Reuben Cabot: 3/2/97 (11/7-9/96)
I had set my alarm for 7 AM, but woke up long before that to the sound of a tremendous crashing noise in the living room. I threw on my robe and dashed out to find Eric and Walks All Paths looking sheepishly at the front door, which had fallen inwards when they took the hinge pins out. "We're just trying to get rid of the mark that Torres left," Eric said, looking chagrined. I grunted, not feeling particularly communicative at 6 AM. I knew getting back to sleep would be a waste of time, so I went into the kitchen and started making some coffee.
Two cups of coffee later, I was feeling much more human. I had just finished reading the comics when the largest black man I had ever seen walked through the front door. He was easily over six foot eight, and built like a weight lifter. I heard a mental *ahem* and looked down at Dog, who was lying at my feet. He looked up at me innocently.
*Jealous, much?* I said with a mental grin.
*No. Your reaction was just…interesting, that's all. And wipe your chin. Drool is most unbecoming.*
The man introduced himself as Silvertooth, and said he was here to begin our training. I said, "Um, just a sec. Let me see if we can get everyone together." I ducked my head into Daedelus' (somewhat charred) room and said, "Yo! Wake up, sleep-boy! The fun's about to begin!" I dodged the thrown pillow and started back to the living room. Kasee intercepted me in the hallway.
"Reuben? I found these out in the mailbox again." She handed me five letters. I stared at them blankly for a moment, then I realized: the tass letters!
"Why don't you hang onto those for later. Things are about to get very busy."
She nodded solemnly and put the letters into one of the many pockets she always has on her outfits.
I walked down the hall and gently woke Mary up. She blinked sleepily, then jumped out of bed when I said that Silvertooth was here. We returned to the living room just as Daedelus dragged in as well, and Eric arrived with Nicole in tow. It looked like we had everyone assembled.
Silvertooth surveyed the group and gave a little snort. "I can see I've got my work cut out for me." He reached into a huge duffel bag he had brought with him and pulled out seven swords and scabbards and eight daggers. Each person received a dagger, and everyone but Mary got a sword. She looked a little hurt, until Renee pointed out that the sword was taller than she was. Mary nodded reluctantly, then took a few experimental swipes with her dagger. She smiled and stood a little straighter.
The next three days were sheer hell. Silvertooth ran us ragged, taking a bunch of mostly sedentary mages and whipping us into some sort of decent fighting shape. I had some problems at first - I don't normally consider myself a pacifist, but the idea of actually stabbing anyone with a sword or dagger appalled me. Silvertooth took me aside and explained that even though I might never attack anyone, what would happen if someone - or something - started attacking my friends? Could I just stand by and watch while they were massacred? I was being manipulated, and I knew it and I didn't like it. Unfortunately, he was right, dammit. I trained in stances and feints and thrusts and parries with the rest of the group.
After the first day of training, I was exhausted, but feeling more alive than I had in months. Maybe there was something to this exercise thing after all - or not. Kasee and Cab insisted that we try to contact Angela again, so after preparing the rite as before, I sat down and did some serious drumming. After about a half-hour, the air turned heavy and oppressive, and Angela appeared, looking out the window.
"We have some letters for you." Kasee said, her voice only cracking a little.
Angela turned quickly, her deep-set eyes looking hungrily to the letters. She tore open the first letter and said, "Oh. John has been drafted. Isn't that grand? He has always said he wanted to serve his country."
She moved on to the second letter. She read it quickly, and smiled. "They gave John a Purple Heart! Oh, no…he's been wounded. They say he's all right, though."
After scanning the third letter, she looked up, beaming with joy. "He's coming home! John's coming home! Isn't that wonderful?"
I silently pleaded with her not to open the last letter - this woman has known enough sadness. Still, she tore open the last letter, and stopped. She read through it, and re-read it slowly. A tear trickled down her cheek. She smiled weakly, wiping the tear with the back of her hand. "It says he's coming home soon…"
She dropped the letter. It fluttered down to the floor, disappearing before it touched the ground. She turned back tot he window. "I cut my hair. Do you think he'll like it?"
