Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Tzirret curled his fingers, let his hands fall to his sides, and bowed his head down, breaking eye contact with Ma'tanza. He tried starting to explain himself a few times, mostly not saying any words but taking and letting out swift frustrated breaths. After one last attempt, Tzirret's shoulders lowered and he began to speak in a small, quivering voice.

"It is because Tzirret does not want to be a coward any more." With his face turned down, Tzirret hid the strain on his features as he tried to hold back his own sadness. "His packmates always worry about him too much because he was scared of just about everything." Tzirret let in a shallow breath and sighed it out, "He got to learn how to be braver on this journey. When he met Ma'tanza and her friends, he knew he could be brave and strong if he tried. He liked that. He did not want to be treated like the runt any longer." He raised a palm slightly, but not his head. "He thought that...that if he went out to this battle, he could prove to everyone that he could cope." He lifted his hand up to his eyes, "But now he is not even fighting any more. Gallus says that he was just to be a message runner all along because he could not read the Ta'agra on his order letter properly. He feels stupid! So stupid!"

After another shallow sigh and a wet sniff, Tzirret addressed Ma'tanza's words more directly. "This one is sorry that he lied to you, Ma'tanza. He was being selfish. He did not want to look like a craven hen like he always does." A clear droplet fell from the middle of Tzirret's hand as it was pressed to his face. "Now he just feels stupid because he made everyone upset without even proving anything."

At this point, Sabine felt a little sorry for Tzirret. She had no idea that he couldn't read Ta'agra, and likely neither did Gallus until now. Everyone probably assumed that he could read it if he could speak it, but he probably didn't need to read anything that wasn't Cyrodilic for years now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Tzirret began to lean back and locked wide eyes with Ma'tanza as she got close. There were a number of things that Tzirret wanted to say. Most of them were points to clarify what Ma'tanza had misunderstood. Unfortunately for Tzirret, he was so scared by the trouble he was in that none of the right words seemed in reach. He tried to latch on to all of the points that he wanted to make only for all of them to slip from his mental grasp.

"Ah-...n-no! It's..." Tzirret stammered, pitifully shaking his head, "M-Ma'tanza, it is not like that. Not completely-...He means...Well...He was trying to-..." In a desperate attempt to gain ground, Tzirret offered his palms forward. "Tzirret is sorry!"

This was not going well. Whatever Tzirret's original intentions were, he was only likely going to be on the receiving end of more ranting from Ma'tanza. With the way the situation had escalated, Sabine definitely wanted to stay out of it for now.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Both Tzirret and Gallus jerked their heads to look at Ma'tanza as she entered. Tzirret was most startled. "Ma'tanza?"

Gallus quietly let Ma'tanza explain herself, giving her a neutral expression. Once she was done, he glanced at the floor and then to Tzirret himself as he considered what to do. In the end, he took a slow breath in and smiled, "That's quite alright, Ma'tanza. I think Tzirret has heard everything he needs to from me, we can continue our conversation later." Gallus stood up from his chair and strode out of the room, carefully stepping past Peiter with a raised eyebrow. Rather than observe from the outside, Gallus leaned against a nearby wall with his arms crossed and looked down the hallway, waiting patiently.

Sabine observed Gallus curiously, but turned her attention back into the room once he was still. Inside, Tzirret was still looking confused, but he had sat up straighter to receive Ma'tanza. By the way his ears were brought back and his mouth was slightly open, he knew that he was in trouble.

"Um, I-...Tzirret wants to say something too, but..." Tzirret offered a stilted gesture as he spoke nervously, "You go first." Tzirret gave a pleading glance to Peiter and Sabine at the doorway. Sabine wasn't sure whether she should be leaving them to work it out in private or not. Another glance at the outwardly unconcerned Gallus did not provide any further advice on the matter.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

<Snipped quote by Double Capybara>

i read somewhere in the last 2-3 pages of the occ that someone was in the process of writing a 58.000 word post. So yeah. 5.000 seems casual enough for this RP.

@Vec

I think that was characters, mate.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine uneasily picked up the potion bottle and placed it with the others appropriately. Ma'tanza did not seem as explosive as before, but she had certainly not calmed down. "Uh, I...um...I do not think he has any duties this afternoon," Sabine said, trying to be careful not to upset Ma'tanza further. "We could try his room? He might be carving something."

It was a wild guess based on the pendant that Ma'tanza wore. Sabine actually had no idea as they all left to try and find Tzirret.

Along the way, Sabine kept on giving Peiter worried glances. If this ended badly, she had no doubt that Tzirret would place some of the blame on them both.

It did not take long to get to Tzirret's room, given the weight of the situation. The door was slightly ajar, and inside, Tzirret could be seen sitting forward on his bed with his head hung down and his hands clasped together. Gallus was nearby on a chair, speaking to him. Tzirret did not look sad or angry, rather his face seemed somewhat despondant, almost ashamed.

Sabine decided to go no further than the door. She was too nervous to intrude on whatever was about to happen.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Just like Peiter, Sabine was surprised to see Ma'tanza become so angry. She could only speculate but she believed that Tzirret may have told her a lie as well, whether intentionally or not. To this, Sabine took on a mildly worried look. On one hand, it was good that Ma'tanza wanted to speak with Tzirret immediately. On the other hand, going in so angry might have the whole affair ending in tears.

Sabine carefully laid a hand on Ma'tanza's shoulder. "To be clear, we think Tzirret had misinterpreted his orders. We think that he thinks he is still fighting." Sabine bit the inside of her cheek abd looked around the table for a moment. "We will finish this potion first. Then we can search for him."

