[IC] Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

[Muttonhawk]

Gallus held Ri'vashi's eyes for a moment, before glancing off and shrugging. "Depends. I guess I was never so sure about what path I've wanted to take. When I've thought about it, the best I could come up with was just...having less suffering in the world for Lycans. Fewer ferals, more help, maybe even improving impressions so we aren't seen as monsters." Gallus swept a hand over his face, "It's all been vague and unrealistic. Up until now I've been focussing on helping the Bruma clan and raising the boys. They're going to be grown up soon." Gallus drank and leaned more heavily on his elbow, "Sometimes I think I should try and settle to live simply. Just...get a partner, have my own kids, live satisfied, you know?" Gallus took a breath and exhaled through closed lips with exasperation. "With all these big events happening, though, and with my history of partners. Well...all that's seeming more unreasonable as well."

It was only then that Gallus realised that he should probably give Ri'vashi's question a straight answer. He ran a hand down his slowly numbing face to get out of the stupor momentarily. "For you, I cannot say." Gallus gestured to Ri'vashi and raised his voice to more than his previous ramble, "You're a clan leader. You're doing great things already. You've got all this skill and respect and...and cute mannerisms, whenever they're coaxed out of you. But there's always something next, right?" Gallus settled his voice, "Once you're done with leading a clan. Once you pass the torch on to the next leader, however many years that would be. What happens then? Where does Ri'vashi go? What does she do?" Gallus' hand gesture either side of them, "Does she have a family? Does she go travelling?" He shook his head, "Those are the questions I ask about myself."

[EliteCommander]

Ri'vashi turned her head, though she was staring off at nothing in particular. She just looked off into the empty space on the walls of the tent as her increasingly dulled mind wandered on the topic. After a few moments, she sighed and shook her head. "As she said, Ri'vashi has always just focused on duty. Those thoughts have crossed her mind before, but the 'now' always seemed more important. Back when she was younger, it was after she became a warrior that she could make a life of her own. After she became a warrior, it was after she attained her ambitions to lead the clan's warriors. After she became clan leader...well honestly, Ri'vashi has not been thinking that far ahead over the last two years. The war has been a great distraction, in that regard."

As she continued through her own memories, Ri'vashi started to smile. "This one remembers her father speaking to her about grandchildren before. Then, he quite literally slapped himself for sounding like such an old man. Still, Ri'vashi knew he wanted to see that his family would go on. He loved Ri'vashi enough that the fact that she was not his daughter by blood was never even an issue in his mind. At least, not after the first few years. But, this one having a family of her own was never very likely..." She began, looking down and turning her head away slightly in embarrassment. "Especially for someone who has never had a mate."

[Muttonhawk]

Gallus was in the middle of taking another drink when Ri'vashi reached the end of her answer. He already had thoughts in her head of stating that her likelihood of having a family was more closely tied to her personal initiative, but the last part surprised him. It surprised him just enough to inhale some wine and jerk forwards to cough a fit into his hand. He clacked the bottle back onto the table before taking a wheezing inhale and clearing the last out. Some of the deep red liquid had run down his hand, but he had no qualms in his state about wiping it off on his leggings.

"Never, you say?" Gallus croaked, "Did you mention that before? I can't remember. It's still...unexpected." He leaned back again with a raised brow, "Well, actually, knowing your history..." Gallus trailed off, not wanting to tease Ri'vashi about it. It was clear by her look that she was not proud of the fact. Gallus instead let Ri'vashi elaborate herself, driven by questions. "Did you ever want a family yourself?" Gallus turned his head while looking at her, "Did you ever want a mate?"

[EliteCommander]

Ri'vashi sighed, grabbing the bottle, though not yet taking a drink. "Ri'vashi's answer to that question would change depending on the point in her life when you asked it. Back when she was a cub, she hardly thought about it at all, but that's normal. When she got a bit older, the thought was certainly in her mind. She wondered what it would be like to have someone to be close to, like some others she knew. Unfortunately, this one knew few people that were even around her age, and none of them were Khajiit. Ri'vashi would not care if her mate was her race or not, but...they did. At least, none of them showed any interest in a Khajiit. After that, when we came to Anequina, plenty of Khajiit joined us, but Ri'vashi's priorities had shifted. She was focused on her duty, and improving herself as a warrior. It did not help that Ri'vashi was terrible at getting to know new people. Having a mate was just never something Ri'vashi was able to do."

