St. Uriel's Boarding House -- Upstairs(#252RAs)
Skylights are set into the roof, flooding the room with warmth and light during
  the day, though at night, they mirror those who walk within... This social
  area boasts a stereo, TV, and attendant VCR, as well as various comfortable
  couches and a low table. Plants hang from the ceiling in drifts of green, and
  bookcases sport favorite reading material.
This is still a religious boarding house, however; a staff member always
  observes from a padded chair off to the side, albeit often with a magazine. 
Two-person rooms line each hallway, 'girls' to the east, 'boys' to the west,
  with bathrooms spaced evenly along each.
Stairs lead down to the entry.

Maury flexes her fingers, then sits down with a largish book and starts
  reading.
Elizabeth climbs up from the entry.
Maury glances up from her book, eyes turning worried as she sees who came in.
  "Hi, Beth. How're you feeling?"
Elizabeth comes up the stairs with a heavy load of books.
Elizabeth smiles. "I'm fine. How are you doing?"
Elizabeth sits down to rest her feet on the couch. A number of books tumble
  about her. Most of them have to do with Victorian England, you notice.
Maury says "I'm all right, just...well... You know. Tired and stuff. Seems
  like even without helping Mr. Burke out my workload's gone up a lot
  recently."
Elizabeth says "Really? Things have been a little rough. I have a lot of extra
  homework this weekend. Researching the Dickens environmeent. A mess. In more
  ways than one.""
Annie climbs up from the entry.
Annie grins at Mark, who heads down the boys' hall, after grinning at Maury.
Annie nods to Maury and Elizabeth. "Hiya, Maury. Hi, Liza."
Elizabeth pulls out a copy of a book on Victorian fashion. "Can you believe
  that had to wear those things....Oh, Hi, Annie..." Her eyes dart down as
  Annie comes in and she gets much quieter for a minute.
Elizabeth looks up again and smiles.
Maury looks at Beth's book and makes a face. "Ugh. I'm glad _I_ don't have
  to..hi, Annie." Her eyes follow Mark briefly, then go back to the book. "I
  have enough work reading alll this Mallory for Mr. Burke, and my normal load,
  and typing stuff for him."
Annie grins at Elizabeth. "Better that stuff than some of the earlier shit.
  Maury, you got some spare time tonight? Got something to show you..."
Elizabeth's eyes dart from Annie to Maury, and she looks concerned for a
  moment. Then she shakes her head, and flips open the fashion book, which has
  wonderful color plates.
Maury looks up, and slams the book closed. "I haven't got free time, but I've
  been working for hours and I need a break. Whatcha got?"
Annie chuckles. "Some new CDs."
Maury says "Oh, cool."
Elizabeth sighs very lightly and smiles.
Annie grins and heads down the girls' corridor. "Whenever you're ready, kiddo."
Annie walks east down the hallway, and enters one of the girls' rooms after
  knocking.
Maury gets to her feet, holding the book in one arm. "Now works."

Annie and Kathie's Room
It's a small room, with twin single beds on either side of it; each also has a
  closet, a desk with chair and garbage can, and a mirror over a dresser. One
  half of the room is full, but neat; the other is fairly cluttered with papers
  and 'compact disks', and has a plaid bedspread. Both sides of the room have
  field hockey paraphenalia stacked about. The view from the two medium-sized
  windows is of other houses resembling this one.
The single door leads to the hallway.

