Book 1: A New Day

"So much to take in,..." Paul thinks to himself. He finds spot in the back near some of the other new "recruits", and wonders about he's been conscripted into. "You read about things like this," he mutters "and then it's real. What is this all this...? Life was so much easier when all I had to worry about was homework and meeting my parents' expectations. Now it's werewolves and mysterious threats that probably want to kill me, or us."

"Yup. Yer cannon fodder for their holy war now. Think ISIS gives a speech like that?"

Misha, the small tomboy radiating trouble at the back with a mountain of attitude had her arms crossed and a cigarette in her mouth as she watched with distaste. The other cubs by now well knew that under that thin veneer of contempt was a mountain of rage waiting to burst forth at the slightest provocation.

To say the girl had reacted poorly to the transition to Garou life was an understatement. The older Garou beating the lessons into the cubs had been very literal in her case. More than once she had turned into a rage-filled murder machine all too happy to rip out her teachers' throats rather than accept what she was being told. The elders had responded in kind and had aptly demonstrated the difference in experience. In the end the teen delinquent had to relent. But the experience had made her not a bit happier..

"You may have heard of me, I'm a big deal!"

The lanky, rough looking youth laughs derisively as he wanders over to see what the commotion is about. "Shut up, y'stupid git. The football you throw is smarter than you. Cleaner, too." Patrick sneers at Sebastion, and crosses his arms over his chest, slipping one hand under the flannel overshirt he's wearing.

"Thank Gaia your parents were just related, and not both Garou, or you'd be a fookin' metis. Now sod off."

"Sportsball is very one-dimensional", Paul says flatly to Sebastian. "I believe that what we're being tasked with is maybe a little bit bigger than a Bowl game. Have any of you ever actually confronted any of this head-on? I mean really, not seen the little snippets here and there, but like, really seen it."

Diana stands near the front of the group, holding herself with the confidence of someone in their element, who knew what was going on. Whereas many of the cubs around her had been thrown into the change, and even the idea of werewolves and other supernatural entities being real she had grown up knowing of it.

Those who had seen her around would have seen her often with a few pieces of pricy jewlery and specifically a golden signet ring bearing the crest of a phoenix. A symbol that meant a lot less than it used to but she still wore as a symbol of what she hoped to become. It and the other pieces are absent tonight, common sense telling her to leave them somewhere safe. so they didn't get lost while shifting.

' Boys please. We are meant to be making friends, packs even. Not enemies. I'm sure you are all good at what you do. No need for a measuring contest' She interrupts the growing squabble between some of the others. The name Sebastien had run a fanit bell to her, but she couldn't pin it. Sports was her cousins domain. If this guy was well nown Oscar would porbably be all over him trying to make friends. She should probably do the same,. Her uncle would tell her so. But the way he emphasised 'my' pack mad her feel she would clash, if he insisted on leading. As a soon to be Silver fang, and inheritor of her families legacy that was her role. It was what she had always been taught after all.

She raises her voice, projecting it across the group of cubs as she turns to the all. 'I won't pretend to have seen a lot of this world most of you have suddenly been thrust into. At least not the nasty parts. But I have grown up knowing of it. How to navigate it. I would be eager to teach you all how to do so, and how to make the most of the gift you have gained. For those who don't now I am Diana Ashmore. My family line boast many garou warriors, and nobility. I know what I'm doing. They didn't need to know the state of the family now. A few survivors clinging onto what little pride and wealth they had left. She would regain that glory back. Even if she wasn't Ahroun.

Misha looked down to the flea-ridden wolf. Poor thing looked like some horribly abused dog. Well, she knew how that felt. Of course it wasn't a dog, it was a wolf. And it spoke in that Garou language. So this was a lupus? Misha saw no reason for Rat Food to stay in that form otherwise. What was sure was that Rat Food was the smartest werewolf around. He had sided with her after all. Could do with a bath though.

"Ey. I'm Misha. You understand English or am I going to have to talk doggo?"

Of course you are ya Nazi git. Misha rolled her eyes and kept her attention on her new pal.
"Eyyyy, looks like we're headed the same way Rat. I figured the Gnawers don't have a stick up their ass like the other tribes. You know some?"

Back and forth they all go, laying claim to their places, heritage, whatever. Paul just rolls his eyes. "This is all a bit pointless," he says. "Like, we're supposed to pit ourselves against some horrible malevolent forces, and so far there's bickering about who is going to be the captain." He looks at Diana, and says a bit contemptuously, "you accuse us of a measuring contest, but the first thing you did was tell us you should be in charge because people in your lineage have been warriors. I guess that's genetic, or so you'd have us believe. That's not measuring? Please. Wouldn't it be more important if we identified our common threat, rather than the team leader?"

Diana gives a small smirk as Sebastian doesn't retaliate and moves away before focusing her attention on Paul.

'That is not what I was saying. I was saying that because I grew up with all of this I am not out of my element like the majority of you. I' ve prepared for this. I know what I am doing and things the rest of you still need to learn. Like the fact our ancestors are important.. '

She gives a nod to Running Fish as he backs up the need for leaders. ' We're about to face a trial. It is important each pack has someone they can rely on to keep everyone on track and focused if things get bad. You get to pick either someone used to all this, or sports boy.' As long as no-one else also showed an interest.

The rest of the new wolves seemed an interesting bunch. Running fish as a Philodox could help with the more.. Colourful character that may end up in the pack.

Greata caught her interest. Another Theurge, also of a trib more know for their Ahroun and Galliards. Maybe they could learn what they were doing together... Unless Greata already knew and showed up her lack of knowledge on her own auspices. That would undermine her.

"Yeah, I know that one. Was thinking that because you're a wolf you might've come from a different place with 'm."
It was clear by now that the two Gnawers-to-be would be sticking together like glue as Misha seemed to have adopted Rat Food like a puppy. A stinking, flea-ridden puppy..

Two options, only hardship. Paul rolls the ideas around in his head and tries to consider things analytically. "I have to say, I'm probably inclined to want to see this bane spirit firsthand," he says to the others. "Would anyone want to join me? I've spent some time studying this stuff, but to actually have some kind of contact with it, for real...it would be like I'd fallen through the TV screen and into a show I'd only watched before."

Blah blah spirit bullshit Misha thought as she crossed her arms once more. Sending kids like good little troopers. What if someone got hurt or died? They die heroes? Fuck these assholes.
She scowled at Hook Hand, the usual posture she took with the Get. She had tried running, she had tried fighting, and practically every time it was that prick who ran her down, beat the shit out of her and dragged her back. He was the reason she refused to become Get herself, even though some ancestor lineage bullshit pointed her that way. Fuck him.

But she wasn't in the mood for getting her teeth kicked out again, so she kept quiet. Like a good little trooper..

"Sure, why not?" Patrick replies. "Let's go kick the shit out of the little firestarter."

"Cool!" Pauls says. "Thanks, Patrick! What about the rest of you?"

"What we need is a hook-up with a helicopter." Patrick starts walking, grumbling the whole way.

"I'm sure one of these guys will whine about helicopters being bad for nature and all that shit." Misha added to that sentiment. Although getting a helicopter would never have been her idea. A bit out of her day-to-day life, that..
She looked over at Rat Food with a sigh.
"Looks like we're doing this your way eh?"

She had turned into a wolf a few times at the insistence of the elders but she didn't like being an animal. She headed off to a shed with a sideways glance at the boys.
"I'm going to change. If any of you take a peek I'm plucking out your eyes."

