2018.10.31: Close Call
| Close Call | |
|---|---|
| A patrol turns tricky and a garou is nearly slain by a tainted bear! | |
| IC Date | Wednesday, October 31st, 2018 |
| IC Time | 18:01:14 2018, PDT. |
| Players | Dre as Thunder's Shadow of Retribution, Lleutrim as Battle Singer (Seinneadair Blàr), Waziyata as Puddle Jumper (and ST). |
| Location | Edge of Mountains west of Bawn |
| Spheres | Shifter Garou Gaian |
It's Halloween night and the Garou were all on alert, the patrols have been focused three Garou teams, the Cliaths and Fostern had the more distant areas and the cubs were kept near the Caern and Bawn with at least one or two more experienced Garou with them. Dre, Lleutrim and Waziyata were grouped together to patrol the mountain area, Dre was more familiar with both the mountains and the coast lines, so it was pretty good they were put up there. Having took the lead, Dre is moving quickly, having shifted into his Dire Wolf form, the big black wolf almost seemed to blend in with the night.
As is both his preference and the suggestion of Elders of the Sept, Lleu is in his wolf form while scouting. As a lupus his senses are at the keenest, smaller and easier to go unnoticed. So the large Fianna grey wolf is small compared to Dre's larger direwolf. He's moving quietly.
The Galliard stays a bit off of Dre's left flank and a little ways back. Ears up, silver eyes bright, he hops and runs in silence through the forest as they head higher up into the edge of the mountains. Somewhat familiar ground to Battle Singer as well.
Waziyata starts the patrol in her breed form, a large white wolf trotting along just behind the gigantic monster of Dre. She bumps shoulders against Seinneadair in a friendly, playful gesture before slinking back to flank Dre's opposite side in the shadows and shrubbery, trailing after the massive form leading the hunt. Her ears lay back in a semi-alert, comfortable poise as the trio of wolves move into territory that is unfamiliar to her.
As the three wolves make their way into hills and mountains, all seems to be peaceful at first. Small creatures flee from the sight and smell of the prowling wolves, especially the most monstrous of the three, while night birds, bats, and insects live out their nightly cycle. Very distant are the sounds of humanity, powerlines humming along the highway, the distant growl of large engine in the night.
The illusion of peace is interrupted by a faint scent in the air, something between raw sewage and hate, a hint of gunpowder, of fear and anger.
The patrol was going fine until the large black wolf lifts it's head, sniffing the air. A low bark is called to the others and he quickly begins moving towards the scent he is smelling, hoping the other two in the pack is following him. The Shadow Lord Ahroun is still silent as it moves, that large wolf moving naturally in this form as it continues to follow the scent that he's caught. Not knowing what this is, he's preparing himself mentally.
Haha! Early on, Battle Singer silently wolf laughs, tongue lolling as he is shoulder bumped by Wazi. His tongue lolls and he hops about a few steps, still as silent as before despite their brief antics. Then back to running smoothly, alert. Silvery eyes are watchful and when they detect the rank scent, Seinneadair Blàr slows and lifts his head, sniffing. He sees that Thunder's Shadow of Retribution has also reacted to the smell. The Fianna likewise begins to track the direction the scent seems to be wafing in from. A quick check that Wazi is keeping up, then all of his attention is for what lies ahead, senses alert.
For her part, Waziyata lifts her head at the scent, ears perking alertly. She sniffs about a moment, then turns and breaks away from the other two wolves, slinking through the brush in nearly the opposite direction. She gets several yards before pausing and looking over her shoulder to the disappearing duo of hispo and lupus. Her tail stands up and she gives a low chuff. <<This way! Smell!>> Then, she is facing toward whatever she's detected again, slinking down a bit, lower to the ground, hackles raising.
Of course, the other two wolves can be fairly certain they're on the right trail. While there is little trace of the scent in Wazi's direction, the stench becomes stronger with every step toward its source, toward the direction the two homids picked. A copper tang seeps in, just a hint of blood, the fear smell spiking. The scent is not quite stale, though it's not fresh. A ways to travel yet, to reach its source.
