[IC... I forget the actual date. But this is going back a ways, before Oscar was Rited, before he became a full Shadow Talon.] Thunder-of-Gaia appears from the dense forest to the south. Moon Otter emerges from the forest to the north. Moon Otter pads clear of the woods, sniffing, trailing after the Talon from the caern. Swift-Claws rumbles a greeting to her packmate and glances briefly at Otter. Oscar shifts into Homid form. Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the Female Alpha, glancing at the lord cub as he becomes visible. Oscar switches to a more conversant form for him. "Um, like, 'member a while back when I told ya that I found out about some people dumping crap in the woods?" He pauses, "Um, I'd still like your help... if you want to, otherwise I'll... just go alone I guess." He shrugs. Black-Paw appears from the dense forest to the south. Swift-Claws looks vaguely amused at Otter. By yourself, you would only get killed. Black-Paw slips out of the southern woods at a sedate pace, barking a greeting to the two Talons. And Oscar. Oscar scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, maybe or somethin'. I dunno." He asks, "So ya still in'erested?" Swift-Claws chuffs to the Talon cub and then looks at Otter. Fight the Wyrm wherever it breeds. Of course. Thunder-of-Gaia chuffs a curt greeting to the Talon cub. Oscar ohs, "Yeah, that." He looks to the east-southeast. "'s 'bout forty mile...er... couple hours going at a fair speed thataway." He gestures. Black-Paw picks up her pace at the mention of fighting, pulling up close to the group of Garou. Do you hunt the one who killed Earth-Child? Swift-Claws rumbles to the Talon cub. Not tonight. Tonight we hunt apes who hurt the Mother. Thunder-of-Gaia bristles slightly, shaking out his ruff. Oscar chews nervously on a fingernail. "Well, better get scootin' or somethin'." Moon Otter contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Moon Otter shifts into Lupus form. Swift-Claws rises and chuffs to Otter. Show this one where you saw them, No Moon. Black-Paw looks up quizzically at Oscar, then over at the two Talons. And the Shadow Lord cub is going to do this? Thunder-of-Gaia glances at the Talon cub. You will hunt as well. Moon Otter flicks an ear. One did not see them, but heard them speak of where they did things. He thinks he knows where it is. Swift-Claws glances at Black-Paw. Even Moon Calf cubs have their uses. She glances rather irritably at Thunder. Of course she is. They are only apes. Swift-Claws turns back to Otter. Then show us. Moon Otter starts off in the general direction that he pointed to earlier. Swift-Claws lopes off after Otter, limping only slightly. Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the Talon Elder. This one is not sure what the Weaver of Songs has been teaching the cub. Black-Paw keeps her expression purposefully neutral, careful to avoid anything that might get the invitation revoked. Swift-Claws rumbles. Then it will be seen tonight if she knows enough to hunt and kill. Thunder-of-Gaia pads after the others,soon in a full run. After a few hours of travel, crossing over a road at one point and Otter getting a bit disoriented at another place, the group eventually arrives at... Up the Creek(#4118RFJ) A large creek bubbles merrily across the rocks nearest the shore. The center of the water looks to be a bit deeper, but the current must still be strong as it hasn't iced over. Snow coats the landscape in a cold, pristine white. Occasionally, a clump of white powder drops off a tree limb, breaking the monotony of the creek's babbling. To the south of the creek is a steep incline leading up to an old road that looks to be more-or-less unused in the past few days. In the distance, the sounds of vehicles can just be made out, hurrying to unknowable destinations. A small 'path' seems to lead from the road, down the hill, and directly into the creek. Young trees and brush lie broken or crushed along this path which does not appear to have been used in over a week or two judging by the accumulation of snow. Downstream, about a fifty yards to the east of the old path, a young buck sits at a slight angle in the snow near the bubbling creek's edge. Frozen stiff, its eyes wide, icicles of blood-tinged foam have grown from its mouth. A light dusting of snow lies over the corpse, indicating that it hasn't been dead for more than a day or two. Moon Otter pads along the creek, coming from upstream. Swift-Claws