EliteCommander

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag nodded. "We can offer to help her search when she learns about it. Might not be perfect, but it could help. I spoke to Saras as I was getting you all back here. He knows about this, and he agrees that something needs to be done about the Champion. He's had a hard time keeping people from questioning things with her in this state. Once you have the book, you'll be going to the Summerset Isles, Sabine. Saras can't guarantee that all of the propylon guards will stay quiet, so you'll teleport to Valenwood, then he'll have someone take you by boat the rest of the ways. You'll be pretty isolated for a while, so, you know, be prepared for that. I guess no one's also gonna really force you to go where Saras wants you to, but he's pretty good at these sorts of things, so I trust him."

Kaleeth was obviously quite sympathetic to Sabine. "Are you sure you want to go alone, Sabine? Maybe some of us could come with you, help keep you from having to be alone for so long? We could just say some of us worked with you, instead of all of us. It might be easier to get through this together."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Only if you think you're able." Ahnasha responded, unable to ignore Sabine's overall despondent demeanor. "If you still want to be the one taking the blame for stealing the book, we will need to replace the book with a note that you have written. I am confident that I can sneak in and steal it, but if I am the one to do it, then there is a chance that Meesei will catch my scent on the letter as well as yours. If that happens and she discovers it, then she may turn her blame to myself, and even the rest of the pack as well."

Ahnasha was not thrilled about the prospect of asking Sabine to do anything as delicate as sneaking into Meesei's room, but that would likely be less risky than trying to remove all traces of Ahnasha's scent from the letter. "If you are able to sneak in and steal the book yourself, then only your scent will be on the letter. Do you think you would be able to accomplish that without being detected?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag nodded. "Yeah, just rest. I'll get everybody back here." He answered before standing up and heading out of the room. He was almost as relieved that Sabine had calmed down as he was worried about Meesei.

It did not take long for Lorag to find the rest of the pack, as they had not strayed anywhere that he would not be able to find them after their last meeting. He gave each of them a brief explanation of what had happened with Sabine, with a few less details on the extent of how distraught she had been. He figured he did not want to embarrass her, though it did not take much for the others to see her despair as they came to Lorag's room. She had improved somewhat from when Lorag left, but there was no mistaking that she had been in tears.

As the last of the pack arrived, Ahnasha was sitting beside Sabine on the bed, lightly rubbing her back in an attempt to help console her. She had come to the conclusion that it would likely be best for Sabine to steal the book herself if she felt she was able in order to preserve consistency in the scent on her letter. However, if she was too emotionally compromised, then they could have to risk stealing it another way.

Lorag decided to speak up before the silence grew too awkward. "Guess we've got no choice but to steal that book. With all it's done to Alpha, I don't guess that any of this is gonna be easy. But it's the only chance Meesei's got. Ahnasha, you think you can take it out of her room?"

For the moment, Ahnasha delayed giving a direct answer. Instead, she focused on Sabine. "Maybe, but...Sabine, are you alright? Do you think you can help me with this?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag knelt down on one knee in front of Sabine. He started to reach out to touch her, but hesitated. He had no idea what would be the best way to comfort someone so distraught that she had unintentionally transformed. Part of him worried about losing a hand, while another part of him worried about somehow making it worse.

"Look, uh, whatever happened in there with Alpha, it don't sound like it was really her. Like it was really Meesei. That Daedra, Mora or whatever, he's done something to her. Poisoned her mind. Tempted her with fancy spells and the like. We just need to get her away from him. Just try not to think of the person who hit you as your, uh, mother." Lorag said in a voice hinting at some nervousness of his own. Though, his anxiety was at the fact that he was being forced into a position to try to calm a distraught packmate.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag pulled back from Sabine and started to move towards the door, but he stopped himself short of leaving. He looked at Sabine silently for a few moments with some uncertainty. He was not good at dealing with his own emotional issues. let alone anyone else's. But, at the same time, there was something in him that was hesitant to just leave Sabine in her current state.

"Say, um...are you goin' to be alright? I know you're afraid and everything, but you know, we've got a plan. Think you can...try to transform back or something? Need anything to help calm down?" Lorag asked.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It took a while for Sabine to collect herself enough to actually give a response, and even then, it took some effort for Lorag to be able to understand what she was saying. Particularly since he also had a hard time believing the words he thought he was hearing. "She what? She actually struck you? You!? By Hircine, what has gotten into that lizard?"

Lorag sighed. He assumed that he should allow Sabine to hug him for a while longer, but at the same time, it was clear this situation demanded action. If Meesei was far-gone enough to actually hit Sabine in anger, then they were probably on the edge of losing her altogether. "We...we need to do somethin' quick. That hardly even sounds like Meesei anymore. I should go talk to Saras, tell him everything. Do you, uh, need anything?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lorag had been trying to find some way to be useful while waiting, but there was little he could do while waiting for Sabine. He supposed he could have tried speaking to Saras, but there was a small risk of Saras not entirely agreeing with their plan, and he did not want to take that risk unless it was necessary. Granted, he also did not think there was a great chance of Sabine actually being able to persuade Meesei, but there was at least little harm in it. Or, he thought there was not.