She headed inside one of the sheds to undress. She piled up her clothes inside so they kept dry. Then, with a sigh she began to will her body to change. It still felt weird to her to feel her body change, muscles and bones warping under her skin. And she knew it was hard to go fully to the wolf form, so she first went to the big murdermachine form. That one was at least a little fun. As a petite girl in hard surroundings she had sometimes lamented her lack of strength, which she had to compensate for with attitude. But the werewolf form was one big hulking mountain of muscle. She liked the power it gave her. She wondered if men felt that way all the time.

As she turned to Crinos she expanded to twice her size. She had to duck to not bump her head and the small shed barely had enough size to hold her. And then the anger surged forward from the back of her mind. Rage the older werewolves called it. It was a buzz when she was human but now she was a werewolf it pumped through her veins. Made her want to rip and tear something apart. Her anger at the treatment she had received so far enhanced that. But she kept her mind on the task and continued on to the wolf form.

When she emerged it immediately became plain to those in the know why the elders thought she was of the Get of Fenris. Misha's wolf form was of a hulking gray wolf. The wolf's shoulders were rippling with muscle and her maw had notably large fangs. Sleek and thick fur covered her form. Misha still felt oddly naked though, but she plodded over to Rat Food and sat down next to him with a resigned sigh.

Seeing the others change Paul mutters, "well, I guess I have no choice." The effort strains him, but eventually, Paul makes the transition. "Perhaps I've spent too much time pretending to be a human."

Diana moves to the side as well to start shifting. The 'pack' they had needed up with was an interesting g one. Now they just had to prove they were capable.

Her Lupus form is that of an elegant white wolf which is dwarved by Misha as she goes to stand next to her ready for the others to shift.

Patrick will begin sniffing around -- figuratively and literally -- for any clues about what's going on. He didn't know too much about spirits and mystical bull, but he had listened to stories growing up. The question was, did any if it seem like it mattered?

"Aye yo, I know we're all running around as naked mutts or whatever, but is there anything reflective around? Probably get a better read on the other side," Patrick asks the others.

In its own unique way, it is refreshing to see these things play out in different forms. Being a wolf again, truly, was maybe something Paul wasn't expecting to enjoy as much as he was while sniffing around for clues. Burn marks like these, especially when there is a spirit of some kind nearby don't just happen. He racked his brain trying to figure out what might have caused it, thinking that maybe he'd come across it in his studies.

'We have fur.. She knew the others were new to this but being a wolf hadn't been awkward till he said that and made it awkward. The other side could be a good idea.

As she speaks she sniffs the grounds a looks around the area with an analytical mind.

"Puddle could work," Patrick calls out to the others before gazing into his reflection.

Trying to force himself to cross over, he just can't figure out how to make it happen. Like, he knows how it's supposed to work, it just... isn't. "Fookin' hell," he mutters to himself as he sits by the puddle.

A bit of anxiety and excitement start building in Paul, and he agrees. "Yeah, the other side," he echoes, but he looks over at the others. "Are we all going?"

'I'm not sure fire is the only thing we should be careful of. Lightning may have struck here, if I'm right about these plants. She sniffs the air again before looking over at Paul querying crossing.

' I should be able to cross. But it would be good not to have one person alone. Either we all go or we split. Just in case.

Patrick paws at the ground. "I, uh... may be having some trouble getting across. I ain't good with all this magical mumbo jumbo."

'It is fine. You are still young. You' re all not going to be able to do everything from the start. Diana tries to said kid even while not acknowledging she's not counting herself in her words.

'We should agree who is going before we attempt to cross though. We're a pack, one shouldn't just rush in before the others are ready.

"I'd be ok with crossing over," Paul says to Diana. "That's at least two of us."

Misha sits down, clearly not all that interested in what the others were doing and looking around at the burned trees. She thought about that cheesy cartoon bear warning about forest fires. Odd that it had not spread though. She didn't know much about this stuff, but even she could see it was stopped too suddenly. Seemed that whatever it was that did this knew what it was doing.

Patrick, struggling to cross over, will continue sniffing around a bit for any signs on this side of the veil.

Seeing Patrick struggle, Paul waits and has a look around, seeing if he can figure out anything else before he steps over. "Sorry, Patrick," he says smiling. "It looks like we may be stuck here for a bit. Maybe we can figure out what happened here first?"

"Shit man, y'all can go. I can hold it down over here." Patrick says.

With Paul as the only volunteer Diana joins him at the water and tries to slip through, concentrating to hard to notice him not following until its too late to stop.

A few sniffs, and Paul realizes that it's not fire as in combustion, it's fire as in a lightning strike. He wonders what they'll actually find and, while still in Lupus form, he sets about stalking his prey along with Diana.

Misha looked at the odd thing from a good distance with no inclination to get close. A ball of lightning. Just rolling around. Touching that sucker looked like a good way to get zapped though.

"Ain't those things supposed to stay on the other side?"

This was probably just some stunt pulled by those old assholes to test them.

"Supposed to, yeah, I'm pretty sure," Patrick comments as he sniffs, lip curling at the electricity in the air. "Who wants to piss on it?"

Patrick will shift directly into human form, and even though he's naked he will recover his pistol to take a knee and aim.

And suddently the elemental was charging them as fast as... well.. lightning.
"FUCK!"
Misha took a step back to run. Then she saw Patrick go back to human form. A very naked human form. This took her by surprise quite a bit.
"DUDE!"

Despite the very naked distraction she realized she had to do something to defend herself, so she willed herself to change again almost by some instinct, this time to the werewolf form. If nothing else, it was big and tough she reasoned. She was changing into a hulking murder machine, but the elemental would reach them before she finished...

'Fighters to the front, everyone else behind! To me if you are hurt! Diana barks the order even as she tries to join Misha in shifting.

Until the others started changing, Paul hadn't realized the danger they were initially in. He tries to follow suit...

Patrick, having lined up his shot on the ball of lightning, exhales calmly as he pulls the trigger.

Without really thinking, Paul just retaliates as harshly, and and as aggressively as he can. While he isn't really a fighter, at this moment, the elemental brought this on itself.

Misha, having thought earlier about the implications of touching the spirit directly, quickly looks around for a makeshift weapon; a large branch to use as a club or maybe a suitable rock to throw...

A growl escapes from Diana's throat and she darts forward, bringing a claw to slash at the spirit. The lightning made her hesitant to bite it, but she wasn't going to stand by as a pack member was attacked.

Keeping the muzzle of his pistol trained on the spirit, tracking its movement, Patrick finds a moment when the others aren't interposed in his line of fire and exhales. Just another day at the range.

Seeing the attention isn't on him, Paul lashes out again with his teeth. He snaps his jaws shut onto the elemental trying to crush the thing as if it were a meal.

A big sturdy branch became Misha's weapon of choice. Just as she got it and looked up, she noticed the sparkling elemental head for her. The werewolf went wide-eyed.
"FUCK!"

As more of the others join Diana gains a bit more confidence, this time striking with her teeth.

Second verse, same as the first, Patrick thinks as he tracks the ball of electricity with his pistol, looking for the right moment to pull the trigger.

That was more like it. 'Keep pressing the attack!' They others didn't necessarily need the encouragement but she called it all the same as she lunges with her teeth again.

Paul goes in for a second helping, and bites the elemental again

The sparkling terror leapt through the space where Misha had just stood. In order to keep it at bay, she swung wildly with her new-found club and hit it dead-on!