"As for right now..." Ri'vashi started, but she paused as she looked over at Gallus, staring for enough time to be awkward before turning her head away again. From her silence, it seemed she forgot to continue her thought.

[Muttonhawk]

Gallus leaned to one side again while he listened, but instead of leaning on his palm, he propped up the side of his head with his fingers, looking more straight and attentive. Ri'vashi might have trailed off her own dialogue, but Gallus was having no trouble keeping up. However, he was a little too much under the influence to be tactful about it.

Ri'vashi's awkward pause was eventually replaced by a knowing chuckle through Gallus' nose. The chuckle turned into a laugh as Gallus' mouth opened. In his next breath, he settled his laughter and spoke without giving Ri'vashi compromise. "You do, don't you..." Gallus' eyes did not leave Ri'vashi's, even if she wasn't looking. "You're interested in someone now, aren't you? I can see it." Gallus turned to lean his chin on his palm, looking away and feigning contemplation with a small smile, "Now, with the few people you've been interacting with socially, who could possibly be on your mind?" Gallus tapped his index finger on his chin twice before his eyes went to Ri'vashi again, "If it's who I think it is, I should have hoped that you were wiser."

[EliteCommander]

While not quite as inebriated as Gallus, the wine was taking its toll on Ri'vashi as well. Of course, her response to Gallus was about the same intoxicated as it would have been while sober, except that her stammering lasted a few seconds longer. She rubbed the back of her neck nervously and refused to make eye contact for a few seconds. Regardless, after enough time allowing her mind to settle, she managed to think coherently for long enough to make a decision.

Looking to Gallus once more, Ri'vashi reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are the closest friend Ri'vashi has had in a long time. She remembers what you said about the women back in Bruma, but...she doesn't care. The Gallus that Ri'vashi knows doesn't seem to be a person who would do that. If you did do that, then you must have changed since then. If you have changed...maybe you should pick someone who appreciates who you are now?"

[Muttonhawk]

Gallus slowly lowered his hand from his chin and laid it flat on the table, staring at it with a sterile frown. He blinked once, then twice. "It's not just my failings, Ri'vashi. It's our responsibilities." Gallus could not bring himself to face her. "You can't abandon your clan and I can't tear my pack from their home on a whim. Even then, you don't know that I've changed."

Far from leaving it there, Gallus brought his hand up to Ri'vashi's hand on his shoulder and comfortingly rubbed it with his thumb. He turned to look into her eyes guiltily. "You have been a great friend. You...may not know it, but you are capable of finding other friends and even mates." Gallus looked down, "Me? I'm...I can't be anything more than temporary and hurtful. You have to understand that."

[EliteCommander]

In her normal state of mind, Ri'vashi might have accepted Gallus' answer and left the situation as it was, but with the thoughts that her inebriated mind was having, she had a different goal in mind. There was a mix of sadness and uncertainty in her expression for a few seconds, but it was eventually replaced with one of determination.

"Ri'vashi understands. She would never abandon her clan. Looking for a mate, someone she can be with in the long term, that's something she do with people from her own homeland." Ri'vashi admitted. However, she nevertheless stood up from her chair and placed a hand firmly on both of Gallus' shoulders. "But maybe something...temporary wouldn't be so bad?"

[Muttonhawk]

Gallus didn't immediately follow Ri'vashi's face up when she stood to her feet. He expected that she would storm out and punch a training dummy or something. Her following words seemed like belligerent insistence at first. He stood up to protest and stepped to regain his poor balance. The top of his head barely reached her chin.

"Ri'vashi, I couldn't do that to..." Gallus halted abruptly when he saw her face and actually processed her words. He wasn't expecting something like that. He was at first slightly confronted. However, the moon sugar did put everything under a certain desirable light. As well, his tipsy state wasn't exactly helping his critical decision making.

