Information and meetings
Apr. 4th, 2010 10:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shelbyrouIt is currently late afternoon on Sun Apr 4 2010.
Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous (Galliard) Moon phase (62% full).
Country House
An unassuming gravel lane leads up and up the hillside, allowing vehicle access to Suchandsuch whateveritis street. Surrounded by a semi-landscaped stand of stately, mature second-growth Douglas fir trees, this old country house is unremarkable, yet somehow slightly imposing. Perhaps it's the Victorian features of the 1920s-era construction, the nigh-weathered dark brown paint of the exterior, or the haphazard angles of the limestone masonry creating the ground level walls and chimney. The house has two floors, and is modestly sized. On one side, the driveway passes beneath a large carport, constructed of sturdy cedar. This seems to be a later addition to the original structure. The front door sits in a deeply recessed Roman arch, and all the lower-level windows are obscured by greatly overgrown madronas and rhododendrons.
Inside, one immediately comes to a small foyer, and a sunroom with leaded glass windows, perfect for the plants of all sorts that make their home there. Past the foyer, the space opens up into a great room, the stone fireplace and hearth dominating the space there. On one side, creaky wooden stairs curve up to the second floor. Here there is a master bedroom, two other bedrooms, and a vintage bathroom, complete with separate taps for hot and cold water and a claw-foot bathtub. And downstairs, on the other side of the hearth, French doors open to the dining room. Beyond that are the kitchen, the back door, and a spacious closet large enough to have been made over into a spare sleeping space. The backyard boasts wild patches of rosemary and lavender, lending a pleasantly crisp and sweet fragrance to the area. Numerous footpaths weave from the overgrown garden, into the trees beyond.
Obvious exits:
Out
Easter Sunday has little meaning if you're not a Christian, save that it's the day before Half-Price Chocolate Monday. For cubs stuck inside and unable to roam to Wal*Mart, even that has little appeal. Or so might be guessed from Shelby, and where the girl is curled up on the couch under an afghan, listlessly paging through a hardbound book. Her right pinky remains taped up, as it has been since Friday, though she hasn't said a word to it about anyone, and she's still rocking the terry cloth toga look.
August comes in the front door in damp, earth-stained sweats, his black dufflebag slung over his shoulder. Angry claw-marked, more fresh than healed, cross down his forehead, over his nose and cheeks. One eye is half-filled with blood. With heavy steps, he moves towards the stairs, past Shelby. The heavy scent of wet wolf fur, and something far nastier, precedes him.
Shelby sniffs at the stupid book, promptly sniffs again with a wrinkled nose and disgusted face, and probably regrets sitting up to get a better look at the Ahroun. "What happened to you?" she demands, only belatedly tacking, "August-rhya," onto the end. Flinging off the afghan, she's all ready to go charging up the stairs after him, presumably to lay claim to the bath sheets.
August just ignores Shelby and continues on up the stairs. He doesn't even look, doesn't even hesitate. He's headed towards the bathroom, of course, but he doesn't rush in case the cub does try to beat him there.
Shelby vacillates at the bottom of the stairs, one hand on the railing, and looking after the Gaian with undisguised curiosity. "You want, um, something to drink? When you get done?" she calls after him, hopeful.
"Coffee." August's tone is short. There's the sound of footsteps in the hallway above, footsteps in the bathroom, and then the sound of running water. The Gaian is in there for quite a long time, and when he finally emerges, the scent and dirt are washed clean. An exhausted Ahroun, still looking a bit spooked in the eyes, is what remains and makes his way back down the stairs, clad in clean sweats.
The coffee is waiting, along with one Fang cub who's brought her book to the kitchen. It must be as boring as ever, for at the sound of footsteps Shelby looks up, closing the book and pushing it to the side. "I made muffins for breakfast - do you want one?"
August shuffles his way to the table and nods vaguely. "I was on the scouting mission to the Hive. Someone was stupid and shot an AK at them, so we ended up not being very sneaky," he explains in a gravelly, weary voice. He plops himself down in a chair. "Muffins. Sure," he adds, staring off at a point far beyond Shelby's head.
Shelby echoes, "Hive?" but not like she expects to be answered; instead she goes to rummage around in the bread basket and cabinets, returning with a pair of crumb-topped muffins, a knife, and the butter dish, all of which get set before the Ahroun. "...Wait. You were scouting and someone shot a gun? Is everyone okay?" with a gesture at August's general tiredness.
"A Hive. It's like a Sept for Black Spiral Dancers. Where their Caern is, only they don't have Caerns." August wrinkles his nose, he doesn't see the food. He's still looking at that distant spot, though Shelby has moved. It's her last question that snaps his head around. The tiredness evaporates and a spark of rage ignites in his words. "No, everyone's not okay! It's like we just lit a flaming bag of shit on their doorstep, rang the doorbell and ran away!"
Shelby stumbles a few feet backwards under August's Rage, promptly displaying throat. She doesn't move even after she's caught her balance. Whatever else her failings as a cub, submission is where she has things down cold.
August grips the back of the chair, and sits there and seethes a moment, looking at Shelby without really looking at her. The rage is present, but not directed the cub's way. He picks up a muffin and begins to pick at it with his fingers, without eating. "It's hard. People don't raise their cubs right. They turn out stupid. Do stupid things. Then you end up having to work with them, and their stupid almost gets you killed. Or breaks the Veil, or puts your kin at risk. Or something bad," he grumps, a bit sulkily.
