EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rukeewei kept an eye on the rest of the inn as he stopped next to the pack's table. No one needed him immediately, but if any of the other patrons called for him, he would have to step away fairly quickly. "My inn has been getting slowly busier. It has caused some stress, but I am glad for it. I am hoping to build up some savings before I have to do any maintenance on the building. I always like to make as much time as I can for friends, though. Especially the people who brought my wonderful wife to me."

Looking down near Kaleeth's feet, Rukeewei gave a wary look to Leaps. "So, he is, uh, trained properly, right? I know this is The Wamasu's Nest, but I did not plan on taking that literally."

---

Najan-Ja might have snapped at Gallus for his forwardness in a private matter if he also did not agree with Gallus. "Yizan...surely you cannot mean that. You don't know what's going to happen. There might be a cure. I don't want to give up."

Yizan lightly shook his head. "There's nothing to give up on. My body should be dead. It's just the alchemists keeping it alive, and all it is doing is making it take longer to die. I'm always so hungry, always...hurting so much. I just want to be able to go to the Hist. Please...take me to the tree."

"Yizan, I promised your mother I would take care of you." Najan said, sounding more defeated.

"You are taking care of me. It is what is best for me." Yizan responded, giving a pleading gaze towards his uncle.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag raised his mug in greeting to Ariel, as all of the others also gave their hellos. There were a few glances from some of the other patrons in the inn, but they were not being loud enough to really disturb anyone else. Rukeewei also gave his greetings to Meesei and Sabine as they approached, but he soon had to step away to take drink orders from some of the other patrons.

Newt acknowledged Ariel briefly, but he for the most part was looking around at the rest of the inn, specifically at the majority-Argonian patrons. He appeared wide-eyed and confused. "There's...so many of us." He said. Seeing as they had always lived in Bruma, and now Skyrim, this was the first time they had been to a place were Argonians were not a rarity.

Kaleeth grinned widely at Ariel. Unlike the others, she had only met Ariel very briefly as they passed through Thorn, but she had heard plenty about her from Sabine. "Thank you. I hope we can get to know each other better than before. We were only here a day or two last time, right? Maybe you can show me around this city? I never would have imagined there was a place like this in Black Marsh.

After he had delivered another round of drinks, Rukeewei walked up beside Ariel and put his arm around her. "You know I don't want to take you away from everyone, but would you mind heading over to Neercana-Rei's shop and getting my brother to take over here? I think that's where he is right now. I'd like to join you all too."

---

It was difficult to tell how Yizan felt about Gallus' words, or his offer of help, as he remained silent for a while. He leaned his head up to look around, and though he still did not say anything, he did finally place his gaze on the Hist tree that towered over the district.

"Yes...she wouldn't want me to suffer." Yizan muttered to himself before speaking up more clearly. "Aunt, uncle, I want to go to the Hist tree."

Najan-Ja gave an uncertain glance towards the sky. "Yizan-Lei...it is getting late. We should really get inside; I don't like being outside around here at night. I'll take you to the tree in the morning."

Yizan shook his head slowly. "I don't want to go inside anymore. I don't want to...hurt anymore. I just want to let go. Please take me to the tree."

The meaning of Yizan's request was easy enough to see, and it almost immediately caused his aunt to burst into tears and lean onto her husband's shoulder. As for Najan, he stood speechless and uncertain.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Certainly." Meesei answered, nodding in agreement. "And aside from all of the matters of business, I am sure the others would like to catch up with you as well."

Once Ariel had time to close up the shop completely, she led the way to Rukeewei's inn. It was a fairly short distance, given that it was in the same district. Not everything in the city was exactly as Meesei remembered, but the inn itself was familiar enough. There was perhaps a bit more wear on the wood from water, which would require some maintenance in the next few years. It was nothing unusual compared to the other buildings around it, so it likely was not enough of a problem for business to be a priority.

Stepping inside, the inn appeared to be about half-full at the moment, including Meesei's pack. By this point, they had packed away their supplies into the rooms they had rented and were now simply enjoying the time they now had to relax in the inn's main room. Lorag in particular was enjoying the ale he had purchased. Rukeewei was behind the counter, giving the occasional nervous glance to Leaps curled up on the floor next to Kaleeth's leg. Though, his attention immediately went to Ariel as soon as she entered with Meesei and Sabine in tow. "Hello, dear. I see you closed up early. I wish I could do the same. Actually, I will if I can get my brother in here to take over."

---

"It's my fate." Yizan answered confidently. "Doesn't matter if it happens now, or a hundred years from now, my soul will return to them. My soul will get to swim in their waters, to be a part of what connects every Saxhleel, then I'll be hatched again. The body doesn't last, but our souls do. We are always connected to each other, to the Hist. It doesn't matter where or when we are. My body is going to die, but I'll be fine."