Keeping on the trail though when Puddle Jumper goes off in a different direction, he chuffs loud enough to get her attention. He doesn't want them splitting up, Thunder's Shadow of Retribution moves off in the direction Puddle Jumper went. HE had to get her back into formation and than go after their target. This isn't the time to play around and with what he's smelling this is not good at all.
Seinneadair Blàr pauses to wait as Thunder's Shadow of Retribution back tracks. The Fianna stops to wait for them and if need be, will also fall back a little so indeed, they do not get split up. He remains silent as he wasn't designated as the patrol leader for this patrol, he leaves it to Dre to communicate. While those two are otherwise engaged, Battle Singer is vigilant, listening and watchful until they catch back up.
There is a brief snapping from Wazi, the wolf annoyed at being reigned back in and directed down the 'wrong path', but it only lasts a few moments. She doesn't give serious challenge to Dre, and when the hispo moves to her she drops her tail just a fraction, and turns away from her intended path to rejoin the group. She doesn't quite growl, instead making a low noise somewhere between a whine and a moan, then falls silent again as she resumes her position in the group.
As the three wolves begin to move in the right direction once more, the scents become more potent. Wet excrement, filth, blood. The scent of gunpowder grows almost overpowering, mixing with blood and fear and the wolves come upon a splatter of still-warm blood.
The blood splatters across a nearby tree, trailing in small patches along the ground, trailing upward into the mountains along a game trail. Bear blood and musk, mixed with the raw sewage smells, the terror and pain and hate combined into an aroma of a frightful encounter. It doesn't take much to understand what has happened: a bear that swims in sewage was shot here, recently, and chased a man along the mountains. Or perhaps, something like a bear that swims in sewage. A distant crash of shrubbery and footfalls reveals the chase is still live.
Finally having gotten Puddle Jumper back and them moving in the right direction, Dre is able to focus on the scent and as they get closer he slows down. He looks to Puddle Jumper and Battle Singer, chuffing to them to keep quiet and move in and to emphasize this, he slow and moves into the surrounding area. Following the scent, he didn't want to rush in, they needed to see what was going on and trying to ascertain the situation and go from there.
Yep, blood and other sign is checked out. Battle Singer sniffs around, looks at the tracks as well as sifting through the scents. The Galliard wrinkles his wolf's nose, not pleased to come across a wounded bear. >> Smells ... like sewage. Like formor. Bear. Man too? << As much as possible the Fianna uses body language and the barest, softest of sounds while the other two wolves are close, also checking out the signs.
Then Thunder's Shadow of Retribution takes the lead on tracking. Seinneadair Blàr eyes Puddle Jumper and then falls in follow along cautiously. The moon is getting higher in the sky, the stars bright as they wend their way higher up the slope.
Waziyata is on board with following Dre up the mountain again, as the smells get stronger and the evidence of something terrible mounts. She remains silent, ears alert, tail held nearly straight back, prowling along in position with the night's pack. A soft growl rumbles through the wolf at the scents and the splatter of blood, hackles raising, head lifting toward the distant crash of rustling brush. Then, Dre is leading again and she settles slightly, lowering her head and hackles again, prowling after the hispo wolf.
As the wolves move quickly up slope, the crashing in the brush ahead grows louder, the scents of hate and fear and pain stronger, the stench of excrement and warm blood. They advance more quickly than those they chase, and soon new sounds join the scene ahead: a bear growling and grunting its rage as it gives chase. A man gasping for breath, a moment's hesitation followed by the loud crack of a gunshot, the sudden silence and immediate flight of distant night creatures, a loud roar from the bear and a shouted curse from the man. Then, the chase resumes as fever-hot blood and rank stench flood the night air.
