EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Colors rubbed the back of his neck and looked down with a bit of shame and nervousness. "Uh, well, I'm not much of a fighter...really. I'm more of a 'handsome rogue' than a 'valiant warrior.' But I don't just want to leave, I have to know if my pride is alright. Maybe I can just...wait outside? Until it's safe."

Ahnasha looked over Colors curiously. "I've heard of how large and ferocious lions are, surely a werelion would have some impressive strength, even compared to a werewolf?"

Colors shook his head. "Ah, see, you would think that. I mean, look at a lion and a wolf, and a lion is obviously much bigger and more muscular and everything. But, apparently, that doesn't always matter with lycans. No, werewolves are both the bigger and stronger of the two. Werelions are fast, and real agile. Skilled and experienced werelions can be exceptionally powerful, but I, uh, possess neither of those qualities. I prefer to...resolve conflicts with my charm, and a silver tongue."

Ahnasha could not help but to give a chuckle. She had a feeling that, if that was the case, Colors probably never actually resolved any conflicts. "Very well."

"Anyway, um, I guess we should go. Follow me." Colors said as he started to lead the rescue party away from the camp. They had moved away from the path he remembered to reach the outpost in order to set up camp, so they had to backtrack a few minutes to get back on the right track. From there, Colors knew the direction, and had some landmarks in his mind which would guide the way. Mostly, unique looking rocks, trees, or clearings. There was no path to follow through the jungle, so they did veer off course on two occasions and were forced to backtrack. Nevertheless, they made progress, and within another hour of searching, Colors suddenly stopped them. He recognized a particularly tall tree that had been split by lightning, which indicated they were close.

The rescue party continued forward slowly and carefully until the outpost was finally in view. Although, outpost was perhaps not the best term to describe the actual structure. It was more of just a wooden cabin with a single door in the front and a few windows. As an outpost, its protection lay in obscurity. It was deep into the jungle, and without a guide, it would have been near impossible to find. In front of the cabin, there was a small fire going, with two armed Khajiit sitting around it cooking their dinner. They could not see into the windows, so that was essentially all they could observe from a safe distance.

"Okay, there it is. There are usually about six or seven of them here, I think. It's just a simple cabin with a basement, where they are keeping my pride. I don't really know more than that. They'll all be armed, but this isn't a fortress. We just can't let them hurt my pride." Colors explained.

Lorag turned and looked to the others. "Alright. Two floors, one door, a few windows. Prisoners are downstairs, two guards out front. I've got a few ideas, anyone else got suggestions?"

Back at camp, Peiter was just as tired as Sabine, but had not laid down immediately. Instead, he was sitting on his bedroll nearby eating a cut of raw venison. Irenya advised that a hardy meal could help with his blood loss, so he wanted to get something to eat before going to sleep. However, he also found himself exchanging glances with Sabine as he ate. There had been so much that had happened during their evening, and some of it had given him questions that were still nagging at his mind. The camp was dead silent, with even the children sleeping, but he still decided to hazard a question. "Are you...hungry?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While the supplies were being gathered, Irenya tended to the wounds of Meesei and Peiter, and checked up on Sabine. For Peiter, she determined that his primary issue was blood loss. Sabine's treatment, though crude, had certainly prevented it from being as bad as it could have been. There was still some internal bleeding, but between potions and Irenya's magic, it was eventually halted. Thanks to the general mass and bulk of werewolves, Peiter's injuries had been flesh wounds, so he would not need the same kind of vigilant care as Meesei. Sabine, apart from a few minor cuts and bruises, was mostly just fatigued.

As soon as the packs had everything of value that they could possibly carry from the outpost, they headed down to the forest floor, then lit ablaze what remained. If they were not going to be able to make use of it, then they certainly would not allow their enemy to recover the supplies. By this point, the pack was able to change out of their city clothes and into their normal hides, as fur was far, far too warm for this environment. The others had retrieved both Peiter and Sabine's belongings from the stream while Irenya tended to them, though neither them or Meesei were tasked with carrying any significant portion of the burden.

The packs made their way back to the road, then followed Colors' lead in the direction of this enemy outpost. Fortunately, it was no great distance away, so their wounded did not have to travel too far by their own power. They stopped about two thirds of the way from the outpost, then headed off the road to make their own camp. They had no particular destination in mind of where they wanted to make their camp, but a random spot in the forest would at least be unpredictable. Once stopped, they unpacked only what was needed for those that would be staying behind.

Meesei found a comfortable spot to sit on her bedroll with her back leaned up against a tree for support. "As much as I dislike it, I cannot join you all for this rescue. Lorag, you will be in command in my absence. Peiter, Sabine, with the ordeal you both have been through, you of course will be staying behind as well. We should be able to care for Rhazii and Newt. However, I would also like to have at least one able-bodied fighter here for defense, just in case. Uthri, I would like you to remain here with us.

Irenya gave Meesei a confused look. "Champion...would my healing abilities not be of more use here? I assure you, I am perfectly capable of using offensive magic as well."

"That is indeed true, Irenya, but from what Colors described, his pride has been the victims of torture. They may need your assistance, and I can handle the treatment of myself and Peiter while you are away." Meesei explained.

