::Main Characters played by Khallas::
Ajax (Jax) - Shadow Lord male (pack leader), Lupus, Ahroun - brown messy cheekbone length hair; darker blue eyes; lightly-tanned skin; large muscular frame (not stocky)
Connor - Bone Gnawer male, Homid, Philodox - short-ish, curly black hair, goatee and mustache with 5'o'clock shadow sometimes; olive skin; blue eyes; long and graceful
Marnie - Child of Gaia female, Homid, Ahroun - copper blonde hair with waves/curls, just shoulder-length; rich brown eyes, porcelain milky white skin; short and stocky, muscular and curvy
Karina - Silver Fang female, Homid, Galliant - platinum blonde hair, short and chin-length, frames her face with long bangs; pale green eyes; fair-skinned; small and delicate, almost sickly/ghostly-looking
Daciana (Ana) - Uktena female, Lupus, Theurge - long, dark auburn hair, straight with bangs; onyx eyes; light mocha skin; long and range with wiry muscles
::Basic Location Information::
Caern Location: West of Oklahoma City in the wilder areas
Caern Sept Leader: Crick
Sept Enforcer: Arrianna
Pack Goals: To eliminate Pentex from Oklahoma City area.
Ajax (Jax) - Shadow Lord male (pack leader), Lupus, Ahroun - brown messy cheekbone length hair; darker blue eyes; lightly-tanned skin; large muscular frame (not stocky)
Connor - Bone Gnawer male, Homid, Philodox - short-ish, curly black hair, goatee and mustache with 5'o'clock shadow sometimes; olive skin; blue eyes; long and graceful
Marnie - Child of Gaia female, Homid, Ahroun - copper blonde hair with waves/curls, just shoulder-length; rich brown eyes, porcelain milky white skin; short and stocky, muscular and curvy
Karina - Silver Fang female, Homid, Galliant - platinum blonde hair, short and chin-length, frames her face with long bangs; pale green eyes; fair-skinned; small and delicate, almost sickly/ghostly-looking
Daciana (Ana) - Uktena female, Lupus, Theurge - long, dark auburn hair, straight with bangs; onyx eyes; light mocha skin; long and range with wiry muscles
::Basic Location Information::
Caern Location: West of Oklahoma City in the wilder areas
Caern Sept Leader: Crick
Sept Enforcer: Arrianna
Pack Goals: To eliminate Pentex from Oklahoma City area.
~Main Characters played by Plynx~
Chak - Wendigo male, Homid, Ragabash - long black hair usually worn in two warrior's braids, tan skin, dark brown eyes, muscular/athletic build
Ko- Wendigo female, Homid, Ragabash - long black hair usually worn loose, tan skin, dark brown eyes, willowy/athletic build
Eidolon a.k.a. Boo - Glass Walker female, Metis, Galliard - albino, small fragile looking build
Osric - Stargazer male, Homid, Theurge - short black hair, yellow-ish skin tone, lanky teenage build.
Chak - Wendigo male, Homid, Ragabash - long black hair usually worn in two warrior's braids, tan skin, dark brown eyes, muscular/athletic build
Ko- Wendigo female, Homid, Ragabash - long black hair usually worn loose, tan skin, dark brown eyes, willowy/athletic build
Eidolon a.k.a. Boo - Glass Walker female, Metis, Galliard - albino, small fragile looking build
Osric - Stargazer male, Homid, Theurge - short black hair, yellow-ish skin tone, lanky teenage build.
Ajax left the war room feeling nervous, excited, and like he had just accepted a quest that would finally make a name for himself among the Shadow Lords and other Garou. It was a bigger mission than he expected to received for someone so inexperienced. His Shadow Lord packmates would be dumbfounded when he told them that Crick, Sept Leader himself, gave Ajax a vital mission: to find his own pack and eliminate Pentex from Oklahoma City. With a cocky grin, Ajax had told Crick this would be easy. He had also shown the right amount of respect and appreciation to his Alpha so as not to get knocked down for his pride. He knew he could do this, and to have his own pack to command... well, he was well on his way to making a name for himself at the Caern and being known as a hero.
The first thing he needed to do was gather a pack. So he went about this, thinking it would be simple. Who wouldn't want to team up with a strong Shadow Lord warrior and fight the good fight against Wyrm corruption?
Apparently, everyone.
He spent a good week searching before he came across a Bone Gnawer by the name of Connor Dozier. He watched him in the camp, cooking some god-awful smelling sludge and seeming extremely pleased about it. If there was anyone else, he thought to himself as he approached the man.
"Hey," Ajax greeted casually, walking up and sitting on a smoothed log in front of the campfire and pot. The Bone Gnawer looked up at him, a bit wary but otherwise extremely friendly.
//Connor's POV//
Connor glanced up at the Shadow Lord sitting in front of him. He had seen this one wandering around the Caern, ranging far to the outskirts of pack territory and near into the camp itself. He wasn't entirely sure what exactly the man had been doing, but he was definitely on a mission. He also wasn't sure what this one's name was. He didn't make it a habit to know many of the Shadow Lords around, as they often bullied him for being a Bone Gnawer.
"Hello, friend," Connor greeted jovially, "What can I do ya for?" He stirred his odd mixture of roots, old trash he had found around the camp, mud, a tin can, and those plastic rings that get stuck around bird necks. The fire was hot enough now it was bubbling.
The Shadow Lord glanced at the pot contents, made a face, then shook his head and looked back up at Connor. "I'm Ajax, a Shadow Lord," he began. "I'm sure you've heard of me." When Connor said nothing, Ajax cleared his throat to hide the look of wounded pride and hurried on. "Crick has tasked me with an important mission that I need a pack for. I've been searching for suitable members, and I'd like you to join me."
Connor smiled, taking this all in. He laughed and shook his head. "You mean, you've been searching for pack members and everyone has turned you down, right? I've seen you going around. Not much pickings left?"
Ajax colored, his eyebrows knitting together. "It's an honorable mission-"
"I'm sure it is," Connor interrupted. "But you don't know the first thing about me, nor I you, so why would I join a pack and follow under a Shadow Fang. I'm sure you know what I am, and I know what your tribe think of me and mine." He said the last bit harshly, but the pleasantness never left his voice, nor did his body language become threatening. He merely stirred his food.
//Ajax POV//
Ajax watched the Bone Gnawer, thinking. He had it right. "Of course," he said aloud. "You're right." Oh, it was not fun to say such a phrase to a Bone Gnawer. But if he wanted his help, perhaps he needed to go about recruiting a different way. "So then, what are you good at? The mission is to find and take out Pentex, from all of OKC."
Connor studied him for a moment. "That could take years. We may never see the end of that one. Are you stupid or just naive?"
Ajax felt the growl release from his throat before he could stop it. Connor put his hands up apologetically.
"Yeah, sorry," he said. "That came out wrong. It's just... it's a big mission. Really big. Is that why no one will join?"
"Mostly," Ajax started, glancing to the side, "Mostly it's that I'm a Shadow Lord. Also a lot of Garou already have their own packs or jobs to do. None want such a big mission as this, but that leaves us with all the honor and glory, you see?" He looked back at Connor, a grin on his face.
Connor sighed. "Tell you what," he said, reclining back on the ground and looking about. "I'll give it a shot. One outing, though," he said quickly when Ajax clapped his hands together with a hoot. "One outing, with the other pack members you come up with, and it can't just be three or four of us if we are going to start storming Pentex operations. And if all goes well, and if we can work together and trust each other... well, I think it'll be a good thing."
Ajax nodded. "Of course, a trial run. And we can cut the weak ones as we need to." Connor eyed him a bit dangerously, so he back-pedaled a bit. "Or not. Um, do you know anyone that may be interested?"
//Connor POV//
Connor approached the twins, hailing out a greeting to them. They seemed to be up to something, no doubt some sort of prank. He grinned good-naturedly and muttered to himself, "Ragabashes." He stuck his hands in his pockets and waited for them to finish.
"I have a proposition for you guys," Connor smiled. "I know you've been a bit bored with your Ambassador job, as you call it. I actually had a Shadow Lord approach me today, one of the younger ones. His name is Ajax, you heard of him? Well, Crick gave him a mission. I'm guessing if Crick saw fit to give him the mission, then he must think he can do it."
When they asked what it was about, Connor told them. "Now I don't know who all he's gonna get to go yet, but I figure we could give it a shot. See what it's like. It'll be fun, I think." He shielded his eyes and looked up through the tree branches at the sun starting to set. "I miss running around with a pack. Been in and out of specialty missions since I got here, but nothing permanent."
//
((So, I figure Ajax can go to one of your others and recruit them, and if you wanna start that one, feel free. Or maybe one of yours can approach Ajax for the "position" in the pack. Up to you. I'll get my others recruited somehow as we go, but I wanted to get something started for us. If you have an idea to pull one of them in, that's cool too! Just know Ana is a bit stand-offish.))
The first thing he needed to do was gather a pack. So he went about this, thinking it would be simple. Who wouldn't want to team up with a strong Shadow Lord warrior and fight the good fight against Wyrm corruption?
Apparently, everyone.
He spent a good week searching before he came across a Bone Gnawer by the name of Connor Dozier. He watched him in the camp, cooking some god-awful smelling sludge and seeming extremely pleased about it. If there was anyone else, he thought to himself as he approached the man.
"Hey," Ajax greeted casually, walking up and sitting on a smoothed log in front of the campfire and pot. The Bone Gnawer looked up at him, a bit wary but otherwise extremely friendly.
//Connor's POV//
Connor glanced up at the Shadow Lord sitting in front of him. He had seen this one wandering around the Caern, ranging far to the outskirts of pack territory and near into the camp itself. He wasn't entirely sure what exactly the man had been doing, but he was definitely on a mission. He also wasn't sure what this one's name was. He didn't make it a habit to know many of the Shadow Lords around, as they often bullied him for being a Bone Gnawer.
"Hello, friend," Connor greeted jovially, "What can I do ya for?" He stirred his odd mixture of roots, old trash he had found around the camp, mud, a tin can, and those plastic rings that get stuck around bird necks. The fire was hot enough now it was bubbling.
The Shadow Lord glanced at the pot contents, made a face, then shook his head and looked back up at Connor. "I'm Ajax, a Shadow Lord," he began. "I'm sure you've heard of me." When Connor said nothing, Ajax cleared his throat to hide the look of wounded pride and hurried on. "Crick has tasked me with an important mission that I need a pack for. I've been searching for suitable members, and I'd like you to join me."
Connor smiled, taking this all in. He laughed and shook his head. "You mean, you've been searching for pack members and everyone has turned you down, right? I've seen you going around. Not much pickings left?"
Ajax colored, his eyebrows knitting together. "It's an honorable mission-"
"I'm sure it is," Connor interrupted. "But you don't know the first thing about me, nor I you, so why would I join a pack and follow under a Shadow Fang. I'm sure you know what I am, and I know what your tribe think of me and mine." He said the last bit harshly, but the pleasantness never left his voice, nor did his body language become threatening. He merely stirred his food.
