Ariel nodded in understanding. Even if her intention was to promote a wider understanding of lycanthropy, what wasn't widely known about them may still be a help to packs trying to survive. To her last point, Ariel recalled the heavy wounds that Meesei had sustained shortly before they met. Even though she was in no shape to stand, let alone fight, she had stood up to face her as if it was nothing.
The mention of the pack's responsibility in facing the rest of the world was something that made them all quiet for a moment. There was a common apprehension in some of them pertaining to only showing their true selves within the pack, but with how many people outside of the pack they interacted with, perhaps it wouldn't be such a problem. As long as they covered each other's flaws, they would play the part of Hircine's chosen.
"Well, it's just a thought," Ariel broke the silence, waving one hand dismissively, "for now I should be focussing on Thorn. Making a new life for myself."
With the topic running aground, Ariel's eyes found the waterskin, still with some trodh remaining. She extended a hand to point to the movement within the waterskin. "What are those?"
Janius smiled and looked at Ariel, "Try one. Swallow one whole and live."
"Really?" Ariel said, now so used to Janius' jesting nature that sincerity was hard to notice from him.
"Yes, really," Janius held out a hand, palm up, towards the waterskin, "They're poisonous if you kill them beforehand, according to Meesei."
Ariel curled her lips apprehensively. Janius sounded somewhat serious this time, but it looked like she needed some encouragement.
Now finished with both of Ahnasha's feet, Fendros looked over to her face. "There we are, how are your feet feeling?" He asked, lightly brushing his fingertips down one of her soles. He didn't immediately intend to tickle her, but her reaction might give him a hint.
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Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
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Sabine avoided eye contact, but she had an amused twitch in her mouth to Janius' reaction. The eyes being put in her direction did make her hunch up a little. Once Janius detected that is was Sabine who put the beetle on his face, he sighed and chuckled, before settling into the water again. "I'll have to keep my eyes open now."
"That's certainly possible, Meesei. The few existing materials I could find on the matter were not comprehensive. Not that I had the resources to validate it myself." Ariel replied, "Researching courtship between packs certainly sounds interesting. I wonder how similar or different it would be to conventional courtship. I suppose it's a societal topic more than anything. Maybe I should write a treatise on lycans, I know plenty about them already. Perhaps it could build a better understanding of them for the rest of society, and maybe even amongst werewolves themselves." Coming out of her inner-academic droning, Ariel felt Lorag's gaze and returned it for a moment curiously. "Do you have a question, Lorag?"
"That's certainly possible, Meesei. The few existing materials I could find on the matter were not comprehensive. Not that I had the resources to validate it myself." Ariel replied, "Researching courtship between packs certainly sounds interesting. I wonder how similar or different it would be to conventional courtship. I suppose it's a societal topic more than anything. Maybe I should write a treatise on lycans, I know plenty about them already. Perhaps it could build a better understanding of them for the rest of society, and maybe even amongst werewolves themselves." Coming out of her inner-academic droning, Ariel felt Lorag's gaze and returned it for a moment curiously. "Do you have a question, Lorag?"
The pressure point resulted in a bit less of a reaction than Fendros thought it would, but Ahnasha was in the mood for games it seemed. A set of ticklish wet bristles brushed against his shoulder, which caused him to roll that shoulder in annoyance. Suspecting a fleshfly, he brought his hand up and slapped the itch, turning his head to look. There was nothing. He could have sworn... he looked about himself, then smiled and reached back into the water. After fishing around the mirk, he found Ahnasha's tail and lifted it out of the water. "You..." Fendros looked at Ahnasha with a smile and an annoyed squint. He let go of her tail and flicked the surface of the water to splash her a little, before moving onto her other foot.
Thinking on this new information for a moment, Janius took a deep breath inward and and held it for a while. He breathed out very slowly through his nose before he had anything to say. "Seems like a bit much effort. And risky." Janius concluded, he shrugged, "Good to know, though." His smile returned, "A bit less depressing."
