Debriefing Aara

Zoe sighed and shook her head as she pondered the events of the previous days. Things could have gone so much better than they did, but they also could have gone much worse.

I can't believe I thought it was a good idea to bring Aara into such a volatile situation.  Even if the king insisted, I should have exercised greater wisdom and suggested she gain her experience elsewhere.

The Silver Fang Theurge had survived their encounter with the Weeping Moon, but not without suffering serious injuries from the Qlippothic magic.  

We were lucky...so very lucky...

Zoe arrived at the Silver Fang manor and took another deep breath. Honestly, she was not nervous about speaking with Aara but with her guardian.

The Theurge knocked on the door and braced herself for the encounter.

Rorc Falling Sword scowled slightly. "Greetings Iron Rider. What is your business here?"

Before Zoe could respond, she heard a laugh from somewhere behind the towering seneschal. "Oh come now, Rorc, Zoe Kostas of all people does not need pretense to come into our house."

The Ahroun stood aside, but he still wore a look of scarcely-veiled suspicion. Zoe stepped into the entryway of the Bloodgood house and saw Janna, holding Elijah. The young woman smiled as she put the child up to her shoulder and began patting his back. Janna's face was clear and bright, devoid of the scars and pocks that had previously marred her jawline and cheeks.

"Hello, Zoe! Thanks for watching over Eaton and the rest- I heard you did a fine job doctoring them up."

Rorc moved to lock the ponderous oaken door and Janna drew close, whispering "Thank you for what you did here. I never thought I would be welcomed back." Then she pulled away and smiled as Elijah uttered a drowsy burp. "I need to put him to bed- and I don't want to keep you... but it is good to see you again, Zoe. We will need to catch up."

Zoe smiled as she embraced her friend for a long moment. When she released Janna, the Iron Rider tickled Elijah's chin and pinched the pudgy cheeks of the Silver Fang heir.

"It is so good to see you both safe and sound. You look absolutely beautiful! Both of you! I look forward to catching up with you soon."

The Theurge sighed a sigh of relief as she watched her friends ascend the stairs to their room. Her face grew serious again as she turned back to Rorc.

"Mister Rorc, is Miss Deadwood in her room? I'd like to check on her and ensure she is healing properly."

The large man led her up the stairs and down the hall, admitting her with all the cheer and solemnity of a priest preforming final rites.

Aara's door was open, and as Zoe peered in, she saw the girl hanging small strips of dried meat outside her open window. The 'food' smelled like salty boot soles.

Rorc cleared his throat as delicately as he could manage. Zoe Kostas of the Iron Riders to see you, Lady Aara. The girl's flashing hair caught the light as she turned, smiling at the two older Garou. "Oh, hello!" The Silver Fang Theurge was wearing a simple dark red dress, returning to something she was more comfortable in than her still-stiff traveling clothes. As Rorc retreated a respectful distance back down the hall, Aara gave Zoe a questioning look. "Are you checking up on me? I feel quite good, just the occasional twinge in my legs, but I suppose that can be expected."  

Zoe was relieved to see the younger Theurge up and around. She entered the room and took a seat on the bed.

"Yes, of course I am checking on you. I am glad to hear that you feel quite good physically, but I wanted to talk to you about what all you saw and experienced out there. It was quite a first quest. Please come sit with me."

The older Theurge motioned to the bed beside her and continued speaking.

"Before I launch into a long discourse on all of the creatures we encountered, let me first ask if you have any questions about anything that happened while we were away from the caern."

"I am not frightened by the madmen or witches in the town, not really- as unpleasant as they were, we are Garou, and they are our foes. Destroying them is the natural order of things, I think. I will not pretend to understand their magick, but I think that might be for the best."

The Silver Fang cocked her head, going over the events of the last few days.

"Some other things that happened are a little confusing- the Gauntlet was destroyed by that curse, and I am not sure what that means. I do not like that the wind still blows, even here."

Zoe ran her fingers through her dissheveled hair and exhaled hard.

"I wish I knew what happened to rend the Gauntlet. Mocks believes it was a curse placed on him by Akna. Perhaps he is right. I do not know if it will ever mend itself or if we need to take care of it ourselves. Our Ragabash has some uncanny connections to storms, and that connection seems to extend past his tribe's association with Grandfather Thunder."