vernal equinox.

[Wyrmbreaker] The Rite ends with the antithesis of their fall into the underworld: white light, and expansion, exponential, like the birth of the universe.

When it fades away, Lukas finds himself in the woods. He can hear his kin, his pack, his people -- he can smell their food and their drink, their fire. It is Equinox Night, and it is the bonfire. He feels something in his hand, so small than his large fist engulfs it completely, but it knows what it is even before he opens his hand to look at it.

Which he does: the Ahroun bemused and charmed, his dark head bent to the tiny scrap of fabric and sparklies in his hand, testament to a future that is not yet, and perhaps never will be --

but is possible, at least. If he chooses it.

"Look," he says softly to whoever will listen, beginning to smile, beginning to grin, "I found it."

[Kyle] He's off in his own world, thinking of gatherings long past and remembering the good and bad times that went along with them. When Indira sits beside him he's shaken out of that melancholy by her words. He's not a traditional goth. Sude he's dressed all in black, has a studded black leather collar around his neck and long black hair. He even has the pale skin and gaunt features but the one thing that stands out is the constant smile he has. It's there in his eyes and mouth. That slight look that says he's happy regardless of how he looks. Smiles as he looks to Indira and nods in greeting. His voice raspy and barely above a whisper so he makes sure to look directly at her face the best he can.
"Yeah just enjoying....the atmosphere....Nice to see so....many people having....fun.....How you doing....tonight?"

[Ray Ostermann] "But your still here....that has to be a hard pill to swallow." He says in an understanding tone, not sympathetic, but understanding.

"Would you rather be left alone Dr.?" He asks before taking another swig of scotch, apparently more then willing to sink into a drunken state tonight.

[Blood Summons] They can hear them before they see them. The sharper-sensed of them can smell them before they arrive, seven of them tramping through the snow-encrusted grass and up the path towards the crackling of the fire and the low humming of a dozen or so voices all speaking at once. They're spurred on by victory, by survival, by having labored and fought and persevered together, and they appear in a clot altogether at the mouth of the path, in clothing that isn't quite appropriate for the weather they're having.

Few of the people present have seen the tall, black-clad man with the wild hair and the stark blue eyes who's carrying a small Black Fury on his lean shoulders, who's holding onto the hand of a blonde Fostern of average height, all of them clean-yet-dirty, energetic-yet-spent. He's not dressed for the weather: he's got on combat boots, jeans, and a tucked-in t-shirt with red-and-green suspenders, his Rage flaring like a fire tempered by his yet unflagging will, curly hair standing up just about straight. They look like they've been to Valhalla and back, the lot of them, but they're ready to celebrate having made the return trip.

Look. I found it.

It's not until they reach the edge of the clearing that Blood Summons ducks down onto one knee to let his cargo clamber down off of his back, soaking the black denim in the crusted snow as he lets Adamidas down off of his back.

"Shit," is all the Godi has to say.

[Iona McNevin] She had been quiet this whole time, eating her steak and drinking her booze. When the plate was clean, and her bottle near empty, she grumbled. Now she had to keep up her part of the deal. She looked around, frowning a bit, then slowly got to her feet. First, she went to throw the bottle and plate away, then tucked her hands in her pockets, and slowly started to walk around. Smiling to any that look her way.

[Edward Bellamonte] "Ah, interesting chat, I'm sure." But his eyes are still on Ezra, intent, studious. Again, his hand finds the small of Cora's back as protective [possessive] as everything else about him right now.

Yes, he knows it chafes at her.
No, he can't help it.

"There's some pastry down there that's heavenly, with some nearly Dutch sounding name, ma chere," he says. "Except there's meat in it. You'll tell me about it later, yeah? And youre doing well Ezra, I hope."

[Going Down] "You losin' your voice?" Indira asks him, concerned, as she takes a long swig from the 40. A very long one - she has a lot more drinking to do tonight before she leaves, and it isn't yet close to empty. There's Rage present in her - she's an Ahroun, a warrior of Gaia, there would have to be - but it seems to shape itself in the form of enthusiasm, playfulness.

"I'm doin' good. I ain't been ta one a these big Garou parties before. Think it's nice that people try an' do shit ta have fun so it ain't jus' all about fightin', you know?" Then, a look toward the guitar. "You play?"

[Imogen Slaughter] Though Ray may not have spoken with sympathy, Imogen glances at him sharply, "It was merely an observation," she says, "not a plea for sympathy."

He wants to know if she wants to be alone, perhaps a comment made even more pointed by her cool reaction to his understanding.

"Either way suits me," she says. "You're not a burden."

A group of Garou approach the boundaries of the clearing. Imogen turns her head slightly to look at them, her brow furrowing faintly, her eyes narrowing.

[Marni] Ah, first plate down, first beer finished, and Marni's standing, only to dispose of the first, and collect another of the latter. She stretches, and looks around, searching faces, and chuckling as she watches the silent conversation between Edwin and the two kin.

She grabs another handful of chips from the food table, and then starts to wander, headed in no particular direction... though it does bring her past her packmate, who gets a wink, and Marni keeps on moving.

[Blood Summons] [OOC: I think we need some color coding up in here!

Fire
Food Tents
Field]

[Wyrmbreaker] [Additional suggestion: if you're talking to someone for the first time in a while, bold their name! At least, please do that for me. Otherwise I will not notice. *LOL*]

[Rain of Brass Petals] Field-ish, I think
She still isn't talking, though she catches words, catches something soft spoken to whoever would listen. She grins, teeth bared for a second, eyes closed and she laid back. The Fury started to clamor to her feet, her hair was starting to get tangled again, curling on the ends.

She doesn't make a sound, but Blood Summons can feel the distinctive, half-bouncy breathing patterns that might indicate laughter. It's in her eyes, its in her breathing, it's in the air, and that was all that mattered. Once let down, she bumps the Godi with one of her hips and is absolutely beaming. She doesn't stand hipshot or off-centered. She turned and moved to stand a little to his side. She dusted off his pants; it didn't do much good, but the sentiment was nice

[Rain of Brass Petals] (close those tags, you weren't raised in a barn!)

[Ray Ostermann] Ray chuckles, his inebriation seems to have largely inured him to Imogen's cool and hostile manner and he shrugs. "I am simply trying to be friendly..."

He follows her gaze and looks to the new people approaching as a group and he raises a brow in curiosity not scrutiny. "An odd show of togetherness wouldn't you say?" He asks, presumably Imogen, but at the moment he could be talking to anyone from Mama to Kyle.

[Truth's Meridian] At some point when everything fades to white, and they are abruptly transported back to where they began, the Silver Fang with her hands on the soil, with a handful of it clenched in a fist that strangely enough does not make her quiver, or wish to scrub herself free of it turns her face heaven-wards and whispers -- "Farewell," -- to the gatekeepers, to the rite itself and lastly, and most importantly perhaps, to their guide. "And thank you," she murmurs, before setting off with the other Garou, and what a strange picture they make, arriving to the scents of meat cooking, laughter and gently falling snow.

Truth's Meridian with dirty palms, dressed in clothing borrowed from a now non-existent reality with hair still damp as if she had freshly showered. She exchanges a look with Lukas, Lila, Kora, and abruptly smiles; her teeth flashing very sharp and white in the crisp air. "We did it," she says with pleasure; with evident satisfaction.

"We did it."

[Kyle] [FIRE]
Chuckles softly as he nods and looks around before looking back to Indria.
"When we focus on...the loss all we...forget that which....brings us all....together.....Last fire I went....to here was....rather enjoyable....Helps heal wounds....in more ways than....one...."
Taps the case of his guitar and keeps that constant smile going.
"Yeah I play....Used to sing until....my accident with some....fomori......"
Motions to the collar around his neck and makes a clawing action. Then offers his hand in greeting.
"I'm Kyle....Nice to meet you...."

[Wyrmbreaker] Field!