"Fook yeah!!" Patrick's celebratory shout seems almost as loud as the report from his pistol.

"We're done now, yeah? Sucks we came all the way out here for that, but we can get headed home. Right?"

A derisive snap, growl, and bark are all that Paul has to say after missing, but seeing their foe vanish in defeat. He sniffs around, just in case there are more, but joins the other with the victory.

As the spirit dissipates Diana stays on guard for a moment, sniffing the air, ready for a surprise attack. As the moments continue however and no such attack comes she lets herself calm, and the best attempt at a smile her Crinos form can manage forms on her lips. We did it. Well don all. Not a bad attempt for the the first one. We should make sure it is the only hostile in the area though before we go back and sing our success to the others.

"Damn bruh, you missed it. We rolled up on a ball o' lightning and ran its ones. For somethin' out causin' fires, it sure didn't want this smoke," Patrick says good naturedly.

After getting back, Patrick had changed back into his human form and put clothes back on, meaning his pistol was in its holster under his arm again and covered by a loose fitting flannel. It's obvious he's riding high on their win tonight.

Paul eyes the newcomer calmly, relaxed after the skirmish with the elemental.

Diana would have shifted back like the others, spending time to makes sure her clothes are neat and hair back in position before gathering with the others. As Akexander aproaches and asks she join she others a soft smile, though inside her ego is cheering that at least one person already saw t her pack as the better choice. It also cemented her own decison in not pairing with Greta, even if she was another Theurge.

Whether she picked up on the talk about 'self appointed alpha and was ignoring it or missed it she nods her head and takes a hand if offered. 'I would be happy for you to join, as long as there are no major grievances from the others.'

As they are asked to share their tale she looks to Paul first, giving the Galliard a chance to tell heir tale before stepping up herself.

Feeling the mood become more agreeable, Paul allows himself to revert back to human form. In present company, the Crinos isn't particularly off-putting, but it isn't necessary.

"Hello!" Paul says cheerily. "We'd love to have you along with us, or at least, I'm not opposed."

Oh joy, another Get. But at least it was a Lupus. And it was very tall in its human form. Looked to be her age. And very, very naked...

Misha was grateful Crinos couldn't blush.

"Right." Misha replied to the big lad. Big in multiple areas lad. Right. She was almost sorry the show was over...

"Everything started with a bit of negotiating," Paul says. "It's always a bit like that. Anyway, we set off to look into what we thought was a fire caused by a bane of some sort, we really didn't know. However, we quickly learned that this wasn't just a scorch mark for some alien abduction site. Heading out to the site was the first time we'd shifted and run as a pack. It was Patrick that picked up on the fact that we'd need to cross over to the Umbra. He's got a very sensitive sniffer." He pauses and nods to Patrick before continuing. "Me, I agreed and was ready to follow along for the journey. Diana was also of like mind, and it was she that began connecting the dots that this was an electrical fire, rather than one caused by a flame." Paul turns and nods to Diana. "Misha found the elemental first," Paul says before nodding to her. "And it didn't take long to realize that it wasn't a bane, but an elemental that was the source of the issue. We all fought it, together, taking damage and collaborating to send the elemental back to wherever it had materialized from. While it was a formidable foe for just one of us, together we prevailed."

"Do we really need a shotcaller? Meritocracy ain't good enough?"

In a higher-pitched, mocking, nasally voice, Patrick pushes up non-existant glasses and says, "But wolves have always had pack alphas to lead their packs, it is an ingrained natural behavior." In his normal voice, he continues. "Wolves also sniff each others asses and lick their own buttholes after they shit. I ain't convinced we need to do everything wolves do, just b'cause they do it. Sorry, not sorry."

Diana raises an eyebrow at Patrick, unimpressed. ' You are forgetting some members of our pack are in fact wolves? You shouldn't mock your pack mates. Besides humans tends towards leaders as well. Bosses, team captains, someone to call the shots and stop the pack getting divided, who keeps the best interest of the pack in mind. It's how things have been for millennia, no reason to break tradition.

'I promise if I lead I will do so for the interest of everyone and the pack, not for my own ego like some. ' She glances over the the other pack. 'Again I know more about things than most of you, I grew up with this. Plus it is in my blood, as a Silver fang.' Okay it was slightly for her ego, but it was natural she be the leader. Thats what she had been brought up on, told for years. She couldn't exactly report back to her Uncle that some wide eyed cub had been picked over her.

Patrick couldn't help it, the laugh escaped his lips before he even knew it was coming. "Nah, most people don't actually need leaders. Miss me with that bullshit. Most of your examples don't exist because the people under them want them there -- they exist because the higher-ups want them there. Last thing any of us needs is some out of touch jackass in an ivory tower tellin' us we need someone to rule over us.

You know what I have NEVER heard anyone say? Ever? 'Thank goodness I have a boss. I'd be lost without them.' " He clasps his hands together and puts them by his cheek, cocking his head to the side slightly and looking upwards... it is a clichéd look of adoration

"Fuck it. If I have to vote, I vote for Misha."

A look of surprise then annoyance cross Diana's face at the vote for Misha. 'You are kidding, a bone gn... She catchers herself and let's out a deep breath.

' Okay, fine. I'm not looking to be a dictator. I just feel...If Misha, or anyone else wishes to stand for pack leader then a vote it shall be. For the good of the pack. ' She wasn't going to lose to a bone gnawrers was she? Misha didn't even seem like she wanted to lead.

' You've heard from me why I think it should be me. I'm experienced, I've trained for this,. It's only fair Misha, and anyone else, gets to argue their point. ' She gestures for Misha or anyone else to speak.

"Under no circumstances should anyone who wants to be in charge actually be allowed to be in charge," Patrick points out. "If you want power over others, you shouldn't be allowed to have it. Full stop." As he talks, he walks closer to Misha to show support.

"Y'all keep talkin' about 'being trained for leadership' or whatever, but let me be as.clear as possible -- that's why you shouldn't be allowed to lead. Also, I don't care. You can have a cookie."

The whole conversation bewilders Paul who just follows the dialogue from person to person to person. "Honestly, I agree that there's not really a need to have a boss," he says "but since there are a few people who seem to be insistent on settling this right now, I'll just flip a coin."

Misha sat off to the side, clearly giving fuck-all about the entire discussion. The others didn't know that her plan was still to bail this crazy sect of nature-worshipping lunatic murderers as soon as she could get back to the city. Although she was starting to understand that it wouldn't be that easy. These motherfuckers could track a turd in a sewer. Worse, there were things out there that actually hunted the crazy hippy murder machines. Just how the fuck was she supposed to have some sort of normal life with all that shit going on? Fuck, this was almost worse than foster homes.

So that brought her back to surviving this whole ordeal a little bit longer. That was OK. She had done a lot of enduring so far. But this whole alpha thing took the cult to a whole new level. And no fucking way was one of these fucking lunatics going to tell her where to go. And the others were now really looking at her to pick up the beating stick. Kids knew who was the strongest among them, and for Misha this had nothing to do with this Ahroun bullshit.

So when they looked at her again she shrugged.
"Fuck it. I'll do it. Not because I want to, 'cuz I actually want nothing to do with all this bullshit, but I ain't going to let that entitled bitch tell me what to do."

Fuck, she needs a cigarette..

'If you just dump someone who doesn't want to be in charge they won't do right by the people relying on them. They won't try and get better for their pack.' This was going badly. Then the one person who seems to get it got distracted by cookies and she was reminded he was probably little more than 2 and still new to everything. Great.

