#elsewhere

"Lupe?" Worry!

"Sec" Lupe chokes out

Dag collects Lupe into a hug.

"Oh damn" Lupe struggles not to cry again as she's hugged

A few snorts as she draws snot back before it can leak. Bonegnawers aren't always dignified

Grunt. Lupe does not speak troll, but it sounds supportive!

"Oooh" Dolly moves close but only to put a hand on "Little Mother, whatever it is we're here, we're okay"

"Well, I'm a bit tetched in the head" Don says , a nervous smile attempt 'But that's not YOUR Fault"

"Your people are here, yeah? Here for you."

Lulu makes a kind of empathetic whine in the back of her throat

Lupe hugs Dagmar back fiercely, then pushes her back a touch, not rudely, but because other wise she might break down again "Okay you chowder heads did good. We each won one. Proud of you. Let's get that prize"

"Okay."

And the vines are back, the heads of old people forming in chorus "But if, the real prize was the friends you made on the way?"

"What if," Little Mother says wsith a smile that could curdle milk "The real prize involved weed killer and a scythe?"

"Noted" Annd the vines push forward something "Your prize, as agreed"

A quirked brow at the spirit - not amused by the games, no.

And there it is...

"We got an ornamennt?" Don asks

Dagmar kenns it, though Prodigal magic tends to usually just feel "weird"

"A charm stone fetish, you Should KNOW This.." Sour Wind huffs

"More than that." Lupe picks it up "This is going to help the Caern. It's been missing for decades from the garou nation. We're bringing it back" A smile

But the tear marks cann be noticed still by those that know her. What ever test lupe did, it hit her hard

"What does it do?"

The stone makes Dagmar feel.. blessed?

"It feels... positive."

"Charmstones are associated with fighting back pestilence , reducingg toxins... this one helps more than that. Nothing is full proof, but it fights the worse of the wyrm's influence. It turns the water and land is on pure, andn turns already sacred places even more so. Heck, if some Vampire stepped near this it might start to smoke"

Lupe explains to her "In the hands of our elders... it cann be quite powerful"

"Which means we won' et to keep it" Don sighs "But maybe they'll be impressed?"

"Well, like... that's the chivalrous thing, isn't it? Do the quest perilous for the greater good. It's honorable."

"Just so" Dolly nods "And the glory is still ours"

"Damn right it is" Lupe declares "I'm proud of each and everyone of us. Folks, remember to tell Lulu your challenge, the elders will want in the records"

Concrete Lullaby grins "I won a ..."

"Rap Battle" Everyone but Lupe (and possibly Dagmar) says at once before she can

A little smile.

And she claps a hand on Lupe's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

Lupe pats the hand. She'll be all right

And off they go. The passage out of the umbra is even better than the travel in. That charm seems to sennd outt ripples of health as the walk. Nnot a cure, but it helps.

From a tree branch way overhead, a black feathered gaffling eyes the shiny prize that the kids walk by with.

"Don't even think about it." Says a Falcon spirit from a higher branch, not even bothering to open it's eyes.

An avian pout, fluffed up feathers. "You're no fun." Croaked in response. And they pass, unmolested.

"Come on, you KNOW you wannna" Don the Fab is laughing AT you says aloud

"Who are you talking to?" Dolly asks

"Nobody" the ragabash says, and onward they go

Homeward bound!

Coming out of the umbra feels like comingg out of the pool after hours of beingg submerged... everything feels HEAVIER

Even for a troll

"You okay?" Lupe asks her "Sometimes slippinngg side ways after a long time can be draining"

"Oof. Feels weird coming out."

Don mutters "Low hanging fruit, so tasty"

"You turn that into an innuendo and I will BOUNCE you" Dolly warns him. CoG have their limits

"Wouldn't think of it" Don says (Lie)