"I didn't know that was what you were looking for. Um..." Gallus paused to silently burp, "Are you sure?" he asked. He didn't appear particularly apprehensive, which was a surprise, even for himself.

[EliteCommander]

Ri'vashi looked down onto Gallus, running her hands down his side. She was not yet standing close enough to be pressed against him, but the way she was looking at him was quite intimate. "Ri'vashi thinks so, yes. She has never had a mate before. Even if we can't stay together, she would like to know what it is like to have one. Maybe knowing what it is like to be intimate with someone can help her find another?"

Putting her arms around Gallus, she pulled him close. Her heart was racing, though it was more out of fear than anything else. The way she was looking at him spoke of far more than just a desire to have a romantic partner. It was not something she would normally consider, but the moon sugar was making her considerably more impulsive than usual. "Since we have the time, maybe we can...go ahead and mate right now? Ri'vashi doesn't know what it is like, and...well you're not Khajiit, but...you seem experienced."

[Muttonhawk]

As Ri'vashi spoke, Gallus carefully lifted his hands up around her neck and pulled her head down onto his lips to silence her. As a courtesy to her, he took things slowly, only advancing from that simple kiss when Ri'vashi appeared comfortable.

It was true that Gallus was more experienced than Ri'vashi. However, he could never claim to have laid with a Khajiit, let alone a Cathay, let alone a werebear, let alone a clan leader. The scraps of his rational mind found the whole idea crazy, but that just seemed to make it exhilarating to try.

[EliteCommander]

Ri'vashi stumbled through her embrace with Gallus rather awkwardly. She did not know exactly how to kiss him, so she just hoped that he did not have another Khajiit to compare it to. She held him a bit tightly at a few points, and overall demonstrated that she could easily be unintentionally forceful. Over the course of a few minutes, she undressed one piece at a time as her mind became more in tune with the passion of the moment. Unfortunately, that passion, combined with her inebriation, made it even more difficult to temper her strength. She accidentally shoved him down on her bedroll hard enough to perhaps knock the breath out of him.

"Oh...Ri'vashi is sorry." She said as she laid down beside him. Already, she had potentially given him a few bruises by accident. "This one is, um, not sure what she should be doing."

---

Elsewhere in the camp, Meesei had decided to check on her own pack, which had ended up turning into a larger gathering. Meesei, Lorag, Janius, Kaleeth, Fendros, and Ahnasha were all sitting around their firepit, though the fire had been extinguished hours before. Irenya and Uthri were also present, along with Ra'kalesh and Do'ajee. Only Sabine, Peiter, Tzirret, and Gallus were missing. They would be too busy later to have any sort of informal gathering, so this would likely be their last chance to talk before the attack.

"Hmph, so I guess we really are doin' this, huh?" Lorag commented. "Never thought I'd be going' up against my old commander. Probably 'cause I thought he was dead, to be fair. Anyway, at least we'll finally get to knock some heads. Been too long since we've faced down Vile's people."

[Muttonhawk]

If there was one more upside to being under the influence of moon sugar and drink in this situation, it was that it dulled the pain of being thrown around. Gallus gave Ri'vashi a grin and spoke patiently. "That's quite alright. Relax." He brought his arms around and kissed her again, pulling away a few times to add, "Speak to me...do what feels right...try not to kill me."

What followed was an especially unique experience in bed for Gallus. He tried his level best to make Ri'vashi's first time an enjoyable one. However, he had to exercise some creativity given their proportions. Between the near-death experiences and exploring what worked with Ri'vashi, he had no room in his drug-addled mind to ask why in Oblivion he was doing this. Although, perhaps he should have been paying more attention to the niggling feeling in his mind that he was forgetting something.

---

"Hm," Janius agreed, "And attacking a stronghold, too. We haven't had that experience since..." Janius' eyes darted to Fendros and Ahnasha momentarily, "...well, since Black Marsh." He looked to the fire again. "At least we'll not be fighting alongside those dreadful cultists, however effective they were."