' This isn't something to be settled by a coin toss surely? ' She was losing control of the situation. It wasn't meant to go this way.

Then Misha spoke and her stomach drops. Why did she say yes. This was ludicrous. Then her last words reach Diana's ears and a small growl escapes her throat. ' I am not an enti... She gets herself off. Composure. She had to maintain composure. Just because these were all too inexperienced to know better she hadn't lost yet.

She glances over to Running Fish and Rat food. 'And you two?'

"OK, Alexander, I don't understand. Do you want to be alpha or not?" Paul says bluntly. "Why make all this noise just to discredit someone when you aren't even interested? If you don't want the job, then I'll just get behind Diana just to get this all over with. I hate politics. Fighting the elemental was more fun." He stands there waiting, his youth giving way quickly to frustration as he awaits an answer.

Deep breath. She needed to focus. She was coming across wrong, that was clear. ' Okay, what would alleviate your worries that I'm doing this for purely selfish reasons? I want what is best for the pack, and I felt that with my experience that would be good. I realise that that may have rubbed so of you the wrong way, as if I was thinking I was better than you, stuck up as it were. Taht was not my intention.'

'A pack is not just one person. We all have our skills, what we are good at. Fighting, knowledge..trickery. A leader's role is to know the rest of the pack and guide them for the success of everyone. They need to care about this all..and not just think its bullshit.' She throws a look at Misha. 'I'm not exactly planning to go all dictator or demand special privileges, if that is what some of you are worried about. I plan to pull my weight as well.. I was on the front line with the spirit like the rest of you.

God! How long will this shit go on? She wanted to get back in her normal form and put some clothes on! With a groan Misha threw her maw up.
"HRAAAAHHH! Fuck's sake! Do you even fucking listen to yourself? Can you cut the crap with the goody goody fuckshow? Oooohhhh, looook, I'm super special, I'm deeestined to rule! I'm the brightest, most special, most wonderful wolfy wolf ever and a love aaaalllll of you and I think you are alllllll super special!"

Misha got up, the gray crinos towering once more. A mountain of rage bristled under the Ahroun's skin and clearly was steering her words towards aggression.
"Listen up kiddos. Here's what miss brainwashed isn't telling you. Those old fucks? They want to send us into a war. A FUCKING WAR! Us! Kids! They want us to MURDER. They expect some of us to GET MURDERED. In some fucking war that's been going on for a billion years. It ended, and now they want to kickstart it again because murder death kill is all those idiots know. Blood will flow, limbs will get torn off, and nothing will change just like in the billion years before. So you can get on board with that, salute like a fucking moron soldier who gets sent off to Afghanistan to get blown up for god knows why, and follow miss pretty over there like fucking girlscouts thinking it will alllll be fine and dandy because she's super special ya guys! You want to go die like a dumb asshole by giving your life over to some asshole who will toss it into a fire? Go right ahead. See if I fucking care. Me? I'm on team 'stay alive.' I'm heading back to town, gonna find a place to live, and deal with shit as it pops up. You know, like someone who isn't someone else's little bitch! I live my own life and fuck anyone who thinks they can run it for me! Wanna come with me? Fine! We'll watch each other's back. Live life the way we want to. Because I'm going to tell ya, those old fucks don't know how to win their war, but they sure are happy enough to throw in the cannon fodder."

Running out of words to say, Misha looked over the group, and turned away with a frustrated snarl.

Patrick holds a fist out to Misha for a fist bump.

"Is it think for ourselves? I feel like it's think for ourselves."

"Finally!" Paul says emphatically. He's not a kid anymore, but he can't help himself sometimes. His age just shows itself. "That was really stupid, but I guess necessary? So, now what?"

The crinos looked at Alexander like he was an idiot for bowing. The hulking monster didn't seem in the mood for returning fist bumps either.

"Now? I'm going to get changed. Then I'm headed to the city. So if yer coming get ready for that I guess."
She half-turned to go. She was in charge now, and these guys weren't real big on thinking for themselves it seemed. To be fair, most of them hadn't lived a hard life. None seemed the gang type, that's for sure.
"That means we go as humans. We'll need some cars. I suppose some of you can drive too? And get whatever food you can carry. I ain't got money for that yet. Today's job is finding us a roof, alright?"

That shouldn't be too hard. Some abandoned building would be fine for starters. No fucking way she was headed back to the foster home.
"And get some soap or something for Rat Food's skin." Before we all catch what he's got. Fuck that looks nasty..

"Be right back. Gonna change."
With that the crinos plodded towards the shed again..

As Misha stands up Diana stumbles back slightly, fear crossing her face briefing as the Ahroun starts yelling, before realising it not all directed at her.

And somehow it works. Before she can even rebut it's others, those choosing to go with the person with the biggest stick. She stands there a look of surprise on her face as everything comes crashing down. She'd somehow fallen at the first hurdle.

'Pathetic She could hear her Uncles voice already, see the sneer and look of contempt, the ones that always came whenever a mistake was made. This was going to be far worse when she told him. One hand grips tight at her other wrist as she tries to process everything.

For a brief moment the thought of changing to Ciinos, to challenge Misha, pulses through her. It didn't matter that she would be batted aside, she jsut needed to let the frustration out.

She pushes it down however. If she was going to regain control losing herself at the first set back wasn't a good look. She grips her wrist harder, trying to wrestle control of her thoughts and snap out of the spiral they are going down.

It's Misha's voice that actually snaps her out of it.

'Wait you were serious?' What was the point of all that of she was immeadiatly running away. As the Ahroun goes to change she looks to the others.

'You all honestly don't think that leavings best right? You' ve suddenly become werewolves and we're just going to run away, from food and shelter and those who can teach us how to control it? ' She had told herself and the others she would accept the vote, but when the first order was to just leave... The disbelief is clear on her face.

"Sounds like we need a minivan!" Paul says jokingly. "And a sqaut, apparently." He's less enthusiastic about the latter. "Are we seriously just going to camp out in some back alley? I mean I guess it works, but there's not a better way to figure out accommodations?"

"I can probably get us covered for a place to hole up. I have some people," Patrick offers.

He steps away, and puts in a call.

Diana grits her teeth as her protestations are just ignored. Except Alex. I'm fine.' The words quickly fall out her mouth as she just watches the others start to just get ready to pack up and leave. Now wasn't time to be feeling self-pity. Perhaps she should let them, and just go and join the other pa..not that wasn't feasible. She couldn't stand the thought of going over their tail between her legs.

They were a pack, she just had to make sure they didn't get themselves hurt.

'Guys stop and think for a moment. You don't want to be here any longer, want to prove yourselves away from the adults? Fine But think. Rushing off straight away with no prep is bad. They offers us a totem.. a spirit to help. We stick around till then, and plan while doing so. Find a roof, find food. Don't be rash about this.'

Paul feels his head nodding vigoursly, and ultimately kind of agrees with Diana. "We need plan," he says. "I like the city as much as the next garou, but we don't have enough together to make this work right now. Misha, how would you feel about staying here a bit longer until we can get things settled?"

Misha got back to the shed and found her clothes where she had left them. She closed the door, acutely aware how cramped the shed was. She peeked through the gaps to make sure there were no prying eyes, then began changing back to her normal shape. That was easy at least. And welcome in its own way. Being big and strong got annoying, especially since she was constantly on edge. At least being human gave her a little quiet in her head so she could think more clearly. This had been a strange day. She had seen some magic lightning... thing. That wasn't all that weird after having seen the Umbra, but it did bring home that the world had things in it that she didn't understand. Well. Even more than before. Except these things were somehow tied to her, so it made them more important.

