Log edited with Logedit 2.6.6pl on Mon Aug 24 15:51:38 EDT 1998

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Ravenfeeder is settled on her haunches a couple of yards from the pool within the boundaries of the inner wards, simple preparations laid out at her feet: crossed sticks bound together by sinew which continues down to wrap around a black feather, further to end tied to a stone. Her ears twitch as the two Children of Gaia arrive.

Defends-Wolves slips through the gauntlet and looks around for a moment. He chuffs softly to the Fianna in greeting, then looks at the rite preparations. Thank you for coming on such short notice.

Ravenfeeder chuffs with soft amusement, shrugging her right shoulder a bit. ~It was no trouble. I have spoken with Moon-Laughs-Quiet and gotten permission to perform the Rite here. She suggested that you search for the Warder's spirit instead, though.~ She puts claw-tipped paws out, palm up, then drops them back to the ground. ~It is your decision, though.~

Defends-Wolves splays his ears back thoughtfully. ~Peacekeeper~ says he is still alive. Seems that would be the better choice to look for then. He swivels an ear toward Nightflash, asking his opinion.

Nightflash seems to agree, and seems equally content to just follow for now.

Ravenfeeder asks, with uncertainty-seeking-confirmation in her tone, ~She said the spirit's name was Iastas?~

Nightflash chuffs once, softly. It is.

Ravenfeeder nods her lupine-head once, then looks to Defends-Wolves. ~If no others are coming, then, let us begin?~

Defends-Wolves does not believe there are any others coming. He shifts up to the warform. ~Ready when you are. What do we need to do?~

Ravenfeeder picks up the frame, stone in the other hand to keep the cord from tangling, beckoning to the two with a crooked finger, closer. ~Gather close.~ She offers the stone out to the theurge, saying, ~Blood the stone, and speak your need. Say the name of what you seek.~

Nightflash remains in his current form for the time being, although his posture slips toward agressive as Defends-Wolves grows. His scent changes as well, agression mingled with anxiety.

Defends-Wolves takes the stone in a clawed hand, making a small slash in his arm with the other hand. He dips a taloned finger into the blood that begins to come from the wound, roughly drawing the glyph representing his auspice onto the stone. As he does so, he says, ~We seek the unicorn spirit Iustus, recently vanished from this place.~ He doesn't seem to notice his tribemates growing tension just yet.

Defends-Wolves also reaches out with the stone to hand it back to the Fianna.

Ravenfeeder gravely lifts the stone from Defends-Wolves's grasp by the cord, without touching it, giving a tiny nod of her head in approval or acceptance. Then she turns to Nightflash, a flicker of unfamiliarity and an echo of pain, and offers the stone out to him, dangling. ~Blood the stone, and speak your need. Say the name of what you seek,~ the Fianna repeats for the ahroun.

Nightflash shifts now that it has become necessary, and takes the warform as well. As he does so, a streak of bright silver fur that runs along the inside of his forearm turns into a silver blade in his hand. This he sets down carefully before taking the apparatus. Giving himself a small cut across the forearm, he too, bleeds for the rite. ~We seek the unicorn spirit known to us as Iustus,~ he says as he adds his blood to his tribemate's. Then he hands it all back to Ravenfeeder and recovers his knife.

Ravenfeeder nods again, taking the stone back in her hand finally. She cuts the inside of her left wrist with her right hand, then drips blood on the stone. ~Accept the blood, and the need. We seek the unicorn spirit known as Iustus. Accept the blood, stone, and show us the way to what we seek.~ With that, she gently drops the stone so that it hangs freely from the frame, black raven feather a twisting compass point waving to and fro as the rock seeks a balance--or the spirit.

The rock wobbles, back and forth. The feather swings to the north, then the west, and then ends up somewhere in the middle. It still doesn't hold steady as the rock refuses to settle down.

Defends-Wolves keeps his gaze focused on the moving feather, signs of nervousness starting to show in his posture.

Nightflash looks intently at the rock, then at Ravenfeeder as it seems reluctant to stick to a direction.

