2021.09.19: Wyld Desert Flowers

Wyld Desert Flowers - or - Dragontales
Some Get, a Corax, and the new Stargazer went out with Branton to check into reported weird flowers out in the desert.
IC Date	September 19th, 2021
Players	Branton, Evonna, Leif (ST), Royan, Shizuki
Location	Desert
Spheres	Fera Garou Gaian

Ahem. So Circle of the Mother is an easy pass-through between forest and desert, which keeps them from having to drive all the way back through town and then out into the desert. Branton and Shizuki in front, the gigantic Leif sprawled out in the back of the truck, bumping along, occasionally almost becoming unseated, hanging his head over the edge to watch where they're going and making his hair whip all about like crazy whoa. They stop at Sun and Moon and have a snack and some water and then pack up some things and then set out on foot into the desert.

There were Omens. And there were Sign! The Corax are many things, and they are also NOT many things. But one thing they are, is bloody random! And randomly, this particular Corax had seen some Omens and Signs all over the place, telling him to go out here. To this place, to fly over this area. And so, he went. Because you do not ignore Omens and Signs!

And it is out here that the large black bird spots the vehicle driving, with the large man, the two smaller men and one who's someone he recognises. So, as the vehicle drives, the bird follows high above.

Overhead there is a large raven that is totally, perfectly, absolutely common. Even though he's bigger and probably prettier or at least more distinct, but TOTALLY common, yes. Leif makes sure everyone's all packed up and ready to go, and then comes out the back door. "Straight out. Two miles. Good little jaunt. Branton, you can fly, right? I suggest we go on four legs and go check it out terra side first, then we'll look at the Umbra."

Branton nods at Leif and gestures down at his boots to explain to Shizuki "Boots of Hermes. They're wingtips naturally." And the embossed wings on the ankles glimmer with power and Branton lifts off the ground.

Completely unawares of the raven that's been following them, Shizuki is instead focused on the note that was left, the rations and, of course, the two individuals that are right next to him. "Two miles doesn't seem that far," he agrees, his words still heavily accented in Japanese. "Four legs does seem fastest though." Of course, at the mention of flight, the dark haired young man again seems a bit surprised, eyebrows lifting as Branton points out the special nature of the boots he's wearing. "I'm surprised you don't have a lightning bolt scar on your forehead," he remarks with a clearly amused tone. "Or a red cloak with a high collar...." Shizuki then takes another sizeable bite from his apple, crunching on it with his cheek bulged out a bit as he works to finish it off before needing to change into wolf form.

Well, that is just excellent, that is! With Branton, Helios stamped and approved, taking off from the ground the large Common Raven decides that enough flying has been done this day. So, he makes sure to take position a bit back, to then dive downwards. He dives down enough so that he can, once he reaches him, land on Brantons shoulder and grab hold. Because why fly yourself, when someone else can do the flying for you! Genius. He even greets Branton with a happy 'kraa!'.

Evonna got the message and she jogs up to them all, her go bag on her back, and dressed for battle. Just in time to hear Leif's words. "Got the message. I'm ready to go, Jarl." She nods to Branton, "Good to have you here." And looks to Shizuki, not knowing him. "I am Evonna Kummerow, rited Blood Thorn, Athro Forseti of Fenrir, a Valkyria of Freya." She keeps it short considering it all. "I'm ready to leave when you are." she says to Leif.

Evonna's eyes spot the Raven flying and when he lands she smiles. "'Tis good to have eyes in the sky."

Leif nods to each person and when he spots Evonna, he reaches into his bag and grabs a canteen, tossing it to her without a care in the world, like they do it all the time. "Brief intro. Shizuki. Cliath. Metis. Stargazer. We're going to go check out some... fucking flowers..." He sighs. That sounds so LAME. This BETTER be a good fight. BETTER be good. "Alright. And we have a Corax for the air. Or a REALLY brave normal bird. Either way." He nods toward the Raven. "Leif Pederson, the Wall, Adren. Packed with Munnin's Talons, under Wild Raven." And that's all. He shifts. His lupus form is fucktastically ginormous and he lightly shoulder checks Evonna as he takes off at a good speed, but not a frantic one, into the desert.

