"I...have never been more uncertain." Kaleeth responded with a depressed sigh. "I do not know what to say to him. I think Ahnasha is right. Father has always not trusted outsiders. It is just...a part of him. I think the only reason I do not feel the same way is because he did not like to talk about outsiders at all, so he did not mention it to me much as a hatchling. To try to convince him to give up his hate would be like...like trying to convince someone to change their personality. I don't think it is possible. But, he does believe in the words of the Hist, at least that is what he always says. He always told me to listen to everything Thorantilth said, to be like the Treeminder told me to be. He must believe in the Hist's teachings, but he is not acting like they would want him to. Maybe he thinks he is doing the right thing? Maybe he has tricked himself into thinking he is being cautious like the Hist says? You...could try mentioning it. It could work...It think. Maybe. I don't know."
Meesei gave a nearly inaudible sigh as Tunxeek left. Once Sabine finished her potion, Meesei moved closer to her and placed a gentle hand on her back. "Sabine, I understand your frustration. The last trial is not something to underestimate, and you are right to be concerned about it, but you should not take your frustrations out on others. That can only lead to more stress in the future. Just take a moment and look at me." Meesei said in a light, calming tone. "I am here for you, for advice, guidance, and comfort. I will not let you come to serious harm in the duel. You have prepared well so far, and I am ready to help your prepare even more should you need it. Just stop, breathe in, then let it out slowly. Is there anything coming to your mind that you think you might want to ask me about? I have no restrictions preventing me from answering any of your questions."
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"Heh, close." Lorag commented sarcastically. Even if Janius would have said nothing, Lorag would have assumed that was what was going on between them. Janius had bragged about his exploits in the Imperial City for Lorag, and really most of the others, to think he would do anything else.
Ahnasha glanced to Lorag with a bit of a grin. "What, did you expect him to do anything different to a woman he fancies?" She said, echoing Lorag's former words. She chuckled, then turned her attention back to Janius with a more serious demeanor. "Anyway, I'm not sure how successful you're going to be talking to him. In my experience with people like him, that hate is not something that will go away, no matter what you say or do. People with such deeply held beliefs rarely change them based on...anything, really. Or at least anything anyone else does. Maybe...your best bet might to be approaching from some other avenue. He will probably hate you until the end of time, but you might be able to stop him from acting on it. If you can convince him that it would be wrong or somehow disadvantageous for him to act, then he might just continue to hate you in silence. I don't know, it still might be difficult to pull off."
Meesei greeted Tunxeek and motioned for him to take a seat as well. Her breakfast consisted of smoked wamasu tail spiced with leaves from a dragon's tongue plant. It had been quite a long time since she had the opportunity to dine on wamasu, so it was something she was enjoying. Sabine was not eating much at the moment, but Meesei was going to make sure she ate enough to be adequately fed before her fight. "Sabine is working on a potion for her upcoming trial. She wishes to be well-prepared for her fight."
Ahnasha glanced to Lorag with a bit of a grin. "What, did you expect him to do anything different to a woman he fancies?" She said, echoing Lorag's former words. She chuckled, then turned her attention back to Janius with a more serious demeanor. "Anyway, I'm not sure how successful you're going to be talking to him. In my experience with people like him, that hate is not something that will go away, no matter what you say or do. People with such deeply held beliefs rarely change them based on...anything, really. Or at least anything anyone else does. Maybe...your best bet might to be approaching from some other avenue. He will probably hate you until the end of time, but you might be able to stop him from acting on it. If you can convince him that it would be wrong or somehow disadvantageous for him to act, then he might just continue to hate you in silence. I don't know, it still might be difficult to pull off."
Meesei greeted Tunxeek and motioned for him to take a seat as well. Her breakfast consisted of smoked wamasu tail spiced with leaves from a dragon's tongue plant. It had been quite a long time since she had the opportunity to dine on wamasu, so it was something she was enjoying. Sabine was not eating much at the moment, but Meesei was going to make sure she ate enough to be adequately fed before her fight. "Sabine is working on a potion for her upcoming trial. She wishes to be well-prepared for her fight."