Hearing what just happened, Dre looks towards Lleu and Wazi, <<Careful, we are close. We need to see whats gong on before I give orders.>> he chuffs quietly. He than moves forward, moving quietly ahead so that he is able to see and gauge the situation before charging off to fight if need be. That is one of the things Dre is good with. Lowering himself down as he moves towards the disturbance, the sewage, hate and anger, blood everything is leading them to their destination.
Still they have to be cautious and it's Dre's responsibility to make sure they all get through whatever this is. His eyes narrowing as they move closer to get a better look.
Seinneadair Blàr also stays very quiet except to warn >> Remember the Veil. << That to Thunder's Shadow of Retribution, though it is dark and in the forest. Very carefully the Galliard also moves closer to try and get a look, staying to what concealment he may and pushing out to take up a position a bit from Dre so they aren't bunched up and all looking from the same angle. Yet not so far that he will entirely miss any signals the Ahroun wishes to convey.
Waziyata gives another low, soft growl deep in her chest and throat at the gunshot and the rank stenches at hand. Her hackles raise again, and she doesn't bother to lower them as she slinks along after Dre's massive hispo form. She doesn't bother to speak in response to him, tail pointed straight back, her body tense and crouched and ready to spring toward the source of the blood and pain and sewage smells. But she doesn't charge off ahead, instead she stalks along, most of her attention focused on the task at hand.
As the three wolves continue their game of catch-up, they finally come in range to see the chaos at hand. A massive black bear, fur matted in fetid, rotting filth and dried blood, a look of mad rage in its eyes, slaver foaming at its muzzle. The beast is covered in oozing pustules under the matted fur and stained filth, its body twisted and deformed with rippling muscle akin to a steroid junkie in his prime.
The bear monster limps along on all fours, growling and grunting and snuffling incessantly as it closes quickly, clumsily, upon a ragged-looking man in hunter's garb, camouflage and hunting rifle. The man is limping as well, without obvious injury, rifle clutched in his hands and his scent reeking of terror and exhaustion as he stumbles several yards ahead of the bear. As the wolves watch, the man staggers several more paces and glances over his shoulder at the monstrous bear, as the gunshot on its shoulder finishes knitting into an ugly, tangled mass of scars. "What the fuck! Oh my god! Bill, help!"
Ahead of the man, further down the trail, is the fleeing form of another man disappearing out of sight.
The human wasn't a part of their saving, still seeing what they are up against, the heckles along Thunder's Shadow of Retribution's back go up, and a low deep growl erupts from the black wolf. <<Both of you flank, I will knock it on it's ass. We attack and defend one another.>> he chuffs and as he burst through from where they were, the wolf shifts quickly utilizing the night to keep him concealed. Channelling the gift he was going to use, still even in Lupus he's big, but not as big as he was before. A snarl erupts from Dre as he nears the malformed tainted bear.
Dre growls loudly and rams himself into the bear, the human isn't forgotten hence why he changed, but he wasn't going to allow a human to die in their area if they can help it. With the speed and power Dre is carrying, he puts all that force and power into the hit which would send the bear flying.
Seinneadair Blàr growls low, >> Must lure the bear away from men. So we can deal with it, without breaking Veil. << By the time he's able to convey that concern, Dre is already rushing out so there's no time for them to form a plan /together/. The Galliard's hackles rise and he looks a little pissed. Thank Gaia the Ahroun has enough sense not to charge out in Hispo before the man! The big Fianna wolf lopes on out and goes to flank the bear but lifts up his nose and begins to howl the most /dreadful/ sounds of mockery of the bear! Let's see how pissed we can make it and distract it from the humans, shall we?
Waziyata gives another quiet growl as she gathers herself, shifting her weight further into a crouch, ready to spring out to attack the bear, just waiting for the order to be given. Her tension deepens at the bear moves closer to the limping human, and it almost seems as if she's going to throw herself out of the brush when Dre beats her to it. Her ears perk up as the gigantic wolf monster melts into a normal wolf and throws himself from the brush to knock the bear down. Then, at the barked order, she lunges from the shadows to snap at the fallen monster.
