Cristian sits leaning against a tree, busy working. He has a small, foldable lock-knife and is working on a piece of wood. He's carving the thing into a wooden whistle. Every so often he pauses in his work, blows into it, listens to the note, shakes his head and returns to his work in an attempt to get it right. He's quite engrosed in it, actually.

From the direction of the grotto, a howl is lifted; it's searching, calling for someone. Moments tick by with no answer, and there is no follow-up. Not too long after, a small red lupus pushes through the brush, looking weary, agitated, and grouchy all at once, though the sound of the whistle perks his attention in a mild sort of way. Intrigued, he alters course, heading over to where the stranger sits; he pulls up short a small distance away, and snorts out a huffy snort, eyeing the man warily. Who are you?

Cristian looks up from his whistle-carving. He's not in the least worried by the wolf. He's heard its earlier howl, heard it coming. He smiles, his lips together so no teeth show. No signs of aggression. In fact he closes the lock-knife and sets it on top of one knee. "Well hello there." The wolf's wariness, and irritation, are fair. Cristian is a little tense, his body language and scent show that. Just because he's not being a threat doesn't mean the wolf won't attack him. "I'm Cristian Fekete. A guest here, for the moment." His voice carries a European accent, and his last name comes out as 'Feh-Keh-Teh'. "I spoke with Falcon's Wing, regarding my status here?"

There's a subtle shift in Starts-the-Fire's posture as Cristian understands and replies. Some of the agitation fades into curiousity, and there are no outward signs of aggression. He starts ambling forward, ears flicking back just a tad. He's not acting particularly dominant, but he is confident; it's an odd mix that may hint at the fact that he's not exactly an elder. This one knows Falcon's-Wing. A pause, and he tips his head, studying Cristian. What tribe?

Cristian eyes the wolf, wrinkles his nose a little. He's getting most of it. Wolf-speak is greatly body language, and of course he expected some kind of challenge so it was a no-brainer that he'd be asked who and what he was. More intent speech is difficult, though, without scent to go with it. He's reasonably certain of what he's being asked, but not entirely. "We're at opposing forms and you're breaking up, so to speak. Would you prefer that I shifted to match you? Then I'd be happy to answer anything you ask of me." There's no irritation in his tone, simply the manners of a guest prepared to suit the needs of his host.

Starts-the-Fire grunts, but answers in a negative. Something in that answer seems to satisfy him either way, and he shifts easily up to his birthform himself, pushing hands in his pockets and coming to a halt a few steps away from the Strider. "Nah. Sorry for not shifting earlier, but, well. There's always the chance of some random human being adventurous." There's a wry smirk at that, and the boy offers a hand forth; "Cael Rutherford, or Starts-the-Fire. Ahroun cub of the Fianna, commencing on my Rite of Passage."

Cristian stands, taking a moment to put his knife and whistle in his pouch before meeting the hand to shake. "Cristian Fekete, as I said." He smiles, and this time it's safe for him not to keep his lips pursed together so it looks less stupid. "Dreams-of-Home. I'm a cliath Silent Strider ragabash." He releases Cael's hand and his smile breaks into a grin. "Congractulations on your imminent step forward. I apologise if I've disturbed you. I spoke with Falcon's Wing, earlier, in regards to staying but your Elders were unavailable so I promised to remain near your territory in case they should require my presence."

"Good to meet you." There's a small smile of thanks and a nod at the congrats, but the next just earns a shrug. "Nah, don't worry about it, you didn't. I came down here to find /my/ elder, but he's not in right now." There's a momentary flash of impatient irritation, but it's brief and not directed at the Strider. "And, huh, Strider. Cool. Only one I know of here is the metis that came through not too long ago. Uh. What was her name? Tradewinds? I think. Dunno if she's still around, though, haven't seen her in awhile." He looks to Cristian curiously. "Y'just passing through, or..?"

Cristian shakes his head in reply to the question. "I plan to stay. I was born in St. Claire, although mother moved us on when I was still a baby. With her passing I have come to stay. She spoke so well of the city. It seems appropriate." He then grins a little. "I have met a Silent Strider cub, a new one I believe. We had quite a run. She has a little to learn but it was nice to catch up with one of my tribe." He inclines his head curiously. "Do you mind if I ask what the terms of your Rite are? Or have they not been set as yet?"