lifts her muzzle and scents the area, ears pricked and mauled tail up. Thunder-of-Gaia follows Swift Claws, nostrils flaring as he takes in the color of the area. He doesn't move past the Alpha, allowing her a respectfull lead. Swift-Claws pads a bit down stream, sniffing, and comes upon the carcass. She scents it carefully. Thunder-of-Gaia moves slightly away from Swift Claws, sniffing at the grounds, trying to pick up the scents of the two-legs. Black-Paw trails along near the end of the group, trying to take in everything at once but with a good deal of her attention toward the direction from which vehicles can be heard, and the road. Swift-Claws sneezes and takes a step away from the carcass of the buck, pale blue eyes angry. She turns to the others. Any scent of the ape-ikthyas' trail? Moon Otter snuffs about the snow for a bit. He wuffs a negative to the Talon. Thunder-of-Gaia has not found the scent of two-legs. Thunder-of-Gaia glances at Swift Claws, then in the direction of the distant noise, then back. His question remains unspoken. Off in the distance, the sounds of a vehicle can be heard approaching, having diverted off the main highway onto the nearby deserted road. Black-Paw pads a short distance toward the creek, stops, and scans the area once more. She nods her head toward the road, one of the few things she associates with apes. Swift-Claws looks at Black-Paw for a moment and then turns, cocking her ears toward the sound. She starts padding off in that direction, a flick of her ear indicating that the other should follow. Thunder-of-Gaia pads immediately after Swift Claws, ears perked and alert. It doesn't take too long to realise that the vehicle seems to be headed in your direction. A clanking sound can be heard as well as the rumblings of a fairly large engine. Black-Paw moves to fall in after Thunder, an attempt to relegate the other cub to the rear of the group. Moon Otter tags along behind the Talons. Swift-Claws pads along the trees, silently, her white coat blending in with the snow, her movements that of a confident and practiced hunter. Coming around a bend in the road, a largish white truck clanks towards you, chains on its wheels. It starts to slow as it approaches the group. Three shadowy figures seem to be in the cab. Black-Paw drifts closer to the treeline that Swift-Claws follows, following the path of her elders. Thunder-of-Gaia falls back from Swift Claws, not wanting to be 'bunched' up while the apes are around. he sticks close to the treeline as well, but down the road from the truck. Swift-Claws watches the slowing Weaverthing with narrowed eyes. Quietly she shifts upward, into the Hispo form and chuffs softly. When the apes leave the man-thing, we attack. The white truck passes by the group, slowing to a stop where they'd been earlier. Brake lights flash a bit as gears get changed and a door opens up. Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the Alpha, padding to the other side of the 'road' and mirroring her approach to the vehicle. Tall Guy climbs out of the truck. Standing at about 6'6", this man seems well-built and muscular despite his heavy winter clothing. His black hair is short-cropped and spikey. He smokes a cigarette and carries himself like he is in charge. Driver climbs out of the truck. A weaselish-looking man with greasy hair slicked back appears to be the designated driver. He's wearing a fake leather black jacket and looks a bit cold, but his face is sweaty. He's a bit overweight. Foodstains are on his white T-shirt and crumbs are adhered randomly about his pants. Shorty climbs out of the truck. At 5'5", he may be short, but he is definitely built like a tank. A cap on his head hides his balding scalp. Heavy flannel clothes keep him sheltered from the cold. A perpetual sneer seems to be carved into his face. A scar runs down his right cheek stopping just below his jawbone and almost going up to his eye. Black-Paw crouches down on the same side of the road as Swift-Claws, eyes on the truck as she waits for the evening's prey to come into view. Tall Guy hitches his pants up a bit. "Yo, Smith. Gimme a fuckin' hand back here." He heads towards the back of the truck. Moon Otter looks curiously at the scene and the Talons. Swift-Claws pads slowly forward, still keeping out of sight as she looks from one ape to the other. Her pale eyes are narrowed as she tenses herself for the first lunge. Thunder-of-Gaia pads as close to the nearest two-leg as possible, then sprints all out towards the nearest two-leg, shifting up as he does. Shorty looks down towards the creek. "Huh. Buncha dogs runnin' round." Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Hispo form. Swift-Claws growls at Thunder and breaks cover a moment after he does, aiming directly for the one who seems to be Alpha of the apes, teeth bared and sharp claws gleaming. Moon Otter scrabbles out after the Talons, going full tilt. Black-Paw pauses a split second to allow the elders to choose the first of the kill, then makes a beeline toward the third man, still in the form of lupus as it's only an ape. Shorty spies ToG, his eyes go wide. "Whatthefuck?!?" He reaches into his jacket, producing a pistol. Thunder-of-Gaia heads straight for the tall guy, leaving the runt for the cubs to kill. His eyes light with fire as his claws slash out towards his stomach, looking to free the intestines held there. Shorty fires of a few wild shots, missing ToG completely, but coincidentally striking Otter square in the chest. He falls and plows snow, skidding to a halt. Tall Guy barely has time to scream as Thunder of Gaia launches his claws at him. Black-Paw lets out a loud howl at the familiar sound and smell of gunfire, aiming a low pouncing leap to strike Shorty squarely in the stomach and knock him off-balance. Driver looks up from the road and spies Swift-Claws charging forward. A grin crosses over his face. He opens his mouth and sticks his tongue out at her... all six feet of it, probiscus-like. Moon Otter bleeds. The male Talon's claws sink easily into the ape's flesh. There is a soft ripping sound, like that of a sharp knife cutting tender meat. Steam rises from the gouts of blood that stream from the Tall guy's mid section. The ape reaches up to protect his wounded gut, but only manages to get his hands tangled in his intestines as he slumps backwards into the snow. Swift-Claws's eyes widen, startled. Then they redden with Rage. Wyrmthing! Her lunge does not slow or stop. She leaps at the fomor, teeth and claws flashing, intending to overpower him with her greater mass even as her weapons make him bleed. Shorty gets smashed into by the young Talon, sprawling backwards over the road. He shakes his head and gets slowly back to his feet. Driver catches a rake of claws across the chest and then another cuts like razors over his face, exposing muscles and dripping blood. He staggers backwards, lashing awkwardly with his tongue and trying to fend off the Talon with his hands. It looks to be a losing battle, though. Moon Otter gurgles and bleeds. Thunder-of-Gaia watches the ape crumble, then turns to see how the others fare. His eyes narrow as he spies the obvious wyrm-creature. He immediately darts in that direction, slowing as he sees the Alpha seems to have things well in control. Black-Paw pulls back in a tight circle as Shorty fails to stay down as he should. This time she shifts up into the larger form of hispo, Moon Otter completely forgotten as she lashes out with claws. Swift-Claws slashes a huge set of claws at the fomor's face, forehead to chin, a strike to, if successful, tear off its face and slice off its tongue at the base, too. She snarls as she tears into the thing. Black-Paw contorts and blurs as she is transformed. Black-Paw shifts into Hispo form. Driver's face peels into little bits as Swift-Claws razor sharp talons cut through flesh like hot butter. Schrapnel pieces of flesh fly about, sticking to the sides of the truck and the Talon as well. The formor slumps down into the snow-covered road, dead. Swift-Claws snarls once more as the fomor dies and looks up, white fur stained red. She looks to see how the others are doing. Shorty raises an arm to fend off the younger Talon's claws. Black-Paw's swipe scores deep, drawing blood. The man drops his pistol and swings a punch with his spare hand. Moon Otter staggers a bit, hacking up blood as three bullet wounds in the chest slowly close back up. He falls back down. Black-Paw doesn't worry much about the punch, working to complete her relatively simple plan: use her mass to knock the human down and then tear out his throat. Shorty swings his fist into Black-Paw, hitting her like a bag full of bricks and probably changing any ideas she had about quickly throating him. Swift-Claws snorts at Black-Paw and leaves her kill to pad over, watching the cub with a cold eye. Judging her, though ready to leap in if the prey is too much for the young Talon. Black-Paw