Yizan leaned his head back against the root. He closed his eyes, though it did not hide the few tears he started to shed. "I wish my mother was still part of us. I wish she was with the Hist. She loved me more than anyone ever could. But...I know I've had many more mothers and many more fathers through my lives, and I'll have many more. Maybe I won't ever have anyone as good as her, but I can't help her now. I just...I feel like it's time for me to let go."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Do you happen to remember the description of Rukeewei and his brother? That was before I started taking notes.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"If it is any comfort, we do not have to leave immediately, or anything of that nature." Meesei added. "In coming here, I did not plant that it would be simple or easy for you to just leave the life you have, even temporarily. I know it will take some time to deal with the city government, and make arrangements for your businesses' continued operation. I cannot justify stretching out our stay here for too long, but I believe we can remain for as long as is needed to leave on terms you would find agreeable. You should have time to present this to Rukeewei in whatever way you think would be best. I of course would help you explain the situation if you like." She offered.

---

Yizan gave a subtle, but clear smile. "There isn't any choice to make. I'm never as warm and comfortable as I am when I hear their voice in my mind. It's always there to comfort me, and it's even more pleasant when I can come to the Hist like this. I hate that I can't walk or move around, and the hunger is just so...painful sometimes. But I don't feel like I have to be afraid. I...I'm not going to get better, but I'm not afraid of that."

Opening his eyes, Yizan made a concentrated effort to lift up his head slightly and look at Gallus more directly. "Do you know what happens when an Argonian dies?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei simply focused on approaching each problem as it was presented. There were, of course, many, many details that Ariel would need to consider, and Meesei had to be prepared to offer advice on all of them. "Well, as I said, you would not need to remain with us forever. It would be prudent to share resources and collaborate directly with the others who have been studying the poison, but if that does not produce results after enough time, then you will likely be able to work at least mostly as well from here in Thorn, with communication through one of the local clans. You could give Rukeewei a limit of, say, a year for how long you two would be away. If you needed to provide an explanation to others, you could say that your friends have given you the opportunity to travel Tamriel for a year. As a...vacation. It is the kind of travel that those with wealth sometimes undertake, so I am sure anyone that knows you would understand why it would be an opportunity you would not want to pass over."

"As for his brother." Meesei continued, bringing her hand up to her chin. "He helps to run the inn, so I would assume he would take over in the interim. He does not need to know all of the details, but we could tell him that this is an opportunity for the both of you to make a great deal of coin. Presenting it as a business venture to him may be more successful than styling it as a vacation. Regardless, the coin I can provide should be able to handle hiring someone to help work at the inn, not to mention the profits that his business already makes."

---

Yizan did not give any direct confirmation that Gallus was correct, but as he continued, it became obvious that he was. "So you can't feel them? I always heard that; it makes me feel bad for all of you Humans. The Hist is peace, just...a part of us that is as important as our hearts or our lungs. I can feel it; their presence surrounding me. It just makes me happy. Without everything weighting down on me, I feel so close to them. It is just the most beautiful feeling. I...I wish mother was with them. I wish she hadn't gone, and I wish she could be a part of us again. But I can still be happy. I feel like I don't have to worry about everything anymore; I don't have to spend all the time being worried about mother. I feel like I can just...let go."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei gave an understanding nod. "It is an understandable worry. I know that the last thing you want to do is to leave him, especially for any extended time. I should mention that non-lycans are not as strange among the clan as they used to be. Those who are trusted are permitted to live among us. Given his marriage to you, he would be permitted to come along with you, if you felt you could convince him. Of course, that would require that he know what we are."

Meesei tried to think back on what she could remember of Rukeewei. Unfortunately, even combining both of their visits to Thorn, Meesei had only been around him for a few days. "Do you think that the coin we can offer would make him more receptive to such a trip? We could also define a strict limit for how long you could be away. If it starts taking too long to find an antidote, then you probably would have already exhausted all of the advantages provided by working closely with our other alchemists."

---

Najan looked to be both astounded and irritated with his nephew. "Yizan-Lei, what are you talking about? You cannot go anywhere with this beast! Once they are gone, I can take you to the root."

Yizan simply shook his head lightly. "It doesn't really matter what he is. He already said he would go if you ask him, right? And if he's one of those werewolf things, then we couldn't stop him if he wanted to stay. I just want to go to the root, and I want everyone to come."