"Actually, to be more specific, lycanthropy is transmitted through transfer of fluids into the recipient's blood." Ariel appeared on the shore of the pond with Sabine. Ariel was content to take off her shoes and dip her feet into the water, while Sabine was wading in to cool off. Ariel had been listening in since she was in earshot, which was enough to get the subject. "The fluids can infect if they are ingested, or make contact with an open wound, most commonly, but bedding transfers similar diseases. From what I researched on lycanthropy with Sabine and otherwise, the disease behaved as such. It's incredibly quick, however, especially through wounds. It would require a very strong potion to cure it before the first transformation. Resistance is likely the best way, as Meesei mentioned."
Janius lifted his head as his interest was piqued. "And how easy would it be to find or make such a potion?" Janius asked.
Ariel dipped her head to one side for a moment. "It might be a little expensive, not too difficult to make if you have the ingredients. The real trouble would be drinking it. The last time I had to take one was when I... mishandled some of Sabine's blood. It was like drinking a pint of sour milk mixed with ground pork. Consider yourself lucky if you can convince anyone to drink that."
Sighing with resignation, Janius dipped his head back again and closed his eyes. "You know what? Forget it all." Janius waved his arms up on front of him, giving up, "I can abstain for a little longer." He flashed a half-smile, "Perhaps with this war, we might meet some other werewolf packs. Perhaps we could 'socialise'." He held up one hand with his palm raised, "Who wouldn't want to get to know a member of the pack lead by the champion of Hircine herself? Such a strong, brave werewolf would make any other she-wolf swoo-oAH!" Janius suddenly splashed his hand out of the water and brushed off the beetle that had been placed on his head by Sabine while he had his eyes closed. The rest of the pack had to stifle their sniggering while Sabine did this. Janius stood upright and looked around, breathing quickly. Sabine had already disappeared under the water and had swum to shore. The rest of the pack laughed heartily.
Fendros wasn't about to dob her in, but it was odd that Sabine would be the one pulling pranks.
Thinking on this new information for a moment, Janius took a deep breath inward and and held it for a while. He breathed out very slowly through his nose before he had anything to say. "Seems like a bit much effort. And risky." Janius concluded, he shrugged, "Good to know, though." His smile returned, "A bit less depressing."
"Actually, to be more specific, lycanthropy is transmitted through transfer of fluids into the recipient's blood." Ariel appeared on the shore of the pond with Sabine. Ariel was content to take off her shoes and dip her feet into the water, while Sabine was wading in to cool off. Ariel had been listening in since she was in earshot, which was enough to get the subject. "The fluids can infect if they are ingested, or make contact with an open wound, most commonly, but bedding transfers similar diseases. From what I researched on lycanthropy with Sabine and otherwise, the disease behaved as such. It's incredibly quick, however, especially through wounds. It would require a very strong potion to cure it before the first transformation. Resistance is likely the best way, as Meesei mentioned."
Janius lifted his head as his interest was piqued. "And how easy would it be to find or make such a potion?" Janius asked.
Ariel dipped her head to one side for a moment. "It might be a little expensive, not too difficult to make if you have the ingredients. The real trouble would be drinking it. The last time I had to take one was when I... mishandled some of Sabine's blood. It was like drinking a pint of sour milk mixed with ground pork. Consider yourself lucky if you can convince anyone to drink that."
Sighing with resignation, Janius dipped his head back again and closed his eyes. "You know what? Forget it all." Janius waved his arms up on front of him, giving up, "I can abstain for a little longer." He flashed a half-smile, "Perhaps with this war, we might meet some other werewolf packs. Perhaps we could 'socialise'." He held up one hand with his palm raised, "Who wouldn't want to get to know a member of the pack lead by the champion of Hircine herself? Such a strong, brave werewolf would make any other she-wolf swoo-oAH!" Janius suddenly splashed his hand out of the water and brushed off the beetle that had been placed on his head by Sabine while he had his eyes closed. The rest of the pack had to stifle their sniggering while Sabine did this. Janius stood upright and looked around, breathing quickly. Sabine had already disappeared under the water and had swum to shore. The rest of the pack laughed heartily.