Branton nods grins at the bird "Hey there friend. We're snooping about a mystery." then to Shizuki "Its a sunburst scar actually but its only visible to spirit sight. I haven't made the cloak yet but I keep meaning too."

With the sudden flurry of arrivals, Shizuki turns his head one way and then the other, his ebony hair swishing a bit about his features. "A.. familiar?" he asks Branton as the raven alits on the mage's shoulder, before he turns to give a deep bow to Evonna, raising back upwards and opening his mouth to give an abbreviated introduction of his own before Leif sums up for him. "It is an honor, Blood Thorn-rhya," he states instead, before adding onto Leif's less than dynamic description of the current quest. "The flowers have not only appeared over the span of a single evening, but they have apparently done so in barren soil," he clarifies. "It is a mystery which bears investigating."

At Branton's scar clarification, Shizuki doesn't know whether or not the kinfolk is kidding, so squints just a bit at the man's forehead before answering. "It would not surprise me... And, a Tengu?" he gives the raven a closer look. "Fascinating!" He too, then, shifts into his lupus form, far more slender and sleek next to Leif, looking in fact almost sickly next to the Get giant, before taking off after.

So many faces! And all of them turning wolf just after talking to him! The raven on Brantons shoulder lets out a loud Kraaa! (but not so loud as to deafen Branton) in general greeting. He then settles in for the flight, seeming to invite himself to this outing of the Garou.

Evonna drops into her lupus form as well, after acknowledging Suzuki. It's time to figure out some flowers, and get to where they are going. Her eyes are scanning, her eyes up, as she keeps alert. >> Will alert if I notice anything. <<

With a whoosh around her, Evonna stretches and grows until landing on all fours.

Dammit. Birds don't speak wolf. Dammit. Leif takes the lead, calling back to Branton in lupus, <<Suggest to your shoulder buddy that maybe he will take a spin over the top. See what he sees.>> It's barely an excursion. Four legs, moving at a decent speed, it's minutes before there are little blobs of color out in the distance. For those who can see the umbra, there are little bee spirits out here, sipping on the flowers in the umbra, while larger, more robust spirits guard the area. All of them are haggard, trodden upon, wilted even.

Branton nods at Leif and starts going for altitude, explaining to the corax "We're on recon flight. Let's go." and heads up into the air.

For a few moments, the raven seems excited about the prospect of joining the Garou on a mission. When Branton explains to him, the bird flexes his wings outwards a bit, as if to take off. But then he does not take off, remaining on the mans shoulder as he goes higher. He lets out another kraa!, holds in place a bit longer to then suddenly push from his shoulder, just when one might think he decides to be lazy. Large wings spreading, the bird takes off higher; to scout.

With his muddy-colored fur rippling in the wind, Shizuki keeps up with the other two wolves as he runs along. His tongue hangs just a little out the side of his mouth as his legs churn underneath him, a lupine grin on his muzzle displaying the enjoyment with moving at speed. He doesn't respond to the other yips and howls right away, silent for most of the short run, though as the flowers are visible up in the distance he calls out the obvious, >> There they are, just ahead! But... what's that around them? << He begins to slow from his full-out running to a more moderate trot, amber eyes glancing between Evonna and Leif as he looks for direction as to next steps.

Blood Thorn reminds Leif, >> If needed, I can communicate with the bird. << She spots ahead to see the flowers and is looking around to see what else could be there. >> When ready, I can go in the Umbra and scout too. <<

There are things and such over yonder. The raven, with his uncommonly good vision sees what is way over there. And it is no bueno! The wolves must be told! With a loud kraa, because sometimes he forgets himself, he dives down. There are three wolves there. They all look the same! So he choses one at random to sort of come down to and hoover above. In this case? It's Evonna. The bird then calls out in English, "There is a huge malformed birdlizard ahead!"

