Runt, after letting Meesei go, nodded at her new orders, somewhat consoled. If anything, she seemed more relieved at putting distance between herself and Vos.
Fendros hurried to don his Chitin armour over the top of the clothes he already wore. It would be a shame if it was to be damaged if he had to transform, but he didn't have time to modify it to fall off if that were to happen. With his sword, shield, bow, and quiver of arrows, he stood ready. Runt handed him a potion that she only described as to 'help you shoot straighter', and he wasn't sure whether he should be offended or thankful, but in the end he figured that he would need all the help he could get.
Janius also rushed to put on his armour and equip himself. With his axe and shield he would be using less magic than Meesei and Ahansha, so he didn't complain that Runt had prepared a potion to make him a little faster rather than something for his magicka.
After handing out the potions she had prepared, Runt shouldered her bag and left her cloak behind this time. With her frailty, she was likely going to stay away from the front line, instead making herself useful by scouting, or by tending to wounds, or handing out extra potions if needed. Of course, if it came to it, she could easily transform and at least harass the enemy.
Feeling as many parts fearful as excited, Fendros stood ready with them all. He shot a quick smile over to Ahnasha to reassure both of them, then looked to Meesei, "Let's go."
The pace set was not so strenuous, but it was enough for Fendros to feel like he wasn't as aware of his surrounding to be comfortable. He suspected that things would be easier once they caught up with Lorag, but if these hunters had illusion skills like Ahnasha, then trouble could come from anywhere.
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
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"True. Hopefully it is sprung before we're the ones to fall into it," Janius said as they approached the camp.
Runt was sitting near the fire heating something in a small dish, but her head shot up once she heard the pack approaching. Instantly, she got up, ran over to Meesei and almost tackled her over with a hug. "Did you stay away from her?" Runt whimpered into Meesei's chest. Runt clutched her so tight it was as if she thought that her alpha had just returned from death. There was an awkward pause from the rest of the pack, complete with a few exchanged glances. Runt usually avoided physical contact as much as she could, but these past couple of days had continued to show a new kind of anxiety from her.
"I'll... I'll go and get ready" Fendros said, breaking off from the situation. He was unsure of exactly how he could help in that situation, but he doubted standing around and gawping was going to make Runt any calmer.
Janius followed suit, though without any words. He was still curious what might have happened to make Runt so terrified of one apothecary. A few theories whirled around his mind, but he didn't pay them more heed than the current mission.
Runt was sitting near the fire heating something in a small dish, but her head shot up once she heard the pack approaching. Instantly, she got up, ran over to Meesei and almost tackled her over with a hug. "Did you stay away from her?" Runt whimpered into Meesei's chest. Runt clutched her so tight it was as if she thought that her alpha had just returned from death. There was an awkward pause from the rest of the pack, complete with a few exchanged glances. Runt usually avoided physical contact as much as she could, but these past couple of days had continued to show a new kind of anxiety from her.
"I'll... I'll go and get ready" Fendros said, breaking off from the situation. He was unsure of exactly how he could help in that situation, but he doubted standing around and gawping was going to make Runt any calmer.
Janius followed suit, though without any words. He was still curious what might have happened to make Runt so terrified of one apothecary. A few theories whirled around his mind, but he didn't pay them more heed than the current mission.
Suddenly sensing Ahnasha right next to him shocked Fendros for a moment, but it turned into a small laugh. He didn't need to worry at all. "You were waiting to do that, weren't you?" Fendros accused her with a grin. Fendros didn't even catch on to her scent until she revealed herself, she could have been following them the entire time.
Apart from the guards at the gate eying the pack on their way out, yet another group of travelers leaving the city during the night, there was no trouble on their way back to the camp. Once away from the walls, Janius felt that is was safe to talk. "So, what has everyone found out? The lady I tracked just killed a beggar when I found her, and judging by what we heard at the meeting spot, she didn't accomplish much else."
"Lorag and I followed two of them through the city. Through the markets and the not quite as wealthy residential district, I believe. I think we came by them after they finished with their leads. Not much else," Fendros added, "we were the first at the meeting though. I think Janius saw as well, the first to mention the camp in the north-west was that Imperial man. The rest of you likely heard what he had to say when he recounted it to the Altmer."
