Thread: Got 'dem Honkey Tonk Blues (atn: Old Bones lol)

Shadow walks in wearing blue jeans and a plaid shirt that is untucked. On his head is a beat up brown cowboy hat, his hair is pulled back into a grey/white pony tail that hangs down his back. His wrinkled eyes squint as they adjust to the lighting of the place. His boots clack on the floors as he makes his way over to the booth Tala occupies.

He holds up his good hand to signal the bartender for a beer as he settles in across from Tala. The other arm has the sleeve pinned closed to avoid attracting attention to his missing limb. The scars on his throat would seem to be infected if Tala did not know better as they are red and puffy looking. He smiles at her, his eyes dancing with joyous lights at the sight of her.

"So you're here now," he says. "So good to see you again Little Sister."

Tala smiled in return to the old man as he sat down. "Shadow... it's damn good to see a face in this place that I recognize. I was beginning to think I might actually take up Madam Dulac on her offer to stay at the manner house." She chuckled lightly, indicating this might be a slight exageration.

As the bartender brings Shadow's drink she pipes up, "Keep his on my tab..." She looks to Shadow. "Dinner and drinks are my treat tonight." As the man walks away she waits until he's far enough gone that she can speak more freely.

"Not that I'm unhappy about seeing you here, because it's done me wonders to know another Garou who's here but ... what the hell are you doing here?" Her words aren't accusatory but concerned.

"I never figured to find you at a place like this Shadow. First of all you're new to our ways and while I know some others here are young too... you're... you're an elder of your people. You should shaking sticks at and... giving wisdom to the children & foolish idiots like me at some comfortable sept in the southwest not preparing to do battle with the wyrm in this god forsaken place."

After taking another hit of her vodka she continues, "So... what gives? Why did you come here?"

Shadow waits until the beers arrive and the bartender is gone again. He sits a moment longer sipping at the beer.

"We're all called here. We've been here before and we're here now to finish what was started," he says a slight shrug.

"On old wolf like me is not particularly welcome any where he goes, but I got a nice little place set up outside the camp here. I even got someone to keep me warm at night, you'll have to meet her, she's a good grandmother," he smiles warmly as he talks about her.

"But there is much to be done here, so I'm here."

Tala's eyes widen a touch and then narrow as she leans across the table, as if afraid that what she's about to say will be heard by someone she can't see, "You mean... you're having visions too?" There is concern and maybe, hope?, in her voice.

"You see... a battle, here? That's why you came?" When it was clear he had she sighs. "I was worried it was just me. Worried it wasn't real." her eyes gloss over a moment as she seems to be looking within herself for answers.

"They said my blood was pure enough that I should have felt the heroes of old but... I never did before. That was always the other guys... not me." Drinking the rest of her vodka in one swig she quickly waves over the bartender. "Bring the bottle." She says to him and he nods, as if beautiful women come into his bar often making such mad requests.

Once he's left the bottle she pours herself another glass, this time without the cranberry juice. "I'm glad you're not alone Shadow. It's good you have found a mate that you take joy in." Tala meant that with all her heart, though she wished she could say the same for herself. This random booty call for the good of her tribe just wasn't something she was taking any pride in doing.

"How many others are seeing things? Many? Do we know anything about the battle that occured here previously? Has anyone traveled to umbral realms that might help us learn more or called on the spirits for answers?"

"I know at least one other has. The leadership here is . . . it is odd," he says after a moment.

"I'm not sure, maybe its this place, or perhaps it is me. I did speak with one spirit, but it was too wyrm tainted to be of any true use. I have not yet had anyone to back any real move forward.

You're not crazy Little Sister. The Ancestors call when they wish, not before. Now is the time, not then. Come and walk in a sacred way, you will come in a sacred way and then we will find the answers we need."

Tala snorts. "Forgive my paranoia, old friend, but people tend to use a very short list of requirements when determining the sanity of my tribe. It's not wise for one of my family, particularly one of such a notable lineage as mine, to step forward with anything that might be taken to be mental instability." She scowls. "We have a hard enough time getting respect the old fashioned way these days without being prejudged as mad."

Pouring herself another drink, "Walk in sacred ways... Hmmm I guess that's an option. We could take the bull by the horns but I'm not too sure how grumpy-shadow-lord-reya will take it if I step up to lead anything. Typically that might be interpreted as a challenge... especially coming form a Silver Fang and a fight for Alpha is the last thing I want right now." Tala finds the lights twinkling in her vodka glass to be very interesting for a moment before she speaks again.

"Tell me, Shadow, you ever manage to find a pack to take you in? Even with Shard, here, and your considerable sway over spirits we're not going to get far without some muscle and wit to match and that's to say nothing of someone to keep the peace as we travel. Never under estimate the value of a good Philodox." She raises her glass. "To Half-moons." She drinks.

He raises his glass in toast with her.

"Not yet, but one is forming. Our first night here we were ordered to pack up. I met a Philodox and another Theurge who is a good young man. We talked briefly about packing up, but nothing has happened yet.

Most of the camp seems preoccupied with their own issues. First night here there were a bunch of crazy wyrm squirrels, but no one seemed to really care about them or doing anything about it. Its really strange here."

"Was afraid of this." She shakes her head. "These friends of yours... you don't happen to remember what tribes they are a part of, do you?" She silently prayed he didn't mention any native tribes or the shadowlords or this particular brand of insanity which she was even entertaining, however briefly in her mind, might never work.

"Were these two in a pack together before or friends in some other way? Or were they just looking for someone to team up with like you and didn't have much luck in finding someone to take them in?" That alone made her think they had to be undesireable for some reason... like a mad-harono-ridden Silver Fang or Elderly-Cliath of an Uktena. Falcon please... if this is what I have to do... at least give me SOMETHING to work with. Please!

Shadow grins slightly, seeming to sense she is thinking something crazy.

"Don't recall for sure," he says. "But they seem right enough sort. The other theurge is young maybe a bit lost, eager to learn. The Philodox seemed to know his stuff. He was the only one showed interest in them wyrm tainted squirrels besides me."