Well, White Wolf implied I could post it. Since I'm doing so, I'd love
to get some C&C on this chapter. And, since you're implying, WW, I would like
at least a "Yes, I like it" or "I didn't like it" from you! :)
 (Really, I'm in a good mood, I'm just working on Chaotic Trickster's
question in my mind, still...)
    Oh well, here it is:
---------------------------No title yet---------------------
Chapter 1

	The wind howled in response to the sounds coming from deep
within the forest. Its shrill scream, a brutal reminder of the
harsh conditions within the forest this time of the year. Yet,
deep within the forest glade, creatures moved. They were
creatures of darkness, creatures of dreams and nightmares. Above
of all, they were Gaia's defenders.

	Inside that forest glade, a moot was being held. Werewolves
danced around the fire, shape changing with the rhythms of the
drums. Some faced off in mock battles, and some of these battles
grew into ferocious fights between these powerful and emotional
creatures.

	Soon, a ritual to indoctrinate the newest member of the sept
began. The drums slowed, the dancing stopped, and a small
werewolf in Crinos form stepped into the firelight. His form was
the one designed for fighting, and his tribe valued war. But,
the cub's eyes glowed with a deeper understanding of the world
than many of his elders had. The elders knew he was fit to do
something great, and those present, all being Get of Fenris,
assumed he would be destined to lead the tribe on to great
victories in battles to come. It was the Get, after all, who
were Gaia's true warriors and defenders.

	Lance, the leader of this Sept, walked forward and spoke unto
the gathered werewolves. "Who brings this pup into the ranks of
the Get of Fenris?"

	"We do." Two werewolves replied, and began to step forward. "We
bring this cub into the Get of Fenris." The female werewolf, a
large redish colored Crinos, had silver fangs and claws, the
remnants of a long ago battle with a nexus crawler.

	"Do you accept the outcome of the challenge that Thor must go
through, be it his life or his death, or, worst of all, his
dishonor."

	Some in the crowd were so sure of Thor's destiny that they
growled at the leader's infering that Thor would live but fail
in his test.

	"We do."

	"Very well. Take him into the city, free him to destroy the
Wyrm's grip. He must bring back the dagger called Wyrmcomer from
the center of the town. We will be waiting for his return."

	"We will take him." The male wolf then turned to his son. "Come
Thor. It is time for your Rite of Ascention." The young cub was
brought from the fire; his claws were silver as well. The damage
done to his mother by the nexus crawler was greater than any
could have expected, for most effects from an encounter with a
nexux crawler would wear off soon after the beast left the
physical realm. Instead, her first offspring had inherited her
silver claws. Fortunately for Thor, he also inherited his
mothers extreme tolerance of silver, normally a great anathma to
his kind.

	The three shifted into a full wolf form to begin the run to
town.

			*********************************************

	The middle of the town was bustling with activity, people
running back and forth, cars flashing by. The dark atmosphere
crowded down upon the citizens. Their will to live was being
supplanted by a simple will to survive, nothing more. But in the
city, there was at least one person who was enjoying himself.
William Alder was looking for a beautiful girl to take home.

	William walked into Bern's Bar, and found the perfect girl
sitting by the counter. He calmly walked up to the bar, and took
a seat beside her's. "One Black Russian please."

	While the bartender was mixing his drink, William turned
towards the girl sitting next to him. "Would you like something
miss?"

	"Well, I'm fine right now, but thank you for the offer." Her
large green eyes moved back down to her empty glass. She reached
back and began to tie her hair up into a knot.

	"It's hot in here," she remarked casually, almost to herself.

	"The name's William." Came the unexpected reply. He began
looking over the woman's body. He was very impressed by how
beautiful she looked in the green, sequined dress. It was the
same color of her eyes. Yes, he thought, she will do just fine.
"You sure you don't want something? Water even?"

	"Well, William, since you're being so nice, the least I can do
is accomodate you. I'll have a small glass of some wine. " She
looked over William, then with a surprised voice "Oh, I'm sorry.
My name is Julia."

	"Very well." William turned from looking at Julia and faced the
bartender again.