When seconds tick past and August doesn't do anything more violent than massacre a muffin, Shelby hesitantly dares peek at him, then sidle back to her chair. "I'm sorry?" she offers, knowing very well it sounds stupid. "Can I ask you questions? Or do you want me to go away and let you cool down?"
August huffs. "You can do whatever." He takes a few experimental bites of the muffin, then a few more. The Rage dissipates a great deal once he swallows, and begins to really eat. With muffin half-chewed in his mouth, he informs Shelby, "Zosia tells me you've been giving her trouble."
'Whatever' makes Shelby wince and look down at the table, but the cub doesn't leave. "I can get you another muffin," she offers instead, voice gone quiet. As for the rest, she lays her injured hand on the table before thinking better and returning it to her lap.
Leila comes out of the woods and heads for the back door, knocking at it briefly, then standing back to see if anyone answers.
August shakes his head at Shelby. "You shouldn't give her trouble," he mutters, but he doesn't seem interested in following up, as the cub doesn't protest or explain. He eats some more, and then the Strider comes in! He blinks at her, and then, with delayed reaction, smiles. "Leila."
Shelby goes to open the door at the knock, but doesn't stand back to let the Strider in until August has made the identification. She looks between the two older Garou for a moment before manners kick in. "Would you like some coffee? I made muffins fresh this morning." Like Zosia, she has a soft Virginian accent.
Leila returns the smile to August, although her head tilts a little as should looks him over. "Hi, August. What happened?" She glances to Shelby and nods at the question. "Coffee sounds good, thanks." The Strider makes her way over to the table, taking a chair.
Leila
This girl is, in a word, average. She appears to be somewhere in her early teens, and hile she's starting to edge towards being tall she's likely another growth spurt or two away from her final height, and still rather gangly. From the looks of her, she's likely of at least partial Middle Eastern descent, with a dark olive complexion and brown eyes. Her dark hair is unruly, hanging a little past her shoulders and looking somewhat tangled. Her clothing is unremarkable, aside from looking like it was thrown together quickly and her pants and windbreaker looking a little too large for her; aside from the size, she's dressed for the weather.
August's brief smile fades at Leila's question. "Scouting mission to the hive didn't go so well." He thinks to add, "This is Shelby, a Silver Fang cub." Then he suddenly notices his own coffee, and moves the mug across the table, closer to himself.
Shelby fetches down a mug and fills it, brings the coffee and another muffin over to Leila. "I'm a Ragabash," she adds politely, glancing across the table at August before shifting her chair an inch or two away from the other Garou and retaking her seat. "Zosia doesn't like questions," she offers, keeping both hands in her lap and not meeting anyone's eyes.
Leila frowns a little as she accepts the coffee and muffin, giving Shelby another nod. "Leila Slayer-of-Dark Dreams, claith Galliard of the Silent Striders." Her attention goes back to August, the frown remaining. "Did you guys find anything helpful out? Who went with you?"
August looks a bit upset by questions himself, at the moment! "They're planning a siege, probably on us. They have weapons and... well, dunno if you can call it food, but they have that stockpiled too." He scowls into his mug of coffee and takes a drink.
Shelby dips her head politely at Leila, murmuring a polite, "How do you do." Otherwise she keeps quiet and still, not even fidgeting, her eyes fixed firmly on the middle of the table.
There's a car outside; a silver Audi that has rumbled up quietly and come to a stop. The engine doesn't cut out, but there is a single car door that's shut.
Leila blows out a sigh and finally takes a drink of her coffee. "I guess it's better we know that than not knowing anything," she offers. "It has to be better than totally being in the dark, right?"
August sniffs. "It is better. It would be much better if they didn't know we knew." He takes another sip of coffee, and sits up slightly in his chair. "Someone's here," he notes, and then informs Leila, with a sigh, "The Talon lead us inside the Hive and Jason fired an automatic rifle. They noticed our presence and gave chase. I wouldn't call it successful."
It's just a moment later that there is a knock on the door. Outside of it, a young girl, perhaps in her mid-teens and shouldering a backpack and a medium sized duffel. A stylish black pageboy hat sets on her head as the car backs up and turns around to head out.
Shelby half-rises from her chair, but no farther, looking between Leila and August again. "I don't know if I should open the front door." Or, possibly, the back, but here Leila is. With a helpless little laugh, "I don't think I've seen more than two people here at once before."
"Did everybody get away in one piece?" She frowns again as August sits up, then looks from him to Shelby at her comment. "I guess we're getting more company." She pauses, then asks, "Zosia, maybe?" as she glances back to August and starts getting up from her chair. "Were you expecting anybody?"
Kate waits outside, giving it a few more moments before knocking again.
August, with a heavy sigh, sets down his mug. "No one died. I'll get it." He moves to open the door, his scarred face glowering.
Shelby sinks back into her seat as August takes care of it and murmurs to Leila, "Anyone who's supposed to be here would come in, wouldn't they?"
Leila shrugs a little to Shelby. "Maybe they didn't want to surprise anybody by just walking in."
Well the girl outside had a smile on her face as the door opened. But seeing the scarred scowl snaps that off in a jiffy. "Kate Federov. Guest of Ms Zosia Solskowski-Steele, sir."
