There are 2 messages in this issue.
Topics in this digest:
1. [WEB] - Hunter's Moon
From: "Michael Turek" <greywolfe@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
2. [WEB] Assignment
From: Christopher Ackney <christopher.ackney@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 22:24:04 +1000
From: "Michael Turek" <greywolfe@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [WEB] - Hunter's Moon
Day 19, Late night
"A perfect night to be out."
Kayn lay on his back atop one of the taller buildings in the city,
gazing up
at the sky. The light of the moon bathed his face in radiance, his
silver
hair sparkling as it pooled about his head. This high up, with nothing
between him and the sky, he almost felt free of the city, of its
confines
and stifling walls.
He was sure many people would love to know just how he'd gotten up
where he
was, but Kayn wasn't in the mood for explaining things. He was a wild
animal
and a child of the moon and sitting around made him restless. So at
night
he'd been stalking the city, exploring it, cataloguing it all in his
mind.
After all, a hunter should always know his hunting grounds.
On a night like this, under a Hunter's Moon, the wolf in him wished to
be
set free.
So far the pack that was based in the city had mostly avoided him.
Kayn was
well aware of his status in the wider Garou community. There were all
kinds
of stories and legends about the wolf who'd sinned against Gaia and
had in
turn been punished by being thrown in with those he hated most. Most
wolves
weren't sure who he was, but in typical wolf fashion, didn't bother
him if
he didn't bother them. He was known as someone who helped fledgling
Garou
through their transition and that counted for a great deal.
Of course the Alpha of the city had to discipline some of his pack's
younger
members who had taken much offence to an outsider being allowed free
reign
of their city. He'd even been gracious enough to offer Kayn the
opportunity
to beat some sense into one of them, but he'd diplomatically declined.
Of
course if they were stupid enough to attack him later on, he'd have
pleasure
making sure they never forgot it.
It had been an age since he'd had a decent fight. Your edge dulls when
it
isn't used regularly after all. He chuckled. The last good fight had
been
convincing that hard-headed Vashka that he wasn't invincible. For a
young
wolf he'd certainly had stamina, even if he'd been lacking in
technique.
Several broken bones later he'd come around however.
It was unlike himself to be spoiling for a fight, but the city was
making
him restless and the moon had his veins singing with its song. He
longed to
be running through the forests near his home and ripping into a bloody
morsel after a long hunt. He could almost taste the coppery tang of
blood in
his mouth and practically hear the crunch of fragile bones between his
jaws.
But alas, this was the city, where the prey animals were a different
breed
altogether and most often, not that good to eat. So he'd settle for
stalking
the city, nosing here and there, exploring those places where the prey
lurked and maybe, just maybe.
Maybe someone would be kind enough to play.
****
Day 20, some time after midnight
These cities never really slept. There was never really an 'end' to
the day.
More a changing of the guard, where a different set of populace
occupied the
streets. This was the witching hour and all kinds of mischief took
place. To
Kayn, as he prowled the city in search of something indefinable, it
was
simply amusing, something to keep his mind occupied.
For a person alone in a big, anonymous city, he was pretty well left
alone.
It could be said he exuded a sense of confidence, faith in his ability
to
take care of himself, a feeling that this was someone you should not
fuck
with. A slight breeze blew through the streets, ruffling his coat and
flowing through his long hair. Under the moon his eyes almost glowed,
although he hid them behind semi-darkened glasses. People wearing
sunglasses
at midnight wasn't out of place in this city, such was the dubious
fashion
sense of certain people.
An all-night diner appeared across the street in a flare of scents,
making
Kayn wonder whether he should drop in for a snack. However, an
altogether
different scent caught his nose and he paused, gazing across the
street in
curiosity, his glasses down on the bridge of his nose and his blue
eyes
bright and intent. Through the thinly occupied tables he spied a
tallish man
sitting just inside nursing a coffee and opposite him, a tiny
asian-looking
girl, no more than a child. Kayn grinned. He smelled unmistakably of
wolf,
an out of town wolf at that.
Perhaps sensing the attention, the girl reached across the table and
touched
the man's arm. He turned his head slightly, catching sight of Kayn,
who was
now leaning against a building wall nonchalantly. The man's eyes
narrowed
for a second, then widened in what might have been surprise or
recognition.
Kayn chuckled, raising a hand to his forehead and tipping an imaginary
cap
towards the man, before pushing off the wall and strolling off down
the
street. He wondered who the wolf really was and why he was taking a
child
around with him. Finding out would be fun he bet. After all, he just
loved a
mystery.
(Tag Chris and Carina :-) )
****
Day 20, Some time later
High in the city, on a corner of the roof of a building, Kayn stood
silently. His hands were thrust in the pockets of his coat, holding it
against his body as the wind billowed around him, fanning out his hair
behind him. Below him, something very interesting was taking place.
He'd been drawn to this area of the city by a feeling, a hunch.
Something
familiar yet unfamiliar was here. Something young yet old, powerful
yet
bound. Below him, a dark shape drifted through the darkness, assisting
a
couple of what looked like street punks in leaving this lifetime.
