Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There was little Lunise knew to say with regards to the meaning in Meesei's life. Getting some breakfast was far simpler. "Easily done," she said, reflecting Meesei's smile. After another quick kiss to the lips and the cheek, Lunise edged over to stand up.

After asking Meesei what she felt like eating in particular and confirming whether or not she wanted to accompany her, Lunise had slid on a change of clothes provided by the Psijic Order and was out of the door.

Her smile faded shortly after leaving the room. The combined burdens of the invasion and Meesei's soul tried their best to weigh down Lunise's shoulders, but she was able to contend it with her trained posture and a tightened jaw. Her temples were already sore from doing the same thing during her sleep.

Lunise was surprised but not startled to run into Nytala on the way. She slowed down when it was apparent Nytala wanted to talk.

"Good morning, mother." Lunise clasped her hands together in front of herself. "I was presently on my way to find some breakfast for Meesei and myself."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise lifted herself up shortly after Meesei did, running a hand up Meesei's back before moving her legs over the bed to stand up. There was no telling whether the way she held her joined hands up and stood on the balls of her feet to stretch her entire body was habitual or showing off for Meesei. Even with her blonde hair messy and face not made up, it gave plenty to admire. She released a satisfied breath before she turned her eyes and noticed Meesei's distraction. Her smile faded knowingly.

In an effort to calm Meesei's nerves, Lunise walked her knees over the bed and settled into a side-ways seated position behind Meesei, wrapping her arms around Meesei's middle. She laid two small kisses at the base of Meesei's neck before she rested her chin on her shoulder and spoke up. "Have you had any luck with your thoughts?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

With the worries of the previous day yet to catch up on them, Lunise reciprocated Meesei's passion in kind. She did not mind any imperfections about the moment for there was not much thinking to be done compared to experiencing. They pressed so tightly into one another that Lunise could have stayed as they were for the entire day. She was very tempted to do so. However, enough rationality took hold to transition from kisses to pecks on the lips, and thereon to a blissful look into Meesei's eyes.

"Good morning," Lunise mumbled in a drowsy voice. "A very good morning."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

There was no question that Lunise wanted to remain with Meesei for most of the time. Between the guilt of sharing such heavy news at what was meant to be their last chance for some peace before the invasion and the intense concern Lunise held in her core for Meesei, she remained close and attentive. The quiet in which Meesei could think and rest was taken up by Lunise by reading a book from the collection Nytala had provided for them.

All the same, Lunise was encouraged enough by Meesei both to take up Zyausak's offer for a tour as well as a long period spent catching up with Nytala. The many years between them left little empty time for Lunise and Nytala to talk. The subjects mostly revolved around recalling events and relations, including Pircalmo. Although, they also dipped into interpretation of experience and philosophy, as well as thoughts about the future. Perhaps it was the mindset of the Order, but Lunise was continually struck dissonant with who Nytala really was compared to who Lunise expected her to be. Nytala was by no means a cause of friction -- the truth was Lunise was made happy by her company. However, the hole Nytala left with her previous absence and all the formative experiences of Lunise's life only became more apparent. She returned to Meesei after several hours happy, though ultimately bittersweet.

---

Lunise had been sleeping lightly, if at all, in Meesei's arms. The experience of intimate closeness throughout an entire night had been foreign to her for such a long time that Meesei's embrace was at once heart-meltingly pleasant and a cause to keep her conscious. Relaxing enough to sleep had only ever been a solitary affair since her duties began. Tacit anxieties over disturbing Meesei's sleep, especially after their day prior, did not help matters.

All this and her habitual early wakefulness left Lunise largely unwilling to snooze further when the morning came. She instead let her eyes rest on Meesei's sleeping face and just stared for a while. Her arm felt heavy when she finally craned it up to run Meesei's red feathers between her fingers. A genuine, sleepy smile persisted on Lunise's lips.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sure. I imagine Lunise and Nytala will have plenty to catch up on before that, but a lot of that will probably be either repeating details or adding details that won't really matter given the remaining length of the story, so we can summarise that.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise gave as much time as Meesei needed to think. She remained holding onto her hand the entire time. All the while, she made an effort not to show her own sorrow at Meesei's state.

