[Yet another old log, date sometime in 1994.] Moon Otter emerges from the forest to the northwest. Moon Otter has arrived. Brandi takes this brief opportunity to claim a balcony seat for tonight's show pulling herself up onto one of the lower branches of the tree and settling herself back into a comfortable crook. Justice says, ~Best to tell the tale in our own tongue. This is a tale that Falcon reminded me of last night in a dream. I'm not sure why he wants it told today but tell it I shall.~ Moon Otter slips in trying to be as un-intrusive as possible and curls up on the ground. Hazmat pricks her ears and looks attentive. Justice lifts her muzzle in a soft combination of sing song and howl. Justice says, ~I sing of a pack and the corrupter Wyrm in the sunrise days of long ago when Gaia was strong in her people and the Wyrm dwelt in small places weak and searching for a way to penetrate this union.~ Justice's voice rises in a strong steady beat. Her eyes look far away as if seeing the events themselves. Sepdet tips the brim of the hat back from her circled eyes and watches Justice and no one else with a thoughtful and inscrutable stare. Justice says, ~The pack ran wild in the sunrise days bold and wise united in blood and strong in each other's hearts. Some say they were of the Lost brothers, the third tribe of the Pure Ones. Others who tell the tale believe them to be Thunder's children, fierce and proud. Whatever their tribe, they ran together under Chimaera's aegis and claimed the name of Silver Sorrows.~ Hazmat looks enrapt. Jalal emerges from the forest to the northwest. Justices voice continues to strengthen, a proud growl coming in under her voice. Jalal pads in quietly, and stands at the side of the path in the shadow of an evergreen. Justice says, ~This pack was mighty, and the Wyrm was jealous of its might. It sent an Elder Bane to plague them, a Bane to break the body and the spirit, the heart of the pack and the bounty of Gaia around them. But Silver Sorrows proved too strong; it refused despair and held against the blight. Their leader was Souls-In-Darkness, a proud but clever Garou who led his pack past the traps of the Bane with Coyote's cunning. His second was Grey Eagle, strong and beautiful, who rallied her pack to their Alpha's banner with quiet purity of purpose. Third to these was Talons-of-Bear, an Ahroun with a rageful pride in his brothers and sisters. Souls-In-Darkness and Grey Eagle were glad of his unyielding strength.~ Justice's visage becomes fierce, her eyes flashing with the proud strength sprung from the deep roots of Gaia's people. Justice says, ~These three were the bone of the pack, holding together as their pack changed through the years, as members perished in battle or chose a quieter life with one Sept or another. But no matter who fell away, others sprang up to pledge themselves to these three great Garou, and none who ran with the pack ever forgot the glories in which they took part. And through the turning of the years, Souls-In-Darkness, Grey Eagle and Talons-of-Bear remained steadfast and true to each other. Their love was a monument to all that is good and holy within the chosen of Gaia.~ Justice looks into the sky, her voice rising in a howl that arcs to a soprano peak, but suddenly shatters into a whining bark before that peak is reached. Justice looks hard at those present. Justice says, ~But monuments are doomed to crumble, and if the Corrupter knows anything, it is the way of rot within. Souls-In-Darkness became jealous of the bond between Gray Eagle and Talons-of-Bear, not recognizing that their bond was his bond as well. In his jealousy he conceived a sick passion for his Beta and began to look upon the rest of the pack, especially Talons-of-Bear, with a paranoid loathing. He conspired with the Greater Bane that had been set against Silver Sorrows and lured them into a trap. On the eve of the Crescent Moon this Alpha, with the Wyrm's foul help, opened wide the earth to swallow his brothers and sisters, leaving only he and Grey Eagle.~ Hazmat jumps slightly, utterly caught up in the story. Hazmat whimpers. Justice pitches her voice in a low snarl. Justice says, ~Grey Eagle looked upon her once-beloved Alpha with anguish as he held his arms out to her. She threw herself into the same chasm that had swallowed the rest of Silver Sorrows, lest the sight of the Wyrm-corrupted Souls-In-Darkness drive her mad as a Dancer. The Betrayer bayed his sorrow to Luna, but she refused to give him surcease. He wandered across Gaia's face the rest of his days, outcast, hunted, and most of all, alone. It is not said what became of Souls-In-Darkness. Some say he lingered on long past the time he should have fallen to dust from the weight of years, becoming in flesh as well as spirit a thin shadow of his former self, etched with the taint of the Wyrm. Some say he came to blame Talons-of-Bear and the love Grey Eagle bore him for the Beta's self-destruction. For in his corruption, Souls in Darkness was too cowardly to face the truth. He became a darkness that would never admit to what it had done, though a cold wind from the north whispers his condemnation still.~ Ali emerges from the forest to the northwest. Justice ends in a quiet sing-song. Justice says, ~And it is said that when the rivers run red with blood and Kin turns upon Kin, the betrayer shall come again. But to be punished or absolved, only Chimera might know.~ Hazmat urfs softly. Ali chuffs a polite greeting, and settles near Brandi to listen. Desert nods slightly, rising to his feet. Justice slips back into her usual form, tight-to-bursting clothing loosening about her. Justice contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Ox emerges from the forest to the northwest. Justice shifts into Homid form. Desert makes his way out of the little clearing, away to the northwest.