Old as Dirt: Swallowing Darkness

Crys blinks up at Sorien, and then smiles, seeing her mate well taken care of. She waits patiently for her order. Eventually she rocks herself back up onto her feet and picks up a tray with a bowl of stew and tea, moving over to sit with her mate. She first leans in and hugs Cilan, and then kisses Sorien, before finding herself a place to sit and eat nearby, not wanting to interrupt.

Rophe things a moment before answering, "Lets see, the scrap, the charming people, and a drink that I've been dying for fer a long time." He says lifting his bottle. "Or at least something similear." he adds with a smile.

Sorien mmmms. "I'm being brushed, I have my Crys, I look like I swallowed a boulder. Life, is for the most part, good." (giggle) Balina heads down, down, into the pit of impending babies. A communal wave is offered, water is acquired in quantity, and a table is claimed at the minimum safe distance in case one of the breeder reactors reaches critical mass.

Narg nods "Yeah the drinks are good here, that they are. I myself happen to enjoy the whiskey and the food here... you gotta eat it ta believe I suppose"

Rophe nods and sips his drink.

Cilan smiles broadly as [REDACTED] hugs her, the dragoness soon wrapping her own arm around the leopardess and holding her there until [REDACTED] releases it, "Mm.. s'good to see you, mom.. how're you feeling?" she asks warmly, "Ah, mind showing me a few tails, I think I could do a double brushing.. maybe.." she states as her free hand pulls a second brush.

Sorien shifts to hug into Crys tight. "God, I love you."

Narg nods and takes a seat near Rophe just not really close (Sori.. that taken off the cusp by a guttermind as soon as they enter could take that all wrong >_>)

Rophe smiles at Narg, happy for the unexpected company at his corner table.

Minimum safe distance is about three feet, give or take splash damage. Nodding to Cilan from the next table over, Balina says, "About eighty-eight percent of the samples I was hopeful about last time I was in are still going strong. I was hoping to have this fixed before we all drowned in babies, but I think I can build a raft, instead."

Crys quickly piles down food, and then lets her mate and Cil have their way with her tails, just laying back and relaxing, trying to let her weariness work its way off. "I need to get more sleep, but the babies keeping me up." Eventually she says, "I hope, the wedding gift wasn't in any way a dissapointment, by the way. It took so long I was worried expectations would be through the roof."

Cygnus gives a wave to Bal and blinks, immediately diving into her bag and pulling out a large jar of peanut butter and waving it in the air "BAL!!! I GOT THIS FER YA!!"

Narg lifts her whiskey up "You just looked lonely figured I would sit down"

Rophe meows, "I'm not complaining, I'm happy either way."

Cilan nuzzles [REDACTED] gently, her draconic muzzle rubbing happily against her leopardess mother before she pulls back and adds, "You dont have to worry, mom, it was great! Both Selene and I loved it.. now we just have to figure out a place to hang it!" she says in a giggle which soon ends in Cilan running the brush through one of [REDACTED]'s many tails, and another through Sorien's, over her shoulder she calls to Balina and says, "Great, cant wait to hear back on the status of those.. would be good to see the city without Sorien, or the Tagling's supervision again!"

Rophe smiles warmly.

Narg nods "Good attitude ta have" she calls a Tagling over and gives him some creds after ordering a medium rare steak with a lick of her chops

Balina's ears flick slightly at her name being called, then scoots herself back to go stop by Cygnus and accept the jar with some confusion before finally breaking a grin. "Longer memory than myself, I guess. I think I got my hands on an MRE with those crackers and peanut butter not long after I mentioned it last time. Thanks, though. I will treasure this for... it might last a week!"

Cilan avariciously roars, "Mm.. wonder how long it was since I last had an Ooorah bar.. they were pretty good I have to admit.. specially the chocolate versions."

Cygnus nods "I remember the 'important' things!" She says with a grin "This was the largest jar I found too, figured you'd like it."

Crys relaxes and murrs as she's brushed, and then idly listens, her ears flicking to the conversations. "So no luck on a cure for Cilan yet?" she asks, not sure if she heard right.

Balina nods, shaking that last bit of confusion out of her head to stow away the jar. "That's why I said week, not evening," she comments. "Thanks, though." Back near the power plants, she looks to Crys and gives a helpless shrug. "I've got fifteen cultures still going through testing. Any one of them may be right, but I'm not going to put any of them into Cilan until I'm certain."

Sorien softly churr, "I know you'll figure it out, Bal."

Cilan just nods and says, "Well, I can wait.. here's hoping it's this batch that'll do it.." she states before shaking her head, dispelling the thought and going back brushing her mothers, humming a soft song to herself as she goes about doing so.

