Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"If you can try, then you can try," Janius said. "Be aware, Julan, what your grandfather says is worth repeating. It will be a real fight with real weapons. You will have to fight as hard as if your life depended on it. That will not be the same as sparring. Do you believe you can do that?"

---

Rhazii was quiet again. He held an unconfident frown.

He shrugged. "I'll have to eventually."

It was a dodge that even he would admit was ineffective in the face of his own mother.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius' face had changed from encouraging to concerned, but not for the reason Julan might have assumed. "The Master Hunter, hm?" He pondered out loud, before shaking off the thought. "I think so. Lorag's oversight, as well as practice you have had, does put you in a good position." He turned to Kaleeth. "But you know more about the tribe's fighting skill than me, Kaleeth. What is your opinion?"

---

Rhazii fidgeted in place but he listened curiously. He took a moment to stare off to the side, silently putting his words together. He did not need as long as he thought.

"I guess I never said so properly," he answered. "All the training, it's been because I want to be part of what the pack does." He made eye contact. "Ever since you and father first taught me how to shoot, I thought...'This means I have to contribute now.' I was scared at first, but as I got better, I felt like I could do it. I liked that I could do it." He brought a hand to his shoulder and peered away, his ears lowering. "I know it's dangerous, I just want to contribute. I'm good at fighting, okay? Not as good as you, or father, or Lorag, or Ri'vashi...But I'm better with a longsword than almost everyone my age in the clan. I want to keep getting better until I'm good enough."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I have an idea, but it can be for later.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Where should we go to next with the Cheydinhal bit? We could summarise to the picnic at the lake, or if you wanted Fendros to run into Ahnasha's folks alone first and have to deal with that momentarily we could do that. Alternatively, we could skip back over to what Narsi and Lorag are up to.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius' eyes lingered cordially on Zharanthixil. He thought better of anything to say back to the man, instead turning to Julan again. "Listen, son," he said in calm Cyrodilic. "Any talk of staying is a decision for the future. You do not need to worry about it. Doing this rite will not mean you will have to leave anything or anyone behind. In fact, you do not have to do this rite at all if you do not want to." He lowered his head and lifted his brow. "But here's what I think. I think you are capable of it. Your grandfather thinks your capable of it. You carry this out and you can have it for the rest of your life. No one can take it away." He gave Julan an encouraging smile. "Would you like to attempt a rite? You can take some time to think about it if you wish."

---

Rhazii forced a smile and looked down at the thought of his grandparents drawing yet more attention to him. He looked back up at Ahnasha's instruction. "Yeah yeah, I know," he said. "Are you going to be okay, father?"

Fendros smiled widely. "I will be fine. I have had to resist far worse circumstances than this, Rhazii." He waved them off. "You enjoy yourselves. I'll see you tonight."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius' lips thinned. "Understood," he said with a nod. "If you do not mind, I think Kaleeth and I should talk with Julan about this first. It is an honour for him to be given such an opportunity but if there is danger in the challenges ahead, there needs to be understanding between us." He looked to his son. "Besides, I want to hear your opinion, Julan."

---

"They have energy to spare," Fendros said when outside of the inn, bewildered. "At least this way there is a chance that father does not have to be there." He blew out a long breath as well.

With Ahnasha's request, Fendros let himself laugh darkly. "By all means. I'll make my way over to the vineyard and try to organise this...family dinner business." He looked over his shoulder. "Does that sound good to you, little one?"

Rhazii snapped himself out of distraction from something off to one side. "Yeah, I've been getting tense. Letting loose and going hunting would be nice." One of his ears pinned back and his face tightened with worry. "The way they spoke about me was a bit embarrassing."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius lit up with realisation. "I see. Yes, I remember Kaleeth describing her rite." He turned his head to her. "That is how you earned the vines on your scales, is it not?"

In spite of his tone, Janius still addressed Zharanthixil, curiously tilting his head. "What do the rites entail, exactly? What will it mean for Julan?"

---

"Oh, of course, of course," Fendros said amiably. He stood up as well and shook Gwindir's hand. "Best of luck with your appointment. We will head over to the vineyard and see who's home. Again, it is wonderful to see you all."

Fendros' broad smile had just the right tension to indicate he wished the interaction to finally finish.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I understand," Janius said. "Or...not really the Hist. I understand the difficulty." He chuckled. "Maybe I'll try asking someone else about it."

The improved mood meant that Janius and Kaleeth entered Zharan's hut without anxiety that Julan was showing. Still, Janius picked up on the worry and lowered his voice. "Hello again. We thought we would quickly stop by before visiting Reanaseer. Is everything alright, Kaj-Julan?"

---

Fendros relaxed just a little. "That does sound pleasant. The fresh air might clear everyone's heads." Fendros looked to Shevari again. "I will be honest, my mother can be rather rude in a very underhanded way. No matter what she says, I can tell you now that she is not a very picky eater. However, her attitudes may colour her impressions. I will leave the decision up to you whether to surprise her or be open."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius stood up with the motion to move on.

"Very well," he said. "If Thorantilth was right, perhaps we shall see Julan and your father getting along famously."

Walking alongside her, Janius took Kaleeth's hand and gave her a smile. "Say, Kaleeth, don't take this the wrong way, but...was it the Hist that reminded you of Meesei just now? Or did you just remember yourself?"

---

"I will present them the opportunity." Fendros paused and glanced down modestly. "Mother is nothing if not prideful, but I think I can convince her to allow you to cook, Shevari. Either way, if you would not mind hosting -- Gwindir, S'nashi -- I think that would be best."

Fendros gave Ahnasha a brief look. His face quirked in just a hint of his underlying worry.

"I take it you will have your own business to attend to for the rest of the day?" Fendros asked. "Where might we find you to pass along the response from my family?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius looked to the ground. He did not have anything more to add to what they should or should not have done to provide Julan with a more traditional amount of Hist sap. He doubted in reality that it would have been feasible without living nearer to Black Marsh.

He eased himself to sit on the ground with his legs crossed and his hands clasped, arms around this raised knees. He remained a pace away from Kaleeth's feet and further from the tree. "We've all been tense and nervous approaching the village. Julan's in a new and strange world here. I wouldn't blame him feeling a similar way, and it looks as if he is." Janius tilted his head up at Kaleeth. "I mean...How would you feel if you were blind for your whole childhood and the blindfold was removed one day, on a journey halfway across the world?"

---

Under the table, Fendros squeezed his fist in his other hand in frustration. "I do appreciate the sentiment..." He tried to keep some levity. "...I would not turn up another opportunity to experience Shevari's cooking, but father is not exactly all alone in his convictions. Us Dunmer have a strong connection to our ancestors and their old traditions. As far as he sees it, I turned my back on all of them and not just him." Fendros lifted both his hands. "Look, perhaps you could meet the rest of my family first. Defer the thought of fixing anything, just for now. I do not want your experience here to be marred by...private matters."