~Tonight we take back what's ours.~

[renferret]

 The Garou of the Hidden Walk move to clear out the wasp threat in the world's deadliest werewolf relay race.

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304 From: Nicodemus At: Thu Jan 31 03:56:56 2013 

Fldr : 0 Status: Unread 

To : Mouse, Naomi 

Subject: Background check 

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E-mail sent from Nick to Mouse. I included Naomi (OOCly) for obvious reasons. :)

 

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Mouse,

 

Val seems to think we might have a potential problem, but I think we need more information before jumping to conclusions. Could you use your Walker connections to do a background search on a woman named Naomi? Her cell # is XXX-XXX-XXXX. Be careful to avoid using regular channels as she's Army, Spec Ops, and has mentioned not probing too deeply into her past after I mentioned I was a PI. (There seemed to be a hint of how Spec Ops might not like it, and I think she's tied in with electronic surveillance.) So stick to Walker-channels only on this one.

 

Val's gotten conflicting information from her in regards to Terminus--she claimed she was unfamiliar with the company one time and advised me not to let them work me too hard when she later learned I worked for them (although that honestly could be sheer coincidence as "don't let them work you too hard" is a common enough phrase when talking about work.)

 

Val also said she'd paid a guy to hand her a flyer for an apartment that had the Glass Walker symbol on it, and how Naomi wanted to go see that property immediately. (Again, this could be coincidence because she was apartment hunting.) Val then said that, once in the apartment complex, she eyeballed it pretty heavily. (Again, who doesn't when they're considering moving into a place.)

 

The long and the short of it is this: I think Val's over-reacting, but it's something that could potentially be a threat to the tribe, and I do get a ping of something magic about her (but she's not a mage, vampire, werewolf, fomori, shifter--or she can mask it damn well). (I'm working on a theory that she might possibly be a Hunter with a technology-specialist Warper ally somewhere in the background, though that's pretty dicey as a theory. And I'll know if they make an attempt on the Walkerhaus server now that it's warded.) Better safe than sorry, but I don't think this mandates a "high alert." Not yet, at least. And definitely it needs kid gloves and subtleness, as she's active Spec Ops in the Army and we really don't need them poking around town asking why one of their members turned up dead or went AWOL. Also? Personal observation? If you were to go undercover as a relatively nice and friendly person, would you announce to people/marks that you've got a Spec Ops background? (Uh. No.)

 

She may have spy credentials, but I don't think she's spying on us. Being subtle in poking about in her background ought to keep it that way.

 

Val's already tried fishing out info via Terminus and some of her contacts, but I figure if she recognized the Walker glyph (as opposed to a good deal on an appartment), that the resident Walker elder--talking with other Walkers--might have more luck in fishing out "insider only" information and/or secrets than an "outsider" Corax.

 

Sorry to bug you. I'm still in "need time alone" mode myself. And I don't think Naomi is a direct threat or anything, but I wanted to make you aware of Val's theories in the off chance that Naomi is a threat.

 

--Nick

 

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The Umbral Bawn(#1288RJeh)

 

The Bawn is alive with power, a growing strength as the Caern is neared, where it becoems a palpable presence felt by even those lowest in Gnosis. Thriving native trees and plants abound, interspersed here and there with stranger remnants of the Wyld surge. Those spirits unmolested by the wasps thrive too- lunes and wind-spirits, the occational water-spirits, cautious birds and even more cautious insects. Tree-spirits can be seen among their spirit-echoes, moving to the dance of the winds. The Caern area itself shows the biggest change, once it comes into view. The massive tree that now grows at its heart is the first thing to be obvious. Closer still, it is possible to see that much of the former chasm within which it lay has now been filled and smoothed over by the wasp's building-work. Tne Wyld's contribution is seen in the extravagant growth of vegetation along hte valley sides, so that now the only obvious access into the caern area is through the valley end which opens into the central part of the Bawn. The sounthern exit appears blocked entirely.

 

Contents:

Cate

Emma

Jacinta

Song-of-Vengeance

Phoebe

Owen

Seeks-Raging-Water

MyLittleTalon

Nokivaris

Bag-of-Snakes

 

You paged (Minion, MyLittleTalon) with 'She just has her roach clip. She /has/ been doing Swarm Song since the plan was settled on.'.

 

Deep in the darkest hours of night, Luna's light somewhat obscured by the clouds overhead, Jacinta waits as the others gather, as close to the caern as it is yet safe to travel. The temperature falls, moment by moment, until breath can be seen, and frost touches a few leaves. "Tonight, we remove the threat to our caern," she says to the rest and nods toward the ragabash team. "Shockwave and Evac will leave now to retrieve our prize. They will deliver it to me, and Skokiaan, the totem of Fidelity will open the moon bridge to my destination. There, First Strike waits. Together, she and I will deposit the prize."

 

A hand sweeps across in a gesture encompassing the others. "You will be the defenders. Should the wasps attempt to leave the bawn but not follow me, you shall herd them back to the path. Should they attempt to return, after we have led them away, you will fight them off. There will be no rush to the caern. There will be no assault. Only if the wasps fail to leave as they should will a full attack be required. Keep back. Wait in patience. Let Grandmother's Ways rule, today."

 

Standing up just the slightest bit straighter when her name is spoken, Riley takes a long breath and lets it out slow, casting a glance between Warder and Alpha. If she's got any lingering jitters about her role, she hides them well.

 

Kevin grins at Riley from his position nearby and mouths, "You'll be fine," to her sotto voce.

 

Only just healed from the attack to clear the moon bridge, Charlene stands ready - a Crinos with a cowboy hat is an odd juxtaposition, but it fits her. She stands with Seeks Raging Water, looking to Emma and Phoebe, now and again.

 

Samantha stands near with the others, listening to the ones in the lead as her eyes roam over the assembled. Her arms crossed, her hands rubbing at her upper arms, she seems to be the most inexperienced of the group, though for now wisely keeps silent.

 

Coming up alongside Jacinta, the Fianna ragabash has foregone much of the decorative markings that many Fianna use before battle, likely in favor of stealth. Aside, that is, for one: a blue glyph is painted across the fur on his face, and it roughly translates to 'glory and honor'. After Jacinta's words: ~Tonight we take back what's ours. The stories will tell of all of you, and your names will be remembered as those who helped us regain what's /ours/. Go with Stag, with Chimera, with Fenris, with Roach, with Pegasus, with Wendigo, with Uktena, with /all/ of our totems tonight.~

 

Emma keeps eyes on Jacinta as the garou prepare to begin. She's taken to standing near Phoebe, offering quick glances to the younger ahroun on occasion. Her posture is cool and collected as she keeps attentive to the Warder's words.

 

<OOC> Shockwave: Sorry if I forgot anyone. It wasn't intended. There's a lot of people. D: XD

 

Wildfire stnd near-ish the rest, simply noddin in understanding of the orders while idly sharpening his claws hit a small rock. He looks up at the Fianna's more poignant words, however, but does not howl into the night. Not so close to the Caern.

 

There are wasps to be seen even now, the smaller wasp-spirits that seem to act as workers. They leave people alone if left alone, and work between the areas where the Wyld's influence is strongest.

 

Phoebe attempts to mirror Emma's collected poise, and the Black Fury succeeds in looking fairly stoic. It's only occasionally that her eyes dart nervously around the group and betray her anxiety.

