Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius remained standing opposite where Kaleeth seated herself. He looked at the Hist tree and crossed his arms, thinking better than to get too close to something so sacred to everyone around them.

"You and Meesei have always spoken about the Hist in this...ever-present way." Janius sighed. "I wish I could understand it, too." He blinked his eyes down to her. "It's...not really my place to understand it. But I know we would never mistreat our son. We brought him here to connect to all this." Janius swept his upturned hand around the village. "Even if it's late. We can give him this chance."

---

Fendros exhaled through a tense grin, looking down. "It's not quite as simple as we had put to the letters," he said. He eased himself into a seat as he spoke. "My sister and brother, Llarasa and Monderyn, they are more or less fine. My mother will be aloof and condescending, but she may at least be personable." Fendros' face became saddened and his tone turned serious. "Listen, there is a rift between my father and me." He pointed his hands forward. "It happened when I first visited home with Ahnasha. It's sensitive. Even if trying to reason with him would make matters better or worse -- and I think it would make them much worst -- it's between me and him. You have to understand, he is a person so set in his ways he has not spoken to me in over a decade. He has little patience, strong convictions, and I would dare call him dangerous."

Fendros looked pleadingly at S'nashi and Gwindir. "I need you to promise you will not try to approach him if he does not want to speak."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Thank you very much, Thorantilth," Janius said as Kaleeth took his hand. "We will see you later."

Janius also emerged from the hut feeling much better. He did not know whether the tea or Thoran's manner was what put him at ease, but he felt relaxed for the first time since entering the village.

"He's a kind man, that treeminder." Janius gave Kaleeth a smile. "I think...once the shock has some time to wear off, it would be a good idea to take up the invitation he gave you."

---

Fendros returned the hug, even if he felt as though S'nashi was bull-rushing his attempts to warn them.

"Oh, it is not really a lifestyle suited to me," Fendros said. "Though, I understand how it might look that way from the outside." He quickly shook his head. "Regardless of that, I had hoped to warn you that my family is...very traditional. And traditional Dunmer are..." He blinked twice, trying to think of a flattering way to describe it. He had to answer slowly. "...seated in an ill historical context when viewed by Khajiit and followers of the Divines."

He curled in his lips, pleading with his eyes for Gwindir and S'nashi to read between the lines.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius nodded. "Understood. I look forward to meeting him as well." He put down his tea cup. "And, I must say, Reanaseer has remarkable..." He waved his finger in the air, and then defaulted momentarily to Cyrodilic, "...longevity, I do not know the word in Jel. But, yes, I had no idea that she has been part of your village for quite that long."

After a short pause, Janius glanced to Kaleeth. "At any rate, one or both of us will speak with you again later, I think. We have taken enough of your time. Unless you had anything else for now, Kaleeth?"

Janius did not want to force the topic of their invitation to stay indefinitely. Especially not so soon after all the other news. He simply left the option open.

---

"Yes, the letter," Fendros cleared his throat. "The last letter we received was the one mentioning you were planning to travel here to Cheydinhal. In honesty, that is why we decided to make the journey." He raised his hands. "It is great to see you. There is no doubt in that. However," Fendros' mouth hung open for a quiet moment. "I understand you were planning to make contact with my side of the family."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius grinned briefly at the comment. After sipping his tea along with Thorantilth, another thought came over his mind.

"We were surprised to hear about Reanaseer," he said. "From what I remember she was a very aged and experienced Saxhleel. We were going to see her next, but perhaps you can tell us how she is faring?"

---

Rhazii was evidently not sure how to react to all the attention. He stayed humble in his voice while holding onto his forearm. "Oh, well...heh, maybe that's just it. Mother and father were always very strict about sweets."

Fendros raised an eyebrow. "Only when you were a child, Rhazii. These days you eat anything in great quantities. You're a growing boy."

Keeping his smile, Rhazii slowly shrugged.

Fendros leaned to see around S'nashi. "Speaking of members of the family, however, we have yet to say hello to Gwindir."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius took a slow drink from his tea. He switched his eyes between Thorantilth and Kaleeth with curiosity about the new master hunter once more. He pursed his lips, noting to ask Kaleeth about it when they finished with Thorantilth. It would be rude to bring up here.

