Running.

All We have known for longer than I care to admit is running.  I have led my packmates over Mountain and Plain since we left the Elders and the Caern. There have been to many close calls with the Humans, and to few Prayers to Prey that have filled Our bellies.

The journey has not been easy.  We are far from home headed to a strange area that may or may not hold peril for each of us.  It has been a number of weeks since three members of our pack became Family.  It has been weeks since I was gifted the honor of leading a pack to discover the fate of the Sept of the Nested Spider.  

I can see our destination from here.  This ridge overlooks the valley that the towers of glass and metal seem to reside in.  This is the domain of the Glass Walkers, and I fear Gaia will be harder to find on the streets of pavement and asphalt but we will prevail, we have to.

....

As Whisper approaches the pinnacle of this Forested mountain outcrop he stops.  Eyes glisten in the moonlight and claws scratch against the rocky ground.  The piercing blue-green eyes of the wolf that now stands in the moonlight peers up.  He is in his element, this is His moon.  Half revealed, half obscured, this is the domain of the Philadox, the half moons.  As it Waxes so do his energies, his connection to Gaia is more vibrant during this time, and it's palpable to him.  

Whisper stands upon the pinnacle and rears his head back, muzzle towards Luna.  A low rumbling howl starts in his throat and echos forth into the night.  A prayer to Luna only seems appropriate during this time of transition, during this time of apprehension.  The prayer that has been started asks for the protection of the Noble Sister of Gaia, Moon Goddess, Luna, and to show the way during the troubled nights to come.  

As Whisper's howl rings into the night he is soon joined by two other howls, ringing out in harmony to his own.  Two other wolves have appeared from the darkness of the forest onto the moonlit outcropping.  The prayer being sung forth is a prayer that has been echoed in Carens and Septs for ages and it is known by heart to every cub who grows up around his or her kin.

The howls continue in harmony for at least an hour before slowly drawing to a close.  The three packmates venture forth from their moonlight vigil and begin the trek down into the valley, down to the lights, the glass, the twisted metal.  Down to whatever fate befell the Pack that used to reside here, down to their new home, their goal, their future.  

--Last edited by Whisper on 2008-07-30 23:36:28 --

 It has been long, the wind at your backs. The smells of the Appalachian dwindling as your destination approaches. You know that Son has a talisman given by the vagabond elder that shall guide your way when you reach your destination. What it shall reveal you do not know. It is a foreign thing to you all, but it has given its pact and you must trust in the mother to enforce it's bargain.

The howls feel good in the midnight air, feelings of long lost times come back to you when the earth was fresh and these were pure lands. The urrah are behind you, they will be invaluable in the days ahead. Your time in the cities was sparse, not out of hatred, but of simple fortune. The rogue elder's appearance was unsettling and the Septs anger doubly so. He withstood their scrutiny and hostility. He choose the higher road of peace through words and deed, you can respect that.

Your howls are answered far away, their must be wolves in the valley below, but all the hills cloak their direction they are far away. At least they are here, that is a good sign. There is another answer, very challenging from afar as well. It is throaty, course and filled with rage. Again it is even further and impossible to locate. You are certain that this is no coincidence. Weaver's child has been silent as to it's chosen's  situation here. You know that eventually you will uncover it and whatever it has been hiding.

This was once a mighty sept, now gone. What has happened to them. What was their fate and how are you such a small pack to unravel what occurred, all these weights lie upon your shoulders. You are Alpha, the rest rely upon you and look to your guidance. It will be a long road ahead, but they are taken one step at a time.

You take the first step forward...

I follow the newly appointed alpha trough the mountain following right behind to keep a close eye on his action. I must prepare myself for my role in this adventure. I was raised on constant travel and surviving in new environments. I can add much skill to the group only if they give me a chance because of my parent sins.

As their howling subsides, Sun-of-the-South draws a strong breath through his snout, scenting to wind. He pauses a moment, head cocked to the right as if listening for a distant call. He drops his head to the earth, Mother Gaia. Burying his nose in the dirt, he takes a deep breath. Smelling the rich soil, he shakes his head, clearing his airways.

He speaks to his brothers in their feral language.

I smell fear on the wind and blood on the ground  

--Last edited by son on 2008-07-30 22:59:22 --

Whispers-to-the-Earth will peer back, eyes seemingly glowing in the moonlight, their teal color piercing the night.

You have a keen nose Son-of-the-South.

Whisper will lower his muzzle to the ground, sniffing intently at the spot which Son has indicated.

Indeed there is, but this is not our goal this night.  Remember this place Son, We need to know why the ground in such a clean place smells of blood.

Whisper will nod his head to both Yuri and Son.

We must make flat plains by sunrise

Whisper will continue down the Mountain, with Yuri and Son close behind.  Ever since Son mentioned blood he had smelt it everywhere.  