Fucknormous Wolf slows down as things can be seen off in the distance, even if it's still just a wall of green with flecks of color in there. And if the silly bird can't tell which one is Leif, his vision ain't so good. But that's okay! It's fine. <<Bird..lizard? What?>>

Branton, for ease, veers off to one side and takes off after something else, calling out that he's all good or whatever.

>> I have no idea, but I'm not even sure what a regular birdlizard would look like, let alone a malformed one," Shizuki woofs out in response to Leif's question. He has come to a full stop at this point, his amber eyes narrowed as he scans the scene ahead, his posture at the ready. >> It looks like our kinfolk has found a separate threat - you said he's able to take care of himself, right? << he adds then, giving a brief nod of his head towards the direction to which Branton has veered away.

Blood Thorn chuffs >> We get closer, I can check if there is any Wyrm to it. See if I can make contact. Question would be, does it speak bird or lizard? << Granted it may speak neither as well. >> Let's get closer carefully. <<

The large raven has no real problems keeping up the pace with the wolves. Hearing no objections to his initial description of what he saw way over yonder, the bird veers away from flying over Evonna's wolf-form, to then angle upwards and going back up to continue to keep an eye out on things.

<<I'm not worried about Branton, no,>> Leif says, looking around briefly in all directions before he nods to Evonna to take the lead. <<Eclipse, stay close. We have no idea what the threat level is out here, but it seems not... bad.. maybe. This might be a rescue, not an attack.>> For the Raven, the lizardbird seems to be mostly unconscious, but occasionally snapping out at anything that gets too close to it.

With a bob of his head, Shizuki answers in a quiet series of whuffs and yips, >> Closer seems prudent. I may be able to help with communication as well. If you want to try bird, I can try lizard, << he offers helpfully. The brown-and-tan wolf watches as the raven flies off again then, his head tilting to one side. >> Of course, I'm not even sure what counts for a bird-lizard in the crow's eyes... << The slender lupine is quick to trot over closer to the much larger wolf, then, dropping in behind Evonna. >> Following your lead, Wall-rhya. I think you might be right. If there was a more hostile force here, wouldn't it be more active in coming out to challenge us? <<

The large raven, up above, decides to fly a lot closer seeing as how he lacks any sort of prudence for his own safety at times. So, having unrestricted line of sight to the creature he saw ahead, he moves closer until he can settle into a circling pattern up above. He does not kraa out loudly, though, in case the thing wakes up. He just spirals over it, keeping those eyes of his out for any other trouble.

Blood Thorn steps forward toward the bird lizard. Carefully and as quiet as possible out here in the desert. She attempts to make contact mentally with the birdlizardthing. ~~ Hey there, do you need some help? Friends here. ~~ Not really sure how much the birdlizardthing can understand though yet.

The reply comes in a form of communication that is totally alien to any and all of you. It seems to almost come in waves and the sound is heard THROUGH YOUR SKIN, through your bones, like vibrations. It's unsettling, to say the least, but most everyone seems to take it, though likely with gritted teeth. ~~ Trapped. ~~ comes the response that is almost nauseatingly 'loud'.

Leif takes a step back, but holds his ground with, indeed, gritted teeth.

There he was, flying in a near perfect circle (at least in his own mind) when he spotted all the little details below. The large raven decided to report on what he saw below, when things happen. Things and stuff and there goes his motor skills! The large bird lets out a loud KRAAAAAA! He can't really hear himself, but to anyone else? It is really loud and distressed! That circle he was flying? He just sort of veers off from it, one wing sort of not working properly while the other flaps on! The bird begins to spiral out of the sky as he tries to overcome something you can't really shield yourself from!

Though he bows his head a little bit, as if facing a strong wind in a storm, Shizuki also manages to keep himself in place, for the most part, mirroring Leif's single step back to keep himself steady. He lets out a bit of a keening howl at the alien vibrations, managing a few clipped growls, >> What... is that....? << The slender wolf keeps his maw closed, fangs grinding together as he lifts his head back upwards again, just catching sight of the raven as it does its best impression of an airplane with an engine out. >> The tengu..! << Out of reflex, the brown wolf begins to head in the large bird's direction as best he can against the all-encompassing vibrations.