Kaleeth reached out and grabbed the wamasu, since Fendros did not seem to want it. She held it tightly in her arms, which seemed to be good enough for it for the moment. "I think I will keep it with me until I know what to do with it. I don't know if they can survive alone. I guess it eats meat, so I can take it to eat at breakfast."
It was not long before Meesei and Janius returned inside. Most of the village was already making their way outside to gather for breakfast, so they had mostly just returned to collect the others. Meesei supposed Sabine was going to stay inside to finish her alchemy, so she intended to collect breakfast for both of them, then return to the common hut to eat with her. Since the private conversation was over, they all went outside and gathered near the Hist tree for their breakfast. As usual, it was mostly meat with some of the native plants the village grew. Meesei reminded the pack of which ones were poisonous, then they found an empty spot to sit together, apart from Meesei.
Most of what was being served was the meat from the wamasu she and Janius had killed, but Kaleeth made sure to get a small portion of hackwing to feed to the hatchling. She would not feel right trying to feed the hatchling meat from its own mother. It enthusiastically tore away at the hackwing meat she provided, though at its young age, it took quite a while for it to rip the meat into small enough pieces for it to eat. Meanwhile, Lorag turned his attention to Janius, deciding it was time to bother him about all that had been going on. "So, you going to tell us about what you and Alpha talked about, or are we not good enough to hear it?"
It was not long before Meesei and Janius returned inside. Most of the village was already making their way outside to gather for breakfast, so they had mostly just returned to collect the others. Meesei supposed Sabine was going to stay inside to finish her alchemy, so she intended to collect breakfast for both of them, then return to the common hut to eat with her. Since the private conversation was over, they all went outside and gathered near the Hist tree for their breakfast. As usual, it was mostly meat with some of the native plants the village grew. Meesei reminded the pack of which ones were poisonous, then they found an empty spot to sit together, apart from Meesei.
Most of what was being served was the meat from the wamasu she and Janius had killed, but Kaleeth made sure to get a small portion of hackwing to feed to the hatchling. She would not feel right trying to feed the hatchling meat from its own mother. It enthusiastically tore away at the hackwing meat she provided, though at its young age, it took quite a while for it to rip the meat into small enough pieces for it to eat. Meanwhile, Lorag turned his attention to Janius, deciding it was time to bother him about all that had been going on. "So, you going to tell us about what you and Alpha talked about, or are we not good enough to hear it?"
Meesei sighed and shook her head. "Above everything, I am glad you are safe. Wamasu are not threats to be taken lightly, and you very easily could have been killed. For Kaleeth, at least you made sure not to pass on your gift. With potions, the chances of an Argonian like her to contract it would be basically nonexistent. Even so, very little about this is good. I expected you would try to court local women, but I did not expect you to court the daughter of the most anti-Imperial Argonian I have ever seen. And what you mentioned, about falling in love with her...I do not know what you expect here, Janius. You know we are going to leave here soon, and it is not as if we could take her with us. I would not expect this to end painlessly for you two. I will say, she does seem like a respectable person, especially since she agreed not to betray our secret, but that does not change he fact that she has responsibilities here, and you with us. I...I wish there was another way, truly. By no means do I want you to be hurt in all of this, but this situation is not an easy one. Just...do all you can to remedy the situation. Kaleeth may be able to help you deal with her father. "
"Both mother and father were proud that I killed it, but father was upset that I killed it with Janius. He distrusts Imperials more than any outsider, and he was very angry to catch me with Janius. Still, killing the wamasu means I can become full hunter. I have a part of its hide, I just need to make the armor for myself. Father taught all initiates how to do it, it will just take a while. I do not know what he will think about the wamasu though. I just took the egg because I wanted to eat it. They taste very good. I do not want to eat the hatchling though." Kaleeth explained. She set down the wamasu to let it walk around. As the others were warmer than her, it walked over to Ahnasha and Fendros to investigate them. Since it shocked her, Ahnasha was a bit hesitant to pick it up, but she observed it and laughed as it tried to climb on Fendros.