	"Yep, one wine, I heard ya talkin. I'm guessin ya want the best
one we've got?" The bartenders voice was surprisingly quite for
his large size and build.

	William nodded his agreement, "I think your best white wine
would be good."

	"You two look good together. I'll give em to ya for half
price." The bartender was known for his kindness, and his bar
was a favorite of the nicer people in the city. There was some
hint of hope in the voices drifting through the bar. The hellish
city hadn't claimed them all, and if the bartender could help
it, the city wouldn't claim them. Of course, he didn't realize
any of this as he went about doing what was natural for him:
helping people, giving them reduced prices, and so on.

	"Well thank you." Williams shadowy vioce seemed distracted as
he was looking over at Julia again. God, she looks beautiful in
that dress. Dressed to kill, or to die. "Julia, your hair goes
wonderfully with that dress. Where'd you get that dress?"

	"The dress? Well, I don't remember exactly. It was somewhere in
Beverly Hills." Julia replied. Then suddenly, taken aback by the
compliment, "Oh, thank you. Do you think I should let my hair
back down?"

	"Well, you're even more impressive. But, it is hot in here.
Whatever is more comfortable for you." There was a command in
his voice, that no one but Julia could hear, and she was unable
to resist, or to know that she was being ordered about. Thinking
she was acting of her own will, she let her hair back down, its
slight curls tumbling down her back.

	The bartender turned back around and gave William his Black
Russian and Julia her wine. "Here ya go. Have a good time ya
two."

	"Thank you," both Julia and William responded at the same time.

	Time passed, and both turned towards their drinks. Outside,
thunder crashed and sleet began slamming into the street.
Perfect, thought William.

	"Julia, it's really bad weather out there, would you like a
lift home?"

	"Well, thank you. Yes I would. I know I shouldn't trust you,
but for some reason I do."

	William thought to himself, maybe the embrace wasn't as bad as
I thought.

	William hurridly took Julia out to his car. "Where do you live,
Julia?"

	"1315 Lancaster Road. Do you know where that is?"

	"Yes. Just a couple of blocks up from Washington Street, right?

	"Yeah. Thank you, William."

	"No problem." The rest of the car ride was done is almost total
silence. Julia felt something towards William, but she couldn't
tell what it was. Soon they began nearing Julia's house.

	William pulled the car up to a stop in front of Julia's house.
"Well, here we are. Please, let me get the door for you." Julia
sat in the car, thinking how her evening had turned out so well.

	The car door opened, and Julia took Williams outstreched hand.
The storm had stopped, and the moon was occasionally peering
through the clouds. "This has been a good evening, I feel like I
have known you all my life." Julia whispered.  William leaned
closer, and began kissing Julia. She grabbed him in a deep
embrace.

	It was now that William decided to finish what he had planned
all evening. He moved his mouth down to Julias neck. She felt
two pricks, and after the briefest pain, she was overcome by the
most powerful feelings of pleasure she had ever known.

            *********************************************

	Thor changed into human form to walk through the town
unnoticed. Before he entered town, however, he put on the
clothing that he had brought along. He saw a car that was
unlocked and got in. His luck was with him, as he saw the keys
in the ignition. Thor started the car and sped down the street,
heading toward Lancaster Road to take him into the center of
town.

	No more than a block and a half away from Thor, a teenaged girl
standing in an alley watched the Garou take the car she was
about to steal.

	Thor turned onto Lancaster Road, and saw a person laying on the
ground in front of him, on the other side of the street. He
slammed on the breaks and jumped out of the car even before it
came to a complete stop. Thor ran across the street, and saw a
beautiful woman laying down on the ground. Her green dress
sparkled in the soft, amber glow of the street lights and the
silver light of the moon whenever it peeked out from the clouds.
The sleet had stopped quite some time ago, but the ice was still
on the ground, reflecting the moon in a myriad of designs. Thor
came closer and immediatly noticed the two pricks in her neck;
the thought was instinctive, a vampire was here, and Thor knew
it was an inexperienced one.

	Thor decided to put on hold the search for the Wyrm fetish, and
destroy the vampire. He mutated into Crinos form and charged
down the street, following his innate ability to sense creatures
of the corrupted Wyrm. Vampires were one such creature.

