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

[Muttonhawk]

Lunise was under no rush. She peacefully stepped to follow Meesei and seated herself beside her, with legs bent to one side and one arm supporting her upper body. She continued to stare out across the flowers. The growing tide threw a distant thudding hiss as a wave crashed further away.

"I hate riddles, Meesei," Lunise said gently. "But...when you see a flower in a vase. When you see it bud and bloom in lovely colours. Do you not lament?" Her smile faded. "If you keep it close, you force yourself to watch it die. But the memory of the beauty it was and the comfort it brings makes you yearn to keep the flower still. It makes the time where you must let it go all the more painful."

Lunise lowered her eyes to Meesei's hand and took it in hers.

A short distance away, out of immediate earshot, Sabine let out a giggle from something Karl had said. They had picked a spot to themselves to sit as well.

---

Darahil spoke far more confidently than Ahnasha, despite his word choice. "I see no reason to attempt the enchantments, without guarantees as they may be. As Marcaille rightly pointed out, the nature of existing enchantments on the automata makes conventional magic inconsistent at best. There are simply too many unknowns. My recommendation is to allow a short period for myself and my scholars to try their best to silence a number of Dwemer spiders and perhaps a sphere or two, test them, and monitor their integrity." His eyes blinked to Fendros. "Meanwhile, in a secretive manner, we may begin gathering undead chaurus thralls. Closer to the execution of the plan, we may provide an informed recommendation as to the reliability of the automata. If they are insufficient, the thralls shall be waiting. If the automata prove sufficient, the thralls may be deanimated."

After a short while to think, Fendros let his hand fall on his fist on the table and nodded. "If we have the resources for both at once, that course of action seems reasonable to me. Does anyone else still have concerns about the undead?"

Oswall crossed his arms again. He was still cross, but conceded. "I shall tolerate them. You have promised me your responsibility and I am confident in it. I have otherwise made my opinions clear."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei showed a light smile as she looked down at Lunise's hand. "You see...the problem I have with riddles is that I tend to end up cheating. I know there is supposed to be a particular answer, but I always tend to keep searching for another. I know that a flower, on its own, is supposed to wither. But, maybe I do not accept it. Perhaps I use all of my knowledge and magic to keep it alive and flourishing."

Meesei moved her other hand on top of Lunise's and looked her in the eyes. "Because that beautiful little thing is worth all of the effort in the world."

---

Ahnasha rested her head against her hand, releasing a sigh. "I can only hope that we have time to carry out your plan. We never know when they might slip away."

"I would advise against dedicating our focus too much upon this moment." Saras recommended. "This is a good opportunity, but we do have the luxury of at least some patience. This attack is not do-or-die for our clan, or our cause. If we have to delay the attack a month, then we have the freedom to do so. We have not seen any indication that Vile is imminently close to completing his plans."

Ri'vashi appeared uncertain. "That may be, but we have the advantage here. If we let it slip, we may not gain this advantage the next time." She said, though aside from that warning, no one else seemed to have anything constructive to add at the moment.

[Muttonhawk]

Lunise looked up to meet Meesei's gaze and then closed her eyes. Her shoulders lowered. "You misunderstand me. How should I word this?"

Looking out at the flowers again, Lunise clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes. She breathed in abruptly. "The time I have spent with you, Meesei, have been amongst the happiest moments I can remember. But, even if we were both immortal, people change. We may not have changed yet, however I have lived long enough to see all manner of things come and go." Lunise's eyes shifted as if staring into space. "So...my questions, more directly, are these: How long do you want to be together? And how long do you expect we could be together? I will not hear some romantic oath built on nothing but words and hope. I want you to be honest to what you see in the world."

As hard as Lunise was to read, she still held on firmly to Meesei's hand.

---

Darahil cut through the uncertainty in the air. "Marcaille?" He asked in a clear voice. "I can only refer to your expertise for not knowing surely of anyone else in this room. So, by your estimation, how long would we require to assemble a sufficient reinforcement of chaurus thralls for this mission? Let's say a dozen, for now? I can at least guess at the possible progress on enchanting Dwemer automata in that time."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei looked down at Lunise's hand, obviously having difficulty with her response. There was a long breath filling the pause before she finally spoke. "That is no easy question to answer. I can say to start that I can give no guarantees to my safety in the more immediate future. Facing down Vile shall be no easy task, and I have to be honest to say that I may not survive. As much as it pains me to say it, there may be a day when I do not return. But, your work is dangerous as well, and the same is true for you. That is something we both knew going into this, and is just a fact of our type of work."

