The Gathering for Maury, and a little for Noor (September 15, 1995) Justice nods at the Strider. "I'll need to be shown the way when the time comes." Sepdet nods. ~I'm going to finish a few preparations.~ She exhales an uneasy breath. ~Without her body, I must see if I can do a Summons so that her spirit may be present at the Gathering. The ritual for my pack-sister the Striders held; all that remains for her is for people to celebrate in her memory.~ She adds another wistful smile. On the southern curve, Dylan remains still at the edge of the Wheel, wide grey eyes taking in the motions and presences of the other occupants. Sepdet waves an arm to Ox and Dylan. ~Going to set up. Want t'help?~ Without waiting for answer, she heads northwards. <...> Grotto(#2863RJLh) Faint trails, between the trees, lead off in all directions, while a determined climb eastwards would crest the rock face. Dylan emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Sorcha is not visible. She's hiding. Dylan has followed silently, and now waits near the edge of the grotto, looking from tree to water, to rock, to tree, waiting until there is something he can do to help someone. Su trots slowly into the grotto, barely poking her nose through the vegetation. Sepdet begins setting out small bowls here and there, marking out a drier place back on the sandy bank. She gestures to Dylan. ~Here. The water from the falls is good stuff.~ She goes back over to a small pile of stones and begins setting an altar out on it. Dylan moves forward to take a bowl and kneels to fill it at the falls. Sepdet pads over to the falls, sets her hands on her hips, and braces herself to peer up into the rushing waters. *We're holding Gathering tonight for Maury, and a friend, her friend: Noor. Pardon our tresspass, and thank you.* Su enters quietly and ensconces herself on the mossy lawn, knowing that Sepdet will ask for anything she needs. Drew emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Sorcha remains in hiding, invisible to all. Eamon emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Sepdet watches carefully as each one approaches. Now she merely moves back to kneel at the foot of the altar, crosslegged, waiting. Drew follows the trails to this place, his pace dejected. Elizabeth emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Elizabeth pushes her way out of the woods, Mandolin over her shoulder and dressed rather somberly, and very well for someone hiking though the woods. Sepdet gets to her feet. ~I'm going to the caern to make sure no one else is looking for the way. Tread gently here: it's a special place, and it's not often non-Fianna have been allowed in it.~ <...> Sparse Forest Contents: Justice Sepdet nods and turns to point. ~They are gathering. I'm going to the caern to lead any that don't know the way.~ Justice nods, and continues on. In the distance, Sepdet can be heard to howl, ~Garou of the Wheel Renewed, we Gather for the fallen daughters of Stag and Coyote, Maury Stands-Defiant and Aset Serpent-Blinder! Come to the falls to share song, drink and words in their honor.~ Grotto(#2863RJLh) The woods part suddenly, here, amidst the quiet roar of falling water. A wide stream spills over the edge of a rocky face that is the western edge of a hill some thirty feet high. The stones are worn smooth with the passing of time, and are slick with moisture and soft mosses, but a climb up the drier rocks would not be impossible, and there is a sense of space behind the falls. A wide pool has been carved into the earth by the rushing waters, and the tall trees have grown out around it, sheltering the grotto in a pleasantly-cool shade. Rocks, hewn from the cliff face and shouldered along the path of the stream, form a rough ring around the edge of the pool and guide the flow of water further westwards, again deeper into the woods. All manner of animal tracks are visible in the sandier areas of shore; the trees crouch close against the edge of the stream again as it passes further west, muting the dull thunder of the falls. Faint trails, between the trees, lead off in all directions, while a determined climb eastwards would crest the rock face. Contents: Elizabeth Justice Eochaid Gannon Shea Megan Alex Eamon Drew Soulcatcher Su Dylan Sorcha Small clay bowls of pure water have been nestled here and there on the moss. In the middle of the irregular wide space they describe, a waist-high stone cairn of fist-sized stones has been erected with care. Atop it is draped a white linen square of cloth. Two distinct groups of objects have been placed there: to the left, a white polished antler, a piece of topaz, a fresh red rose, and a small pile of earth. To the right, there is a gold hoop, a white jade amulet in the shape of a fly, a snakeskin, and a thin wooden