Annie grins and pulls a fistful of cds out of her bag.
Annie puts the new CDs down next to the CD player and takes the CD that was
  inside out, stowing it carefully away.
Maury glances out the window, then settles down near the CDs, grinning. "Cool.
  I've been thinking about some CDs myself; Mama's getting me a 'player for my
  birthday in a couple months."
Annie grins. "Great. Which one do you want to listen to first?"
Maury says "What've you got?"
Maury flips through the CDs, annd picks one out almost at random.
Annie grins and takes the CD given to her. "Good choice." She puts it carefully
  in the player and cues it up.
Maury stretches out her legs, then starts rubbing her right palm with her left
  hand.
Kate enters from the hallway.
Annie says "Heya, Kate."
Kate opens the door without knocking. "Yo, Annie, I gotta--" She breaks off
  upon seeing Maury.
The CD player is playing the latest Christine Lavin Live album, quietly.
Maury is listening to a CD; she turns her head and frowns a little at Kate.
Annie says "Whatcha got, Kate?"
Kate smiles wryly. "I gotta talk to you."
Annie says "About what?"
Kate flashes a city-cynic's grin at Maury, noticing the frown. She looks back
  to Annie, and shrugs noncommittally. "All kinds a shit. Thorn's been thinkin'
  about gettin' together."
Annie glances at Maury. "So why don't you bring him around here?"
Kate says "No, I mean he wants to, like, throw a party or somethin', for the
  gang of us. You know, do somethin' *official*.""
Maury makes a bit of a face at the mention of Thorn, but says nothing,
  listening to the CD and trying not to interrupt.
Annie chuckles. "Official, huh. Uh, pizza?"
Kate leans back casually against the desk. "I think he means, like /real/
  official."
Annie ohs... "Uh... Kate, I hate the really formal shit..."
Kate shrugs. "Look..." She glances at Maury. "You wanna talk to him?"
Annie nods... "Sure."
Maury looks at the two older girls. "Formal? For what?"
Annie grins. "You'll find out."
Kate runs a hand through her hair. "Just gettin' together with a coupla
  friends."
Kate says "Phone?"
Annie points at the phone under some papers on her desk.
Maury says "Find out?"
Annie nods sagely... "When you're older." She winks at Maury.
Maury ohs, and nods with a scowl. "Everything happens when I'm older."
Annie chuckles.
The CD gets to "What Was I *Thinking*??"
Kate picks up the phone, and dials a number from memory.
Kate pauses, and then presses eight keys after looking at the phone.
Kate hangs up.
Annie glances at Kate. "And?"
The phone rings.
Annie grins.
Annie says "What CD next, Maury?"
Maury picks out another one, while looking over the case of the first one.
Kate picks up the phone. "Yo."
Annie takes Maury's choice and checks the time remaining on the Christine Lavin
  CD.
Thorn's voice can be heard over the phone. "Hi... this is Thorn."
Kate nods. "Yeah, Annie wants to talk to you. Like, in person. Pizza?"
Annie says "Whyn't you ask him to come up here, Kate?"
Thorn's voice is a little hesitant. "I *guess* so... um... I gotta get there,
  though... I'll hurry."
Kate says "'Kay." She grins. "Later, babe."
Annie says "Here or pizza?"
Maury votes, "Pizza." Then she flushes, remembering she isn't in the group in
  question.
Kate hangs up, and grins. "Nah, he's comin' here."
Annie grins. "Coolness." The Lavin CD finishes, and she cues up the next CD.
Thorn has arrived.
Annie moves over to the door as the CD starts playing.
Thorn knocks on the door.
Kate glances up at the knock on the door.
Annie opens the door. "C'mon in, Freak."
Thorn tentatively enters the small room. "Oh... um, hiya." He smiles a little
  uncomfortably.
Kate cracks a wide grin. "Yo, Thorn. Hope you took the shortcut."
Annie grins and closes the door behind Thorn. "Everyone know everyone?"
Maury looks at Thorn, hiding an odd expression. "Yah, we've met, Annie."
Kate glances at Annie. "Think so, babe." She quirks an eyebrow.
Annie grins. "Great."
The CD player starts playing the latest Two Nice Jews album.
Thorn nods at Kate's question and he smiles at Maury. "Hi, Maury. Good to see
  you again."
Kate goes back to leaning casually on the edge of the desk.
Thorn winces slightly at the music.
Annie grins at Thorn. "So what's this shindig Kate says you want?"
Kate looks from Annie, to Thorn, to Maury, and mutters, "I don't see why we
  can't just go out for pizza."
Annie snickers at Kate. "'Cause Mama'd kill us anything, ah, happened, f'r
  one."
Maury smiles politely back at Thorn. "Hi, Thorn."
Maury says "Mama?"
Annie grins at Maury. "Mama Garcia."
Kate flashes a cynical grin to Annie.
Maury says "Oh, right. Why would anything happen there?" She frowns a little.
  "And no one's told _me_ we weren't allowed anywhere...or did the nuns catch
  you again, Annie?"
Kate smiles wryly. "Got nothin' to do woth the nuns."
Annie shakes her head. "Nah, the nuns haven't got a clue..."
Maury looks mildly bewildered, but nods.
Thorn just seems confused at the pace of the conversation... as well as the
  subject matter. He grins a little foolishly. "Um... well... I like pizza, but
  I'm kinda broke."
Annie chuckles to Thorn. "'Sokay."
Annie says "Say, Kate, you heard if Banshee's playing any time soon?"
Maury gives Thorn a slightly disdainful look.
Kate says "Banshee?" She shrugs. "Don't even know 'em."
Thorn perks up a bit at the name 'Banshee.'
Annie rolls her eyes. "Where have you *been*, Kate?"
Thorn smiles at Kate, "You know... like Cory, and Windy, and Dante."
Annie grins and nods. "Dante's an unsufferable conceited twit, but the band's
  halfway decent..."
Maury looks a little lost by the conversation. "Who, who, and who?"
Kate snorts. "Dante's cool. It's the rest of'em I don't like."
Annie grins at Kate. She turns to Maury. "Friends of ours. You'll meet 'em."
Kate cocks her head at Annie. "Soon, you think?"
Maury ohs at Annie, and tries to look a little less sullen.
Annie grins. "Oh, prolly. What d'you say, Thorn?"
Thorn chews his lip. "I think so."
Thorn looks at Maury again and smiles.
Annie chuckles. "Just don't believe anything Dante says. He's a BG."
Kate shrugs, and cocks one leg up to rest against the desk, and grins at Annie.
Kate says "He's still cool."
Maury says "BG?"
Annie snickers. "Yeah, well, he doesn't spend all his time trying to convince