Narg receives her steak and begins to chow down cutting big pieces of meat and placeing them in her muzzle to chew on.

Rophe sizes up Narg's steak a moment as she starts on it. He leans back and sips his drink contently.

[Narg(#13030)]: It's a nice sized steak, good too cept she is already halfway through it, it's a fault of hers that she eats foods she likes to eat quickly.

Cygnus sniffs and smiles as a tagling walks up to her with a bowl of chili. The bunny takes a deep breath and smiles, gripping the spoon in her paw and digging in.

Sorien is curled against Crys, somehow having found a comfortable position. She makes little circles with a finger on the dome of Crys' belly, smiling. "So wonderful."

Cilan giggles as she watches Sorien, ending her soft humming to say, "I felt the exact same way with Selene.."

Crys says softly, "You just like that I can't run. I'm stuck here while you do all sorts of terrible things to me!" her tone is not at all serious.

Sorien softly churrs, "You forget that I can barely stand up! (giggle!)"

Balina snarls, "You're both huge targets. If you got too close, physics says we'd be unable to pry you apart with anything smaller than a nuclear reactor."

Cygnus nods in agreement with Bal "Yep, any larger then you might start orbiting eachother and that can get messy!"

Sorien softly churrs, "I have a death star in mah belleh! (laugh!)"

Narg finishes up her steak and licks the plate clean then rolls her eyes at the general bad jokes all around.

Rophe sips his drink, eyeing the near-empty bottle sadly.

Crys curls around her stomach, leaning sideways and laying on her mate's stomach, listening to the new life inside.

Sorien alters her position as Crys shifts. "(giggle) Cheater, you're swiping my position!"

Cilan giggles at her mothers, and stops brushing as the two shift in their seat, making the tails unreachable, moving next to her original lounger, Cilan grabs the plate she had left there and brings it into the kitchen for a moment or two, washing it, and any dishes she had used in its creation.

Grantok quietly decends the stairs, her tails drooped a little bit, a pensive look crossing her face. She takes a moment to exchange the usual pleasantries with everyone she recognizes. "How's everything treating everyone?"

Sorien waves at Gran, in no wise able to seriously move other than that.

Rophe gives a nod to Gran polightly.

Crys waves from a horizontal position, seemingly curled around the mount of her mate's belly.

Narg waves at Grantok "Ello Gran! Been treatin people fairly"

Cilan pads quietly out of the back hallway, this time using a clean looking bar towel to wipe off her wet hands, as soon as they're dry however she tosses it to Breandan who deftly catches it, Cilan on the other hand waves a clawed hand at Grantok in a pleasant greeting and says, "Hello, Gran.. I'm doing a little well, I have to admit.. how 'bout yourself? Can I get you anything? Got a beer with your name on it, cost's on me too!"

Cygnus gives a wave to Gran and yawns, eyeing the lynx and giving a shrug, a chill running down her back.

Balina has begun tempting fate, balancing herself on the back legs of her chair. A lazy wave is offered from her paw, her comm taking up her good hand. "Waiting, watching. Slow, but in a good way, I hope. Waiting to hear back on a bunch of things."

"Good to hear Narg." Grantok waves to the returning Cilan. "Actually I had something else in mind besides a drink Cil. You wouldn't happen to have any more of that Dize-whatever that sleeping pill was from before, would you?"

Narg grins and just waves

Sorien indulges in a little tickling of her mate.

Rophe rests his chin on the table, staring at his bottle. "I can't decide wheather or not to finish this..."

Sorien blinks. Diazepam? Valium, Gran?

Narg peers at the drink "Well what did ya grab?"

Balina gives a confused glance towards Cilan. "I thought you told me that stuff would be more likely to keep her up," she asks, as subtle as she is observant.

Crys squirms as she's tickled, giggling. And then she looks up as it stops. "Hrmmm? I have sleeping pills on me from last night. Why?"

Cilan scratches at the back of her neck, "Huh.. y'mean the diazepam? Yeah, I think I've got a few tablets left.." reaching into her pack and pulling a small box she looks up and asks, "Wait.. aren't you worried this'll awaken whatever's inside of you agai--.. actually, I suppose its probably better than what you're facing now, huh? Poor woman.." she states before breathing a soft sigh, finally nodding, "Alright then, aint the best substitute. But, should cut back REM sleep, and with that, you should get a dreamless night. I hope."

Rophe squints still staring at the bottle. "Its a drink that tastes veeeery close to coka-cola, and its something that I've been dying for for months."

