2018.08.01: Mentor

Mentor
After certain comments about learning the Litany from a Philodox, Lleu goes back to Dragomir to learn more.
IC Date	Wednesday, August 1st
IC Time	16:22:44 2018, PDT.
Players	Lleutrim, Dragomir
Location	Deep Forest, Terminal Velocity Pack's Territory
Spheres	Shifter

---

Deep Forest

The cycle of life and death is prevalent here from mother nature's harsh touch. The landscape is dryer here than other parts of the forest and so too has it been affected more by regular brush fires that have swept through the hot summer months leaving the wide area to rot and decay only to leave the natural process of seeds from various adapted plants into the air and spread again to renew the process once more.

Trees and foliage within the area have seemed to adapt to the various fires during certain times of the seasons as they too live and die and return again all year round. The animals as well seem to have no problem with knowing when and what times are best to enter or vacate the area, having lived here for millennia and will thrive here ever more even when man has gone and passed away.

There is a large number of birds prevalent in this area, and no traces of small animals or vermin. The birds of prey stalk the branches and swoop overhead, watching anything that takes place in the area.

---

A wolf shows up. A large grey with dark agouti ticking over his top line contrasted with strong cream underneath and ruddy cinnamon tints to his sides. The animal comes along and traces the edges of Terminal Velocity's pack territory from the south west, sniffing around until the wolf finds a territorial marking. There it stops and looks around, standing silent for a time in the deep forest. When the wolf is pretty sure no one is around except for the watching birds of prey that move through the trees ahead, the wolf blurs it's form into that of a man.

Lleutrim moves from all fours to sit on the stone with the glyphs cut into it. His pale grey eyes look up into the trees looking for any sign of a hawk, falcon, owl, something like that. If he can see one, he says low, "Knock, knock. Anyone home?" Then he'll just wait.

Not far from him another wolf has stopped, one that watches and is assigned to keep an eye on a certain Cub to insure he doesn't get into trouble. That wolf however settles down under a fir with low thick branches and waits, watching but reasonably out of sight.

Dragomir emerges from the bushes, there and apparent almost immediately once you approached the territory line. The man is walking towards the edge, with his hands tucked within the pockets of his khaki pants. Blue eyes take a moment to scan you over, and he nods, "Welcome Lleutrim, Cub of the Nation, born beneath the Galliard's moon on two legs. Welcome to the pack den of Terminal Velocity. You may enter, what is it that you seek?"

As soon as he is aware of someone's approach, Lleu looks carefully without moving to stand - in case it's /not/ someone from Terminal Velocity. Seeing it's Dragomir, he stands. "Thank you, Eye-of-the-Storm-Rhya. I came hoping to speak with you." There is that brief instant of direct eye contact before he settles for watching Dragomir's brow. "When last I saw you, you mentioned that a Philodox should be the one to teach the Litany. Is it permitted that I return to ask for teaching from my former mentor from time to time? I would like to hear your version of the Litany. I do not wish to anger Lucky-Bastard-rhya or cast ill relfection upon any other for my coming here to ask. Tell me if I should go away and bother you no more, Eye-of-the-Storm-rhya. I know you are no longer responsible for me."

Dragomir motions his half-gloved hand and welcomes you to take a seat on a rock as he moves over to do so as well. "There are a couple of things we should clarify, that are perhaps unclear as yet. Though I believe it is important that you understand them." He relaxes onto the rock and offers, "It is true that the Philodox hold the responsibility of maintaining the Litany and determining right and wrong within the Garou Nation. There is an important reason for that. Some are foolish enough to believe that there are versions or interpretations to the Litany. They believe it is relative to translations, or who is speaking it, but that is not true. You would be disserviced to believe that you can manipulate the interpretations of the Litany. Only dishonorable Garou would try to do such a thing."

"As to being responsible for you. I am not assigned as your mentor, but all Garou are my responsibility, just as they are yours. We are Family, and one day you will stand beside me and be known as my Brother." He considers for a moment and says, "I cannot shield you from the influence you will doubtlessly be submitted to by those like Brightheart. Or from the interference and exploitations by those like Sander and Catherine." He gestures and says, "You will have to make your own decisions about them. What I will provide you, just as I provide for Faith - is the most truthful and honest answer I am capable of giving you on any topic you wish to discuss." He draws in a breath through his nostrils and says, "I will provide you advice if you need it, and mediation if you find yourselves struggle for resolution. Soon I will be recognized as Athro within the Nation, which means Teacher. So it will be my responsibility to teach any who seek me out, what I can. You are welcome to seek me, as long as you walk with Honor, Lleutrim Cub."