 

Breathes-Ocean watches Jacinta speak as her claws ball into fists occasionally. She takes a deep breath when the Uktena is done, looking over the gathered Garou for faces she can either recognize, or put two and two together for. Then, her gaze turns towards the wasps, studying them carefully and quietly.

 

Bag-of-Snakes stands a little way apart from most of the others, and in particular, from Wildfire. Her expression is impassive, poised, waiting.

 

Instructions given, Jacinta takes up the War Form. Her gaze narrows at Wildfire, nostrils flaring, and her ear gives an irritated twitch before she turns to head to her point of rendezvous with the ragabash.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water dips her head in acknowledgement of the Warder's instructions and the Alpha's encouragement. As she takes in her surroundings and those assembled, like Wildfire, she moves to scrape her claws across stone, also taking on a mantle of supreme confidence, thanks to Thunder's gift to her tribe. As she moves back to rejoin Song-of-Vengeance, she pauses long enough to give a gentle -- for a crinos -- clap on the back to Samantha. ~Good to see you. You would be welcome to fight with us, if the time time comes.~ From her tone, she seems to expect that it will.

 

Riley gives a firm nod to the Alpha's words, but remains otherwise silent. Easing her hand into her coat pocket as though checking that something important is where she left it, she eases down into lupus, fluidly moving to stand alongside Shockwave.

 

Shockwave huffs out a short breath, then, and, after a glimpse up at the moon, turns to find Evac. He loosens a small bag from being tied 'round his arm, and gives it to Evac before she shifts. ~Let's go,~ he says, and then shifts down into lupus and starts on the journey to the center of hell.

 

Kevin shifts into lupus himself as the runners depart, and begins to pace on a tight circuit, awaiting developments.

 

Samantha stumbles a moment before catching her balance from that clap to the back. She offers a small smile in return before looking back towards where Jacinta heads off. She takes a moment before shifting through to crinos before looking about at those still gathered again.

 

Phoebe drops into lupus as well, her crouched form moving smoothly along in line with the others.

 

Emma closes her eyes briefly, the gesture showing reverence as the first of the garou depart. She drops herself into lupus and stands at an alert ready.

 

Song-of-Vengeance makes it a point to watch and listen, shrinking down to lupus herself, pacing in a small area near the grou, testing the wind with her nose, listening intently, watching, her senses on high alert. When the Ragabash start, she huffs, more to herself than anyone. It will be like kicking over a wasp's nest. They will come quickly.

 

Following Shockwave's lead, Evac disappears quickly into the surrounding gloom, black fur a boon on this cloudy evening.

 

Breathes-Ocean watches Song-of-Vengeance pace, taking note of her commentary with a passive distance. Her claws flex open and shut, but any other signs of open nervousness are quelled. She is observant of her surroundings, taking in the scenery, watching the 'wyldlife'.

 

<OOC> Song-of-Vengeance: And over there you'll see a skunk with antlers. And, ooh, look! The frog-legged squirrels are mating! Let's listen to their birdcalls.

 

Wildfire Watches the runners take off as well, an exasperated sigh leaving him as he catches the Wendigo's look. He paces over to Gag-of-Snakes and punches her in the shoulder amicably enough, for a crinos anyway. ~Get over it. That is an order.~ He then starts to prepare for what may come by tapping in to other Gifts, his skin thickening and becoming warty and a bit smelly in doing so. ~Come on, folks. Keep your eyes open and be ready for when they leave.~

 

Activating Blur as soon as they depart the main area, Shockwave leads the way on a looping path through the wyld-infested bawn, skirting around the more dangerous things and avoiding any unnecessary conflict, preferring to wait for a few minutes or take another path rather than engage in any combat.

 

Bag-of-Snakes gives Wildfire an expressive look, but she follows suit in growing a stinky, warty covering and forms up behind him, ready to cover his back.

 

Song-of-Vengeance has no stinky, warty covering to grow, only activating her Heightened Senses to hopefully get a better idea of something heading their way.

 

Regardless of her recent forays into the outskirts of the bawn, Evac's movements are not those of the overconfident. She takes every caution, her pawfalls every bit as silent as she can make them as she winds her way precisely through the darkened terrain, effortlessly keeping pace with Shockwave.

 

Unfinished-Business moves about, a little restless as she moves further to one side of the group assembled. Her attention falling upon the worker wasps that are visible. crouching down, she rests a hand on the ground as she observes the ones closest, careful not to move too far from the rest or get too close to those wasps visible.

 

Pathfinder, who has been here but quiet, is leaning quietly on a stick. The blind metis ahroun shows no sign of anxiety, and he says nothing. His ears, though, shift now and then with the movements others make.

 

Heart-of-Fire noses near to Life on the Line. The waiting is the real challenge. She keeps an attentive watch on the wasps though, wanting to keep track of any change in behavior.

 

Leaves-None gives herself a good shake and sniffs the air with a mild restlessness before pacing a little in place. The Gnawer remains relatively close to Grapples with Fire, lupus ears alert and listening.

 

Life-On-The-Line's ear twitch shows her absolute agreement with Heart of Fire. The Black Fury finally takes the time to sharpen her own claws. A moment later she lifts her nose and activates her heightened senses as well.

 

A larger wasp flies past the waiting Garou on an oblique path, wings making a deep drone. It- she?- slows almost to a hover, as though taking a long and suspicious look, then starts to fly off again on the same path as before.

 

Breathes-Ocean watches the passing wasp with a vague expression of suspicion, herself, the garou's claws flexing again as she crouches slightly, but makes no noise nor any more sudden movements.

 

Wildfire eys the wasp as it flies near, resisting the urge to wave goodbye to it. Once it departs, he steps forward near a tree to get a better view of the runner pack moving ahead.

 

Buzz, buzz, buzz, is Speech-and-Silence's Shakespearian comment as the wasp hoves into view. He keeps his nervous circling up.

 

Unfinished-Business looks up at that larger wasp and then back towards the others. ~shouldn't we stop it?~ she questions before looking back to where the wasp heads.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water remains alert, despite all those in lupus to provide earlier warning of any major changes. She tenses as the wasp comes near, poised to spring if necessary, relaxing fractionally when it continues past. ~Not yet. If we attack early, they might focus on us as a threat instead of following our team over the moon bridge.~

 

As the two ragabash approach the nest, the wasp numbers grow thicker. Despite this, none of them seem all that interested in the two garou. They move around, efficiently handling their own business. Two massive guards stand on either side of the dark opening, and the two garou draw their particular attention.

 

It seems to the observers left behind that the number of random wasps who just happen to fly past within sight of the group of garou increases gradually as time goes on. More slow or stop, too, and fewer of them are the smaller workers going about their normal business. There's no overt aggression, but it seems the wasps are starting to notice and to be curious about this group of newcomers to the area.

 

Heart-of-Fire chuffs out as well, We are to herd, not attack. We should do our best to ignore any of them that mill about right now and avoid drawing more suspicion than we already are. She then shakes her fur out as a means of calming any tension.

 

As she waits, Jacinta repeats the oft used humming ritual. She keeps her body still but her eyes and ears remain sharp on the movement of the wasps.

 

Speech-and-Silence himself continues to buzz faintly but distinctly to himself as he paces.