"Both mother and father were proud that I killed it, but father was upset that I killed it with Janius. He distrusts Imperials more than any outsider, and he was very angry to catch me with Janius. Still, killing the wamasu means I can become full hunter. I have a part of its hide, I just need to make the armor for myself. Father taught all initiates how to do it, it will just take a while. I do not know what he will think about the wamasu though. I just took the egg because I wanted to eat it. They taste very good. I do not want to eat the hatchling though." Kaleeth explained. She set down the wamasu to let it walk around. As the others were warmer than her, it walked over to Ahnasha and Fendros to investigate them. Since it shocked her, Ahnasha was a bit hesitant to pick it up, but she observed it and laughed as it tried to climb on Fendros.
In general, Meesei did not like secrets in the pack. She felt they were overall destructive to the group as a whole, but in this case, she would at least let him speak to her before making a decision on whether or not he should tell the others. She followed Janius out of the hut to a secluded spot so he could speak.
"You know I do not like secrets among the pack, Janius. What is it that happened between you and the Master-Hunter?" Meesei asked.
Kaleeth took the wamasu in her arms, then sat down where Janius had been. By this point, all of Janius' friends were awake, so she supposed she might as well tell the story. "Well...I suppose I can tell it. Janius told me not to tell anyone in the village, so I wanted to be careful. We went out to hunt so he could help me learn. We tracked an ogre to a cave, but when we found it, it was already dead. Killed by wamasu. We found its nest with all its eggs. Even worse, the wamasu followed us in. It was very frightening, nowhere to move. We tried hiding, but it found us. Janius saved me from its lighting with magic, then turned into a werewolf to hold it so I could kill it. It was frightening, and I was confused, but I managed to stab it in the top of its mouth with my spear. Janius had to explain what a werewolf was, and he told me not to tell anyone in the village, so I have been careful. I do not understand why people hunt werewolves like Janius said they did; there does not seem to be anything bad about him. It confuses me."
Ahnasha crossed her arms and held an expression that was not quite surprised, but concerned. "Wait, so you know about the whole werewolf thing, then?"
Lorag gave a gruff laugh. "What, did you expect him to do anything different to a woman he fancies? I'm starting to think he and Fendros here should switch nicknames."
"True." Ahnasha responded with a small chuckle.
"You know I do not like secrets among the pack, Janius. What is it that happened between you and the Master-Hunter?" Meesei asked.
Kaleeth took the wamasu in her arms, then sat down where Janius had been. By this point, all of Janius' friends were awake, so she supposed she might as well tell the story. "Well...I suppose I can tell it. Janius told me not to tell anyone in the village, so I wanted to be careful. We went out to hunt so he could help me learn. We tracked an ogre to a cave, but when we found it, it was already dead. Killed by wamasu. We found its nest with all its eggs. Even worse, the wamasu followed us in. It was very frightening, nowhere to move. We tried hiding, but it found us. Janius saved me from its lighting with magic, then turned into a werewolf to hold it so I could kill it. It was frightening, and I was confused, but I managed to stab it in the top of its mouth with my spear. Janius had to explain what a werewolf was, and he told me not to tell anyone in the village, so I have been careful. I do not understand why people hunt werewolves like Janius said they did; there does not seem to be anything bad about him. It confuses me."
Ahnasha crossed her arms and held an expression that was not quite surprised, but concerned. "Wait, so you know about the whole werewolf thing, then?"
Lorag gave a gruff laugh. "What, did you expect him to do anything different to a woman he fancies? I'm starting to think he and Fendros here should switch nicknames."
"True." Ahnasha responded with a small chuckle.
I might not be able to respond for a bit. Should be able to before going to bed, though.
"I really do not think Thorantilth or Reanaseer would make you leave. They know about father's...bias, I think is the word. They know he does not like Imperials, so they might not even believe anything he says about you. I do not know if father would try to bring it up with them, but...he might try to find another way to hurt you." Kaleeth said, trying to reassure the others. Reanaseer was old, wise, and knew her father well, while Thorantilth followed closely the teaching of the HIst. She did not believe either would be quick to pass judgement, even based on Zharanthixil's word. Still, her father was the Master-Hunter, and she was sure he could find some way to make Janius' life more difficult. Kaleeth held off on explaining the story with the wamasu until they had talked about what to do in regards to her father, as it seemed more important. After all, she knew she was not going to tell anyone about the werewolves in their presence, so that was not a danger.