staggers back slightly under the unexpected force of the blow, and adopts a new strategy. She circles around to the side of Shorty, moving toward the gun he abandoned and looking for an opening to move in. Thunder-of-Gaia watches the young cub confidantly, letting the Alpha decide when and if to interfere. Moon Otter pushes back to his feet again, dribbling blood for assorted bullet holes and his mouth, coughing up blood. He staggers forward towards the others. Shorty shifts back to his feet, forgetting about the gun apparently as he watches Black-Paw. Realizing suddenly that she wasn't alone, he looks behind him to see where those three others went to. Swift-Claws growls softly at the prey, but lets the cub take the kill, if she can. Black-Paw moves quickly as soon as Shorty's attention is momentarily diverted, coming up on the man with unnatural speed. She relies on claw and teeth this time, slashing out at his side and stomach once within range. Shorty gets blind-sided by the cub as her teeth and claws rip into him once again leaving huge, gaping wounds. Intestines spill forth and onto the road, steaming in the chill air. On hand reaches to keep his guts inside, the other tries to lessen the blow of his fall as he staggers back against the truck's front grill, leaving a dent as the metal crumples. Moon Otter hacks up a bit more blood and gurgles out some strange curse. ~Asshole daisy fuck chewers.~ Who knows what it means? Swift-Claws gives Otter a strange look and then turns back to rumble approval to Black-Paw. Black-Paw uses a clawed paw conveniently placed in Shorty's stomach cavity for leverage as she pulls her body up toward his head, massive jaw opening to clamps down on his throat. Thunder-of-Gaia turns to consider the lord cub when the Talon cub has finally put the ape down. Shorty's neck makes as satisfying >crunch< just before a spray of blood washes all over the cub. The formor goes limp. Swift-Claws barks once to Black-Paw. Good. Moon Otter wobbles unsteadily towards the others. Thunder-of-Gaia flicks an ear at the cub as his gaze moves towards the Alpha female. We should drag the carcasses of the apes into the woods, so that they are not found by other two-legs. Swift-Claws glances at Thunder and rumbles agreement. Using the dire wolf form to advantage, she drags her kill into the woods, for hiding. Oscar shifts into Glabro form. Thunder-of-Gaia grabs one of the bodies and does the same, shifting back to the birth form when he returns. Black-Paw spares Moon Otter just enough attention to make note of the fact that he's still alive, then turns back to the one she killed. Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Lupus form. Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You finish shifting into Lupus form. Oscar rubs at his healing chest, getting blood on his hands. "Ow. That fuckin' hurt," he bitches as he looks in the cab of the truck and climbs in. Oscar wiggles into the truck. Black-Paw returns from the chore of body disposal and heads toward the other two Talons, shifting into a smaller form. Swift-Claws pads back from the woods once the kill is disposed of. She narrows her eyes at Oscar and barks once. ? Black-Paw shifts into Lupus form. In the cab, Oscar starts rummaging throught the glove box and tossing papers about. Black-Paw idly licks at some of the blood still on her muzzle as she watches the Shadow Lord, quite obviously confused as she waits for Swift-Claws to deal with the delay. Thunder-of-Gaia sniffs at the Weaver-skin-that-moves, nose twitching annoyedly as he does. Swift-Claws growls irritably and barks again at Otter, commandingly. Moon Calf. What is it you do? Oscar climbs out of the truck. Oscar flicks a thumb at the truck. "Do we bury it or wha?" Thunder-of-Gaia's eyes narrow at Moon Otter. Speak clearly, cub. Swift-Claws snorts at Otter. The Weaverthing is too big to bury. She turns to the Shadow Lord. You know to make this thing move? Oscar blinks, then recovers. He says, very confidently, "Yes. Yes I do." Black-Paw regards Swift-Claws skeptically. Why would we want it to move? Swift-Claws rumbles. Left here, the apes will find the Weaverthing. It also should not be here. It must be taken away. Thunder-of-Gaia chuffs an agreement with the Alpha. It should not be left here. Oscar nods and jams a wad of papers into his pockets. He pulls out a pad of paper and pen, heads for the rear of the truck, and starts scribbling. Swift-Claws rumbles impatience at the