Donnachaidh retakes a seat when he's indicated to do so. Then he gives Dragomir his full attention to listen, a very slight furrow forming between his brows as he does. "My understanding is that a Philodox like yourself would be the Judge, as you have told me before, of what is right or wrong according to the Litany. So it makes sense to me that I /should/ learn it from you. You are the only Philodox I know that I respect enough to ask." Lleu certainly wouldn't ask say.. Earl! "You have already put in a lot of time trying to teach me. I don't always understand, but I /want/ to understand and I need to." A slow nod to the coming rank advancement. "Then, in so far as you have the time, and are willing, I would like to continue learning from you. I will also learn from the others. Tell me of the Litany, Eye-of-the-Storm-Rhya. If now isn't a good time, then tell me when and I will come back."

The watcher in the woods remains where the wolf lies, probably out of range to overhear the two. All seems well so the other lays his head in his paws and will wait however long this visit takes.

Dragomir nods and offers, "First thing you should understand about the Litany, is that most Garou do not actually know it. They understand very shortened versions of the Litany, as Laws that they try to live by. In reality, the Litany is very long-recorded by actions and deeds. It is the makeup of all that we are, and how we have come to be. They are they lessons that have been handed down to us since the Impergium, and they are reflections of our core beliefs and structures."

"We of the Garou Nation are a composite of memories, traditions, rituals and renown. Our battle is as much with the corruption that we refer to as the Wyrm, as it is with the modernization and dismissal of our ways that we refer to as the Weaver. Our Litany, is what keeps us focused on this War, and from losing ground. Everytime we stop taking it seriously.. we 'interpret' it loosely, or disregard a tenant and make light of it.. we lose footing. Though those who have never been to the Legendary Realm would not understand that."

"Legendary Realm?" Lleu asks, "It that a place in the Umbra? I haven't learned much about the Umbra yet, and only a little about spirits." As sound can carry well in the quiet of the woods, Donnachaidh keeps his voice low as he often does so that it doesn't carry far. It makes for a very nice surprise then on those occasions he does raise his voice. "I remember you don't carry things like a phone. I was much annoyed when Iris said she would not dedicate mine, only my clothes. No tech, she said. That makes it difficult for me to carry a concealed gun, for example. She also mentioned that dedicating such things without permission, for someone who is not a Glasswalker, would damage one's renown. That has something to do with the Litany?"

Dragomir nods and offers, "You have not crossed over yet." he makes the observation and then he nods, "Just outside of your vision, there is a reflection of what you see before you. What you are used to seeing, is known as the material world, the Gaia Realm, and to some entities as the Skinlands. Just beyond, is the Near Umbra. There is a barrier between us - which we refer to as the Gauntlet. You may have experienced it before without realizing it. During heightened moments of bliss, meditation, or an epiphany of creativity the Gauntlet can feel thin. This state is known as the Periphery. There are also places where the Gauntlet is thinner.. such as here in the forest. But there is also places where the Gauntlet is thick and virtually impossible for us to cross. Where pattern spiders have woven a tightened web so convoluted that we would be trapped if we tried to. Pattern spiders are an aspect of the Weaver's will."

He motions his half-gloved hand towards you and says, "Anything made by modern technology, carries with it traces of the Weaver - and those pattern spiders. Glass Walkers like Brightheart and Hushed Blaze work closely with the Weaver so that we can battle those aspects when we need to. The price, is distrust from the Nation - who worry that working too closely will cause them to be lured by the Weaver's One Song."

A sudden breeze sweeps through the forest, rustling trees and bushes and sending old leaves floating to the ground.

Lleutrim blinks as he listens, something more clicking into place. "The handmade clothes." He plucks at his own internet ordered T-shirt and his well worn blue jeans from Walmart, "That's why Faith makes her own clothes sometimes, isn't it?" Dragomir's own clothes get a closer scrutiny, "Yet, if you go around wearing handmade things, people do tend to notice." Donnachaidh pauses to think back to what he's been seeing others of the Nation wearing. "This Weaver though, it isn't necessarily bad ... it's the Wyrm that the Litany says we should combat?" Lleu lifts a hand to rub at his face, "Wait. Maybe you should just start with the Litany. So far I have only heard the first few and once I have heard it, then I'll know better what questions I should ask. So that I do not waste your time, Eye-of-the-Storm-rhya."

