Fehér Holló

[Inu]

-/Hun/ None of us is good in teamwork but we still made a good team. Don't you remember? Wait...

*I desperately try to find out something to make her stay but I recognize that it's better this way to both of us. She won't get hurt in our crazy quest and I won't worry all the time. My mind knows all this but my heart still aches.*

-/Hun/ Stay out of trouble! And... if you stay quite close to us... all your questions will be answered. Even those I don't posess...

<Please. Please! Don't get caught again. Once in you life, be careful...>

*I would like to tell her to come back soon but I already revealed my feelings, my weakness. I shouldn't aggrevate my mistake, so I follow her with my eyes as she leaves and even after I stand there a little more. I need time to shake off the feelings and turn away.*

<Sablepaw. I have to find her! And then... the Black Cross again.>

Continued

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*Somewhat taken aback by Zoltán's sudden unease, Dances-with-Winds picks up the change and instinctually adjusts. When pulled even closer, she stares into his eyes, all the pretensions of their former game gone. Her hands find his shoulders, either to reinforce the embrace... or to be able to push him away, if need be.*

-/Hun/ I'm not a good team worker either, White Raven. Not at all.

*When she's released, she takes a step or two back, but the eye contact remains maintained for the entire duration. That dark gaze radiates sadness now, and perhaps a shade of disappointment. At least that's certainly how Zoltán would perceive it now.*

-/Hun/ All right. I will go now. I already told you everything I knew, everything that happened to me. You cannot do the same to me. But I will also remain here, doing what I do best and bring you news from above and afar. Good luck... Son of Luna.

*A moment of pause, and if he doesn't immediately object, she begins her transformation back into her raven shape. When she ascends, she halts for a moment when she gets back in level with Zoltán's eyes, then heads for the strange, alien Umbral skies, only to disappear virtually within moments.*
_________________

[Inu]

*When she faints I suddenly catch her with both of my arms and even this way we are quite close to fall. I wasn't expecting this and... well I was hardly strong enough to catch her. I become tired of this game because we are getting nowhere. This doesn't mean that I don't like where we got so far, of course.*

-/Hun/ "They had nothing to do with You?" What did you say at the trunk? "Please, protect me." Have I missed something, my dear?

*I won't mention the real cause of the attack: Sablepaw. Let her think I fought for her, not for the life of that reckless cub. We fought for her.*

-/Hun/ I trust You. I told You more than I was allowed. Now trust me please and come with us. You will learn those details on the way or from Crow herself if she wants You to know it.

*With one of my hands I still hold her at her waist, while my other hand holds the back of her neck, so I slowly draw her head closer to me, still looking at her eyes. I become serious. There is a line I can't cross. I'm not sure about what I can tell her but I won't let Crow down.*

-/Hun/ Please don't ask me to betray her trust.

<Fool! Idiot White Raven! You just made the temptation even stronger! But why shouldn't I play along? It's just a game. No matter what I really feel. Just a game. No. What is game now can be real in a moment. Let her go! Now!>

*I slowly let my hold weaker, I give her time to stand on her own feet, but I let her go. I am strong, I will be strong. I can't let such things interfere.*

-/Hun/ Of course You are free to fly away if you feel so.

*My voice in this last sentence is really sad. And I mean it.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*Dances-with-Winds plays along, oh, of course she does! Feigning being touched by his words (or perhaps being secretly genuine herself?), she faints into Zoltán's arms, letting her hair fall back and flow in the Umbral wind. She sighs a sentimental sigh before replying, much softer and even craftier.*

-/Hun/ More precious than your own life... oh, my silly, silly White Raven. You even lunged yourself at those horrors when they had nothing to do with me.

*Reaching up, she now catches a lock of his hair to idly play with it.*

-/Hun/ Look at it this way; if you truly wish to accomplish your spiritual mission, if you count on my assistance in any way in it, then you must learn to trust me with more details. You're a New Moon... you should know that in "our" line of work, the Devil truly does hide in the details.

*Finally, her smile changes into a softer, more benevolent one. Whatever it might mean, of course...*
_________________

[Inu]

*I step to her and gently touch her hand to kiss it.*

-/Hun/ How could I forget your help? Even now it was you who ignoring your wounds and risking your life led us to the knights...
<...Almost falling into the hand of those beasts during your one winged dance with the winds.>
*With my other hand I hold her waist as if I would like to dance. I draw her closer to me and let loose a charming smile. I play a conqueror, who just pretends his love and lies to the prey to get her while I really love her. The whole world is a theatre.*
-/Hun/ I'm afraid I have already told you more that I was allowed. You know that I'm just a humble servant of Gaia and the spirits. I'm not to make rules but to follow them. And you know you are more precious than my life, my dear. But you wouldn't ask me to betray the spirits just to demonstrate it, would you?

*I freeze and enjoy holding her and being lost in her eyes. I wish this moment would take forever.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*Though her expression doesn't change, a peculiar glitter in her eyes certainly indicates Dances-with-Winds is enjoying the show. If anything, her holier-than-thou act only escalates.*

-/Hun/ "Go and ask Crow" - he says! When he's standing right here! After all the aid I've given him!

