#baronyofthesilverwolf

Gwen looks at Briar "I won't let her hurt you. " Reassuring "But I don't think.. that's what she wants"

Then she looks at the figure "I am of Silverwolf Barony, as are we wall. Baron Aiden is our pack leader. He is good to dogs everwyhere, and knows the laws of the hunt. This is Briar. She was robbed of her fangs for a time, but has built her own .I stand by them"

Briar stands and bares her metal teeth. "Our pack grows stronger! We have new fighters and riders! And they know about wolves too!" Bolstered by Gwen's sturdy reassurance. She growls at the mighty wolf!

A paw swipes down, a paw of air and smoke and nothingness, of darkness and light, and bowls Briar over. She knocks into Gwen and pops back to her feet. Patting herself - and looking surprised that she is uninjured.

The Wolf did not make a liar of Gwen, she did not hurt Briar, but cuffed her like an unruly cub. Barks come from the kennels! A few in defense, and a few that sound like... laughter? It almost sounds like they ring out as voices.

"Mother! She is our pack!"
"Don't talk back to Mother! Mother is Wise!"
"Lucky, Mother uses her paw and not the claw and doesn't shake your Sccccrrrrruuuuuff!"

A huff of wind rolls down and blows back their fluffy faces so that they look almost svelte under the wind pressure for a moment, and then barks fall quiet, and the tails all wag.

Gwen braces Briar andsets her jaw, but wisely does not growl rather she says "A pack needs such fierce ness as she." the dogs are talking, all of them.Adorable.. weird! i LOVE being a changeling

"You who have honored Wolfenoot today may claim a boon. Of the Blinding light of the East, the Ripping Fangs of the South, the Sleek and Swift Paws of the West, or the Howl of the North - CHOOSE."

Her breath rolls down over Gwen, hot and sweet and smelling of fresh blood and winter snows.

A look to Briar and she whispers "Briar, ask for the Ripping fangs of the South I think.. I don't know.. mahybe it will.. be what it sounds like?"

Briar shakes her head. "She's talking to YOU." And the Great She-Wolf is staring straight into Gwen's soul, or so it feels.

Julius calls over, "She's right, Gwen - claim something. Don't keep her waiting." He hangs back, and is clearly fighting some fidgety nervousness, vs. awe in watching the mighty beast.

Her hand is damp - Ivan sticks his nose there reassuringly!

Unsure, uncertain, but she says "Fine. I would choose the Howl of the North" It just sounds..poetic, damnit

then manners "And, uh, thank you, ma'am"

Her breath rolls over Gwen, and her hands grow heavy. When the mist clears, she holds a hunting horn - carved or wrought of bone or fang... some GIANT fang... and the open mouth shaped like a howling wolf.

"Blow upon this horn, and wherever you are, your pack will know you need aid. It shall be your howl in the night, leading them to you."

"Thank you, Mother wolf. " She is caught in the beauty of it "I am glad SilverWolf impresses"

A snort, much like Ivan when he is amused.

"Silverwolf is Silverwolf. YOU impress."

"To the toothless pup, I shall give, and I shall take. Do not growl at me again, or I shall give you a nip you will never forget."

The voice warns, stern and strong, yet somehow warm and protective.

The jaws open, and She leans forward, and the jaws engulf Briar's head!

Gwen is too stunned, but she recognizes the gesture "Hold still, Briar" Please let this be like mom dogs showing dominance and affection

The jaws release, and the Wolf pulls away... leaving Briar with a face streaked with blood. Her hands fly up, and she jams them in her mouth, exploring, and then snaps at the air. "Gwen. GWEN." Grabbing her and giving her a shake! Completely unnecessarily. "LOOK AT MY TEETH!"

And Gwen laughs "Oh my God... I mean, Dog.. I mean wolf. WOW" She picks the Redcap and twirls her "Geez o pete you could bite my face off!"

The metal is GONE, every hint and scrap, and as Briar's jaws clip and snap at the air, it reminds Gwen of a pit bull, or a crocodile, once those jaws lock, there's no getting whatever is within back. A Redcaps crushing, tearing blocky teeth - but bounded by a set of trollish - or one must say WOLFISH, fangs!

"It looks awesome..scary awesome"

Then she says "Thank you, Motherwolf"

The Wolf sits back, and looks over the land, Julius and the others, the Barony and the wilderness.

"They say that there are two wolves locked in battle inside you. That is foolishs. Thy wolves within are of you, and are pack. They will only fight if you make it so. Grant them both honor. Sun and Moon. She-Wolf and Mate. To deny one wolf is to deny thyself."

