Coyote: The Packmind/Chapter 10

The clicking of heeled shoes is the herald to Cilan's entry, who still looks nothing like the soldier she once was, once she reaches the bottom of the stairway, she looks around with almost cold eyes, looking through the crowd for familiar faces here, noticing quite a few, she inclines her head in greeting, and follows it with a light, almost elegant, "Hello, all of you."

REDACTED is busy nuzzling Sorien in the corner, while Kaylah is crawling around them. REDACTED keeping an eye out for Kay but mostly paying attention to her mate.

Sparhawk is watching Kaylah enjoy her jungle gym parents, curled in a coyote-ish form with Elaine snoozing among all the legs. He nods quietly to Cilan.

Sorien mms at the attention she's getting, and gives a small wave to Cil.

Cilan makes a quick detour to meet up with REDACTED, Sorien, and Kaylah, giving them another incline of the head, and a warm smile, finished the second greeting, she kneels in front of Kaylah when she's near and gives the child a happy scritch behind the ears, "Hello, Kaylah.. and how are you?"

Kaylah looks up. "Hi!"

Cilan ends her scritching with her musing to herself, "Such a beautiful child.." and again rising to her feet to move to one of the bar stools, and seating herself on one of them.

Sorien softly churrs, "I got the bus all ready. We have a working kitchen!"

Sparhawk's ears perk from across the room. "Is it local-kitchen-looting time then?" His tail thumps on the floor involuntarily, and Elaine shifts a little in her sleep.

Cilan perks up as she hears that, "Hmm? Are you planning another trip to Oregon? Or is it simply just precautionary?" noticing Sparhawk she joins in, and adds, "If so, I would be quite happy to help, if needs be.."

REDACTED says, "It's nearing a month’s time, and Spar promised to return with Elaine or face Coyote's wrath."

Sparhawk nodnods. "We're going off to stay for a while, and me an' REDACTED an' Sorien have a few pointy questions to ask of Mister C. ...and that, yes."

Sorien softly churrs, "Both, really. It’s become darned useful for longer trips."

Sparhawk innocently says, "I have no interest in being kicked in the face by Carson! He wears steel-toed boots, it would sting."

Cilan nods, and continues, "Then when that time comes, I wish all of you the best.." a light giggle is made to herself as she continues, "I’d ask to come, but I am not sure how valuable a silent, gun toting soldier would be in that endeavour.."

Sparhawk shrugs. "If you would like to come, you are welcome. I always like havin' more friends around, talking or not. If nothing else you can make sandwiches and save the MREs for Coyote, yes?"

Sorien softly churrs, "We actually will be able to cook as we go.  ;)"

Cilan's eyes sparkle with an inner amusement as she listens to Sparhawk, "Hehe.. yes, then, if that is the case, I would gladly volunteer.. perhaps the only thing I actually know how to make anyways.."

Sparhawk yips, "Assuming there are enough free hands to cook who also fit in the kitchen area!"

[The Den - The Pub]: Coyote: The Final Visit

Spar, Elaine, Cil, Sorien, REDACTED, Kaylah and Taggart are all in the bus riding north to return to Carson, for questioning as well as to fulfil Spar's contract.

Sorien is at the wheel, having gotten more and more comfortable with operating the rig. "It seems to be calmer this time, somehow. REDACTED, we're gonna have to get you driving soon." (giggle)

REDACTED says, "I'd be fine with learning, but I would prefer a vehicle that wouldn't cause major damage if I make a mistake." She's holding Kaylah in her lap, making sure the child is still. Kay is staring out the window watching the amazing new sights with the fascination of a child.

Sparhawk is slightly less bendy as a coyote-derivative than a cat-butted bird, so is occupying the aisle adjacent to the seat Elaine is in. Half-in, with her nose pressed against the window glass and staring intently at high-speed scenery.

Sorien softly churrs, "Yeah, I wasn't thinking now. Though... Another person able to handle this beast would be a good thing."

"Eest!" says Kaylah.

Cilan is currently in the back, working the kitchen, and preparing the only thing the soldier seems to know how to make, sandwiches of various varieties, a warm smile pressed at her lips as she prepares the food, relatively silent aside from a small tune she hums to herself to pass the time.

REDACTED' ears cock at her child's new word, "What was that sweet one?" She asks Kay to clarify.

"Eest! Eest!" She repeats, bouncing.

The bus ride northward has become old hat at this point. The scenery of northern California somehow less beautiful and more frightening after the outbreak. Natural animals, and weird mutant hybrids are spotted in herds and slowly retaking the land from humans. Old towns are ghost villiages with the same abandoned vehicles that still haven't been cleared occasionally causing a driving hazard.

Sparhawk peers at Kaylah, as does Elaine. "I'm sorry, I left my English-Baby Dictionary back home. We're definitely going north, though." Elaine loses interest after a moment and goes to watch sandwich-making with similar intensity.

Sorien watches warily, not wanting at all to get stranded in the midst of land-gone-mad. "I really wonder... How many of the changed are breeding outside the bubbles viably? And are there smaller bubbles around every town, or just the larger ones?"

Sparhawk yips up Sorien's way, "Someone else gets to handle that project! I can only save one state at a time, I am afraid. In the meantime I wonder if there's any leftover golf carts in Fairhaven?"

Cilan leans backwards to try to get Kaylah into her field of vision, and giggles to herself as she listens to the toddler attempt to say another word, but does little aside from that, instead she finishes the preparations, and sets the prepared food aside for later consumption, and she returns to one of the seats with the various gathered group.

Sorien softly churrs, "Heh. Oh, I know exactly where to get golf carts. "

Sorien softly churrs, "... wait. What the heck would YOU need golf carts for?"

Cilan says, "Um.. painful variety of bumper cars, maybe?"

Elaine glances around sneakily, taking the moment when everyone is looking at either the road or Kaylah's new word to shift into the small Aassahke-taur form she was in once before and open the fridge to snag a few slices of lunchmeat. She trots back up to Spar's row with them in her once-again-nonanthro mouth.

Hitting the border of Oregon as always changes the scenery, wildlife numbers drop off dramatically, and the still and silent air is almost visible through the bus. The land is almost dead, if it wasn't for the verdant green surrounding both sides of the highway.