 

Shockwave stops outside the nest and ponders. He looks to Evac thoughtfully, indicating the two guards and also indicating the talen -- he'll slowly activate his (which involves breaking a small earthen vial; it's small and easily crushed, not making any noise). Only after both of them have activated it will he try to creep a little closer, though if the wasps show any sign of aggression or over-interest he'll back off.

 

Unfinished-Business gives a small grumble as she stands up from her crouch. The increase of number of the larger wasps that slide by gets her to look back at the others that are waiting. She moves back through the group, looking from one to another.

 

Leaves-None's head lowers a bit as wasps drone past, occasionally rising to faintly sniff after them with carefully restrained inquisitiveness. She stops pacing after a short time and just watches.

 

Evac flicks her gaze over toward Shockwave as they near the pair of massive wasps, clearly seeking some manner of command in how to proceed. It is, after all, rather difficult not to notice that the pair is scrutinizing their movements more than the average drone. Mimicking her elder, she breaks the talen and eases closer.

 

Song-of-Vengeance stops pacing and just settles to the ground, watching, listening, attention fixed on the larger wasps. Wish I had my guitar....she grumbles.

 

The interest of the wasps int he assembled larger group may or may not be an advantage. It certainly seems that more of the smaller workers are now seen heading back in towards the nest than are seen heading back out. It also, however, appears that more of the larger sort are coming into view. One of the largest buzzes right up close to Breathes-Ocean, hovering and waving its antennae in a complicated pattern.

 

Neither of the two guards inspecting Shockwave and Evac move from their sentinel's positions. They continue to regard the ragabashes, antennae slowly twitching, but they do not move. As Shockwave gets close to the threshold, their attention diverts back to watch for threats further away.

 

Wildfire looks behid him briefly at the young Wendigo's question, but he's answered by others readily enough. He turns his gaze back out towards the runners and start to mutter to himself. The words are almost a sing song, but apparently it's in German where the crinos mouth can't work, and so ends up as so much low noise. The larger wasps coming to inspect the group around him are noted but left alone.

 

Hardly daring to breathe, Shockwave aims to walk right past the guards into the tunnel proper. He doesn't creep, but Evac can easily see the rigidity of the ragabash's muscles as he's fully prepared to stop and move away if need be.

 

Breathes-Ocean sees the moment and watches as the bug buzzes /right/ up in her personal space. Her head bobs backwards slightly, to hopefully avoid coming into actual contact with the wasp. Her eyes widen in surprise, and her lip pulls up to expose pointy teeth. But, she takes a deep breath through her nose, and holds it, her brow furrowing deeply as she waits to see what it will do next. She is a bit tense at the standoff, blinking when the wasp's antenna swing in her direction.

 

Not standing around to tempt fate at the guards' inaction, Evac makes her way into the nest proper, every muscle in her body coiled and tense. She casts a long glance about, taking stock of their surroundings, what they have to work with.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water tells the Fury Galliard, ~You should join me in humming a tune, then, since you can't play your instrument.~ Not that a wolf can hum, but she can surely adapt it in some fashion. Taking her cue from Speech-and-Silence, she begins the rite that she learned in a dream so many months before, in the hopes that it will provide some measure of benefit in keeping the wasps from turning hostile too early.

 

Heart-of-Fire watches the overly curious wasp and lets out a snort of quick air. I don't know if it will help if you have not already been practicing the ritual, but it's a sound suggestion.

 

Once inside the nest, Shockwave and Evac quickly make their way through the smooth, dark tunnels to the nursery chamber. They know the way, but that doesn't make traveling the route now any less tense. They pass workers here and there, and every once in a while one takes a curious look at the two garou. Eventually all seem satisfied and move on, however, and as the two garou enter the nursery they are greeted with a busy, frantic picture. The Queen lies listless, barely moving, while her attendants lovingly attempt to groom, feed, and otherwise help the dying queen recover herself. Their efforts appear in vane. Nearby, the honeycombed slots of young are being attended by other servant sisters, one in particular much larger than the others and swarmed by attentive helpers. The nascent queen's cacoon seems cracked, and although the little queen has not emerged yet, it is clear she intends to soon. The air grows agitated by the buzzing excitement of the helpers.

 

There's a whine from the fury as she stands, shaking herself, before smoothly shifting to Crinos and moving to sit in a crouch, her tail scattering leaves as it wags, and somehow manages to work her throat into something that sounds like a hum. The music? Queen's 'We are the Champions.'

 

Shockwave seems rather relieved, frankly. He noses Riley in the side, indicating the booze they brought in, indicating several spots around the room to place some of it.

 

Speech-and-Silence pauses for a moment in his own zizzing and cycling around, when he recognises that tune. He pauses for just a second to gaze at her expressively, then continues his pacing.

 

Unfinished-Business comes to a stop in her wanderings as she eyes the wasp that has approached one of their group. She looks about at the others and various noises that some are making before looking back to the inquisitive wasp.

 

Pathfinder, meanwhile, maintains his silence, even around all the humming. He doesn't move, doesn't speak. Statue-Stargazer, he.

 

Out at the waiting, larger group, a second larger wasp joins the first. This one goes so far as to land and to walk between the Garou with her wings still vibrating in an echo of that strange, tooth-buzzing hum-song that some recognise from a past and distant dream. The first bobs about in front of the Uktena ragabash, staring at her with multifaceted, rainbow eyes the size of soup-plates.

 

Heart-of-Fire moves from her sentry position with purpose when Song of Vengeance begins her song, but not so quickly as to ruffle wasps or feathers. No! Their song. Not ours. We want to be ignored, she corrects the other. As one lands, she steadies herself and keeps eye on that as well.

 

Song-of-Vengeance stops, immediately.

 

Keeping her motions calm in spite of the innate stress of the situation, Evac takes Glabro, the near-homid form coming in at a crouch. She wastes no time in drawing out a large container from her coat pocket and holding it close. She moves with a confidence she does not necessarily feel to the indicated positions, opening the container and pouring large portions of the brewed bawnfruit in thick pools and swiftly resecuring the lid on the container. With luck, her efforts won't be immediately noticed.

 

Breathes-Ocean glances around at the other garou as she slowly leans back, subconsciously trying to maintain some personal space between herself and the bug trying to figure her out. Her fists tighten and her hackles raise /just/ perceptibly as she tries to withstand the curiosity of this bug without making any sudden movements, teeth still so slightly bared and her eyes narrowed in consternation. She lets out her breath slowly, takes another deep breath, holds it for the moment.

 

Wildfire's mutterings fade into quiescence. He keeps his watch on the goings-on at the caern, but the sound of something splashing behind him draws his attention for a moment and he turns his head for that time to see what that was. Better not have been anyone's bladder releasing.

 

Leaves-None ever so slowly eases herself down until she's flat to the ground, making herself as small and inscrutable as she can while her eyes and ears track the wasps' movement.

 

With all the excitement in the nursery, the two garou don't really garner any unwanted attention. They actually get jostled by workers trying to get past and get closer to the impending birth. Some of them have begun to help the little queen by pulling away some of the material that holds her place. None disturb the cacoon itself, but all want a front row seat for what comes next. The elixir Evac and Shockwave pour out immediately gets picked up by a few random workers. It's not long before others follow, and those most heavily dosed begin to stagger drunkenly and wander in confused circles. The Queen lifts her head, her wings giving a sudden and palpable vibration that affects the whole room. Her energy is obviously flagging, however, as she immediately becomes listless again.