plaque on which has been carefully scribed a name in hieroglyphs and a tiny impressionistic brushstroke image of a coyote and jackals chasing their tails. An iron firepot sputters on the bank of the deep pool, and long thin sticks of incense like stems stand around the edge of the clearing. Megan moves off to one side then notices Eochaid's presence. She starts, then sobers when Eamon goes over, watching her tribemates. Moon Otter emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Sepdet relaxes as she looks over the quiet gathering and circles around and among people. Justice seems to note Moon Otter's entrance with more than her usual attention. Su raises her head to greet Sepdet as she circulates. Elizabeth shifts from foot to foot, and then finally uncases her mandolin. She plucks a few tentative notes, sets her case somewhere unobtrusive, and cradles the instrument in her arms like a child. Eochaid blinks rapidly a few times, eyes wide with shock. "Bloody hell," he mutters darkly, "I'm gone for a spell and look what happens." Moon Otter pads in as unobtrusively as possible, circling around to hover towards the rear of the gathering of Garou. Dylan remains at the outskirt of the Gathering, holding to the shadows, arms wrapped across his chest as though against the cold. Arantxa settles off to one side. Eamon nods. Megan whispers under her breath to Gannon and Shea. Sepdet returns to the center and shifts to face everyone, raising her head and speaking in a calm quiet voice. ~We're here for our friends, Maury and Noor, who fell four nights ago in slaying a Dancer. That story shall be told here. But first, I must ask all of you to focus well tonight, for this Gathering needs must also have a summons for Maury's spirit. Her ashes are scattered on the wind, Gaia's breath, so I will need all your help to do this well.~ Gannon looks to Megan, whispering to her. Megan whispers back to the human. Sepdet holds out a hand to Megan. ~Second-Chance of the Fianna has a song for Stands-Defiant, and with it I will begin the Summons. Will you join me, Megan?~ Dylan, distracted momentarily by the whispering, looks sharply at Gannon as he realizes he does not know him. Shea nods once, and edges a half-step closer to the human. Elizabeth clasps her hands together, lacing her fingers together. She watches Megan and Sepdet quietly. Megan nods, giving Shea a glance then a reassuring look to Gannon and moves towards the front with Sepdet, some nervousness in her demeanor. Justice turns her attention from Moon Otter to the rite that has begun. Dylan relaxes after a moment, but still seems slightly distracted as he returns his attention to the progression of the rite. Eochaid sighs heavily, thumping to the ground. His head hangs and his hands go to the back of his neck as if it suddenly pains him. Gannon flashes a nervous smile to Megan, inching a little closer to Shea. Dougie emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Moon Otter bristles, hackles rising for no apparent reason. He gets up and stalks off into the woods, shaking his coat out once or twice as if to dislodge some irritant. Moon Otter walks into the woods to the south, disappearing between the trees. Megan takes a deep breath, her voice rising softly but audible over the sound of the waterfall. She sings a capella, well, but not stunningly so. The song is slow, lilting, the words familiar. May the road rise up to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face And the rains fall soft upon your fields. Sepdet takes up the earth from the altar in one cupped palm and the antler in the other, then kneels down on the bank behind the stone cairn as Megan begins to sing. Her eyes half-close, listening and breathing deep as if reaching for something. Eamon says "And, to paraphrase a bit, 'May you be with Gaia a half an hour before the Wyrm knows you're dead.'" The melody changes faintly, more hymn-like in its tone. Until we meet again, my friend Until we meet again... May God hold you in the palm of his hand... The chorus returns, Megan's voice becoming stronger, a hint of triumph underlying the power. May the road rise up to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face And the rains fall soft upon your fields... Til we meet again, we meet again... May God hold you in...his...hand... The last note fades off, quieter and quieter, then ends. Sepdet shivers at spray brushing the back of her neck, and then rises again, holding out the two tokens. She lets the silence after Megan's singing rest for a moment before breaking it. ~Maury Goldeneyes, my friend, we stand together for you. By the horn of Stag, by the earth at the base of Buffalo's seat where once you made your stand, stand with us one last time.