~It was the last way out. That's it.~
Jun. 11th, 2014 08:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
renferretThe shit well and truly Hits the Fan.
Harbor Park -- Fountain(#370R)
Situated in the center of a large, open meadow is a clustering of six trees, a flower bed, a few steel-and-wood benches set firmly into concrete, and a flagstone courtyard that is dominated by a large fountain.
The fountain is a wide circular pool of water some fifty feet across and about five feet deep in most places. The sculpture in the center is a mix of old and new, traditional and modern: eight concrete-and-stainless-steel slabs about six feet high are set in a rough Stonehenge-like circle around the center of the fountain. Water flows from their tops, cascading in bright mesmerizing sheets to the pool below. Rising above the steel circle is a large marble statue of the Water Bearer, an androgynous figure draped in robes of flowing water. It bears a large jug carved with various Greek symbols, from which pours a seething torrent of water into the pool at its feet.
Cars on the nearby street have an excellent view of the park as do any residents of the tall buildings which line the waterfront.
The murky waters of the Columbia River flow swiftly along the east side of the park. Bracketing the park to the west is First Street and the city of St. Claire. Recent construction work is creating an earthen berm several feet high all along the borders of the park in all directions.
Obvious exits:
Harbor Park Meadow
You paged Emma with 'If she has her cellphone with her, she gets a text message from Mouse. The only thing it says is: Harbor Park.'.
You paged Riley with '(Feel free to just work this into your entry pose) Ring, ring ring. Mouse's number.'.
A cool and cloudy day finds the park a little more scarcely populated than when the sun comes out for an appearance, which happens to be just fine for one of the few parkgoers using the area. Emma sits on a bench, mostly just people watching, as she holds a burger in hand.
Regardless of the numerous looming threats on the horizon, patrols still need to be conducted by someone - and for Otter's children, that someone just so happened to be Riley, today. A long, meandering patrol through St. Claire's less-wonderful neighborhoods has reached a sunnier conclusion when Riley ends it in Harbor Park. The glade is like breathing a breath of fresh air, in comparison, and the tall young woman's steps become more at ease the further she steps into it. She pauses as the opening riffs to 'Even Rats' comes piping out of her phone, hesitating nearby to the fountain to fish her phone from her coat pocket and press it to her ear. "...hey." Emma's presence is distractedly noted, and when eye contact is made, Riley offers a momentary little waggle of her hand before turning her full attention to the phone call. Walkers and their toys.
If there's ever a day where he doesn't have anything to do, Rhys may not know what to do with himself. He's engrossed in his own phone, eyes fixed on the screen and forehead creased with worried concentration. For once his earbuds aren't in, they aren't even plugged into the smartphone though the buds themselves dangle from just out of his collar. He's walking at a meandering pace, glancing up every now and again to make sure he doesn't walk into anyone. Which results in a couple of near misses. But for the most part he's avoiding collision.
You paged Riley with 'The first thing she hears is an almost deafening wave of hissing static. "--there?" Mouse's voice. "No time for--" Hissssszap. "--got through. Can you hear me?"'.
A head bob is offered back to Riley's wiggling wave, but before she can say or do more, she's distracted by her pocket. Carefully juggling the burger to a one hand hold so the other can fish out her phone, she takes a moment to fuss with buttons and swipe at the screen. Her brows furrow momentarily, and then she looks up and around with a more searching gaze.
Riley lifts a hand to the ear that isn't currently occupied with the phone, squinting her eyes and looking extremely focused, "Yeah. Ye-- hello? Still with me?" She takes a few pacing steps, clearly trying to improve her reception, "The connection is shit. Say what you gotta say."
You paged Riley with 'It's hard to tell what's static and what's actual background noise coming over the line. Fire sirens. Shouting. "--need you to get to Harbor Park umbra," Mouse says. She sounds tense, urgent. "We're ev--" HISSSSS. "Did you get that? We're evacuating the Green /right now/. Going t--" POP "--moonbridge. They might need help on your side."'.
Rhys looks up, hearing a familiar voice not all that far away. It takes him a moment to find the owner and then another familiar face just a step or so further away. He watches Riley and Emma, like a dear caught in the headlights, almost wide eyed and naturally nervous, enough so that he nearly forgets the phone in his hands.
Salem has arrived.
You paged Salem with 'A few minutes ago, Salem got a call from Mouse that was all horrible static and then dropped out after a few seconds. This was followed by a text message that only said: Harbor Park.'.
Riley's back straightens suddenly, her eyes flashing wide for a moment. "I'm on it. Y'can count on me. Over and out." She drops the phone from its position at her ear and hurriedly swipes it across the screen before tucking it back down into her pocket and walking as unsubtlely as she ever has toward Emma, a slightly frantic look on her face. "You get the same news I did?"
Salem arrives from... well, no one actually see from what direction the old Walker arrives, but his expression is grim and he's pocketing his cellphone as he limps into the park.
Rhys drops his gaze to his phone when it flashes with a new message, then rises again to look at Riley. He shoves the thing into his pocket as he approaches the Ragabash and Ahroun. He swallows back the pang of uneasiness as he sidles close enough to join the two, eyes darting from the elder Glass Walker to the Get Elder and back again.
Emma looks up as Riley moves toward her, "Got a text. Just said Harbor Park." She eyes the burger for a moment, then makes the decision to wrap it up and take it to the trash a few feet from her bench. "You get more than that?" she asks of the female Walker. A nod goes to Rhys as well, but the Get continues her more cautious looking around.
Riley nods firmly, taking a swift second look around - taking immediate note of the nearby Rhys and the approaching Salem for nodding firmly to Emma, "...Yeah. We need to step sideways. Here. Now. Green's coming. Needs our help. Call as much in the way of reinforcements as you can, then get over." She doesn't stay to explain herself, making a swift dash for the park's public restrooms. When you gotta go, you gotta go. It's also a nice secluded spot to disappear from the realm without attracting notice.
