Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Oh, sure, it gets cold," Gallus conceded in an underplaying way. "It's just that you don't have to deal with sunburn. Up on the mountains we cover up, both to keep warm and to protect from the sun. Anyway, it's not so much the dry desert heat, even though that's a nuisance." Gallus spread his arms, "It's the thick forest air! You sweat like a fountain, you can never cool down, and once you think you could have the rain wash you off, it somehow makes things worse. The cold has the common courtesy to numb you before it kills you."

Gallus drank more deeply as he became accustomed to the drink. "Anyway, I shouldn't complain. I don't feel like complaining. Longing for the Bruma clanhome is actually making me feel a little homesick." Gallus looked to the table. "Not just for the weather."

There was a long pause from Gallus before he realised himself and handed back the bottle. He didn't know what part of the beverage was loosening his tongue, but he had something of a strange topic surface in his mind. "Do you ever...think about the future?" Gallus lifted his eyes to Ri'vashi, "You know, not just the clans or the war, but...what you want to do? I don't think I've been thinking about that enough."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

By the time Gallus took his third swig of the wine he felt the moon sugar take full effect. He took a deep breath through his nose and leaned his head on his hand with his elbow out wide on the table as he turned slightly towards Ri'vashi.

"I won't lie, I've seen all those interpretations you mentioned," Gallus answered. "Elsweyr is an eclectic place, just as its people are. I had known a few Khajiit before arriving here but I did not know what to expect." Gallus waved his other hand up as he spoke as if he was gesturing to an invisible map with poor geography. "Senchal was a place that I would have liked to explore more, simply because there were so many new things there. However, there was also a lot of suffering in display. A lot of people that just looked stuck or lost. The clan in the Tenmar, Ri'nakhad's clan, they had just come off tense from the attack against them, but they were incredibly welcoming and warm." Gallus looked to Ri'vashi with a glance, "And your clan...mmm, it was more strict, but also welcoming."

Gallus scrunched up his face, "Really, you're still lycans, that gives us all enough in common. As for the rest of Elsweyr, from the pieces I've seen, it's not so bad." Gallus snorted and smiled, "The weather's horrible, though."

After taking in another mouthful of the wine, Gallus slid the bottle across the table. "You know, a lot of what you said...the same can be said for Cyrodiil, don't you think?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Well, can't know unless I try," Gallus did not hesitate to reach for the bottle and hold the opening under his nose briefly. He didn't know if he even should have expected anything other than a sickly sweet drink that might have had grapes in it. Lifting the wine to his lips had the same feedback in his mouth, though he was glad that he braced himself for its taste. He took a couple of sips and cleared his throat.

"Burns less than I thought, but if I drink that too quickly, I think I'd throw up anyway. No offense." Gallus passed the bottle to Ri'vashi, "How do you Khajiit handle that kind of sweetness?"

In spite of Gallus' words, he reached for the wine again when it was his turn. He was feeling himself relax quite quickly due to the moon sugar.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Down to his eyebrow remaining high, Gallus didn't shift as he looked on. He could hardly guess what Ri'vashi was talking about until she revealed the wine. At that, Gallus' mouth curled into a wry smile that evolved into a deep chuckle. "You are positively incorrigible, clan leader," Gallus teased, "And here I was convinced that you never drank. I can get behind this proposal."

Gallus found himself a seat to pull up to the table. He didn't realise why he felt slightly small until he realised that the furniture was sized more closely to Ri'vashi's scale. "It's very nice of you to share, Ri'vashi. You have my thanks."

---

Sabine returned Peiter's kiss in full. His words afterwards made her smile genuinely, unlike the simple amusement that came with his joking and gushing compliments. "Peiter," Sabine felt the words come forth surer than she ever thought they would, "I love you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I told you it would be beneficial," Gallus said with a smug tone.

When they reached the tent -- which was really more of a pavilion -- Gallus walked in without much thought. Ri'vashi's words were somewhat unusual but Gallus trusted her well enough. He put a hand on his hip and raised an eyebrow. "What did you have in mind?"

---

Sabine was not used to seeing Peiter in such a state. It made her eyes burn with some empathy, but she didn't quite cry.

"Peiter," Sabine began after a pause, holding him just as tightly, "Let me tell you something. A few years ago, when my pack hunted down the slayer orc, we rushed into the fight without fear. Or, at least, I thought everyone else did. We won, but Meesei was struck by a silver spear in her middle. She almost died. Since then, I was terrified every time we went to fight but my pack still seemed fearless. I realised that they were hiding it."

Sabine moved her hand up to the back of Peiter's head. "So, I think everyone feels the same way that you do. Even Meesei and Ri'vashi. But...the Hist taught me something as well, when I spoke to them. There are some things that happen that might seem preventable but happen anyway. We have to accept what we cannot control. Most of the time things tend to work themselves out." Sabine turned her head to kiss Peiter's cheek. "Trust me."