~ Shea tucks her hands a little deeper into her pockets, and nods, once. Elizabeth gives Megan an encouraging smile, edging just a bit over towards her tribemates. Eochaid hasn't looked up at all. Eamon walks over to stand with the rest of his tribe. Shea glances over toward Eochaid, then glances back at Megan and Gannon. Gannon smiles as Megan walks back. As Megan rejoins Gannon and Shea, there is a sudden light, very briefly, in front of the trio. Sorcha drops out of the leaves to hover beside Shea, just briefly, looking distressed and shy. She tucks a green leaf into Shea's hair, then Gannon's, and another into Megan's, and another each for Eamon and Eochaid, then darts upwards again, vanishing into the trees above. Sepdet tilts her head to listen, face very still and faintly apprehensive. She relaxes slightly at the sudden entrance of the... spirit? after flinching and looking in its direction. Justice, at the back of the gathering, looks askance at the bobbing light. Dylan looks startled and takes half a step forward, toward the light. Elizabeth glances over at the light. Her eyes widen, and she quickly looks away, at the ground. Eamon looks up as the faerie darts in and out. "I'll be damned." Blinks raises his head up to look. He has been so still until now that some might not have even noticed he was here... Gannon blinks, trying to decide if he believes what he just saw. Megan nods to Shea then blinks at Sorcha's appearance...then smiles. She nudges Gannon, gives Eamon a look, then moves over to Eochaid, crouching down next to him and putting a hand on his shoulder gently. Sorcha peeks down briefly, the light already gone now that she's been down and gone already, then withdraws back into the leaves to hide again, after a wary glance at all the non-Fianna. Eamon looks over at Megan and Shea and Eochaid, seeing leaves in their hair too. He nods. Eochaid sighs heavily. Su tilts her head, charmed, and flicks an ear in friendly greeting to the little faery. Shea walks after Megan, with one quick glance up to the branch and leaves Sorcha hides behind. She gives the sprite a quick grin, and a wink, then stops behind Eochaid, to lay her hand on his head, and ruffle his hair lightly. Sepdet's tense stance eases into a comfortable slouch. She sets the tokens back on the altar, then takes out a small faience flask from the pouch at her hip. Chanting softly under her breath, she carefully lets spill several drops of oil. The flames of the fire-pot down by the pool lift and sputter as she steps back, murmuring, ~The sisters-who-love you are here. The brothers-who-love you are here.~ She grins slightly, breaking her normal formal litany for this rite. ~I don't even know what that thing is, but it's here. You have the power you need to fly free.~ Gannon follows after Megan, crouching next to her. Again, Sepdet waits a moment before moving on to the next part of the ritual. ~Now your spirits are free, Maury and Noor. Now we honor you with words, to give you light heart on your passage.~ She nods to Beth with a smile, then heads back to the rear of the group, to the base of a tree, and reaches around it to retrieve her rucksack. Out of it she brings three bottles. She comes back and settles among the other Garou, putting the honey-colored bottles out without comment. Eamon holds one hand in the other and looks down at the ground, almost as if he were in church, listening to a priest. Megan, as she crouches next to Eochaid, continues to whisper very softly to Gannon. Almost without noticing, Dylan reaches down to scratch behind Therru's ear as she materializes from the undergrowth. Therru stands still, tolerating this contact with less than her usual restlessness. Elizabeth takes a deep breath after an extended silence, and steps forward. She begins playing a very simple melody, barely more than chords to accompany her song, and the song is simple too, like a chant with a touch more music. Elizabeth sings in a voice of quiet power, somehow tinged and wet with fresh sorrow, though she tries to hold it back, Under the divided moon. Proud daughter of Fionn Daughter of Wolf Destined in the cry of the Raven, The leap of the Stag, To play twice hunter, To play twice prey, Under the divided moon." Elizabeth sings, "Gu astar mo caiden fada. aindo siubhal, Mairi, Math de madadh-alluidh." Eochaid looks up, squinting at Elizabeth. Eamon looks up, slightly surprised, as Elizabeth gives a blessing in gaelic. Shea's gaze shifts to Elizabeth as well, right eye narrowing a little. Elizabeth's finger trace the chords across the instrument, keeping a stately time. The respect of the totem, After long chase, Rising from cubhood as the hunter, Under the Divided Moon." Justice listens to the new talesinger with a subtly measuring air. Megan's eyes narrow at Elizabeth. Elizabeth sings, her accent very good, but not