Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius gave Zharan a brief look of surprise. It turned into mild concern but he did not play it up. "So, you heard of how he's been conducting himself around us." He turned to Kaleeth. "I'll admit, if there's a way we can get Deerz off our backs, it could be worth considering. Do you just need to fight him, or...?"

---

Rhazii lifted his lower lip and blinked a few times. He took a slow, deliberate breath.

After calming himself again, Rhazii continued. "I'm okay now. I know you only did that because you thought I was out of control." He closed his eyes tight and opened them. "Mother, I should have spoken up more -- I did not want to come out here and kill anyone. Even if they were criminals, it didn't feel right and I should have trusted my gut. I just went along because I didn't want to disappoint you or...or make it seem like I couldn't be a warrior. I wasn't ready. I should have said so."

Once again, Rhazii let Ahnasha speak. The primary issue was not raised yet, but he and Fendros would not have spoken for so long unless there were a number of things to say.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius feigned a sigh of relief as best as he could. "Kaj-Julan, in turn, takes after his mother in determination. Still, we have some experience with wounds like that. Not Julan, but us. We have definitely seen worse where people less durable than Julan...took longer to recover."

Though an unabashed deflection of any notion of their lycanthropy, Janius was telling a half-truth. Skirmishes with cultists left them plenty of unsightly memories of friendly casualties.

"Something for the pain would be very much appreciated," Janius added. "The boy is energetic now, but he may start feeling it more going to sleep tonight. Although, at any rate..." he looked to Zharan and Kaleeth. "Unless there is anything else, we should probably leave you to your work. Thank you again, Thorantilth."

---

The sun was low and the sky orange by the time Ahnasha heard soft footsteps on grass. Fendros emerged from the edge of the camp with Rhazii following along behind him. He still had the bloodstain on the shoulder of his shirt, but it had dried and browned. He kept his eyes to the ground and his face low.

Fendros put on a small smile and raised a hand as they approached.

Their quiet walk ended next to the campfire. Rhazii's eyes were puffed as if he had been crying recently.

"Ahna," Fendros said. "Rhazii's got a few things to say."

Rhazii left a long pause. He blinked away as if ashamed. It took him a moment to bring himself to look at Ahnasha.

"I'm sorry I hurt you." He began. "I panicked. Then my beast panicked. Neither of us were really in control."

He paused again to gauge Ahnasha's reception.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius stood up and stepped back. The hut was becoming quickly crowded. "If Thorantilth says it's okay for you to walk, I have no reason to stop you either. You do need a bath." Janius crossed his arms and switched to Cyrodilic. "And don't forget your manners. Thank the Treeminder, stop by Argrei at some point, and...Don't be afraid."

Thorantilth's knowledge of Cyrodilic was not lost on Janius, though Thorantilth would have likely picked up on the situation anyway.

---

Fendros looked ahead and nodded.

Neither had much else to say until they reached the bandit camp. Fendros took a quick look around to see the aftermath for himself. The only change the spent time made was the smell getting worse. Ahnasha had done her part in hiding the bodies before they arrived, but Fendros could still see the patches of darkened ground where blood was spilled.

He approached Ahnasha and put a hand on her shoulder. He said "I'll see you later" with a small frown, before turning away to follow Rhazii's trail.

Whether Rhazii was found sooner or later, Fendros was gone for several hours. There was plenty of time to think and reflect, even after a bath and taking the time to ready a few meals worth of meat and a cooking fire.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Not the most conventional way to win a fight," Janius added, "but it worked in the moment. By the way, when you're well enough to walk again, Julan, you ought to thank Argrei for the honour of the fight. And perhaps apologize for breaking his equipment."

Janius did not dwell on it, instead addressing Leeus. "I understand you have been helping Julan fit in with the young villagers, Hal-Leeus. Thank you for coming out today to encourage him."

---

Fendros looked unconvinced. "I understand, but the boy is only fifteen. Hunting and fighting is one thing, but taking lives...He still has growing to do." Fendros sighed. "But what's done is done."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"We perhaps should have been clearer about that leading up to the rite, but yes, the tattoos are proof-" Janius turned his head to the entrance. He smiled. "Ah, you must be Hal-Leeus. Julan has told me about you." He beckoned with one hand. "Come in."