Ravenfeeder's dark green eyes narrow against ruddy fur as she studies the motion of the feather, ears flickering with thoughtful suspicion, then suddenly go forward as she realizes something. ~It is faint. Somewhere that direction, maybe not too far, but I cannot get a good fix. Defends-Wolves, have you tried summoning them? Should not the Warder be able to call to his?~

Defends-Wolves shakes his head. ~We have not tried summoning either of them. The Warder says he does not know why Iustus did not respond; perhaps he had been put to slumber by whatever took him.~

Ravenfeeder's lips peel back in silent half-snarl as she looks to the northwest, then, ~I have a gift which I may be able to use to summon them.~ Her eyes turn to the theurge. ~I will try, if you would like.~

Defends-Wolves follows the half-moon's gaze, then nods once. ~I would appreciate it if you would try. We seem to have little to go on at this point.~

Ravenfeeder slides Nightflash a glance, a tilt of her head and her waiting silent question for his opinion as well.

Nightflash cannot see how it would hurt at this point.

Ravenfeeder chuffs. Her preparations to use the gift are much simpler than the Rite. Eyes closed, facing the northwest, she gets out of a crinos throat, ~Iustus. I call you by name to come and do a thing.~

Nothing happens. The stone continues to wobble.

Ravenfeeder's muzzle twitches. ~What is the name of the other?~

Nightflash offers, ~Sharial.~

Something akin to amusement flickers across the Fianna's face. ~Sharial, then. Sharial, I call *you* by name to come and do a thing.~

Again, nothing happens. Wobble wobble wobble.

Ravenfeeder snorts, bemused. ~So much for fine intentions,~ she mutters, then points northwesterly with her free hand. ~That way, then. I can try to pin it down better, if we travel that way a while.~

Nightflash returns to his birthform for the trip.

Defends-Wolves inclines his head slightly. ~More effective as we get closer?~

Ravenfeeder twists the rite gear into her fur, shifting down only to hispo. ~With any luck,~ the halfmoon says with the same dark amusement. ~Or, better to figure out where he might be. A human thing.~

Defends-Wolves shifts down to the wolf form to follow the half-moon. Lead on then.

Ravenfeeder sets out to the northwest, traveling as far as her instinct and familiarity with the Rite say to, unless otherwise stopped or distracted.

An hour or two pass. The stone slows in its wobbling, but the feather still doesn't point to a rock-solid direction.

Nightflash suspects the spirits are further away than we had first believed.

Ravenfeeder frowns as, once again in crinos, she tucks the ritual gear back into her fur. ~I have felt this before. Rites may fail, but this reminds me of when...when I sought my former packmate. As if there was something shielding Iustus so he cannot be found.~

Defends-Wolves moves along behind the philodox, ears swiveling for any sign of the two unicorns. Or any unicorn for that matter. He grumbles to himself softly. Would the direction still be generally correct, even if it does not have good accuracy?

Nightflash says, ~Could the Gauntlet be interfering?~

Ravenfeeder flicks an ear at both questions, answering them in order. ~It should be, unless I have failed the Rite so utterly the Bright Folk instead are taunting us. But unless they reveal themselves, we cannot know that.~ She pauses, considering. ~It could be. But the question then is...why would spirits not be in the Umbra. Materialized, perhaps. Or taken over. Strong power, then.~

Nightflash suggests, ~Bound?~

Ravenfeeder looks questioningly to Defends-Wolves, again as if looking for confirmation even as she says, ~Even bound, the spirit resides in the Umbra. I think.~

Defends-Wolves thinks we should assume they are still umbral for the time being. Unable to answer, for some reason, or trapped somehow. He chuffs softly at Nightflash's question. Possible. We should continue to look, I suppose, unless we see a reason to turn back.

Nightflash sets off toward the northwest again.

Ravenfeeder, in hispo once more, follows after the two tribemates.

More of the same, with the feather continuing to wobble between north and west.

Ravenfeeder's eyes narrow after a time, and chuffs a touch sharply, underscored with irritation as if realizing something. ~Defends-Wolves, Nightflash. We must make a decision before we go on, if it has not been made already.~

Nightflash looks to the philodox, waiting to hear what the options are.