Maybe
punks to normals, but to a Garou, Kayn's nose told him much
differently.
These two had been servants of the Wyrm, that force that his kind
fought a
never-ending battle against.
From rooftop to rooftop, Kayn followed the dark shape, sensed it
marking out
a territory, watched it cleansing that territory of 'evil'. Something
that a
wolf might do, although this thing was certainly not a wolf. Close,
but
different in some way. What intrigued him the most was that this shape
carried the faint scent of power that he'd picked up from the police
girl,
that old power that was somewhat foreign to him. Not magic, but
something
else.
He sat for a while, going over it in his mind, wondering what it might
be.
He'd traveled to many places and confronted many types of power, but
this
one still eluded him. He thought about leaving, but curiosity and his
abject
need for something to do got the better of him. Deliberately, he moved
inside that boundary that the shadowy creature had marked out, knowing
that
he'd be sensed and challenged eventually. What better way to find out
who he
was than directly from the source.
After a while, Kayn sensed a presence behind him and grinned to
himself.
"Took you long enough," he remarked casually, cracking his knuckles as
he
turned around to confront the arrival. "I do apologise for
interrupting your
rest though."
(Tag Carys -giggles- so what will Lucien do about this little
intrusion I
wonder?)
****
Submitted by
Kayn
Aka
Michael Turek
------------------
Heed me:
If thou wouldst dress the dead and play amongst them;
Thou shalt join their ranks.
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Message: 2
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 19:22:28 -0400
From: Christopher Ackney <christopher.ackney@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
Subject: [WEB] Assignment
Scene: April 19, evening
"You wished to see me?" Alorian asked, after the door closed behind
her.
She had been brought to the office tower just after she had finished
dinner.
Donovan was very ... insistent that she come, despite her misgivings
at
being 'summoned' by Michael. She may have power here, but he was Alpha
of
the Shadow Lord pack.
The room was dark, with only a dim table lamp providing a small splash
of
light. Michael sat at the window, gazing out at the moon above. After
a
moment, he turned his attention to her. "I am ... distressed over the
abduction of Natasha Vartok. She is a niece of mine, and though
petulant and
naïve, I would have her back."
Alorian was quick to nod her head. "I am doing everything in my power
to
find her." Alorian came to stand in front of his desk. "We have little
to go
on right now. It is as if she has vanished into this air."
"Then perhaps we have an answer for you. It has come to my attention
that an
old and mysterious Garou has returned to the city, known as Kayn
Silverman.
A legend, some say. A myth, others say. But there is one who goes by
that
name. He comes and goes, and all the while no one knows his purpose.
It
seems odd to me that he should surface when strange occurrences are
happening. He would not likely talk to one of us, as he would scent
our true
selves. You, however, may be able to question him where we cannot."
Alorian nodded. "Of course. That makes sense. I will go to him
immediately.
Do you know how I can be in contact with him?"
"Very little is known, but he has connections with a company called
The
Sanctuary. Our informant discovered his presence there, but we do not
know
for how long he has been in the city." Michael leaned forward, his
arms on
the desks. "Alorian, you must be careful around this one. He is more
wolf
than man. And the lupus have little like for their human cousins."
Alorian nodded slowly, looking deep in thought. Her brow furrowed for
a
moment and she looked back to Michael. "Do you know anything about the
company? Have any names or contact information?" If she heard the
warning
she had dismissed it or was not responding to it.
Michael passed her a slim file folder. "Very little is known, at least
for
the moment. A couple of the employees, the man who runs the company in
his
absence, recent activities in protecting wild lands for wolves. Other
than
that, nothing."
Alorian nodded, taking the folder at the same time. She flipped
through it
and then slipped it under an arm. "If there isn't anything else?" She
took a
step back from the desk, ready to be excused.
Michael shook his head. "Even if you find he is not involved, try to
find
out his purpose here, and what threat he may pose to us. He has some
power
here, and I would not have him interfering with any of my plans." He
said,
giving Alorian a dismissing nod before turning back to his papers.
"About time you finished with the High and Mighty. Perhaps you can
spare a
minute or two for a working stiff?" A voice called out as Alorian and
Donovan stepped off the elevator. They turned to see a roguish young
man
rising from a crouch. He adjusted his jean jacket with a flourish, and
stepped up to them, grinning. "Been a while, Princess"
Alorian turned her head and nodded to Donovan. "I will call you," she
said
rather shortly to him. He simply nodded and stepped back onto the
elevator.
Alorian turned back, her gaze piercing. But there was something behind
it,
something softer.
"I thought I asked you no to call me that around other people," she
said as
a hint of a smile crept into her lips.
"Oh, was there someone else here? I must have missed them." He grinned
at
her. "So, do you have to rush off for his Majesty, or do you have time
to
play catch-up?"
"Nothing I can not put aside until later." She stood still studying
him.
"It's been a long time, how have you been?"
