Nevada appears to scrutinize him for a moment, though it's hard to tell with eyes that seem to have no focus. "I'm OK." He takes another sip of the chocolate, swirls it around. "Mulan can convince people with the sound of her voice... like you have to do it. When I do I get to learn that?"

Elan walks up from the basement stairs, though he hasn't been seen going down there for some time, now.

A shaft of light falls across the floor as the door opens partway, and Bernie squeezes through, glancing around curiously. She looks quite startled to find it occupied, and hesitates, one hand on the door, as she eyes adjust enough to note that she's seen a couple of the occupants before. Stepping in the rest of the way, she lets the door close behind her and waves, calling a bit tentatively, "Hey... y'all mind if I come in?"

Joey flashes Nevada a wide grin. "Folks keep saying I was born knowing that trick," he admits to the Galliard cub. Elan, as he comes up, gets a quiet nod, though he whips around to the door as the young woman walks in. He tilts his head to the side. "Bernie, right? Come right in."

Elan smiles. "You're always welcome here, Bernie. It's your place, too, as a member of this tribe." He gives a high-sign to Joey and a smile to Nevada.

"I believe it," Nevada tells him, rolling his eyes with a light grin. He turns a look to the entrance, spotting Elan and Bernie. "Hey, guys. Come join the congregation, chica."

Joey has some stuff between him and Nevada. Some unopened packs of cigarettes, a full box of donuts, and some hot chocolate to boot. "We're just talking about stuff."

Bernie smiles, relaxing a bit, and her hands slip back into her coat pockets as she wanders down the aisle. She tilts her head back, regarding the ceiling, and down again, taking in the whole place. "I like th' sign out front," she comments as she comes to a stop, and her brow furrows slightly as she looks at Elan. "Thanks... I guess I oughta know you? But I don't 'member seein' you b'fore..."

Elan snorts a bit. "Maybe you wasn't paying attention, then. Elan Shadow Eyes, foster Gnawer Theurge, member of the Ring of Fire and child of Rat. Gnawer Elder of St. Claire." He holds out his hand like he's met the cub for the first time. "Goodta'seeya."

Nevada takes a sip from the hot chocolate, drowsily wiping a hand back through his hair. He glances absently at his watch, a pathetic, cheap black plastic one on its last leg, and then squints, really looking at it. "Later than noon, no shit," he remarks to himself, too sleepy to be truly concerned. "Thanks for the cocoa, Joey. I'll be seein you later." He sets down the cup, standing up. He stretches, letting his bones pop, then makes his way for the door.

Bernie accepts the hand, shaking it fairly firmly. "Bernie, but you know that... Bone Gnawer Ragabash cub, butcha prolly know that too..." she introduces herself, sounding a bit thoughtful, "an' I'm -sure- I didn't meetcha before. I heard of you, though.... niceta meetcha."

Joey's shoulders sag as Nevada walks away. "Okay, Nev. See you later," he says, then leans against the pew, sitting down, going for his food again.

Nevada opens one of the double doors at the back of the church, leaving for the streets.

Elan smiles a bit. "OK, though. Good to meet you, then. So Kaz has been teaching you stuff?"

Bernie nods, finding a suitable place to perch. "Mmhmm," she replies cheerfully, "...taught me th' whole lit'ny, thank god, 'cause I was gettin' a li'l stir crazy bein' stuck in th' 'partment... an' somea th' shifting, but," she flushes slightly, "mostly I was practising that in the bathroom, 'cause of the clothes thing an' all. I think I'm s'posta learn how t' talk in th' other forms next, which'd be nice, 'cause I'm not thrilled with bein' incoherent, y'know?"

Elan flashes a smile. "Well, I can help you with that. It's a rite I know, to make sure your clothes stay with you and shift when you do. Pick out something you want to wear and I'll bind it to you."

Joey looks over, a smile of memory on his face. 'Been kept at Signe's, right?"

"Cool," Bernie remarks, "People keep tellin' me 'bout that rite-thing, but none of 'em seem t' know it... so, when y'say 'something'... like, what I'm wearin' right now, or, like, my jacket? An' yeah," she continues, looking over to Joey with a nod, "Signe's place."

Elan says "Whatever you want to be able to keep with you when you shift. Yeah, with winter coming on, it should be a jacket."