Ravenfeeder sighs quietly, reining in a natural temper worsened by her birthmoon, even waxing. ~The feeling is close, but not so close. We may have to travel more, farther than even what we have traveled already. A turning of the sun. Perhaps two.~

Defends-Wolves grumbles once more looking to the northwest. Peacekeeper sent Iustus on an errand to ~Seattle~. If he made it that far, we would have to go a long way. Could the rite be focused on ~Sharial~? She may be closer to this location.

Ravenfeeder flickers her ears in assent. ~It could be. I would have to re-do it again completely if we went after Iustus again.~

Defends-Wolves looks between the two. Other suggestions, besides travelling another day to find him?

Nightflash is willing to travel another day if needed. I do not wish to return home with nothing. Peacekeeper entrusted this to us.

Ravenfeeder chuffs softly, tongue peeking out in a faint loll. ~I left figuring to be gone for a time. And, it is better to finish a task like this before trying to start another of equal chance.~

Defends-Wolves splays his ears back, considering the situation. Then we continue going in this direction. He starts toward the northwest again, moving at a faster clip.

Ravenfeeder follows after unprotestingly.

The miles stretch on until the sky begins to darken with the setting moon and coming dawn. The feather, now, has also settled slightly, but only due to the long watching of its black tip could this be told. A pond on a farm's property, a good bit from the betraying webs of the house, is found.

Ravenfeeder sniffs cursorily and starts to lap water from the pond, not denying the opportunity, on ear tilted towards the Gaians to catch any discussion they might have.

Defends-Wolves looks into the pool, checking first to see if anything that would note their presence is around. He looks to the others after taking a drink himself. Rest here on the other side?

Nightflash drinks his fill from the pool as well before looking around. I suppose this is as well as any other place.

Ravenfeeder yawns, a night spent awake betraying itself in weariness. The other side would be safer in some ways. I would need a good hiding place.

Defends-Wolves chuffs in agreement. A few trees over there might provide decent cover. He turns his gaze on the pool, preparing to reach across.

Nightflash looks the dire wolf over before agreeing. We could take man-form if necessary.

Ravenfeeder follows after the theurge, considering. Perhaps easier in some ways, more difficult in others. Hearing herself, her tongue lolls, then she shifts up to her own birthform. "Watch my back a moment," she murmurs before trying to peek, first.

Megan peeks just in time to see Defends-Wolves shimmer into view on the other side. A deer who had been drinking at the pool bolts in terror into the woods, her tail flashing like a white beacon.

Defends-Wolves takes a brief look around, generally seeking signs of humans that had been in the area recently before looking toward the woods. He casts a glance at the farmhouse before shifting up himself.

Nightflash follows last.

Nightflash shifts up as well, to match everyone else.

Luc stands up slowly and stretches, arching his back.

The farmhouse is wholly invisible at this angle. The only sign is the smell of woodsmoke, and the faint drift of haze on the brightening air from the direction the spider lair was found.

Megan steps off the muddy bank to the grassy turf, with a look of habit lining up the frame and bobber of the ritual. The feather settles cleanly this time, pointing northwest, and Megan blinks. "Sweet Brigid," she swears under her breath. "Maybe he *is* on this side." A moment of thought, then, "Seattle I'm guessing, or very near it."

Luc asks, his accent thick, "How far?"

John yawns once before his eyes turn toward the feather. His fatigue seems to drop slightly. "Still a long way though. And we don't have any easy way to travel on this side, unless you know how to hotwire a car." He yawns again, pointing to the woods. "Personally I could use some sleep."

Megan looks up at the sky, at the woods, assessingly, then answers Luc decisively, "I have no idea. But if we can find a town, I may be able to get us there on wheels rather than feet. *After* I get some sleep," she ends with, agreeing with John.

Luc nods silently to Megan, and looks toward the trees. Then he turns and slowly starts walking in that direction.

John smiles. "Then you can explain after we get some shuteye." This said, he heads toward the woods, looking for a relatively out of the way spot to sleep in. Finding one, he shifts down to lupus to doze for the day.

Megan stays in homid, near but not too near the lupus. Safer that way.

Luc does shift back to his birthform for sleep, but in the morning, he's back in homid.

