Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Heads were turned to Meesei when she suggested a migration of the entire clan. Gallus has suspected that Meesei would entertain the idea, but he still gave a worried look. "Move everyone? That's..." Gallus was lost for words for a moment, looking around the floor for a moment before facing Meesei again, "...I mean, I can't say I have a better solution, but would that really be feasible? Progress would be slow, food scarce, we would be far easier to discover. We would give up the only defence here for a hope of reaching Orcrest without being attacked."

This time, Tzirret decided not to try and make up his own lie and end up floundering. He just went with what Ra'kalesh suggested. "Yes, this one thought he might offer his place," Tzirret looked down and away, "He could come looking for you if needed, he would guess." Tzirret was trying to hide disappointment at no getting a specific answer, but he had enough patience for now.

Sabine emerged in short order, as most alchemical equipment was in the same spot. Gallus sighed as he saw the assistant and conceded to Meesei, "Perhaps it is best that we leave such discussions for the meeting tomorrow."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The packs gave their thanks to those who had gathered to offer their rooms and moved on with the assistant.

The store rooms were naturally an important spot, but there was no immediate need from most in the packs to collect anything. Sabine was the only one who stepped forward and asked for something right then, requesting alchemical ingredients. The search for anything she had named took a short moment, so everyone else was left waiting around.

While standing idly, Gallus spoke his mind, "This place is just an outpost, but I wonder how defensible it is." He looked around to the various treetop buildings, "It feels hard to leave these people here for any amount longer without more protection."

During their short walk, Tzirret had seemingly become anxious and walked hear Ra'kalesh for a while. Now that he had a chance to talk, he addressed Ra'kalesh with nervously clasped hands. "Er, Ra'kalesh? Where about do you think your pride will be staying? Specifically?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Those who had not seen a Dagi or Dagi-raht up until this point mistook the woman in front of them for a child for a moment. Everyone was of course warned that there would be people coming to offer help, but it didn't stop bewilderment purveying the reaction of the packs.

After a pause where those without an opinion shrugged or otherwise expressed ambivalence, Janius offered a suggestion. "It might be less of a disturbance if the children slept up above. They still cry out with nightmares."

Gallus also gave an opinion, "Not that I, or any of my pack, would really mind staying down with the camp I think, but..." He glanced around to the various treetop structures, "...if there is not enough room for everyone, we don't all need to squeeze in, right?"

"I, for one, wouldn't mind spending a night in the trees, if only for the new experience," Uthri said with crossed arms and a less serious tone, "Does Ra'kalesh's pride get the luxury as well? Or even us? I believe the offer was for Meesei's pack, not ours, Gallus."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ri'nakhad seemed friendly enough that Fendros actually spoke up first. "Ri'nakhad, might we know if there are rules or guidelines we should know while living with your clan? We have a few rules in Bruma, they might be similar or different."

Before Ri'nakhad could answer, Gallus interrupted with an addendum, "I'm sure we could learn the nuances as we go as well, we might do well with a quick tour of this outpost by one of your clansmen? If we have any further questions, we might ask them."

"Mama, do they have sweetrolls here?" Rhazii murmured to Ahnasha.

"Shh, later Rhazii," Fendros attempted to hush his son quietly. The meeting was not over yet.

The Jade Stream

Kyang rubbed her hands together and wore a wide grin. "Oh, I think everyone can be of help here," she remarked slyly.

As for the initial thoughts, there was good information given by everyone, but Kyang felt as though there was deeper thoughts required. Thoughts that were out loud and accelerated in speed as she went. "No leads, you say? I guess that sets a precedent...no matter! There is still intelligence to find. There has to be survivors, otherwise we wouldn't know the attacks to be committed by bandits," Kyang brought a finger to her mouth, "Unless that's just what people are speculating. Anyway, we should find survivors to tell us about them, how they fight, how they move. We can get to know our enemy. Barring that..."

Kyang pointed a finger to Xin, "I like the idea of finding where they might be fencing stuff, if there is anything of the kind in Mingdu. I've got my great grandfather's glaive that I could express interest in selling in order to get close to them. It's still possible that they would smuggle elsewhere, though."

Kyang then lowered her fist onto the table in front of her, leaning forward and sticking her elbow up, "As for the confrontation itself, myself or Torako could be a decoy. I like the idea of baiting them out if you guys could hide yourselves in the surrounding woods. That plan can be fleshed out later, though. First..."

Finally, Kyang clicked her fingers, pointed at Liu, and suddenly slowed down her speech to a more intelligible rate, "I've been going on a bit about stuff that other bounty hunters may have tried. Do you know anything that might answer the questions we have already about these guys? Anything that has been tried before?"

While waiting for an answer, Kyang took up her chopsticks and grabbed at the last pork bun on the table. When she tugged to pick it up, she found that there was resistance caused by Torako's chopsticks clutching it as well. Many different words could have been said, but Kyang instead locked narrowed eyes with her, daring her to be polite enough to give it up. A stand-off of sorts ensued.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Given his preivous description by Ra'kalesh and his pack, Ri'nakhad was surprisingly fit and lively. Many in the packs were expecting someone with similar physical condition to Najirra, though this was clearly not the case, despite the cane. His warm welcome was in contrast to the desperation that the clan seemed to be in, though whether it was simply keeping up a strong exterior or feeling genuine hope, there was no telling.

Gallus looked briefly over the packs in response to Ri'nakhad's question. No one spoke up. There were no medical issues or otherwise, so Gallus just gave a smile and responded to Ri'nakhad appropriately. "I think food and lodgings is all we need for now. It is luxury enough to find today that our search was not in vain." Gallus was not presumptuous enough to introduce himself this time. The main dialogue would be between Ri'nakhad and Meesei for now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Even though it's almost two and a half hours late for me, happy new year in however many hours for you!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine nodded in agreement and smiled.

Tzirret closed his eyes and nodded at the suggestion of sleep, but at Peiter mentioning him being missed, he looked at Peiter with a small measure of surprise. "Oh, right," Tzirret said as he itched his forearm, "Things have been distracting. Sometimes this one feels that he should not impose on you two, though. I do miss being around you both as well."

"Do not be too worried, Tzirret," Sabine reassured with her head angled to one side, "You would not impose on us most of the time, and even if you do, we will not be angry, we will just let you know."

"Oh, he can tell most of the time," Tzirret replied, looking to the table, "It is more that we were all busy with the searching. It left little time."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It's all good. I'm going to a new years eve party in about half an hour anyway, so you could have a (comparatively) early night if you felt like it.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Tzirret's mouth slowly settled back into a frown as Peiter mentioned that they probably would not be staying for very long.

"Peiter is right, I think," Sabine added with a wide smile, "the girl who gets that necklace will be lucky."

After Peiter and Sabine finished, Tzirret looked up and spoke gratefully, "I don't know, the thought is still scary." He reached and retrieved the necklace, putting it back into his pocket, "But, thank you for offering to help, Peiter."

While the necklace explained what Tzirret had been doing with his time, his expression was still uncharacteristic. When he was nervous, it was clearly visible, but now and over the past few days, he had just been distant and flat. This had struck Sabine such that she wanted to push the issue. "Is there anything else, Tzirret? You have not been talking much lately."

"No, just tired, like he said," Tzirret said, his small smile returning. Gallus could see that he was holding onto his pendant in his pocket, but he knew that if there were any problems, Tzirret would let him know.