  *you* he's the handsome guy ever to walk Gaia's Earth..."
Kate snorts derisively. "Fat fuckin' chance."
Annie snickers. She looks at Maury. "BG. Bone Gnawer."
Maury turns shocked eyes on Annie. "_Gaia's_? Don't you mean God's? Bone
  Gnawer? What...?"
Annie smirks. "I mean Gaia's."
Thorn looks at Annie, smiling slightly less confidently. He watches the three
  women exchange words that he only partially seems to grasp.
Maury stares at Annie. "Annie, that's ... that's..."
Annie says "Blasphemy?"
Maury nods. Very firmly.
Annie chuckles. "Nah."
Kate waves a hand. "God, the Mother, Earth, Gaia... no difference. Same shit,
  different names."
Maury stares at Annie. "_No_? You're calling Earth not God's, but an old Greek
  goddess's!"
Kate says "Nah, nah.... not /that/ Gaia."
Annie chuckles. "What Kate said."
Annie says "'Cept, I don't think the leeches think their God's the same's
  Gaia."
Kate hops up onto the desk, and sits with her feet on the chair. "Yah, point."
Thorn seems a little taken aback by Maury's vehemence. His brow furrows
  slightly and he seats himself crosslegged on the floor.
Annie winces as her stuff scatters onto the floor. "You're gonna break shit,
  Kate... Sit on Kathie's desk."
Annie says "Your other question, Maury... Bone Gnawers're one of the Tribes.
  Thorn's a Silver Fang. Kate's a Get. I'm a Glass Walker. Thorn, what'd you
  say Maury is?"
Maury's fervor is a little derailed. "Leeches?" Her expression is obviously
  that of one trying to decide whether a disgusting bloodsucking worm is meant,
  or an old meaning of the word seldom used now.
Kate hops down from the desk, and sits on Kathie's instead. "This'n's neater
  anyway."
Maury stares at Annie like she's gone insane.
Annie grins at Maury, very much her usual self.
Kate smiles wryly at the girl. "Yo. Maury. Chill. We, ah, gotta tell you some
  stuff."
Annie puts an old Marillion CD in, _Misplaced Childhood_, and then goes over to
  the door.
Maury gives Kate a _look_. "Uh-huh. First Beth gets sick and has her problems
  last week, and now Annie's going insane." She gets to her feet.
Kate nods to Annie, then looks back to Maury. "Nobody's insane here, kid.
  Relax."
Thorn stands slowly, wincing at the new music.
Annie chuckles. "I promise you I'm not insane, kiddo. Neither is Liza. Neither
  are you."
Maury stops on her way to the door and glares at Annie. "I know _I'm_ not."
Annie locks the door and stands in front of it.
Annie says "Siddown, Maury 'n' listen to us."
Kate exchanges a worried look with Thorn, then says quietly, "Like I said, we
  gotta tell you some stuff."
Kate's voice is surprisingly gentle.
Thorn stands back from the confrontation, he is succeeding fairly well in not
  looking intimidating.
Annie looks only as intimidating as she normally does.
Maury stares at the door, then at Annie. Her voice rises just slightly to a
  higher pitch. "I guess I don't have much choice, do I? Everyone's probably
  off at dinner."
Annie grins. "Atta girl. You been having strange dream lately?"
Kate remains seated on Kathie's desk, crosslegged.
Maury admits, grudgingly, "Yes."
Annie grins. "Been, maybe, a bit restless, a bit grumpy?"
Kate nods slowly, her eyes on the girl, her expression concerned.
Maury eyes Annie warily, and flushes. "I haven't been _that_ obvious, have I?
  I've tried to behave and be nice still."
Annie grins. "Nah, you've done a good job, kid. And it happens to all of us."
Maury says sullenly, "Everyone _else_ seems fine. It's...just..." She waves her
  hands at the window. "This city's driving me crazy, I think."
Annie glances at Kate. "Want to get out of the city, kiddo?"
Thorn watches Annie cajole Maury, and his smile is surprisingly soft. He leans
  against the wall.
Thorn looks at Maury. "I've been camping out in the woods, near the park. Nice
  place."
Maury nods, and hugs herself. "I grew up on a farm, Annie. And I never liked
  the city. And then there was Mr. Burke's paper."
Kate smiles at the young girl, an uncommonly gentle smile. "Yeah, it's kinda
  stressful here, eh?"
Annie shakes her head... "Not the park, Thorn. How about the Woods, Maury? Or
  the Lake?"
Maury says, with a wary distrust mixed with wistfulness, "Woods? I like
  woods..."
Thorn nods, "There's a rocky beach, a little ways south of Kent's Crossing. 's
  really peaceful there."
Kate nods to Annie. "My place is close to Lake Arthur, Maury, if you know where
  that is...."
Maury says "I sorta vaguely know..but that's a long ways out." She glances
  at the door. "An' the nuns wouldn't be at _all_ happy..."
Annie grins. "If you make me a promise, we'll take you out to the Lake or the
  Woods, you're choice."
Annie chuckles. "And you won't get in *too* much trouble with the nuns, I don't
  think."
Maury gives Annie the same distrustful yet wistful look. "What promise?"
Annie says "You gotta promise to stay with us. You don't know the area. We do.
  We don't want you to get hurt."
Kate nods, her expression sober. "Yeah."
Thorn's stomach growls and he grins foolishy as his cheeks flush with
  embarassment.
Annie snickers at Thorn.
Thorn casts his eyes down, his cheeks flare red.
Kate says "Shit, Thorn, we can't take you /anywhere..." She grins. "Maybe we
  oughta grab somethin' to eat, eh? Tonight?"
Maury smiles weakly at Thorn, and then nods at Annie. "All right. I promise."
  She eyes Thorn again, and whispers, "Maybe we shoulda gone for the pizza
  after all.."
Annie chuckles. "We c'n stop on the way out 'n' get the Freak something ta
  eat..."
Thorn looks up at the mention of pizza.
Kate flashes a feral grin at Thorn, and a gentler one to Maury. "Cool! Um,
  bring some stuff, okay? "
Maury says "Stuff?"
Annie nods... "Get y'r warm jacket, Maury. Kate, you wanna go with her?"
Thorn nods. "Warm stuff."
Kate jerks her head at Annie. "You go." She grins. "I don't think the nuns like
  me."
Thorn smiles, "I *know* they don't like me."
Maury nods. "'Course." The slightly distrustful look resurfaces as she glances
  at Kate; she looks relieved at Kate's answer, mildly so.
Annie chuckles. "My under the bed, Kate."
Annie unbolts the door and holds it open for Maury.
Maury picks up her book off the corner of Annie's desk, and walks out, head
  held up despite the still-wary look on her face.

