EliteCommander

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

I accept your challenge.

Annabeth is afraid of thunder.

Annabeth likes greasy/oily food.

Annabeth has once ridden an elephant.

@Lucius Cypher

Forgot about this.

I think it's the first one. The second one is too easy, and since it is Annabeth we are talking about, I can only assume the third is an innuendo.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Is there any more you intend to do with each of these scenes? I don't think we should dwell on the return trip for long. Perhaps just timeskip to their return to Orcrest. I didn't really have anything in mind for the journey.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Peiter shook his head. "They just said to rest until I was feeling better. I don't really feel weak or anything. I can walk around, I just...don't feel like doing anything right now. It's hard to even think about doing anything else right now, and it's not like I can carry anything heavy. I just feel worthless right now."

Turning his head away, Peiter started showing more discomfort. "And I know you must have a hard time looking at me right now. I'm mutilated, disfigured. Everyone has been staring, and I know it can't be easy for you to act like you don't want to as well. I know you don't want to hurt me, so...thank you."

---

Ma'tanza kissed Tzirret's cheek in an attempt to comfort him, and held on to him even more tightly. "We had to leave everyone behind, but Ma'tanza is sure they understand. Irenya and all the others would want us to be safe. With all the people we lost...this one doesn't think it would be safe to go back. If it was, we would be staying to bring them back out of the fortress; Ma'tanza is sure of it. They're all in the Hunting Grounds now, so they don't have to worry about fighting enemy soldiers."

---

Meesei shook her head. "No, but the matter is far from a simple one. As you are both well-aware, this attack did not go to plan, but it could have been much worse. Our attack went as well as it possibly could have until the point where the enemy revealed their new weapon. Were it not for that, we would have taken the fortress and killed or captured the General without many casualties of our own. We all played our role in that effort, but it was your military prowess that truly stood out to me, Ri'vashi. You have a reputation among your peers in your clan as a military leader, and this attack proved it to me. The way you coordinated our soldiers during the initial attack was near flawless, and you not only held off against a flanking force, but you defeated them despite being outnumbered."

Meesei took in a long breath and lowered her head, though it was more just to get a look at her own body than out of any feeling of shame. "But, more to my point, this ordeal has, as you might expect, caused me to think on my own mortality. I have already sorted the matter of my own succession, but it has caused me to think on who will take over other roles. For the past few years, myself and my council have served to direct all of our expansion and operations throughout Tamriel. Individual clans handle their own missions and other concerns, of course, but we have been directing our overall strategy. We have talented people in Bruma, but it would be foolish of me to think that we have the most qualified people for every aspect of the war. For us to have the best chance of success possible, I need to find our best merchants, bureaucrats, mages, alchemists, spies. And for our best general, I believe that would be you, Ri'vashi. I would like for you to return with us to Bruma and direct the overall military strategy for all of Tamriel's lycan clans. It would, unfortunately, mean stepping down from your position as clan leader, but I believe you could save many lives as our military leader."

To say Ri'vashi was speechless would have been an understatement. The Champion's compliments on her performance were flattering enough, but to be offered such a position was an immense honor. Though, the ramifications of such a choice did not escape her. She did not relish the thought of leaving her clan, and for the moment, she could not think of any intelligible response at all.

Blood Act I~ Ghosts of the Past

Ssarak has nearly drowned on two occasions.

Ssarak secretly desires to rule the Esyire people.

Ssarak once smashed in the skull of a toddler with his boot.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Peiter remained visibly uncomfortable and remained silent long enough to create some awkwardness between them. "No he...I just don't...really want to talk about it right now. Sorry, it's just...not a good topic for me. Sorry." Peiter answered, muttering by the end. He shifted himself over to try to get a better hold on Sabine. He had his arm around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. "I'd rather just try to relax and stop worrying right now.

---

"You don't need to say anymore. Ma'tanza understands." She answered. Her spirits fell knowing that Tzirret's friends did not fare nearly as well as her own family. S'nishi's injuries had her worried almost beyond reason the night before, but Peiter had experienced a crippling in jury, and Irenya had not made it at all. Bheja was out of sight on the other side of S'nishi, and remained entirely silent. He was not good at comforting others, so he chose to say nothing at all.

Ma'tanza did not have anything she could say, but she did put her arm around Tzirret as they walked and allowed him to lean on her if he so chose.

---

Meesei gave a single nod in agreement. "The past is immutable. It can be a resource for you; something from which you can learn, but for any leader, the fate of those around them relies on their ability to plan for the future."

Eventually, Ri'vashi drew close enough that Meesei was able to call her over. At first, the Cathay held a worried expression, but Meesei made sure not to give the impression that anything was wrong. "Ri'vashi, it is good to finally be able to speak to you. I understand you have had quite a lot to contend with this last night. I figured I wanted to show you myself that I am alive and in...reasonably good health. There is a matter of some importance that I wish to discuss, but first, how are you faring?"

"Fatigued, but uninjured. One of Ri'vashi's pride was slain in the fighting, but her judgment will not be affected. This one knows that he will be honored, by us in the clan, and by those in the Hunting Grounds." Ri'vashi answered.

Meesei answered softly. "I know, Ri'vashi. Just do not be afraid to relax if you need to."

Ri'vashi breathed in deeply. "Of course."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I'm glad she improved. I know how important the Champion is to you, and she has been nothing but kind to me as well. Really, I don't know how well any of us would be faring without her. She is like...a symbol. She's unquestionably our leader, she's powerful, and she's accomplished a lot. I think there are some people who don't like her, but I don't think most people would be feeling hopeful about the future if she died, especially after last night." Peiter commented

Just as before, Peiter became visibly more uncomfortable once the topic shifted to him. "Uthri said she and Tzirret were with me all night. I don't want to talk to Gallus."

