"Basil and I have known corruption and the wrongness it brings with it."

Bawn: Western Forest(#3018RA)
Tall Sitka spruce and sequoia crowd around and above you. Many of the trees are old, their branches twisted into impossible shapes, trunks broad and draped with lichen, mosses and creepers. Tendrils of moss hand down from them like green spiderwebs, snaring the unwary with cold, ghostly fingers. The patches of younger growth are dense and pale, needles tinged with silver. Matted undergrowth huddles sullenly in the occasional small clearings, clutching with thorns and burrs at the legs of those who would pass. Deer seldom venture here, but the forest is full of rustlings, and tiny glints from wary, watchful eyes.
The forest spreads out to the east, bounded on the west by Sunrise Road. From farther to the west, one can occasionally hear the distant sounds of the town of Kent's Crossing.

With the sun shining, Laura is out and about. At present, some of the unsuspecting foliage is getting a thorough examination. The theurge has a knife out, and is threading through the moss and lichen with it. Every so often, she mutters something under her breath, leans in, sniffs the plants, then continues on to the next.

A faint rustling sounds from the undergrowth to the south, which grows louder, as though to hint at the approach of some animal. Then the head of a wolf pops into view around the side of a moss-covered log. The wolf gives a bark, and emerges from the undergrowth fully, revealing as it does so that its chest between its forelegs is deeply and obviously scarred. It trots up to Laura with another bark. Greetings, greetings. I followed your scent. I need you.

Laura tugs a piece of moss away, giving it a sniff. "What's happened?" she asks, setting the piece of moss on the ground and pressing it into the dirt. "Go back," she murmurs to the plant debris. Today, evidently, is theurgey weirdness day. She turns to look at the Glass Walker, then stands, adjusting her pack and putting her knife back into the sheath on her belt.

Power-Up stands before Laura for a moment in silence, then shifts steadily through the forms until he reaches his more usual shape of a lanky teenage boy. "Wolf nose to track, human mouth to talk," he comments. "Yes... sorry to interrupt, but I need a theurge. Not just any theurge either," he modifies that request, "but one who isn't going to get all high and mighty at me. Which is why you came to mind at the top of my list," he informs Laura with a faint smile.

Laura is compact, probably no more than five foot six. Her skin tone is olive, and she's obviously spent a good deal of time in the sun. Her hair is short, cut just below the jawline. Her eyes are hazel, brownish-green if you want to be specific. Nothing about her face really stands out, aside from a thin scar leading from her nose to her ear on the left side. She looks to be in her early twenties, though there's a suggestion in her expression that she's seen more of life than average for that age group.
She is slender, with very little muscle mass or physical presence. She's wearing a jean jacket over a black tank top and ratty black combat pants. The thigh pockets have something in them, though what it is isn't entirely obvious. When she moves, she favors her left leg, limping a little.

"So long as there's no discussion of cameras, eh?" Laura replies dryly, the corner of her mouth rising a bit. "What's happened?" she repeats, studying the teenager's face, hands and feet.

Kevin's face is very much its usual set of features, though the faint smile has a slightly false quality as though it's being used to mask some more genuine feeling or emotion. His hands are a tiny bit muddy, as are his trainer-clad feet. "Nothing like that," Kevin says. "This is about moving forward after... recent events." His left hand goes to his chest, where the Charach-glyph scar is now hidden by his track-suit. "I've got to collect a bunch of things which a healing totem would find useful or attractive. Herbs and medical items were suggested, but honestly, I don't know spiritual stuff half as well as I should, and the only totem I have experience of is Fenris, who's about as far from a healing totem as you can get. So any tips or suggestions would be welcome. Also," he adds, "if you have the Rite of the Totem, or know a theurge who does, it'd be better still." The poker-face smile broadens a little with an air of hopefulness.

Laura gives a light huff. "Well, first, I don't know Rite of the Totem, and I'm not sure who does. Gunnar, the Ritemaster, may know it. Best of luck finding him. Jamethon likely also knows the Rite, as might Vera." She frowns to herself, glances at the moss. "Now, the specifics of the totems...that I can aid you with. The first that spring to mind are Unicorn and Bear. Unicorn, dedicated to purity, gentleness and healing. Bear dedicated to strength, wisdom and healing. Pegasus can be a totem of healing, if you wish to consider the healing of the body, spirit and will as one thing-it's part of our mandate as Black Furies. Gaia occasionally bestows the blessing of her presence on a pack, who could call on their mother's aid to assist in healing. The aspect we summon is Dana." She hems and haws, as though nothing will stop her now. "I have heard of packs in my tribe's homeland adopted to the patronage of Minerva the healer. Of course, you and yours may already be in search of a specific totem. Do you know, are you?"

Kevin adopts a thoughtful expression, as though trying to recall something. "We have no specific totem in mind," he responds, "but the goal of the pack will be to heal Gaia's wounds and aid the suffering. I suppose we should also be blunt," he goes on, a little hesitantly, "and say that any totem we seek must be like you yourself... open to giving those who have erred a chance to show their qualities and earn redemption." The half-smile is replaced, now, by an expression of would-be piety.

