of the ages. This is an Ahroun that commands respect. This is a Garou who will lead armies which will gladly die for him.

“/YOU/ ARE **WEAK* AND **UNWORTHY**, TIMANDROS,” Krateros/Jake thunders. “AND YOU ARE A /FOOL/! THIS IS /NOT/ YOUR LAND, OR YOUR SEPT, OR YOUR PEOPLE. EVERYTHING YOU MENTIONED BELONGS SOLELY TO GAIA AND THE EARTHMOTHER AND YOUR WORDS ONLY PROVE YOU ARE INCAPABLE OF LEADING. YOU ARE ALSO UNDER THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT I AM SIMPLY KRATEROS. AN UNDERLING.” He pauses, the tone of his voice turning from fearful to bone chilling. “I AM FAR MORE THAN THAT. /FAR/ MORE. IN ADDITION TO KRATEROS YOU ARE ADDRESSING, DEFIANT-STORM, ELDER ANCESTOR OF KRATEROS AND WYRMFOE TO THE SEPT OF THE ENDURING SPIRIT.” And to prove the point, his entire body slowly begins to change into silver as he continues to speak. Holy shit! “YOU ARE ADDRESSING A SUPERIOR OFFICER OF HIGHER RANK WHO HAS HAD /ENOUGH/ OF YOUR MEANINGLESS PRATTLE. SOOO…LET ME MAKE THIS -TOTALLY- CLEAR…” He leans dangerously closer so that Timandros can feel the full effect of the silver. “…IF YOU REFUSE TO STEP DOWN, RELINQUISH YOUR CONTROL OVER THIS SEPT AND PASS IT ON TO KRATEROS IMMEDIATELY…THERE /WILL/ INDEED BE A CHALLENGE TO BE MADE. YOU WILL CHALLENGE /ME/, PUP! YOU WILL CHALLENGE /ME/!”

Timandros stares down Krateros/Jake. The Alpha's face is a craggy series of hard-set lines that only seems to darken the more that he hears from his Beta. Storms gather in his eyes, growing to a tempest of anger. Jake's skin turning silver is the only thing that seems to startle Timandros, his eyes sweeping over the Ahroun's form briefly before bringing his gaze back to meet Jake's eyes. "You are far more wretched of a cur than I'd thought, only finding backbone with the help of this 'ancestor' of yours," Timandros snarls. "I've put up with your weakness for the last time, whelp," he says, his cycling through clenching into fists and releasing. "You have no idea how to rule or what is best for Gaia-" the Philodox says before his words are cut off by a grunt as a small cut appears on his cheek at what seems to have been a minor lie. His hand goes to his cheek and feels the small amount of blood, and then sudden realization lights his eyes, followed by a rush of Rage. "You use your Gifts against me, whelp!?" he shouts. "You challenge me!”

Jake doesn't even respond to Timandros reply. Controlled anger, disgust, and a little bit of pity really, shines in his eyes. As the Philodox starts to lose it and frenzy Jake also begins shifting to Crinos, the Luna's Avenger Gift continuing to turn his huge frame into a massive mass of silver and he simply points a gleaming claw at the Alpha. *PUP!!!* he -ROARS- again, clearly out of patience and activating Paws Of The Newborn Cub, which, of course, works like a charm.

In the grip of his Rage run amok, Timandros doesn't even react to his body being forced back down to his normal homid form. He grabs a chair, having no problem ripping a leg off despite no longer being in his Crinos war form. He turns back towards the gleaming silver Ahroun, hefting the heavy wood with a look of hatred painting his face.

As the rest of Defiant-Storm/Kratero's pack watches in stunned silence the Crinos warrior suddenly -blurs-, disappearing then instantly reappearing behind Timandros, fangs bared, and sinks them deep into the Alpha's throat. Blood begins spurting from the man as his eyes widen in shocked disbelief and tries to pull away but it's futile. The fangs are in too deep, the jaws too strong. All Timandros can do is open his mouth in a silent scream as his throat is suddenly ripped out, without any preamble whatsoever. Nope, Defiant-Storm isn't fucking around here. He's given the man ample warning, tried to negotiate with him, even mapped out a possible way for him to continue to lead. Stupid fucker.

The blood continues to shoot all over the floor, creating a pattern that almost looks like a crescent moon engulfed in clouds, and Timandros shoots one last shocked look at his pack mates before his eyes roll back in his head, body convulsing, then suddenly going still.

Defiant-Storm/Krateros then -RIIIIIIIPS- off the Alpha's head, tossing his now lifeless body aside like a rag doll.

Wait. What? Timandros is...dead? It...can't be.

Sure looks like it though. He's not moving. Not a muscle. Not breathing either. Hard to do without a head. He's...dead! He's /fucking/ DEAD! Holy shit!

Halle stands in the background with a few of the pack's kin, watching. Her eyes widen as the challenge suddenly turns violent. The other pack members keep between the fight and the kin, and Halle moves to put herself between the kin and what is going on as well, though staying further back.

As Timandros's head hangs from Defiant-Storm's jaws, the other members of his pack slowly walk forward. Each drops his gaze before Krateros, showing submission to the now dominant wolf of the pack. And Sept.

There are quiet whispers amongst the kin. One woman, a mate of Timandros, backs away before leaving. Most of the others have relieved looks though, one or two shooting hopeful looks back and forth. One of the kin takes a small step forward. "Summer's-Sun-rhya?" the kin says, using Krateros's rite name. "The kin... we have so many in bad shape. Is there anything you can do for us? And for the humans too, it is even worse for them," the man asks softly.

