There was no holding back in the previous race, and Fendros didn't intend to hold back here. Once they were off, though, Ahnasha quickly proved that her own agility and coordination had not been lost at all. She flew through the trees as if she was weightless. While Fendros was able to keep up at least some of the way, he took one pause at the halfway point to second-guess himself, which was enough for Ahnasha to shoot ahead without any hope of catching her. Far from giving up then, Fendros redoubled his efforts. He tried to jump from branch to branch with less time and effort dedicated to judging trajectory or the strength of the following branches. It looked as if he was gaining some ground, but he couldn't get to Ahnasha before she reached the end of the makeshift course.
Even if he could have caught up, Fendros' own overeagerness caused him to misjudge the thickness of one of the final branches, causing him to curse as it bent and broke under his weight. He managed to grab another branch to slow his fall, but that broke as well as he fell, scrambling feet first, into the water below with a loud splash. He broke the surface with a deep breath and a sore tail bone, looking a little flustered. "Okay, I'll admit that you were right...this time," Fendros said between breaths as he made his way to the tree Ahnasha stood upon. He looked up at her and tried to plot a way to climb up to her, but the tree didn't seem to have any low branches that Fendros could reach. The lowest one there was was barely reachable with the tips of his fingers when he jumped up as high as he could. Eventually, he sighed through a smile, put his hands on his hips, and spoke up to her. "Am I going to have to finish the race properly, or are you going to come down here so I can tell you how much I love you?"
Sabine's expression was still ambivalent. Meesei's explanation made more sense, but she decided that she probably wouldn't know for sure what it would be like amongst such a large pack until she got there. "There will still be a lot of people to meet," Sabine said without turning to Meesei, "I've not talked to lycans outside of the pack before. I want to make friends, but...I haven't had a lot of practice before I started talking to people again. I feel like I might say something wrong."
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
- Last Seen: 4 mos ago
- Old Guild Username: Muttonhawk, probably.
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 7613 (1.67 / day)
- VMs: 0
-
Username history
- Muttonhawk 12 yrs ago
-
Latest 10 profile visitors:
-
Most recent →
StarfrostedFox,
Scrawl Banditta,
Lord Zee,
SkyeOfStars,
Vec,
corneredbliss,
abc,
LaserGunPewPew,
EliteCommander
Status
User has no status, yet
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
"Oh? Let's test that!" Fendros said with a grin, before jumping up and grabbing onto a bough of the tree they were leaning against. He was able to quickly pull himself up to the point where he was squatting on the branch, braced to begin moving at a moments notice. "Pick any tree you can see, let's see who can get to it first without touching the ground."
Sabine followed Meesei out of the water with something of a bewildered expression. A hundred lycans in one pack? Even fifteen was large. Everyone in Sabine's pack was considered immediate family to her. To have that big of a family would be overwhelming. More to the point, Sabine could come across more than she bargained for in terms of people closer to her age. She had expected, maybe, that she could make one or two more friends. People she could connect with without having the issue of lycanthropy be a problem. Now she might meet so many people that it would be difficult to interact with them all.
As Sabine mulled the prospect over while applying a salve to get rid of possible water parasites on her skin, she wondered how such large packs could function. "How do they feed everyone? The weakest lycans would have almost nothing left once a kill was picked through." Sabine asked, knowing that in the pack's group hunts, her beast spirit often got the smallest share since Fendros' spirit eventually outranked hers. It didn't even cross Sabine's mind that the larger packs might not wander as much as theirs did. It even could have been possible that such a large pack might be living amongst Bruma's residents every day.
Sabine followed Meesei out of the water with something of a bewildered expression. A hundred lycans in one pack? Even fifteen was large. Everyone in Sabine's pack was considered immediate family to her. To have that big of a family would be overwhelming. More to the point, Sabine could come across more than she bargained for in terms of people closer to her age. She had expected, maybe, that she could make one or two more friends. People she could connect with without having the issue of lycanthropy be a problem. Now she might meet so many people that it would be difficult to interact with them all.
As Sabine mulled the prospect over while applying a salve to get rid of possible water parasites on her skin, she wondered how such large packs could function. "How do they feed everyone? The weakest lycans would have almost nothing left once a kill was picked through." Sabine asked, knowing that in the pack's group hunts, her beast spirit often got the smallest share since Fendros' spirit eventually outranked hers. It didn't even cross Sabine's mind that the larger packs might not wander as much as theirs did. It even could have been possible that such a large pack might be living amongst Bruma's residents every day.
Cool beans. Is Balmung still around?
I've got to head out in just over half an hour, so I'm not sure if I'll get another post in today.
