Just as she mentioned, Sabine did end up meeting with Karl the next night. She was so nervous about it that it distracted her training of Fendros, though by her account it went well. When Sabine recounted the outcome, it sounded as if Karl was reserved and hard to read with regards to his feelings for Sabine. Regardless, he appreciated the meal and the company. Further meetings had Sabine becoming reserved about the status of their relationship. It was growing healthily, though the details were obscured behind Sabine's coy comments.

Meesei kept up with such information through her lessons with Sabine. The magic to open portals did not come quite as naturally to Sabine. No doubt if it was intuitive, such magic would have been rediscovered before Meesei plucked it from Apocrypha. Fortunately, Meesei was experienced in teaching magic to Sabine and Sabine was no sloth of a mage herself. Between the long sessions training Fendros, Sabine gained a functioning understanding of the portals by the time they left and could even open them herself, with the help of a potion to fortify her magicka reserves.

As for Fendros himself, the intense training left less time for the tasks he normally undertook in the clan. Even without officially being Meesei's second yet, he found himself less present for Rhazii and Ahnasha than he would have liked. This fact was one he came to them regretting and frustrated by. As a reaction, Rhazii found himself stopping by to watch his father's magic lessons every now and then.

In comparison, the life of Janius and his family was relatively uneventful beyond the regular routine. He was sure to write a letter to Bravil to keep in touch with his parents and sister. Space was left on the parchment for Julan and Kaleeth to write messages of their own. Janius offered the opportunity to them before he sent the mail with the rest of the clan's messages as they came and went.

It left the only part of the pack not writing letters made up of Meesei and Lorag. Of course, Meesei had been sending herself to her new relation instead of just letters.

In their following trysts, Meesei and Lunise found more time to be comfortable with one another. Lunise was stressed on her journey back to Alinor, for her superiors had ordered her to report to the Thalmor in person due to the sensitivity of the mission she had failed. She was anticipating punishment, though her expertise with lycans made her dismissal from that assignment improbable. She assured Meesei that she would allow no fault to be placed on the lycans working with her.

Where business was not concerned, Meesei's portals allowed their encounters to take place anywhere on Tamriel. Lunise suggested locations as often as Meesei did, but nearing the end of their nights, they found the most fulfilment in merely laying close and talking. They learned from one another and discussed various nothings. Sometimes not talking at all was just as good.

But now, in rocky Alik'r desert, the day ended on pure business. The pack milled about around the oasis near Sentinel, going about various tasks. Rhazii was receiving an archery lesson from Ahansha, while Fendros was drilling his wards once more with Sabine. This time, Sabine was casting a spray of sparking lightning onto the surface of Fendros' ward. His penchant for quick learning had not changed; he was adapting to the new spell rapidly. By their set down belongings, Janius assisted Lorag in sharpening, polishing, and otherwise maintaining their arms and armour.

A blinking glow from the ruby on Meesei's ring drew her eyes. Lunise was available to meet with her.