Kate
This bright-eyed young woman carries herself with a confidence and grace that suggests a somewhat noble upbringing, and yet her smile is one that is genuinely warm and shows even in her eyes. Shoulder length brown hair is often pulled back into ponytails, though when worn down it returns a hint of that regal elegance to her. Her eyes are both inquisitive and intense, their deep almond-brown color a perfect match to the shade of her hair and skin. Strong features echo past nobility, and she moves with a purposeful gait and a casual alertness for her surroundings. Her clothing is always clean and age appropriate for this teen; jeans, blouses, fitted sweaters and tees being the usual type of adornment.
August blinks at Kate, and he looks prepared to close the door on her. "She didn't..." Gears turn visibly behind his dark brown eyes, and then something sparks! "Oh yeah, she said somethin' about you. Welcome." He doesn't hold the door open for her, but he doesn't close it either, the lanky Gaian Ahroun shuffling back to his seat at the kitchen table.
Shelby shrugs back at the Strider. "Tim doesn't knock," she offers, still sotto-voice, before her attention snaps back to August and from him, the doorway between kitchen and great room.
Leila returns the shrug to Shelby. "But somebody else might want to." She gives August a curious look as he returns, then joins the Fang cub in looking towards the doorway.
Kate finds a little bit of the smile again, nodding. "Yes, I'm that her she would have mentioned." She steps inside then, "I told my brother I would try and settle in tonight, but he'll be in town for the rest of the week just to make sure. Is Ms. Zosia in, or?" As she glances in, "Is everyone um, part of the group here?"
August says from his seat at the table, "I'm called August. We're all family, in the looser sense, here. And you're a guest of Zosia's - long-term or short-term?" He runs a hand gently over his face and nurses more coffee.
Shelby looks up at the newcomer, her eyes meeting the younger girl's only for a moment before skittering away. "You must be Kate," she says, rising and retreating toward the coffee pot. "Zosia mentioned you. Would you care for some coffee? Or a muffin?" Belatedly, "I'm Shelby Zaleski-Laveque, and this is Leila."
Leila sits back down at the table and gives Kate a small wave as Shelby introduces her. "Hi," she says before returning to her coffee for a moment. "Nice to meet you."
Kate relaxes further, letting her bags slip from her shoulder to set them down just prior to the kitchen doorway. "Oh, Shelby. We'll be roomies then." She turns then to Leila with a nod, and then August and falls into long practiced routine. "I'm Katarzyna Federov, called Cleaning Fires that Brings Hope from the Ashes. A Cliath and Ahroun, daughter of Falcon, daughter of Sergei Federov, Tells the Tales to the Tomes." A breath, just quickly, "I'm going to be staying here as long-term as I'm welcomed."
"Blood-Guard, Ahroun, Fostern. Gaian elder," says August, and then nibbles at his muffin. "I live here too. Sometimes."
Shelby manages a thin smile for Kate and hurriedly turns, already fetching down a mug. "Nice to meet you," she tosses over her shoulder without giving any of the three a look at more than her profile. Then it's on to coffee, over which the cub spends quite a bit of time making sure the mug's filled just right - or something.
Leila nods as she listens to the introduction, then offers, "Slayer of Dark Dreams, cliath Galliard of the Silent Striders, I'm usually on the Bawn."
Kate grins, "Just Kate from here on out please. And it is good to meet all of you." She moves toward the table, offering August a glance, "May I join you?"
August waves a hand, gesturing openly towards the table. "Sure, you live here now too. Kate." He scooches back into his seat, kicking his legs out, and continues to nurse that coffee, watching the newer Garou in a way that's as assessing as his bleary eyes can manage. "What made you come to the Walk?"
There's a chair out and waiting for Kate to just plop down into it, even. Shelby drifts over to place the coffee there, offer a smile that attempts to be bright and only flickers like a dying fluorescent, and retreat to lean on the cabinets near the coffee maker again.
Leila gives Kate a smile at the grin, and begins to eat her muffin as she glances to August. The question makes her turn her attention back to Kate, giving her a curious look.
Kate grins at the invite from August and moves to take the empty seat. She considers the question quietly for a moment, "I'm going to get asked that one alot aren't I? Is that pretty normal for newcomers to any Sept, or something particular to this one?" The question and tone are completely genuine and polite. "I've heard the stories of this place, from my father mostly, and I thought it would be a good place to really settle in as an Ahroun of Falcon's brood. If we're to be leaders, you have to be willing to get your feet dirty at the front lines and all that." She looks to the coffee and shakes her head, wrinkling her nose, "No thanks Shelby." A glance follows the cub back to the cabinets though, a sort of admiring-gauging look. "Not that I'm looking to lead by any means. I'm pretty new to things all told." That's back to August.
"When I came here, the Fangs had a lupus elder," August shares, to Kate though the statement is directed at the whole group. "We are on the front lines, that's for sure." He looks over his shoulder and blinks once at the cub. "Stop playing 'server kin' and c'mere and sit down with everyone." The Gaian, meanwhile, stands (slowly) and moves to refill his coffee mug.
It's fairly clear that Shelby would rather be anywhere else. She not-quite flinches away from August when he stands, looking up only far enough to keep the Gaian in sight, and circles around him - not to the table, but to the door back into the great room. "I. Don't want to be a bother. It was very nice meeting you, Kate, Leila." She glances at the other two women in turn, eyes going straight back to the floor.
Leila nods in agreement with August as he talks. "It's gotten...busy around here. How much have you heard about what's happened so far?" She tilts her head and frowns slightly as she watches Shelby, then looks to August, raising an eyebrow a little.
