Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Wait, damn it. Forgot Peiter and Sabine. One sec.

EDIT: Done. It was the end of the scene anyway.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus followed Colours, crossed his arms and angled his head to listen. He should have expected that Orub was not simply a cruel soul. It sounded like he was forced into his lifestyle and kept on surviving. Gallus did not know what exactly to say, though. At least not immediately. Colours was not an impressionable youth like Peiter or Tzirret.

"Hmm, I think I can understand," Gallus said, before leaning on the railing with both hands and letting out breath with a pout. "I do not know if anything I can say would make you feel better about betraying a friend, but..." Gallus turned his head to Colours, "What you've done, you did for people you care about. In a way, it may prevent the suffering of many others."

Gallus took in a breath through his nose and turned to lean on his elbow, facing Colours properly. "You know, the men found four extra people in the hold, a handful of slaves, a family at that. I don't know what Orub had in mind for them, but their tale is similar to his in some ways. They were in that position because of debts. Even if Orub and his family could not be saved, I'd say you saved their lives. Maybe you could meet them once they're cleaned up. It might make you feel more justified."

Although his face was out of Ma'tanza's sight, Tzirret winced as she shouted. She had quite a powerful voice. Still, he smiled when he heard that M'ibasa was with S'nishi. "This is good news!" Tzirret said with a bit of strain, "This one thinks M'ibasa will be safe with S'nishi."

Given that Ma'tanza didn't say anything about Peiter and Sabine, Tzirret assumed that she didn't spot them. He decided to slowly lower himself until Ma'tanza could slide off his back. Once he stood up, he turned to grin at Ma'tanza and gave her a quick, celebratory hug. Over Ma'tanza's shoulder, Tzirret caught Bheja's eye. The shorter Suthay would be easier to lift up on his shoulders, and given that Bheja and S'nishi were very close, she was probably wondering where he was.

"Um, Bheja. Tzirret could lift you up if you wanted to say hello to S'nishi," Tzirret suggested.

Sabine returned Peiter's kiss appreciatively. However nice it would have been to find a place to relax now, Sabine pulled back a bit earlier than usual and gave Peiter a smile. "We should help clean up, and then clean ourselves up."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"That's good," Gallus said, "Do not hesitate to fetch myself or Meesei if you need anything." Gallus was about to turn around, but stopped and raised a finger, "Oh! And we spared the navigator. He's in his cabin if you need a word."

It was only then that Gallus took note of Colours' apprehension. Gallus angled his head and gave Colours a puzzled look. "You know...it occurs to me that you had prior dealings with this crew. Now, I can't forgive them for being slavers, but..." Gallus paused and twisted his mouth a bit, "...did you know any as friends?"

Tzirret's words stumbled a bit. "Um...let's just try with your legs under my arms first, not over Tzirret's shoulders." Once Ma'tanza was in position, Tzirret heaved himself up onto his feet, ascending Ma'tanza to look over the top of the crowd. She was heavier than Tzirret expected, but he did not have trouble holding her up. "Do you see Peiter or Sabine as well? This one has not seen them yet."

Sabine shook her head. "I have not seen anyone. I think my whole pack is on the other ship." She glanced away, "I thought I saw Irenya. Maybe Ciinriel as well. S'nishi is definitely on board. I do not know about anyone else. More of Ra'kalesh's pride, probably." Even though she was still dirtied from the fight, Sabine put her arms around Peiter by habit and leaned her head under his chin. "If we stop at Leyawiin, we might be able to switch ships. I am not worried about the voyage, though. I am worried about the desert."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus nodded and looked to the floor, "Right."

When Gallus came onto the top deck, he saw a number of things. Mostly, there were people just getting fresh air and sun after being cooped up in the hold. Many were by the side of the ship, looking out onto the other ship, trying to spot people they knew. Others were dragging the last few bodies that hadn't been taken to be preserved or wiping the blood and gore from the deck with brushes and buckets of water. Looking up, Gallus saw some Dagi and Dagi-raht Khajiit amongst the rigging. Their climbing skills made them well suited for the job. In looking around for Colours, Gallus turned and checked the helm. He found the scoundrel next to the helm, instructing someone on how to steer the ship while he directed everyone else.

"Colours," Gallus said as he approached, trying to wipe away his recent experience with a smile. Gallus clapped a hand onto Colours' side and grinned, "Well done convincing those slavers. You really put on a good show." Gallus then glanced up at the rigging again, "How goes our new sailors?"

Tzirret gave quick greetings to Qa'habi and Bheja. He kept up behind Ma'tanza as she ascended to the top, but how she kept up the pace while everyone's eyes adjusted to the sun was beyond him. They reached the edge of the ship, but could not clearly see the other ship. At first, Tzirret thought he was out of ideas. Even if they threw out some kind of signal, it would have no guarantee of being recognised. However, spotting a child in a mother's arms nearby gave him an idea. He stepped back to a spot where he could keep his balance, then lowered himself to one knee, smiling to Ma'tanza. "I might be able to lift you if you climb onto my back," Tzirret suggested, pointing behind himself, "You might see him from higher up."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"At once, champion," the Bosmer responded, before turning to one of his comrades and pointing a thumb over his own shoulder, "Yittrad, Deruce, fetch some of the stew and some trenchers, as well as a couple of skins of water."

