EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei smiled, returning her gaze straight up to the ceiling. "You know, I have practiced many forms of meditation in my time, but I can honestly say I have not heard of anything close to what you are describing. Overall, I would say you should not worry about me. With the responsibilities I have, stress is an unavoidable fact of life. But, I know I can manage it. There are times when I will end up exhausting myself and losing sleep, but it is a worthwhile sacrifice. Regardless, you have captured my interest. I am always willing to learn something new, so if you wish to share this technique of yours, please feel free to try." She answered.

Peiter's eyes narrowed into a quizzical expression. "Frustrating me? I can't think of how you'd be frustra...oh, you mean...what we talked about before, during our run?" He continued rubbing her back gently as his features became sympathetic. "You don't need to worry; I can wait. You're not really frustrating me; not my mind. My...body has become frustrated as you can, um, see at the moment. But, I care too much to try to force you into anything. Maybe to ease your mind we can just...talk about it openly? We're...mature, we can talk about this. If you don't want to, of course, just say so, but anyway. What do you think is making you hesitant to want to go through with it? I can think of plenty of very understandable reasons, but I'm just curious."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei shook her head. "For now, I do not suppose so. Everything else will have to wait until we can have the input of our Anequina natives." She answered. Closing her eyes, she breathed in a moment, then laid down on her back and stared up at the ceiling. Her mind was still racing with her thoughts and worries, which likely meant another restless night for her.

After a few moments, Meesei looked over to Gallus without the same sort of dire expression that had dominated their previous conversation. "Of course, I have a great deal on my mind at the moment. If you have any more questions for me, just in general, now is the time. Thusfar, I feel my interactions with your pack have been almost strictly professional."

Peiter returned Sabine's kiss passionately. Now that they finally had privacy, he did not have to hold back in his displays of affection. He put his arms around her, rubbing her back while they were locked in the kiss. To him, it felt like it went on for ten minutes straight, though it was mostly likely much less. When he finally pulled back, a wave of concern came over his expression. He cocked his head to the side slightly and gently brushed her hair to the side. "Is everything alright? You look...sad, almost."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Pushing the issue would likely take quite a long time, but just asking about it could likely happen if the conversation steers towards it.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei thought back to the reports she had read in the days before they left Bruma. "Orcrest? Their last correspondence placed them in a rather strong position. There were no indications that Vile had located the clan's stronghold, as their messengers were having no trouble. They had just made an expansion to their stronghold, and were about to secure a supplier for more raw materials. Taking on this many new lycans at once will of course cause them problems, but based on the last reports, it would be possible for them. They will need to ration and increase food production, but their leader is not the type who would turn away a fellow clan in need, as long as he has the means to help. I cannot say if anything has happened to them since those reports, but that is a risk we are going to have to take no matter what we do."

"You mean why I don't treat you like some of the others in the clan did?" Peiter began. He lifted up his hands between them as she held onto them, and smiled as he looked into her eyes. "You're my friend, first and foremost. There is more between us, of course, but I believe that any good couple should also be good friends. As for why you're my friend...I don't like to just dismiss people based on the impressions they give. Some people are just so judgmental, or presumptuous. I just wanted to get to know the real you, at your pace. And once I did? I saw that you are a beautiful woman, inside and out. You're kind, passionate about the things you care about, and dedicated to the people you care about. Me, your mother, the rest of your pack, I've no doubt you would do anything to help any of us if we were in need. You're the kind of person I hope I can be. You're not normal, but that's not a bad thing in my mind. If you were to ask me if there was something I would change about you, I would say not a single thing."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Nearly done with my post. Got a bit distracted.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I do not doubt that it will be a risk." Meesei commented. She leaned forward with her hands clasped together similarly to Gallus. "The largest question will be if the risk is less than the other options we have. It is not on a whim that I am suggesting to move everyone. If I could keep them here without any unnecessary danger, I would choose that option without hesitation. But, in order to successfully attack the enemy stronghold, we will need a significant force from both this clan, and the Orcrest clan. If we just moved the warriors north, it would be easier, but we would then be leaving this clan almost defenseless. If they were attacked at that point, they would surely be wiped out. But, if we do not take those forces with us to Orcrest, then we run the risk of not having a strong enough force to capture the stronghold. Or, even if we did, we may end up with far more casualties than I would ever find acceptable. A solution to both of those issues would be to bring everyone, so that the Orcrest clan could provide protection to the non-combatants, but we would still have the forces to assault the enemy stronghold. But, I would only suggest doing that if what we risk losing in the journey is less than the risk of the alternatives. For that, I suppose we will have to wait until we can speak to one experienced in the desert. If it is not too much trouble, I would like for you to find Do'ajee tomorrow morning. Ask her who would be the most knowledgeable person in the clan on such matters, and bring that person to the meeting."

Instead of running his hands through her hair, Peiter started to gently rub the back of Sabine's head as he press his forehead against hers. "Well, I look forward to seeing what you try. I'm sure I will love it. Just don't think you have to try to impress me or anything. Though, it does make me wonder what I might do for you? You've never really said what about me you find attractive, or unattractive."

