Muttonhawk

The Depths of Deception

What transpired caused Shiva to stand up straighter and observe Shuo with a confused fascination. Not only were his words muddled and conflicted, his reaction to eating the seacrawler he picked out was so exaggerated it almost seemed as if Shiva's cooking had sent him to paradise. Shiva had one eyebrow raised so intensely that it almost hurt to hold it there. The seacrawlers were fantastic hangover cures, but surely Shiva hadn't prepared them that well, right? Mostly to distract herself, she took another bite of her own, taking out another third of the seacrawler. Nope, they weren't anything special. When Shuo thanked her more profusely that she expected, Shiva glanced around the bench in front of her, gathering herself again and belying the fact that she was staring again, then frowned and motioned with her free hand. "You are very welcome." She replied, her voice inflecting high near the end of the sentence.

Thankfully the episode was short lived as Shuo's tone took a turn for the more casual in responding to Rareth. Shiva comfortably crossed her arms and was able to lean back and smile again. Eating the last of the seacrawler she held, she played off Rareth's comment about the food. When Shuo said his farewells, Shiva raised a hand and threw him a friendly, "See you." When the door closed, Shiva's mouth curled into a smile and her eyes narrowed. "Rareth, I think I have just found the weakness of my commanding officer. The dolt must have eaten these as a juvenile or something."

With that, Shiva leaned on the bench again and resumed eating the rest of the seacrawlers. Within a few minutes, her headache had disappeared and her mind was fresh again. After breakfast, she wasted no time in donning her military fatigues. She doubted she would be getting thrown into a theatre straight after the briefing, but there were no ceremonies she was aware of.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The family said their goodbyes, complete with the parting gift of Kaleeth's wamasu-hide armour. It didn't particularly look like much, but if it was the hide of the wamasu they killed, Janius had no doubt that it would be staggeringly effective. Janius put a mental note in his mind to remind Kaleeth to modify it so it wouldn't be destroyed if she wore it before transforming.

The high emotions were such that Janius looked down and held the knuckles of one hand in the palm of the other in front of him while he waited patiently. Again, he tried to stay strong. Janius stood for a couple of seconds when Kaleeth turned away, then raised his head. He held no pride or smugness in his face. An apology was battering at his throat, trying to get out. "Goodbye Zharathixil." He glanced around to Kaleeth, then back to her parents, considering saying something else. In the end, he let go of his hand and turned to follow Kaleeth to the pack without any more words. That was, save for two whispered out of earshot of anyone. "I'm sorry."

Even walking just behind Kaleeth, Janius observed the way she bowed her head and held herself. It betrayed enough of her sadness without needing seeing her face. Janius wasn't certain if Kaleeth was angry with him at all, but he tried to be some comfort by placing a hand on her shoulder.

By the pack, Fendros looked down at Leaps' face and thought about it. "Well, if it turns out to be too much, maybe there'll be someone interested in adopting it in Stormhold. Hm, we'll see what Kaleeth has to say."

As if her named summoned her, Fendros looked up to see Kaleeth and Janius approach them. Holding Leaps against his body for a moment, Fendros tugged at his bag strap, then looked back to the people gathered. He raised a hand and smiled, directly at Thorantilth, Tunxeek and anyone else he recognised, and indirectly at everyone else. He decided to switch to Jel and address Thorantilth for the farewell. "It is event for leaving, I think. Thank you for...hospitality, and for Sabine help. Goodbye." Fendros then took Ahnasha's hand, but didn't quite start walking yet. Seeing Kaleeth closer up changed Fendros' expression. In her face she read his own feelings when he had to leave his family several months ago. Fendros looked at Ahnasha with a concerned expression, but perhaps it would be best to leave it until they were out of the village.

The Depths of Deception

I don't think the lag is a portent for another guildfall :P, but it's best practice to back up CSs anyway.

The Depths of Deception

The next few seconds turned into a mix of trying desperately not to look surprised or to crack up laughing as Rareth showed off her own abilities, all for Shuo to come by and mention that he had decided that the salutes weren't necessary. Uncertain whether Shuo was playing a trick, Shiva slowly brought her hand down from a salute and stepped around to the refrigerator where Rareth had checked on her seacrawlers. "Aheh, ah, okay sir- I mean... Yunyu? Er, nevermind." Shiva shook her head and slid the tray out of the refrigerator and onto the bench. The six seacrawlers lay in two rows, now a bit less offensive to the nose. "Rareth...theheh!" Shiva was still struggling to keep her laughing in check, as she tapped a finger against the air in front of her, "I did warn you, but I will let you know next time if I can. That is a very impressive ability you have there. No wonder for your specialisation."

Shiva leaned one elbow on the kitchen bench and took one of the seacrawlers with her other hand. Damn it that Rothian woman just gets scarier. "Now, er, Yunyu," Shiva would have to get used to calling him that, "I was rather inebriated last night, I found these in the Downtown night markets with Ashley, and I can't say I remember exactly where I found them, sorry to say." She brought the seacrawler to her mouth and bit out a chunk with a loud series of chitinous snaps and crackles. It was as if she was eating glass. The shell wasn't the best part, however, it was the soft and meaty underbelly. Shiva spoke through her mouthful, "I'm not sure...if the vendor was completely legal, either. These were fresh though." Shiva paused her chewing and looked up at Shuo's eyes. They were expressing more feeling that she had seen as yet, and that feeling was hunger. Her eyes glanced to one side for a split second, then she swallowed. "...Do you want one?" She asked slowly and cautiously.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

While they were gathered, Leaps-On-Elves scurried around between people's legs, excited by all of the movement. He eventually came to a stop climbing partway up Fendros' leg. Fendros stooped down and picked the creature up with a curious look. "What of Leaps?" He asked, at first to no one in particular, but then to the nearest elder, who happened to be Thorantilth.