And the loonies had made her the leader. Misha didn't know how to feel about that. She realized that she probably wouldn't make it on her own. Calling the shots would at least get her moving in the direction she wanted. Which was away from the older assholes who wanted to push her into their war. Plus she had long wanted to live free from foster homes and whatnot. Fuck, she hoped the last one would get into some trouble for losing her. Doubtful though.

Anyhow, next was finding a roof. She had some ideas. Looking around old industrial zones, asking squatters, maybe the gangs. She'd be fine. The others were a little soft though. They would probably whine about lack of running water and heating. But fuck 'm. They had fur now if they wanted it. But what they got was freedom. And that was more precious.

Dressed once more, and far shorter at a little over five feet she plodded outside. Alright. Transportation. Food. Soap for Rat Food. That would be enough to get going. Alas, her hopes for a swift departure were dashed when she noticed the group had not moved from the spot they had occupied. Nope, they were all looking at her like they wanted something. She noticed Mamma Teetee was standing by them. Had that witch already turned their heads around? Uggghhhh....
"What now?"

"Totems, or some such bullshit," Patrick offered. "They seem to think it's important."

Yes, I do think planning, and having back of something like a spirit is important. Where you pay attention is anything people were trying to teach you.?' Diana sighs.

' Look it may mean to little to you, but a totem, a spirit to help guide is useful. Not all packs have one one, and if we try and find one alone it will take a long time. The noble falcon, wise owl, caring unicorn... Umbra if you think you' re worried about me, or anyone being selfish the strong Mammoth.

'Or are we just going to run off and get ourselves killed because apparentally we all know better despite most of you not even knowing werewolves oes existed a few months ago?'

"Oh see, it's not that I know better," Patrick says with a laugh. "It's that I don't give a shit. Huge difference. I know this is your entire life or whatever, but all it is for me is an inconvenience."

Patrick notices Alexander start to snarl, and he goes from laughing at Diana to ice cold quicker than a blink and his pistol is in his hand before anyone even realizes it.

"You can take your "highest honor" bullshit and shove it up your ass, mutt," Patrick says, barely loud enough to be heard. "I will not hesitate to run your fade. Test me, see what happens."

"I suppose that would be up to Misha now," Paul said. "Stay for the Incarna or head out to the city?" He does his best to ignore the others for now. The bickering just makes him think of siblings. Maybe we're a family now, he thinks to himself.

It was clear Misha was getting rather fed up with the arguments as well, if she had any patience for them to begin with. She was on Patrick's side on this one.
"Last I heard from the old ones.." Misha carefully chose her words with Mamma Teetee around, or she would have picked a less flattering term for the elders "..once it's decided who is alpha, you do whatever the fuck she says once she makes the call. Instead, you sit around and continue this bullshit."
Her glare shifts to Alexander.
"So where's your bloody honor in that? What makes you think there's a fucking vote!? You wanna stay? Stay! Wanna come with me? Come with me!"

Misha's glare shifted over the rest of the pack. At least at five foot tall and not radiating Rage she was far less intimidating, nor one hair's width away from bloody murdering someone. And she noticed a lot of shifting feet and reluctance in the pack. With a frustrated growl she threw her hands up.
"FINE! You want your fucking spirit animal teddy bear! We'll get it, and then we are FUCKING LEAVING. NOW GO GET THE SHIT I TOLD YOU TO GET!"
She stomped off to find the stuff she needed herself.

'Well your inconvenience is something lots of people have been hoping for their whole life. And also something that would make us a target. Young Garou that can be picked off before we get experience? A tempting target for vampires, and others, who will be less than please we have started being born again.' Diana growls, before turning her attention to Misha.

She is still clearly wary of the ahroun, even though in their homid forms she is the taller one 'The Alpha gets the final call but should listen to the concerns of the pack. That is what I was... and she's gone. Like she cares what anyone else thinks....' She sighs trying to release her frustration. '...I would not have recommend this 'teddy bear' if I did not think it would benefit us. We need to think as group.' She speaks to the others. Come on Rat food lets sort you out.' She starts to walk off. She wanted to call the others out, to ask if they really wanted someone who yelled at them and apparently expected them to jump, but they would just accuse her of sulking and being petty. She just had to grin and bear it at this point.

Paul just screws up his face and shrugs. "I hope this pack is union because the boss is kind of a little bit of an ass," he says. Not really knowing what to do, Paul starts scanning ads for cheap apartments. "Gotta fill the time somehow," he mumbles.

As the summoning starts Diana stands slightly to the side. This was her chance to prove her use to the others. She needed to be useful, have a purpose in the pack, and being rejected as leader she he'd been lost on her own thoughts as she had tried to help out Rat food.

As the spirit emerges she steps forward, returning the spirit speech with her own, bowing her head in respect. 'Wise and powerful Mammoth, I am Diana Ashmore, of the Silver Fangs. It was not I who summon you, but you were summoned on the behalf of my pack. Garou are once more undergoing the first change, and we are among the first of the new generation. '

As she speaks she gestures to the others. ' We are... still getting used to our changes, and to one another, as with any new pack. While I have know of this since young, most of them were not even aware of the garou, the spirits, or the dangers that come with this world a few months ago. We humbly ask for your guidance and strength to watch over us and let us find our way in this world.'

Sensing that a show of solidarity might matter here, Paul steps forward to add his support. "My name is Paul Lu," the Stargazer says. "Like Diana, I am also a member of the pack seeking your guidance and strength." At least for now, he tries to forget about the fighting, the dysfunction, and the lack of direction they seem to have. Maybe if they can sort this out then they can move things forward positively.

As the spirit agree Diana gives her thanks and turns t those who a attended a mile on her face. At least she hadn't screwed up here as well. 'They will help us. I assure you. The mammoth is no teddy bear. Now if we're still insistent on 'running away'...'
The theurge will go about trying to help other get ready. Including bathing rat food if no one else jumps at the task, though clearly not thrilled.

She will however at some point try and get Mama Teetee aside to talk. If she was going to have to rely on being a Theurge to be useful, she was still going to have to take lessons and she needed to see if she could make arrangements.

When all the bullshit is over with, Patrick dips without so much as a goodbye. He has his own people to worry about. (Although he will at some point stop by the caern and have someone explain to him why his pistol is so badass. All he knows is it absolutely is.)

He puts his time into trying to figure out his mystical connection to the handgun, when he isn't providing "security" for his crew's endeavors. Not too many of the other gangs move on their turf anymore, and running has been going well. There's easy money in it, and no shortage of customers. It's also resulting in recruits starting to come to them. Patrick teaches anyone who doesn't know how to shoot all about firearms... after all, it's one of the things he's good at.

After finding the abandoned warehouse and finding it to her liking, Misha dubbed it her new home. She easily adopted to living there. Some old tarp and heavy objects and racks quickly got her a private 'room' where she piled an old mattress (found on the street) and some personal odds and ends that made her living space look like a squatter den. Which is of course exactly what it was, minus copious amounts of used needles.

Her new freedom had mellowed her out somewhat, as far as an Ahroun could anyway. She was happy at least. Improving the den was a nice way to keep herself and whoever wanted to work on it busy. She picked up her old ways of petty crime to get some income and just as quickly spent it, mostly on food, cigarettes and gas for the pack. Where she had gotten the old beaten-up rust bucket of a Chevy she wouldn't say, but it was street legal and it was hers to drive up and down town with to find roadside trash that they could use like an old couch and some chairs, as well as stuff to light a fire with to keep the cold at bay. Add in some beer and life was good. Much better than the foster homes she had finally escaped from it seemed.

