Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Monderyn put his hand to his chin, looking down in thought.

Llarasa spoke up. "You can count on us keeping your secret, right Monderyn?"

He peered at her and slowly nodded.

"And mother loves having guests," Llarasa continued. "I'm sure if we explain the situation to her, she'll be more than happy to accommodate."

"That just leaves father," Fendros said.

Monderyn motioned to talk, though he took a moment to put his words together. He clapped a hand against his fist and spread his hands apart. "I don't think there's a good way to control his actions. Either he engages or he doesn't. I don't think he will, because he still does not want to acknowledge you, Fendros. But neither will he like his face being rubbed in it."

"Could he be distracted?" Rhazii suggested quietly.

He was paid attention for a moment before Monderyn answered. "Not for as long as I expect these new guests will stay."

"Ahnasha," Llarasa asked. "Just so I understand, what will happen if your family learns about you?"

---

Harriet pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. She breathed in slowly and opened her eyes to resume eye contact.

"Lorag," she said evenly. "You remember I'm a stronghold Orc, right? That means you can tell Vera if she wants justice, she can come over here and take it for herself."

Lorag's next statement made Harriet blink and scrunch her face in disbelief. "Wait, she can what now?" She grunted. "Fuck, I was hoping Narsi could have more time than that without me around." She spun on her heel and threw her chin down. "Damn it! Fuck...Okay..." She turned back around and brought up her hands. "I can't make you do more than that. Sure."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ahnasha's words did cause some measure of relief in Monderyn and Llarasa.

"Well, that's plenty of time," Llarasa said, leaning forward and keeping both hands on her drink. "Will all of you be staying?"

Fendros nodded. "We want to try and avoid anything getting out of hand." He softened. "It's also a good opportunity to see you all."

Monderyn remained tense. "What exactly should we do?" he asked. "Ahnasha, how much does your family know about us? Couldn't we just ask them to be reserved around mother and father? Perhaps not try to come to conflict with father at all?"

---

Harriet took every word with an unimpressed scowl. Her head was tilted slightly to one side. Lorag's return to accusations, particularly his physical contact, tested Harriet's patience.

"Lorag, I ain't one of your fucking recruits on drill," Harriet said. "We don't owe each other anything. Truth is, I didn't expect you to come back. When you left, you made yourself damn clear that you didn't want to deal with any of this. Yeah, I killed Jerrick, but it's not as if I could'a changed that fact when I learnt I was gonna have a kid." She shrugged. "Did I cry? Did I complain and stamp my feet? No, I shut up and got to work." She sighed through her teeth. "This is about you and your personal problems, not me."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The rest of the greetings proceeded. While Monderyn and Fendros embraced, loudly patting one another on their backs, Rhazii stood up to receive his aunt. Llarasa audibly gasped at Rhazii's height and commented on whether he would visit in another decade having reached the size of a giant. Rhazii laughed softly, easing his nerves as he said hello.

Before long, Monderyn and Llarasa found themselves a chair each and sat at the table with drinks in their hands. Llarasa chose red wine while Monderyn chose ale.

Monderyn got down to business first. "Well, now that we're out of father's earshot, I imagine you're anxious to follow up what you mentioned at the front door."

"Right," Fendros said. He took a quick breath in and out. "The fact of the matter is -- I'm unsure if they sent word ahead -- Ahnasha's family told us they are coming to visit you."

Llarasa and Monderyn each frowned, confused.

"That doesn't sound so bad," Llarasa commented.

"Not at the face of it, true," Fendros said, nodding. "They are kind people. But...there are a few complications, you see. For one, they are devout temple-goers. They also have cross-bred; Ahnasha's father is Bosmer and her brother is married to an Argonian. And, perhaps more importantly, they don't know about what we are." Fendros' voice lowered at that last detail. "It's nothing wrong with them, of course. Just...well, ss you might imagine, all of that together might cause some friction with father, and maybe even mother."

"Oh." Llarasa blinked, frozen like a shocked deer.

Monderyn's eyes shifted. "Did they mention when they are due to arrive?"

---

"'Course I agreed," Harriet said dismissively. "How else was I supposed to know you were bein' serious? Not like I could ever show her a clan."

Narsi, in contrast, was fuming. "You don't get to talk about momma like that," she growled. "I ain't going with you! You're stupid and you only came here to piss around talkin' like you're all high-and-mighty! You don't care! Get lost! We don't want you here!"

"Shut your damn mouth!" Harriet bellowed with surprising ferocity. Narsi virtually shrank away in fright as she looked to her mother.

Harriet took three steps towards Narsi and continued. "Listen here, Narsi, look at me-" She pointed at her eyes. "Look at me."

Narsi reluctantly made eye contact.

Harriet's voice softened. "Look, this guy gonna keep sayin' stupid things, he's stubborn. But he's not stupid. He's right. You need to go meet other lycans. You need to make friends. I can't be your only friend, I'm your momma. It's not what I'm here for. I know you're smart and tough, so you need to take opportunities like this, okay?"