This is not a clean place to which we run, we must be vigilant

Whisper will go silent, ears cocked and nose high scenting the wind as he runs.  He does not plan on being surprised this night...

Following the alpha action and i go completely silent as we move trough the mountains' terrain. He has spoken and their is no reason to challenges his ruling. i move on.

 Your tireless run places you entering the urban sprawl as Helios is just winking above the horizon. You even notice the sign as you come across a highway, Welcome to Sanfield Rock. The trees have changed from the native hardwoods and pines to imported and foreign species. Different smells abound in this environment. The petroleum vapors of vehicles and the smell of man are almost overwhelming at first. These forms have aided your journey, but might attract attention in this new suburban jungle of concrete, plastics, and metal.

Off to your right you can see the stacks from what must be an industrialized section of town billowing out noxious fumes and particulates by the ton, as if the earth was smoking. The older and poorest neighborhood sprawls before you, like a cancerous legion spreading throughout the entire city. In the center are vast fingers reaching up to the sky, one standing out even at this distance. A black solitary obelisk, surrounded by four smaller. It towers above all.

Across the city is what appears to be a lake, calm and placid as if it were protected from the harsh winds of the mountains by the valley. You seem to sit back to absorb your new home, it is your first glimpse of this town and it will certainly dominate your destiny.

Whisper will begin the change back to a more appropriate form for the environment to which they have now come...

Shifting back to his Homid form, taking on the appearance he was gifted with by Gaia.

"The Sacred Mother seems distant here..."

Whisper will dust off the old green army jacket he now wears (See descrïption in Tent City) and will wait for his two Packmates to complete the change before venturing into The Slums with them.  

--Last edited by Whisper on 2008-08-01 16:52:05 --

Son shifts his form, following the lead of the alpha. His coarse hair give way to worn denim as his fades overalls emerge from his skin. After several moments, he stands in his birth form, bared foot under the rising sun.  

--Last edited by Son on 2008-08-01 16:52:31 --

Yuri focus his mind trying to become one with nature. He take a deep breath and tries to shift to homid. He closes his eyes.

Yuri rolls 6 dice to shifting 5,2,4,10,2, 7 (2 successes)



Yuri open his to see he standing on two feet but he didn't seem to be able to make the full change.



A 9 foot tall and  too pound of  muscle stand before you but it weird because he seem to be very lean muscles. Yuri is solid black from head to toe. He wears a bright red jacket embroider with gold laces. The jacket look like something that a ring leader would own. on Yuri waist is gold sash with copper coin attach to the bottom. He has 15 gold necklaces ranging different width from about an 8th of an inch to the largest which is 2 inch thick and different length.


I pop a squat on the earth and i shrug my shoulder and throw my hand in the ear. I growl please be patient. I lay on my back and enjoy the star because we won't be able to see them in this beauty until we conquered this tainted rock.

About an hour passes by

I try again after i feel that my mind is ready for the shift. i focus on the star as i grab a palm full of soil and rocks. i closed my eyes

Yuri rolls 7 dice to shifting2,1,10,1,7, 5,2 (failure)

he open his eyes and i growl "goat fuckers"

Another hour passes while the others wait.  I can tell they are ready to move on, but I do not have the control of my form that they do. I continue my tale to pass the time telling them what led me to my current place and of my upbringing.

I focus on my necklaces made by homids. I think to myself, I can be homid, I can be homid, I can be homid and I jump up and down three times in frustration. I close my eyes, forcing my body to shift...

Yuri rolls 7 dice to shifting 6,2,4,3,2, 3,9 (2 successes)

I open my eyes to see myself in my homid skin. "Sorry guys about the long wait."  

--Last edited by yuri on 2008-08-02 16:04:46 --

 Everyone having shifted, the three walk into Sanfield, not knowing where exactly to go, nor what they will be called upon to do once they get there.

The three enter into town in the slums, the filth and poverty noticeable upon your entrance. Looking toward the heart you can see the gleaming buildings in the distance, casting an ominous shadow over these destitute people. Forgetting them in their quest for power.

The streets are littered with debris, flotsam blown in from everywhere, like a tide of garbage. What life there is here is mostly strays left behind by those whom swore to protect them. They are covered in mange and parasites, suffering until they eventually starve or are hit by a car. You are not sure which is worse.

The people are little better, having a look of those that have lived in such a traumatic environment for so long they can not fathom anything else. All are suspicious of the men, staring at them as they pass. Their eyes bloodshot with drink from the night before. It is if this entire area is diseased and needing something done to place the spark of life back into them. You believe you can make that difference.

(occ where is this tread moving too?)

(OOC - move this to the Slums, posting your intentions)