There wasn't much of a plan for her beyond that. Misha clearly was more of a 'live in the moment' kind of person. If a problem popped up that needed solving she got to work on it with, often enough barking at the more passive members of the pack to get off their ass and help. She knew some of them didn't fancy living in an old warehouse and living off scraps. Sucked to be them. This sorry lot wouldn't be able to afford rent on a place that they could all fit into any time soon. Not unless they wanted to deal crack that is.

It was thus that when some little bird passed a message from Moon Shine River Walker she was less than pleased about it. She had left that old fuck and his pack behind and had thought her message that she wanted fuck-all to do with them loud and clear. So why was he calling on her now? Probably because some shit needed killing. That's how it was with those assholes. Why the fuck they thought she was at their beck and call was beyond her though.

All the thoughts went through her. Ignore the call. Wait for them to show up. Knock some fucking teeth out.... but that wouldn't fly, and she knew it. The old assholes had beat the shit out of her every time she had tried to escape their little compound. They likely still could. So she had to at least show her nose before she told them to fuck off on whatever they thought they could get her to do. Fuck if that wasn't annoying. Fucking long-ass drive too. If there was at least something worth picking up over there it might be all worth it, but nothing came to mind except maybe some firewood. Hardly worth the trip.

She stepped into her new home. She needed to let the others know where she was going. They could all see she was bristling..
"The old fuck sent a message. Wants to talk to me. Clearly he's too stupid to use a phone so I have to head over there. I'll be back by tonight. Make sure there's food left for me."

Clearly she didn't care for anyone to tag alone as she unceremoniously turned around to head to her rust bucket..

The month had clearly been a trial on Diana. A raised eyebrow and a displeased look, but the SIlver Fang didn;t vocal complain. She had to be use to the pack, and maybe in time some would realsie puting their trust in someone who wanted nothing to do with bein ga werewolf was a bad idea. Or Misha would come around. Dianas money was on the former.

While with the others she would try and spend time with anyone except ofr their Alpha and Patrick, giving the angrier pair space.. and her self space from them. She had said her piece on wolves and the pack and they hadn't wanted to listen, their opinion on her apparently turning any words into white noise, and she was sure any more attempts would just cause arguments. The others she wants to get to know, and befriend. Learn how to work better togetehr, what each other can do, how she can help.

There are days she disappears, sneaking off to Mama Tee Tee or another theurge to learn more. She comes back tired, but often with supplies if she's managed to convice someone for them, though she lies of where they come from.. Even on days she's not gone she pushes her self, time not spent with others is reading or raining. She had to prove herself useful.

Her phone is often left alone. A few text sent home here and there, telling a different story from reality. Of course she is Alpha, but she is busy with the pack so can't talk much. Enough messages to keep her uncle satisfied, but not too many the lies start to fall apart.

The day Misha walks in she is reading and old tome on rites, tryng to get her head around the rituals. If others asked where it came from she'll say from home.

' Misha wait.' She sits up as the Ahroun goes to leave. 'Perhaps I should come with you. To..[/b/b] Stop their Alpha not listening, going into a rage? She hesitates as she thinks of her words. [b]' ..I got on better with the sept than you. If I am there maybe it will be more tolerable? She speaks carefully, keeping her tone calm. Not challenging. Its clearly a request not a demand.

She was growing restless in this place, neglecting what a pack should be ding, and she was curious of what the information was. If Misha went alone she wasn't sure it would get back to them.

Misha had welcomed Diana's distance. She believed she had the Silver Fang figured out and didn't like her brown-nosing ways or superiority complex one bit. She was like the pretty bitches at school who thought they were better than the poor kids and spent their existence prettying themselves up and viciously gossiping to drive everyone outside of their little cadre into the ground..
"More tolerable? You think I like to watch you suck his dick? Fuck!"

Her eyes dropped to the book she was holding. She had a pretty good idea where Diana's contributions had come from. Up until now she didn't care. But she really hated being lied to her face about why miss honor student wanted to tag along. And she seriously doubted Diana was on her side when it came to confronting the older werewolves...
"If you like 'm so much princess, why don't you join their pack and live with them?"

If it had been at the beginning of their time together Diana would like likely have snapped back, full of fire. She had many tome to begin with whenever they butted heads.

The fire was dying however. The constant insults whenever something was suggested, the living situation, lying to her uncle, the branding of being someone to just ignore.. It ws beginning to wear her down, even though she tried not to let it show.

'Kindness and respect doesn't mean I want to..' She start but then just looks away at the floor. She shouldn't have opened her mouth. What had she expected? This was why she avoided her.

Misha next word hit even closer to home. She had considered leaving, many times. The others, except Patrick, weren't that bad, and she didn't want to leave them in this mess. Or was she deluding herself and they were happy with things the way they were.

'Because we're a pack. That means nothing to you I know, but I' m not just going to run off the second things get rough. Packs are meant to supp.... Whatever.. .its not like you actually care about anything I say right. Just white noise. She sighs and for a moment the facade breaks and it there. A look of defeat as she casts her eyes to the floor. Forget I said anything. '

Patrick watches the exchange between the would-be pack leader, and the actual pack leader. "Yo, Diana, come grab a seat. Let Misha handle ber bi'niss. Let's jaw a bit."

There had been an old conex box along the far wall of the warehouse, and Patrick had claimed it the moment he saw it. He had cleaned it thoroughly, and made a cozy little home inside the box, but he also had some chairs sitting on top of it. At the moment, he was sitting on the edge if the box, legs dangling over the side.

Diana throws Patrick a wary look, trying to figure out what he wants. Actually trying to be friendly or just rubbing salt in the wound.

She walks over and leans and looks up at the ragabash with a sigh. Look Patrick if you're looking for an argument or to belittle me more honestly I'm not in the mood. Otherwise.. '

She pauses tp look at the box before attempting to hop up and join him. It's not as graceful as she would have liked, but she gets up and sits down though with some distance.

'.. I'm listening.'

"So, I read about a study that was done once," Patrick begins. "I dunno if it was, it may just be a... what the hell do they call those stories that like, warn you or teach you something?" He grabs his phone and types on it for a moment. "Allegory. That's the word. It may just be an allegory.

The study took ten monkeys, put em all in a room. They put a ladder in the middle with bananas at the top. But any time a monkey tried to climb the ladder, all the monkeys got blasted with a fire hose. Eventually the monkeys stopped trying, right?

So the researchers took a monkey out, and added a new monkey. New Monkey headed to the ladder, and the 9 old monkeys beat up the new monkey because they knew what was coming.

So then they pulled another old monkey, and put in a new monkey. Same same, and even the previous new monkey beat up the new new monkey.

Rinse and repeat. Eventually, there were ten monkeys who had never been blasted with a fire hose, but none of them would go for the ladder. Because that's just how it always had been."

Patrick glances over to Diana. "We're the monkeys. And the traditional ways? That's the other monkeys beating us up so we don't climb the ladder. They don't even fuckin' know why, it's just always been that way, right? But we aren't just wolves. We're human too. We have higher thinking capability than just wolves. We also are some of the first shifters in twenty years. Why should anyone else define any of us?