Meesei did seem to be cross with Janius over the situation, though Kaleeth's reassurance did help somewhat. Still, she was concerned and upset that Janius did not appear to take all necessary precautions to avoid upsetting the villagers. Granted, the Master-Hunter seemed to already be predisposed against Imperials, so she could not blame him too heavily, but it was still something they had to deal with. "This is rather upsetting. I did not expect any sort of welcome from the Master-Hunter, but I had at least hoped to stay here without troubling him, or being troubled by him. Even if we are not forced to leave, this could cause some problems for us. What did you do to upset him to such an extent, Janius?"
Meesei did seem to be cross with Janius over the situation, though Kaleeth's reassurance did help somewhat. Still, she was concerned and upset that Janius did not appear to take all necessary precautions to avoid upsetting the villagers. Granted, the Master-Hunter seemed to already be predisposed against Imperials, so she could not blame him too heavily, but it was still something they had to deal with. "This is rather upsetting. I did not expect any sort of welcome from the Master-Hunter, but I had at least hoped to stay here without troubling him, or being troubled by him. Even if we are not forced to leave, this could cause some problems for us. What did you do to upset him to such an extent, Janius?"
Kaleeth shrugged her shoulders and gently stroked the wamasu's back. She had seen grown wamasu before, or course, but never one so young and...peaceful. Apart from drawing a bit of blood, it really couldn't hurt anyone yet, so it was not a threat to anyone. "I am not really sure what the village leaders will think. I...really do not want to give it to father. I kind of like it though, it is...cute. Not like the big one that almost killed us."
The wamasu curled up in Janius' arms quite readily and seemed rather content with where it was. It looked around at its surroundings and continued to sniff the air, letting out small chirps periodically. Kaleeth did not know how many of a wamasu's behaviors were instinct, and how many were taught, so she had no idea what it would be like to raise one. After a few minutes, Ahnasha finally climbed out of her bedroll and approached the pair. She knelt down beside Janius and ran her hand over the hatchling's back. "Let me see it a moment." Ahnasha said, but as soon as she put her hands around it and the wamasu recognized she was trying to pick it up, it projected a static shock into her hand, not quite large enough to cause any real pain, but enough to surprise her. It was happy to stay right where it was.
"Ow!" Ahnasha exclaimed, pulling back her hand. "Did not think a hatchling would be able to use lightning."
Kaleeth chuckled and continued to rub the part of its back without spines. "It looks like it likes Janius."
Meesei decided to leave Sabine alone while she worked, so as not to disturb her. Instead, she went over and sat down by Janius and Kaleeth as well. The wamasu was certainly a curiosity, but what was on her mind was Janius and what he had happened to him the previous day. If it pertained to the safety of the pack, she needed to know about it.
The wamasu curled up in Janius' arms quite readily and seemed rather content with where it was. It looked around at its surroundings and continued to sniff the air, letting out small chirps periodically. Kaleeth did not know how many of a wamasu's behaviors were instinct, and how many were taught, so she had no idea what it would be like to raise one. After a few minutes, Ahnasha finally climbed out of her bedroll and approached the pair. She knelt down beside Janius and ran her hand over the hatchling's back. "Let me see it a moment." Ahnasha said, but as soon as she put her hands around it and the wamasu recognized she was trying to pick it up, it projected a static shock into her hand, not quite large enough to cause any real pain, but enough to surprise her. It was happy to stay right where it was.
"Ow!" Ahnasha exclaimed, pulling back her hand. "Did not think a hatchling would be able to use lightning."
Kaleeth chuckled and continued to rub the part of its back without spines. "It looks like it likes Janius."
Meesei decided to leave Sabine alone while she worked, so as not to disturb her. Instead, she went over and sat down by Janius and Kaleeth as well. The wamasu was certainly a curiosity, but what was on her mind was Janius and what he had happened to him the previous day. If it pertained to the safety of the pack, she needed to know about it.
