Saturday, 1 November 1800, 12:10 a.m.
Eastern Cliffs, Swiss Alps
The low howl that sang through the night air was anything but out of place in the forests surrounding the mansion. In it's own right, the house was huge, but when seen amid the sheer volume of alpine forest around it, the house and the clearing it sat in seemed tiny and isolated.
Which was just the impression Michaela Greywauld was getting as she looked down on it from her perch atop a small outcropping of rock jutting from the tree covered cliff about half a mile from the mansion. Though she grudgingly admitted that it was a perfect location in which to base these operations, it pained her to see such a blemish on the beautiful landscape.
Wow, what a view! Can we stay here today?!
Michaela smiled slightly, not needing to look to where the 'voice' came from.
"Sorry, Odin. You and Canis can stay if you want, but I have to go down there." she nodded towards the clearing. She shifted from a predatorial crouch to a relaxed sitting position with her legs dangling off the cliff.
Why?
Because Desmona told her to, that's why. Another 'voice' cut in. She told you that before we left. Can't you retain information for more than six seconds, oh great thunder god?
Meanie. You're just jealous 'cause you couldn't come up with a more creative name than Canis Lupis.
Oh, go chase a bird or something, Odin!
Canis turned away from Odin momentarily, allowing him the opportunity to chomp her hind leg. An opportunity which he took. He grabbed her leg in his mouth and amid her angry howls, attempted to knock her over. She twisted around and bit into his ear. He yelped in pain, allowing Canis to free her leg and kick him over. He sprawled on his back and she pounced on him.
Normally, Michaela wouldn't have wasted any time jumping into the fray. But tonight, she ignored the two canines, growling playfully and rolling each other in the dirt behind her. Her thought were miles away. Her grandsire, Desmona, had indeed sent her here. She didn't particularly want to think about the briefing the Alpha had given her. But she couldn't seem to help it. She was being sent on a covert mission. To join with other clans in protecting Kindred in general. Michaela rolled her eyes at that thought. The biggest thing that Kindred had to fear was themselves. Their sects, their politics, their pointless Jyhad. Doing nothing but making themselves weaker and making it all the easier for the Society of Leopold to weed them out and slaughter them all. But then, that was why they were doing this, wasn't it? To force the clans to band together against the mortal foe.
That was why Michaela had been chosen. For her deep seated hatred of human kind and her belief in Kindred unity. But it was there that Desmona had grossly overestimated her. Oh, she hated humanity, all right. That wasn't it. But Kindred unity? Sure, it would be nice. Sure, it would be practical and safer and generally BETTER. But that didn't mean she believed in it.
Michaela loved her own clan. But she never ceased to be disappointed in all the others. They were so much like humans it made her sick. Petty, power hungry, unable to compromise. She had lived almost three centuries, and in that time she had seen countries fall to ruin, empires split into fragments, and human beings doing the most atrocious acts of pointless aggression unto their own species. And the Kindred were no better. Here, instead of moors and Christians, you had Ventrue and Lasombra. Or Tzimisce and Tremere. Or ANYTHING and Setite. She was no Brujah Idealist. She knew damn well that unity would never be possible until people could accept the creature that didn't look or think like them. It was no secret that that was impossible for the damnable kine. But if the Gangrel could let go of the human yoke of bigotry and live in relative peace with anything that didn't threaten them, what was wrong with the other clans?
She would never understand. But part of her told her this was worth a shot. While every other part (including her common sense) told her it was utter madness and she would be lucky to escape from this powder keg with her life. But duty was duty. She would protect her clan no matter what, and this had the potential to protect her clan quite a bit. And in any case, they would be going up against the Society, and any harm Michaela could do to them she would do it as thoroughly as possible.
Mika?
Michaela glanced to her left. Sometime during her reverie, Odin and Canis had stopped fighting and now the female wolf was at her side.
Are you alright? Canis asked, concerned.
"I'll be fine." Michaela said, standing. "I'm going down now."
Great! Let's jump! Odin's cheerful yips cut in.
"No." Michaela shook her head. "I have to go alone. We're not supposed to bring allies. I don't feel like starting a fight with whatever Ventrue cactus-up-his-ass they decided to send here."
Alright. Canis agreed before Odin could protest. Take care of yourself.
"I will. Can you two get back to Selendrile all right?"
Sure we could. But I think we'll stick around these woods for a few days instead.
"I said I'll be fine, Canis."
We know! Odin said. But just in case. Plus, I these look like fun woods!"
"Hn. Fine." Michaela allowed herself a half smile before turning to go.
Should you need us, just howl. Canis reminded her.
"I will." Michaela nodded.
She then took a flying leap off the cliff. She hit the almost vertical ground running and raced down the cliff with all her speed, barely avoiding the various trees in her path.