---

Ma'tanza nodded solemnly. "This one has been with her sister all night. She hasn't had a chance to...see how others fared." She explained. Based on what Tzirret had said so far, she guessed that at least Peiter was hurt, but was probably alive. "Who in your pack was hurt? Is everyone alright now?" She asked.

S'nishi, having been on the frontlines with Gallus' pack, knew what had transpired during the attack. She lowered her head regretfully, but she could not answer Ma'tanza's question.

---

Meesei gave a sigh as she continued to search the crowd around them. "You disappoint me, Gallus. I remember what happened to Peiter. Your actions then were certainly justified, no doubt. Indeed, it may have been the only way to safe him. But, he is still young, inexperienced, and he has been through more trauma than anyone rightly should. He woke only to be faced with the reality that his life has been forever changed for the worse. Even a career soldier would have a difficult time coming to terms with that. It does not seem likely that he is able to think rationally at the moment. But, it seems to me that you understand that now; I just hope he comes to forgive you. He will calm down in time; accept his situation. When he can look at the situation with a cool head, he will understand that you did the right thing to save him. But, I do not know how easily he will forgive your...reaction today. I would advise being patient, give him time to calm."

Among the crowd behind them, Meesei finally spotted Ri'vashi walking alongside the warriors, inspecting the formation. She was moving forward closer to them, though Meesei did not want to shout out for her quite yet, so she decided to wait until she grew closer. "For now, you should see to your own health, and not just physically. There will be a memorial for those who have fallen, like Irenya. I rarely spoke to her myself, but from what my pack has told me, she had turned around almost her entire personality prior to the attack. Ahnasha said that she showed genuine remorse for her treatment of her and Fendros, and even sought to make amends. To realize one's faults and work through them...it is one of the greatest examples of courage and mental strength I can imagine. It requires making an enemy of your own mind, then defeating it. Tamriel would be better to have more people like her."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Peiter started to look away, almost involuntarily. "It probably would, were it not for the potions." He answered simply, and briefly. He did not even like to think about his injury, and had a hard time looking at it. It was difficult for him not to try and shut himself away from everyone else, and all the looks people gave him. They were constant reminders of his own suffering. It was only because it was Sabine that he was being at all social.

"How many others are hurt? I remember the Champion looked very wounded when we were carrying her out." He asked.

---

Ma'tanza laughed, seeing Tzirret's question as a reminder of his tendency towards awkwardness. "No, don't worry. It's just that you've been busy enough running supplies and messages for the healers that we haven't been able to talk. Not about anything other than patients and potions. All of us are fine. S'nishi...she'll get better."

"Of course she will." Bheja sounded out from the other side of S'nishi. "Because my little kitten isn't going to let a few scratches keep her down." He said as he rubbed his hand under her chin.

---

Meesei moved over slightly on the cart. "Myself and my healers were clever. We devised a treatment. Speaking of, if you find any parchment and ink, send it over to me. We discovered a new treatment for severe silver poisoning, so it would probably do well for me to write it down. Anyway, have a seat, you look like you could use the break."

Once more, Meesei started to look all around them. "Also, tell me if you see Ri'vashi anywhere. I have something of particular importance that I would like to ask her. Anyway, are you faring well, all things considered? How is your pack handling everything?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Of all the people Peiter was angry with, Sabine was not one of them. In his last memories before falling unconscious, she was the one actually trying to help him from under the rubble, so he hugged her as tightly as he was able. "You have no idea how good it is to see you, safe and sound. Uthri told me you were okay, but...it's just good to see you. You're one of the few who actually seem to care about me right now." He said, though before she could respond, he pulled her into quite a long kiss.

Both Ma'tanza and Bheja were not particularly difficult for Tzirret to find, as they were both following right alongside S'nishi. The Senche-raht had been taken out of her armor for treatment, so her injuries were plainly visible. She had taken at least four arrows, based on the marks on her shoulders and chest. One had even struck her head, but glanced off of her rather thick skull at an angle. There was a patch of fur on her chest that had been burned away by fire, and a distinctive scar across her side from a bolt of lightning. Senche-raht were no doubt strong and durable, but the pain she had been through was was considerable. Bheja had not been on the frontlines for the majority of the fighting, and was essentially unharmed apart from a few bruises. He was walking along S'nishi's left side, reaching up and rubbing his hand behind her ear. Ma'tanza was preoccupied talking to the others, so she did not notice Tzirret until he was right next to them. "Oh, hello Tzirret. Does one of the healers need me, or can you talk now?"

Meesei had decided to rest on one of the carts, though she was not ready to lay down just yet. She had taken one of Sabine's potions, and was feeling considerably better apart from her general fatigue. She was sitting with her feet hanging off the back of the cart, scanning her eyes across the warband as they moved. There were those she had not yet spoken to since her recovery, like Ri'vashi and Gallus. If she saw either of them, she would call them over.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I don't think Qa'habi joined the warband. I think that was Bheja.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Normally, Peiter's reaction might have been submission to such an action by his alpha, but his mind was already clouded with anger, and Gallus was only serving to add fuel to that fire. His first reaction was actually to strike back, but with his now-missing dominant hand. When that failed, he continued to glare at Gallus instead.

Though Gallus was already leaving, that did not stop Peiter from shouting as he left. "You crippled me! You betrayed me!" He yelled before lowering his head and closing his eyes. After a few, quiet sobs, tears started to run down his cheek. "I trusted you." He said more quietly.

Outside, the camp was very near to being ready to move. Soon enough, Peiter, and all of the other wounded, would need to be moved to carts for transport as they headed out in the direction of Corinthe.