Feet and chairs shuffled and scraped on the stony floor as the meeting adjourned. The movement included Ariel and Sabine, though they were interrupted.
Ariel raised her brow at the question and looked to Sabine. Sabine twisted her mouth and looked at Sparks for a few seconds before turning a smile up at Brenann. "Yes," she said cheerfully. "We do not work far apart in the scholar's compound. Come for some blood when you need it."
"Oh dear," Ariel breathed with an uneasy smile.
Some weeks passed where the clan's new additions settled in.
Ariel was swiftly made busy for most of the day every day. More so even than her shop. While her contributions to understanding how the soul tearing gas could have been made up were an immediately invaluable addition, her busy schedule kept her away from Rukeewei much of the time. To keep him occupied rather than shut away all day, Ariel spoke to Sabine, who spoke to Fendros and Janius, who eventually tried to find an occupation for Rukeewei with the clan's farming and food processing. Thankfully, with the lack of bloodshed or desperate times, there were no humanoid meats that Rukeewei could be made aware of. Not only that, but the less-than-sanitary food handling practices were easier to swallow for an iron-stomached Argonian such as him.
As quickly as that, the pack's life settled back into the clan. Sabine and Peiter's interactions were cordial and awkward at first, but they eventually settled back into the habits of their previous friendship with the rest of their group.
A few weeks after his talk with Ri'vashi in the training room, Gallus' feelings regarding his expedition had gone from difficult to managed. He doubted that he would ever live down that day, but coming to terms with his failures had required the contrast Ri'vashi had presented. He had to keep moving forward with what he had and that was what he did.
In light of the relative recovery, the tides had turned once again to how they were. He stepped into Ri'vashi's chambers after a knock, knowing full well that she was reading scouting reports like she did this time every week.
Gallus greeted Ri'vashi with a tight-lipped smile, crossed his arms, and leaned against the door frame. "Ri'vashi, this is an intervention," he said. "You have been working without balance this week. You've been taking on all these extra jobs since we took Alftand that are long overdue to be delegated, you've consistently been working late, not even your khajiit features can hide the stress gathering around your eyes, and its getting dangerously close to what most would call the end of the week." Gallus pointed a finger at her, "You-" The same hand pointed a thumb at his chest, "And me-" his finger pointed to the open door. "...Are going to get a drink."
Tzirret's life before his journey to Elsweyr was a distant memory at this point. The courage he had gained had won him some new friends when he reunited with the clan. As Peiter and his friendship group were edging into adulthood, it was natural that he would look for those closer to his age. It was almost as difficult as when he had met new friends in the Senchal clan, though not quite as much.
What hadn't changed from when he returned was the flow of letters. He had penned one a few weeks ago that read as follows, showing marked improvement in his writing skills just by the practice over time.
Dear Ma'tanza,
The champion's pack returned safely today with Sabine's older sister Ariel. They say that Ariel will be helping to find the antidote to the gas and she has been helping a lot. Khajiit wishes he could meet her but she works all day and he does not want to disturb important work. Peiter and Sabine seem okay with not being together anymore but Tzirret thinks Peiter does not know how to act around her anymore. Sabine might be the same but she is hard to read sometimes. Tzirret is mostly afraid of her new pet. She named it daisy of all things. It is not like a daisy at all. It is cold and spiky and strange! Anyway, like he said in Tzirret's last letter Gallus has been sad since he came back but tried to hide it. Tzirret does not blame him - I wrote what happened to you. Recently though Ri'vashi spoke to Gallus and he has been feeling better. Gallus did not say exactly what she said, only that he got perspective or something, whatever that means. Tzirret is glad that Gallus has friends that are not in his pack like that as we could not get past his pride. Uthri has been well. She has been going on more scouting missions now that Gallus is feeling better. She says this place gets bigger every time she goes out there. It is amazing but Tzirret wonders how it doesn't cave in. At least it is beginning to feel like home again. In fact Darahil worked out how to melt the ice that was stopping some dwemer pipes and now we have water for baths! It is not as big or clean as the big bath chamber in Bruma but Tzirret was getting sick of drawing water every time he wanted to wash himself. There are no clean places to swim where we live. Tzirret wishes Ma'tanza could visit. The things here are not like anything Khajiit has ever seen and he is frustrated that he cannot tell you more! The orders to keep our home secret make it impossible. Tzirret knows that he has said so before but new things keep appearing! If there is anything that I wish you would not have to see, Tzirret supposes that it is the chaurus. Some Bosmeri clanspeople have been taming them and Tzirret saw one walking through the street. They are like short centipedes except the size of large dogs. Anyway, Tzirret is glad to hear that you managed to cast that spell you were working hard on. Congratulation! Even if she said she was frustrated, Tzirret knew that Ma'tanza had the talent. He also hopes that Mi'basa's first transformation is not too bad for him. He probably would have done so by the time Tzirret's letter reaches you. Give Mi'basa Tzirret's best wishes. Even if it is quiet over there in Elsweyr Tzirret still loves to read Ma'tanza's letters. Even if it is just to say hello. He would speak more but Khajiit is running out of space on paper again. He thinks about you every day. Missing you...
Love from, Tzirret
Tzirret had a spring in his step as he proceeded to the latest mail run from Winterhold. The Nord man sorting through the contents of the sack of letters recognised Tzirret's approach and gave him a grin. Tzirret's tail curled side to side in anticipation when he received the paper with his name on it. It still had a faint trace of the jungle in its scent.
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