"Lupus elder's can be ... strict." Kate says this with a knowing smile, but it has as much fondness as it does old frustrations. "I've heard the stories of the Sept it used to be, and that it fell and was reclaimed. Also that it's the only Caern left in the area and that the enemy is constantly targeting it. So yeah, really busy." A glance is given to Shelby as she tries to skirt away, but she doesn't offer any instruction of her own.
August pours his coffee, nods and actually smiles at Kate when she demonstrates that she's done her homework. "Yeah, they can. The Fang elder was also my alpha when I was packed with her. That's part of why I live here." He doesn't explain further! He catches Leila's look, pauses, and then says to Shelby again, "No one's bothered."
Shelby grimaces at August's words but stops her retreat; folds her arms across her middle and doesn't come any closer. A small victory, perhaps. "August was saying something about a scouting mission," she tells the room, or possibly Leila and Kate.
Leila looks back to Kate briefly and nods. "'Really busy's' a good summary of it. Short, but it's accurate, anyway." Her attention goes back to Shelby and August as she adds in, "There's a chair right there. Besides, you might learn some stuff."
Kate gives the cub a smile, "I learned a lot as a cub just by listening to the grown up conversations." The term grown up may seem a little odd coming from her fifteen year old face, but there's a sense she's fairly comfortable with her 'adult' status. To the others she nods, "Zosia-rhya has to tell me what she'd like me to do for chiminage. But in the meantime, since you are the first I've really met, if you need any help that I'm allowed to give, just ask."
August nods in agreement with Leila and Kate. "Stay for a while, just to listen if you don't feel like talking." To Kate, says, "I'm not sure, you'll have to get your orders from Zosia herself. But yeah, things have been busy. It seems we're warring with a Hive right now. You'll probably be asked to help with that." More coffee is imbibed.
"I don't," Shelby starts, and checks over her shoulder. No other Garou have come a'visiting, apparently. "I don't mind standing, thank you."
Leila nods to Kate, returning to her muffin for a moment before speaking. "If you ask around, there's probably lots of people on the Bawn who need help with that or something else. Like you said, it's been busy here."
Kate skims another glance toward Shelby, head tilting a bit before she refocuses her attention on Leila and August. "You bet. I'm good for helping out however I can." That smile breaks through again as she reaches up to take her hat off and shake out her brown hair. "Can I ask a question that's a little embarassing?"
"Suit yourself," August grunts to Shelby, and nods in agreement with Leila again. He blinks a few times at Kate, perhaps at what she asked or perhaps his wits are just slowed by his (very mild) wounds and lack of sleep. "Embarassing? Huh?" He cants his head.
Shelby will, thank you: she nods once, tightly, and remains where she is, uttering not a murmur and letting the other three talk amongst themselves.
Leila raises an eyebrow at the question, looking to August for his reaction first before glancing back to Kate. "What's the question?"
Kate grins a little, tucking her head down slightly. "Well. This is my first time away from where I grew up. I'm not sure what the routine is supposed to be. I mean, I don't want to sit back and seem like a loafer, but I'm not sure when I'm allowed to do stuff either. I feel like I should know that already, but, I'm not really sure."
August focuses his attention on Kate, ignoring Shelby for now. "Oh! Well, first you should talk to Zosia and get chiminage... and you should meet the Alpha of the Sept. She's a Bone Gnawer named Kaz. And you need to get permission from the Warder to go on the Bawn, so you have to find a Guardian." He looks at Leila. "...Am I forgetting anything?"
Leila listens, then shakes her head. "Not that I can think of. If there's something else, Zosia or a Guardian would probably mention it, I think." She gives Kate a smile. "It's a good question. I don't think it's embarassing."
Kate gives a little nod of her head, "Thanks. I think Zosia-rhya said she'd tell the alpha, Kaz, about my being here. So chiminage, meet the Alpha and the Warder, which. Well I'll have to rely on those I meet to pass the request on for me for those two, and in the meantime, stick close to Zosia so she can coordinate. Alright, I think I've got it then." She looks to Shelby once the topic is more or less wound down and addresses her, "I should put my stuff upstairs I think. Which one is it again?"
Shelby presses closer to the wall, ceding Kate as much of the path as she can without actually stepping back into the kitchen or fully retreating. "It's the one that looks empty," she offers. "I don't have any things. Al-" but there she stops, shakes her head, and wraps her arms just a fraction tighter. "Claude's in the other," she adds after a moment.
August shrugs to Kate. "Uh, I've got the master bedroom, and Claude's is the green room. There's the other bedroom with Shelby, or the basement." He doesn't say 'where the weird metis used to sleep,' but it's implied that rooming with Shelby would be the preferable option. He yawns. "I should catch a few winks, myself, here."
Leila finishes up her coffee as she listens to the room arrangements being sorted out, then glances towards the back door. "I should probably head back, too," she says, then gives Kate another smile. "It was nice meeting you."
Kate nods to Shelby, though there is that curious glance again. "Alright. I'll get things just set up enough to sleep and we can sort everything else out tomorrow." She turns to Leila and August. "Thanks for the advice Leila, August-rhya. And it was good meeting you. I guess, well, I'll see at least one of you tomorrow. Gaia keep your dreams guarded. Good night." She grabs her bags then and shuffles up the stairway to find the room.
The cub does indeed keep out of the way until Kate's gone, offering her a quiet, "Night," in passing. The other two get nods as well as a goodnight, Shelby taking their discarded mugs and muffin plates and tidying up without a word.