"Yeah, the city's cool enough," Cael replies easily. "I stay down in the city most the time now. At the Walker place, actually, for as weird as that sounds." He gives an amused grin. "'n huh, cool. Didn't know there were any recent cubs around." He eyes Cristian a moment at the final question, but merely shrugs. "Not at all. Only've got the first step, yet. Had to find a wyrm-nest. Been spending the last two weeks digging around in some of the worst places downtown you could imagine." He snorts. "Now I gotta find Cole and give him the info about it. And get the next step."

Cristian smiles encouragingly at the cub. "It isn't much of a guess as to what will come next, I expect, considering your auspice. I look forward to your success. Perhaps, all things being well, I will have negotiated my Chiminage by then and will be there to see your glory revisited. If I come across your elder in the meantime I will be certain to advise that you are looking for him." He pauses inclines his head, then smiles at the cub. "I don't suppose you have any idea as to what Chiminage is commonly expected of a newly arrived would-be-sept-member? I fear that, aside from my services, I've little to offer in terms of fetishes, talens or resources."

Cael mms in agreement. "Yeah, I've already been talking plans with a couple of the garou that went with me. 'ssit weird I'm actually sort of hoping it is? I'm gonna be pissed if after doing all that work they tell me not to bother with it." He gives another wry smile. "'n hey, thanks." He nods, and then arches a brow. "Sort of depends. People get different things. I know a couple theurges are having to teach people Rites and Gifts. One of the Ahroun is having to teach fighting techniques to people."

Cristian nods, taking in the Chiminage information. He doesn't look surprised, although he looks relieved. Then he grins at the cub and his enthusiasm to mix it up with the Wyrm's forces. "In investigating, and in finding the Wyrm where it breeds, you take ownership of it. I can't imagine why an ahroun would be expected not to battle." He smiles. "And perhaps bring back some interesting scars as well. A destroyed Wyrmspawn lair, a Rite of Wounding, it's the cliath ahroun's dream, I'd bet."

The smile the cub offers in return is a little oddly hard to read, but he seems satisfied all the same. "Hopefully it'll go good," he agrees, looking up to the cliath briefly with a nod. "It's in a hard place, one that we'll have to be careful in. Closed quarters." He doesn't seem too worried, though. "So where'd ya come from? I mean, I know Silent Striders tend to be kinda from everywhere, but. Just curious."
You paged Sean with 'C'mon over!'.

Cristian smiles. "Dallas, of late. Although I come from about everywhere. Mother was unsuspecting kin, I think, or she had the willpower of a goddess. She looked after me but, sooner or later of course, people would start to grow nervous about me so we'd move on. So I've lived all over the country, a few years at a time. My teacher led me on another country-wide trip after I Firsted. I think staying in Dallas, where I learned about my auspice, was the longest I've stayed anywhere for a long time. A nice place. The Glass Walkers there were most kind. A good people."

"Dallas? Damn," Cael grins. "Kinda a big move to come all the way up here." He listens curiously to the rest, pushing hands in his pockets again. "Huh. Sounds cool, actually. I've pretty much just lived here all my life, aside from little family trips and stuff sometimes." He smirks and nods. "Ahh, cool. The Glass Walkers here are alright. So're the Gnawers. We have a good city presence here, I think."

Cristian smiles and nods at Cael. "I have always found a city presence a boon. So very much of our work seems to happen there. It helps when there is a strong presence there to assist, or to do." He pauses and looks around, smiling and taking a deep breath, "Although I admit a peference for the Wyld. Of course this has something to do with the fact that, sometimes, Silent Striders and Bone Gnawers tussle. The children of Owl and the children of Rat seem to be inevitably drawn into chest-butting contests. Scraps, rather than real battle, mind. Bruises, perhaps a broken arm. No big deal, but it keeps things tense sometimes."

Cael nods agreeably. "Oh, yeah. But, both are necessary, obviously." He gives a tilted smile at the latter, and nods. "Yeah, I guess so. Like I said, though. The gnawers here are cool. Their elder, Kaz, is probably the most down-to-earth garou you'll meet here in the sept." He looks up to Cristian curiously. "So what brings ya back to St. Claire? Just wanting to come back to the place you were born in, I guess?"