//Ajax POV//
Ajax watched the Bone Gnawer, thinking. He had it right. "Of course," he said aloud. "You're right." Oh, it was not fun to say such a phrase to a Bone Gnawer. But if he wanted his help, perhaps he needed to go about recruiting a different way. "So then, what are you good at? The mission is to find and take out Pentex, from all of OKC."
Connor studied him for a moment. "That could take years. We may never see the end of that one. Are you stupid or just naive?"
Ajax felt the growl release from his throat before he could stop it. Connor put his hands up apologetically.
"Yeah, sorry," he said. "That came out wrong. It's just... it's a big mission. Really big. Is that why no one will join?"
"Mostly," Ajax started, glancing to the side, "Mostly it's that I'm a Shadow Lord. Also a lot of Garou already have their own packs or jobs to do. None want such a big mission as this, but that leaves us with all the honor and glory, you see?" He looked back at Connor, a grin on his face.
Connor sighed. "Tell you what," he said, reclining back on the ground and looking about. "I'll give it a shot. One outing, though," he said quickly when Ajax clapped his hands together with a hoot. "One outing, with the other pack members you come up with, and it can't just be three or four of us if we are going to start storming Pentex operations. And if all goes well, and if we can work together and trust each other... well, I think it'll be a good thing."
Ajax nodded. "Of course, a trial run. And we can cut the weak ones as we need to." Connor eyed him a bit dangerously, so he back-pedaled a bit. "Or not. Um, do you know anyone that may be interested?"
//Connor POV//
Connor approached the twins, hailing out a greeting to them. They seemed to be up to something, no doubt some sort of prank. He grinned good-naturedly and muttered to himself, "Ragabashes." He stuck his hands in his pockets and waited for them to finish.
"I have a proposition for you guys," Connor smiled. "I know you've been a bit bored with your Ambassador job, as you call it. I actually had a Shadow Lord approach me today, one of the younger ones. His name is Ajax, you heard of him? Well, Crick gave him a mission. I'm guessing if Crick saw fit to give him the mission, then he must think he can do it."
When they asked what it was about, Connor told them. "Now I don't know who all he's gonna get to go yet, but I figure we could give it a shot. See what it's like. It'll be fun, I think." He shielded his eyes and looked up through the tree branches at the sun starting to set. "I miss running around with a pack. Been in and out of specialty missions since I got here, but nothing permanent."
//
((So, I figure Ajax can go to one of your others and recruit them, and if you wanna start that one, feel free. Or maybe one of yours can approach Ajax for the "position" in the pack. Up to you. I'll get my others recruited somehow as we go, but I wanted to get something started for us. If you have an idea to pull one of them in, that's cool too! Just know Ana is a bit stand-offish.))
Chak was bored. He and Ko had been sent south in order to "improve relations" between the Wendigo and the European tribes since the world was ending and all. As Ragabash, they tended to get along with outsiders better than most other Nunavut Wendigo, and the elders had figured that their amicability would be an asset on this particular mission. The Oklahoma City Caern had been chosen since it was well known that Crick welcomed people from all Tribes as long as they behaved themselves. It had seemed as likely a place as any to begin making allies with Garou from all over, so this was where they'd come. The twins had been in the Caern for a few months now, and had been surely but slowly making friends.
Right now, though, there wasn't anything much to do, so Chak was in his bunk trying to take a nap, and failing. He gave it a few more minutes, before sighing and sitting up. Ko looked over at him from her own bunk, where she'd been sharpening her hunting knife, "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."
He shook his head, "You can't wake someone who's not asleep. I just wish we had something to do other than sit around while everyone's out and about."
"We could always go for a walk and find something to do," Ko said with a sly smirk. Chak laughed as he stood up from the bed.
"You have somewhere specific in mind? Or were you just wanting to go wander around?" he asked, offering his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet.
"Well... I have been wanting to go see Nashota, since she got back from her last mission... But I hear she's been caught up in training with Ari during the day, and she shares a tent with the Pendragon bitch, so I've been kind of avoiding going to say hi at night," she told him. To an outsider her commentary would have sounded completely innocent, but as her twin Chak knew better. A smile slowly spread across his face as she spoke, and his eyes lit up with intrigue. They switched to Cree as he asked her what she had in mind for the Fianna Lupus, and she explained her plan.
---
|Ko's POV|
She was putting the final touches on the prank when Chak sounded the "someone's coming" warning. She quickly stashed her supplies and acted like she wasn't up to anything. As soon as Connor called out to them, Ko relaxed and went back to what she'd been doing. This was the second time he'd found them in the middle of a prank, and since he'd actually helped them last time, she knew he'd keep their secret. Chak waved at him to let him know they'd heard him, and Ko put the last piece into place.
They walked over to Connor once they were done, and he immediately started telling them about this so called proposition. Ko nodded when he mentioned Ajax, and Chak rolled his eyes. They'd both seen him around and neither were terribly fond of him. In fact he was relatively high on their "hit list", but any chance to reduce their boredom would be at least worth hearing about.
"What's the mission?" Ko asked. Connor told them, and it sounded absolutely ridiculous, regardless of where it had originated or why. Ko was about to dismiss the offer out of hand, and she could tell that Chak was thinking along the same lines, until Connor mentioned running with a pack. They glanced at each other, knowing that they'd felt the same way since they'd left home. Sure they had each other and they'd made friends, but that wasn't the same. Chak quirked an eyebrow in askance, and she shrugged in a 'meh, why not' fashion. A small smile ghosted across his face, and she returned it. They turned back to Connor and Chak spoke up, "Sure. We'll give it a shot."
"But if we don't like it, you'll be up to your ears in glitter for being the one to suggest it," Ko added cheerfully.
((BLERG I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOOK 5EVER TO WRITE. >.< It's time for me to go. The twins will be more than happy to help convince Ana if you want them to, and I figured Boo will approach Ajax. I'm not sure how to get Osric involved, but we'll figure it out later. ^.^))
Right now, though, there wasn't anything much to do, so Chak was in his bunk trying to take a nap, and failing. He gave it a few more minutes, before sighing and sitting up. Ko looked over at him from her own bunk, where she'd been sharpening her hunting knife, "Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."
He shook his head, "You can't wake someone who's not asleep. I just wish we had something to do other than sit around while everyone's out and about."
"We could always go for a walk and find something to do," Ko said with a sly smirk. Chak laughed as he stood up from the bed.
"You have somewhere specific in mind? Or were you just wanting to go wander around?" he asked, offering his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet.
"Well... I have been wanting to go see Nashota, since she got back from her last mission... But I hear she's been caught up in training with Ari during the day, and she shares a tent with the Pendragon bitch, so I've been kind of avoiding going to say hi at night," she told him. To an outsider her commentary would have sounded completely innocent, but as her twin Chak knew better. A smile slowly spread across his face as she spoke, and his eyes lit up with intrigue. They switched to Cree as he asked her what she had in mind for the Fianna Lupus, and she explained her plan.
---
|Ko's POV|
She was putting the final touches on the prank when Chak sounded the "someone's coming" warning. She quickly stashed her supplies and acted like she wasn't up to anything. As soon as Connor called out to them, Ko relaxed and went back to what she'd been doing. This was the second time he'd found them in the middle of a prank, and since he'd actually helped them last time, she knew he'd keep their secret. Chak waved at him to let him know they'd heard him, and Ko put the last piece into place.
They walked over to Connor once they were done, and he immediately started telling them about this so called proposition. Ko nodded when he mentioned Ajax, and Chak rolled his eyes. They'd both seen him around and neither were terribly fond of him. In fact he was relatively high on their "hit list", but any chance to reduce their boredom would be at least worth hearing about.
"What's the mission?" Ko asked. Connor told them, and it sounded absolutely ridiculous, regardless of where it had originated or why. Ko was about to dismiss the offer out of hand, and she could tell that Chak was thinking along the same lines, until Connor mentioned running with a pack. They glanced at each other, knowing that they'd felt the same way since they'd left home. Sure they had each other and they'd made friends, but that wasn't the same. Chak quirked an eyebrow in askance, and she shrugged in a 'meh, why not' fashion. A small smile ghosted across his face, and she returned it. They turned back to Connor and Chak spoke up, "Sure. We'll give it a shot."
"But if we don't like it, you'll be up to your ears in glitter for being the one to suggest it," Ko added cheerfully.
((BLERG I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOOK 5EVER TO WRITE. >.< It's time for me to go. The twins will be more than happy to help convince Ana if you want them to, and I figured Boo will approach Ajax. I'm not sure how to get Osric involved, but we'll figure it out later. ^.^))
//Connor POV//
Connor raised his eyebrows at Ko. "Been hanging around Shota more and more?" He knew she had an odd affinity for glitter in her pranks. Or maybe it was a Ragabash thing. He chuckled and suggested that they leave to go find Ajax.
Making their way through the Caern, Connor seemed to see the Garou around with renewed vision. He mentally marked those he knew to be in their own small packs, others that would not make good pack members mixed with his friends here or mixed with the Shadow Lord himself, and then the loners that were a possibility but on the fence in his opinion. As they walked and chatted idly about what stupidity might follow this given mission, he spotted a lone female. She had coppery-blonde hair just to her shoulders, wavy with curls that seemed to fight free from the waves, and a thin but muscular build. Not tall, but not short, she had her head lifted to the skies, staring.
Connor had seen her around the Caern many times, but she was usually alone. "Child of Gaia," he said aloud, remembering what Shota had said about her. Shota knew everyone. The Child of Gaia never seemed hostile or disinterested in company, but she was very closed off compared to other Garou. He assumed she was homid born because of this, something in her life before affecting how she interacted here. Something drew Connor to her, so he held up a hand to Ko and Chak. "I'm going to see if that one wants to join us."
//Marnie POV//
The footsteps approached nonthreateningly, and the feet that made them made their presence known shortly before reaching her personal space perimeter. Marnie let her eyes drop from the sky-gazing she was doing. The male approaching her was handsome, an open and friendly smile on his face. She did not return it and merely blinked neutrally at him.
"Hello there, Child of Gaia," he said. "I've seen you around quite a bit."
Behind him, the twin Wendigos were shuffling together, heads huddled slightly as they spoke to one another. Marnie knew of the Wendigo twins; everyone in the Caern had heard of them. Ambassadors from the North. Potential allies. Marnie gave a small smile to them.
"I'm Connor," the man in front of her said. "Connor Dozier, a Bone Gnawer. What's your name?"
Marnie glanced at the proffered hand as he spoke. Shaking hands was too much to deal with. She ignored it and looked into his blue eyes, trying to discern what he wanted. It wasn't that she distrusted him exactly, and the Garou had been welcoming when she was brought here after her First Change; but her human life before had been hell on Earth. It was hard to let go, hard to find balance.
"I'm Marnie," she said quietly.
With a bit of hesitation, Connor continued to speak. He explained why he had approached her. He had no real good reason for asking her to join, knowing nothing about her. She found the idea intriguing. She found the possibility of a pack irresistible. Trusted friends and family. This could be the chance she had been waiting for. A few had come to her with offers before, but she had not been ready. She had been working on her balance for awhile now; control seemed possible. Maybe it was time to let go and live as Garou.
"I'll give it a try," she interjected as Connor was mentioning how she only had to give it one chance, and if it sucked, well they would just all bail on the Shadow Lord douchebag.
