To Uktena or Not Uktena... That is the question

[Denise]

"You don't believe or you know? I am well aware of the protection he can provide. Which is why I am going to tell Visili that Lightbringer can have his challenege. Lightbringer has also asked me to do things that could cause a lot of trouble without him being there. Marks-the-Prey really will be my undoing, since everytime he speaks to me I want to hit him in the face. Which is not the brightest of urges."

[Decimus]

"I believe. Nothing is a surety until it has happened, and even then there is the question of unseen forces, regardless of the source. Both of your concerns have fairly obvious solutions, as well, though you I'm sure that you know each of them already. Why haven't you brought your concerns to him? He is Marks-the-Prey's Alpha, the same as he is mine. If he is to be your guardian, then that urge would effect your well-being and is his responsibility to address the best that he is able."

[Denise]

" I am going to bring it up to him but currently it's not my place to tell him how to order his packmates around or even make sugggestions. If he makes me live with any of your pack it will certainly come up and have to be addressed. By all means if you think you can solve my problems tell me how."

[Decimus]

He sighed. "In recent years, it is sad that both sides seem to believe that the responsibility of watching after Kin is a one sided street, the problem of the Kinfolk and none other. The stewardship of a Garou over a Kinfolk is more a responsibilty of the Garou rather than the Kin, not to be oppressed and pushed into doing what they are unwilling to do, not to be some sort of breeding stock to be kept locked up and only let out on a rare basis," he shook his head at the thought.

"You would not be telling him how to keep his pack in line, you would express your concern over what the adverse attention being given to you makes you feel. He is close to his rage, yes, but he still understands how people work to an extent. If there is a situation that he is asking you to enter into unaccompanied, address it with him, make sure that there is proper care given to your protection. We did not send Kinfolk into the new lands alone to see what the others were doing, nor should you be sent into potentially hostile areas without enough to guarantee your safety. The Garou are Gaia's warriors," he held a hand to his chest. "Not the unchanging Kinfolk," and then pointed a finger at her in turn.

[Denise]

Morgan smiled. "Maybe you are worth getting to know. I tend to jump to conclusions about garou and their views. Which was incorrect in this case. There is always the chance Guy will win since I assume he will choose game craft as the challenge. In which case I would have worried for nothing until you decide to challenge him. I worry if Lightbringer does win and I don't go kicking and screaming Guy will be upset. And my biggest threat is him and every secret I have told him. I doubt he will betray me as he knows the extent of what I can and am willing to do."

[Decimus]

"Going kicking and screaming will resolve nothing, and I trust that the Ritemaster is wise enough to realize that regardless of the outcome. On top of it it not befitting anyone short of an actual child. Even with secrets, nothing should risk the lives of upstanding members of the Garou Nation. Our numbers are too finite to risk fatality at the ends of politics. We will need every last one of us when our final days are upon us," he shook his head again. "That is something I wish many individuals of many tribes would realize."

[Denise]

"Hence why I wasn't planning on it, though another Shadow Lord offered to defend me from Lightbringer should I choose. You're one of few that hasn't tried to call me dishonorable or as the Uktena put it, a destroyer of everything. Many don't realize that fighting among ourselves detracts from our true enemy. And those that are in love tend to be the most irrational."

[Decimus]

"That isn't very surprising. We watch after our own, even if it may not appear to be the case at times. And believe it or not, but the Uktena are more... kind, I suppose, in their words than the Wendigo are, I've found. Both hold the current tribe responsible for the actions that their ancestors made centuries ago. I've had time to realize that we were mistaken in our actions, then, but we've all made poor choices in our time. I guess I've had time to make more than my fair share." He shrugged.

[Denise]

"I just wish they could realize that I didn't make those choices for my tribe. We're simply left with the mess our ancestors left us." Morgan smiled. "I think our fellow tribesman is more concerned with Lightbringer becoming stronger than he is. You have sparked quite a bit of curiosity Alexi; how old are you?"

[Decimus]

"Lightbringer -- and the others, mind you -- we look for weaknesses to strengthen, holes in defenses that need filling. The pack is named the Load Bearers for a very good reason, and I don't imagine that many seem to realize that with Lightbringer's recent rise," he shrugged at the last thought.

"As for myself, let's see..." he looked up, almost expecting an answer out of the sky above them. "Whenever that question comes up, I feel quite a bit older than I should. If the Croatan's scream was in 1521, like they say, I suppose that would make me.." he looked down from the sky. "Should be about five hundred twenty eight this summer, I believe. Though, I suppose it could be quite a bit of a smaller number if the various deaths suffered were added to the equation," he shrugged. "Doesn't seem quite fair to do that, though."

[Denise]

Morgan arched an eyebrow. "Wait what? How does that work? It might be quite interesting to know what it was like so long ago. If you ever offered a few memories. You spent all that time as a kinfolk? I feel rather... ignorant and young."