It was fun.
Eastern Cliffs, Swiss Alps
The low howl that sang through the night air was anything but out of place in the forests surrounding the mansion. In it's own right, the house was huge, but when seen amid the sheer volume of alpine forest around it, the house and the clearing it sat in seemed tiny and isolated.
Which was just the impression Michaela Greywauld was getting as she looked down on it from her perch atop a small outcropping of rock jutting from the tree covered cliff about half a mile from the mansion. Though she grudgingly admitted that it was a perfect location in which to base these operations, it pained her to see such a blemish on the beautiful landscape.
Wow, what a view! Can we stay here today?!
Michaela smiled slightly, not needing to look to where the 'voice' came from.
"Sorry, Odin. You and Canis can stay if you want, but I have to go down there." she nodded towards the clearing. She shifted from a predatorial crouch to a relaxed sitting position with her legs dangling off the cliff.
Why?
Because Desmona told her to, that's why. Another 'voice' cut in. She told you that before we left. Can't you retain information for more than six seconds, oh great thunder god?
Meanie. You're just jealous 'cause you couldn't come up with a more creative name than Canis Lupis.
Oh, go chase a bird or something, Odin!
Canis turned away from Odin momentarily, allowing him the opportunity to chomp her hind leg. An opportunity which he took. He grabbed her leg in his mouth and amid her angry howls, attempted to knock her over. She twisted around and bit into his ear. He yelped in pain, allowing Canis to free her leg and kick him over. He sprawled on his back and she pounced on him.
Normally, Michaela wouldn't have wasted any time jumping into the fray. But tonight, she ignored the two canines, growling playfully and rolling each other in the dirt behind her. Her thought were miles away. Her grandsire, Desmona, had indeed sent her here. She didn't particularly want to think about the briefing the Alpha had given her. But she couldn't seem to help it. She was being sent on a covert mission. To join with other clans in protecting Kindred in general. Michaela rolled her eyes at that thought. The biggest thing that Kindred had to fear was themselves. Their sects, their politics, their pointless Jyhad. Doing nothing but making themselves weaker and making it all the easier for the Society of Leopold to weed them out and slaughter them all. But then, that was why they were doing this, wasn't it? To force the clans to band together against the mortal foe.
That was why Michaela had been chosen. For her deep seated hatred of human kind and her belief in Kindred unity. But it was there that Desmona had grossly overestimated her. Oh, she hated humanity, all right. That wasn't it. But Kindred unity? Sure, it would be nice. Sure, it would be practical and safer and generally BETTER. But that didn't mean she believed in it.
Michaela loved her own clan. But she never ceased to be disappointed in all the others. They were so much like humans it made her sick. Petty, power hungry, unable to compromise. She had lived almost three centuries, and in that time she had seen countries fall to ruin, empires split into fragments, and human beings doing the most atrocious acts of pointless aggression unto their own species. And the Kindred were no better. Here, instead of moors and Christians, you had Ventrue and Lasombra. Or Tzimisce and Tremere. Or ANYTHING and Setite. She was no Brujah Idealist. She knew damn well that unity would never be possible until people could accept the creature that didn't look or think like them. It was no secret that that was impossible for the damnable kine. But if the Gangrel could let go of the human yoke of bigotry and live in relative peace with anything that didn't threaten them, what was wrong with the other clans?
She would never understand. But part of her told her this was worth a shot. While every other part (including her common sense) told her it was utter madness and she would be lucky to escape from this powder keg with her life. But duty was duty. She would protect her clan no matter what, and this had the potential to protect her clan quite a bit. And in any case, they would be going up against the Society, and any harm Michaela could do to them she would do it as thoroughly as possible.
Mika?
Michaela glanced to her left. Sometime during her reverie, Odin and Canis had stopped fighting and now the female wolf was at her side.
Are you alright? Canis asked, concerned.
"I'll be fine." Michaela said, standing. "I'm going down now."
Great! Let's jump! Odin's cheerful yips cut in.
"No." Michaela shook her head. "I have to go alone. We're not supposed to bring allies. I don't feel like starting a fight with whatever Ventrue cactus-up-his-ass they decided to send here."
Alright. Canis agreed before Odin could protest. Take care of yourself.
"I will. Can you two get back to Selendrile all right?"
Sure we could. But I think we'll stick around these woods for a few days instead.
"I said I'll be fine, Canis."
We know! Odin said. But just in case. Plus, I these look like fun woods!"
"Hn. Fine." Michaela allowed herself a half smile before turning to go.
Should you need us, just howl. Canis reminded her.
"I will." Michaela nodded.
She then took a flying leap off the cliff. She hit the almost vertical ground running and raced down the cliff with all her speed, barely avoiding the various trees in her path.
It was fun.