EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Internship. I was finally able to send it in, after two days of technical problems with the online form.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Again, I...hope you can understand that I cannot give too much information, but yes, that is essentially the case." Ahnasha answered. Instead of individual packs in the wilderness, we have organized into clans. They existed well before any of us were lycans, of course, but we have helped to expand them, and connect them to one another. There are clans in every province and nation in Tamriel. Political boundaries don't mean much to us, since we all have something in common, and we're all working for the same goal. I suppose it is not accurate to say that we 'created' all of it, but we did help to organize what was already there. It's part of the reason we have traveled so much."

Briefly, Ahnasha paused and gave a glance in the direction of Meesei. "I know I have given you a lot of hard to swallow information all at once. I just think you deserve to know everything I can tell you. Is there anything I can do to maybe...reassure you that I am not lying through my teeth?" Ahnasha asked with a chuckle.

Newt actually had an easier time understanding Monderyn's explanation than he might have expected. He did not quite know why he had never seen this new brother before, but Newt did have an understanding of family from the pack. Granted, it was not a "traditional" understanding of family, but at the same time, Monderyn was also not Fendros' brother in the traditional sense. "You're uncle Fendros' brother? Rhazii is my brother, so...you're my uncle too!" Newt said excitedly. Before Monderyn could give a response, Newt had already started to hug his leg.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Completely forgot to respond this morning after I finished that application. Shall do so now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Goodnight

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I suppose I can offer no guarantees that it was in fact Mephala, but she did speak to us at one of her shrines, while possessing one of her priests." Ahnasha answered. "I do not know of any Daedra who would be powerful enough to project their power on Tamriel at a different Daedra's shrine. In any case, I was certainly aware of her nature, and rightfully skeptical. She told us that it would be a Breton that made the offer, and it was at a time that we encountered a Breton we did not fully trust. But, we were cautious, and everything turned out quite well for us."

Ahnasha could not help but to give a slight chuckle at herself and the story she had told Calia thusfar. "I know it must sound strange, everything I have told you. How we have traveled the world under the leadership of Hircine's Champion, spoken directly to more than one Daedric Prince, and created, well...almost a society of lycanthropes in just a few short years. Certainly, it was nothing that either myself or Fendros would have expected when we first found him in the wilderness. But, I believe we are doing something important in the world. Lycans, as dangerous as we may be, are also misunderstood, and most of us just want to live in peace. Meesei, myself, Fendros, we have all been helping to shape the world in a way that will make it safer for all of our kind. Honestly, I have not thought about it a great deal until now, but we are helping people who have nowhere else to turn."

It took a few moments for Newt to collect his thoughts enough to give an answer, and even then, it was a rather oddly-worded, out of context question that he asked. "Why are you...also an uncle?" He asked, his wide eyes staring straight up at Monderyn in anticipation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha shook her head. "Oh, no. Fendros had taken me around the city, including to the Temple of the Reclamations. Mostly it was for sightseeing, as that was the first real Morrowind city he had been to as well, though I think he also had more personal reasons for going to the temple. Regardless, we were near Mephala's shrine when a priest approached us, identified us immediately as lycans. Though, it was not a priest speaking to us; Mephala was using him as a sort of vessel through which to speak to us. The voice was...unmistakable. Essentially, she warned against someone in service of our enemy giving me a false offer to extend my life. Which, to my knowledge, has not happened yet. According to Mephala, the same enemy that hunts us had offended her. I was...understandably cautious at the time to trust the word of a being claiming to be a Daedric Pince, but regardless of the source, I do see the wisdom in refusing an offer of a quick and easy shortcut to immortality. Such a thing could be nothing but a trick."

Meesei joined in speaking with Monderyn along with Janius after rejoining the main group, though she particularly felt she should speak to Calia after her conversation with Ahnasha was finished. Fendros would no doubt be deeply affected by the opinions of his parents, so she wanted to make sure they left on as good of terms as possible. Newt, meanwhile was taking a particular interest in Monderyn, for some undetermined reason. Monderyn did not have a physical resemblance to Fendros, since they were not blood relatives, but he had seen him speaking to Fendros before, and he was confused as to why this stranger was considered Rhazii's "uncle." Eventually, he walked straight up to Monderyn, to the point that he was nearly touching his leg, and simply looked up at him in contemplative silence.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei laughed. "No, I believe that would be a rather difficult partner to find. I just mean someone who is reasonably similar to myself. Of course, as I said, I am not looking for any sort of romance, so all of this talk is purely hypothetical."

Standing alongside Sabine, Meesei placed her hand gently on her shoulder and looked at her encouragingly. "So, do you think your are ready to head back in there with the others? Fendros' family may like to meet us."

Ahnasha gave an understanding nod. "That is sensible. I never would have thought I would have enjoyed settling down, but now that I have a family, my outlook on that has been changing. A few years ago, I would have asked why you do not move back to Morrowind, but the safety, security, and as you said, simplicity here are probably even more appealing. And owning all of that land, it certainly gives you the ability to live as you please. Not to mention that it is a Cyrodilic city with a proper Dunmer Temple."