"Really," Connor stated more than asked, a grin lighting his face. Marnie liked him. "Cool, well, let's introduce you to Chak and Ko, and we'll all go find Ajax to give him the good news. I wonder if he found anyone else?"
//Ajax POV//
Ajax was deep in the forest. He had tracked a female Garou scent out here. Everyone in the camp had already been asked, some more than twice. This was a scent he was unfamiliar with today. He had changed to track her, and he padded softly through the dirt and twigs. Approaching with care, he passed a few thicket-covered gaps between some tree trunks before setting eyes on the female.
He knew her, and he thought he had recognized the scent. She was a Silver Fang, and Shadow Lords make certain to know all Silver Fangs. It was a mutual dislike between the Tribes. Inbred, revolting blood lines that tried to claim superiority and royalty. A frustrated growl left his throat, and she turned to face him.
The Silver Fang was not ugly by any means. She was thin, though--almost too delicate. If she were to go on a mission, she might break in half, he thought. With short, almost white-blonde hair and almond-shaped pale green eyes, he thought of her like a sickly-looking ghost of a female. Female Garou should be strong, thick, and powerful. But she was born Silver Fang. He was sure she suffered from the inbreeding as they all did, and this was how it manifested in her.
"May I help you?" her aristocratic voice rang through the quiet of the forest. She had a lilt to her voice. Ajax thought he remembered something about her being from a Europe pack, but why she was in America, in Oklahoma even, was beyond him.
Ajax took a moment to shift out of his wolf form. He was shirtless, but his pants were still on as they were bound to him by a Rite. "Good afternoon, I am Ajax," he introduced himself as politely as he could, still feeling age-old enmity taught into him from birth rise like a snake wishing to strike. Before she could talk and he could get out of control with anger or sarcasm and thus possibly lose out on another potential pack member, he told her what he wanted.
The Silver Fang regarded him coolly for a moment. A smile played her lips when she spoke, her body language relaxing considerably. "A Shadow Lord wants a Silver Fang to join him in a pack for a mission? How desperate are you?"
Ajax bristled at this, but he decided it was smarter to say nothing. He was unsure if it was a barb at him or a joke because she seemed to be laughing silently.
"I'll join you, if only to get out of here and do something," she emphasized, an almost bored tone to her voice. It was the excitement thrumming underneath that caught his attention though. "I've been dying to get out and have some fun, but everything thinks I'll break just by looking at me. Doesn't help," she pouted and glanced to the side at a squirrel that had just scrambled into the area with them, then darted up a tree once it realized predators were about. It chittered angrily at them before climbing the tree in circles. "Doesn't help that I'm from the U.K., I think. Not sure if people find it annoying or intimidating, being a Silver Fang and all."
Ajax stared at her, unsure of what to say. He wanted to throw out insults, but that would be stupid. He wasn't stupid.
"Do you have anyone else?" she asked. "By the way, the name is Karina Moonborn." The female suddenly skipped towards him and then past. "Should we go back now? I was just out here for some quiet prayer."
Ajax chased after her, a bit bewildered, but he soon grew a little more comfortable as they moved to a casual sprint and answered her questions and chatted neutrally with her. If his fellow Shadow Lords saw him, they would be ashamed first and then angry enough to beat him down for being a stupid runt. But Karina would be a means to an end. He would just have to remember that.
Connor raised his eyebrows at Ko. "Been hanging around Shota more and more?" He knew she had an odd affinity for glitter in her pranks. Or maybe it was a Ragabash thing. He chuckled and suggested that they leave to go find Ajax.
Making their way through the Caern, Connor seemed to see the Garou around with renewed vision. He mentally marked those he knew to be in their own small packs, others that would not make good pack members mixed with his friends here or mixed with the Shadow Lord himself, and then the loners that were a possibility but on the fence in his opinion. As they walked and chatted idly about what stupidity might follow this given mission, he spotted a lone female. She had coppery-blonde hair just to her shoulders, wavy with curls that seemed to fight free from the waves, and a thin but muscular build. Not tall, but not short, she had her head lifted to the skies, staring.
Connor had seen her around the Caern many times, but she was usually alone. "Child of Gaia," he said aloud, remembering what Shota had said about her. Shota knew everyone. The Child of Gaia never seemed hostile or disinterested in company, but she was very closed off compared to other Garou. He assumed she was homid born because of this, something in her life before affecting how she interacted here. Something drew Connor to her, so he held up a hand to Ko and Chak. "I'm going to see if that one wants to join us."
//Marnie POV//
The footsteps approached nonthreateningly, and the feet that made them made their presence known shortly before reaching her personal space perimeter. Marnie let her eyes drop from the sky-gazing she was doing. The male approaching her was handsome, an open and friendly smile on his face. She did not return it and merely blinked neutrally at him.
"Hello there, Child of Gaia," he said. "I've seen you around quite a bit."
Behind him, the twin Wendigos were shuffling together, heads huddled slightly as they spoke to one another. Marnie knew of the Wendigo twins; everyone in the Caern had heard of them. Ambassadors from the North. Potential allies. Marnie gave a small smile to them.
"I'm Connor," the man in front of her said. "Connor Dozier, a Bone Gnawer. What's your name?"
Marnie glanced at the proffered hand as he spoke. Shaking hands was too much to deal with. She ignored it and looked into his blue eyes, trying to discern what he wanted. It wasn't that she distrusted him exactly, and the Garou had been welcoming when she was brought here after her First Change; but her human life before had been hell on Earth. It was hard to let go, hard to find balance.
"I'm Marnie," she said quietly.
With a bit of hesitation, Connor continued to speak. He explained why he had approached her. He had no real good reason for asking her to join, knowing nothing about her. She found the idea intriguing. She found the possibility of a pack irresistible. Trusted friends and family. This could be the chance she had been waiting for. A few had come to her with offers before, but she had not been ready. She had been working on her balance for awhile now; control seemed possible. Maybe it was time to let go and live as Garou.
"I'll give it a try," she interjected as Connor was mentioning how she only had to give it one chance, and if it sucked, well they would just all bail on the Shadow Lord douchebag.
"Really," Connor stated more than asked, a grin lighting his face. Marnie liked him. "Cool, well, let's introduce you to Chak and Ko, and we'll all go find Ajax to give him the good news. I wonder if he found anyone else?"
//Ajax POV//
Ajax was deep in the forest. He had tracked a female Garou scent out here. Everyone in the camp had already been asked, some more than twice. This was a scent he was unfamiliar with today. He had changed to track her, and he padded softly through the dirt and twigs. Approaching with care, he passed a few thicket-covered gaps between some tree trunks before setting eyes on the female.
He knew her, and he thought he had recognized the scent. She was a Silver Fang, and Shadow Lords make certain to know all Silver Fangs. It was a mutual dislike between the Tribes. Inbred, revolting blood lines that tried to claim superiority and royalty. A frustrated growl left his throat, and she turned to face him.
The Silver Fang was not ugly by any means. She was thin, though--almost too delicate. If she were to go on a mission, she might break in half, he thought. With short, almost white-blonde hair and almond-shaped pale green eyes, he thought of her like a sickly-looking ghost of a female. Female Garou should be strong, thick, and powerful. But she was born Silver Fang. He was sure she suffered from the inbreeding as they all did, and this was how it manifested in her.
"May I help you?" her aristocratic voice rang through the quiet of the forest. She had a lilt to her voice. Ajax thought he remembered something about her being from a Europe pack, but why she was in America, in Oklahoma even, was beyond him.
Ajax took a moment to shift out of his wolf form. He was shirtless, but his pants were still on as they were bound to him by a Rite. "Good afternoon, I am Ajax," he introduced himself as politely as he could, still feeling age-old enmity taught into him from birth rise like a snake wishing to strike. Before she could talk and he could get out of control with anger or sarcasm and thus possibly lose out on another potential pack member, he told her what he wanted.
The Silver Fang regarded him coolly for a moment. A smile played her lips when she spoke, her body language relaxing considerably. "A Shadow Lord wants a Silver Fang to join him in a pack for a mission? How desperate are you?"
Ajax bristled at this, but he decided it was smarter to say nothing. He was unsure if it was a barb at him or a joke because she seemed to be laughing silently.
"I'll join you, if only to get out of here and do something," she emphasized, an almost bored tone to her voice. It was the excitement thrumming underneath that caught his attention though. "I've been dying to get out and have some fun, but everything thinks I'll break just by looking at me. Doesn't help," she pouted and glanced to the side at a squirrel that had just scrambled into the area with them, then darted up a tree once it realized predators were about. It chittered angrily at them before climbing the tree in circles. "Doesn't help that I'm from the U.K., I think. Not sure if people find it annoying or intimidating, being a Silver Fang and all."
Ajax stared at her, unsure of what to say. He wanted to throw out insults, but that would be stupid. He wasn't stupid.
"Do you have anyone else?" she asked. "By the way, the name is Karina Moonborn." The female suddenly skipped towards him and then past. "Should we go back now? I was just out here for some quiet prayer."
Ajax chased after her, a bit bewildered, but he soon grew a little more comfortable as they moved to a casual sprint and answered her questions and chatted neutrally with her. If his fellow Shadow Lords saw him, they would be ashamed first and then angry enough to beat him down for being a stupid runt. But Karina would be a means to an end. He would just have to remember that.
Ko laughed at Connor's question. She knew from her fellow Ragabash's reputation why he'd asked it. "Yes, but that's beside the point. Glitter tends to be a staple of any Ragabash's arsenal, but how much it's used depends on the person. I like it because it's a bitch to get rid of; Chak's not as big a fan, but he'd rather I use it than fire ants."
Chak grimaced at her mention of the ants. He'd witnessed what they could do to a person when properly motivated, and it wasn't pretty. There had been a couple of times since then that she'd wanted to use them again, and he'd reminded her that Killing Jokes were for enemies only. She'd pouted that she knew that, and argued that she wasn't going to kill anyone with them, just put a couple in someone's bed, but he hadn't relented. Maybe next time she'd do it without telling him.
The trio went to find Ajax and tell him that his numbers had doubled, chatting all the while. Connor seemed to be keeping an eye out for other potential people, and the twins did the same. They didn't know too many people very well, so it was hard to know who might be able to join them. Connor had a much better idea of who was who than they did, so they decided to trust his judgement. When he stopped and said he was going to talk to someone, they let him go. Ko thought the woman looked a little lost within herself, and didn't want to overwhelm her. Chak seemed to be of the same mind, since he placed a hand on her shoulder.
|Chak's POV|
As they waited, the elder twin leaned his head in to his sister's and whispered in Cree, "She has the look of one still trying to balance with her wolf."
Ko nodded. "Yes, and she looks like she's stayed alone because of it, which has likely not helped her very much."
Chak hummed in agreement, "Wolves are not meant to be alone. Maybe she'll join us and it will help her get more accustomed to being Garou."
As they spoke, the Child of Gaia smiled at them over Connor's shoulder. Chak gave her a polite nod, and Ko waved, saying, "Well at least she's friendly. That's more than can be said of some people." Chak smiled.
