Meesei simply grinned back at Rossarm, despite his pessimism. "You underestimate me, Rossarm. That seems to happen all too often, as of late. You have already witnessed how...distance is not so much of a concern for me. I have a method of ensuring that all of us can always be in a position to help one another, no matter where we might be."

After a moment, Meesei took a step back from the door. "But, with luck, such contingencies will not end up being necessary. It may not have been as pleasant of an introduction to us as I would have liked, but I do hope it has shown you the full importance of the situation. The Empire and Dominion both are not only cooperating militarily against Vile, which alone should be telling, but they are willing to allow Hircine's Champion to take the lead in the invasion. If you still had any doubts as to the necessity of what we are doing before you arrived here, I hope they have been settled. I cannot speak for what the Empire or Dominion will offer you, but I can say that there are powerful and professionally trained battlemages among my people who would be willing to follow someone like you. And I [i]do[/i] have to insist that you explore the option."

All at once, Meesei's demeanor became far more severe. She did not show anger, or much extreme of any particular emotion, but she was showing more of a commanding presence. "I have noticed how you act towards my people. So I intend to dispel, right here, and right now, any notions you have about all of the lycans who follow my command. In case you have not observed such already, we are not animals in caves. We have been fighting a war that has lasted over a decade, and you will find that shows in our soldiers. We may not have been fighting in the open, but we have been fighting longer than the Oblivion Crisis, Argonian invasion of Morrowind, and the Great War combined. They are veterans by any definition.  We may not be as numerous as the legions of the Empire or armies of the Dominion, but we have become just as professional. Do not doubt them...and do not doubt me."

[hr]

Narsi may not have been able to judge much from Julan's indistinct reptilian expression, but she would easily see the fury in her father's face. So angered was he, in fact, that he marched up between the two of them, completely ignoring the rather agitated werecrocodile and instead glaring straight down at Narsi. "Not good enough! You can fail all you want. You can botch every technique I try to teach you, lose every duel, and be the biggest failure of an Orc this clan has ever seen. You could do all that, and I'd still train you. But one thing you [b]WILL NOT[/b] do is give up. Not for as long as I'm trainin' you. Understand, girl? I don't care if he turns himself into a damned dragon, you pick up a weapon, or take out your claws, and you [b]FIGHT[/b] your opponent!"

Lorag took a glance towards Julan, his voice lowering at least somewhat once he returned his attention to her. "Look, a werecrocodile is bigger and stronger an any werewolf will ever be. But so what? The boy's mother is even bigger than he is, but it took her years to even get a [i]single[/i] sparring match over on me. And I still win most of 'em. Power ain't just muscle, girl. Yeah, you're probably gonna lose, that's because he's better than you. Not 'cause he's got bigger arms."