Narsi mumbled. "I don't wanna leave you alone, momma."

With a sigh, Harriet closed her eyes and put a hand on Narsi's head. "I'll be here if you wanna come back. But you gotta do this. Momma can take care of herself." Harriet brought her hand to nudge Narsi in the shoulder. "I'm tougher than you, remember? You still gotta beat me some day. And you don't wanna have to beat an old lady." She smirked. "Or have an old lady beat you."

Slowly, Narsi's face tensed up more. She was holding her breath and making an effort to look angry.

Harriet pat Narsi roughly on the upper arm. "Now go on, pack up your stuff. If you ain't out here in five minutes with a bag packed I'll go in after you and throw you out the window. Go!"

Narsi spun and ran back into the cabin. She could hide her face with her back turned to them, though she was already wiping her eyes with her knuckle. The five minutes was not just time to pack.

Harriet straightened and looked sideways at Lorag. Her frown drilled in to him just how much he had missed over the last fourteen years.

She did not say anything. She waited for Lorag to speak first.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Thanks to some note taking and the search function, I found some useful indices.

Ahnasha reunited with her family at Leyawiin on page 132. Fendros and Ahnasha's wedding ceremony was on page 243.

Incidentally, Lorag's last interaction with Narsi and Harriet was also nearby on page 246.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros couldn't keep himself still in his seat. As soon as his leg stopped fidgeting, his eyes started darting around the ceiling. When that stopped, he kept shifting how he leaned his head on his hand. He ate his lunch too quickly, though it was a brief break from his movements. Now that they were waiting again, he drummed his fingers on the table under the sound of the inn's other patrons.

Rhazii was the opposite. He kept quietly to himself, not only because his parent's anxiety was feeding his, but because his instilled 'city behaviour' from his childhood often boiled down to not drawing attention to himself.

"It's been nice to spend a little time, yes," Fendros said. "If only we could be so relaxed." He gave a tight smile. "At least the only possible way a similarly impactful thing could happen to the last time you let yourself go would be between...my sister and Ahnasha's brother, but even if Vasiq was not already married, I think we are far too sober to let that impossibility exist."

Fendros bit his lip. His attempt at levity came off awkwardly upon speaking it out loud.

Rhazii spoke up. "It's strange seeing you this relaxed, Meesei," Rhazii said. "Everything's flipped."

A barman stopped by to pick up a pair of Meesei's empty ale mugs. As if only just realising, Rhazii tilted his head at them. "How many have you had now?" he asked.

While Rhazii tried to regain count of Meesei's beverages, Fendros stood up. Looking around from just having walked through the front door was Llarasa and Monderyn. Fendros caught Monderyn's eye first, causing the pair to exchange a smile. Llarasa followed shortly after with a bright grin and the siblings closed to the table in short order.

"Fendros, it's so good to see you!" Llarasa caught Fendros in a strong embrace. She quickly moved onto Ahnasha. "You too, my favourite sister-in-law!" When she pulled away her eyes lingered on Ahnasha's face for a moment. "By the eight, Ahnasha, you must allow me to purchase from Sabine whatever is keeping you looking so good." she commented.

Neither Llarasa nor Monderyn had aged at the pace Rhazii or Meesei had, as was normal for elves. Ahnasha's personal treatment let her keep up with them whether they knew or not.

Monderyn moved the other way around the table, extending a hand to Meesei. "Welcome back to Cheydinhal, Meesei."

---

"You were a lot less of a braying ass the last time I saw you," Harriet said. "You talk a lot a' guff for someone who hasn't been here. Still...maybe you gettin' old's given you a good point. Shut up for a second -- hey pup!" Harriet all but shouted the last two words. She turned her head to the cabin. "Come out here."

Emerging carefully from the cabin was a sinewy orc girl dressed in a light long-sleeved shirt and trousers. Her hair was deep black and short, as if cut with large shears just a few days earlier. She looked no older than fourteen.

"You remember Lorag, don't you Narsi?" Harriet said.

Narsi only glanced at her mother, keeping her glaring eyes otherwise squarely on Lorag. "Mhm," she hummed.

"Think you got a handle on your beast? You won't go making any messes no more?"

Narsi nodded.

"Good, you don't need to stay in the cabin no more," Harriet declared. "Pack your things. Lorag's goin' to take you to see what a clan is like."

Narsi's anger fell into surprise and confusion. "What!?" she blurted out. "I ain't going with him! I want to stay with you!"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

We don't have to make a new scene catching Meesei up on the goings on. They'll just be waiting for a couple of hours, so that time can be summarised.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"See you later," Fendros said before the door shut. He and Rhazii were taken off guard at how fast Ahnasha moved away. They caught up as quickly as they could.

"We shall see," Fendros responded to Ahnasha. "I have a feeling that it will just be Monderyn and Llarasa. Mother is not the inn-going type."