Currently the moon is in the waning Gibbous (Galliard) Moon phase (62% full).
Country House
An unassuming gravel lane leads up and up the hillside, allowing vehicle access to Suchandsuch whateveritis street. Surrounded by a semi-landscaped stand of stately, mature second-growth Douglas fir trees, this old country house is unremarkable, yet somehow slightly imposing. Perhaps it's the Victorian features of the 1920s-era construction, the nigh-weathered dark brown paint of the exterior, or the haphazard angles of the limestone masonry creating the ground level walls and chimney. The house has two floors, and is modestly sized. On one side, the driveway passes beneath a large carport, constructed of sturdy cedar. This seems to be a later addition to the original structure. The front door sits in a deeply recessed Roman arch, and all the lower-level windows are obscured by greatly overgrown madronas and rhododendrons.
Inside, one immediately comes to a small foyer, and a sunroom with leaded glass windows, perfect for the plants of all sorts that make their home there. Past the foyer, the space opens up into a great room, the stone fireplace and hearth dominating the space there. On one side, creaky wooden stairs curve up to the second floor. Here there is a master bedroom, two other bedrooms, and a vintage bathroom, complete with separate taps for hot and cold water and a claw-foot bathtub. And downstairs, on the other side of the hearth, French doors open to the dining room. Beyond that are the kitchen, the back door, and a spacious closet large enough to have been made over into a spare sleeping space. The backyard boasts wild patches of rosemary and lavender, lending a pleasantly crisp and sweet fragrance to the area. Numerous footpaths weave from the overgrown garden, into the trees beyond.
Obvious exits:
Out
Easter Sunday has little meaning if you're not a Christian, save that it's the day before Half-Price Chocolate Monday. For cubs stuck inside and unable to roam to Wal*Mart, even that has little appeal. Or so might be guessed from Shelby, and where the girl is curled up on the couch under an afghan, listlessly paging through a hardbound book. Her right pinky remains taped up, as it has been since Friday, though she hasn't said a word to it about anyone, and she's still rocking the terry cloth toga look.
August comes in the front door in damp, earth-stained sweats, his black dufflebag slung over his shoulder. Angry claw-marked, more fresh than healed, cross down his forehead, over his nose and cheeks. One eye is half-filled with blood. With heavy steps, he moves towards the stairs, past Shelby. The heavy scent of wet wolf fur, and something far nastier, precedes him.
Shelby sniffs at the stupid book, promptly sniffs again with a wrinkled nose and disgusted face, and probably regrets sitting up to get a better look at the Ahroun. "What happened to you?" she demands, only belatedly tacking, "August-rhya," onto the end. Flinging off the afghan, she's all ready to go charging up the stairs after him, presumably to lay claim to the bath sheets.
August just ignores Shelby and continues on up the stairs. He doesn't even look, doesn't even hesitate. He's headed towards the bathroom, of course, but he doesn't rush in case the cub does try to beat him there.
Shelby vacillates at the bottom of the stairs, one hand on the railing, and looking after the Gaian with undisguised curiosity. "You want, um, something to drink? When you get done?" she calls after him, hopeful.
"Coffee." August's tone is short. There's the sound of footsteps in the hallway above, footsteps in the bathroom, and then the sound of running water. The Gaian is in there for quite a long time, and when he finally emerges, the scent and dirt are washed clean. An exhausted Ahroun, still looking a bit spooked in the eyes, is what remains and makes his way back down the stairs, clad in clean sweats.
The coffee is waiting, along with one Fang cub who's brought her book to the kitchen. It must be as boring as ever, for at the sound of footsteps Shelby looks up, closing the book and pushing it to the side. "I made muffins for breakfast - do you want one?"
August shuffles his way to the table and nods vaguely. "I was on the scouting mission to the Hive. Someone was stupid and shot an AK at them, so we ended up not being very sneaky," he explains in a gravelly, weary voice. He plops himself down in a chair. "Muffins. Sure," he adds, staring off at a point far beyond Shelby's head.
Shelby echoes, "Hive?" but not like she expects to be answered; instead she goes to rummage around in the bread basket and cabinets, returning with a pair of crumb-topped muffins, a knife, and the butter dish, all of which get set before the Ahroun. "...Wait. You were scouting and someone shot a gun? Is everyone okay?" with a gesture at August's general tiredness.
"A Hive. It's like a Sept for Black Spiral Dancers. Where their Caern is, only they don't have Caerns." August wrinkles his nose, he doesn't see the food. He's still looking at that distant spot, though Shelby has moved. It's her last question that snaps his head around. The tiredness evaporates and a spark of rage ignites in his words. "No, everyone's not okay! It's like we just lit a flaming bag of shit on their doorstep, rang the doorbell and ran away!"
Shelby stumbles a few feet backwards under August's Rage, promptly displaying throat. She doesn't move even after she's caught her balance. Whatever else her failings as a cub, submission is where she has things down cold.
August grips the back of the chair, and sits there and seethes a moment, looking at Shelby without really looking at her. The rage is present, but not directed the cub's way. He picks up a muffin and begins to pick at it with his fingers, without eating. "It's hard. People don't raise their cubs right. They turn out stupid. Do stupid things. Then you end up having to work with them, and their stupid almost gets you killed. Or breaks the Veil, or puts your kin at risk. Or something bad," he grumps, a bit sulkily.