"But, beyond the danger..." Meesei continued, "...I am a forty-four year old Argonian woman, and am in quite good shape for my age. Argonians have what I would say are decent lifespans. Much less than an Elf, but our bodies are resilient. And being a lycan would further enhance my lifespan, keeping me free of disease well into old age. In all our time together, I have not seen one reason to make me want to part with you. I, well, I love you Lunise. And I wish to be with you for as long as you would have me. And...that could be longer than just one Argonian lifespan. Life extension is not trivial magic, but I am no trivial mage. If I have the time to hunt for them, grand souls are not much of a barrier for me."

---

"Just a dozen?" Marcaille responded. "Well, if I can get as much help as I think I can get, then that would take no more than a day. If that long. More powerful, more well-made thralls would take longer, but that is not what we need in this case. It does not matter if they fall apart in a month, we need them only for one battle. So...I'm willing to wager the thralls can be done much sooner than the machines."

[Muttonhawk]

Some barrier was pushed in Lunise. Her brow pinched and she scrunched her eyes shut, shaking her head. "Meesei," she said sadly. "You are being naive." Her eyelashes glistened. "Just fifty years ago, back before you met me, before you were born, I was not the same woman. And I was not in the same Tamriel. I love you too much to imagine how, but...Who could say what person I shall be fifty years into the future? Will I be resentful and ashamed? I would prefer that I die before I drag myself through a bed of knives falling out of love with you." She bowed her head forward. "That is why I am lamenting over all these stupid flowers."

---

"Very good," Darahil answered flatly. He returned his attention to the rest of the council. "In that case, my suggestion to the council is this; I shall gather all the resources I can to attempt enchanting enough automata. I will only ask two days, for that is the limit I wish to remain awake from now in a consecutive stretch. After two days, the council is guaranteed to have at least one option available to them for this mission."

Fendros glanced to Ahnasha and Marcaille. He raised an eyebrow at Darahil. "Are you sure two days will be enough time?"

"No," Darahil immediately said. "But I have a personal interest in the presented challenge."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei showed no signs of budging in her answer. She stared into her eyes with a familiar, unshaking resolve. "Lunise, the very fact that you are having those fears is a sign enough that we should remain together for as long as life allow. People do change over time, but tell me then how Elven couples manage to forge marriages that last centuries? I know very well such couples exist. Why, I once met a vampire that, from all I have been able to gather, has been with her husband since the late Second Era."

Shifting herself over next to Lunise, Meesei put her arm around her and held her close. "You have never had a mate, or a marriage as you might consider it. I can tell by the way you act. Sure, you may have loved before, may have entered into relationships, but I can see that you have never found a true, long-term mate until now. The world changes, and all people change with it, but two souls bound closely together will change along with one another. It is always possible that we are mistaken, but I think that we are meant for one another. If that is true, then we will shape each other, whether it be for another year, a hundred years, or a thousand."

---

There was silence among the council for a short time, with each of its members looking patiently at once another as they awaited any further comments. Eventually, Ri'vashi spoke reluctantly. "Okay, so we have a plan. Ri'vashi will still have some warriors prepare themselves, on the off-chance they are needed."

Ahnasha nodded. "Yes, we can, of course, have more forces waiting outside the range of the life-detection enchantments. Whether it be undead or automatons, they need only make time for further reinforcements. Just...Darahil, be careful not to overdo it, yes? Not only for your own health, but because overworked people make more mistakes."

[Muttonhawk]

Lunise thought silently on Meesei's view for a moment. The pause it gave her was telling, even if she remained with her head forward and her blonde hair forming a curtain around her face.

"If we are to shape one another, I may have to rely on you, Meesei," Lunise said. "I may have to rely on you to suffer my changes and the changes of the world. I have not relied on anyone like that before. I do not know if I can even ask you to do that. I have always relied solely upon myself."

---

Darahil's answer unsettled some, intrigued others, and confused the rest.

He smiled.

"I thrive under pressure, Ahnasha," he said. "Focus your concerns on the infiltration."