Defiant-Storm stands with the head in his claws for a long moment, surveying the pack and crowd. He's silent for an uncomfortable amount of time before handing the head to the Kin. >>Timandros reign of terror is now over with. You will place this on a spike outside for all to see where it will remain for three days. After that you will make sure Timandros remains receive a proper burial.<< He doesn't specify what that is either. He's leaving it up to the Kin. Defiant-Storm/Summer's-Sun then continues. >>Yes, there is a way to bring water to our valley and I shall teach it to the other Garou. We will soon have plenty here. Food too. As for the sick, they shall be attended to first. -Every- Garou with healing abilities will start working on them. Day and night.<< He turns to Water's-Blessing, the Theurge. >>I will put you in charge of that. Do not disappoint me.<< From his tone, disappointing him would not be very wise. The Ahroun then turns to Strikes-First. >>As a brother Ahroun, I hereby appoint you my Beta. You will make sure that my orders are carried out and let me know if there are any problems I should be made aware of.<< He regards everyone again. >>Do I make myself clear so far?<<

The kin takes the head of Timandros, another kin bringing forward a basket to place it in to catch the blood. "Yes, Summer's-Sun-rhya," he says, after one of the pack has translated for Jake/Krateros. Water's-Blessing steps forward and nods his agreement. "We'll start with those on the Bawn and then work our way outwards from there," he says. He turns and goes to begin organizing that.

Halle/Lilja steps up as the others begin to head off to take care of matters. The body is removed, and people begin cleaning up the blood. "It was probably overdue," Halle says to Jake with a little approving nod. She crosses her arms and looks about. "Still here," she murmurs. "The drought I guess?”

Defiant-Storm nods again to the Kin then starts to shift back down into homid, the silver disappearing. Once he's back to his normal self he nods to Halle. "Yeah." He sighs. "I think I have a plan for the drought though." He points to the mountain where the rain is still pouring down. "I believe we can bring water from that mountain by building a crude aqueduct. I have a basic knowledge of how to do it but there are architects here who will know exactly what to do once I explain the details to them. And the mountain isn't THAT far away. There's..." he sighs and shakes his head. "...there's another way that...for some reason I can't focus on it but..." he shrugs. "Oh, well. Maybe it will come to me. First things first though. We have to get the sick healed and fed.”

Halle goes over to the window, opening up the shutters fully and looking out towards the mountain. "That would help. Though, even with gifts it will take some time to get something like that built. It's a pretty long way from the mountain to the fields in the valley," she says as she eyes it all. Halle turns back towards Jake. "It's a good idea though, worth doing. What is the other way you were thinking of?" she asks, moving back over to him.

Jake half-grins at Halle. "Oh, I have a few ideas. Luckily I have Journey for an Alpha and he's been teaching me...stuff. Oh, I'll never do what he can do but we have plenty of Theurges here who are very gifted." He turns back to his pack Theurge. "In addition to the healing, you will gather every Garou who have an affinity with the Spirits and ask them to make it rain. I don't care what spirit they call on. Water. Air. Nature. Whatever. Call on as many as they can. Ask them to rain for us and be ready to reward them with whatever Chiminage they require.”

The Theurge nods her head to Krateros/Jake. "They will be doing most of the healing, so it may take them a while to be able to start speaking to the spirits too," she tells him before turning to hurry off and get people to work healing. Halle leans against the wall beside the window, watching the Kin and Garou moving about. There's a great energy to them, now that Timandros is no longer holding them back from helping those who need help. "What about us?" Halle asks Jake.

Jake smiles at the Theurge. "Hey, you Theurge's are tough. You can handle both at the same time. I know you can." Yes, it seems he's quite confident in their abilities. "Ask around too. There's other Garou who are good with spirits. Just recruit them. Only...don't get TOO much rain. We don't want a flood." He then regards Halle again. "Us? What do you mean? What about…us?"

Halle motions with her finger back and forth between herself and Jake. "What should we focus on while they are doing the healing and trying to talk to the spirits?" she asks. "I can help with the healing. I can talk to spirits too though I don't really have the kind of agreements that Garou to work off of. So probably better to have the Theurges doing that," she tells him. "What was the thing you were mentioning you couldn't focus on? Do you need some help with something?”

"Well, we can help with the healing too," Jake replies. "We're both good healers. There's...something important though. Something I'd..." he shakes his head again. "I don't know. There's another way I can help...I just...it's hard to explain. It's like something is lurking in the back of my mind that I can't grasp. I should remember something...but I can't." He sighs, looking frustrated.

Halle gets a concerned look as she studies Jake. "Nothing happened to you during the fight that I missed, did it?" she asks him softly. "You've known for a long time I can relay thoughts to another's mind. But Helios has kept teaching me new things. I can do more than that, can help you recover memories you may have forgotten, if you'd like me to try?" she offers.

Jake shakes his head. "Nah, nothing happened to me. Timandros didn't even touch me. It's...something different." He raises a brow. "Hey, that's...a really good idea. Yeah, can you try? There really is...something I should know. I think it's important. Might be the key to the whole problem here. It sure can't hurt to try. Should I...sit down or something?”

"Yes," Halle agrees. "Come on, let's go in the other room and you sit down and relax. Calm your mind after the fight," she tells him. She leads into the next room that has some large doors that can be opened onto a balcony looking out over the valley, with the mountains and the perpetual storm off to the north. Halle motions to so some chairs with cushions, taking a seat in one. A sense of peace and tranquility fills the room. "Go ahead and sit down. Close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths, slow in, hold, and slow out," she says. "Now tell me as much as you can, about this thing you're trying to remember?" the young woman says.

Jake follows Halle and does what she suggests. After sitting and getting comfortable he exhales a loooooong breath. "What I'm trying to remember...will help everyone here. Maybe be instrumental in their survival. It's something..." a light frown, "...it's something that...should be taught. It's something that...-can- be taught. And it's important. I'm just...drawing a complete blank on it.”

Halle reaches over, gently touching the side of Jake's head with her fingertips. "You are outside, in Prospect. It's the end of last summer, when the wildfires were so bad," Halle says softly, the memory becoming more clear in Jake's head. "And you... my... your memory is so cloudy then. I can't tell what happens. But then it clears.. and it's raining. A good steady rain that will help keep the forest around you from catching should the winds turn that way."