Separate from this, Reanaseer made an appearance to see the pack off. Janius couldn't understand her Jel, but her words seemed to somewhat calm Kaleeth's mother and father. Fendros was a little too distracted to hear clearly.

It was then that Zharanthixil stepped up to Janius. At first Janius raised his chin to Zharanthixil, ready for whatever abuse he might sling. With what had transpired, Janius would understand if he was about to receive a fist to his jaw, but the Master-Hunter's tone was different this time. It seemed almost defeated. It caused Janius to level his head at him and consider his words. The truth was that until Kaleeth could control her beast spirit, she would never be truly safe, but Janius had taken away so much by now. The least he could do was give Kaleeth's parent's this much. He looked directly back into Zharanthixil's eyes. "As long as I draw breath, I will see to it that she is cared for," Janius said with absolute sincerity, "I swear it." Janius wished he could apologise profusely to Kaleeth's parents for all that he had done, but he had to keep up the cover that Kaleeth had built. It would only be cruel to unravel it and possibly reveal the truth.

Sabine stepped up to Tunxeek and Thorantilth one last time and smiled warmly. "I already said thank you, but...I'll never forget you both. You helped me." She turned her head to Kaleeth and her smile faded somewhat. She faced Thorantilth again, "I think there is something in Reanaseer's eyes. She's not so blind." Sabine stepped forward and wrapped an arm each around Tunxeek and Thorantilth both, bringing them both into one last hug. She spoke quietly while they were close, "Hircine guide you." When she pulled away, Sabine's smile had returned. "Goodbye."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius sniffed and began to nod with more resolve. Even if he had make some wrong decisions, it didn't change the responsibility he now held as a result. Kaleeth might be furious with him for letting her fall for this, and being with her might not be the dream that he had played it out to be, but he was still obliged to help her. On top of that, keeping Ahnasha protected was a priority. The last thing Janius wanted to do was hurt Kaleeth, but similarly he would never recover if Ahnasha was harmed by his inaction. The best he could do was try to prevent the situation before it happened, but if it did, he knew what he would have to do. Janius looked back at Meesei with a determined frown, "I understand."

Meesei's words didn't quite take the pain away, but they gave Janius enough focus to continue. He turned and headed for the common hut as well. "Goodnight, Meesei."

The next morning, Janius woke up tired from staying up late and from taking a long time to get to sleep. The hustle and bustle of the pack in the morning got him up though. The pack was gathering its belongings and getting ready to head out. Janius was quiet, understandably after last night. Fendros was wary of Kaleeth, but outwardly showed a relief in heading off again. The village was nice, but he was beginning to get cabin fever after such a long stay. Sabine seemed energetic, and had taken the time to seek out Tunxeek and Thorantilth to say one last thank you and goodbye. She felt a little sad to part with her new friend in Tunxeek, but she understood that she would have to leave after a while.

The Depths of Deception

"Eh, I don't much care about the ship as long as it serves the purpose. Would be nice to have comfortable bunks, I suppose." Shiva replied, leaning against the bench and watching whatever cut of flesh Rareth was preparing. "I got to have a tour of Ashley's proud human ship last night as well, thankfully before the drinks started flowing. The Hummingbird I think she called it. It seemed pretty functional, but you really start to see details in people's cleaning once you've had a few decades of drill sergeants scruti-"

Shiva was interrupted by Shuo's voice at the door. She snapped around to confirm that it was her CO, then stood to attention. "I have, sir," Shiva said clearly. She didn't risk giving anything away in her stance, but she swore to Shen, if this 5th echelon took her seacrawlers after spending an hour in the night markets hunting them down, he was going to pay, one way or another.

The Depths of Deception

It seems like there's some lag between hitting the submit button and the post appearing. Probably best to copy and paste your post into notepad or something before submitting, then waiting five minutes or so before trying again.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius reached his hand out and opened his mouth to say something, but he had no words. He let his fingers curl closed and he lowered his arm. He looked on at Kaleeth and stood still. In the space of a minute, things had completely turned around in his mind. He could have respected Kaleeth's decision to stay, but now she was forced into going down the path she hated. The weight of the guilt was a hammer to Janius' stomach. To think that Hircine would force such a fate upon Kaleeth was sickening, but Kaleeth's words had hit him personally.

He turned around and bowed his head, blinking a few times with a face that desperately held back emotion, if only to seem strong enough to deal with this. "I...I have really made a mess this time, haven't I?" He said gravely. He couldn't quite look up at Meesei while he continued. "Meesei. These past few days, I've realised just how many mistakes I have made. I've been selfish, unthinking. I've questioned whether I should have any more input with Kaleeth's life for her own good." Janius paused, swallowed back his feelings, took a breath, and looked up at Meesei with a face that was trying to be stoic. "Right now though, helping Kaleeth...am I doing the right thing?"

The Depths of Deception

Cheers.

I'd better not stay up until two in the morning tonight though. G'night!