Werewolf: Appalachian Moonrise, Ch 1

[Cynical Cat]

The Uktena's paranoia completely missed the mark, as usual. Alex ignored him. His attention was focused on Galileo.

[LadyTevar]

Galileo lifted his coffee cup in salute to Alex, grinning at the Ahroun's fire. "I expected that more from Arianne, but she's got her mouth full of food," the Ragabash replied.

"And no, you're not doing too badly, Adahy. I'm just wondering which Totem would put up with you." The elder smirked.

[Cynical Cat]

"He wouldn't trust any Totem that would accept him," said Alex. "He's always worrying about the wrong things. Are you going to get to real point or do we have to chase the Ragabash around the bush a few more times before that happens?"

[Jason_Firewalker]

Taking in the Shadowlord's hostility Joe ate another bite of his lasanga and spoke up "Listen, bickering isn't going to get us anywhere. I suggest we try and get more info on this Crier guy. Does anyone here have any skill at research?"

[LadyTevar]

"Won't help, Joe," Galileo answered, swallowing another small bite of pie. He was seriously enjoying it. "For one thing, we weren't the ones who banned him -- that was Changing Seasons, ten years back. Most those who know anything would be there, but Crier wouldn't. Either way, it's not going to find him quickly, or get the Bone back."

"So, kids," the Elder asked. "What are you going to do now?"

[Jason_Firewalker]

"Well then I say we head to that Sept or give them a ring on the phone and see what information we can gather." Joe stated simply.

[Devonie]

Arianne sits back, enjoying hearing someone else argue with Alex for a change.

"Our time will be better spent chasing down what few leads we have before the trail gets any colder," she says quietly.

She turns to Sophie, "Can you pull up that overlay of the area to show Gal?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Arianne is correct," said Alex. "We have fresh, local leads to investigate and follow up on. We've been working the case for only a few hours and we already have a good suspect and some promising places to look."

[General Havoc]

Sophie frowned at the ongoing arguments. Her own parents too had clearly violated "one or two" of the liturgies. There was however a functional difference between their "crime" and what they were probably dealing with here. But then she hardly had to remind everyone of that.

She slid her laptop out as she ate (the fried chicken was spectacular) and brought up the local map with the overlay of the various mutilation points, sliding it around so Galileo could see it. She left her own thoughts of these elders' idea of "pack-forming" to herself. They would just exacerbate things...

[LadyTevar]

"The mutilations." Galileo frowned, suddenly very serious. "We've not yet had the manpower to go chasing them down." He looked to each of them in turn. "You think this is also Crier's doing?"

[Cynical Cat]

"Circumstantial evidence links him," said Alexander. "We'll be running down the leads shortly." Not enough manpower his furry Crinos ass. Less time playing head games and more time spent getting shit done was his prescription.

[rhoenix]

Still pacing himself to use Cut and Poke to put pieces of the meat into his mouth one at a time (remembering to chew between), Sees-Faces-In-Stars was still listening to the others talking around the table, though he was busily making his steak disappear.

Once he finished his current bite of steak, he did speak up. "Crier left, off into wilderness. We eat now, then we hunt after. Can run a long time on a full belly."

[Charon]

Breathes-the-Winds had remained quiet, more focused on eating his meal than adding to the conversation. "He's the one name I know that makes sense, especially if he's tainted now." Breathes-the-Winds looked over at Alex. The Shadowlord was in on this somehow. The young metis didn't know how yet. But the Shadowlord was behind all of this. And if a Shadowlord was behind this that meant the clues they'd found were only the ones that had been wanted to be found. But other clues would be harder to find, but they'd still be along the trail. He'd have to keep quiet.

Breathes-the-Winds seemed to then realize he was looking at Alex. "What leads do we have again?"

[Cynical Cat]

Alex looked back at Breathes-the-Winds. "Do we have a problem or do you find me irresistibly handsome?"

[Charon]

"A more stunning specimen has never been seen." Was Adahy's quick response. "Now, what leads do we have again, I forgot."

[Cynical Cat]

"A bunch, starting with the cattle mutilations and the festivals," said Alexander. "We have a good idea where he might be raiding for food and the places he's haunting."

[LadyTevar]

"Then I suggest you kids get moving on it," Galileo said, setting down his empty coffee cup beside his cleaned plate and rising to his feet. "Let me know what you find out."

He turned away, then turned back. "Try to be back afore moonrise." With those last words of wisdom, the Ragabash walked for the door, leaving the cubs to their own devices.

[Charon]

Breathes-the-Winds instinctively glanced out the window, looking to see where the sun was at Galileo's comment. Then shaking his head some the young man quickly finished up his own meal.

[Cynical Cat]

Alexander liked the sauce of his fingers and drained the last of his soda. He wiped his hands on the napkin. "So, does everyone have money or are the rest of us covering people?"

[rhoenix]

"Oh! I have money!" Sees-Faces-In-Stars, in the guise of "Joe-Smith" replied, as he reached into a pocket, pulling out a wad of green paper with some shiny bits, and put it on the table near his food, and away from Bonkscoop - he didn't quite trust Bonkscoop yet.

With that, he got up with a bright smile, obviously all ready to go.

[Jason_Firewalker]

"My people, lack feduciary stability unfortunately. To put it easily, I am flat broke." Joe snickered for a tenth of a second and then looked at the pile of cash that Joe Smith had left. "Looks like he might be a treatin."

[General Havoc]

Sophie laughed at Sees-Faces' eagerness to pay, and dropped fifteen dollars of her own on the table. "I've got my end,"

[Cynical Cat]

Alexander dropped a ten spot and some change on the bill, considered the situation and dropped a five on top of it.

[Devonie]

Arianne tallies in her head quickly and catches Patty's eye with a nod. "Anyone need to use the bathroom before we head out?" she asks. "Urinating in public can still get you arrested around here, you know."

[LadyTevar]

Patty walks over and shakes her head at them. "He walked out on ya'll, dint he," she asked retorically. "Ya'll ain't the first he's done that to."

She laid down the ticket, which was surprisingly reasonable for what they'd all eaten. Divideded out, it was about $10/head, not counting tip. Patty started cleaning the table off as they walked away.

Galileo's vehicle was already gone from the parking lot.