Log edited with Logedit 2.6.6pl on Sun Sep 13 02:52:53 EDT 1998

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Soulcatcher's howl is heard a distance away, announcing the wolf's entrance to the Gaian and her pack's territory. Believing the announcement is enough, in his case, he continues on and makes his way to the cave, ears twitching as he follows his teacher's scent.

Quiet's howl comes in return before Soulcatcher reaches the island. With the weather warm and pleasant, she waits for the Wendigo to make the swim rather than going to get him with the boat.

Soulcatcher shakes out his coat, tail wagging as he makes his way from the shore. All is well, he asks before actually entering.

Quiet says it is so. She suggests we sit in the sun, so your coat can dry.

Western Side of Arthur's Island

Lodgepole pines surround you and stretch into the sky above. The ground here is soft and loamy, and the air remains cool even on the hottest summer day. Ferns and manzinata brush make walking about a little difficult, but they add a wonderful fragrance to the air.

East of here, the cliffs that surround the island are at their lowest, and a convenient rock ramp descends into the water. Southeast, a granite platform extends over the southern waters of Lake Arthur. Down under the bushes, several small animals make their homes.

Soulcatcher comes scrambling out of a manzinita bush. Soulcatcher follows the yellow wolf up to find a sunny patch to dry in. I came because something's happened. Or, rather, I've suddenly remembered what happened before. If that makes sense. Hope-Star told me I should give you this news as soon as possible, so I left the bawn to bring it to you this morning.

Quiet's ears cant forward with interest. Speak, she urges.

Soulcatcher's ears twitch. While you were away, at Western Eye, I disappeared for a while. I didn't know I had, at the time, but one day when I came back from patrol, the others were surprised to see me. I had been gone several days, it seems. But, I had no memory of being gone. Slowly, some of it came back to me. I had followed an Eagle spirit off the bawn, who I thought had some message for me.

Soulcatcher shifts and resettles on the ground. Last night, while dreaming, much of the rest of my memory--seemingly--returned. I remember being in a place that was and was not my old home. I remember warriors being there--people of my tribe's kin. A story was told of a warrior who lost his way and because of it, many of his people were killed. I asked if this message were for me, and the elder there told me to prepare for a long journey. Soulcatcher slept, as he was told to, and when he awoke, he began this journey. At first there seemed to be no journey at all. Just a valley with a quiet pool. When I looked into the pool--wearing my two-leg form--I saw my reflection--wearing my war form.

Quiet settles down to listen, her ears swivelling as the Wendigo's story unfolds.

Soulcatcher was most unsettled by this, and so I shifted to the great form and looked again. But this time everything was as it should be. Form reflecting likeness. Puzzled, but finding nothing more of interest at the pool, I decided to walk. Afer all, a path--any path--is better than going nowhere. So, I set out. I wandered for days. Seasons changed. Winter came, and she brought with her a bitter, howling wind. Soulcatcher found a cave to rest from wind's relentlessness, only the cave held some kind of magic, I think. Because I fell off the earth. I'm not sure how, but I fell and kept falling. I tried to find something to hold onto, but there was nothing, and my limbs flailed helplessly, my howl on the wnid. But then my howl was not a howl--it was an Eagle's cry. And my limbs were not flailing anymore, they were steadying themselves on the back of the wind. I could do this because I was no longer a wolf. I was an EAgle. Soulcatcher flew with the power of Eagle. Over mountains I went, and forests. I flew, drawn to a particular spot. There I landed, and through winter's storm, Wendigo appeared to me.

Quiet's interest had sharpened at the mention of Soulcatcher's flight, and that heightened awareness betrays a slight tension at the mention of the ferocious winter spirit. She continues to listen.

Soulcatcher will tell you what He said. He said a great evil threatened my people. This I already knew, of course, and Wendigo knew that as well. ~He told me that he had tried to aid us by sending visions of spirit relics that contained this evil. He said he'd sent his strongest jagglings to fight it. Now it has come again, and this time it's spent two lifetimes' worth of seasons plotting its revenge.~ Soulcatcher crawls a little closer to Quiet, ears canted forward, ~But, he said, it was *not* its own master. Wendigo said it does another's bidding, through a perversion of the natural magic Wendigo's children all possess. He told me to find this perverse relic, and bind its mastery into something dedicated to Wendigo, and then He himself would dispell this evil forever.~

Quiet repeats in vague puzzlement, Bind its mastery?

Soulcatcher was hoping you'd understand it. Hope-Star seemed to think you would.

Quiet knows of the relic and the one that controls it. Whitestreak seeks an audience with the city walkers, so we may know all before we strike to take it. And the one that watches my pack stresses the need for speed. But I am not sure what those words mean.

Soulcatcher chuffs, Who is it that controls this relic?

Quiet shifts in order to say. She pushes the hair out of her face and says flatly, "Ashley Turner."

Soulcatcher's ears quirk as he process the name, and a nearly forgotten memory. She is the one that alpha'd the dig in the first place, yes?

Andrea nods. She turns to look at Soulcatcher directly and says, "I'll trust your discretion around Sepdet about this part. From all we can discover, she's a vampire."

Soulcatcher's ears splay with sudden surprise. One of the Dead ones?

Soulcatcher snorts, showing his disgust. what would one of them want with this spirit?

Andrea frowns and makes herself comfortable again. "From what we've pieced together and what Jade said, I believe that someone she was related to was killed by the Wendigo that bound the bane."

Things simplify for the Wendigo wolf, which is reflected in his expression. Understanding rests in his eyes now. When Whitestreak has returned from his meeting with the walkers, you will strike to take this relic?

Andrea nods. "I hope to have our whole pack go to meet with the Walkers, when they're ready." Impatience, quickly quelled, plays on her face. "If you can and wish to go, I'll ask for you as well."

Soulcatcher's ears come up. I wish it, but someone needs to remain on guard. I left word for Peacekeeper that I brought you this news myself, but I should not be gone even this long. If Peacekeeper allows it, however, I will go.

Andrea nods.

Soulcatcher gets to his feet and nosebumps Andrea affectionately. Father called to me.

Soulcatcher's manner is full of pride, as well as confidence.

Andrea's fingers play on her knees. "I don't know for sure what kind of strike Patrick plans. I'm beginning to think he'd be wisest to take a small group of new moons that can fight." She then reaches out to bury her fingers in her old friend's ruff. Her face relaxes into a small smile. "Indeed."

Soulcatcher agrees. That is one path. It is good to know the strengths of the Dead one, first, though. The Walkers have this?

Andrea nods. "At least, they know more than we do. They struck to retrieve some information already."

Soulcatcher nods. I should return to the bawn. Send word, when you know?

Andrea nods a last time. "I will."

Soulcatcher brushes against the Gaian a last time and heads off in the direction to cross back from the island.

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