Deep beneath the Heartfire, the Theurges gathered. Shadow, Claudia, Cassil, Kasey and Sasha. The air was tense and they all looked upon each other for reassurance. Sasha looked down, perhaps a sense of foreboding ruling her mind. She sighed slightly and looked to the rest.

The Fianna of Danu’s Prodigy stood and waited. Not the rabble bunch of drinkers and jokesters, but that of a well oiled machine. Though they were here to defend all of the theurges, Sasha’s part in this play was of the utmost importance. If she couldn’t accomplish her task, then all of these garou would die and history would repeat itself.

Shadow set his staff down at his side as he closed his eyes and mumbled a few unintelligible words. Cassil sat next to Claudia, not sure what to do, but willing to do anything for this ritual to succeed. Kasey as well, having only just met these people, but throwing her hand in for Gaia. Sasha sat and stretched out her hands, closing her eyes. “Lets do this…”

The Egyptian Theurge, Khemri, who had come to aid, took off like a shot with her wind spirits in tow, to alert that the ritual had begun. The Fianna headed to the mouth of the cave entrance to wait for the minions of the Wyrm. In the still and silence, their hispo ears could hear off from the bawn as the Wyrm creatures called out into the morning sky. Being able to hear something and seeing it before you are two completely different things…like watching dominoes falls, each pack mate seemed to jump on edge waiting to attack. Then…the sounds of hissing followed by the skittering of many feet. Ashalyn looked to his pack without words, none need be said.

Like an explosion of scales and claws they rushed the caves entrance. In the scant moments before the attack, several of the lizard-like beasts were caught in spring traps at the outside of the cave, flinging them through the air. A shout of laughter ushered the battle. The Fianna leapt and tore into the scaled flesh of the Fomori as they gnashed and tore into the garou’s hides. One after the other they poured into the cave mouth. Moving back, it would seem that the Fomori were gaining ground into the cave mouth, but, it quickly became apparent that Danu’s prodigy was well equipped for the task as they at once fell upon the Fomori, eviscerating them in short order. If the rest of the battle went like this, the day had already been won, they thought.

As with all things, pride goeth before a fall. As they helped each other up and brushed themselves off, the second wave came. Like disgusting parodies of simian flesh, these “Hell monkeys” bounded in, wailing and screaming they lashed out gripping onto Garou flesh and tearing at the muscle and sinew beneath. Connor screamed in pain as one of the creatures grabbed his maw and proceeded to attempt to snap his jaw. Zole turned and laid a crushing blow upon its spine as it reeled and turned to bite him. The screams and howls filled the cavernous cave system, making its way to the Caern heart.

Cassil jumped a bit at the screams and only tightened her eyes harder as they worked the ritual of protection. Sasha began channeling power as her voice began growing more commanding and wrought with Gaian energy. The spirits around the Caern heart battled in and out of the umbra combating banes and Wyrm spirits alike, giving the Theurges the precious time they needed to perform the rite. Spirits from all over began materializing around the circle, glowing with green energy and proffering up gnosis as Sasha began taking it in, like a hungry desert in the first rain.

Zole howled defiantly as a large Fomori bounded towards him. In the few moments of battle, the Fianna had already learned the potency of these beasts as their very blood was like acid. It lunged at him with arms flailing wildly, intent on rending him limb from limb. He caught the wrist and spun it around, jamming his fist into the elbow from behind, tearing the limb and sending a gout of acid onto the face of another monkey. Aelofin growled with an Ahrouns rage as he cleaved into its shoulder and pivoted away from the spray. It’s claws raked against his chest as he ran the blade deeper into its spine, near cleaving it in half. The pain searing his flesh seemed only to fuel the full moons rage as he attacked with wild abandon. In moments, the acid was consuming the wrent flesh of the Wyrmfoes hide.

As the Fianna defended the Theurges, Sasha brought the rite to its culmination. With a steeled smile and a look of thanks to those around her, she produced the Grand Klaive and drove it deep into her own neck, sending a spray of crimson upon the earthen floor. As the smile faded and the pain sank in, she strained to complete her task, running the blade across her throat with a wave of crimson following. As the blood spattered across the floor, its thrum sounded like pops of thunder. As each droplet hit, the sound growing louder and louder until suddenly a deafening crack of Thunder shot like a wave, billowing across the Caern heart and upward to the battle. Wyrm spirits and Fomori alike suddenly froze as if stunned. Taking the advantage the spirits and garou alike fell upon their foes in violent rage and destruction. As Sasha fell to her knees, she looked to the theurges and smiled lovingly as her life force left her body, slumping to the ground…

Suddenly, a moment of searing pain shot through every garou in this place…a single teardrop scar. The Caern was awakened…

Claudia looked down at Sasha’s body and nodded solemnly, placing the Klaive on her stomach and scooping up her body. As one, the Theurges and the Fianna pack made their way out onto the bawn. So many dead…so many who had given their lives freely to save this place. They would never be forgotten. They would never be for nothing.

Setting Sasha’s body down next to the others, the death toll was measured.
Roscoe
Charles Townsend
Thomas Starsky
Shawn
Windwalker
Trill
Braxton
Carter
Jared
Jason
Marcus
Snaps-chains

By their sacrifice, Gaia’s heart now beats stronger.