Joey smiles, chuckling. "Been there, done that, still wake up screaming." he nods a bit more emphatically when Elan makes his suggestion. "Do. You may come with your own built-in fur coat, but sometimes you need those thumbs."

Bernie grins. "Opposable thumbs," she declares, "kick serious ass. Def'nitely." She glances down at herself, appraisingly. "...a'ight.... so would th' current stylish yet serviceable ensemble do, then?"

Elan scratches his stubbly chin. "Looks good, kid, looks good. OK, let me have some room here.." He pulls out a few feathers from one pocket, pigeon feathers.

Joey turns, watching curiously. "Um, Big Guy? If she has to strip, should I be motoring?"

Elan chuckles. "Nah, she don't have to strip. This means she don't have t' do that unless she wants to, instead of everytime she gotta change shapes."

Joey smirks. "I know. Pete did it for me after some of the Get cubs were making comments early on."

The tinge of worry that had crept across the girl's features at the question disappears at the answer, and she releases a breath. "A'ight, then. Anythin' I -should- do, 'sides stand here and make like a mannequin?"

Elan shakes his head. "Nope, I'll handle everything." With that, he begins to walk around the Gnawer girl, waving the feathers at her. "Spirits," his soft melodic voice intones, becoming a bit deeper as he begins to chant. "Hear me, and see this Stuff here. See how it flows, see how it moves? Make it spirit, make it flesh, flesh made spirit..."

Elan continues to intone; "Flesh and spirit, one and the same; it's the same damn thing, OK? Both are one, not seperate; spirits, take this stuff, awaken it, garb her in spirit and in flesh..."

Bernie can't help but grin at some of this, though she's trying to be appropriately solemn; it's a rite, right? The fact that she isn't quite sure what might happen is a bit helpful in that. She stays as still a she can manage,a nd doesn't interrupt.

Elan walks back around to the front of the girl and touches the feathers to her shoulders and belt buckle in a triangle. "Now!" A soft light blurs across the clothes, like light on water, then there is nothing. "OK, that looks like that worked."

Bernie blinks at the light moving across her clothing, and her eyes widen slightly. "Cool," she murmurs, "...so should I try t' change an' test it out?"

Joey takes off his hat, peering with intent. He hasn't said anything, but is just fascinated with the whole thing.

Elan says "And that's it, dude. Like, m'man Joey over there is learning a rite to find things, anything he can name. Magic is just cool, that's all."

Joey mutters, "This being why he's the Theurge."

"Very cool," Bernie decrees, looking herself over again. "...do I get t' learn it too, sometime?"

Elan says "Yeah, but it's faster if you can find another no-moon to teach ya. Otherwise, we might struggle with it for weeks until I get my cresent way of doing things to stick. If ya can't though, I'll teach ya after you pass yor Rite of Passage."

Banecruncher pokes his head in and sniffs to see who's here.

Elan is standing in the middle of the main aisle with Bernie, putting away some feathers into his pocket.

Joey is sitting by a pew, leaning against it on the floor. The cup he's holding smells of hot chocolate.

Banecruncher pads up the aisle and whuffs to announce his arrival. His nose goes into overdrive at that lovely chocolate aroma.

Joey raises the cup in Banecruncher's direction. "Want some?"

Elan looks at Banecruncher, though he's still concentrating on Bernie. "Heya," he says to the ahroun/

Banecruncher rumbles and lowers his head in respect.

Bernie nods, "Mm... okay. Thanks, by th' way..." She smiles, and glances behind her as the door reopens, lifting a hand to wave to Banecruncher. "Hey," she greets him, "'sup?"

Banecruncher whuffs. Thinking about where to hunt next.

Elan looks to the others. "I need to go check on some people, guys. I'll be back from patrol in a few hours, OK?"

Banecruncher sprawls near the front of the church. Good hunting.

With a nod, Bernie glances down at her watch. "Have fun," she suggests, "an' thanks 'gain...." She stretches a little, and sighs. "Think I'm gonna run off t' th' Library 'fore it closes an' get a few books..."

Elan opens one of the double doors at the back of the church, leaving for the streets.

Joey smiles from his spot. "Have fun."

"Usually do!" Bernie replies brightly, "Same t' you... might come by again later, 'ssumin' y'all don't mind me." She leans down and scritches the Ahroun lightly behind the ear in passing as she heads for the door.

Banecruncher whuffs. Don't mind you. Don't be a stranger.