EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

At first, S'Nashi intended to greet Fendros as a customer, but he spoke first, and his words confused her. She remained polite, but she certainly found it strange to be greeted in such a way by a customer. "I...apologize, but I don't really know what you are talking about. I haven't had much of a chance to speak to my husband today. Is it about a trade deal? We are closing soon, but you can stay for dinner if you like." She offered, assuming their presence to be business related.

While her mother was answering Fendros, Ahnasha walked over to the mantle to look at the candle burning atop it. Just as Fendros had said, there was a single candle with a tiger lily at its base. Just looking at it caused tears to swell up in her eyes. Ahnasha glanced over to her mother for a brief moment, then took a deep breath. Reaching out slowly, she grabbed the flower off of the mantle and blew out the candle.

Naturally, S'Nashi took notice of what appeared to be an affront to her daughter's memory. She Looked to Ahnasha with a cross expression. "Please, do not tough that. It is not for sale; it is a display in memory of..."

As S'Nashi started to scold her, Ahnasha stepped forward and let down her hood. She held the tiger lily close to her chest as she stared into her mother's eyes, failing to hold back her tears. All words escaped her, but she did not need to speak. No matter how long it had been, her mother would not forget her face.

"M'Ahnasha." S'Nashi's eyes widened with the realization of who she was speaking to. Although, she was having a difficult time believing her own senses at the moment. She had never had any reason to doubt that her daughter had died, so for her to suddenly appear before her nine years later was a surprise beyond the ability for words to describe. "W-what is happening? I don't understand." S'Nashi asked, to which Ahnasha could not find the words to answer.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha agreed and finally brought herself to stand up out of the bed. She did not go far, and mostly just left the room at one point to grab her lunch, but it helped her mood to move around. She did not join Fendros to take the children back into the city, though Newt had plenty of enthusiasm for the both of them.

As the day turned to dusk, Ahnasha did her best to prepare herself for the meeting that was drawing ever closer. She dressed herself in a simple, unassuming green dress, though, despite the heat, she also wore a cloth hood. In the event that she had last minute regrets about this choice, she wanted to have the option of hiding her face to avoid being identified. Hopefully, however, she would have the confidence to go through with it. Mentally, she just tried to reassure herself that she would have Fendros there to support her. Not to mention, Rhazii's presence could temper any angered reactions they might have.

The three walked through the city as it was starting to wind down for the evening. The streets were crowded with people who were walking back to their homes after their day's work, and the guards were changing over to the night patrol shift. All of the outdoor market stalls had closed by this point, though the merchants who owned their own buildings usually stayed open for a little while longer.

Despite how long it had been since she had been in the city, Ahnasha had no trouble finding her way around. The chapel was a landmark that could be seen from nearly anywhere in the city, and across from it, there was the shop in which she had spent much of her early life. The sign out front bore a different name, but there was no question that it was her former home.

As they stood just outside the door, Ahnasha's heart pounded. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, but could not bring herself close to calming down. "This is...terrifying. Could you lead the way, please?"

Inside, all three of Ahnasha's family had returned home for the evening, plus her brother's fiance. Though, only her mother was in the main room of the store, tending the counter.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I can skip us to the evening.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha tightened her grip on Rhazii. Although he did not understand what was happening, it was him that inspired her ultimate decision. She knew that her parents had been hurt by her actions. If they learned what she did, they were likely to be angry with her over it, and rightfully so. They had been given almost a decade to come to terms with her loss, and it was tempting for her just to leave them in ignorance of the truth. However, through Rhazii, she now had the ability to see their perspective. She could understand the gravity of what her loss meant to them, and she knew that, if Rhazii were in the same position, she would want to know that he was safe above all else. No matter how badly she was hurt from it, she would want to know that he was alive. Her parents might hate her for it, but they needed to know the truth.