Sabine's voice was becoming rough by the end of her speech. She didn't know how much of a help she was providing but she knew that she was certainly not used to talking like this.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Gallus looked up to the sky and breathed in to think. "Hmm, I've got a few things to follow up, but those aren't urgent." He looked to Ri'vashi without needing to angle his head down that much. "Very well."

As the two walked, Gallus came up with something that was unrelated to the attack at least. However, he had no guarantee that Ri'vashi would be any less anxious talking about it. "So, I've not asked this yet. How have you found being more social to be? You seem like you're getting some more confidence with people, at least."

---

Sabine, closed her eyes, hummed in thought, and held Peiter a little tighter. "It is okay to be afraid," Sabine murmured. "I am afraid. A little." A cynical pause passed. "Maybe more than a little," she added.

The words did not come easily to Sabine, so she took a moment to take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Eventually, she thought she had the right idea in her head to express. "You know, I think we will be okay. We can defend ourselves, we have our packs that are very strong and can protect us, and everything else is..." Sabine swallowed, "beyond our control. It is not useful to dwell on."

Sabine shifted herself so she could turn her eyes to Peiter's turned face from behind him without straining her neck too much. Looking into his eyes, she asked, "Do you know if you will be killed tomorrow?"

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

*zooms into the thread*

Been gone for some time in an Internship in NYC with a watchmaking company. Back full time now. What I miss, people?
...

@Dawnscroll

Alright, so, in no particular order, the abridged summary of the last few weeks...

Vestec's hordes continue to march. He's played Toun and Niciel against one another, but Niciel worked it out. Toun still doesn't know and doesn't like Niciel now.

Lifprasil and Belvast played some games.

There's some internal strife with the elemental community. They've been whacking Jvan as well.

Jvan continues to make babies everywhere, including impregnating the orbit of Galbar with a holy sight. She also made a rainbow elemental sculptor or something that was stomped, but has eggs around the place. Actually, Jvan's done a lot of stuff, you should check out the summaries there.

Toun has (calligraphy) now. He made a couple of avatars.

Phatasmagoria made everyone a little jiggy.

There are ogres. They may or may not own swamps.

Vulamera and Vakarion had a hot date and a counselling session on a moon. Mindfucking ensued to create Keriss, the demigod of cutting people up.

Reathos' hero, Nimueh, is in a bit of strife as the battle was joined with Vestec's southern horde.

Vestec made an avatar called Violence. An avatar battle-royale may ensue in its neutralisation, including Toun's, Teknall's, Zephyrion's, and possibly other avatars and heros.

Now it's turn 6.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Despite his apparent briskness in walking from the meeting, Gallus slowed to a stop as Ri'vashi did. "I know the feeling," he said with crossed arms, "Everyone's been rather tense. It's been rubbing off on me." Gallus stepped up beside the tree to face Ri'vashi and raised his brow. "I'll tell you, I don't blame your stress. This attack is high-stakes. It won't be easy." He gave a small smile, "But if anyone can do it, it'll be you."

Gallus paused to consider for a moment, before twisting his mouth and deeming it appropriate. "If you want to relax, I know a few tricks that can settle the body. My mother taught me. It doesn't do much for the mind, though. You have to work that out for yourself most of the time." Gallus looked to one side, "Perhaps let me know if you're next having trouble sleeping."

---

Sabine had been finishing her dinner as she sat with Peiter, so she wasn't bothered by the lack of physical attention. However, Peiter's quietness gave her cause for concern. Normally he was the one to initiate and maintain conversations, making up for Sabine's natural quietness. It didn't help that Sabine was also nervous about the upcoming attack. Her eating was more out of routine than appetite this time. It made her eat slowly.

Sabine followed Peiter into their tent as soon as she was finished, determined to help his problem, whatever it was specifically. Sabine sat down behind him and slowly wrapped her arms around his torso, laying her chin on his shoulder and leaning into him. "Are you okay?" she whispered soothingly, "Tell me what is wrong."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Uhm, nothing I haven't already dealt with, no," Gallus said, giving Ri'vashi a sideways glance as he walked. "In the interest of keeping them from making rash decisions, I've kept Peiter with my pack rather than have him fight with Sabine. He wasn't happy about it, but he understands the risks and I want him near me."

Gallus' uncharacteristically serious demeanour was unbroken, but his voice lightened slightly. "How about you?"

---

"Oh, okay," Tzirret said, returning her smile but seeming visibly disappointed as his arms and ears went down. "See you later."

Tzirret did not normally mind Ma'tanza taking time with S'nishi, but he knew well that this time was different. He watched Ma'tanza walk off and then he looked down, frowned, and flopped onto his back again. His hands went up to cover his face as he sighed into them. "Ugh, Tzirret, you are an idiot!" he hissed to himself. His hands fell limply back to his sides as he stared up to the stars and tried to think through what had happened.

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

After re-reading the creation of Ovaedis, I hope dearly that someone writes a slice-of-life post where a sentient female on Galbar has a sex-ed class supplemented by looking through a telescope.