Fendros certainly welcomed the kiss, returning it and likewise placing his arm around Ahnasha. It was a comfort he always liked. Once it was over, he had a smile on his face. "Come, let's walk some more. Maybe we'll find some water that looks a little cleaner than this," Fendros said as he got up and held out a hand for Ahnasha to grasp. They set off in one direction, sticking to the waters edge, but only for a few minutes. Fendros was looking for cleaner water, but was also thinking. He didn't want their romance to die at all. Perhaps it was his fatigue, but he had trouble thinking of something to share right then apart from just the walk. Fortunately, as they reached a narrower part of the small lake, there was an insight which came upon him as he spotted a somewhat distinct tree on the other side of the water. It reminded him of one thing they used to do. The water at least seemed cleaner and running a little faster here, so Fendros' best guess said that the water would be safe.
"You know," Fendros began in a deliberately arrogant tone, "I wonder if you've regained all of your speed yet." The thought was preposterous and Fendros knew it, but he wanted to rile Ahnasha up for the sake of it. He pointed to the tree he spotted, with about forty metres of water between them and it. "Race you to that tree," Fendros challenged flatly, "Go." Without further warning, Fendros ran to the lake water and dove in, intent on reaching the other side as fast as he could.
There was little more Sabine could really do to refute training with weapons, but it certainly seemed like her training schedule would be booked much further than normal from now on. She didn't seem to mind much. Meesei was a good teacher, and the closest thing Sabine had to a mother. She wasn't sure that her passion for magic would be guaranteed to run as deep as Meesei's, but she would put in the effort.
The eel flicking mucus and water everywhere caused Sabine to flinch a couple of times before Meesei killed it, but the substance it gave off immediately piqued her curiosity. She waded up to Meesei and wiped off a drop of the mucus from the satchel she had placed the creature in, before bringing her hand up to her nose. There were a few possibilities in the scent, but it took dabbing the mucus onto her tongue to get a better idea. Sabine stood thoughtfully for a few seconds before she registered that the mucus was, in fact, disgusting to taste, and turned her head to spit into the water. "That might help against parasites," Sabine commented, wading away to gather other things and fill up the last of her satchels.
Another minute passed, and Sabine got a thought in her head that didn't seem to leave so easily. After taking a portion of sap off a tree that she didn't recognise before, but was certainly not Hist, she turned to Meesei with curiousity in her eyes. "Meesei, will the pack at Bruma be like us? Will there be people...closer to my age?"
"You know," Fendros began in a deliberately arrogant tone, "I wonder if you've regained all of your speed yet." The thought was preposterous and Fendros knew it, but he wanted to rile Ahnasha up for the sake of it. He pointed to the tree he spotted, with about forty metres of water between them and it. "Race you to that tree," Fendros challenged flatly, "Go." Without further warning, Fendros ran to the lake water and dove in, intent on reaching the other side as fast as he could.
There was little more Sabine could really do to refute training with weapons, but it certainly seemed like her training schedule would be booked much further than normal from now on. She didn't seem to mind much. Meesei was a good teacher, and the closest thing Sabine had to a mother. She wasn't sure that her passion for magic would be guaranteed to run as deep as Meesei's, but she would put in the effort.
The eel flicking mucus and water everywhere caused Sabine to flinch a couple of times before Meesei killed it, but the substance it gave off immediately piqued her curiosity. She waded up to Meesei and wiped off a drop of the mucus from the satchel she had placed the creature in, before bringing her hand up to her nose. There were a few possibilities in the scent, but it took dabbing the mucus onto her tongue to get a better idea. Sabine stood thoughtfully for a few seconds before she registered that the mucus was, in fact, disgusting to taste, and turned her head to spit into the water. "That might help against parasites," Sabine commented, wading away to gather other things and fill up the last of her satchels.
Another minute passed, and Sabine got a thought in her head that didn't seem to leave so easily. After taking a portion of sap off a tree that she didn't recognise before, but was certainly not Hist, she turned to Meesei with curiousity in her eyes. "Meesei, will the pack at Bruma be like us? Will there be people...closer to my age?"
Who are we waiting on?
G'night!
Sitting down beside Ahnasha and supporting his forearms on his knees, Fendros breathed in the humid air, then responded. "Well, let's see..." He looked at the water. It was murky and almost stagnant in comparison to the rivers and lakes he grew up to know, "There's swimming, we haven't put aside time to do much of that lately. The heat certainly hasn't changed." Fendros thought on other options. His mind came across fishing while looking to the water, but they didn't really have the tools, or probably the motivation to do that. "There's also hunting, we haven't been on a hunt with just the two of us for a while. Or even together, one of us normally stays behind with Rhazii." He looked up at the trees, he entertained the idea of actually playing tag again. It still seemed so childish, but still tempting, even now. Looking around, though, there wasn't much room for running. Perhaps his mind was making excuses, perhaps he just felt tired, but needed to get moving to really motivate himself. "How much time do you think we have right now? Maybe we should do something now."