Halle hmms softly. "There are other times you've made it rain, not a lot, but a few. Each of them, the memory fades at the point you actually do it." She falls silent again. A fly buzzes around the room, perhaps catching the scent of the blood being cleaned up in the next room, flying over to try to find a way through or beneath the door.

"Further back. You're younger. Going into the Umbra to learn a Gift. Your totem. Not Zephyr, I mean Grandfather Thunder. You approached him and offered him chiminage. And he agreed to teach you. Though, your memory fades at the moment of teaching again. So what you want is a Gift you learned from Grandfather Thunder?”

Jake closes his eyes, and listens. His muscles are a bit tense as he tries to remember. "Prospect...and...it was something I learned. Something very useful for some. Not others. Yes, it's not used very much. There was...a farmer and his family. In the desert. Their crops were dying. Well had dried up or something. Can't...remember. They needed help though. I knew I could help. I still can't remember what I did though. Yes, I must have learned it from Grandfather or one of his helpers. Has something to do with...Shadow Lords.”

Halle reaches out with the other hand, placing her fingers lightly to hold both sides of his head now. "Yes, Shadow Lords..." Halle agrees, speaking quietly as she opens herself to Jake's thoughts and memories. "A gift of your tribe, one that surprises some of the other tribes that you know," she says after moments of deep concentration. "It seems the details are gone though. And, we've lived here for what, twenty years? I've never seen any of the Shadow Lords here use such a gift, Jake," Halle says, using the name she only does with him when they are alone. "Maybe the Gift doesn't exist here, yet?”

Jake frowns again lightly, his eyes still closed. "No, I've never seen it here either. Not once. Maybe...it doesn't exist here yet. Maybe that's what...or why I can't remember it. I just know that normally...it's not something you use often. But when needed, it's invaluable. It's...it's..." he shakes his head. "I just don't know.”

Halle lets go of Jake's head, after giving his hair a playful ruffle. She leans back in her chair. "Well, if there is anyone who would know what is going on with it... Grandfather Thunder would probably be the one. Maybe we could approach him and ask? Can ask him about the Gift, and even if nothing helpful comes of that, can offer a chiminage to make it rain?" she suggests.

Jake opens his eyes, looking a little surprised. "Well, I hate to say this but Grandfather isn't someone you just go visit. He...sort of comes to you. I mean...I guess it might be possible but he's.../Grandfather/. He's a busy guy. Although..." he thinks a moment. "...this IS a Lord Sept. He should be very interested in what happens here. Maybe...maybe we could pull that off.”

With Timandros defeated, Krateros/Jake is able to start trying to set right the ills that afflict the Sept and city. The attacks on those who wish to leave are stopped, and healing is given to those in need. Most of the locals agree to stay long enough to give Krateros a chance to turn things around.

Work begins on an aqueduct, though magic can only be used so much without breaking the Veil. It will be the end of the year, at the earliest, before it can be completed. Meanwhile the Theurges seek out the spirits to try to make it rain. The results are disappointing. Though they are able to coax a little more rain out of the air, the spirits say most of the moisture is spent in the storms over the mountains, resulting in nothing but dry air for them to work with. The extra rain helps keep more crops from dying, but is not enough to cause the kind of rebound that will be needed come harvest time if everyone is to be fed.

And so Jake and Halle seek out Grandfather Thunder. Approaching the Shadow Lord tribal totem could be its own tale, but one that will wait for another telling. Suffice it to say that they manage to approach the Incarna, Halle hanging back silently and letting Krateros/Jake speak to the spirit.

Jake looks up into the sky which churns dangerously with dark clouds and rumbling thunder. Grandfather is there but the spirit has no true form. He simply fills the sky with the essence of natural power. Power that is terrifying and immense.

The Ahroun looks up, his hands outstretched, hair whipping in the wind, and calls out, voice barely heard over the strengthening wind. "GRANDFATHER. I AM DEFIANT-STORM, FULL-MOON ELDER OF THE SHADOW LORDS AND HAVE COME TO HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP. WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY AND YOUR CHILDREN IN THE VALLEY ARE IN DANGER. WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE TO HELP THEM SURVIVE!"

Jake then stands silent for a long moment as nothing out of the ordinary happens. The storm simply keeps swirling around Jake and Halle, the sound of the wind deafening. "GRANDFATHER, YOUR CHILDREN ARE DYING!" Jake glances over at Halle offering a look of uncertainty...

Then in a split second, everything changes. A bolt of white-blue light streaks down from the sky in just a fraction of a second, there's no chance to think or dodge, one is helpless against the sheer speed of natural electricity. The bolt strikes Jake in the shoulder then...FLASH! It seems that both Jake and Halle are...nowhere really. They are floating in a void of roiling black and grey clouds. It's unknown what they stand on, it looks like clouds and nothing more. Arcs of lightning dart around them inside those clouds, under them, above their heads, but Jake and Halle are in a singular pocket of quiet like the eye of the storm. Massive storm crow shapes flicker and flash beyond the clouds surrounding them, bursts of fiery read blooming and fading. It's possible they're just flat out dead. But then the voice comes, huge and loud and thunderous. "YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE, WOLF?" it asks with a ton of seemingly idle curiosity.

Standing in this limbo existence, yes it's totally possible that they are dead. And if they are dead then there is really nothing to fear anyway and Jake sets his jaw. He holds his arms out to his sides and bellows back at the voice, his own voice full of authority. It's the same voice he used with Timandros when he's in full warrior mode. Again, no timidity here. This is the fierce Jake that makes bad guys piss their pants. This is the Ahroun that takes no prisoners. He's not pussyfooting around either. He's getting right to the point. No telling when this chance might come again, if -ever-. "I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR HELP, YES. YOUR CHILDREN ARE DYING. THEY NEED WATER. THE SPIRITS AREN'T ABLE TO HELP THEM FAST ENOUGH. BUT YOU CAN. YOU HAVE THE POWER. I KNOW YOU DO." Jake looks from the storm crows back to the fiery red bursts and continues to belt out his words. "YOU HELPED ME ONCE BEFORE ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT REMEMBER BUT NOW I NEED YOUR HELP FOR OTHERS. THEY ARE LOST RIGHT NOW, GRANDFATHER. CAN YOU HELP ME? I OFFER ANYTHING I HAVE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. EVEN MY LIFE!”