St. Uriel's Boarding House -- Upstairs(#252RAs)

Annie exits one of the doors along the east hallway and walks over.

Maury and Carrie's Dorm Room(#1758R)
This small room has two single beds, twins, one on either side of the door; in
  each half is also a closet, a desk with chair and garbage can, and a mirror
  over a dresser. One half of the room is fairly cluttered with papers and CDs,
  and has a plain burgundy bedspread. The other side is neat, a pile of papers
  all stacked together on the desk, the bookshelf above it carefully organized.
  The bedspread is a navy blue, the sheets below it and the matching
  pillowcases white. The view from the two medium-sized windows is of other
  houses resembling this building.
The single door leads out to the hallway.
Annie enters from the hallway, after knocking.
Maury puts the book down next to a pile of similarly large books, then opens
  her wardrobe to pull the coat off the hanger. "Annie? We really won't get
  into trouble?"
Annie grins. "I promise you won't, kiddo."
Annie lounges against one of the desks while Maury gets her coat.
Maury puts her coat on and nods firmly. "All right, then. Mr. Burke promised to
  take our English class out to Wolf Woods for a field trip, but that isn't
  until _spring__." She opens the door and holds it for Annie.
Annie grins.
Annie heads out to the hallway.

St. Uriel's Boarding House -- Upstairs(#252RAs)

Annie walks east down the hallway, and enters one of the girls' rooms after
  knocking.

Annie and Kathie's Room

Thorn's seated on the foot of the bed.
Annie says "Ready? You got your bike here, Kate?"
Thorn stands as the others arrive.
Kate's pulling a rolled-up bundle from under the bed; she straightens. "Yeah. I
  c'n take Thorn."
Annie grins. "Great." She pulls her jacket on and grabs her backpack. "Let's
  roll."
Annie heads out to the hallway.
Thorn looks less then enthusiastic about the idea of a bike ride.
Kate nods, and picks up the rolled-up blanket.
Thorn shrugs.
Thorn heads out to the hallway.

St. Uriel's Boarding House -- Upstairs(#252RAs)

Kate exits one of the doors along the east hallway and walks over.
Annie heads down the stairs to the entry.
Maury gives Thorn a sympathetic grin at his expression.
Kate heads down the stairs to the entry.
Thorn heads down the stairs to the entry.

St. Uriel's Boarding House -- Entry
A nun is stationed behind the wide front desk at all hours. No matter whose
  shift it is, her smile is usually pacific as she checks off arrivals and
  departures in her logbook, ... unless it's after curfew.
A young ficus tree stands in its pot to one side of the doorway, and a largish
  coatrack's on the other side. A few not-terribly-comfortable chairs are
  provided for waiting visitors.
Situated in the center of an east-west hallway, a staircase leads upwards from
  the entryway, to the students' rooms. Opposite the staircase, to the north, a
  set of double doors leads to the outside. At the far western end of the
  corridor, beyond the male staff's quarters and the fire doors, is the school
  proper.

Kate pushes open a door and exits.
Annie pushes open a door and exits.

Outside the School of St. Uriel(#1300RJ)
The Church of St. Uriel, across the street, looms over its school as if
  guarding progeny. By comparison, the aged redbrown brick before you looks
  warm, even innocuous, presenting a wide, even front that's two stories high
  with high, narrow windows to either side of the entrance. Its roof has a soft
  slant, with well-cleaned gutters, and the discreet sign is lettered in
  immaculate script which graffiti would not dare to desecrate.
The boarding house has its own entrance and is set a little further back from
  the street than the school proper, but is likewise manicured, down to the
  rosebushes beneath the many-paned windows. Ivy twines up along the somewhat
  more windworn corners, and continues westward along the one-story hallway
  that unites boarding area with school.
Osprey Drive, just to the north, widens here enough for a bus to park and is
  striped accordingly. A herringbone path, even and weedless, extends from the
  boarding area to the school before circling up to the street again; high
  boxwood hedges, and the chain link behind them, prevent passage except
  through each pair of doubled, wide wooden doors.

Thorn approaches from inside the boarding house.
Maury pauses. "I should see if Father Logan's around to tell him where I'm
  going."
On her motorcycle, Annie says "No, Maury."
Thorn's stomach growls on cue.
On her motorcycle, Annie grins. "You don't want the Freak to starve, do you,
  kiddo?"
Thorn smiles as his cheeks flush again.
Kate grins. She straps the roll onto the back of her bike, and puts on a
  helmet. "C'mon, Thorn." She tosses him a small black helmet, and hops onto
  the bike.
On her motorcycle, Annie says "Get on, Maury."
Maury giggles. "Oh, all right. I can call or something if I'm out too late."
On her motorcycle, Annie hands Maury a helmet.

Timichi FireBird
A small, sleek, extremely fuel-efficient motorcycle.
Annie kicks the firebird into gear.
On the dirtbike, Kate revs the engine with a whine of Japanese motor-noise.
Maury puts the helmet on carefully, then settles on.

Osprey Drive, 1400 Block

Annie says "Hold on, Maury."

Intersection of Osprey Drive and 14th Avenue
Osprey Drive, 1300 Block
Intersection of Osprey Drive and 13th Avenue
13th Avenue, 2000 Block
Intersection of Market Street and 13th Avenue
13th Avenue, 1900 Block
Intersection of Four Leaf Clover Street and 13th Avenue
13th Avenue, 400 Block -> 1800 Block

Annie yells something at Kate about changing routes.

Intersection of Vandertramp Street and 13th Avenue
13th Avenue, Below the Interstate
13th Avenue, 100 Block -> 300 Block
Intersection of Silver Avenue and 13th Avenue
13th Street, 100 Block -> 1300 Block
Intersection of Elson Avenue and 13th Street
13th Street, 1400 Block
Intersection of Regan Avenue and 13th Street
13th Street, 1500 Block
Intersection of Bridge Street and 13th Street
Bridge Street, 400 Block -> 1200 Block
Intersection of Bridge Street and 4th Street
Bridge Street, 300 Block
Intersection of Bridge Street and 3rd Street
Bridge Street, 200 Block
Intersection of Bridge Street and 2nd Street
Bridge Street, 100 Block
Intersection of Bridge Street and 1st Street
Municipal Bridge, West Side
Municipal Bridge, Center
Municipal Bridge, East Side
Highway 22, East of Municipal Bridge
Kent Crossing, West Side

Battered Dirtbike comes down the highway from the west, entering town.