"Very well, Champion." Irenya answered with a nod.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I am having the hardest time decrypting this password hash.

But, on the bright side, I have chocolate covered potato chips.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"If they are heading to Senchal, then tracking them may prove fruitless. It would be easy for them to lose themselves in the city, especially since they are likely expecting to be followed." Meesei commented. "We need to gather up our supplies and move our camp, and from what Janius describes, we have other wounded to tend to as well. I would like to send someone to track them, but we may have need of everybody."

Meesei's gaze shifted over to Colors. "Sees-No-Colors, you believe your...pride is in danger. Are you privy to their location?"

Colors nodded. "They didn't want me to be, but yes. Like I said, they took me to them occasionally to prove that they were still alive. They always put a bag over my head, but one time, I managed to poke a hole in it to get a look around. I recognized some landmarks on the road on the way there, so...I think I can take you to it."

"And this outpost itself, what is it like? How well-defended is it?" Meesei asked.

Colors scratched his head briefly as the thought. "It's...not that big. Maybe six or seven of them there, but...if you don't kill them all quick enough when you attack, they might still be able to hurt my pride."

"That may be true." She responded. It presented her with a difficult choice, but ultimately, she did not want to risk the lives of her allies. "It may be best to send as many of us as possible to mount the rescue. Several of us are already going to need to stay behind, myself included. I would like you to go out and have everyone that is available gather up as many useful supplies as possible from the storage building. We need to assume that this place is no longer safe, so we should make sure not to leave behind useful supplies. We will move our camp elsewhere, then rescue Colors' pride."

---

Peiter gave a chuckle, doing his best to avoid showing his pain. Even so, his voice was softer, and more weak than usual. "Of course I did. I wasn't going to let you get hurt. The plan didn't go quite like we wanted. Don't, blame yourself, though. My plan wouldn't have worked any better, I don't think. You stopped me from bleeding to death out there, so yes, I'm going to thank you. You deserve it."

The lift was close to the top, but like Sabine, he was not keen on letting her go. He felt comforted by her embrace, and vindicated in his choice to attempt to save her.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Only the Cathay-raht.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

One thing I made a mistake with that I need to go back and edit was that I said the Cathay-raht was not a lycan. He was actually meant to have the scent of a werewolf.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With the fighting passed, others began to return to the main structure. Meesei saw Janius come through the door, followed shortly by Tzirret and Newt. Prior to their arrival, she had also heard Fendros shout from below that Sabine and Peiter had returned along with Janius, which was a great relief to her.

Colors, upon Gallus' response, raised his hands up and shook his head. "No no, not that kind of pride. Werelions. We're werelions. My pride, we were all captured. They've been holding them in one of their own outposts nearby, t-torturing them, but keeping them alive. They said that if I didn't do what they said, they'd execute them. I knew Ra'maranja planned to burn this place down, but I didn't know about those reinforcements; I guess that was his backup plan or something. But if they got away, then they'll at least know that I'm not useful to them anymore. They might head back there and give the order to execute them. Please, I-I can't let them die. We have to go save them!"

---

Peiter tried to keep his spirits as high as he possibly could, given the situation. They were back with the rest of the pack, and it at least seemed like everyone was fine. By the reactions of everyone around him, he seemed to be a priority in terms of healing, so hopefully, no one else was hurt any worse than himself. During the fight, he had heard one of the archers shout out something about Ra'maranja being "found out," which certainly made it seem like they were in league with one another.

Although it would have been easier just to lie down and let everyone else carry him around, Peiter did not want to allow himself to fall unconscious. Not until he was in the hands of one of their healers. Once he was placed down on the lift, he slowly forced himself to stand, holding onto one of the roped for support. His legs were not especially injured, he just felt weak overall from a combination of fatigue and blood loss. He could stand on his own, but needless to say, he was not going to be doing any running.

To Sabine in front of him, Peiter tried to return her smile. Her healing had dulled the pain somewhat from its former intensity, even though it was still there, he was still thankful for it. Indeed, without her treatment by the edge of the stream, he might have lost too much blood before they could make it back. A few tears formed in his eyes, and his breathing became unsteady. Taking a slow, deliberate step forward, he reached out and hugged Sabine tightly. "Thank you. I'm so glad you're okay." He said in a shaky voice, almost as if he were sobbing.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Colors followed Gallus' instructions immediately and took a seat. Meesei noticed Gallus' quite understandable aggression, so she decided to give him a bit of context. "According to Kaleeth, Colors is the one who warned her of the trap." She explained. Of course, Meesei did not trust Colors immediately either, but she would not things to become unnecessarily violent. She still did not know how much self control Gallus possessed.

Colors glanced to Meesei, then looked back to Gallus and nodded. "Yes, I wasn't with them, not really. I was a prisoner...or hostage, of sorts. The Senchal clan, it isn't doing as well as I told you. A few months ago, it was attacked, in force. Probably two thirds of us were killed or captured, and I don't know where the rest escaped to. The enemy has been hunting down their messengers, and trying to track them down."

Meesei was particularly troubled by this news. "How were they able to overwhelm your clan so effectively? According to the last reports of our representative in your clan, you had considerably powerful defenses."

