Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Unfortunately, Kaleeth's reaction was not exactly what Janius had expected. Even though he had managed to stun her, she didn't release him until his lungs started to yearn for the surface. Once he tasted the air again, he took a quick, deep and wheezy breath, then paused to breathe until he recovered.

That was a bad idea and Janius knew it. He acted rashly and selfishly. How was he going to explain himself? Kaleeth's tone afterward only seemed to make things worse. Janius would have preferred her to be angry rather than simply inquisitive, then he could play it off as a joke, but this was different. He rubbed himself on the shoulder and pulled a remorseful expression, looking away from Kaleeth. "I'm... I'm sorry, that wasn't called for. I thought it would be funny, but... I didn't mean to make it seem like..." It was incredibly awkward now. Janius wished he hadn't run ahead of his rational mind.

Speaking of his rational mind, it was only then that he realised just how much he was two ways about his current feelings. He felt a pang in his chest just knowing that even if Kaleeth didn't mind, he couldn't be in that sort of relationship. Not unless she wanted to join the pack, but she didn't even know that there was a pack in the first place. He wasn't going to force that on her. It would be best if she didn't know, if only to maintain their welcome in the village. It was all spiraling out of control due to his own rash stupidity.

That or Kaleeth was actually hiding seething anger for his actions and would prefer not to reciprocate his actions. That was the only small hope he had.

---

Pouring the tea into small clay cups once it finished infusing, Tunxeek passed them around, to the guests first, then his father.

Sabine held the steaming tea cup in her hands and looked into the flecks of canis root at its base. While Thorantilth spoke, she blew on the tea and carefully sipped at it. Thorantilth's explanation made a few more things clear, but she was still unsure. If it was impossible to say exactly what the Hist's reactions to her would be, perhaps she could never know until she was in the ritual. It certainly confirmed her fears that she might encounter her bad memories again. Her hands began to tremble once more, even when holding the cup in both hands. When it looked like she was about to spill her drink, Tunxeek reached out and closed his hand around the cup and her hand.

"Easy now," Tunxeek said reassuringly, until he realised that he needed to speak Cyrodilic. "You are shaking," Tunxeek said slowly, his face was a concerned one, "Are you well?"

Sabine looked at him with wide eyes. She did not appreciate the attention she was getting, but her shaking hands were only making things worse. She slowly and shakily pushed his hand off hers and put down the tea before she could spill any. Her mind screamed for escape. She tried not to panic, but her breathing became shallow as she slowly stood up. Without a word, she walked out of the hut. Tunxeek looked on with confusion, "I am sorry. You do not have to leave." She paid no heed. Once Sabine was outside, broke into a run for the common hut.

Tunxeek stood by the door as he watched Sabine run away. He had confused guilt pasted all over his face. He turned his head to his father and Meesei. "I don't know what I did. I... she just panicked. What should I do?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius quietly repeated the correct words to try and remember them, "It would be my blea-"

Then everything was water. It was all such a complete surprise that it took a moment for his eyes to adjust and see Kaleeth pinning him to the riverbed with that mischievous grin of hers. He didn't quite need a breath just yet, so he simply looked back at her for a moment. His shocked expression curled into a daring smile. He didn't even think, he just pushed his head forward and kissed her into her grin. It was more with the purpose of embarrassing her enough to get her off him, but he would be lying if he claimed that he didn't want to kiss her.

---

It was disappointing to Sabine that she couldn't know what the other two rituals were, but at least Thorantilth answered her original question. Knowing the final ritual was something that piqued Sabine's interest though. She only knew that it had something to do with connecting to the Hist. if it was anything like The Lost Communion book from the trial, then it would just include drinking Hist sap, but Sabine wanted a clearer answer.

"Tell me about the ritual." Sabine looked up at Thorantilth for this one.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"It woult be pleazurable." Janius repeated without complete success, "Hmm. I enjoy hunting, but yes, hunting with you would make me feel good." He smiled at the simplicity of the words used. Even though Janius had a long road ahead if he wanted to bring his Jel up to the level of Kaleeth's Cyrodilic, he also liked the idea of teaching one another. "Id would be bleazurable," He replied with a smile, somehow butchering the pronunciation even more the second time.

"I have not helped anyone with a language before. Where did you want to start?" Janius asked after a moment, looking to the sky again, "We could just keep talking if you like. And ask questions to make the words clear?"

---

Tunxeek nodded and crept inside. The canis root tea was the expensive kind, but it was understandable that father would want some brewed for guests. As the others talked, Tunxeek poured water into a small kettle and took it outside to set it over a fire.

