Rotem is sitting on the floor, hidden under a fallen plywood 'wall' that has been propped up against the piping that remains of the fountain, creating a makeshift lean to. His legs pulled up to his chest, arms wrapped about his knees, his head lowered down between his arms. A soft crying can he heard from beneath the makeshift shelter.

The first hint that someone's coming is a rather cheerful alto voice, floating through the still early morning air, "...I am in th' conventional dither, with th' conventional star in my eye, an' you will note, there's a..." Bernie comes into view from the meadow area, hands in her pockets and eyes on the sky, and trails off with a rather annoyed sigh as she spots the plywood. She doesn't seem to have noticed the cub right off, though: "Dammit. Freakin' city can't do anythin' quicker'n five years, not even fix a fuckin' barrier fence..."

The soft sound of whimpering and sniffling remains still, although the cub remains hidden under the plywood, oblivious to the outside world.

No longer singing and accidentally drowning it out, the sobbing reaches the girl's ears, and she tilts her head curiously, regarding the partially enclosed area. A few more steps, and she's peering beneath it, concerned. There's a pause, as she recognizes the cub. "Oh," she remarks, dryly, and stands up again, starting toward the bench with the best eastward view.

As the 'Oh' is heard the cub glances up, catching only the sight of the unmistakable Bernie-bag. The plywood is quickly tossed up as the tear streaked cub moves off towards her. Ensnaring her in his arms, his wet face pressed against her side. "I'm sorry." he whimpers, sniffling as his nose runs from the tears. "I'm sorry, please Bernie, I'm sorry." he repeats over and over again. "Please Bernie, I understand now.. please I'm so sorry."

Bernie gahs as she's suddenly covered in wet, sniffly cub, arms raising a bit to either side, sort of hovering there a few moments. "Oh, yeah?" she asks, recovering a bit, "...prove it, then. An' please. No snot on th' jacket, a'ight?" She sounds a bit wary, still not exactly happy with Rotem, but apparently at least willing to listen. Apologies can help there, sometimes.

Rotem lets go of Bernie, wiping his nose all over the sleeve of his jacket. His tears still covering most of his face. "I understand now." He sniffles again, "I.. I understand how it works now."

Bernie nods once, fairly patiently, though an edge of annoyance remains. Luckily, she has younger siblings. She gestures to the bench she was heading to. "Sit. I came here t' watch th' sunrise, an' I'm gonna. Meanwhile, you c'n s'plain t' me jus' whatcha get, now. Tell me how it works." She moves the rest of the way to the bench, gets settled, and then looks back over to the cub.

Rotem slips down into the bench, wipeing away the tears from his cheeks, the eyes reddened but with a passion behind them such as seen in religious fanatics. "You see, I get it now. I understand. It." He pauses sniffling still, He stutters slightly as he speaks, "I've got it now. You see, no matter where I go. Anywhere. All over the face of this earth. I'm never alone. You see, everywhere. All over, I have a family. I have someone to fall back on. To trust. Gnawers all over the world. If I'm ever lost... alone... forgotten, I have someone to help pull me back up. But its a two way street, you see? They need to know, they need to know they can trust me. Depend on me with their lives. Because that is what it is all about. We have to be able to trust each other with our lives. And know we wont be let down. Just like they help me up, I help them up the next time around. Even if it isn't the same person. Because it is. We are all Gnawers, and I have to prove that I can be there. To help them up.

Bernie listens almost expressionlessly for a bit, watching as the sun's rays colour the sky, lightening the dark blue to cobalt, then lightening further, clouds reflecting pink and orange as the light increases. After the cub's done, there's a bit of a pause as she continues to watch, and then nods, smiling slightly. "'s a nice li'l epiphany y'got there," she comments, "...yeah. 's a big parta it, yeah. We all gotta be there for each other, an' for Gaia. 'spec'ly for Gaia." She pauses, watching the sky's colours change, perhaps having more to say, but if so, it's waiting.