---

Fendros hummed in thought. "Perhaps it was all just too much for him today." He tried not to sound punitive. "I wish you would have told me you planned to take him to kill people today. I wasn't sure he was ready for such a thing."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius rubbed the back of his neck. He had not taken into consideration the time or resources the marks would require. "I hope we aren't holding the village up. If there anything we can do to help, let us know."

Julan's worry was not lost on Janius. For that he pat Julan on the arm. "If you are wondering about the details of how the marks are done, I am sure anyone here could answer you. Kaleeth, do you remember much about receiving your tattoos?"

---

Fendros nodded and pulled away, standing up again. "That sounds like a good idea. Let's get ready quickly and get moving. If we're lucky, we'll be able to get back to the inn before night time." Fendros shouldered a full waterskin. "Though I expect we shall have a lot of talking to do."

The pair took a short time to get some things together. Once Ahnasha was dressed in more practical civil attire, they set off at a brisk pace to retrace Ahnasha's steps. Fendros showed hints of looking troubled, the greatest being his few words as they journeyed out. However, he put on a strong face.

It wasn't until they were far enough down the road to be on their own that he asked a question. "Did Rhazii kill anyone? How did he take it?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius' smile lowered a little. He looked at Kaleeth and Zharanthixil briefly, wondering if either of them had told Julan the answer before.

"Well, Julan," Janius turned his eyes back to Kaj-Julan. "I believe the tradition is you would have marks put on your scales, like mother's vines. Except yours would look more like the Juran-Selth's. The current master hunter, that is." He tensed the corner of his mouth. "I've been told about leviathans before. Huge, spine-backed beasts that live here in Black Marsh. I have not seen one myself, however."

---

"Very well." Fendros fastened his sword to his belt and then stopped to look at Ahnasha. After a sigh, he knelt down in front of her and held her hands. "You haven't lost him. I guarantee it." He half-stood to give Ahnasha a hug. "Did you want to come with me to find him?" He asked with his arms around her.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I have to agree with your grandfather," Janius added. "You didn't give up when most would have. You held your own against a more experienced, and more skilled, fighter. You did fight well, all things considered." Janius tilted his head to one side, smiling. "I'll be honest, son. There were some moments that I felt some doubt. But you fought through. I'm proud of you."

---

"We can afford to delay things if we need to," Fendros said. "I spoke to mother. She agreed to come to the lake with Monderyn and Llarasa tomorrow to meet your family. She appeared somewhat enthusiastic about it, but you how she hides herself. She also mentioned she would ask father but we both agreed that was no guarantee." He took a deep breath. "Anyway, if we aren't ready for that tomorrow, we can postpone it. No need to take everything on at once."

Fendros stood up again, this time to dress for going out into the woods.

"I can track down Rhazii while you clean up," Fendros said. "Can you tell me where you two went?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius walked in after having quickly wiped his sword clean of mud and replacing it into its sheath. He walked in behind Kaleeth and was relieved to see Julan in considerably less pain. He waited patiently for Thorantilth to finish administering his potion to Julan before approaching and kneeling down to speak.

"Thank you, Thorantilth," Janius said with a deep nod. "How are you feeling, Julan?"

---

Fendros pulled away from Ahnasha enough to see her arm, but he was more shocked by the cause of the wound. "Azura's light," he breathed. "He did that?"

While Ahnasha elaborated, Fendros stood up from the bed and found one of their bags. He rummaged until he pulled out a small leather skin containing a healing potion. "Here." He pushed it into her hands before sitting down beside her again. "If pretending is a start, make a start. Though, I think it better to be upfront with Rhazii about this...issue. He needs to understand you're not a monster. And he'll need support, too."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Janius did not hesitate to nod and wave down the treeminder. "Thorantilth! Over here."

Janius carefully lowered Julan back onto the ground to get the weight off his legs. "Easy now. We'll get these wounds dealt with, Julan." He took the sword carefully from Julan's hand and put it aside. "The treeminder is here, do as he says, okay?"

---

Fendros turned to look at the floor. He thought as hard as he could with no answer in sight. He could think of little else but to put his arms around Ahnasha and try to be of some comfort.

"Ahna, I am never going to stop loving you, no matter what," he said. "But I know this doesn't have to be you. I don't think it is you. I don't know how exactly to change things – that's only something you can do as far as I can see. But you're strong, you're smart. You can work something out. I'll be there to help however I can." He held on a little tighter. "And Rhazii will always love his mother. We didn't raise a cruel boy."