Again, Sabine nodded, joining Thorantilth on the mat and staring at the space on the floor inbetween them. While they were in the village, there were no pressing tasks that she had, so she gravitated towards staying for tea. It was not often that she got good ingredients for tea, or the time to make it herself on the road unless it was for medicinal purposes. There was a small debate in Sabine's mind as to whether she wanted to talk. In the end there were a few things that she knew she couldn't work out on her own. "How many more trials?" She asked, still not looking at Thorantilth directly. It was toned more like a statement than a question, but Sabine didn't normally inquire about things vocally.

Tunxeek joined them shortly while he waited for the water to boil. It would take a few more minutes yet. He smiled at Ariel and Sabine, trying to be friendly but still feeling out of place.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Aaaand sleep time. G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius quietly laughed with a hint of nervousness at Kaleeth's... threat. With how well the hunters hid themselves when the pack first approached the village, Janius had no doubt that Kaleeth would succeed in ambushing him in some capacity. Still, he wondered what impression Kaleeth had been given about outsiders that they would not be as fun loving as they both were. Perhaps it was by virtue of Janius being part of an... abnormal group. Or perhaps Fendros was right; the scars have run deep for such a long time now that it would be another era at least before they healed. Especially in isolated villages.

"It would be a pleasure to hunt with you tomorrow morning." Janius replied, this time keeping his speech slower for her, "Who knows? We might find your wamasu if we are lucky." With more subdued movements, Janius lowered himself into the water and leaned back to float as well. He looked up at the sky as it began to tint a bright orange-pink, then looked over at Kaleeth. "How do I say, 'it would be my pleasure' in Jel?" Janius asked.

---

Somehow, just the mention of the ritual quietened Sabine again. Not that she had much that she wanted to respond to Thorantilth with. His words made sense, Sabine just wondered if she would be able to apply the lessons as Thorantilth had said.

"Um, father," a quiet Argonian voice sounded from the door of the hut. The three turned to see Tunxeek poking his head through cautiously. Evidently he did not want to disturb any rituals in progress, but there appeared to just be discussion at this point. "Shaleer-Za says everything will be ready by morning." His voice was soft. In the time he was away he surmised that perhaps it was shyness that kept the Breton girl quiet. He didn't want to exacerbate it by speaking loudly. "Uhm, is the first trial finished? I can make tea if you like."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Cool beans.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Hey! You're posting earlier than usual this day! :D

Now I have to decide whether to stay up until three o'clock or not. Hmm... I'll stick around for -one- more post and see how I feel.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It was suitably challenging to try and catch Kaleeth in the water. Janius persisted with futility for so long that he was nearing the point of giving up. Fortunately, Kaleeth-Rei had underestimated him after a while and Janius found an opportunity. His arm shot through the water and snatched Kaleeth firmly by the tail. Anchoring himself on the riverbed to the best of his ability, he stopped her forward motion dead and reached with his other hand, grabbing her by the leg. At this point, he pulled her back towards him through the water. Without her main form of propulsion, Kaleeth wasn't like catching smoke anymore. Janius followed through by releasing her tail and reaching to grab her by the arm and lift up to break the surface of the water.

He met the tropical air with a deep breath, letting go of Kaleeth's leg, but pulling her arm up high so she couldn't immediately dive right back into the water to get away. "Hahaha! You slippery eel! Finally got you!" Janius shouted with mirthful triumph. His laughing died down while he caught his breath. He lowered her arm, looking at her closely with a grin. "That was a lot of fun," he said in a quieter tone, "it's not often I get to fish for Argonians."

---

Thorantilth's question caused Sabine to look down and away. Not out of anxiety, but because she was thinking. All three of the stories had some virtues to them, some lessons that could be taken away.

"...The Fruit and the Stone..." Sabine started quietly. Her tone was slow and mumbling, but more confident than usual. She seemed to be less worried about the world at large and was more focussed on pondering the stories. "The fruit was small and simple, but it was important. The small thing, that Betzi didn't think was important, turned out to be the answer. I think."

Sabine took a breath before continuing to think out loud. It wasn't often that she thought out loud. "The Lost Communion... Jaraleet did many useless things, but he kept going. Then he was inspired by his wife's suggestion, and rewarded for persisting." Sabine shrugged, "He... he kept persisting, and experimenting. Trying new things. He kept going to his goal."

Curling her lips in thought, Sabine rubbed her upper arm for a moment while she explained her interpretation of the final book. "The True Balance said... to understand something, you must become it. You must fight with their weapons. So when you want to understand, you have to... think like them. You... you have to... see what they see."

