Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Um..." Tzirret did not have an immediate answer. The best he could come up with on the spot was that it was an embarrassing and awkward situation at the time. He guessed he also didn't want Ma'tanza thinking that he was delving into her personal affairs, but he didn't get to answer before Meesei came forward.

Tzirret was grateful for the time to think. He replied to Meesei with an "okay," and stood up to get out of the boat, giving Ma'tanza one last glance. It was hard to read what was on his mind from it.

While Uthri dragged the boat ashore, Gallus joined Meesei and Tzirret with the family. The family themselves returned Meesei's look, except for F'sresa. She had climbed onto Pudaga's back so she could continue resting.

"Um, hello," Tzirret began in Ta'agra, "This one is named Tzirret. Um..." Tzirret glanced between Pudaga and Meesei, "Meesei wants to talk briefly."

"Yes, what does Meesei need?" Pudaga responded in a friendly tone.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"He didn't?" Tzirret lifted an ear curiously and looked to Ma'tanza sideways when she mentioned that Qa'habi had not talked to her. When she continued, Tzirret had yet another realisation that made his eyes widen. He had completely misread Ma'tanza's words as having more subtext, and now she looked betrayed. In an effort to clear up the misconception that he might have been joking about her, Tzirret straightened up, lifted his hands and began shaking his head frantically. "No! No-no-no-no-no! Tzirret would never do a thing like that!"

Tzirret was of course only half-correct, because he had tried to talk behind her back. He needed to clear the air immediately. He closed his eyes and put his hands on his knees, "This one will tell you the truth, alright?" Tzirret took a moment to calm down and looked to Ma'tanza sincerely, "Last night, Tzirret tried to ask Qa'habi why you two...stopped your relationship. Tzirret was just curious. He got angry with Tzirret and said it was private, so this one apologised and let it go. That is all, apart from talking about bows." Tzirret put his elbows on his knees and rubbed his hands down his face, "Qa'habi even said that he would not mention asking if I didn't. Ugh, how could Tzirret be so stupid?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Tzirret gave a smile when Ma'tanza laughed, but as she spoke further, the smile faded into a look of realisation, and then of anxiety. It was naive to think that Ma'tanza would not know what was going on in general, but Tzirret's exchange with Qa'habi, however brief, was meant to be kept a secret. Qa'habi said himself that he wouldn't tell anyone. In fact, with the speak of awkward advances and everything else, Tzirret knew that he was completely exposed.

Again, Tzirret looked down and shank into a cringe. "Qa'habi told you what Tzirret tried to ask him, didn't he?" Tzirret said, defeated.

Uthri raised a confused eyebrow, but did not turn to join the conversation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Oh, that is not nice," Tzirret said, sounding somewhat sympathetic. Perhaps it was being around Ma'tanza long enough, or perhaps it was the fact that the robe she was wearing was quite modest, but he didn't feel too uncomfortable about the current subject. "Does Ma'tanza get picked on a lot like that by other people?" Tzirret smirked briefly, "Except for Bheja, of course."

F'sresa was still rather fatigued and was trying to rest against her father's shoulder during the boat trip, but she eyed Tzirret, Ma'tanza, and Uthri curiously. The family had not had much interaction with them up until now. "Father, what are they talking about?" F'sresa asked in Ta'agra.

The father, Pudaga, smiled reassuringly. "From what this one understands, they are just talking as friends. It is nothing to be worried about, flower."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The silence was just as unbearable for Tzirret as well, but it was because he thought it was an awkward one brought about by Uthri's words. He was drawing a blank on what to say next. Fortunately, Ma'tanza did eventually speak, though her question did not appear to give Tzirret any comfort.

Uthri chuckled quietly through her nose upon overhearing Ma'tanza's question.

