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Grotto
The woods part suddenly, here, amidst the quiet roar of falling water. A wide stream spills over the edge of a rocky face that is the western edge of a hill some thirty feet high. The stones are worn smooth with the passing of time, and are slick with moisture and soft mosses, but a climb up the drier rocks would not be impossible, and there is a sense of space behind the falls.
A wide pool has been carved into the earth by the rushing waters, and the tall trees have grown out around it, sheltering the grotto in a pleasantly-cool shade. Rocks, hewn from the cliff face and shouldered along the path of the stream, form a rough ring around the edge of the pool and guide the flow of water further westwards, again deeper into the woods. All manner of animal tracks are visible in the sandier areas of shore; the trees crouch close against the edge of the stream again as it passes further west, muting the dull thunder of the falls.
Faint trails, between the trees, lead off in all directions, while a determined climb eastwards would crest the rock face.
Contents:
Oath-Sealer
Currently the moon is in the waxing Full Moon phase (84% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 44 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from variable directions at 3 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.48 and rising, and the relative humidity is 93 percent. The dewpoint is 42 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius.)
The grotto is wrapped in thick shrouds is mist this early in the morning, the cold of last night yet to be chased away by the relative warmth of the day. Cole is a dim figure in that mist, hard to spot. His voice makes it easier, though, raised as it is in song. The Fianna seems to be singing to himself, sitting at th edge of the pool. "Another day of made-to-measure history...I don't care if your heroes have wings, your terrible beauty's been torn.."
Rayanna has looked at you!
There's no singing from Rayanna. Her climbing down to the Grotto is careful and determine, a solemn frown planted on her features, though even that somehow manages to be alluring (much to her consternation). "Cole," she says, turning the mist in spiralling waves as she descends within. And then, right to the point. "/Why/ didn't you tell me Jason was a charach? And /why/ is he teaching cubs?"
Cole cuts off his song when his name is called, looking over to the source. A smile blooms, and he stands up. Of course, the smile doesn't last too long. In fact, it's rather quickly replaced by a scowl. "I had thought you'd heard it by now from someone, if not me." His arms cross over his chest. "He's teaching the cubs because there's about a metric fuckton of them, and he's able to do the job." His handsome features seem to remain so, even wreathed in a scowl.
Rayanna folds her arms over her chest and jacket, looking grim. "Teach them what, charach? And how was he punished? Every person in this sept should know what we did. It should have been apparent the moment I walked in, instead of being /embarassed/ as I was in front of the Silver Fang Elder for not knowing." Notably, the young woman isn't make presumptions of dominance, but her conviction and confidence are clear, and she /is/ very displeased.
Cole grits his teeth. "Jason has changed," he utters. "He'd be the first one to speak out against breaking the first tenet, Oath-Sealer. Every person in the Sept does know who was there at the time." The stubborn Fianna Elder snorts. "He was punished as I saw fit. Punishments he won't forget anytime soon. He had to wear the mark of his shame on his face for all to see, and bear the very symbol of his crime around his throat. And that, half-moon, is on top of the beatings he recieved."
Rayanna does not seem impressed. "I have /killed/ charachs for their sins, Cole. I have forced them to have /true/ children to make up for their transgressions. I have ruled they be treated as metis without honor by a Sept so they would /understand/ what they almost created. Beatings and public embarassments are what you do for lesser infractions, not something so /serious/ as charach." Sighing angrily, the suddenly adult woman rests her fingers against her forehead and closes her eyes briefly. "It would be pointless for me to punish him further. But our ways are not that of the Children, Cole. We may make merry and brew spirits as a tribal past-time, but we are intentionally not forgiving to those who know the way of things and yet flout them so carelessly."
Cole utters a growl, sounding so very out of place in that human throat. His eyes darken as they sometimes do under intense emotion. "Well, how wonderful for you," he retorts. "Feathers in your hat for dealing with charachs, huh? If Jason had fucked the Shadow Lord bitch flagrantly, or multiple times, his head would still be clattering about the cave back there. But it was a one time thing. I think it's disgusting, and people wil lnever forget that he did it. But I will not kill one of the few members of our tribe here over something he did as a dumbass cub. Unless you forget that the cubs are not held to the same strict tenets of the Litany as we are?" His voice is still rich with anger, probably a side effect of the moon. "Oh, and if you wanted to see a half moon of the tribe punish him as he ought...maybe there should have -been- one."