He grinned again as he cocked his head. "Oh, you know, a little
ecoterrorism
here, a little avoiding backstabbing politics there. Typical days in
the
life of Alex." He took her by the arm. "Come on, lets get away from
here
before Donovan tells the boss. Michael never did like me messing
around with
one of his proteges. I know a place we can sit and have a civilized
conversation."
Alorian rolled her eyes at him but did not resist as he lead her off.
In
truth she knew Michael would be pissed if he knew she was heading off
with
Alex. She wondered if that was partly the reason why she did it. She
followed him anyway, ready to put away the events of the day and relax
a bit
with an old friend.
Alex took a breath of fresh air as they stepped out into the night. He
did a
quick check both ways down the sidewalk, and then again at the street
before
pulling her across to the other side. A few doors down, he stopped and
opened the door to the Half Moon Cafe. "After you." He said with a
smile,
holding the door open for her.
"The usual?" He asked, directing her to an empty table. The cafe was
about a
quarter full, quiet patrons sipping coffee or holding private talks.
She nodded and moved to a table. Sliding onto a chair she watched Alex
as he
went to the counter and ordered them coffee. A smile crossed her lips
as she
watched him flirt with the counter girl. Moments later he came over
and slid
into the chair across from her, pushing her coffee to her.
"Lucky I am not the jealous type," she teased him.
Alex looked up from his coffee. "Oh? Hmm, then all that flirting was
for
nothing." He smirked. "Jenny's an okay kid. Trying to 'make it big'."
Alex
made quotation marks in the air. "Imagine, a California girl coming to
New
York to be an actress. Shows you the times we live in." He blew on his
coffee and sipped it, but found it too hot still and pushed it aside.
"So,
how are things on your side of life?"
She shrugged and toyed with her cup. "Much the same. Things don't
change a
lot." She looked down into her cup and then looked back to him. "It's
been a
long time. I was starting to think you were purposely avoiding me."
His eyes went wide in mock shocked innocence. "Me? You're the one who
hardly
comes around any more. Here I am, waiting day in, day out for you to
grace
me with your presence." He sighed and tried his coffee again, this
time
satisfied with its coolness. "But you're right, it has been a long
time. Too
long, really. But, I suppose we've both been busy with our own things,
like
always." He took another sip. "Like now, I suppose. What does the Big
Man
have you doing this time?" He asked, in an attempt to change the
topic.
"Looking for a lost girl." She looked like she wanted to pursue the
previous
subject, but decided not to. "I need to find her." She sipped her
coffee.
"What have you been so busy with? I've never know you to tie yourself
down
for more than a day or two."
"Busy avoiding work, mostly." He smirked. "Michael keeps trying to get
me to
do things 'for the pack'." Again with the quotation marks. "Sometimes
he
convinces me, most times its more jerking around someone from another
tribe.
I can't seem to convince him that I really don't have any political
aspirations, or that I really don't give a flying fig what the other
packs
are up to."
Alorian bit back her own comments at his aloofness to the pack. She
simply
nodded and sipped her coffee. "I am surprised you have not settled
down with
some cute blonde," she said with a smile, again changing the direction
of
the conversation.
Alex made a face. "Settled down? Gives me with willies." He gave an
exaggerated shake, then laughed at himself. "No, still living in the
bachelor over on 9th." He then looked up at Alorian, eyes looking deep
into
hers. "Besides, you know that I prefer brunettes. Blondes are too
fluffy."
"Yes well.." a flush settled on her cheeks and she looked down. She
hated
that he could unsettle her so easily. He was the only one who could
too. She
pushed away the last of her now cold coffee.
Alex knew an uncomfortable silence when he faced one. He certainly
caused
enough of them in the past. "Well, I shouldn't keep you, lest the High
and
Mighty becomes too upset." He gulped down the last of his coffee and
sprang
out of his seat. "Should you need any help, just drop me a line."
Alorian couldn't hide the surprise as she looked up at him. Something
inside
of her dropped. She nodded and stood as well. "I will. It was good to
see
you again Alex. Don't be a stranger." She picked up her folder and
tucked it
under her arm. Her face had already become all business again.
Alex gave a last, longing look back at Alorian, and sighed to himself.
He
gave a mock salute. "Good to see you too. Fight the good fight,
soldier." He
gave a wink and quickly disappeared into the night, lest he say
something
more foolish that could only lead to hurt.
She watched him go, standing in the light of the cafe. She felt pain
somewhere inside of her. It wasn't what she was used to with him, not
what
she'd expected when she saw him that night. She forced herself to turn
and
head back to her apartment. She couldn't shake him from her mind as
she
walked. She didn't understand why he didn't want to be with her, why
there
had been tension there when it never had been before. She wondered if
she
cared and she shook her head firmly. If she wanted to survive in the
world,
or more importantly in the pack, she couldn't give herself over to
caring
about him.
She sighed and studied the ground as she walked, wondering what she
was
giving up in the life that she chose.
NRPG: Something to bring Alorian more into the fray.
Jointly submitted:
Rachel, aka Alorian Miller, Shadow Lord Kinfolk
and
Chris, aka Michael, Shadow Lord Alpha, and Alex, Shadow Lord Ragabash
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