 

Unfinished-Business has her restlessness settling in again as she watches the wasp that lands move through the group. The words from another of the garou before finally sinks in and she thinks about that ritual. A low grumble comes from her before she concentrates, even closing her eyes, before she tries to hum in Crinos. The sounds coming out as higher pitched growls.

 

As uninterested as the workers are, it doesn't prevent Riley from having a heart-attack moment when one of them jostles her as she's pouring her final batch. The hummed note from the queen doesn't help much, either. She doesn't bother to hold on to the container after it's been depleted, as she wants none of its scent lingering on her form. She sets the hard plastic container down carefully, and moves back to Shockwave's side to watch the effects take hold.

 

Song-of-Vengeance, sadly, was not around to get the buzzing rite, otherwise she would be using it! She just sits quietly and listens, not trying to copy or mimic since speaking a language badly draws more attention than not speaking at all.

 

Shockwave creeps along the outside, avoiding bumbling wasps, and flattens his ears at the buzzing. He tenses, and then there's a quick prayer to Gaia before he shifts up to crinos, and carefully squeezes in to purloin the young wasp once all seem to be bumbling about. He makes as little of a fuss about it as possible. He's gentle, too, no rustling or jostling, handling it with just as much care as he would a child, and then moves to leave. No noises, no excitement, no running. Yet.

 

As soon as Shockwave moves to claim their target, Riley abandons Glabro in favor of Crinos. She stays crouched to keep her form factor as comparatively low as she can make it, anxiously watching the drunken stupors of the nursery room wasps.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water seems surprised that Song-of-Vengeance doesn't join in, but apparently realizing what that means, keeps close by the Fury Galliard's side as she continues her own rumbling hum. She's got no idea whether having someone performing the rite nearby will actually help, but seems to think it's worth a try.

 

Heart-of-Fire keeps watch on everything going on as the waiters wait, posture easy as she does her best to keep the tension from getting too out of hand.

 

The moment Shockwave removes the nascent little queen from her 'cradle', the drunken wasp spirits become agitated. Unfortunately, most of them are too addled to do much about it, some of them falling to fighting each other--or at least bumping into each other and growing even more confused. A select few attempt to stop Shockwave, reaching to grab at the princess's cacoon and put her back where she belongs. The air vibrates again as the Queen's attention is garnered. she attempts to get up to deal with Shockwave herself. The mere act, however, saps her remaining strength, and she stumbles to the floor. The nursery erupts in chaos as workers try to help the queen, help retrieve the cacoon, and randomly run around in confusion.

 

Cradling the young wasp in both arms like a football, the Fianna ragabash simply moves to avoid the grasping arms. He doesn't fight them, he doesn't snap, he doesn't bite. He just presses past them and heads for the tunnel.

 

Evac's eyes widen, pupils dilating at the sheer chaos that Shockwave's actions prompt. She stays stock still, a look of abject horror on her face that is surely a great comfort to her Alpha as he approaches her. The two have no need of words. As soon as Shockwave nears, Evac retreats the nursery, matching the male step for step as they flee.

 

Those outside do not see any reaction right away, but reaction there is, spreading faster than can be easily explained if the spirit-wasps have normal senses. Like ripples spreading out in a pool from the splash of a single thrown stone, the wasps of the nest start to appear. They lift from where they rest or patrol or harvest from their surroundings, a rising hum filling the air of the Bawn and Caern.

 

Wildfire tilts his head from where he watches, his left hand rising up into the air. ~Guys...~

 

The worker wasps fall away from the crinos Fianna, too affected by the elixir to stop him. An alarm is raised, however, and the nest begins to vibrate. Like a ripple moving outward from a pebble dropped into a still pond, the nest comes awake. Chaos, however, still reigns. Though the responding wasp spirits are on alert, none of them in the beginning know what exactly is going on--their instinct is only to swarm. It allows Shockwave and Evac to scurry through the tunnel almost completely unimpeded, at first. As they approach the nest exit, however, the swarming wasps are everywhere, looking for trouble. Their angry wings have set the air to vibrating loudly.

 

Oh hell...here we go. Song-of-Vengeances's ears click forward, the Fury looking to Seeks-Raging-Water, remaining in her crouch.

 

~That was the balloon going up,~ remarks Bag-of-Snakes, bracing herself for action.

 

Unfinished-Business keeps up her attempts at the swarm song, her eyes still closed as she tries changing the tone and volume a little. One eye opens though at the words from others and her efforts falter a bit.

 

Grapples with Fire gives a nod to Masao, shifting her weight as she looks through the chaos for the coming runner in the Sept's wasp relay race.

 

Leaves-None 's head pops up from her otherwise flattened body, ears pricked and alert as she looks up at Grapples to catch the nod. Then the rest of her pops up and she gives a few short, sharp yips upwards into the air. Now! Now!

 

Shockwave, panting, shoves the cuccoon into Riley's arms, indicating Riley to head for Jacinta's waiting point. ~-Go-,~ he hisses, ~-Run-. You won this day.~ With that, he draws the klaive from where it was bound, snarling to draw their attention over Riley, and heads toward them, going out first. He'll avoid where he can, mostly intending to draw them out and away from Riley's intended path.

 

Heart-of-Fire perks up and looks off in the direction where the hand off will take place. Be ready. Remember, we are to herd first. Keep them chasing the Warder. She gives herself a long stretch and shakes her fur once more, now eagerly ready to move.

 

Pack> Leaves-None sheds a little anxiousness into the pack link, sort of a 'come on, come on!'.

 

Pack> First-Strike has been mostly calm, focused on preparation. At this, her attention sharpens on the link, anticipation and worry in equal measure.

 

As the little bundle of joy is passed over into her unwanting embrace, Evac's ears shoot straight up at Shockwave's orders. She delays for all of a moment as though she means to object, but a simple glance around her is all it takes to dispel that line of thought. She does, however, offer her elder a stiff nod, and a tightly whispered, ~Gaia watch!~ As Shockwave bowls out of the entrance to the tunnel, wielding his Klaive, she darts as fast as her rage and her legs can carry her. As it turns out, that's pretty fast.

 

Confusion reigns outside as well as in, dozens of alarmed and increasingly angry wasps seemingly undecided as to wehther these grouped Garou among them are friend or foe. Some start to do dive-bomb type runs on the group, buzzing low then darting away without making any attack. Others ignore the strangers in their midst and head straight for the nest, wings filling the air like so many fighter-planes massing for combat.

 

<OOC> MyLittleTalon: *whether

 

Seeks-Raging-Water does not stop her humming as she listens to Heart-of-Fire remind them of their task. She doesn't answer Song-of-Vengeance in words, since that would interrupt her rite, but she offers the Fury Galliard a nod, her posture indicating readiness.

 

Several larger wasps trigger at Shockwave's aggressive maneuvers. They lurch towards the Fianna in aggravation. Others pick up and follow suit, until the Fianna ragabash can't be seen for the wasps around him. It gives Evac the opportunity to move. With only a few stragglers still following her instead of Shockwave, she makes a bee-line for the others, and the waiting Wendigo Warder.

 

The Gnawer Ragabash's yips into the air are short and fast, consisting mostly of 'Open! Open!' and 'Now! Quick!' as Leaves-None dances in place looking upward. In response to her words comes the shimmering into view of a path of light, an arcing bridge of soft glow that stretches a path up and out. That done, the small no-moon promptly gets the heck out of the way of the moon bridge's entrance.