Heavy thumping and snapping of twigs proceeds Heavy breathing and a fatigued young Gnawer running through the woods in his birth form. Unusual for him to make the long run on two legs and a body less fit for cross country travel, but it's out of dilligence, he's carrying over his training from earlier this morning. Of course, not quite as perceptive in his state of fatigue, Sean continues right past the two forest occupants, oblivious. He /does/ however stop to lean against a tree and cough, wheezing as he catches his breath. The boy is pushing his body rather hard it seems.

Cael is immediately distracted from his question as Sean tromps past, and he blinks up to /peer/ at the Gnawer. "Sean?"

Cristian laughs a little at Cael, although not unkindly. Simply amused by something he's said. "Oh yes! Very necessary indeed! But necessary is not the same as popular!" He grins and shrugs. "I have no grudge against the Bone Gnawers. At all. These things, they just happen sometime. It is a part of family, I think. Family tussles. But in answer to your question, yes. I have come back because..." And then there's Sean. Cristian looks over at the runner. Glad, because while Sean is running he's not running /from something/. Running for exercise is something that the Strider can understand perfectly. He falls silent. This new one is clearly known to Cael and he lets friends talk first.

After looking at Sean for a moment with a mixture of concern and bemusement, Cael calls over, "Hey, don't wear yourself out, you can't do it all in one /day/." It's teasing, but gently so.

From afar, to the room, Sean isn't clad in his dedicated outfit either, instead he's wearing clothes better fitted to excercise. faded blue shorts of some thin lightweight fabric and a light blue t-shirt which reads "Alaska" below a design which resembles a face from a totem pole.

Sean's head swivels and he stands up straight, taking a breath before he manages a tight smile. Yes, he's definitely pushing himself. He raises a hand and waves, walking over to the other two, his face red and lightly coated in sweat. He pants heavily and tries to speak as regularly as possible, his voice attempting to seem casual. "Hey guys! ...Hi Cael. Who's this?" Sean stands up straight, hands on his hips. Sean not exhausted, Sean fine, Sean does this all the time.

Cristian looks amused at the runner, but lets Cael do the introductions. That's just polite, seeing as he's the one Sean is talking to.

Cael greets the Gnawer's approach with an easier grin than he was directing toward the strider, and he lifts a brow as he approaches. "We went running this /morning/, dude. You're gonna be /sore/ tomorrow." He smiles at him, though, and he glances up to Cristian with a brief apologetic smile for the interruption. "'at's Cristian. Silent Strider ragabash. Cliath. He just got here--" And then he realizes he doesn't know that much, and he peers over to Cristian curiously. "When /did/ ya get here?"

Cristian laughs at Cael again, just as amused. "A few days ago. But I only made it into the forest yesterday, where I met some of your fellow cubs, and Falcon's Wing." He looks over at Sean and smiles. "Your name is Sean? Am I to guess from Cael's demeanor that you are also a cub?" Cristian's accent is a rich European, his demeanor completely relaxed in the manner of a person who feels he's among friends.

Sean looks at Cael blankly, and gives the Ahroun a mollified attempt at explanation, "Well I just... I just thought I might as well run here too. I thought, maybe I could catch up." He blushes slightly, at little embarrassed at being caught, especially as tired as he is. The smile he gives christian is again rather wan, his expressiveness flattened by his pains of exertion. His hand is quickly wiped on his shorts, then extended in a handshake. "Yeah, I'm Sean, nice to meet you. I'm uh... Bone Gnawer, Philodox. We're uh..." Sean points at Cael and back at himself quickly. "In a pack. He's al..." Sean breaks off, glancing to Cael with a smirk. "Or I mean, we're going to be in a pack, and he's going to be Alpha."

Cael relaxes a little, giving a nod to Cristian and glancing over to Sean with a little grin. "Well, it's not a bad /idea/, at all. Just... don't want you to wear yourself out." He nudges Sean in a playful manner, arching a brow up to Sean a little and then explaining Sean's stumble to Cristian: "We had a cubpack. Still do, really. But I ain't alpha anymore, 'cause I'm Riting. But, yeah. We're reforming once everyone gets up there."

