Thread: Returning

Claudia comes out of her cabin, holding a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels. Her eyes are red and glassy from crying, or maybe the booze.

"Welcome back, I hope the road treated you well Samara."

She looks at the bottle of Jack, then looks back at Claudia. She holds her hand out for the bottle.

"Claudia, what's going on? Where are Sam and Drahcir?"

She continues to hold her hand out for the bottle, looking Claudia in the eyes.

Claudia ignores Samara's silent request for the bottle.

"They're dead."

She falls to the ground, it was as if her heart had just been ripped out of her. She punches the ground then looks back at Claudia.

"How?"

Claudia takes a drink from her bottle and sits on the rocking chair on her porch, she wanted to go to Samara, but she had no idea how to be comforting, it was something she'd never learned, so she stayed in her seat.

"Fighting the Wyrm... Doing what only Striders can do, being faster than everyone else. Being at the right place at the right time. Some day, you and I will do the same. It's what we do. We are Death. Our tribe knows things they shun. Our family does the things they will not. Our brothers are currently digging their way out from the Homeland. And I will dig from this end to free them..."

She looks at the bottle in Claudia's hand, then thinks better of it.

"I wasn't there...I told them I would be there, and my foolishness led me away from here."

She stands up and walks over to the nearest tree and punches it. Her knuckles start to bleed but she does not stop.

"I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE!"

She lets out a loud yell.

Claudia lets her get it out, knowing all too well what it's like to have not been there. She wished she could offer comfort, but the loss of the two had hit her as well and she had nothing to give at the moment.

"Come have a seat when you're done punishing that tree..."

She drops to the ground again, breathing heavily. She looks up at the tree, then back at Claudia. She walks over and sits with Claudia, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"I want to hurt them for taking my brothers from me."

Claudia snorts. "You want to hurt the trees? That won't please the Lorax. Oh, you mean the ones who killed them? Well, that's not going to happen specifically. Because they're dead too. But you can be a good little garou and grow big and strong and fight the wyrm in their memory. Our tribe deals in Death. Remember that. And as a Ragabash, I'm sure you can come up with some dirty tricks. But first you have to find yourself. You can't do anyone any good if you aren't sure about yourself."

Claudia stops, looking confused, as if these aren't her words and she's not quite sure where they're coming from.

"But always keep in mind that our Tribe is different from the rest. We are outsiders, and that makes us family. Find a pack to fight the wyrm with, but always remember to come Home..."
Samara can hear the importance of the word Home in Claudia's voice.