Tapestries: Pablo - Thursday, February 15, 2007, 8:24 PM

It's the next evening after your return and celebration. The four of your pack (less Yiska, who prefered it outside) slept in the crowded large one-room house that the Questing Pack normally resides in. There's been some discussion amongst them as to what's to be done with Blackbones and the former cubhouse, but as they talk with Tony, Hope and Bits on this matter, the opportunity presents itself for you to slip off and speak to the sept's alpha himself.

Shay's coat is a little big on him, not that he minds. Especially in the Wisconsin cold that tries to eat at his bones. He looks around the wood for Night-Spirit, teething his lower lip.

People find themselves looking to talk to the alpha a lot. Traditionally, then, he can be found in the small log cabin near the center of the caern, along with his pack, when they are not tending to other matters. Like most of the sept's Garou, they spend many evenings out Wyrm-hunting, but as the moon has just risen, this is a good time and place to find them. Within a few moments, you find yourself just outside the cabin, and even human ears can hear there is activity inside.

Shay fidgets. He didn't want to deal with this in front of others. He all ready feels... weird coming to the sept-leader. Regardless, the cub knocks on the cabin door. After wiating for the come-in signal, he slips inside, blinking at the sudden change of warmth.

The cabin is heated the old-fashioned way, with a wood-burning fireplace. And even then, the fire is kept relatively low. Still, out of the wind, it is welcome. Eight eyes, two pair in each homid and lupus form turn to face you, as Night-Spirit is here with the rest of his pack, the four elders quite naturally intimidating, despite the friendly looks they give you. The alpha himself steps forward on all fours towards the young Gaian. He growls a bit in the Garou tongue, friendly enough, ~Shay-Who-Needs-A-Deed-Name, welcome. How does this night find you?~

Grinning despite himself at that title, Shay steps inside and offers a gesture of submissive acknowledgement towards the elder. "Like any other night: after the day." Sure that crack sounds smart-assy, but it's offered with sincerity. He doesn't know how to really answer that without sounding 'weak'. "But I'm kinda concerned, and don't know if I should be."

Your crack got a bit of a wolfish grin out of the albino ragabash, but the others seem to ignore it... or maybe just overlook it. Mary Long-Night-Talking's expression turns to concern at your other words, though, but only Night-Spirit talks. Perhaps they are just used to others seeking his counsel, or perhaps it is that you and the alpha share an auspice. ~Speak your concerns, young one,~ Night-Spirit says, reassuringly, ~It is better to share your worries than brood upon them.~

Nodding, Shay takes his coat off. "When that kinfolk walked into our territory, I and Tony talked to her. We were scolded for doing anything without having an older Garou give us orders - we were supposed to let the more experienced Sept-members handle it. Because of that, I bring this to you: Yesterday when Bits was speaking to the spirit in the Umbra, it said 'You have to decide. We have visitors.' I caught that in spirit-speak." He looks at Night-Spirit. The cub knows that the alpha likely heard as much - he must have the spirit speak. Still, "I wanted to bring it up before I addressed it to my pack."

Night-Spirit nods slowly. Before he answers you, however, he turns to his packmates: 'My friends, please excuse us for a moment.' This gets a surprised expression from the other three elders, but, without challenging the alpha, then move past you and out of the cabin. Alone now, Night-Spirit steps closer to you, and shifts up to a larger form to make conversation about complicated topics easier. ~You are wise to be curious and concerned, young one. Allow me to explain a couple things for you. [more]

~You are allowed more latitude and discretion in matters now that you have completed your Rite of Passage. Of course, you are still expected to obey your elders, and, of course, you have to accept the consequence of your action, but some of the caution in that situation was because you were cubs. Secondly, matters of caern defense, being of such importance to us all, should always be brought to the Warder or his pack. They forego the glory of hunting the Wyrm to defend the caern at all times, and so it is their duty, honor and responsibility to be in charge of such things. Do not worry, I trust the Warder and his pack implicitly. [more]

He pauses before he continues, considering his words. ~As for Little-Smiles and her ... poor choice ... I, too, heard the spirit say those words to her. The spirit, however, is not one of the Wyrm. It is a spirit I have seen her speaking to before, though she may not know that. Some Garou have a bond to a spirit as an individual, in the same way that a pack may bond with a spirit. It is rare, but not entirely unheard of. I have watched her for many months and do not consider it a threat to the tribe or the sept.~

"Okay." Shay takes this all in without trouble, and he doesn't really have any objections. "Even if it's not a threat to the tribe or the sept, do you think it may need to be taken up among my pack? If that decision, whatever the spirit was offering, could impact my pack I think it worth bringing up. But if it's just something personal to Little-Smiles, that's her business, I guess."

Night-Spirit nods slowly, ~The bond of a pack is tight. If the five of you have plans to seek a totem and be bound together, then what impacts one member of your pack impacts you all.~ He gives a small wolfen smile. ~There are many things that can affect a pack that don't affect any larger group. A pack is like a family, but, in many ways, even closer.~ It's not a direct answer, not a command from elder to cliath, but a nudge, perhaps, in that direction.

That's all Shay really needed. He suspects that Night-Spirits isn't really going to tell him what's going on with Bits. True enough he'll likely have to ask her himself. What is it about old types that require cryptic answers? "Okay. Thanks, Night-Speaks. I appreciate the answers."

Another nod from the respected elder. ~You are quite welcome, young one. I know your pack will do great things.~