"I was going to suggest the same thing, actually." Meesei commented as she was finishing her breakfast. "We have been helping ourselves to their resources, after all. It would only be right that we give something back." When Sabine said she would join, Meesei gave a satisfied grin. Sabine had of course been hunting many times, but it was good to hear her offering voluntarily. Ahnasha had both started and finished her meal before anyone and had laid back down on her bedroll, though she was still awake enough to give her comment.

"I would like to help, but, well, you know. I'll just stay here and keep Janius company. Maybe I can even help with some of those odd jobs, as long as they don't involve running, heavy lifting, walking, standing...or any movement at all, really." Ahnasha added with a chuckle. 

Lorag gave a slight grunt. "You say you're lookin' forward to getting that whole pregnancy thing over with, catdog? I don't believe it for a second. I think you've been lovin' all the attention, everyone waiting on you hand and foot. You've become an Imperial noble." 

"You can't prove that." Ahnasha retorted dismissively. 

While the others spoke, Meesei approached Janius and rested her hand on his shoulder as she looked down on him. "You can stay and wait as long as you need. Whatever she chooses, I will support it, and I believe you when you say that it is the same for you."

---

Meesei, Sabine, Fendros, and Lorag proceeded on their hunt as planned. They had been in the marsh long enough that most of them were more used to how to track in such a challenging environment, not quite to the extent of Meesei or the village's hunters, but enough that they stood a good chance of finding something. It did take quite a while, but they were able to track down and kill an alit, then drag it back to the village. Most of the kill they gave to the village's hunters, which thankfully did not require speaking to Zharanthixil. They returned later in the afternoon, but to Meesei's surprise, they found that Kaleeth had still not returned. It could be believed that she was not successful in her hunt. After all, even the best hunters could find nothing after even days of work, but what was strange was that she had not given up and returned home. From Meesei's understanding, Kaleeth had not fully expected to be able to commune with Hircine anyway. If she failed in that pursuit, she would just return home having only communed with the Hist. The fact that she was not yet back was troubling. Meesei could think of several possibilities on what was happening, several of which were none too pleasant. As much as they needed to leave for Stormhold, Meesei agreed to stay longer, in the hope that Kaleeth had simply been delayed. 

There was some hope that Kaleeth would have returned by morning, but when they awoke and her bedroll was once again empty, and she was nowhere to be seen in the village, everyone grew even more concerned. Meesei spoke with Thorantilth on the matter, did her best to comfort Janius, and made sure to stay as far away from Zharanthixil as possible. For Janius' sake, she decided that the pack would stay a bit longer, but that day quickly turned into another, then yet another after it. Four days after Kaleeth had initially left, she still had not returned. Meesei left the common hut shortly after breakfast to get some fresh air and to think. She stood beneath the Hist tree, looking up at its bulbous trunk and branches. She knew the Hist did not like to interfere in every aspect of life, but for this once, she wished they could just enter her mind and give her the knowledge of Kaleeth's fate. Or, better yet, guide her home. It was getting more and more difficult for her to justify remaining in the village.