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

[Muttonhawk]

Rossarm spared Ahnasha a glance as he kept his eyes on where he was stepping on the unpaved ground. He gave the proposal some silent consideration. He had to stop before they came into view to fully decide. When he did he spoke staring into the middle distance. "I will speak to him, but let me be perfectly understood. It is not for the purpose of thrusting the expectation of greatness on his shoulders."

Beside them, Fendros waited without knowing how exactly to interpret what his father meant by his words. He wondered at first if it was his prejudice, though he did not wear it on his face as he had seen before. It was like he was too exhausted to be disdainful.

Fendros spoke up to try diffusing things. "We will be happy enough if you give him a chance to be your grandchild for an afternoon."

"Hm," Rossarm acknowledged. He stepped to proceed whether Ahnasha was done or not.

[EliteCommander]

Ahnasha chuckled lightly. “Don’t worry, we don’t need to.”

The trio were not too late to joining the others. It was a fair gathering of friends and family, nestled in a decently private location. The pack was all of course present. Lorag had even brought his daughter, though he seemed rather unsure of himself with how to interact with her. Both Rhazii and Julan looked unburdened for perhaps the first time since they had returned. The losses still weighed on everyone, but it felt easier now for them to look forward. From this crisis, the danger had passed. No more would their parents be at risk of not returning on any given day. They could look ahead even years down the line without the uncertainty that had been with them most of their lives. Kaleeth was sat down, watching the pair. She had been noticeably distant when she first arrived, but seeing the children, that had faded at least for now.

Ariel and her husband, Rukeewei, had joined them as well. It was going to be soon that they were returning home, as were many who had come to the Silent City, if they had not already. Lunise had been invited, though it was up to her judgment if she felt it was safe to attend. The Dominion forces were in the process of readying their departure back to Summerset, and while she could likely make time, she had to be careful about letting it be known how closely-associated she had been with them. Ahnasha was not sure who, if anyone else, would be joining them. She had not personally invited anyone, but the others could have.

“Hope we’re not late.” Ahnasha remarked as she found a clear spot to take a seat. Kaleeth and Lorag both saw them approach with Rossarm, and neither could say they had expected it. For the most part, they waited to see how he was going to act now that he was here.

[Muttonhawk]

The family picnic was perhaps the most normal everyone had been able to look as a group ever before, though the details showed just how changed they truly were.

Janius was his usual charismatic self, driving conversations that never failed to continue. He kept close to Kaleeth for reassurance. He wanted to make sure it was an enjoyable time for her, even with the difficult thoughts plaguing her.

Rhazii, Julan, and Narsi were tak8ng turns exchanging arm wrestles, with Rhazii being the clear champion but having to fight for it all the same.

Lunise was sitting back with a quiet contentment under a lacy and prickly looking black veil held in place with a black hat which obscured her identity from those that weren't looking. Her black down and jewellery clearly marked her as in mourning, and somehow more impressively than the many mourners that walked the Silent City in recent times. However she had arranged her excuse for being out here, coming surreptitiously was obviously a motive she left unclear.

The gathering was complete with Sabine, Karl, and Sabine's packmate Tarna arriving not too long before Fendros, Ahnasha, and Rossarm.

Rossarm's appearance turned everyone's heads and slowed every conversation. The attention caused Rossarm's nostrils to flare. Even that tiny expression brought tension to the lot of them, knowing his general opinion of Fendros' found family.

Rossarm was standing almost to a soldierly attention. He projected his tired voice low. "...We have not been properly introduced."

Fendros glanced at his father and took a breath. "Everyone, most of you know my father Rossarm. Perhaps not under the best of circumstances. I would like us to try again, if you would indulge us."

[EliteCommander]

The silence that had accompanied Rossarm’s arrival had been noticeable, but it was not long-lived. Certainly, Fendros had helped to break the ice. Most of those present only knew of Fendros’ complicated relationship with his father by being told, and some did not know at all. Few enough had truly met him in person, outside of matters of duty relating to the battle, so returning to introductions was perhaps appropriate.

Lorag had not been quite his usual self since the battle. He had been more quiet, more reserved, but that still did not stop him from being the first to stand. By this point he was certainly fully rested and recovered from the battle itself, but something about him still felt tired. “Fragility” was not a word that could ever be associated with the likes of Lorag, but it seemed he could not put on the appearance of being quite so indomitable as before. Or perhaps he simply did not want to.

“Well, if we’re doin’ introductions, the name’s Lorag.” He said, extending his hand to Rossarm.