When seconds tick past and August doesn't do anything more violent than massacre a muffin, Shelby hesitantly dares peek at him, then sidle back to her chair. "I'm sorry?" she offers, knowing very well it sounds stupid. "Can I ask you questions? Or do you want me to go away and let you cool down?"
August huffs. "You can do whatever." He takes a few experimental bites of the muffin, then a few more. The Rage dissipates a great deal once he swallows, and begins to really eat. With muffin half-chewed in his mouth, he informs Shelby, "Zosia tells me you've been giving her trouble."
'Whatever' makes Shelby wince and look down at the table, but the cub doesn't leave. "I can get you another muffin," she offers instead, voice gone quiet. As for the rest, she lays her injured hand on the table before thinking better and returning it to her lap.
Leila comes out of the woods and heads for the back door, knocking at it briefly, then standing back to see if anyone answers.
August shakes his head at Shelby. "You shouldn't give her trouble," he mutters, but he doesn't seem interested in following up, as the cub doesn't protest or explain. He eats some more, and then the Strider comes in! He blinks at her, and then, with delayed reaction, smiles. "Leila."
Shelby goes to open the door at the knock, but doesn't stand back to let the Strider in until August has made the identification. She looks between the two older Garou for a moment before manners kick in. "Would you like some coffee? I made muffins fresh this morning." Like Zosia, she has a soft Virginian accent.
Leila returns the smile to August, although her head tilts a little as should looks him over. "Hi, August. What happened?" She glances to Shelby and nods at the question. "Coffee sounds good, thanks." The Strider makes her way over to the table, taking a chair.
Leila
This girl is, in a word, average. She appears to be somewhere in her early teens, and hile she's starting to edge towards being tall she's likely another growth spurt or two away from her final height, and still rather gangly. From the looks of her, she's likely of at least partial Middle Eastern descent, with a dark olive complexion and brown eyes. Her dark hair is unruly, hanging a little past her shoulders and looking somewhat tangled. Her clothing is unremarkable, aside from looking like it was thrown together quickly and her pants and windbreaker looking a little too large for her; aside from the size, she's dressed for the weather.
August's brief smile fades at Leila's question. "Scouting mission to the hive didn't go so well." He thinks to add, "This is Shelby, a Silver Fang cub." Then he suddenly notices his own coffee, and moves the mug across the table, closer to himself.
Shelby fetches down a mug and fills it, brings the coffee and another muffin over to Leila. "I'm a Ragabash," she adds politely, glancing across the table at August before shifting her chair an inch or two away from the other Garou and retaking her seat. "Zosia doesn't like questions," she offers, keeping both hands in her lap and not meeting anyone's eyes.
Leila frowns a little as she accepts the coffee and muffin, giving Shelby another nod. "Leila Slayer-of-Dark Dreams, claith Galliard of the Silent Striders." Her attention goes back to August, the frown remaining. "Did you guys find anything helpful out? Who went with you?"
August looks a bit upset by questions himself, at the moment! "They're planning a siege, probably on us. They have weapons and... well, dunno if you can call it food, but they have that stockpiled too." He scowls into his mug of coffee and takes a drink.
Shelby dips her head politely at Leila, murmuring a polite, "How do you do." Otherwise she keeps quiet and still, not even fidgeting, her eyes fixed firmly on the middle of the table.
There's a car outside; a silver Audi that has rumbled up quietly and come to a stop. The engine doesn't cut out, but there is a single car door that's shut.
Leila blows out a sigh and finally takes a drink of her coffee. "I guess it's better we know that than not knowing anything," she offers. "It has to be better than totally being in the dark, right?"
August sniffs. "It is better. It would be much better if they didn't know we knew." He takes another sip of coffee, and sits up slightly in his chair. "Someone's here," he notes, and then informs Leila, with a sigh, "The Talon lead us inside the Hive and Jason fired an automatic rifle. They noticed our presence and gave chase. I wouldn't call it successful."
It's just a moment later that there is a knock on the door. Outside of it, a young girl, perhaps in her mid-teens and shouldering a backpack and a medium sized duffel. A stylish black pageboy hat sets on her head as the car backs up and turns around to head out.
Shelby half-rises from her chair, but no farther, looking between Leila and August again. "I don't know if I should open the front door." Or, possibly, the back, but here Leila is. With a helpless little laugh, "I don't think I've seen more than two people here at once before."
"Did everybody get away in one piece?" She frowns again as August sits up, then looks from him to Shelby at her comment. "I guess we're getting more company." She pauses, then asks, "Zosia, maybe?" as she glances back to August and starts getting up from her chair. "Were you expecting anybody?"
Kate waits outside, giving it a few more moments before knocking again.
August, with a heavy sigh, sets down his mug. "No one died. I'll get it." He moves to open the door, his scarred face glowering.
Shelby sinks back into her seat as August takes care of it and murmurs to Leila, "Anyone who's supposed to be here would come in, wouldn't they?"
Leila shrugs a little to Shelby. "Maybe they didn't want to surprise anybody by just walking in."
Well the girl outside had a smile on her face as the door opened. But seeing the scarred scowl snaps that off in a jiffy. "Kate Federov. Guest of Ms Zosia Solskowski-Steele, sir."