My heart was breaking for her. "Yes. Yes, I think he'll like it very much," I replied, choking back tears myself.
Walks All Paths came into the room, holding a cup and saucer. "I brought you some tea."
She smiled again, sadly, and reached for the cup. As she did, her hand passed through it, and she disappeared. The room grew lighter. I looked at Cab, Kasee, and Walks All Paths. "Now you see why I was reluctant to call her again. No one deserves that much pain."
I stood quickly and walked from the room. I undressed for bed in silence, Dog echoing my somber mood. I lay in bed for a long while before sleep reached me.
Not much else happened over the next two days, with the exception of training, training, and more training. Silvertooth was a tough but fair taskmaster, always pushing us to our limits, but never to total exhaustion. On Saturday night, I summoned the strength to do another shapechanging, to dog form again, just to continue to get a feel for the shape. I was getting good at this, I thought. I romped around the room a bit, then changed back to human form and went to bed.
Sunday was more of the same, except at the end of the day, Silvertooth looked at us, collapsed around the living room, and said, "I have done what I came here to do. You are as ready as you can be."
As he spoke, the newly-repaired front door opened and Granddad walked in. He scanned the room, then nodded in quiet satisfaction. "You are ready. This is good. We have a great work to perform tonight." We all started to plead exhaustion, but were silenced by a wave of his hand. "What we must do must happen tonight. I know you are tired, but this thing cannot wait. What we must do, you see, is open a cairn."
I gasped, as did Walks All Paths. This was one of the greatest rites of the garou, and to be invited to assist was a great honor. Granddad continued, "First, I must know this thing: is this house clean? Is it free of manifestations?" We glanced at each other. Finally, Walks All Paths said, "There is a spirit in this house. She is not a wraith, as far as I can tell."
Granddad nodded. "Very well. Summon her."
I sighed, and went to my room for my drum. Will this woman ever have peace? As Granddad began inscribing a circle in the living room, I sat in the center of the room and began drumming. It was harder this time, and took over an hour. I wasn't surprised - if I were her, I wouldn't want anything more to do with us. Finally, she materialized slowly in the center of the room, near me. I felt terribly cold, but continued a quiet rhythm.
Granddad stood up straight. "Angela, the time has come for you to go. You must go to be with your husband."
Angela's face brightened. "John is coming? When?"
Granddad looked at her with pity. "You will go to John. Here, take these." With that, he gave her two small coins - pennies. She accepted them, looking at them inquiringly as she faded away.
Granddad dusted his hands off, and looked at Walks All Paths with contempt. "She was a wraith. Study harder, pup." Walks All Paths looked abashed; Renee patted his hand and whispered something in his ear.
Granddad turned to us. "You, you, you, and you." He pointed to Eric, Daedelus, Kasee, and Cab. "You will be defenders. Whatever comes at you through this night, kill it. It may look familiar, or friendly, but I assure you, it is not." He directed them to take positions outside of the circle he had drawn, at the cardinal points of the compass.
"Now, you, you, and you." He pointed to Renee, Mary, and Dog. You will be the participants. You will join me in the circle." He arranged them in a three-quarter circle in the center of the room, then took Walks All Paths' hand. "You, my troubled young pup, must be in the center of the circle." He placed him there. That left me, looking a little confused.
Granddad approached me. "Wait here a moment. Prepare your drum." He left the room for a few moments, then came back holding a white pigeon. "Step sideways, as you say, only as I do."
He snapped the pigeons neck with a savage twist, then threw the corpse on the ground and stepped backwards over it and disappeared. As I prepared to do the same, a voice touched my thoughts. *Be careful*
*I will. Take care yourself, Dog.* I sent a mental hug and stepped backwards.