Kent Crossing, East Side
County Line Road, Railroad Crossing
County Line Road, In the Woods
Rutted Dirt Road
Meadow by Lake Arthur(#1253RL)

Annie stops the firebird carefully.
On the dirtbike, Kate kills the engine after coming to a skidding halt.
Maury takes a deep breath.
Kate gets off the bike.

Meadow by Lake Arthur(#1253RL)
A large, open meadow spreads out before you, sloping down on one side to the
  shore of a clear blue lake.  Scrawny field grasses sway slightly in a gentle
  breeze; scattered clumps of trees stand like outposts for the surrounding
  forest.  Deer tracks crisscross the meadow, forming a network of lines
  through the grass.  The deep forest of the northwest spreads out on three
  sides, balanced by the clarity of the crystalline lake.  
To the west, the meadow slopes down to a rocky beach on the shore.  An ill-kept
  dirt road enters the meadow from the north, marks a curving line between
  grass and trees along the meadow's northeastern border, and veers eastward. 
  A bumpy trail, scarred with the tracks of a dirtbike, forks away from the
  main road and passes beneath the trees to the southeast.  Several overgrown
  trails lead off into the deeper forests to the south and southwest.

Thorn gets off the bike.
Kate leans the bike against a tree. "So. Here we are."
Thorn stumbles off the bike, rubbing his posterior. He shakes his head,
  bleary-eyed.
Annie sets her helmet on the firebird's handlebars and checks the battery
  cable.
Kate grins at Thorn and Maury.
Thorn mutters, "What a way to travel."
Annie grins. "I still don't think you hadta do that, Kate..."
Kate unstraps the helmet and tosses it next to the bike, then sets off towrad
  the beach through the long grass.
Kate flashes a grin over her shoulder. "Yeah, so?"
Kate heads for the rocky beach.
Maury tilts her head up towards the sky, and mutters fretfully, "I wish the
  clouds would go away. I'd love to be able to see the moon." She takes off her
  own helmet and puts it on the firebird carefully.
Annie grins and steers Maury towards the beach.
Annie says "You scratched the paint, Kate!"
Annie heads for the rocky beach.
Thorn heads for the rocky beach.
Kate approaches from the beach.

Rocky Beach(#22RJL)
A small, narrow beach of sand and sun-warmed rock stretches out along the
  eastern shore of Lake Arthur, marking a break in the dark forests that border
  the clear water.  The lake's smooth surface spreads outward from the
  waterline like a sheet of black glass, reflecting the pale light of the moon.
  Trees line the edge of the water, their dim silhouettes marking the edge of
  the woods to the north and south.
Just to the east, a rocky beach slopes gently upward to a large meadow; north
  and south of the beach, thick forest shrouds the lakeshore in a veil of
  leaves and wood.  The water of the lake spreads out westward, the wooded far
  shore visible in the blurred distance.  The island rises from the lake almost
  due west of here, a rocky oasis resting on the glassy surface.

Kate approaches from the meadow.
Annie says "I wasn't going anywhere at the time, anyway, Kate..."
Maury sits down next to the water, staring out at the island in the middle.
  Already, she seems to be relaxing, her restless unhappiness easing.
Kate shrugs, and smiles. She hefts herself up onto a large boulder, and sits
  there in her usual slouch. "Whatev, babe."
Annie chuckles. "Anyways... Where were we?"
Maury dips her fingers into the lakewater. "Why couldn't I tell Father Logan we
  were coming out here? He might worry when I don't show up to talk to him
  tonight."
Kate leans back, on her elbows, and tilts her head to look over at Maury. "I'm
  sure he won't mind. Sounds like you kinda need to talk about some stuff,
  though. Like things've been kinda shitty lately."
Annie glances at Kate and Thorn. "He might not've let you come out here."
Kate's eyes flick to Annie, and she raises an eyebrow as if in question. She
  mouths, 'Who's Logan?'
Annie mouths back, 'Big Shot Priest.'
Kate mimes an exaggerated, 'OH!', her jaw dropping.
Kate nods, grinning at Annie.
Maury looks at Kate. "It's just, well, I don't think I'm made for staying in
  the city, but Mama and Papa say I'm not to come out here alone until I know
  the land better - I used to know every tree at home."
Annie grins at Maury.
Kate nods. "'M sure you'll know it here, pretty soon."
Thorn walks over and leans against the rock that Kate is sitting on.
Annie says "Your Mama 'n' Papa're right. There's wolves 'n' worse some places
  'round here."
Kate's eyes narrow at Annie. "The wolves don't hurt anybody, Jump."
Annie grins at Kate. "Tell that to the rabbits, Kate."
Maury says "Well, I know there're wolves in Wolf Woods, or it wouldn't be
  called that. What worse?"
Kate's lips twist in a wry, cynical smile, and she nods a concession to Annie.
Annie glances at Thorn. "Leeches 're in the city, but Banes 'n' shit're out
  here..."
Thorn meets Annie's eyes. "And Garou."
Annie smirks. "Yeah, but we're not gonna hurt Maury."
Kate grins at Annie. "Nope. She's family."
Thorn nods, smiling slightly. "But we're arguably worse than wolves."
Annie chuckles. "True 'nough..."
Maury looks lost from the start. "Huh? Who, what?"
Kate smiles warmly to Maury. "See, you're, um, one of the Garou."
Annie grins. "Garou. The Changing Breed."
Maury stares warily at all three; she seems to withdraw into herself a little,
  but doesn't, at least, move to get up.
Kate's expression sobers a little, and becomes more gentle. "You've been
  feelin' strange for a reason."
Thorn meets Maury's gaze for the first time, and the light reflects off his red
  eyes.
Annie is still standing and shifts onto the balls of her feet.
Maury flinches back from Thorn's gaze, and eases backwards a little. "And how
  would you know why I've been feeling strange?"
Kate shrugs. "'Cause we all went through the same thing."
Annie grins. "E-yup."
Thorn says, "More or less."
Maury looks unconvinced. "Feeling strange? Everyone does, you said before."
Annie grins. "Nah... Not everybody feels strange in quite the way we mean."
Thorn says "No. She said we all do. She didn't say everyone."
Maury opens her mouth to say something, then closes it frustratedly as she
  realizes Thorn's right.
Kate nods, her eyes narrowing a bit. "All of _us_."
Annie says "All the Garou."
Maury wraps her arms around herself, and pronounces the word dubiously. "The
  Garou. What 'zactly are the Garou?"
Thorn says quietly, "Maury. We are the Changing Breed. Humans know us as
  Werewolves."
Annie tenses faintly, waiting to see if Maury bolts.
Kate slips down from the boulder, landing easily on her feet.
Maury scrambles to her feet. "You _are_ insane. There's no such thing as
  werewolves." She doesn't run, but she looks like she's considering it.
Annie glances at Kate.
Kate's voice is quiet. "It's okay, Maury. Take it easy."
Thorn meets Kate's eyes, then Annie's. He shrugs off his coat.
Kate backs away from Maury a few steps, hands spread; she then turns and walks
  into the woods to the south. "I'll do it, Thorn."
Annie moves closer to Maury, lightly resting her hands on the younger girl's
  shoulders.
Maury stares at Kate. "I'm surrounded by insane maniacs, and I can't leave
  them, and you say it's okay."
Thorn nods at Kate.
Kate disappears from sight into the woods.
Maury is trembling under Annie's hands, but makes no effort to break away.
Chaser has arrived.
Annie grins and begins gently kneading Maury's shoulders.

