I have work soon, so my next post won't be for a while.
Are Marcaille and Ri'vashi's prides staying behind?
Are Marcaille and Ri'vashi's prides staying behind?
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
- Last Seen: 4 mos ago
- Old Guild Username: Muttonhawk, probably.
- Joined: 12 yrs ago
- Posts: 7613 (1.67 / day)
- VMs: 0
-
Username history
- Muttonhawk 12 yrs ago
-
Latest 10 profile visitors:
-
Most recent →
StarfrostedFox,
Scrawl Banditta,
Lord Zee,
SkyeOfStars,
Vec,
corneredbliss,
abc,
LaserGunPewPew,
EliteCommander
Status
User has no status, yet
Bio
Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
Most Recent Posts
If you like.
Sabine opted to take the approach of paying her respects in silence beside Peiter. There was nothing she wished to add that had not already been mentioned.
While a tear escaped Sabine's eye, she looked surprised when Peiter said his last sentence. She started to follow him, but stopped a short distance away with her fingers clasped in her other hand nervously. This was something that they should probably work out themselves.
Uthri looked up at Peiter cautiously, though Gallus' reaction to Peiter's hand was not immediate. He continued to breathlessly cry into Uthri's shoulder for a moment before bringing one hand up to take Peiter's. At that, he silenced himself.
Gallus lifted his head and turned to see Peiter, revealing his red, swollen eyes and tear-slicked face. His lips were tensed open in sadness, but upon seeing Peiter's face, they closed and Gallus held on tight. "My boy Peiter," he croaked, his blocked nose distorting his consonants. "As hard as it is for me to admit, you know as well as I do that I owe you an apology. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I have no excuse avoid making amends." Gallus managed a sad smile. "We will talk when I'm not a blubbering mess, how does that sound?"
Meanwhile, Tzirret was already weeping as he approached the shrine. He had made something on the side during the trip back to Orcrest that he knelt down to place with the shrine. It was a bone disc, barely the size of his palm. On one side was a picture of Irenya's face in profile, carved and painted simply with natural pigments. He propped the disc up against the paw of the wooden wolf. "You taught this one a lot, Irenya." Tzirret stammered as he continued, for the first time in a while. "Tzirret...m-misses you so much."
While a tear escaped Sabine's eye, she looked surprised when Peiter said his last sentence. She started to follow him, but stopped a short distance away with her fingers clasped in her other hand nervously. This was something that they should probably work out themselves.
Uthri looked up at Peiter cautiously, though Gallus' reaction to Peiter's hand was not immediate. He continued to breathlessly cry into Uthri's shoulder for a moment before bringing one hand up to take Peiter's. At that, he silenced himself.
Gallus lifted his head and turned to see Peiter, revealing his red, swollen eyes and tear-slicked face. His lips were tensed open in sadness, but upon seeing Peiter's face, they closed and Gallus held on tight. "My boy Peiter," he croaked, his blocked nose distorting his consonants. "As hard as it is for me to admit, you know as well as I do that I owe you an apology. I don't expect you to forgive me, but I have no excuse avoid making amends." Gallus managed a sad smile. "We will talk when I'm not a blubbering mess, how does that sound?"
Meanwhile, Tzirret was already weeping as he approached the shrine. He had made something on the side during the trip back to Orcrest that he knelt down to place with the shrine. It was a bone disc, barely the size of his palm. On one side was a picture of Irenya's face in profile, carved and painted simply with natural pigments. He propped the disc up against the paw of the wooden wolf. "You taught this one a lot, Irenya." Tzirret stammered as he continued, for the first time in a while. "Tzirret...m-misses you so much."
Fendros returned Ra'kalesh's nod with a solemn frown and brought his hand up to his shoulder to hold Ra'kalesh's. His loss was worse than most. With that, Fendros let go and turned around to wait for Ahnasha and the others. Rhazii stood beside him, holding his hand and watching on, silently chewing on the end of his tail.
Janius carried Newt in one arm during the memorial. He was too young to know what was going really going on. Janius and Kaleeth approached the shrine at the same time, and Janius offered Kaleeth a comforting rub on the shoulder. He himself looked down sadly at the shrine all the same. He had nothing profound to say this time. He felt something simple would be just appropriate enough. "Good hunting, friends."