Fendros didn't seem to react to his and Ahnasha's traumatic experience being skirted along, but he didn't stick to the subject. "It's been a long time since any of us have faced a challenge like this. I must be going soft, I feel far too nervous." Fendros failed to admit that it was mostly residual from worrying about Rhazii, but Ahnasha would at least know that. "How is everyone else feeling?" he asked.

[EliteCommander]

After everything had settled down, Ri'vashi was still feeling particularly affectionate. Though, her affection consisted of holding Gallus in a grip as tight as a snake, with his breathing slightly restricted and his head forced up against her chest. The blankets had been thrown to the far corner of the tent, but Ri'vashi's body still felt incredibly hot from the exertion. She was practically panting from the beat, but still did not move from the embrace. She would not have had much of a concept of how much time had passed, were it not for the fact that she felt the moon sugar had worn off. Since she knew how long that would take, she had an idea of how much time she could still spend in her tent.

"Are you feeling good? Is anything broken?" Ri'vashi asked.

---

Ahnasha's expression was mostly neutral until she had the opportunity to speak. Contrary to some around camp, however, she did not appear to be nearly as anxious. "I don't think I've ever been as prepared as I am now, honestly. My aim is as sharp as it has ever been, and I have more, uh, magical knowledge than I ever have. We have the largest army of lycans I've ever seen, and the element of surprise. I think we'll be fine. Just keep alert." She said confidently. Only a week or so prior, she had been in much the same frame of mind as Fendros with her worries for Rhazii. But, the more she thought about the dangers of the attack, the more she was just glad that Rhazii would not be exposed to it. She had managed to convince herself that Rhazii was in safety, so she was actually able to free herself of some of that stress. Now, some of the near-arrogant confidence Ahnasha had been overflowing with before Rhazii's birth was starting to show in her demeanor.

Kaleeth started to laugh. "I wish I could be that brave. I sometimes find my hands shaking just thinking about the attack. Last time we were in a fight like this, I couldn't even count the number of times I was stabbed, slashed, and shot. Xuth, silver hurts. My goal is to keep my scales intact this time."

[Muttonhawk]

Unlike Ri'vashi, Gallus was still quite drunk and the moon sugar was still affecting him. He didn't much mind how tightly he was being held, considering the circumstances. He had one arm wrapped around Ri'vashi's torso and another raised up to stroke the side of her head. Even though he was catching his own breath, drenched in sweat and sore all over, he looked up to Ri'vashi with a wide smile.

"You are a curious case, clan leader," Gallus teased in a murmur. He brought one arm to Ri'vashi's shoulder and tried his best to heave himself up to be level with her eyes despite her vice grip on his body. He then gave her a lengthy kiss, more practiced this time with a large Cathay mouth but no less awkward. Gallus pulled away and continued. "I feel good. I feel like staying here. How about you? This really was your first time, wasn't it?" Gallus looked so relaxed that he might fall asleep at any moment.

---

For all his nerves, Fendros couldn't help but smile at Ahnasha's renewed bravado. It brought back warm memories.

Janius threw an arm around Kaleeth's shoulders. "Well, you've become a lot better at defending yourself, and controlling your beast spirit if it comes to that. I'd say this time will result in far fewer injuries, my darling crocodile."

"How about you, Meesei?" Fendros asked. He had little doubt that Meesei would encourage them whether she was confident or not, just to keep up appearances, but he wanted to hear it anyway.

[EliteCommander]

Ri'vashi looked down uncomfortable. "It really was that obvious? Well...at least you feel good now. Ri'vashi does as well. This one did not know what it would be like with someone your size, but she is glad we tried it. This one does feel...tired, though. It is always that exhausting? She wishes she could rest her eyes, but it is not quite time to sleep yet. If we sleep now, we won't be well-rested for the attack itself. Still...she does not mind laying here with you."

---

While not at the level of Ahnasha's confidence, Meesei's answer to Fendros was firm and unwavering. "We would not be going through with this attack if I did not believe we would succeed. Eliminating Vile's stronghold here would be a great victory for us, but it is not absolutely vital that we make this attack. It is an option for us to retreat and attempt to win smaller victories against them. It is impossible to remove the risk from an attack like this, but I have agreed to it because I am confident in our chances. Besides..." Meesei said, turning her head towards Lorag with a slight grin. "I am sure my second will look forward to seeing the effectiveness of some of my newer abilities."