*In all fairness, while she indeed has been rather useful these years, her lupine counterpart probably did a whole lot more for her.*

-/Hun/ Is that how much I'm worth to you?!
_________________

[Inu]

<Of course you are curious... Well, lets play and throw some morsel to the raven.>

*I join to the theatre with a sullen voice.*
-/Hun/ How typical of you... You just drop in when you need help and now, when we are talking about my Destiny you just leave...
*I sigh in despair. I turn away but continue my monolog.*
-/Hun/ But know! I fight for both of us! According to the prophecy a great black army threatens everyone! You know that I am led by Crow. She guided me to you and to those knights of the Black Cross. Ask Crow if you want to know more! She will tell you what you need to know. I have to find out the details before its too late. With You... - *my voice saddens and I end the sentence in undertones* - ... or without You.

*I look back in dead earnest to look into her eyes. And of course to check the results.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*A smaller victory for our brave Zoltán for sure, his counterattack with new, unknown and surprising information certainly makes itself visible on Dances-with-Winds. For a moment. For just a moment.*

-/Hun/ My, sounds like you've been listening to your shamans a tad too much this time. But if this "prophecy" of yours is so important and so secret that you won't even tell me anything about it... not the slightest detail...

*Oh, there goes it. She raises her nose and rolls her eyes to the sky above him.*

-/Hun/ ...then by all means, go ahead and chase it. I'll be... around.

*To complete the ritual, she even folds her arms now. Oh, boy.*
_________________

[Inu]

*Feeling defeated, I don't force eye contact with her. I silently admit her victory but I also smile sightly, as I find our little game gracious.*

<Born a Garou, she would have surely belonged to the Shadow Lord tribe.>

-/Hun/ Yes, indeed. I was also wandering about the odds of your accidental reappearance, while I was looking for those horsemen. Fate plans, Fate controls everything and permits nothing to happen accidentally.

*My smile slowly widens as I refer that I was expecting to the arrival of the horsemen instead of meeting her. I help her to equip her cloak but I stopped avoiding her glances.*

<Every move is perfect, all planned for me. She grew more confident since we met... More dangerous than most of the Shadow Lords.>

-/Hun/ Loss of Grace? What are you talking about? Not even for a heartbeat, my dear.

*A self-evident merciful lie. Hopefully good enough as a counter attack. Then comes the short version of our journey to pique her curiousity.*

-/Hun/ I'm following those horsemen according to a prophecy, because... - *I break the sentence with a sigh* - ...it is my Destity. Don't ask it, please. It is very important and very dangerous. And it is a secret I can share with nobody.

*Now I straight-out look into her eyes with a sad face.*

[Freiherr von Rosen]

-/Hun/ Ah yes, I'm sure you are. And so am I.

*Though avoiding the subject directly, a sly, triumphant smirk still sits on her lips as she speaks. This tiny woman sure knows how to cause great discomfort and awkwardness.
...Zoltán could learn a lot from her.*

-/Hun/ As for those... wouldn't you suppose fate plays some highly interesting games sometimes? I mean, what were the chances of those horsemen showing up exactly now, accidentally getting directly assaulted by my late captors?

*She equips her cloak and dusts it off of snow, before adjusting the rest of her equipment. At the same time, she still finds the time to glance up into Zoltán's eyes, giving him a smaller heart attack again and again.*

-/Hun/ I'm sorry for my momentary loss of grace, but I hate not being able to control what's happening to me. So, what exactly transpired?
_________________

[Inu]

<This is not fair! With all my skills I couldn't hide from her senses... Well, this is my lovely Dances-With-Winds.>

*My heart still beats faster and I'm still under the effect of her... ritual. I know that I was caught and I should be ashamed but she doesn't seem to be sore at me. So I stand up and walk toward her as if I hadn't seen anything. And I'm not planning to talk about this "incident".*

-/Hun/ I'm glad that you are safe... And healed! Those... bastards have died, but their leader wasn't there. We need to talk.

*While I'm talking I try to concentrate on the the last fight and on the quest. Still I can't forget that I missed her. When we were together I didn't realize that she is so important to me. Even when she left I was too busy think about it. I felt it but I suppressed the feeling. But now, this feeling is too strong. And also too dangerous. Still, I can't deny it. And I absolutely can't run away from it.*

-/Hun/ And I'm glad we've met again.

