January 25, 2003.01.25.03. - hunting the song keeper - journey to the blue mountains pt 3 [pack] *fog[forum]
(ST)
Zoe stands, looking to the west along a definite line. It does seem that she can see... something, though oddly there are still moments that she seems as blind as she ever was as she starts in that direction without really waiting for anyone.Dire, Rune and James stand around her as she stumbles away. Luc is guarding your backtrail, and Mick went out front to try and reign in Decker.
(dire)
*He snorts and shakes his head. This just wouldn't do at all. He looks to Rune as he walks beside Zoe. One arm reaching out to support her as he keeps Bubba the long black iron crowbar in his hand. His hyper acute sences ranging out in all 5 ways. Trying aginst hope to detect anything that might be out there stalking them.
He offers her his arm. Just letting her lean on it as she guides them. A deep breath. He just went from rear guard, protecting the kin to vanguard, protecting the big glowing target.
"If it comes to it..... I got dibs on War...."(rune)
Rune flickers a glance toward James as he catches up to them, eyes darkening in a faint frown as she reaches for his mind. "Zoe's seen some sort of a fuckin' path or something." She flickers her hands towards her ears, pantomiming answering a phone, and shakes her head darkly. Lowering the tone of her voice, she continues, "...he's not all gone, though."Maybe her packmate can see what she means in the effortless way she hefts their light packs - too easily, with a little more force than necessary - unused to such strength, particularly in this form. Several quick, easy strides then, and she draws abreast of Zoe and Dire, following the trail seen by the blind kin with more than a few misgivings.
(james)
fur bristles over his shoulders, feeling her call on Eagle
even though it goes to her - the reaction is instinctive
broad, shaggy head dips in a nod
there's not much he can do now but follow
using his eyes and ears and senses
knowing how much more sensitive they are than the others'
and just like before
he's got their backs(ST)
You angle off west, away from the cabin now, putting your trust completley in the hands of a blind kinfolk who might be recieving visions from some bevevolent force, or who might just be plain nuts. Anything for Gaia...Zoe saves her breath, speaking only to hurry you along, though in all fairness you could go much faster without her. But without her you wouldn't know where to go.
And aparently, your destination isn't too close...
(dire)
*He looks over his shoulder at Rune and James and gives a kinda srug. The left brow under the Get of fenris tattoo lifting to ask for further direction IF there was any.He sees her in glabro and shifts up himself. Gaining musel and a fine sheen of dark ash gray fur*
(rune)
Dire flickers a glance at Rune, and the Glass Walker flickers an annoyed glance at the kinfolk as she urges them to hurry the hell up. Fortunately, the kinfolk cannot see the look Rune shoots her, or the brief flare of annoyance as the Ahroun considers tossing Zoe over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and running backwards, as the faster choice."Faster." The brief, clipped word is her only response to Dire as they stumble through the underbrush. The several packs she carries hang from her shoulders as she flanks them, then strides ahead of the pair, gauging her path with glances back toward the kinfolk as she makes her own choices.
(james)
luckily he doesn't have lips that can talk
or else he'd surely make the comment he was thinking
there's just something..... inherantly wrong about following a blind kin
regardless of the circumstances involved
it just seems.... wrongstrides lengthen
pawprints slowly getting bigger
slipsliding right on into Hispo for the ride(decker)
Since the pack angled away, the Modi approaches not head-on, but from the right flank, crashing through undergrowth in great leaps and bounds to catch up. His muscles are tensed, claws digging in for traction as he comes abreast of the Beta.What happened? - barked tense, as he shoots a glance at Zoe. He slows - marginally - keeping easy pace now in long lopes. Visions again? Then, inadvertantly echoing Rune's sentiments, She's so damned slow. Someone should pick her up and carry her.
(ST)
Zoe has stopped, a few yards ahead now that everyone turns at Decker's arrival. And she is looking right at Rune. Right. At. Rune..."Oh, hurry. We MUST hurry." Then she tunrs and jogs away, stumbling over a fallen log, though she does not fall. "No time, no time..." You can hear her say to herself as she continues on...