While Tzirret may not have enjoyed the nickname, he looked to Ma'tanza could not find any reason to avoid the question. She knew him well enough by now that it would probably make sense. He spoke somewhat gingerly still, "It is something that Gallus came up with one day when this one was younger. Tzirret was putting himself down a lot and Gallus said this one had a cloud over his head all the time, so it caught on." Tzirret felt a pain in his fingers and he looked down to realise that he was holding onto his other hand quite tightly, he consciously loosened his grip and took a deep breath. "It is also because Tzirret's fur is grey. The others think the name is funny."

Tzirret realised there was a topic in that and was able to pose his own question. His ears went up again, "Did Ma'tanza ever get any nicknames?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The family boarded after Meesei, one by one. The father, Pudaga, descended first and assisted F'sresa with Meesei. The girl was slow, but she kept her footing. The rest came aboard with no trouble.

"Tzirret is sure," Tzirret responded with a confident nod. He boarded the ship last, behind Ma'tanza.

Once seated properly, the oars were passed to Uthri and Gallus. Uthri pushed off the ship and turned the boat around, signalling Gallus to start rowing himself. They meandered for a few moments before settling into a rhythm.

"So, cloudy-cat," Uthri said, giving Ma'tanza a look up and down between rows, "who's your girlfriend?"

Understandably, Tzirret shrank a little beside Ma'tanza, drooping his ears. "Ma'tanza is just Tzirret's friend," Tzirret said quickly, "She wanted to see the temple." Tzirret was looking into the water, but gestured to Uthri all the same, speaking with a voice that was clearly embarrassed by her. "This is Uthri, Tzirret's pack mate. This one thinks he spoke of her before."

Uthri gave a good-natured grin and a wave to Ma'tanza. Tzirret had described to Ma'tanza and the others about his outspoken, too-honest, strong, Nordic aunt figure before. However, they had not been introduced until now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

S'all good. G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Right, I think I had Bravil in my head for some reason. I'll do a quick edit.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Tzirret was tempted to say that Qa'habi's words had genuinely piqued his interest in bows, but he didn't see it as appropriate. Perhaps they could resume their conversation later, without hidden motives.

"This one will not speak of it again," Tzirret said guiltily. He turned to leave with a sullen posture and tension remained for the entire day.

Even with relative success in eventually convincing Gallus and Meesei to take Ma'tanza to the temple tomorrow, Tzirret chided himself for pursuing such a bad idea right up until he fell asleep that night.

---

The next day brought the ships to the forested and muddy shores near Leyawiin. This in turn brought a number of figures up onto the top deck. Under guard was the family of rescued slaves from the day that the ships were taken over. All four were slightly nervous, but smiling to see the light of day so clearly again. F'sresa, the sick daughter, was still weak and slow. Her skin was still pale if anyone looked closely enough to see under her fur. She walked hand in hand with her mother, but no doubt someone would have to carry her to Leyawiin.

Accompanying the family was Uthri, Tzirret, and Ma'tanza. Uthri and Tzirret were technically there as guards, with Ma'tanza tagging along after long and drawn out excuses by Tzirret via Gallus. Uthri and Tzirret wore leather armour and made themselves out to look like mercenaries, while Ma'tanza was sourced a simple brown robe. The weather was not as chokingly humid as the Tenmar forest, but it was still swampy and warm. The coastal wind at least gave some cool relief to their clothed bodies.

"Hmm. Perhaps we have a crowd after all," Gallus remarked with a frown. He took another look at the boat they were to use to travel to shore. "Lucky this boat is long enough for all nine of us."

It took another minute for the boat to be winched into the water, at which point Gallus looked over the edge. He turned around again with a smile, gesturing to the rope ladder leading to the water. "After you, champion," he said with a joking inflection.

Tzirret had since calmed down about his faux pas with Qa'habi and no one else seemed to find out. As a result, he was in a better mood that day. "Tzirret told you it would be fine," Tzirret said to Ma'tanza as they strode behind the family, "See? Meesei is not so bad."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

No problem. I'm going to be heading out in an hour anyway.