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(Untitled) * * * Once upon a time, as the apes begin their stories, there was a place quite far from here, where troubles abounded, where politics and skill in maneuvering were valued more highly than war and skill in battle--it is no wonder that trouble abounded. One of them, a Shadow Lord who had been cursed with the deed-name Double-Ass by his means of killing two donkeys on a raid, had risen high within that Auvarthi, and becomes skilled in those manners. Perhaps he would have been better-viewed had it not been for his packmate. To say Franklin was a wild one is not just to understate but to flat-out speak untrue. He was insane and brutal as any Get of Fenris could ever be, a danger more to his allies than to his enemies. He carried many fetishes with him, spirits bound in permanent service to him, and it was the use of one of these fetishes that brought trouble to the auvarthi, and to Double-As But that doesn't mean that he gave up on revenge--for once Franklin had recovered from his terror, he crept through the Umbra behind young Zig-Zag. Zig-Zag was no fool, and stood waiting and ready in the Wolf-Shirt, but he was not prepared for Franklin's fetishes. One of the held him immobile, while with another, a great Nordic battle-axe, he cut deep slashes in Zig-Zag's flesh until the young Gnawer collapsed. He used the same fetish to hold the pack's alpha still for him later that evening, and the same to cut him up. Double-Ass could see no wrong in young Franklin, and so when he asked a half-moon to investigate the matter, he chose another packmate by the name of Murphy, who bore a fierce hate and contempt for the Bone Gnawers. Perhaps naturally, Murphy decided that Franklin had done no wrong in the matter--and when the Council finally convened to discuss the matter of Franklin's dangerous insanity, Murphy claimed so to the Council. Due to the Grand Elder's wisdom and the words of Zig-Zag's alpha Right-Way, wiser heads prevailed and Franklin was ordered put down--no more would Garou and kinfolk alike be at risk of his insanity. Double-Ass accepted the judgement with as much grace as he could muster--certainly more than his packmate--but a desire for revenge burned within his heart, and he bided his time. It came soon enough. A fight took place, a small thing of practice only, where Right-Way and Zig-Zag took on two members of Double-Ass' pack. They won, and with two legss from their opponents, one beat the other into submission. Double-Ass did nothing. Oh, he wished to--certainly, anyone would after that--but he bided his time, for merely to see them punished for their crime but punished as well for the impending execution of Franklin. So he waited, and did nothing, until the alpha was out of town and the young warrior present, and the Moot taking place to his liking, and only then did he step forward and speak of it. He spoke much of bringing the two to trial for their own good--for the words of politicians came natural and easy to him. He spoke highly of the virtues of justice--but then he brought the matter to Murphy again, the same who bore an all-consuming, reason-choking hatred for the Gnawers of Bone. Zig-Zag was not wise in the ways of politics, but this trap was too obvious for him to miss, and in accordance with the advice of his alpha Zig-Zag demanded a different half-moon see over the issue. Double-Ass was not to be so easily deterred, and so he chose a young, impressionable Child of Gaia to oversee the trial, a young woman fresh from the east who had just arrived earlier that year. Under his guidance, young Sun-Render delivered judgement to the younger--Exile. Things would have gone badly for young Zig-Zag, but for the Silver Fangs. It was an Elder of the Silver Fangs, a great king bearing the legendary Lama Incisa, who entered the fray. His anger at the events which transpired scoured those who had attempted injustice, and he soon set matters straight. Double-Ass pouted, and dodged, and refused to speak of the matter, but eventually a just rather than political punishment was imposed. Because one was willing to step forward, treachery was halted--thus the story ends, and everyone lived happily ever after. Perhaps a true story, perhaps one which never happened, although I much prefer to believe the latter. Had not one stepped forward at the far-away place I speak of, what might have happened? What may have happened a a dozen or a hundred places around the world if one or two Garou had not stood and said "This will be made right"? It is my hope that all who hear may heed, and that when the time comes each my stand. * * * Told by Jublain "Hjarta-Villtnur" Wade, Dólg-Dvergr, Defeator of Ragnorak, Adren, Galliard, Get of Fenris Back | List of Tales | Next
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