(dire)
Dire had been thinking that actually but it would diminish his ability to fight when it came to that point. He concentrates and Bubba shimmers and flows up his arm. He nods and gently picks up Zoe in his arms Cradeling her softly and speaking in that melodic if a bit gruffer voice for being in glabro.* "Just give me directions. It'll go faster this way."(ST)
Zoe fends him off admirably, certainly seeming able to see him. "that way!" She points. "But I don't know for how long!"(rune)
"Visions again. Some fucking path or something, four horseman of the apocalypse. We're in some fucking - " the flare of nostrils, the words tossed down over the strong bunching muscles of her shoulder as she sends a glance toward Decker. " - Hollywood movie. Fuck."Snarled, the last word as she changes directions to catch up with Dire and Zoe. The packs are awkward, a lingering annoyance, but not yet an encumbrance, at least not as much of an encumbrance for now. One heavy, half-clawed hand settles on Zoe's shoulder as Rune draws abreast of them. "Straight that way?"
(james)
a huffed grunt carries the distance between them as Decker flanks in from the right
it's that unspoken pack communication, phrases in a single sound
(I'm back here, stay up there with the others)
but yep, he just lengthens stride to keep up
maintaining the slight gap between them
watching over their bigger picture while they watch ahead(decker)
Even those who didn't understand him could understand the irritation in the tight snarl that crackles across the air when Zoe fends Dire off. Either she lets him carry her in his arms, or I'll carry her in my teeth like a newborn cub. It's her choice.Tongue licks sharp white teeth. A beat later, growled lower, And someone tell her to be silent until she has something new to say. He'd had enough of her prattling on about how there wasn't any time - as if he didn't know already.
He does pick up his pace another notch, though, the ruff crowning his shoulders brushing against Rune's thigh as he sends an inquiring glance toward the packs. Need help? It's not totemphoned, per se, nor spoken; it's that grey area of pack communication: a glance, a bare gesture that speaks all that needs to be spoken.
(dire)
*He growls a little and looks to Zoe* Look. We arn't out on a nature hike. This is serious shit. Your seeing a path, that's great. Your also stumbeling around like a drunken mime. If I carry you we can move faster.And pardon me for saying so but walking straight down the "Path" what ever path there is sounds like a great way to run straight into an ambush or a trap.
*He looks to the others and then back to rune* So what do we do?(mick)
Mick, sensing all that was transpiring (perhaps..) started off in Glabro towards Decker. No pack phone was his, no pack bond...nothing...except a simple sense of urgency to find Decker and bring him back to the others in case .... well in case was a big what if....and Mick didn't like to traverse in the realms of what if's...Luckily, as the Fianna is headed to find the Get, whom isn't his most favourite of folk, the Get runs into him. Maybe he mumbled, 'c'mon'....or 'something's up' or maybe Decker simple knew through the bond of the pack that Rune was in need of him. But, whatever the reason or push behind the movement, Mick is stopped short in front of Decker, his gaze shifting to peer back at Rune and the others.
Glabro muscles are coiled and tense, dedicated clothing clings tighter to his bulkier mass.
(ST)
Her head swings around, back towards the mysterious path that isnt a path, and then back to you garou. "Ok, Ok. Carry me..." Her voice sags with defeat. "Hell!" Wow, Zoe swore. "I don't think there is any danger back here. Go on without me. go on! Go!"(rune)
"Yea - " the reply to Decker's inquiry is stopped short as Zoe swears. The Glass Walker's nostrils flare with faint irritation. " - no." The packs fall from her shoulder, sliding down the length of her arm to thud on the ground. "If there's anything any of you need, get it now. We'll go faster in lupus or hispo. Dire, you're free of kin-duty. Get her into a tree or something, where she won't be so obvious, then we go."The Ahroun crouches and digs through her pack, finding a pair of pistols in shoulder holsters and tossing them to the ground. Everything else is left within. Then her form begins to change, through the series - growing into her massive, mottled war-form, then shifting forward to four legs until she's a mottle female wolf with yellow eyes. She grabs the one of the holstered pistols in her mouth and pads, claws digging into the frosty layers of turf and leafmold as she grabs purchase on the uneven bank. She pauses several feet ahead, waiting for the rest of the pack
(james)
dark dark gaze sliiiiides over as Mick joins them
oh good, at least his damn weapons are back within some semblance of reasonable reach
not like they do him any good with paws at the moment
but that's better than them still off wandering around in the woodshearing Zoe gibber on, and swear, there's an irritated snort crawling up the path towards them
not like she made a bunch of sense anyway
but now it's becoming more and more random
Something ain't sittin' right at all.damn, Jamey-boy, that Rage is growing awful fast.....