"Yes sir," they both said in unison as they walked off. It seemed that everyone was of the same mind as Meesei in this matter.

With that, the Bosmer walked slowly up to the slaves and knelt down with a sympathetic expression. He spoke quietly in Ta'agra to the family. At first, none gave any reaction, but as the Bosmer elaborated, the man shot a glance at Meesei and Gallus, before shakily giving some words of his own. Those hearing carefully could understand the word Senchal, but nothing more if they did not know Ta'agra.

The Bosmer turned his head and conveyed, "He says they are from Senchal. The man had a skooma debt, so they went for his home. He doesn't know whether there were any others, they were just thrown in this box a while ago and haven't seen light since."

The man spoke some more and the Bosmer looked to hear, conveying the words, "He says he didn't mean his family to get involved. He doesn't care what happens to himself, as long as they can go." The Bosmer gave a nervous sideways glance to the man, "I'll tell him that we're going to help him and get them out of this filth."

The Bosmer did just that, asking his friends to help carry the starving family by the shoulders out of the crate. The child screamed, but with some words in Ta'agra from the mother, she settled into fearful sobs.

Before they left the hold, Gallus walked in front of them and stopped them for a moment. He drank from his waterskin, before offering it to each of them. At first, they suspected a trick, but the man took the risk and wrapped both quivering hands around the skin. He drank deeply with both hands, passing it on to his family, who did the same. Gallus got his empty waterskin back with a few smudges of filth on it, but he would manage.

"I suppose we had better inform the other ship," Gallus said gravely. He took a breath, obviously affected by the scene, "That's how the clan would have looked in the hold after a while, wouldn't it?" Gallus looked at Meesei, devoid of joy, "I think I understand your bent towards slavers a little better. That is a horrible thing to do to anyone."

"M'ibasa?" Tzirret called out as he looked around the hold, "M'ibasa?"

Ma'tanza's voice interrupted his search. Tzirret turned around to see her looking understandably nervous. She obviously had no luck either. Tzirret offered a sympathetic look. "This one thinks...that if M'ibasa is looking for you as well, he would try the same thing?" Although his response was not exactly confident, Tzirret tried smiling and put a hand on Ma'tanza's shoulder as he turned to leave the hold, "Let's look anyway."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Each of the addressed leaders gave confirmation and went off to begin carrying out their tasks. Gallus, once he had made clear that there was no escape for the navigator, decided to let him go and lead him less threateningly back to his cabin so that he could plot another course, leaving a couple of guards watching over him. Gallus was curious about this cargo situation as well.

The warrior led Meesei into the cargo hold without hesitation. When they were almost there, he spoke up, "We were searching through crates to find any last slavers, but there was a detail that we didn't count on." The Bosmer finished when they reached the bottom of the stairs. Across the hold, a few unsure looking fighters were keeping an eye on the contents of a large, tall crate they had pried open. Inside, there was four terrified looking Khajiit; two Suthay-raht - a man and a woman, a female Ohmes-raht child, and an nearly elderly female Ohmes. All were seated and pressed against the furthest wall of the crate with no clothes. They were so emaciated that not even their filthy fur hid the shape of their ribs. They had been wallowing in their own waste for a while, producing a disgusting smell. Their chains and lash scars marked them as slaves.

"They're not from the clan, champion. They're not lycans," the Bosmer explained.

Upon glimpsing Meesei, the Suthay-raht male pleaded something in desperate Ta'agra. His throat was dry from dehydration.

The Bosmer thought to translate, "He says for us to please not hurt his family, that's all they've said so far. What should we do about them?"

It was in that moment that Gallus walked up with slow steps. His face was stern, but his eyes were wide. "Divines above..." he breathed.

Fendros paused in the hard work of breaking chains to wrap one arm around Ahnasha's neck and give her a quick kiss on the underside of her snout, before running his hand over Rhazii and Newt's head. "Understood. I should think Janius and Kaleeth will be relieved to see Newt safe. Well done, you three."

Once he finally was able to get out of the hold, Tzirret tried heading for the place at the bow that people normally relieved themselves on ships, but found that there was a predictable line-up. With a sigh, he did what a number of people already did and just took a porthole and a crate to prop up and use the side of a ship. Afterwards, he headed back to the hatch of the hold. There were a few people gathered, waiting for friends and family, but a memory came back to Tzirret that urged him to do otherwise. Ma'tanza was probably looking for M'ibasa. Tzirret decided to head back into the hold to help, not being too bothered about finding Ma'tanza first.

The Jade Stream

Kyang pushed off the wall she was leaning on and was prepared to follow Dai Xin, right up until he jumped in the air more than five times his height. Kyang had narrowed an eye when he announced his technique and observed the visual effects of the ki moving about, but she was taken by surprise at his leap.