Sparhawk gestures at REDACTED. "If there is a lower-impact vehicle around, I can't think of any. It has a go button and a stop button and a wheel, and can't go fast enough to dent a bumper much less spin out. An electric golf cart is the best vehicle for training wheels, I nominate. Also, the open cab is fun to stick your head out of."

Sorien pushes a button, apparently bothered by the silence. Music starts to play- It's the Pogues, and the cut is 'Gridlock'.

Sparhawk's hackles rise involuntarily at the Oregon border. The lack of native life and roving nanite mutants puts him subconsciously on edge, and Elaine wags less for a while.

REDACTED cringes, "What is that awful racket?" She asks Sorien while she idly strokes Kay. Kay has moved on from being fascinated with the outdoors to spotting Elaine, reaching out she says, "Ee-layne!"

Sorien softly churrs, "It'd be beautiful here if I didn't know what'd happened."

Sorien softly churrs, "Oh, don't like it? I can put something else on. It’s the Pogues; this cut is bebop, which is very odd for a folk band. (She hits the skip button, and it goes to 'Young Ned on the Hill). Is this better?"

Sorien softly churrs, "And you said her name! Very good, Kaylah!"

Sorien doesn't seem all that bothered by the dislike of the music.

Elaine hastily swallows the rest of the lunchmeat and hops up to REDACTED' row of seats, balancing nimbly on the seatbacks to get there. "Elaine!" she proclaims again, then wags madly. "Being small means I can get into everything," she says with a grin to REDACTED.

REDACTED nods quietly, she usually keeps quiet about her musical tastes, or lack thereof, but the last song struck her as just weird.

Sorien softly churrs, "Just let me know, sweetie. I've a lot of stuff. From classical to big band to modern rock and darn near everything between. Just no rap or modern country."

REDACTED reaches out and scritches Elaine, "You apparently fascinate the little one here. Must be sharing the same grandfather, at least in spirit."

"Ampa?" Asks Kaylah.

Elaine carefully pronounces, "Gram-pa Carson. Coy-o-te." The task of teaching words makes for a serious-looking lapyote.

"Ampa Caron!" Kaylah giggles.

Sorien giggles. "She'll get there, Elaine sweetie."

The narrow roadway to Crater lake is almost like home, and as they approach wildlife seems to be creeping back in, a deer carcass lays on the side of the road covered with flies. Birds are occasionally seen overhead.

Cilan watches the coyote and the small toddler in silence, her amusement easily seen.

Sorien softly churrs, "Gyah. Looks like there might be other, less careful drivers."

Sparhawk chuckles, in a low tenor more specifically masculine than the usual Sparhawk. "Most of my tastes are esoteric wordy things. Classical is what happens when other more interesting things are going on, though, I've never been able to listen to it effectively."

Sorien softly churrs, "Hey. Birds! They weren't here before!"

Sorien softly churrs, "Somehow I can't see my love liking Green Day's American Idiot. (giggle)"

Sparhawk yips, "And not seagulls of San Francisco, either? Hopefully they are happy here, and not secret agents of Raven or something." Spar spends a minute humming Secret Agent Man in a break in the bus' soundtrack.

Sorien softly churrs, "I thought Raven was one of the good guys?"

REDACTED shudders at the reference to the gulls, "I really don't want to think about San Fran... But I wonder how Ellen's doing?"

Sorien softly churrs, "I'm thinking about going back, so you know sweetie. I want the chocolate. (giggle)"

Sorien softly churrs, "Gonna avoid the Presidio area and maybe go in as a draconic or wyvern. We could carry sacks out to a semi that way, and hopefully not have to deal with the natives."

Cilan says, "I’m with Sorien in that request.. just so I finally know what all of you are talking about, and I’m not left completely out of the loop!"

The parking lot area comes into view, a few of the vehicles have gone missing from the lot, but otherwise it's largely the same as it's always been.

Sorien pops the CD out and fishes out another; this one is Louis Armstrong, leading in with 'What a Wonderful World'

Elaine is interrupted in the middle of teaching Kaylah how to pronounce Carson and leaps up onto the seatback again to yip, "Chocolate! Delicious and sweet and hard to grow here!" Then she leaps back down and wags madly.

Sorien softly churrs, "Whoa. Another fan. (laugh!)"

Cilan adds in with a chuckle of her own, "It’s hard not to be a fan of chocolate.. the taste is addictive!"

Sorien softly churrs, "And it’s an aphrodisiac. (giggle)"

REDACTED stretches after the long ride, still looking a little motion sick from the drive as always. Kay announces, "Down pease!" REDACTED smirks and tussles her headfur, "You silly, I'll carry you to make sure you don't fall and hurt yourself."

Sorien softly churrs, "Is Sactchmo a better choice, sweetie?"

REDACTED says, "That certainly was less harsh on my ears love, sorry if they're sensitive."

Sorien softly churrs, "It’s okay. (giggle) I've a weakness for bebop. But Louis... Is Louis. "

Sparhawk gives a thumbsup to the music, and a general nocomment to the properties of chocolate. "I can tell you about the research part of the San Fran trip sometime, Cil. The rest is up to Sorien and REDACTED to tell or not." The hexataur gets up out of the aisle and leaves the bus to let everyone else out.

Sorien softly churrs, "What would you like to know, Cil?"

Sorien softly churrs, "You'll kinda have to specify the whens and wheres though - there's a lot."

Cilan shrugs and answers, "Anything really.. whatever you think is best for someone to know.. erm.. like what it was about the seagulls.. after all, how can such small, annoying birds be such a problem?" Probably a foolish question, seeing as how many of the birds here have changed to rape-crazy ferals.

Sorien softly churrs, "Well, we never actually SAW them. It was pretty creepy. We saw droppings, and heard some sounds but never saw them. I can only assume something between bird-and-human in size, with the avian psychology... Which is fairly alien."

Sparhawk leans on the bus, watching people file out. Elaine hops up on Spar's back to look around from an almost-as-tall-as-bus-windows perch, and Spar comments, "Works well enough for gryphons, hee!"

Sorien softly churrs, "Spar? You're odd, but you're not... Alien. Seriously."

REDACTED lifts Kay up and steps out and off the bus, the bus rocking a little as she exits. Kay is pointing all over, making grabby hands motions at new sights.