Backing into it all fragments at a time may not be the best way to go about learning the Litany, afterall.

Dragomir nods and offers, "It takes a lifetime to master the Litany Lleu, I want you to understand that before we begin. Learn what you can, but do not try to master it in a day." He motions his hand and says, "There are thirteen guiding precepts by which Garou society live. The short version are as follows:

Garou Shall Not Mate With Garou

Combat the Wyrm Wherever It Dwells and Wherever It Breeds

Respect the Territory of Another

Accept an Honorable Surrender

Submission to Those of Higher Station

The First Share of the Kill for the Greatest in Station

Ye Shall Not Eat the Flesh of Humans

Respect Those Beneath Ye - All Are of Gaia

The Veil Shall Not Be Lifted

Do Not Suffer Thy People To Tend Thy Sickness

The Leader May Be Challenged at Any Time During Peace

The Leader May Not Be Challenged During Wartime

.. and finally,

Ye Shall Take No Action That Causes a Caern to Be Violated."

Dragomir gives you a moment to absord those, and formulate what questions you might have first.

All right then. That's the first time Lleu has heard all thirteen listed. He gives a faint nod and digests that some of that he'd been told and not even known they were parts of the Litany. It also reminds him of something. "All right, then ... maybe we should go back to the question about the Weaver. I gather that it is part of the Triad and was ... what the Wrym was out to destroy? But the Weaver somehow trapped the Wyrm and drove it mad. So ... now the Weaver is ... also out of balance? None of the Litany you listed specifically addresses the Weaver and technology. So I don't understand why it's bad if I wanted to learn the old ways of the garou, but /also/ balance my abiding by the old ways by also incorporating some modern technology use as well? After all, if it was all bad, then none of you would even allow the Glasswalker tribe, would you? Why does it have to be only extremes of only one or the other? You mention balance a lot as a judge, and yet .. you also said things are black and white. There seem to be a lot of contradictions."

Dragomir offers, "You are right to ask these questions. They are the questions that all Cubs should ask. There is not easy answers to them, as we are a Nation of beliefs and mysticisms. We do not fully understand Gaia or Gaia's plan. We have been given stories over centuries, and quested for answers and found more questions as we have gone. Often times the hardest part about being Garou, is finding and having faith in Gaia and her plan."

"Triat. The three great spirits responsible for Creation, Preservation and Destruction of all things. There are many contradictions to these stories Lleu, you will have to form your own beliefs. In truth, these entities are beyond comprehension for us. These primal forces, existed long before we did. What is important to understand is that originally, these entities were in balance. They worked harmoniously with one another to create the Cycle. Many stories are believed, but the most popular is that the Weaver trapped the Wyrm in her webs, allowing her order to be imposed without being destroyed while the imprisoned Wyrm, unable to escape, fell into madness. Some in contrast, clain it is the Weaver who is insane, and the Wyrm's lust for destruction is in order to destroy the overabundance of order. Whatever the case is Lleutrim, we are the Warriors of the Wyld, and we are losing. Whether it is the Weaver or the Wyrm's fault, we suffer and lose more and more ground each day. I believe we should not give strength to either, if we are to overcome them."

The recently changed Galliard twists his mouth wryly, "I was raised a Catholic, if you can believe it. I was a pretty lousy Catholic too. I had trouble enough believing in God, let alone this Gaia. I think ... that's going to take me a while to be convinced."

He falls silent and back to listening as Lleu sits there on a stone in the deep forest with Dragomir. All of it gets a thoughtful frown out of Donnachaidh. "Much for me to think on, thank you. I think ... so far, that's the wisest answer I have heard, though I may not be the best judge of what constitutes wisdom." Lleu shifts his jaw, digesting the information. After a pause he says low, "May I ask you a question? There's something that happened while I was living in the caves before my change that I do not understand. Yet it relates to one of the tenets of the Litany you have named. 'Accept an Honorable Surrender'. And yet, that time you bested me in the training area, you did not accept my surrender."

Dragomir nods and offers, "Your faith in Gaia will define you. At first, you are not expected to understand or truly know what you are capable of. With time, you will experience so much more than a human mind can rationalize, you will be left with the unexplainable, that only belief can truly explain." He motions one of his half-gloved hands and offers, "Submission is a tricky subject amongst Garou. It is like the difference between saying you are a soldier, and actually being willing to die for a cause."

