As they began to head back, Janius' shoulders relaxed in relief. It appeared that Zharanthixil had swallowed the lie for now. For a moment, Janius didn't think he still had it in him since the last time he had to try and convince someone's suspicious father.
Janius slid his hand around Kaleeth's and brought it up to shoulder height for a moment, smiling at her encouragingly. Apart from questions that would be best to ask away from Zharanthixil, there were no words Janius particularly wanted to say. He just wanted to keep Kaleeth reassured.
After a while, the party approached the village again. The desperate mood of a couple of hours ago was now a distant memory to most of them, but the issue of Kaleeth's new condition was still pressing on the mind of Janius. He had no doubt that it was similar for Kaleeth. The sooner they addressed it, the better, but Kaleeth needed some food and rest, and perhaps some family comforts. Janius stopped for a moment at the edge of the village. "Go and see your mother, get something to eat. I'll go and talk to Meesei about this." Janius looked at her and wanted to kiss her softly, but for fear of raising the Master-Hunter's ire, he only hazarded as much a hug. While he held her, Janius whispered to her, "Come to the common hut when you can."
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Bio
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!
Most Recent Posts
Nice to see you back Hailfire. I hope things get better for you.
I'm fine with skipping along if everyone else is.
I'm fine with skipping along if everyone else is.
"Heh, well, your call, Rareth'Jharn." Shiva said. If she were open and honest about the affair, Shiva would probably have preferred to reside in the direct company of the humans or the dirophyds. It was born more out of discomfort rather than hate. Shiva didn't harbour particular hate for them like other masulu did, the same was the case for humans, but she still lived in a culture and environment that deplored them. Besides, Rothians were generally very formal with just about everything and the years of life experience they had made them rather intimidating. Oh well, Shiva figured she would have to engage with them eventually anyway.
Shiva didn't get much of a chance to dwell on it even if she wanted to. Rareth'Jharn seemed eager to start conversation. Shiva, now with a more familiar topic, spoke more confidently. "That's right. At first, studying alien physiology was a hobby, not something I had much time for, but as criminal bands became more integrated with other races, I was given more resources to study. There are a few subtleties here and there that I am still unaware of, apart from in masulu and tempu bodies. Still, I could name all the stages of your digestive system," Shiva motioned with her hand to the others in the room, "Or anyone else's for that matter. I... remember the workings of your metabolic processes, Rothians in particular are..." Shiva tried to find the right word, "... very different in that regard." Shiva wrapped up quickly, "I can probably remember the names for all of your muscles and tendons. More importantly though, I know how to fix them if you should ever discover that there is a wound on you."
Shiva felt surprisingly welcome. It had been a long time since she could talk casually with strangers without receiving death stares. Maybe none of them knew how to read masulu prisoner IDs.
Shiva didn't get much of a chance to dwell on it even if she wanted to. Rareth'Jharn seemed eager to start conversation. Shiva, now with a more familiar topic, spoke more confidently. "That's right. At first, studying alien physiology was a hobby, not something I had much time for, but as criminal bands became more integrated with other races, I was given more resources to study. There are a few subtleties here and there that I am still unaware of, apart from in masulu and tempu bodies. Still, I could name all the stages of your digestive system," Shiva motioned with her hand to the others in the room, "Or anyone else's for that matter. I... remember the workings of your metabolic processes, Rothians in particular are..." Shiva tried to find the right word, "... very different in that regard." Shiva wrapped up quickly, "I can probably remember the names for all of your muscles and tendons. More importantly though, I know how to fix them if you should ever discover that there is a wound on you."
Shiva felt surprisingly welcome. It had been a long time since she could talk casually with strangers without receiving death stares. Maybe none of them knew how to read masulu prisoner IDs.
G'night!
Janius responded without so much as batting an eyelid. "Kaleeth was going for the water. I can't swim very fast in all this, so I had to remove it." He walked up to his belongings and began to don his clothing, then his armour over the top, though not securing it properly for the convenience of heading back. "It may not have been the best decision at the time, but she didn't get far before stopping." Janius stopped there before he let his mouth run more than it should have. "Anyway, let's head back."
While he retrieved everything, Janius didn't make eye contact with Zharanthixil to make his lie easier to deliver. The more conscious he was of what he was telling the Master-Hunter, the more he realised that there were still clues he might have picked up on that had remained unexplained. Their running speeds, the tracks, the smells, this situation and even Kaleeth running off. Hopefully he wouldn't find out the truth by the time the pack moved on.
While he retrieved everything, Janius didn't make eye contact with Zharanthixil to make his lie easier to deliver. The more conscious he was of what he was telling the Master-Hunter, the more he realised that there were still clues he might have picked up on that had remained unexplained. Their running speeds, the tracks, the smells, this situation and even Kaleeth running off. Hopefully he wouldn't find out the truth by the time the pack moved on.
Got something to do. I'll be out for an hour or two.
Of course! Swimming! Janius wanted to hit himself. Why didn't he think of that? Perhaps the water was not on his mind because he didn't immediately see any ponds or streams nearby. I was probably because he was just absent minded in this situation. He stopped and looked at the ground more a moment, then looked at Kaleeth with a grateful smile. "That's a better idea, let's go with swimming. Easier to believe, less risky."
Janius turned and continued to Zharanthixil. Hopefully he wouldn't notice the larger tracks that Kaleeth and Janius' footprints turned into, but even if he did, they could be played off as other creatures. As the two approached Zharanthixil and Janius waved when they were within sight. "Master-Hunter!" Janius called out with a smile that tried to play off the deception that may have to occur.