Sorien kills the tunes and the engine, ejecting the disc and re-casing it. She stands and stretches, and waits till everyone is out before debarking and securing the bus. "Lead the way, o many-legged one!"

Cilan scratches at the back of her head in curiosity as she attempts to figure that out, "So.. invisible seagulls? Or just great hiders then?.. huh, never heard of that.." is mused to herself as she follows after the group, taking of the rear as per usual.

Sorien softly churrs, "Great hiders, or scary smart."

Sparhawk tilts his head at Sorien. "I skitter around on every flat surface, have a weird number of eyes, and cocoon people to walls? Anyway, speculating is fruitless right now." Spar starts hiking, and Elaine hops down to trot alongside Kaylah protectively.

Before even moving a few feet, out from the ranger's office steps Harry, still nude beyond the occasional fur patches. She says, "He said you'd come today. Asked me to bring you to him."

Sorien softly churrs, "Aside from my love, Spar, you're my closest, best friend. You're not that weird. "

Sparhawk is in the middle of saying something about desensitization when Harry appears. "Hey Harry. Saves an MRE that way, I guess!"

Sorien grins as Harry pops up, then thinks about what she just said to Spar. "Then again, you're my friend. That could be considered as weird." (she giggles)

Kaylah says, "Weed! Woof!"

Cilan grins coyly as she notices Sparhawk's comment, and chuckles, saying, "Drat.. need to figure out ways on how to pawn these off on people.. or deities.."

REDACTED pats the small creature in her arms who just spoke.

Harry says softly, "Oh, and who is this little one? She smiles brightly, her long tongue hanging out of her flat muzzle-less mouth as usual and waves to Kay.

Sorien softly churrs, "That would be Kaylah. How are you, Harry?"

Harry says, "I'm fine, a little lonely lately, as Carson has been out on the island lately for longer periods. His children have multiplied but most of them avoid me. She frowns sadly, the first hint of sadness in her eyes that anyone has seen.

Sparhawk adjusts hir gear thoughtfully. "Daughter of REDACTED and Sorien, their gift from Coyote. Or so I am told, along with assorted adorableness. ...island?"

Sorien moves to hug Harry. "They're knuckleheads, then."

Sorien glances back at Spar. "There's this big volcanically active island in the middle of Crater Lake. The fact we got venting AWAY from the island last time was worrying me. Still does."

Harry falls into the hug, the touch being remarkably comforting. Her long ear perks at Spar's question, "Yes, the island out on the lake. You know there's an island right? I knew that and I was a sheriff in a hick town in the middle of Montana."

Sorien softly churrs, "Yeah. I was kinda volcano buff."

Cilan scratches at the back of her head, "Erk.. sorry about telling you about that, everyone.." seems that the information that the soldier had received during her night of patrolling the camp, and of chatting with the guard would’ve been important in this case.

Sparhawk yips, "Oh, right. That island. As I recall nobody got to go out to it when this was a national park with a nation around it?"

Harry lets the hug linger, before she finally pulls herself together, "Quick, he will be expecting you all, and I'm itching to see him." She turns away and begins to bound off on all fours toward a new direction.

Sorien giggles, but when Harry gets a bit distant she frowns. "I hope he doesn't hurt her."

Sorien softly churrs, "I can't recall, Spar. We should catch up though."

Sparhawk glances at Cilan curiously a moment before leaping off after Harry. "Hahah, more running through the forest! And nothing chasing us this time!"

REDACTED says, "He's coyote, a force of nature. That really isn't a question is it love?"

Sorien sighs. "I hate people getting hurt." And with REDACTED starts jogging after the varied retreating figures.

Kay shouts, "Wheeeeeeeeeeee!" as her mother runs with her in her arms. She does her best to keep from shaking Kay as she speeds along, although her pace is slowed by her inability to go quadrapedal with her arms occupied, so she falls a bit behind.

Sorien lags to stay with REDACTED.

Cilan dashes after the group, attempting to remain close to the rest of the party.

Sparhawk sweeps Elaine up in his arms and galumphs along, about halfway between Harry and the slower party, keeping them both in sight. "No fences! No broken glass! Just run and run!"

Harry is untying a patrol boat from a small dock on the edge of the lake, and hops inside, waving at Spar and the rest as they grow near. She grabs keys from a small compartment and begins the process of turning on the boat.

Sorien slows to a jog, making her way to the boat. "So what's in the water, Harry? Anything?"

Sparhawk acks and regards a wobbly boat more dubiously. "Maybe a squid Sorien would have been useful after all?"

Cilan hops into the boat, and takes the time it takes to both start up the boat, and pilot it to the island to enlighten those around her why she apologised out of the blue, telling them of the patrol, the chatting, and of some of the history of this park that may help the gathered party in the coming events.

Harry shrugs, "I'm not sure, he said not to swim though and had me get this boat from across the lake for you all." She is busy getting the boat's engine working as everyone climbs in.

Sorien softly churrs, "Oh. Rats. O well. (giggle) I've been wondering if my weird shifting worked out here. Okay, we ride."

REDACTED hands Kay up to Sori, before pulling herself over, the boat tipping rather violently as she does until she finds a more central point. "Sorry..." she apologizes.

Sorien softly churrs, "It’s okay. "We got enough room?" "

Sparhawk balances carefully and sits in the centre of the boat, less stable on water than dry land. He listens attentively to Cilan's storytelling, keeping eyes on the scenery as it goes past.

Sorien finds a stable seat.

The boat slowly takes off, moving at a rather snail’s pace considering what the boat is capable of, in order to keep it wakeless it looks like.

Sorien softly churrs, "D'you know why we can't swim, Harry?"

Sparhawk spends some time whispering with Elaine, telling a story about Crater Lake along with keeping her from bouncing all over the lake.

Harry shrugs, "Hell if I should know. The old dog also asked me to not create a wake with the boat, which meant the trip across took a really long time to get it here." she shifts a bit steering the boat toward the small island not more than 200 feet out from the shore. "I have heard whispers of how sacred this place is in the camp, but I didn't think the natives thought like that about purity and whatnot."

Sorien softly churrs, "Hmm. I'll have to ask him then. (she whispers to Harry) Are you okay, sweetie?"