When Ahnasha finished her words, Fendros waited for her with open arms. While he wasn't exactly aware of Ahnasha's reservations with her apology, to see her speak as she did made him thankful as well as sad for her. Out of the way of the shrine, he hugged her tightly and held his own eyes shut against the tears that were forming.
Sabine was alongside Peiter with his pack. She wanted to be beside him when he said goodbye to his packmate. But first, Gallus was ahead of them all.
Uthri had made sure that Gallus would be at the memorial and she had made sure that he was in the queue. She was sick of his avoidance and so he begrudgingly agreed. Gallus had been blank, if stern throughout up until this point. His crossed arms and tense jaw spoke of not wanting to be there. Still, he stepped forward to the shrine, took a breath, and unfolded his arms.
"I...wish I could say more, Irenya," Gallus began, almost bored sounding. A pause showed a sign of change shortly after. He stopped to swallow hard. "Your absence has left our pack much lesser than before. I found you under circumstances that I didn't expect, brought you into our family, and made you a fine lycan as well as close kin. You were...not the warmest of us, but within yourself, you had a deep well of kindness. I brought us all out here to make us better, and you, of all people..." Gallus choked on his last word and brought his thumb and fingers to his eyes. He took a shaky breath in. "Made the most...extraordinary strides." Gallus sniffed, failing to keep tears from falling from his cheeks. His next words shuddered with his weeping and he dropped to one knee. "I never told you how proud I was to be your alpha! With all the mistakes I have made, no less..."
This uncharacteristic behaviour for Gallus left everyone who knew him speechless. There were seldom times that he wept and spoke this passionately and directly about anything. Though, with the way his entire body physically shuddered and the way his tears were pouring forth, it was clear to see where it was coming from. These weeks that he had stayed strong and secluded, the tension he had held, the mourning he had avoided, and -- not least -- the crushing guilt he felt; all of it was being released here and now. Gallus' demeanour was almost alien in its pitiful contrast.
Gallus continued to weep for another half a minute before Uthri stepped up and placed a hand on his back. She had tears going down her face, but she had been grieving for a while now. Without words, Uthri gave a nod to the shrine, took Gallus' arm, and gently led him away. They found a seat each where Uthri embraced Gallus and he wept into her shoulder. Uthri rocked him back and forth and gave him gentle pats, but he had a lot of grieving to catch up on.
Tzirret was behind Peiter and Sabine. He opted to wait his turn, but even he was brought to tears early in empathy with Gallus.
Janius carried Newt in one arm during the memorial. He was too young to know what was going really going on. Janius and Kaleeth approached the shrine at the same time, and Janius offered Kaleeth a comforting rub on the shoulder. He himself looked down sadly at the shrine all the same. He had nothing profound to say this time. He felt something simple would be just appropriate enough. "Good hunting, friends."
When Ahnasha finished her words, Fendros waited for her with open arms. While he wasn't exactly aware of Ahnasha's reservations with her apology, to see her speak as she did made him thankful as well as sad for her. Out of the way of the shrine, he hugged her tightly and held his own eyes shut against the tears that were forming.
Sabine was alongside Peiter with his pack. She wanted to be beside him when he said goodbye to his packmate. But first, Gallus was ahead of them all.
Uthri had made sure that Gallus would be at the memorial and she had made sure that he was in the queue. She was sick of his avoidance and so he begrudgingly agreed. Gallus had been blank, if stern throughout up until this point. His crossed arms and tense jaw spoke of not wanting to be there. Still, he stepped forward to the shrine, took a breath, and unfolded his arms.
"I...wish I could say more, Irenya," Gallus began, almost bored sounding. A pause showed a sign of change shortly after. He stopped to swallow hard. "Your absence has left our pack much lesser than before. I found you under circumstances that I didn't expect, brought you into our family, and made you a fine lycan as well as close kin. You were...not the warmest of us, but within yourself, you had a deep well of kindness. I brought us all out here to make us better, and you, of all people..." Gallus choked on his last word and brought his thumb and fingers to his eyes. He took a shaky breath in. "Made the most...extraordinary strides." Gallus sniffed, failing to keep tears from falling from his cheeks. His next words shuddered with his weeping and he dropped to one knee. "I never told you how proud I was to be your alpha! With all the mistakes I have made, no less..."