The flashes of lightning illuminate the raging storm, a tempest whose winds leave Jake and Halle untouched. But the spirit's voice is thunder incarnate. Felt rather than heard, vibrating them until they feel their ribs creak. "I REQUIRE STRENGTH FROM THE LORDS OF SHADOW. TO BE AS STRONG AS THE STORM, AS STRONG AS I. MY RAINS DO BRING MERCY TO THOSE IN NEED, BUT I WILL NOT HAVE THE WOLVES TURN TO ME IN WEAKNESS. IF YOU WISH THE BOUNTY OF MY RAIN, YOU MUST PROVE YOURSELF STRONGER THAN THE STORM. YOU MUST TAKE THE RAINS. CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS, CLIMB INTO THE NEVER-ENDING STORM AND TAKE THE RAINS FROM IT. PROVE YOUR STRENGTH AND WORTH TO ME IN DOING THIS, AND I WILL FORGE THE RAINS INTO A GIFT THAT MAY BE SHARED AMONGST THE TRIBE." Lightning crackles in the black outside the void of still air. "SPARROW OF GAIA, YOU MAY ACCOMPANY HIM AND SHOW THE STRENGTH HE IS ABLE TO INSPIRE IN OTHERS. BUT NEITHER OF YOU MAY FLY. CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN IF YOU WILL PROVE YOUR STRENGTH TO ME. CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AND CLAIM MY RAINS FROM THE STORM.”

Jake continues to look and sound fierce, albeit respectful. "WE ARE STRONG AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO HOWEVER A FOOLISH AND SELFISH LORD HAS POISONED YOUR FLOCK AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO FIX. YOUR FLOCK REQUIRES THE RAINS, IN ABUNDANCE, TO KEEP THEM STRONG." He glances to Halle for a moment before looking back into the churning clouds. "AS YOU WISH, GRANDFATHER. I SHALL PROVE MYSELF STRONGER THAN THE STORM AND ACCEPT YOUR CHALLENGE. I -WILL- TAKE THE RAINS IN YOUR NAME, GRANDFATHER. YOUR WILL IS MY WILL.”

Halle takes a step forward besides Jake. "WE WILL BEST THE MOUNTAIN AND THE STORM, AND PROVE WORTHY OF THE USE OF YOUR RAINS," Halle says in the firmest voice he has likely ever heard from her. The area in which they stand, untouched by the surrounding storm, is suddenly touched by it. The wind whips in their faces and rain slants in from every side, blowing so hard it stings where it hits. It's like a preview of what they will face while climbing cliffs and rocky crags to reach the top. And then there's a crack and peal of thunder as lightning strikes. The world goes white with electricity, and then Jake and Halle find themselves standing at the foot of the mountains, amidst a scorch mark that has burned plants and turned sand to fanciful shapes, fused together by the lightning strike. The mountain towers, rising above them a thousand feet at least, the top covered in the dark storm clouds, lit from inside by lightning flashes. Halle looks up and says, "Probably wouldn't want to fly in those winds anyway.”

Jake stares up at the mountain, the wind still making it difficult to be heard. He blinks a few times then looks over at Halle. "Well, shit. I guess I didn't just imagine all that. I mean...it was -Grandfather- /Thunder/. Do you know how RARE it is to meet him? I've been told some Lords go their whole lives without meeting him face to face. If you can call that face to face." He looks back at the mountain. "No, flying in that would be beyond dangerous. We'll just climb. Just go slow and make sure you have a good handhold before you proceed. Follow me." Jake then slowly begins his assent.

Halle lets her talons grow from her fingertips. "Are your claws strong enough to pierce rock if need be?" she asks him. She glances back up. "We might take some lightning strikes too," she says, eyeing the storm above. She pauses for a moment in concentration, and a brief glimmer of Luna's Armor comes into being around her before fading out of sight. "Going to assume moon bridging to the top would not be viewed well either," she says with a crooked grin. Halle eyes the rock they stand beneath, and then begins slowly climbing upwards.

Halle works her way steadily upwards, starting where the cliff isn't as steep. Before long though the paths that can be walked are few and far between. Ledges that are respites and places of rest, but most progress upwards requires actual climbing. The Kami's fingers are exceptionally strong though, Halle able to hang from just her fingertips when needed to stretch a foot over to reach another hold that is further away. After a hundred feet of climbing, she pauses a moment to grow taller adding a foot to her height, giving herself more reach to make the climbing easier and faster. Soon they reach parts of the mountain where the storm can be felt. Rain starts to fall on them, sometimes in steady drizzles, other times blowing. The full fury of the storm is still further up the mountain for now. The rain does make the rock more slick, and occasional gusts of wind whip at Halle's clothing. She asks Jake to look away a moment, and when he looks back her clothing has changed to black lycra, clinging to her and not giving the winds any extra fabric to tug on. Up and up they go…

After shifting to his Crinos form and activating a few gifts including Luna's Armor, Defiant-Storm nods to Halle and sharpens his claws on the rock outcropping. >>We will see. Just stick close. If you feel like you're going to fall, grab hold of me.<< He then takes the lead heading up the steep mountain. The climbing is rough and treacherous but eventually the two are at one hundred feet...one hundred fifty...two hundred...two hundred and FIFTY! The rain and wind continue to buffet them unmercifully and a few of the rocks they grab onto crumble but neither fall. Whew!

A brief rest stop at the quarter-way point, and then the pair continue on up. Halle calls over to Jake through the growing wind, "Really appreciating flying at this point!" She grins over to him, her hair whipping about her head in the rain, sometimes plastered to her face as the rain is starting to come down in sheets now. A quick adjustment of her shapeshifting and her hair is a short pixie-cut, nothing to blow or obscure her vision.