[Decimus]

"Most of it, until recently. Perhaps once we know one another better, some of those experiences might be shared. But they take some understanding of what things were like. As for the how.. well, lets just leave that be for now. Here and now," he twirled a finger about, indicating the area around them. "It's about what's troubling you, not the lifetime of machinations that poor Alexi had to resort to, to make it through the years."

[Denise]

Morgan smiled. "You're no fun... for now. I'm always willing to make a deal if you'd like." Morgan laid back and pointed up. "Does this look like the glyph for coyote? What else is bothering me... I'm sad my friend is dead since I confied all of my problems with her. And she promised to do something which wont ever happen now. Guy has been acting well odd, calling me his mate and threatening everyone he thinks makes me angry. When I told him 'prove you can defend me' it's not what I had in mind. Why am I telling you all of this?"

[Decimus]

He laughed again. "I suspect it is because you are not used to being asked your feelings on matters, much less the topic being brought back to your problems after repeated distractions. Maybe you're starting to believe that someone may understand what it is to be Kin despite no longer being one," he shrugged. "I cannot speak your mind for you, nor would I think to with so little we've agreed we know of one another. And though I would not expect you to trust such confidence in that you have lost in another, I can offer an ear at the very least. As I said earlier, I very much doubt that listening will be the end of me.

"Perhaps Guy is seeing that his previous uncontested stewardship of you is under contention, and coupled with the challenge of defending you, he is concerned that he may not be able to do so martially. Though, if you are not his mate, I would suggest correcting him of that misstep sooner than later, lest his mind take too much hold on the idea and allow his body to follow."

[Denise]

"I am starting to think you may be able to empathize with things I tell you. But why you would want to hear them concerns me. The fact that I want to tell you everything concerns me dearly. Listening wont be the end of you, getting close to me usually is. It's why I always give Guy the chance to walk away or run, which ever he prefer. Though I assume you know the tactics and treachery my tribe has taught me to use to get what I want."

"He challenged to be my guardian and I have warned him of others that have interest. Brenna says I make him feel like less of a man. Since I prefer to deal with my own problems. Lightbringer could be taken care of, in the sense he'd no longer want me but it's not worth it. I have corrected Guy, or tried when it came up. But I can't take on a philodox and Guy at the same time. Garou have the wonderful advantage of back you into the corner with their rage. Correcting him isn't worth my life when he will always let me do as I please. To garou if I am physical with someone they're my mate, but I beg to differ. I have no intention of bearing him children, so I am not his mate. It was the one rule Visili left; if a garou makes me mate with him, he is good as dead."

[Marks-The-Prey]

The shadows seemed to slip out of the air and fall like dark wrappings to the grass. Marks-The-Prey left the shelter of the night and let each paw-fall whisper in the grass.

"...Morgan..." His voice ground from his jaw. The strange homid speech coming from a lupine jaw could only be described as, unsettling.

"I seem to cause you much distress..." Marks-The-Prey said in a low voice as he continued his slow pace towards her.

Marks-The-Prey stopped suddenly and narrowed his eyes.

"Why?" He growled.

"Why do you think I do not see you as one of Grandfather Thunder's children?" His voice was almost guttural, as if referring to the Tribe unleashed a storm of inner emotion.

Marks-The-Prey continued to watch her through his narrowed eyes.

Unblinking, unwavering, unnatural curiosity.

[Denise]

Morgan stood slowly as Mark-The-Prey approached. She clenched her fists digging her nails into her palms. Just causing enough pain to detract from the fear of the lupus infront of her.

"It was my understanding in the conversation with Alex that if I didn't relate with my tribe, I'm not really one of them. Possibly I was mistaken. My distress was explained while you were listening. It is more due to me knowing you watch me, and openly question my smell. It isn't taken kindly by a homid woman, as I don't think many would. And I like to think my private conversations... are well, private."

Her eyes shifted to Alexi. "I assume this is where you tell me you had no idea he was here. Or I kick myself in the face because I should have known better than to trust you."

[Decimus]

He shook his head, looking up at her as she rose. "There are very few who could track Marks-the-Prey. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. The Bawn is not as private as I would prefer."

[Denise]

Morgan stepped slowely putting Alexi between her and Marks-The-Prey watching him closely. She sat back down next to the shadow Lord more closely then she'd prefer. Getting as close as she could without touching him. Morgan hoped he'd step in should Marks-The-Prey lose his temper.

"I suppose next time I'll invite you elsewhere to speak with you. Not that I know of a place aside my from home where I could justify getting angry about the intrustion."

[Decimus]

He glanced past her at Marks-the-Prey for a moment before returning his attention to the Kinfolk.

"There are more places than simply within the Caern, though I should not travel elsewhere for long. I will redouble my inquiries regarding certain matters that would allow such privacy, however."