Blood Thorn holds her ground, but just barely. >> Rescue mission! Need to get closer. Might be trapped by Umbra side as we saw in past. Need to get closer to see. << That alone may be super dangerous. Who knows what is on the other side, but they will most likely need to find out.

>>FUCK MAN<< the huge wolf growls out, casting a glance over toward the bird as he's falling from the sky, but then letting Shizuki try to at least break the fall. >>FUCK.<< Cursing in lupus sounds VERY violent and dangerous, when it's actually just bewilderment. >>Friends. Friends. Fuck. We're friends. Dammit. Shit. Okay. BT, tell it we're coming and suggest maybe silent agreement.<<

INCOMING! The large raven is going down like a hot meteor looking to wipe out some Dinosaurs! For a few moments, it looks as if the bird might very well hit it full force. But at the last moment, whatever was fucking him up, starts to loosen some. Senses take over, his wings sort of folds up and then extend fully. There is a moment of panic as he realises the ground is about to break his fall. He tries to angle his wings, but his speed is too hi... HI WOLF! He veers, vectors and then decides to use the incoming wolf to break his fall with. *FOOOMP!* Shizuki gets a large black raven right into his .. well .. wherever he decides to capture him!

Though the very loud and very disorienting vibrations are not easy to deal with, Shizuki powers forward with increasing speed as he keeps his eyes on the raven and its errant flight pattern. A flight pattern which is growing more erratic and closer to the ground with each passing second. Doing his best to judge the distance and apparent point of impact, the brown and tan wolf leaps forward and twists in the air to slide along the ground on his back like he's going the wrong way down a slip-n-slide, belly up to hopefully provide a soft (ish) landing pad for the out-of-control bird. And though it may look for a second like he isn't going to make it - Shizuki positions himself in place *just* in time, letting out a whoosh of air at the impact, legs curling a bit reflexively around the raven before relaxing and letting the bird free. >> Well, that was close... << he whuffs out after, whether or not the bird can understand him.

Blood Thorn concentrates her focus on the birdlizard and mentally communicates ~~ Friends! We will help! Hold still and we will figure this out to free you. No need to talk more. ~~ She is tough but still a little shook by the vibrations. >> Jarl, I can go in the Umbra to check, unless you want me meat side still? <<

Fucknormous Wolf is ever so slightly distracted by the flight and fall of the great corax, but ends it with a snort. <<Go ahead. If the Corax decides to stop attacking my Cliath and my Cliath decides to not expose his belly to a predator, we'll move this side. >> A joke, surely. Leif is already coming forward, giant paws sinking into the sand as he reaches the edge of the flowers to wait for the other two.

A bit wobbly from the mental cleanse he got from the mutated birdlizard, along with even more wobbly from having smacked into Shizuki, the large raven lets out a, "Excuse me, Sir. Didn't see you there." in a voice that almost mimics something from out of a comedy. He then sort of rolls off the wolf, onto the ground, where he wibbly-wobblies away a bit on his claws, "Did anyone else hear that..?" he asks out into the air. Even in corvid form, half dazed, he still uses English words.

As soon as the bird has gotten clear, Shizuki rights himself in a quick motion, flipping over to his feet with a shake of his entire body, fur rippling. He gives the bird what can only be described an a affirmative yip before he trots hastily back over towards Leif, whuffling, >> It.. seemed like the best plan at the time, << is all he states about flipping on his back to catch the Corax. The brown wolf remains a pace or two behind and to the side of Leif, squaring himself for whatever comes next. >> Ready for your command. <<

Blood Thorn is there, and then she is not. Crossing the gauntlet, she steps into the land of spirits and looks around. Seeing much more of what is going on here, she wishes she had a good way to communicate with the others on the other side. But help is needed here! She shifts to Crinos and extends her claws. Her monsterous form a much better way to help free this birdlizarddragon from the net she sees holding it. The banes present are being fended off it by other spirits. Choices man... choices. Kill the banes, or free the dragon. She votes for free the dragon first.