Rophe stays there with his chin on the table, staring at the bottle for another moment before taking the bottle and closing it tightly.

After finishing, Cilan passes the box to Grantok in a nice underhand lob and says, "Here's wishing you luck with whatever's happening.."

Grantok nods to Sorien. "Diazepam. That was the stuff. And to be honest, I'm hoping it yields the same results as last time, seeing as I can't talk to him, I'm hoping you can ask him a few questions for me. Especially after this last vision. Must've felt it was important sending me a glimpse while still awake.

Sorien softly churrs, "What was the latest?"

Cilan avariciously roars, "Hmm? Another dream? Of what?"

"Not so much nightmarish as the warnings... Just confusing." Grantok flattens her ears. "And I'd prefer someone ask him about it or if he will show the rest of you. I don't think I could quite describe what is happening, let alone understand it all on my own."

After talking, Cilan passes the box to Grantok via a light underhanded lob, "S'got a few pills left, make 'em last, alright? Dont know if I can find anymore out in the ruins.. specially not in my condition!" she states before giving Grantok a friendly grin.

Sorien softly churrs, "Okay, sweetie. Come sit with us, and relax with friends at least for a while."

Narg just twitches her ears as she listens quietly

Rophe tucks the bottle away in his satchel and yawns, still resting his chin on the table.

Crys straightens up, her ears perked and she leans forward. "Was this a prophecy again? A warning of things to come?" she headtilts, "Or do you have no idea and thats why you want us to look?" Narg justr twitches her ears as she listens quietly

Cygnus finishes her bowl of chili and shivers, padding over to Narg and whispering to the huskey

Balina continues to rock back and forth. If one is to tempt fate, it is best to do it with the more trivial things. Nodding to Grantok, she asks, "Do you have any tips on actually dealing with it when it does show up? I think I managed to annoy it, but that just means I was in the room."

Cilan avariciously roars, "Or better yet, what do you want us to ask him when he arrives? Then again, are you even sure he'll answer us? Last time we asked him a simple question he yawned and called us boring."

Grantok's ear tilts in the direction of Balina, hoping the wolfcow is listening. "I don't suppose our resident needle happy bloodhound would be able to make more or reverse engineer the stuff at all?" She turns to Crys. "More that I don't know what to make of it. It has something to do with how "Dirt" came about, I think. Just not sure whether it's metaphorical, fact, or some level in between."

Crys blinks, "That means... it wasn't like the others then." she nods to herself. "Are you just going to take them now and pass out in the bar or something?"

Lasair invades NI with the army of plush Lasairs, which is really more like one, one-foot tall Lasair plush that appears at the end of the bar, and just lays there.

Sorien struggles, then flails a bit, getting her bulk seated upright so she can pay attention. She still leans against her love, however, never leafing contact with her. "Be careful, Gran; I don't think it's a threat, but I wouldn't trust it either.

Cygnus sits back at the bar and picks Lasair up, putting hir on her head.

Grantok alluringly purrs, "Not sure what else to suggest on that end Bal. My only guess would be to get him talking?" Grantok turns back to Crys and Sori. "Then maybe it would be better if I did just take them here and rest. At least that way I could guarantee that he'll be down here to ask. It's not the best of plans, but I can't think of much else that wouldn't seem 'hostile' in one form or fashion.""

Crys nods, "So, what did you want us to ask him? After all, you seem to have questions. It's unfortunate he won't answer them to you directly."

Balina scoffs, failing to not fall for the bait. "I only stab because I care!" she complains. "But making more of a known drug sounds like absolute cake compared to what I've been doing, and what I'm about to do." Glancing to Cilan, "I mean, is there any reason why you don't have more on hand?"

Lasair lays on Cygi head, and remains plush!

Cilan glances to Balina and shrugs, "Not really, I just find what I can scavenge from clinic's and drug stores, and usually that consists of a single box discarded under the shelving..."

Cygnus pokes Lasair and blinks "You can move around you know. At least keep from falling off." She says, another shiver running down her spine as she watches Gran.

"Who exactly is he? Is all that what happened the truth? And what happened to the knife? Also, is there a way that I could talk to him without having to resort to these roundabout methods." Grantok head tilts slightly. "At least that way I could let loose and not look like I'm going crazy talking to myself without knowing whether he can hear me or not."

Narg pulls her KA-Bar out of it's sheathe as well as the sharpening oil and whetstone from the little pouch in its sheath before getting to working her blade sharp.

Lasair clings onto Cygi head for dear plushy life!