Rotem doesn't seem to be done either. "But that is just it, S'all for Gaia, That whole all are of Gaia thing? That isn't just us, S'the people too. We gotta help them. And its a war. It's a whole war thing. You see, its /always/ a war. So we gotta like, be ready, You know? We gotta be ready to fight. Like, right now. Like for all we know, right now some /thing/ is seeping out of the sewer and slinking up behind us to eat our brains. But like, its okay? You know? It's okay because your a cliath, and you'll fight it, and I'll be helping, and we'll kick its ass, or we wont, and we'll go get more of us. You know? Because it is everyones war."

Bernie laughs. She can't help it. "I'm not sure I'm =okay= with somethin' comin' up an' tryin' t' eat our brains, but yeah. Sounds like, maybe y'are gettin' it... an' not all th' people, 'course... there's some servin' th' Wyrm an' all, some by accident, an' we c'n try t' free 'em, one way or another, an' some on purpose, an' they jus' gotta be Dealt With." She glances sidelong at the cub now, thoughtfully. "Anythin' else suddenly go all clear in yer mind?"

Rotem lays his head on Bernie's shouder gently, looking off into the sunset as well. "Yeah." he motions off towards the sunrise. "I figured out I kinda like sunrises. Never stopped to look at one before." He sounds oddly nostalgic, or maybe romantic as he speaks.

Bernie allows this, for now, though it seems likely that she could change her mind about it at any time. "Yeah," she agrees, "nice, aren't they? Sunsets, too, but they don't have th' same stillness to 'em. 's good t' watch 'em. Take in th' world 'roundja an' all, every so often."

Rotem exhales softly, looking out at the sun. "You think I could ever get to talk to him? Helios?"

Bernie blinks once. "Never thought 'bout it," she admits, "...I dunno. Maybe, or maybe a sun spirit? I'd think there oughta be some, like th' water spirits, maybe..." She considers it a bit. "...so, gonna ask here. This stuff you've realised, whatcha plan t' do with it, in practical terms?"

Rotem sighs softly. "I honestly don't know how to go about it. I need to show them I can be there. I can work in the system. Help. I just... I don't know where I can help. I mean, the lights. I could help. I helped. I need something to do. Idle hands are the Wyrm's tools. And I need a project."

Bernie nods to this, thoughtfully. "I'm all over projects," she agrees, "Always got at least one. Gotta have somethin' t' do, even if th' project's only readin' a book, or learnin' 'bout somethin' in particular. So, a'ight, I'll give ya a project t' start with, yeah? First project is, look around for a coupla days. Check out where there's problems, where there's stuff that we maybe should be concerned about, things that maybe you could thinka a plan t' work on. Then pick a few, two, three maybe, thatcha think might be good projects, an' tell me 'bout 'em. Deal?"

Rotem nods softly. "Okay. But then I'm going to be sticking my head into some odd places. I don't want to get into trouble. I'll be careful." Rotem smiles happilly. "I'll look around."

Bernie grins, fleetingly. "Yeah, be careful. An' I'm not meanin' only, like, huge Wyrmy things like th' sewers, 'course. Maybe there's people 'round who need a hand, or other people who're causin' problems, or even a place that jus' needs some tidyin' up, anythin', yeah? Recon first, see what's out there. Then we'll pick a target an' you c'n work on a planna attack. As it were."

Rotem nods slightly at this. "I get it, the little stuff. No prob sis." Rotem smiles, looking at the now Risen sun. "Burns? Thank you."

Bernie regards the cub for a few seconds, and then nods. "You're welcome, I think," she replies. "We'll see how it all goes, yeah?" A bit of a pause, as she watches the last tendrils of pink and orange melt into the blue of the sky, "...'spect y'oughta 'pologise t' Kaz, too, by th' way."

Rotem sighs softly. "She wont w-want to hear it."

"Might not," the ragabash grants, "butcha owe her one anyhow." She considers the conversation earlier, and seems about to add something, but can't quite work out the phrasing.

Rotem remains silent, lifts his head from Bernie slightly and laying down to rest it in her lap, looking all the part of a little brother.

Maybe too much so; a definite sadness suddenly passes over Bernie's face, and she glances up toward the tops of the trees that ring the fountain a moment. A slight sigh, and she shakes her head a bit, seeming back to normal. "So. Y'do get 'bout earlier, then?" she asks voice normal but for a slight stress that this is important.