So let me ask you something, Miss Student Body President... you have this whole weight on your shoulders. Tradition and expectation and shit, yeah? But that's who they want you to be. Those are their expectations. It's just like parents who were never good at music or sports or those gross-ass little kid beauty pageants, who push their kids to excell so the parents can live vicar... vicarous... look, they're using their kid in place of themselves. And we generally agree that's a shitty thing to do and bad parenting, don't we? Controlling, unfair, possibly damaging, and just not good to do to kids, right?

How is it different just because it's shapeshifting and not a flute or a football?

So anyway, I was going to ask you... if you weren't weighed down by Tradition (trademark and copyright), if you didn't have to be Diana the Alpha... how would you define yourself, if the choice was left up to you? Who are you?"

With that, Patrick puts his phone in his pocket and hops off the box. "Good talk," he says, offering a wave as he wanders off and leaves Diana sitting with her thoughts.

"Fuck you Bastian."
Misha gave Sebastian the finger as her other hand plucked the cigarette from her mouth after a drag. As she exhaled a cloud she casually flicked the blunt at him as she headed on to see the old guy.

There is an unimpressed look on Diana face as Pattrick starts going on about monkeys but she listens.

Her lip curls at the mention of bad parenting, and Patrick's nerve of calling her Uncle controlling. That wasn't it. She resists the urge to cut in, to point out it was just wanting what was best for her. High standards meant she could be the best she could.

It was completely different. Right?

She snaps out of her thoughts as Patrick's goes to leave and she jumps down next to him.

'Oh no. Not good talk. I listen to your speech you listen to mine.'

'You think this is still about the Alpha thing? Yes I'm upset. But I lost. I said I would accept that so I have. So I'm trying to do what you just said. That's why I' m still here. Be Diana the good pack member, Diana the Theurge. Make sure everyone is okay. What to I get for it? Treated like shit, insulted when I opened my mouth?

'Tel me, if I had won, would you let me talk to you like that? To anyone like that? But somehow it's okay? Why? Because she didn't want to be leader and I did? Her voice is starting to raise and she glance around and looks round the room, looking to address anyone else who also might be listening inm

' You' re right. We're smarter than wolves. And smarter than monkeys. We can communicate with one another. Look out for one another. A pack knows each member, watches their backs, their weak spots. They don't demean one another, or keep kicking just because they got off to a wrong start. Guess what?That's also pretty fucking damaging.

She wanted to go on. Ask what was so wrong about a tradition of fighting monsters nd protecting people, but some of his words were annoying close to home., even as she tried to justofu it to herself.

So what if her uncle was a little harsh or strict at times. He had just been preparing her. Getting her ready to live up to mothers, her ancestor name. Protect people.

Too many thoughts were running through her mind, too many to sort through.

She brings a hand up to squeeze her other shoulder, and sighs. The look of defeat flashes across her face once more and her next words are back to being quiet again.

'Look I'm trying. It' d be nice if you all bloody realised that. '

Patrick smiles, but it's gone before he turns around.

He walks back to the box as Diana talks, and putting a hand on the rop of the conex vaults back up rather gracefully.

"I know you are. I mean that, bee-tee-dub. But I think you're trying to do better within the context for what you were taught is 'right.'

You are trying to do better at making sure we don't go up the ladder. But you aren't questioning why we can't go up the ladder in the first place.

And Misha? It's all words. Do I think she'd swing? Yeah. And I'd clap back. You wanna yell and get hyphy? Go for it, you might feel better. I don't really care about yelling. I listen to ideas, not people. She can yell all she wants. I ignore her same as I ignore you. That said, a good idea is a good idea. Whether it comes from her, or you, or Rat Food, or another pack.

But I'll say one thing... you haven't answered my one question. Guessing you need more time to think?"

While he was happy to have a place to sleep, Paul was a little underwhelmed about living a squatter's life. His first thought upon seeing it was, "I hope it doesn't get too cold in here." Otherwise, he spent as much time as he could at the local university scouring their library. It was quiet, and a way for him to get away from all the bickering the pack was prone to.

Serendipity was his guide, and he soaked up as much obscure history as he could hoping that he could learn more about anything that might have contributed to the situation he was having to deal with now. Geopolitics, religion, and even some old citation research on people who had studied spirits and the occult. He vainly hoped to find a reference to the elemental they'd just crossed paths with, information on the Wyrm, or anything else that might help them in the future.

He kept in touch via SMS with the others so he was always on hand when needed, if needed. With someone as aggressive as Misha calling the shots he wasn't sure where he'd be needed. "Just send me a message," he'd tell the others before heading out. "SMS, DM, or whatever acronym is needed. I'll respond."

Not all tradition is bad, you do realise that right?' [/]b] She looks back up to watch him.[b]'even with your monkeys... They were not able to communicate why the ladder was bad for all so they were forced to punish one. While the newer ones never had to face the hose there is no knowing what would have happened if one got to the top, if the hoe would come back.'

'What if ..instead there was monkey who's job was to fight the hose. To protect the others so they don't have to make that choice. Or even know they have to? Then if one day that monkey just.. decided not to. They decide to just ignore all they had been taught. Because their guardian was to strict? Because they just decided to not care? Then a lot more people get sprayed with water. Taught what is wrong how to think.'

She taps a foots, clearly agitated at Patricks queries. ' My ancestors., my mother. We fight vampires. Other monsters. The hose. We protect people. That's what my mother did. That what I want to be. ' Of course she did. Who didn't. Alpha or not she had a duty.

'I... however am beginning to realise.. that perhaps trying to drag everyone else into that is not necessarily the best as Misha said. Don't you dare tell her I said that.' She looks up at the ceiling. ' But...forcing people into a fight they do ot want to be a part of is not protecting them.

That was what she wanted right? The family was warriors. Except she was a theurge. Still she had to lie up to that. She would be a coward not to...Why was Patrick asking annoying questions?

Patrick can't help but chuckle without even realizing it when Diana mentions Misha being right. "Bet. I ain't no snitch."

When she finishes, Patrick mulls over her words for a bit. "Yeah, some traditions are f###in' amazing. Tradition in and of itself ain't the problem. But traditions should be followed by choice. See, blind devotion is a problem. And if you have to force people to follow your tradition? Your tradition might be ass.

But you said your ancestors did the thing, your mom did the thing, now you gotta do the thing. You say you want to... but do you want to because you think it's amaze-balls? Or do you just want to to make the fam happy? Because those are very different. And I think you might be getting 'em twisted. And that is why I asked you, who you wanted to be. And no disrespect... but from where I'm sitting? I'm not sure you really know." When he says the last line, the tone of his voice changes. It gets softer... almost sounding sad.

Patrick falls silent for a bit, before asking Diana a question. "You got a boyfriend? Relax, I ain't asking you out. I'm asking, because they say you gotta love yourself before you can really love someone else. But... that really isn't just true for love. You gotta know yourself, and be honest with yourself. You gotta make peace with yourself. That's hard to do.

But real talk? I feel like at least you're closer than the rest of our pack."

"Two packs? Last I count there's three here." Misha threw back at Moon-Shine River Walker. For some reason the strongest pack didn't feel inclined to handle a job. But that wasn't even the most important matter to drive through the old man's skull..
"Plus I don't work for you old man. Maybe Bastian here likes to play lapdog, but I don't."

'I do.. I think. I mean it's not like I can just let others get hurt when I can do something. It's.. Why just sitting around here is so frustrating at times. I don't want to just exist...I want.. ' To be useful. That was it. To needed, wanted by people. That was why Misha' s constant dismissal hurt, the fact she could live up to expectations if what other want from a leader as well.