"We did." The Shadow Lord catches his packmate's eye. Laughs suddenly. Then: "Race!"

Off he goes, running for the food tents.

[Gina McClaren] *Irritable. Somehow irritable. Maybe she was PMSing, because general irritability for little reason wasn't like her. A slight frown at herself, a thought dancing unpleasant in the forefront of her mind. Gina bumps Edwin with a hip, raises her schnapps, and sings.*

Ah'm gintae move along darlin. Ye an' Lonna 'ave plenty tae catch up on. Headed on a walk aboot. Catch ye en some shadow somewhere, nae doubt.

*That said, she winks at Lonna and moves along towards the treeline, charms jingling.*

[Going Down] Fire
Indira gives him a sympathetic wince when he tells her he can no longer sing, taking a look at the collar he gestures to. "That sucks. 'Leas' you still can play, though, huh?"

He tells her his name and she extends a hand in greeting. Black tattoos wind over her brown skin - some new, some slightly faded by now and years old, though she can't be out of her teens yet. "I'm Indira. Going Down, Cliath Full Moon Bone Gnawer. You been here long then? I ain't ever seen you aroun' before. 'Course, I ain't been in the city more than a couple months, so we coulda missed each other."

[Imogen Slaughter] Standing near the fire, Imogen answers Ray while watching the approaching. "Just a bit."

Then Lukas goes running for the food, and perhaps Katherine follows, perhaps not. Either way, Imogen turns back. "Doesn't seem to be overly dramatic, in either case."

[Lonna Larson] "I'll see you around, Gina. Call me, okay? I miss you, I need girltime like it's nobody's business, there are things I've got to tell you," she tells her.

She gives Gina a little wave, seeing her move on her way.

[Truth's Meridian] Field to Food

"Cheat!"

Cried in his wake, and the elegant lope of the Silver Fang gives chase, as she pursues, her laughter rising to join his in the evening air. "You must wait before you begin!"

[Imogen Slaughter] (find something other than green, please!)

[Imogen Slaughter] (OW!)

[Marni] (requesting a color OTHER than the MINDSEERING GREEN, please.)

[Wyrmbreaker] (Food?)

[Wyrmbreaker] (okay that's a no. Food?)

[Imogen Slaughter] or Food

[Edward Bellamonte] (Food?)

[Edward Bellamonte] (Nope, not that one.)

[Rain of Brass Petals] what about Food

[Rain of Brass Petals] color code is FFFFFF

[Kyle] [FIRE]
"It was a trade.....off taht seems...ok to me....I'm Strider Kin.....I tend to wander.....a lot....Been back a few....weeks but it is....a large city....Easy for people to....vanish in the night..."
The last part said with some concern as he'd heard about various people falling to foes.

[Iona McNevin] Field

As she walks the area, she gets spun around by the racing Lukas then Kate rushing past her to the food area. She chuckles a bit, and shrugs.

[Wyrmbreaker] (Food! Back IC!)

[Waking Dream] Field to Food

" - one day," Lila says, after the chiming of bells, after that sweet (spring) sound. "Good luck," she says, and her voice is soft; is smoke. Lila twines her arm through Kate's when Blood Summons lifts Adamidas up on his back, tromps off through the snow-bent boughs, and exchanges a glance with her, with Lukas, a radiant I told you blooming in her eyes. Fast-tucked, there, in her hand -- the tine of a stag. She holds her breath, releases it, laughing - "SPRING, Jaro, fire, whatever, wait up, Wyrmbreaker," and she's off after Lukas like a shot, running, running.

[ooc: COLOR CODING COMING!!!! ...next post. as soon as I figure out how to make the colors show *LOL*]

[Edwin Morr] [color=+c00000][/color][Fire]

"Shore thang, doll. See ya 'roun'."

Then, the shaded gaze watches Gina saunter off a ways, before returning to Lonna, a slightly confused look on his face.

"Y'know... Dat 'tweren't e'sactly e'spected."

Then, straightening, Edwin considers Lonna for a few moments... Again speaking quietly.

[Ezra Turk] *A low chuckling, Ezra looking around and - oh! Why hello Nurse. Lonna Lonna Lonna. Cora and Edward are ditched outright for his own lovely kin. Well.. His was a relative term. He trots up and and sniffs along the neck of a Coggie kin, fingers tapping on his beer bottle as he smiles all devilry at Lonna and Edwin both.*

MmmMMMm.. hello Ladies.

[Silence] Fire
Silence is simply there. Literally: the Gauntlet bends, and then there he is, the fire roaring in his face, his rough hands held out to it for warmth. It's a moment before he looks at Imogen beside him, sidelong; then the edge of his mouth turns up.

"'Sup," he says quietly.

[Ray Ostermann] FIRE

Ray smiles lightly as he regards the group arrive and then quickly separate heading for what they desire and he chuckles. "We are all here to have fun afterall...I don't think anyone plans on standing on tradition or pretense. If they tried, i think they would find themselves without anyone to talk too."

[Iona McNevin] ((I really like the bold names idea. That way no one misses any comments to them IC))

[Going Down] Fire
"Heh. Fuckin' funny you say that, actually, s'what happened to my alpha a couple weeks ago." And she actually does laugh, at this, at the irony of his wording and her situation. There are no brooding glances, no unhappy faces, no indications that he's touched on a sore spot; she seems content to laugh.

"Shit happens. Where'd you run off to when you left?"

[Edwin Morr] ((perception + Alertness))
Dice Rolled:[ 4 d10 ] 4, 5, 6, 6 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Wyrmbreaker] Food
Iona is spun around as Kate dashes past, but then Lukas grabs her up around the middle the way he did Kate a few hours ago, a few lifetimes ago, carrying her six steps over his shoulder before setting her down rather unceremoniously

right in front of the roasted meats.

A few hours ago -- a few lifetimes ago -- he hunted through an autumn forest, brought down prey with his hands and teeth, ate in his birthform, savage and bloody as a beast. Lukas seems to find little need to resort to utensils now, and grabs a plate in one hand, begins heaping meats onto it with the other. When Lila dashes up beside him, he shoulder-checks her playfully.

"You know what I think?" he says to the Gaian. "I think we're lucky we never got to sit down to dinner. I bet Zlata would've flung potatoes at you."

[Sorrow] Food Tents

The seven are loosely grouped - the packmates, Lukas and Kate, Blood Summons, Adamidas on his back, Lila
holding his hand. Joey there among them, alive, ranging forward. And Kora, flanking Lila, flanking Kate, holding a guitar by the neck, a loose familiarity in the gesture. Her hair is brushed and loose, her face and arms scrubbed clean, but her black boots are crusted with dried, flaking mud. Pointillist spots of blood dot the now-filthy thermal she wears, but the t-shirt over it - black - is relatively clean. The creature crunches through the new-falling snow - the irony of this is not lost on her - carrying a guitar she holds loosely by the neck, an old, easy familiarity to the gesture.

She does not go running through the woods; she does not race. She does walk, however, her face lifted to the sky, to the black (gray) sky somewhere above the treeline, and the stars beyond it. Imaging Orion, his three-starred belt.

[Marni] [Field to Fire]

She decides to head toward the fire again, stepping out of the way of the stampeding Garou aiming for the food, and as she watches them, starts walking again - and she almost walks right into Iona. She sidesteps in time, that devilish grin sliding across her lips, her dark eyes sparkling with amusement as she watches Lukas catch her up and cart her off.

So she moves on, and eventually plops down on the ground next to Ray at the fire. "gonna make me chase ya all night, are ya?"

[Edwin Morr] Fire

Edwin's shaded gaze turns to Ezra darkly as he begins sniffing about Lonna's neck... His grin becoming the merest hint unpleasant; whatever he had planned to say lost to the winds as he watched the other 'lord approach.

"Call me dat 'gain..."

His voice hinted at violence as yet unrealized.