 

Pack> Leaves-None trades a bit of the anxiety for relief quickly, but there's still a live-wire impression from her.

 

Grapples with Fire takes a few steps toward the approaching ragabash, her own clawed hands outstretched for the delicate coccoon. As soon as it's in her arms, she turns. The speed of her movement is hard to follow as her feet leave the ground and she takes to flight toward the moon bridge.

 

Wildfire keeps his hand held up, his hackles beginning to rise. He continues to ignore the wasps surround the waiting group even as their agitation picks up. ~I want the fastest of us on the other side of the main host. We horseshoe them and harry them along the Warder's path. Be ready and make us all proud.~

 

<OOC> Wildfire: Feel Inspired, please!

 

Grapples with Fire doesn't even pause, but her words carry back to the others. ~BELAY THAT! STAY WHERE YOU ARE!~

 

Shockwave doesn't battle them all. He'll defend himself from getting killed or badly wounded, but otherwise as soon as Riley gets a good headstart he'll start that way too, using rage to get out of the massive body of wasps surrounding him. His aggressiveniss stops, and he's leading them to where they can see the handoff. Hopefully.

 

<OOC> Wildfire: My bad, too. Mine was meant to 'be ready to move and horshoe' thing. I'm bad.

 

From north, south, east, west; over the distant Weaver-sounds of the I-90 and Kent Crossing; over the stirrings of the wind in the eastern foothills; over it all comes the rising hum of wasp wings. Louder, louder, making it hard to hear even howled commands clearly. Luna's light is dimmed by massing insect bodies. The wasps are coming.

 

Breathes-Ocean tries to slowly duck away from her buzzing close-up and press herself down and away from the clouds of wasps, to the ground, crawling over to the next closest garou and waiting for the next step to take to aid in this venture. As she sees the moonbridge open, she eyes the swarms of wasps and waiting for their reactionary behavior to go in an unwanted direction.

 

Pathfinder stays still, even still. The Stargazer ahroun breathes in and out deeply, however, nostrils flaring.

 

Unfinished-Business tries to keep her attempt at the humming uup until one of those wasps gets to close and she ducks to avoid it. Her humming stopping as she looks to those taking the lead. A low growl grumbling from her.

 

Song-of-Vengeance remains as still as the grave, listening, watching, the vibration from all around putting her on edge but, thankfully she's able to control it. Even if a wasp flies by or even alights on her, she remains still. No Garou here...just follow the queen...

 

Outside of the occasional single-handed clawing motion to swat a Wasp from her immediate path, Riley does not stop. Hers is a mad dash, and while she does make an effort to keep out of the wild undergrowth as best she can, her body is moving at a far faster clip than her head can keep up with in the close terrain. She doesn't look back, simply charges right to the scent of the amassed Garou, pouring out rage as she hugs the fragile egg close with one arm.

 

Heart-of-Fire inches just a foot forward, satelliting ears toward the beginning of the chase. Keep calm here, the wasps will hopefully go after the absolute threat rather than the perceived. Her shoulders hunch as muscles grow eager for the task, but she waits for the call.

 

<OOC> Evac: And hands it off. I missed an earlier pose. :3

 

Wildfire keeps his hand up, still not having called to motion. The sounds of more wasps coming keep his ears turning this way and that, but still he watches towards the Caern.

 

Speech-and-Silence has ceased his pacing. The ragabash's ears lie flat as he holds to one spot, now, listening to the thrumming sound of insects that seems to come from all around him. This way, this way, this way, his posture says, for all the world as if he were a pointer dog rather than a wolf.

 

Leaves-None dances in place at one edge of the moon bridge for a moment before taking a few more steps away from it. Flattening to the ground again, she goes completely still, watching and listening.

 

The air grows thicker with more and more angry wasps spirits as Evac makes her way to Grapples with fire. As the exchange takes place, the Walker ragabash falls to the ground to make herself small and unimportant while the Wendigo takes to the air. The trailing Fianna Alpha brings a trail of wasps behind him. He doesn't escape unscathed, however. One of the large guards sinks its stinger into the Fianna's back. Immediately Shockwave is down with a crumpled yelp. Others begin to pile in, but in that instant, the alarm becomes focused. Some invisible signal brings the attention of /all/ the wasps on the fleeing Wendigo. the air vibrates even more, and the chaotic swarm--or at least most of it--gives chase. Even those that were intent on the Fianna move that way.

 

Shockwave was running fast enough that the subsequent crash and roll of being brought down causes a bit of ruckus. From a distance, there's no indication of movement coming from the downed Fianna.

 

Insect bodies brush past and through the Garou in their haste and driven intent, and those of high Rage can feel the sense of threat pulling at that beast within. It's no more natural to a Garou to stand by as danger rages about them than it is for the wasps to ignore the theft of their nest's future.

 

Her hand-off accomplished, Evac immediately not only drops to the ground, but disappears entirely from sight and sense, leaving the Warder as the wasps' sole focal point of ire. She struggles to keep her heartbeat steady, and to prevent her body from moving enough to break the glamor of the gift as the wasps roil and churn overhead.

 

Grapples with Fire doesn't hesitate, but flies directly to the open bridge, initial speed fed by rage as well as the power of her gift of flight.

 

Pack> First-Strike's anxiety settles. She is ready.

 

Pack> Leaves-None's anxiety seems eased somewhat by that.

 

Wildfire keeps his hand in the air as the plan so far seems to be working well. ~Keep your eys peeled, folks. But. Stay. Put.~ The last is said even as the Alpha falls in sight of the rest.

 

Song-of-Vengeance remains stock-still, aside from the flicking of an ear as a Wasp or few rush past.

 

From her position behind Wildfire, Bag-of-Snakes digs a claw-scrape in the ground which she plainly wishes were in the face of an enemy. The full-moon is bubbling over with rage and reining herself in with the greatest of effort.

 

The massive swarm darkens the sky, blocking moonlight as it chases the fleeing Wendigo. As she disappears into the shimmering entrance of the moonbridge, the living swarm follows suit. For a moment all seems to go perfectly as planned, but it soon dawns on the caern defenders that not /all/ the wasps followed. All around, confused and disoriented stragglers remain, darting about, looking for the source of their anger.

 

<OOC> Life-On-The-Line: Mouse and Jacinta should probably visit minion now.

 

Tersa's GM Room(#4146RJ)

 

As amorphous as thought itself.

 

Contents:

Minion

 

Grapples with Fire has arrived.

 

<OOC> Minion: Welcome to Mt. St. Helesn. :)

 

The trip through the moonbridge is neither swift nor comfortable for the Wendigo. The sound alone of her pursuers would be enough to raise the hackles of the most stalwart warrior. Some even get close to her heels as she moves along. the sight of the opening at the other end comes as sheer relief, especially considering her package has begun to crawl from her cracked and broken cacoon. Through no fault of the careful garou carriers, the little queen is determined to be born. Halfway out of her protective covering, one wing springs free and gives a tentative, buzzing flutter.

 

First-Strike waits on the peninsula of Spirit Lake, as close to the Wyld eruption as she dares be. She's wearing the mechanical back brace, though this close to the Wyld eruption it's not doing her much good. Her tongue is lolling between her teeth, her hackles raised, her breathing heavy. But her eyes are on the moonbridge opening, and she stands at attention. Ready. At her feet she's cleared a small space, with soft moss and fallen leaves prepared for the new queen.

