Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

At first, Gallus wasn't responding with anything but a grimace. Even when Ri'vashi removed his helmet he was just holding his fingers to his head and scrunching his eyes shut. He didn't talk for another few seconds while the ringing cleared up.

"Yeah, yeah, I can hear you. Don't worry about it," Gallus said to reassure Ri'vashi. His gruff tone was an attempt to mask the pain. "That would have left a nasty welt without a helmet, no doubt. It's loud, but I prefer it. Say what you like about it being a disadvantage." While he spoke, Gallus picked at his ears with his little finger, checking each one for blockages or blood. He thankfully found neither.

With a defiant smile, Gallus looked up to Ri'vashi. "How hard did I hit? Well I struck the inside of your knee joint as hard as I could." Gallus bent one knee slightly to see the small splinters left on the edges of Ri'vashi's armour. "I can't attest to you or your armour, but I've not faced anyone in battle with a proper hammer without at least giving them a harsh limp and a reason to scream when I hit there. Even those in plates." Gallus gestured to the point of impact with the haft of his mallet and looked up at Ri'vashi again. "Not meaning to brag, of course. I did pay for it there." He rubbed his ear again.

---

Peiter's response stopped and grounded Tzirret. He spoke with a more level voice to reply, as his first answer was one that he wanted to make absolutely clear. "No," he said flatly, shaking his head, "at least, we didn't go so far as to mate, but..."

Tzirret lowered his head and his ears, "...we got...really close last night in her tent. This one was about to ask her if she wanted to...go further, because it seemed like it was going that way." Unfortunately, Tzirret began to get worked up again, angling his head this way and that as he went over his points. "But then this one remembered that he might make her with cub, and then he got worried about it, and then he didn't want to pressure her, and he thought it would be rude to wake people up to solve something like that, and then he was beginning to show his nervousness, and..." Tzirret stopped and his eyes went up to Peiter again, looking humiliated. "He had to just wish her goodnight and get back to his tent, really suddenly. He felt so awkward about it. This one still feels awkward."

Now that everything was clear, Tzirret ran a hand nervously over one ear and waited for Peiter to answer.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I need to knuckle down with some study. I'll be out for a bit.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus' attack had been committed in his body and mind as he darted forward, so there was little he could do to react to Ri'vashi's movements. He anticipated a strike against this upper body, but could not stop effectively to dodge. The best he could do was try to reposition his shield and bring his chin to his chest in an attempt to protect his head.

Ri'vashi's sword was felt against the rim of Gallus' shield, but was not completely stopped. It rebounded and sounded a loud metallic clash against Gallus' helmet. It was a short ring for everyone else, but the force of the blow combined with his momentum going in the opposite direction caused Gallus to feel the vibrations as if he was in the middle of a temple bell tower. He stumbled as he followed through with his strike against Ri'vashi's knee, for all the little damage that it could have done through her armour with the wooden mallet he held. He turned to face her and saw two of her.

"Ugh, felt that one," Gallus groaned, holding his shield up and his other hand to his head to try and steady himself. Everything was ringing beyond concentration. He tried to step and had to stop and regain his balance. "Hold on. I need a moment." He held up one hand to stop.

---

Just to be safe, Tzirret stepped a little further away before he began. Even when they stopped he picked at his claws and took a moment to speak. "Peiter, this is...Tzirret is sorry, but...you and Sabine..." Tzirret began, tripping over himself. He managed glances up to Peiter, "When you...you know, how do you...?" Tzirret sighed with frustration, "Sabine is not pregnant..." Tzirret was about to elaborate, but it caught in his throat. He skipped to the point instead. "How is that done?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Though it was a sudden advance, Gallus had fought Ri'vashi enough times before to know that she would not let him act freely for too long. He tried to twist to one side to reduce the force of Ri'vashi's shield and succeeded in maintaining his balance, but locked as his defence was in deflecting her shield with his, the oncoming sword looked like an easy hit to land. Gallus took a long step back and ducked his head, but the tip of the wooden blade still caught his upper arm before he could get to safety.

The tacit rule at this point would be for Gallus to no longer use his shield arm due to the wound that a real weapon would inflict. However, that was sometimes overlooked for superficial wounds. Gallus didn't know if he would regret inviting greater strikes, but he kept his shield up and ready and he bobbed slightly in place, staying mobile and making his mail ring in dull waves.

Gallus' next move was to step up while wheeling his hammer around his head and striking Ri'vashi's weapon to her left in an attempt to step around her. With his shield, he wanted to try and keep her blade contained while he threw the hammer around in the opposite direction, ducked as he followed through past her, and struck at the side of her knee. He intended to have moved completely past her by the time he was done, banking on what he estimated about her mobility, if he was correct at all.

---

With a few good sleeps and time to get used to the work on the road, Tzirret's initial fatigue was short-lived. As he had predicted, some of the menial tasks only needed to be done once and everything fell into a manageable routine. Irenya was still strict as ever but Tzirret was already used to her. The other healers and the assistants around them were friendly enough, at least. An effect of the march that Tzirret didn't predict was that the limited time he had with Ma'tanza seemed to make the moments more special. Tzirret savoured time where they could lay under the stars together and just talk or kiss. As well, laughing together with Bheja, S'nishi, Peiter, and Sabine also felt like it had more value. The routine balanced with the small social periods helped everyone to take their mind off their worries about the looming assault, and in some cases, about connections back in the clanhome.