[Jesmond Krutova] Fire

Jesmond, settled near to the fire with her water bottle open before her at the table is busy people watching from the depths of her half-drawn hood; her eyes black as precious stones in the dark; the firelight dancing across what bare skin there is to see, reflected in her gaze as the Umbral bends and warps and unleashes the tidal of a Modi's rage into being nearby her.

Jesmond's fingers tighten in her lap, around her bottle of water, she turns her attention to Silence, and in contrast, the fair-skinned woman he addresses; recognition, distant but true, flickers through her eyes.

[Iona McNevin] Food

She yelps as Lukas picks her up and drops her basically on her ass by the food. The spinning and roughhousing made her hold her stomach a moment as not to upchuck. She got up and blinked at Lukas "Bloody hell, Brotha! Wha' are ye smokin' and where kin I git some?"

[Edward Bellamonte] Food
Ed is there, standing with Cora, having just been left by Ezra - it's a quiet moment, and then Lukas and Kate show up, and that smile widens. "Want to meet them properly, Cherie? They're in good moods, it appears. And what happens after that . . ."

The sentence is left to dangle, as teasing and promising as other things, earlier.

[Coraline Emerson] [food]
It chafes. He knows. And, yet, it is what it is; unchanged. She understands. [in some intangible way, yes.] Either way, some of the tension fades as Ezra lopes off, something whispered in her stance and felt against Edward's hand where the small of her back ceases to feel like an overdrawn bow string, ready to snap. Somewhat uncaharacteristically [in public, at least] she turns her head, her cheek brushing Edwards shoulder. Her chin rests there for a moment as he speaks of food... and then she steps slightly to the side peering in the direction of the food he mentions, already brightening up again. "Good lord.. it's Vetkoek," Pronounced, quiet easily, fet-cook, on her tongue. Her lips curve up and she takes his hand, tugging him in their direction. "Absolutely fabulous, despite the name... 'Fat Cake,' y'eh?"
And then.. well, then there's a cadre of Garou racing up and Lukas dumping down women unceremoniously and serving himself meat. She blinks, momentarily taken aback, doing a bit of a two-step to avert being bowled over.. then, helpfully and easily. "Try the Vetkoek."

[Lonna Larson] Fire!

"Think she's okay?" she asked, "she did seem kind of tired, I hope everything's fine."

The blonde nodded again, reaching up to tuck strands of blonde hair back out of her face over her ear and away. The Child of Gaia heard avoice, and her lips upturned and the relatively sweet young woman put on her relatively sweet face and seemed immensely, well... not immensely. Just the usual sort of happy. Happy to be out, happy to be in company of people, pleased in general. Ezra invades her space, and the child of Gaia stops. She inhales and she is still. She waits, stiff for half a second.

"Hey, let's just... calm down for a minute. How're you?"

[Kyle] [FIRE]
"Sorry to hear...."
Nods but doesn't let things dwell before speaking again.
"Bit of a long....trip.....Went to pay respects.....to friends in Colorado Sept......Not sure why.... but I ended back here......one of those weird things.....about being a....Strider I suppose.....What brings you....to this city....If I may ask?"
His gaze turning to the nearby commotion as he prepares to move if needed. Last thing he needed was to be caught in a fight.

[Nate Cross] [color=+c000c0]Food/color] At some point Nate finally arrives, making his way through the woods carrying two large shopping bags full of noodle boxes. Steam wisping it's way up around his fingers. Moving past people as he tries to avoid bumping into people he finally reaches the food tents.

The noodle boxes removed and placed on a table as he turns and begins surveying the area for faces of people he knows.

[Ray Ostermann] [Fire]

Ray turns his gaze from the now silent Imogen and looks down at Marni as she takes a seat next to him. She can tell hes drunk, or at the very least well on his way into the state. He sits down next to her as she came to him and offers her what little remains of his 40 of scotch...apparently most of the body already drained into him.

"Chase you?? I've barely moved all night."

[Imogen Slaughter] Fire

She shakes her head slightly. "S'not quite what I meant, but never mind it." The end of her final syllable is cut off slightly, as the gauntlet begins to rend, just by her shoulder.

A tension coils through her muscles. It unsettles her this - a subtle shift in her posture, little more than a change in the perfection of her poise, but it is there nonetheless.

It eases minutely as what was once a half-formed body becomes whole, solid and true, heat and rage but lingers more than one might expect. She does not return the lift of the mouth.

"Rohl," she greets him by name. "That entrance is becoming a bit of a habit."

A tone catches her ear, and she turns her head to look at Lonna, her eyes moving from the Child of Gaia kinfolk to Edwin, then Ezra.

[Rain of Brass Petals] Field to Food
The Fury spent little time waiting around in homid. In a moment, and it does take a moment, she's no longer in her breed form, but rather, she's a relatively small-to-average sized black wolf. Her eyes are bright, brigh yellow goldenrod. She doesn't take long before she trots over to the food area. The Fury plops herself down in time to watch people go forward. For now, she's resting. If the need to pounce to get something-

Hey, were those.... samosas?

Her tail wagged a little. Back and forth.

[Marni] [Fire]

She laughs up at him, takes the scotch, and takes a swig, before handing it back again. "You kept looking at me and running off elsewhere Was beginning to take it personal." Then she leans in and teases. "Unless, of course, your just keepin the Misses happy..."

Oh there's no doubt who she means, even as she settles back on her elbows, and looks up... her smile full of mischief and delight. "I told Indira I was gonna sneak her into your pool...."

[Going Down] Fire
"I grew up in Detroit, but my brother though' I shoul' get out some an' go an'...do stuff on my own," she says, shrugging. Unable to fully articulate exactly what brought her down to Chicago and away from the place she always had been, around the people that she knew before. "Firs' time I ever really been away. It's been good, though. I like Chicago."

She drains the rest of the 40, and then holds the bottle up to the fire, peering into it and watching the light reflect through the glass. "I'm gonna go an' get more ta drink, Kyle, an' say hi ta a frien'. Nice meetin' you, look me up in Back-a-the-Yards, 'kay?"

With that, Indira rises to go and make her way back to the table to get a few more drinks, giving a big smile to Waking Dream and a wave as she goes.

[Silence] Fire
...which makes him turn to face her, the grey-eyed Modi and the flamehaired kin.

"Ya want me ta stop?"

[Wyrmbreaker] Food
"Underworld," Lukas says, offhand like that. Maybe it's a new club. "Tell you all about it later, when the fire dies down a little."

He tilts his head back: civilized, courteous, well-mannered Lukas, who is right now dirt-smudged, scratched Lukas, with absurdly clean hands and face, and the rest of his clothes more traumatized than deliberately-distressed -- tilts his head back, and snaps a piece of meat up wholesale, teeth flashing like he was starving.

Then, chewing it, mouth full and all, "Coraline, mate of my brother, at least until sunrise." An eyebrow cocks. "What's Fet Cook?"

[Blood Summons] Food
The Fenrir has to be freezing in his short sleeves and lack of jacket, but he doesn't shiver or make a show of it, doesn't bitch about the cold despite the fact that the thick hair on his arms is standing up straight to keep his homid form warm. He just follows the troupe of Garou off towards the tent where the food has been stashed, moving at a pretty decent clip but slowing up to give the injured Adamidas a chance to catch up.

Once they reach the tent, he presses his hands against his hips and surveys the offerings. Nourishment doesn't hold any great interest for him; it's alcohol he's after, and after finding an errant six-pack stashed beneath the table, he picks it up and starts towards the pixie-haired Ragabash from the Sentinels.

"Echo!" he bellows, his voice loosing its scratchiness and becoming more of a growl when he picks it up.

[Kyle] [FIRE]
"Sure thing.....Take it easy and....have fun..."
A thumbs up given to Indira as Kyle simply smiles at her. Something about the way he talks and acts makes it easy to trust him. When she wanders off he keeps tabs on the commotion as he looks around.