This uncharacteristic behaviour for Gallus left everyone who knew him speechless. There were seldom times that he wept and spoke this passionately and directly about anything. Though, with the way his entire body physically shuddered and the way his tears were pouring forth, it was clear to see where it was coming from. These weeks that he had stayed strong and secluded, the tension he had held, the mourning he had avoided, and -- not least -- the crushing guilt he felt; all of it was being released here and now. Gallus' demeanour was almost alien in its pitiful contrast.
Gallus continued to weep for another half a minute before Uthri stepped up and placed a hand on his back. She had tears going down her face, but she had been grieving for a while now. Without words, Uthri gave a nod to the shrine, took Gallus' arm, and gently led him away. They found a seat each where Uthri embraced Gallus and he wept into her shoulder. Uthri rocked him back and forth and gave him gentle pats, but he had a lot of grieving to catch up on.
Tzirret was behind Peiter and Sabine. He opted to wait his turn, but even he was brought to tears early in empathy with Gallus.
The rest and recovery from the next few days was something that just about everybody needed after the shock of the warband's return. Though Meesei and Gallus' packs had grieved for the fallen, Meesei's healing process was much better served by staying put. The news of Fendros and Ahnasha deciding to marry came with a mix of surprise and congratulations, though Fendros was mildly embarrassed to admit that he could only afford to obtain one golden ring. The other would either not be an issue or would be purchased later. Tzirret, again, spent much of his time with Ma'tanza. Over their last days together, they were particularly intimate. Tzirret even got to practice writing the address of the courier's office in Senchal for when he finally got home. Sabine tried her best to keep Peiter afloat, although she eventually came to the conclusion that there was only so much she could do to help with how fractured the pack was. Again, Gallus was quiet and short with his pack, but after another argument, Uthri made him admit that he will try to sort things out after the memorial.
As for the memorial itself, while the shrine was small, it was symbolic enough of the struggles of the clans present. Meesei and Gallus' packs stood together near Ra'kalesh and Ri'vashi's prides. They were on the same level as everyone else in the crowd.
The old man presiding over the memorial spoke from the heart. The message of unity was warm. However, the foremost thing on everyone's minds when shuffling wordlessly into a clumped and twisted queue before the shrine was one thing. Saying goodbye.
There would be long waits to get to the shrine, but people were willing to wait all day. Those that reached it said some words and laid a candle, or a desert flower, or a personal affect. Some broke down into tears completely, others had already done most of their mourning. Thankfully, there was no anger displayed. This was probably because there was nothing around them to blame it on, apart from Ri'vashi, at a stretch. Even then, respect buffered such a response for now.
Before most people, Fendros came to the front of the queue. He perhaps had fewer words to say than the others, but he knelt to the shrine all the same. "Do'ajee, Ra'jorr, good hunting. You were friends." He bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Irenya, you helped me realise what was left of before. For that, I thank you. It turned out you left something at camp that they were going to throw out but..." Fendros pulled out a small necklace of teeth from a belt pouch and laid it amongst the pile of mementos already placed. "I think it should stay with you. Good hunting."
Fendros would have remained for longer, but he didn't want to hold up other people. The rest of Meesei's pack was behind him, ready to pay their respects, depending on who would step forward. Fendros stood up and exhaled, not quite grieving any more than he had done on the road.
As for the memorial itself, while the shrine was small, it was symbolic enough of the struggles of the clans present. Meesei and Gallus' packs stood together near Ra'kalesh and Ri'vashi's prides. They were on the same level as everyone else in the crowd.
The old man presiding over the memorial spoke from the heart. The message of unity was warm. However, the foremost thing on everyone's minds when shuffling wordlessly into a clumped and twisted queue before the shrine was one thing. Saying goodbye.