Janius turned and continued to Zharanthixil. Hopefully he wouldn't notice the larger tracks that Kaleeth and Janius' footprints turned into, but even if he did, they could be played off as other creatures. As the two approached Zharanthixil and Janius waved when they were within sight. "Master-Hunter!" Janius called out with a smile that tried to play off the deception that may have to occur.
Janius smelled it too. When Zharanthixil's scent came into the air, he became visibly more cautious. He cursed himself for not getting back to his equipment faster, but then he had to stay quiet to think. He could just walk out there in wolf form and come clean, but that was risky. If Zharanthixil spotted a large humanoid wolf beside his daughter that would be nothing short of a threat that he would lash out towards. No, he had to transform back. He placed Kaleeth on the ground standing again and was wordless as his body contracted and contorted back into Imperial form.
Now what?
He could say that he removed his armour because it was weighing him down? No, that's stupid. He didn't want them to corrode? There's mud everywhere anyway, it would be safer if it were kept on his body. Well, there was an obvious option. Janius raised his brow worriedly and itched the back of his head. Zharanthixil would be furious to hear it, but it might just be better than if he found out. Janius faced Kaleeth with wide, but clear-minded eyes. "We'll try to ignore it. If he asks, let's just tell him that we were looking for a place to... lay down together. He'll be angry, but... well, I'm not sure if it will be convincing now that I say it out loud." Janius exhaled through pouted lips, then pursed them together nervously. He couldn't really think of any other excuses. "We might just have to try."
Janius took Kaleeth's hand and started walking towards Zharanthixil and his belongings.
Now what?
He could say that he removed his armour because it was weighing him down? No, that's stupid. He didn't want them to corrode? There's mud everywhere anyway, it would be safer if it were kept on his body. Well, there was an obvious option. Janius raised his brow worriedly and itched the back of his head. Zharanthixil would be furious to hear it, but it might just be better than if he found out. Janius faced Kaleeth with wide, but clear-minded eyes. "We'll try to ignore it. If he asks, let's just tell him that we were looking for a place to... lay down together. He'll be angry, but... well, I'm not sure if it will be convincing now that I say it out loud." Janius exhaled through pouted lips, then pursed them together nervously. He couldn't really think of any other excuses. "We might just have to try."
Janius took Kaleeth's hand and started walking towards Zharanthixil and his belongings.
Who are we waiting on?
Someone might want to start a circle of introductions, though my character probably isn't the one with the motive to do that.
Someone might want to start a circle of introductions, though my character probably isn't the one with the motive to do that.
At this, Janius halted, closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh. He thought that at this point there would be no chance of keeping Kaleeth's secret from Zharanthixil, but Kaleeth was so worked up about keeping it from her father that Janius decided to turn the other cheek. He may as well try to keep control of the situation, after all there was no telling what the Master-Hunter would do if he found out about the pack's nature. In any case, he hated hearing Kaleeth berate herself like this. He knew it was partly his fault.
Janius placed Kaleeth feet first on the ground and took her by the shoulders in each of his clawed hands. He knelt down to look into her eyes at her level. He wished he could comfort her in his human form, but it would still be quicker to find his possessions and get back to the village as a werewolf. "Kaleeth, this is my fault. I should not have tempted you with all this. I should not have fallen in love with you, or allowed you to commune with Hircine, or even talked to you. But this is how things are: You are a werecreature. It will be difficult at first, but it becomes easier. With practice and instruction, you can control it and stave off its urges. This beast spirit may be wild and seemingly untamable, but underneath, you will also still be Kaleeth-Rei. A beautiful, talkative, sweet, and resilient Argonian woman. You father will still love you, and will never want or try to kill you. He will not try to kill me, either." Janius leaned forward and bowed his head, pressing his fur-covered forehead against Kaleeth's affectionately. "I will help you however I can. I will help to keep your secret if you wish it, you do not have to commit to any course of action yet. But please, I don't want you to die. I still love you. Do not say such things."
Slowly, Janius brought his arms around Kaleeth and pressed her against his body in an embrace that did not want to let go. After a few seconds, Janius picked Kaleeth up again and changed direction to go and find his equipment. He moved at a jog again, and finding the way to them was as easy as following Kaleeth's werecrocodile tracks back to where she transformed. If he was lucky, Zharanthixil had not come across them yet. Just in case, he kept his nose up for him and his hunters.
Janius placed Kaleeth feet first on the ground and took her by the shoulders in each of his clawed hands. He knelt down to look into her eyes at her level. He wished he could comfort her in his human form, but it would still be quicker to find his possessions and get back to the village as a werewolf. "Kaleeth, this is my fault. I should not have tempted you with all this. I should not have fallen in love with you, or allowed you to commune with Hircine, or even talked to you. But this is how things are: You are a werecreature. It will be difficult at first, but it becomes easier. With practice and instruction, you can control it and stave off its urges. This beast spirit may be wild and seemingly untamable, but underneath, you will also still be Kaleeth-Rei. A beautiful, talkative, sweet, and resilient Argonian woman. You father will still love you, and will never want or try to kill you. He will not try to kill me, either." Janius leaned forward and bowed his head, pressing his fur-covered forehead against Kaleeth's affectionately. "I will help you however I can. I will help to keep your secret if you wish it, you do not have to commit to any course of action yet. But please, I don't want you to die. I still love you. Do not say such things."
Slowly, Janius brought his arms around Kaleeth and pressed her against his body in an embrace that did not want to let go. After a few seconds, Janius picked Kaleeth up again and changed direction to go and find his equipment. He moved at a jog again, and finding the way to them was as easy as following Kaleeth's werecrocodile tracks back to where she transformed. If he was lucky, Zharanthixil had not come across them yet. Just in case, he kept his nose up for him and his hunters.
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