[Ezra Turk] FIRE

Shhhhh.

*Yes. The cocky little shit puts a thin finger to his lips and Shushes Edwin Morr in a rasp thats sibilant and unpleasant. A swig of beer, and he's dancing his fingers along the pretty blonde's arm. Rat. tat-tat-tat-tat. A gesture to Lonna's splendorous rack.*

I was speaking to the girls. MmMM?

Don't be a tit, Morr.

*That cheshire grin is all challenge and trouble, thick eyebrows raising and jumping over hard black eyes.*

[Iona McNevin] Food

She messed Lukas' hair and smiled. "Well, whatevah it be? Thih...smilin' niceness looks good on ye." She winked and started to walk off, grabbing another bottle of the whickey she had brought for all to share. She wretched the top of the bottle and looked around. "Hafta say 'ello tae someone I dinnah know, huh? Damn deals I make. Startin' tae think he's tha devil."

[Ray Ostermann] [Fire]
"I was just letting you know I knew you were there...its a bonfire, I'm here to socialize, to meet and greet the rest of the community." He pauses and seems to realize something. "Mind you I haven't talked to a single person I don't already know.

That seems to call a chuckle from his throat as he realizes the foolishness of it all before shrugging and looking into the fire. "I just want to keep all the women happy...if I can."

[Wyrmbreaker] [gonna go pick up food! back in a bit!]

[Marni] [Fire]

She laughs, easily and nods. "I'm just givin ya shit, as I know better than most tat you can keep this woman happy." She crosses her ankles, comfortable now, the heat of the fire rushing over her.

"Well then, who don't you know? Maybe I can introduce ya to someone new." A beat, and a grin. "For a price...."

[Echo Quinn] Fire

There's a burp, and dark, pixie-cut head pops upright and promptly falls off her perch at the table. "What!" She roars, but it comes across as more of a startled yelp-holler. Her dark eyes wide, she narrows them after a beat, seeing the Fenrir stalking her like prey. She rises, leaning forward over three empty beer cans.

"Why are you bellowing my name, sugartits?"

[Imogen Slaughter] [fire]

She does not answer immediately, lifting her beer to her lips, taking a swallow. She lifts a hand as she lowers the bottle, wiping a droplet of alcohol from her bottom lip with her thumb.

She is no longer watching the happenings on the other side of the fire, but it is there at the edge of her attention.

In the end, she does not answer at all. Merely offers him her beer bottle, an eyebrow arching in offer.

[Coraline Emerson] Again a tilt of her head, an animal gesture of interest or curiosity or both; watching the Ahroun gobble down juice-dripping roasted meat like he's starving and speaking around it all to answer her suggestion. Entirely undaunted by what others might call a lack in manners, she smiles with greater ease than she had that night at the Club for Theron's birthday, her green eyes warm though they shift slightly at his mention of at least until sunrise -- darting toward Edward, then back again -- she holds up a finger -- just one moment -- to Lukas and moves to take up three of the aforementioned pastries, bulging with their filled interiors. She sniffs at one, then holds out one to Edward, first, "Vetkoek. A pastie? Minced meat, these. Afrikaner comfort-food. Manna from heaven. Try one." The second offered to Lukas and the third.. ah, the third she bites into, her eyes rolling with the food-lust ecstasy of some pregnant women.

[Lonna Larson] Fire!
Ever the peacekeeper, ever the one who wanted things to be calm and cool and collected and peaceful, she puts up a hand and ends up doing something vaguely... well... stupid. She changes positions, just enough so that she's standing between one garou and the other. And dear god was it a stupid move, and subconsciously, she knew this. Consciously, she knew this.

"Guys, look, it's... I really don't think now's the time with this. Ezra, I really need to talk to you soon, please?" she does try to ask nicely.

[Ray Ostermann] [Fire]
"Ohhh and just what price would you require hmmm? What tithe would you demand from me?"

He asks with a raised brow, curious as to what she might have in mind. He had seen a few interesting looking ladies around, and he was rather interested in meeting a few of them.

[Theron Locke] FIRE Theron had been quiet since arriving at the Bonfire, his long thin fingers of one hand wrapped around a bottle of scotch as his other hand caressed a glass that was almost empty. Eyes gazing into the flame as he raised the glass to his lips and took another slip.

He listens to the voices around him, ignoring the majority of them. He had expected his Alpha to be here, but he had been strangely absent, unaware the Ahround had only shown up moments ago. Then he hears mention of a particular name and Theron turns as his attention focuses on the discussion between Edwin and Ezra, but for now the Theurge doesn't get involve or even say anything. Head flicking to Lonna as she tries to intervene...inwardly he became frustrated that he had been unable to have that meeting with Lila.

Watching and listening as he takes another sip of his scotch.

[Edward Bellamonte] Food
"It's some pastry thing, with meat in it. Fantastic," he says. "She's right, you should try it." and then his attention turns to Kate, as Cora moves to claim three of the things she's mentioned - Ed's promptly gets broken in half, and the other piece offered to Kate. "Try this," he says, and then, "I know you've met Coraline, dearest sister. Meet her now as my mate."

[Edwin Morr] Edwin watches Ezra, a quiet laugh escaping his lips... Lips that remain curved upward in a cold and lopsided grin. The look was less that of the idle liar now, and far more the macabre grin of the executioner waiting for the command to loose the head upon the block from the shoulders it's attached to.

The eyes stare past Lonna's shoulder, to the face of Ezra Turk beyond.

"I'm out ta have fun here, fella. But if'n yer lookin' fer trouble, I'm willin' t'oblige. Jes' say th'word."

At this, Edwin replaces the metal flask in the internal pocket of his denim work coat, his hands once again finding the exterior pockets of the coat thereafter.

[Blood Summons] Fire
He doesn't have the sort of voice that lends itself to shows of frivolity. Few here have heard him raise his voice like this, and though he is in a good mood, though he walks with a spring in his step and a lightness in his lean frame, it still sounds like an animalistic roar when he shouts the urrah's acquired name and starts towards her. He sounds pissed even though he's not, and Echo gives it right back, along with a new vocabulary word.

"Sugartits?" he counters, his voice reaching normal decibel levels as he mounts the bench across the table from Echo. He sets the six-pack of bottles down with a heavy thunk, then starts drumming out a rhythm on the table, humming in a falsetto as he considers her. "Maybe I'm just happy to see you."

[Rituals+Wits: WAKE UP GRAIN.]
Dice Rolled:[ 7 d10 ] 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 7 (Success x 2 at target 6) [WP]

[Sorrow] Food toFire

It seems hours since they hunted. It seems days. In the end, Kora is the tail of the loosely flung comet that the newcomers define - Lukas and Kate and Lila surging forward, full of delight, the promise of the opened gates, that the world returns to itself, winter is buried, spring is reborn, burning with promise. Blood Summons and Joey and Adamidas, in an opening arc behind them, and Kora last, contemplating the sky, the light catching her loose, pale hair, sheening her eyes with an animal gleam in the darkness. Between the treeline and the tents, Kora lifts the guitar - a new thing, this - over her head, settling the strap over her right shoulder, down across her torso like a beauty contestant's pageant sash, an unconscious echo of the battlescar bisecting her torso.

Inside the tents, the Skald finds a plate, fills it with food - bratwurst and chips, brownies and wings - whatever is offered, whatever was prepared. Snags one bottle - then, after a moment's consideration - two - from one of the coolers on the hard-packed ground and ducks out from the tents, circling back toward the fire, balancing her booze-and-food carefully, the guitar and unfamiliar weight on her back.

[Kyle] [FIRE]
Taking the guitar from its case, Kyle strums a few times to see if it needed any fine tuning. After a moment he simply starts to play. It's just random notes at the moment but they seem to flow together and not sound like a rachet.
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 2, 4, 4, 7, 10 (Success x 2 at target 6)

[Iona McNevin] Food

She heard Ed and blinked. She looked his way, completely surprised by something. "Ye have a mate now? Who?" Totally curious and somewhat astonished.