Fendros wasn't about to dob her in, but it was odd that Sabine would be the one pulling pranks.
Fendros snorted in response to Ahnasha. Though he played it off, he felt slightly insulted by the insinuation that he would employ a whore. To get back at her, he pressed a pressure point on Ahnasha's foot for a moment while cheekily smiling. His intention was to be more playful than hurtful. His brother would use the same pressure point on him to wake him up in the mornings if he slept in. Releasing the pressure point and continuing the rub, he responded properly, "I don't think so, Ahna."
On the other hand, Janius looked over to Ahnasha with a high brow at her claim. "Jealous? Come now, surely I've been sharing my fantasies about acquaintances in my former life with the pack before you and Fendros were together. Before Fendros was in the pack, even." Janius looked up and closed his eyes as he floated in the water some more, "A man has needs. And life with the pack, while superior, doesn't quite present as much opportunity as it did back in Bravil." Janius' tone was very matter-of-fact, but some defensiveness could be detected. "Anyway, Ariel told me a while ago a good reason not to visit any whorehouses. Not sure if what she said was just a sujamma-clouded memory though..."
"And what reason was that?" Fendros asked sarcastically, as if wondering what magic words it took to change his mind about such seedy establishments.
"Well..." Janius frowned, his tone becoming somewhat disappointed, "Apparently, a lycan might infect someone by bedding them."
Fendros raised an eyebrow and looked to Meesei. He genuinely did not know this fact. "Is that true?" he asked.
On the other hand, Janius looked over to Ahnasha with a high brow at her claim. "Jealous? Come now, surely I've been sharing my fantasies about acquaintances in my former life with the pack before you and Fendros were together. Before Fendros was in the pack, even." Janius looked up and closed his eyes as he floated in the water some more, "A man has needs. And life with the pack, while superior, doesn't quite present as much opportunity as it did back in Bravil." Janius' tone was very matter-of-fact, but some defensiveness could be detected. "Anyway, Ariel told me a while ago a good reason not to visit any whorehouses. Not sure if what she said was just a sujamma-clouded memory though..."
"And what reason was that?" Fendros asked sarcastically, as if wondering what magic words it took to change his mind about such seedy establishments.
"Well..." Janius frowned, his tone becoming somewhat disappointed, "Apparently, a lycan might infect someone by bedding them."
Fendros raised an eyebrow and looked to Meesei. He genuinely did not know this fact. "Is that true?" he asked.
At the last moment, the guard that was about to finish Tyme fell backwards where he stood, two small splashes of blood were thrown from the back of his head. Sara glanced to see where the shots had come from and saw Mal aiming down a smoking rifle. Some words were exchanged that Sara frankly thought could have waited.
The sounds of struggle from the direction of their apparent commander took Sara's attention next. Sara moved to engage the guard that had wounded her, but the guard was able to defend himself. At least the commander was out of immediate danger. As Sara and the guard circled each other and exchanged blows, there was yet another strange event. At first Sara thought that the farmboy, Red, had lost it completely as he ran forward, but then some strange power streamed from his bracelet and flowed into the injured members of the group, healing their wounds. Is that what these bracelets are for? How did he do that?
There was no time to think, Sara and this guard continued to clash. As far as skills with a sword, they were virtually equally matched. She wished she had her halberd, then she could really exploit this bastard's weaknesses. Thankfully, for risk of hitting their allies, they weren't attracting too much gunfire as they clashed. Just as the guard began to get the upper hand, he brought a wide slash to bear on Sara, who's only possible reaction was to block it directly. Their swords never met, however, as Tyme intercepted the blade and gave Sara a perfect opening to cut into the guard's neck. "Thanks for the assist," She said, before moving on to other targets. It seemed like there were more guards coming out of nowhere. They just needed to cut their way through.