At first, Kyang stood agape, but it swiftly curled into annoyance as she pulled off her knapsack, taking a large leather sheath out. "Alright, fine!" She projected to him, sounding almost offended. She took a moment to wrap the blade of her glaive in a leather sheath and slung it over her shoulder with a strap that she looped around both ends. Her gait was a grumpy stomp as she made her way to the trunk of the tree Xin stood perched in. With her belongings on her back, she began to heave herself up, branch by branch, showing surprising strength.

"Apologies..." She heaved up another branch, "...if I..." and another, "...forgot..." and another, "...to tell you..." She heaved up two branches while taking a breath. "...but I ain't..." yet another branch, before she reached Xin's height, "...some fancy ki warrior!" She put on a forced, purse-lipped smile and gave a sarcastic nod with her head angled to one side. Notably, she was not out of breath, but breathing a little heavier. "You might have to cut me some slack with that cloud walking routine, okay?"

If Xin was the wind, Kyang was an armoured ape. She took a leap for another tree, trying to follow Xin. She was not nearly as graceful or fast as Xin, but the forest was dense enough to accommodate her by the looks. She could at least keep up with a brisk stroll from below.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros nodded and turned to leave, stopping after a motion to encourage Rhazii to stay with Ahnasha and Newt.

The ship did not leave much more carnage after the initial few minutes of the ambush. With the captain and most of the crew dead, much of the time before it was deemed safe was the moving of bodies and a fine search of the ship's various hiding places. Gallus emerged before he was found and was of course directed to Meesei, bringing the terrified navigator with him. Gallus came upon Meesei in the captain's cabin, receiving reports from the fighting team leaders and from werevultures that had flown from the other ship.

"Greetings, everyone!" Gallus said with a grin, leading the navigator in at knife-point, "A job well done by all! Couldn't have expected better." Gallus leaned his head around the navigator's shoulder, "Navigator, you've met Meesei, why don't you introduce yourself to everyone else?"

In spite of Gallus' entrance, a clan warrior jogged into the cabin a couple of moments later. He was a tall Bosmer, nude after transforming. He looked to Meesei with a worried face. "Er, Champion, there is a situation with the cargo? We found something you should see when you have a moment."

After Fendros had climbed up out of the hold again, it was barely ten minutes before he returned, back in Dunmer form. The efficient clearing of the ship meant that it was deemed safe in no time at all. Fendros brought with him a smile that he shot at Ahnasha, but also a splitting block and a sledgehammer in his arms and hands. Another warrior followed him with a fine-toothed saw and a crowbar. Fendros breathed in and announced to everyone, "The ship is taken! Anyone who needs help to be freed, we'll come forward to break your chains! If there are any mages amongst you that could help save time, please do not hesitate to help yourselves and others!"

Upon hearing the announcement, there seemed to be a wave of relief that stretched across the dim hold. Tzirret especially felt himself relax again. Ever since his claustrophobic panic attack, he had been on edge, right up until then. As he had been released by Ma'tanza, he was free to go right then and there. He considered waiting for her to finish unlocking shackles with her magic, but he did really need to find the latrine. He started moving, deciding that he would catch up with everyone later. Unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea, causing a loud series of shuffling and chatting as most of the hold stood up at once. The chatter and crowd would thin eventually, especially with the number of people deciding to simply transform. For now, though, the murmurs were punctuated by Fendros slamming down a hammer, his comrade sawing between wrists, or people's manacles buckling with the crowbar.

Fendros himself found it odd that he would ever be in this position; a Dunmer breaking the chains of slaves. Sure, it wasn't quite the real thing, but there was an amusing irony to the image, given his family history.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I am heading out today. I won't be home until late.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros' ear twitched to one side and he quickly turned his head to spot Ahnasha. He was relieved to find that they were all in good shape. Making his way over to them was difficult as he stepped carefully over and around everyone between them, but as soon as he reached Ahnasha, he gave her a quick hug. He encompassed her entire body in his embrace while he answered, "The ship is almost taken. They did not suspect anything."

"Dada!" Rhazii got up with Ahnasha and wrapped his little arms around Fendros' beastly leg. "Dada, I want to get off the ship."

Bending down, Fendros stroked Rhazii gently on the head, "We will be out of the hold soon, little one."

Once they pulled back, Fendros looked down at Ahnasha's extended arms and the shackles that held them. He tilted his head, trying to think of a way to break them without hurting anyone. After laying his hands on Ahnasha's and realising that his ideas could potentially break Ahnasha's wrists or send a chain into someone's face in the confined space, Fendros shook his head. "I cannot get you out without hurting you," Fendros said, "You will have to transform or wait for someone who can unlock these."

With the top deck cleared, Janius scurried below to help secure the insides of the ship, though he didn't have much work to do. Up top, Uthri proved a much faster and stronger climber than even the experienced sailors she was chasing. The rigging creaked under her weight, but it held. Her opponents mostly required pulling off the ropes to send them plummeting onto the deck or into the sea. The only point where she paused was to see the werevulture circle around. Part of her wished she wasn't transformed so she could see the sight for the first time with sharper focus.