perfect, almost too Trinity college, "Gu astar mo caiden fada. Deann ain do siubhal, Mairi, Math de madadh-alluidh." Caught in crystal in Ice Deamon embrace, Captured and dragged To the mouth of Hell, Singing Defiance Under the Divided Moon." Shea mutters quietly to the group she stands near. Elizabeth sings, "Gu astar mo caiden fada. Deann ain do siubhal, Mairi, Math de madadh-alluidh." Elizabeth's shoulders hunch slightly, losing their relaxed poster, and when she sings the next verse, she fixes her eyes directly on the flames. Beyond dream into nightmare, standing alone. Trapped in the darkness, The bosom of a fell mother, Terror and struggle Under the divided moon." Steig emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Steig walks in and stands in the back not wanting to disturb. Megan's eyes flicker over to Shea at Elizabeth's song, expression darkening with memory. Elizabeth finishes up, her eyes a silvery grey. To rise like a banner to rally the hunt, Seeking her packmate, the bitterest prey. Rise tooth, Rise will Defeating the night shadows, Rising from Hunter, the Spirit, Under a Divided Moon." Elizabeth sings, "Gu astar mo caiden fada. Deann ain do siubhal, Mairi, Math de madadh-alluidh." Elizabeth stops her strings on an abrupt chord, cutting the melody off into sudden, silence, as if it was cut off a note before it's time. She adds softly, spoken. "Good bye, Maury. I'm sorry about some of the stuff I said. You were more than I ever imagined." Elizabeth pages to Steig, Alex, Drew, Soulcatcher, Megan, Arantxa, Shea, Gannon, Su, Eochaid, Dougie, Justice, Sepdet, Dylan, and Blinks: For those who didn't hear the translation, it's "My friend travels far. Speed on your journey, Maury, Hero of Wolf." Sepdet nods a quiet thanks to Beth then looks around, studying faces, to see if others have words waiting. Eochaid sighs again, drawing his legs togeather to sit indian-sytle. Shea frowns faintly, as she clears her throat. "She was as best a Garou as she knew how t'be. M'little-big sister," she adds, with a wry grin. "She'll be missed. But now she's got a chance t'go 'round an' get another crack at things. An' that's they way it ought t'be." She nods, finished. "Now.. where's the drink? She needs a toast." Sepdet grins and points at the mead. Megan says softly, a faint smile on her face. "I'm sure that jug there is Raspberry Tears..." She goes over and brings it back to the group of Fianna. "It's the Fianna way to remember the good things of a person's life, not the bad, A giant party to send them off. Please, if you have a good memory, share it." She tips back the jug to take a drink, then passes it over to Shea. Eochaid's head suddenly jerks up and peers around at the assembled people. "Is this supposed to be a wake," he says in low tones, so that those about him can hear. Sepdet gets up quietly, a grimly amused smile on her face, and shoots a glance at the cairn. Did she stick her tongue out? Surely not. ~Only for /you/,~ she mutters. ~And you wouldn't even ask me to, would you? But it's okay.~ Digging a collapsible wooden bowl out of a pocket, she pours some of the honey-brew and begins to lap it up wolf-style. A very high, light female voice pipes up, awkwardly, from the trees, "She sang to us a lot. She loved to sing." There is no rustling and no other sound from above. Shea takes the jug from Megan, tips it back to take a healthy swallow of the stuff inside, and taps Eochaid on the shoulder with the jug, holding it down over his shoulder until the Galliard takes it from her. Eochaid takes the jug himself and downs a few swallows before standing up to his feet. Megan takes the jug away from Eochaid then offers it over to Gannon with a wry smile. Sepdet smiles faintly at the unfamiliar voice and stretches her legs out in front of her on the grass, relaxing. Justice slips away, now that the 'formal' part of the Gathering is over. Justice walks into the woods to the south, disappearing between the trees. Justice has left. Eochaid nods in thanks, pulling out from his breast pocket the old tin whistle. He rolls it around between his fingers gently, considering it with some deep thought. Gannon takes the jug from Megan. He sniffs it cautiously then shrugs. He stakes a few good swallows before looking around for someone else to give it to. Elizabeth looks at Megan inquisitively, and glances at the bottle and back at her. Gannon hands the jug to Dylan. Dylan looks a little startled, then a peculiar, almost rueful expression crosses his long face, and he lifts the jug to his lips for a small sip, immediately blurring and shifting upward. Dylan contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Dylan shifts into Crinos form. Sepdet blinks and stares up at the peaceable Stargazer rather curiously. Dylan lowers the jug and