"Perhaps, or this cave could go deeper than ours at home." Meesei suggested. "Though, you may yet be right. The cave should split somewhere ahead. We need to keep to the left path." She explained. While she knew enough to get to the clan's stronghold, she did not know the details of their defenses. However, the fact that the cave split would allow for them to flank intruders, as Uthri suggested. If the clan was as capable of spotting intruders as Meesei had been told, they likely already knew they were there. 

Just as Meesei had said, the path forked ahead, so they continued down the left path. Strangely, however, instead of sloping down as it had been, the cave started to slope back upwards. They again started to pick up a breeze, but this time, it was coming from ahead of them. The breeze came to be a relief, as it gave them the first evidence of the actual members of the clan, since the scent of lycans was now unmistakable in the air. 

It was not long after catching the scent that the group was finally confronted. Soon after rounding a corner, they were met with a line of Khajiit with spears facing them, and, just as Uthri had predicted, footsteps approaching behind them. The Suthay-raht at the head of the group, like his companions, was armored fully in a suit made of a golden-colored moonstone alloy, similar to the Dominion soldiers that had accompanied them during their journey. Although, their scents were certainly those of lycans. "Stop, and put down your weapons!" He shouted. 

---

With a relieved smile, Peiter kissed the top of Sabine's head. "I'll hold you for however long, and whatever way you want. Just try to relax, and don't think so much about everyone else." He suggested before closing his eyes himself.