cub. Thunder-of-Gaia watches Oscar for a bit, trying to make sense of his actions, then he snorts annoyedly and turns away, looking up the road. Black-Paw turns from the truck with a disinterested flip of the tail, taking the first few steps back toward the park before stopping to wait. A slight ripple crosses the center of the creek. Two eyestalks raise from the chill depths like twin periscopes. A slight splash of water, and something rather huge steals out of the pool's depths, clicking it's way free of the creek. Swift-Claws turns at the sound of the splash, lips rippling upwards from her fangs. Dripping foul water, sludge, and diseased algaes, a huge crab- like thing scuttles towards you. Its twin eyestalks, much like a slug's, pivot to take in motions while its long feelers twitch in the air, testing for prey. The hard glistening shell, a grotesque shade of yellow-green, has random patches of long coarse hairs growing from it. The edges of the shell look twisted, as if it was made of wax and melted slightly. Clay-colored mandibles work at a fevered pace, making an insidious 'clickety-clickety- clickety' noise that grates in one's ears. Crawling free of the waters, it measures an easy five feet in height and eight feet in width. Its size, however, doesn't hold your attention too long. A dull-red pincer, about a foot in length, quickly and nimbly shovels bits of goo into the mandibles. The other pincer is absolutely huge, easily six feet in length, and has a tainted-orange and bruised-purple hint to it. The claw is held high and protectively in front of the thing, like a monstrous shield, and looks as if it is powerful enough to casually peel open an old Cadillac's engine block. Crab Bane crawls free of the murky depths and waves its feelers about, testing the air for... food? Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You finish shifting into Hispo form. Thunder-of-Gaia's ears perk and he turns from the study of the road towards the water. When he spies the creature, he starts to move more quickly towards it, shifting up as he goes. Swift-Claws pads toward the creature, steps quickening as she snarls, looking for a weak spot. Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Hispo form. Crab Bane twitches its spindely feelers about and slowly pivots in place to face the nearby Garou. It starts to scuttle forward, mandibles flitting hungrily. Black-Paw assesses the situation as she too shifts up to a larger form. With the elders already claiming their positions in regards to this new foe she moves quickly into position to attack from a third front. Swift-Claws snarls and increases her pace, loping forward until she's close enough to lunge forward at the Wyrmthing, massive Hispo jaws aiming for the joint where the huge claw meets the Bane's body. Thunder-of-Gaia moves towards the side of the Crab-Thing, trying to avoid the huge Claws. His claws seek out the bony skeleton, trying to smash into the softer flesh underneath. Crab Bane swings its massive pincer out and away from its body, trying to whack Swift-Claws with its large mass. One feeler twitches tauntingly at her. Black-Paw flanks the creature to spread out the attacks, keeping a careful distance from the pincers until she is into position at the rear of the creature. Her eyes hunt out for joints in the shell, a possible weak point to attack. Crab Bane seems to fixate on Swift-Claws for the moment, leaving its side open to the Theurge. The force behind the massive claw strikes the Talon Elder too late for her to change directions on her lunge. Knocked aside, she staggers and almost loses her footing. She recovers soon after and snarls defiantly at the bane, facing it. Oscar finishe scribbling some notes, stands and heads back around the truck, stopping dead in his tracks as he spies the huge thing. "Oh, man. And me without my butter sauce." He squints at the thing, studying it. Thunder-of-Gaia's claws slam into the side of the bane. There is a sickening cracking sound as part of the shell gives way, but not enough to allow acess to the softer flesh within. Swift-Claws pauses only a few moments to glare at the Bane while she circles around to the other side, opposite the one Thunder's attacking. Crab Bane lurches a bit with the Theurge's blow. It pivots in place and snaps out with its smaller pincer as the larger one comes back up, ready to swipe again. Black-Paw darts in from the rear of the creature with another angry howl to to cut through