"...Good," Fendros said slowly. He tried to move on from Darahil's expression. "I think are in agreement. We shall develop the reinforcements over two days, judge which to use after that period, and move with them and the extra soldiers. Ahnasha and Sabine will sneak into the camp and plant the evidence in either Yerig or Do'rhajul's belongings where they cannot be found by Arinette. The reinforcements will stand by to hold off the enemy should the alarm be raised." Fendros clapped his hands together. "Unless there are any further details to discuss, I believe the next step is to consult Sabine and Meesei when they return."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei smiled. "I think that you will find that us ephemeral races weather change well. We do not have centuries for patience, so we have to act quickly, and embrace whatever chaos might follow. The unknown does not frighten me. I know what I can do, I know what you can do, and I believe we are strong enough to face the future together."

Meesei pulled Lunise into a tight hug, rubbing her back at the same time. "Does that help?"

---

"Agreed." Saras replied, gathering up his notes into a neat pile. He stood up and moved his gaze across everyone at the table. "I am sure we all have much to do, whether it relate to this mission, or the clan as a whole. We should get to work, but if anyone should think of any ideas that could at all improve our chances of succeeding here, please bring it to our attention. No advantage is too insignificant to consider."

The meeting adjourned with a far more divisive mood than usual. It was hard to find someone that did not look upset or worried for one reason or another. Regardless, there was at least no one refusing to comply with the agreement they had come to. For better or worse, they had a plan. Ahnasha was trying to keep a confident attitude as she left the chamber, but Fendros would be able to see the hints of fear in her expression.

[Muttonhawk]

Again, Lunise was silent for a while. She slowly adjusted to wrap her arms around Meesei in turn and hold her just as tightly.

Meesei could feel Lunise's body heat, likely exacerbated from her dark dress, but she would not let go. With her chin over one of Meesei's shoulders, whatever expression she had was hidden. She turned her head to lay a kiss on Meesei's cheek and held her a little tighter. "I trust you, Meesei," she whispered. "You are stronger than anyone deserves."

---

No more words permeated the meeting room. Some people cleared their throats, chairs sang on the stone floor as the council stood, and tension was high.

The same went for Fendros, who took a second to close his eyes and calm himself with a slow breath before standing. His heart was racing from confronting the council with such a decision.

He opened his eyes in time to see the hints on Ahnasha's demeanour. He took his time and caught up with her as she exited the room.

"Ahna," he said, catching her eye. "Do you feel like a drink as much as I do?"

[EliteCommander]

"And yet, you still deserve even more than I can give." Meesei replied. Shifting her body, Meesei put both of her arms around Lunise and holding her tightly enough that their bodies were pressed together. For a while, she simply stared into her eyes, her snout just barely brushing against the tip of Lunise's nose. Eventually, she closed her eyes and allowed herself the pleasure of kissing her properly, and did not give much thought to keeping it brief.

Eventually, Meesei stopped for long enough to give herself the chance to look around the area. Specifically, she looked to see where Sabine and Karl were, and what they were doing. In the moment, she had almost forgotten about them.

---

Ahnasha's ear twitched towards Fendros when she heard her name. She let out a long breath, and dropped the composed posture she had kept for the meeting. "Like you wouldn't believe. Not like I can do much to prepare until Meesei or Sabine get back."

Ahnasha slowed down to walk alongside Fendros and grabbed his hand. "Something strong. How about we go find something that will knock me on my tail, then have ourselves a night we won't remember?" She suggested with a chuckle.

[Muttonhawk]

Meesei caught a look at Lunise's face when she faced her. She was not stoic or stern. Neither was she upset, despite the beginnings of tears on her eyes. She was neutral and relaxed, staring intensely into Meesei's eyes like they were the most captivating things in the world. Lunise's embraced the kiss just as much as Meesei did. She neither escalated nor cut it short. The moment was long and euphoric.

When Meesei finally had the mind to check on Sabine and Karl, they were sat where they were before, side by side and with an arm each around their shoulders. With their backs to Meesei and Lunise, they were hunched over something they held out of view. Meesei barely heard them murmuring.

"What about this flower?" Karl asked. "What does it do?"

"It is an iris flower. I actually do not use it for much." Sabine happily explained onwards. "It can sometimes be used to strengthen one against diseases when you crush its petals with the right reagents. It looks pretty, though."

"Hm, that's a coincidence," Karl said.

"Why?"

"Because even though it seems odd compared to other flowers, it's easy to see that it's beautiful. It's unique, like you."

