No one's death comes to pass without making some impression, and those close to the deceased inherit part of the liberated soul and become richer in their humanness.
-Hermann Broch

I am not sure why you would be interested in my story, but since you asked, I will tell you. I guess that there are some parts that could be of interest, just let me know if I begin to bore you. Being bored really isn't a very nice thing, I know.

I was born in the country of Benin, in Africa. It is not a very well known country, most people have never heard of it and probably could not guess where it is located. It was nice enough, I suppose, but I don't remember a lot about it. We left there when I was five years old and I have never been back. I still have family there, but I do not hear from them much. My parents moved us to the States because my father was transferred, and this meant more money for the family. And a new adventure, as well.

It was New Orleans where my family went, and we settled in to a nice house on the outskirts that wasn't too close to the hustle and bustle of the busy city. Because of the distance, my father had to learn to drive. We had never had such a luxury as a car in Benin, and so he had no idea how to operate one. He did learn rather quickly however, and my mother tried her hand at it as well. I was a bit afraid of cars myself, my first introduction to them having been watching the news of a car accident on the television news. It did not look very safe to me. But I gradually got used to them when nothing bad happened, and even began to enjoy riding in one. Until one very bad day, that is.

We had gone for a drive to go and visit some people that a friend of my father's had suggested that we go meet. My father told me that this was a group that I might well be spending some time with in the future, depending on circumstances. I had no idea what that meant, and being only eight years old, I didn't pretend to give it much thought. So we drove to a place that was not a great distance from the city, but far enough away to not see too awfully much of it. It was a lovely area, I must say. We went in and my family was introduced to the leader, a woman by that called herself Thunder Growl. I thought that an odd name, but I was polite and didn't ask too many questions. The adults went off to talk, and the younger ones gave me a tour of what they called the Caern. I did not know what that meant either, it was all very confusing. But it was interesting as well, and I liked it there very much. We were there for a few hours, it was great fun. When the time came for us to go, my father said that he would tell me more about it when we got home. However, we never made it there.

We had just gotten out of sight of the Caern when something with the car went terribly wrong. My father lost control of it, and he could not get the brakes to work. The car swerved, and then everything went black for a time. When I finally woke up, I was in much pain. And some of the people from the Caern were there, helping me. I had been thrown from the car, which had saved my life. Because the car was burning with both of my parents inside. It was a horrible sight, and the people from the Caern took me away from it and back with them. I was hurting very much, but there were no life threatening injuries. My arm and collarbone were broken, as well as some ribs. When they told me that they would take care of me, I trusted them to do so. They seemed not to want the authorities to deal with me, and I think that they believe that I either died in the wreck or wasn't there and had run away. They never came near the Caern to ask questions.

Those at the Caern took good care of me and were very gentle with me. I was very much upset about my parents dying, and so didn't say much for some time. I did vow never to ride in a car again, however. I couldn't bring myself to even consider it. Even after I got better and started to come out of my depression, I knew that I could never abide it. And after a few weeks, they decided that it was all right to tell me what was going on with them and why I had been taken there at first. I found out that they were Garou, a pack of mostly Uktena called the Mystic Storms. They explained to me that my father had been one as well and that I might be one. It was all very overwhelming, but I had no reason to disbelieve them. And when I was thirteen, just two years ago, I found out that I had inherited the Garou gene.

It was actually a very easy transition for me, and very controlled. The others helped me along with it, and after awhile I went through the Rite of Passage. It all seemed very natural, thanks to all of those who had helped me. Not that it wasn't a strange feeling, because it was. Not long after that, I was able to travel into the city with some others, using the Umbra. I hadn't been there since the accident, they were worried that the authorities would find me and want to take me away. And then I would not have gotten the help that I did. I am afraid that I picked up a very bad habit starting on that first visit, and sometimes I sneak into the city to indulge it. You see, I love to change into Lupus form, becoming a wolf, and tear the tires of cars apart with my teeth. It doesn't taste very good, but it helps to take out some of the aggression I have toward them. I know that's probably not rational, but it does make me feel a little better. I like to play with it a bit, and a few times I've done it to the cars of a couple of the pack Internet Virus. I almost got caught once, but I managed to outrun the one chasing me. I enjoy the game very much, although I probably shouldn't. It is destroying someone else's property, after all. But I suppose it's better than other things that I could do and so people can be grateful. Of course, there's no saying that won't change, I'm Ragabash and my mind is very chaotic. So someday maybe I'll indulge in destroying something more expensive on a car. I'm sure that Gordon, the elder of Internet Virus, would just love me for it.

Parents lend children their experience and a vicarious memory; children endow their parents with a vicarious immortality.
-George Santayana

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible -- it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could.
-Barbara De Angelis