when his pack is dropped
the monstrous shepard simply walks over to it
teeth closing around the twin rebar sticking out the top
muscles cording beneath ruff to puuuull the weapons out
a little concentration, a little shimmer, and a little flow
(for the expediency and economy of motion....)
soon enough he's joined Rune on the bank(decker)
The Modi draws up to the packs thrown down as Rune's stepping off to change. He noses the flap of the first one open, literally pawing through the contents for a second or two before snorting (nothing worth having), snapping up a piece of jerky that was poking out of the plastic, and trots to take the vanguard again.Perhaps we should leave someone with her, rumbled low to the mottled Rune-wolf. Then, as though realizing this was very nearly a 180-on his previous stance, the Modi adds, She's blind.
(dire)
Kickass! * he grins and damn if he doesn't grab her up. Gently, he's not a totall fucker. Put her over a shoulder. Dropping his bag he grabs something out of it. Grips it in his teeth then, Looks up and launches himself into a tree. Being in glabro he has more strength to pull it off too.
More liquid that solid in the air. Dire twists and grabs a branch. Useing one arm to hold Zoe tight he uses both legs and the other arm to scamper up that tree like a big ol monkey. bending and twisting, swinging out and up. He's 40 feet up before any of them can blink. Thinking that any higher might risk weak branches he plops her on one. Nods to her. Makes sure her hands are all secure.* Stay here please. * he hands her the 6 armed blue stitch doll* Carment sent this to watch over me. It'l watch over you. "
*He then leaps out from the branch. Body twisting in flight. Almost a die for the ground. Arms lashing out to catch a branch about 8 feet off the fround. twirls around it a few times. Cuts a neat flip and lands beside his bag. He grabs out the rope. Clips one flashlight to it. His weapons were dedicated.(mick)
Most might think the Fianna mute. He gives Zoe a sort of look that is indescribable with words, and turns from the Kinfolk closing his eyes as he slowly shifts from Glabro and through the various forms until he, too, is in his lupus form. His fur is a rusty hue with black flecks, and his eyes still hold a green gleam within their depths. Big as a wolfhound, which would be a bit more accurate than a dire wolf, Mick shakes like a wet dog before he too gets used to this body and begins to fall in after the group. The Fianna grabs nothing. His pack is left to sit.(ST)
Zoe all but sobs as she is carried up the tree, exclaiming "Oh!" now and then as she is jerked suddenly.This is when Luc runs up, still in homid form and out of breath. He stops to catch it, then looks up the tree when Dire comes out of it with a 'what the fuck' look on his face.
Meanwhile, up in the tree, Zoe is sobbing quietly to herself about being put in the dark... put in the dark again.
(rune)
The Glass Walker chuffs softly in response to the Modi, the sound stretched and shifted around the tight grip she has on the leather shoulder holster. Muzzle lifting, she flickers a glance toward Luc and then drops the damn gun long enough to growl a few instructions.Pack follow trail. Kin up tree. Watch her. The mottled wolf's head swings back from Luc, then bends to scoop up the gun again as she lopes off in the van with Decker, half a shoulder behind in deference to his superior knowledge of the woods, but no more.
