Fendros smiled back at Ahnasha, then looked to Janius. "As much as I've been avoiding being painted, it's sounding like duty is calling this time." He brushed his hand across the air towards Janius and Kaleeth, politely rebuffing the offer, "You go and enjoy."

"Very well," Janius replied to everyone, then smiled to Kaleeth, "so, will any of your friends be joining, or will it just be the two of us?" He should have expected as much from the pack, probably none of them would be comfortable if they were too involved with him seducing someone. It was just unfortunate that he was trying to [i]avoid[/i] doing that this time. At least, avoiding insofar as not hurting Kaleeth's feelings in the process. It seemed he wasn't going to have the pack's help in postponing their bonding as far as he could see. It just wasn't Janius' day today. He would have to avoid taking their friendship further in other ways.

---

Tunxeek considered for a moment whether he wanted to confide in Sabine. It was a few years ago now, but there was still some pain. He sat down and put the words together. He looked at Sabine's alchemical equipment while he spoke. "Many seasons ago, my mother went to hunt, and came back in the arms of one of the hunters. She was dead. It was said she had been taken by a crocodile because she was reckless. By the time they killed the crocodile, mother had died because she had lost blood. I cried for a long time. When I stopped crying, I was scared. Mother was reckless, I didn't want to die like her, so I kept being too careful about everything. I could not leave anything half-done, and I could not stand to finish something if it was not perfect. I also did things that did not matter, like always groom my claws to the same length every day, and always stick fish scales to each corner of my bedroll before sleeping. If I did not do those things, I would get scared, because I was being reckless. I would die in pain, like mother did. I did not have a name before then, but my naming day came, and I was called [i]Tunxeek;[/i] 'Worries-Over-Scales.'" Despite the obvious difficulty that Tunxeek had faced, he spoke clearly, as if he had either overcome it, or was hiding his emotions.

Sabine payed attention and continued to stare. Tunxeek's anxiety was slightly different, but she showed some empathy in her eyes. "Do you still get scared?"

"Not as much as before," Tunxeek shook his head.

"Why?"

"Father saw that I had a problem when my habits extended to his teachings of magic to me. It was holding me back. He decided to bind me to the Hist again, this time for longer than my naming day. I didn't know what he wanted to do, but I accepted. I went through the same ritual as you are going to do and..." Tunxeek's Cyrodilic completely ran short, his mouth hung open trying to search for describing words, "I... found mother... but I did not... I think... the Hist wanted me to know that..." he groaned in slight frustration, "It is hard to say in Cyrodilic... I was told to... except not told, more... thought, but not my thoughts? Ugh, anyway... I understood to trust a favourable outcome, but also to know that mother died not because she was reckless, but because she was unlucky. She could not have had control over her death, and I could not either. Not really." Tunxeek glanced to Sabine, "It sounds scary, but for me... for me it was relief. I could not be scared of what I could not change. Why should I be?"

Sabine's gaze averted to the space in front of her, considering Tunxeek's words.

"It is probably not the same for you. I know that even telling your mind not to be afraid probably does not work for long. But, I think you will be okay. Especially when the Hist can help you see it in a different way." Tunxeek concluded. With a small smile, Tunxeek looked at the mortar Sabine held with interest. "What are you making?"

Her eyes flicking between Tunxeek and the mortar, she resumed grinding seeds. "Joint pain salve."