"If...this is going to happen, then it should wait until late evening, close to when they close up shop. That would give us all the best chance to talk. And I don't think I can do this alone. I want you to come with me, both of you. No matter how badly they hate me for this, they'll probably want to see their grandson, at least." Ahnasha finally answered.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha readily accepted her son's embrace. Her family's compassion was always comforting, but it could not do anything to answer the many questions racing through her mind. Her normal confidence was shattered in the face of the harsh reality of her own actions. Her parents and her brother, she had hurt them. Of that, there was no question. At the time that she decided to fake her death, she could not have even understood how much pain she put them through. But now, holding Rhazii in her arms, the extent of the torment she must have put them through was readily apparent.

"I am...I am a monster. I hurt them. I hurt my family, my own parents. What...what do I do, Fendros? You said they had managed to move on from it. Should they know the truth, or would that just hurt them even more? I just don't know, everything about this is just so...confusing." She asked, not even attempting to hide her desperation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I...I." Ahnasha stuttered, being at a complete loss for words. She grabbed the flowers in her hands, but for a while, just stared at them with her mouth agape. She did not want to believe what Fendros was saying; she wanted to think that her family had gotten past her loss with little issue. After a short period of grief, she expected them to move on and forget about her. She did not expect that her memory would linger with them for so long; she did not expect that they would care.

Ahnasha gripped the flowers tightly and pulled them close to her chest. She hung her head low and closed her eyes. For a while, she gave Fendros nothing but silence, until eventually, her sobs started to become audible. "I don't...that wasn't what was supposed to happen. They didn't care about me. If they did, they would've listened to me. They would've...paid attention to me. Why...why are they doing this? Why are they holding on to me? Why can't they let go? This is..."

Ahnasha's words trailed off as her light sobs turned to full cries. She wished that Fendros was lying, but the tiger lilies she was holding were all the proof she needed of the unfortunate truth. "What have I done?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha had remained in their room for the entire duration of Fendros' absence. Indeed, she had not even left the bed. It was something about the stress of being so close to her family that seemed to sap all of the energy out of her. The same had occurred the last time they passed by Leyawiin. She had thought she would be able to do something differently this time, but it was not looking like that would be so. In her mind, there was just too much that could go wrong by trying.

As Fendros stepped into the room, Ahnasha remained laying on the bed with her eyes closed. They only opened once he started to speak up. Slowly, she started to bring herself into a sitting position. "I see, and did you see what I mean...about..." She began, but she cut herself off once she saw what he was holding. "Are those...tiger lilies?" She asked in disbelief. Her mind raced in confusion, trying to make sense of why he would have a bouquet of that specific flower, of all things. In the surprise of the moment, she could bring herself to say nothing, and instead just waited for him to respond.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sorry for the delay, just saw your post.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gwindir seemed only marginally surprised by Fendros' answer. It would have been a coincidence, but it wasn't as if Ahnasha was the only Khajiit in Tamriel to have that name. He chuckled and glanced at Rhazii. "Ah, well that would certainly explain it. It's truly a small world, isn't it?" He commented.

Unfortunately, Gwindir's good mood seemed to sour with Fendros' last question. He placed his hands flat on the counter in front of him while his expression gradually became more cross. "I...am not sure what you are trying to say, stranger, but I do not appreciate it. I do not know if the same is true where you are from, but it is not in good taste to say such things about another's dead child, especially a stranger. Regardless of any coincidence with your wife's name, my daughter died nine years ago, and I would appreciate you not making me relive those memories any further."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gwindir leaned forward on the counter and looked down to Rhazii. Despite Rhazii's earlier outburst, he did not seem suspicious. Evidently, convincing him that his daughter was alive would actually take some intentional persuasion. "It is no trouble, little cub. That is a pain I dealt with long ago."

Looking back up to Fendros, Gwindir took on a more neutral, slightly curious expression. "Say, what is your wife's name?" I'm guessing it is similar to my daughter's."

After the rather serious exchange between Rhazii and Fendros, Newt remained particularly quiet as they returned inside the store. He did not fully understand everything that was happen, and why Fendros was angry at Rhazii for mentioning Ahnasha. What he knew was that he did not want to get himself in trouble, so he stayed close to Fendros' side, holding his hand and saying nothing.