Rophe stands with a stretch. "well, I think I'm a bit to tired to get into... whatever it is this is." He turns to Narg. "Again, nice to meet you"

Narg nods from her knife sharpening "Pleasure is mine, Rophe."

Rophe smiles and waves to the bar's patrons as he makes his way to the stairs.

Cilan raises her hands and says, "Probably a stupid question here, Gran.. hopefully you dont mind, but did you ever talk to Sparhawk about this? See if shi could put you in one of those dream-worlds shi usually makes?"

"Would you want to feel even more so like you were in a nightmare that you've seen over and over again for months Cil?" Grantok earflats a second before popping one of the pills.

Balina mutters something about 'crazy dream logic' while tapping buttons on her comm. It's rude to text in public, you know.

Cilan leads Grantok to one of the loungers and dashes into the back hall to grab one of the quilts, holding it out to the lynx, "Here.. sleep tight, huh?"

Grantok smiles a little at Cilan, taking the quilt from her and wrapping herself up in it and sitting down in a chair. "Thanks, but it doesn't work that fast. At least I'd like to think the last time I took it, I fell asleep that quickly from being tired in the first place."

Cygnus slips over to a table and pulls her rifle from her hip, placing it in front of her and unscrewwing something, starting to take her rifle apart.

Cilan grins and nods, "I know, I've been there before.. had night terrors myself for a while.. Either way, we'll be here if you need anything.

Balina puts her comm back on her belt, smiling as she does so. "Yeah, shouldn't be any problem to get more. I'll need to pick up a few things I don't have lying around, but you could make this stuff in a high school chemistry lab. Sleep well, sleep often. You staying down here for it so we can keep an eye on you?"

Narg switches sharpening sides with a sigh of contentment of the hiss of her blade rubbing against the whetstone.

Grantok nods in Balina's direction. "Yeah. Easier than hoping he'd decide to peek in for amusement." The lynx curls up further in the quilt so only the tufts of her ears and bright red eyes are clearly visible. "Comfy..."

As she waits for the eventual return of 'Dirt' Cilan heads back to one of the loungers and falls into it with a light 'fwoomp' her eyes focused on the lounger Grantok had curled up on. All the while the tip of her tail sways back and forth in a slow, but steady manner.

Balina gets up to refill water. A poorly-developed sense of comedy prompts her to brew up some tea while she does so. Make that lots of tea. Beyond her own, a pair of cups are delivered to the expecting; mint for Crys and assam for Sorien. The wolfcow sticks to the old standby of 'whatever I grab

Sorien nuzzles Bal when she brings the tea over. "Thank you, sweetie. I'm nearly immobile tonight."

After a little while Grantok's eyes become less apparent and the hood of the quilt stretches up a little as a yawn escapes the opening. Even the tips of her ear retreat into the quilt as she settles in to slumber.

Meanwhile at another table, Mini lifts up the barrel now freed from the grasp of its restraints. The bunny looks down it and holds it up to the light, looking for debris and such before giving a shrug and blowing a small flame down the barrel.

Narg yawns and inspects her blades edge doing the split a hair test and then returning the sharp blade and sharpening equipment to their respective places.

As Grantok slumbers, a smile creeps over her face, and eventually, she starts giggling. The sound seems out of place for someone who just drugged themselves, and of course, it's soon echoed by a far more present and familiar cackling. No physical presence though besides her, yet.

Sorien softly churrs, "Oh dear..."

Balina decides that while we're all fixating on deadly weapons, she might as well do the same. That detestable grill scraper is procured, and Balina begins idly brushing her arms. She tries, and fails, to not sigh as it becomes clear that, yep, here we go again.

Cygnus looks straight ahead when she hears the giggles and sighs, rolling her eyes and muttering to herself "Here we go again!"

[REDACTED] pages, "you notice on Grantok's fur, her patterns seem to be... moving." to you.

Narg slips her pistol from it's holster and places it on the table

Sorien blinks. "Uh... Her fur is moving."

Attention drawn to it, her fur patterns seem to be swirling, almost like the ocean, taking shape for a moment, and then dispersing. It continues for some time, the occasional echoing of his voice as he returns to the living, and then there are eyes looking out right on her, they seem to move and look around the room.

Snapping out of her daze at the new sound Cilan perks up and looks to Grantok, only when she had fully risen from the lounger does she ask, "Is that you, Coyote? Or is Grantok still in control?"

Cilan avariciously roars, "I.. uh.. guess that answers my question."

Narg watches on the proceedings carefully not having seen any of this yet.

Cygnus blinks and sighs "Well two can play at that game", before falling back, her fur quickly shifting black and her eyes glowing orange.