The slavering, monstrous black bear lumbers forward, advancing swiftly on the human now that its wound has healed, claws digging furrows into the earth as it moves. As Dre flies out of the brush to shoulder-check the bear, the massive beast roars and turns, swiping with one massive claw in a futile effort as it stumbles back and is bowled over. The creature crashes into the brush with a meaty thump and a primal snarl, already scrabbling at the ground to regain its feet.
Then, Lleu is howling mockery at the monstrous bear. Its snarl becomes a gutteral roar and it thrashes against the ground for one heartbeat, then begins to climb back to its feet with the slow certainty of an implacable killing machine, its snuffling snout focusing toward the howling wolf.
The hunter, for his part, hasn't stopped limping as quickly as he can manage away from the bear. He throws another panicked glance over his shoulder at the snarl of wolves and bear and the crash of the monster toppling over. He doesn't waste his breath shouting again, instead turning and limping onward, one hand reaching to grab at a tree for support as he staggers down the game trail.
Dre heard what Lleu said, as the Bear is trying to get up, he doesn't look back at the hunter. He can smell him, but thats not his concern. Looking on at the two and keeping close and moving, <<You are right Battle Singer, get it to chase you.>> he chuffs at Lleu. Seeing he made a tactical error and not getting things situated first. Still that can change, he looks to the others, <<Good hit.>> he says to Lleu watching as he strikes and begins moving off to help Lleu to get the bear to chase Lleu.
While he is far more used to fighting in Hispo, Battle Singer is careful to stay merely in the form of a wolf even against the larger, nasty bear formor! He's quick, snarling at the bear and darting in to get a bite to /make/ damn sure he's got that bear's full and undivided attention! The Fianna is a big wolf, larger than most, though smaller than the dire form. Seinneadair Blàr still manages a good solid bite at the thing's foreleg and tears it up, then suddenly breaks off and gags at the awful taste that floods his mouth! He runs, still falling back away from the man and trying to lure the monster to follow him in stead of the hunter!
Wazi springs into action with a low bark, snarling and snapping at the fomori bear's heels and flank as she helps Dre to herd the monster along after Lleu. Once the three wolves have made it out of easy sight of the fleeing humans and into the deeper brush, she bursts into her Hispo form and lunges in, biting at the monster's hind leg and tearing away a strip of flesh. She snarls and whines loudly at the stinging, burning fetid taste of the thing's flesh, even as one of its many pustules pops and spurts ichor across her snout.
Meanwhile, the bear monster lumbers into the woods, snarling and roaring wildly as it swings its massive claws again and again at Battle Singer, mindless fury in its eyes, slavering drool foaming at its mouth. It fights recklessly, with no heed of its own safety or sparing itself from the claws and fangs of the garou. Massive chunks of bear flesh are torn from the monster and still it advances, undeterred, poisonous pus bursting with every touch of claws or fangs to its hide, spraying its opponents with sizzling goop. Despite its attempts to tear into the garou, it initially seems as if they are too tough for the monster's claws to gain purchase.
Finally, when it seems the bear is about to collapse from its injuries, flesh hanging in tatters from its frame, the monster rises up onto its hindlegs and brings both claws down with its full weight behind them, smashing them into Battle Singer's flank and tearing the galliard open. The bear lands, claws resting in his exposed entrails, filth and pus oozing over its form to dribble on the fallen garou, before it turns and lashes out at Puddle Jumper, instead, landing only a glancing blow.
Dre had allowed Battle Singer to do what he wanted to help in lead off the bear. Watching the bear and the others move off quickly, it worked and Dre shifts into his hispo once he is finally out of sight of the human. A growl of challenge as he rushes forward striking with a massive paw along the bears gut, he quickly drops down and barely dodges the massive claw. Once the bear misses, he lunges forward to strike hard against the bears throat. He is also seeing how the others are attack, he growl escapes him as Battle Singer is taking damage.