[Muttonhawk]

Fendros somehow saw Lorag and Rossarm look at each other as if mirrored, despite their noticeable difference in height and build. It was the looks in their eyes.

Rossarm did not hesitate to reach out and take Lorag's hand. "Rossarm Avarul," he said.

Off to Lorag's side, Janius waited a beat so he wouldn't interrupt Rossarm and Lorag, though the older men had no comment. Janius offered his handshake as well. "Janius. You proved quite the mage, and quite the shaper of mages."

Rossarm took Janius' hand with a frown. "Lycanthropes have a natural fortitude," he responded, almost humbly.

Fendros smiled behind him.

Of all people, Sabine was the next one eager to introduce herself. "I am Sabine Montgrave." She showed a small smile and gestured to the vision-impared Karl holding her hand. "And this is my partner Karl. I am glad you could join us."

Rossarm simply nodded. "I understand you were the protege of your late leader."

Sabine lowered her gaze. "That is correct. But, so were we all. In her pack."

"You as well, Lorag?" Rossarm asked.

[EliteCommander]

There was a pause from Lorag, along with a mildly amused grunt. “You could say that. I was her second, back ‘fore I got too old for that job.”

“You weren’t too old then, and you still aren’t too old now.” Kaleeth chimed in. She started to try to stand to shake Rossarm’s hand, but after reflexively trying to put her weight on a leg that was no longer there, she frowned and stayed where she was. “I’m Kaleeth.” She introduced herself. Her downtrodden attitude seemed to diminish as she started to smile, though it was hard to tell from the outside if it was an act. “I’m just glad so many of us could get back alive.”

Now that he had introduced himself, Lorag returned to where he had been seated. “Yeah, I could do it, but it’s not really about bein’ too slow to do it now. It’s an important job; better to give it to someone who can keep it for more than a few years.” He tilted his head towards Fendros. “He earned it.”

With a shrug, Lorag returned his attention more directly to Rossarm. “Anyways, Sabine’s bein’ modest. We were all family, but she was everything to our old Alpha. Student, yeah, and a lot more than that. No one else could’ve learned all that magic stuff Meesei liked better than Sabine.”

[Muttonhawk]

Rossarm quietly considered Sabine for a time. He then turned to Fendros with a discerning frown. He asked Fendros, "Do you consider yourself a greater mage than Montgrave?"

Sabine's smile disappeared, partly with confusion.

Fendros felt dread sink into either side of his jaw muscles. He took a breath and reminded himself not to be how he used to be. "No, Sabine is the greater mage."

Rossarm raised an eyebrow.

"I am not the leader Fendros is," Sabine cut in, as was unlike her. "I may have greater aptitude in magic, but I do not think I can defeat him."

Perhaps mirroring Fendros' tempering, Rossarm also took a breath. "I would hear how my son earned his position as 'second' from you all, firsthand. If you would indulge me."

Fendros wished he could tell whether Rossarm was genuinely interested or looking to take Fendros down a notch. He twisted his mouth uncomfortably, but stayed quiet for now.

[EliteCommander]

The tension in the air was easy enough for anyone to notice, but Ahnasha paid it little mind. Whatever Rossarm’s intentions, he would get the same answer. It was certainly a story Ahnasha had no problem telling. “That would be Meesei’s judgment. Especially after all the clans came together for the war, the Champion had to be someone both capable of leading everyone, and who could stand up to challenges from everyone who thinks they could do better. Everyone from all clans in Tamriel. After Lorag retired his position, Meesei saw two people who could do it: Fendros and Sabine.”

Nearby, Lorag chimed in with a chuckle. “Tough competition, too. This was all after Sabine got captured by the enemy. ‘Cept, before we could even find her, she’d ended up recruiting the enemy general, recovering the Staff of Magnus, and killing a dragon. Came back to us all on her own. Plenty of people would be happy to fall in line behind the Dragonslayer.”

“Probably.” Ahanasha remarked with a shrug. “People like heroic tales and titles.” She put one arm around Fendros, glancing at him with a smile. “Good leaders aren’t made through dramatic stories, though. Meesei saw the potential in him through a decade of war at his side. Every little success and failure. I’m sure you know how difficult it can be to teach magic to someone born under the sign of the Atronach. It can be crippling not to be able to replenish your own magicka, but there is power in it too. They have the innate power to absorb magic, and Meesei taught him how to harness that potential into his own defense. He is a warrior that no mage can touch, a fighter that no one in the clans can best.”

Ahnasha’s gaze went back to Rossarm directly. “He’s certainly taught me how different power can look, from what I used to think.”