This lithe female bears the stippled dark grey markings of a northern timber
  wolf.  Her eyes, the color of barely-yellowed leaves, glint with a disturbing
  feral intelligence in a rather long, narrow face.  Her slim stature and lean,
  wiry muscles mark her as a quick and probably very agile hunter--in fact, she
  seems to embody the essence of lupine speed and cunning.  Those of Garou
  blood might feel their blood stir at the sight, and often find themselves
  staring at her as she passes silently through the forest shadows.  Though
  barely an adult, she carries herself with the fierce, defensive posture of
  one baring fangs in the face of adversity.  
Three long, parallel scars, showing up as slight stripes or indentations in
  Chaser's fur, stretch from her left shoulder down across her chest.  A
  slightly rough patch in the fur at one side of her throat marks an old
  injury, probably made by rending teeth in attempt to tear out the she-wolf's
  throat.

Thorn takes Kate's seat on the boulder. He smiles as Chaser enters.
A shadow-colored wolf pads out of the woods to the south, with a feral grace in
  her steps. She pauses cautiously at some distance, looking at Maury.
Annie grins. "Say hi to Chaser, Maury."
Maury stares at Chaser, and trembles, more; she makes a move to back away,
  blocked by Annie. "Uh. Hi."
Chaser tosses her head in a proud gesture, one that matches the subtle,
  dangerous beauty of the wolf. ~Calm. Dom't fear.~
Annie continues gently massaging Maury's shoulders. "Chaser's Kate's name in
  lupus."
Thorn studies Maury from his perch on the boulder.
Maury manages not to step on Annie's feet. "Uhm. Right. So Kate walks off, and
  this wolf comes back, and it's Chaser." She stares at the wolf; there's no
  sign of any belief, just a struggle to control her brief attack of panic.
Chaser waits where she is, perhaps six or seven yards from the frightened girl.
  She sits, oonlight touching her dappled fur, illuminating the lines of sinewy
  muscles.
Annie's grip tightens enough to hold Maury still. "Would you like to see her
  change?" she asks quietly.
Thorn says softly, ~Perhaps you should show her the Change,
  Chaser-Never-Rests.~
Chaser pads a few steps closer, very slowly, her head down. ~I am
  Chaser-Never-Rests. I am also Kate.~
Maury stands utterly still as the wolf comes closer. "Um, er, um."
The wolf cocks her head at Maury. ~I don't wish to frighten you. But if you
  wish to see the Change I will show you.~
Annie says "Do you understand her, Maury?"
Maury twists around to look at Annie. "Huh?"
Annie chuckles. "She's talking to you. Do you understand her?"
Maury shakes her head.
Chaser whuffles disappointedly.
Annie grins. "She says she doesn't want to frighten you, but she'll show you
  the Change if you what to see it."
Maury bites her lip, then says, slightly defiant amidst the fear and
  uncertainty, "Maybe she'd better."
Chaser straightens, and seems to stretch.
Chaser contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Chaser shifts into Homid form.
Kate seems to relax a little as she regains her natural form.
Kate runs a nervous hand through her hair, and shrugs her shoulders a little.
Thorn smiles slightly at Maury's courage. He studies her carefully, as Chaser
  changes.
Annie holds Maury still as Kate shifts.
Maury gulps.
Maury seems grateful, suddenly, for Annie's support; she manages, after several
  seconds of staring, to get out a, "Um, hi, Kate."
Annie grins at Kate over Maury's head. "Remember when Liza 'got sick', Maury?"
Kate's eyes are still on the frightened girl, though they drop briefly as she
  rubs at the back of her neck with a hand. She smiles wryly. "Yo." Tilting her
  head a little, she says, "It's me."
Maury shudders, and then twists around to stare up at Annie's face. "Y-you
  mean...? She's one, too?"
Annie nods, managing to keep a hold of Maury as she twists. "Remember what you
  saw, before you convinced yourself the punch was bad?"
Maury says "She changed shape. But not into a wolf. Just....less human."
Annie nods... "Kate?"
Thorn nods at Kate.
Annie turns Maury around again so she's facing Kate.
Maury does not look like she wants to see this, but takes a deep breath and
  tilts her chin up stubbornly anyway; her face settles into a determined,
  stubbornly proud expression.
Kate bites her lip. "Try not to be afriad," she murmurs.
Thorn smiles slightly, pleased with Maury's display.
Kate bows her head, clenches both fists, and closes her eyes; for a moment, she
  juststands there.
Annie grins down at Maury.
Kate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Kate shifts into Crinos form.
Annie tightens her grip on Maury's shoulders.
Maury muffles a slightly startled shriek.
Annie squeezes Maury's shoulders. "It's okay."

