Walking in she let out a sigh of releif, Laura was still in her bassinet, awake cooing and sucking madly on her fist..Jessica looked down at her Daughter and smiled.. she was finally starting to realize just how much of a treasure and not a burden this little child was.. Picking her up she craddled her close to her heart..cooing her own words of praise to her daughter she grabbed a blanket and headed downstairs.. glancing to the clock on the mantle, it read 1:34am.. she sighed as she made her way out the front door to the porch swing and sat down..
Adjusting herself just a touch, she set about nursing Laura, swining gently.. for the first time in 6 weeks she held no resentment toward this little being, and the nursing seemed to come natural to her.. and for the first time she felt at peace with everything in her life..
It wasn't but 15 minutes later and the front door opened as Drew stepped out and looked around.. seeing her with the baby, he had to pick his jaw up off the deck.. a few moments later he shut the door behind him and moved to sit on the swing.. jessica looked up at him and smiled.." She was hungry, and its such a beautiful night, I thoguht it would be alright to come out here and feed her" she voice barely above a whisper..
It was at this point that someone cleared there throat and both jessica and Drew looked up to see who it was.. Aaron and Seth stood just outside the door, listening to them..Jessica smiled again and went back to stareing at her daughter.." Tha' Lass has got ta be the most beautiful name I 'ave ever heard" Seth said taking a seat in one of the anarondak deck chairs that were on the deck.. Aaron nodded and smiled taking a seat in the other chair.." Mamma would be proud.. daddy to.. they would be proud of both of you"..
Jessica said nothing, just kept wastching her little girl and smiled.. Seth to say the least was tickled pink that his great great neice was named after his sister and his wife.. nothing could have made him happier, save for maybe the wyrn being destroyed and the fighting to stop.. but none-the-less he was right peachy so-to-speak with this news..
They were silent for sometime before jessica finally spoke.. "Uncle Seth?" he looked up at her " Aye lass?" then he looked over to Drew.." would ye be a right snappy lad and go pour me an ale please?". Drew nodded and headed inside to the bar in the livingroom.. Jessica chuckled and shook her head.. Seth looked at her, a look of mock sadness on his face.." Wha'?, ye 'pectin' me ta not 'ave me ale?.. Lass, I'd surely die of thirst, ifin I couldna 'ave me ale" he grined at her..she laughed softly.." NO Uncle Seth, far be it for me to stop you.. wouldn't want ya dying on us now" Seth laughed.." good, now lass, wha' did ye need?"
Jessica looked up at him again " well, you said before , or atleast if not to me I have heard you speak of us as being Fianna?.. what is that?.. and what does it mean?" she asked.. switching the baby over and re-positioning her to nurse again..
Seth smiled.." Aye lass, ye heard right.. we are Fianna.. tis tha' name of the tribe ye were born into..Ya should know there are now thirteen tribes. There are the Black Furies, Bone Gnawers, Children of Gaia, us Fianna of course, Get of Fenris, Glass Walkers, Red Talons, Shadow Lords, Silent Striders, Silver Fangs, Stargazers, Uktena, and Wendigo. There were also two other tribes that have died off, the Bunyip and the Croatan. There was yet another tribe, the white howlers. This tribe is today known as the Black Spiral Dancers. They are garou who have tasted the wyrm's corruption and were overwhelmed. A sad and terrible ending ta our neighbors indeed, an ending we fight to finish off on a daily basis."
Jessica nodded.. and Drew walked back out handing Seth his mug of ale..Seth took it and took a long pull.." Aye, thank ye lad. now ta get to talking about the other tribes" he took another pull on his ale and set it down.."The Black Furies is an all girl tribe that follow the Pegasus. They are what ya might call true feminists and man haters. They are a touch crazed ifn' I do say so myself but if ya get a chance ta fight along side them, they ain't so bad as they would have ya think"
"The Bone Gnawers, now there is a tribe that is a mix'n match of mongrels from the corners of the world as ya would guess by their use of Rat as a tribe totem. They have a tendency ta be the shiftless bums ya see in the streets. Mind ya they ain't shiftless nor bums, but they are some of the dirtiest, smelliest, and scraggly lookin' garou ya are likely ta ever meet."
He sat back against the back of the chair and thought a moment.."Lets see, then there are the Children of Gaia. The Children are led by the Unicorn Totem. In keeping with their totem they tend ta be all about wisdom and peace, using force and violence only when all else has failed. We Fianna follow the Stag as tribe totem. We are the loremasters, singers, record keepers of the garou. We are free spirits, loving the romance and carousing. We are a ferocious people yet level headed, and easy ta get along with. Though we are also mighty warriors when the times call fer it as they do today in the world we live in. We have had many o' dealings with the faerie folk and yes faeries are very much real and tangible as anything the Wyld created. Yep, that's us. A grand and glorious people without all the arrogance of so many of the other tribes. Oh, and the Ale is the blood of yer people dear lass."