Harry eyes Sorien, "What do you mean by that?" she says softly, although not whispering back. The boat's about halfway across to the island.

Sorien moves closer. "Just that. Are you okay?"

Sparhawk moves to reciting parts of the Haiawatha story after he runs out of tales about Crater Lake from when he visited once, ages ago. Harry's response gets a glance, but he doesn't interfere.

Harry says, "I'm fine. I'm just worried about Carson. He's been getting more and more distant lately." Her ears are a bit sagged, but she focuses on lining up the boat between some craggy rocks to allow for easy disembarking without a dock.

Sorien doesn't disrupt Harry's work, but says, "It’s not just about him, sweetie. You're a person too. If you want to talk later, I'll be here."

REDACTED is busy entertaining Kaylah who's pointing at things and saying "Wut!" now, her what almost sounding like Tag's.

Sparhawk murmurs, "Yeah, Sorien's good at helpin' people with friends dealing with that."

Sorien glances at Spar.

Harry manages to pull the boat up, it sliding to a rest just as the fibreglass frame taps softly against one of the rocks. She says, "All off. I'll be waiting here for you all to get back. He said you'd know where to find him."

Sorien softly churrs, "You're not coming?"

Cilan hops off of the boat stretches out both her back, and her arms, groaning slightly as she does so.

Sorien waits till the larger members disembark.

Sparhawk steps off carefully in a complicated leggy process while Elaine giggles, being carried along and needing to make no effort. "Is jerky an acceptable tip for the boat driver?"

Harry says, "No, he didn't want me down there. He's seeing Dream right now."

Harry's ears perk at the mention of jerky, and saliva quickly follows.

Sorien softly churrs, "Damn. I'm sorry sweetie. (she hugs Harry) I'll try to talk to him if you like."

REDACTED gives Kay to Sori while she jumps off, trying to land without shaking the entire boat. She falls onto the rock on her hands, the cumbersome leap certainly far from graceful.

Kaylah giggles at the handoff, and licks Harry when Sori hugs the quasi-shepherd. "Woof?" She asks.

Sparhawk grins and sets Elaine down to rummage through a saddlebag. "Always good to keep your chauffeur well-fed!" he yips as he tosses it back.

REDACTED takes Kay back once she's on land and helps Sori off, lending her a free hand.

Cilan grins to REDACTED as she offers a hand to help her up, "Hehe.. quite the graceful exit there, REDACTED.. you need any help?" is asked during the offer.

Harry blushes at the attention, but snag's Spar's jerky almost immediately. Her eyes hungry for a familiar food.

Sorien exits the boat soon after. "Now if we could get my dad to run a boat so smoothly."

REDACTED nods in thanks to Cil for the assistance.

The island is small and craggy, small trees are growing on rocks, and the rocks are definitely volcanic, pieces of pumice laying around on the ground, although all of it seems long weathered and overgrown. It's been a long time since the volcano blew last. It's about 700' radius, and not much to it.

Sparhawk starts walking up the rocky beach with Elaine trotting alongside, looking intent on the island's alleged inhabitant. "Times like these make me lad I wear shoes. Anybody havin' issues can hop on up behind me."

Sorien follows, a worried look back to Harry. "I hope she'll be okay." She shakes a bit. "I like this kind of terrain; I've always been one to scramble around on rocks."

REDACTED' ears flicker as she tries to listen and smell, closing her eyes. There's a scent of ash that's familiar from all over the area, but Carson's scent can't be felt over it. There's nothing but silence out on the dead little island.

Sorien softly churrs, "Right. (Sori scrambles after Spar, seemingly comfortable, even enjoying the roughish terrain.)"

Sparhawk is going for the high centrepoint of the island, not least because it's a good lookout. Half speed lets him look around at the place without forcing anyone else into more than a scramble.

REDACTED says softly to Kay, "I wonder where your grandpa expects us to find him?" echoing many of the group's thoughts.

Kaylah says, "Ampah?"

Sorien looks towards Spar and follows him to the summit of the island. "Anything in sight, Spar?"

The old cone is the only real point of interest on the small island, and REDACTED shrugs and says, "Why don't we try up there?" pointing toward it.

Cilan shrugs and replies to REDACTED with, "Fine by me.." and with the retreating to the rear of the group, she follows everyone up the volanic island, along the way, she can be heard humming a small tune to herself in the attempt to pass the time doing something other than being deathly silent.

Sorien softly churrs, "I haven't scrambled about like this in years. (Sori is grinning despite her worry for Harry, and seems to be truly enjoying the climb)"

Sparhawk skitters nimbly, enjoying the feel of a billion tons of reasonably-stable earth supporting the breatheable air. "I remember Mount Saint Helens making more of an impact on me, when I went through here. The people around Crater Lake were more interesting, with that telescope guy and the mid-July snowball fight."

Sorien softly churrs, "St. Helens... Brr. Glad I was nowhere near when THAT happened."

"I suspect if any of those people survived P-day, they are now a part of Elaine's pack, or some of the digested memories. Has she been able to pull anyone else out, besides those few Coyote saved?" REDACTED says to Spar. She's climbing carefully, trying to keep Kay safe and herself steady.

Sparhawk stops to look blank at REDACTED for a moment. "Uh... that was twenty years ago. Really, I hope they all moved somewhere in the past decade. As for rescue...where would they go? Even if we did unauthorized dreaming, they would be trapped inside a tiny coyote with no body to borrow-without-intent-to-return."

REDACTED says softly, "Any chance at life I'm sure they would grab by hands and fists, but I suppose that is something you should talk with Coyote about."

Sorien softly churrs, "Almost thirty years, Spar."

Sorien pulls up alongside Spar, actually starting to pull ahead. She might not have the extra limbs, but she also lacks the extra mass.

The group's journey up toward the peak leaves them hot and tired, the sun is beating down on them and the wind sweeping across the lake isn't blocked by anything. Nearing the tip, there's a huge surprise. It's filled to the brim with water.

Sorien softly churrs, "Huh!"

Sorien softly churrs, "Wonder if THIS is 'no swimming' too?"

Sparhawk grins toothily at Sorien. "Old lady, I wasn't born when Mount Saint Helens exploded! That would be a very unenlightening trip." And then there's another pool. "I nominate not-me to leap into this one. So much for posing dramatically at the peak?"