Kate
This bright-eyed young woman carries herself with a confidence and grace that suggests a somewhat noble upbringing, and yet her smile is one that is genuinely warm and shows even in her eyes. Shoulder length brown hair is often pulled back into ponytails, though when worn down it returns a hint of that regal elegance to her. Her eyes are both inquisitive and intense, their deep almond-brown color a perfect match to the shade of her hair and skin. Strong features echo past nobility, and she moves with a purposeful gait and a casual alertness for her surroundings. Her clothing is always clean and age appropriate for this teen; jeans, blouses, fitted sweaters and tees being the usual type of adornment.
August blinks at Kate, and he looks prepared to close the door on her. "She didn't..." Gears turn visibly behind his dark brown eyes, and then something sparks! "Oh yeah, she said somethin' about you. Welcome." He doesn't hold the door open for her, but he doesn't close it either, the lanky Gaian Ahroun shuffling back to his seat at the kitchen table.
Shelby shrugs back at the Strider. "Tim doesn't knock," she offers, still sotto-voice, before her attention snaps back to August and from him, the doorway between kitchen and great room.
Leila returns the shrug to Shelby. "But somebody else might want to." She gives August a curious look as he returns, then joins the Fang cub in looking towards the doorway.
Kate finds a little bit of the smile again, nodding. "Yes, I'm that her she would have mentioned." She steps inside then, "I told my brother I would try and settle in tonight, but he'll be in town for the rest of the week just to make sure. Is Ms. Zosia in, or?" As she glances in, "Is everyone um, part of the group here?"
August says from his seat at the table, "I'm called August. We're all family, in the looser sense, here. And you're a guest of Zosia's - long-term or short-term?" He runs a hand gently over his face and nurses more coffee.
Shelby looks up at the newcomer, her eyes meeting the younger girl's only for a moment before skittering away. "You must be Kate," she says, rising and retreating toward the coffee pot. "Zosia mentioned you. Would you care for some coffee? Or a muffin?" Belatedly, "I'm Shelby Zaleski-Laveque, and this is Leila."
Leila sits back down at the table and gives Kate a small wave as Shelby introduces her. "Hi," she says before returning to her coffee for a moment. "Nice to meet you."
Kate relaxes further, letting her bags slip from her shoulder to set them down just prior to the kitchen doorway. "Oh, Shelby. We'll be roomies then." She turns then to Leila with a nod, and then August and falls into long practiced routine. "I'm Katarzyna Federov, called Cleaning Fires that Brings Hope from the Ashes. A Cliath and Ahroun, daughter of Falcon, daughter of Sergei Federov, Tells the Tales to the Tomes." A breath, just quickly, "I'm going to be staying here as long-term as I'm welcomed."
"Blood-Guard, Ahroun, Fostern. Gaian elder," says August, and then nibbles at his muffin. "I live here too. Sometimes."
Shelby manages a thin smile for Kate and hurriedly turns, already fetching down a mug. "Nice to meet you," she tosses over her shoulder without giving any of the three a look at more than her profile. Then it's on to coffee, over which the cub spends quite a bit of time making sure the mug's filled just right - or something.
Leila nods as she listens to the introduction, then offers, "Slayer of Dark Dreams, cliath Galliard of the Silent Striders, I'm usually on the Bawn."
Kate grins, "Just Kate from here on out please. And it is good to meet all of you." She moves toward the table, offering August a glance, "May I join you?"
August waves a hand, gesturing openly towards the table. "Sure, you live here now too. Kate." He scooches back into his seat, kicking his legs out, and continues to nurse that coffee, watching the newer Garou in a way that's as assessing as his bleary eyes can manage. "What made you come to the Walk?"
There's a chair out and waiting for Kate to just plop down into it, even. Shelby drifts over to place the coffee there, offer a smile that attempts to be bright and only flickers like a dying fluorescent, and retreat to lean on the cabinets near the coffee maker again.
Leila gives Kate a smile at the grin, and begins to eat her muffin as she glances to August. The question makes her turn her attention back to Kate, giving her a curious look.
Kate grins at the invite from August and moves to take the empty seat. She considers the question quietly for a moment, "I'm going to get asked that one alot aren't I? Is that pretty normal for newcomers to any Sept, or something particular to this one?" The question and tone are completely genuine and polite. "I've heard the stories of this place, from my father mostly, and I thought it would be a good place to really settle in as an Ahroun of Falcon's brood. If we're to be leaders, you have to be willing to get your feet dirty at the front lines and all that." She looks to the coffee and shakes her head, wrinkling her nose, "No thanks Shelby." A glance follows the cub back to the cabinets though, a sort of admiring-gauging look. "Not that I'm looking to lead by any means. I'm pretty new to things all told." That's back to August.
"When I came here, the Fangs had a lupus elder," August shares, to Kate though the statement is directed at the whole group. "We are on the front lines, that's for sure." He looks over his shoulder and blinks once at the cub. "Stop playing 'server kin' and c'mere and sit down with everyone." The Gaian, meanwhile, stands (slowly) and moves to refill his coffee mug.
It's fairly clear that Shelby would rather be anywhere else. She not-quite flinches away from August when he stands, looking up only far enough to keep the Gaian in sight, and circles around him - not to the table, but to the door back into the great room. "I. Don't want to be a bother. It was very nice meeting you, Kate, Leila." She glances at the other two women in turn, eyes going straight back to the floor.
Leila nods in agreement with August as he talks. "It's gotten...busy around here. How much have you heard about what's happened so far?" She tilts her head and frowns slightly as she watches Shelby, then looks to August, raising an eyebrow a little.