Rotem sighs, looking up to Bernie. "Yes Burns. I Understand. I hope you can forgive me sis."

"Yeah, well," the Ragabash replies somewhat grudgingly, though at least a certain degree of forgiveness is implied. "Don' let it happen again. An' allat."

"I wont", is the short reply from the ahroun cub. "I guess I should go head over to Julie's place. I want to check out that area first. Maybe say hello to her."

Bernie nods a bit. "Sounds good t' me. You c'n ask her for s'ggestions, too, maybe. An' maybe she'd have some shit you could help her with, yeah?" The girl stretches a bit, then gives the Ahroun a light pat on the head. "A'ight," she says, "up-up."

Rotem sits up slowly. "Again sis, thanks." He moves off the bench as well. "I'll catch up to you later today. Okay?" he pauses, then seems to remember something. "Hey, where are you hanging?"

Bernie blinks once before that registers. "Oh," she replies, "mostly th' Dec'dence." She resettles her backpack, and stifles a bit of a yawn. It's been a long, long day, and it still isn't over...

Rotem arches an eyebrow. "Where's that?" he asks, moving back towards her again. "Around the church?"

Bernie nods. "Kina," she replies, gesturing vaguely in the appropriate direction, "closer t' th' Ri, though. Few blocks that way."

Rotem nods. "Okay, You'll have to show me sometime then." Rotem adds, "Oh, and I need a backpack. You think you could scavenge me up one? I got Stuff to carry around."

Bernie grins briefly again. "Yeah, maybe. I'll take a look 'round. Only, y'might not wanna carry all yer Stuff 'round. Somea it, yeah, but y'might end up havin' t' ditch th' bag sometime, so, y'know. Gotta think it through. It won't go with ya when ya shift, or head t' th' other side. Well, 'f y' dedicate it, it will, only th' stuff inside, it won't. Pain in th' ass." She stifles another yawn. "Damn. I gotta get goin' an' get stuff done 'fore I fall over asleep."

Rotem nods and smiles. "Okay, see you around Burns." Rotem waves and walks off, pausing only a moment to listen for Mr. Smithers.

And so it comes: "Later, Smithers," the former cub replies, voice floating back as she makes her way out of the park.

[McDonald's]

Benedict sits in one of the booths by the front door on this dead as hardwood floor day. The drivethru window is busy with activity but the floor seems to be totally seperate from that. Benedict starts as someone steps inside but seeing who it is he calms a little, only to get a bit more excited a moment later.

The door opens, and Bernie strolls in, hands in her jacket pockets, looking a bit tired, but overall cheerful and rather confident. She hums softly to herself as she approaches the counter. Sounds like "Ain't Misbehavin'." Her trip toward breakfast is aborted -- well, paused -- as she sees Benedict in the booth, and she flashes him a grin. "Hey, Eggs. 'sup?"

Benedict shrugs with an attractive grin. "Not too much, you think I'll see her soon?" he seems to get right to his points.

Bernie laughs. "Blunt much?" she asks, then goes more serious, and sighs. "I dunno, honestly. I'm workin' on it, though. So I hope so. Meantime, y'got any messages or anythin' y'want passed on?" She leans casually against the side of the next booth as she talks.

Benedict thinks on this a second and nods a moment later. Reaching back he pulls a wallet out of his back pocket and looks through it for something or another. A little time goes by and he produces two pictures. He leans onto a table and gets out a pen to write on the back of them. A bit of scribbling later and he hands them, picture side up to Bernie. One of them is of Benedict with his sister a few years back, the other is a recent picture of just Bene alone in his football uniform, looking quite studly. "Here, maybe this might help a little."

Bernie accepts the pictures, and looks them over -- though it might be noted she doesn't turn them over to read the notes. That, apparently, she considers private. The photos get slipped into her jacket pocket, albeit carefully, and she nods. "A'ight, I'll take 'em over t' her an' all... thanks." She flashes a surprisingly bright and rather pretty smile at him, and stands up straight again. "...after breakfast, though." She turns to continue her trek counterward.