REDACTED moves up close to look into the water, handing Kay off to Sorien.

Sorien softly churrs, "Bah. (Sori does the old-lady voice) You young whippersnappers with your rock music'n yer cars, gerroffa mah lawn! (she giggles!)"

Cilan looks curiously at the pool of water, "Huh.. think this is like the pool at the wellspring?" is said to no-one in particular.

REDACTED says, "Um... this isn't normal. You might want to take a look at this." The water in frotn of her looks like a mirror. You can't see anything below the surface, and it reflects perfect images out from it. It doesn't ripple or move with the wind.

Sorien softly churrs, "Maybe... Yeah, diving in isn't such a hot idea."

Cilan kicks a nearby stone into the water, waiting to see the reaction, if there is one.

The stone disappears into the water without disturbing it, gone immediately from sight

Sorien pokes Spar. "Your move, fearless leader."

Sparhawk puts Elaine down and creeps closer to peer at the pool dubiously. "Not...quicksilver, that still ripples with objects." He closes his eyes a moment and tilts his head as if listening to something, his tail swinging to whap at Sorien fruitlessly. The nanite adept checks for the nanite's songs.

And Spar hears nothing but silence. Whatever it is, it's magical, not nanite related.

Cilan says, "Huh.. for all we know, it could just be an illusion.."

Sorien easily dodges the halfhearted swat. "Hmm. Naah, it’s here. But... Mirrors are portals, often. So this may be the door to Dream.

REDACTED says softly, "Do we trust Coyote's intentions here? He said we'd know where to find him, and I don't think he means any of us harm."

Cilan turns from the 'water' and looks to those here, asking, "Anyone here have some rope?"

Sorien softly churrs, "I think we do. I can go first... And no, no rope. "

Sparhawk shakes his head and reopens his eyes. "Not a wellspring like the one I...explored...last time. The only nanites I can hear are our own." He moves up to huff a breath across the surface of the water, murmuring something esoteric. Meanwhile, Elaine has followed and is giggling incessantly as she makes faces into the pool.

Kaylah says, "Oooh. Me!" And reaches for the reflection. Sori keeps ahold though.

There's something noticeably off about the reflection. Where Elaine's face should be, there's a young girl, the one known as Dream. Coyote's Daughter.

Sorien looks. "Hey!"

Cilan blinks at the reflection, "Wait.. is.. is that supposed to happen?" turning to Elaine she gives her a curious look, trying to figure the coyote out.

Sparhawk and his reflection both raise their eyebrows at Elaine's antics. "That's interesting." He leans over to scritch the dog-version's ears, not really recognizing the face by sight.

REDACTED says, "We'll go together love, I trust Coyote has good intentions."

Sorien glances at her companions, then to the reflection. "Do we just come in, Dream?"

REDACTED takes Sorien's hands into hers and leans in to kiss Kay. "Let’s go, the three of us together my love. I'm sure we'll be fine whatever this test is."

Cilan answers with a shrug, ignoring the face, and announces seemingly to herself, "Well.. nothing ventured, nothing gained.." before moving to the mirror like pool, and quickly entering.

Sorien leans into REDACTED and also enters the reflection, following Cil.

As Cilan touches the mirror, she suddenly disappears into thin air, but her reflection remains in the water.

Sorien, REDACTED and Kay also disappear in the same manner, leaving their own reflections behind.

Sparhawk looks around at people vanishing. "Really, that wasn't serious advice! Not telling everyone who is not me to leap in! Siiiiigh..." He spends a minute being similarly entertained at making the face of Dream make ecstatic panting from the earscritches, then releases his currently-daughter. "I guess we should go help, this matches the description of where the dreamer went and we saw Carson come back." Spar and Elaine reach out to touch the water simultaneously.

Everyone wakes up, their head spinning. It's almost as if gravity has reversed. The mirrored pool nearby looks instead out on an empty sky above. They are in a dim cave, it feels deep in the earth, although they can breathe just fine. There are candles flickering, and a small bed is setup. The old dog himself is sitting on the edge of the bed with his hands on the young dreamer occupying the bed. He looks up at the new entrants.

Cilan scratches at the back of her head, and inclines her head in polite greeting to Coyote, "Uh.. hello, Coyote.." looking past him she gestures to Dream and asks, "Is she alright? Or just tired?"

Sorien grins, looking at Coyote and Dream. "Here we are. And we have someone for you to meet... Grampa. (giggle)"

Kaylah says, "Ampa?"

Carson brings a finger up to his mouth, and nods at Cilan. He takes his hand off of Dream's shoulder and stands up, stretching slowly, and then moves over toward the group.

Sparhawk immediately begins grabbing at his arms and torso to ensure their continued existence. That task completed he looks around and focuses on Coyote. And Cilan, who is talking out loud much more after waltzing into someone's bedroom than in open social spaces.

Softly Carson says, "Follow me." indicating a pathway off away from the sleeping Dream.

Cilan jumps in surprise, seeming almost embarrassed, and in a near-whisper she continues, "Erk.. s-sorry, Coyote.." and that behind her, she continues onto the path he had instructed the group to follow.

Sparhawk makes exaggerated tiptoe motions away from the hole in the sky, amused by lots and lots of things for a while. Being upside-down is a useful life skill! And the release of tension from not being melted into goo for the third time causes some silliness.

REDACTED' eyes linger on the small child, knowing how close she came to the Shadow, she's lost in thought when Coyote leads the group off.

Sorien whispers to Kaylah, "Looks like we need to be quiet, sweetie." Kaylah instantly asks, "Why?", to which Sori puts a finger on the girl's muzzle. "We'll find out, hush now."

REDACTED finally realizes the group has exited, and she breaks out of her thoughts, and turns to follow quickly, trying not to let her claws clack against the stone floor.

Sorien blinks a bit as she goes, getting her eyes to adapt more quickly to the lowered light.

Carson says once they are sufficiently far from her, "I'm sorry I asked you to come here. We are facing dark times, and I'm trying to concentrate my power. It's getting harder to leave her." Carson's face looks pained and sadness creeping over the usually gruff man's face.

Sorien softly churrs, "How do you mean, harder? "

Carson looks as if he's trying to decide the words to use. "She's draining me, perhaps even killing me. I'm not sure how long I have."

