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Pack> Dave says "Log on."

Adam
A large, open face is framed by ringlets of brown hair. Bright eyes shine like 
the pentacle about his neck. A shy smile, no prouder than the rough white work 
shirt and blue denims, and black engineering boots. Calloused hands rest easily 
on his hips, conveniently protecting a black leather pouch. His voice contains 
a fading Manchester accent. Around his left wrist is... either some elaborate 
scarring, or celtic tattooing. He has two matching scars along his cheekbones, 
and the smile has been replaced by a guarded and suspicious frown.

Hollytoe smiles at the small assemblage and pushes her hair out 
of her eyes. ~We Gather,~ she says simply. ~Tell me now, who do we 
gather for, this night?~

Dave sighs softly, then, readying himself quietly.

Cath says "Adam. Called Grips Tightly. Our packmate."

Alex says "Adam, our packmate and friend."

You say "My mentor. My brother."

Cath says "He who would have helped raise my child."                                                                           
Deepsprings wuffs. Packmate, friend, warrior and one who makes
complicated homid food dishes.

Hollytoe sighs, eyes frosting slightly at the mother's words. ~A friend
 I came to know. He lies at Gaia's breast now.~ The Galliard leans out
  from her chair, and points at fresh-turned earth beneath the feet of 
  the new strong redwood sapling that only Crinos could have 
  transplanted here. ~He is with us. This eve, we send him back to the
   Mother, his work done.~

Hollytoe raises her voice. ~I am Hollytoe, singer of your tribe, Adam.
 Will you accept me to lead this Rite, before Gaia, and your friends?~
  The young woman half-closes her eyes, listening to the rustling of
   branches.

Pack> Dave says "Dave is weaing Adam's pentacle pendant. His own is
 gone...probably on the body."

Dave has slipped smoothly into Auspice role, expression calm.

Hollytoe relaxes, and looks around, gesturing them to form a circle around the 
base of the tree where she's taken up her post. ~Speak, friends, and add your 
names to his.~ Her glance falls first on Alex.

Dave moves to obey the Galliard like a man in a Dream, quietly positioning 
himself as indicated.

Cath moves in to position by the tree.

Alex moves to join the circle. ~Alex Michaelson, known to the Children as 
Windrunner.~

Hollytoe 's bright eyes move to Catherine, widdershins.

Deepsprings quietly pads into position next to Alex, looking like a shadow of 
a wolf.

Cath closes her eyes and takes a breath. "Catherine Micheals. Known to the 
Children as Heals With Gentle Touches."

In the distance, Justice can be heard to howl, ~We gather in honor of the Claw. Come to the Lone Boulder.~

Hollytoe smiles gently at Dave.

Dave sighs softly, quietly. ~I have no Human naming. I am Gentle-Heart, the 
Healer.~

Hollytoe looks last at the wolf, newest wild blood for the tribe.

Deepsprings howls softly. I am known to the Children and wolfkin as Deepsprings

Hollytoe nods, hands going wide to encompass the small circle of friends. 
~Your packmates. Beyond, your friends also send their hearts, Adam. We honor 
you tonight, and build your shape in our memories, so that your spirit will 
live here as well as in Gaia's bosom.~ She smiles. ~Come. Who is your packmate? 
You have spoken of him in love and remembrance. Shall we make him a song, a 
story, a poem to be his? I sing first his name, Adama-Be-Adam.~

>From afar, to Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings, Glissa isn't' sure how to go 
now. I think...people say something neat, basically, as the spirit moves you. 
Kinda like a Quaker meeting. When no one has more to say, I have a good closure.

Dave stands suddenly very tall, very proud. A presence comes from him, a 
nobility...the mark of generations of careful breeding. When he speaks his 
voice is powerful, flowing and smooth, the speaking voice of the well-trained 
Philodox. The cadence of his speech flows like a Silver Fang, trained, powerful 
and under discipline. ~Adam was Mentor, father, brother. Loved and loving. He 
understood things I could not see, and made me see them, even when I did not 
wish to. He showed me true Honor, taught me Justice, gave me a knowing of 
Mercy. He tended the wounds of my soul. And he did not desert me. Ever. And he 
shared, always.~

Alex says "He was a good friend, and he helped save my life and the lives of 
my family. We'll miss you Adam, take care of things for us until we get there."

You paged ExAdam with 'Geeze, I can just *imagine* Adam's soul looking at Dave 
and going "What?"'.
>From afar, ExAdam grins but says nothing.

Cath sighs softly. "You are missed, Adam. You were helpful, kind, loving, a 
true friend and boon companion. You are dear to us, though I don't know if we 
ever said that enough to you. We hurt when you were sad and rejoiced when you 
were happy. You were willing to be a father for a fatherless baby, who had 
plenty of uncles and aunts and brothers and sisters. We miss you. We always 
will. A place in my heart is empty, now that you are gone."

Deepsprings howls mournfully. I will miss you, Adam. You were wise and a 
little sad. A true teacher and friend.

Glissa pages to Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: Anything else to add? I 
know, this is short, but short is sometimes sweet. People have to make long 
pompous speeches for those they don't like very much. :) (can you tell who is 
at a different Gathering?)

Dave adds softly, still terrible, beautiful ~Adam, you taught me to live. And 
I will.~

Hollytoe listens, then draws her hands together as if weaving what has been 
said into a cat's cradle. ~You were these things. Who knows what you are now, 
Adam? But you will rest easy here, under the trees. Cubs will live and learn 
around you, elders' stories will get told. /Your/ story will get told, for your 
friends will write your name here, and I will remember to say what they have 
said to all who ask. And I think, soon, there will be small children, to play 
at your roots.~ She gives Catherine a gentle glance. ~And jokes to tell. Well 
done, Grips-tightly, dead in body only. Your spirit lives on.~ Then she leans 
down, and reaches in the compartment under her chair, drawing out a bowl and 
a leather water-skin. ~Pour up, and drink, for our pack-friend. And pour the 
rest on his roots...for they are deep.~ She smiles, and hands the skin to 
Catherine, after a thoughtful pause.

