Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Everyone was quiet. The Cathay's news was perhaps just as worse as it was better than everyone expected. To be told that Meesei was likely going to die soon, that the next few hours would be all they would have left to speak with her, was almost more difficult than hearing that she was definitely gone, if only for the suspension of closure. Still, perhaps more closure could now be afforded with speaking to her. Few enough lycans with silver wounds are given the same opportunity.

Though, no one was thinking that deeply. They were too scared, looking at the ground or into the distance.

Perhaps it was Ahnasha's words or maybe she just wanted to get things over with, but Sabine was the first to start walking in the direction of the tent. She did not wait for anyone and her pace was brisk. Strangely, she wasn't crying. She looked determined. After exchanging some glances, Fendros and Janius followed behind.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha was correct, as far as the pack was concerned. The next space of time was spent waiting in silence, for the most part.

To settle the other big worry in her mind, even if its consequences might make the situation worse, Sabine wandered over to Peiter, Uthri, and Tzirret for a short time. Sabine was relieved to at least see Peiter still alive and recovering. Learning of Irenya's death was something that scraped at the end of Sabine's reserves of energy. She shared some grief with Tzirret and Uthri, who were still understandably upset, but she tried not to dwell long, simply because she needed to at least have some hope left in her mind. She left the still unconscious Peiter with a kiss on his pale forehead before heading back. Meesei's treatment was not meant to take long, and she did not want any delay in knowing its results.

The look of the Cathay healer coming towards them, drew the eyes of all the pack. Sabine began to breathe uneasily. Everyone was nervous.

"What has happened?" Fendros demanded quietly to him.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The hug lasted for as long as it needed to. Sabine eventually settled down. Everyone got to release at least some tension regarding the situation. Although, no one could go as far as to say that they felt entirely better once they separated.

"I wish I knew, but they seemed to want us out of it," Fendros answered Ahnasha. He turned his head to the edge of the camp, "We could ask to join the foragers for more ingredients, but that won't necessarily be for Meesei." He sighed through his nose and turned to the still teary Sabine, "What do you think, Sabine?"

"I do not know, either," Sabine croaked while she wiped her eyes dry. "I do not know what Marcaille has made or how it exactly works. It might be similar to what Ariel made for Meesei when she was recovering from the spear wound. If that is it, there is nothing else to do to help."

"A ritual is a thought..." Janius spoke up with a careful tone in case his idea came off as unhelpful. "I don't suppose anyone here has something to sacrifice to Hircine?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

A whole decade? Wow, alright.

Uhh...hm. Alright, I'll be upfront, I have a couple of background things in the story that have been simmering overtime. One of them was going to spring before the packs leave Elsweyr, but I could delay it for better timing. In fact, I think I will. The other thing will definitely spring during the timeskip.

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

The megapost is finally done. The story's called Ebb, and it features Flux, a character who goes on to be relevant to the Grot fight.

I don't really have any other words to say about it right now, I spent them all in writing the thing. At least it's wrapped up, for better or worse.

@Antarctic Termite

I just lost track of time reading your megapost out loud. It was a lot of fun. It's like something that I would enjoy seeing or performing being orated on a stage.

Then again, probably most people would either be wondering what the fuck a hain is or just humming that one Dizzee Rascal song where he goes on about flexing.

Ah, who cares? It'd still be cool!

Boy was it long, though.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There are a lot of interactions I'd like to do before the end of this scene. I think we're going to be in this camp for a while yet.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine lowered her head and nodded. However, before the Cathay took Meesei away, Sabine gave Meesei's limp hand a squeeze. Sabien spoke softly as her eyes began to burn again, "I love you, Meesei. Do not die."

Fendros shifted uncomfortably, trying not to reveal his worries any further than he already had.

Sabine let go and looked up at the Cathay again with red eyes. She gave him a nod to proceed and let go of Meesei's hand.

Janius listened to both the healer and Kaleeth, but he waited and watched Meesei get taken away before he answered Kaleeth again. "That sounds like how Meesei described it to me," Janius remarked, "Look, it's just a tool. A powerful tool, granted, but nothing that will take you over. If you do not feel comfortable with it, any one of us could hang onto it if you like."

After a few moments, Sabine slowly stood up from her seated position up against Lorag, sniffed back tears, and turned to walk away.

"Sabine, hold on a moment," Fendros stood up and faced her.

Sabine looked back to see Fendros with his arms spread. Sabine curled her lips nervously, and then moved with reluctance to give Fendros a hug.