Sparhawk sits quietly and scritches Elaine as she comes to the scritching spot at his hip. "That's...not the thing I was expecting to hear you say today."

Sorien softly churrs, "... How can we help?"

Cilan says, "Is there.. is there a way to stop that from happening? After all, I’m pretty certain that the aassahke'd be lost without you to guide them."

"You can't help me, but you can help her after I'm gone..." Carson drifts off, "You can feel it I'm sure. The land dying, Midnight Shadow is draining life from the world itself. He will come for her in time. She is marked by him as you all are and he will return."

Sorien softly churrs, "He won't win, and you'll be back. I firmly believe that."

Sorien softly churrs, "But we have to fight for that result."

Cilan seconds Soriens comment with a firm nod.

REDACTED cringes at the reference to the Shadow killing things, "I... I thought you couldn't die?" she asks Carson.

Sorien softly churrs, "All things die, sweetie. But... With our friend here, it’s less permanent. But if there's nobody left, he CAN'T come back. "

Carson shakes his head, "Everything dies. I can assure you of that, everything dies. That is the only constant."

Elaine yips, "No dying, Grandfather! Not before we fix everything!" She looks determined and a little sad as she goes to put her paw on Carson's knee.

Kay echo's the small 'yote with "Ampa!"

Carson suddenly realizes that there's a small babe, and that the small grandaughter he loaned Spar has changed dramatically in the past month. His face brightens at the sight, and he chuckles at Elaine's very human affection.

Sorien softly churrs, "Before we get to the darker matters... I have some happiness for you, Carson. Would you like to meet Kaylah?"

Kaylah looks up. "Ampa?"

Taggart has been quiet for the entire trip. He hasn't appeared upset or happy or really... anything. Perhaps thoughtful and stoic. The Irishman watches everything with calm, cool emerald eyes.

Elaine nodnods vigorously. "Kaylah! This is Grampa Carson. Don't bite him." Spar watches, bemused, as his daughter practices the skill of giving introductions.

Carson squints at the small creature, and moves forward, putting his thick callused fingers up to the small aassahke hybrid child. "She looks of her mothers, but she smells of me."

Kaylah looks surprisingly indignant. "I no bite!"

Sorien looks stunned. "Crap. A sentence!"

Carson asks, "Has the little one been exhibiting anything unusual?" Looking from REDACTED to Sorien.

Sorien softly churrs, "... Yeah. Her tails change. But there's no rhyme nor reason to it so far."

Cilan says, "A few shifts mainly around the tails.. for a while she had multiple skunk tails, and even a dragon-like one.."

Sparhawk grins. "Certainly not now, when everyone would see it coming..." Standing aside for this side of the family to meet, Spar watches Carson's behaviour closely.

Kaylah grabs Carson's hand. "Ampa?"

He scratches his chin, and harumphs, and then scritches the little one's cheek, then she grabs his hand. He nods to her, "I suppose I am. I helped your mothers create you, although you are born of their love as much as me."

"Kaylah says, "Mine!" and giggles."

Sparhawk watches Kaylah being adorable, as is typical, and vaguely possessive of things she likes. "Share?" he says in the child's general direction.

Carson looks surprised at the bold statement. "You are a bold little one aren't you Kaylah? You be good and help keep your mothers straight. They'll need someone to keep them in line when I'm gone." He smirks, taps her on the nose with his free hand, and then pulls himself free of her grip to turn away, walking a bit toward the wall.

Kaylah says, "No go!"

Sorien softly churrs, "Two sentences, however broken. We're doomed."

REDACTED finally releases the shock and then says softly, "We've got a rather large concern that you should probably be aware of." She points to Taggart and says, "You may want to take a look at the curse you put on Tag.

Taggart quietly gives a sniff of his nose, a soft suckling sound as the man wraps his tongue around a slightly oversized canine and sucks. He clears his throat, not having used it for quite some time before he speaks up, obviously directed at the deity, "Yer a bloody selfish one, aren't ya, Carson?" He holds up his hand to REDACTED, preferring his own introduction, it seems.

Cilan announces calmly as Carson takes his leave, "You can rest easily, Coyote.. Dream will be in great hands.. I would rather die than let anything bad happen to her, or any of my friends, really.." small smirk presses at her lips as she continues, "Midnight Shadow won’t even know what hit it.." the voice seeming almost matter of factly.

Carson stays standing away, and says, "What, you're upset about having a fuck every once in a while? I just wanted ya to loosen a bit up." Coyote's tail makes an appearance.

Taggart shakes his head, "We... kin' get ta that part in just a moment... I'm jus' speakin' general terms'ere. Ya think yer dyin' er summat? An' yer jus' gonna let it'appen? Bloody selfish git, you are."

Sorien partly earflats as Tag acts as Tag. She holds her tongue, but seems ready to say something, Kaylah squirming in her arms. "Down!" Kaylah says, though for the moment Sori keeps hold.

Coyote responds, "Would you prefer I let Dream die instead?" he pauses, and then continues "Would you prefer this world lose the ability to dream of something better?"

Sorien softly churrs, "I think we'd not like to lose either if it can be helped. (Kaylah is squirming harder, and Sori is having trouble keeping hold.)"

Kaylah bites her mother's hand.

Sparhawk waits, watching silently for events to demand a swift response. Elaine does similarly, though she goes to take the cover of Spar's hindlegs.

Taggart smiles softly and shakes his head, looking down at the ground for a moment before green eyes slip back up. "Funny thing... s'far as I kin' tell... it don't werk that way, 'zactly. See... we... made ya, Carson. An' you made Dream. All yer power... an' all hers... comes from us. Our stories... 'bout tha fire back in tha days. Our belief in ya... in her. That's wut it is. An' you. Yer jus' gonna roll over like a sick dog... an' be fergotten."

Sorien softly churrs, "Ack! Hey!" (And Kaylah the Terrible is loose!)"

Coyote begins to laugh at Taggart's statement, his voice echoing in the small cavelike chamber. "Do you really think I would chose to die, out of laziness, fear or stupidity?"

Kaylah beelines in a wobbly bipedal trot and latches onto Carson's leg! "Mine!"

Taggart looks Coyote straight and nods, unblinking. "Yes." Not aye.

