Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The whole group was out of the area within half an hour. After finding a few coins, rations, and portable valuables on the bodies of the fallen, they stacked up the remaining supplies with the bodies and set the building ablaze, torture equipment and all. The prisoner had a large blindfold tied around his eyes securely before Gallus loosened his leg bonds and guided him along at knife point.

At first, some in the packs had thought that S'ajira was merely an animal, having never seen a Pahmar before. That was challenged silently when Jo'rashaad claimed that she was his wife, and eventually they all assumed that she was an intelligent Khajiit without running into any particular dramas. The worst incident during the walk back was due to Leaps excitedly trying to figure the Pahmar out. That was solved by Janius shortening Leaps' leash and apologising. The question went unanswered as to whether S'ajira could talk.

The walk back in the dark would take longer than an hour, mostly due to the slow pace that the captives, both present and past, kept. The pride was likely fatigued, traumatised, and malnourished.

Tzirret, having recovered from the nausea of Ciinriel's torture, kept giving curious glances to the members of the pride. He had never seen a werelion before Colours and he had never seen their beast forms. He eventually built up the courage to approach the leader, Ra'katesh. Before being imposing, he tried to ease into conversation. "This one is happy that you and yours remain living. How...erm, how long were you imprisoned for?" The question was probably more appropriate for Colours, as he would have kept a better sense of time outside of the cells, but Tzirret was too nervous to think that deeply.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The groan that came from the tied up prisoner came as something of a relief to Gallus. It meant he was still alive. Unfortunately, Gallus wasn't comfortable with staying in an enemy outpost for any longer than they had to. There was no telling how long it would take to get answers out of the captive.

First, Gallus wanted to get names out of the way. "Very good. Just to do so quickly; our own names. We are two werewolf packs from Bruma united on this mission - well, almost all werewolves. I am Gallus," Gallus pointed to each other individual present quickly and without ceremony, "Fendros, Ahnasha, Leaps-On-Elves, Janius, Kaleeth-Rei, Tzirret, Irenya, and our interim leader, Lorag. There are others you will meet when we leave this place. As for the prisoner..." Gallus stroked his chin, trying to think of a diplomatic way to put his opinion, given the high levels of emotion. "The champion may have questions for him that we do not. I would prefer that he comes with us, if only to not remain in a place where enemies could come across us at any moment." Gallus was sure to give Jo'rashaad a particular word, "You'll have your vengeance eventually, I'm sure."

"There is healing to be done before we move, we should have time to interrogate here," Fendros said.

"Lorag?" Janius looked to Lorag for his judgement, "Meesei put you in charge. What's your call?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Though animosity towards their captors was to be expected, the explosive violent reaction from one of the Suthay-raht's came as a shock. Gallus, who was closest to the prisoner, was first to act. He rushed up to Jo'rashaad shouting and desperately tried to grab at his arm before he could land another blow. "Wait, stop! Stop!"

Fendros and Janius had sprung up from their seats as well to restrain Jo'rashaad. With their combined effort, they would be able to contain him, but Gallus knew that he wouldn't stop until either the prisoner was dead or he could talk some sense into him. "He's a lead! We need him alive to talk!" Gallus grit his teeth as he finally got enough leverage to overpower the man, "For the sake of your clan, put the damn wood down! Now!"

Despite what Gallus claimed, there was no knowing if the first swing was enough to kill the prisoner outright. He couldn't check in all the commotion.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Colours' appearance came with less heartfelt relief than Janius had anticipated from the pride. The hostility from some of them was somewhat jarring. Perhaps they weren't as close as he thought, or maybe it was just their ways of coping. Janius decided to comment in Colours' defence, "I can't speak for Colours' past, but he did save our lives. He's due some credit."

Once he was at the point where he knew he couldn't help the tortured girl any further, Janius went around to check on Kaleeth and Tzirret. Kaleeth was busy helping the pride, but Tzirret was still breathing heavily and leaning against the wall over his last meal. Janius put a hand on his back, "You going to be alright, Tzirret?"

Tzirret nodded and slowly stood up straight again. He breathed through his mouth and retrieved his spear before heading up the stairs as well.

Janius then ordered leaps to heel and go upstairs with the others, and then he himself went up the stairs last.

Gallus was standing and keeping his eye on the prisoner, tied up and seated against one of the intact walls. Fendros had taken a seat after advising Ahnasha not to venture downstairs until they brought the Bosmer girl up, not regarding whether she had peered down the hold in the floor and spotted the rack anyway.

Eventually, everyone gathered in the aftermath of the carnage and looked about. Gallus was the first to speak up. "So, Colours, you had best introduce us to your pack...er, pride."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I thought so, it's no big deal really. Fendros probably would have acted the same way even if Irenya was addressing Janius.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Those that had remained upstairs were in the process of binding and gagging the one prisoner they had taken. Gallus wasn't going to let this one have a fingernail of space to escape. "I think we found them, Colours. Head downstairs, you're probably needed," Gallus said, not even turning to the Argonian as he walked in.