Benedict grins and chuckles ever slightly as he passes through the employees only door to get behind the counter and assumes the position (heh) behind the register. "Welcome to McDonald's, may I assist you?"

"Why, =yes=, kind sir," Bernie replies, leaning against the counter as she surveys the breakfast menu. "I'm thinkin'... gonna go with two egg mcmuffins, hashbrowns, an' a cuppa orange juice. Nutritious parta this balanced breakfast, an' allat."

Benedict's large hand flies over the console with the speed born of familiarity and then looks to Bernie expectingly. "That will be 4.19 please."

Bernie starts to slip her backpack off her shoulder, then tilts her head at him, and grins mischievously. "Aw, y'mean y'don't just wanna feed me outta th' goodness of your heart?" she asks, mock-disappointed. There's something particularly persuasive about it, though, despite the apparent teasing.

Benedict grins and leans towards Bernie. "I was just kidding, my friends eat free here. Not that this is a always good thing mind you."

"Hey, thanks," Bernie replies, sounding pleasantly suprised, and smiles again. "So how's it not so good, then, or do I wanna know?"

Benedict shakes his head slightly at that and replys quickly enough. "Nothing wrong with the food aside from it being fast food. We run a clean tight ship with a relaxed friendly crew. It's just that well, you know... Fast food ain't exactly healthy for the human body."

"'s healthier'n no food," Bernie points out reasonably, and shrugs, cheerfully quoting I Love Lucy, "'and it's so tasty, too!' ...'s not so bad as an occasional thing, anyhow, yeah? Or you'd hafta flog yourself everyday in penitence for inflictin' it on an unsuspectin' world..."

Benedict gives a quick laugh at that. "Are you kidding, people are idiots. They all know the stuff is bad for them... but its quick and they're busy. Or a host of other reasons. They all /want/ to eat healthy, but they don't want to do the work that involves. So I'm not peddling this stuff to ign'int school children, but everyone equally."

Bernie grins. "Oh yeah, you keep tellin' yourself that, assuage your poor abused conscience by blamin' th' victims..." She picks up her paper bag of goodies, apparently not taking it enough to heart even to change her breakfast menu. "'lish has anythin' t' send back t' ya, or I manage t' get things all set up, I'll come letcha know, yeah? Thanks, an' all..."

Benedict nods to this. "You do that, I'll be waiting."

Bernie whips off a mock-salute with the hand not holding the bag, and flashes a final smile. "Seeya, then," she replies, and heads toward the door through which she entered. As she leaves, the quiet humming -- the same tune -- floats softly through the air again, behind her.

[The Sept Compound]

Alicia is sitting next to the fire, idly poking at it with a stick. Her hair is unwashed an stringy across her back, eyes bloodshot. She looks like crap, actually. Her clothes dirty from sleeping out in the rain.

Bernie, on the other hand, looks great. For Bernie, anyway. And she's humming, which is the first real sign of her approach. Sounds like "Ain't Misbehavin'." It dies as she sees Alicia, though, as does her grin, brow furrowing with some concern as she heads over to the fire. "Hey," she greets her friend softly, "...'sup?"

Alicia snaps her head up quickly at the humming and voice, glancing over, almost defensivly. "Huh, what? Oh... Bernie! God, I'm so glad to see you." She says, pushing herself up. "This has been the week of hell for me."

Bernie makes a face, and sweeps the Galliard up into a big hug. "Really sorry t' hear that," she remarks, "...hope maybe I c'n make it a li'l better; hope I don' make it worse, 'least. Man, I missed you!" She punctuates it with an extra squeeze. "Wha's been up?"

Alicia sighs heavily and shakes her head, letting out a breath. "Just stuff.. as always. The usual I guess." She gives a strong hug to the Gnawer, then pulls back some.

Bernie glances around the area as if there might be spies, and murmurs softly, "Dude, we should =so= kidnap an' adopt you, I swear. 'least you'd get teachin', an' t' see your brother. Which!" The last word exclaimed, as her smile flashes back into place, "...I come bearin' gifts." A hand into her jacket pocket, and she carefully pulls out a pair of photographs, which she passes over. One is Alicia and Benedict together, a few years ago, the other a more recent picture of just Benedict, in his football uniform. Both seem to have writing on the back.