the night. Her claws swing in an arc toward the underside of the creature. Thunder-of-Gaia again rears, slamming his claws down on the same spot of the bane. Another crunch is heard, this one slightly less loud. A small spray of foul-smelling liquid is released, spraying over the shell and dousing the Talon seer. Swift-Claws lunges forward, taking the same tactic as Thunder once she sees the damage it causes. Rear, slam, claw. Crab Bane oozes a bit of light blue ichor across the ground. It's smaller claw lashes out, but the cub's blow from the rear unbalances the thing enough to make it miss the crescent by a few inches, clicking closed on empty air. Oscar drops the notepad and pen, running over to retrieve the dropped pistol. Black-Paw works at establishing a small break in the rear shell covering, and once established continues in her attempts to expand it and reach the softer flesh inside. In deference to the goo she uses only claws, avoiding the substance as much as possible without sacrificing progress too greatly. Thunder-of-Gaia decides on a different tactic, lowering his massive jaws towards the spot where the spidery legs meet the large shell. Swift-Claws lunges at the crab bane from the side opposite the one Thunder's managed to crack, bringing her Hispo mass to bear. Thunder-of-Gaia manages to clamp down on a leg, ripping it off. It twitches even after detached from the body, flailing about crazily. The bane seems to be managing fairly well with its seven other legs, though. Irritated at the cub digging into its shell behind it, the thing simply backs up a bit and sits down, trying to squish the minor itching sensation. As it quickly lowers itself, Swift-Claws' leap takes her a bit higher than was intended, onto its back. Oscar hefts the pistol up and slowly drifts into a firing stance, taking careful aim. Swift-Claws lands on the things broad back, claws scrabbling on the shell as she shifts to the war form. Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You finish shifting into Crinos form. Thunder-of-Gaia , having made a small hole in the creatures shell, again rears up, trying to fit his claw into the hole and stirke down, ripping more of the protective shell off. Teeth bared, the Talon Elder raises one huge, taloned fist and slams it with all her strength on the shell, striving to crack the foul thing further open. Swift-Claws wails away on the top of the crab, leaving cracks across the shell, bits of blue juices spraying about annoyingly and getting on her fur as well as ToG's. Thunder-of-Gaia manages to stir the innards of the creature a bit and thoroughly coat his one side in the thing's vile ichors. A >Crunch!< of snapping bones is heard from the rear as the thing drops about a ton of crabmeat onto the young Talon cub, smashing her rear legs as she was unable to get clear fast enough. Oscar continues taking careful aim on the abomination. The Crab Bane pushes back to its legs, leaving a slightly compacted cub in the snow. It pivots towards ToG, stepping on the cub in the process, and lashes out with it's smaller pincer. The large pincer raise up high over its head and tries to scrape the nuscance off its top shell. Swift-Claws snarls defiantly at the huge claw and tries do dodge it as she continues to slam her huge fist down on the cracking shell, ignoring the blue juice spattering her white fur. Thunder-of-Gaia ducks easily under the small pincher that swings at him, and finds himself face to face with the slimy maw of the creature. He rears up, trying to bury his claws into the fleshy spot facing him, motions speeded by his rage. Black-Paw drags herself out of range from the crab bane, her hind legs all but useless at the moment. Black-Paw waits a few seconds before closing in again on the crab bane, her movements hampered now by the breaks that haven't yet knit completely back. She chooses to go after one of the legs, jaws widening to crunch down at a spot toward the shell. Crab Bane's huge claw goes up and over Swift-Claws' head, clattering down on its back. With a scraping sound like someone grinding their teeth together, the huge claw dislodges the crinos, flinging her off its top shell. Thunder of Gaia lashes out again and again, fueled by his rage and scoring gouges across its slightly softer front. One feeler tests his arm, leaving a line of sizzling flesh as it withdraws only to be severed off by ToG's next slash. The crab's mandibles work hungrily as it decides it likes the taste of wolf and man. The cresents flury of blows ends abruptly when a flying crinos drops awkwardly on top of him from above, spilling both to the ground a half-dozen feet away from the thing. Black-Paw is ignored for the moment. Oscar squeezes of a single shot. The bullet smacks into the upper shell and ricochets off into the sky. The Bane turns quickly at the Talon cub and reaches out with a small pincer. Swift-Claws grunts and gets off her packmate, shifting downwards into Hispo. Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You finish shifting into Hispo form. Thunder-of-Gaia lets out a small combination of grunt and snarl as the Alpha lands soundly on him. He quickly tries to get out from under her and regain his footing. Swift-Claws lunges forward in two short leaps, jaws wide to catch the left claw at the joint where limb meets body, powerful Hispo muscles ready to crush and tear. Thunder-of-Gaia works in unison with the Talon Alpha, aiming his attack a little closer to the claw's end. His attack is aimed more at trying to help Swift tear off the appendage than actually peirce the boney skeleton. Black-Paw's jaw clamps down on one of the bane's remaining legs as the creature's turn brings it within range, locking her jaw and wrenching her head back as she tugs sharply. Smashing into the things massive claw, crunches and bits of gore fly as the two Talons tag-team the bane. It pivots in place again, one leg ripping off in the cub's mouth after dragging her a bit. The smaller, more dextrous pincer alters course, shooting under its huge twin at Swift-Claws leg. Oscar sqeezes off another single, aimed shot. One of the bane's eyestalks explodes, spewing black gore. Swift-Claws sinks her teeth into the joint, massive jaws tightening around the place. Intent on pulling off the huge limb, she's unaware of the pincer aiming at her left foreleg until it closes down on it. Thunder-of-Gaia continues his assault on the things large claw, trying to completely sever it from the crab's body. Black-Paw drops the now-unattached leg to one side and resumes her work from the rear of the creature, claws slashing toward openings that have already been laid in the shell to the flesh underneath. The things clatters in pain, agony and fury! It's smaller pincer clamps over Swift-Claws foreleg and >yanks!< pulling her feet out from under her and dragging her towards the clitter-clattering mandibles, ooze dripping from them as the y work away furiously. Thunder-of-Gaia seems to make some progress on the claw, but it's armored like steel. Black-Paw digs deep into the thing, ripping into innards as light blue goo oozes out with bits of chunks. Oscar pops loose another round from the small pistol and nicks the second eyestalk. It droops over like a fallen tree. The crab focuses on one target, now. The food in its smaller claw. It brings the mammoth claw into play, curling itself towards her midsection. Black-Paw continues to attack from the rear, the size of the creature enough to prevent her from noticing trouble in the front. Thunder-of-Gaia gives up on the claw when he sees the Alpha go down. He tries to dodge under the large claw and move to tear at the feeler that has the Alpha trapped. Swift-Claws howls, anger and pain, blue eyes tinged and angry red as her claws and teeth tear into the already-damaged "face" of the Wyrmthing, her movements speeded by the Rage burning within her. It may think her prey, but she is -not- helpless. Her Hispo jaws tear into the bane unprotected front, burrowing in. The creature utters an insectile shriek as the Talon's jaws rip into it. Ignoring the acidic burns of the thing's feelers and the claws closing around her body, Swift-Claws-of-Gaia's-Vengeance burrows into the thing with snapping teeth. For several moments there is nothing but the crab's screams and the sound of tearing flesh. Then, with a yank, Swift-Claws' massive head jerks free of the Bane's innards, a greenish-blue organ clenched in her jaws. With another jerk the Talon Elder rips the thing free. The crab Bane spasms, and the claw around the she-Talon's body snaps >shut<. Thunder-of-Gaia lets out a savage snarl as he leaps for the crabthing, ripping at the claw that holds the Alpha. Spittle flies from his muzzle as he keeps striking at it wildly. Crab Bane snaps it gargantuan pincer shut with a squishing, bloody crunch. Swift-Claws' body, severed not-too-neatly in the middle, comes apart with a great deal of gore. The bane