Megan wakes up mid-afternoon, debating briefly, then calls out, "John. Do we walk or do we try to ride?"

John awakens in the middle of the afternoon, blinking blearily and shifting back to his birthform. He nods to Megan, "If we can find a rental place or something, sure. Got something in mind?"

Luc looks lost and stays out of this part of the conversation.

Megan touches a pocket of her jacket. "Plastic. Don't leave home without it. Drive to outside of Seattle and try the Rite again, until we pin it down."

John grins, reaching back to the rather empty wallet in his jeans. "Sounds like a good plan to me."

Luc turns out his pockets, and comes up with two small stones roughly shaped like crosses. Other than that, they're empty.

"Stay here," the Fianna says. "It may take me a while to find the town, if there is one. I'll be back as soon as possible, though."

Megan returns closer to nightfall, trudging along with a frustrated look. She avoids the farmhouse, skirting along in the woods, to the place where she slept during the day. "Damn hick towns," she says, New England accent stronger than usual. "No luck."

John frowns with disappointment when Megan returns. "I doubt many people would pick us up as hitchhikers either. Looks like we get to walk again."

Megan flashes a grin. "Why walk when you can run?" she challenges teasingly. "If it wasn't so far, I'd race you both."

Luc says "Did you find a person to say how far to See-at-tel?"

John chuckles softly. "Perhaps some other time then. Never been in this part of the state anyway. Scenery's so hard to take in from a car anyway."

Megan hooks her hair behind her ears. "I've been up here, but not on *this* road. It's about 55 miles or so," she says, answering Luc's question. "Probably another night, or maybe two, run."

John nods absently. "Better get going then." He slips down to the wolf form and waits for the others before starting off to the northwest again.

The night's travel passes uneventfully, probably more uneventfully than a second night of travel under the halfmoon in the Umbra. One stop has the stone wobbling a little uncertaintly, but the others have the feather pointing with dead reckoning toward the northwest. An hour or two before dawn touches the sky, the Garou reach the outskirts of the city of Seattle and its thinning woods. A reorientation of the stone finally shows a change in direction, more to the west than to the north.

Ravenfeeder indicates the change in direction at the check, then shifts back down to lupus to travel again.

Defends-Wolves follows along along the path the feather shows, remaining in lupus. (Unless, of course, it heads toward the city.)

After a few more miles, the streets start becoming more dense, and houses can be occasionally glimpsed far back off the roads. Suburbia, but weathy suburbia. Still, as the Garou leave the undeveloped land for the suburbs, the fences will force them either to vault fences and run inside property lines or run down the paved streets.

Luc thinks we had best shift back now. There will be daylight soon.

Ravenfeeder agrees in deed rather than word, hiding in the shadows to creak and crack her way up to homid, scraping her hair back in an expert, thoughtless gesture off her face and into a rough sort of place.

Defends-Wolves sighs in agreement, shifting up in the light woods before the area become all that populated.

Megan checks the stone again, then points, before tucking the objects into a pocket of her coat. "That way," she says quietly in the pre-dawn stillness.

Luc looks in the direction indicated and then starts walking.

John follows along with the others, running a hand through his hair to keep it from looking too out of place.

The grey light of predawn begins to lighten the street's air. The Garou are passed by a couple of cars, one of them a patrol car, but they draw no adverse attention. Finally, a check of the stone points back toward the southwest. Triangulating leaves the Garou in front of one of the larger properties. A tall black iron gate bars the way, with an intercom where a car would drive in. The house is set back too far to see from the road, not helped by the trees scattered among the front of the property.

Luc looks at the gates, frowning thoughtfully.

Megan does a quick once over of the property, but then begins strolling down the sidewalk. Quietly, but quickly, she says, "Nothing but a walk in the morning. This is it, though. We should probably go elsewhere if you're planning on doing anything here, John."

John scratches his chin, glancing at the house briefly. He continues walking with Megan. "Somehow I don't think knocking and making a polite inquiry is going to help much. Might be useful just to watch the place for a couple of hours, see what the routine's like."

Luc says "Is there Wyrm taint?"