Crunch. Snap. Pop. RAAR! Evonna is replaced with a furry nightmare!

>> I think we all did, yes << the Wall huffs, still amused, though. >>There is no harm in helping our fellows. In the heat of combat, it might be different.<< And then he realizes he can't communicate with Evonna anymore. >>Someone keep an eye on the Umbra. If BT needs us there, say so<< He inches forward, shoving his nose into the flowers to kind of dig around, still not having any REAL idea of what's on the other side. He hasn't SEEN it yet. But finding no resistance, he pushes through, cutting through the flowers and leaving a perfect path for Shizuki to follow through. Once on the other side, there is, indeed, a 'birdlizard'.. about twice the size of Leif in his lupus form, wrapped in a net that looks at first glance like gold, with a very thin, fine, shimmering mesh of a net cast over it. The beast has managed to chew through part of it, freeing its head.

On the other side, the bonds are a lot more substantial. This isn't something to be cut easily, even if it looks fragile. It's tough stuff. And the dragon over there is MUCH larger. Maybe 50 feet from wingtip to wingtip if he was able to spread them, but looking much the same on both sides.

The large raven sort of ambles about a bit like a drunk chicken before he realises the wolves are .. leaving? One poofed out of existence and the others are plowing through the flowers. Not wanting a repeat of what happened a moment ago, the bird begins to run-hop-skip forward until he spreads his wings and pushes upwards. The occasional stroke of his wings keeps him at speed, but otherwise he sails along the ground after the wolves at about the height of them. He has no idea what is on the other side either; he should have asked Bob to come. He also has no idea what the large wolf just asked.

As he follows behind Leif, Shizuki offers an acknowledgement to Leif, >> I'll do my best to keep an eye on her. << Which, he will do - peeking intermittently into the Umbra to keep track of what's going on there. The rest of the time, he sniffs the air and the ground, black nostrils flaring as his eyes seems to glow or flash just a little bit. >> Whatever we're running into - seems like it's been affected by the Wyrm, but isn't a servant of it. Like, perhaps it's the Wyrm that's... << The wolf's growls and yips trail off then as he finally comes into sight of the large bird-lizard-dragon thing. >> Well, that's not something you see every day. Looks like the net has a much stronger Umbral presence, << he relates, still keeping an eye in the Spirit world.

Blood Thorn sharpens her claws and studies the net as she does so. Once ready, she approaches the dragon and the net. Careful not to harm the spirits also trying to free the dragon, she finds places to swipe. Mindful of the dragon itself, she mentally communicates ~~ Don't move! I'm cutting the net now! ~~ This is a big dragon and a big net. It is tough, but she will slice it as best she can.

Common Raven lets out another loud 'kraa' as he spots the mutated bird-lizard which, when you are on the ground, is a lot larger. And a lot scarier! He applies the air brakes and lands on the ground, little head tilting back and forth as he watches, "I think it is trapped." he says then, deciding to state the obvious incase none of the wolves worked it out, "Saw it earlier, above! Trapped in a net! It .. looks like a very bad net. Don't like the color."

It's a good fifty feet or so, because of COURSE Leif picked the very middlest part, where it's thickest. From above, the flowers form an almost crescent moon shape and when Leif pokes his nose out, he snorts a little and even growls, lowering his ears. The dragon, held down by the netting, takes a chomp in his direction. ~~ YOU SAY FRIEND BUT YOU MAKE NOISE LIKE ENEMY!!!! ~~ It's another bone-rattling reply (literally) that carries over to the Umbra, though not with any force. Now that you've experienced it once, it doesn't have the SAME effect. It's a little less intense, just kind of makes you want to pee a little.

<<Friend! Friend! Majestic dragon, we come in peace, but you are so majestic that you took me by surprise. I am wolf. Wolves react to surprise with violence. We will free you.>> And then he's inching forward, humbling himself a little bit with a lowered tail and ears that kind of flop backwards as he approaches the dragon. The dragon seems to understand them perfectly, just as they understand it. ~~ TAIL ~~ the dragon booms and Leif veers off that way. <<Eclipse, work on around his neck. I'll work on the tail. Bird!!!>> Bird doesn't understand lupus. Fucking birds. Sorry, Wild Raven.