[Marni] [Fire]

She grins at him, her dark eyes dancing with mirth and just a sense of pure delight and good fun. "Oh, I dunno... Maybe just another romp in your hot tub, or oh... some of that faaaaaaaaaaaantastic desert we had after I made you breakfast last time. THAT would be an amazing payment, I think..."

[Ray Ostermann] [Fire]

Ray's smile widens as he considers her price and from the look on his face he would pay it gladly. He nods lazily as his body succumbed to more and more of the alcohol coursing through his body.

"You have a deal....as to Indira joining you in the pool, by all means just let me know when you are coming, I'd love to see it for myself."

[Rain of Brass Petals] food!
After a few moments, when healing and resting were less of a problem, the Fury headed back to her breed form. Still a little sore, still a little out-of-sorts, she went for the food with wide eyes and a pleasantly surprised. Bob is yelling to Echo, who in turn ends up calling Blood Summons "Sugartits". The Fury raised a brow, but she grins, shakes her head, and grabs food. Anything and everything she can find in tiny, tiny portions.

Silently, she goes from the food to the fire area, to go pester Kora.

[Truth's Meridian] Food

Katherine, content, idling with a glass of wine she'd discovered somewhere that some kind soul had been inclined to bring turns to face her brother as he offers up a sample of food to her. Her lips part obligingly, and Edward, knowing his sibling the way he does can witness the glow that suffuses her skin; the dancing joy in pale eyes, the apparent happiness with all that surrounded her at present.

Even in clothing not quite her own.
Even with damp, drying hair in the chilly evening.
"Mm," she commends the food, and licks traces from her lips, an arm winding through her brother's, a head finding a place to lean against his shoulder. "Hello again, Coraline." She greets the Kinfolk with a dreamy tinge to her voice, and expression. "My congratulations."

[Marni] [Fire]

She dimples into a grin. "Deal. Who you wanna meet, and I'll make t happen." She glances at the way he's relaxing, and laughs. "Hell, I'll even fetch em and bring them to you. Desert was THAT good..."

She does look over toward her packmate and Kyle, then the possible scuffle in the making, before grinning up at Ray. "I'll be sure to let ya know before we sneak in - I'm sure you would like to watch. Given i still don't have a suit." Not that it's stopped her so far, and likely won't at all. Ever.

[Wyrmbreaker] Food
"Well, why not." With little further ado, Lukas snaps up a savory pastry and devours it. "Excellent," he comments, sucking crumbs off his thumb; then his pale eyes flicker around, look for his packmates amidst the crowd.

"Iona, go call Theron over for a minute, will you?"

[Theron Locke] Fire to Food

Theron stands from where he was sitting and begins to move, he spots Jesmond and offers her a nod and then a smile. Perhaps either an invitation to join him or a request to speak to her sometime tonight.

After any sign of acknowledgement though, Theron is moving back towards the food. Brushing past Edwin as he walks leaning in , with a murmur "We need to talk later. Drop by room 3 of the Broho in the next day or so/" and then he is walking again.

[Ezra Turk] FIAH!

Dont'.

Its hissed, unpleasant as fingers dig into soft skin. Lonna stepping between them not appreciated. The theurge's gaze is positively reptilian, and while Edwin smirks sly malice, Ezra grins madness and cruelty. Oh Lonna Larson, what company you keep.*

Oh, I'm here to have fun as well MMMMMmM? If you're feeling particularly froggy precious... jump. Otherwise, play nice, MmMM? You don't want to have a quarrel with this soft little thing between us...

*There it is. For all he snarled at Lonna for stepping in the way, the hand on her arm isn't to reprimand. Its perhaps to use her as a meat shield.... a hostage.. hell.. who knew. Eyes still on Edwin, lips fall to the kin's shoulder. He offers her his beer, rasping*

You might just need this tulip.

[Iona McNevin] FOOD

She nodded to Lukas and looked around, then found Theron. Heading his way, she smiled. "Och, Brotha. Lukas wants tae be seein' ye."

[Waking Dream] Food

"Hi, 'dira," Lila says, when Going Down goes for refills, comes close. Lila bumps gently into the taller, sunset-haired bonegnawer girl, and her gaze is going thoughtful, growing pensive, even as she finds herself some whiskey, couples it with meat, her stomach sings a welcome song to, drinks and eats. Lukas' remark earlier about the potatoes -- well, that'd received some kind've comment. ("I bet I'm hungry enough to have caught those potatoes in my open mouth, sir.") The funny-sounding food would've received a curious look. "Enjoying yourself?" She's just about to drift over to the fire, now, in Kora's wake, but -- no, pause a moment.

[Silence] [Fire]
No answer is given, in the end, except the offering of a beer bottle. Possibly something finer than the cheap american swill Decker tends to offer Imogen, at any rate. The Modi takes it, upends it, drinks unabashedly from it -- not a sip but a good gulp that reduces the amount of liquid therewithin by a quarter or a third.

He wipes his mouth on the back of his wrist. Hands the bottle back. Nods, chin-up, at Jesmond.

"Who tha fuck's that, 'n why's she starin'?"

[Theron Locke] Food Theron raises an eyebrow at Iona as he spots his packmate trying to get his attention. As much to ask perhaps ~what have I done now~. A smile given to his Alpha though as he heads in that direction as requestion "Evenin Brother" extending his forearm for a grasp.

"Iona, mentions you needed me?"

[Going Down] Food
"Yeah, I'm havin' a lot of fun," Indira tells Lila, as she reaches for another one of the 40s there on the table. For one of the pastry things, too, among the odd foreign food. She doesn't know what they're called but they were pretty good.

The pensive expression does not go unnoticed. Indira is usually rather sensitive to such things, and there are a surprising number of people that are sitting alone even at the party, lost in their thoughts and remembering gone friends. "How abou' you?" she asks, choosing not to jump on it immediately. "An' you oughta try one a these," she adds, gesturing with the half-eaten pastry toward the piles of food.

[Echo Quinn] Fire

Echo, grinning, patting down her hoodie pockets, fishes a packet of cigarettes from one and a lighter from the other. Then, glancing at the close proximity of the fire from her, re-thinks the logic of the latter and returns it to its former location. Twisting to face Bob, she offers him one and leans over rather precariously to ignite her own in the flames; breathing out smoke from nostrils and lips.

"Yeah, yeah," she retorts his greeting with, splaying one long leg off the edge of the table [never mind if anyone wanted to actually sit at the table, heaven forbid] and grinning at him; her nimble little fingers popping the tab on a fresh beer. "Everyone fuckin' yells my name when they see me, I'm like Santa Claus." She swallows, takes a drag, repeats.

"Only slightly less jolly."

[Edward Bellamonte] Food
"Things went well, apparently," he says as his sister snuggles in just so, in a way that hasn't happened in too long - as bittersweet as it is, the parting, at least it's going as smoothly as one can expect so far. Things are still friendly, which is better than these things go often. "And thank you. There will be a small legal ceremony for obvious reasons," he says, then quiets as the rest of the pack present draws near.

[Coraline Emerson] The pasties dispersed, Edward draws his sister in, a formal introduction [announcement] made. In the snowy night with the bonefire off a little ways the colour that rises along the alabaster line of her neck, to the fullness of her cheeks could be the cold, the fire-glow.. anything. To Iona's question Coraline arches a brow, resisting the urge to raise her hand like a schoolgirl. She watches instead, chewing slowly, as Kate lays her head on Ed's shoulder - a gesture that seems to please the Kinfolk - and speaks dreamy words of congratulations. "Thank you." Soft-spoken, but she means it.. otherwise she gives the Bellamonte siblings their moment, looking back to Lukas and offering a little salute of her hand, with a smile. "Excellent," she agrees.