The sounds of struggle from the direction of their apparent commander took Sara's attention next. Sara moved to engage the guard that had wounded her, but the guard was able to defend himself. At least the commander was out of immediate danger. As Sara and the guard circled each other and exchanged blows, there was yet another strange event. At first Sara thought that the farmboy, Red, had lost it completely as he ran forward, but then some strange power streamed from his bracelet and flowed into the injured members of the group, healing their wounds. Is that what these bracelets are for? How did he do that?
There was no time to think, Sara and this guard continued to clash. As far as skills with a sword, they were virtually equally matched. She wished she had her halberd, then she could really exploit this bastard's weaknesses. Thankfully, for risk of hitting their allies, they weren't attracting too much gunfire as they clashed. Just as the guard began to get the upper hand, he brought a wide slash to bear on Sara, who's only possible reaction was to block it directly. Their swords never met, however, as Tyme intercepted the blade and gave Sara a perfect opening to cut into the guard's neck. "Thanks for the assist," She said, before moving on to other targets. It seemed like there were more guards coming out of nowhere. They just needed to cut their way through.
Lorag's reaction was something that Fendros and Janius also laughed along with. Hopefully he was just shocked and not paralysed by the poison.
"Of course," Fendros said, wrapping his hands around one of Ahnasha's feet and rubbing the sole to relieve it. Her feet were far more calloused than any other feet that he had touched. That was to be expected though; when Fendros himself joined the pack, there was so much walking in his bare feet that it barely took a week before the skin on his feet similarly hardened.
When Meesei asked about inns, there was a short moment of quiet, then in unison Janius and Fendros both said "Yes." They looked at each other for a moment, then Fendros gestured for Janius to continue. "It's quite simple, Meesei, especially if it's the same as with Cyrodiil." Janius explained, "You ask the innkeeper if there are any lodgings available for a group of seven, and if they have anything available, he'll give you a price. You pay the gold upfront and then he'll show us to our rooms. From then on, we're allowed to use those rooms how we see fit until the next day. Oh, also-" He raised a finger, "If anything is damaged or missing from the room during the time we're in it, we would need to pay for it to be replaced."
It was an apt enough explanation, though Fendros thought it strange how anyone wouldn't know about inns. Especially Meesei, who seemed to know so much about everything else.
A smile formed on Janius' face as he continued. "They can also provide freshly cooked meals, drink, and on occasion company, if you will. All separately bought, of course." Janius held his arms up, curling inwards as if he was holding a couple of invisible barrels to his chest. "My hometown's inn has the greatest roast beef you ever could have tasted. Ample, marinated... tender..." Janius' fingers began to flex in their position above the water.
Whether or not Janius' rather severe euphemisms were apparent to the rest of the pack, Fendros couldn't help but laugh. "Alright Janius, don't give us too much information." he said, before looking to Meesei, "Don't worry, they're generally not whorehouses." If Fendros were honest, the only times he had used the rooms of an inn was the one time he went to the Imperial City with his family, and during certain... prolific nights in his hometown of Cheydinhal. At least they weren't whores, from what he could remember anyway. It seemed so long ago now. "I'm surprised that you haven't dealt with any inns before, Meesei. Had you really been camping this entire time?"
"Of course," Fendros said, wrapping his hands around one of Ahnasha's feet and rubbing the sole to relieve it. Her feet were far more calloused than any other feet that he had touched. That was to be expected though; when Fendros himself joined the pack, there was so much walking in his bare feet that it barely took a week before the skin on his feet similarly hardened.
When Meesei asked about inns, there was a short moment of quiet, then in unison Janius and Fendros both said "Yes." They looked at each other for a moment, then Fendros gestured for Janius to continue. "It's quite simple, Meesei, especially if it's the same as with Cyrodiil." Janius explained, "You ask the innkeeper if there are any lodgings available for a group of seven, and if they have anything available, he'll give you a price. You pay the gold upfront and then he'll show us to our rooms. From then on, we're allowed to use those rooms how we see fit until the next day. Oh, also-" He raised a finger, "If anything is damaged or missing from the room during the time we're in it, we would need to pay for it to be replaced."
