Muttonhawk

The Jade Stream

Yeah, I set that up to be a thing, but I can try to give you something else to go on if Torako would just give up the food.

Maybe you could reverse-psych Kyang into thinking she could have it because she's currently poor. That would incite a politeness war.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus raised an eyebrow and looked at Meesei again over his clasped hands. "What? Would you like to get unprofessional questions?" he joked, "There will be plenty of time for chatter on the road." Gallus took the time to think as he repositioned himself on the small chair. He leaned back and extended his feet out over his bedroll, crossing his legs to be more comfortable. His hands lifted over his head to support it. He didn't feel he needed permission to speak freely, but he felt as if he had it now anyway.

"Alright, well, I have been curious...all this leadership and status..." Gallus waved one hand out in front of him as if he were a magician, though the sour look on his face made his tone disapproving of the matter, "...far be it from me to doubt you, but does it get to you?" Gallus' hand returned to his head and he looked at Meesei. He nodded to her with some worry, "I can see even now that you're exhausted and tense." Gallus scrunched one eye shut and hummed for the words of an actual question, "I don't know, maybe it could be worth trying something to relax you? To get you well rested and chipper in the morning." Gallus snorted and smiled, "I only know three ways of possibly doing that, but I'll only suggest the one that won't be offensive."

Gallus looked to the wall ahead and spoke matter-of-factly, "My mother knew this trick to get me to sleep that was rather strange. It was like an oratory lullaby, almost. No magic, just coaxing the mind into focus with words. It is very relaxing, but it had an odd side-effect of releasing tension through inexplicable sadness or a sort of gallows laughter during the process, sometimes a mix of both." Gallus didn't turn his head to Meesei, but he looked at her again, "I could try it if you like. It will only require half an hour at most. Casual conversation might take us later into the night, you see."

Sabine was just as enthusiastic about the kiss as Peiter was, pressing herself onto him and taking in his closeness. There were few enough extended moments where they were alone together, so she savoured every second. Once their lips parted, Sabine leaned into Peiter and took a deep breath of his scent. "You say you do not want me to change, but..." Sabine lowered her chin onto his shoulder, "I am frustrating you. I feel bad."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fair enough. It's not a tragic issue like her early life, but...teens.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It's all good.

Say, how long would it take Peiter to push the issue of sleeping with Sabine? I understand he's just being respectful and patient, but he's not actually asked her why she's apprehensive.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I suppose it is," Gallus agreed, "It is better than them struggling to keep their clan together, at least."

Looking at the wall in front of him, Gallus brought his clasped hands up to his mouth and let out a breath, thinking. His mouth opened with a click a few moments later, "In that case, I cannot think of any greater obstacle for the journey than crossing the desert." He sighed through his nose, "I think, no matter how we put it, there will be those that will not want to move. You should be prepared to face them."

Another few seconds passed and Gallus' mind ran short of any further points for the time being. There was not much that could be guaranteed without consulting those experienced in desert travel. He lifted his brow and looked to Meesei, "Is there anything else?"

Sabine kept her eyes from Peiter's while he answered her. A smile twitched across her face on occasion, amused where she thought Peiter was gushing a bit much. However, Peiter's last comment was heartfelt enough for Sabine to look up at him and smile almost sadly. She felt an ache in her chest and held her breath as she stared at him. "You are too nice," she said simply. She wished she had more words for the moment, but she settled for lifting their hands over Peiter's head and drawing him into a kiss.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I was roped into a few things today, sorry for the delay.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus nodded and blinked his eyes down, "Of course. I'll go out and ask, first thing in the morning."

It appeared as though Gallus was mollified enough that Meesei was treating this matter seriously, but he was still upset that this was their best option. Other details swam out of reach in his mind, caught up in the anxiety over the move. He would have to consider them properly during the discussion tomorrow, but at least one more issue gained clarity in his mind. He looked up to Meesei again and breathed in, "Another thing; Orcrest..." Gallus shifted and curled his lips, "How much to we know about their situation? Do they have the means to shelter these people?"

As Peiter spoke with his forehead against hers, Sabine closed her eyes and was beginning to drift into sleep. She probably would have, had she not been listening to Peiter. She opened her eyes and looked at Peiter dubiously with a smile before he got up from the bed.