This towering monster stands roughly eight feet tall; grey fur, stippled with
  lighter and darker shades covers her rippling, lean muscles.  Wild, flashing
  eyes stare out from a terrifying face of lupine fury, as she bares long,
  sharp fangs in a snarl.  Her long arms end in sharp-clawed hand/paws that
  look capable of shredding small trees.  Somehow she seems to embody a
  beautiful, terrible predatory grace, and her movements are fluid despite her
  size.  

Kate straightens, and seems to stretch.
Kate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Kate shifts into Homid form.
Kate seems to relax a little as she regains her natural form.
Annie says "I think Liza only went to Glabro, Kate."
Thorn bites his lip.
Maury stares at Kate wildly; her right hand comes up to her mouth to cover it,
  teeth biting into one finger lightly to help her regain control.
Annie squeezes Maury's shoulders again. "It's okay, kid. I promise."
Kate runs a nervous hand through her hair, ducking her head slightly. "I'm
  sorry, Maury. I know it's scary."
Maury swallows. "A-and all of y-you - us - can do that?"
Annie grins. "Yes."
Kate smiles wryly, meeting Maury's eyes, her gentle expression softening her
  features almost into beauty.
Maury swallows, and tilts her chin up. "So how do you know _I_ can do that?
  I've never changed like Beth did."
Annie grins down at the top of Maury's head. "Well, for one thing, you didn't
  run when saw Liza or Kate Change, and you remembered what really happened."
Annie says "For another, a friend of Patrick's, whom he trusts, says you are."
Kate's lips twist in a cynical moue. "Most people just forget, or run away, or
  make up some kinda story to themselves. If you don't, you're either one of us
  or related."
Thorn adds, "And you have a spirit bound to you, as all of us do."
Maury twists around a little to stare up at Annie. "Patrick is, too?" She turns
  back to Kate. "But the punch...?"
Maury gives Thorn a wilder, wary look, starts to retort, and then takes another
  look at Kate. She gulps, and stays silent.
Annie says "There wasn't anything wrong with the punch."
Maury ohs. "But I believed..." She stops, and drops her eyes. "Well, I didn't
  believe. I wanted to believe. It was better than believing I was going insane
  and seeing things."
Annie grins. "You're not going insane, kiddo. Even if it feels like it."
Kate nods quietly, with a slightly rueful smile. "Yeah, it usually kinda freaks
  people out if they see somethin' like that. But 'Lizabeth couldn't help it."
Kate says "See, when y'first come of age, it's kinda hard to control the rage,
  and that's why y'been feelin' touchy."
Annie nods... "We didn't know 'bout Liza beforehand, or we'd've gotten her outa
  school beforehand."
Maury sounds mildly startled. "You mean you usually know?"
Thorn nods, "That's why you're here now, Maury. So what happend to Elizabeth,
  doesn't happen to you."
Annie grins. "Well... 'Round here, people seem ta get missed pretty often, but
  supposedly that doesn't happen so much other places..."
Kate tilts her head slightly at Maury, and says, "If y'change on your own,
  well, sometimes y'hurt people around you. And none of us wants that to
  happen... so usually people kinda watch out for the first signs."
Maury says "Why here?""
Maury starts looking more confused, less scared.
Annie shrugs. "Could've been anyplace, but you said you wanted to come out
  here."
Thorn nods, "And it's a nice, quiet place."
Kate shrugs. "I live a ways east, Thorn lives on the lake... and we can put
  y'up f'r'a while. It's a nice place to hang out, relax..."
Maury says "No, I mean, why here do people get missed?"
Annie grins. "'Cause the Caern's new, I think."
Thorn smiles, "Well... there are many reasons, Maury."
Kate nods. "Yah, there weren't any of us here f'ra long time. Nobody to watch
  f'r the cubs, y'know?"
Maury twists around to look up at Annie again. "C-can we sit down again? I feel
  a l-little shaky."
Annie grins and lets go of Maury enough for her to sit.
Kate drops smoothly to sit crosslegged on the ground, in a single graceful
  movement.
Annie remains standing.
Maury drops rather ungracefully down, herself.
Thorn remains seated on the boulder.
Thorn says quietly, "You have a lot to learn about what you are, Maury. So
  you'll be staying with us for a while, until you do."
Kate cocks her head to one side, hands fidgeting a little; she looks down for a
  few moments, the raises her eyes to meet Maury's. "We're here f'r'a reason.
  'Cause it's hard to go through the Change alone, and we don't want y't'be
  scared, or hurt, or upset by it."
Maury stares at Thorn. "B-but what about school? And my lessons from Father
  Logan, and the work I'm doing for Mr. Burke? And...and..."
Annie grins. "Or, at least, until you're in no danger of killing someone 'cause
  you lose your temper."
Kate runs a hand through her hair. "Consider it a vacation." She throws a sharp
  look at Annie. ~Don't scare her.~
Annie shrugs. ~That's what I was told.~
Kate's lips twist with humor, and she nods once to Annie.
Maury cradles her head in her hands. "I'm so _confused_ now. Okay. I'm a Garou,
  and I can't go back because I might lose my temper?"
Thorn puts in, "Maury. The change can't always be controlled, especially at
  first. Anger triggers it, and if you change at school, when you get angry..."
Thorn lets the sentence trail off.
Annie grins. "What do you think you'd do if Sister Mary hit you with her