Apart from the guards at the gate eying the pack on their way out, yet another group of travelers leaving the city during the night, there was no trouble on their way back to the camp. Once away from the walls, Janius felt that is was safe to talk. "So, what has everyone found out? The lady I tracked just killed a beggar when I found her, and judging by what we heard at the meeting spot, she didn't accomplish much else."
"Lorag and I followed two of them through the city. Through the markets and the not quite as wealthy residential district, I believe. I think we came by them after they finished with their leads. Not much else," Fendros added, "we were the first at the meeting though. I think Janius saw as well, the first to mention the camp in the north-west was that Imperial man. The rest of you likely heard what he had to say when he recounted it to the Altmer."
Meesei joined the stakeout from a similar approach to Janius, to it came as less of a surprise to Fendros. More of the rival pack gathered. The Altmer, the apparent leader, was filled in on what the Imperial had discovered while they waited for the final member to arrive.
It was so dark that Fendros didn't immediately recognise the large final member as a Khajiit. He was a giant in comparison to any other Khajiit he had seen, but he still had a tail and a Khajiit head. That must have been one of the different breeds that Ahnasha mentioned, Fendros thought. The large Khajiit had a far more precise set of information, information that included a camp location. Fendros exchanged glances with everyone, this was what they were waiting for.
The rival pack almost immediately started to move out. As planned, Lorag shoved off the wall he was leaning against and tailed the rival pack as they moved, he sent the rest of the pack off with a silent wave. Once out of lycan earshot, the rest of the pack started to walk towards the city gate to return to camp. So far the plan was working, except for one thing. "Has anyone spotted Ahnasha?" Fendros asked gingerly.
It was so dark that Fendros didn't immediately recognise the large final member as a Khajiit. He was a giant in comparison to any other Khajiit he had seen, but he still had a tail and a Khajiit head. That must have been one of the different breeds that Ahnasha mentioned, Fendros thought. The large Khajiit had a far more precise set of information, information that included a camp location. Fendros exchanged glances with everyone, this was what they were waiting for.
The rival pack almost immediately started to move out. As planned, Lorag shoved off the wall he was leaning against and tailed the rival pack as they moved, he sent the rest of the pack off with a silent wave. Once out of lycan earshot, the rest of the pack started to walk towards the city gate to return to camp. So far the plan was working, except for one thing. "Has anyone spotted Ahnasha?" Fendros asked gingerly.
Yet more time passed. Lorag, Fendros and Janius remained still, but vigilant. There wasn't much more information to be had from eavesdropping it seemed, as the pack they watched passed the time with their own idle conversations. Occasionally, they would rhetorically ask why other members were taking so long and wishing they could get going, Fendros found himself agreeing with them somewhat.
Some movement heralded more activity. From the far side alley of the square, Fendros could see a shadow. The pack looked towards it and greeted it by name. As the shadow revealed itself, it appeared to be a well tanned Imperial man. He didn't look especially remarkable in his plain clothing and dagger on his belt, but he arrived with an accomplished look. This member of the pack had better luck gathering information by the sound of it. Fendros' fellow eavesdroppers noticed, and became so quiet that they almost held their breath while they listened.
"... talked to the bard who plays at the Sleepy Scamp, you remember he sung a song of a great hunter passing by in the wilds? I was able to convince him... through various means... to recount his experience."
"Did you succeed?"
"It's not much, but I found out that he had his encounter north and east of here, about three hours travel on foot. He saw the Orc himself shoot an arrow into a great beast, probably a lycan. As you can probably tell, not many people believe him."
"What was that bard doing so far from the city?"
"It's sketchy, he said he was to meet a beautiful Dunmer maiden out there that he had met earlier that week, but he never caught sight of her from that day forward."
"It sounds to me like that bard was bait."
"Did you get anything else from the bard?"
"He mentioned that the Orc had four other hunters accompanying him. Three men and a mer. He didn't seem to remember any more than their silhouettes, or the brown veils they wore across their faces."
"There's got to be more than that."
"Yeah, but at least it's something. We'll see what the others find out. Oh yeah, and Halmar, we decided it was too risky to ask the guards, they might not like bribery."
"What? but they see everything that comes in and out of the gates, I say it'll be worth it..."
