Muttonhawk

The Jade Stream

The bag that Xin produced made Kyang pull a frown for two reasons. The first was that he presumed to pay for her by implication, but the second pertained to how it related to his 'occupation'. Kyang looked at him with a raised eyebrow, "So you just turn up, beat their best fighters, stick around until they pay you, and then up and leave? Sounds an awful lot like you're extorting them, if you ask me."

If was perhaps not the wisest move to assume Xin's intentions, especially when Kyang knew for a fact that he could probably shatter her ribcage like a straw house. However, Xin had put Kyang's mood to a less rational form of pissed off with his statements.

The little eatery that they walked into was certainly less up-market than the Blue Dragon, but Kyang liked it. It promised better prices and the fragrance of good food. It was preferable to her - practical and enjoyable.

"Thirty pork buns?" Kyang asked, sounding a little confused, "They had better be as good as you say."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

All good. Happy 3,000th post. Bloody hell.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine didn't take long finding a meal for herself and sitting down next to Peiter. She smiled at the interaction between La'khay and Do'ajee.

"We would probably train anyway," Sabine said, itching her ear idly, "But, we get to teach each other."

Tzirret was looking a little withdrawn, but he still joined in on the conversation. "This one wishes he could talk to Khajiit girls," he looked down and held his upper arms as if cold or afraid, "The girls at Bruma are terrifying."

"Maybe you could try girls who aren't Khajiit?" Sabine suggested.

"Hm?" Tzirret looked up at Sabine, slightly confused, then realised that she was probably going off the experience of witnessing Fendros and Ahnasha. Tzirret shook his head, "No, this one does not...feel that way towards them. Even if he did, they are still terrifying..."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine curled up so that her head was underneathe Peiter's chin. She felt safe and relaxed enough that she could have fallen asleep herself if not for the heat. She responded to Peiter all the same, "I don't know if we will get to choose." She shrugged, "I would not mind searching with you, though."

After a moment, there was a groan from Sabine's stomach. She realised after all the physical activity that she was quite hungry and opened her eyes. "Would you like to have some dinner?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That is strange," Sabine said, not trying to be mean, but genuinely confused, "I grew up around armoured skeletons, they were never scary. They were just really clumsy," Sabine even started to chuckle just remembering the sentinels at the coven. "Well, they are more dangerous than spiders, I suppose. Back at the clan, Rikki told me she was afraid of spiders. I do not know why she would be." Sabine gave Peiter another smile and looked at him again, "I'll protect you from undead."

Taking in another deep breath and returning to her previous position again, Sabine considered sharing her own thoughts on fear. "I used to be afraid of a lot of things. Even talking to and touching people. I thought that was all gone after the ritual, but there were still a few things. What you said, apart from the undead, mostly. But, in my nightmares, there is mostly...helplessness. I am either in a cage or chained up. I struggle but I cannot escape. If I try, it hurts. Then strangers make me swallow things that burn, or hurt, or..." Sabine paused. She knew exactly why she had those nightmares, but she didn't feel like sharing it just yet. She drew her knees up habitually, but ended up leaning the sides of them against Peiter rather than leaning onto them herself. "I do not like cages."

The Jade Stream

Huh, that language connection is actually kind of badass. Nice!

The Jade Stream

While Torako was facing away from her, Kyang ran a hand down her face in disbelief. Taketori-chan? Heavens above, if Torako pulls out that sword only to reveal a strand of bamboo with a smiling face carved into it, Kyang thought she might just break down in insanity.

However, for all her continued amazement at Torako, Kyang found a more pertinent issue in her mind that she decided to approach Liu and murmur quietly to him about. "Hey, Liu, uh..." Kyang put on an attempt at a charming smile, "Where we're going, it doesn't cost too much money, does it? If so, I'm really going to need those directions to the mayor."

Kyang stopped short of asking for a few coins or a meal. She hated asking for help in the first place, but exploiting Liu at this point would just be unsporting. Then again, if the place they were headed was indeed cheap, Kyang thought it might be useful to know where it was for later and tag along anyway.

Once the answer was had, Kyang had some time before she made a decision to stay or go, so she probed this Dai Xin guy to satisfy her curiosity. "So, Xin, what's your goal in fighting the headmaster back there? Anything apart from the whole self-perfection thing?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine flushed and exhaled a laugh at Peiter's compliment. She wasn't sure how much she liked being gushed upon about beauty, but she took the comment for what it was.

The description of Lorag's instruction style sounded about right. As for building endurance, Sabine was not so easily charmed. "If we must," she groaned, "I had to do that with the rest of my pack before I started learning magic. Then I did not have to, or not as much." Sabine turned her head and opened her eyes to look at Peiter, "Not now, though. I am too tired." After closing her eyes again, Sabine took Peiter's hand in both of hers and brought it up to her collarbone. After tightening her shoulders for a few seconds in a sort of stretch, she leaned into Peiter more heavily and let out a long sigh.

"Peiter?" Sabine asked, similarly to how she had in these situations before, "Can I know more about you? Are you afraid of anything?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine still didn't mind that both she and Peiter were probably both physically uncomfortable being so close due to the heat, but she kept her arms to herself rather than wrap one or both around him. She found her breathing steadying in short order as she closed her eyes and kept her head against his.

"I started when I was six," Sabine recounted in a murmur, "My instructor was strict. I had to learn a lot before I was even allowed to try channelling a spell." Sabine brought her hands in front of herself and cast a small light spell, like she had been teaching Peiter to do, but effortlessly. "It took a week to make a light like this, but I was taught every day without any free time. I was lucky, though. Some girls took over a month to get it right." Sabine let the light wink out of existence and her hands lowered. "You are lucky, too. I will not hit your fingers with a stick every time you make a mistake."

It was hard to tell by her reminiscent tone, but Sabine intended humour with her last comment. Her smile was out of Peiter's sight.

"Lorag probably does worse things teaching you, but he knows that he is helping. Stinging fingers do not help with magic," Sabine added, flexing her own sore fingers.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

All good. G'night!