The man turns his blue eyes towards you, looking you over and offers, "You are intelligent enough to know what surrender means, but at that point.. do you think you were truly ready to submit in all things to my judgement?" The man leans back a bit and offers, "Words are easy to weave. The Weaver has used many slogans and catch phrases, and warriors have rallied around words for centuries. As a Galliard, you will have great strength with words, and your words will matter and be remembered." He gestures, "When I put you on the floor.. you were beaten, but you were not submitting. When you came back from your conversation with Defiant Storm, then you were submitting." Then he tips his head slightly and asks, "Do you recognize the difference in your mind in those two events?"

Lleutrim is very quiet, mulling over the words. He shifts his jaw as he thinks about it, "Yes. I do now. But that first time, I was willing to acknowledge that I had been beaten. Then you named terms and asked if I agreed to them - but I didn't know what those terms were that you had named. All I remember is that asked you to explain and the next thing I know, you were pounding my head against the floor. When I had, in my mind, offered my surrender. It did not seem honorable to me that you would then beat on a man who was trying to submit and understand what those terms were. /That/ is why I then got so furious with you. I'm surprised I didn't change then, because I don't think I have ever been so angry in all my life as I was then, after you didn't accept what I thought was a sincere surrender." Lleu grimaces, "Later, after Jake brought me back, I was ... exhausted. I just wanted it over with. Hollow. If you had killed me right there I'm not sure I would even have cared, to be honest."

Dragomir considers your words, lifting his head and nods slowly, "Reading you has been difficult for me. Admittedly, I do not understand your background or your world. The way you have grown up, and what you have value in are all concepts unfamiliar for me. I also did not understand why you had not changed yet, it is quite unusual for one of us to remain unchanged for as long as you have." The man motions one of those half-gloves and he says, "I was also under my own stressors, given the moon and the birth of my sons. The problem with the Rokea and the Mokole that did what they did, as well as some other matters that complicated things. I realized that I was struggling with keeping my balance, which is why I left."

Dragomir says, "I am not always right, or perfect in my actions Lleutrim, but my pack and this Sept rely on me to be committed to my decisions. In our society, when you doubt the leadership - you challenge it during times of Peace. It is honorable to challenge, and when you are challenged it is honorable to participate. One day perhaps soon, I will be challenged and beaten - and I will once more follow the lead and direction of another." He lifts his hand and points to you and says, "Perhaps it will be you one day. My faith is in Gaia, so I trust that whoever leads me - is meant to."

That reply gets a huffed breath out of Lleu, "/You/ were loosing your balance? Jesus... I tipped over and fell down a bottomless hole. I'm -still- trying to get my balance back." He smiles a little though. As Dragomir continues, Donnachaidh sobers up fast. He studies the Russian and hesitates to make any further reply for several seconds. Lleu shifts where he sits, "Maybe. I don't know. I certainly haven't given up on Faith yet. So /some/ day I will be back to try and kick your ass. Very possibly I will try many times. But .. not yet."

Dragomir nods his head and says, "Many have tried with Faith.. some by force, some by trickery. Some even tried using magic to make it possible. You would be the first to try using honor if you did." He shrugs a bit and says, "For now Lleutrim Cub, you should use your energy to focus on what it means to survive your Rite of Passage. Understand what it means to be a Galliard, and what role you play in the Nation. Seek out the Fianna, and learn of your Ancestors. Practice your primal urges, and learn to transform your body as Luna has taught us. Find your way to the Umbra, and learn how to pay respects to the Spirits."

He considers for a moment and asks, "Have you been to the Caern yet?"

Donnachaidh says, "I have, twice now. Halona... Like-the-Wind-rhya took me there but we were interrupted and she had some business so it's purpose wasn't fully explained to me. Something about gnosis? Mercy's Messenger-rhya was telling me a little about how gnosis is used in Rites. I gather it is used for other things as well but I don't know what, yet. I also went for the Moot, which ... was a hell of a gathering. I liked the stories. I asked Hush-Blaze-rhya if I may tell one at the end of next month. She said I could, and she'd help me craft it. I actually have two to work on, the second being the recounting of how Mercy's Messenger was burned. If she allows and will recount it for me again in more detail." The idea of getting up in front of a crowd and speaking doesn't seem to phase Lleu at all.

He lifts a hand and skims it over his recently shaved head, starting to grow back in stubbly. His beard too is gone, cleaned up. "I am focusing on these other things for now. Faith understands. We ... don't see much of each other lately." There's been some tension, there. "I'm to start going out on patrols this week."