It was not guaranteed but Sabine hoped that taking the extra time would help Ma'tanza to calm herself.

---

This time it was Gallus' turn to laugh. "As much of an experience it might be, I think I will just let you two get to know each other. Thank you for the offer." Gallus brought his arm around Tzirret's shoulders and encouraged him away. "Come along, Tzirret. We have important matters to discuss regarding your marching orders."

Tzirret felt a little jarred, but he did not put up anything more than token resistance. He waved goodbye to La'tahne and La'khay as he was shoved towards Tzirret's room.

Mid/High Casual - Divinus: The Deity Roleplay Mk.II

So, I recently found out that an essay that I thought was sue next week is due much sooner. Don't hold up for a Toun post engaging the Rovaick any time soon. :C

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine actually paused and looked to Ma'tanza with some surprise, "Anatomy? Did he want to try being a healer?" Sabine resumed grinding up seeds and angled her head, "I think that would suit him better than being a fighter."

As interesting as that revelation was, Sabine did not want to stray too far from the main topic. She took another breath slowly and tried to bring the conversation back. "We have been worried about him too," Sabine said, "We tried to persuade him to stay back, but he got upset. He seemed determined to protect us, Bheja, and S'nishi. Although, when we talked to Gallus about it, we think he might have become confused." Sabine looked up, "Gallus said that Tzirret was to be a message runner. He would be with the soldiers but he was never meant to be joining the fight."

Sabine shifted uncomfortably. "Ma'tanza...we think he might be trying to prove himself. Would you...try convincing him to stay out of the fight again? He is braver than before but he is not very experienced. We do not want to see him getting hurt."

---

If Tzirret were looking for someone like La'tahne to sculpt his face, he might have had a more positive reaction. However, the notion of someone cutting up his face to make him look like someone else made his cheeks tingle as if he had accidentally pressed his hand on a nail. It was frankly terrifying.

Tzirret's face remained still except for his widening eyes. He was glad that he didn't have to answer La'tahne as he turned his eyes to La'khay. He didn't really want to talk about his face right now. La'khay's question, however, did force him to lower his eyes and sigh. "No," he responded with a low voice, "They were not angry. They were just worried, Tzirret thinks." Tzirret breathed in and looked up to La'khay, "How should this one-"

"-There you are, cloudy cat!" Gallus' voice sounded from behind Tzirret. He approached with a grin and his palms turned towards the group. "I've been looking all over for you."

Tzirret turned his head curiously, but did not shift his body. Perhaps it was La'tahne's touch keeping him still. "Oh, hello Gallus," Tzirret said, still sounding unenthusiastic.

Gallus' grin did not fade as he regarded La'khay and La'tahne. "Ah, I see you two have finally met. La'tahne, La'khay," he nodded to them both in turn. "I had a feeling you would find one another in due time. How are you both?"

"You...know the gardener?" Tzirret asked curiously.

Gallus clapped a hand against Tzirret's back. "Yes," he gave La'tahne a sideways glance, "She assisted Meesei, Ri'vashi, and me with a matter of great importance. Thank you again, La'tahne. Our efforts were successful in the end, thanks in no small part to you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The work in front of Ma'tanza locked into sense in Sabine's mind. The way she was making the potions was slightly different to how Sabine did it but she could tell that it would still be effective.

Sabine stepped up to the bench. "I can help you make potions if you like," she said as she reached for some of the ingredients. She had made so many healing potions by now that she was convinced she could make them in her sleep. Talking with Ma'tanza while they worked would be no extra challenge.

"Ma'tanza, um." Sabine's smile lowered as she looked at her work, "Has Tzirret told you that he is joining the march?" Sabine's eyes flicked up to Ma'tanza and back down to the alchemy just as quickly. "What did he tell you about his role?"

---

Tzirret looked down, flattened his ears, and balled his fists. "They want to coddle Tzirret," he hissed with quiet restraint, "They do not think he is capable. But he is! He can-"

There was an involuntary flinch from Tzirret's shoulder as La'tahne laid her hand upon it. He looked up to La'tahne with a small measure of surprise. Her words turned Tzirret's expression into a mix of confusion and unease. "His...face?" Tzirret asked slowly. It seemed a sudden and unusual shift of the subject. "W-what does La'tahne mean?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It was a relief that they found Ma'tanza as soon as they did. Sabine exchanged a glance with Peiter at the door and took the hint to proceed for herself.

Sabine stepped up quietly behind Ma'tanza and looked over her shoulder to see what was being made. It could have been one of many things, Sabine was sure, but she could not pin it down unless she observed the process more closely. More importantly, Sabine observed nothing volatile or particularly delicate at this stage, so she felt comfortable enough to make herself apparent.

In an effort not to startle Ma'tanza, Sabine slowly stepped around into her peripheral vision and leaned a smile around to catch her eye. Sabine spoke with an appropriate hush, given the lack of noise in the room, "Hello Ma'tanza. What are you making?"

---

"Well..." Tzirret had to think about that question. His thoughts were interrupted by seeing the way the gardener was looking at La'khay, but he tried his best not to look awkward. As usual, he was not good at hiding his feelings. "Tzirret just doesn't want to be treated like a coward," he said, "maybe that is pride, but how else is he going to make that happen? And what if his friends do need help?"

A niggling feeling was starting to influence Tzirret, telling him to take his leave. The signals that La'tahne was sending were implying a matter of greater importance to discuss than Tzirret's feelings.