Megan nods absently. "Or, wait, and see what can be seen in the shadow later tonight. Risky, though, just the three of us, and us not knowing." As Luc catches up, she smacks a hand over her eyes. "Lord save me, the idiot," she mutters to herself. "Unless you checked?"

John shakes his head, continuing to walk slowly. "Nothing I can pick out. Coming back at night could work." He frowns, looking a bit indecisive.

Megan's gaze jerks up suddenly to the top of the fence ahead of her and reflexively she shies off the sidewalk towards the gutter.

Luc follows Megan automatically, keeping his attention focussed down the street he's walking.

John follows the half-moon's gaze momentarily, then returns to walking down the street, casually looking a place to stay out of sight.

Megan curiousity piqued now, walks back onto the sidewalk with open interest she doesn't bother to hide, towards a place she has her gaze fixed on.

John stops a few yards down the street, glancing back to the Fianna curiously.

Luc sits on the edge of the curb, oblivious to whatever's got the Fianna's attention.

Megan tilts her head as she cranes her neck with curiousity, but then shakes her head, looking back to John and Luc. "Sorry. There's something up there, but I can't see it. Maybe later."

Megan retires to Shoney's Big Boy and chows down, buying for the penniless Gaian's.

The phone that John used to beep Robert rings. *ring ring*

John puts down his fork and and answers the phone.

John pages to GMbot and Nemo: Hello. John speaking.

John pages to GMbot and Nemo: That was me. We've made it to Seattle. Traced things to a fairly wealthy neighborhood. He gives the address of the house. I was wondering if it might sound familiar.

Nemo pages to GMbot and John: Hm. Nothing I recognize offhand, nope. Could just be a storage spot or something along those lines, though.

Megan looks up at the ringing phone with interest, but continues to eat. Not heartily, but neither is it all for show.

John pages to GMbot: OK, we'll keep an eye on things for a little while here then and see what develops. Megan was wondering if you had any contacts in the city we should get in touch with?

John continues to speak quietly into the phone for several minutes.

John hangs up and rejoins the others, frowning slightly. "He gave me another address to try; it's where he was sent originally."

GMbot pages all: Hmmm, it looks like Nemo may be gone for the night. Between Robert and the Fens, I'll say that you can also get the phone number contact for the Glass Walker gatekeeper here.

Megan frowns curiously. "What do you mean?"

John shrugs. "Apparently the place we just checked out wasn't the original destination. The one he gave is fairly close though. Probably worth checking out at least."

Luc shrugs his shoulders. "Can't hurt."

Megan scratches at her chin, but then slides out of a booth. "My turn," she says simply. She heads for the phone, camping out at it for a while and several phone calls.

Megan pages: ...with the intent that at the end, a call is made to the GW gatekeeper trying to meet with him sometime today.

You paged Megan with 'You go through a kin who takes your credentials and tells you to call back at noon. :)'.

From afar, Megan . o O ( I'm not going to get any sleep today. :}

John picks at the remaining food, now cold, with his fork. Occassionally he eats a few mouthfuls, though he seems to have lost some of his appetite.

Megan returns after a while. "I have to call back at noon, but, with any luck, I think I've tracked down the person *I* at least need to talk to. Are you guys wanting to be there for it?"

Luc shrugs his shoulders as he drinks another glass of water. "I don't have any other place to be."

John shrugs. "Might as well. Can't really do anything else until tonight except check the other address out."

Megan rubs her face. "And sleep. There *should* be a motel or something around here *some*where."

The waitress, a thin-lipped brown woman with nervous gestures, is no help. In fact, the three Garou seem to be getting the short end of the stick on service. But the man behind the cash register is more helpful, and points the trio toward a Holiday Inn three miles up toward town.

Check in is uneventful, though Megan's winsome smile gets the Garou in for the price of only one night, rather than two, despite the very early check-in. The room is near the indoor pool, and putting the Do Not Disturb flag up gets the Garou four hours of uninterupted sleep before Megan's wake-up call rings to get her up for the callback.

Megan drags herself out of sleep unwillingly, grinding sleep out of her eyes, but she puts in the call as ordered.

John makes it a point to grab a quick shower while he has the chance.

You paged Megan with 'The same kin answers, but this time she transfers you on. An older woman's voice comes on the line. "Hello, Moore here."'.