It was an apt enough explanation, though Fendros thought it strange how anyone wouldn't know about inns. Especially Meesei, who seemed to know so much about everything else.
A smile formed on Janius' face as he continued. "They can also provide freshly cooked meals, drink, and on occasion company, if you will. All separately bought, of course." Janius held his arms up, curling inwards as if he was holding a couple of invisible barrels to his chest. "My hometown's inn has the greatest roast beef you ever could have tasted. Ample, marinated... tender..." Janius' fingers began to flex in their position above the water.
Whether or not Janius' rather severe euphemisms were apparent to the rest of the pack, Fendros couldn't help but laugh. "Alright Janius, don't give us too much information." he said, before looking to Meesei, "Don't worry, they're generally not whorehouses." If Fendros were honest, the only times he had used the rooms of an inn was the one time he went to the Imperial City with his family, and during certain... prolific nights in his hometown of Cheydinhal. At least they weren't whores, from what he could remember anyway. It seemed so long ago now. "I'm surprised that you haven't dealt with any inns before, Meesei. Had you really been camping this entire time?"
I've just realised that the Elder Scrolls is probably the only universe I know of where a significant subset of people could find neckbeards sexy. That's a little disturbing...
Fendros simply shrugged and continued as Ahnasha opted to try one of the trodh. He couldn't see her expression clearly from where he was once she had swallowed the fish, but Fendros saw enough to chuckle.
"You know what? Those things aren't so bad, I'll have another." Janius said, floating chest up in the water, but paddling over to reach the waterskin. From his position, he made eating the trodh look almost decadent. Somehow.
"Alright, I suppose I'll try one now." Fendros reached out to the waterskin and held one up in one hand. "Look on the bright side, Ahna. At least these are easier to find than that jazbay grape pastry you mentioned the other day." He mentioned before holding back his head and trying the trodh for himself. After swallowing, which was thankfully more successful than Janius' attempt, he stood up straight and was perfectly still for a few seconds. Once the movements inside of him seemed to settle down, his eyelids fluttered and he suppressed a belch that might have been something else. He swallowed again and appeared to be fine. "You weren't lying, but I think I still need to get used to the taste." Fendros said, resuming the massage.
Over by the camp, Ariel continued to try and speak to Sabine. Her response was understandable. Ariel doubted that Sabine knew much more about the ritual or even the Hist than she did. There was no telling what could happen. "Are you afraid of the ritual, Sabine?"
Sabine paused again, her mouth twitching. She nodded slowly.
"Is that because you don't know what is going to happen?"
Again, Sabine nodded.
Ariel smiled and reached out to put her hand on Sabine's shoulder. "Sabine, you know Meesei wouldn't put you through this if she knew it was dangerous. I think you can trust her."
Sabine looked sideways at Ariel, then back down. "I know," she mumbled.
"You'll be okay, Sabine." Ariel rubbed Sabine's shoulder comfortingly, "I promise."
Sabine took a breath, then nodded again. They continued their work, but Ariel was almost done as far as what she had available for the salve.
"You know what? Those things aren't so bad, I'll have another." Janius said, floating chest up in the water, but paddling over to reach the waterskin. From his position, he made eating the trodh look almost decadent. Somehow.
"Alright, I suppose I'll try one now." Fendros reached out to the waterskin and held one up in one hand. "Look on the bright side, Ahna. At least these are easier to find than that jazbay grape pastry you mentioned the other day." He mentioned before holding back his head and trying the trodh for himself. After swallowing, which was thankfully more successful than Janius' attempt, he stood up straight and was perfectly still for a few seconds. Once the movements inside of him seemed to settle down, his eyelids fluttered and he suppressed a belch that might have been something else. He swallowed again and appeared to be fine. "You weren't lying, but I think I still need to get used to the taste." Fendros said, resuming the massage.
Over by the camp, Ariel continued to try and speak to Sabine. Her response was understandable. Ariel doubted that Sabine knew much more about the ritual or even the Hist than she did. There was no telling what could happen. "Are you afraid of the ritual, Sabine?"