You paged Salem with 'Now your phone is ringing again. And it's Mouse. Again.'.
Salem's pocket buzzes loudly; he stops in his approach of the others and pulls his phone out again, frowning at the display before flipping it open and putting it to his ear. "Yes?" Sharp and brusque.
You paged Salem with 'There's a tremendous amount of background noise, none of it line static. Sirens. Shouting. Snarling? Mouse's voice is still audible, however. Urgent. "Jack, they're cl--" And then, suddenly, no noise at all. The line goes completely dead.'.
Rhys watches Riley take off, then splits a questioning look between Emma and Salem when he finally notices the Philodox.
"Wait, what?" she asks just before Riley takes off. Without any more info coming from the Walker, Emma can do little else but follow suit. She looks toward Rhys, "No time to sit around being curious, let's go." She glances toward Salem but doesn't wait to relay any more info to him, instead just taking off toward the restroom as well. Those damn vendor burgers.
Salem spits out some angry Serbian as he rips the cheap little flip-phone from his ear and snaps it in two, breaking its back along the hinge. Rage comes off him in waves, palpable. He shoots a glare at Rhys like it's all the cliath's fault and limps off to some other secluded location to cross over.
Rhys starts when Emma speaks to him. He's already walking toward the privy when he catches Salem's glare, and skirts a wide path around the Walker as well as picking up his pace to almost-run for a place to cross over.
Umbra: Harbor Park(#2143R)
The Umbral ground beneath your feet here is lush with vegetation, an oasis of life amidst the concrete and webbing of the scab. Trees stand proud and tall here, their branches full of leaves. Shrubs line the outer edges of the park, tangled with encroaching webs. The fountain stands out boldly from even the surrounding area, the sleek lines sharper and more pronounced. Clean pure water roars and cascades from the figure in the fountain's center, falling into a cold clear pool that looks quite inviting. Spreading out from the fountain, the rest of the park is a green veldt that seems to radiate life and strength. The river banks the east shore of the park, bridged by a massive rusty bridge. On this shore, the glade seems to have spread out on to it, vines winding around the supports. Further across the river, the bridge melds into the scab again, flaked with rust and covered in webs. The river itself is clean within a few feet of the shore, but black ooze seems to encroach menacingly from the murk of the rest of the river.
A walkway leads out of the Glade-like atmosphere of the park from just north of the fountain. Eastward, the dark span of the bridge stretches over the vile river. Dark streets lead west and southwest into the blighted Umbra of the city.
The Umbral Glade is lit at all times as if it is the full moon.
Contents:
Luna's Face(#2881)
Obvious exits:
South North Southwest West Bridge
Riley appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Riley has arrived.
Emma appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Emma has arrived.
Ishmael appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Ishmael has arrived.
Rhys appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Rhys has arrived.
Salem appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Salem has arrived.
Eternally lit, the Glade is a stark stand-out from the otherwise nearly pitch dark cityscape that is the St. Claire umbra during the day. The umbral winds are already gusting madly, and the local spirits, especially the lunes, are extremely active, their attentions mostly focused on the fountain.
With a headstart on the process and with the aid of her totem's affinities, Riley is the first over. It's not terribly difficult to surmise where the activity is originating, and the Ragabash stalks quickly over, not waiting for her fellow Garou to appear nearby before shifting into her wiry warform and tensely pacing about, waiting for the moonbridge's imminent connection.
Salem doesn't take much time to cross over, either, and he shifts up to glabro once he's on the other side. His flash of temper has subsided a little, leaving the old halfmoon simply grim and tense, ready and watchful.
As Emma appears in the umbra, she too takes her warform and moves toward where the vibes of pending activity thrum most loudly. ~We know anything other than they're coming?~ she asks of the Walker ragabash.
Rhys' crossing isn't precisely graceful, but he manages to get to the Umbral side of the park without much problem. He takes a couple of steps then jogs to catch up to his tribesmates, joining the ragabash in Crinos once he's near the pair of elder Walkers.
The air intensifies, atmosphere growing thick and then breaking apart. It's quite clear what's appearing to anyone who has seen one before: a moon bridge, gleaming silver, arcs down toward the fountain from a spot in the sky that seems immediately close and yet impossibly far away. It brings the sound of thunder with it, and the aetherial sky it traverses seems to be sparking off energy like tiny bolts of lightning.
Evac offers a terse shake of her dark head to Heart-of-Fire, rumbling, ~Three-from-Ashes-rhya said to get here. Now. The Sept of the Green's evacuating, and they might be pursued.~ Her words only just finish sounding before the crackling of air and the impressive lightshow. Evac's teeth grit, ~Be ready for whatever comes through.~
Salem rakes back thick white hair and stares up at the incoming moon bridge. ~So it's confirmed fallen?~
~Evacuating?!~ That clarification seems to bring a rush of adrenaline through the Get that is quickly fueled all the more by the simmering rage she keeps reined in. She wastes no more time with questions or words for now, settling herself into a posture ready for quick movement.
Striker flinches slightly at the sight and sidles backward a couple of steps. His ears fall backward slightly. ~I got the message from Mouse-rhya. It confirmed everything I found out before she left.~
Evac's massive, slender fingers twitch at Salem's words, her claws raking at empty air as she offers a somber little twitch of her head with no words to follow after it. She's already baring her teeth, her nostrils flared.
Following the flash of light that is the moon bridge taking form, a massive lupine figure can be seen rushing over the arc that disappears into the Umbral horizon and back towards The Green. It's running fast. As it nears, some may recognize the crinos form of Paladin, whose fur has been bleached white in some places by claw-like slashes. Running with rage-enhanced speed, he skids to a stop every so often to wave behind him, as if beckoning a number of someones (likely refugees) to follow with greater haste. Strapped to his back is a large pack, intentionally crinos-sized; it bounces with his heavy steps, and almost seems to move in slow motion against the rapid and hurried working of the Walker's heavy paws. It's like something terrible is racing behind them. which can soon be seen--a dark, opressive presence that dims and obscures the radiance of the moon-bridge, itself. Like a billowing, ferocious storm cloud, it takes but moments before it is almost upon them. Glancing over his shoulder, the echo of Paladin's swears bounce down the end of the bridge, followed shortly by the mass of the Garou himself, who leaps that final distance, eyes wide and arms-first.