When Meesei stood up, Lunise returned the hug gently. "I understand, dear. I am afraid as well, but I am also hopeful. Convincing you of that has convinced myself." She kissed the top of Meesei's head. "We both have matters to ponder, I believe. This time will be valuable."

Lunise brought a hand around to lift Meesei's chin to look at her. Lunise was smiling encouragingly. "What would you like to do now? I feel driving you to further panic today may not be helpful, let alone necessary."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise knew what she wanted to say before Meesei had finished. She tilted her head to one side. "Mother also told me something else, as it happens. 'Fate is a lie,' she said." Lunise took a deeper breath. "Her position puts weight to those words. And while there is little doubt of the unique and difficult nature of this, to say it is impossible begs the question of what you are assuming."

Meesei's hand was wrapped fully in Lunise's as she continued. "You are assuming that you were made for the purpose of collapsing upon death. You do not know that. The Hist may have even made you with the knowledge that you could solve this problem. You are assuming that this theory of the Psijics is as good as fact. No one knows that -- it is a guess based on incomplete information. You are assuming that you are not surrounded by incredibly talented people both here and on Tamriel that can and will help you."

Just as Lunise was about to remind Meesei of her family again, she stopped, closed her mouth, and furrowed her brow. "Meesei, are you absolutely certain that you cannot face a new problem?" She raised a finger and pressed it, crooked, against her lips. A new energy entered her voice. "I know of one problem you solved that could never have been a part of some Hist-carried late Argonian soul. Indeed, all lycan souls go to the Hunting Grounds. It follows, then, that a lycan mage who learnt to channel magic whilst in a transformed state would not have returned to the Hist upon their demise." She sat up straight, tall over where Meesei sat. "Meesei, I think it reasonable for you to assume full credit for that particular impossibility. And do not dare to assume that feat means nothing. I would not resort to violence against you, but know that I would consider my position carefully in the pursuit of slapping that falsehood out of your mind."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Try as she might, Lunise could not hold back showing deep pain from Meesei's self-judgement. She had never seen her so vulnerable. Thankfully, Lunise was still the one with the clearer head. She reached and picked up one of Meesei's hands, turning it palm up in her fingers in front of her and running small, slow circles on it with her thumbs.

"I do not agree that you deserve to disappear like that," Lunise said. "I feel I can say that with more qualification than most, if not all. You have driven yourself to the brink of death on a number of occasions for your cause. You have faced challenges that you knew well might have been beyond your capabilities, natural talents or no. It is unfair on yourself to claim practice and determination played no significant role in your achievements. To sacrifice as much as you have was a choice that none forced you to make, least of all the Hist."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

At first, Lunise flinched at Meesei's more violent movements. But then she settled into a relaxed and controlled posture.

"Meesei, there is a truth -- two truths -- here that for you are overdue to learn," Lunise said calmly and firmly. "They are difficult to learn from a position of high aptitude and success, and for your age, for you have fewer mistakes to reflect upon. However, they are ever present. The first is that not all mortals are born with equal talents. There maybe talents that are not given opportunities to flourish, but it remains that a senche-raht Khajiit will never be able to speak like a suthay, and a suthay will never be as strong as a senche-raht. They had no more control over those parts of themselves than you did your soul. But the suthay never feels they do not deserve to speak any more than the senche-raht believes they do not deserve their strength."

Lunise twisted to sit on the desk beside Meesei. Her voice took a kinder tone. "The reason why is the second truth. A truth that too many Altmer fail to grasp. That second truth is that all souls have value, even yours. You cannot separate the templates from who you are. It is all one being. You would not be Meesei otherwise, and you are no less to me than you were before."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Lunise's hands fell onto her legs and then slid to her sides. Her face was frozen, looking at Meesei with her mix of sadness and frustration made into a static frame. She might have predicted Meesei's reaction perfectly had she given it thought. No amount of thought could reduce the shock.

When Lunise remembered to breathe, she stood herself up onto her feet, looking down and around nervously. There was nothing do to but walk up to Meesei in a few quite strides and place a hand on her shoulder.

Lunise's next words came from a certain memory of both of them switched places, filtered through Lunise's own elocution, as level and earnest as she could make it. "Meesei. You know that I know what it is to be loyal. I am aware this may strike as an obvious question, but...how are you feeling about all of this?"