Rayanna carefully masters herself. /She's/ not going to get all growly. So there. "My father's dead," she retorts. "So you don't need to worry about him tugging me away to the Faerie Ring again. Had I been here instead of /risking my life/ to save a falling Caern from banes, you can be assured I would have done something about it. And it's clearly not so obvious, nor often talked about, since I've been here for more than a month and didn't hear about it until just /yesterday/. That's what I'm upset about, because I totally enjoy looking like an idiot in front of lupus Silver Fang Fostern Elders. And I'm sure newcomers to the sept will enjoy that same, unique pleasure." The woman drops her hand and sighs, glancing away and suddenly looking very tired.
Cole seems to have no compunctions agaisnt getting growly. "I'm sorry if you didn't hear all the dirty laundry when you came back," he says, probably the closest by way of apology he's come yet. "But something -was- done about it. It was a mistake of passion made by a dumbass cub. He took his punishment, and his name will never be clear of it." He takes a moment to master himself, visibly rallying. "I never claimed to be a half moon, Rayanna. There were non here, and I was not going to let a Shadow Lord or Child of Gaia sit judgement of my tribe. I did the best I could. Looking at Jason now, do you think he is a bad Garou? Think he's likely to charach around every corner?" His tone is quieting. Still surly, but not with that bright, sharp anger.
Rayanna glances back. "I think he's a reckless Ragabash with loose loins," the girl quips, but frowns as she realizes she's describing Most Fianna Ragabashes. But she must admit, "Though I haven't seen any hint that he would, no. But that doesn't mean anything. I think he doesn't understand dominance and rank as well as he should. I think he can be irreverent, and is likely to be clawed one day, but I suppose you could blame that on his auspice. Either of those can lead to charach, however." She shakes her head and washes her hands of the subject. "But I'm done. Thankfully Blackriver-rhya didn't get on my case about it."
Cole seems content to let the fight, if that's what it was, go. "I'll agree with you there. He has lots to learn about when it is right to try to break down tradition and when it should be followed. But he proved himself during the raid on Traitor's Grove. Assuming all that silver in him doesn't kill him...there will be time." The Galliard frowns, shaking his head. "This shit was easier when Megan-rhya was around."
Rayanna rubs her head as if doing so might relieve some stress. "Megan-rhya?"
Cole grunts. "The first Righ I ever knew. A half moon like you. Adren. And Alpha of the Sept for all of my cubhood. She's in Boston now, or so I hear. Got pregnant, got horribly injured having the brat. Didn't want to suffer people to tend her wounds."
Rayanna suddenly rubs her stomach unconciously. "Oh. Well, I hope she's all right."
Cole lets out a breath, nodding. He doesn't notice the motion, which might be for the best. His gaze is on the pool again, or more likely firmly in the past. "I do too. Maybe she'll come back some day. 'd be glad to see her again." It sounds like there's alot of affection there, buried beneath the surliness. He lets out a deep breath. "Look, kiddo. Sorry. You should have been told, and that's my job as a Galliard. During all the shit going down, I guess I forgot." He now turns to look at her, a hint of a smile playing over his face. "But just try and remember I've got a fairly good handle on the Fianna thing. Try to teach me a lesson about my own tribe again, I'll kick your Disney Princess butt all around this clearing, okay?"
"I forgive you," Rayanna begins to say, dropping her hand. His latter comment indulges her to stick out her tongue. "I'll challenge you up and down this clearing if I think you need a poke in the right direction. That doesn't mean I'll always /win/, but." She shrugs a little. "You're still my elder, and I know what that means."
Cole seems appeased by that, nodding. "That'll have to do, I guess. So, anything else on your mind? We had a pretty good little argument going there. If you wanted we could probably still end up trying to pound the crap out of each other."
Rayanna folds her arms over her chest. "How Gladiator. I'd challenge you to a runway battle!"
Cole cocks his head, a rakish grin spreading. "Runway battle, huh? You think you could hold your own?" He rises to his feet, raising a brow.
Rayanna snorts, holding out a finger. "/Who/ was the model here, bucko?"
Cole taps his chin, as if actually considering the question. "Okay, you've got me there, Rayanna. But, yeah, I think I'd still come out ahead. What can I say, people like me." The arrogant Galliard half-heartedly strikes a pose of sorts.
Rayanna wiggles that finger. "Don't think the menfolk will choose you over me, Mr. Pomp. Anyways." She lowers her hand and moves towards the cave. "I've been out all night. I'm going to rest a little bit."
"That's Mr Pomp-rhya," comes the immediately rejoinder from Cole. He gestures towards the cave as she looks over. "Sleep well, Rayanna. I'll be around for a bit, then I'm going to head towards Edgewood. Gaia watch."
Rayanna waves and replies with a yawn, then dissapears.