As soon as Paladin's feet have left the moon bridge, the entire thing gives an almighty shudder. The umbral winds pick up into a cyclone of energy around it, and the Garou on the ground can see the bridge twisting and warping, starting at its furthest point and rippling forward. And then the bridge /shreds/ like so many pieces of silvery paper, twists back on itself, and cracks into pieces that swiftly dissolve. The winds die down. Harbor Park is silent and peaceful.
Falling to a knee at the sudden crash of his weight to the ground, Paladin quickly glances over his shoulder and gives a strangled cry, ~NO! They were still on that bridge!~ His other leg gives out at that, and he fully collapses, pressing his face into his hands.
Paladin pages: Mouse prolly got some feedback from that too. Spicy.
You paged Paladin with 'Ouch ouch ouch.'.
There's an impulsive twitch that rocks the warform of Heart-of-Fire as she watches the events unfold on the moonbridge. An eager, battle-hungry growl echoing low in her throat as she forces herself to hold position. When it becomes evident that only a single form has made it across, she trembles with unused rage and clenches her paws into frustrated fists.
Salem, by contrast, seems absurdly, disturbingly calm. He stares at Paladin, his expression dead stone.
Striker eases backward another step as the unfamiliar Garou leaps and lands on their side of the bridge and the bridge itself collapses. He looks at Salem, then Evac and Heart-of-Fire, and finally Paladin, anxiously waiting.
It's a jarring tonal shift, gearing oneself up for battle only to have it plucked away and replaced with a senseless catastrophe. Evac stands stock still, staring at the spot the moonbridge only recently occupied, her hard breathing growing louder and fiercer until she forces herself to look away, forces herself out of Crinos, back down to breed. She takes a few pacing steps, followed by a few more pacing steps. Rapidly pacing the same few feet of ground, the Ragabash ends her neurotic motions by thrashing at the air and throwing her head back, "Nnnnnnnnnnnn----/FUUUUUCK!/" It's not exactly elegant, temper.
It takes a moment more for Heart-of-Fire to settle her rage, then she moves toward the collapsed newcomer, ~What happened?!~ She looks from Paladin to the others, ~Why did the bridge give out like that? How many were on it?~
Paladin doesn't appear as if he has any rage left to give at the moment, absolutely spent was he, in attempting to outrun... whatever that was. So intead of lashing out, he just keeps his head in his hands for a few moments, catching his breath, possibly hiding tears. Whatever the case, he wipes his eyes after a moment and pushes himself up. ~I'm sorry,~ he says, glancing back in the direction of the last moon bridge. It's a general apology. Perhaps even he doesn't know what for. ~That was Three-From-Ashes' moon bridge. It was the last way out. That's it.~
Salem shrinks back down into homid form. He remains standing where he is, watching, still aloof, still detached, still rather blank.
Riley drops to the ground and punches it a handful of times before she rises, feral-eyed and panting. "...Was everyone on it? Did anyone stay behind? What the /fuck/ was chasing you?"
~What were the numbers on the bridge? Where was Mouse?~ At Riley's question, Heart-of-Fire nods in agreement of wanting those answers as well.
Striker remains silent but nearby, watching the elder Garou and listening.
Exhaling sharply, Paladin closes his eyes and tries to recall, at which point he shrinks down to homid, and the backpack ripples away with the form. He rubs his eyes. "I had just been ordered to lead the last of the refugees here, to St. Claire. We knew the Dancers had imminent control over the cell towers and land lines. We knew all communication was about to be cut off. So Mouse opened that moon bridge before the assault on the Caern itself that we knew was coming. We just didn't think it would be coming so soon." He breathes in deeply for a moment before looking around to those assembled. "Believe me, I don't know what the hell that thing was," he says, gesturing fiercely towards the once-moonbridge. "But it probably means..." He turns away and begins walking away, as if to put some distance between himself and what just happened. "It probably means the Caern itself is under direct attack."
Riley's jaw clenches, her eyes firmly narrowed on Ishmael, the unfortunate Fostern getting no shortage of misdirected aggression. "/How many on the bridge/, Ishmael?"
Salem wordlessly reaches into an inside pocket of his jacket and comes up with a polished quartz stone carefully wrapped up -- and hanging from -- a length of silver thread. Obviously something special, since he dedicated it separately. Taking a few steps away from the group around Ishmael, he lets the stone swing free at the end of the thread and lowers his head, concentrating.
Salem pages: Questing Stone. Trying to get /something/.
~Calm down, Evac-rhya,~ Striker says quietly, ears folding back. ~Give him a chance to... he just tried escorting refugees and...~ He fumbles at trying to find an explanation and ends with gesturing at where the bridge had been before. ~Just give him some time before asking him to remember how many were lost. Please.~
Riley's pupils dilate momentarily and she jerks her head to hiss in Striker's direction, but any scathing comments she might have had for him in the wake of his suggestion are bitten back and swallowed down. A feral curl of the corner of her lips briefly reveals teeth before she returns to making sure that Ishmael is being suitably glowered at, too.
After a few minutes of effort from Salem, the stone starts moving on its own. But rather than start tugging in a specific direction, it spins and spins and spins at the end of the thread. A few seconds of this are followed by a sudden jerk to one side, then the other, down, up, diagonal, followed by wild circles that start funneling inward to a single point before the stone simply stops.
Riley pages: Translation: Mouse is on a roller-coaster.
Riley pages: New York City is in peril, and she's at Coney Island. Scumbag Mouse.
Heart-of-Fire glances at the youngest of the Walkers for just a moment before turning back to Ishmael. ~You were outrunning a /thing/ -not a swarm of Dancers?~ That brings another low growl to her throat.