The voice echos from above, yet the eyes remain fixed. "This an interesting place to wakeup. But, it probably won't be for long.: The marks are grinning. "Especially if such boring people continue to try to be me." He leaps out of Grantok, her markings going with, leaving a white furred lynx sleeping, spotless. He's hard to see, any angle you look at him, he looks like markings on the wall, and judging his distance is difficult, but not his gaze. He first looks to Balina, snorts, and then turns to Cygnus who's trying to put on a show. He begins to laugh, falling onto his back and his paws on his stomach, chortling.

Cilan stares at Dirt intently, watching, or at least trying to watch the markings move around the room, her eyes constantly seeming to try to focus on the odd creature.

Narg looks at the spots and nods, yup definitely coyote or an aspect... the personality alone proves it at least to her, she turns around and begins to clean her gun with ears twisted to listen to the laughing thing.

Balina puts the brush away, kicking her chair back again and toasting the apparition before her before taking an experimental sip. "Good to know you come when you're called, at least. Do you get to listen in when Grantok's awake, or only when her mouth is open?"

The laughing thing, stops, suddenly. "I do not come when called. I am /not/ a pet. And his markings ajust, showing a big angry face rather than a coyote. He shifts again, and says, "My little companion there seems to be wanting something, why else would she give me time to run free when she so greedily hangs onto waking like a lifeline." and he stops and stares, "So, what is it, why do you bore me when you should be answering me already?" the pictures now a giant question mark hanging in the air.

Balina waves her paw, more in hopes of clearing the air in front of her than to actually appear dismissive. "I'm not going to pretend that what goes on in Grantok's head makes sense. After all, you're hiding there, too. She said something about a migraine last night, and wanting to sleep it off."

Cilan folds her arms across her chest and states simply, "She wanted us to ask you a few questions.. now, I dunno if you're going to piss us off again and call us boring again, but apparently she had trace amounts of faith that this'd work.." after a moment she finishes, "So.. you gonna be a good, annoying deity and answer a simple question or are you going to leave like some coward again?"

Narg returns her cleaned weapon to her holster and spins around to watch the floatiness.

The eyes fill with avarice, "Oh hoh! So she liked that tale. I showed her it because I wanted to prove to her I was real. I am Coyote, and your little calling me something old was right. I am as old as the dirt of the earth. I am he who invented death, and cheated the shadow out of living." the animation seems to calm down, and the coyote licks at himself, which is awkward to watch in two dimensions, almost headache inducing. He finishes up and says, "So you really do want to listen, or would you prefer to dream?" his voice grows positive at that last question.

Narg rubs at her eyes as she watches a 2-d object lick itself and perks her ear attentively.

Cilan avariciously roars, "While I cannot speak for everyone here, I want you to show me the dream; I want to see what Grantok had seen with my own eyes.. no offense, but I'm not exactly the most trusting in regards to a tricksters words."

Narg frowns "A tricksters dreams can be just as dangerous Cilan.... I'd like ta see it though"

Sorien stays quiet, listening, but nods to what Cil said.

Balina grins. Which grin she's using today is left as an exercise for the viewer. "Do you have *any* idea how hard it's been to get Gran to tell us anything? Any idea at all?" Her chair clicks back to the ground safely, anything on the table is pushed away, and Balina leans forward, elbows on the table. "If you want to do something so monumentally stupid as let me get near, the least I can do is be monumentally stupid enough to ask for the whole story."

"Well then, the dream it is, but it is whole and you do not get to ask questions. So we shall." and the picture moves almost hypnotically, causing a drowsiness around the entire room. Cackling starts, and one by one, people inside the pub begin to pass out, heads lolling to the side. Cilan falls back into the lounger she had gotten out of, having passed out rather abruptly.

Cygnus falls out of her chair, curling up tightly.

Narg avoids falling forward, her head rather rolls backwards and her tongue lolls out.

Balina manages a single curse before her head hits the table.

The area is dark, pitch black in fact, almost like the void of nothingness. And then there's a noise, flint on stone, the crack of one against the other almost as startling as the spark that flares to life. And then there's a man, ancient in features, his brow heavy and his features Amerind, with high cheeks and darker skin. He has a torch besides him, giving off a faint light that wasn't there just a moment before, and he concentrates, feeding oxygen to the small fire. The light barely eminates outside it, showing he's underground, deep underground. The light sounds of running water in the distance the only noise besides the man's breathing and the newly budding fire.