(james)
there's a slight raise of a brow point
wondering if any food will be left in their packs when (.....if....) they return
a sound rolls in his chest that may resemble an amused chuckle
it's lost as he turns to lope after the others(decker)
Poor Luc. He was going to be bitching about this for days.The grey beast sets off, white-touched in a rough, thin-armed star up the throat, down the center of chest and across the crest of shoulders. He runs at a smooth, ground-eating pace, tongue lolling out. Now and then he slows, letting the rest of the pack pass him by, maw shutting to raise quivering nose to air, scenting ahead. Now and then, too, his mind touches for the totemlink, and his body reaches for Eagle's strength. The one is gone, completely and unnervingly blank; the other is not for his use, but at very least he could feel it roaring through his packmate's veins.
Did the Stargazer foresee what we would find, when we found the Song Keeper?
(dire)
*He grunts and turns. Dropping into lupus form on the go he ranges out to the right. A dark ash gray timber wolf. His nose scenting overtime. eyes looking around. Ears listening. He's silent for the moment.4 hoursemen indeed. He likes horse. Tastes like gamy caribou.
His voice comes from his position in the moving pack* ~WS~ Cabin... tied to a chair, somone interrigating, green lightbulb.. pain... 4 horsemen."
(mick)
The rusty coloured wolf shifts intelligent green eyes towards Dire as he huffs out the information in growls and sounds that no mortal ear could decipher. Mick pads along quickly, long legs allow him to keep up sufficiently without tiring out too quickly.(ST)
Luc grumbles considerably as the rest of the pack, and some who aren't even pack go to war. They are quickly lost to sight, and he feels as blind as Zoe. Oh shit. zoe!The pack runs int he direction that Zoe pointed, though there is no real trail that they follow. Its a desperate gamble, and in the end Zoe feels better about it knowing they will now go much faster. But what she doesn't know is that the pack has only her direction to follow, no scent at all. It is not very heartening...
But then the pack bursts suddenly into a clearing, and the hunt is over. There before them, some hunderd yards distant, is a pack of Spirals. Three in Crinos form, and one in glabro behind them. They face you and there can be no mistaking what they are. The one behind carries a huge duffle bag stuffed with...something... and he says something to his pack. They fan out, and he turns and jogs off...
(rune)
The Glass Walker's mottled coat blends well enough, in this land of browns and grays, in the firm, keen grip of winter, but their crashing passage through the woods has left little to the imagination. Half-a-step behind the Modi, the Rune-wolf snaps a glance at the scene and leaps over a rotting, fallen tree, brushing past her packmate (brushing his gray-furred shoulder, just. some brief nudge in the right direction) as she releases Eagle's strength to him.Then she's past him, no longer lupus, but hispo. The frozen ground churns back, spewed up beneath the bite of her claws as she charges forward.
(decker)
The Modi's hackles stiffen like a wire brush; his lips wrinkle into a snarl. No scent: he senses this as Rune doubtlessly does. Instead of skidding to a stop, though, he runs lower to the ground, and faster. In three strides he's in his enormous direwolf form; in six, a layer of pungent, thick, bark-hard hide has scudded over his skin. He seems bound straight for the tree crinos-Dancers still left in the clearing, racing neck-to-neck with his Beta until, a mere fifteen yards away, he veers off sharply to the left as Eagle's strength jolts into his muscles like the mother of all adrenaline rushes - and gives pursuit to the fleeing one.(james)
in homid he's got that strolling walk that covers city blocks tirelessly
the talent has crossed over from two legs to four
his mouth hangs open to taste the air
not to pant for breatha part of him feels bad for Luc left behind
wondering how the Skald is going to rationalize not being in the War
but as they cross that rise into the clearing
it seems they've found the War
hackles bolt upright to see the Spirals ahead
the low seeth that's been growing since they set foot in the woods instantly bristling to blistering hate
he can feel the roaring strength passed between them ahead
and when they split apart in their own charges
he's right up there with them, bolting towards the creatures in the clearing
Decker veers after the one fleeing
he stays true - ready to fight by his Beta's side(dire)