In the umbra, the sharpened claws do the work. It HURTS, though, sending a sort of electrical pulse through BT's claws. Not exactly electrical, but sort of a low-voltage buzz, like if you lick a battery. Unpleasant. But very slowly, the net starts to rend, and the little spirits help, keeping the rent netting apart, because it keeps wanting to knit back together.

Blood Thorn is not going to give up here. She keeps cutting, swiping, ignoring that pain for now. This is more important especially as the net seems to be alive. Oh how she'd like to communicate on the otherside this, but she must make fast work. Her swipes become wider, longer. She pulls the net down and over, trying to keep the ends apart. This is a BIG FUCKING DRAGON HERE so it is not so simple to work from one end to the other. ~~ Just a little more! ~~ She makes it to the tail and that is a whole other deal to work with. She takes both paws, and placing one on each side, she swipes down the length (which will take a bit cause this ain't no cat).

Deciding that shifting into war-form might be the best course of action at this point, Shizuki's form twists and contorts as he grows in size and stature to the hulking (relatively) shape of the Garou crinos. Almost immediately afterwards, the beast screeches again and Shizuki must steel himself against the effects, but defers to Leif to speak for the group. He does, however, nod along in agreement to the concept of friendship, staying back aways while Leif approaches.

When Leif heads off to the tail, Shizuki is quick to move up towards the neck. >> Understood. Blood Thorn is cutting the net in the Umbra, << he barks out, before crinos claws are working to tear at the netting. Then, to clue the raven in, the mottle-furred werewolf turns and rasps in a fera, gutteral voice, "Cutting net. Both sides." Not the most articulate, but this form never is.

Common Raven has absolutely no idea what so ever what the large wolf is on about! It is making a lot of woof and growl and yip and howl sounds. And probably some body odour as well. And body language. But the raven has no clue. He just stands there, looking up at the large winged lizard. He then sort of lifts his wings and makes a little wave motion, "Hi there!" he calls out to the large creature, "I am Swift Wind upon the High Wind! You appear to be trapped in a golden net! But fear not! I think my Wolf Friends are going to free you!"

His head tilts a bit, looking over to the large wolf, "Do you want me to help? I am not sure I can help. I can try to help. Do you want me to help?"

You WANT it to talk? Way to go, bird. ~~ MY NAME IS SOMETHING THAT CANNOT BE SPOKEN ON THIS PLANE ~~ God, he's loud. ~~ THERE ARE NO SOUNDS FOR IT. BUT FOLIUM IS CLOSE ENOUGH. I HAVE BEEN TRAPPED. I SET THESE FLOWERS TO SHIELD ME AND THE OTHERS CAME, BUT THEN MORE OTHERS CAME TO KILL ME ~~ Leif winces, ducking his head a little more and working to gnaw through the netting with his teeth, rending it while the smaller spirits peel it back and away and onto itself. <<Ow.>> In answer to the bird, he mutterwuffs a reply. <<If you could please tell the Raven how it can assist you most, we will do so gladly.>>

Blood Thorn can hear it still on this side, but it is not as strongly felt. She yanks on the sides of the net there, throwing bits of it off and away. The tail is free, and she moves around to the other side and is tugging on the net she had cut on the first side, trying to get it off the back, and away from the wings. She'll slice and dice more if needed. It takes a while, but hopefully with the others on the top side, they are making strides with whatever is holding the dragon back there.