It starts out well enough, luring the bear and all of them tearing it up. Things turn south for Seinneadair Blàr. After biting the bear viciously the tables turn and the bear absolutely starts mauling him! Snarling, the Fianna Galliard takes a hit of those massive claws and then is brought down under the formor's mass. A horrid yelp of surprise, pain, and shock is forced out of Battle Singer!
<<Keep it flanked!>> he growls. Though he sees Battle Singer Frenzying and that isn't good, <<Puddle Jumper keep from Battle Singer at this time. I want you to cut off the bear. Still the bear is moving sluggishly, they had to finish this fight than focus on getting Battle Singer back to his damn senses. Seeing the puss and damage on his friend Battle Singer, he needed to help him. TO do that, the damn bear have to go down and channeling that RAGE! Dre growls loudly allowing his blood to ramp through his body, all of his RAGE, anger, stupidity all of it to build up and he rushes forward, coming from the right as Battle Singer was left of him. The large black wolf leaps up into the air, his heckles rising as he moves with a lethality of an Ahroun. The black wolf rakes it's claws through and across the bears throat attempting to sever the large creatures head from it's shoulders.
Seinneadair Blàr is down but he refuses to die from his wounds and thrashes ina terrible fury as rage overcomes him! He shifts into Crinos and still lying there on the ground, Battle Singer hauls himself up to his feet and hands and starts to go after the bear! Snarling, enraged, he claws at it but Dre has already brought it down with a killing blow!
Crazed and dazed, the frenzied Fianna Crinos looks for a moment like he's about to tear after Thunder's Shadow of Retribution! But no, just as Battle Singer starts to move for him, the Galliard manages somehow to pull himself out of the oh so brief beserk frenzy... sense comes back into his eyes and Lleu shifts out of Crinos and back down, down into lupus.
A moment later, Battle Singer is lying on his side, panting and desperately wounded. Much blood mars his previously beautiful pelt.
Puddle Jumper yelps in shock as Battle Singer goes down, torn open by the bear. The massive white wolf pivots, taking a single step toward the fallen Battle Singer, ears flattening against her skull as she snarls at the ichor-covered bear fomori. Before she can get over to the fallen garou, the bear is swinging its gore-stained claw at her, the lupus twisting and losing a chunk of skin and fur to the beast, though it still doesn't manage to draw blood. She snarls in rage, snapping aggressively and barking at the bear, working to keep its attention focused on her as she dodges back, drawing the bear after her. <<PROTECT HIM! FIGHT ME!>> is roared at the monster in Garou, though the first part is probably for Thunder's Shadow of Retribution.
For its part, the bear gives a guttural roar of its own. It stands on its hind legs, covered in ichor and gore, claws dripping with fresh blood, eyes dancing with the madness of Rage, its own innars hanging from gaping wounds in its body. The once-bear takes a step forward, advancing toward Wazi, claws again raising to lash out against the Ahroun when Battle Singer lurches upright in a frenzy and Thunder's Shadow of Retribution leaps at the bear, his claws flashing out.
In the aftermath, the bear lays dying, its head only partly attached to its body in the bloody mud and fallen debris of the forest floor, clawing weakly at the forest floor, slavering and oozing blood and pus and ichor as it raggedly bleeds out its last few moments of tainted life.
For her part, Wazi pivots to face toward Battle Singer as the galliard rages, tensing as if to leap at his back, before she relaxes a bit when he melts down into the wolf form. Once he has settled into lupus, she pads deliberately over to him, falling down to her breed form of a white wolf, and gives a low-pitched whine. <<Rest. I heal you.>>
In the far distance, there is the sound of fleeing human footsteps, two men babbling in fearful voices, alive and unharmed, escaping the scene of their bear attack.
Now it is over. There is healing and cleansing to do in the last breaths of All Hallow's Eve.