It wasn't too long before Connor brought the woman over and introductions were made. As they chatted, Chak began to wonder who else might be able to join them. He seemed to recall that Nashota had mentioned there was an Uktena woman around here somewhere, and he wondered if she was attached to a pack. It would be nice if one of Older Brother's people could join them.
Chak decided to ask Connor and Marnie about it. "Before we go find Ajax, I was wondering if either of you knew of an Uktena woman named Ana? Shota mentioned her to us when we arrived, but we haven't gotten a chance to meet her. I was just thinking that if she doesn't have a pack, perhaps she would like to run with us. Do either of you know if she has one?"
|Boo's POV|
The girl called Boo had been taking a walk when she'd heard the voices. She hadn't known there was anyone nearby, and it had startled her slightly, but she recovered quickly. They clearly didn't know she was within earshot, and she didn't want to disturb or interrupt them, so instead of risking noise, she sat down where she was to wait them out. She recognized both speakers, but doubted either of them knew her. Shadow Lords and Silver Fangs didn't really pay much attention to Glass Walker Metis like herself.
She'd been trying to concentrate on the thin trickle of music coming from her headphones so as not to listen in, but the conversation was fascinating. It wasn't every day that a Lord asked for help from a Fang. The two tribes loathed each other, and only worked together when absolutely necessary. Apparently, this was one of those times. His mission seemed straight forward, but Boo knew enough about Garou politics to recognize a run around when she heard one. Ajax was right to think that it could have potential, but it was no wonder he was having trouble getting a pack together. It was too bad he hadn't thought to ask her, because she probably would have jumped at the chance to prove herself.
From the sounds of things, the Fang seemed to be open to the idea of joining because she was frequently passed over for missions due to her size and tribe. Boo was a little stunned to learn that someone as prominent as a Fang would be ostracized for reasons that were uncannily similar to her own. She would have figured that a Fang would have had people clamoring for her to join them, but apparently not. She'd actually sounded bored out of her mind as she'd accepted his offer and they'd run off together. As they left, Boo was struck by a thought. If Ajax was willing to work with a Fang like Karina, maybe he'd be willing to work with a Metis too. She resolved to find him later that night and ask him. The noise of them receded and once they were gone, she stood back up and resumed her walk.
|Osric's POV|
The teenage boy stood high in the branches of a tree watching the sun set. It was one of the few things he liked about this place. That and of course sheer number of stars that could be seen at night. Oklahoma City and it's outlying area was as different from New York City as, well, to use the old cliche, night and day. NYC grew upward to OKC's outward, and the lack of noise still kept him up at night a whole year and a half after moving here. The quiet was good for him though, it helped him with his meditation, and had drastically improved his concentration.
He watched as the oranges and golds faded from the sky and the stars began to shine in earnest. A sense of wonder and insignificance swept over him, and he knew why his ancestors had been obsessed enough with the stars that they'd based their whole tribe and way of life on them. He traced out the old familiar patterns both Eastern and Western, mesmerized by the shining lights above. This love of the sky was nothing new to him, it hadn't come with his Change,like so many other things, no this was something his mother had passed down to him in story and blood. Before the Change had turned everything upside down, he'd planned on becoming an Astrophysicist, or perhaps if he'd played his cards right, an Astronaut. Now, though, he was as far from that dream as he was the stars themselves.
Loneliness swept over him as he stared upward into the vastness of space. He knew that his tribe were few and far between, and he hadn't expected to meet another Stargazer here, but it would have been nice to have at least found a pack. He knew Stargazers were known for being loners, but he'd never been alone before, and it sucked. Back home he'd had cousins and friends and neighbors around all the time, so this whole 'lone wolf' thing was really getting under his skin.
Chak grimaced at her mention of the ants. He'd witnessed what they could do to a person when properly motivated, and it wasn't pretty. There had been a couple of times since then that she'd wanted to use them again, and he'd reminded her that Killing Jokes were for enemies only. She'd pouted that she knew that, and argued that she wasn't going to kill anyone with them, just put a couple in someone's bed, but he hadn't relented. Maybe next time she'd do it without telling him.
The trio went to find Ajax and tell him that his numbers had doubled, chatting all the while. Connor seemed to be keeping an eye out for other potential people, and the twins did the same. They didn't know too many people very well, so it was hard to know who might be able to join them. Connor had a much better idea of who was who than they did, so they decided to trust his judgement. When he stopped and said he was going to talk to someone, they let him go. Ko thought the woman looked a little lost within herself, and didn't want to overwhelm her. Chak seemed to be of the same mind, since he placed a hand on her shoulder.
|Chak's POV|
As they waited, the elder twin leaned his head in to his sister's and whispered in Cree, "She has the look of one still trying to balance with her wolf."
Ko nodded. "Yes, and she looks like she's stayed alone because of it, which has likely not helped her very much."
Chak hummed in agreement, "Wolves are not meant to be alone. Maybe she'll join us and it will help her get more accustomed to being Garou."
As they spoke, the Child of Gaia smiled at them over Connor's shoulder. Chak gave her a polite nod, and Ko waved, saying, "Well at least she's friendly. That's more than can be said of some people." Chak smiled.
It wasn't too long before Connor brought the woman over and introductions were made. As they chatted, Chak began to wonder who else might be able to join them. He seemed to recall that Nashota had mentioned there was an Uktena woman around here somewhere, and he wondered if she was attached to a pack. It would be nice if one of Older Brother's people could join them.
Chak decided to ask Connor and Marnie about it. "Before we go find Ajax, I was wondering if either of you knew of an Uktena woman named Ana? Shota mentioned her to us when we arrived, but we haven't gotten a chance to meet her. I was just thinking that if she doesn't have a pack, perhaps she would like to run with us. Do either of you know if she has one?"
|Boo's POV|
The girl called Boo had been taking a walk when she'd heard the voices. She hadn't known there was anyone nearby, and it had startled her slightly, but she recovered quickly. They clearly didn't know she was within earshot, and she didn't want to disturb or interrupt them, so instead of risking noise, she sat down where she was to wait them out. She recognized both speakers, but doubted either of them knew her. Shadow Lords and Silver Fangs didn't really pay much attention to Glass Walker Metis like herself.
She'd been trying to concentrate on the thin trickle of music coming from her headphones so as not to listen in, but the conversation was fascinating. It wasn't every day that a Lord asked for help from a Fang. The two tribes loathed each other, and only worked together when absolutely necessary. Apparently, this was one of those times. His mission seemed straight forward, but Boo knew enough about Garou politics to recognize a run around when she heard one. Ajax was right to think that it could have potential, but it was no wonder he was having trouble getting a pack together. It was too bad he hadn't thought to ask her, because she probably would have jumped at the chance to prove herself.
From the sounds of things, the Fang seemed to be open to the idea of joining because she was frequently passed over for missions due to her size and tribe. Boo was a little stunned to learn that someone as prominent as a Fang would be ostracized for reasons that were uncannily similar to her own. She would have figured that a Fang would have had people clamoring for her to join them, but apparently not. She'd actually sounded bored out of her mind as she'd accepted his offer and they'd run off together. As they left, Boo was struck by a thought. If Ajax was willing to work with a Fang like Karina, maybe he'd be willing to work with a Metis too. She resolved to find him later that night and ask him. The noise of them receded and once they were gone, she stood back up and resumed her walk.
|Osric's POV|
The teenage boy stood high in the branches of a tree watching the sun set. It was one of the few things he liked about this place. That and of course sheer number of stars that could be seen at night. Oklahoma City and it's outlying area was as different from New York City as, well, to use the old cliche, night and day. NYC grew upward to OKC's outward, and the lack of noise still kept him up at night a whole year and a half after moving here. The quiet was good for him though, it helped him with his meditation, and had drastically improved his concentration.
He watched as the oranges and golds faded from the sky and the stars began to shine in earnest. A sense of wonder and insignificance swept over him, and he knew why his ancestors had been obsessed enough with the stars that they'd based their whole tribe and way of life on them. He traced out the old familiar patterns both Eastern and Western, mesmerized by the shining lights above. This love of the sky was nothing new to him, it hadn't come with his Change,like so many other things, no this was something his mother had passed down to him in story and blood. Before the Change had turned everything upside down, he'd planned on becoming an Astrophysicist, or perhaps if he'd played his cards right, an Astronaut. Now, though, he was as far from that dream as he was the stars themselves.
Loneliness swept over him as he stared upward into the vastness of space. He knew that his tribe were few and far between, and he hadn't expected to meet another Stargazer here, but it would have been nice to have at least found a pack. He knew Stargazers were known for being loners, but he'd never been alone before, and it sucked. Back home he'd had cousins and friends and neighbors around all the time, so this whole 'lone wolf' thing was really getting under his skin.
//Marnie POV//
An odd conversation about glitter and fire ants went on around her. Connor seemed to shudder a bit at the fire ant part, but laughed at his friends anywya.
Walking with the Wendigo twins and a Bone Gnawer felt weird to Marnie. Weird, but nice. At least she would be a part of something. It was scary though, after everything she had been through, to open herself up to a chance like this. She needed to stop over-thinking it for now, or she would lose her nerve. She focused back on the conversation and heard them talking about an Uktena wolf named Ana.
"I've seen her around some," Connor mentioned casually. "Spends a lot of her time in Lupus form though, and she doesn't really come around where I stick to." They went on about maybe inviting her to join the pack.
Marnie spoke up quietly, "I know where she likes to run." They all looked at her, pleasantly but expectantly. "Yeah, I can show you." She smiled slightly, a bit uncomfortably. It was a warm feeling to hear them talking about inviting a loner wolf to a pack. It made her feel more comfortable with her outgoing decision to try this out.
"Might be a good idea to Change before we go out there, if she's Lupus born and more comfortable with it, you know?" Connor suggested, flexing his shoulder back and grinning. "Won't hurt to get a good run in, anyway." He tossed his shirt off and took a moment to breathe before shifting into his Lupus form. Bones cracked and shifted, muscles flexed, grew, and changed as his body turned into a whole other creature. Marnie admired his wolf form, not having seen it before. He was a rich black with burnt auburns and umbers flecked around. His piercing blue eyes remained the same.
Marnie nodded and took her own shirt off, much more self-consciously than he had, and then also kicked her hiking boots to the side. She shifted as well, much the same power and odd grace about the Change as it happened, though her wolf form was visually different. She knew herself to be a grey wolf with some beige-tan highlights. She had seen herself in mirrors before, when she had tried to live a human life not knowing what exactly was wrong with her. That had been before Crick found her.
They both looked to the Wendigo twins as they shifted as well.
//Ajax POV//
It was getting late. Ajax had not yet heard back from Connor, but he was not too worried. Connor requested some time to see if he would have luck gaining pack members. Letting out a sigh, he wandered through nature. Katrina had stayed behind in camp to eat and sleep. She said she would get back with him in the morning to see what he had come up with and find out what their plan was. He was fine with that, uncertain of how to act around her in an unoffensive way.
A noise from above caught his attention and he cocked his head up instantly to attention. A teenage boy was standing in a tree, watching the sunset in the sky. He was not sure he knew the boy, but thought it may be safe to peg him a Stargazer if the sky was that interesting to him. He could be wrong though.