wobbles for a mere half second before slowly collapsing, legs folding every which way, onto its side. Dead. Swift-Claws's eyes start to glaze over, the vital organ of the beast still clenched in her jaws as her form grows smaller. Swift-Claws contorts and blurs as she is transformed. You finish shifting into Lupus form. Thunder-of-Gaia continues his almost frenzied attack on the claw of the dead beast, shell and ichor flying in large chunks, spraying the male Talon. He does not seem to notice the thing is dead, for he shows no signs of ending his attacks. Oscar watches, stunned. The pistol slips from his hand and drops silently into the snow. "Oh, god." is all he manages. Swift-Claws is quite still. Black-Paw abandons her attack when it becomes readily apparent that the creature is dead and starts around toward the front of the creature. Now that her attention is no longer so narrowly focused it is quite evident what other events have transpired. She's left only to stare at what's left of Swift-Claws, and Thunder-of-Gaia's relentless attack on the now dead creature. Thunder-of-Gaia's claws continues to fly until the claw is almost severed, then he suddenly stops. He shifts to the birth form and pads over to the remains of the Alpha. He sniffs once. Twice. Then raises his muzzle and releases a melancholy howl that seems to continue forever. Thunder-of-Gaia contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Thunder-of-Gaia shifts into Lupus form. Oscar looks back at the battlefield, eyes blinking back tears of rage and sorrow as he shifts. Moon Otter contorts and blurs as he is transformed. Moon Otter shifts into Lupus form. Moon Otter raises his muzzle, howling out his sadness, tinged with rage. Swift-Claws(#3459POc) Before your eyes is a lithe she-wolf in the prime of her life. Her long-legged, narrow-chested body is lean and hard; wiry, whipcord muscles move smoothly under her fur. Her coat is almost entirely white, a color suited to the northern climes from which she most likely originated, and her eyes are a pale, icy blue. Her tail waves like a banner behind her, and her expression is one of alertness and knifelike intelligence. Her right ear looks rather chewed, and hairless scar-lines mark her shoulders, sides, and flanks. The whiteness of her coat is marred (or perhaps enhanced) by a irregular splotch of red fur on her left shoulder, a ruddy mark that looks rather like a bloodstain in coloration. Currently, she's not looking too well. Something's cut her in two, and not cleanly. Her white fur is streaked with blood and bluish goo, but it's clear from her expression that she died fighting. Black-Paw waits until Thunder's frenzied attack lets up before stepping closer, a closer look to verify that the body is in fact dead. She adds her own howl in with the other two, the larger hispo form adding to the volume. [Thunder picks up the corpse of his Elder] Burial Mounds Contents: Thunder-of-Gaia Grave Markers Obvious exits: Path Dropped. Thunder-of-Gaia drops the body, more gently then you may expect. He pads away, shifting to his birth form once more. He pads up to the carcass and lowers his muzzle to it, rubbing against the remains to leave his scent. Oaken comes up the trail from the west. Oaken has arrived. Oaken looks at you. Moon Otter comes up the trail from the west. Moon Otter has arrived. Thunder-of-Gaia raises his muzzle from the body of the other wolf, his actions, whatever they were, now done. He glances once at the arriving Garou, then looks back to the body of the dead Alpha. Oaken lifts his nose a bit, taking in the smell of the ichor, of Swift-Claws, of the dried blood. ~Does what you faced still threaten the Wheel?~ Thunder-of-Gaia raises his muzzle in a long and melancholy howl, which reverts off the trees and echoes into the darkness. He still ignores the presencs of the others. Moon Otter hovers quietly at the entrance to the burial mounds, mourning in private in the shadows of the trees. Thunder-of-Gaia slowly lowers his muzzle and looks at the Fianna. Any trace of what emotion there once was is now covered with a cold stare. He snarls low. There is no danger to the wheel. The Elder slew it. He stands and pads back towards the woods. Oaken stands still for a moment, thinking, then tilts his muzzle back. Oaken howls long and loud. In the distance, Oaken can be heard to howl, ~Let all honor Swift-Claws, who in dying slew her foe; the Talons, the Sept, have lost a brave warrior this night.~