Sabine looked at the treeminder, "All the stories. They found answers to their problems in... where they... wouldn't normally look. They... found it in unexpected things." Sabine thought she understood better now. Thinking outside of the box for solutions was something that she didn't think she was very good at. But, if it would prepare her for the ritual, she would keep it in mind. She waited for Thorantilth to confirm this before she left it at that conclusion.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Hm, fair enough. If she has been so isolated from Imperial culture then it would make it difficult to compare. Perhaps there aren't so many differences anyway. Janius thought, before lowering himself into the water.

Kaleeth was a very swift swimmer, like all Argonians. Janius opened his mouth to answer her question and instead had it filled with water as his head was shoved under the surface rather suddenly. Kaleeth was stronger than Janius had originally thought. When he resurfaced, he coughed out the drops of water that he had breathed in and wiped his eyes. Kaleeth was initially nowhere to be seen anymore. Then there was a splashing sound from over Janius' shoulder and he turned to see her grinning and laughing.

Even though it had felt like a bit of an ambush, Janius returned the grin and chuckled. She got him good. "I may not have a tail for swimming like you do, but let's see if I can't get you back for that!" Janius shouted across the water. He dove forward and tried to swim and catch Kaleeth-Rei. He knew about Argonian gills, so he figured if he could snatch her by the ankles and pull her a short distance backwards through the water, it might make for a similarly uncomfortable experience to having her head dunked under without such gills. However, if she decided to swim to avoid Janius further, there was little chance that he would catch her. Nevertheless, he enjoyed the challenge.

---

Over in Thorantilth's hut, Sabine reluctantly stepped up to the puzzle that had been laid out. She reached and took one book with its parchment companion, looking it over. The small book was written completely in Jel, gibberish to Sabine, but the parchment was something she could understand. It was probably a translation. Before reading the books, she looked over the other items. They were seemingly unrelated; three labelled chests, an axe, a stone, and a potion. It didn't seem to make immediate sense, but Sabine tried to calm down and focus. She put the book and parchment back and inspected the other items more closely, one by one.

The potion was a viscous deep orange. Sabine thought it was some kind of sap or insect ichor. Or perhaps it was a glue. A salve? She curiously took the bottle and opened it to smell its contents. It was definitely Hist sap. Fresher and sweeter than any she had smelled, but it was unmistakable.

The stone was less obvious. It was smooth and otherwise unremarkable. Sabine thought it was a river pebble, but it was lighter than she thought, and river pebbles were often much more flat. She replaced it on the pedestal not knowing much more about it.

The axe was even more of a mystery. She wasn't knowledgeable about weapon crafting, but it was not like any she had seen before. It was made with materials from black marsh by the looks, but it was different to the weapons that she saw the villagers carrying, and it was old. Very old.

The chests themselves were each labelled with a parchment that had Cyrodilic letters written on them, but not any words that Sabine reckognised. It looked like the books held the final hope of any of this making sense.

Sabine collected the book she had first picked up and read the parchment carefully, following the lines with an index finger and mouthing out the words. The Fruit and the Stone was a very short story, almost an anecdote. It felt like an excerpt from a longer story. There were a couple of things that Sabine quickly realised, however: the focal character of the story, Betzi, had her name labelled on one of the chests. Most of the excerpt also spoke of a 'Zaht Stone', as resembling a Hist fruit? And that it would provide protection to someone or something named Hissmir. It was a connection that made some kind of sense. Sabine noted it in her mind.

Moving onto the next book; The Lost Communion, Sabine read it through and found a similar connection between the character of the book, Jaraleet, the object in it, the hist sap, and the label on another chest. This story concerned one Jaraleet discovering and using Hist sap as a medium for communicating with the Hist.

The final book was simply titled The True Balance. Just like the other two, it connected an object to a name. The axe to Awas. The book read a profound line: "To truly understand a foe, fight them with their own weapons." Sabine got the feeling that there was a significance in each of the books beyond the simple connections between the objects and the named chests, but for now she saw the simple logical connections clearly. Thorantilth was correct, this didn't appear difficult at all.

Wordlessly, she arranged the items according to their connection to one another. The Fruit and the Stone and the strange plump pebble were placed in the chest labelled Betzi. The Lost Communion and the Hist sap were placed in the chest labelled Jaraleet. Finally, The True Balance and the axe were placed in the chest labelled Awas. Sabine's mind whirred, trying to work out what it all meant. She looked over to Meesei and Thorantilth to see if she had succeeded in the trial, or needed to discover more.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Mkay, cool.

I have to go to work in a little while, so I'm afraid I'll have to say g'night, but I think I've worked out the puzzle. Just got to get Sabine to work it out. :)