	It didn't take Thor too long to find where the vampire had
stashed the car and run into a building. It was a dark and
abandoned factory. Thor felt good, because this was also the
building where the dagger was held. Without a second thought,
but not with reckless abandon, he ran inside.

	William could tell someone had entered the building, but he
didn't care. He had the dagger to protect him from any werewolf
or mage, and had no reason to fear any humans. Instead of
waiting for the person to leave or find him, William left the
office to look for the intruder.

	Thor sniffed the air, and heard a slight noise behind him.
Immediatly, he turned and jumped back. His reflexes were just
enough to keep from being slashed by a person weilding a dagger.
Thor crouched down and growled to the man he was facing. "Give
me that dagger. Make my job just a little easier when I kill you
here!"

	William threw back his head and laughed. "Foolish Garou! This
dagger is enchanted by the Wyrm itself to destroy creatures of
the Wyld and Weaver! Leave while you can still move." While
speaking, William shifted the silver dagger about in his hands,
waving it threateningly infront of the young Garou.

	Thor's response was much more ferocious than William was
expecting, and he was forced to bring the dagger in front of
him. William steeled himself to impale the stupid Garou during
its wild and foolish chagre.

	Thor jumped towards William, landing right on the dagger,
impaling himself. His raked the vampire in the face three times,
his silver claws digging deeper and deeper with each slash. Thor
brought his knee into William's stomach, sending the vampire
flying until he landed about ten feet away.

	"How? Why are you still able to attack me? This dagger is able
to destroy any garou or mage that touches it!" The cry escaped
from William's mouth seconds before Thor lowered his shoulder,
and charged his massive form into William, fully planning to
crush the Wyrmspawn.

	"Wyrm enchantments don't effect me! You will die, vampire, for
the blood of the Wyrm is on your hands! But, before you die,
know that I was also born with silver claws. I am immune to its
deadly effects as well." The cry escaped Thor, seconds before
his jaws locked on William's right forarm,  which pushed the
vampire onto his heels. William knew this was no ordinary Garou,
for every Garou he had encountered before was unable to speak so
well in their Crinos form. This thought, coupled with the
Garou's resistance to the dagger pushed William to the verge of
panic.

	William regained his composure, and stepped back, letting the
balls of his feet land on the ground. He prepared his dagger in
his left hand, and swung it down on Thor's head. Blood flowed
from the open wound above Thor's ears, and the windows shattered
with Thor's enraged cry of anguish. The two separated to regain
their senses, and prepare for another round. William was in far
worse shape than Thor, but their supernatural healing abilities
brought them back to nearly full strength within minutes.

	When they clashed a second time, Thor had escaped into the full
fury of his Garou rage. He threw more and more attacks at
William, and endured all the attacks which the vampire directed
towards him. Shortly, Thor had nearly completely destroyed the
vampire, and was backing off to get a powerful leap on William.

	William, however, driven by instinct alone, took the dagger,
and plunged it into his heart. Out of the hilt, a shimmering,
dark blue escaped. The light covered everything in the
warehouse, and streams of black light began pouring from the
dagger's tip. The dagger's once lifeless snake-like handle began
unraveling, and formed itself into two serpentine heads, each
with their own forked toungue and fangs dripping with poison.
The dagger's guard shifted slowly into bat wings, with black and
fetid skin. The vampire's body began writhing and shaking.
William clutched his chest as his legs began shrinking and
contorting into stumps and his arms grew into his body. He
slowly began to grow into the dagger's silver blade while the
dagger gained in raw energy and power. The snake heads curled
around each other, hissing at Thor while he was held mesmorized,
the strange sight holding even his formidible rage at bay.

	Within minutes, the dagger and the vampire had become one. The
dagger hovered in the sky, its bat wings flapping slowly,
spreading out the stench. The four eyes looked at Thor, as if
they were trying to sum up the threat he posed. Thor crouched
down, preparing to leap up and grasp the dagger-creature. Thor's
powerful legs propelled him upwards, his half-wolf form streched
to its fullest as he took a swipe at the flying thing. Before he
had even left the ground, the being lifted itself higher,
placing itself just out of reach of Thor's outstreached hands.
Then, it turned and flew out of the window.