Halle continues upwards. The cliffs grow steeper, and jagged breaks sometimes have to be jumped across to reach more handholds up. Halle leaps, grabbing hold of a ledge and pulling herself up. The wind howls like a banshee, as if every foot they gain pains the storm enough to make it howl in fury. It grows darker as they near the clouds, and the flashes of lightning make the hairs, or fur, on their arms stand on end sometimes. A section of the cliff gives way and Halle throws herself upwards to catch the next handhold, hanging by one hand as she watches the rock fall away, bouncing and landing nearly 500 feet below them. Halfway there.

Defiant-Storm's black wet fur ruffles madly as the wind assaults him with even more force but he continues to manage to hold onto the steep rock outcroppings. He's climbing with a purpose though, sharp teeth gritted, muscles bulging as he hefts his way upward and onward, finally stopping at the halfway spot where he tries to catch his breath. >>Nice climbing, Halle. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were half mountain goat.<< He looks back up, gaze searching for what's ahead and sets his jaw again. >>If we were in the city I could use Rooftop Sprint but it won't work here. Just have to keep going like this, I'm afraid. I'd say we're about halfway. Keep concentrating though. More than ever. Looks to me like it's getting even steeper.<<

Halle lets out a laugh. "Mountain goat eh? You're /so/ paying for that later," she says teasingly. She nods and sets back to work climbing.

Continued progress, though this is the hardest stretch for Jake yet. The mountain and storm seem to be actively opposing them now. Grips are slicker and the storm intensifies. Lightning starts to strike the rock around them, and rockfalls from above have to be dodged. Picture the most dramatic scenes from a movie like Cliffhanger or Lord of the Rings.

Halle has stopped trying to wipe the water from her forehead and eyes. It is instantly replaced by rain that stings, coming in from above or blowing in sideways. Sometimes even gusting up from below to send water up your nose when you least expect. Each foot of progress has to be fought for amidst water-slicked grips and crumbling rocks ready to collapse should they be gripped by the unwary. Only superhuman amounts of endurance are enough to keep going in the biting wind. The cliff faces twist and bend as if laid out to frustrate a climber. Sometimes forcing them to dig their fingers and claws in as they traverse sections hanging from a horizontal ceiling of rock above. "WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN!" Halle screams into the storm. Moments later a lightning bolt strikes the rock wall a few scant feet away, as if to prove the Gaian woman's words wrong. Halle loses her grip, sliding down a dozen feet, hands scrambling until she gets two fingers wedged onto a little ledge, enough to catch herself. Soon she is back up to the spot where the lightning hit and proceeding past. Though the first bolt of lightning to hit near them, it isn't the last as they reach 3/4 of the way up the mountain.

Blue arcs stain Defiant-Storm's vision from the lightning, and a voice thunders from somewhere overhead, "DO NOT DELAY, WOLF. YOU ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME. GO. PROVE YOUR WORTH." With a deafening crack, there's the sense that Grandfather Thunder's attention has moved away from Defiant-Storm and Halle, dismissing them and turning his attention back to the matter of the mountain monsoon. Dismissal yes, but there's no tone of displeasure. Another great flash of lightning assaults Defiant-Storm's vision and without warning the massive shape of a bird fills his eyes, huge black wings outstretched to slow its charge as it nearly SLAMS into the Ahroun then coasts up, up, UP towards the densest portion of the storm. Defiant-Storm points it out to Halle. >>THERE! THAT'S WHERE WE'RE HEADED! IT'S WHERE WE NEED TO GO! IT'S NOT FAR!<< True, it's not far but the storm is at its zenith.

Higher and higher they go. The wind makes the ascent so treacherous that fifty feet takes longer than the first five hundred had taken. The lightning is no longer just hitting nearby. A bolt connects with Halle, her muscles clenching and holding her to the mountain. Other than frizzed hair and some smoke rising from her, she looks no worse for having been struck by the storm's bolt. Thunder peals, nearly deafening them both, making it impossible to talk but for the pack link they share thanks to Zephyr's temporary acceptance of Halle via her Tagalong gift. <<Almost there,>> Halle sends as they near the top. She pulls herself up onto the summit, where the clouds whirl with such fury it must feel like they are in the funnel of large tornado. Halle pulls herself upright, standing strong against the storm's fury as she waits for Defiant-Storm to take the prize they have come for.

If there was ever a literal Hell on Earth, Defiant-Storm is battling it now. From every direction. The storm almost has a life of its own, intent on stopping the Ahroun but through sheer force of will he continues on. Even after another bolt of lightning -slams- into him again. And again. Still, Defiant-Storm continues on, sharp teeth bared, grim determination filling his features. No, he's not stopping no matter what! It seems like nothing can stop him. He's on a mission and, lo and behold, eventually he drags himself to the summit alongside Halle and stands tall. >>I AM HERE, GRANDFATHER! I HAVE DONE YOUR BIDDING! I CLAIM YOUR RAINS FROM THE STORM!<<

The murky dark clouds swirl about them, faster and faster. The rain that has been lashing them begins to gather above Defiant-Storm instead. Whirling like a waterspout, the rains gather and as the Crinos Ahroun reaches forth his massive paw, the water cyclone shrinks down, landing upon his paw and then dissolving away into nothing. Jake's mind is once again filled with the knowledge of the gift Rains of Mercy. The whirling funnel of clouds above them breaks up, becoming a normal storm again, though no longer touching the pair that have proven themselves worthy in the eyes of Grandfather Thunder.