"To thy Packleader, tell him this - my fierce children are divided, and squabble for scraps while the prey escapes. Pad with care to the North, for a pack divided will lash out, knowing not that they are turned upon one another."

"Honor the Wolf and the Dog, and the Pack."

Gwen tries to memorize the words, not sure she can, but mutters "thank the nice bad ass spirit she wolf , Briar"

And by now she has elt go of the Redcap

"Uh. Thanks, Raksha. And I'll read the rest of the book. I promise. Not just the fights, the boring parts about the pack ad the laws and shit. Promise!" Still pawing at her teeth in delight.

Julius is muttering to himself, making sure he has this down.

The winds lesson, and the clouds part - the storm fades, and the she-wolf with it.

Remember.

Gwen mutters " Packleader,- my fierce children divideded... the prey escapes. Pad with care to the North, for a pack divided will lash out, knowing not that they are turned upon one another."

Then she looks around almost accusitory "You guys didn't tell me the ritual would do THAT"

Briar is hauling at the lid of the smoker. "Is the meat still okay?!"

Julius just gives her a shrug! "You'll have to ask Bluebell and Delorean. I'm just the Lorekeeper here. But I got it. I'll write it down, and we can make sure the Baron knows."

The meat is STILL THERE!

"test out the new teeth on the meat and bones?" Gwen grins to the redcap

She reaches in and hisses as she nearly scalds her hand, then grabs a knife to wriggle free a meaty joint. Instead of pulling off scraps she can shove into her narrow mouth, she opens wide, and CHOMPS. Her jaws clamp down and work their way, tearing, grinding, crushing, through meat and marrow and bone. Briar swallows, and sniffs - no, sniffles? "I... I got smoke in my eyes!" She growls if Gwen looks too closely.

Gwen probably does

Then she says "Oo.. yeah.. smoke" She does not smile "I get some too. Darn smoke" but a smile is trying tocome out . one of joy

"You gonna toot on that tooth?" Briar still gnaws, but has been throwing meat to all of the dogs. Chucking in different directions to make sure they all get some.

"I think I'm supposed to wait until there's a danger... " Gwen says and throws some to hte dogs too

A frown. On a less bloodthirsty mein, it might even be a pout. "Wanna go find some?"

"You just want to find someone to bite in a fight" a grin "I think our first duty is to pass words onto the Baron"

"Foo." She returns to her gnawing, but it's not too long before he comes riding up! "Julius, I got your message." He looks somewhat ruffled and wild, his hair blown loose by the storm and his coat unbuttoned. "I was with the horses. The hounds favor Wolfenoot - the stallions remember that wolves once challenged them on the steppes, and often won. I did not want that fight today." Or ever, his expression says.

(DIdn't see the update, sorry)

"My liege... thank goodness you're okay. And I don't think it was Wolfenoot so much as his mate.. or maybe it was his other side.."

Gwen takes a breath and repeats "She said to tell you.... my fierce children are divided, and squabble for scraps while the prey escapes.  Pad with care to the North, for a pack divided will lash out, knowing not that they are turned upon one another."

"At least. I think I got that right"

He listens, brow furrowed, but intently. A small frown. "And still, I must go." He looks back to Gwen, as his horse sidles, smelling Wolf, and needs a moment of calming. "It is more than I knew, and a valuable warning. Thank you."

"But... are you in danger? " troll instincts rising

The horse is trotted over, and he reaches to rest a hand on her shoulder for a moment. Handy, the height of trolls. "No more so than at other times, and less so for having advance warning."

"Yes, my liege but... please be careful." A thought "Baroness Nadeeen is looking forward to seeing you at the fete. Be a shame if you were injured so you couldn't come out."

"Ah. The fete." A sigh. "One does one's duty. But I am glad that all is well here - Briar, is that blood, or barbeque sauce?" An alarmed question to ask of a Redcap.

"BOTH!" Is her triumphant exclamation. "I bit my lip!" And he has to calm the horse once more as the blood-smelling redcap approaches to excitedly tell him of her version of events. But such is duty.

"She's got her teeth, My lord "BEAMING

He reaches down as though to take her chin, as one might a child showing off a missing tooth - and stops himself in time. Instead, he gives her a smile, and his hesitation makes Briar BEAM too. "See that? See? No one getting close to these chompers now!" Chortling in joy.

"All is well then. Clean up before dinner, if you have room for dinner. At least save room for Marigold's moon cake." And he rides off to clean up himself and head in. Julius rubs his horns - he has a headache, but they weren't eaten by an angry she-wolf. Time to go take notes.
(Fade, and later there is cake.)