	Thor fell to the floor, breaking one of the few remaining
structures in the building, this time a large oak table. As the
wood was crumbling under his massive paws, Thor cried out in
hate at the dagger, cursing the Wyrm which had spawned it. His
deep growls and snarls could be heard quite a distance away from
the warehouse.

	It was not too long before his rage had cooled to a point where
he decided to change into a human and leave through the rear
entrance. Just as he had passed through the door, the police
showed up, and began storming through the building, looking for
bodies of the combattants who had left such a large quantity of
blood splattered everywhere.

	Thor snuck into a second store, and found some clothing he
would wear until he could get to the forest, and run back to the
moot in the form of the wolf.

            *********************************************

	Edge looked into the forest, and saw his son running towards
the moot. He changed into the wolf form, and ran out to discover
how the rite had gone. It only took him an instant to realize
that Thor wasn't carrying any daggers or other instruments with
him. Edge immediatly changed into the Crinos form. The size and
build of Edge in the half-wolf form was a sight to behold, and
this alone nearly caused Thor to run over his own nose in an
attempt to bow in respect. Instead, he came to a skidding halt
in front of his father, and looked up with sorrow-filled eyes.
He changed into human form, and spoke quietly and full of shame.

	"Father...I, I couldn't get Wyrmcomer from the vampire who had
it."

	Edge, having changed into the most warlike form, counldn't
contain himself.

	"You are a discrace!" His voice filled with such rage and hate,
the entire moot stopped celebrating.

	"But, father. The vampire stabbed the dagger into himself, and
the dagger became a creature of its own!"

	"That's the Weaver controlling you! You shamefilled whelp!"
With the end of that sentence, Edge's hand came crashing towards
Thor's undefended face. Before Thor could blink, the awesome
strength of Edge's punch had send him flying into a tree almost
ten feet behind him.

	Thor lay on the stomach, his arms refusing to lift himself up,
while Edge stared down at the pitiful sight. "You leave now! My
son has just died to me!"

	He picked Thor up, and threw him further into the forest. "Now,
you are White!"

	Thor stood up, shaking. "Very well, I shall now be called
White." The term White was both a reference to his new name, and
his failure. "I will never cease in my struggle against the
Wyrm!"

	White was heartbroken, for he had aspired to be a member of the
silver pack, but he knew that his dreram would never come to
pass now that he was an outcast. He did the only thing a fifteen
year old outcast Garou could do--he ran.

            *********************************************

	The dagger-creature flew from the building and followed the
fleeting Garou for sometime, before turning to seek shelter. It
passed the body of a woman, her blood gone, making her even
paler against the green sequins of her dress.

	From the same alley, the teenager, maybe sixteen years old,
watched in wonder.

	The dagger sensed her, and felt her power. She would have to be
dealt with, but not tonight. It was much too weak right now. The
Garou would have to be dealt with as well. Few Garou were able
to resist Wyrm enchantments or the silver which so easily hurt
their race. Yet here was a young Garou, barely a whelp, which
could withstand not only its immense power, but also had claws
which were pure silver. No, it was best to run away tonight.
Revenge would come later.

            *********************************************

	White continued to run. He ran through the night and well into
the next day. His breath was coming in increasingly shorter
gasps and his muscles were knotting from the constant exhertion.
He hadn't stopped long enough to heal the wounds his former
father had inflicted upon him, and he hadn't eaten in days. But
he still ran, his mind oblivious to the pain in his lungs, legs,
or stomach. He was oblivious to the world around him, save
whenever his eyes told him he was about to crash into something.
But he didn't consciously change direction, his mind just told
his legs to run to the left, or run to the right. And so he kept
running. In fear. In despiration. Forward, faster, farther away
from his former sept. A ronin by the views of his fellow Garou,
he could expect no help.

