There's no answer. It's less than an hour before dawn, and the sounds of
crickets in the nearby woods has gone down. Or maybe the girl has simply
grown so accustomed to them that she no longer really hears them. The air is
cold this close to sunrise, and the mist from the waterfall has covered
everything with a thin sprinkling of dew. An owl returning from its hunt
flies overhead, silhouetted against the sky.

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa paces to and fro. She watches the owl fly over,
frowning. "I wish I had wings."

Time passes, and the sky overhead begins to grow lighter. One by one, the
stars fade as the sky goes from black to purple.

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa settles back down on the rocks, her knees closely held
to her chest as she stares upward.

Not long before the sun is up, a trio of Garou drop into the pit with Louisa.
She never even heard them approaching. All three are in there werewolf form:
black-furred and powerful, they stand between eight and nine feet tall. One
still has blood on her muzzle from last night's kill. A second one carries an
enormous bow and a quiver of equally-enormous arrows is strapped to her back.

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa stands up quickly, but out of stubbornness doesn't back
away. She keeps her arms folded across her chest.

~Did you rest well?~ asks the leader. She doesn't really seem to care what the
response is. If Louisa had to guess, she would say that this is the Sept
Alpha that she spoke with yesterday. She looks much like all the other
werewolves, but that same unmistakable aura of authority is there.

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa looks from one Garou to the next, pausing to eye the
bloody fur before looking to the leader. "What now?" She seems to recognize
the question as careless, though deep down there might be some surprise that
the Garou would even ask to begin with.

She says, ~The spirits seem to be at a loss over what makes you special. Few
of your kind could stand to be around us at all, yet you seem to have no
trouble conversing with us. You know much of our ways. You have even been
taught things that we have never heard. Yet you are not one of us. We wish to
know about those who taught you, and why they would do so.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa considers the Garou, relaxing a bit. "Why did you come
to me in this form? Do you think I am a threat to you?"

~We wish to see how you would react.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa replies simply, "I still think you are damned for what
you do, damned by Gaia herself. You fight against her." She gestures to the
bloody furred garou. "Is that the blood of a human?"

The bloodied female doesn't answer. ~So you've said before,~ replies the
alpha. ~I would very much like for you to explain that accusation. We'll ask
the questions for now.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa looks back to the alpha. "Eating the flesh of humans
dulls the mind, slows the body, and corrupts the soul. The Garou who does
such a thing loses touch with their humanity, their love for all of Gaia's
creation, and becomes nothing but a minion of the Wyrm. Rabid dogs, no
better. Worse in fact, because your pride tells you that you are superior,
equal to Gaia for choosing to pass judgement."

The alpha seems unphased, but the other two - particularly the one with the
bow - bristle in anger. ~Who does this *human* think she is,~ the armed one
demands of the alpha, ~to lecture *us* in the Mother's way?~ Rather than
answer, the alpha looks to Louisa to do so herself.

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa looks to the Garou who speaks. "Your .." she guesses,
".. alpha asked. I answered. Gaia's children saw fit to teach me, to call me
a judge. Do you argue with what I say?"

~I do. You couldn't understand Gaia. You wouldn't even know a spirit if it
came up and bit you on your pretty little ass. The Children are fools, to
teach our ways to an outsider.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa frowns, but has no answer for this. "I have loved Gaia
always," she finally says. "I seek her, and yet if I had not known your, you
would have killed be for being what I am. That is not superior. That is
blind."

The Ahroun answers, ~We destroy what is killing Gaia. How do you seek the
Mother?~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa replies carefully, "I love her in the earth, the wind,
the water, and the fire. I protect the weak, and I stand up to the corrupt."
Here she looks each of the Garou in the eye. "I'll fight you if I must, and
die for her, fighting the Wyrm."]