Dragomir nods and offers, "Gnosis is our spiritual energy, and our connection to the Beast within us. We use it to power the gifts that the spirits teach us, as well as to fetishes and talens that we create." He motions out his gloved hand and suddenly there is a Crystal Javelin in his grasp and displays it for you. "Our gnosis allows us to power these tools, so we may be stronger against the Wyrm. Our totem spirit for the Caern is Bear. So each month we gather and give praise and thanks back to Bear for providing us a home. Bear watches over us, and we guard the Sept of the Enduring Spirit. Everything in balance."

"Faith walks her own path, as much as you may believe I control it, I do not. She has struggled to find her place within the Nation, as she too came much older than most Kinfolk do. She has had to fight to be recognized and respected - and the influence that the Shadow Lords have had on her, made that quite difficult for her." He says lightly, "She needs friends she can trust, more than she needs the complication of a relationship right now. If that makes sense."

Holy shit! Lleutrim startles when there is suddenly a very bizarre, long weapon in Dragomir's half gloved hand that wasn't there a second ago! It startled him enough that he lunged back off of the stone! "Son of a ... how the hell did you do that?" Breathing a little faster than he was before, he picks himself back up out of the ferns and dusts off his arse. "Never seen anybody do that before." From a couple of body lengths away he studies the awesome looking javelin Dragomir holds, "Damn, that is wicked. So that's why Mercy's Messenger-rhya said I wouldn't need to worry about carrying a hand gun." Not that he knows how to use other kinds of weapons.

The topic is let go when Faith is mentioned. Lleu gives a slow nod, "Friendship is all that we are allowed, Eye-of-the-Storm-rhya. For now, that'll have to be enough." He's not happy about that but he's accepted it.

Dragomir gestures towards the javelin and says, "It is named Zhazhda Mesti. It means The Revenge. It was crafted for me by one of the Gurahl, you met him.. his name is Bjorn." He watches your reaction, seeming lightly amused and says, "It is a gift that I learned from a spirit. Taught by a packrat-spirit. This weapon is dedicated to me, so no matter where it is or who is holding it. When I focus, I can draw it to my hand." The man smiles and says, "Which is handy, when you say... live in a residential tower in the city like I do.. and you rather not be carrying around a crystal spear with you."

"For a long time, I have coordinated the Bawn Patrols for the Wyrmfoe here in the Sept. They are a good way for you to cut your teeth, and get used to how we do things. Learn as much as you can from as many as you can, but be discerning Lleu. Not everything you see or are told will be good advice. If you have trouble wading through it all, I will answer any questions that you have. When it doubt, it is normally wiser to listen to the person of higher rank in any situation."

Lleutrim gives a nod, "I remember Bjorn and you two speaking of a weapon." He arches a brow, "Like a Light-sabre - just comes into your hand from anywhere. Handy is an understatement." Skip a beat. "You live in a tower in the city? /You/? Isn't that ... sort of a clash with your anti-Weaver leanings? What about roughing it in the Wyld?" Lleu eyes him like he's having a hard time believing Dragomir is the hypocryte that makes him appear to be. "Understood. Higher rank being ... significant of more accomplishment, and presumably more experience as well?"

Dragomir chuckles at the question and says, "Higher rank -should- mean that, yes. Though we are all fallable. What is important is that you differ to rank, even when you are not sure. That is the hard part at times, trusting in others." The spear vanishes and he offers, "My mate.. Felicity, is the CEO of a major corporation - and we have residence in a very secure tower where my sons are being raised." He gestures towards the cave and says, "Before I was mated, that was my home. Now it is home for the lupus-born in my pack, and a place where my pack can train." Dragomir smiles and says, "I try to maintain balance in all things.. even my distrust of the Weaver. Hushed-Blaze is very Weaver-centric, and I often consult with her on such matters. As a Philodox in a pack, my role is to maintain our balance. For a long time, we did not have a Theurge to provide us with spiritual guidance.. so I had to fill-in in that capacity, then we got Mercy's Messenger and we have been stronger ever since."