Smiling, Ajax called out to the boy. "Gaia's splendor never ceases to amaze."
The boy was startled, but he gathered himself quickly. Ajax, weary from his days of attempted gathering a pack for his important mission, immediately set into the spiel. "So, if you're interested, we'll be a pack." He looked off into the sky a moment before adding, "At least for one full mission attempt. I suppose if everyone hates each other, no point in keeping it going. It'll only drag me down as Alpha anyway." He huffed out the last sentence.
His stomach growled as the boy considered. Hopefully their conversation would end positively but soon, and maybe he could get him to come back and eat with him. Beginning pack relations early was a good idea, and eating was the one of the best ways to spend time together.
//
((I'll let you pull Boo in wherever. Also, feel free to back track anywhere you need to add your characters conversation in or respond to anything. Justin and I do that sometimes, when he would RP with me anyway. We'd basically re-write a scene with our characters responses/thoughts/involvement keeping the integrity of the original post of course.))
An odd conversation about glitter and fire ants went on around her. Connor seemed to shudder a bit at the fire ant part, but laughed at his friends anywya.
Walking with the Wendigo twins and a Bone Gnawer felt weird to Marnie. Weird, but nice. At least she would be a part of something. It was scary though, after everything she had been through, to open herself up to a chance like this. She needed to stop over-thinking it for now, or she would lose her nerve. She focused back on the conversation and heard them talking about an Uktena wolf named Ana.
"I've seen her around some," Connor mentioned casually. "Spends a lot of her time in Lupus form though, and she doesn't really come around where I stick to." They went on about maybe inviting her to join the pack.
Marnie spoke up quietly, "I know where she likes to run." They all looked at her, pleasantly but expectantly. "Yeah, I can show you." She smiled slightly, a bit uncomfortably. It was a warm feeling to hear them talking about inviting a loner wolf to a pack. It made her feel more comfortable with her outgoing decision to try this out.
"Might be a good idea to Change before we go out there, if she's Lupus born and more comfortable with it, you know?" Connor suggested, flexing his shoulder back and grinning. "Won't hurt to get a good run in, anyway." He tossed his shirt off and took a moment to breathe before shifting into his Lupus form. Bones cracked and shifted, muscles flexed, grew, and changed as his body turned into a whole other creature. Marnie admired his wolf form, not having seen it before. He was a rich black with burnt auburns and umbers flecked around. His piercing blue eyes remained the same.
Marnie nodded and took her own shirt off, much more self-consciously than he had, and then also kicked her hiking boots to the side. She shifted as well, much the same power and odd grace about the Change as it happened, though her wolf form was visually different. She knew herself to be a grey wolf with some beige-tan highlights. She had seen herself in mirrors before, when she had tried to live a human life not knowing what exactly was wrong with her. That had been before Crick found her.
They both looked to the Wendigo twins as they shifted as well.
//Ajax POV//
It was getting late. Ajax had not yet heard back from Connor, but he was not too worried. Connor requested some time to see if he would have luck gaining pack members. Letting out a sigh, he wandered through nature. Katrina had stayed behind in camp to eat and sleep. She said she would get back with him in the morning to see what he had come up with and find out what their plan was. He was fine with that, uncertain of how to act around her in an unoffensive way.
A noise from above caught his attention and he cocked his head up instantly to attention. A teenage boy was standing in a tree, watching the sunset in the sky. He was not sure he knew the boy, but thought it may be safe to peg him a Stargazer if the sky was that interesting to him. He could be wrong though.
Smiling, Ajax called out to the boy. "Gaia's splendor never ceases to amaze."
The boy was startled, but he gathered himself quickly. Ajax, weary from his days of attempted gathering a pack for his important mission, immediately set into the spiel. "So, if you're interested, we'll be a pack." He looked off into the sky a moment before adding, "At least for one full mission attempt. I suppose if everyone hates each other, no point in keeping it going. It'll only drag me down as Alpha anyway." He huffed out the last sentence.
His stomach growled as the boy considered. Hopefully their conversation would end positively but soon, and maybe he could get him to come back and eat with him. Beginning pack relations early was a good idea, and eating was the one of the best ways to spend time together.
//
((I'll let you pull Boo in wherever. Also, feel free to back track anywhere you need to add your characters conversation in or respond to anything. Justin and I do that sometimes, when he would RP with me anyway. We'd basically re-write a scene with our characters responses/thoughts/involvement keeping the integrity of the original post of course.))
|Chak's POV|
When it turned out that both Connor and Marnie knew Ana and didn't mention her being attached, Chak began to get a little excited. It had been a while since the twins had gotten to meet one of the Uktena, and he hoped she'd be open to the idea of joining them. One of the main reasons Chak and Ko had yet to meet her was apparently because she was Lupus and kept to herself. That made Chak feel a little bit better about having not met her yet, but it was definitely time to rectify the situation. Luckily Marnie knew where she liked to run, and would help them try to find her.
Connor suggested that they Change first in order to make Ana more comfortable with their approach, and the suggestion sat well with Chak. He glanced at Ko who was beaming at Connor for being so considerate, or at least he was pretty sure it was that and not the fact that the other man had just stripped off his shirt. Ko glanced over at her brother and gave him a wink as if she'd just read his thoughts. Chak figured that meant he needed to work on his poker face some more when it came to his twin. He looked back over at the others, only to find Connor had already finished Changing, and Marnie was stripping. Chak and Ko followed suit; however, they went all the way down to their underwear since they weren't wearing their bound clothes at the moment. The lack of cold weather made wearing their regular clothes uncomfortable and their hunting clothes were out of the question. Since it was still winter, they'd packed warmer clothes, only to find that this far south, they would have been better off with their summer things. They had been meaning to take the time to bind a set of clothes that were more climate friendly, but hadn't gotten around to it.
Once he was disrobed, Chak took a deep breath and gave over to Brother Wolf. The Change ripped through him shifting his form from man to wolf, in a matter of seconds. The large grey wolf called Grinning Stars opened his amber eyes and shook out his coat. He looked over to see his sister Laughs-At-Death finish her Change as well. She was lighter in color than him, more silver to his grey, her black markings on her nose and ears were the only interruption to her solid color. Unlike in their Homid forms where their family resemblance was clearly evident, in their Lupus forms the only major tell was their matching eyes.
|Osric's POV|
Osric was suddenly startled out of his revery by a voice in the darkness. He looked down to see a man standing below him, looking up in his direction. His first instinct was to snark in the typical New York fashion, but he held it in check since it didn't tend to go over well here in Oklahoma. Plus, the man didn't really give him a chance. Out of nowhere, the guy launched into this big spiel that he'd clearly done a hundred times, about how he was trying to get a pack together for this big mission he'd been handed. Normally, when confronted with this kind of thing, Osric would either blow him off or ask Ajax if he'd shut up if he said yes, but not this time. Right this second, the older male's offer had caught him at a low point, and the honest to Gaia first thing that popped into his head and out of his mouth was, "Whoa, are you some kind of mind reader? How in the hell did you know I was thinking about being lonely as shit? You haven't been following me have you, because I'm not in the mood for games. It's not very nice to sneak up on a guy, scare him into a heart attack, and then tease him with the offer of joining a pack when he's clearly feeling all kinds of low. So unless you mean it, buzz off."
But apparently, Ajax did mean it, and Osric felt a little bad for snapping. The young Stargazer apologized and explained that he'd been thinking about his lost family before Ajax had come across him. Osric climbed out of the tree, went over to the Shadow Lord and held out his hand, saying, "I guess if I'm gonna join, I'd better introduce myself. Name's Osric Zhang, I'm a Stargazer and a Theurge. It's nice to meet you."
Just then, Osric's stomach gurgled, and he realized he'd forgotten to eat dinner. His cheeks tinged slightly pink with embarrassment as he asked, "Is there anyway we could move the conversation towards the kitchens? I think I accidentally skipped dinner."
((I'll bring Boo in next post when they're eating. I added the pictures I'd found of Chak and Ko's wolf forms to their pages. I still need to go find a reference for Osric himself, but I have his wolf.))
When it turned out that both Connor and Marnie knew Ana and didn't mention her being attached, Chak began to get a little excited. It had been a while since the twins had gotten to meet one of the Uktena, and he hoped she'd be open to the idea of joining them. One of the main reasons Chak and Ko had yet to meet her was apparently because she was Lupus and kept to herself. That made Chak feel a little bit better about having not met her yet, but it was definitely time to rectify the situation. Luckily Marnie knew where she liked to run, and would help them try to find her.
Connor suggested that they Change first in order to make Ana more comfortable with their approach, and the suggestion sat well with Chak. He glanced at Ko who was beaming at Connor for being so considerate, or at least he was pretty sure it was that and not the fact that the other man had just stripped off his shirt. Ko glanced over at her brother and gave him a wink as if she'd just read his thoughts. Chak figured that meant he needed to work on his poker face some more when it came to his twin. He looked back over at the others, only to find Connor had already finished Changing, and Marnie was stripping. Chak and Ko followed suit; however, they went all the way down to their underwear since they weren't wearing their bound clothes at the moment. The lack of cold weather made wearing their regular clothes uncomfortable and their hunting clothes were out of the question. Since it was still winter, they'd packed warmer clothes, only to find that this far south, they would have been better off with their summer things. They had been meaning to take the time to bind a set of clothes that were more climate friendly, but hadn't gotten around to it.
Once he was disrobed, Chak took a deep breath and gave over to Brother Wolf. The Change ripped through him shifting his form from man to wolf, in a matter of seconds. The large grey wolf called Grinning Stars opened his amber eyes and shook out his coat. He looked over to see his sister Laughs-At-Death finish her Change as well. She was lighter in color than him, more silver to his grey, her black markings on her nose and ears were the only interruption to her solid color. Unlike in their Homid forms where their family resemblance was clearly evident, in their Lupus forms the only major tell was their matching eyes.
|Osric's POV|
Osric was suddenly startled out of his revery by a voice in the darkness. He looked down to see a man standing below him, looking up in his direction. His first instinct was to snark in the typical New York fashion, but he held it in check since it didn't tend to go over well here in Oklahoma. Plus, the man didn't really give him a chance. Out of nowhere, the guy launched into this big spiel that he'd clearly done a hundred times, about how he was trying to get a pack together for this big mission he'd been handed. Normally, when confronted with this kind of thing, Osric would either blow him off or ask Ajax if he'd shut up if he said yes, but not this time. Right this second, the older male's offer had caught him at a low point, and the honest to Gaia first thing that popped into his head and out of his mouth was, "Whoa, are you some kind of mind reader? How in the hell did you know I was thinking about being lonely as shit? You haven't been following me have you, because I'm not in the mood for games. It's not very nice to sneak up on a guy, scare him into a heart attack, and then tease him with the offer of joining a pack when he's clearly feeling all kinds of low. So unless you mean it, buzz off."
But apparently, Ajax did mean it, and Osric felt a little bad for snapping. The young Stargazer apologized and explained that he'd been thinking about his lost family before Ajax had come across him. Osric climbed out of the tree, went over to the Shadow Lord and held out his hand, saying, "I guess if I'm gonna join, I'd better introduce myself. Name's Osric Zhang, I'm a Stargazer and a Theurge. It's nice to meet you."