Najan lowered his head, running his hand slowly down his face. There was a few, tense moments of silence before he finally gave an answer. "Fine. Fine, we can go outside. You can say what you want to say to him, then he can leave." He said, briefly giving an intense glance towards Gallus. "Then he will leave."

Najan's wife slowly and carefully picked Yizan up off the bed in her arms. With how frail his condition had made him, one could only imagine how light he actually was. Certainly, she had no problem lifting him. She and Najan headed back out the front door, with Najan reluctantly motioning for Gallus and Cuts to follow. There was enough space between their home and the one behind it to give a small back yard, across which cut a large root coming straight from the Hist tree at the center of the district.

Yizan's aunt cautiously laid him down on the ground with his head resting up against the Hist root. Almost immediately, Yizan closed his eyes, and actually seemed to smile. "Can you feel it too?" He asked. He did not say directly who he was speaking to, but from the way he started to move his head, he was likely talking to Gallus.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

sorry for the delay. Only just got home for today.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei made sure to keep her demeanor confident, yet calm. She wanted to leave no doubt that the sums of gold she was speaking of were of no great concern to her, just to make sure that there were no doubts in Ariel's mind. "We have purchased properties much more expensive than your business. Taking portions of the required gold from several clans, we can pay any debt you or Rukeewei have with no significant impact to our own operations. We can help pay for an employee if you have anyone in mind that you would trust. Otherwise, every clan has alchemists, and it would be no trouble to assign one from the nearest clan to your shop. We do like to have at least one or two people in every major city, after all. While you are with us, we will take care of your basic needs, like any member of the clan. Members of the clan are given additional allowances for whatever else they wish to buy based on the work they do, and given the importance of your work, you will be given very reasonable payment. Beyond that, I will offer you, or anyone for that matter, a sizable reward for a permanent solution to counter this poison."

"As for Rukeewei, what does he know about us?" Meesei asked, her tone now more inquisitive than confident.

---

Najan-Ja crossed his arms, still remaining quite defensive of Yizan. "It shall not happen at all."

It seemed that Yizan and Najan were mutually ignoring one another, as Yizan did not seem to react at all to his uncle. Rather, he closed his eyes and let out a long sigh before saying something unintelligible to himself. Eventually, he spoke up more clearly. "Aunt, uncle, I want to go out to the root."

Najan raised his brow towards Yizan in confusion. "What? This is not the time for that."

"Yizan-Lei, you need to rest. We can-" His aunt began, but she was interrupted when Yizan spoke up with a surprising strength to his voice.

"I've been resting for months. I want to go out to the root now. I really need to." Yizan said before turning his gaze straight to Gallus. "Will you go to the root with me too?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei, despite Ariel's frantic anxiety, tried to keep calm and speak reassuringly. "I have had quite a lot of time to think on all of the questions you are asking. Believe me when I say that, after all of the effort to help you claim this life in Thorn, I would not want to take that away from you. I cannot claim that it will be easy or convenient, but I believe there are ways to solve or mitigate all of the problems this could create. To start, we are not the isolated, independent pack that you once knew. Over the years, we have built up a network of growing lycan clans that communicate and coordinate with one another. To keep our clans supplied, we have seized certain economic interests and have accrued resources. Quite a lot of resources, on the scale of our combined clans. I can offer to pay every debt you have in the city. Completely. I can also offer to compensate you for your work on the antidote, and help to ensure that your business here continues to operate while you are away."

"As for the more personal problems..." Meesei began, looking sympathetically to Ariel. "...I was hoping we could all talk together and try to find the right solutions for you."

---

Yizan-Lei was silent, and perhaps confused at everything Gallus was describing. Although, he was also possibly still trapped in his thoughts about his mother. Najan-Ja, however, was much more definitive in his response. Unlike Yizan, he had knowledge of the "beasts" that Gallus was referring to. "No! Absolutely not!" He shouted before quickly switching to his more comfortable language of Jel. "I will not let my nephew be taken like my sister, not by them, or monsters like you! My sister told me what they wanted her to become for their deal. One of those werewolf monsters. But they didn't tell her everything; they didn't tell her that it would take her away from the Hist forever. That it would bond her to some Daedra. I read the books in the An-Xileel's library, I know it is true. They took her soul away from the Hist, and now you want to do the same to my nephew. I know you outsiders know nothing of us, but you can understand this: I will die before I let you lay a finger on him.

Najan-Ja stepped between Gallus and Yizan as a show of his protection, while his wife simply looked frightened, but Yizan himself was surprisingly calm. While Najan was shouting at Gallus, he had taken the time to think, and evidently had come to some conclusion. He was peaceful, almost, and looked around his uncle at Gallus with what might have been curiosity. "Is that true? Does it take our souls away from the Hist?"