Alicia reaches out and takes the pictures from her, glancing down at them. Taking a deep breath, she softly sighs. "I wish you would kidnap me.." And that right there, is actually quite honest.

"You'd make a kickass Gnawer," Bernie replies, murmuring again. From her, of course, that's a compliment, though many tribes might take offense. "...people change tribes from what they're born in, right? 'f you want... I mean, 'f you seriously wan'ed t' consider it? I could try t' find out how that'd work. Pref'rably without makin' th' tribes hate each other, or anythin'." She lifts a hand, running the fingers through her ponytail. She shifts her weight slightly from one leg to the other, wincing barely noticably as she gets onto her right leg, and looking slightly uncomfortable.

Alicia reads over the back of the photo and lets out a sigh. "It doesn't matter what I want, or what I think though Bernie." She says softly, tracing her fingers across the words. "I don't know what to do at this point.."

Bernie thbbts. "'course it does. 's your life, innit? Not t' be a Bad Influence or anythin'..." She flashes a fleeting grin. "...so you should talk t' me. Y'wanna talk here, or go somewhere else t' chat?"

Alicia glances around the compound and shrugs her shoulders slightly. "I want my tribe to come talk to me so I can rite with you." She sighs, biting her lip. "I'm ready, I know I am, and you an I can easily get through it together. I'm just waiting to hear from Kaz, see if she spoke to Dante an Adam yet. I want to be a Cliath, and start working out this new life of mine, and really make a difference."

Bernie glances down, and tries to run her hand through her hair again, this time foiled by the fact that she forgets her hair is up in a ponytail. Somewhat sheepishly and uncomfortably, she says, "...um. 'bout that. ...I got good news, an' I got bad news...." She bites her lower lip lightly.

There's a sigh from the Galliard. "Let me guess.. we can't rite together eh? Fucking figures." Alicia kicks her foot into the ground, squeezing her fists tight. "I'm tired of this crap, its not fair. We should be able to go together."

Bernie nods. "Yeah, tha' th' bad news. I'm sorry, 'lish. I wan'ed t' Rite t'gether too. It woulda been cool. We woulda kicked serious ass, f'r sure..." She trails off again, shifting her weight to her left leg.

Alicia shrugs her shoulders and kicks her foot once more, then glances up at her. "So whats the good news? Ya saying good bye tonight, cuz' they're sending ya off now?"

Bernie still looks rather embarrassed, "...act'ly, I'm sayin' hi... 'cause I'm back. There wasn' any warnin', or I'da told you 'fore I went... good news is, um... I passed. An' I'm not dead. Which, y'know, I consider that a plus..." She glances up without lifting her head, and smiles sheepishly at Alicia. "Forgive me?"

Alicia takes a deep breath and grips her hands together even tighter, knuckles turning white. "Nutt'n ta' forgive Bernie.. not yer' fault.. Rhya." She shakes her hands out, then slips back down to her knees, pulling the notebook out from her backpack, making sure that its still dry.

Bernie makes a face. "Don' call me that, yeah? Makes me feel all weird..." She sighs. "I didn' wanna come make your week worse, y'know? But I didn' wanna put it off an' have someone else, like, randomly end up mentionin' it t' ya b'fore I did..."

Alicia shrugs her shoulders and opens the notebook to a blank page, then draws her pen out from the spine. "Well, you are higher then me, so, the name fits. But, if you say so." She starts to scribble, slowly, exerting her will to not let her hand shake. "I'm not tripping, don't worry 'bout it."

Bernie sighs softly, and moves over to sit beside Alicia. "So," she says, changing the subject, apparently, "...'s new with you?"

Alicia shrugs her shoulders as she pauses in her writings. "Not much, as always. Just decided to not go back to the farmhouse afterall. I'm tired of feeling belittled everytime I go there. Its obvious at this point that no matter where I'm at I won't be happy, so, whatever is clever. I'm just going to pounce the first coggie ranking person I see, and tell them I want to go on my rite."

Bernie's brow furrows slightly. "Who's belittlin' ya?" she asks, "I'll go... I dunno... tie their shoelaces together!" She smiles a tad weakly with the comment, and continues, "...an' sure, why not ask? Couldn' hurt."

