Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine looked ahead and smiled softly. She would not quite admit to Ko'tanza and Tzirret that the legendary twisting of the story helped make the true events less present in her mind, but the matter of Do'rhajul was something she felt the need to answer. She spared a moment of quiet to think.

"I know a lot of people want to see him dead," she eventually said. "Some of those want to see him suffer horribly. They want revenge. I know those feelings, but he is part of my pack now. I do not want him to die." She rubbed her own shoulder nervously. "He realised what he did was wrong. It is torturing him already. He has been in pain ever since and I did not even need to poke him. It is...more than I am comfortable inflicting. But instead of ending his life, should he survive, I want him to help rebuild. I do not expect him to be forgiven. But I do not like revenge and the pain it makes. Lycans already have more than anyone needs."

At that, Tzirret frowned and looked into the fire, thinking uncomfortably.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"Hinder or aid," Ariel echoed with a nod. "Both will be very relevant here. I mentioned some possibilities to Meesei and Ahnasha just a short while ago, but I may be able to do justice to the concepts now, with some more thought."

Meesei's words caused Ariel to show some surprise. "Oh? Well, if we are adjourning, I could use some time to collate some notes of my own. But before that, Ahnasha, did you have any thoughts as well?"

---

"Well, as long as you are okay," Sabine answered.

Tzirret reacted with a smile. "Your duty is much better at bossing you around than me or Miruza, but at least we can bargain you back to resting for a little while."

He did not linger on it before turning his attention to Sabine.

Sabine looked up and took a deep breath to give her time to recall enough to talk about. "Everyone is still alive," she said definitively. "So much has happened, even just over the past year or two. I am sure everyone would have a tale for you. Even Rhazii and Kaj-Julan, all grown up. Almost."

"Oh! The children of your packmates, yes?" Tzirret recalled.

"Yes," Sabine continued. "Rhazii is taller than everyone now. And Julan is getting close to being second-tallest. Even Lorag has a surprise daughter named Narsi. But...well they are still family to me, but they are not strictly packmates anymore." Sabine lowered her eyes, glancing up tensely. "I do not know if you heard..."

Knowing Ko'tanza's experiences in particular made Sabine wary of elaborating on the members of her new pack.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Only now did Ariel fully feel the force of Hal-Neesa's personality. While initially shocking, the directness did kick everyone to attention. More shocking to Ariel was the kind of magic she was using so effortlessly.

"Very well," Ariel said, as much to ground herself as to not seem petrified. "I think, perhaps, we might start by framing the problem such that we have the same understanding of the effects we are working on. The stigma against necromancy, without getting into the ethics of it, has sadly left its terms and concepts...less standardised than other areas. We may need to record some notes of our own while we are here."

---

Tzirret closed his eyes and nodded in agreement. "All of those things," he said with some gravel in his voice. "I think she has changed both of us already. Er...in good ways, of course."

"Only three weeks?" Sabine asked as they all sat back down by the fire. "But that would mean you gave birth not long before you came here! And set up an infirmary, too." She knitted her brow sympathetically. "Ma-...Ko'tanza, are you not...exhausted?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel breathed out an uneasy laugh. "I do love children and, of course, any time with my dear sister is a blessing. But...I feel as though I should wait to hear Neesa's piece rather than fall behind on matters." She turned to Sabine and Ko'tanza with a wry, endeared smile. "I will catch up with you later. Say hello to little Miruza for me."

"We will," Sabine said with an understanding nod. "I will see you later."

---

Tzirret was eventually found with a methodical search across the tents of lycanthropes from the clans of Elsweyr. Even with the separation between the three present armies, the lycan clans camped in culturally delineated clusters. There was little to no isolation between them, thankfully, but such was a natural product of their differences.

They first heard Tzirret's voice before they saw him. He sat by a campfire in plain silken robes that leapt from his grey fur. Hunched over a bundle in his arms, he softly sang a Ta'agra lullaby. His words cut short when he noticed Ko'tanza and Sabine's approach. He turned his face up to reveal tired eyes, a dishevelled visage, and yet a warm smile that only brightened when he saw the two in front of him. His face had matured in the intervening years, not only with a distinct happiness but also a noticeable lack of his usual outward fear.

"Hello!" He whispered over the noise of the evening camp. He stood up first to lean to Ko'tanza for a quick kiss. "Hello, moonlight," he murmured, before looking to Sabine. "I see we could not hide from you forever, Sabine. Greetings. It's, heh, been a long time."