Just then, Osric's stomach gurgled, and he realized he'd forgotten to eat dinner. His cheeks tinged slightly pink with embarrassment as he asked, "Is there anyway we could move the conversation towards the kitchens? I think I accidentally skipped dinner."
((I'll bring Boo in next post when they're eating. I added the pictures I'd found of Chak and Ko's wolf forms to their pages. I still need to go find a reference for Osric himself, but I have his wolf.))
//Connor POV//
The four wolves danced around one another, shaking their fur and chuffing. Connor whined at Ana, a prompt to go on. The grey female hunkered down at the request for a moment before turning around, flicking her ears forward and taking off. Connor and the twins immediately gave chase to follow. Their feet padded quickly through the camp and out into the forest. They passed a few other Lupus romping about, causing them to stop their play and watch the pack running by. Connor sniffed as they passed to catch an idea of who they were. Young ones, new to the change and probably the Caern. He wasn't sure he recognized them off the top of his head, not that it really mattered. It was just a passing curiosity.
They ran through shrubs, jumped over logs, and shirked around prickly thistleweeds and fallen branches. The sun was beyond setting at this point, and blue was pooling into the sky with the last vestiges of orange and blood red disappearing from what could be seen through the trees. A quick glance up gave a lovely view of the stars coming out above. Running with fellow wolves at a time like this felt just perfect.
This may be exactly what he needed. Maybe what they all needed.
Marnie slowed her pace and they all matched her until they were stopped. She turned to look at them, her tail wagging side to side softly and she craned her long snout back towards the West, just in front of them.
//Ana POV//
She heard them coming early on. Her senses acutely attuned for just such a thing. As the pack padded cautiously through the trees and bushes and out into the open, Ana lowered her head in a threatening manner. Her hackles raised, though she did not make a sound. She had no reason to attack, but she was very nervous and uncertain of being approached by so many all at once.
"What do you want?" she asked with a chuff and the appropriate body language in Garou tongue.
The four glanced at one another, a black one stepped forward to speak, or so it seemed; but then the two wolves with similar eyes hopped forward instead. Ana watched them all warily, keeping her head low and feeling her lips start to bare in a snarl.
//Ajax POV//
The night sky was in full swing by the time Osric and he made it back to the Caern's kitchen camp. Stars were twinkling and the moon was as beautiful and white as ever. Ajax smiled to himself as he and his new pack mate jostled their way through some fellow Garou to grab food. Ajax snatched himself some venison and beef, medium was his preference. He hurried over to an open log and stump and let his meat smack wetly on the stump, grease splashing softly. He sat on the log, nabbed one from his pile, and tore into it.
It tasted delicious. After a long day of searching, and especially after being successful, this was probably the best meal he had eaten in a while. Being frustrated can certainly taint the taste of food. Osric came over and sat by him, eating his own choice of food. Ajax considered his new packmate. The Stargazer had certainly taken him by surprised with this crude if excited acceptance to join the pack and mission. Not that Connor or Ajax himself were much older than this boy, but his youth would certainly add an energy and probably impetuousness to certain situations they soon may find themselves in.
//Karina POV//
The delicate Garou glanced up just in time to see Ajax sitting across the main eating area from her. She gathered her mostly raw venison and charred turkey leg and began to wind her way to the Shadow Lord. It looked like someone was sitting with him too. So had had been successful in finding another, or that may be the one he mentioned earlier too.
Many Garou had returned from their days chores just after sundown, so there were many people crowded around the kitchen camp. It made walking over to them difficult. A few small fights broke out with snarling and growling, and she had to whisk her food away to avoid it being snatched in the confusion.
Finally she made it to Ajax and his companion. She sat down without invitation and smiled, "Hey there, looks like you found another?"
Ajax, taken aback by her jaunty presumptuousness, stared at her a moment before nodding. "This is Osric," he said in a surly voice through chewing his meat.
Karina smiled pleasantly, if a bit pridefully, at Osric. "Nice to meet you, Osric. I'm Karina Moonbeam, Silver Fang and a Galliant." She noted how he caught her accent. Everyone in Oklahoma seemed to do so. "So then you'll be joining us for a try? I don't know about you, but I am certainly excited to have a pack to run with." She took a bite from her turkey leg, chewing happily as he answered. A fairly amiable discussion rose between the three as Ajax mentioned that Connor should be here, hopefully with a few others. They would wait. Even the Shadow Lord looked less irritated by her presence as a Silver Fang with food in front of him.
The four wolves danced around one another, shaking their fur and chuffing. Connor whined at Ana, a prompt to go on. The grey female hunkered down at the request for a moment before turning around, flicking her ears forward and taking off. Connor and the twins immediately gave chase to follow. Their feet padded quickly through the camp and out into the forest. They passed a few other Lupus romping about, causing them to stop their play and watch the pack running by. Connor sniffed as they passed to catch an idea of who they were. Young ones, new to the change and probably the Caern. He wasn't sure he recognized them off the top of his head, not that it really mattered. It was just a passing curiosity.
They ran through shrubs, jumped over logs, and shirked around prickly thistleweeds and fallen branches. The sun was beyond setting at this point, and blue was pooling into the sky with the last vestiges of orange and blood red disappearing from what could be seen through the trees. A quick glance up gave a lovely view of the stars coming out above. Running with fellow wolves at a time like this felt just perfect.
This may be exactly what he needed. Maybe what they all needed.
Marnie slowed her pace and they all matched her until they were stopped. She turned to look at them, her tail wagging side to side softly and she craned her long snout back towards the West, just in front of them.
//Ana POV//
She heard them coming early on. Her senses acutely attuned for just such a thing. As the pack padded cautiously through the trees and bushes and out into the open, Ana lowered her head in a threatening manner. Her hackles raised, though she did not make a sound. She had no reason to attack, but she was very nervous and uncertain of being approached by so many all at once.
"What do you want?" she asked with a chuff and the appropriate body language in Garou tongue.
The four glanced at one another, a black one stepped forward to speak, or so it seemed; but then the two wolves with similar eyes hopped forward instead. Ana watched them all warily, keeping her head low and feeling her lips start to bare in a snarl.
//Ajax POV//
The night sky was in full swing by the time Osric and he made it back to the Caern's kitchen camp. Stars were twinkling and the moon was as beautiful and white as ever. Ajax smiled to himself as he and his new pack mate jostled their way through some fellow Garou to grab food. Ajax snatched himself some venison and beef, medium was his preference. He hurried over to an open log and stump and let his meat smack wetly on the stump, grease splashing softly. He sat on the log, nabbed one from his pile, and tore into it.
It tasted delicious. After a long day of searching, and especially after being successful, this was probably the best meal he had eaten in a while. Being frustrated can certainly taint the taste of food. Osric came over and sat by him, eating his own choice of food. Ajax considered his new packmate. The Stargazer had certainly taken him by surprised with this crude if excited acceptance to join the pack and mission. Not that Connor or Ajax himself were much older than this boy, but his youth would certainly add an energy and probably impetuousness to certain situations they soon may find themselves in.
//Karina POV//
The delicate Garou glanced up just in time to see Ajax sitting across the main eating area from her. She gathered her mostly raw venison and charred turkey leg and began to wind her way to the Shadow Lord. It looked like someone was sitting with him too. So had had been successful in finding another, or that may be the one he mentioned earlier too.
Many Garou had returned from their days chores just after sundown, so there were many people crowded around the kitchen camp. It made walking over to them difficult. A few small fights broke out with snarling and growling, and she had to whisk her food away to avoid it being snatched in the confusion.
Finally she made it to Ajax and his companion. She sat down without invitation and smiled, "Hey there, looks like you found another?"
Ajax, taken aback by her jaunty presumptuousness, stared at her a moment before nodding. "This is Osric," he said in a surly voice through chewing his meat.
Karina smiled pleasantly, if a bit pridefully, at Osric. "Nice to meet you, Osric. I'm Karina Moonbeam, Silver Fang and a Galliant." She noted how he caught her accent. Everyone in Oklahoma seemed to do so. "So then you'll be joining us for a try? I don't know about you, but I am certainly excited to have a pack to run with." She took a bite from her turkey leg, chewing happily as he answered. A fairly amiable discussion rose between the three as Ajax mentioned that Connor should be here, hopefully with a few others. They would wait. Even the Shadow Lord looked less irritated by her presence as a Silver Fang with food in front of him.
|Ko's POV|
Ko was just as excited as her brother was at the prospect of finally meeting Ana, and it showed. She was bouncy and playful as the four wolves first took stock of one another, and once they were off, she would skip ahead and circle back just to let off some extra steam. Her jaws hung agape, and her tongue lolled as they ran, her body language exuding wolfish glee. When she'd get a little too hyper, Chak would nip her shoulder to check her, but half the time she shrugged him off. Eventually, she lost herself in the bliss of running, and forgot that there was another reason to be pleased.
Marnie slowed, and Ko followed suit out of habit, thinking at first that one of the others needed to rest a second. Once they finally stopped and Marnie directed their attention to the West, Ko remembered about Ana. She nudged her brother and wagged her tail as they went towards Ana's location. They found her in a little clearing, already alert to their presence, and on guard. Ko was pleased to see that Ana's senses and reflexes were so attuned, after all she was a lone wolf getting approached by a pack. She asked them what they wanted, and Connor began to step forward. Ko's instincts screamed that it was wrong for a Bone Gnawer to approach before she did. It was her right as one of Younger Brother's people to speak first to the Uktena, and she acted on it. She leaped to the front of their group, only to land shoulder to shoulder with Chak. They had felt the same about the issue without realizing it, and in the process managed to startle themselves, their friends, and Ana. It struck Ko as absurdly funny, and she let out a wolfish laugh. It broke the tension a little, and earned her a nip from Chak, who proceeded to address Ana in Garou.
'Younger Brother Wendigo greets Older Brother Uktena through the messengers Grinning Stars and Laughs-At-Death. They have been sent to reaffirm Younger Brother's ties to not only Older Brother, but to the rest of the Garou Nation. We were approached with an offer to join a pack, and in light of our mission have decided to try it. There is still room for more to join, and we would be honored if one of the Uktena would run with us as well. Would you be interested?"
|Osric's POV|
Osric followed Ajax back to camp and to the kitchens. Judging by the number of people beginning to flock this way, Osric hadn't actually missed dinner which was a relief. He'd been a little worried that he'd have to scrounge up something for himself, and he wasn't very good at making food. He snatched a heaping plate of ham off the serving tables along with a whole cluster of chilled purple grapes, and made his way over to where Ajax was in the crowd. The older male spotted a free spot, and bee lined for it, Osric right on his heels. He took a seat across from his new Alpha, and dug into his meal.
The ham was thick and juicy, perfectly cooked and finger licking good. Steam rose from the plate, a silent testament to how hot it was, but Osric was to hungry to worry about scalding his fingers or his mouth. He scarfed down the first few pieces as if he hadn't eaten in days, then slowed to alternate between grapes and more ham. He absently wondered if his appetite was because he was getting ready for a growth spurt or if his loneliness had affected him more than he realized.