Lorag let out a grunt. "Hmph, like you need any more power. Keep it up and we'll be able to just throw you into Oblivion and let you kill Vile yourself."

[Muttonhawk]

Gallus groaned in protest, laid his forehead on the bridge of Ri'vashi's, nose and closed his eyes. "Fine, I'll stay awake," he conceded with exaggeration, "But you offered me that wine. It's your fault."

After taking a deep breath through his nose, Gallus laid a kiss between Ri'vashi's eyes and mumbled. "And...yes...if you put that much passion into it, it is exhausting..." By the time he trailed off, he had fallen asleep involuntarily.

---

"Newer abilities?" Fendros asked with a raised eyebrow. "I've not seen you train for a while, what have you developed?"

Janius grinned briefly as well. "I've been training with the mages every now and then. I've seen what Meesei and Sabine can do now. It might be interesting to keep it a surprise."

"Sabine as well?" Fendros asked, looking bemused. He sighed and shook his head, "I know she's been continuing to get taught, but...Azura, I've been missing out on everything, haven't I?"

Janius looked over his shoulder, "Where is Sabine, anyway? Quality time?"

"Quality time," Fendros quickly repeated in agreement. The phrase had become barely obscuring code since Peiter and Sabine became close.

[EliteCommander]

Meesei was going to elaborate on her training, both personal and with Sabine, but the mention of Sabine and Peiter's "quality time" caused her to pause from the conversation momentarily in discomfort. She knew well what went on between them, but it still made her uncomfortable thinking about it.

Ahnasha started to speak up before Meesei could continue. "You know, love, you do make a point there. I think we all know a lot less about each other than we used to. Back when we were living in the wilds. I remember we all followed Sabine's progress in pretty much anything pretty closely. Really, it was hard for any of us to do anything without the others knowing. After we win here, we should really start doing more things together; perhaps have some competitions with each other. I know we are all supposed to have our 'pecking order', as it were, between us in the pack. But, since I don't really know what half of us are capable of anymore, I've just kind of been assuming it is still correct. It might be time for some...reordering." Ahnasha said with a grin. "By this point, Sabine might be a more powerful mage than you, Janius."

[Muttonhawk]

"Hey, don't think I'll be that easily overcome," Janius retorted defensively, "Sabine's improved but she hasn't faced me."

Fendros chuckled along. He had the feeling that Janius would be experiencing some humility soon. "You know, you're right, Ahna. We have been kind of...apart in recent times. We had some of the old ways on the journey to Elsweyr, but...I miss the closeness. We haven't hunted as one since..." Fendros trailed off. He couldn't remember.

Perhaps in an effort to salvage his threatened pride, Janius addressed Fendros. "Well, if we have a competition in swordsmanship, I hope you've kept up your practice, Fendros."

"I...will admit..." Fendros said with raised hands and wide eyes, "We haven't been sparring together nearly as much, Janius. However," Fendros looked to Ahnasha with a mischievous smile and goaded, "I'm curious to see if I can't give you a challenge with a bow now, Ahna."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei could not help but to smile wryly as she clasped her hands together in front of her and looked to Janius. "I would not be so certain with yourself, Janius. It has been quite a long time since you have had a lesson from me, and Sabine has been my apprentice for over three years now. There are aspects of magic in which she is certainly your superior. I will admit that I have not seen how far your destruction skills have progressed recently, but...it would be an interesting contest to observe. If nothing else, it might persuade you not to be so content in your position."

Ahnasha, meanwhile, was far more expressive in her defensiveness. "You want a challenge? Oh, I'll give you one right now." Holding up her hand between them, she conjured a bound bow inches in front of his face. The ethereal energy surrounding the glowing weapon lit up their faces, and made clear Ahnasha's confident grin.

Nearby, Ra'kalesh could not help but to laugh. "There is nothing wrong with an archery contest, but this one might have to step in if any of these challenges come to blows. This one would prefer that none of our warriors head into battle already beaten and bruised."