2016.11.06:TabiasRiteOfWounding

Tabia's Rite of Wounding
A milestone achieved
Players	Tabia, Mae, George, Journey, Vesta
Location	The beach on the Islans
Spheres	Gaian Garou

It is night time on the beach of the Island, there's a fire blazing high and George is sitting on a log preparring something in an earthenware dish, adding water and various powders.

Journey is settling Vesta into a place to sit, positioning a pillow for her lower back to support Her Pregnantness to sit comfortably, being a generallt attentive Mate and caring for the mother of his child.

Vesta leans back against the pillow with a happy little sigh. She tucks her ring in her pocket, because floating down into her seat is just so much fucking easier and she can actually sit on the ground like this and not have to worry about strugglign back to her feet

Tabia sits across the fire from George, looking between him and Journey curiously. She was told to be here, but not the why just yet. She only knows she was told to shift back to homid rather than let the last of her injuries from the fight with the war wolves finish healing.

It's a bit of a hike out to the Island but the Fianna finally arrives with a little time to spare. She waves to Vesta and silently sits besides the pregant woman.

Joezeppi and the Ferry will have gotten Mae out to the Island and that ride takes about an hour. Joezeppi would have been told to wait for other guests but once the time came he was to come and to bring his nephew Darren (who is a very serious and somber seeming seven year old that Joezeppi would have bragged to Mae that he's going to be a phildox some day. So those two come along behind along with some of the strider kin from George's network around town. Its looking more and more like this is a *thing*

Journey settles down next to Vesta on the other side from Mae, giving the Fianna a smile and getting ready to witness what's about to happen, just sitting comfortably for the moment and leaning against Vesta from time to time.

Vesta ia chill, relaxed, and she has a bottle of water and a pillow behind her back and another one below her knees. She smiles at Mae and motions her over to have a seat and she offers her a water as well.

Tabia is a little surprised to see Joezeppi and Darren joining them, but that doesn't stop her from making faces at the boy to try and elicit a smile.

Mae takes out a flask of something from her back pocket and takes a sip before just holding it in her hand. She gives Darren a little smile from those gathered around Tabia.

Joezeppi and Darren are Gnawer kin so Mae isn't completely surrounded. There are even a couple of Stargazer kin from the Curry Corner come along as well. Darren looks like he might even smile back at Mae but Tabia making faces has him clapping a hand over his mouth so he doesn't giggle out loud and his uncle just snorts in ammusement.

Then as the crowd finishes settling in George stands and people get quiet as he starts to speak "Tabia Rosalyn Winters. You've stood in battle against servants of Apophis, the Great Corruptor, and been Wounded. Rise and speak your tale."

Journey looks to George and then settles his gaze on Tabia, ready to listen and absorb the tale of the fight where the Cub clashed with the Wyrm.

Tabia grins and winks at the boy, though she grows more serious once things get underway. As George speaks her name and bids her speak, she takes a deep breath before getting to his feet. "I was one of the Garou that gathered t'begin clearin' out the tunnels. There were several groups of us, but with Monica scoutin' up front an' Halle keepin an eye on us from the sky, we had a better view of the whole thing than most. At first, it looked like it mighta been a group of Bone Gnawers that we were seein', pullin' ahead of the other packs, which coulda got them isolated, an' we wanted t'make sure that didn't happen. Monica circled back and warned us that she hadn't been able t'confirm the group was friendly, an' then they started headin' in our direction. Turned out it was a group of war wolves -- some kinda lab-grown Garou wannabes that serve the Wyrm. We took up positions an' held our ground for the charge. Didn't look like it was gonna go so well at first. Mae fired an arrow into one that just seemed t'bounce off, then I went in for the first of 'em's legs, hopin' to wound it an' make it more vulnerable for the rest of the group t'take out, but my claws slid off it, too. It got in a good bite in return that nearly took me out in one blow. Halle flew down an' was able t'heal most of the damage, which got me back into the fight a lot quicker. Wasn't gonna let that thing jump one of my team, so I got back up an' slashed at it. It charged me an' tried t'bite, but I shoved my claws right down its through an' ripped its insides out."

The crowd listens respectfully, making all the right noises. Darren looks like he wants to ask a question but his Uncle puts a hand on his shoulder and a look that says 'later'. The boy accquieses and goes back to listening with focus, glancing between Tabia and George because he doesn't want to miss a thing.

George nods at Tabia, holding the bowl he prepared in one hand "To stand in battle against the Enemy is the calling of all Garou. Our Wounds serve to remind us not just of past glories but of the possibility of future dangers. Our Tribe stands also between the Living and the Dead, that responsibility requires us to be mindful of how easy it can be to cross, or be made to cross, that line. We've gathered this night- before our kin, comrades, and the Spirits, to commemerate your first Wound. That you remember your Glory in fighting for Gaia, the Fragility of Life and the weight of choosing to send another on a head into the great After. Present your Wound that I might mark it for Rememberance."

Journey listens to the tale, nodding here and there, and smiles as the tale ends. Then he looks to George and back witnessing the the progression of the Rite.

The partially-healed injuries to Tabia's upper right arm are obvious in her tank top. Those, presumably, came when the war wolf chewed on her arm as she was shoving her hand down its throat. Those aren't the ones that came first, though, so when she presents her injury, she does so by lifting her shirt to reveal healing skin and numerous teeth marks on her side and stomach -- this must be where the creature took a bite out of her at the start of the fight.

George steps over to Tabia and dips two fingers in the gloop that he then uses to trace the marks on Tabia's skin "Still a cub and you stand in battle well. You do Owl's Work and Gaia's bidding. Let all who see this Mark know here walks a Warrior!"

Journey rises to his feet, watching the Rite unfolding, taking in the Rite and smiling as the honor is done to the Cub and her wound.

Tabia remains stoic as the marks are traced, the mixture settling into the wounds and making sure that, even with Garou healing, they'll remain visible, a permanent reminder of the battle she's been through.

When he's done tracing the marks, George sets the bowl on the ground and steps back to signal the rite's conclusion. This prompts applause from the audience except from little Darren who tries to Howl his support, because that's what garou do ya know.

Journey applauds as well, joining in with the others. When Darren howls, he chuckles, nodding to the boy and keeps applauding in appreciation of Tabias accomplishment.

Vesta has been paying attention, quietly. She applauds along with the others, but obviously stays seated

Tabia smiles, pride evident in her expression as she gently traces what will become now become her first battle scar.