Remembering her experience when Rhazii and Julan were both babies, Sabine followed Tzirret's example and spoke quietly, though not without closing in with a beaming grin and a warm hug. "Tzirret! It's so good to see you again as well," she whispered.

The next order of business made herself known with the tiniest sound of struggle. Tzirret turned the bundle he held to reveal a kitten-like feline face with eyes scrunched shut and her head squirming just the tiniest amount in her swaddling.

Sabine took in a breath of wonder, bringing a hand to her own cheek. "She is so cute! Ko'tanza, you did not lie." She glanced up at Ko'tanza and Tzirret. "How old is she? What was the moon phase she was born under? I remember Rhazii being bigger, but he is a Cathay."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel graciously accepted the hug in spite of Ko'tanza's overwhelming praise. "I am...humbled. I always knew that lives depended on that particular project, but I suppose I never fully fathomed the effect."

Sabine let herself have a small stifled laugh with Meesei. Though, she was very interested to hear what Ko'tanza said.

"Is your little brother still seen as..." Sabine trailed off as it dawned on her. She drew a little gasp and held her hands over her mouth. "Did you and Tzirret have a child!?" she whispered excitedly. "Oh, Ko'tanza!" she gave Ko'tanza another quick hug. "What is their name?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel was naturally abashed, placing her fingers on her collar and grinning. "Oh, I do not deserve all the credit, but thank you. It still feels odd to be called such things. Congratulations on your graduation, Ko'tanza." She offered a hand to shake.

"Yes, congratulations!" Sabine said. "How have things been in your clan? Are you here with anyone else? Your friends and family?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine's eyes lit up as soon as she made out the werelion's face. "Ma'tanza!" She hugged her again, this time with more enthusiasm. "Hello! You surprised me." She pulled away with a laugh and sniffed again. "It is okay. I need to think about other things right now anyway. How are you?"

Realising herself, Sabine stepped aside and gestured with a glance to her sister. "This is my sister Ariel. Ariel, this is Ma'tanza. She is a friend from Pelletine."

Ariel stood up wearing a friendly smile and bowed her head. "Greetings, Ma'tanza. I believe Sabine mentioned you in some letters. It is wonderful to meet you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The way the werelion spoke brought Sabine's eyes up rather suddenly. She wiped her tears away and sniffed back her running nose to look halfway composed, but as she stood up to receive the werelion, she was still at a loss.

"I..." She received the hug a little awkwardly, trying to at least discern who it was by scent. "I know a few werelions but not all of them I have seen transformed," she said, smiling. "I apologise, it has been a long time. Your name is...Mmm..." She struggled to dredge it up.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Sabine nodded, but did not look up. She took a moment to form her words, as though it was a more complicated set of thoughts that had assailed her.

"I remember when you almost died," Sabine said. "After your fight with Rhajul when you were dying in front of me and I put all of my magicka into trying to keep you alive. I knew I did not have enough power. You only survived because of actions afterwards. But it was painful to not know if you were going to be okay. Even for the months after. Now you are stronger than you have ever been but I am feeling the same way again."

She scrunched her eyes shut and cringed her shoulders in. Small tears fell from her bowed head as she leaned into Meesei.

"I know I do not have enough power," she sobbed.

Ariel leaned in at this point, looking sympathetic. "I'll tell you what I think, Sabine," she began. "I am always amazed at the things you tell me. I think with all the trials you have all been through, with all that you have overcome, even when weakened or brought to the brink of hope, you overcame. With how things are now, with all of this around us, you have a better chance than before. It may not be easy, but I believe in all of you."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The way Sabine was sitting gave little indication as to her reaction to Meesei's news. However, her shortness of words and pale shock upon initially hearing it hinted at how it affected her. By this point some colour had at least returned to her face.

She turned her head partway to Meesei and Ariel and forced a smile, before returning her gaze to the fire. "I am not sure how I feel," she slowly answered. "Although I have been learning how to look strong at times like these, I have been worried for so long about this invasion. I have been worried that something would happen to you or someone in mine or your pack. I have been worried that I might not see Karl again. I have been...revisiting other memories. I am finding it difficult to worry about other things." She sighed. "When it is one thing, I worry too much. When it is many things, I...lose focus."