Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As soon as he could, Janius got up and stepped away from Zharanthixil. The Master-Hunter had bruised him on the cheek and caused a weeping cut on his upper lip, but otherwise, he only needed to catch his breath. Janius stood glaring at Zharanthixil from outside of his reach with a slouched forward head looking up at him. He saw that he had struck Kaleeth. She didn't deserve any of it; not the blow, not the shame, not whatever punishment he was shouting her down with in Jel.

When the Master-Hunter turned to Janius and threatened him further, Janius was beyond whatever shaming and anger the Argonian man had to inflict. In response, Janius held his head back a little, still breathing quickly, and curled his face into a toothy grimacing grin while looking at Zharanthixil. Janius' look was one filled with disdain. He was just as angry at this stage. Never mind that this was a village leader. It took all of Janius' patience to not lash out at the Master-Hunter. For several moments, Janius stared him down, drinking in the hate while he assembled his words.

Before the situation demanded that once of them leave, Janius spoke. "I remember what you called me when you found us." His voice started out grumbling, but increased in volume as he went on, "It was the first thing you said to me, and it wasn't to anyone else, not Meesei, not Lorag, not Sabine, Ahnasha, not even the Dunmer, Fendros. Waxhuthil." Janius hadn't learned the definition of the word since it was spoken, but he knew it to be an insult by the way it was said. "There's something else that you don't like about me. Don't deny that this isn't just about..." he glanced at Kaleeth while she held her wounded snout, wondering for a moment whether the word would be appropriate, "...'protecting' your daughter." He looked to Zharanthixil again and spread his arms apart questioningly, his voice started to rise to a demanding shout, "Tell me what it is about me, regardless of what I have done here, that justifies a pakseech to give up his honour and strike his own daughter!? I demand to know!" Janius put extra emphasis on the word pakseech instead of explicitly calling him a father or a leader in Cyrodilic, for he knew that its significance was after learning as such from Kaleeth.

After Janius finished shouting, he felt an itch on his lip where it had been split by Zharanthixil's blows. It had stopped bleeding, and a sharp eye would notice that, through the blood that had dribbled forth, it was near closing completely.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I'll be back in just over an hour, perhaps an hour and a half.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius didn't bet on Zharanthixil being calmed by his words. In fact, it made it worse. When he stepped towards Janius, Janius took one step back only. He couldn't give more ground into the deeper water where he would have an advantage.

"Wait-!" When the Master-Hunter lunged, Janius tried to deflect him rather than strike. Despite his best efforts, Zharanthixil sent them both barreling into the shallow water of the river. Janius had trouble focussing with the water everywhere. He tried his best to deflect the the Master-Hunter's strikes and prevent himself being pinned under the water, but it was a losing battle for him. Janius couldn't say whether he was stronger than Zharanthixil, but from his position, he couldn't land any strikes if he wanted to.

In a panic, he tried to call upon his beast spirit. It was there, but didn't want to come out yet. He prayed that Zharanthixil would stop short of murdering him so he wouldn't have to persist in calling it.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Just as startled, Janius looked up at what Kaleeth had spotted expecting that some dangerous animal of the marsh had crept into the village. What he saw instead would have made him prefer such a thing. Janius stood up quickly, his ankles noisy as they steadied in the water. With a look of shock and fear across his face, Janius raised a hand in front of him to try and console the Master-Hunter. That was when his mind processed the Jel word that Kaleeth-Rei had spoken. With a lowered brow, he glanced at her, "Wait, he's your father?!"

There were no rakish words or convenient hiding places this time, not like back before he joined the pack and did things like this. Nor were there any guards to run to if an attempt was made on Janius' life. He saw that possible future in Zharanthixil's eyes. To make matters worse, he barely had the energy to transform if he really needed to flee. He was cornered.

"Master-Hunter," Janius started slowly, trying his best as he could to talk him down, but keeping his arm up in case he would attack him. "I know this may not be the best impression, but you must understand, I don't mean any disrespect..."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

XD

You have thoroughly succeeded in making me crack up laughing today. I honestly didn't see that connection coming. I should have suspected it, but I didn't for some reason.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Mkay

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius eyed the waterskin, then looked back at Kaleeth. Earlier that day, he had been apprehensive about it, but here, in this moment, in each others arms, he felt as though it just might be worth it. As long as Kaleeth understood the risk, of course.

With a serious expression, Kaleeth searched for the honesty in Kaleeth's eyes. "You're absolutely sure?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Without apprehension this time, Janius closed his eyes and returned the kiss, putting his arms around Kaleeth as well. It felt better this time, even with the caveat in the back of his mind that it would not last. When they pulled away, Janius opened his eyes and smiled. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you before." he said quietly, "I was upset, but I didn't realise until after how I really felt."

Carefully, Janius lowered himself and Kaleeth onto their side on the riverbank. He kissed her again, a smaller kiss this time, but one where they were both more relaxed. He ran his hand over her arm and thought for a moment. "I didn't think I would fall in love like this." He chuckled lightly, "Well, it's rarely planned anyway, I suppose."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Did you want me to bring us to the morning, or has this shadowy figure got more business tonight?