inclines his head in grave thanks to Gannon. He proffers the jug to Therru, who puts her ear back and gives Dylan a sidelong, apologetic look. The tin whistle shifts with a soft glow in Eochaid's hands. Its form fills out untill he's holding an ornately carved mandolin. Eochaid sits back down, cradling the instrument in his lap and he begins to play on it some simple chords to go along with some rather simple (and rather crude) drinking songs. Dylan holds the jug out to Joseph. Sepdet looks over at Eochaid with a wry grin and clears her throat. ~Goldeneyes. Maybe I should talk a little here, because everyone knows your stand and your taking of Buffalo in His hunt, everyone knows the long hard road you walked trying to save one Garou soul from the Wyrm--one whom you killed, when nothing else of him was left--everyone knows how you sat and talked t'cubs, taught and worried for them. ~ Sepdet continues, ~But I knew you as you've been lately, as Goldeneyes, not just Maury, and there are two things I think of most. I remember a girl-cub walkin' up to me, when I was newcomer to the Wheel and afraid to even speak, and giv'n me a rose because it was your first Garou birthday and you knew who you were. Just because. A rose to a Strider with no concept yet of comrades, company, or friends.~ Her eyes crinkle. ~In fact, I didn't even know what roses meant yet. Just some pretty red flower. I had to ask Bluefur about it.~ Sepdet says, ~And I remember our talks lately, about how to build bridges between packs and tribes, between all of us young'uns who make mistakes but care so much about tryin' to do what's right in word an' deed.~ She shrugs. ~Sometimes you used to speak out for what you b'lieved was right, at a time or place where it just didn't work. But you learned. And you made less and less mistakes. And I'll remember how hard you strived for it.~ She smiles. ~I'll keep working on those bridges for you now, Goldeneyes. Go on, go rest. You did good.~ Sepdet tips up her bowl and drains the rest. Eochaid picks up the tunes. All in all they're fairly mindless, being drinking songs and all, but they're nice to listen to. Sepdet nudges Megan's elbow. ~Now Noor. We already sent her off on her road, but I wanna hear /really/ how she did your beauty job.~ Su picks up her head slightly, angling her ears toward Sepdet and Megan to be certain to hear them speak over the music. Elizabeth watches the Raspberry Tears circulate, and finally gives Sepdet a small smile. "I'd like to say something for Noor....Before I touch that, If I'm allowed. Or I'll forget the words." Megan sighs dramatically, flashing a grin at Eochaid, then looking over at Beth. She shrugs, taking the Raspberry Tears as it comes her way and taking a swallow, offering it to Shea and Gannon wordlessly. Gannon smiles, but shakes his head, holding up a hand. "No more for me, thanks." Shea shrugs, and takes the jug, taking another swallow. Then she sets it by Eochaid's side. Sepdet looks at Megan with exaggerated disappointment, eyes going big and soft, then turns around to look at Beth. Gannon shakes his head, "What is that stuff, Megan?" Megan cradles her knees loosely in the crooks of her elbows, ankles crossed. "Maury called it Raspberry Tears. Something Brian," she indicates the silent man off to the side, "came up with before I got here. S'posed to be touched with the tears of a sprite." Gannon grins. "Well, I don't know if I believe that, but it sure is touched with something." He shakes his head again, trying to clear it. Dylan exhales a soft breath like a sigh and sinks down into the form he had worn before. Dylan contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Dylan shifts into Glabro form. Soulcatcher lies down in the corner and watches silently. Steig shakes his head quietly watching. Elizabeth smiles slightly, and turns to the other side of the mound, with the shining Jade Fly. You always knew how to raise a smile," she recites with a warmer voice, "out of a barren face. I remember your rite of passage, With stars and sand in your eyes. I remember nights by the fire, Gree spray paint, tears, Warrior's fall, Serpent-Blinder. But so do stars." Elizabeth falls silent, and takes the circulating flask, downing a rather hefty swig. Her eyes immediately tear up horribly, and she coughs, but she passes the flask back daintily, and says hoarsely, "Thank you." Megan looks over at Sepdet leaning forward for a bottle of Feinan's mead, opening it, and taking a long drink. She drops the bottle from her lips, and looks around the gathering of people. "You want to know the story, eh, Sepdet? Well, it started pretty harmless. Kevin Speaks-Twice, my tribemate the theurge, was telling Noor and I of a run in he had with fairies once, with his packmates. And threatened to sic 'em on me