 

The Wendigo has neither time nor focus to be particularly soothing to the hatching insect, but she does repeat the refrain of the ritual hum, and shifts her grip to better protect her charge. As soon as she emerges from the bridge, she seeks out the Glass Walker, and shifts direction toward her, teeth bared in a feral grin.

 

The relative quiet of the night at Spirit Lake is disrupted by the sudden appearance of the flying, crinos Wendigo. First Strike can see, silhouetted against the moonlit umbral sky that she's carrying something. Immediately behind her, the opening erupts with a cloud of black smoke that, as it gets closer, diversifies into individual black points in the sky---millions of them. As Grapples with Fire spots the seemingly tiny Walker, all alone on the ground, she heads that way. The black monster dives to follow.

 

First-Strike takes a single step back from the 'nest' she's prepared, silently indicating it. The sheer cloud of death following Jacinta inspires awe in her body posture, but if she's nervous now, it doesn't show.

 

Rage fuels her, helping the Wendigo put distance between herself and her pursuers. She only slows to land before the nest First Strike has prepared, immediately dropping into a crouch to set down the hatching queen. ~What else?~ she asks even before her feet touch down.

 

*Be well,* Mouse tells the birthing queen. *Live well. Calm your family.* To Jacinta, however, she has only one instruction. ~We /run/.~

 

The swarm rises up to block the moon completely. The sound of their angry wings grows until it drowns out even thought. There is no time left, the vanguard arrives even as Mouse speaks the words. The nascent queen pulls herself from the broken cacoon, her wings vibrating rapidly to dry and harden them from their pliant, pre-birth state. Her scent catches the attention of the vanguard, and they move swiftly toward her. One, two, and then at least three move to attack the Wendigo and the Walker, fearing they are enemies of the new Queen.

 

As soon as Mouse speaks, the Wendigo is ready to move. It's with the fuel of her rage, once again, that she grabs up the Glass Walker and takes to the sky. Less than gentle hands work more quickly than carefully to secure her new charge and take them both out of reach, darting and dodging as she must.

 

First-Strike at least tries to make it easier by shifting down to glabro. She loosens her gun from its holster, flicks the safety off, but doesn't yet aim or fire.

 

The majority of the swarm descends around the new Queen, becoming a writhing, living shell around her. A halo of protectors form in the air above, circling angrily. Only a few persistent aggressors follow after the Wendigo and walker, though the Wendigo's speed soon has them dropping back. As the last of the wasps filter out of the moonbridge, it closes behind them. Soon enough, the angry sounds are lost to the distance, and as Grapples With Fire carries First Strike through the sky, the quiet of the night returns.

 

 

The Umbral Bawn(#1288RJeh)

 

The Bawn is alive with power, a growing strength as the Caern is neared, where it becoems a palpable presence felt by even those lowest in Gnosis. Thriving native trees and plants abound, interspersed here and there with stranger remnants of the Wyld surge. Those spirits unmolested by the wasps thrive too- lunes and wind-spirits, the occational water-spirits, cautious birds and even more cautious insects. Tree-spirits can be seen among their spirit-echoes, moving to the dance of the winds. The Caern area itself shows the biggest change, once it comes into view. The massive tree that now grows at its heart is the first thing to be obvious. Closer still, it is possible to see that much of the former chasm within which it lay has now been filled and smoothed over by the wasp's building-work. Tne Wyld's contribution is seen in the extravagant growth of vegetation along the valley sides, so that now the only obvious access into the caern area is through the valley end which opens into the central part of the Bawn. The sounthern exit appears blocked entirely.

 

Contents:

Leaves-None

Pathfinder

Speech-and-Silence

Shockwave

Evac

Breathes-Ocean

Heart-of-Fire

Song-of-Vengeance

Life-On-The-Line

Wildfire

Seeks-Raging-Water

MyLittleTalon

Nokivaris

Bag-of-Snakes

 

Leaves-None slides up into Hispo, all the better to be prepared for whatever may come from the more muddled wasps. She especially watches the erratic flier and almost slinks in her next few steps. ~No intention of being a pin-cushion here.~

 

Smaller wasps buzz randomly about close Heart-of-Fire and Wildfire. There's a cluster of three not far from Leaves-None. The three larger and angrier ones are closer to the injured Alpha and the Walker with him. Other smaller ones don't seem to be heading close to Garou, but are not yet going the right way.

 

Having dropped into lupus, Bag-of-Snakes, her eyes rolling in uncontained and unbridled fear, makes a bolt for it. The wasp that had alighted on her back clings to her in confusion for a few seconds, then finds itself knocked off her by a low branch. Still whimpering in terror like a beaten puppy, the former Jarl of the Get vanishes ignominiously into the woods at top speed.

 

Shockwave gives a flash of tooth at the one that gets too close. He seems inclined to do something about it, but, well, he's still barely on his feet. ~Time for clean up, gang,~ the ragabash gruffs. ~Clean up any that didn't follow.~

 

Heart-of-Fire snarls at the smaller wasps, giving them a lupine face of horror. ~Toward the three,~ she calls to whoever are nearest her. With a boost of rage fueled speed she charges toward the Alpha and Walker, nudging Life to follow. The younger Ahroun moves with her, flanking off just a bit so that they can come in from two different angles.

 

Breathes-Ocean takes note of the advice of those around her, and slides down into hispo, her vague look of displeasure at the wasps now a full out angry teeth. Her irritation is interrupted as she sees Snakes go running, confused for a moment, but then turns back to her pointy flying charges. She follows suit with Heart-of-Fire, taking a complimentary direction.

 

Suddenly, and without warning, the moonbridge on the caern's end collapses. No more wasps will be going through, or coming back. Whoever's left on this side is stranded, for good.

 

Evac distractedly follows Bag-of-Snakes' departing form with a rapid blink of her eyes, one of which winces. Right, then. Turning again as Shockwave's command reaches her ears, she refocuses her attention on the three large wasps nearest to her. The collapse of the moonbridge is just the icing on the cake. ~Nuke 'em from orbit!~ She cries.

 

Song-of-Vengeance's words change from cajoling and confident to fearful. Still, in wasp, she calls. ~Flee, sisters! Flee!~ Claws come out, and any wasp that's nearby gets a quick slash with her claws.

 

Speech-and-Silence doesn't trouble to show scorn in the direction of the disappearing coward. Instead he swells up into hispo, and makes a run for the nearest remaining target.

 

Pathfinder's stick goes from gentle prodding to baseball bat, aimed at the nearest small wasp. Afterward, connect or no, he'll move in to attempt to dispatch it. He seems to be going entirely by smell, but it's also a remarkably /accurate/ sense of smell.

 

Leaves-None watches the three near her as warily as she can and backs up a step or two to see if they follow her. If they don't, she backpedals a bit more before turning to run and help with the more aggressive wasps. If they don't, well, that's another story altogether.

 

Wildfire pauses as Bag-of-Snakes takes off, sucking on a tooth at an inner thought. At the Alpha's command, however, he turns to the three bigger wasps left behind. Eyeing the situation on the field, he moves to close the gap between himself and the remaining combatants, snarling in hate at the wasp Heart-of-Fire and those with her are moving towards already.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water had started moving toward the larger wasps, but with the collapse of the moon bridge and the reinforcements already headed that direction, she changes her plans and simply attacks the nearest of the wasps, instead, letting rage fuel the speed of her claws as she slices into her foes. Now that it's a clearing mission instead of a herding one, she can finally let loose.