	And so, when finally he could run no farther, he collapsed.
White knew it was going to be his death if he stopped. He felt
the prying eyes of the forest's scavangers, just waiting for the
stupid wolf to realize it was dead. But White was too strong for
that. After only minutes of rest, his mind swam with images of
the dagger, the vampire, the lady he drank from. White was on
his feet, running again, and the scavangers retreated into the
forest. He couldn't run forever, and they knew it.

	But, he could run from the forest. On the same day he collapsed
the first time, he came to the mountain range which signaled the
edge of his forest. Almost halfway up the mountains, the forest
ceased, and the other side, sheltered from rain and fertile
streams, was a long plain, dotted with few hills, which
eventually ran into the desert. But, this wouldn't stop White
from running from his past. Everything lost, he had only his
feet to take him farther away from the pain.

	Up the mountain, he barely noticed the loss of oxygen in the
air, such was his panting, and likewise, he didn't notice the
return of oxygen as he came down the other side of the pass. His
eyes noticed a stream, and unconsciously he stopped to drink.
His subconscious forcing him to survive, even if he wasn't
capable of doing that by his own will.

	His desire to flee took over again, and he ran farther down the
hill, taking the plains by nightfall. By midnight, even sheer
determination to run was supplanted by his physical and mental
tiredness, and he collapsed in an exhausted heap, sleeping until
well into the next day.

	It was a sleep which recovered his body, but his mind was
wracked by nightmares. He saw the dagger merging with the
vampire, and dreamed it was chasing him. He dreamed he was the
next victim of the vampire's fangs, and turned into an
Abberation, a werewolf-vampire. He then dreamed that he was
facing down a giant gray maggot-like being. He didn't know what
it was, or where he was facing it. Eventually, he woke, stiff
and sore from constant running. His wounds had healed overnight,
testament to his Garou heritage. But even Garou need to eat, and
there was nothing here to feast on.

	So he continued. Running, but this time, he was running the
smooth, effortless glide of the wolf not the panicked flight he
was making before. He would cover many miles today, and he was
again in control of his thoughts; his rage and fear played out.
Now, he would be capable of setting about surviving until he
could come across some means to atone for his dishonor.

	Off he ran. Running happily, he found an antelope, and mutated
into Hisbo form. This larger version of the wolf form allowed
him to overtake the antelope in seconds. His hunger would be
satiated quite well, and the carrion birds would have a feast.
After he did, of course.

	He was so intent upon eating that he didn't notice the other
creature coming up behind him, even when its shadow was looming
over him.

            *********************************************

	The dagger finally came to a rest in a secluded cave on the
outside of the city. It reverted back into its original shape,
and the vampire was soon standing beside the dagger it had
plunged into its heart. William's voice was shaky, "What are
you?"

	"I am the dagger, Wyrmcomer." The dagger's voice penetrated
William's mind, and caused him to jump back, afraid. "You have
awakened me, and for that I am greatful. You will be my champion
and wield me against those who seek to destroy the Wyrm."

	"B-But, the garou almost killed me."

	"He is young. You can destroy him. You were overconfidant in
both yourself, and the power I have. The Garou was right, he is
immune to the powers of the Wyrm and silver, but he can still be
killed. He will burn, or he will die some other way. Use me
against the other Garou, and feel the power I can give you." The
dagger's words were tinted with commands, like William's voice
was when he picked up Julia the night before. The dagger was
many times more powerful, though, and William happily consented
and believed he was acting of his own accord.

	"Yes, I'll join you. Together we will be invincible!"

	"Yes, William. Yes, we will be invincible, and you will wield
me to keep the Wyrm alive."

	William nodded his concent, and looked outside the cave.
Judging from the lightening of the eastern sky, the sun would be
rising any moment. William's terror was apparent, for like the
rest of his kind, the sun was a beacon of death. The dagger
sensed this terror.

	"Remember, William, we will be invincible together. Wield me
with conviction, and all will be well." William just looked
blankly at the dagger while it talked. "Take me, brandish me,
and walk into the sunlight. You will be safe enough if you
believe."

	And William walked into the glare when the sun appeared moments
later. True enough, the dagger protected him. "William, you are
my champion. Wield me for the Wyrm, for I am its earthern
weapon. You are a creature of the Wyrm, and I shall protect you."