Suddenly finding a clearer voice, Sabine looked up at Meesei and spoke. "Fifteen. I'm fifteen now." Sabine picked the last leech she could see, then tied the satchel shut, "I forgot about my birthday before we went to Gideon. I saw a date on a notice board. I forgot to tell you." Sabine didn't sound too disappointed about the matter. A similar thing had happened with her fourteenth birthday. "I think learning more magic would be better. Fighting with a staff or a sword...I don't like the bruising and the pushing and...I don't enjoy the training. Could you teach me how to fight with magic, Meesei?"
Suddenly finding a clearer voice, Sabine looked up at Meesei and spoke. "Fifteen. I'm fifteen now." Sabine picked the last leech she could see, then tied the satchel shut, "I forgot about my birthday before we went to Gideon. I saw a date on a notice board. I forgot to tell you." Sabine didn't sound too disappointed about the matter. A similar thing had happened with her fourteenth birthday. "I think learning more magic would be better. Fighting with a staff or a sword...I don't like the bruising and the pushing and...I don't enjoy the training. Could you teach me how to fight with magic, Meesei?"
It was with a smile that Fendros reminisced the fond memories he and Ahnasha shared, but at the same time it took a short while for Fendros to think on her question. "As much as I would like to do that again, you're right, it's hard to imagine. Between caring for Rhazii and this war with Vile...everything just seems to be piling up." Fendros held an expression that was deep in thought and had a hint of worry. He turned his head to look at Ahnasha and continued, "Maybe we haven't been making use of the rest of the pack as often as we could to care for Rhazii. I mean, with the environment of the marsh, there might be less opportunities, but when we get back to Cyrodiil, perhaps we could...you know, every so often...take the day for ourselves." Fendros kept his head facing Ahnasha but his eyes went to the ground in front of him. "To be honest, I miss those times where we could just be together and not have to worry. I just haven't been thinking about them so much. There are so many distractions these days."
Sabine was picking leeches of her skin and placing them in one of the satchels when Meesei called her attention. It wasn't a task for the squeamish, but leeches had been something she was used to since wading in marsh waters like this. Meesei's proposition gave Sabine pause for thought, however. She looked to one side and pondered on what to say. Sabine frankly didn't enjoy fighting in most capacities, least of which in melee combat. The enthusiasm she showed for her ritual trials was more anticipating the ritual itself than the fighting. That much was made clear the first time she fought, and was beaten to the ground. Sabine quietly resumed storing the leeches and meekly responded, "I don't like fighting, but I'll try if I must. What will I have to do?"
Sabine was picking leeches of her skin and placing them in one of the satchels when Meesei called her attention. It wasn't a task for the squeamish, but leeches had been something she was used to since wading in marsh waters like this. Meesei's proposition gave Sabine pause for thought, however. She looked to one side and pondered on what to say. Sabine frankly didn't enjoy fighting in most capacities, least of which in melee combat. The enthusiasm she showed for her ritual trials was more anticipating the ritual itself than the fighting. That much was made clear the first time she fought, and was beaten to the ground. Sabine quietly resumed storing the leeches and meekly responded, "I don't like fighting, but I'll try if I must. What will I have to do?"
Sabine nodded affirmatively. These parts of the marshes had actually got her excited to go out and explore. It was unfortunate that she did not have the glassware to properly test all these new plants, insects, and no doubt unique animal products, but what she could do was still enough to look forward to. She got up from beside the fire immediately to leave with Meesei.
There was a short pause where Fendros tried to pinpoint whether what Ahnasha wanted to talk about was the bad dreams or something else, but it was short lived. "Sure, let's let the others know," Fendros agreed without any objection. After leaving Rhazii in the hands of Janius, Kaleeth, and Lorag, they set off in a direction that was easy to backtrack along. Neither of them seemed to be in a particularly energetic mood after many nights of interrupted sleep. Once out of earshot of the camp, Fendros spoke up first. "What did you want to talk about?"
There was a short pause where Fendros tried to pinpoint whether what Ahnasha wanted to talk about was the bad dreams or something else, but it was short lived. "Sure, let's let the others know," Fendros agreed without any objection. After leaving Rhazii in the hands of Janius, Kaleeth, and Lorag, they set off in a direction that was easy to backtrack along. Neither of them seemed to be in a particularly energetic mood after many nights of interrupted sleep. Once out of earshot of the camp, Fendros spoke up first. "What did you want to talk about?"
© 2007-2026