With a grin, Peiter let go of Sabine, then quickly stood up a short distance from the bed. With his hands on his hips and his muscles flexed, he took a pose as if he were showing off, or posing for a painting. Although, his overall attitude was more lighthearted and joking than actually vain. "If you were to change anything about me, what would it be?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Since Gallus was already unpacking his bedroll, Meesei decided to take the bed. She undressed, packed everything into her bags, then pushed them under the bed. She took a seat on top of the bed in a meditative position as she listened to his input on the matter of moving the clan. "Yes, the desert is one of my major concerns. Running into Vile's scouts is also a concern, but I do have a few ideas in mind to mitigate that risk. We could travel with scouts forming a perimeter around the clan to detect, and hopefully eliminate, any of Vile's patrols that may find us. That would also mean they would run into the scouts instead of the bulk of the clan, so the fact that the clan is moving would hopefully remain unknown to them, even if any of them escape. Beyond that, we would only need a sufficiently windy day to, quite literally, cover our tracks once we're in the desert. But, as you said, the desert presents its own problems. Neither of us have even seen a desert before, and perhaps, we should not be the ones planning how to cross it. The word 'Khajiit' means desert-walker; their heritage originates from the sands of Anequina. You recall Do'ajee, yes? She is the warrior who was originally from one of the desert tribes. From what I understand, those tribes can be at least as large as what remains of the clan, and they live their entire lives in the desert. It is doubtful that Do'ajee is the only one who is from the desert, so there may be guides already among us who can help us to cross just as those tribes do."

Peiter too wrapped his arms around Sabine, smiling as he hugged her tightly and planted a quick kiss on her lips once she was finished speaking. "Agreed, though we may want to be careful about getting in the river." He said with a chuckle. "Knowing our luck, we'll be ambushed by bandits the moment we put our feet in the water. It does seem like that's what happens every time we get in the water together, doesn't it?" He joked. "But, yeah, I'll definitely appreciate the chance to finally cool off. Although..."

Peiter reached up and ran his hand through Sabine's hair. "I've never known you as one who cared too much about her appearance. You don't need anything to make you beautiful, in my completely unbiased opinion. Why the change?" He asked curiously.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Goodnight. I will attempt to make another post before going to bed.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ra'kalesh smiled and patted Tzirret on the shoulder. "Well, Ra'kalesh supposes that he cannot say that his pride would deny such an offer, but really, you do not need to worry about it. You have already done so much for this one's pride, you deserve a good night's rest."

"Agreed. We will have a better idea of what kind of position the clan is truly in once we have the input of Ri'nakhad and his council." Meesei responded. Shortly afterwards, they continued with the tour of the outpost. Although, other than the meeting hall and the storerooms, there was not too much of note in the outpost above. Most of the structures were being used as living quarters. The clan had two infirmaries, one down in the camp, and another in the trees, which they were shown. Since Sabine had asked for alchemical supplies, the assistant also pointed out the quarters of the clan's alchemist, in case she needed to speak with him later. From there, they headed back down to the camp below. Just like up above, they were shown the other infirmary, then the fire pits where the clan's chefs could prepare meals if they preferred something cooked. It was not necessary, but, as the assistant explained, had been helpful in keeping up the clan's morale. Lastly, she showed them to the river, then to the latrines just beyond before taking them back up into the outpost above.

As they had promised, the clan members who had volunteered their rooms were waiting outside them when the group returned. There were six rooms total, though not all were next to one another. Only two were actually in the same building. The rest were in separate structures, while one was rather far removed from the rest. In any case, they were all large enough for two or three adults, even if the beds were not quite designed for it.

When members of the group started selecting their rooms, Meesei, interestingly enough, entered a room with Gallus. It was in the building that also had another room for their use, and was comfortable, if small. There was a small table with a single chair, along with a single bed. Much of the furniture and other adornments seemed rather small, suggesting it was possibly the Dagi-raht's room. Fortunately, the bed was large enough to accommodate one of them comfortably, though the pillow was small. She found a place to put down her belongings and waited for the others outside to move away from the door before speaking up. "If you still have the energy, I would like to speak to you in confidence. I do not wish members of the clan to hear until we have a solid plan, but how possible do you think it would be to move the entire clan? Assuming there are enough food stores to make such a journey feasible. It is not a suggestion I want to make lightly, nor without a plan."

Naturally, Peiter decided to select the same room as Sabine, just as he had been doing since they became a couple. He took in a deep breath as they entered the room. It was a minimalistic living space, overall, but far more than they had been used to over the past few weeks. There were two small tables on either side of the room, though only one chair between them, for whatever reason. There was a dresser on the far side of the room, but Peiter preferred to avoid going through the belongings of the room's owner. It had a single bed, though it was not necessarily designed for two people. Of course, neither had the hammock back on the ship.

Peiter found an empty spot on the floor to start placing down his bags, and to carefully lay down his halberd so it would be out of the way. He undressed himself and packed the clothing away neatly into his bags, then laid back on the bed with his feet hanging off the side. "This is...actually kind of nice, isn't it? It's going to be a lot better than sleeping in the mud and dirt."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With Gallus' comment, Meesei looked around at the structures around them as well. "Being so high off the ground, the structures themselves would be hard to get to. And, the trees are thick enough that they would take some time to cut down. I recall it mentioned that the clan's former base had enchantments to protect against fire, but since these storerooms carry water, I can only assume that this outpost does not have such enchantments. That could prove to be a problem in the event of an attack. There are a lot of branches and leaves obscuring the camp from the ground, but the presence of the camp would prevent any sort of secrecy if the enemy happened across it. Isolation seems to be what has kept them safe. It is quite a long walk to reach anything of importance from here. Regardless, I would like to make sure the clan's people remain safe. It may be necessary to move everyone."

Ra'kalesh raised his brow at Tzirret. "This one's pride? Well, they are all certainly down at the camp right now, at the moment. Ra'kalesh would imagine they are with the rest of those who are still awake to catch up on lost time. As for where we will sleep, if there are any open tents, we will probably take those. Otherwise, we will just set up our bedrolls close to the other tents. Why do you ask? If you are feeling guilty about having a proper room, please do not. We would much rather be with our clan than in private rooms, especially after all this time."