 

There are the three larger and angrier wasps, closest to Shockwave and Evac, three of the smaller ones close to Leaves-None, perhaps the same around Heart-of-Fire and Wildfire, one stunned one lying on the ground in the direction bag-of-Snskes took off, and another half a dozen dotted about. A couple of the latter move about confusedly at Song-of-Vengeance's actions, and turn to violence as her claws slash at them. It's wasps two, Garou two after that round, their stings striking their targets. That seems to trigger the others. Pathfinder's stick strikes home- convenient to have a foe that buzzes all the time- and it's down but still moving. The remaining wasps all start to home on the closest Garou to them, however.

 

Well, these wasps aren't going to kill themselves. ~We could use some help over here!~ Evac calls, casting a glance from the wounded Alpha to the three large wasps. She crouches low and swipes up a rock from the ground, casting it at the furthest right of the three wasps, hoping to draw only one or two over in their direction instead of all three. Regardless, after the action she steels herself for the inevitable violence.

 

Raging-Rater's claw strikes take down one of the smaller wasps, but do rather too well. Her claws stick into the hard armour of its carapace and she ends up with a dead wasp-body wedged on her hand. This attracts further wasps, and she has three more coming in to deal with.

 

Heart-of-Fire and Life on the Line work together, with Breathes-Oceans included in their tactical intent, their intent still to haul as fast as possible to the Alpha and engage those big warrior ones as if getting hit by a semi truck. With her natural speed and her rites, and the spilling of rage for more speed she lines up a tackle with claws on one of the warriors near Evac and Elliot.

 

Shockwave draws himself up, taking the blade in hand, and prepares to fight the oncoming wasps - he seems to be readying himself for defensive action rather than straight up offensive, but isn't shying away from the fight.

 

Pathfinder wades over to the fallen wasp he just downed, and goes to dispatch it with claws. It's methodical and quick, aimed to end suffering as quickly as possible.

 

~Great.~ Leaves-None snarls as the other wasps start moving in and boils up into Crinos. ~Don't guess anyone brought an giant can of super-Raid?~ Then she's moving quickly to engage the smaller wasps with claws at the ready.

 

It's a strange sound, a werewolf, speaking wasp, while killing wasps. Translated, it's doom and gloom about hives being washed away and the like, Song-of-Vengeance backing toward the fallen Alpha, seeking to form a little bit of a protective circle around these that are fallen, smacking any wasp that dares come close. She even throws a few insults in there....your sting is like that of a larva.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water doesn't have time to free her hand before she's set on by the three smaller wasps, so she improvises -- she uses the body as a makeshift shield to try and block one of them, reaching out to slam into the second with a palm strike backed by the Falling Touch to try and keep it off her, before finally using that same hand to lash out with a claw strike at the third. Ahroun or not, though, she won't be able to keep up that level of speed for long.

 

Breathes-Ocean runs and leaps at one of the wasps almost alongside the other two Garou, not quite as fast, that she has rushed to meet stinging problems with. Her paws outstretched, she bears teeth and hopes to remove the extremities off of one of the bugs without coming into contact with any pointy poison bits using her natural abilities.

 

The three larger wasps around Shockwave and Evac sway drunkenly, but...they're mean drunks. Stingers move wickedly fast. Luckily, so does the Walker ragabash. Rage fueling her movements, she dodges each attack, though one comes close enough to part the fur just at the dock of her tail. The Alpha's blade cuts the stinger from the very same wasp, sending it flailing with an odd shriek several feet in the air. Emma, Life, and Breathes Ocean arrive moments later and lay into the still hovering near the ground. The Get ahroun's claws strike first, rending the wing one of one and making it flop awkwardly to the ground like a bird with a broken wing. The Fury and Breathes-Oceans gang up on the other.

 

~Good work! Keep at it!~ Heart of Fire encourages the threesome of female Garou that charged together. With the three warriors being effectively pincer attacked, she works to put as much ferocity into her initial attacks as possible to bring one out of the fight as fast she can. Life on the Line moves to engage the other with Breathes-Oceans, flanking to one side to open up an attack for the Uktena.

 

Pathfinder quickly and cleanly dispatches his chosen target. Seeks-Raging-Water lashes out with blurred speed to bludgeon and slam at the two workers by her, carapaces cracking and crunching, one small body thudding down as she applies her Gift though he wasp is still moving. She does not come out of the clash unscathed, with a painful sting that hurts far more than it has any right to. Song-of-vengeance's attackes are too distributed to do much more than cause a stir among the buzzing insects. Leaves-None arrives ready to pick targets and attack, while Wildfire's Gift sends another worker wasp veering away from him hastily.

 

Shockwave turns back around from the wasp he chopped the stinger off of, and finds the nearest, baring his teeth and activating a gift.

 

No one has ever accused a ragabash of being especially good sports when it comes to toe-to-toe fighting, and Evac proves little exception, harrying and annoying the wasp that comes her way. Both wasp and Walker alike are a blur of motion, one assaulting, the other dodging. As the stinger drifts through her fur, she ineffectually sucks in her stomach, snarling -- only to see Shockwave's Klaive rend the very air itself and lopping the stinger free. Again operating, outside of the realm of fairness the ragabash dives on the flailing, stingerless wasp, seizing it in her claws and yanking it to the ground in order to shred it.

 

Breathes-Ocean, still eyeing the pointy end of her prey cautiously, attempts to detatch the head of the wasp from the thorax with her teeth, growling savagely and shaking it until she hears any satisfying noises annoucing possible detachment.

 

Pathfinder moves on from his dispatched wasp, and then finds the next. Again, he seems to take no real joy out of killing the wasps, but he doesn't hold back, either.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water brings her wasp-entangled arm in toward her torso in reflexive response to the pain of the wasp sting, letting out a growl of agony and anger. No blur of speed, this time, but she does try to get her wits about her enough to catch the one that she downed with the Falling Touch and finish it off before it can recover, at least.

 

It's not a joyful thing, what with half of the party on the other end of the Moon Bridge, dealing with whatever there might be there. Song-of-Vengeance presses the attack on whatever wasp comes close, attacking wasps that are attacking others, for instance. The faster the battle is done, the faster healing can begin.

 

Wildfire seems to have had about enough of 'crowd-control'. Unlike some, he's almost happily jumping upon one wasp, turning into a Get ball of murder, before moving on to the next one.

 

The wasp with the broken wing goes down under the weight of the Get, the Fury, and Breathes-Oceans tenaciously gnawing at its neck. The head doesn't come off, but the poor wasp flails helplessly under the assault from the three garou. Viscous fluids leak porously from dozens of wounds, and it's only a matter of time before it curls into a still husk. Evac's got the second one down as well, but the Walker is fighting alone, and even without a stinger, the wasp proves formidable. Mandibles clamp down on the ragabash's shoulder, blood soaking her fur. The battle goes back and forth, each wounding the other. Shockwave's gesture sends the third wasp crashing to the ground with a shriek that carries through the umbra. It writhes on the ground in pain from some invisible wound.