He's dressed in what could barely be considered clothing, a few furs on topof his shoulders, and a single necklace made of teeth around his neck stitched together with a small leather strap. He clings to the life of the fire like its his, something he's proud of, his eyes displaying a quickness, and intelligence to go with his belabored movements. His expression moves pensive, as he pulls a skinned leather pouch onto his lap, and opens up the string keeping it bound, dumping the contents onto his lap. A bunch of what look like wooden coins falling (they look strikingly similar if not exactly the same as the ones Grantok had), along with a small knife made of sharpened obsidian. He carefully flips through the them, selecting about half of the marked little objects."

He begins to chant, or perhaps even sing, in a language so ancient it speaks only in terms of emotion, you can tell the man's joy, and pain, and sorrow as he sings, and he takes the obsidian knife to his hand, cutting a deep gash in it, and turns his hand over the fire, letting is lifeblood drip into the fire below, all while continuing his song. He places the knife down, and then one, at a time tosses the coins he had selected into the fire, creating a thick smoke in the air as the fire sputters from the blood, twisting its embers around the lacquered coins, but not igniting them.

As he completes his first song, he draws the moon down, her radiant beauty seen through the cave ceiling above as she grows closer to the fire and the man. As she draws closer, so do the shadows around the fire, growing thicker, and the man's crimson blood turns black, dripping from his wound like ink. The viscous shadows bite at the embers, snapping their jaws like prey as the black blood feeds it. He opens his eyes upon the great moon, just as she kisses the ceiling of the cave itself, his eyes having turned into shadowy pits, his golden irises flaring to life as he stares upon her beauty, his song changing in tone and direction. It grows darker along with the shadows around. The moon greets the fire with love, the fire wrapping around her, clinging to her for life. It flares with life.

And all at once, the shadows are drawn into the fire, almost like fuel and the man begins to convulse, his song fading as his blood spurts harder into the fire, and then he falls, the sickening crack of his head hitting a stone accompanies the bounce of a small tooth knocked from the man's mouth. It skitters across the ground, and grows as it does until it comes to rest, a large daggerlike sabretooth, menacing in size.

The man blinks open, his eyes still dark, and he reaches for the tooth, his hand grasping it, without much delay thrusting it into his own heart, digging around inside and then pulling it out again. It is covered with dripping black, emptiness. He swings it around, and calls out to the cave, and pulls the emptiness around around into it, and as he does the fire grows brighter. He then thrusts the tooth into it, causing an explosion of whiteness blinding everything for quite some time. Eventually the blinding fades, and there's the man again, resting on a cloth bed and an image of what has been named Dirt, grins at the audience, and circles the man below like a hyena searching for prey. It barks and laughs at the man, and then at you, and then wake comes like a brick.

When people awaken, the white lynx is back to her old look, still sleeping soundly, dirt nowhere to be seen.

Narg wakes with a groan and looks around "Augh what a dream...."

Cygnus jolts up and bashes her head into the table, gripping at her temples "GAHHHH!!!! Bright lights... table... owwwwww...."

Balina apparently got bored halfway through, and her part for this evening shall be played by Balinawolf. She is currently sprawled, her forepaws and head resting on one of the amazingly-sturdy tables, the rest of her awkwardly atop a couple of fallen chairs. Grumbling, she returns to wakefulness, grumbling harder as she extricates herself from furniture. "Nnngh. Note to self, start remembering that dreams are serious business," she growls.

Narg grumbles and looks at Balina "Ya don't say Balina? I did say that to Cilan did I not?"

Crys and Sori collapsed into sleep on eachother, and both groggily awaken, a little stiff due to their shape limitations.

Cilan blinks her eyes slowly, her back arching into a hunched possition as she reawakens. A little while in she rubs her eyes and looks to Narg, "Sorry.. but even still, I dont think I know of a single question, or even multiple questions for that matter that would give that much info into what we're going up against here.. now.. anyone know what the hell happened aside from some cave-man looking guy doing a sort of ceremony?"

Balina is busy trying to nose chairs back upright, in no hurry to complete her task. "The dream was fine. I'm just annoyed I didn't get on the floor first, that's all."

Narg grumbles "I dunno..... that black blood disturbed me a bit"

Cygnus groans and growls loudly, looking at the table above her, her eyes clentched tight, not at all enjoying the bright lights she's discovered

Grantok sleeps peacefully amid all of the stirrings and wakings. The medicine is likely to blame and it's unlikely that she'll be getting up any time soon.

Crys' eyes snap open, and she moves through her hip pouch pulling out a journal. She flips through until she finds something specific. She reads it, thrice over, dumbstruck and says, "It was definitely not a lie. Its the same story as this." she holds up the book and points to the entry she recorded from that old native american tale, the original one they discovered that named Midnight Shadow what he is today.