[Iona McNevin] Food

She followed Theron back to Lukas, and decided to listen in as she worked on bottle 2 of whickey fun.

[Ray Ostermann] [Fire]

Ray smiles his eyes dancing expectantly as he eagerly awaits that day where he will be graced by the presence of two women in his buildings pool, not just one. He then looks about for someone to meet and he see's Lonna, trapped between Ezra and Edwin and he jerks a finger in her direction.

"I think that lovely lady might need something else to distract her...otherwise she might get hurt.."

[Imogen Slaughter] [fire]

She takes back the bottle - it is passed between them without their skin ever touching. Silence points out Jesmund and Imogen's eyes turn to look in the same direction. She regards the other for a moment, her eyebrow arching.

"I don't believe we've met," she says, her tone shifting slightly - her response is not part of a personal conversation anymore, but a more open discussion, one in which Jesmond is expected to take part.

[Kyle] [FIRE]
For now he's content to play. Just letting his fingers run over they strings and allowing the notes to flow as he plays.
Dice Rolled:[ 6 d10 ] 2, 6, 7, 9, 9, 9 (Success x 5 at target 6)

[Marni] [fire]
She arches a brow, and then just laughs. "Jesus, you're gonna get me killed. Have to go for the one in the middle of a fight, do ya? Alright. But if I come back bleeding, the price goes up."

She stands with a wink, and heads over to The ShadowLord Duo with the pretty Coggie filling. "Sorry to interrupt, Edwin, but my buddy over there? He hs a question for yer girl. Mind if I borrow her a minute?"

Aka - hey, how bout I get your pretty friend out of the way, huh?

[Sorrow] Fire

"Doc." The creature's dark eyes graze Imogen as she circles the fire. Silence, beside her, his rage an overwhelming storm choking oxygen from the air around him. "Silence-rhya." The cliath doesn't linger; she finds a place on the other side of the blazing fire, in its other shadows, bathed in its natural heat rather than the stifling weight of the Adren's rage, finds a log, sets down her two bottles of beer in the trampled grass. It's close enough to the fire here, the waving heat of it, that the snow melts as it falls, when it falls now - sifting fitfully down from the dark sky above.

Guitar still on her back, hair a loose pale tangle around it, Kora sinks easily down to perch on one of the logs, balancing her plate on her thigh, looking up with a faint, quirked little grin when Adamidas wanders up. "Hey." Like many, Kora's eyes fix on the knot defined by Lonna, Ezra and Edwin. She keeps the group in her peripheral vision, alert, aware of them. Then, back down to Adamidas. " - you want a beer?"

[Blood Summons] Fire
There's something of a commotion going on between the Shadow Lords several yards away, enough of one that the tired Gaian Galliard is watching from her perch beneath the food tent, but that doesn't have the Godi's attention right now. There's a cigarette being offered, and he takes it with a scratchy grunt of thanks and extends his arm to light the thing in the flames from the fire. His arms are longer than Echo's; he doesn't have to lean quite so far.

He takes a hungry inhalation of smoke from the end of the cigarette, grimacing with the burn of it in his throat after what feels like an entire day without, then blows sharp plumes of smoke out his nostrils as he returns himself to rights at the table. He lets the cigarette dangle from between his thin lips as one hand plucks a beer from the cardboard sleeve. It's held still as his left hand twists the cap free. He tosses it onto the cacophony already covering the table, then removes the cigarette from his mouth and takes a long swig of the awakened beer.

"Who the fuck's Santa Claus?" he asks, stifling a belch on the back of the wrist holding onto his beer.

[Wyrmbreaker] Food
Lukas has literally been to the underworld and back -- he, and the other six Garou with him. He looks like it. He also looks -- happy. Relaxed, open, pleased with his company and his pack and the bonfire and the season. The season, most of all. Jaro.

He clasps Theron's forearm firmly, then waits til Iona rejoins them as well. But it's not really Theron he wants here, specifically, but simply his pack: all of them present at the bonfire at this moment.

"Springtime, my pack," he says, setting his plate down and picking up one of the clear plastic cups, one of the anonymous bottles of wine or liquor or beer, "is a time of new life, new beginnings. So it's fitting that it is in spring that Edward Silver-Jester will leave the Unbroken to start a new life with his mate. Tonight, the cusp of the season, is the last night Edward will truly stand with us as our brother, though I believe he will stay on amongst us until his debt to Perun is fulfilled.

"So, Brother," Lukas's eyes fix on the Silver Fang's, clear and direct, full of the sort of fondness that's perhaps grown rarer between the two of them of late, "thank you for running with us. And we wish you and your mate the very best."

[Lonna Larson] Fire
Don't. she clenched her jaw and tried to give little indication that the nonverbal reprimand hurt, and she didn't appreciate it. Not grievous bodily harm, just a little painful. Painful enough to be a deterrent, but... with the presence of a hand on her shoulder, it semed that she wasn't going to be going any time soon whether she wanted to or not.

Lonna takes the beer and looks between the two males. This was certainly not the place that she wanted to be, but it seemed the Child of Gaia was content to continue being there for the sake of... well... causing a definite inconvenience in case things got out of hand. Then again, getting out of the way might not be too easy.

She took a drink of Ezra's beer. She might need this.

Marni was coming over, and the blonde raised both her brows in surprise.

"I'm good to be borrowed," she hoped.

[Waking Dream] Food

Lila offers Indira a smile that could be why (isn't, but could be) she's called Waking Dream, because that's what's in the smile, the slow of it, the curve of it, the wistful, thoughtless yearn of it, and, by now, she has noticed her kinswoman and Edwin (who has his hipflask with him, probably!) and Ezra (who probably does not have Paul's porno with him, but alas, is associated with it in Lila's mind), and the smile drifts away, and she rubs her right eye with the palm of her right hand. "I'm out of my time," she says, murmurs, to Indira. "I don't know what year this is yet," she adds, as if perplexed. "Iiiiiiiiiiii should go say hi to some people."

[Iona McNevin] Food

Iona looked confused. "Och, wait naw." She turned to Ed "First ye got a mate, an' now ye'll be leavin' us? Ye are gone tae stay in this Sept, righ'?"

[Going Down] Food
She says she's out of her time, that she doesn't know what year it is yet, and the look Lila gets from Indira is utterly bewildered. She's heard Children of Gaia are a little loopy from time to time, but this is the first time she's had any such experience with Waking Dream.

"Um," she says. "Okay. You take care, okay, Lila?"

[Edwin Morr] Fire

Edwin stares for a long time at Ezra, his hands fumbling ever so slightly within his pockets as the gift is enacted. Then, when it's released...

His grin grows even darker. Shaded eyes never leave Ezra Turk, even as he speaks in such a pleasant tone in answer to Marni.

"Reckon now's uh great time fer dat, doll... Seems mebbe me'n' m'buddy Ezra here got some thangs ta discuss..."

Then, he nods briefly in Ezra's direction.

"Dat don't bother ya none, if'n Lonna gits borrahed (borrowed) jes' now, does it?"

The hands remain in the pockets of the denim work coat, as Edwin stands stock still...

[Rain of Brass Petals] OTHER side of the Fire
She plops herself down, looking at the guitar and then back to Kora. She looked at her, but her eyes traveled to the bit of commotion starting up. The Fury was tense for a second, food forgotten for a time being. It seemed, however, that things were being dealt with, but it didn't stop her from continuing to look over.

The Skald, however, gets her attention again.

She shakes her head no, and finds herself looking for a writing utensil. This time, she uses the end of a particularly overcooked something-or-other.

I can't drink. Then the charred-something gets put down, her hand goes to her lips, palm facing inward, then brought down and away from her face. Her head cocked to the side; she's made that gesture once before tonight.