Ishmael appears to be doing his very best to ignore Riley's eyebeams, instead trying to focus on something, and squeezing shut his eyes, much like one might if he had a bad headache. Which he might. "It was the last evacuation of many. There were... twenty-six, including myself." It's not an easy thing for him to say. "I don't know what it was. They have powerful spirit allies. Lesser aspects of the Wyrm. If I had to wager a guess, it would be on one of those. They're what's made it impossible for us to contact the other fallen Caerns."
Uneasiness wars with a spark of determination in the face of Riley's glare, but Striker stands his ground. Sort of. He meets the glance from Heart-of-Fire, then ducks aside and sidles backward another couple of steps.
Salem gives the thread a sharp jerk, catching the stone in his palm. "She's still alive," he says in a flat voice as he carefully winds the thread back around the quartz. "But I can't get a fix on her position."
Salem's words temper some of the intensity in Riley's gaze, but far from all of it. She looks visibly ill at the number that Ishmael quotes, and her eyes slowly close. The Ragabash is silent.
Heart-of-Fire looks toward Salem at this news, then back to Ishmael. ~Was Mouse on the bridge with you, or back at the caern? Is there any hope that reinforcements would give them a standing chance of holding it?~
A glance to the dancing of the questing stone, but Ishmael seems unsurprised by the wonky reaction. However, hearing Mouse might still be alive, seems to brighten his spirits, if only a touch. "Mouse stayed behind to maintain the bridge," he says, turning to shake his at Emma. "She'd have been at the Caern when it was attacked. And we asked for reinforcements from around the nation, pleaded, even, but either no one had people to spare, or the promised reinforcements never arrived--possibly cut off elsewhere. Some did make it, but not enough. Not nearly enough." He gestures towards the fallen bridge again. "And we can't risk opening another bridge when that will likely happen all over again. Something may have happened to the Pathstone. It's hard to say." He still sounds tired.
Striker returns to homid, gaze casting to where the bridge used to be then back again to the elder Garou. "Maybe we should help him get back across," he suggests, with a manner that implies a struggle to even speak again. It thickens his accent, and is followed by a fairly obvious step backward. "Just... so that... we can get more answers, and he can get some food."
"Not the tenement," says Salem, firmly, and without further word shifts down to lupus and starts loping off.
"I need a minute." Riley mumbles, standing and walking over to the fountain, staring at the spot the bridge so briefly occupied, her jaw clenching and unclenching. Not the warmest of welcomes for Ishmael, it'd seem.
Heart-of-Fire snorts a final growl as information is shared, then forces herself out of the warform. Her fists returning to clenching as she regains her homid form and she looks between those gathered. "We need to get the news out, fast. I mean like yesterday. If we can't go there to help them, then we need to brace for what's coming here and expect it here sooner rather than later now. Get some of our best umbral travelers to see about finding those that fell off the bridge. What about Mouse's pack? Anyone see if they can figure out where she's at."
"No," Rhys agrees. "But there are other places that are safe... too..." His gaze follows Salem until Emma speaks, and he turns his attention there. "I've... I started the process of the protests here, but slowly. Last I heard from Mouse, it was to start but not engage. That was before we lost all communications. I'm... I'll be at Moot, to report then to everyone, but I'll make sure the Elders... the other Elders hear first."
Ishmael shoves his hands into his pockets, and looks skyward. "There's no doubt--it's on his way here," he says, distantly. "Be it next week or next month, or eve in the next two months." A slow exhale, and he seems to have gathered more control of himself. "But some good news. I was sent ahead for a reason--I have most of The Green's collected information stored on a number laptops and harddrives with me. We knew it was only a matter of time before The Green got cut off, or God forbid, fell, so someone needed to get out with that. I'll get it set up for the Sept here to comb over right away."
After allowing herself some time to cool off, Riley takes a slow breath and turns her attention back to Ishmael, "...Good work. If anyone made it over that bridge, I'm glad you were one of them." Despite her words, her voice still sounds ... numbed. "The Tenement's no good. Compromised, at best. Your best best for getting it pored over would probably still be at Terminus."
Emma looks toward Rhys. "Get news to the elders, but don't skip out on passing the info to everyone else you cross paths with. People need to know that the Green is under attack, or worse, and the Mouse is among the MIA right now." She turns toward Riley after that, "If setting him up at Terminus is a risk for that info pinging radars, the brownstone can work. I hardly use it, and the basement is garou safe." Finally, Ishmael gets another look. "Not that I expect it will come easy, but you getting rested will do /us/ more good than you running on fumes."
"Mouse-rhya's ordered a complete evacuation of the Tenement," Rhys fills in. Then he looks at Emma, nodding acquiescent to most of what she says. "Mouse-rhya wanted all the Garou to know, especially those in the city, that it may not be safe, and to have a back up plan. Even the Brownstone and the old Library."
Ishmael offers Riley the briefest of smiles, but doesn't bother with a familial 'hello' right now. Too soon. "Terminus is aware of what's happening in New York. Mellancamp, the guy who's running it here right now, I haven't met him, but we were sending him a lot of info before the internet went dead. He should have the setup I need, and everything is secure." That, said to Emma as well, with a nod. "They've got room and board there. And I'm sure everyone's still welcome if a secure place is needed." That said, he rubs his head again, pats Rhys on the shoulder, and then gestures towards downtown. "I'll have info you'll want. Come find me in a day or so. I'm gonna go drown my sorrows now, if none of you mind."
Riley offers a terse nod of her head in response. She stiffly makes her way toward the spot where she first arrived, takes a peek to ensure that she's not interrupting some poor woman's quiet time, and heads back for the realm, herself.
Emma draws in a breath and nods, "I'll get word out to my circles and whoever else I cross paths with. Keep us posted, Walkers."