Cilan avariciously roars, "Izzat right.. so, what you're saying is we're either being visited by Coyote, some other native american spirit, or some sorta spirit that knows the stories?"

Balina gets bored, simply setting the chairs back in her huge jaws, then pads over to look at the book. "Guess I don't get brownie points for interpretations, then? Still doesn't prove much, though. Of course he's going to remember his own origin story."

Narg looks over between Cilan and [REDACTED]

Narg then stands up and drags her seat to sit next to the gathering

As Crys passes the book around to anyone that wants, it reads in careful penmanship. The following:

Cygnus crawls out from under the table and over to the rest of the group.

In a time when the tribe was one people, they faced a great danger. Midnight Shadow whispered into brother's ear, and he stole and killed from the people. Each night Midnight Shadow would whisper into another ear and turn another from the people. The people knew that Midnight Shadow needed to be stopped, and asked Quiet Whisper, the strongest of them to put an end to it. Quiet Whisper knew of no man who could stop Midnight Shadow, and instead sought out Coyote. He asked Coyote how to end the whispers, and Coyote did not know, so he told Quiet Whisper to seek the Great Mother Moon. Coyote followed Quiet Whisper and listened on.

Great Mother Moon told Quiet Whisper to trick Midnight Shadow into sleeping, for once sleeping they will never wake again, this she promised him. Coyote heard this, and his stomach panged with hunger. Coyote confronted Midnight Shadow, and challenged him. Coyote first challenged Midnight Shadow to wrestle, hoping to hold him til he fell to sleep, but Midnight Shadow was far too strong and laughed at Coyote. Next Coyote tried to give Midnight Shadow a gift of a mushroom that would put him to sleep. Midnight Shadow ate it in one bite and laughed heartily. Coyote then decided to tell a story to Midnight Shadow, incredibly long it went on for many moons, and yet sleep did not come for Midnight Shadow. Coyote fell asleep, and Midnight Shadow laughed.

Quiet Whisper looked on and saw the pride of the beast and decided to feed it with pleasant words and flattery. In it's place of power, Midnight Shadow could not fear such a little enemy, and listened to Quiet Whisper, letting him live to speak more. Growing pleased, Midnight Shadow boasted of his power, that one whisper he could make anyone do his bidding. Quiet Whisper suggested that if he were truly mighty, that he would be able to get them to do his bidding while sleeping. This angered Midnight Shadow, and he decided to prove Quiet Whisper wrong. That evening Midnight Shadow went to sleep instead of whispering, and in the morning he did not wake.

Coyote was not pleased, for he was still hungry, and ate Midnight Shadow in one gulp. Coyote's stomach grew sick, for he had taken something that was not his to take. He sought Great Mother Moon and asked what he should do. She told Coyote that he had done wrong, and now Midnight Shadow would wake again. She told him to hide Midnight Shadow and bury him where the sun would not touch. (an addition not transcribed but part of the original tale.) Shadow without sun, she tells Coyote cannot exist, and as long as he remains untouched by it's glow the beast shall slumber. Great Mother Moon also tells Coyote that he must give up a part of himself in exchange. Coyote did as he was told and buried the Midnight Shadow deep in the Throne, along with a coin, some of his blood, and a tooth he claimed his own. Coyote smiled and his grin was flawless.

Narg grins "Sallways nice that the all powerful can be vain..." she yawns "I'm gonna need ta sleep, that sleep put me in a tired move

Balina hmphs. "That's not quite the same thing," she mutters, finding an empty spot in front of Crys and Sorien's seats, curling up on the floor. "The point got across, but it looks like someone gets to volunteer to lock Shadow up in themselves, down in some dark hole for all eternity."

Maxine comes down the stairs, sniffing at the air.

Narg frowns "You afraid we can't find anyway ta kill it Bal?"

Balinawolf looks up briefly at Narg, then lies back down. "I'm saying the only method presented to us so far is stupid, that's all."

Cilan avariciously roars, "Heh.. sounds like a fun end.. dunno if Selene'd let me go down that path, though.. and frankly I'd hate to end up losing any of you for all eternity."

Crys scratches Bal and says bluntly, "That man was Coyote, not a man. It was him, he ate Shadow, then purged him. That was the Shadow coming /out/ of him." She's quite sure of this. She then moves to get up, and helps Sorien up. "However, we must be getting to Kay. We'll talk more on this tomorrow."

Narg shrugs at Balina and stand "Gotta sleep.... night all" she sticks her hands into her duster pocket and moves on up and out of the bar

Maxine tugs at the device around her neck as she makes her way to an empty chair.