[Jesmond Krutova] Fire

In truth the Shadow Lord Kinswoman had looked at Silence in unspoken consideration for several moments, then away as the Cliath Theurge of her tribe signaled to her, she dipped her head a little in greeting to Theron, then turned her face back toward the flames; silently regarding them with the vaguely marred brow of one in deep thought.

She does look back long enough to be noticed; and chin-jerked at and invited, by means of a lack of introduction by the fair red-head, to make herself known. Jesmond's blue eyes shift between the pair; then linger over-long on Decker, which is surprising in and of itself. The hood is pushed back, and dark hair tendered behind small lobes. "I apologize for the keen observation," she begins, the young woman with an air of quiet earnestness perhaps unlike most here. Her voice is steady; comforting.

"But I recognized your face. You are from Storm Hammer, are you not?" A beat, her eyes stray to Imogen, she holds her smile in place. "I am Jesmond Krutova, lately come to this Sept from another. My blood is of Thunder's, but my mate was Eirik Thurstan, Blade That Sings, Fostern Modi of Storm Hammer." She looks back at Decker. "He passed only this winter."

[Kyle] [FIRE] - Heading to [Food]
After playing for a while longer, Kyle finally stops and lets out a soft sigh. Gently he packs away the guitar and stands up. A nod to people as he passes them while he makes his way towards the food tents. He needed a drink and there was that nagging rumble in his stomach again suggesting he should eat up again.

[Theron Locke] Theron nods and his eyes move to Edward and his dark eyes cast over him and he gives Edward a nod "Well I'm sorry to hear your leaving us brother, but we all need to find our own paths to walk. Recent events have made me come to realise that, but I will be re-commiting to my journey with the Unbroken. If my Alpha will have me."

The Theurge then turns back to his Alpha "We must talk later you and I... but tonight let us celebrate and also farewell our brother."

[Waking Dream] Food

The gnawer's expression snags her attention, and she laughs, reaches over, up, ruffles the girl's pink-hair. Lila's shirt, long-sleeved, dirty, smells of something that isn't these woods, something rich, smoky, Indian summer, lightning-scorched fall -- it's a strange smell, and already fading. "I'll tell you later," she says, promises. "I'll tell you a story."

And then the tired galliard is circling the fire, empty-handed, toward Edwin and Ezra, and perhaps Marni and Lonna, although perhaps not. Her hands are in her pockets.

[Joey] Fire

Joey returns from wherever Joey was when she and six other Garou stormed the bonfire clearing. She parks herself beside her sister, and she leans into Echo's side. For a moment, she rests her head on the Glass Walker's shoulder. Then Joey straightens and looks around Echo toward Blood Summons.

"You don't know who Santa is?" she asks, and answers without waiting for confirmation. "He's this jolly old fat guy goes around the world giving out presents to good kids an' leavin' coal for the asswipes. Can I have some'a that?" she asks, pointing at a spare bottle of beer.

[Silence] Fire
"Naw," he's not from Storm Hammer, "but I was there fer a few months."

That's an important distinction, somehow. His eyes remain on Jesmond for the rest of it, unflinching as hers, far more tempestuous. When she's finished, he lifts his chin faintly, the cant of his gaze changing. Can't quite say it softens, but -- it gentles, maybe.

Sometime in the middle of this: Kora passing by; Silence-Rhya. He nods to her, offhand, a little distracted. Back to Jesmond.

"I remember him," he says. "His pack sang 'n howled 'round his pyre all night. I weren't aware he took a Shadow Lord mate."

That's not an insult or a stab. It's just a statement: there it is. The modi shifts, then, nods to Imogen.

"This's Imogen Slaughter," he says.

[Edward Bellamonte] Food
For the entire pack, "Yes, I have a mate. This is she, Miss Coraline Emerson, soon to be Bellamonte." And there is, of course, the sparkle of a very, very nice diamond ring on the third finger of her left hand. "And I will be staying at the Sept. My family is here," he says with a look at Kate, and then Lukas - they are his and he theirs, even without pack bonds. Their circle ([un]broken) is simply rearranging itself, reforming.

"I look forward to seeing how we all grow and change, and hope to maintain friendship and alliance with all of you."

[Truth's Meridian] Food

Katherine, her arm twined with her elder brother's, her head now resting on his shoulder so that pale strands mix with his slightly darker, auburn locks links their fingers and draws his hand up to her lips in an old, familiar gesture, rubbing the skin there with her thumb and looking into his eyes, clearly, fondly, with the devotion of a sister; if no longer a pack-sister.

"Meilleure des choses, mon frère," she murmurs, and kisses his palm, before letting it drop.

[Ezra Turk] *Ezra has things to say. Oh - such things. Only as Lonna's being borrowed - he finds himself quite unable to say them. Oh. Oh that was precious. The shock and sudden anger that flashes cold on vulpine features is priceless. Ezra's eyes meeting Edwin's and locking on - even as the theurge leans in slightly. Letting his eyes tell the story.*

[Marni] [Fire]

Lonna's good to be borrowed, and Edwin gives his permission, and she nods - that's to outa three, and a clear majority rule. Marni claps her hands together and nods. "Perfect! Lonna, is it? I'm Marni. Let's jut go right on around this way..."

She hooks her arm in Lonna's and is soon dragging her from between the two shadowlords and off....toward a third.

Poor girl.

[Blood Summons] Fire
"Never heard of 'im."

He could just be fucking with them. He looks like the sort of guy who has a fucked-up sense of humor. It's hard to tell what sort of guy he is beyond that; they both know that he thinks quickly on his feet, that he's a tenacious fighter despite the fact that there isn't much to his tall body, despite the fact that his claws snap off if he lands a strike incorrectly. They know that he pushes himself to keep going long after he should have collapsed from exhaustion, that he doesn't seem to respect the limits of his own body, or else knows them well enough that he knows just how far to push them.

They also know that right now, he reeks of dirt and blood and sweat. His normally unruly hair is all over the place, and his eyes are shining, almost glazed.

Joey sits down and asks if she can have some of that, and the Godi plugs his mouth with his cigarette again before passing off one of the bottled beers.

"Careful," he says, gnarly voice muffled until he can snatch the cigarette from his lips, "I woke up Grain."

[Wyrmbreaker] Food.
Lukas looks at Theron briefly and curiously; nods. "Later," he agrees.

"Tonight's for celebration," he affirms, then. "We celebrate the season. And life: new and old, coming and going. So come on." He reaches out, grips Theron's shoulder, Edward's, binding them briefly. "Let's eat. Let's party."

[Iona McNevin] Food

She looked .... happy. Her eyes went to Coraline. "OCH!! Tha' be great news!" She hugged the poor girl suddenly, yet careful if the kin had food in her hands. Then she looked to Ed and Coraline " There be an old pray fo' those we say in me family. Blessings ar do shaol, agus is féidir leat a thabhairt neart heirs. It means 'Blessings on your life, and may you give plenty of heirs.'" She raised her bottle in toast.

[Sorrow] Other side of the fire.

Adamidas' gesture draws Kora's attention back to her. She's intent; she always is. Her eyes trace the arc of the gesture, then rise to the meet the girl's dark eyes. "Alright." - is what Kora says, still low. It is, accepting. If Adamidas can't drink, Kora is willing, perfectly, to drink for them both. She does not quite inhale her food, but she consumes it with dedication and thoroughness, applying herself to the wings, ripping fried flesh from the bone, her expressive mouth coming away from it, shining with grease. When the meet is stripped from the bones, Kora throws the bones back into the fire, watching them circle end over end.

Then, musing, " - you know what we have to do?" to Adamidas again, of course.

[Ray Ostermann] [Fire]

Ray still waits casually, watching the situation unfolding some ways away, his face is contemplative but he remains silent, waiting to see what happens.