"Er, right," Fendros was somewhat grounded by Irenya's orders, though his heart was still pounding and even looking at the rack and its victim made his stomach turn. He pushed off the wall and took a deep breath, helping Janius with the girl and trying not to pay attention to her bodily wounds.

Janius did just as Irenya said as well, giving some comforting words as well. "We'll get you off this wretched thing soon, you're going to be okay." When Janius heard the Khajiit woman behind her ask how they were found, he glanced over his shoulder, but did not stop the delicate work. "That would be the charming one that showed us the way! I'm sure you can guess who!"

Once they reached the stage of removing the hooks from the Wood Elf girl's flesh, Janius had to stop Fendros before he touched any of them. His hands were shaking too much. "I think you should go upstairs, friend," Janius suggested quietly. Fendros just nodded, blinking, even he was not in any state to let his pride flare up. He retrieved his shield on the way. With that, Janius got to work on the hooks, grimacing as he carefully pulled each from the girl's stretched skin. What these people did was horrific.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It had been a long time since Fendros had even thought about his own experiences in a torture chamber opposite Ahnasha. The help he received from Najirra and the time since the incident had mostly healed his inner wounds. Spotting the girl on the rack, however, caused a buzz of panic to pour out of the corners of his skull and block out all rational thought. Thankfully, his focus was on the jailer. He didn't need to think about anything more than killing. He rushed the jailer with abandon, not even raising his shield, and swung brutally at her arm that held the knife she had pulled out. Fendros' cut sliced through clothing, skin, flesh, and even bit through the bone. The impact of the swing threw the Bosmer jailer off balance, and as Fendros drew his sword back, the final threads of flesh were cut through, severing the arm entirely. The moment that followed allowed a heavy flow of blood to pour from the wound as the jailer fell to the ground with a deafening scream of pain. Fendros didn't stop, holding his sword in both hands as he stabbed the jailer in her middle until she was silent.

Then, and only then, did Fendros find that his fear overtook him. He pulled off his shield and walked to the nearest stone wall, leaning his forearm against it and pressing his eyes into his forearm. He was breathing heavily, desperately trying to recollect the calming techniques that Najirra taught him. It was all he could do to not feel sick.

"What on...Oh, Mara's mercy..." Janius was checking the room for any other threats before his eyes landed on the torture subject. He put away his axe and jogged around Kaleeth to reach her. He looked around the mechanism uneasily, trying to find out how to release the girl, and came upon the crank that extended the rack. He found the release for it and attempted to slowly ease the stretching. "Irenya! You are needed!" Janius shouted up the hole in the ceiling.

Tzirret had descended the stairs just in time to see Leaps lay into another enemy. In case Leaps was having any trouble, Tzirret stepped up and struck his spear into the enemy's side. If he was still alive, it was probably a mercy given how Leaps dealt with the others. When he looked up to the rack, however, he left his spear in his victim and went wide-eyed. If it weren't for the fur, he probably would have paled as he quickly found a corner and leaned over, retching.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

You know, before you made your last post, I was about to comment on how incredibly awkward Sabine and Peiter's interaction was. It's not a bad thing, it's just hilarious.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Thankfully, Fendros managed to see the floor buckling in time to jump back away from the hole that Kaleeth had created. Through the dust that was kicked up, Fendros could spot a shape headed for the cells. The original plan was to not enter the basement until Irenya came in and pinned the enemy with spells, but with Kaleeth on the floor, there was no time. Fendros jumped down the hole and landed heavily next to Kaleeth. As soon as he could stand up, he went for the Bosmer by the cell. Fortune depending, the jailers would not have time to do damage before they were engaged. In surprise at the fall, Tzirret decided to descend the stairs to assist Kaleeth as well.

Gallus took responsibility for the one who surrendered. The Khajiit's sword did not even have time to stop ringing on the floor before Gallus took a step and slid it away with his foot. Now the Khajiit had a knife to his throat and Gallus held his hammer over his other shoulder in case that wasn't enough. "You breathe, you die," Gallus threatened.

Janius got the message and decided to divert his attention to Kaleeth. It was not part of the plan for her to fall through, but they would have to adapt. "Leaps! Up! Attack!" Janius said firmly. Leaps-On-Elves left his mauled victim to bleed to death and skittered across to the hole, where Janius was pointing down into. Leaps poked as much of his body over the edge as he could before jumping down to join Kaleeth and Fendros. Janius followed a second after.

---

Sabine didn't give any comment on the weather when Peiter sat down next to her. She simply leaned into him and rested her head on his shoulder, letting out a long and slow breath. She let her eyes sink closed, now relaxed and peaceful. If Peiter didn't do anything else, she was likely to fall asleep at any moment.