Balina yawns. "If it was, then something else was wrong. But this is not a night to talk about it. Take care, everyone."

Zane walks into the pub and takes a look around spoting a few chairs on the floor and Grantok sleeping. He notices a group huddled together and makes his way over to them curiously."What happened here?"

Cilan rises out of her seat once more, and pads over to Maxine's side, once she's there she rests a clawed hand on the vixens shoulder and says, "Hello, Captain, how're you feeling? Any better than the last time I seen you?" as she asks, a warm smile gradually forms on her lips.

Cygnus stares at the fire and sighs, furrowing her brow in thought Maxine lustily murrs, "I'm good, but this thing." She tugs again at the device. "Don't like this thing."

The dark bunny finally lowers her head and looks around, scratching her 'eyebrow' gently

Cilan pats Maxine's shoulder and nods understandingly, "I dont blame you, I hate collars myself.. too restricting.. ah well, until you're all there in the head again, I'm afraid thats going to be the best thing for you at the moment.." she offers a simple shrug and shakes her head, "But anyways, can I interest you in anything? A drink maybe?"

Maxine nods. "Drinks good, and I'm talking more, yes?"

Cilan avariciously roars, "Much better, yes. So, what can I get for you? Water, or maybe a juice? Or do you want to go ahead and get a beer or shot?"

Cygnus pads over to the bar and sighs, waving a tagling over and ordering a few shots of everclear, still looking worried as she thinks

Balina gets herself up, padding over to the bar and requesting a water dish. Nodding to Maxine on the way back, "Personal pronouns. Good work. Sooner you're back up to normal, sooner you can be a depressed mess again." Maxine shakes her head at Cilan, pointing at her arm. "Got shot before! I'm want drink, not shot." She mimes a pucker-faced wince, pointing at her face. "This."

Cilan chuckles and nods, "Yeah, shots are a giant pain in the ass, huh.. sometimes quite literally, but I meant the drink version.. small bit of alcohol, in a glass cup. Heh, guess you'll learn it soon enough. If I know that face, you're either talking about the wince after the feeling of a smooth burning alcohol, or.. just tangy lemonade, and frankly I think I can guess which one you were talking about.. be back soon, alright?" she says before heading behind the bar, where she soon mixes up two drinks, one for Maxine, the other for her. Both whiskey. Bringing the shot over to Maxine she sets the drink in front of Captain while lifting her own in a silent 'cheers' slamming it back in a single gulp shortly afterward.

Maxine sniffs at her drink experimentally before downing it in a single gulp, making a face. "Yeah this... but burning now." She licks her wrist several times. "This word?"

After a few soft coughs Cilan shakes the feeling from her and looks up to Maxine, "Huh? Ah, the drink name? Its whiskey, also goes by the name rye, but the first is more common. If you want, I think I've got a bit of the pre p-day stuff stored away, tastes a little better if you're not into something so potent yet. S'called Canadian Club."

Cygnus knocks a shot back and shivers, mouthing the word 'wow' before staring at the ceiling "Maybe by the end of this, if im REALLY really lucky, I'll learn how that thing knew my name... i still haven't forgotten that little detail."

Maxine stares into her glass, nodding. "Before... I'm drinking this, and I'm bad, yes?"

"Got any dog tags? Anyone mention your name around then?" Balina calls from the floor. "People are so goddamned friendly around here, I don't get how that's secret information."

Cygnus blinks "Or I could be being a complete idiot and that's exactly whats happened... sadly, im leaning towards your version of the story Bal."

Cilan avariciously roars, "Were you bad? I don't think so, before you went all feral and lost your damn mind, I thought you were a good friend.. kinda sad that you didn't take your damn shot until it was too late, but what can you do, huh? At least you didn't end up losing yourself and going off into the ruins, never being seen again. Woulda pissed a lot of people off if that happened, Max, a lotta people indeed."

Balina gets up to nose Maxine gently. "You were very sad. Maxine had a lot of problems, and she let them get to her. You're better now, but you still need more words. Always more words."

Maxine nods at Balina. "Yeah, sad! Before I'm sad and drinking. And now I'm not sad and I'm good and I'm vixen. But I'm need more words. And drink?"

Cygnus blinks and stares at the shots in front of her, taking one and knocking it back "I still need to talk to Spar about that dream session... Never finalized a dated for that."

Balina snarls, "Things come up. They always do." Taking her emptied bowl back up to the bar (with a minimum of chewing), she glances around to make sure she didn't leave anything important behind. "I guess I should get out of here before Tag sees me and asks what the hell I think I'm doing."[[Category:[REDACTED] Events]]