An argument escalated from that point about asking the guards, but otherwise, the situation was good. They hadn't been spotted listening in yet, and they had some information to boot. Fendros didn't think that the hideout would be so close to the city, but then again, the bard didn't seem to mention a hideout.
Now they had four, there were only three more to arrive. It would soon be so dark that the the light of the moons would be their only confirmation of new arrivals.
Some movement heralded more activity. From the far side alley of the square, Fendros could see a shadow. The pack looked towards it and greeted it by name. As the shadow revealed itself, it appeared to be a well tanned Imperial man. He didn't look especially remarkable in his plain clothing and dagger on his belt, but he arrived with an accomplished look. This member of the pack had better luck gathering information by the sound of it. Fendros' fellow eavesdroppers noticed, and became so quiet that they almost held their breath while they listened.
"... talked to the bard who plays at the Sleepy Scamp, you remember he sung a song of a great hunter passing by in the wilds? I was able to convince him... through various means... to recount his experience."
"Did you succeed?"
"It's not much, but I found out that he had his encounter north and east of here, about three hours travel on foot. He saw the Orc himself shoot an arrow into a great beast, probably a lycan. As you can probably tell, not many people believe him."
"What was that bard doing so far from the city?"
"It's sketchy, he said he was to meet a beautiful Dunmer maiden out there that he had met earlier that week, but he never caught sight of her from that day forward."
"It sounds to me like that bard was bait."
"Did you get anything else from the bard?"
"He mentioned that the Orc had four other hunters accompanying him. Three men and a mer. He didn't seem to remember any more than their silhouettes, or the brown veils they wore across their faces."
"There's got to be more than that."
"Yeah, but at least it's something. We'll see what the others find out. Oh yeah, and Halmar, we decided it was too risky to ask the guards, they might not like bribery."
"What? but they see everything that comes in and out of the gates, I say it'll be worth it..."
An argument escalated from that point about asking the guards, but otherwise, the situation was good. They hadn't been spotted listening in yet, and they had some information to boot. Fendros didn't think that the hideout would be so close to the city, but then again, the bard didn't seem to mention a hideout.
Now they had four, there were only three more to arrive. It would soon be so dark that the the light of the moons would be their only confirmation of new arrivals.
Ghosting the Bosmer and the Redguard continued on a more direct path. Fendros and Lorag kept even more distance as they followed as the number of pedestrians thinned around them. By their own caution, and by a proportion of luck, they followed the two to a spot obscured by a few surrounding buildings. The buildings surrounded the local well of the district in a tiny square. Judging by the pair stopping and waiting there, this was likely going to be the meeting place. Waiting around at close proximity was not going to be an option, so Fendros and Lorag had to situate themselves across the street from one of the alleys into the square, keeping under the shady eaves out the front of what appeared to be a closed cobblers shop. The low light hid them well enough, and they could peer into the alleyway to see what the rival pack would do, but they had to strain to hear anything.
There was no activity for a while. The only thing they could see was the Redguard occupying himself by rolling a septim coin over the top of his hand and talking occasionally with the Bosmer, who was out of their sightline. The topics of conversation weren't really relevant to the hunt itself, more to do with recalling some kind of troll hunt. It made Fendros realise just how many similarities he spotted with their tones toward each other and that of his own pack. They had different personalities, sure, but the resemblance was uncanny. "I hope we weren't being watched like this, or are still," Fendros whispered.
It was then that Fendros detected a new smell in the area. It had traces of something he recognised. "Is that...?" Fendros started.
"Hey Janius," Lorag whispered casually. Some footsteps sounded behind Fendros and he turned around with his hand on his sword. He relaxed as Janius raised a hand, then put a finger to his lips to quiet them all. As they stood and watched, another member of the rival pack marched into the alleyway that lead to the meeting square. A woman, an Imperial, or a Nord, Fendros couldn't tell from this distance. She was tall and strongly built, wore leather and mail armour and a large sword in a sheath across her back. "Quite the looker, isn't she? A shame that we're rivals." Janius whispered with a smile.
The Redguard and the Bosmer greeted the tall woman with familiarity. From what could be gleaned from their words, the woman had thought she found an informant, who then tried to run with her money. She hunted the informant down and found out that he knew nothing before she knocked him out. Or did she kill him? Fendros missed that part.