Salem renames Ish BRINGS DOOM TO US ALL YOU JERK
Salem: Or DID NOT BRING BACK MOUSE YOU JERK
Paladin: Hey, can someone go get DOOM TO US ALL YOU JERK and tell him we need more milk?
Harbor Park -- Fountain(#370R)
Situated in the center of a large, open meadow is a clustering of six trees, a flower bed, a few steel-and-wood benches set firmly into concrete, and a flagstone courtyard that is dominated by a large fountain.
The fountain is a wide circular pool of water some fifty feet across and about five feet deep in most places. The sculpture in the center is a mix of old and new, traditional and modern: eight concrete-and-stainless-steel slabs about six feet high are set in a rough Stonehenge-like circle around the center of the fountain. Water flows from their tops, cascading in bright mesmerizing sheets to the pool below. Rising above the steel circle is a large marble statue of the Water Bearer, an androgynous figure draped in robes of flowing water. It bears a large jug carved with various Greek symbols, from which pours a seething torrent of water into the pool at its feet.
Cars on the nearby street have an excellent view of the park as do any residents of the tall buildings which line the waterfront.
The murky waters of the Columbia River flow swiftly along the east side of the park. Bracketing the park to the west is First Street and the city of St. Claire. Recent construction work is creating an earthen berm several feet high all along the borders of the park in all directions.
Obvious exits:
Harbor Park Meadow
You paged Emma with 'If she has her cellphone with her, she gets a text message from Mouse. The only thing it says is: Harbor Park.'.
You paged Riley with '(Feel free to just work this into your entry pose) Ring, ring ring. Mouse's number.'.
A cool and cloudy day finds the park a little more scarcely populated than when the sun comes out for an appearance, which happens to be just fine for one of the few parkgoers using the area. Emma sits on a bench, mostly just people watching, as she holds a burger in hand.
Regardless of the numerous looming threats on the horizon, patrols still need to be conducted by someone - and for Otter's children, that someone just so happened to be Riley, today. A long, meandering patrol through St. Claire's less-wonderful neighborhoods has reached a sunnier conclusion when Riley ends it in Harbor Park. The glade is like breathing a breath of fresh air, in comparison, and the tall young woman's steps become more at ease the further she steps into it. She pauses as the opening riffs to 'Even Rats' comes piping out of her phone, hesitating nearby to the fountain to fish her phone from her coat pocket and press it to her ear. "...hey." Emma's presence is distractedly noted, and when eye contact is made, Riley offers a momentary little waggle of her hand before turning her full attention to the phone call. Walkers and their toys.
If there's ever a day where he doesn't have anything to do, Rhys may not know what to do with himself. He's engrossed in his own phone, eyes fixed on the screen and forehead creased with worried concentration. For once his earbuds aren't in, they aren't even plugged into the smartphone though the buds themselves dangle from just out of his collar. He's walking at a meandering pace, glancing up every now and again to make sure he doesn't walk into anyone. Which results in a couple of near misses. But for the most part he's avoiding collision.
You paged Riley with 'The first thing she hears is an almost deafening wave of hissing static. "--there?" Mouse's voice. "No time for--" Hissssszap. "--got through. Can you hear me?"'.
A head bob is offered back to Riley's wiggling wave, but before she can say or do more, she's distracted by her pocket. Carefully juggling the burger to a one hand hold so the other can fish out her phone, she takes a moment to fuss with buttons and swipe at the screen. Her brows furrow momentarily, and then she looks up and around with a more searching gaze.
Riley lifts a hand to the ear that isn't currently occupied with the phone, squinting her eyes and looking extremely focused, "Yeah. Ye-- hello? Still with me?" She takes a few pacing steps, clearly trying to improve her reception, "The connection is shit. Say what you gotta say."
You paged Riley with 'It's hard to tell what's static and what's actual background noise coming over the line. Fire sirens. Shouting. "--need you to get to Harbor Park umbra," Mouse says. She sounds tense, urgent. "We're ev--" HISSSSS. "Did you get that? We're evacuating the Green /right now/. Going t--" POP "--moonbridge. They might need help on your side."'.
Rhys looks up, hearing a familiar voice not all that far away. It takes him a moment to find the owner and then another familiar face just a step or so further away. He watches Riley and Emma, like a dear caught in the headlights, almost wide eyed and naturally nervous, enough so that he nearly forgets the phone in his hands.
Salem has arrived.
You paged Salem with 'A few minutes ago, Salem got a call from Mouse that was all horrible static and then dropped out after a few seconds. This was followed by a text message that only said: Harbor Park.'.
Riley's back straightens suddenly, her eyes flashing wide for a moment. "I'm on it. Y'can count on me. Over and out." She drops the phone from its position at her ear and hurriedly swipes it across the screen before tucking it back down into her pocket and walking as unsubtlely as she ever has toward Emma, a slightly frantic look on her face. "You get the same news I did?"
Salem arrives from... well, no one actually see from what direction the old Walker arrives, but his expression is grim and he's pocketing his cellphone as he limps into the park.
Rhys drops his gaze to his phone when it flashes with a new message, then rises again to look at Riley. He shoves the thing into his pocket as he approaches the Ragabash and Ahroun. He swallows back the pang of uneasiness as he sidles close enough to join the two, eyes darting from the elder Glass Walker to the Get Elder and back again.
Emma looks up as Riley moves toward her, "Got a text. Just said Harbor Park." She eyes the burger for a moment, then makes the decision to wrap it up and take it to the trash a few feet from her bench. "You get more than that?" she asks of the female Walker. A nod goes to Rhys as well, but the Get continues her more cautious looking around.
Riley nods firmly, taking a swift second look around - taking immediate note of the nearby Rhys and the approaching Salem for nodding firmly to Emma, "...Yeah. We need to step sideways. Here. Now. Green's coming. Needs our help. Call as much in the way of reinforcements as you can, then get over." She doesn't stay to explain herself, making a swift dash for the park's public restrooms. When you gotta go, you gotta go. It's also a nice secluded spot to disappear from the realm without attracting notice.