Defiant-Storm stares at the cyclone as it shrinks and dissolves into his paw then blinks, his jaw slackening. >>I...REMEMBER! I REMEMBER!<< He looks back up at the sky. >>THANK YOU, GRANDFATHER! YOUR GIFT WILL BE HONORED BY ALL AND SHARED BECAUSE I WILL TEACH IT TO THEM! AND THOSE I TEACH WILL IN TURN TEACH OTHERS UNTIL YOUR GIFT WILL BE KNOWN FAR AND WIDE, BY ALL WORTHY GAROU!<< He then turns to Halle, nearly beaming. >>It's Rains of Mercy! The gift is called Rain's of Mercy. It will save the Sept." After having lived a score of years of the life of Krateros, his ancestor's life is a familiar thing to Jake. He feels an unusual sensation then, a separation of sorts, and soon Krateros is standing beside Jake. Not the man, but his Ancestor Spirit. "You have lived what I have lived, and learned what I have learned, Defiant-Storm. Gaia needs the strength and might of the Shadow Lords, needs us to be hard when others would be soft. But in this there are some who can lose sight of their service to Gaian. True strength needs wisdom to temper it, else it grows brittle and need be shattered. I am proud of you, my descendant. I look forward to knowing you better through the connection we have forged together.”

Defiant-Storm offers a light bow of the head to Krateros, in respect. >>True strength does indeed need wisdom to temper it and I hope to, one day, have that kind of wisdom. I still have a long road to walk and much to learn. As you will when you lead your Sept. I know you will be kind and just as well as firm. Knowing that our Kin are a precious commodity to nurture and take care of rather than beasts of burden will take you far. Believe me. For where I come from our Kin help us to achieve the unachievable. Not because we force them but because they wish to. Timandros didn't understand that. If he had then he might have been a legend. Instead he will be forgotten, as he should be. MAKE a difference, Krateros. Unite ALL Garou. Unite ALL Gaians. It's not easy but try to. Again, where I come from...we are all united and work together against the Wyrm. Remember, there is strength in unity and numbers. And teach Grandfather's gift to all who can learn it. I am proud of you too. And if I can be of any assistance, I will do my best to guide you.<<

---

Jake and his ancestor speak for a while longer, and then Halle touches his arm. She points off to the horizon. The sun is shining brightly, the rays visible even through the thick storm that rages overhead. The beams of sunlight create rainbows to either side, like they were paving a path forward towards the sun. "Jake... I think it's time for us to go," she says to him softly. "Are your wings functioning again?" And indeed, they are.

Jake raises a brow at Halle and looks back over his shoulder. Nope, no wings there. "Uhhh...they don't seem to be. That's okay. How about we Moonbridge back to the Sept? Easier than flying anyway." He grins and unless anyone objects, immediately opens a beautiful portal, moonbeams spilling out like a light show. He holds out his hand to Halle and once she takes it, leads her through the kaleidoscopic tunnel.

"It's time to move on, but if you want to moon bridge down to the bottom of the mountain first, that's fine," Halle tells Jake. And he's just Jake now... Krateros having separated from him, and able to go back to the Sept now and teach them Rains of Mercy. "I can feel Him calling me Jake. I think you living out Krateros's life, we can move deeper into the Realm now," she says. Halle motions him towards the distant Sun that is calling to her. She changes into a sparrow and zips up in the air, circling about him. "Come... we go north!" she calls out to him.

Jake nods to Halle and after checking out their surroundings starts to sprint after the sparrow. Luckily he's able to keep up with her as long as she doesn't fly TOO fast. "So...what's north? Or is that just the way you feel compelled to go?”

The sparrow says, "Yes. It is the direction Helios wants me to go. Did you see Him? That sliver of sun that rose in the North instead of in the East or West? like normal?" She keeps her speed down to what Jake can manage as he runs along. Leaving the kingdom means heading out into the Wylderness. Trees move on their own and paths shift about in this wild lands. Occasionally there can be heard the sound of monstrous beasts moving in the underbrush, though none seem to react fast enough to slow Jake and Halle as they make their way deeper and deeper into the Legendary Realm.

Hours pass in travel, and the weather grows cooler. The trees soon start to show autumn colors. Eventually the trees have fewer and fewer leaves as if the pair are running on into winter. "Dragomir's ancestor spoke of this," the sparrow says. "The Fimbulwinter. The Last Winter, as the stories and legends are forgotten and die." The landscape turns more and more bleak, as mile after mile it becomes less forest and more a winter landscape. Great glaciers tower in the distance, and entire legendary kingdoms lay encased beneath ice. But still that shard of sunlight beams on the horizon to the north, leading them on.

"Fimbulwinter. Last Winter. Yes." Jake scans the vastness of the area. "It sure lives up to its name too. Definitely not a place I'd like to live. Impressive but...a little too cold for my taste. I wonder if those beasts we heard earlier were the Fimbul Wolves?" He glances back over his shoulder to make sure they're not being stalked.

No signs of the beasts, though by now there is naught to see but snow and ice, crags and crevasses, glaciers and spires of ice. The cold is a chill in the soul. As if oblivion waits for every myth, deed and legend. Even for those acts of valor and might that define a Garou and name him.

Further on into the Fimbulwinter landscape they go, passing kingdoms now frozen, each further back in time than the last. Soon the snow is blowing enough it becomes hard to see. The horizon is sometimes just a blur of white against white, and were it not for that sliver of Helios to guide them, they would surely end their days wandering in circles.

The sparrow swoops low over Jake's shoulder. "You have meant everything to me, my friend. Coming with me here, knowing not what awaited us. You were already my best friend, Jake. But the twenty years we've spent in your ancestor's Sept has been like a lifetime of getting to know you. Thank you for that," the sparrow tells him. She lands upon Jake's shoulder as the Fimbulwinter closes in, leaving nothing but white every direction, except for one where Helios lights it brighter than the rest. "Come now, let me carry you as you have helped me. And we'll see what Helios wants of me." Jake's feet will begin to leave the ground as he floats up into the white. It's flying without a need for wings, floating through the white haze and up into the sky towards Helios's light. Until finally the cold seems to lessen, and the white begins to give way towards the darkness of night, lit by stars up ahead.

Jake chuckles deeply. "Well, now that you know the real me I hope you're not disappointed." He winks and peruses the landscape again. "And thank you for all your help and insight. You are very wise, Halle. I'm honored to know you. Actually, I'm very curious to know what Helios wishes of you too. Hopefully we will know more soon." The man looks a little surprised as he's lifted but goes with it. Hey, what else is he going to do? As the scenery whips past, Jake simply enjoys the view for now.