Colors lowered his head. "I thought we did too, but they had this gas..."

Closing her eyes, Meesei gave a sigh. This was news she had been fearing she would hear for years. The suppression gas, they had done everything they possibly could to get rid of any trace of it back in Morrowind, but she had to expect that their enemy would try to unlock its secrets again. It was just too powerful of a tool for lycan hunters for them to give up on. Now, after all these years, it seemed that day had finally come. "This gas, it forced you all into your normal forms, did it not?"

Colors gave Meesei a curious look. "Yes...how did you know?"

"My pack eliminated the source of the gas shortly after I earned my title. It appears they have finally learned how to make it once more. But please, continue. Why were you with these traitors?" Meesei asked.

"Yes, right. They weren't traitors per ce. They weren't even lycans; they have this...stuff that lets them mimic our scent. Some kind of alchemical concoction. I was one of the ones captured. They made me stay with them in case scouts from other clans showed up. They wanted me to make sure they kept their story straight so they could lead them away and...kill them. Like they were going to do to you. Once I saw that you were the Champion, I...I just couldn't let them do it. I tried to hint that you should stay in the city back in Senchal, but you can see what they did to me for that." He said as he unwrapped the bandage on his hand and held it out to Gallus. It bore quite a large scar on both the palm and the back of the hand. "Put a knife clean through my hand. He said he would have cut it off, but it would've been too suspicious."

"I see, so you did this because they threatened your life?" Meesei asked.

Colors shook his head. "No...well yes, but not just me. It's also..." He began, but he stopped when a thought came to his mind and his eyes widened in realization. "Wait, you said reinforcements...we have to save my pride!" He shouted, his demeanor showing both fear and desperation.

---

To say that Peiter was relieved to see Janius would be a vast understatement. Once Janius picked him up, he felt like all of his fears were lifted out of his mind. His bleeding had been stopped, they were no longer being chased, and most of all, he now had hope. If he had survived this long, then he was sure that Irenya or Meesei could do something for him.

The pain was still present across much of Peiter's body, especially his wounds, but even so, he looked up to Sabine above him on Janius' back and smiled. "Thank you." He said. He did not specify who he was talking to, but he supposed that both of them were deserving of thanks.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Alright. I'll attempt to post quickly, but realistically...I probably won't make it in time.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Though he was not their alpha, Lorag and Kaleeth saw no flaw in Gallus' plan, and there was certainly no time to argue. Both of them started to head down to check on the bodies below; although, with the distance they fell, they did not expect survivors. Ahnasha too had no issues with standing guard. She even conjured a flame atronach, for additional protection.

Back in the main structure, Gallus returned to see Meesei sitting with her back up against the trunk of the tree in the center of the room. She had discarded the now-torn dress that had been her city clothes so that both herself and Irenya could tend to her wound. She was glowing with quite a large measure of restoration energy, though even raw power was not exactly a solution to silver. Meanwhile, Colors stood nearby, rubbing his hands together nervously with something of a guilty expression.

Irenya turned her head to acknowledge Gallus. "Alpha. Her wound it...complicated. The bleeding isn't that much of an issue, but the knife ruptured her stomach. We've mended it shut, but the silver means it doesn't want to stay that way. If we don't keep it closed, then it will burst open again, which, of course, could kill her."

Meesei, despite the situation, maintained her usual calm. She waved her hand in front of her and looked at the two with confidence. "Do not fear for me; I have survived worse. Gallus, over in that corner, in my bag, there should be potions of both healing and magicka. Please retrieve them for me. With a silver wound, the only true cure it time. The effects of the metal will pass on their own, I just need to make sure I am alive when that happens."

Irenya nodded in agreement. "Yes, this is survivable. She just needs care for the rest of the night. Luckily, we were able to put out the fire, as you can see. No thanks to the lizard over there. He caught a blanket on fire and almost threw it at the other bags."

"I was trying to pat out the flames!" Colors responded defensively.

---

Peiter tried to remain stoic through the treatment, but the pain was too intense, and he could not help but to scream. He wanted to shout for her to stop, but he managed to focus on the fact that this would save his life, and possibly even hers. He could not concentrate on much else while she was burning his flesh, but he could at least focus on that.

Once Sabine's treatment was finally over, Peiter forced himself to sit upright, despite all of his weakness and pain. His body just wanted to give out underneath him, but he knew he could not let himself do that. He had to stay alert, and most importantly, conscious. Although her cauterization was rough, the bleeding had stopped, so they could move without leaving an easily visible trail.

The pain was still intense, so Peiter tried to distract himself from it by focusing on the task at hand. He put his arm over Sabine's shoulder so that she could help him to his feet. "Thank you, thank you, but...we have to go now." He said between heavy breaths. Looking around at the ground around him, there was blood, which would be a sign to anyone following them. "Okay, we have to throw off...anyone following us. There's blood here. They'll see it, so...they'll think we got out of the stream here. Let's...double back a short ways, then get out of the stream carefully and just get as much distance away from it as we can. We can be careful not to leave much of a trail, and hide our scents. Hopefully, we can find some place safe to rest."