#elsewhere

They take their time, apparently there are cleansing rituals to help undo the damage that black spiral pack did, and Lupe's pack feels obligated evennn if it slows them down. It is Concrete Lullaby who tells the story of how a garou tribe fell tto the Wyrm and became twisted by the black spiral dancers

"the white howlers were a terrible loss and as the black spiral dancers became our most bitter foes" Lupe shudders

"That's terrible." She agrees. "We have... bad versions, ones that aligned with the Fomorians."

"There was a war."

"Fomori?" the Galliard gasps "you fight them too?"

She nods.

"Like, Unseelie might be... um.. well, chaotic and self-interested... they aren't evil. Thallian are evil for the sake of being evil. They want to destroy the world."

"We wonn't let them" Lulu assures "We will fight for Gaia in the streets, in the alleys, through the muck , we shall battle in the shrouded wood and hidden hills!"

"Good. So we are allies."

"We are so breaking rules here" Don says

"If it happens we get in trouble, I'll take the lumps for it" Lupe says "I'm the Philodox"

"Hey, I asked permission."

"How about the elders donn't know is less likely to get anyone in trouble?" Something Sour is in the Wind points out, sounding a bit like Symon when he states something that should be obvious

"Yeah, well, just make me sound cool and mysterious when you tell stories."

"I will" Concrete Lullaby says "Though her eyes were like a wolf's her shadow was long..... and much to learn more to teach, the spirals they fell, she rang them like bells- for the wyld one had hella long reach"

A grin. "Lupe, I like your friends!"

"I seem to attract likable but annoying company" Lupe smirks at Dagmar

"I have no idea what you mean."

"Giving yourself a headache yet?" Lupe's brow rises, but she smiles and they go on "Okay. Slight delay, but soon we'll be facing the spirit's challenge"

"Hush. I only give myself a headache sometimes."

"For some reason, Lupe has a LOT of headaches" Don asks Lupe "Why IS that? WHYWHYWHYWHYWH-"

She eblows him lightly in the gut and he ooofs and she keeps walking

Dagmar spends a lot of the walk looking around with undisguised wonder.

And they are leaving the prenumbra and into more surreal areas.. like the dreaming really, but there is... more sense to it in a way? And .. more sorrow. The dreaminng is smallerr some say, fadingg. the Umbra is larger, but there are signs of rot no ritual can cure. Great oaks here, but some refuse to bear leaves even in summer.

She touches one of the dead-seeming trees with a touch of a frown.

Yet othes thrive and grow. This doesn't reflect man's dreams, it reflects the world and how it's treated. No wonder Garou are angry. They come to this magical place, and SEE what the pollution man does made manifest. Healthy trees stunted, beautiful animal spirits maimed! In this part it's rare, but even here... it happens

"this is why we fight" Little Mother Nips the Heel , her friend, tells her touching the same tree "This is why we can't stop fighting. Ever"

She nods. "People don't see what they hurt."

Lulu looks like she mightt cry, then instead she sighs and looks at Lupe "It's hard, but it's right that we fight"

"Better when we heal" Dolly adds "Come on"

"Chief, she protects the forest too... does a lot to keep Rivervale healthy and growing."

"That's the problem with being in an Apocalypse" Donn fusses "Everyone gets all Emo about it. " a smile "Sourwind, I bet you twenty bucks we some how save Gaia in a hundred years. We garou."

"We'll be dead by then" he points out.

"Details" The Ragabash scoffs "Just admit you're a cheap skate or put it down"

"Send your descendents to find my reincarnation. I can settle it."

"They reincarnate?" Don blinks.

Lupe grunt nods, seeming a bit trollis herself

"OH man, now I want to be a pixie too!" Don huffs cheesily

"I only look like a teenager." She tries for mysterious.

And, to be fair - eight foot and change, blue, armored...

"And with pretty eyes and very handsome teeth" Lullaby adds

"Oh.. ah.." Purple.

"My fangs are bigger.. in Crinos anyway" Don smiles

"If only everything else grew with them" Lupe shoots a look

"Ow.. ow... " The ragabash looks at Dolly "Healing for that burn?"

Dolly smirks "You know what? For once. nah"

PURPLE.

"Sorry," Lupe says, nnnot to Don, but Dagmar "We can be an earthy bunch"

"It's cool."

And they come to a great twistinng bridge of vine "We're here. Lullaby, announce us"