There would be long waits to get to the shrine, but people were willing to wait all day. Those that reached it said some words and laid a candle, or a desert flower, or a personal affect. Some broke down into tears completely, others had already done most of their mourning. Thankfully, there was no anger displayed. This was probably because there was nothing around them to blame it on, apart from Ri'vashi, at a stretch. Even then, respect buffered such a response for now.
Before most people, Fendros came to the front of the queue. He perhaps had fewer words to say than the others, but he knelt to the shrine all the same. "Do'ajee, Ra'jorr, good hunting. You were friends." He bowed his head and closed his eyes. "Irenya, you helped me realise what was left of before. For that, I thank you. It turned out you left something at camp that they were going to throw out but..." Fendros pulled out a small necklace of teeth from a belt pouch and laid it amongst the pile of mementos already placed. "I think it should stay with you. Good hunting."
Fendros would have remained for longer, but he didn't want to hold up other people. The rest of Meesei's pack was behind him, ready to pay their respects, depending on who would step forward. Fendros stood up and exhaled, not quite grieving any more than he had done on the road.
And with that, I am fine heading to the memorial ceremony as well as putting myself to sleep.
Fendros was nearly going to quip about whether Ahnasha had owned any gold septims, though her actions caused Fendros to hold his tongue. That was, until it was attacked by Ahnasha's.
The way Ahnasha acted caught Fendros in the moment as he reciprocated her advances in kind. He could tell where this was leading. Though a minor struggle for rationality protested against it here, the best Fendros could do -- or rather wanted to do -- was to open his eyes slightly to try and spot a patch of soft sand in the rocky area. He spotted a slope of relatively fine scree that would have to do instead. He stepped himself and Ahnasha over to it, and then he realised how exceptional the situation was for just long enough to pull his head away slightly.
"Do you think we'll be found here?" Fendros asked between breaths.
The way Ahnasha acted caught Fendros in the moment as he reciprocated her advances in kind. He could tell where this was leading. Though a minor struggle for rationality protested against it here, the best Fendros could do -- or rather wanted to do -- was to open his eyes slightly to try and spot a patch of soft sand in the rocky area. He spotted a slope of relatively fine scree that would have to do instead. He stepped himself and Ahnasha over to it, and then he realised how exceptional the situation was for just long enough to pull his head away slightly.
"Do you think we'll be found here?" Fendros asked between breaths.
Nah, I'm just screwing with ya. The map's good.
Oh! Julia looks like a Julia set! I feel slightly like I should have got that the first time...
"Oh? Was that it?" Fendros held his amulet between his fingers and looked at its shape. "What I read stated that people wearing the amulet would ask one another. Oh well." Fendros pulled off the amulet around his neck and put an arm around Ahnasha, planting a kiss on her lips. "I was actually thinking that there might be a Reclamations priest in Cheydinhal that might marry us, but I do not mind being married in the sight of the Divines." Fendros waved his hand dismissively while it was around Ahnasha's shoulder. "We can work that out later, perhaps if ever we decide to visit my family after all these years."
Fendros' eyes wandered down to Ahnasha's hands and then looked up to her. "Let's see how the ring looks. It's not a magic ring that'll stay on you when you transform, so it's probably not a good idea to get too attached and wear it all the time, but..." Fendros stopped before he explained the process of purchasing it. "Do you like it?"
Despite the difficulty acquiring it, the ring was more of a prop of the ceremony to Fendros. The symbol of affection that meant the most to Fendros was Ahnasha's arrowhead pendant. That wasn't much harder to lose, but thankfully Ahnasha had been careful enough to not wear it if she was expecting to transform.
Fendros' eyes wandered down to Ahnasha's hands and then looked up to her. "Let's see how the ring looks. It's not a magic ring that'll stay on you when you transform, so it's probably not a good idea to get too attached and wear it all the time, but..." Fendros stopped before he explained the process of purchasing it. "Do you like it?"
Despite the difficulty acquiring it, the ring was more of a prop of the ceremony to Fendros. The symbol of affection that meant the most to Fendros was Ahnasha's arrowhead pendant. That wasn't much harder to lose, but thankfully Ahnasha had been careful enough to not wear it if she was expecting to transform.
© 2007-2026