There was no activity for a while. The only thing they could see was the Redguard occupying himself by rolling a septim coin over the top of his hand and talking occasionally with the Bosmer, who was out of their sightline. The topics of conversation weren't really relevant to the hunt itself, more to do with recalling some kind of troll hunt. It made Fendros realise just how many similarities he spotted with their tones toward each other and that of his own pack. They had different personalities, sure, but the resemblance was uncanny. "I hope we weren't being watched like this, or are still," Fendros whispered.
It was then that Fendros detected a new smell in the area. It had traces of something he recognised. "Is that...?" Fendros started.
"Hey Janius," Lorag whispered casually. Some footsteps sounded behind Fendros and he turned around with his hand on his sword. He relaxed as Janius raised a hand, then put a finger to his lips to quiet them all. As they stood and watched, another member of the rival pack marched into the alleyway that lead to the meeting square. A woman, an Imperial, or a Nord, Fendros couldn't tell from this distance. She was tall and strongly built, wore leather and mail armour and a large sword in a sheath across her back. "Quite the looker, isn't she? A shame that we're rivals." Janius whispered with a smile.
The Redguard and the Bosmer greeted the tall woman with familiarity. From what could be gleaned from their words, the woman had thought she found an informant, who then tried to run with her money. She hunted the informant down and found out that he knew nothing before she knocked him out. Or did she kill him? Fendros missed that part.
So, how many people have got a post in the works right now?
"Lorag, where do you think-" Fendros was stopped by Lorag's hand covering his mouth. "Shut up for a sec, would ya?" Lorag muttered almost inaudibly. Likely at a level impossible to hear for any passers-by. They had followed the other pair of lycans for a few minutes, trying to keep up with them amongst the people who hadn't yet returned to their homes for the day. Lorag spotted an opportunity in an alleyway near to the group and waved for Fendros to follow as he ducked behind the alley wall and listened around the corner. The pair they were following had slowed their pace and they were walking while talking. There was a small window of opportunity where Lorag listened in.
"Should we even bother with the gate guards? We can't be sure that they'll just arrest us for trying to pay them for information." The Redguard asked.
"I was just thinking the same thing," the Bosmer replied, "Halmar can ask the guards himself if he's so lax about it. We should just head to the meeting spot and if no one has found out anything, then we can risk asking those bonemold-clad uptights."
"Hold on a moment..."
"What is it?"
Lorag and Fendros both held their breath, if there was a sudden unwelcome gust of wind, it could compromise them on the spot.
"... Nothing. There are so many lycans in this city now you'd think they're marking their territory with how the wind is starting to smell. Let's go."
The voices faded as the two continued on their way. "Probably not the smartest thing to do in this weather, let's not do that again," Lorag said quietly after enough distance was between them and their targets.
"Should we even bother with the gate guards? We can't be sure that they'll just arrest us for trying to pay them for information." The Redguard asked.
"I was just thinking the same thing," the Bosmer replied, "Halmar can ask the guards himself if he's so lax about it. We should just head to the meeting spot and if no one has found out anything, then we can risk asking those bonemold-clad uptights."
"Hold on a moment..."
"What is it?"
Lorag and Fendros both held their breath, if there was a sudden unwelcome gust of wind, it could compromise them on the spot.
"... Nothing. There are so many lycans in this city now you'd think they're marking their territory with how the wind is starting to smell. Let's go."
The voices faded as the two continued on their way. "Probably not the smartest thing to do in this weather, let's not do that again," Lorag said quietly after enough distance was between them and their targets.
Oh, right... bollocks.
In that case I think I'll do an edit. Sorry I derped with the plan :P .
EDIT: There we go. For some reason, I thought we were going to arm up before tracking the pack without remembering that we would be tracking them in the city initially. I don't mind how much gets skipped, but I kind of wanted to do the city tracking thing.
In that case I think I'll do an edit. Sorry I derped with the plan :P .
EDIT: There we go. For some reason, I thought we were going to arm up before tracking the pack without remembering that we would be tracking them in the city initially. I don't mind how much gets skipped, but I kind of wanted to do the city tracking thing.
Alright, I'm cooking dinner tonight, so I probably won't have another reply tonight... unless you feel like pulling an all-nighter, that is.
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