* Dire had been ranging out to the right so the pack wasn't in a line. Coming into the clearing from that side he instantly reverts to his birth form. That of a 9'3" dark ashen gray crinos. He powers twords the trio of spirals, low to the ground at first knowing they are going to see decker, runer and james before they notice him coming in from the flank. The large twi handed war hammer shimmers into existance in his massive paws. A symbol that dire ain't fucking around any more. as he ges closer their periferial vision HAS to lick him up. It's then that the Skald thorws back his head and leads them in the Anthem of war. pure melodic howls rippling out though the air, slamming into the Spirals as an almost physical force in and of it self the Get launches from the ground. more at home in the air it seems. Hammer swinging into play as battle is joined. His own gift to ignore pain is called apon, just in case.*(mick)
Mick, caught off guard by the scenario laid out before the pack (and him....not included in that P word), slowly kicks up dead icy ground and snow as he runs a bit faster, muscles expanding and bulking up as he slowly begins the shift to Hispo...not yet Crinos. Not yet. He heads for one of them which fanned out....and if all of those are being stalked by the Gaian's ... he'll back up Rune and James.(ST)
The pack rushes, and the enemy brings up rifles smoothly. Two of them fire, twice each. the third leaps, faster then even the Get Modi, and blocks his way.Four shots ring out... 3 Hit. Dire is tripped up by a shot to the ankle. Painful, but he is on his feet again and moving.
Rune hit in the shoulder, staggered, snarls defiance laden withthe power of the spirits and feels it surge across the yards.
Mick cliped on the ear barely feels it. He rushes on.
The middle spiral swings his gun towards Mick, who is closest now, and the third cowers back in fear, forgetting even his weapon, dropping it to the ground.
(rune)
The bullet catches the Glass Walker in the shoulder, a burst of blood, the crunch of bone beneath. Her charge is sidetracked as she staggers, but not quite halted. Snarling, she finds her footing again (the weapon carried in her muzzle dropped) and moves that much faster. Once more, she calls upon the gift, a spare, split second before she closes for combat. The hispo's powerful hindlegs propel her upward, teeth bared, strong jaw snapping for the closest enemy.(decker)
Everything starts to happen at once. The Anthem of War, filling his heart with rage; the sound of bullets and the muted sensation across Eagle's link of the damage inflicted on his packmate bringing a silent snarl to his terrible jaws; the blur of black as one Spiral leaps - faster even than he - and blocks his way.(You dare?)
Bearing down on the Spiral: a vision of black white and grey death. He doesn't slow. He doesn't falter. He charges straight for the Spiral, the odd tattoo of intersecting black jags taking on a distinct bluish glow as he bares his teeth and snaps at the air: true fear. You're mine.
(james)
closer.... closer....
the closer they get the bigger he gets
tapping into what's glowing so brightly in those mother earth eyes
Hispo to Chrinos on the music of Dire's anthemic howl
something darkens when the shots ring out and he can hear them hit his pack
(his.... lo....)
there's a Spiral there that hasn't dropped its gun (yet) or moved to swing it at another
and he's plowing into it with bared teeth and talons(dire)
*Stumbeling more from the force and tug of the bullet than any pain, His gift having already been activated he rushes onward. Thankful for his birthfoom and the fact that he heals even as he moves. Seeing the battle unfold he uses his good leg to launch into the melee from the flank. That war hammer coming around to bear on the BSD about to shoot the Fussy Fianna*(mick)
The ear that is clipped slicks back against his head, the faint tint of blood blends well with the rust coloured fur. The Fianna catches sight of the rifle as it swings his way, and he pushes a burst of energy into his hind quarters, propelling him to an awkward, if not disturbing, upright position as he takes one, two steps in a rather simian walking fashion towards the one in his sights .... and then it's a leap, his maw and dangerously hungry eyes seeking to lock on the Spiral's neck. The swipe from the hammer of the Get draws a deep guttural growl from the pit of the Fianna's stomach, and for perhaps a fleeting moment of stupidity, his eyes leave his prey and light on Dire...least he get smacked upside the head with the weapon in error.(ST)
Again, the spiral facing Decker moves faster than the Modi judged he could, rushing forward and plunging his claws through toughened hide and fur, into his belly. The spirals jaws press close to the Modis in a sickening smile...Then rune is there, snarling again her spirit defiance at this Spirals face. He hisses, actually hisses, and backs away slowly, earl laid back and tail slung low. Decker, though, is still on his feet and rips into the cowed Spiral. For a moment lost to rage and revenge, he comes back quickly.