Ahnasha yawned as she awoke, sitting up in the bedroll and stretching her muscles. As her vision started to clear, she looked at whatever it was that Fendros was pointing out. It was fairly large for a lizard and was not something she recognized, nor was she really sure why Kaleeth was holding it. Still, it was an interesting little creature, and she was curious about it. "Say, what kind of lizard is that?" She asked.
"Is wamasu." Kaleeth answered. It seemed to grow restless again, so she placed it down on the floor beside her, at which point it scurried over to Janius and climbed up on his lap, raising its nose in the air to sample his scent. "We found wamasu eggs yesterday. I took one to eat, but then it hatched. I don't know what to do with it."
Meesei could tell through Sabine's reaction that something had gone wrong with the potion. It seemed to have particularly affected her, perhaps due to the stress of the final trial. Meesei reached over and placed a hand on her back, attempting to comfort her. "Something went wrong, I assume? Do not fear, Sabine. You are a strong young woman, and you have more talent than I believe you realize. This fight is not meant to be impossible. It sounds difficult, and it will certainly not be easy, but I believe in you, Sabine. You have grown stronger ever since we first found you, whether or not you realize it. As for this potion, even if it failed, that is no reason to give up. There is still a few hours before the trial is set to begin. Think, what can you make in that time? It doesn't need to be a very advanced potion, even something like a simple stamina potion can turn the tide of a battle."
"Is wamasu." Kaleeth answered. It seemed to grow restless again, so she placed it down on the floor beside her, at which point it scurried over to Janius and climbed up on his lap, raising its nose in the air to sample his scent. "We found wamasu eggs yesterday. I took one to eat, but then it hatched. I don't know what to do with it."
Meesei could tell through Sabine's reaction that something had gone wrong with the potion. It seemed to have particularly affected her, perhaps due to the stress of the final trial. Meesei reached over and placed a hand on her back, attempting to comfort her. "Something went wrong, I assume? Do not fear, Sabine. You are a strong young woman, and you have more talent than I believe you realize. This fight is not meant to be impossible. It sounds difficult, and it will certainly not be easy, but I believe in you, Sabine. You have grown stronger ever since we first found you, whether or not you realize it. As for this potion, even if it failed, that is no reason to give up. There is still a few hours before the trial is set to begin. Think, what can you make in that time? It doesn't need to be a very advanced potion, even something like a simple stamina potion can turn the tide of a battle."
The next morning, just like the previous, began fairly early, with most of the village waking up just after dawn. Kaleeth and Janius had eventually made their way back to the common hut so they could sleep safely, though what Kaleeth found upon awaking was not what she had expected. She stood over Janius and nudged his shoulder with her foot until he started to stir and stared at him blankly with a slightly confused expression. In her arms was a strange-looking lizard, about the size of a large housecat. It had been restless when she first picked it up, but by this point it had calmed down and was just observing its surroundings.
"Wamasu egg hatched." She said plainly as soon as his eyes opened. She really did not know what to do with the creature.
The rest of the pack awoke around the same time and, while at least most of them were curious about both the creature, and what had happened to Janius the previous day, they were at least going to take a few moments to wake up before questioning him. While she was concerned about Janius, Meesei still devoted most of her attention to Sabine. Once she was awake and alert, Meesei sat down beside her. "How are you feeling, Sabine? Are you well-rested? I saw you training with Lorag yesterday. I am confident you will do well, but if you need any last minute advice or help, I will do what I can."
"Wamasu egg hatched." She said plainly as soon as his eyes opened. She really did not know what to do with the creature.
The rest of the pack awoke around the same time and, while at least most of them were curious about both the creature, and what had happened to Janius the previous day, they were at least going to take a few moments to wake up before questioning him. While she was concerned about Janius, Meesei still devoted most of her attention to Sabine. Once she was awake and alert, Meesei sat down beside her. "How are you feeling, Sabine? Are you well-rested? I saw you training with Lorag yesterday. I am confident you will do well, but if you need any last minute advice or help, I will do what I can."
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