The 'Cub' retakes his seat on the stone he'd been occupying previously. Lleu relaxes and listens once more, leaning back a little against a tree that juts up behind the stone his hands loosely clasped around one knee he's pulled up. "How /are/ your sons doing? I don't remember if I remembered my manners and offered you congratulations on their births. Seems strange to me that you'd marry a woman who's a CEO of a big corporation, with your beliefs." Lleu thinks about it and says, "I was raised in a cabin up in the mountains of North Georgia. Things were pretty simple. But as I got older, I lived in cities sometimes and went to good schools. I suppose ... now, I understand why I sometimes had anger issues. Problems as a kid. Even as an adult. I can't tell you when I didn't hit my change when I was younger. I have no idea. But .... I was almost dishonorably discharged from the Corps. I lost my temper and struck an officer of higher rank. I was given a choice. I could leave the Corps and be Honorably Discharged or face a Court Marshal. My father was dying so ... I opted out. If my father hadn't been who he was they probably never would have given me the easy out. I didn't want to go. I reasoned with myself that my mother was going to be alone and somebody had to look out for her."

A sigh, "That was rough. The Corps was my life. Then I dedicated myself to being a Cop instead. Now... you know where I am. So thank you. I am sure I will return with many questions, Eye-of-the-Storm-rhya."

Dragomir shakes his head, "You are confusing concepts. Marriage is a human concept.. Felicity and I are not married. We are mated, which is a spiritual concept. Her role as Silver Fang kinfolk is to bring my Warriors into the world, so they may grow and be strong fighters for Gaia. We barely knew each other when we became mated. Love and marriage are not concepts that I know much about." He motions his hand once more.

He listens to your story and he nods his head, "Normally, the Garou would have been watching you and helped guide you through this at an early age. For some reason you were lost, but I was fortunate enough to spot it in you when we met." Dragomir takes a moment, as though he was processing his answer before he says, "My sons.. Dragomir Mihailovich Jr. and Dmitri Nicholas Mihailovich are both strong. They were born beneath the full moon as twins. It is rare for our births to be Garou, and to have twin Ahrouns is even rarer. It is considered a great blessing from Gaia."

Then he reverts back once more and offers, "I was raised very closely with my Ancestors.. in daily conversation with them since I can remember. I have always been apart of the Nation. I originally came here in search of my twin brother, Dmitri. When I found him, he had been captured by the Wyrm and filled with the Weaver's machines to enhance him - and was being used for breeding of super soldiers. Killing him was a mercy in the eyes of the Nation. Holding my brother's still-beating heart in my hand, haunts me even still."

Oh boy. Mated, not married, and love isn't involved. Lleu's brows knit as he tries to wrap his head around such a strange relationship. "And she was just willing to ... make babies with you, even though she hardly knew you??" Mind boggling. He shakes his head faintly, "I can't even imagine a woman willing to do that. It seems ... very alien to me."

Another slow, faint nod about the twins, both being garou rather than kin. "And ... you can sense that, or the spirits tell you?" Then the rest about his brother and Lleu's eyes get a little wide. "Jesus Christ." Apparently that's a /very/ unsettling image even for Donnachaidh's imagination. "Captured ... by the Wyrm and filled with the Weaver's machines? I ... Faith ... mentioned ... the Wyrm's minions forcing Kinfolk and others to breed. But putting machine things into them? I don't understand."

Dragomir offers, "We are at War Lleutrim. We do not worry about such things as Love and Marriage. Those are constructs of the Weaver's design to control the masses. What matters, is Creation. We are soldiers of the Wyld." He moves to rise, turning his head to look off and says, "You will come to see many of the atrocities of the Wyrm and the Weaver over time. Out of balance, their destruction knows no end, and they strangle our throats each day tighter." He reaches out a deadly hand, for all you know the one he killed his own brother with and pats your shoulder. "I must go now Lleutrim cub. Seek me again when you have more questions. Reflect on the precepts of the Litany as I have told them to you, and learn the stories behind them. We have great history, don't ever forget that." and he steps back into his moon-bridge and disappears, without warning.

Lleutrim moves to stand, "I don't believe for a moment that 'love' is a construct of this Weaver. I think it's more natural and far deeper than that, Eye-of-the-Storm-rhya. For that part alone, I am very sorry for you. Whatever else you are, I hope you learn to love your children, or this Gaia, if not your mate. Because ... you are totally missing out on one of the most important things to be worth living /for/." Donnachaidh sounds pretty sure about that one.

No flinching from that hand. Lleu says, "I will, Eye-of-the-Storm-ryha. I will study and learn, thank you." He'll turn to head not back to his cabin but towards the caves. For he also came to speak with Hush-Blaze-rhya.