Sabine shrunk and exhaled sharply. Probably blushing. "Shut up," she demanded, before kissing him on the cheek.

Lunise looked on as well. She mumbled to Meesei with a touch more levity than before. "What is it like, Meesei? To raise a girl, that is? A pretty girl like her."

---

"Hard drink while Meesei's away?" Fendros smirked. "Careful, you might get pregnant."

Fendros looked ahead while they walked together. His smile faded. "This plan...perhaps it was the ambush but I just cannot shake the feeling that something will go wrong."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei required hardly any time to think of how to respond. "It was the most rewarding experience of my life, without a doubt." She answered, smiling in the direction of Sabine with her head resting upon Lunise's shoulder. "She was lost, alone when she found us. She had been through such horrible suffering while just a girl. I can still hardly bear to think about it. I did not step in to the role of being her mother immediately; it took a while for me to start seeing her as more than just a quiet girl who had some usefulness to the pack. Perhaps it was just my relative inexperience with Humans at the time, but I could not see the pain behind her eyes right away. But, well, like you said, people change. I am a different person now than I was then."

With her ruminations on the past, Meesei's emotions were quickly getting the better of her. "Once I started to know her, to understand her, I felt such pain for her. I wanted to help her, and did everything within my power to do so. So many years it has been, to experience her grow and develop into the woman she is now. Every birthday, every accomplishment. Every new friend, every new spell, every potion. All of the failures and successes, all the pain and joy. She has shaped my life just as much as I have shaped hers. I would not be near the woman I am now were it not for Sabine, of that I am certain. She has been my motivation, my drive to be better. I have long wanted to give her the world I want her to be able to live in. But all of my power and discoveries are nothing compared to the pride I have in her. She has become a powerful mage who will one day surpass me, and is already a brilliant alchemist. And above that, she is such a kind and compassionate person. Sabine makes me feel...fulfilled. No accomplishment I ever attain will surpass her, and because of her, I could die happy right now without a single regret."

As she spoke, Meesei's eyes started to well with tears.

---

"It's hard to disagree, unfortunately. And worst of all, the whole thing is hinging on the chance that one of them might turn disloyal based on what's in that book. Sure, I guess I could sneak in there with a dagger instead of a book, try to finish one off, but that would be even riskier. Our only other option is to attack, but I have no idea how to keep them from running away again. We could attack, but bringing in more warriors just guarantees that people will die. This is the least risky plan we have, even if it is still as dangerous as the lakes of Oblivion." Ahnasha answered with a sharp sense of frustration in her tone.

True to her word, Ahnasha led the way straight to the kitchens and grabbed herself a strong bottle of alto wine. She was quite understandably stressed, and did not hesitate to take a swig as soon as she had a seat.

[Muttonhawk]

Sabine continued to explain the basic properties of the flowers Karl held. Karl had apparently found quite a number for her. Although he did not use each flower to pass a compliment, they were evidently enjoying themselves.

Meanwhile, Lunise looked on at the pair. She kept her arms loosely around Meesei. Her only relent was to adjust her collar to allow her neck to cool.

"Having children has never been more than a curiosity to me," Lunise said. "Even if I found a man I liked, I am far too busy. The last thing I would wish is to let a child of mine go without a proper mother."

Lunise adjusted to look at Meesei. "I am impressed that you wrought a girl like Sabine with your circumstances. I cannot imagine it being easy. But with all the love you have, she is a most bright and fortunate woman."

---

"If nothing else, it will send a message that we are capable of killing them if we wanted to," Fendros said. "I was honestly surprised that Oswall didn't stand up and leave outright."

When Ahnasha took a seat, Fendros did not sit down immediately. Instead, he reached for the bottle, carefully took it to have a sip himself, and laid it back in Ahnasha's hands.

"Sit still for a moment," Fendros said. He stepped behind Ahnasha and began to rub her shoulders. "Do you think you can pull this plan off?"

[EliteCommander]

Meesei remained close enough to Lunise that she could speak quietly in her ear. "It is an experience I wish I could give you. As a pack, our lives are bound together. We work for each other, and rely upon one another, so it was easier for me to raise a daughter than it perhaps could have been. I would have hated to have been forced apart from her for months on end. Unfortunately, I cannot impregnate you, so I cannot give you a child by blood."

A warm grin formed on Meesei's face as she continued to observe Sabine and Karl. "Although...if their love is as true as they feel it is, then perhaps one day, we could share the experience of being grandparents?"