"Thank you, Thorantilth," Janius said. "We know our welcome here is mixed. It has been reassuring to receive a warm welcome from you." He held his cup in both hands and gathered his words. "So...How have you been faring these past years? Has anything else changed since we were last amongst the village?"

---

S'nashi's happiness was rather infectious. Fendros couldn't help but grin and even Rhazii, nervous and subdued though he was, had a small smile as well.

"Hello grandmother," Rhazii said. It felt odd to call someone he hardly knew by that name. "How are you?" It felt redundant to ask but it he said it by reflex.

"It's wonderful to see you again, S'nashi," Fendros added. "I hope the road kind to you all."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius raised a hand to temper Thorantilth's enthusiasm. "We were able to provide him a naming ceremony with help from some friends. Thank you for the offer. We were hoping to have Julan learn more about the tribe and the customs here, as it happens. He is speaking with Zharanthixil at the moment, but perhaps you could meet him later?"

---

"Some of those details seem familiar, somehow," Fendros said knowingly. "It would make some sense, then."

Fendros leaned his head back against the doorframe as well. "However, if you speak the whole truth, I doubt we will be waiting much longer than it would take for your mother to come charging up the stairs."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius paused at first to glance at Kaleeth. He looked to Thorantilth when he thought clear to answer. "Something is coming up in due course, back home. It will tenuous. While we would rather keep the details to ourselves, it suffices to say we wanted Kaj-Julan to meet his grandparents and know better his heritage." He looked to Kaleeth again. "And Kaleeth wanted to visit her family as well, for a number of reasons."

He raised the tea to his lips, allowing Kaleeth to elaborate if she desired to.

---

Fendros smiled and lowered his brow. "Your mother's reaction was subdued when we saw her last? Granted, you came back from the dead, but are you suggesting she'll be even more emotional now?"

"They seemed...uncomfortable," Rhazii commented. He looked to his parents. "Was that just because of what they said your mother would do, mama? Or was something else wrong?"

Fendros leant against the doorframe of their room and thought for a moment. He shrugged. "What do you think, Ahna?"

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

@Frettzo That's fantastic to hear! Good on you for making the moves. I glad you're in a safer spot. We're still alive over here and will be for a while, so we'll be ready for Astarte with open arms :)

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius had his hands clasped respectfully. He returned Thorantilth's smile. "I am Janius. It has been a long time since you helped my little sister, but I have not forgotten you, Thorantilth. Good to see you again." He bowed his head and held out a hand to the treeminder.

Without being an Argonian himself, Janius could never speak perfect Jel. However, he hoped demonstrating his vocabulary would give a good impression. Not that Thorantilth was unfriendly by any means.

---

Rhazii was made a little nervous by the way his aunt and uncle appeared uncomfortable. He felt as though something was being left unsaid so far.

Rhazii brought his hand behind his neck and gave a tense grin. "Yeah, I'm a Cathay," he said, almost as if it were an admission. "Uh...nice to meet you again."

Fendros smiled. "He's like a bean sprout. Leave him alone for five minutes with some food and water and he outgrows you." He held his hand out. "Listen, how about we let you get settled and meet you downstairs with Gwindir and S'nashi? It's really quite important that we speak to you all."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Okay," Janius said. He stood up with Kaleeth and gave her upper arms a quick rub to help ground her. "I would like to hear what they have to say about all this."

Janius took Kaleeth's hand again and walked with her to the closest of Thorantilth and Reanaseer's huts. He eyed the tribespeople that were still paying them attention. He grew anxious to know what impact their arrival was having. Perhaps he was also keeping a lookout for anyone who looked like his name was Juran.

---

"Greetings Vasiq, Shevari." Fendros nodded to each of them. "It's good to see you again. You remember Rhazii?" He pointed a thumb to Rhazii, who gave an uneasy smile. Fendros continued. "Were you heading to your room? We would like to talk to everyone as soon as it is convenient."