to turn my fur colors if I told Ilya about it." She flashes a grin. "Noor may have been part Bright Folk, I think, with her sense of humor. She turned to me, and decided that I'd look *good* pink." Blinks was watching the Fianna with eyes wide in surprise bordering on alarm, but now he turns to look at Elizabeth. His nervous tension eases, and for a moment he almost smiles. Eochaid nods, and brings up the music again that he let quiet during Elizabeth's poem. Soulcatcher chuffs, amused. Gannon grins. "Pink, eh?" He rubs his chin, considering. Megan takes another swig of the golden liquid, giving Gannon a warning smirk, as she goes on. "The moon was new, and I've a bit of trickster blood in me myself. I turned to her and snorted. 'You'd love to, wouldn't you. I think you'd look good with green with purple polka dots'. You know how things go, they escalated, and we decided to make it a Challenge. Fun of course." She laughs. "How could it not be, with that kind of outcome?" Su listens with rapt attention, this being a story she's long wanted to hear. Sepdet nods, hooking her fingertips in her mouth as she props her chin on one hand. Her eyes crinkle approvingly. Moon Otter emerges from the woods to the south, at the fringe of the clearing around the grotto. Soulcatcher chuffs to Otter. Moon Otter tries to pad back in unnoticed, and obviously doesn't do too well. Even so, he hangs back around the treeline. Drew listens politely to the stories without a glimmer of a smile as he sits, slumping onto the support of an elbow on the ground. Megan leans forward conspiratorially. "So, we thought, and thought. And came up with a silly idea. A contest, of sorts. Finding an object hidden...hidden in chocolate pie, topped with whipped cream. Kevin and Cyllan decided they liked the idea, chipped in, and Cyllan went to buy them. Except, she did more than that. She bought *red hots*," her tone drips with disgust, even as she smiles, "and *flavored* whipped cream. Amaretto, and strawberry." Sepdet's brows crease with faint concern. Dylan liastens with a faint, enigmatic half-smile. Moon Otter settles back on his haunches near the Wendigo, twisting an ear towards Megan to better catch the story. Steig mouth twists at the thought. Megan sighs dramatically. "The test was in lupus. Every flavor...we made a mess. Whipped cream everywhere. Red hots, chocolate...it was Noor who won." She grins. "And many of you saw the results of it. Pink, and green, and blue fur, for two months. Eating was kinda hard. Ever try to go hunting when you look like a neon sign?" She drains the mead. "And that's the story. Not as good as Eochaid's," she says, giving the Galliard a grin. "But truth." Sepdet beams. ~Pink, green, /and/ blue. Will have to try it again sometime.~ She shoots a mischievous glance at Megan, and then quickly looks away. Eochaid has connected. Shea slips out, silently. Shea walks into the woods to the south, disappearing between the trees. Elizabeth ruffles Drew's hair a bit, and settles back someplace quiet to play until the party is over. The one place she never looks is up in the tree, where the sprite may still hide. Sepdet leans back a bit to listen to the music, staring at the sky for a while before she speaks up again. ~Noor al-Mizrahi, my coyote comrade in craziness. Just...you know we miss you. You were great. I mean, /besides/ the fact that you went all the way to Egypt and my stuffy caern that'd soon as kill you as let you in, just so you could save my hide, besides the fact that you've been at my side in almost half these battles confusin' the banes so they don't know which one of us little imps to hit first, besides the fact that you've been looking after our cubs...you did fine redecorating jobs on the apartment and on Megan.~ Eochaid continues to play quietly. Su chuffs, breaking her silence. Soulcatcher watches the Strider with dark, sparkling eyes. Drew forces a wan half-smile at Elizabeth before returning to brood as he listens to the stories. Sepdet pauses a moment, and sobers. ~When I was trapped in that coffin where I let my mind drift free so's not to know where I was, what was happening to me, I saw you coming. I saw you facing your own Passage, alone in a dead tomb facing off with a serpent twenty times your size. It taunted you for your newfound name, speaking of Aset's greatest creation, the Cobra, as if she could ever be one with the devourer Apophis that our comrades call Wyrm. Your serpent-foe's words twisted every which way, and you saw right through 'em and went straight for its eyes. Rash and damned crazy to do it. But that's how you always fought. And maybe you could've cut back on the coyote come-what-will stunts, sis--but that's how you are. Bright, fast, and brave. Our Strider cubs are gonna be hearin' stories about you--some of them, even true--for years.