Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel paused, silently weeping for a moment. She eventually took a deep breath in an attempt to speak at a level voice. "There are details about how I tried to cure Sabine. I didn't get to tell you everything yesterday before you left. I did many things that I am...not at all proud of." Ariel turned her body slightly towards the table. "Sit down and I will tell you. You should know what happened, but first..."

At last, Ariel lifted her face to show her tear-streaked, despondent face. "Rukeewei, I know how much it means that you would even consider leaving Thorn for so long. I want you to come with me, and it means so much, but just know that I don't want you to irreparably damage your life here. If you are going to lose too much by doing this, then do not come. If our lives are one now, I want to take care of yours as well." Ariel lifted Rukeewei's hand in both of hers. "Are you truly prepared to see this through?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel quietly cleared her throat. "Right, well," Ariel began to speak flatly. "Settling affairs here in the city is the first thing. We will need to see the An-Xileel to settle whatever is owed, then take measures to see that the shop and the inn are taken care of. And then, packing should be light. The pack tends to supply themselves as they go, so there is no need to be too...too worried about the weather or anything..."

Ariel's trailing off came with her trying to blink away her emotions, but she couldn't distract herself with minor details in front of Rukeewei. She took in a shaky breath and let a tear drip from her turned-down face. "You can't just let it go like that," she croaked. "I don't want you to think I could just get away with keeping secrets, Rukeewei. You don't deserve that. How can I fix this? Please, I want to make it up to you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

As predicted, Ariel stopped when Rukeewei interrupted her. She stared up at him with wide eyes and a slightly open mouth.

When referring to the wedding vows, Ariel swallowed and lowered her eyes to her ring.

Ariel waited for a moment to be sure that Rukeewei was done before she even thought of something to say. After a slow blink, she stood up from her chair with her head bowed. Her voice came out low and deep. "You...You did." She was unable to look him in the eyes. "I haven't done a very good job of keeping that vow."

Ariel's hand tightened and loosened around Rukeewei's. There were no more rapid excuses and she was left with nothing else to say.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The anxiety had put Ariel on such an edge that the sound of the door opening made her jolt in her seat. When she saw it was Rukeewei, she exhaled and placed a hand over her collarbone.

"You gave me a fright," she said through a nervous laugh. "I was going to see how you were after breakfast, I...Um..." She looked at her food. "I'm sorry if yesterday was sudden. I didn't want to keep secrets from you, I just needed to keep Sabine safe, and it wasn't something that I thought would result in this offer, and..."

Ariel was beginning her usual increased pace of words, showing her own nervousness. Rukeewei knew her for long enough that it was in times like these that it was better to interrupt her than allow it to escalate.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel took in a short breath through her mouth and quickly nodded. "Yes, I did say that I would at least show Kaleeth-rei around the city." She raised her head and wiped her eyes with two fingers on one hand, one after the other. "I think some air will help." She sniffed. "I just need a moment to be...presentable. I do not want to worry anyone else."

Just beneath Ariel's line of sight, Sabine stood up and wrapped her arms around Ariel's torso. Ariel was surprised for a moment, then released her breath, brought her arms around Sabine, and began silently shedding tears again.

---

The remainder of the day had Ariel happily giving the pack a newly informed tour of Thorn, or at least the places Ariel frequented. As was to be expected from someone who had lived in a city and been in contact with its natives, she showed the pack all sorts of places that would never have been apparent to fresh tourists. Places to eat, places to shop, places to carouse, and many more things to know. They were even introduced to new merchants that gave better prices for the kinds of things that the pack would sell for coin; hides, alchemical ingredients, and the like. A particularly resonant moment was when Kaleeth was even given a look at one of the few overlapping features between the city and her old life -- a religious ceremony at the central hist tree.

Even with all Ariel was able to fit in, the day ended quickly. The pack settled in for the night with Sabine looking to Meesei for comfort. She was understandably worried for Sabine, though it was not difficult to give some effective assurances. Ariel did not have such assurances when she ventured home.

Somehow, through a night of sleep-depriving worry, Ariel woke up as early as her daily schedule dictated to her. Anxiety gave way to grogginess and a desire for breakfast more than anything. She had motivated herself in her mind to leave seeing Rukeewei for after her morning routine. It made her eat slowly.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fair enough. I'll post when I get home in many hours...

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

We can skip to Ariel speaking to Rukeewei that next morning. Would he go to her or would she be more likely to go and see him first?

I don't think I have anything else planned for the journey or for Thorn. Although, Gallus is probably going to be feeling down for a while when he gets back to Blackreach. We might do a scene between him and Ri'vashi. He would probably put up a strong face in front of anyone else.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel took a moment to scrunch her eyes and regain enough composure to answer.

"I don't know. I think it is best to just let him calm and think for now. To take this all in." Ariel opened her teary eyes to Meesei. "I'll try to talk to him later, and maybe have him talk to you or someone else in the pack. Would that be alright?"

Regardless of the answer, Ariel closed her eyes and bowed her head to wipe them on her sleeve. "I can't say what he will decide. I do know that he isn't rash. I just hope it wasn't wasn't a mistake to keep all this from him until now."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel remained in still shock for several seconds longer, staring at the door. She only turned to Meesei and Sabine as an afterthought.

Sabine had her own look of fear about her. She sat tensely in her chair with no lack of guilt in her thoughts.

"We would have needed some time anyway, but thank you," Ariel said with a calmness that contradicted her face. "You had best not trouble yourselves, Rukeewei and I will work through this."

Ariel brought a hand to her side and lifted herself out of her chair.

"He is just scared, sister," Sabine said. "It is okay, talk to him when he calms down, he would not..."

"I know, Sabine, I know," Ariel laid a hand on Sabine's shoulder and tried to smile. "I just didn't want to hurt him, and I..." Ariel's eyes reddened and she tightened her lips. She tried finishing her sentence, but it came out as a sob.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rukeewei's words did not help with Ariel's anxiety. She was struck with some silent shock when he got up to leave all of a sudden. Thankfully, she found enough courage to reach up and speak. "Wait, Rukee," Ariel said. "This will be the only time I let my past drag us away. I promise." She lowered her hand, not keeping him from leaving if he needed to. "I love you."