Jessica finishes nursing the baby and stands, leaning her up on her shoulder to burp her.. she walks around the deck while she listen's to Uncle go on .. "The Get of Fenris tis the brood that follows Fenris the Wolf. They are violent and easy ta anger the likes of which the Fianna would ne'er be. They are a wash in blood and death, not that its a bad thing really. Just they need ta choose their battles a bit better. Glasswalkers follow the Cockroach. Which while I would agree tis a bit odd of a totem, tis a resilient and extremely adaptable totem. They, like the Bone Gnawers tend ta live in the cities where they can worship their precious Weaver. I swear ya can see the madness of the Weaver in their eyes lass. Be wary of them. Keep yer friends close and yer enemies closer as the saying goes."
Seth stood and took the sleeping baby from Jessica who smiling, handed her over to him.." awww.. come here sweet lassy, sweet laura.. ye just settle in now and listen ta ye old uncle Seth now.. I tell ye like it is" Jessica chuckled and sat and curled back up on the swing listening to her uncle talk..
seth looked upon the young ones on the deck this night and smiled, then frowned as he glanced over to Aaron, who seemed to have fallen asleep.. he walked over to him and kicked his foot.. Aaron sat up instantly awake.." what?.. who?.. where?" he asked.. Seth and the others laughed.." ye know Lad ifin I am tha' borin', why dinna ye go back to bed".. Aaron shook his head.." I wasn't sleeping I was listening with my eyes closed is all"
Seth chuckled.." aye, ye were sleepin' lad.. dinna lie to me, this old dog knows ye better than that.. now to get back to my story" with that he took a seat and adjusted little Laura and continued.. "Which brings us ta the Red Talons, who follow the Griffon totem. This tribe is composed primarily of Lupus garou who are certain that humans are the downfall of Gaia and are actively working to wipe the humans out completely. Which I can not say tis totally invalid. Perhaps tis time ta cull back the herds of humans in their cities and in their nations. That the Talons have taken up this task shows how far askew we as a people have come from what we once were. It twas the Ratkin that were meant ta cull the human numbers, a job they have apparently long forgotten. Ah.. well, then again I have not gotten round ta the other shifting breeds yet now have I?"
"Ahh.. Lets see Shadow Lords, follow Grandfather Thunder as a totem. They are an arrogant, egotistical, and aloof. Which is sorta what I like about them. They, like the Talons see the need ta do something about the human population. They would seek ta cull back the rabble, prune the lines once again fer the peak performers. Those who are the strongest, most fit, smartest, and most cunning of the humans ta be left for breeding. I heard a quote once, The animals are meant ta serve the humans, the humans are meant ta serve the garou, the garou are meant ta serve Gaia.. Which is a good way ta look at things I suppose, if ya happen ta be garou."
"Silent Striders ain't so silent if ya ever manage ta git one ta sit down fer more than a moment or three. Like the Owl that they serve, they will sit a spell in one place then move on again seeking knowledge and ta find that which was hidden. Tis a hard group to generalize about cause they are so spread out. About the only thing that is common ta them is the need to travel. The Silver Fangs, now they follow Falcon. They are regal in bearing but are pompous bastards through and through. They are so inbred that they are almost as touched in the head as the Weaver herself. They think themselves the grand leaders of the garou. We Fianna let them go on about their doddering beliefs much at the other tribes do. Mind ya they are impressive when it comes to ceremony and following chain of command and such. Their belief in honor is a trait I actually admire in them, but ifn ya tell a word of that ta anyone I will spank yer bottom till ya can't sit fer a week."
Seth looked over at Aaron, who had fallen asleep again and shook his head.. he looked down at Laura, who to was asleep and leaned close to her and whispered softly.." ye ever wanna make ye uncle lose interest, just suggest tha' I tell a story" he chuckled and continued on.. " The Stargazers follow Chimera as a totem. They are seekers of inner harmony. They are a bit like Silent Striders to some degree but tend ta seek the knowledge from within rather than from without. If tha' makes any sense ta ya, well yer a bit more advanced than I am still. The Uktena are followers of, well..Uktena, a native American water spirit. They are descendants of the American Indians in the southwest, though they have and continue to take in the outcasts of the world. They are the guardians of the disposed, of the secret magics and the dark secrets. The Wendigo follow Wendigo, another American Indian spirit of winter. They are also of American Indian decent. They are hate filled. Hate for other tribes, hate for any who are not of their race. Yet at the same time they are a deeply spiritual people, even those who are not garou or kinfolk..
Jessica sat sleepy eyed watching and listening to Seth.. he smiled to her and stood.. " Common Lass, tis late.. ye tired an' got ta get up fer school tomorrow.. common Drew, ye to.. lets go.. leave ye disrespectful sleepin' brother here.." he grind to Drew.. Jessica shook her head.. " yeah, i am tired, but I am not going to school tomorrow.. I have some things to do" Seth and Drew looked at her.." Lass, ye going to school and tha's that.. ye not gonna start missin' it.. theres no reason ta" he said firmly.. Jessica walked inside.. "Uncle Seth, I got things I need to do.. its just one day" she said.. Seth shook his head.." an' I said No.. now ye will either listen, or ye will feel my hand on ye backside again.. do ye understand" Jessica nodded taking the baby from him and heading upstairs to bed...