 

Speech-and-Silence sticks with his chosen target, trying to dodge and weave and avoid its stinger and mandibles while getting the odd jab and claw in upon it.

 

Pathfinder moves with smooth efficiency, and takes out another wasp without taking damage himself. Seeks-Raging-Water manages to finish off the prone wasp before it can struggle back into the air, but she's stung a second and third time in the process, the pain of it almost paralyzing and making it hard to be sure how damaging the injuries really are. Song-of-Vengeance manages to take down one of those, however, so that it's no longer able to fight, though it still twitches weakly. Wildfire dismantles one worker and takes the wing off a second, though he too gets stung more than once, but the Get is apparently oblivious to the pain of the venom. Speech-and-Silence fences with a worker, successfully avoiding damage and incapacitating the insect. Those wasps already disposed of begin to evaporate, wispily.

 

Shockwave leaves the writhing wasp on the ground for the trio to dispatch, and he turns to help Riley. He drives the blade down toward the wasp's thorax, pitching his weight onto the creature to help out.

 

Leaves-None dodges and darts around, finishing off those injured wasps too damaged to be a threat.

 

Pathfinder moves on to the next like a well-oiled machine, motions practiced and smooth.

 

Song-of-Vengeance punts the disabled wasp away from Seeks-Raging-Water before turning her attention to another wasp, snapping at the attacking wasps, slashing at others. Defending Seeks-Raging-Water.

 

Evac's claws do not work mindlessly on the wasp she has pinned - they move swiftly and meticulously, seizing one wing and then the other, baring her teeth and roaring in the thing's face as she meticulously dismantles it while it chews on her shoulder. Naturally, Shockwave's intervention is welcomed.

 

Speech-and-Silence finishes his target off and looks around for any more, then jumps into Wildfire's battle to have at the one whose wing he's just maimed.

 

Heart-of-Fire turns from the fallen wasp to take stock of the rest of the immediate situation. Seeing things well in hand, the Hispo lets a lupine grin tip at her muzzle as she looks to the brave Ragabash, ~Finish it off!~ she comments with admiration. She noses Life on the Line and checks on Breathes-Ocean before moving forward to bow her head at the Alpha.

 

As her target starts to give up the ghost, Breathes-Ocean's ears prick up and she looks around for more, saliva from the viscous fluid in the insect monster causing her to foam slightly at the mouth. Blecch. She gives a huff and moves towards the nearest wasp needing to be dispatched, or whichever one that at the moment looks to be of serious threat to any of the other garou.

 

Now this is more like it! Wildfire thrashes once again, focused more on the one he's already wounded, the poor wasp about to get tag-teamed by him and Speech-and-Silence. ~It gladdens me to know that Baldr's father makes ready the benches for a banquet,~ he gegins in a slow chant belying the violence of his actions.

 

The three-team garou of Get, Fury and Uktena descend upon the wasp the Alpha rendered helpless with Balor's Gaze. Writhing in agony, it is almost too easy for the three to dispatch the poor spirit. Heart of Fire and Life on the Line shred it to pieces, but it's the Uktena that lands the fatal blow. Meanwhile, the Fianna's klaive sinks into the wasp Evac has pinned. It shudders violently, spits up a black spatter of blood on the Walker and then shrivels lifelessly to the ground.

 

Song-of-Vengeance seeks a winged foe and, if one is found, it's attacked. If not...no more attacking.

 

Pathfinder's calm, methodical work seems to attract least ire from the remaining wasps, and another falls to him. Song-of-Vengeance throws down one wasp and then stirs up the remaining smaller wasp there in her efforts, and finds herself all but unable to move after yet another sting catches her, leaving her body twitching and spasming. That one then decides to call it a day and zips off at speed into the Umbral forest. Wildfire's target has no chance, a crushed insect filling in a Garou sandwich. Ichor and chitin fragments spray all about before the spirit begins to fade away. The Jarl fings the wasp venom beginning to take effect, however, with one hand refusing to behave as he wishes and twitching violently at random instead. Leaves-None and Speech-and-Silence between them can mop up the remaining couple of worker wasps, both of them already damaged from earlier scuffles with their own kind.

 

Evac spitefully smashes the dead wasp's face into the dirt after an embarrassing amount of punches finally ruins its carapace. Pulling herself up and turning a stiff, grateful nod to Shockwave, she surveys the scene to see which wasps yet remain.

 

Fight fight fight fight....oh! There's the sky! And the ground is so comfortable! Song-of-Vengeance convulses as the poison works it's way through her body, the Fury growling. ~I...can't...feel...my....anything...can't...stop...~

 

Breathes-Ocean, after ending another bugs' existence, shakes her head and sprays a little foam and spittle and she tries to get the taste out of her mouth. She looks around to see the bug fly off, and starts to go after it, but notices the wounded garou it left on the ground not too far away, and instead runs full tilt towards them. Her pale eyes are wide.

 

Seeks-Raging-Water, like Song-of-Vengeance, is pretty much out of the fight thanks to the venom. Once she recovers enough to be more mobile, though, she'll begin collecting some of the stingers from the fallen wasps, as well as a mostly intact carapace. Trophies, perhaps. Or tools.

 

Shockwave stands upright with effort, panting and surveying the scene. He eyes the one that flew off, but there's also the knowledge that nothing can be done about it. ~Well done,~ he says, and starts limping to check out those who have fallen. ~Any of those who are still up and walking, come with me! We will be walking the caern to make sure none remain! All of those who are stung, stay still, stay out of breed, we will get healers here as soon as we can.~ With that, he starts down to walk the caern, including the old nest - just making sure.

 

Song-of-Vengeance, once recovered, collects any wasp bits that aren't shredded completely apart. Carapace shells, stingers, pincers and the like.

 

Blood rushes liberally from the open chunk of Evac's shoulder where ripped flesh and muscle are displaying prominently. And oh look, there's a nice big portion of bone that's chomped off and crushed, too. All told, it looks just enormously fun. The arm lays limply against her side, her fingers occasionally twitching, but little else. Rather then celebrate their apparent victory, or writhe about in pain, the ragabash simply frowns in the direction of the collapsed moonbridge, her brow furrowing with obvious concern. Shockwaves words snaps her out of it and she glances up, nodding as she turns to obediently follow in his tracks, leaving a lovely little bloodtrail behind.

 

<OOC> Life-On-The-Line: Please be sure and read the descs in the caern. They're, uh, different now. :)

 

Wildfire watches as the last of the wasp spirits flies off, holding down his twitching arm with his good hand. ~Alpha of the Sept, welcome home.~ He calls after Shockwave as he begins his walk.

 

Shockwave turns long enough to give a tooth-bared grin toward Owen, saluting him with the wasp-bloodied blade. ~Welcome us -all- home,~ he returns full-heartedly, and then continues on his mop-up duty.

 

Wildfire grins toothily back before looking around amongst the injured. ~Have a feeling we're gnna be drinking this one off...~

 

~Speak for yourself,~ says Speech-and-Silence. ~There is more fighting yet, for some of us. There are leeches to kill back in our city.~

 

~'Home' looks a little bit more covered in wasp nests than I remembered.~ Evac muses. She turns her attention back to Speech-and-Silence and looks frustratedly down at the ruin of her shoulder.

 

Wildfire raises what would be an eyebrow in another form at Speech, having not really heard of this, but then barks out a whole-hearted laugh towards Evac. ~Idle hands and all that!~