You paged Salem with 'Now your phone is ringing again. And it's Mouse. Again.'.
Salem's pocket buzzes loudly; he stops in his approach of the others and pulls his phone out again, frowning at the display before flipping it open and putting it to his ear. "Yes?" Sharp and brusque.
You paged Salem with 'There's a tremendous amount of background noise, none of it line static. Sirens. Shouting. Snarling? Mouse's voice is still audible, however. Urgent. "Jack, they're cl--" And then, suddenly, no noise at all. The line goes completely dead.'.
Rhys watches Riley take off, then splits a questioning look between Emma and Salem when he finally notices the Philodox.
"Wait, what?" she asks just before Riley takes off. Without any more info coming from the Walker, Emma can do little else but follow suit. She looks toward Rhys, "No time to sit around being curious, let's go." She glances toward Salem but doesn't wait to relay any more info to him, instead just taking off toward the restroom as well. Those damn vendor burgers.
Salem spits out some angry Serbian as he rips the cheap little flip-phone from his ear and snaps it in two, breaking its back along the hinge. Rage comes off him in waves, palpable. He shoots a glare at Rhys like it's all the cliath's fault and limps off to some other secluded location to cross over.
Rhys starts when Emma speaks to him. He's already walking toward the privy when he catches Salem's glare, and skirts a wide path around the Walker as well as picking up his pace to almost-run for a place to cross over.
Umbra: Harbor Park(#2143R)
The Umbral ground beneath your feet here is lush with vegetation, an oasis of life amidst the concrete and webbing of the scab. Trees stand proud and tall here, their branches full of leaves. Shrubs line the outer edges of the park, tangled with encroaching webs. The fountain stands out boldly from even the surrounding area, the sleek lines sharper and more pronounced. Clean pure water roars and cascades from the figure in the fountain's center, falling into a cold clear pool that looks quite inviting. Spreading out from the fountain, the rest of the park is a green veldt that seems to radiate life and strength. The river banks the east shore of the park, bridged by a massive rusty bridge. On this shore, the glade seems to have spread out on to it, vines winding around the supports. Further across the river, the bridge melds into the scab again, flaked with rust and covered in webs. The river itself is clean within a few feet of the shore, but black ooze seems to encroach menacingly from the murk of the rest of the river.
A walkway leads out of the Glade-like atmosphere of the park from just north of the fountain. Eastward, the dark span of the bridge stretches over the vile river. Dark streets lead west and southwest into the blighted Umbra of the city.
The Umbral Glade is lit at all times as if it is the full moon.
Contents:
Luna's Face(#2881)
Obvious exits:
South North Southwest West Bridge
Riley appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Riley has arrived.
Emma appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Emma has arrived.
Ishmael appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Ishmael has arrived.
Rhys appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Rhys has arrived.
Salem appears in a swirl of wind and light.
Salem has arrived.
Eternally lit, the Glade is a stark stand-out from the otherwise nearly pitch dark cityscape that is the St. Claire umbra during the day. The umbral winds are already gusting madly, and the local spirits, especially the lunes, are extremely active, their attentions mostly focused on the fountain.
With a headstart on the process and with the aid of her totem's affinities, Riley is the first over. It's not terribly difficult to surmise where the activity is originating, and the Ragabash stalks quickly over, not waiting for her fellow Garou to appear nearby before shifting into her wiry warform and tensely pacing about, waiting for the moonbridge's imminent connection.
Salem doesn't take much time to cross over, either, and he shifts up to glabro once he's on the other side. His flash of temper has subsided a little, leaving the old halfmoon simply grim and tense, ready and watchful.
As Emma appears in the umbra, she too takes her warform and moves toward where the vibes of pending activity thrum most loudly. ~We know anything other than they're coming?~ she asks of the Walker ragabash.
Rhys' crossing isn't precisely graceful, but he manages to get to the Umbral side of the park without much problem. He takes a couple of steps then jogs to catch up to his tribesmates, joining the ragabash in Crinos once he's near the pair of elder Walkers.
The air intensifies, atmosphere growing thick and then breaking apart. It's quite clear what's appearing to anyone who has seen one before: a moon bridge, gleaming silver, arcs down toward the fountain from a spot in the sky that seems immediately close and yet impossibly far away. It brings the sound of thunder with it, and the aetherial sky it traverses seems to be sparking off energy like tiny bolts of lightning.
Evac offers a terse shake of her dark head to Heart-of-Fire, rumbling, ~Three-from-Ashes-rhya said to get here. Now. The Sept of the Green's evacuating, and they might be pursued.~ Her words only just finish sounding before the crackling of air and the impressive lightshow. Evac's teeth grit, ~Be ready for whatever comes through.~
Salem rakes back thick white hair and stares up at the incoming moon bridge. ~So it's confirmed fallen?~
~Evacuating?!~ That clarification seems to bring a rush of adrenaline through the Get that is quickly fueled all the more by the simmering rage she keeps reined in. She wastes no more time with questions or words for now, settling herself into a posture ready for quick movement.
Striker flinches slightly at the sight and sidles backward a couple of steps. His ears fall backward slightly. ~I got the message from Mouse-rhya. It confirmed everything I found out before she left.~
Evac's massive, slender fingers twitch at Salem's words, her claws raking at empty air as she offers a somber little twitch of her head with no words to follow after it. She's already baring her teeth, her nostrils flared.
Following the flash of light that is the moon bridge taking form, a massive lupine figure can be seen rushing over the arc that disappears into the Umbral horizon and back towards The Green. It's running fast. As it nears, some may recognize the crinos form of Paladin, whose fur has been bleached white in some places by claw-like slashes. Running with rage-enhanced speed, he skids to a stop every so often to wave behind him, as if beckoning a number of someones (likely refugees) to follow with greater haste. Strapped to his back is a large pack, intentionally crinos-sized; it bounces with his heavy steps, and almost seems to move in slow motion against the rapid and hurried working of the Walker's heavy paws. It's like something terrible is racing behind them. which can soon be seen--a dark, opressive presence that dims and obscures the radiance of the moon-bridge, itself. Like a billowing, ferocious storm cloud, it takes but moments before it is almost upon them. Glancing over his shoulder, the echo of Paladin's swears bounce down the end of the bridge, followed shortly by the mass of the Garou himself, who leaps that final distance, eyes wide and arms-first.