---

"Can I pull it off? Of course. Do'rhajul and his ilk aren't all-knowing, and they can be outwitted. But, I can't guarantee it. Anything could go wrong, at any point. I'll feel a bit better with something close by to back me up, but still...no guarantees. If I'm spotted at the wrong time, or at the wrong spot, then they might just cut me down right then and there, no matter how many reinforcements there are. All we can do is reduce the risk as much as possible."

Ahnasha took another, even larger swig. She definitely was not looking to pace herself. "Never tell Rhazii about this. He'd worry himself to death if he knew I was willing to try something like this. But, it has to be done; no getting around it. We deal with Do'rhajul, kill that dragon, then we invade Oblivion. After that, I'm done. No more suicidal missions, no more impossible odds, I'm going to retire from all of this. Besides, once you've killed a god, there isn't really anything left to hunt, is there?"

[Muttonhawk]

Meesei found Lunise looking at her sideways with dubious eyes. She did not know for how long Lunise had been giving her that look.

"That, I admit, is the first thing you have said that I find truly terrifying." She huffed, amused and incredulous, before turning her eyes to Sabine and Karl. "You can keep your thoughts of impregnating me to yourself, thank you very much, Meesei. If I wake up with morning sickness thanks to some harebrained magical experiment you have dreamed up, I'll find a way to switch our wombs out of revenge. Don't think I will not."

Lunise hummed and leaned the side of her head onto the top of Meesei's head. "If the young boys Rhazii and Julan are any indication, grandmotherhood is within my capabilities. It makes me wonder, however. You are ever so close to your pack. I wonder if I ever will be as close to them as you are. Or if you shall ever be close to my family."

---

"Heh," Fendros said. "It certainly sets the bar high. I look forward to not having to worry about high risk missions either."

Ahnasha could not see Fendros' brow furrow as he continued his massage. She was holding so much tension in her shoulders that she may as well have been holding up the ceiling.

Fendros hesitated before speaking further. "Are you sure we shouldn't tell Rhazii? After the ambush and all that followed, I think the boy's learned his lesson. It is not as if he can interfere from so far away."

[EliteCommander]

"Do not worry, I do not intend to put anything inside you." Meesei replied, though after a moment, she nudged Lunise's shoulder with a sly grin. "Well...at least not a child, at any rate."

Meesei kept her suggestive grin for only a moment before returning her attention to Sabine and Karl. "I do not know your family well enough to comment on them, but I do think you could be a part of my pack. You would not be the first non-lycan to be accepted as one of us. Sabine's sister does not share our blood, but we consider her nothing less than family. Not to mention, the number of non-lycans who live in our clan is not insignificant. It does help if they would enjoy a good mammoth hunt from time to time, but it is not a strict requirement."

---

Ahnasha slowly shook her head, her eyes still closed from Fendros' massage. "It's not about him interfering. I just don't want him worrying when there's nothing he can do. No matter what happens, it won't make anything better for him to spend the entire night lying awake worrying about if I'm going to be coming back."

After another drink, Ahnasha reached up and offered the bottle to Fendros, though her mind was still obviously occupied. "What Darahil said does have me worried, though. People are all sorts of irrational about the undead. What if bringing them along ends up just sabotaging the whole plan? What if I go through all this for nothing? I wish there was some way we could use them without making it obvious that they were reanimated. I mean, chaurus are weird enough on their own that they might not notice them being undead in the heat of the fight, but they would definitely figure it out looking at the bodies afterwards."

[Muttonhawk]

Lunise couldn't let the first comment go. "You have what my mother would call a filthy mouth, Meesei." A second later, Lunise pecked said mouth with a kiss.

"As for being 'one of you,' that is just the issue," Lunise continued. Her serious voice had returned. "I have learned it from many accounts and seen it firsthand. Even you say that packs are bound by their shared challenges. As are clans. You are lycanthropes. The beasts do inform your behaviour. Without that ring of yours, there would always be a part of you that sees me as...well, being on the exterior."

---

Fendros paused to take a smaller drink, but he put the bottle aside rather than pass it back just yet.