Sabine paused again, her mouth twitching. She nodded slowly.
"Is that because you don't know what is going to happen?"
Again, Sabine nodded.
Ariel smiled and reached out to put her hand on Sabine's shoulder. "Sabine, you know Meesei wouldn't put you through this if she knew it was dangerous. I think you can trust her."
Sabine looked sideways at Ariel, then back down. "I know," she mumbled.
"You'll be okay, Sabine." Ariel rubbed Sabine's shoulder comfortingly, "I promise."
Sabine took a breath, then nodded again. They continued their work, but Ariel was almost done as far as what she had available for the salve.
Haha, well, looking it up seems to have given a slightly different description to Janius'. I have some edits to do as well.
Also, I need to cook dinner, so I suppose g'night!
Also, I need to cook dinner, so I suppose g'night!
"Hahah! If archery training was what attracted females like you, I should have started sooner." Fendros said.
Lorag made his way into the water more furtively than Fendros was used to. He wasn't sure whether or not it was an improvement to have his normal japes toned down in light of Ahnasha's mood swings, but a bit more respectful behaviour was refreshing for now.
The fishing was over before Janius even knew it had began, so all he could do was scratch the back of his head in mild disappointment. "Bah, I'll have a soak in the pond anyway." He said.
The manner of Meesei eating the fish she had caught turned all of their heads and caused them pause. Fendros stifled a laugh at probably one of the strangest things he had seen Meesei do. He resumed his massage for the moment, but leaned down to Ahnasha while looking at the waterskin. "How's that appetite now?"
As if not wanting to be outdone, Janius squinted his eyes at the trodh fish wriggling around in the waterskin and raised a hand to try and grab one. If turned into an ordeal simply to keep one of the slippery morsels in his hands. Once he had a good grip of one of them, he held it up to his eye line, scrutinising the creature. It was toothy, but not too prickly, or even dangerous looking. Nervously, he brought it up to his mouth while holding his head back, trying not to let the creature wriggle free, then let go. It took a couple of swallows to lead it in the right direction, almost causing him to gag, but once it was down, it was gone. Janius coughed a couple of times, and was wide eyed as the fish still wriggled down his esophagus, but he was otherwise okay. After several moments, he licked his lips and blinked. "Slimey." was all he said, not indicating whether that was a good thing or not. "Those things won't try to swim back up, right?" He asked Meesei with a raised eyebrow.
Lorag made his way into the water more furtively than Fendros was used to. He wasn't sure whether or not it was an improvement to have his normal japes toned down in light of Ahnasha's mood swings, but a bit more respectful behaviour was refreshing for now.
The fishing was over before Janius even knew it had began, so all he could do was scratch the back of his head in mild disappointment. "Bah, I'll have a soak in the pond anyway." He said.
The manner of Meesei eating the fish she had caught turned all of their heads and caused them pause. Fendros stifled a laugh at probably one of the strangest things he had seen Meesei do. He resumed his massage for the moment, but leaned down to Ahnasha while looking at the waterskin. "How's that appetite now?"
As if not wanting to be outdone, Janius squinted his eyes at the trodh fish wriggling around in the waterskin and raised a hand to try and grab one. If turned into an ordeal simply to keep one of the slippery morsels in his hands. Once he had a good grip of one of them, he held it up to his eye line, scrutinising the creature. It was toothy, but not too prickly, or even dangerous looking. Nervously, he brought it up to his mouth while holding his head back, trying not to let the creature wriggle free, then let go. It took a couple of swallows to lead it in the right direction, almost causing him to gag, but once it was down, it was gone. Janius coughed a couple of times, and was wide eyed as the fish still wriggled down his esophagus, but he was otherwise okay. After several moments, he licked his lips and blinked. "Slimey." was all he said, not indicating whether that was a good thing or not. "Those things won't try to swim back up, right?" He asked Meesei with a raised eyebrow.
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