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Qebh paused, wondering what to do
next. His father watched him and after a brief hesitation said, "It
is time you learned of your world, not as a wolf does, but as the Garou
do." After a short time, Qebh became relaxed and Hadrian began to
explain things to him: everything. After that, Qebh was introduced to the
rest of the garou, and began on his journey towards being accepted as a
member of society.
Once he had learned the litany, Hadrian took Qebh to the outskirts of
the sept lands where he honed his skills in combat against numerous banes
and malevolent spirits and
helped the sept in many mild attacks by minions of Malfeas. By the time
Qebh turned fourteen he had proven himself and accepted into garou society
as Qebh, Walks with the Mists.
Months later, Hadrian introduced him to a passing Silent Strider Fostern
named Akhet, Wind-Spear, an Ahroun wanderer. Days after their
introduction, Hadrian
approached Qebh, "My son, you have done well here in the Sept, but it
is time for you to leave. Wind Spear has agreed to be your guide. He will
show you many things in the Umbra."
Reluctantly, Qebh left with the Ahroun on a journey that would last three
years. Qebh saw many places on this journey. He met the Stargazers in the
heavens of
the Aetherial Realm, braved dangers and resisted the Fox to gaze into the
blackness of the Abyss. In the Arcadia Gateway he ran into trouble with
obnoxious unseelie fae, but escaped to continue his wanderings. They
visited
many septs and met many garou, learning bits and pieces from each, aiding
new friends with claw and mind.
Years had passed and Qebh's next true lesson was about to unfold before
his eyes. Akhet began to tell Qebh stories of the Apocalypse, of how a
final battle would be fought in the Battleground of the near umbra, that
in this land battles
long past were reflected and fought over and over again, and would be
fought until the final battle rends the world asunder. With this awful
foreboding in his mind, Wind-Spear led Qebh to the realm of the
Battleground.
On the road through the realm, they passed many signs inscribed with the
names of battles. The two passed thousands of signs, and walked for weeks
and months, even passing some signs indicating battles between his
Cherokee ancestors. On the hundred and first day, the two came to a sign.
Akhet's brisk pace finally came to a halt. "Yes, this is it,"
Akhet said, looking at the young Qebh, now eighteen years old. The sign
read "The Wyrm and the Wyld, Blood Mountain." "We will rest
now. It is time to prepare for the worst, Qebh. When you have gathered all
the courage you can muster we will continue." |