The white gives way to dark, and then the dark gives way to... where are they? A kingdom that is a time before the Impergium? Perhaps even from a time before the Gauntlet came crashing down and separate the spirit world from the Tellurian?

Jake finds himself walking forward. A large grey wolf with white flourishes to his fur. He remembers this feeling, from 20 years before, that first moment he found himself in Krateros and remembered the man's life, and his own, at the same time.

Only this time, Jake is not Krateros. Jake is a wolf, an ancient wolf as much spirit as animal, that lived before the Gauntlet crashed down. A wolf with light fur and a few darker grey patches on his throat and his back. He can remember this wolf's life, living with his pack. Hunting. Chasing prey, whether spirits or animals. Turning his head, Jake-Wolf sees his pack Alpha. He knows her. A giant white wolf, larger than any Hispo, yet still just a wolf. No, not just a white wolf. She is the Great White Wolf of legend. And the part of him that is Jake, recognizes in her his friend, Halle.

The two wolves are walking across a quiet terrain, the rest of the pack left behind, to investigate something that cause the fur on their backs to stand upright. The Great White Wolf swings her head towards Jake-wolf. <<This feels... right,>> she says of his presence, her packmate, and the larger wolf nuzzles his ear for a moment before turning back towards what they walk towards. <<Though, something ahead, feels very, very wrong.>>

Jake-Wolf nods slowly to the Great White Wolf and chuffs. <<Yes, my Danger Sense is sizzling right now. It's...I can't explain it either. There's just...-something- out there.>> His eyes narrow in concentration and he sniffs the air, nostrils flaring. <<Let me try something.>> He then activates the Gift, View The Battlefield.

The landscape is a barren, grey ground beneath a night sky. Seeing the sky without city lights is breath-taking, the multitude of stars that number beyond counting. As Jake-wolf extends his mystical senses, the Gift functions far, far differently than it ever has before.

His consciousness seems to zoom up into the air, traveling ever higher and higher. Leaving his body behind, and that of his packmate. Disembodied, Jake's senses fly ever upwards in a rush that soon has the pair of wolves looking like ants, and then soon not visible at all.

Upwards still Jake's consciousness travels, until he can see Gaia laid out beneath him. Not a globe that astronauts see, but a living entity. The spirit of Gaia herself, the Garou can see. The sense of her fills him with a deep peace as he's never felt before.

But then his gaze is pulled up into the heavens. Still his perspective travels back, until he is seeing creation on a macroscopic scale. The forms of the major spirits become visible. Luna, circling ever about Gaia. And Helios shining his warming light. But drawing his attention is the act playing out between a trio of spirits. A giant arachnid sits amidst a web that is so big it seems to eclipse vision. Spinning, adding to the web, ever busy is the Weaver. Brushing up against those webs is the Wyld. Chaos, color and motion, an endless array of change which the Spider tries to weaver her webs around, to force stasis and permanence upon the Wyld's chaos.

But circling around them is a gigantic, serpent of a spirit. The Wyrm. It circles, tearing at the webs. The passage of time does not seem to have meaning, but Jake can sense the Serpent's growing frustration as the Weaver spins on faster than the Serpent can destroy. Below the three, the lush beauty of Gaia gleams, and draws the Serpent's fell gaze. The Wyrm abandons its attack on Weaver and Wyld, and dives instead upon Gaia.

Gaia reels under the full assault of the Wyrm-Serpent. Everywhere the Wyrm lashes at the spirit of Nature. Killing, destroying, and corrupting. The Weaver, freed from the Wyrm's attacks, spins on her webs all the more frantically. Each blow Gaia takes from the Wyrm seems to resonate with Jake, though disembodied there is nothing he can do to help.

Unable to verbalize everything he's seeing, Jake-Wolf simply relays what he's witnessing through the pack-mindspeak, in as much detail as he's can. <<Do you see? Do you see?>> This otherworldly vantage point does induce a strong sense of vertigo although the Ahroun's thoughts remain clear. He also manages to save this into a memory bubble.

The pained emotion in the thoughts that come in reply would carry the message even if the words could not be understood. <<I see,>> the Great White Wolf sends back.

As Jake watches, Gaia continues to reel under the Wyrm-serpents assault. Mother Nature faces the Wyrm's full fury, and there's a sense there can be only one ending, the Wyrm swallowing the entire Gaian realm whole.

And then there's the smallest gleam of white, and Jake focusing on it is able to see more clearly. Halle. The Great White Wolf walks forward to Gaia's side. So tiny compared to the immensity of the Power of Destruction that is the Wyrm. And Jake can hear the Great White Wolf speak to the Wyrm. <<It seems you will destroy Gaia eventually. She cannot hold out forever against your magnificence.>>

The voice of the Wyrm makes the memory of Grandfather Thunder seem like whispers. The sound is like fingernails on a chalkboard, it is the screech of pain and the color of madness. ^^ALL SHALL I DESTROY. ALL SHALL END AS IT BEGAN, IN NOTHING^^ the Wyrm replies.

The Great White Wolf sits down and lets out a small yawn, as if engaged in the most casual of conversation. <<So you plan to start with Gaia, and then you'll eat the Moon and the Sun, and the Stars in the sky? All of the Weaver and of the Wyld?>>

^^YES!!!^^ thunders the Wyrm, its voice in your head like living out every nightmare you've ever had at once. ^^ONE AFTER ANOTHER, ALL SHALL BE DESTROYED!!^^ the giant serpent answers to the Great White Wolf, pausing only a moment to speak before his attacks resume upon the ailing Gaia.

The Great White Wolf takes a moment to groom a paw as it listens to the Wyrm-serpents reply. Afterwards, the Wolf-Halle replies, <<Ah, yes. I see.>> But Jake-wolf can hear the faintest tones of doubt woven into the Great White Wolf's reply. And what's more, the Wyrm can hear it too. It pauses a moment to focus its full attention on the wolf, who despite herself cringes back under that baleful gaze.