[Echo Quinn] Fire

"Who the fuck doesn't know who Santa Claus is," the Glass Walker objects loudly; aghast at Blood Summons. Then; Joey arrives, and Echo fistbumps her pack-sister before taking another drag and listening as Joey explains the way of things to the Metis. When he says he still hasn't heard of him she rolls her eyes heavenward and raises her arms.

"Gaia save us! Oooh, awoken beer is amazing. I have some awakened Weed at my place a friend left, we need to smoke some together sometime."

[Theron Locke] FOODTheron nods and smiles at Lukas and Edward, and does so as he begins finding himself food and drink [ AFK for awhile.. Grocery Shopping beckons]

[Imogen Slaughter] [fire]

Kora greets Imogen and Imogen greets Kora in return - as brief as hers, though non-vocal, an inclination of her head, a brief touch of the eyes.

She turns back as Silence speaks of the funeral pyre at Stormhammer, a pack howling all night. Her expression is contained, cool and controlled.

She is introduced, and her mouth turns in a shadow of a smirk before she turns back to look at Jesmund, her lips controlled.

"A pleasure," she says; acknowledging the loss is a sticky thing. She chooses instead to ignore it entirely.

"Stayin' 'ere fer a time, then, are you?"

[Coraline Emerson] [food]
She does have the good grace to stop eating while Lukas speaks, juices licked from her lips and delicately sucked from her fingers. A part of this and yet apart, she watches and listens with a clear level of curiosity and, indeed, some manner of surprise when there is talk of Edward leaving the pack though after a quick look his way it clears. She moves closer to him; not out of discomfort and still not wanting to infringe on his an Kate's closeness; but simply because it is - feels - fitting. Right.
As she is introduced she does waver just a fraction back, not a delicate flower or painfully shy but the attention of many is not, generally, her 'thing'. But she bears it with good grace, smiling warmly if only because the warmth around her seeps into her own mien. When Iona hugs her of a sudden she is briefly startled but surprise becomes a chuckle and she returns the gesture before being released and moving again closer to the Ragabash. A blessing spoken [something like amusement flares briefly in moss-green eyes]; she nods. "Fine, lovely words... thank you."

[Lonna Larson] Fire
She blinked,, took Marni's hand, and continued on her merry way. the blonde was getting pulled out of the middle of a few Shadow Lords, over to another Shadow Lord, and- it was at this point Lonna realized that there were an absurd number of Shadow Lords in her life. She was pulled along, and decided to make talk.

"Well, Marni, it's nice to meet you... umm.. what was your friend's name again?And what did he want to ask?"

[Danicka Musil] She's dressed far more warmly for the vernal equinox than she was for the winter solstice, ironically. Danicka's jeans are tucked into her boots, and she has a green hat on over her pale hair, a heavy black wool coat on, a cream-colored scarf bound up under it. Her hands are in her pockets. She brings no food or drink with her, not this time, tromping up from the parking lot towards the fire.

When she reaches it, she goes straight for it, if only to warm herself after her walk.

[Edward Bellamonte] Food
"Plus sage, ma sœur," is his reply.

And then, at Iona's words, Edward laughs, delighted, and it's a sound that may well do at least Kate good to hear - it's been a long time since that laugh was heard. "Thank you, sister. The first of those will be along come late summer." And yes - yes, he is pleased with himself about that, at least in this moment. An heir, another Silver Fang, is no small thing, but a thing to be rejoiced in and celebrated as sure as the changing of the seasons, the drawing forth of light and warmth. "Drink with me, brothers and sisters, to the health of my mate and our child." This is pleased and carries throughout the food area, but is most specifically for the present members of the Unbroken.

"And then, I think I may well steal Coraline away, if there are no complaints."

[Iona McNevin] Food to Fire

Iona grabbed a napkin, and then pulled a pen from her back pocket. She scribbled something down onto the napkin, folded it up, then put her pen away. A nod given to all her pack before she turns and heads towards the fire area, towards Ray. She hands him the napkin, winks to him, nods to his company, then begins walking once more, her bottle in hand, and heads for the woods.

[Joey] Fai-yah

"Awwwwwesome." Joey accepts the offered booze, pops the top, and takes a careful swig. For the first time in it's anyone's guess how long, the mention of awakened weed doesn't make the Rotagar look thoughtful, distant, gone. Sad. She smiles broadly to Blood Summons after that first careful swig, and lifts her bottle in a kind of salute.

"To spring, dude. And we should totally break out the weed some time. I haven't smoked in like," she stops, face screwed up in thought as she tries to remember. Then she shrugs and laughs. "I don't fuckin' remember."

[Marni] [Fire]

She chuckles, and grins up at Lonna. "Don't worry, this one's kin, and he's a good guy, if a bit of a womanizer - which suit me just fine of course. He and I made a deal, see, and I told him I'd introduce him to whoever he wanted me too. He agreed to my choice of payment, and then we saw you trapped between those two?And he picked you. He does so love to be the Knight in shining armour. SO! Off I came to the rescue. Edwin's a buddy of mine anyway, so figured I could pull it off...."

and i that time, the chatty Raggie has brought Lonna to stnd in front of Ray, her grin ringing in triumph. "Lonna, this is Ray. Ray, Lonna."

And oh, Oh she'll be collecting on his agreed payment, she will.

Iona walks by - and Marni grins at her and gives her a cheerful "Hi!" for all she's ignored and nodded at. Which makes her laugh, outright.

[Iona McNevin] Fire

Before Iona takes off, she grins to Marni, grabs the girl and gives the Gnawer a playful smooch on the cheek. "Blessings be on ye thi' wonderous eve!" NOW, she heads for the woods.

[Rain of Brass Petals] other side of the fire
The burnt something is then left in favor of a bone from a rib, which Adam ended up picking absolutely clean or meat, barbecue sauce, and anything in between. Occasionally, she would nudge Kora, gesturing to one corner of her own mouth with her thumb, then pulling away towards her lips. She does this twice, in hopes to give the skald some indication that she had a little of something on her face.

Does she know what they have to do? The Fury shrugs, shoulders rise up once, then down and she takes a second to muse over this.

The relatively clean bone is used to carve out a few words. Celebrate? After a second, she runs her hand through it and wipes the word away. Rock out? She does the same with this. Remember.

She nods, and with a grin, she writes again.

I prefer rocking out, though.

Conversation, though slow, is deliberate.

[Kyle] [FOOD]
Casually Kyle picks up a beer and sips it before moving to select some food. That slight smile always present as he gathers enough food to last him a few days if necessary.

[Jesmond Krutova] Fire

There's some hint of humor pulling at the edges of the Shadow Kin's lips, it threatens to un-stitch itself into a smile but does not quite manage the feat, staying instead the suggestion of it; her skin danced upon by the flickering shadow of the fire like a screen made for shadow-play. "He was brave," she condescends to add for Silence's remembrance of her mate, and adds with a downward glance at her fingers; as if reminded of the lack of anything within them.

"He passed befitting that valor," she does not say died, or mention death, but merely that he was once present and now, has passed -- onwards, away, to Valhalla. Then, back to Imogen, Jesmond does smile now, and it invites the other Kinswoman in, regardless of whether she receives warmth in response. "For the next little while, at least. I've just started work at Mercy Hospital, so as long as that pans out, I suppose."

[Marni] [Fire]

She just laughs even more at that.

[Wyrmbreaker] Food
"To health," Lukas says, and lifts his glass. His clear plastic cup of ... whatever it is he poured.

Then his head is turning, his attention caught elsewhere. Katherine will understand it better than most. She was there through so much of the seventh gate, as he was there for the sixth. She'd understand why the Ahroun's eyes stray to follow his mate, and the look in his eyes, which is so complex a knot of emotion that any given thread becomes indecipherable.

"I'll catch up with you all later," he says. "And I think Kate and I'll have a story for you."

He drains his cup, then, tosses it into a wastebin. Bringing his plate heaped with food with him, Lukas leaves the food tent, moving toward the fire.