"Personally, I wish it were easier to travel." Ahnasha continued. "I think you would enjoy it if it were not such an ordeal. It is hard to appreciate the splendor that Tamriel has to offer without being able to see it in person. We actually did travel through Morrowind a few years ago, though unfortunately, we did not spend too much time in its 'nicer' parts. We ended up crossing Vvardenfell's ashlands, though we did end up in a place called Vos, in the northeast. It was not as badly affected by ash, so it was actually rather nice. It was the first Dunmer city I had ever really been to, apart from the port we traveled through to get to the island in the first place. That was where Mephala spoke to us." She explained, her voice carrying a surprising calm about being spoken to by one of the Reclamations.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei confirmed Sabine's question with a nod. "Yes, more normal than my attractions, I would say. Well...more common would be a better way to put it. The kind of person you are looking for sounds like a fine man, and like someone you might find among the clan. You can think about the kind of person you would like to find, but as I said, just be careful not to become too locked into that image, else you overlook a good match."

Meesei was actually a bit surprised when Sabine asked about her own preferences, though that quickly turned to a chuckle. "Honestly, I do not believe I am looking for anyone at the moment. With my responsibilities, I do not believe romance would serve me well right now. I am content as I am now. But, if you are just asking about my preferences in general, I do like someone I can relate to. That does not strictly mean I would be looking for a mage, but it is always nice to have someone with which I can further my research. I would just want someone I could relate to meaningfully. I find both men and women attractive, maybe with a...slight edge to women; again, being someone I can relate to more easily. Probably an Argonian, like myself. I can appreciate the beauty in any race, but I think my own kind appeals to me the most."

Crossing her arms, Meesei put on a bit more of a grin. "And personally, I think it is everyone else that has the strange eyes. It always seems odd to see you blink downwards, instead of upwards."

To Calia's statement regarding Rhazii, Ahnasha could finally speak with complete candor. "Honestly, I do not believe I could put anything before Rhazii even if I tried. As important as everything else seems, I could not bring myself to do anything that would place him at risk."

For the most part, Ahnasha was glad that they were moving on in their topic. She would have liked to leave it with some more conclusiveness, but they had moved passed some of the hardest issues. Ahnasha could have simply lied about them, but, apart from the issue of necromancy, she did not believe that would be a good idea in the long run. Regardless, Ahnasha started to smile. "Well, I think I would like to bother you again about that nettle from High Rock. You have to know that we are going to get those ingredients for you regardless. Since you now know that it would not be any sort of burden for us, perhaps you will find it an appropriate gift?

"Otherwise..." Ahnasha continued. "What would you say interests you, in general? I have always lived somewhat apart from Imperial society, even as a cub, so I am curious of what kind of things you enjoy about living here."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sorry, was playing BF1 with a friend, will respond now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Your emotions are a burden on no one in the pack; do not try to convince yourself otherwise." Meesei answered quickly, and a bit firmly. "We can head back in with the others in just a moment. Take a chance to collect yourself. Perhaps...just talk. Let us assume that your relationship with Pieter does not continue upon our return; what kind of partner would you think you would want? Someone who shares your interests, like a mage or alchemist, or someone who has a different sort of lifestyle? Do you have a preference of male or female, or of race? Would you want to be with someone who is also Human, or maybe Elven, Khajiit, or Argonian? I will say that you are probably not going to find someone who perfectly fits all of those ideals, but if you already have in mind the kind of person you are looking for, then it might make it easier for you to notice when you meet someone who is at least something like them."

Ahnasha still could not help but to try to use her body language when trying to reassure Calia, despite its futility. Regardless, her tone was soft, but confident. "Believe me, I understand your reservations. I have encountered those who have allowed necromancy to overwhelm them, and I know how vile it can make them. But, as you said, I have made quite a lot of progress in the time I have been training. I have skilled teachers, access to resources, and most importantly, time. I do not have to rush to reach my goal. I am not a master yet, but time is the only thing between me, and the kind of magic you are talking about. I promise I will not take the shortcut with necromancy. After all, I have always appreciated a challenge, and becoming a master conjurer will be a worthy one."

"As for Rhazii, and our safety in general, we have already gone through great efforts to ensure it." Ahnasha continued. She looked briefly at Rhazii in Fendros' arms, trying not to think about everything that had threatened him in the past. "The simple answer is: we now have the resources to protect ourselves. There was a time where we were not as safe, but now, we have a home that is as well-hidden as it is easy to defend. We have information, coin, everything we need to make sure that life in Tamriel is as safe for our kind as possible. Our condition is, unfortunately, quite incurable to the best of our knowledge. Rhazii was born with our blood, and there is no way to change that, just as we cannot cure ourselves. So, our only remaining option has been to improve the livelihoods of all organized lycans. We still have enemies, and there are still ferals out there inspiring more to take up arms against us, but we have done a lot to improve our lives. It is why I offered to obtain the ingredients needed for your cure; it really would take little effort to collect them. Most of them we have already. I know Meesei's title does bring us closer to Hircine, but it also makes us better able to protect Rhazii than most lycans would be." She explained.