Sorien looks annoyed, but whether it’s at Coyote, Kaylah or Tag isn't certain. "It’s not... Geez, Tag. I love you, but tact IS useful sometimes."

Coyote is simultaneously struck by cute, and insult at the same time, and his coyote ears twitch above his head. He doesn't respond, rather it turns to silence.

Kaylah looks up at Carson. "No go!"

Taggart looks at Sorien, "An' wut tact ya think I should be reservin' fer tha fella that done cursed me like this, hmmm? Ya t'ink I owe him shite?"

Sparhawk quietly says, "Well, yeah. You owe him an explanation of what he obviously doesn't understand before you start cussin' up a storm next to somebody's bedroom."

Taggart turns and looks at Sparhawk, "No, I don't Spar. I been standin'ere fer tha whole time, an' he's barely taken tha time ta look at me. I bet iffun he -really- looked fer a second'er two... he'd see wut he did. But naaa... he's got his head too bloody stuck up his own arse feelin' sorry fer himself."

Sorien softly churrs, "No. I think we all need to be reasonable, sweetie. We're ALL in a terrible spot right now."

Taggart falls quiet for a moment, eyes looking to the ground. "Ya eat people and absorb their souls Sorien? Walk around with 'em pokin' ya here an' there throughout tha day?"

Coyote turns around, his eyes glowing golden and his full form on, and he -looks- at Taggart. A golden light moving out from him in the direction of Tag, and it strikes up against Tag's aura, before it -melts- into darkness. He suddenly shifts, from anger to something else. "You! Out of here, now, don't you dare bring HIM in here near Dream!"

Sorien softly churrs, "Coyote- YOU put it in him! BOTH of you, STOP."

Sorien softly churrs, "Your curse went WRONG."

Sparhawk grabs at his left hip and says, "Dammit, forgot spectrometer again!"

Sorien gets between the two men, carefully pulling Kaylah loose from Coyote. The girl looks a little scared, but not at Coyote. "I want you both to sit down. Now. Please."

Taggart does not sit, but remains quiet, hands slipping into the pockets of his pants.

Sorien just gives Tag a look. "Please."

Taggart gives his head a little shake, looking through her look.

Coyote softly speaks after watching all the talking, "You think I let -him- in Tag? All I did was try to help him get over that woman he was pining himself to death over. Yes, I was dramatic, but the intent was genuine."

Sorien softly churrs, "I know. I know. But you said it yourself. We're ALL touched by that... Thing. What you did... Made it worse for Tag. He EATS people. And not just their bodies. Look close. Look VERY close, and understand."

Elaine pads over quietly and brushes against Taggart's leg. "Yes," she whispers up to the big grumpy man.

Coyote cocks his head at Sorien's words, he seems to trust her more than most, he softly says, "May I approach?" indicating Tag's direction.

Taggart very suddenly snaps his teeth over Sorien's shoulder at Coyote, eyes flashing red and low growl in his chest before it fades and the man recomposes himself. It's almost as if it was someone else, superimposed over his form for a half second in the angry retaliation to words against lost and former mate. The Irishman simply runs his hand up through hanging red bangs, brushing them back over his scalp.

Sorien softly churrs, "Please, Tag. Sit down. We need peace here, not posturing."

Taggart speaks slowly and deliberately as his eyes look down at the coyote against his leg, "Sitting... will just upset me, furt'er."

Sorien softly churrs, "Okay then. Okay. You two are the most infuriating.... Huff. Coyote, look. And please... Peace. "

Coyote doesn't get a response, and moves forward anyway toward Tag, and moves to touch the former wolfman. Not affectionately, but not as an attack, as if he's touching Tag to look at something.

Taggart doesn't move, emerald eyes still thoughtfully focused on Elaine.

Elaine sits there, wagging away peaceably, watching her grandfather and the other person in the room who contains eaten people. There is a lack of fear, reinforced by Spar standing nearby.

Cilan waits in the background, her arms folded across her chest as she watches the argument unfold in relative silence, the soldier seeming to have little to add to this.

Kaylah also watches, and two tails suddenly ripple and go coyote; a third goes skunk a moment later; neither she nor Sori notice, focussed on Coyote and Tag.

Coyote's hand touches Tag's skin as he touches Tag's chest, and his fur turns black and dark. He groans and pushes, pushes against a force in Tag, and then his hand reaches -inside Taggart- He groans and twists, like he's grabbing something and -pulls- out Tag's heart, stained pulsing black blood out of it. He looks in wonder at it.

Sorien blinks! "Holy..."

Coyote says, "This... is not my magic. It doesn't even resemble me. What the hell is going on here?"

Sorien softly churrs, "That's what we want to know."

Kaylah says, "Icky hurt?"

Taggart blinks at the touch, then shudders as hand slides inside. A hand balls into a fist and tries to swing up at Coyote before the hand withdraws with his heart, to which Taggart stares at. He blinks a few times more, then his eyes glaze over and turn white before his muscles seem to solidify and he becomes statue-esque and resolute. Unspeaking, unmoving.

Sorien softly churrs, "Yeah, sweetie. But Grandpa is trying to help. (the little white lie is accepted by the little girl.)"

Sparhawk watches with interest. "Expletive-worthy indeed. Haven't seen that much of Taggart's insides since a year ago! Hopefully you can give the start of an explanation..."

Coyote sighs, and places the heart back in Tag's still hand. "I'm afraid the source of this curse is internal. It comes from within you. It is a part of who you are, and I can't fix it without killing you."

Sorien softly churrs, "How... How do we heal him then?"

As the heart is placed into his hand, the hand suddenly seems to flush with life, the warmth growing up his arm. Beating muscle slowly shrinks, but grows, and stays the same size, as life and emotion return to the stoic figure. Before too long, the Irishman is blinking rapidly and looking about, heart gone from his hand.

Cilan says, "I think that’s up to him to do that.. we may be able to show him the door.. but it’s up to him to do the rest of the work.."

"You don't, he isn't broken, or hurt. He simply is." Coyote frowns, his large ears twitching as he studies the magic surrounding the Irishman.

Sorien softly churrs, "Gods. "

Sparhawk schools patience while someone studies a thing he doesn't understand. Elaine looks a little more concerned though.

Kaylah squirms and reaches for Tag. "Tag! Up!" Her tails flick in agitation, the altered ones obvious as she does.