Grimacing noticeably - a grit-toothed expression that actually looks fairly predatory in the Crinos form - Shizuki does his best to weather the vibrations of the dragon's 'speech', claws pulling and slicing at the golden netting around the creature's neck. "Yes. Help!" he barks out to the raven then, the words sounding almost more like growls than actual English. "Cut net. Don't speak. Cut." Again, the voice is clipped more because of the limitations of the form than actual emotion, though Shizuki is quick to return to his own work trying to rend and cut the trap that's holding the dragon in place. >> Blood Thorn's making progress, << he calls back over to Leif then, switching to the Garou tongue. >> Net's trying to heal itself in the Umbra, but spirits are giving her a hand. She's got the tail free already. <<

<<Fuck, man>> Leif grumbles. <<Knocking out my fillings.>> His teeth are perfect, but still. It's kind of awful. He works on the tail and even on this side, things are TRYING to knit back together, but the bird fixes that. He hops up and down along the dragon's back, heating up the netting and rending it away. Where he works, the net doesn't try to heal itself so eventually, with diligent work all the way around, the net is pulled free and the dragon spreads his wings, letting out a belch of.... flower seeds... which impact into the sand and sprout almost immediately. When the last talon is freed, in its haste, it takes to the sky, practically knocking Shizuki over and hauls ass out of there.

On the other side, Evonna's work is a little more swift, with the help of the spirits who have been working on this for days and the thing is freed, dropping off several smaller scales from its tail in thanks

Blood Thorn swoops up the fallen scales left for her in thanks, and offers thanks to the spirits. Her attention goes back to the banes that were about. Checking to see if they are still here, or if they have been dispatched or taken off.

>>Tougher than it looks...<< Shizuki calls out as he works on his own end of the dragon's imprisonment, pulling and slicing, doing his best to counter the net's attempts to mend itself, also getting assistance from the crow from time to time. And eventually, through the combined efforts of all involved the net is in veritable shreds and Shizuki is able to watch the creature take to majestic flight - almost at the cost of his own dignity! Thankfully for Shizuki, however, he's able to employ his Gift of Balance to remain upright, standing there under the shadow of the dragon's outstretched wings as his fur ruffles from the gusts of wind. >>Go forth with Gaia's grace!<< he calls out to the creature, >>And speak well of the Garou who assisted you this day!<< He lets out a howl of victory, then, before taking another peek into the Umbra to mirror Blood Thorn's investigation of any other threats that may need to be dealt with.

Branton comes back from where he peeled off to, still air borne and just watching the Dragon take off he comments absently "Well that answers that question. Everyone alright?"

<<YOU'RE FUCKING WELCOME!!!>> Leif grumbles, having actually gotten whacked briefly by the tail as the thing takes off. It disappears into the Umbra and Evonna will notice, sort of subtly, that there is a shift as the two dragons sort of merge. It isn't a physical sight, more of an emotional one, but then the one on that side fades out as well as they move on to wherever they're going.

Shifting back into his homid form after he's satisfied that there's no more danger, Shizuki smiles broadly at Leif's disgruntled tone and the curse issued to the retreating dragon. "It's my hope that the creature's gratitude may be paid back to us in a different way," he remarks thoughtfully. "Though I believe it did offer some scales in form of thanks to Blood Talon-rhya, so it has not demonstrated complete ungratefulness." He turns to regard the area then, his eyebrows furrowing just a bit as he looks at the remains of the net, strewn about. "Still. What trapped the creature in the first place ... and to what end? A mystery which we'll have to look into..." He gives Branton a nod as the kinfolk arrives, expression lifting again. "I believe so, yes! Yourself?"

They're there, but now that they don't have easy prey, and they're faced with a Garou, they're starting to scatter.

Branton nods at Shizuki "There was an obelisk with some sort of binding spell on it. That being a problem I could fix I did. It might have been related because as I was picking at the 'knot' of the spell it started fraying a bit in ways I was pretty sure I wasn't causing." Then he looks to the others "Sound like?"

Blood Thorn laughs in that vicious wolf tone as the banes scatter and leave. >> Run. I'll get you one day. << Her work done and thanks given, she and her newly acquired dragon scales shift back to the otherside to rejoin the others.

Fucknormous Wolf still grumbles, shifting back to his homid form as things seem to settle down. "That wasn't nearly violent enough," he says with a sigh. "Oh well. You good, Evonna?" He turns around toward Branton and nods. "Thank you. Very much. That was a bitch to finish up. Shizuki, you good?" Whatever Shizuki's equivalent of a thumbs up is, it's done. "What about these flowers, though? I STILL don't get that. Makes no sense." It was a flower dragon. Pay attention, Leif. "Cleansing, then get the fuck out of here?"