Cristian smiles and nods, clearly approving. "It's a very good thing. Packs often form when a number of Garou experience, together, a dramatic event and hard times. What could be more difficult than realising who and what you are? It's a very good thing, to see that the bonds you have formed as cubs will carry over. How many of you are there? I have met Badger and Viktor. Are they also a part of your pack, or one of their own?"

Sean glances to Cael again with a deferring nod, and Acquiescently agrees, "Well... I guess I'll take it a little easier. I can't shift to run back though." He pulls at his clothes, pointing to the culprit of that problem. He smirks at Christian magnanimously and shakes his head, "No no, Badger and Victor are both pretty new I think, we've been a pack for a while now. There's 5 of us. And uh... a bunch of us should rite soon so, hopefully the rest will and we'll be a pack together again before long." He flashes a hopeful smile at Cael, knowing the other cub looks forward to it too. "So... Cristian? You're planning on joining the Sept?"

Cael nods agreeably with Sean, and then lifts a brow at his choice of clothes. "Well, you /can/, but you'd have to take them back with you. And it might be kinda cold while you shift." He grins, and then nods agreeably with the information regarding the pack. "Yeah. There's me, Sean, a walker ragabash and a walker theurge, and a Get galliard. Kinda a mixed group, but we get along."

Cristian nods at Sean. "I have petitioned for a place here, yes. As of yet the elders haven't had time to speak with me about it but I hope that I can work out some kind of Chiminage with them and find a place here." He grins at poor Sean's clothing dilemma, though. "Perhaps when you earn your way you will learn the rite to bind your clothing to you. It is, I think, one of the most useful rites that one can know. Most especially for a Bone Gnawer. And a Silent Strider, at that. Clothing is neither cheap, nor easily replaced, for the likes of us." His attention then returns to Cael and he grins. "Mixed is good. A good range of auspices too. It is diversity that makes us strong."

Sean shrugs at Cael with a touch of skepticism, "Well yeah.. taking them in Lupus. Something about stuffing the underwear I just ran a few miles in in my mouth isn't too appealing. Maybe if I had brought a plastic bag or something." He grins and nods to Cristian agreeably. "Oh yeah, I'd love to actually learn it. I've got some dedicated clothes but, I didn't want to get them dirty and... I don't want to trouble anyone with a rite just so I can go for a jog." The boy steps back, then glances around himself at the ground. He sits down slowly and takes a seat in the grass and dirt among the roots of a tree, letting out a sigh.

Cael lifts a brow over to Sean. "I said you /could/, not that you'd /want/ to." He smiles slightly, teasingly, and then nods. "Yeah. It'd be handy to know something like that. I only have the one set of dedicated clothes, too." He glances over as Sean sits, and then looks back up to Cristian. "It /might/ take a few days, but I imagine they'll get to you soon. There's some shit going on in town that a lot of people are distracted with, but 'm sure it won't take long." He pauses, and looks curiously to him. "Have they told ya about the Walker house? Mouse is cool, and they have apartments and places for people to stay there. Might be easier'n staying out here, until someone gets back to you."

Cristian smiles at Cael and nods. "I've been informed of the Glass Walker house, yes. Derrick was very helpful. I'll most likely head there in the near future. I'm in no special hurry. If things are afoot then I will wait my turn, and try to keep out from underfoot. Mostly I am trying to present the image of a newcomer not taking advantage of the home sept's resources, food and so forth. This somewhat prohibits me from making use of the safehouse in the city. I may, on the other hand, visit it. If only to make myself known to the city folk." He then peers at Sean and inclines his head, looking curious. "Underwear? You wear underwear?"

Sean lays back on the ground, linking his fingers behind his head, resting against the sloping base of a tree. He snickers at Cael, then looks up to where the braches and leaves meet the sky, before closing his eyes a moment, meditatively. Cristian's question gives him a start, and he opens his eyes again, lifting his head slightly and squinting at Cristian. "Uh... nope. I just carry around in my pocket in case anyone needs a spare. Like... from the sound of it, you." He grins at the Strider, showing no ill will. "Hey, if you do get hungry, we can probably sneak you something. Granted anything /I/ get you might resemble day old food from a dumpster... But I'm good about getting Clean stuff. Sealed if I can help it."