Cath takes the skin and fills the bowl. She waits for the others to drink first.

You paged ExAdam, Glissa, Cath, and Deepsprings with 'It's my Moon...and I get 
*strange* on my moon. I am going to waste Power now, unorthodoxly by system 
rules ;)'.
Glissa pages to ExAdam, Cath, Dave, and Deepsprings: Hey, we're in Ritual. 
We're allowed to do Cool Stuff. :)

Alex takes a drink from the bowl and then hands it back to Cath.

Dave shivers gently, caught in emotion. A soft green glow...the *exact* color 
of Springtime, blossoms at his throat, his palms, the center of his forehead. 
It builds, flows, sings...pure, raw and Primal, the essence of Garou magic 
unShaped. It surrounds him, a corona of Light, achingly beautiful. The smell 
and feel of a gentle Spring day fills the air, and a sense of great Cycles, 
ageless Power. He holds his hands out to Cath.

Cath touches Dave's hands, still holding the bowl.

Cath gasps softly as her hands begin to glow, the aura following up her arms 
to her body, a soft silver-blue, the water in the bowl shimmering. She takes 
one hand and reaches for Alex.

Dave sighs, soft, gentle...a release of Power, a cleansing away of grief. 
Tears stream down his cheeks, visible in the flickering nimbus that is the 
expression of his very soul.

You paged Glissa with 'Hee, we're going to Charge that water so hard the tree 
will be HUGE.'.

Alex takes Cath's hand and closes his eyes.

Dave sings softly, chantlike... ~We all come from the Goddess, and unto Her we 
shall Return, like a drop of rain, flowing to the Ocean...~

Alex reaches a hand out for Deepsprings, the glow surrounding him and moving 
through.

Deepsprings places her head under Alex's hand, and takes a deep breath. A 
red-gold aura surrounds her and reflects from her eyes. Her howl meshes with
Dave's chant.

Dave continues the same compelling chant, over and over gently, softly, 
drawing all to be One.

Hollytoe shivers from her place in the circle, eyes shining at the display of 
pack's bond made visible all around her. Then she tips back her head, cups her 
hands to her mouth, and gives a boistrous yodelling not-quite howl to send the 
power dancing up into the young tree's branches. It rises high above the 
beautiful chant like a seagull's cry.

Cath starts chanting, softly.

Hollytoe finally comes down from the sky with a grateful, easy, "rain and 
storm, rain and storm, all that dies shall be reborn..." murmured softly.

Cath's voice falters after a few moments, and she goes silent, tears streaming 
down her face.

Deepsprings places a paw on Hollytoe's lap to draw her into the circle of 
power. Her howl continuing, varying in pitch and strength.

Cath leans forward some as she cries, over the roots of the tree.

Dave draws up, Gathering Power, in that moment so young, so beautiful...Power 
flashing lambent, up, into the branches, down, into the Earth deeply. He 
Howls, as well...long, loud and carrying. There is love in that howl, great 
love...and Balance...in words-without-words he promises that he will never stop 
loving, never be broken in soul by despair. It is strength and affirmation of 
Life, and acceptance of the natural Cycle.

Hollytoe carries the second line, "Tree and grain, tree and grain...all that 
falls shall rise again..." and finally, when the song falls in gentle waves 
into silence, she leans back, red-faced, and touches the bowl with a gentle 
nudge to let the rest of the water fall to the roots. Only five drops remain.

Dave is still weeping, silent, but he is unburdened now, clean. The Light has 
gone from view, but remains, for those with the eyes to see it.

Cath murmurs something as she lets her tears fall on the roots, her words 
inaudible for the howls.

Glissa pages to ExAdam, Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: Neato. Five people 
for the Gathering. Pentacle.  /And/ one of each auspice.
You paged ExAdam, Glissa, Cath, Alex, and Deepsprings with 'Who says there is 
no Magic? ;)'.
ExAdam pages to Glissa, Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: Ahem. Five? 
Only five?
Glissa pages to ExAdam, Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: You're in the 
center of the pentacle, dear. ;)
Cath pages to ExAdam, Glissa, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: I did. Got rid of 
all my cards and... oops, sorry. Never mind. ;)
You paged ExAdam, Glissa, Cath, Alex, and Deepsprings with 'You stand in the 
Center, Adam. :)'.

Dave calls out ~Go with the Goddess, Adam...Merry Meet, and Merry Part, and 
Merry Meet, again!~

Deepsprings howl is a fullness of grief and an affirmation of life at the same 
time.

ExAdam pages to Glissa, Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: I'd like to thank 
you all for coming, there's cookies and punch in the gymnasium.
>From afar, to ExAdam, Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings, Glissa giggles. 
Hollytoe spiked the punch...no, excuse me, there's a pregnant mother in the 
party. M & M fight to follow.
Cath pages to ExAdam, Glissa, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings: M&M? Peanut versus 
regular? ;)
>From afar, to ExAdam, Glissa, Cath, Alex, and Dave, Deepsprings brings the 
dead teckla, er rabbits.

Cath lets her aura drop and turns to hug each of you, fiercly, leaving wet 
spots where her tears fall.

>From afar, to ExAdam, Cath, Alex, Dave, and Deepsprings, Glissa's done. She 
won't gild a lily. :)

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