<She shouldn't come with us after all. I feel myself as a newborn pup. How could this happen? Can't I control my own feelings? She needs to leave so I can be myself again. But... We were good team. This is only the thrill of the encounter. If she stays I might get calm again. We need her skills. Don't forget this White Raven! And.. I don't really want to leave her again. We were such a great team...>

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*It would indeed seem nearly certain that the Corax used no Gift, but her various charms and bribes to get the spirits to heal her. Given her injuries, it couldn't have been cheap.
On the other hand, she certainly doesn't rush the dressing "ritual", giving the now-human Zoltán quite a few pleasant moments. Gone is the frightened little fawn and in its place stands a beautiful woman full of regained confidence. Is it her ability to grow wings and fly away at her whim that is the key to her "bravery"? Or is it something else? Or perhaps she simply faked the entire panic in order to move her own chaotic, avian schemes forwards?
Uncertainty is an exciting game.
Whatever thoughts the entire ordeal might invoke in Zoltán's... mind, the surprise is on him yet another time, in a way as unpleasant as possible.
Applying the final parts of her clothing, Dances-with-Winds, still casually showing her back to him, speaks up as if nothing happened.*

-/Hun/ It's alright, dear, you can come out now.

*The cruel joy in her tone could not possibly be hidden.*
_________________

[Inu]

*With revived confidence, I'm heading to Dances-With-Winds'direction until her scent is strong enough to let my nose guide me. There I stop for a moment and examine the scents.*

<Running water? Even the Danube was quite... Icy on the other side. The spirit world is always full of surprises. I should have spent more time here but I always had duty and I will always have. I'm not Theurge after all.>

*When I can even hear the stream bubbling, I slow down a little, stalk closer and closer. I don't want to be recognised. The "hunt" begins.*

<One can never know what to find in the spirit world.>

*When I can see her I even freeze. I wasn't expecting the view that stroke me. The healing power of the spirit water is quite well known even to me. But finding such spirit is quite hard recently. And seeing her naked...*

<And one can never know when the spirits favor the unsuspecting traveller. I should get closer and examine the gift to learn it myself... Who am I lying to!? I don't care about that ritual in this precious moment! I spent months with her, but I haven't seen her... like this.>

*I carefully draw closer to get the best spot and hide. Such beautiful moments are so rare in this life. And I was done with knightly virtues a long time ago. This is my well deserved gift after years of necessity and suffering. I fall back to my human form and knee behind a tree trunk.*

Hiding: Dex+Stealth

Dobás:

Eredeti dobás sorozat: 9d10 Rögzített 10-Sided Dice Results: 9, 3, 10, 7, 7, 3, 1, 7, 1 (Total = 48)

Blissful ignorance: Dex+Stealth diff 7

Dobás:

Eredeti dobás sorozat: 9d10 Rögzített 10-Sided Dice Results: 8, 7, 3, 5, 5, 10, 8, 10, 3 (Total = 59)

<Sablepaw and her stupid interpose of mating ritual... I wish it were so easy...>

*I stay until I can and watch the whole ritual and of course I hide even after the ritual and wait her to get her clothes back.*

<I still have to hide my feelings as long as I can. This should look like a comely flirt given to every lady... She is my weakness and I can't let anyone know it!>

[Freiherr von Rosen]

*As whimsical and capricious as the Umbra can be, scents will be scents and directions will be directions. And when you can't place the former to the latter, you invoke them separately.
The mystical wolf-power now shows the way the raven is. In one, straight line. Unsurprisingly, his trail leads him deeper and deeper into the wilderness again.
Some time later, after a good while of traversing the mountainous forests of Buda, he finally comes upon the unmistakable scent of Dances-with-Winds again. That, and the scent of... running water, ironically.
Yes. There's definitely a stream, a smaller river nearby. In hot pursuit, he sticks his muzzle out of the thick, snow-covered vegetation, only to find the enigmatic woman standing... naked! in the water!
This must be part of a ritual, or a spiritual deal, for she steps deeper and deeper with slow, calculated steps into the stream, showing her curvy backside to the un(?)timely arriver.
The water begins swirling around her ever faster, before she raises her arms to the sky, and there is a strong, even visible emanation of spiritual energy from her hands. Payments must be made. In the next moment, the rumbling waves completely enclose her, and after a violent dance around her body, the watery spirits retreat into the stream.
All the wounds of Dances-with-Winds have completely disappeared.*
_________________

[Inu]

*I break through the lousy threads of the Gauntlet and lie down to look and smell around. As everything seems to be quiet and peaceful on this side, I start to look for my companions.*

For Dances-With-Shadows

Dobás:

Eredeti dobás sorozat: 7d10 Rögzített 10-Sided Dice Results: 8, 7, 4, 1, 3, 6, 5 (Total = 34)

For Sablepaw

Dobás:

Eredeti dobás sorozat: 7d10 Rögzített 10-Sided Dice Results: 8, 7, 5, 1, 9, 2, 7 (Total = 39)

*My primary target is my raven-friend. If I can't find her with my smell I'll use the old trick: Sense of the Prey. Nothing can escape from me!*

<Could she also come with us? She would be a great help with the vampires. I'm not sure that Sablepaw would support the idea, but she should understand the advantage Dances-With-Winds means. The greatest problem is however their severe wounds... None of them is ready for a longer journey at the moment.>

*I can smell them, they are somewhere around here, but I can't follow the scent of Dances-With-Shadows. It is so irritating. Being so close and still helpless.*

<Damned playful spirit winds. They trick my nose... I have to fight with weapons of their own after all!>