EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha shook her head. "No, no. The only person who has offered me eternal life was the Argonian who gave me the tome. Oh, and a traveling merchant trying to sell me some elixir back in Bruma, but he was a Bosmer." She chuckled.

Ahnasha shifted uncomfortably and gave a sigh, her attitude becoming more serious. "It's just...I think I've reached the end of what that tome can teach me. There might be one or two tidbits left, but...it wasn't enough to get me to my goal by itself. I mean, I learned a lot from it, and it helped me understand what it is I still need to learn, but I'm essentially done with it. All I can do now is try to experiment on my own, unless I can find some other source of information. I know there are different magical organizations that hold that knowledge, at least the ones that don't have a problem with necromancy usually do, but that's not the kind of knowledge they teach to outsiders. I'd probably have to study with them for decades to get what I need from them. Back with the clan, I had the time to do my own experiments, but traveling around like this I don't get a chance for it. If I want to learn what I need in any reasonable time, I'll need something or someone else to teach me. Mephala might have just been causing trouble, but...her warning might not have been meant for that time. Provided her warning was truthful. She could be trying to turn me away from something I need."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Goodnight

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha returned Fendros' smile. "At least there's that." Just as he was about to pull away from her, she put her hands on the sides of his head and gave him another, proper kiss. "Although, now it's going to be up to you to make sure I don't end up clawing her eyes out or something. I hope you're up to the task." She laughed.

Putting her arm around Fendros, Ahnasha leaned back and laid down in the hammock next to him, stretching out her muscles. In trying to get her mind off of Irenya, another thought came to her, related again to their time in Vos. "You know, all these matters of faith reminded me of something. Do you remember back in Vos when we went to the temple? When we may or may not have been spoken to by...who was it? Boethia or Mephala? They're both deceivers. Anyway, I remember her saying that a Breton would be causing us problems relating to my...studies. When we met Ariel I thought she meant her, but obviously nothing ever happened with her. I wonder if we're ever going to encounter this mysterious Breton, or if she was just lying to stir up trouble?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha scratched her head in thought. "I don't know if it's a good idea, really. I mean, I don't really know how it all works, but if your family has been praying to them, then they probably already know you're gone. If you don't want to tell most of your living family what happened to you, then I don't see how speaking to the dead ones would be any different. Although..."

A thought popped into Ahnasha's mind which caused her to pause and think. This was all unfamiliar to her, but she did have an idea of something to suggest. "I, um, don't really know how all of this works or anything. If you can choose who to connect to, or if you actually 'talk' to them at all, but...I can think of one specific ancestor you might want to contact. I think you know the one; you alluded to what might have happened to her not too long after we met. She seems like someone you might want to make a connection with, even after all that has happened. Well, I don't know what she would think of...what we are, but she at least wouldn't have a problem with me."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Yeah...it does." Ahnasha answered. Again, she felt confused, but for a different reason. She was not quite sure how to go about talking to him about his former faith. It was not something that Fendros talked about, nor something that she had ever really had reason to ask about. The closest they had ever came to that was when they went to the temple at Vos, in Vvardenfell. Even then, they did not have a detailed discussion about his beliefs before being turned.

"Fendros...I, don't know what to say, honestly. I don't really know a lot about the Dunmer and their ancestors. I did go through a change of faith at one point in my life, though. You met my parents, so you can guess how they raised me. Very devout followers of the Eight. I was in the temple every Sundas, just like they wanted me. I left that behind when I learned of Hircine, though. I prefer gods who actually show some measure of interest in those who worship them. I know the Dunmer revere their ancestors and, what are they called? The Reclamations. I've never had any spiritual connection with my ancestors before, but...if you have, then do you believe it is worth all that Irenya says?" She asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha seemed to be more confused than anything. Out of everything he could have said, homesick was something she certainly did not expect. After glancing back up the stairs for a few seconds, she walked with him to her bedroll, which was more out of the way. She was worried for a few reasons, especially at the concept that he might have actually listened to Irenya on something. She sat down beside him and placed her hand on his back. She tried to appear sympathetic, though her confusion was still obvious.

"Don't tell me that it's nothing. I know that's not true. What do you mean by homesick? Don't tell me that something she said actually got to you? No matter how she tries to explain it away, that woman is a bigot. Don't let her change your mind on who you are or aren't supposed to be." Ahnasha said.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha said nothing as she left the table with Fendros. It was a relief that the whole ordeal finally seemed to be over, but she was not in a mood to stay around Irenya at that moment. She would be able to talk to Irenya later, when appropriate, but at the moment she was only a few wrong words away from lashing out at her. Once they got out of sight, Ahnasha felt like venting her anger. She was about to go on a tirade to Fendros about her distaste for Irenya when he suddenly hugged her. At first, she was not sure what to make of it, but after a moment, she returned the hug as well. Her frustrations seemed to melt away in his arms, along with the stress they brought.

"Is...something wrong?" Ahnasha asked. Considering that she gave almost no stock to anything Irenya said, she did not understand what would cause Fendros to suddenly break down like this.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Irenya looked between Fendros and Gallus, and seemed to be overall uncomfortable. She did not especially like this situation, and felt it disappointing the way Fendros was going to live. However, after having talked through it with him, she now realized the futility of trying to change it. She just had to find a way to stop viewing him as Dunmer, because in her mind, he was not going to be living up to his cultural responsibilities.

"I can...accept that there is nothing I can do. Nothing that can be done, really. There is no point in hostility if it cannot produce change. The only thing I can do is to hope you can find forgiveness with your ancestors." Irenya answered.

Ahnasha was still angry, but at the very least, silently angry. Obviously, she did not like Irenya, and likely never would. But, she was just tired of this whole situation and honestly just wanted it to go away. It was stressful to deal with it, so when a question was asked of her, she answered quickly and simply. "I have nothing to say."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Irenya shook her head and sighed. "I suppose you don't."

There was silence for a few moments as Irenya allowed her head to rest on her hand. Her thoughts were conflicted, and overall uneasy. She felt great disappointment in Fendros, but could not resolve in her mind what he should actually do about it. Even in the unlikely situation that he agreed to follow her guidance, she was afraid that she had none to give.

"I...do not know what to say to you. If you want my honesty, I think it is a great shame what has happened to you. I think you have lost your identity as a Dunmer before you could grow to appreciate its meaning. You became one of us far too young; you should have remained with your family for so much longer. Now, it is impossible to go back. Things have happened in your life which you cannot turn away from. You are missing part of who you are, but...I will just have to accept that I can do nothing to change it. As unfortunate as it is, this is the life you have." Irenya said, giving another sigh in resignation. "Just...pray to those ancestors you spoke of. See if there are any among them who will accept you."

Ahnasha was no less angry than she was before. Irenya's words were still incredibly judgmental, and overall infuriating. She did not want to accept it. She wanted to give Irenya a few good bruises on her condescending face. However, if she could hold her tongue, Irenya might just give up entirely.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I'm a bit distracted at the moment. Some responses may be delayed.