She falls silent, unsure how to express it without sounding stupid and just shrugs.

She looks alarmed at the boyfriend question before she continues and then shakes her head. [b]'I haven't exactly had any time for that sort of thing, with school, training, this. Besides there's no point after I' ll just be.. ' She suddenly stops again a look falling across her face before she sighs. ' Arranged marriage. Don't say anything... She knew what he would say. Re iterate his points. She'd never. Rely given it much though before. He'd always knew that was the plan, never considered what it would be like otherwise. Now she was being made to think about it and everything was too confusing. To many questions, thoughts.. She was need time to herself to think things through. Let his words settle.

'I don't know about that. They seem happy here at least. Misha' s made it's clear it's what she wants... What about you then. You got everything you want to be figure out. Clearly its not a wolf.... Don't tell me you don't enjoy being able to shift, at least a little bit?

"Honestly? It's a pain in the ass," Patrick chuckles. "I got nothin' against the human body or nothin', but it's hard to conceal what you're packing if you keep endin' up naked." There's a pause, allowing enough time for the double meaning to settle before he adds, "I'd be perfectly content to just stay in human form. Besides... most of what I do, I can't do it in the other shapes. They don't exactly fit in, y'know?"

'I can help with that you know. Well hope to be able to. The naked thing I mean...There are rites. I just need to find someone to teach them.

;..I guess I get that. Still I find it exhilerating. Especially just.. being able to run around for a while.

"I did all my runnin' 'round as a kid. Did... did you not?" Patrick swings his head around to look straight at Diana, and between his tone and his expression it's obvious the question is as serious as it gets -- he's not being demeaning at all.

'Of course I ran as a kid. You have to keep up fitness ..and thats not what you mean is it?' She shrugs. 'There wasn't exactly time for just 'running around'. School, learning about this world, training.. even now I should be spending my time but...I'm jut letting myself indulge a ]little while this is all still new.' '

Patrick smiles and shakes his head, patting Diana on the knee. The touch, while breaking the "physical barrier," was clearly not intended as an expression of affection. "You just wait till the county fair rolls around. Life is meant to be lived, and the Prom Queen clearly needs to get started on that."

With that, he hops back down off his conex box and starts to walk off again, pausing as he asks, "Good talk?"

She tenses at the contact, clearly not sure how to react, and her look of aprehension just grows at the mention of a country fair.

She does give a smile and a nod however as he goes to leave again. 'Yeah...good talk.'

Blah blah blah. Lecture lecture lecture. At least it's a step up from beating me up. Guess me leading a pack put the old man in the spot where he can't push me around no more..

Misha had her arms crossed and seemed as receptive to the speech as always. She thought of walking out of spite. But to be honest, that sword looked kinda cool, in a mall ninja kind of way. And no way was she going to deliver another poor soul to this bunch of assholes, so that job was off the table. So before Sebastian could have his pick, she snatched the crumpled print-out.
"Whatever. Guess I'll be the Meth Queen next time you see me."

Patrick smiles as he walks away from Diana, getting the impression she's thinking about things more than she was a month ago. Which was good.

"Yo, Rat Food, Alex, saddle up! We're going into the strip mall to hit DQ. As humans! I don't wanna get lectured by some Karen about giving my 'dogs' chocolate. I... ok... dammit, that means put some f###ing pants on. F### is wrong wit' you?"

Patrick has every intention of doing exactly what he said. Misha was gone anyway, so may as well.

"Rat Food, man, we gotta get you a human name. I can't introduce you to people like that. How do you feel about 'Rick?'"

Misha beelined back to her car and drove off with a dust cloud in her wake. Fuck but she hated this place. She lit a cig and got her phone to groupapp the others.
**Back in 2 hours. Be there.**

----------- About 2 hours later -----------

Misha got out of her car feeling rather stewed. 4 hours of driving for all this bullshit didn't put her in a fine mood. She strode into the warehouse and got a wipe and rinsed herself using a bucket. Her next car would have a fucking airco..

Somewhat refreshed she clamored. "Alright! We got a job! We're getting a mall ninja sword from the popo. Turns out it's a fetish."
She showed the crumpled print-out and passed it around.
"I got plenty of ideas on how to get into a police station, not so many on how to get out. So I'm open to suggestions."

"Umbra?"

After binging on books for days, the feeling of all of that suddenly coming to a halt to start a mission feels like a complete 180. "So, do we get a debriefing before head out, captain?" Paul asks. "Where are we going exactly? What do we need?" He immediately sets about packing a bag to travel as minimally as possible. "Essentials only!"

Diana seems apprehensive as they wait for Misha to arrive but at the mention of actually doing something she perks up and immeadiatly starts to think it through.

'Umbra is not a bad idea. We need to be sure sure whoever goes in is good at slipping through though, or they be suck in the back of the police station. Alex and Rat food should be good at that. I was going to suggest I could be a distraction if one was suddenly needed, go in looking roughed up or something, or I can go through with them?

'Then we would need an extraction plan and a signal of what to do if something goes wrong.'

"Couldn't we just take the train? Or drive?" Paul asks. He pulls out his phone and punches in some instructions, bringing up a map. "Bath is just outside of Lansing, but at the very least we should be able to find transportation to Detroit. From there we should be able to make our way to Bath, and probably won't draw to much attention to ourselves. Just an idea. If you want to be all magicky, I get it, but there are other options if we aren't up against a clock."

"My man, what are you on about? You cannot take a train or drive to get out of a police station after you get in," Patrick cocks his head and looks at Paul with a very "WTF" expression. "Which is what Misha asked about."

Turning back to the Alpha, Patrick adds, "Problem with the po-po is, nothing is locked up with keys anymore. It's all either key cards or codes you punch in. That said... can we get a floorplan of the building? Ol' Wooly made us stronger, now I wonder if the strongest of us could punch through the wall? That's easy enough to test before we roll out."

'Paul is right though. No point making at plan when we don't even know how we are getting there. We can then discuss details on the way as well.'

'Punching draws attention.. But can be the emergency exit plan. We probably don't want to be going furry. That will causes attention, and hunters vampires or anyone else feeling like picking of young Garou.'

"Unless they have some insane response times, we should dip before they ever get there."

He just throws his hands up and says "Sorry" sheepishly. "I thought you meant getting to it, not getting out."

Patrick laughs and reaches over to toussle Paul's hair. "Dial it in man, we need that brain in the game."

'I more meant flagging we are there. Yes well be clear long before they here. But if news of a bunch of humanoid wolves get out people might start looking for us. Especially if footage gets out.'

'Just saying the plan shouldn't involve hulking out as the first option. Just in dire emergencies. Thought you didn't like being fluffly anyway' She tries to joke to keep the tone light.

'Anyone think they have light enough fingers to lift a card? That floor plan is a good shout... If interview rooms or similar are near the target we can work with that.'

Patrick smiles. "I clearly said someone strong. That ain't me, Di. We could always go Assault on Precinct 13.

I could probably lift the card, but one wrong move and you're breaking a lot more than a sword out of custody.

Fine, how's this? Let's find a case, something we can use. One of us tells the cop at the desk we just want a ring out evidence, from a closed case, for Momma. Sentimental shit. There's supposed to be a room for evidence review right? Go from there.

The problem is, they're gonna want ID and names and shit. Plus we'll be on camera. Somebody is gonna have to sign in if we go this route. Paper trails are bad."