West ran. The sun shone brightly in his eyes, despite the early hour. Other joggers passed by him on this popular trail, their eyes acknowledging him for only a moment before their minds simply ignore his presence and pass around him without ever getting close enough to bump into him. He watches the Sleepers run and considers their mundane thoughts. Taxes. Children. Money. Sex. Health. Not bad things, necessarily (well, except taxes), just so...predictable. Only Fate could set them free from the race they ran against Time, at its discretion. That wasn't up to him; his role was to provide the circumstances necessary, as She dictates. And his reward, then, what he lived for, in the same way as EMTs live for a saved life- getting to watch the Lie fade from the eyes and minds of a newly Awakened mage.

Sweat forms on his brow and he takes a long drink from his water bottle as his private marathon continues. He looks at every Sleeping jogger that goes by, hopeful that Fate will reveal one who is almost ready, but sees no one so marked. He sighs and looks to the sky. A bird flies overhead and he Looks at it to make sure it isn't one of the Thyrsoi he's suddenly surrounded himself with. The sparrow swoops down, drawing the Enchater's eye to a group of migrant day laborers waiting in front of a 7-11, and standing out from among them is a shuffling, quiet young man with his head down. The threads of Destiny wrap his Pattern tightly and West smiles faintly.

He looked like he'd survive the Gambit.