The second spiral pulls his aim to catch up with the charging Mick (heh), and he does not see the Metis charging in from the blind side. Hammer meets skull, and fianna claws rip through its guts, spraying the spiral next to him cowerin in fear with blood and worse fluids. But the rifle thunders, pushed around by Micks bulk it explodes into its wielders groin, and another Spiral topples over.There remains but one, covered in its packmates vlood and cowering in fear. It brings up the rifle slowly, then drops it and turns tail.
And James.... Omega of the pack and looking to prove himself, goes down, attacked by a tree root and felled in mid stride.
(rune)
Blood in her mouth. Blood on the cold wind, hot. The impressions of the battle come both from her own extended senses and those of the rest of her pack: totemphone, hivemind, pack.The Glass Walker snarls some challenge. The image of the fleeing Glabro Spiral leaps into her mind - and then spills across the minds of her packmates as she leaps in the general direction of the last place she saw him. As she clears a frozen little stream, she changes to lupus in mid-air and hits the ground running, as fast and hard as she can.
(decker)
Rage and revenge. He wants to stay. Rip. Rend. Tear.
...but he had orders to follow.There's a snarl of frustration as the remaining Crinos runs for it, but the Modi doesn't give chase. Instead, the grey beast blurs suddenly, fourlegged hispo form leaving the ground (blood splashes out vividly red from somewhere) to leap over the one that had blocked him. He lands on all fours, smaller than the hulking dire wolf form he had inhabited an instant ago, and faster: a black white grey and red streak tailing the Glabro north.
(dire)
*Ripping his hammer from the back of the BSDs Skull he grins a wolfish grin and slaps the Fianna on the shoulder even as he turns to follow Rune and Decker. He stays in Crinos. Counting on his natural speed and agility to keep up. Darting after them the ashen gray wolf again flanks out to the right so they will not present a static target.(mick)
Mick does not have the ability to mentally know what the rest of them are doing, and dripping with blood and gore from fur to fang, the Fianna shifts to Lupus and trails behind the Eagle pack, strong long legs propelling him quickly as his ears slick back against the flat of his head.(james)
Rage burns hottest in those born beneath the full moon
it burns so brilliantly it blinds
and he discovers this in face-plant against ground
(that'll leave a mark)
it takes a moment for his head to clear
but he doesn't think about what happened
he doesn't think about what could be
just following that sudden link
(clinging to it)
the shift snaps through him again
talons digging into the ground
barreling after his pack.... he'll live the fuck-up down later
(ST)
You run en masse after the one you judge to be important. the one with the dubious duffle. Rune quickly gains the lead, and though at first decker is close behind, his wounds slow him when rage runs out and he quickly lags behind. And it is a long run, though eventually you all hear the sounds of traffic and smell exhaust. The road. The highway.Wether you shift to homid or not, you all come upon the road just as a red van peels out, and your cars no where in site...
But before it gets 100 yards down the road something inside it explodes... a Defening thunder... The van swirves, cutting across the highway steeply, and flips onto its side. Sparks fly as it skids thirty more yards and finally it comes to a stop...
A long moment stretches while you try and adjust to what happened, and suddenly the windshield explodes outward, and someone steps out carrying the duffle...
Its erik, with his double barrel shotgun fetish leaning on his shoulder. You can tell all the way from where you stand that he's smiling.
Posted by james at January 25, 2003 12:00 AM
[couple forum posts to grab here and there]
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