Cael nods to Cristian. "Right. I understand that. Just sayin', though. Only the fifth-floor is Walker only. They offer crash space to anyone who needs it." He blinks at the question, and then blinks even more at Sean's answer, a quite dubious eyebrow lifting in response to him. And, he merely snorts to the latter. "The hunting's not bad around here, if you know where to look. And, yeah. 's not a big deal if you need anything. I bring stuff to one of the fianna's newer cubs pretty regularly from town, so I make regular trips."

Cristian chuckles at Sean, shaking his head. "I was kidding. When you run as much as I do, and you seem to plan to, underwear is your friend." He then nods at both of the cubs. "It's kind of you to offer but I can hunt my own food. I actually prefer it. Mice have little in common with a nice, juicy hamburger but they're abundant and free." He smiles. "Although I may take you up on your kindness, sooner rather than later. The kind of small prey that one hunts alone gets tiring after a while. Do either of you hunt much?"

Sean glances up to Cael curiously, wondering which cub, then settles his head back, with a light sigh. He responds to Cristian regretably, "I only hunt when I'm really hungry. Small prey is so... I dunno, it's all blood and bones. That's why I was trying to figure out how to Catch fish the other day. Maybe I'd be better off in Homid, with a Spear or something. But yeah... people are so wasteful, they throw away a lot of good stuff." Sean glances up at Cael with an enticing grin. "Hey, speaking of which, I found a bakery nearby that closes around 6 and they dump all their pasteries in a garbage bag and tie it up before they toss it in the dumpster. We could feast."

Cael meets Sean's inquisitive glance with a half-smile and an addition: "Rayanna. She's mostly confined to the grotto yet, but she's allowed out on the bawn, too." And then, he nods to Cristian. "Not much, but used to more when I was stuck out here before I got free roam. Not anything big. Rabbits at the largest." He chuckles at Sean, shaking his head and nudging his ankle. "Why not a fishing pole? I think you might have more luck that way." The news regarding the bakery earns a somewhat relunctantly dubious look. "Maybe," he replies noncommittally, and then glances back toward the bawn. "Anyway... hey. I'm gonna make sure Cole's not down south, sometimes he's thataway. Y'wanna come?" That's directed toward Sean, with an apologetic smile to Cristian for leaving. "Good to meet ya, though. I'll probably see ya around soon."

Cristian smiles and nods at Cael. "And you. I expect we will meet again soon enough. The best of luck with your rite. I look forward to hearing of it." He then peers at Sean, shrugging and smiling. If Sean wants to leave as well, with his packmate, Cristian is clearly not going to fault him for it.

Sean grins at Cael and waggles his eyebrows. "Oh! I hear she's pretty. No wonder you bring her food..." He sustains a lingering grin at the Fianna, then slowly lifts himself up, beginning to do situps on the spot. "Cael's so naughty, he always likes to look, even if he can't touch." After a quicks set of 20 he flops onto his back again and muses, "Oh yeah... fishing pole. I thought that might be too weavery." He rolls over to the side lethargically, helping himself up, then brushes dirt and dead vegitable matter from his backside. "Yeah I'll come. If you help me brush this off." Sean's gaze flicks over to Cristian's apologetically, "Not you, the grass. It was good meeting you. We'll uh... help you move into the tenement when you get there, eh?"

/That/ particular comment earns a /very/ dubious look, and he snorts. "I guess. Can't look at garou like that, though." Duh. His expression lightens as he looks back to Cristian, and he apparently can't be too huffy at Sean, as he does move over to help pick leaves off his back. "Hey, thanks," he replies to Cristian, and then nudges Sean. "C'mon, it'll take us some time to get down there, 'n I want to get back up to the city before the night's over. Seeya later." He grins and sends a wave to the Strider before heading off, Gnawer in tow.

Cristian waves after the cubs, amused by the teasing and the cameraderie. His spirits are high. Moving here was clearly a good idea. "Run safe. Don't hit a tree." He chuckles, because there's that mental image of the world's unwieldiest Shadow Lord cub. And then he walks his own away, in the other direction.