As soon as Paladin's feet have left the moon bridge, the entire thing gives an almighty shudder. The umbral winds pick up into a cyclone of energy around it, and the Garou on the ground can see the bridge twisting and warping, starting at its furthest point and rippling forward. And then the bridge /shreds/ like so many pieces of silvery paper, twists back on itself, and cracks into pieces that swiftly dissolve. The winds die down. Harbor Park is silent and peaceful.
Falling to a knee at the sudden crash of his weight to the ground, Paladin quickly glances over his shoulder and gives a strangled cry, ~NO! They were still on that bridge!~ His other leg gives out at that, and he fully collapses, pressing his face into his hands.
Paladin pages: Mouse prolly got some feedback from that too. Spicy.
You paged Paladin with 'Ouch ouch ouch.'.
There's an impulsive twitch that rocks the warform of Heart-of-Fire as she watches the events unfold on the moonbridge. An eager, battle-hungry growl echoing low in her throat as she forces herself to hold position. When it becomes evident that only a single form has made it across, she trembles with unused rage and clenches her paws into frustrated fists.
Salem, by contrast, seems absurdly, disturbingly calm. He stares at Paladin, his expression dead stone.
Striker eases backward another step as the unfamiliar Garou leaps and lands on their side of the bridge and the bridge itself collapses. He looks at Salem, then Evac and Heart-of-Fire, and finally Paladin, anxiously waiting.
It's a jarring tonal shift, gearing oneself up for battle only to have it plucked away and replaced with a senseless catastrophe. Evac stands stock still, staring at the spot the moonbridge only recently occupied, her hard breathing growing louder and fiercer until she forces herself to look away, forces herself out of Crinos, back down to breed. She takes a few pacing steps, followed by a few more pacing steps. Rapidly pacing the same few feet of ground, the Ragabash ends her neurotic motions by thrashing at the air and throwing her head back, "Nnnnnnnnnnnn----/FUUUUUCK!/" It's not exactly elegant, temper.
It takes a moment more for Heart-of-Fire to settle her rage, then she moves toward the collapsed newcomer, ~What happened?!~ She looks from Paladin to the others, ~Why did the bridge give out like that? How many were on it?~
Paladin doesn't appear as if he has any rage left to give at the moment, absolutely spent was he, in attempting to outrun... whatever that was. So intead of lashing out, he just keeps his head in his hands for a few moments, catching his breath, possibly hiding tears. Whatever the case, he wipes his eyes after a moment and pushes himself up. ~I'm sorry,~ he says, glancing back in the direction of the last moon bridge. It's a general apology. Perhaps even he doesn't know what for. ~That was Three-From-Ashes' moon bridge. It was the last way out. That's it.~
Salem shrinks back down into homid form. He remains standing where he is, watching, still aloof, still detached, still rather blank.
Riley drops to the ground and punches it a handful of times before she rises, feral-eyed and panting. "...Was everyone on it? Did anyone stay behind? What the /fuck/ was chasing you?"
~What were the numbers on the bridge? Where was Mouse?~ At Riley's question, Heart-of-Fire nods in agreement of wanting those answers as well.
Striker remains silent but nearby, watching the elder Garou and listening.
Exhaling sharply, Paladin closes his eyes and tries to recall, at which point he shrinks down to homid, and the backpack ripples away with the form. He rubs his eyes. "I had just been ordered to lead the last of the refugees here, to St. Claire. We knew the Dancers had imminent control over the cell towers and land lines. We knew all communication was about to be cut off. So Mouse opened that moon bridge before the assault on the Caern itself that we knew was coming. We just didn't think it would be coming so soon." He breathes in deeply for a moment before looking around to those assembled. "Believe me, I don't know what the hell that thing was," he says, gesturing fiercely towards the once-moonbridge. "But it probably means..." He turns away and begins walking away, as if to put some distance between himself and what just happened. "It probably means the Caern itself is under direct attack."
Riley's jaw clenches, her eyes firmly narrowed on Ishmael, the unfortunate Fostern getting no shortage of misdirected aggression. "/How many on the bridge/, Ishmael?"
Salem wordlessly reaches into an inside pocket of his jacket and comes up with a polished quartz stone carefully wrapped up -- and hanging from -- a length of silver thread. Obviously something special, since he dedicated it separately. Taking a few steps away from the group around Ishmael, he lets the stone swing free at the end of the thread and lowers his head, concentrating.
Salem pages: Questing Stone. Trying to get /something/.
~Calm down, Evac-rhya,~ Striker says quietly, ears folding back. ~Give him a chance to... he just tried escorting refugees and...~ He fumbles at trying to find an explanation and ends with gesturing at where the bridge had been before. ~Just give him some time before asking him to remember how many were lost. Please.~
Riley's pupils dilate momentarily and she jerks her head to hiss in Striker's direction, but any scathing comments she might have had for him in the wake of his suggestion are bitten back and swallowed down. A feral curl of the corner of her lips briefly reveals teeth before she returns to making sure that Ishmael is being suitably glowered at, too.
After a few minutes of effort from Salem, the stone starts moving on its own. But rather than start tugging in a specific direction, it spins and spins and spins at the end of the thread. A few seconds of this are followed by a sudden jerk to one side, then the other, down, up, diagonal, followed by wild circles that start funneling inward to a single point before the stone simply stops.
Riley pages: Translation: Mouse is on a roller-coaster.
Riley pages: New York City is in peril, and she's at Coney Island. Scumbag Mouse.