Osric looked up as a new person approached and sat down with them. She addressed Ajax in a manner that said she didn't care if she was breaking social protocol, and he wondered who she was and why she would be breaking anything by talking to Ajax. For his own part, Ajax looked like he'd just been asked to eat worms, and Osric wasn't really sure what to do to ease the situation. Luckily, it only lasted for a second before Ajax nodded in response to her question and introduced him to the woman. Her attention settled on him, and he suddenly felt a little like he was talking to the principal at school. Karina had that vibe that some grown-ups give off, almost like they think you're slow or something. It made his hackles rise a little, but he ignored them. Her British accent probably didn't help matters.
"Yeah. It'll be nice to have a kind of family again. There wasn't really anyone to join up with when I first got here, so I've been on my own. Doesn't help that people don't usually go looking for Stargazers when they build a pack since we're notorious loners and all," he told her, seeing her mark his own accent as definitely not from Oklahoma.
|Boo's POV|
The small albino woman watched as Ajax and his friend were approached by the Silver Fang from earlier. Tensions went from strained to relaxed as the three conversed, and Boo watched it all from her place by the bonfire. She had been hoping to catch Ajax alone so that if he rejected her, no one else would know about it. Now, it looked like that wasn't going to be possible. She shifted in her seat and pretended to check on the now charred hot dog that she was dangling by the fire. Her courage had shrunk at the sight of the others, and she was trying to scrape enough back together to go over to them. She took a nibble out of the blacked meat stick, grimaced at the lack of condiments and tossed it into the flames. As she watched it turn to charcoal, she decided that it would be better to get it over with before the pack go too big, besides, she knew she would kick herself later if she never asked. She took a deep breath, sent a silent prayer to Gaia for luck, and went over to them.
She ducked out of the way of a fist fight that had broken out over something stupid, and wove her way through the crowd. She approached the group and quietly cleared her throat to get their attention. As they looked up, she spoke in a soft, yet unwavering voice. "Excuse me. I'm really sorry to interrupt, but I heard you were forming a new pack, and I was wondering if you were still looking for people. My name's Eidolon Owens, but everybody calls me Boo. I know I don't look like much in this form, but I promise I'm not made out of glass, I just walk through it. I'd be interested in joining you if you'll have me."
Ko was just as excited as her brother was at the prospect of finally meeting Ana, and it showed. She was bouncy and playful as the four wolves first took stock of one another, and once they were off, she would skip ahead and circle back just to let off some extra steam. Her jaws hung agape, and her tongue lolled as they ran, her body language exuding wolfish glee. When she'd get a little too hyper, Chak would nip her shoulder to check her, but half the time she shrugged him off. Eventually, she lost herself in the bliss of running, and forgot that there was another reason to be pleased.
Marnie slowed, and Ko followed suit out of habit, thinking at first that one of the others needed to rest a second. Once they finally stopped and Marnie directed their attention to the West, Ko remembered about Ana. She nudged her brother and wagged her tail as they went towards Ana's location. They found her in a little clearing, already alert to their presence, and on guard. Ko was pleased to see that Ana's senses and reflexes were so attuned, after all she was a lone wolf getting approached by a pack. She asked them what they wanted, and Connor began to step forward. Ko's instincts screamed that it was wrong for a Bone Gnawer to approach before she did. It was her right as one of Younger Brother's people to speak first to the Uktena, and she acted on it. She leaped to the front of their group, only to land shoulder to shoulder with Chak. They had felt the same about the issue without realizing it, and in the process managed to startle themselves, their friends, and Ana. It struck Ko as absurdly funny, and she let out a wolfish laugh. It broke the tension a little, and earned her a nip from Chak, who proceeded to address Ana in Garou.
'Younger Brother Wendigo greets Older Brother Uktena through the messengers Grinning Stars and Laughs-At-Death. They have been sent to reaffirm Younger Brother's ties to not only Older Brother, but to the rest of the Garou Nation. We were approached with an offer to join a pack, and in light of our mission have decided to try it. There is still room for more to join, and we would be honored if one of the Uktena would run with us as well. Would you be interested?"
|Osric's POV|
Osric followed Ajax back to camp and to the kitchens. Judging by the number of people beginning to flock this way, Osric hadn't actually missed dinner which was a relief. He'd been a little worried that he'd have to scrounge up something for himself, and he wasn't very good at making food. He snatched a heaping plate of ham off the serving tables along with a whole cluster of chilled purple grapes, and made his way over to where Ajax was in the crowd. The older male spotted a free spot, and bee lined for it, Osric right on his heels. He took a seat across from his new Alpha, and dug into his meal.
The ham was thick and juicy, perfectly cooked and finger licking good. Steam rose from the plate, a silent testament to how hot it was, but Osric was to hungry to worry about scalding his fingers or his mouth. He scarfed down the first few pieces as if he hadn't eaten in days, then slowed to alternate between grapes and more ham. He absently wondered if his appetite was because he was getting ready for a growth spurt or if his loneliness had affected him more than he realized.
Osric looked up as a new person approached and sat down with them. She addressed Ajax in a manner that said she didn't care if she was breaking social protocol, and he wondered who she was and why she would be breaking anything by talking to Ajax. For his own part, Ajax looked like he'd just been asked to eat worms, and Osric wasn't really sure what to do to ease the situation. Luckily, it only lasted for a second before Ajax nodded in response to her question and introduced him to the woman. Her attention settled on him, and he suddenly felt a little like he was talking to the principal at school. Karina had that vibe that some grown-ups give off, almost like they think you're slow or something. It made his hackles rise a little, but he ignored them. Her British accent probably didn't help matters.
"Yeah. It'll be nice to have a kind of family again. There wasn't really anyone to join up with when I first got here, so I've been on my own. Doesn't help that people don't usually go looking for Stargazers when they build a pack since we're notorious loners and all," he told her, seeing her mark his own accent as definitely not from Oklahoma.
|Boo's POV|
The small albino woman watched as Ajax and his friend were approached by the Silver Fang from earlier. Tensions went from strained to relaxed as the three conversed, and Boo watched it all from her place by the bonfire. She had been hoping to catch Ajax alone so that if he rejected her, no one else would know about it. Now, it looked like that wasn't going to be possible. She shifted in her seat and pretended to check on the now charred hot dog that she was dangling by the fire. Her courage had shrunk at the sight of the others, and she was trying to scrape enough back together to go over to them. She took a nibble out of the blacked meat stick, grimaced at the lack of condiments and tossed it into the flames. As she watched it turn to charcoal, she decided that it would be better to get it over with before the pack go too big, besides, she knew she would kick herself later if she never asked. She took a deep breath, sent a silent prayer to Gaia for luck, and went over to them.
She ducked out of the way of a fist fight that had broken out over something stupid, and wove her way through the crowd. She approached the group and quietly cleared her throat to get their attention. As they looked up, she spoke in a soft, yet unwavering voice. "Excuse me. I'm really sorry to interrupt, but I heard you were forming a new pack, and I was wondering if you were still looking for people. My name's Eidolon Owens, but everybody calls me Boo. I know I don't look like much in this form, but I promise I'm not made out of glass, I just walk through it. I'd be interested in joining you if you'll have me."
//Ana's POV//
The female's wolfish laugh helped to ease the tension in the air. Ana felt her hackles dropping, fur that had bristled lay flat once more, and the male wolf that had stepped forward began to talk. She lifted her head slowly to assume a less threatening position. To hear they were from Younger Brother Wendigo's tribe was news that made her heart soar. It had been a rare thing to see a messenger from Brother Wendigo in her secluded South American tribe, and now here were two standing and grinning wolfishly in front of her. She let her own jaw drop slightly in a grin and shook out her scruffy mane.
"It is this one's honor to meet some of Younger Brother's people. This one is Batalha-de-Sangue. This one is on a spiritual quest to learn about the packs in Northern America and find out what knowledges they may have regarding spirits, rites, and the Umbra that we may have lost or forgotten. This one's human name is Daciana, a Lupus-born under the waxing Full Moon," she introduced herself to the four wolves. She studied them, her dark eyes glittering with cold intelligence. She did not see who was leader of this pack; she could pinpoint no Alpha among these four. She hoped they did not expect her to lead. She was no Alpha, only a battle-experienced warrior of Gaia.
After a long moment's consideration, Ana lowered her head a bit and cocked her ears forward respectfully, tail drifting side to side in a slow manner. "This warrior would be honored to join a pack with you. Where is your Alpha? Who would we serve under? And what is this mission?"
The black male that had initially stepped forward, shifted in the back so that he could better view her and wagged his tail excitedly. "Great! Let's answer her on the way back to the Caern, yeah? I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry! Besides, we're meeting the Shadow Lord back there." He turned around, wanting to run off, then turned again to usher them with little hops here and there. The fourth one that had made little attempts to gain attention, a grey and tanned female, shifted with him as if ready to bolt away. Ana nodded and waited for them to go. She would follow.
//Ajax//
"Eidolon," the Shadow Lord repeated. It was a strange name, but then again she seemed a strange person. It was obvious she was a Metis. Instinctly, he wanted to say no. Having a Metis as part of his pack would probably make him a laughing stock. But he knew of many tales and even seen a few Metis around here before that were monsters to behold in a fight. Though he was a Shadow Lord, the best and strongest of Garou, and to allow a disgrace to Gaia to mingle with him...
As he looked at her, very aware he was staring, the Silver Fang was studying her too. It was Karina that spoke first in her haughty-sounding voice. "I have to say, you are brave to approach both a Shadow Lord and Silver Fang. Bold as brass. But what in Gaia's name would make you think either of us would allow a stain on the Litany to join our pack?"
Ajax looked at Karina, a little irritated to feel in agreement with her. It was the first part of her commentary that really stuck out in his mind, though. "Brave to approach both... bold...." Those could be just the right characteristics for her to bring to a pack, and having a Metis might come in handy. They often get overlooked by others or especially attract attention, like Karina was proving now. He felt a sense of responsibility and desire to be a good Alpha really setting in with him. It could be a bad move, but it was also a new pack and it might work out just fine.
He let out a throaty growl to cut off Karina, who looked like she may speak again. Boo, as the Glasswalker said she was often called, looked shaken and upset by the Silver Fang's mini-tirade. With a smirk he said, "You can join. You'll just have to prove you can keep up with us and be useful." He added that last bit with a significant look to Karina, who seemed taken aback initially. She let a small smile form on her face and scooted over so that Boo could sit with them.
"Well, what harm can it do anyway," Karina snickered. "A Silver Fang, a Shadow Lord, and Metis Glasswalker." She let out a noise of disgust, but her eyes were shining with excitement and mischief at the very idea. Ajax kind of liked it, but he knew he would never tell anyone that.
All that was left was for Connor to show up with any he may have recruited. Things seemed to be going just right for Ajax now.
//
((Batalha seems to mean battlefield/area/warcamp in Portuguese, and the rest should make sense to you. As a loose translation, for our purposes it will mean Field-of-Blood for her wolf name. She's like the Cavalry.
Also, I'm sorry, but I'm too tired to get out summaries tonight. I'll try to get it taken care of tomorrow or this weekend. I think I may just make profiles for them on here anyway since I can't remember stuff without having to pull all my character sheets out.))