That produces no small amount of amusement from the three Furies. ~And why do
you feel we are corrupt for choosing to kill humans? There are some homids of
our tribe that dislike the practice, but they are simply too tied to their
roots. It is something that must be overcome to protect the Mother. Artemis
put us here to defend Gaia, and humans are a growing threat.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa sets her hands on her hips, "What reason could you have
to justify killing me for Gaia?" Confrontation. It took her a bit to work her
courage up, but she's there now. A vision of Moon Otter flashes through her
mind and she blinks shaking that non-memory away.

That's an easy one. ~By killing you, we keep your numbers down.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa answers, "My numbers? You mean lovers of Gaia?"

~No, girl, I mean humans. Despite all that you know, you're still only human.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa steps toward the speaking Garou, "And a tree is still a
tree. Do you seek to kill them all in Gaia's name as well?"

~If they start destroying Gaia, yes.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa replies, "Have you seen me destroy Gaia?"

The alpha has apparently had enough of the girl's questions and takes command
of the conversation again. ~You say that we only corrupt ourselves in killing
humans. Why?~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa looks back to the alpha. "I've explained this. Twice.
What words can I choose.." She trails off, apparently frustrated with
herself. "You seem to think that Gaia would have humans wiped from the face
of her earth. You have judged all from what I can only guess is the acts of
some. Think of a Garou who opposes you in some tenet of basic Truth. What if
I were to judge you based upon that Garou's words and acts? You corrupt
yourselves in this pride I see. The Wyrm has snared you and laughs as you do
this in Gaia's name. If you are above humans, then it is your duty to protect
them from the Wyrm just as you protect the rivers and the trees and the
animals."

~So you have said, but I have yet to be convinced. You say that the Wyrm
laughs as we do this. Why? What makes you so certain that we are wrong and
that you are right? What do you know that we don't. Convince me, because so
far, you have not, and I will continue to ask the same questions until I
receive an answer I find satisfactory.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa frowns and turns her back on the Garou, walking the
wall and touching it lightly as she thinks. Finally she turns, faces the
alpha. "To answer, I must understand you. Will you permit me to ask questions
of you?"

~You may ask questions. But don't get condescending and don't get rightous.
Finds-Her-Mark has a short temper under this full moon.~ The Ahroun pulls her
lips back to grin at Louisa, baring her teeth in the process. ~Speaking of
which,~ says the third, ~Tonight we all hunt together.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa nods her head and sinks to the crouch so characteristic
in the waking world. "I apologize. Think of someone you care fiercely for and
imagine them culled by a human's hand." She breathes quietly for a moment,
then asks, "What makes you think that you should kill humans, all of them,
without question?"

~We do not kill all humans. You must have realized this by now. Or at least
ben taught this by your Children of Gaia allies. We only kill a few, to keep
their numbers low. For every human that comes into the world, we take one
back.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa tilts her head, "Do you do the same with your own kind?"

The Ahroun laughs. ~Of course not. We are not the ones reproducing faster than
rabbits. Do you know what keeps rabbits from breeding out of control?~~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa shakes her head, "Humans, all humans, are not your
enemy. They could be an ally, but you only put a fear into their heads that
forces them farther and farther away. Someday.." The time tense collapses in
her mind and she tries to relate what she knows of the time in her memories.
"If humans ever outnumber the Garou and you have invaded our souls with
thoughts of murder and bloodshed, what do you think humans will do? Ignore
you? Leave you be? Believe you are Gaia's children? Why not cultivate a
cooperation with them.. us? Why not work together to fight the Wyrm?"

~It is precisely because of this that we keep their numbers low, that they
never outnumber us and turn against us. We do not hate all humans. We do not
wish to kill all humans. But humans breed, as rabbits breed. Were there no
wolves and other predators to hunt them, rabbits would soon eat the entire
forest. So it is with humans, except no predator will hunt them. So the task
falls to us.~`

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa shakes her head slowly, "Humans are not Rabbits, just
as Garou are not Fish. They think. They feel. They love and hate. There is
more to them than instinct, just as there is more to you than that.."--quite
a concession from Louisa. You cannot compare the two. The human is not the
natural prey of the wolf, or the Garou."