"Lupus elder's can be ... strict." Kate says this with a knowing smile, but it has as much fondness as it does old frustrations. "I've heard the stories of the Sept it used to be, and that it fell and was reclaimed. Also that it's the only Caern left in the area and that the enemy is constantly targeting it. So yeah, really busy." A glance is given to Shelby as she tries to skirt away, but she doesn't offer any instruction of her own.
August pours his coffee, nods and actually smiles at Kate when she demonstrates that she's done her homework. "Yeah, they can. The Fang elder was also my alpha when I was packed with her. That's part of why I live here." He doesn't explain further! He catches Leila's look, pauses, and then says to Shelby again, "No one's bothered."
Shelby grimaces at August's words but stops her retreat; folds her arms across her middle and doesn't come any closer. A small victory, perhaps. "August was saying something about a scouting mission," she tells the room, or possibly Leila and Kate.
Leila looks back to Kate briefly and nods. "'Really busy's' a good summary of it. Short, but it's accurate, anyway." Her attention goes back to Shelby and August as she adds in, "There's a chair right there. Besides, you might learn some stuff."
Kate gives the cub a smile, "I learned a lot as a cub just by listening to the grown up conversations." The term grown up may seem a little odd coming from her fifteen year old face, but there's a sense she's fairly comfortable with her 'adult' status. To the others she nods, "Zosia-rhya has to tell me what she'd like me to do for chiminage. But in the meantime, since you are the first I've really met, if you need any help that I'm allowed to give, just ask."
August nods in agreement with Leila and Kate. "Stay for a while, just to listen if you don't feel like talking." To Kate, says, "I'm not sure, you'll have to get your orders from Zosia herself. But yeah, things have been busy. It seems we're warring with a Hive right now. You'll probably be asked to help with that." More coffee is imbibed.
"I don't," Shelby starts, and checks over her shoulder. No other Garou have come a'visiting, apparently. "I don't mind standing, thank you."
Leila nods to Kate, returning to her muffin for a moment before speaking. "If you ask around, there's probably lots of people on the Bawn who need help with that or something else. Like you said, it's been busy here."
Kate skims another glance toward Shelby, head tilting a bit before she refocuses her attention on Leila and August. "You bet. I'm good for helping out however I can." That smile breaks through again as she reaches up to take her hat off and shake out her brown hair. "Can I ask a question that's a little embarassing?"
"Suit yourself," August grunts to Shelby, and nods in agreement with Leila again. He blinks a few times at Kate, perhaps at what she asked or perhaps his wits are just slowed by his (very mild) wounds and lack of sleep. "Embarassing? Huh?" He cants his head.
Shelby will, thank you: she nods once, tightly, and remains where she is, uttering not a murmur and letting the other three talk amongst themselves.
Leila raises an eyebrow at the question, looking to August for his reaction first before glancing back to Kate. "What's the question?"
Kate grins a little, tucking her head down slightly. "Well. This is my first time away from where I grew up. I'm not sure what the routine is supposed to be. I mean, I don't want to sit back and seem like a loafer, but I'm not sure when I'm allowed to do stuff either. I feel like I should know that already, but, I'm not really sure."
August focuses his attention on Kate, ignoring Shelby for now. "Oh! Well, first you should talk to Zosia and get chiminage... and you should meet the Alpha of the Sept. She's a Bone Gnawer named Kaz. And you need to get permission from the Warder to go on the Bawn, so you have to find a Guardian." He looks at Leila. "...Am I forgetting anything?"
Leila listens, then shakes her head. "Not that I can think of. If there's something else, Zosia or a Guardian would probably mention it, I think." She gives Kate a smile. "It's a good question. I don't think it's embarassing."
Kate gives a little nod of her head, "Thanks. I think Zosia-rhya said she'd tell the alpha, Kaz, about my being here. So chiminage, meet the Alpha and the Warder, which. Well I'll have to rely on those I meet to pass the request on for me for those two, and in the meantime, stick close to Zosia so she can coordinate. Alright, I think I've got it then." She looks to Shelby once the topic is more or less wound down and addresses her, "I should put my stuff upstairs I think. Which one is it again?"
Shelby presses closer to the wall, ceding Kate as much of the path as she can without actually stepping back into the kitchen or fully retreating. "It's the one that looks empty," she offers. "I don't have any things. Al-" but there she stops, shakes her head, and wraps her arms just a fraction tighter. "Claude's in the other," she adds after a moment.
August shrugs to Kate. "Uh, I've got the master bedroom, and Claude's is the green room. There's the other bedroom with Shelby, or the basement." He doesn't say 'where the weird metis used to sleep,' but it's implied that rooming with Shelby would be the preferable option. He yawns. "I should catch a few winks, myself, here."
Leila finishes up her coffee as she listens to the room arrangements being sorted out, then glances towards the back door. "I should probably head back, too," she says, then gives Kate another smile. "It was nice meeting you."
Kate nods to Shelby, though there is that curious glance again. "Alright. I'll get things just set up enough to sleep and we can sort everything else out tomorrow." She turns to Leila and August. "Thanks for the advice Leila, August-rhya. And it was good meeting you. I guess, well, I'll see at least one of you tomorrow. Gaia keep your dreams guarded. Good night." She grabs her bags then and shuffles up the stairway to find the room.
The cub does indeed keep out of the way until Kate's gone, offering her a quiet, "Night," in passing. The other two get nods as well as a goodnight, Shelby taking their discarded mugs and muffin plates and tidying up without a word.