Heart-of-Fire glances at the youngest of the Walkers for just a moment before turning back to Ishmael. ~You were outrunning a /thing/ -not a swarm of Dancers?~ That brings another low growl to her throat.
Ishmael appears to be doing his very best to ignore Riley's eyebeams, instead trying to focus on something, and squeezing shut his eyes, much like one might if he had a bad headache. Which he might. "It was the last evacuation of many. There were... twenty-six, including myself." It's not an easy thing for him to say. "I don't know what it was. They have powerful spirit allies. Lesser aspects of the Wyrm. If I had to wager a guess, it would be on one of those. They're what's made it impossible for us to contact the other fallen Caerns."
Uneasiness wars with a spark of determination in the face of Riley's glare, but Striker stands his ground. Sort of. He meets the glance from Heart-of-Fire, then ducks aside and sidles backward another couple of steps.
Salem gives the thread a sharp jerk, catching the stone in his palm. "She's still alive," he says in a flat voice as he carefully winds the thread back around the quartz. "But I can't get a fix on her position."
Salem's words temper some of the intensity in Riley's gaze, but far from all of it. She looks visibly ill at the number that Ishmael quotes, and her eyes slowly close. The Ragabash is silent.
Heart-of-Fire looks toward Salem at this news, then back to Ishmael. ~Was Mouse on the bridge with you, or back at the caern? Is there any hope that reinforcements would give them a standing chance of holding it?~
A glance to the dancing of the questing stone, but Ishmael seems unsurprised by the wonky reaction. However, hearing Mouse might still be alive, seems to brighten his spirits, if only a touch. "Mouse stayed behind to maintain the bridge," he says, turning to shake his at Emma. "She'd have been at the Caern when it was attacked. And we asked for reinforcements from around the nation, pleaded, even, but either no one had people to spare, or the promised reinforcements never arrived--possibly cut off elsewhere. Some did make it, but not enough. Not nearly enough." He gestures towards the fallen bridge again. "And we can't risk opening another bridge when that will likely happen all over again. Something may have happened to the Pathstone. It's hard to say." He still sounds tired.
Striker returns to homid, gaze casting to where the bridge used to be then back again to the elder Garou. "Maybe we should help him get back across," he suggests, with a manner that implies a struggle to even speak again. It thickens his accent, and is followed by a fairly obvious step backward. "Just... so that... we can get more answers, and he can get some food."
"Not the tenement," says Salem, firmly, and without further word shifts down to lupus and starts loping off.
"I need a minute." Riley mumbles, standing and walking over to the fountain, staring at the spot the bridge so briefly occupied, her jaw clenching and unclenching. Not the warmest of welcomes for Ishmael, it'd seem.
Heart-of-Fire snorts a final growl as information is shared, then forces herself out of the warform. Her fists returning to clenching as she regains her homid form and she looks between those gathered. "We need to get the news out, fast. I mean like yesterday. If we can't go there to help them, then we need to brace for what's coming here and expect it here sooner rather than later now. Get some of our best umbral travelers to see about finding those that fell off the bridge. What about Mouse's pack? Anyone see if they can figure out where she's at."
"No," Rhys agrees. "But there are other places that are safe... too..." His gaze follows Salem until Emma speaks, and he turns his attention there. "I've... I started the process of the protests here, but slowly. Last I heard from Mouse, it was to start but not engage. That was before we lost all communications. I'm... I'll be at Moot, to report then to everyone, but I'll make sure the Elders... the other Elders hear first."
Ishmael shoves his hands into his pockets, and looks skyward. "There's no doubt--it's on his way here," he says, distantly. "Be it next week or next month, or eve in the next two months." A slow exhale, and he seems to have gathered more control of himself. "But some good news. I was sent ahead for a reason--I have most of The Green's collected information stored on a number laptops and harddrives with me. We knew it was only a matter of time before The Green got cut off, or God forbid, fell, so someone needed to get out with that. I'll get it set up for the Sept here to comb over right away."
After allowing herself some time to cool off, Riley takes a slow breath and turns her attention back to Ishmael, "...Good work. If anyone made it over that bridge, I'm glad you were one of them." Despite her words, her voice still sounds ... numbed. "The Tenement's no good. Compromised, at best. Your best best for getting it pored over would probably still be at Terminus."
Emma looks toward Rhys. "Get news to the elders, but don't skip out on passing the info to everyone else you cross paths with. People need to know that the Green is under attack, or worse, and the Mouse is among the MIA right now." She turns toward Riley after that, "If setting him up at Terminus is a risk for that info pinging radars, the brownstone can work. I hardly use it, and the basement is garou safe." Finally, Ishmael gets another look. "Not that I expect it will come easy, but you getting rested will do /us/ more good than you running on fumes."
"Mouse-rhya's ordered a complete evacuation of the Tenement," Rhys fills in. Then he looks at Emma, nodding acquiescent to most of what she says. "Mouse-rhya wanted all the Garou to know, especially those in the city, that it may not be safe, and to have a back up plan. Even the Brownstone and the old Library."
Ishmael offers Riley the briefest of smiles, but doesn't bother with a familial 'hello' right now. Too soon. "Terminus is aware of what's happening in New York. Mellancamp, the guy who's running it here right now, I haven't met him, but we were sending him a lot of info before the internet went dead. He should have the setup I need, and everything is secure." That, said to Emma as well, with a nod. "They've got room and board there. And I'm sure everyone's still welcome if a secure place is needed." That said, he rubs his head again, pats Rhys on the shoulder, and then gestures towards downtown. "I'll have info you'll want. Come find me in a day or so. I'm gonna go drown my sorrows now, if none of you mind."
Riley offers a terse nod of her head in response. She stiffly makes her way toward the spot where she first arrived, takes a peek to ensure that she's not interrupting some poor woman's quiet time, and heads back for the realm, herself.
Emma draws in a breath and nods, "I'll get word out to my circles and whoever else I cross paths with. Keep us posted, Walkers."