  ruler?"
Maury shudders.
Kate's eyes narrow, and she nods. "Yeah. It's a lot better for you if you learn
  to control it first... somewhere safe."
Maury swallows, a little sickly, and nods. "Okay, I can see that."
Annie grins. "Just someone warn Dante so 'e doesn't tease Maury..."
Thorn smiles at Annie. "Oh... I don't imagine Dante will be given the
  opportunity."
Maury eyes Annie. "He's that one you said thought he was God's..." She pauses.
  "Gaia's gift to the world?"
Annie grins at Maury. "Yeah, him. He teased me when was in First Change. Don't
  even remember what 'e said. Nearly strangled the bastard."
Kate grins at Annie, and said, "You were in a bitch of a mood, too."
Thorn chuckles softly.
Thorn studies Maury intently.
Annie grins. "Yeah, well, hey. Can't help being what I am."
Kate's grin widens. "Yep."
Maury hugs herself again. "Who's this friend of Patrick's who knows what I
  am...what you say I am?"
Annie shrugs. "I don't know her too well, but Patrick trusts her. Name's Chloe,
  I think."
Maury frowns a little. "I think I've met her." She looks around at the three,
  and draws her knees up to her chest. "So...okay. What now?"
Thorn's feet drop down from his boulder. "Now you start to learn about Garou,
  Maury." He cocks his head. "You're Christian, right?"
Annie grins. "Maury's a good Catholic girl, Freak. Just like me."
Maury smiles weakly at Annie, then nods at Thorn.
Annie shakes her hair and takes her jacket off.
Annie makes a pile of her jacket, her backpack, and the roll of stuff from
  under her bed.
Thorn nods, thoughtful, "You'll learn things, about the way the world works,
  that may seem to contradict what you have been taught as a Christian. I have
  known, however, Garou who have reconciled what we know of things, with the
  teachings of Christianity."
Maury licks her lips uncertainly, but nods.
Thorn says "It will require thought on your part, for we can demonstrate in
  ways Priests of Christianity could never hope to."
Annie contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Annie shifts into Lupus form.
Maury says, shakily quiet, "I - I'll try."
Jumps-Fences curls up on the ground next to Maury and rests her head in the
  girl's lap.
Thorn nods, smiling. "Perhaps tonight you should just rest, then."
Jumps-Fences says ~Philosophy makes me sleepy.~
Kate says "Yeah... it's been kinda a scary night, eh?"
Maury stares down at - Annie? - and then looks up at Kate and Thorn. She nods
  at Kate; a wry smile twists at her lips. "Uh, well, yes."
Maury looks at the roll, then up at Thorn and Kate. "Stay here tonight?"
Thorn smiles at Maury, "Yeah. That'd be best."
Kate nods. "I can bring the tent from my clearing.
Thorn's smile widens, "You've been remarkably strong, Maury."
Kate says "Yeah. Show no fear, babe. Ya been real brave."
Maury smiles weakly at Thorn. "Mama always said I was a weird child. You - you
  live near here?"
Thorn nods. "I have a cave on that island over there. It's limestone and clean.
  I got a little boat so I can row out there."
Maury nods, and looks down at the wolf sleeping next to her. "S-so you'll be
  nearby tonight?"
Kate shrugs. "I'll stay here... just let me go get some things, okay?"
Thorn smiles softly, "I'll get my sleeping bag from the cave and stay here
  tonight. Don't worry, Maury. We're your people, and we'll stick by you."
Maury lets out a relieved sigh and smiles shakily at both Thorn and Kate.
Thorn pushes off from the boulder and stands. He says, "I'll be back shortly."
Kate nods. "I'll stay here."
Thorn steps off into the woods, and soon you seem a form rowing across Lake
  Arthur in a red and white dingy.
Thorn walks down the slope of the beach, and enters the water.
In the water, Thorn walks into the water from the beach.
In the water, Thorn swims toward the island in the lake's center.
In the water, Thorn swims towards you from the island.
In the water, Thorn swims for the beach and gets out of the water.
Thorn swims toward shore, and walks out of the water dripping a wet trail onto
  the pebbles and sand.
Maury carefully extricates herself from Annie, and then sits down by the roll.
  "I'm...this is all so strange."
Thorn puts the boat away, hiding it behind some bushes. He carries an armload
  of things to the beach.
Thorn chuckles as he sets up his sleeping bag. "Strange, yeah. But isn't it
  nice out here? Even if it is cold."
Kate stands smoothly. "Maury? Do you want that tent, or will y'be okay without
  it?"
Thorn slides into the sleeping bag.
Maury says "Mmmm... I think I'll be okay without it. But thanks."
Maury unrolls the roll Annie'd brought for her, with a glance at the sleeping
  wolf. As she settles down to stare up at the sky, she remarks, "I bet it's
  warmer like that, anyway."
Kate shrugs. "Yeah... Thorn, you'll stay in Homid, eh?"
Thorn smiles sleepily, "Not for me... I don't have any hair."
Thorn nods at Kate. "Sure."
Kate lowers her head, turning her shoulders inward.  She then takes a deep
  breath and closes her eyes.
Kate contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Kate shifts into Lupus form.
Chaser-Never-Rests tosses her head and looks around with alert, wary green
  eyes.
Maury watches Kate with fascinated eyes, then stares up at the sky again; her
  eyes slide closed slowly.
Thorn's breathing evens.
Maury curls up into a ball in her blankets; from there, she falls into a
  slightly restless doze that deepens quickly into true sleep.