A consequence of Tzirret's time with Ma'tanza drove him to pull Peiter aside slightly after they had finished swimming in the lake they had camped beside. While everyone else was drying themselves off, Tzirret murmured to Peiter with his eyes dancing between him and the others nervously. "Um, Peiter, do you have a moment to speak with this one?"

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

Hey uh, could someone remind me what the Phantasmagoria is? I can't seem to recall it.

@Scarifar

Ilunabar's dream night. In this post.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Aah," Gallus sounded, "So, that's what it looks like. Well..." Gallus retrieved a wooden practice hammer and a shield, "...it's kind on the eye. I'll try not to dent it."

Gallus took up his position opposite Ri'vashi, slid on his helmet, and dropped into a guard, properly this time. It had not escaped his attention that she had taken up a hammer as well, though Gallus had not seen her use one before.

Gallus used the opening moments to throw flinches and pace around to gauge how well Ri'vashi moved in her heavy armour. The speed and flexibility of Gallus' own armour was a feature he knew he would have to exploit.

---

"Yeah," Fendros responded quietly. They had just put up their tent, they may as well use it. Fendros slid his arms free of Ahnasha and laid out their bedroll before holding the tent open for Ahnasha and tying it closed behind them.

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

Is there an ETA on Kyre deciding what to do? Majus and Minus might join the fight early if too much time passes ;)

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

It was no problem for Gallus to wait for Ri'vashi to arrive. He spent his time going through solo drills with his weapons to hone technique. With all his extra recent duties, he had fallen behind on some of the basics, much to his disappointment. He was well warmed up when he began to hear rhythmic metallic rattling behind him.

It was by the third audible footstep that Gallus noticed the dark and jagged shape striding stiffly in his direction. His first reaction was to jolt and drop into a guarded stance. That was quickly a source of mild embarrassment as he recognised the face of the armoured hulk.

Gallus stood up and relaxed. "Oh, you startled me," he said with a nervous laugh. He only then processed her words. "That's fine. I hope it wasn't an inconvenience to do all that on." Gallus leaned to one side to get a better look. "Did you...design this yourself? It's unlike any armour I've ever seen."

Despite his impressed reaction, Gallus felt somewhat underdressed in his simple mail armour and leather. The only things that added to what he had been travelling in were a long coat of plates and a helmet borrowed from the Orcrest armoury.

"Knowing how you fight, how in Oblivion's name am I going to get through that?" Gallus thought out loud while itching the side of his head with the blunt end of his hammer.

---

As much as he wished it, Fendros did not know whether Irenya got what she wanted. She had appeared receptive enough to Ahnasha's response, but there was no telling without asking her.

Ahnasha's own worries, on the other hand, were not such a mystery to Fendros. He smiled that she was no longer being so stubborn. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist from beside her and held her close to reassure her. "You were honest. That's all you needed to be, I think." Fendros laid a kiss on her cheek.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There was a snort from Gallus. "What do you think?" he asked blithely, before chuckling and clapping a hand on Ri'vashi's upper arm. He looked ahead with a grin as he continued, "If you'd like a friend at your side come the assault, you can count on me, clan leader. No need to get flustered."

Inwardly, the awkwardness that Gallus had made for himself was thankfully at an end as he reached his tent. He was able to change the subject as he reached for his armour. "I was going to do some drills. Care to spar?" Gallus asked, "I do enjoy our bouts. I always learn something."

---

Fendros looked to the ground and twisted his mouth with uncertainty. He didn't have a completely straight answer to give. "Back when she spoke to me in the clanhome, I told her that she could always approach you to apologise," Fendros said, looking up to Ahnasha. "I didn't demand it or try to push it on her, and that was a while ago. After that, we didn't really speak up until now." He shook his head lightly, "I don't know." Fendros raised an eyebrow and spoke optimistically, "It's nice that she came forward at all, though."

Fendros sighed through his nose and attempted a small smile. "So, what do you think we should do? Just business as usual? How do you feel?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus peered his eyes up at Ri'vashi's face from under his raised brow, still smiling. "Actually, I didn't know there were that many," he said in a high, defensive voice. "I spotted and smelled a few, but I'm not in command like you few are. I've not got the numbers!" Gallus laughed in good nature. "If there is no shortage, then I suppose my pack can be anywhere. I can't say whether Meesei will be needing us nearby or not." He snorted, "Unless Peiter and Sabine want to fight side-by-side. That might be a reason."

While Gallus looked ahead, he narrowed one eye curiously. "What you say makes me wonder, though -- and don't take this the wrong way." Gallus showed his curious expression to Ri'vashi and spoke under the earshot of the people around them, "You feel you can trust me, does that mean you don't feel the same way about your soldiers?"

---

It was not exactly the most amiable outcome, but Fendros still felt relieved. It was probably the most they could hope for. Fendros would admit that Ahnasha's continued stubbornness might have caused him to get frustrated himself. That would not have helped matters at all.

"I think we can do that," Fendros answered after enough time had passed that Ahnasha did not seem to want to. "Thank you, Irenya."

With that, Fendros was unsure what to do next. He felt as though it would be best if Irenya could leave for a while so they could digest this development, but he did not want to callously ask her to go away. He sat waiting for the two of them to talk further if they wanted to.