The female's wolfish laugh helped to ease the tension in the air. Ana felt her hackles dropping, fur that had bristled lay flat once more, and the male wolf that had stepped forward began to talk. She lifted her head slowly to assume a less threatening position. To hear they were from Younger Brother Wendigo's tribe was news that made her heart soar. It had been a rare thing to see a messenger from Brother Wendigo in her secluded South American tribe, and now here were two standing and grinning wolfishly in front of her. She let her own jaw drop slightly in a grin and shook out her scruffy mane.
"It is this one's honor to meet some of Younger Brother's people. This one is Batalha-de-Sangue. This one is on a spiritual quest to learn about the packs in Northern America and find out what knowledges they may have regarding spirits, rites, and the Umbra that we may have lost or forgotten. This one's human name is Daciana, a Lupus-born under the waxing Full Moon," she introduced herself to the four wolves. She studied them, her dark eyes glittering with cold intelligence. She did not see who was leader of this pack; she could pinpoint no Alpha among these four. She hoped they did not expect her to lead. She was no Alpha, only a battle-experienced warrior of Gaia.
After a long moment's consideration, Ana lowered her head a bit and cocked her ears forward respectfully, tail drifting side to side in a slow manner. "This warrior would be honored to join a pack with you. Where is your Alpha? Who would we serve under? And what is this mission?"
The black male that had initially stepped forward, shifted in the back so that he could better view her and wagged his tail excitedly. "Great! Let's answer her on the way back to the Caern, yeah? I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry! Besides, we're meeting the Shadow Lord back there." He turned around, wanting to run off, then turned again to usher them with little hops here and there. The fourth one that had made little attempts to gain attention, a grey and tanned female, shifted with him as if ready to bolt away. Ana nodded and waited for them to go. She would follow.
//Ajax//
"Eidolon," the Shadow Lord repeated. It was a strange name, but then again she seemed a strange person. It was obvious she was a Metis. Instinctly, he wanted to say no. Having a Metis as part of his pack would probably make him a laughing stock. But he knew of many tales and even seen a few Metis around here before that were monsters to behold in a fight. Though he was a Shadow Lord, the best and strongest of Garou, and to allow a disgrace to Gaia to mingle with him...
As he looked at her, very aware he was staring, the Silver Fang was studying her too. It was Karina that spoke first in her haughty-sounding voice. "I have to say, you are brave to approach both a Shadow Lord and Silver Fang. Bold as brass. But what in Gaia's name would make you think either of us would allow a stain on the Litany to join our pack?"
Ajax looked at Karina, a little irritated to feel in agreement with her. It was the first part of her commentary that really stuck out in his mind, though. "Brave to approach both... bold...." Those could be just the right characteristics for her to bring to a pack, and having a Metis might come in handy. They often get overlooked by others or especially attract attention, like Karina was proving now. He felt a sense of responsibility and desire to be a good Alpha really setting in with him. It could be a bad move, but it was also a new pack and it might work out just fine.
He let out a throaty growl to cut off Karina, who looked like she may speak again. Boo, as the Glasswalker said she was often called, looked shaken and upset by the Silver Fang's mini-tirade. With a smirk he said, "You can join. You'll just have to prove you can keep up with us and be useful." He added that last bit with a significant look to Karina, who seemed taken aback initially. She let a small smile form on her face and scooted over so that Boo could sit with them.
"Well, what harm can it do anyway," Karina snickered. "A Silver Fang, a Shadow Lord, and Metis Glasswalker." She let out a noise of disgust, but her eyes were shining with excitement and mischief at the very idea. Ajax kind of liked it, but he knew he would never tell anyone that.
All that was left was for Connor to show up with any he may have recruited. Things seemed to be going just right for Ajax now.
//
((Batalha seems to mean battlefield/area/warcamp in Portuguese, and the rest should make sense to you. As a loose translation, for our purposes it will mean Field-of-Blood for her wolf name. She's like the Cavalry.
Also, I'm sorry, but I'm too tired to get out summaries tonight. I'll try to get it taken care of tomorrow or this weekend. I think I may just make profiles for them on here anyway since I can't remember stuff without having to pull all my character sheets out.))
|Chak's POV|
Chak was pleased to see Ana relax as he spoke, and began to get a little more hopeful about her joining them. As he finished, she grinned back at them and shook out her mane, a good sign indeed. She spoke then, telling them her name, reason for coming to Crick's caern, and that she was an Ahroun. Chak was glad to know there would be at least one 'super soldier' on the team.
The grey wolf waited with bated breath as Batalha-de-Sangue looked them over and considered his offer. The way she was surveying them, told him that her sharp eyes had caught that none among them was the Alpha. Finally, she said yes, and inquired about their leader and their mission. Ko shifted, about to answer, when Connor interjected. Chak watched his sister flick her ears in slight annoyance, and made a mental note to keep her away from Connor's things for the next day or so. She didn't take kindly to interruptions, and was likely to retaliate by stealing all his underwear.
Chak nodded to Connor, and turned to follow, flicking his sister's nose with his tail to distract her from plotting. She nipped at it and chuffed at him, knowing full well what he was doing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ko's muscles begin to coil slightly as she looked at Ana, gave her a wide grin, and then in a zero to ninety manuever, Ko wheeled around and bolted back towards home. He could hear her whooping as she went and rolled his eyes before following after her at a much more reasonable pace.
|Eidolon's POV|
Eidolon almost flinched as he said her name. Almost, but her resolve somehow held and kept her still, kept her gaze unwavering. She could see the revulsion plain as day in the Shadow Lord's eyes, and saw the 'no' practically forming on his lips already. Boo couldn't say she hadn't expected it, even her own parents hadn't wanted her, so why should a complete stranger be any different. What did surprise her was that it was the Fang who spoke out first. She'd known that Ajax was the Alpha, and hadn't thought that Karina would have blatantly shown her disdain for him in front of an outsider.
Pale blue-violet eyes flicked to meet those of her accuser, only to drop away at the reminder of what she was. Boo knew she was a ghost, invisible to all, nothing to be paid any attention to, but still everyone took every chance to remind her. How did they honestly expect her to forget when it was her name. She wanted to shout, to tell this haughty bitch that she was Garou too, that she knew she was a ghost, and that because of it she knew more than anyone about the goings on in this caern when no one knew anything about her. But she didn't, because ghosts don't talk back to the living, they only appear and disappear leaving messages in their wake; moaning injustices to the darkness when they were alone.
It looked like it was time for this ghost to fade back into the void, and she prepared to step sideways, just to mess with them when Ajax growled to cut Karina off. Then the unthinkable happened. He said yes. She looked back at him, her heart in her throat, as he told her she'd have to earn her keep. She nodded quickly, accetping his terms before he could back out. She gave him a small half smile, a silent promise to do all she could to make sure he never regretted taking her in. Silently, she padded over to the spot Karina made for her, and sat down. As Karina pretended to mock the absurdity of their little pack, Orsic nudged her shoulder to get her attention. Boo looked over to see him holding out his plate of ham. There was one piece left, and he was offering it to her. A genuine grin broke across her face as she accepted the meat. "Thanks, Osric," she muttered, forgetting in her happiness that she wasn't supposed to know his name.
((I just realized that if you wanted to just have a series of reference sheets and not use a whole bunch of profiles, you could make a character called "Ghost Pack" and then use the different pages for each person. I feel a little silly for not realizing it sooner. I may go change mine so that they're all in one place.... though I kind of like rotating through their pictures. ^.^))
Chak was pleased to see Ana relax as he spoke, and began to get a little more hopeful about her joining them. As he finished, she grinned back at them and shook out her mane, a good sign indeed. She spoke then, telling them her name, reason for coming to Crick's caern, and that she was an Ahroun. Chak was glad to know there would be at least one 'super soldier' on the team.
The grey wolf waited with bated breath as Batalha-de-Sangue looked them over and considered his offer. The way she was surveying them, told him that her sharp eyes had caught that none among them was the Alpha. Finally, she said yes, and inquired about their leader and their mission. Ko shifted, about to answer, when Connor interjected. Chak watched his sister flick her ears in slight annoyance, and made a mental note to keep her away from Connor's things for the next day or so. She didn't take kindly to interruptions, and was likely to retaliate by stealing all his underwear.
Chak nodded to Connor, and turned to follow, flicking his sister's nose with his tail to distract her from plotting. She nipped at it and chuffed at him, knowing full well what he was doing. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ko's muscles begin to coil slightly as she looked at Ana, gave her a wide grin, and then in a zero to ninety manuever, Ko wheeled around and bolted back towards home. He could hear her whooping as she went and rolled his eyes before following after her at a much more reasonable pace.
|Eidolon's POV|
Eidolon almost flinched as he said her name. Almost, but her resolve somehow held and kept her still, kept her gaze unwavering. She could see the revulsion plain as day in the Shadow Lord's eyes, and saw the 'no' practically forming on his lips already. Boo couldn't say she hadn't expected it, even her own parents hadn't wanted her, so why should a complete stranger be any different. What did surprise her was that it was the Fang who spoke out first. She'd known that Ajax was the Alpha, and hadn't thought that Karina would have blatantly shown her disdain for him in front of an outsider.
Pale blue-violet eyes flicked to meet those of her accuser, only to drop away at the reminder of what she was. Boo knew she was a ghost, invisible to all, nothing to be paid any attention to, but still everyone took every chance to remind her. How did they honestly expect her to forget when it was her name. She wanted to shout, to tell this haughty bitch that she was Garou too, that she knew she was a ghost, and that because of it she knew more than anyone about the goings on in this caern when no one knew anything about her. But she didn't, because ghosts don't talk back to the living, they only appear and disappear leaving messages in their wake; moaning injustices to the darkness when they were alone.
It looked like it was time for this ghost to fade back into the void, and she prepared to step sideways, just to mess with them when Ajax growled to cut Karina off. Then the unthinkable happened. He said yes. She looked back at him, her heart in her throat, as he told her she'd have to earn her keep. She nodded quickly, accetping his terms before he could back out. She gave him a small half smile, a silent promise to do all she could to make sure he never regretted taking her in. Silently, she padded over to the spot Karina made for her, and sat down. As Karina pretended to mock the absurdity of their little pack, Orsic nudged her shoulder to get her attention. Boo looked over to see him holding out his plate of ham. There was one piece left, and he was offering it to her. A genuine grin broke across her face as she accepted the meat. "Thanks, Osric," she muttered, forgetting in her happiness that she wasn't supposed to know his name.
((I just realized that if you wanted to just have a series of reference sheets and not use a whole bunch of profiles, you could make a character called "Ghost Pack" and then use the different pages for each person. I feel a little silly for not realizing it sooner. I may go change mine so that they're all in one place.... though I kind of like rotating through their pictures. ^.^))
This thread has relocated to a group by the same name. If you are interested in RPing Werewolf the Apocalypse or World of Darkness with us, please PM Khallas or Plynx.
You are on: Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » (Closed) WW the Apocalypse: Ghost Warrior pack
Moderators: Mina, Keke, Cass, Claine, Sanne, Dragonfire, Ilmarinen, Darth_Angelus