Weight of the World

[John Holt]

With the Crusaders at his back, John rolled his trike into the parking lot of the funeral parlour and switched off the engine. Wearing his dedicated clothes, it felt that he was going to battle.

Which he was. He was fighting his fears and the fears of evolution. Many things lay in waiting in the night. John would be battling them every single night if he was successful.

He couldn't think of a better way to live.

[Xander]

Anthony brought up the rear in the truck. Still unaccustomed to the stick shift, he barely managed to park the thing without crashing it.

He wasn't fond of this test. It would push Chap within an inch of his life and no one even discussed what loopholes in the wording could be exploited, how many different ways he could cheat, or even why he needed to be pushed this far. It was his time with the Iron Masters that made him think this way, and obviously the other tribes and lodges wanted to work harder instead of smarter.

No cheating. What an absurd rule.

[Dale Hunt]

As he heard the howl in the night, summoning deep into neutral turf, Dale hopped on his bike and rode down the streets of Sacramento until he reached the location from where the howl had come from. Killing his engine once he pulled up next to Chap's bike, the Rahu gave his Beta a nod. It was all that he needed to know to let the Ithaeur that he had his back, and that he was fully confident that he would succeed in this test.

Noticing the other two wolves as they arrived, Dale gave each a chin jut in greeting. He looked at the funeral parlor with some curiosity, wondering what lay within its walls. The Rahu had never traveled to this location before, so he wasn't sure of who or what to expect inside. Instead of asking Chap about any of it, he decided to be patient and just leaned against his chopper as he waited for the others to arrive.

[Swift]

Skaald pulls up on his bike next. He had been ready at a moment's notice to answer this particular call. He had prepared in advance to be ready to drop what he was doing and go. It had meant a day or two with a cold hearth in the forge, but there were still plenty of things that needed doing.

He had also put together a kit that he'd stored in the truck. So, as he parks his bike and nods in greeting to the others, he reaches into the back of the cab of the truck Anthony pulled up in and pulled out his duffel bag. Then he reaches back in and pulls out a guitar case. It wasn't nearly the quality of instrument he was used to having, but he didn't have much in the way of expendables recently. So he'd scrapped together some extra cash and picked up the best thing he could find at a local pawn shop. After a little tuning and fiddling in the workshop he'd gotten it to produce a decent enough tune.

Chap had said he hadn't gotten a chance to hear him play yet. He doubted he'd be allowed to play for the duration of the vigil either, due to that "no assistance" clause Chap mentioned, but the sentiment was there. We're here Chap, and when you get done we'll celebrate.

[Rawlins]

Rawlins comes!

The howl, haunting in its intensity, tugged and pulled at him in a way he couldn't explain. Sot it was he found himself in his car, driving across town, through the familiar places of the unclaimed city. When he saw the funeral home he nodded to himself: a funeral home was not such an usual sight for one of Kamduis-Ur's children. Initially, he wonders if another of his tribe has made themselves known. He gets out of his vehicle and heads over at a brisk pace.

What he does not expect to see is the Crusaders. For a moment he stands, staring somewhat dumb-founded as they gather. The seriousness of the moment in palpable. Something is very important, very sombre and ... life changing is being witnessed. He finds him lowering his head in a sign of mute respect to the proceedings.

Then he sees Nick Munroe. Careful so not to disturb the pack, the Elodoth moves over to Iron Master. If the pack has gathered, they will require the attention of those who seek to join them.

[John Holt]

As they all arrived, Chaplain's spirits soared at sight of the pack and the prospects. Giving each of them a nod and a welcoming smile, he said nothing when Digger mentioned the camping trip. Instead, he simply chuckled.

"Come, let's go see if Deathwright is ready," Chaplain said without much preamble, and walked towards the front of the building. He was certain he would have time for words later.