            *********************************************

	"White, stand up." The shadow behind White finally spoke. White
leaped to his feet, and turned around with rage slowly building,
to be able to face off against his opponent. "Fear not, I am on
your side. I am a Silent Strider, and I have seen Luna's mark on
you."

	"What do you wish?" White's reply came smoothly though he was
in Crinos, and few Garou could even scream commands while in
Crinos, much less ask a question with even a semblance of calm.
Even as he spoke, White was preparing to attack, and the Strider
didn't miss noticing White's stance.

	"White, I have come to take you under my wing, and instruct you
in the ways of the world, and of life. The Get belive all can be
won through war, but I know different, and I believe you know
different. Now, I must be brief for there is much you must
learn. I bequeath you to please follow me."

	"W-Why should I believe you? You know my name, and I don't
recognize you." Even as he spoke, White was shifting back into
the wolf form, knowing he would need travel far with this
stranger to learn.

	"White, my name is Windwalker. I know you were born a Theurge,
but trained as an Ahroun. I know this because I was running with
your sept the time you were born. I was running with your sept
because of you. A Stargazer friend read the future, and knew a
great champion of the Gaia would rise from your tribe during the
next crescent moon. So I followed your sept to see who was born."

	"Why my sept?" White's words were no longer english, but the
Garou dialect which they used to communicate regardless of form.

	"Your sept because of your parents. You know that your mother
was immune to the effects of silver. She had her claws and teeth
warped into silver from a battle with a nexus crawler. If it
weren't for your mother, her companion, Star, would've died
trying to kill the thing. Instead, when she charged in, as Red
Talons are likely to do, her claws and teeth were made victim to
the entrophy that is a nexus crawler. Only this nexus crawler
was much more powerful than most, for it's effects were
permanent and even you carry them with you." White knew this
story, and knew what a nexus crawler was. They were giant,
insect like beings which had the ability to control reality.
Windwalker continued, "Your father was born with immunity to the
taint of the Wyrm. I speculated that with such parents, one with
silver immunity, the other with Wyrm resistance, that their
child, who was due around the crescent moon, would be special.
Luna marked you as her own, and I know enough to realize that
Luna wouldn't mark a Garou without cause." Windwalker had
shifted into lupis form as well.

	"But I'm only a Metis." White had come to believe, as most
other Garou, that the sterile, disfigured breed was just an
unfortunate product of two Garou who couldn't contain their
passion. "I can't walk a city for I'll be seen as one."

	"Nay, White." Windwalker paused, contemplating something for a
long time. "The name doesn't fit you. We will change it later.
For now, though, about your so-called disfigurement. I, nor many
Stargazers don't view it as such. Instead, you have been gifted
with absolute honesty. The saying goes that you can't hide the
truth, and because of your Metis trait, you shant even try. Luna
has blessed you with an honest soul, which is why you reflect
your Crinos form in any mirror. You are also born with Mercury
rising in the sky. A blessed occurance for any who will study as
a Strider. How I wish you were born one."

	"I'm rather happy being born of wolves. I don't like the way
jackels look." White's blunt statement caught Windwalker by
surprise. The Silent Striders were usually quite jackel-like in
apperance. Many of the recent cubs grew up thinking that wolves
looked cool, but jackels didn't.

	"Honesty is good, but temper it with timing, else someone from
a less-thoughtful tribe will try to redeem their dishonor, their
term for a failing, out of your hide." Windwalker laughed as
much as a wolf can before continuing, "Let us be off."

	"Where are we going?"

	"My home. Come, there is much to learn, and I doubt there is
much time."

	Windwalker turned and left, without so much as a passing
glance. He knew White would follow, and he did. The two turned
into the plains, like old pack members, and ran for hours before
coming up to the caves Windwalker called home.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben Kosse bmk7411@cs.rit.edu
Homepage with anime and other interests. (http://www.rit.edu/~bmk7411)
Biggest BGC otaku on the RIT campus (especially Priss).
Anime, RPG's, computers, poetry (read/write), music (listen/compose).
Author of the Bubblegum Crisis theme pack