Fendros returned the hug. "It'll be okay," he murmured. He was going to promise it so, but none of them truthfully could. Regardless, the hug lasted. It was eerily still, though not awkward. It was still like a dam that was close to bursting. "She'd be proud of you, Sabine."

Sabine burst into muffled tears against Fendros' shoulder.

Sensing the tension, Janius stood up as well, motioning for Kaleeth to do the same. Janius wrapped his arms around Fendros and Sabine as well, giving and receiving comfort that hardly had the opportunity to be exchanged since the battle began that day.

Sabine poured out all the pent up worry she had. Fendros remained stoic, but was clenching his teeth so hard that he was at his limits. Finally, Janius remained quiet, but couldn't help but shed a tear of worry for his friend and alpha. The others may or may not have wanted to join in various degrees, but none could deny that they all shared the same connection to Meesei in that moment. She had been their leader for years. Meesei had once again put herself in incredible danger for all of them, and now they were closer to losing her than ever before.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There was a pause after Lorag's outburst. Fendros ended it. "She did what she had to."

There was no more time for discussion when the Khajiit healer came forward, not that there was much else to help.

The healer's words caused Sabine to sit up. "I have to stay with her," Sabine said.

In response, Fendros reached over and placed a hand on Sabine's shoulder. "Sabine, you've done more than enough. We should let the healers do their job."

Sabine breathed in to protest, but by the look of everyone around her, she was unlikely to get her way. She looked to the healer, somewhat defeated, and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Janius put his arm around Kaleeth and looked at the ring as well. That at least brought up a more positive topic of conversation. "You made good use of it. We couldn't have made it out without you." Janius turned his eyes to Kaleeth's face, "What are you thinking?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The chaos that followed the withdrawal lasted for hours. Supplies were being drained, healers were stretched thin. All around an exhausted Sabine, surgeons worked to set Meesei's bones, locate and remove any large chunks of silver, and disperse what was left so that they could stabilise her. In spite of all insistence, Sabine adamantly refused to let another healer take over for her in keeping Meesei's heart going.

Upon his arrival, Gallus became the defacto commander of the medical effort. He found the most experienced healers to triage the countless casualties and saw about commanding and allocating healthy soldiers to assist however they could. Lives were lost and saved, but it seemed to have no effect on Gallus either way. He didn't even visit Uthri, Peiter, or even Tzirret as he constantly had his work cut out.

Uthri stayed near Peiter to ensure his safety. He was stable but still unconscious.

The rest of Meesei's pack came back to the camp only to be roped into to helping the wounded. The only spare moment any of them had to see Meesei was from a short distance. They were warded away by the healers in short order before they could obstruct Meesei's treatment.

Eventually, the rush died down. Meesei was at least brought to the point where she was stable without constant attention. Her pack gathered around her bedroll quietly. Sabine was leaned up against Lorag, looking like she was about to pass out. She was blinking heavily, but was clearly trying to stay awake.

"We should never have let her go ahead alone," Janius broke the silence furtively, "I haven't been this scared since Morrowind."

Fendros' tone wasn't much more optimistic as he looked over Meesei's bandaged body. "Our alpha's hard to kill. She'll pull through."

Word soon reached Gallus' ears that Meesei was still alive. During his administration, he stopped by Meesei to see for himself, but he did not stay longer than a moment. He did the same for Peiter and was strangely absent from then on.

Peiter and Uthri were soon joined by Tzirret. Looking from a distance would see Uthri taking Tzirret's shoulder and speaking to him, before they both embraced one another tightly and began to weep.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine was in no state to reflect on the break in Lorag's normally stoic expression. She looked right back at him and responded. "I have to..." The words assembled themselves, more slowly than she would have liked. "I have to keep her alive. Do not move too fast."

As Lorag lifted Meesei up, Sabine stood up with her hands still channelling magic into her. Their effort to walk without breaking the flow of healing magic meant that Sabine and Lorag were slowly sidestepping in tandem to get Meesei towards camp. The immediate crowd around them parted to let them through, but the shuffling of the thick group of people slowed the pace further.

One of the more proactive officers called out, silencing the murmuring and breaking the held breaths of those around them. She shouted for them to clear the way and began to issue orders to fetch medical supplies. A few soldiers were already running to fetch healers, but the officer added a couple more to collect a stretcher for Meesei so she could be moved faster.

Gallus could not quite muster the energy that Ri'vashi was displaying. He looked out to the fortress as she spoke and didn't wait to respond. "Quite. No one else." He shifted his eyes to Ri'vashi's. He breathed in to speak, but instead beckoned her closer, standing on his toes to murmur into her ear. "I believe Meesei is gone."