Fur seems to fly and disappear, as Evonna becomes herself again.

Evonna returns to her breed form, and slips those dragon scales into her bag, removing her items for the rite of cleansing. "I do not understand these flowers, but I'd like to take some of the seeds and petals and leaves back with us. To explore them more. Maybe even Shaderunner'rhya would know something more. But first, cleansing. Then we go home. Celebrate a job well done."

Branton nods at the garou "I'll get some gear from my truck and take some samples. Little glass jars. We're not that far from the Truck I don't think, won't take me any time at all."

Mile and a halfish. By the time that the Garou get the area cleansed, Branton should be just about on his way back. "I don't even know what kinds of flowers these are. Nothing I've ever seen before. These can't be natural. Should we LEAVE them? It'd suck if they turned out to be invasive or something."

Evonna is like a forensic magician. She produces some baggies from her bag, and gets some of these things to look at later, trying not to touch them too much or damage them. They were in the area of cleansing, so shouldn't be at least tainted. "I'll see what I can find out from these."

Branton can be there and back in less than five minutes with a Conveyance (teleport) spell. Speedy as heck. Taking a look before taking any cuttings "They look like they're spirit touched some how, I wouldn't peg them as wyrmy though. I can check for weaver and wyld as well if you'd like."

"Yeah, do all that if you're able." Leif touches NOTHING. It all just doesn't sit QUITE right with him, but he lets it go for now. He looks up to the sky in the direction the dragon went and shoves his hands deep into his pockets. "I remember when someone brought in some japanese honeysuckle. Practically took over the sept. Just be REALLY careful with that stuff. This far out here might not be horrible, but we also don't want someone driving through and finding pretty flowers to take and then Prospect disappears under a wall of magic spirit flowers.

Branton is going around with crystals and pendulums, foci and sorcerer gear. Doing as detailed a scan of the area and the flowers as he can manage "No weaver imbalance....only minor traces of wyrm and its super recent. Some banes sniffing around maybe? And the flowers themselves don't hold any power...like they were probably made by an event but they....are from it but not of it? The most triatic leaning I'm getting is wyld but its got a bit more than that, like a specific alignment."

Evonna asks, "What do you recommend we do with them? Should we clear it all out? Burn them? Rescue them and place somewhere safe?"

Leif rakes his hands through his hair, which messes it all up. Tyra's going to be pissed. "Collect a little of each kind and then let's burn it. I hate to, but... like... I don't think it's safe to just leave it." Again, he looks toward where the dragon disappeared. "I'm not sure on that though, so speak up if you disagree."

Branton considers "Lets get a sample of each kind, with dirt and roots and all. And then we transplant them somewhere. I can hold them in my greenhouse till somewhere in garou territory gets picked." And then he's ready to get to work.

Evonna has been collecting samples of each one, and then helps out with collecting the full plant, roots and all. "On it."

Leif wrinkles his nose. Destruction isn't his thing, but it seems like a smart thing to do. "Okay. Branton, you're the fire boy. You want to do the honors?" Once everything is picked and they've DOUBLECHECKED and TRIPLECHECKED that something has been saved from each type, Leif is a little more certain. "Let's do this and then we'll do some sort of chiminage."

Branton nods at Leif once all the samples are clear and he calls fire. First its a little spray of sparks from his hand on to the flower patches. But it keeps coming and spreading to all the green that doesn't belong. The blaze continues, contained precisely, until all that remains is a thin white ash. The ground is radiating residual heat as Branton turns to Leif "Good enough?"

Evonna has seen a bit of Branton in action, but this? This was beautiful, amazing, and terrifying in a way too. "You certainly know how to light up the place."

Leif winces. It IS beautiful and it IS amazing, but there's a little part of him that just wanted to leave it all there. Fucking common sense. Fucking RESPONSIBILITIES. "Good job, B," he mutters. It's sincere, but still. Sad face. He makes sure Shizuki is with them and heads back to Stonecreek