Coyote says softly, "Beware the new moon though." to Taggart.

Taggart focuses his eyes upon Coyote, emerald orbs squinting slightly in thought as they regard the deity and take in his words. His comment, however, seems to echo Sorien. "Sumtin' like that." The man blinks again, though, as the small girl tries to get his attention, turning to look at her with the shadow of a smile on his lips. He leans down and takes her into strong arms, wrapping her legs around his waist, but nods to the warning, remaining focused on Kaylah.

"Tag mine. Ampah mine too!" Kaylah giggles.

Sparhawk leans around a bit to watch Kaylah as usual, then says, "So when our giant argument got put off, you told me sortin' out the souls in your head was your own business. Is that still the case?"

Coyote frowns, "It's unfortunate that your magic focused on that. They won't be free until you die I'm afraid, but they will live on as a part of you." he turns to REDACTED who visibly stiffens and is silent during the whole discussion over Tag, "He's not hurting them, they aren't destroyed, just a part of him. This isn't the Shadow, he isn't torturing them."

Sorien softly churrs, "So... They're stuck. Okay, stuck is better than gone or hurt."

Taggart smiles gently at Kaylah's declaration of ownership before he reaches up and pokes the end of her nose. "Kin ya say 'Taggart' Kaylah-dear?" Still focused on the girl, he answers Sparhawk, "Depends, Spar."

Kaylah screws up her face and says, "Ta-gut!"

Taggart smirks and shakes his head. "Tag-gurt."

Kaylah claps and tries again. "Tay-gut!"

Coyote shakes his head at the interaction and moves over to Sparhawk, his features shifting away from Coyotes and more toward's Carson's. He whispers softly into Sparhawk's ear.

Coyote leaves the rest in the room, pulling Spar gently with him back into Dream's room

Taggart falls stern for a moment, thick eyebrow arching upward. "Kaylah... this is important ta me. If I'm yours, ya got ta be callin' me proper."

Sorien hugs REDACTED, then pulls her over so they can both hug Tag.

Sparhawk stands attentively with main eyes still on Taggart and Kaylah, but nods after Coyote's words. "See you later, Mr. Faith." Elaine comes with him, leaving only one source of adorable.

Coyote leads Spar over to the small bed, and sits down next to her. He whispers softly, "She was dying, so I took her death into myself. I don't want her to wake before I pass, but if you would like, you can learn from her now how to create new dreams. Just touch her and you'll see."

Sparhawk nods, but holds his hand above for a moment. "Just one question first: how will we know you when we find you again?" Elaine mimics the pose, although stretched up rather a lot more than Spar.

Coyote says, "You won't!"

Cilan says, "Forgive me and my bluntness, but.. I find it hard to believe that you'll be gone forever.. after all, you're a damn god.. immortal.."

Sparhawk yips, "Traded surprises then!" He lightly rests his hand on Dream's arm, with Elaine's less-human paw doing the same. "Didn't manage to tell you the name of my child-of-mind either...""

"And it's been a pleasure to meet you Elaine. Now meet my daughter." Carson says, ignoring Cil's statement, and watches as Spar and Elaine both slump to the ground.

Cilan shrugs to the fact of being ignored, and leans her back against the wall, folding her arms across her chest, and watching in silence once more.

Coyote returns to the group and says, "It's time you all leave here. I will send Spar and my grandaughter after you all. You'll find a welcome home in my children's village if you would prefer that to your vehicle while you wait.

Cilan nods slowly, "Well.. I’m.. I’m sorry that it has to end this way.. I truly wish there was something I could do further.. but, again, Dream will be perfectly safe, I can promise you that, Carson.." finished, she snaps to a rigid posture and gives the man a rigid salute, holding it for a moment before ending it, and leaving the cave.

Exiting the cave was much like entering, waking up on the other side, with a small side effect of dizziness and the sky above is now dark, time having been lost quickly in the other place.

REDACTED and Sori follow out, Sorien stopping to hug Carson before leaving.

Sorien emerges, looking around. "Dammit. I should have... I should have told him to tell Harry. Shit."

REDACTED says softly, "Harry knows love. You can see it in her features. She knows Coyote is dying."

Sorien softly churrs, "... I hate this. (And Sori hugs REDACTED tight.)"

Cilan lets loose a long, drawn out, and pained sigh, "Yeah.. I hate it too.. and right now.. all I can do is wonder how that village will do without Coyote watching over them.."

REDACTED nuzzles her mate, "Death is always sad, but it's a part of life, and a necessity." and REDACTED says softly, "Even if he passes, he will still be a part of them. Besides, I suspect they will continue on just fine, as people have for centuries without gods intervening. I'm more worried about what we'll do without Coyote to help us against the Shadow."

Cilan says, "Mm.. maybe.. maybe, but, in light of our suggestion for actually defeating Midnight Shadow, I suppose all we can do is /try/ to keep our hopes up, and think of a bright future, one where everyone's young can live in a better world than this.. Kaylah.. Dream.. Elaine.. all of them.."

Taggart has remained quiet for a bit, softly holding Kaylah before he sets her down and lets her return to mothers, if she prefers.

Kaylah clings to Tag, not really wanting to leave him.

REDACTED nods quietly, "All, children of Coyote. In fact, don't legends say we're all his children?"

Taggart snorts gently, if a bit derisively, before he leans down and hefts Kaylah up again.

Cilan shrugs casually and adds, "I’m not sure.. I never really was a religious person.. but.. you never know.."

The remaining members return to Harry on the boat, and then follow her to the Aassahke village, Sorien insisting on talking quietly with Harry about Carson, in fact Harry spends the night under Sorien's insistence with her, REDACTED and Kay, and they spend a good while talking. Cilan and Tag get to see many familiar faces, as well as many new ones. The village has grown by almost half again in the month period, and quite a few of them are pregnant and near due. The raven haired girl is still silent, coyote having never returned her tongue despite Sori's plea.

Cilan looks around the village, a grin pulling at her lips as she notices Bill again, but chooses not to interact with any of them yet, instead she does some backtracking, back to the bus to gather a few supplies, various food, junk food as well, and makes a quick return, setting the food aside, she moves up to Bill and offers another hand in patrolling the village again.