"Ahnasha," he replied. "I would rather the chauruses sabotage the plan than you get caught out and killed. If things go without a problem, they will not know that undead were involved at all." He worked out the knots at the base of her neck. "Besides, maybe Darahil has a few tricks up his sleeve. You might get help from just automatons after all. By the way, I think Rhazii is going to worry if we're on a mission either way. If he does not learn to live with it, and that could be hard enough...I don't know, maybe we can ask Saraya to help. She has been doing great work since Najirra passed away."

[EliteCommander]

"It is true that we are bound by blood, but it is the fact that we are a family that brings us closest together." Meesei explained. "And you do not need to be a lycan to become part of the family. Take Sabine's sister, for instance. Right now, she would be greeted as a hero by any lycan clan in Tamriel. What she did for us is greater than what almost any single individual could accomplish, and not only that, but she also understands us. She lived among our clan for about a year's time, came to know us and understand how we live. You do not need lycan blood to show that you understand and respect us. And I can promise, that respect would be returned in kind."

Meesei began to imagine the possibilities of what they could possibly try in the future, some of which were rather exciting to her. Do you know what I would like to do one day? I would like to show you what it is truly like to live as I do. I have described it many times, I now, but words can only go so far. I would love to show you what we are, and to allow you to live as we do, if only for a while. I want to give you the chance to understand why I would choose this life for myself, despite all of the stress and challenges it brings. Unfortunately, the clans still cannot know of you, and both of us are very busy women besides that. Still, you would always be welcome among my pack. Perhaps one day, the stars will align, and the both of us will have the opportunity to just run away with one another into the wilds for a few months. You could live with myself and my pack, away from all of our worries. We could live like we used to before the clans, before all of this. I think you would enjoy it far more than you think you might."

---

Ahnasha rubbed her temple, considering Fendros' suggestions. "Still, I don't think there's much of a reason to give him something specific to worry about. At least if we don't tell him, he has the option of telling himself we might not be in that much danger. He might be able to keep himself from getting distracted on his own scouting missions. If he can't keep his head clear, though, I definitely agree. She could help him."

Ahnasha huffed along with another thought that went through her mind. "Wonderful, now I'm probably going to end up distracting myself worrying that Rhazii is going to be distracted worrying about me. How about we just take some time away from this tonight and have some fun? Enjoy ourselves? What do you feel like doing around the city?"

[Muttonhawk]

"I cannot help but feel I would not be suited to it." Lunise readjusted. She was sweating to the point of discomfort. She even released a hand to cast a spell; it made her dress cool to the touch like the stone in Blackreach.

"I grew up in a city. I travel between cities. Holidays are not easily obtained in my profession." Lunise leaned in closer. "I might drag you all down. I might hate it. But, you have proven me wrong more times than I can control already. I shall keep you in mind if there comes a lapse in my duties."

---

A small laugh bubbled up Fendros' throat. "I think Rhazii deserves some credit. He'll be fine. You are right, though..." Fendros took up the wine and took a deeper draught. He exhaled and wiped his mouth, before stepping around beside Ahnasha. "You know those musicians that joined the clan last year? I hear they host public dances in one of the larger halls each week. And they play long into the night." He extended a hand. "I feel like joining in until we can hardly stand, and then finding a quiet spot to spend time until we can hardly stay awake. How about you?"

[EliteCommander]

"Or, if your duties happen to align with it." Meesei suggested. "You are and have been the representative for your people to our clans. If you receive another assignment to serve that role again, well, that would entail months of traveling. Your superiors would think nothing of it if you were gone for an extended duration. Of course, then the challenge becomes getting me away from my duties. Still, I wonder if there is anything in the foreseeable future that might prompt such an assignment? Do you think your people would be willing to help kill a Dragon to help stop Vile? I would certainly not turn down a warship or two. Of course, the Empire would also have to be informed, since the island is just off of High Rock."

Meesei noticed Lunise's discomfort, and though she seemed to have a solution for herself, Meesei took it as a sign that they may need to move on with their evening. She did not want the splendor of Thorn to be spoiled by the heat, after all. "Well, regardless of what opportunities we may or may not get, do you feel like you would like to go to the hot springs now to round out our evening?"

---

Ahnasha smiled widely, grabbing the wine from Fendros' hand and finishing off the last bit of what was in the bottle. "See, now that sounds like fun. It's always a good laugh seeing what you call 'dancing.'" She teased, lightly elbowing him in the side.

Holding up the bottle of wine, Ahnasha looked through the glass and swirled it around slightly as if there were something still within. "Of course, there's no way we're going anywhere without more wine."