~Everything is our natural prey. With the Wyrm abandoned its duty, it falls to
us to keep nature's balance.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa sighs softly, "Then it is too late. You already have
gone rabid. If culling is all you know, all your duty is, .. all you see when
you look at the living things around you, then Gaia weeps for her lost
children."

The Alpha takes a deep breath. ~Again, so you say, but you have yet to show us
why we should believe it. All we have is your word on the matter, and quite
frankly, your word means little. We have the ability to sense the Wyrm's
taint, and we do not possess it. So if you truly believe what you say, and
you wish us to believe it as well, then you had best explain what makes you
think it is so.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa tilts her head, "You are asking me for proof? Proof
that there is more to humans than there is to rabbits?"

She shakes her head. ~Proof that what we do is evil.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa considers that for quite some time. "Should I kill one
of you for every cub born?"

The Fury replies logically, ~There is already something which seeks our hides.
We can barely maintain our numbers as it stands.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa considers her. "You cannot control the population of
humans, no matter how much you try. Think. Your numbers will be hurt even
more if you make an enemy of their kind."

She seems amused. ~What threat do humans pose to us?~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa blinks once or twice, then rises to her feet. "Where do
Garou come from?"

~We come from Gaia.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa shakes her head. "Are Garou born?" Her gaze and words
are suddenly intent.

~Of course. Some from humans and some from wolves. Another reason we attack
your villages.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa asks quietly, "Why?"

She gives Louisa an odd look. ~To procure mates.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa asks, "Do all of the humans you.. procure produce
Garou?"

Again, a puzzled look. ~You know enough about us to know that they do not.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa nods, "And how can you tell if a human will produce
Garou or not?"

~We cannot.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa nods slowly. "How many Garou-bearing humans do you
think you have killed in your culling?"

She shrugs at that. ~That is not really a concern. There will always be more
humans.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa shakes her head, "You just said that you can barely
maintain your ranks from the fight with the Wyrm, but you are content to kill
kinfolk--possible births, and play at trial and error?" She pauses shaking
her head again, "Why would Gaia tie humans and Garou together this way if she
meant for one to kill the other?"

One of Louisa's words doesn't seem to make any sense to the Furies. They speak
quietly among each other before one asks, ~What are kinfolk?~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa murmurs distractedly, "A word for humans who can bring
Garou into the world. Please.. answer my question."

~Any human can bring Garou into the world, girl.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa sighs softly. "Humans are not our .. your enemy. They
are a part of u-you. Just as wolves are. This is not to say that they are all
pure. But to be victorious in the battles you wage, ultimately, they must be
your allies, nothing less."

Her answer is probably what Louisa expected it to be, ~Why? Why must we ally
with humans?~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa says slowly, "Because someday they'll be stronger than
you. Someday you'll have to fight them for every tree and rock and open
space. Because someday the seed of hate and fear you planted in their hearts
will be just as strong of a threat to you as the Wyrm, and they will belong
to It because you sent them there." Here she relies on those fresh memories,
trusting them like perhaps she shouldn't.

~And you know this? With certainty?~~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa hesitates. "As certainly as I understand the Mother's
Tongue and I know what you are."

~This is something else your teachers taught you?~

[Louisa(#2504)] "Which?" she asks. Then she settles to the ground as if her
energy had all ebbed from her. "If I told you I had seen it, would you
believe me?"

A pause. ~Perhaps. There is much about you already that defies explanation.
Have you seen it?~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa nods her head, "I have."

The Fury Alpha considers before answering. ~You think you speak the truth, at
least. You may simply be mad, but you know too much about us to explain
things away so easily. We must go, but you will be given food. The pool is
pure,~ she indicates the small pool at the base of the waterfall. ~Rest.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa opens her mouth to protest, then closes it again.
"Where are you going? When will you be back?" A wave of loneliness washes
over her as she thinks of the Garou she remembers.

She replies before turning away, ~We have other business. We will return
later.~

[Louisa(#2504)] Louisa murmurs softly, "I'm cold."

~We will provide blankets.~ With that, the Furies leap from the pit and Louisa
is once again alone.

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