Hunting for Spring

[Bleeds Well]

The midnight wolf is no Cahalith, he does not call out with a reverberating howl through the hisil to call the pack to hunt. The midnight wolf is no techno-wizard, sending out text messages to call the pack together. The midnight wolf knows his territory, and all within it.

Each pack member finds a metal cuspid left somewhere near them. Upon examination Bleeds Well's makers mark is punched into the base, a cut and bleeding blood talon paw. He leaves one first in the fridge in Makerith Motors, set atop Emily's favorite beer. Hector finds one in an empty fast food bag in his favorite dumpster. Tiny finds two in an envelope, sitting on his bar. Bird receives special treatment, Bleeds Well finds him when the Omega is observing around the territory. Piercing eyes meet piercing eyes without a word spoken by the Rahu. He flicks the token to the new moon wolf and walks away.

When the pack gathers they'll find the midnight wolf in the hisil, cleaning his paws.

[Bird]

Bird is not a man. Bird is a wolf. Always has been. When Bird was just a man, he was not right. Never. He couldn't make it work, couldn't make himself fit.

Now, on four legs, things are different. Now, things make sense.

Bird's Urhan form is slender, but strong. His fur is largely black, with portions of his pelt tending toward a dark, rusty brown. His eyes are that same, deep, wary brown that stare out from his human visage.

When he moves through the Hisil, the spirit wilds, he is at home: silent as a shadow, watching, always watching.

Urhan

B6.jpg

As always, he takes the stealthy approach. When he comes upon Bleeds Well, he does not announce himself. Simply waits in the spectral undergrowth. Perhaps the Rahu will see him, smell him, sense him. Perhaps he won't.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-03 11:18:38	Bird rolls 8 to Dex 5 (Urhan) + Stealth 3 (10 Again)	7, 7, 6, 10, 7, 1, 1, 7, 7	1 success

[Bleeds Well]

An ear flicks towards Bird as he approaches. Another wolf might have failed notice the subtle changes in hisil as another Predator enters the area. Bleeds Well pauses his preparations for the chase to assess. Midnight wolf's head raises assessing everything but Bird's location. The midnight wolf stands, and stands, and stands now a hulking Urshul beast as he turns towards Bird.

The Purity brand on Bleeds Well's chest emits light with the luminescence of a full moon, casting an eerie glow at his feet. The Ralunim's eyes study Birds for a minute. <Almost New Moon, keep working at it.>

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-03 14:05:20	Bleeds Well rolls 9 to Perception (10 Again)	2, 1, 1, 9, 7, 7, 7, 9, 4	2 successes

[Bird]

From the moment the Rahu's ear twitches, Bird knows he's been found out. He's not annoyed, though. It is good that his pack mate is so perceptive, so aware, so tuned into his surroundings. It reassures Fa-ninna. The warrior has sense, somewhere under all that bluster and rage.

The New Moon seems to fade into view, out of the strange, phantasmal landscape. Silent still, his body language speaks volumes:

<Respect, brother. Hunt soon? Where is Pack?>

He does not settle, but probes their surroundings, moving in and out of the view of Bleeds Well. Staying close. For the moment.

[Bleeds Well]

Fur bristles and falls in a wave down the beasts back he chuffs and stretches. Bleeds Well follows Bird with his eyes, watching the wolf explore. The broad, monstrous head dips a little in response to the question.

Patience

Almost lazily, dinner plate paws carries the Ralurnim closer to Bird. Bleeds Well sniffs at the Irraka's purity brand politely at first, then more insistently. <Story.>

[Bird]

Patience. Yes. Bird has no problem with patience.

The true-wolf does not shy away at the monstrous near-wolf's approach. He does lower his head in a sign of submission. Not in terms of size, but in terms of hierarchy. Bird knows his place.

Story.

Fa-ninna does not want to tell the story. Is not particularly proud. But it's unclear whether Bleeds Well is asking or commanding. There's not much of a difference when you are the pack omega.

<<Nu Bath Githul,>> the Irraka forces out in First Tongue. The Heard Must Not Know.

The rest is communicated in the language of wolves, part vocalization, part body language:

<Man knew. Saw Pure. Man would tell. Fa-ninna silenced man.>

Silenced him forever, though Bird does not offer that portion of the story. It had gone down as a suicide, as far as the police were concerned.

The brand had been bestowed and Bird had accepted. He had upheld the Oath, an act of Purity. But it still stung deep inside, what he had done.

He sniffs at Bleeds Well's more prominent brand of Purity. Not looking directly at his pack mate when he does so. Still careful not to raise even the appearance of a challenge.

<Story? You?>

[Bleeds Well]

Bleeds Well's rest his head on Bird's back for a moment. A sign of both dominance and acceptance. Bird is under the protection of the Rahu. The near wolf lumbers back and lays back down, waiting.

<One of the Fury Choir descended upon me and named me Ralurnim.> Bleeds Well states matter-of-factly. <The full moon's reflection on cold water, an ancient and powerful Ralunim.>. Bleed's relays the story in much the same way. There is no energy to belie boastfulness from the near-wolf.

<What did you hunt before?>

[Hector]

Hector the wolf lopes through the Hisil. The ground surges beneath him; the landscape flurries by - like mist! Formless, shapeless, soul-less the shapes of the city reflect dimly in the spirit world. Hector the wolf bursts through streets and buildings and the spaces of city, leaving discordant wisps in his wake.

The scion of Red Wolf is fast.

Knock kneed and half starving, Hector's wolfen form is bone, muscle, and sinew. The limbs scatter and scrape with controlled mania; the Alpha's eyes burn yellow and focussed. Hector's bands of Glory, Cunning, Purity and Wisdom burn bright.

Hector slows as he nears the meeting place so that he simply trots into place.

Two of the pack have arrived and they are in conference. Hector simply slows to a stop and lets them continue. It is not like he is hiding his presence.

[Bird]

Bird accepts Bleeds Well's gesture, feeling that strange warmth throughout his body. He is a member of the pack. It's been a while.

He watches the Rahu settle and listens to his story. <A great honor> Fa-ninna replies. To be chosen and named by the Lunes is truly a feat. Bird considers his pack mate more closely. There is more to this wolf than meets the eye.

At Bleeds Well's request, Bird enumerates his former prey in a coughing first tongue: <<Beshilu, Hithim, Hithimu, Anshega, man...>> There's more, but the Alpha has arrived.

Bird turns his head at Hector's approach and then assumes a crouched posture of submission. A sly eye picks out the various brands, even as Fa-ninna's head remains lowered

For now, he 'speaks' no further.

[Bleeds Well]

Bleeds Well listens to Bird intently, the list meets his approval.

Hector's scent hits Bleed Well long before the his visage does. Fenris' shadow acknowledges Alpha's approach, as he cows to Hector's presence Bleeds Well shrinks in size. The midnight wolf wanders over to Hector, offering the wiry wolf a respectful greeting.