Sabine rolled onto her back and propped herself up with her hands to watch Peiter's display. She snorted in response and immediately had one answer to give, holding her chin forward, "I would stop you trying to show off like that." Sabine's wide grin sustained as she stood up from the bed and put her hands around Peiter's shoulders. She gave them a playful squeeze before continuing. "Almost every boy I know has lycan muscles like yours. That is not why I like you." Sabine's grin faded and she stepped up close to Peiter, moving her hands down to hold onto his. She seemed almost out of breath while she spoke, "I like you because you...do not treat me like I am strange. I feel like I can just talk to you." Sabine's eyes lowered to Peiter's chest, "I never asked why."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That is at least something in our favour. I hadn't thought of that." Gallus nodded, "Still, I doubt we could effectively cover our tracks with such a large group. Weather or no weather, some of the journey will still be through the jungle. I think it will just have to be something to accept."

Gallus clasped his hands together, "Look, Meesei, I will not allow you to mistake this for a task that everyone will agree with. If we travel that distance, with this many people, over that terrain, I guarantee you that some people will not make it, even as lycans." He extended an arm to one side, gesturing to the door, "When you walk into the meeting tomorrow, the only way that the clan will move by the end of it is if the risk is justified. There are many details to consider, listen to them as much as they listen to you." Gallus turned his head slightly, still looking at Meesei, "I do not envy you in the position of the decision maker here, but I believe it will be just as difficult to convince everyone else. I don't think being champion will be all that it will take to win them over in this."

Sabine's face soured a little, but she still smiled. "The bandits were only once...or twice," she said, recalling the journey all the way back to the lake Rumare as well as the stream near Senchal.

At Peiter's comment, Sabine displayed a blush and a small laugh escaped through her nose. One eye twitched at the knots that Peiter caught as he brushed his hand through her frizzy auburn locks and she hummed to think of a response. It was true that she didn't normally care much for her appearance compared to other girls, especially her hair. She looked to Peiter's eyes and decided to be brief and honest, "I thought you might like it. I will not do it all the time, though."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I'm going out for dinner with my family in a few minutes. G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The packs paired off with two to a room. The regular couples of course were together, with children and Leaps where appropriate, while Uthri decided to share a room with Irenya. This left Lorag with Tzirret, which might have been terrifying for Tzirret had he not gotten used to Lorag as a travelling companion for the past few weeks.

Gallus was as surprised as could be expected to have Meesei opt to share a room with him - he had expected to share with Tzirret to keep an eye on him, but he didn't mind otherwise. Lorag would be scarier than any ad hoc phobia Tzirret could come up with given the conditions. Speculation was short lived in Gallus' mind as Meesei brought up the reason for entering his room.

As there was only one bed, Gallus was unrolling his bedroll on the floor while he answered. He did so in a tone that didn't hold much hope for an exodus. "I wish I could give you details on the intricacies of moving a large village-sized population across jungle and desert, but even with what I could predict, it..." he let out an uneasy chuckle, "It would not be easy, to say the least."

With his bedroll set up and his belongings deposited, Gallus grabbed the top of the small chair and turned it around, seating himself onto it carefully. The undersized furniture meant that his knees were higher than his hips while seated, looking slightly comical, but he still treated the conversation seriously. "Father taught me a few things about moving warbands and armies. It will be harder than that, but some concepts will transfer. The most important saying he taught me about this; 'an army marches on its stomach'. Even if we did have enough food for the entire journey and properly rationed it, not only could we not carry it all, but much of it will spoil or be misplaced along the way. Out in the jungle, the hunger might be alleviated with the surrounding game, but the more we hunt, the greater our exposure. Especially when the moons are full." Gallus wiped an eye tiredly, "What I am most afraid of, however, is the desert. I have never been to a desert, but I have heard of them. Little to no regular sources of water, very little hunting game, sandy terrain and inclement weather that stings the eyes. We would need guides and we would need to visit settlements. All up, the journey would be incredibly slow unless we were heartless enough to leave behind the injured and elderly. Not to mention, these aren't soldiers that we would be leading, they are regular people. We would not have the discipline for forced marches or for swift encampments."

With a still worried look, Gallus' eyes shifted up to Meesei and a hint of reckless hope came into his tone. "It's not impossible, at least," he said with a small shrug.

Sabine's actions were similar to Peiter's in most respects. She found a spot for her belongings, she stripped down, and she laid herself onto the bed beside Peiter with a relieved sigh. She closed her eyes for a moment and smiled. "Beds are always softer than I remember. Sometimes too soft." She took a relaxed breath and lolled her head to one side, looking at Peiter, "It will be nice to sleep in a room again, though. And it will be nice to use the river." She stretched and put her arms around Peiter, smile widening, "I need to bathe, and I want to try something with my hair."