Megan says into the phone, "Meg McRyan, from St. Claire. I was given your name as a contact for Seattle?"

Luc looks at the blue water in the bathroom with some amount of confusion and then heads outside quickly.

Long distance to Megan: Danielle Moore's voice warms. "Yes, Ms. McRyan. I spoke with some people about you today, and they assured me you weren't going to waste my time. How can I help you?"

Megan listens, then chuckles softly and drily. "I have things to speak to you about better done face to face than over the phone. Neccessary, actually. I was wondering if I could arrange to meet you somewhere."

You paged Megan with 'Certainly. Do you need passage onto the land, or should I meet you elsewhere?'.

Megan chews on her lip thoughtfully, sitting on the edge of the bed nearest the phone. "Whichever is more convenient for you," she says diplomatically.

The tuneless singing that is John's voice cuts off abruptly as he finishes his shower and comes back into the living room.

You paged Megan with 'Well, I will have to send a representative off the land. But they are available if you don't have any need to go there. *pause* Perhaps if I had some idea of your business?'.

Megan again seems to consider before replying. "Courtesy call of distant family to your city. And, I was hoping you might have information pertaining to why we *are* visiting."

Long distance to Megan: Danielle Moore chuckles. "I'm afraid we'll have to meet in person. Do you have a pen; I'll give you directions."

Megan hauls over the courtesy paper and pen left near the telephone, phone cradled between head and shoulder. "Got it."

Long distance to Megan: Danielle Moore gives a list of directions that start sounding scarily familiar. She then says, at the end, "Just ring the bell and say my name when they ask who you're there to see. The street address is 678 Chasworth Lane."

The Gaian theurge, at least, can probably see Megan's eyes widen with surprise, but she lets little or none of it enter her voice. "Alright. When?"

Megan also tosses the pen down after writing down only a little bit.

John seats himself on the end of the bed, leaning back with his hands clasped behind his head.

Luc is wandering around outside.

Long distance to Megan: Danielle Moore hmmms. "How about six?"

"Six," says the Fianna into the phone. "I'll be there. And, thanks." She says, just before cradling the receiver, and launching into a blistering, brief tirade of curses, followed by a taut laugh. "You'll never guess where she lives."

John arches an eyebrow curiously. "I could. Our first stop?"

Megan puts her finger to her nose, the other hand pointing at the theurge. "Bingo."

John grins wryly. "I suppose that makes our next stop pretty obvious. We've been issued an invitation then?"

Megan nods, but then shakes her head. "Iustus not responding to either Robert *or* my gift's calls, and Questing Stone tracks him to that house. I'm not sure how obvious it is."

John frowns slightly. "The coincidence would seem to be a bit stretched. We could go with the original plan of sneaking in, but I doubt that would be viewed well by your contact."

Megan shakes her head, then stands abruptly. "Nightflash should be in here." She leaves the room to find the fish out of water, fetching him back in.

Luc comes back into the room, his face wet.

Megan flops down on the second bed, yawning, leaving it to John to fill his tribemate in.

John leans back against the wall and looks over at the ahroun. "It seems the house we were at earlier is the residence of the local Walker elder. What Iustus might be doing there is still a mystery, as is why he can't or won't come when called." He looks over at Megan. "They want to meet tonight?"

Megan says with four-hours-of-sleep weariness in her voice. "Not the elder, the Gatekeeper. 6 pm tonight. I didn't tell her there would be anymore than me there," she adds.

Luc looks relieved. "Then our mission just got easier. What's wrong?"

John says "The problem of why Iustus isn't responding. I suppose it's possible they don't know he's there. Just seems odd."

Megan clarifies John's words. "If the Rite worked, Iustus is in the same house as this Gatekeeper. And I'm sort of worried why he would be in that house and not responding to either Robert or my gift."

Luc says "Well, let's go talk to them. At least it's other Garou. Could have been worse."

Megan says without much humor, "Yeah. *They* could be Dark Ones. I need sleep," she mumbles abruptly.

John says "I suppose asking is the easiest way to find out what's up. We could deal with the possibility that they've caused it if it comes up."

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