^^YOU DOUBT ME!? YOU DOUBT MY POWER, THE POWER OF DESTRUCTION!?^^ the Wyrm-serpent bellows.

The Great White Wolf shakes her great lupine head back at the monstrous Triad Spirit. <<Your power and might are obvious to behold,>> the Wolf says back. <<But... I cannot help but notice. You have stopped attacking the Weaver, and Wyld, to kill Gaia. And... well, I mean, look,>> the Great White Wolf says, motioning with a paw back towards the cosmos above.

And looking up, Jake-wolf and Wyrm-spirit alike see how the Weaver has gone crazy in her freedom from the Wyrm's attacks. The webbing is spreading across Creation, and the Wyld spins such new things into being as to have undone every attack the Wyrm has made for millennia.

The Wyrm sees this and thrashes about, gnashing its teeth and tearing into Gaia, trying to kill her more quickly. Mother Nature fights back, losing the battle, but the Wyrm's gains are still slowly gained and hard-fought.

The Great White Wolf manages to watch with an impassive expression. The great lupine looks back into the sky as if judging the progress there. <<Yes, I think by the time you finish with Gaia, there will be no chance of stopping the others. There's really not much you can do about it,>> the Great White Wolf says, rising to her feet and turning to begin walking slowly away from where Gaia is dying. <<After all, even one of your power can't be three places at once.>>

And the great Wyrm-serpent raised its head, eyes gleaming green as poison. ^^I AM DESTRUCTION. I CAN BE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!!^^ And the giant serpent-head writhed, and split into three, the Wyrm spirit becoming a three-headed hydra. And then the hydra's necks pulled away from each other, and on down its body until the great Wyrm-serpent sundered itself in three!

One of the hydra heads set out after the Wyld. Jake-wolf recognizes him. Beast-of-War, the Wyrm of Calamity. Senseless rage and destruction to oppose the creation of the Wyld.

And a second hydra rose up, the Eater-of-Souls, Wyrm of Consumption. Greed, lust and gluttony, a counterpoint to the Weaver's desire to unify. It began tearing through the webbing and assaulting the Weaver directly.

And finally the third head of the hydra, the Wyrm of Corruption. The Defiler Wyrm. It set up on Gaia again. But with the full power of the Wyrm split in three, it is too weak to kill Mother Nature. So it sets to corrupting her, to turning the Earth Mother against herself. The three heads of the Wyrm fight all of creation at once, but each lacks the strength to thoroughly destroy any one part completely.

It might seem a victory, and indeed it is, for Gaia survives. Though the Defiler Wyrm lashes out and strikes the Great White Wolf a mortal blow. The wolf whimpers and falls over, her chest barely moving with her labored breathing. And Jake-wolf finds his consciousness hurtling back towards the ground at a great rate, until he finds himself back in his wolf body, and sees his Alpha lying crumpled on the ground not far away.

Jake-Wolf pads over and nuzzles the Alpha with his nose, assessing the damage done. <<It's alright. I'm here. You'll be just fine.>> He then gets to work, activating Mother's Touch and covering the wolf's form in a soft golden light. For some reason, here in the Realm, the glow is much more pronounced than it is in the real world. It pulses with a life of its own, growing stronger and stronger as it searches for injuries and places to heal. The effect is rather Disneyesque, and rather beautiful.

Finally the golden glow begins to subside and Jake-Wolf noses the Alpha again. <<Breathe. You can do it. Feel the gift of Gaia fill your lungs.>

As Jake-Wolf touches the Great White Wolf, nuzzling first with his muzzle, and then with his paw, he receives a reminder of why the gift is known as "Mother's Touch". There's a sense of a hand resting atop his paw, adding its touch to his own. He knows that touch the moment it happens. Gaia herself. The healing power flows through Gaia and Jake-Wolf, and into the dying white wolf.

Slowly the injured wolf lifts her head, whimpering softly. Halle looks up at Jake, in pain, the Wyrm's touch festering and fighting back against even Gaia's healing power. There's a sense of Gaia taking the Great White Wolf into Her arms, and whispering into the Wolf's ear. Halle's lupine eyes gaze straight ahead, but as she listens. The longer that Gaia speaks, whispering secrets into her ear, the more the look of wonderment and comprehension that comes to Halle's eyes. Jake-Wolf feels a surge of Gnosis, and the last of the Wyrm is burned from the wound, which heals over.

And just like that, the sense of Gaia Herself being there with them passes. Halle rises slowly to all fours and gives a shake of her furry wolf-body. She looks over to Jake and rests her head against his. <<Oh Jake... it's so beautiful,>> she whispers into his mind.

Jake-Wolf nods, his hazel eyes gleaming. <<Yes, it's quite beautiful indeed. I don't think I could have imagined it if I tried. It's...beyond comprehension really.>> He chuffs again and looks around. <<I've never experienced Gaia's presence before. Not like this. It's something every Garou should experience. A memory to bring with them into each and every battle against the Wyrm.>>

<<It's more than that... what She told me...>> Halle-Great White Wolf says. She stops and rolls back and forth slowly, as if savoring that contact with the ground. She slowly rises again, shaking to dislodge any dirt from her fur. <<I... it isn't something I can explain,>> she says after a moment's hesitation as she tries to find words. The wolf rubs against Jake-Wolf and says, <<I think I'm ready to go home, if you are?>>

Another nods from Jake-Wolf and he scans the area once again. <<Go home? Are you kidding? Of course I'm ready to go home!>> His tail starts to wag furiously. Home-home-home! Yeah, he wants to go! <<Although, I hate to admit this but...I'm not sure how. Which direction do we take? I'm sort of...lost at the moment.>>

Halle gives a wolfish grin. <<Come on, this way,>> she tells him. And the two wolves run off, soon finding their way back onto a moon path, where Halle is again Halle and Jake is again Jake. The Banes are still licking their wounds after the fight with Terminal Velocity, that just happened an hour ago from their standpoint. Jake and Halle are able to fly past them at the end of the moon path without a fight. And then... home sweet home!