When Sabine burst into Lorag's room in beast form, whimpering like a wounded dog, Lorag felt quite far out of his element. "Uhhhh..." He started, not quite sure what had happened, or where he could even begin to try to calm her down. "I, um, goin' to take a wild guess and say it didn't go well. So, um, what happened?"

---

Ahnasha put her arm around Fendros. "Well if you're okay with it, then I'm okay with it. I wish we could go relax, but all of this with Meesei...I doubt I'm even going to be able to sleep until we can do something for her. Hopefully Sabine has had some results just talking to her. I am sort of worried about having to steal the book. I'm sure I could get it out of her room quietly, but we would also have to make sure that Sabine's note has only her scent on it. Otherwise, it might clue Meesei in that we were also a part of it. Sabine might have to be the one to sneak in. I know she can go invisible, but that doesn't do anything against a life detection spell. Maybe we should go meet up with the others, see if anything has happened?" She suggested.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

In the aftermath of Meesei's fury and her outburst, she was left standing by the bed with Sabine running out of the room in fear. Meesei made no effort to stop her. In fact, she could hardly bring herself to do anything at all. She was frozen in place, staring straight ahead with heavy breaths. Even after Sabine had ran out of the room, she could not move. In the moment, she had wanted to give the punishment she thought was appropriate for the betrayal she perceived from Sabine, but when forced to face the sheer terror in Sabine's eyes, everything that had seemed to make so much sense to Meesei mere moments prior suddenly started to seem more irrational.

Regardless of anything Meesei was feeling, she could not bring herself to follow Sabine. She just looked down, staring at her own slightly reddened palm for what seemed like an eternity.

---

Ahnasha lightly shrugged. "Honestly, we're talking in such general terms that I could say pretty much anything right now and I don't know how much it would mean. You want me to show mercy, except for to the enemy, or in life or death situations, or anything equally as important. That...essentially covers every situation that I would kill someone in. I suppose I can agree to that, then. Maybe one day you can show me what situations you want to see mercy in. Although, on the other hand, I also hope we don't end up in that kind of situation. It's a lot easier when there is a distinct, unmistakable enemy."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Meesei was now about as angry as she had been back in their meeting. She threw off her blanket and moved herself over to the edge of the bed so she could stand up. Glaring down at Sabine, she started to raise her voice. "I cannot believe this. I hope it was the others that turned you against me, because at least that would make some sense. My hope is not false; there is simply no way that the knowledge I need would be absent from Apocrypha. You should know that, with all I have taught you. I never wanted to push you away; I offered for you to join me. I gave you a chance to start using the book as well, and you refused me. With both of us looking, who knows what we could have found? This war might be over if you had just trusted me."

Meesei was practically at the point of growling at Sabine. Her mind was muddled by exhaustion, but that only served to rid her of her rationality and cause her to focus much more on emotion. "How dare you try to lecture me. I would never have imagined you capable of such ungratefulness, such...insolence! How dare you insult everything I have done for you, everything I have sacrificed!" Meesei's breathing became heavier as the rage grew within her. The culmination of each confrontation she had been through with others about the book had made her much more emotionally unstable. Now, she looked like a novice lycan being overwhelmed by a beast spirit, though her ring was keeping her beast perfectly in check. The anger was from her. "I have done everything for you; I have dedicated my life to raising you, to making you strong and happy. How dare you turn away from me. How DARE you!" She shouted. With her outburst, Meesei reared her hand back, then slapped Sabine across the face. Physically, Meesei was weak, but it was not likely physical pain that would hurt Sabine.

---

Contrary to what Fendros might have expected, Ahnasha looked more confused than anything. There were a few moments of silence between them before she started to speak. "I...can't say that. I mean, what is that promise, even? You want me to only kill people as if it were you? I...don't understand what you're asking of me. I only ever kill for important reasons. I don't kill trivially, and I don't know why you think I would."

Ahnasha showed some frustration, but not necessarily towards Fendros. She was more irritated at the apparent breakdown of communication between them. "I intend to kill our enemies and protect my friends, family, and allies. What more than that could you want?"

Coruscant Sacked: Aftermath

~|Nar Shaddaa, Veenra|~

~|Day 3, 6th Hour|~

---

Fa took the seat across from Zora, and was quite particular about how she moved in the process. She was careful to keep her hands visible and not to move them near her pouches or blaster. Of course, she was more than ready to react a few instants before Zora if she made any sort of attack towards her. The Sith certainly knew that she was a Jedi, but there was no way she could know the extent of Fa’s capabilities.

“I think you would be surprised.” Fa answered in a notably calm, but otherwise neutral tone. “I would just like to start off being honest. I am not here alone. I have a friend with me; the Zabrak over there.” She said, motioning towards Vebra. “I would like for him to join in our conversation, but I did not want to seem like I was trying to threaten you. No, I am here primarily because I have an offer for you.”

Fa brought up her hands and clasped them together on the table to keep them within Zora’s sight. “I think I shall start with what is likely the most appealing part of my offer: amnesty. You can be forgiven for all past crimes against the Republic. We know that you were an apprentice under Darth Nyiss, and we know that you have fallen…far outside her favor. We want to know about her, and are willing to allow you to start anew in exchange.”