"Unicorn," the theurge replies. "She is open and accepting, and there is no dishonor in trying to follow her path. But those who seek her should be careful to understand what it is they will be expected to do. Curb your rage, speak with wisdom, show mercy...these are not things that come easily to any Garou." She looks at the bit of moss she's left in the dirt. "With her in mind, the things you must seek become a little clearer. Herbs, medical tools, yes. Purity is another. All things that are pure please her. The search for, and preservation of purity pleases her. Clean water, fresh air, ash. If what you need are physical things, these may be what you're looking for."

"Unicorn," Kevin repeats thoughtfully. "The Children of Gaia's totem. Yes, I can see that she might be a good choice. But as I understand it the formation of a pack is as much about the totem spirit choosing her garou, as the garou choosing her. Well, collecting pure and noble items is probably never going to be a bad thing, I'd guess." He rubs the top of his bushy-haired scalp with one hand. "I can't see any theurge of the Get being particularly inclined to assist us, but maybe I do Gunnar and Jamethon an injustice. Gunnar has helped me before now," he recalls with a frown, "though his assistance was... not gentle."

"Who are your other packmates?" Laura asks. "Perhaps one of them has a tribemate who can assist. A Get of Fenris may also not be the most preferable to summon a totem like the one your pack intends to attract."

Poker face time again for Kevin as he looks at Laura. "Basil," he says, with a hint of defiance in his voice (though not on his face) as though daring Laura to make something of that fact. "Also possibly Morgan and/or Masao. Not sure yet. But we want to move quickly, so as to be ready by the attack on the tire fire -- that's the plan."

Laura's arms remain crossed. Her eyes narrow ever so slightly, her feet plant a little more solidly. "Those of your prospective packmates I've met are good Garou. Remember Unicorn's commitment to purity and if you do convince her to watch over your pack, I would suggest you honor her by learning to run from corruption very, very quickly." Her tone is so flat as to be nearly bland, but there is still that large-moon tension, as well as a certain weight on that second sentence. "Such a pack would be a welcome addition to the tire fire battle," she adds, a little more normally.

Kevin too tenses up perceptibly and for a few moments the atmosphere in the forest takes on a distinctly electric charge. "Basil and I have known corruption and the wrongness it brings with it," he reminds Laura in a very taut voice, "and we have no desire to experience it a second time, perhaps more even than those fortunate garou who have yet to experience it even once." He takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Really," he adds, and that last word carries more emotion than the entire sentence that preceded it.

There's a play of tension in the large muscles on Laura's arms. Her jaw clenches. "Good. Then you will be an excellent help to those who have never had it brush so close to their hearts." That heaviness in the air persists, until the woman grunts. Her fingers unclench, her shoulders relax. Her gaze turns just slightly to the north. "You will be," she repeats, with a touch of distance in her voice.

Kevin inhales and exhales another deep breath. "I intend to be," he concurs. "Anything that increases our chances in the fire battle can only be good. Thank you for your time, Laura, and I'll leave you to your work."

Laura turns back to the ragabash. "If you need someone to speak with about spiritual matters...or healing of any type, you are always free to ask me," she says, nodding to him. "I'm sure I will see you again soon."

"Maybe," says Kevin, meeting Laura's look for a moment. "Maybe. There's... things I need to work through, mentally if not physically or spiritually," he goes on, seeming rather self-conscious and awkward. "But I'd not want to take up your time and energy if I'm going to fall in the tire fire battle in a week or two. Would be a waste."

"I find it's much easier to face battle and death when your mind is rested and calm," Laura replies. "Working through your issues leaves fewer openings for tricky opponents to exploit." She touches the moss again, watching its color and shape.

Kevin chews that one over for a few seconds mentally. "I hadn't thought of it that way," he says a little feebly. "Are you saying you wouldn't mind... helping me... work through things?"

Laura's eyebrow rises, though she still looks at the plant. "Yes, I am. I won't promise healing through a Rite, but I can listen. Furies heal the weak and guide them to strength," she says. "Besides. I punched you in the head. Allow me to make up for a rash action, eh?"

Kevin rubs the head which Laura punched again. "Did you? Oh yes," he says, as though the incident had slipped his memory. "All seems such a long time ago, with everything that's happened. I'm sure I deserved it," he says equably with a dismissive wave of the hand. "Let's speak no more of it. Okay. I need to go on and find Jamethon or Gunnar or someone, but I'll try to come back and talk more with you soon, Laura-yuf," he promises, with only a tiny hesitation before the -yuf.

Laura's nod is both permission and acknowledgement. "I'm around," she says, looking up long enough to give a small smile. Then, she happens to spy some mushrooms. "Walk with Gaia, Kevin-yuf," she tosses over her shoulder as she heads for the fungi.

Kevin peers at the mushrooms, as though mystified by what makes them so special to the theurge, then straightens up. "You too," he says. "Oh... and if you should see your tribemate KL, tell her I'm still worried about her..." After that final request he drops back into lupus form.

"I will," Laura calls back to him, drawing the knife in preparation for the harvest.

Power-Up trots off back into the thicker foliage and is lost to sight, though the rustling that marks his departure towards the caern itself can be heard for several seconds.