Alicia shrugs. "Talking to people like Robert, or Adam, does hurt. I feel stupid around them, everytime I open my mouth, they have to correct me, or whatever." Wetting her lips slightly with a brush of her tongue, she rolls her shoulders back. She doesn't reply to the first question, its best for her to keep her mouth shut on this matter.

"Talk t' Dante, maybe?" Bernie suggests, "...he seemed a'ight enough, when I was talkin' t' him..." She pauses, looking at the fire, and adds softly, "...an' my offer's still open, 'f things're that bad. I mean, I'll look inta 'f y'want. Thassall. Not tryin' t' be pressury or anythin', jus' an idea."

Alicia shrugs. "Dante isn't really respected round' 'ere. Robert doesn't like 'em at all, an right now, he's trying ta' challenge for Fostern, but I can sense something else is going on behind the scenes." Continuing to write, its obvious its a letter for Ben. "Don't think he's really comfortable or something.. dunno..."

Bernie considers. "Maybe, damn, I forget her name, th' one who jus' came back? Seemed like you were gettin' on real well with her, a while back? Could talk t' her 'bout it?"

Alicia lets out a breath. "Andrea? She took over Arthur Island again. I probably won't see her at all." She toys with the pen for a moment, flipping it through her hands. "Sepdet asked me to name her new pack tho'. I came up with Rising Storm.." She trails off, then shrugs. "She an Yi liked it, but, she probably won't use it. She thinks I'm just a lying, stubborn child who doesn't want to learn anyways."

"Rising Storm," Bernie says, testing the phrase out, "'s a cool name, yeah. An' why'd she think a thing like that?"

Alicia sighs. "Because.. I don't ask questions, and she thinks that I beat around the bush most of the time when I talk to her, as if I'm not giving her the full truth." She shrugs. "Which isn't true, I just don't feel the need to run my mouth, especially around her after what happened last time with Nevada."

Bernie makes a face, remembering, and nods. "Don' blame ya. ...huh. I'm sorry. Sounds crappy all 'round."

Alicia nods her head and leans back some, staring up at the sky. "I used to be so happy.. ya'know, glad to be a Garou, glad to be a Child of Gaia. I don't even know what happened..."

Bernie sighs, and leans over, giving her friend a close hug. She doesn't volunteer any theories, for now.

Alicia puts down the pen and wraps her arms back around her, hugging back tightly.

"I miss you," the Gnawer says, after a bit, "an' I miss you bein' happy. I wanna make it better, y'know? I'm jus' not so good at it."

"Its ok Bernie... I guess I jus' miss th' old days ya'know.. even tho' they were only a few months ago." Alicia squeezes you, sniffling once, then blows out a stream of warm breath to your neck. "I'll figure something out."

"There'll be new days," Bernie says firmly, "...good ones. You'll Rite, one way or another, an' be free, an' not hafta d'pend on people who aren't 'round."

Alicia nods and leans back some, then rubs the back of her neck. "If I pass.. what if I die or something ya'know? Geezus. There's so much I want to do in life."

"You'll pass," Bernie replies softly, but equally firmly, "...an' 'f y' die, I'll kill ya." A quick smile, with that. "...you'll pass." She pauses, stifling a yawn. "What sorta things you wanna do? an' 'scuse me... been up for like... twenny-five, twenny-six hours, now."

Alicia wrinkles her nose. "You should get to bed..." She says softly to you. "Thats more important at the moment hon."

Bernie stifles another yawn, and grins slightly. "...possibly. I hadda stay up so I could go make Jesus bleed..." She shakes her head. "Mmph. I wanna know, though. Maybe I'll come by t'night or t'marra, we c'n talk more?"

Alicia nods her head and quirks her lips slightly to a smile. "Ok.. I guess I can head to the farm, take a quickie shower, an then fish up one of my Elders."

Bernie grins and releases the Gaian, pushing up to her feet, then offering a hand. "I'll walk with ya that far," she offers.

Alicia nods her head and tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "OK.. thats cool." She smiles, then steps out and into the woods.