They made enough distance to feel comfortable slowing to a normal pace. Fendros took Ahnasha's hand as they walked. "Mother showed remarkable patience at our wedding. I hope she has retained it."

Rhazii peered over his shoulder several times before the Avarul house was out of sight.

Soon enough, the three found themselves at the Cheydinhal Bridge Inn. Meesei was surprised to see them back so early, though the situation was easy to explain. There was little left to do but wait.

---

Harriet expressed no hint of being any more charitable. "She knows about lycans. I've been teachin' her about herself, too. The only reason she didn't march across the mountains to split your head open with an axe is because I told her that was a stupid idea and I'd tie her up for a week if she tried." Her breath seethed. "As for me, she knows I did the wrong thing. She knows it wasn't her fault. But, you know, we've been the only people who've had each other since I got here."

She blinked and shook her head. "Is that all you're here for? Makin' sure I ain't raising my kid to make the same mistakes I did?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Monderyn pressed his lips in together and nodded. "I think we might be able to make an excuse. It will take some time to get the word around. Would you mind waiting for about an hour, maybe more? We can meet you at the Bridge."

"We'll be staying at the Bridge Inn, I imagine." Fendros spoke as quietly as Monderyn did. "That will suit just fine."

"Good. We will see you then." Monderyn started to close the door. "And...it is good to see you again, brother." He nodded somewhat in a rush to Rhazii and Ahnasha. "And you as well, Ahnasha and...Rhazii."

---

Harriet was not impressed by Lorag's words. She glared into his eyes for a silent moment.

"Narsi," Harriet said. "Go inside. Turn back like I taught you. Take your time. We'll do another lesson later."

The younger werewolf paced around behind Harriet and made for the door to the cabin. She looked at Lorag all the while, less angry than Harriet but still unsure.

As Narsi headed into the cabin, Harriet wrinkled her snout and broke eye contact. The quick strain gave way to her body contracting and warping back into the shape of a strong Orc woman. She was aged, much like Lorag but with a few years advantage. Her apparent strength was just the same as Lorag remembered. She crossed her arms.

"You're gonna have to do better than that, Lorag," Harriet said flatly. She could speak quicker and easier in this form. "It's been too many years to pretend you gave a shit. Why should I believe you give a shit now?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fair enough. It sounds like we'll be controlling plenty of characters each in Fendros, Ahansha, and Rhazii's scene on its own. Doing both of the others at once would be a lot to think about.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Rhazii paid close attention, nodding rapidly to Ahnasha's affirming of city manners. At mention of Fendros' father, he curled in his lips and looked ahead, conflicted. "Okay," he answered lowly after a moment.

Though he did not look comfortable, Fendros did not protest as he took the lead towards his old home. They all kept their eyes peeled for familiar Dunmer.

They were unnoticed all the way to the front door. Fendros hesitated and then knocked three times. He clasped his hands in front of himself as he waited. His toes restlessly fidgeted up and down in his shoes.

The sound of boots on floorboards preceded the door unlatching and opening partly. Fendros looked up and saw Monderyn right before his eyes lit up. He had hardly aged more than Fendros had, which was little at all.

"Fendros?" Monderyn said, surprised. His eyes shot to Ahnasha and Rhazii. "We...did not know you were coming. A pleasant surprise." His hidden nervousness came through under his voice. "Who is this?" He nodded to Rhazii.

"It's Rhazii, your nephew," Fendros said with a smile.

Rhazii forced a smile.

Monderyn hummed curiously but did not quite smile. "Grown up healthy, haven't you? I hope they are feeding you enough, young man."

"Uh, nice to meet you," Rhazii attempted.

Fendros interrupted before the small talk could set in. "Monderyn, may we speak with you and the rest of the family? There's been something...not bad, just unexpected that you all ought to know."

Monderyn bared his teeth and looked over his shoulder. When he looked forward again, he clutched the side of the door and craned his head forward. "Father is in the house," he murmured. "Do you think we could meet in town instead? Later?"

His tone was enough to convey the situation to Fendros. It was no wonder Monderyn was nervous.

---

The werewolf took a step back when Lorag spoke. A second passed. Her ears went back and her lips curled up, revealing a fresh set of sharp teeth. She growled and bristled, lowering herself to fight.

A separate low bark snapped the werewolf's attention off to the side. In the movement of her head, her mouth shut and her head perked up, completely cleared of aggression.

The source of the bark entered Lorag's peripheral vision. Another, more familiar werewolf stood nearby. This one was just as large and strong as Lorag remembered. Though her canine face was less emotive, she was clearly scowling and squinting at Lorag.

"She's home now," Harriet said awkwardly through her snout. "Question is, why the hell are you here?"

The smaller werewolf dug her claws into the dirt furtively, unsure.

---

"Alright then," Janius said. "Laying in the river with you a while sounds tempting on its own, but we wouldn't want to leave Julan alone for too long. Come, let's get back to camp." He drew Kaleeth into a quick hug, kissed her again, and then tread the water back to camp with her.