~ Alex smiles a bit. Dylan makes his way over to sit down a few paces from Sepdet, arms around his knees, listening. Sepdet smiles and ducks her eyes, glancing over at the other Striders. ~There you go, Noor. More words than most Striders ever get for them.~ Her tone is teasing, and her gaze quickly strays away from Su and Blinks to focus back on the altar. Su stands and shakes a bit to fluff her fur, and ambles a few steps toward Sepdet and Dylan. Her body language says she's speaking to them, but a wolf's openness invites as many listeners as can see. Aset, the young whelp, showed me a great deal about what it is to be no-moon. To teach one's cubs and elders is a great thing. Su's quiet words seem to satisfy her, and she flops back to the ground with her back curled toward the other Strider. Sepdet reaches out to rub Su's fur. Dylan finally speaks, but all he says is, ~I'll miss them.~ Sepdet nods quietly to the Stargazer. Alex nods. Sepdet flexes her hands and peers up into the dark swaying branches of the tree where the light-creature disappeared. Reluctantly, she gets back to her feet. ~We could probably drink and tell stories all night, but maybe we'd better leave the creatures that live here in peace before they get too confused by havin' unfamiliar company. Everyone, take a bowl of water--give it to the plants and trees. Maury loved this place. Noor, I got a present I'll be leavin' with you at the burial mounds--~ she winks. ~But that's a secret. Thank you for coming tonight, my friends.~ Su rises and curls around to nuzzle Sepdet in farewell. Dougie nods to Sepdet, hardly having moved all evening. Su contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Su shifts into Homid form. Alex nods quietly to Sepdet and stands. Soulcatcher gts to his feet and pads silently from the grotto. Soulcatcher walks into the woods to the south, disappearing between the trees. Soulcatcher has left. Sepdet gives Su a gentle poke, then creeps carefully down the bank. Chanting softly, kneels and quenches the fire with water hand-scooped from the pool. Finally she moves around to gather the incense and pebbles of tumbled tiger's eye that glint here and there all but invisible around the edge of the ritual space. The altar and the tokens of the two fallen, she leaves out to stand under the sky until the next dawn. Blinks looks around in dismay as the gathering begins to break up. He frowns regretfully. Su flows up into a form with hands and moves to the closest bowl of water. She crouches and takes it, selecting a small spruce sapling on the outside of the clearing to receive the benison. Dylan stands up, taking a bowl of water in his long dark hands and pouring out the libation at the foot of a oak. Sepdet pads over to Blinks and picks up two bowls. ~Heya. This is two. You sit and rest, ketet; I'll get you in a minute~ One she gives to a rowan, the other--after some thought--she pours slowly back into the stream in silent thanks. Su shifts into Lupus form. Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Alex takes one of the bowls of water and slowly pours it out, dividing it equally between two plants. Sepdet shifts into Crinos form. Moon Otter pushes to all fours, turns, and departs quietly back into the woods without participating in any rituals. Moon Otter walks into the woods to the south, disappearing between the trees. Drew unfolds slowly to his feet, picking up a bowl of water, and walks around for a thirsty-lookig oak, and tips the bowl slightly, letting the water fall like tears. Blinks crawls slowly toward the ring of rocks around the pool. Once there, he hauls himself up on a tall rock, until he leans shakily against it. Dylan touches his had to the moisture that clings to the empty bowl, and wipes it across his eyes. He sets the bowl down, and, looking at Sepdet, mimics her shift. Dylan contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Dylan shifts into Crinos form. Su walks slightly around the pool to sniff at Blinks's injuries. Sepdet slips over to Blinks and offers an arm. Su contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Su shifts into Glabro form. Su stretches back up into a form that approximates Sepdet's crinos height and takes the cub's other side. Blinks smiles, but doesn't take the arm for the moment. Instead, he looks into the running water, and says, to no one in particular, ~Aset - I remember only good things.~ Dylan sees Su's shift, and shifts back down himself, murmuring an inaudible leave taking and making his way out of the Grotto. Dylan contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Blinks's legs begin to buckle, and he quickly grasps onto both Su and Sepdet. Sepdet lets Blinks lean on her arm as she and Su gently take him back to the caern.