[IC] Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

[EliteCommander]

Meesei nodded in acknowledgement to Lunise. "I doubt that Teroiah has seriously considered the utility that lycanthropes could provide to an army. But, if nothing else, I have forced her to challenge her beliefs today. Hopefully, her pragmatism in battle can outweigh her pride and anger for the coming invasion."

Lorag was as silently observant as usual, but with Marod's reply, he did have reason to step forward and speak up. "I trained half the warriors of this clan myself. Trained the instructors for a few more clans. Most of the clans this side of Tamriel basically already have legion training, with some changes to account for our beast forms. Alpha's right that there would be a lot of volunteers that could work easily with your people, but only if they know it won't come back to bite them later. Especially the ones that were once in the legion. Your Legate General should do the strategizing, yeah, but what you can do is get that amnesty that has been talked about confirmed, and make sure to announce it very clearly to our warriors. The Legion's 'official' policy in the past was for anyone infected by lycanthropy to report to their superiors for summary execution, so if you start calling them deserters for refusing to roll over and die, then those volunteers aren't going to come."

[Muttonhawk]

Marod's smile became a sly one. "My good captain Gro-Konesh, would you believe that was one of the first matters I had to..." He stopped and released his breath through his nose. "No, I know, I should get to the point." He looked at Lorag with his head held forward. "The current deal, as it stands, is that clan lycanthropes who deserted the legion may all be offered an imperial pardon at the discretion of the emperor himself-" he raised his hands with index fingers raised, "-upon the advice of Legate General Gro-Tagnud when he reports the outcome of the mission. Until then, any lycans who fight alongside the legion battlegroup will be treated as local militia, who are consequently treated as imperial subjects, who consequently must be treated as though they have not signed their legal rights to the legion in the past. And if someone finds it in their interest to try and prove otherwise -- in a legal sense -- they must defer to the highest standing member of the judiciary present. Which..." He looked left and right, before leaning back and placing a hand on his chest, "...Happens to be me! In summary, I am protecting ex-legion lycanthropes for now, so they can take this opportunity to earn their freedom."

Lunise looked down her nose at Marod. "And what, pray thee tell, happens if the Legate General decides to recommend against the amnesty?"

"...Well..." Marod began. "A few things. First, he throws away any opportunity to enlist lycans in the legion, which he is quite enthusiastic about. Next, he would perhaps knowingly ferment a panic about lycan clans amongst the legion, which would ultimately lead to more military engagements and casualties than he and the Empire can afford to cause at this time. And, more tellingly...I suppose I can share this...He has a niece and nephew in the lycan clans. I will not mention their names for ethical reasons, but he has a chance to see them again if they are part of the overall amnesty promised."

[EliteCommander]

Meesei raised her brow briefly. The last detail of Marod's explanation, if true, would have been quite an important one for him to share. Were the clans under less ethical leadership, it could have given them leverage over the Legate General. Regardless, it was not terribly important for the moment, and even if Marod was not lying, Meesei could think of reasons that someone could have lied to him about it. "Perhaps not the immediate action that some may hope for, but they may find it an acceptable compromise." Meesei replied.

"If you don't make them reveal it before the amnesty offer is official." Lorag added. "If no one is asking about their pasts before the invasion, then the Legate General will have his volunteers. Not all that many of our warriors were ever in the legion, really. At least, they're not a majority or anything. But, they tend to be respected, and if they agree to work with your people, others will join too."

"Indeed. And I do thank you for your efforts, Marod. I do hope that all of the parties taking part in this invasion will continue to remember that we are all working towards the same goal, on the same side. Though, on the subject of working, I do have something to say to my pack in particular." Meesei said, turning her attention firmly towards the others. Lorag stood up straight and with a silent, attentive focus. "With the results of today's events, and what we have accomplished in the past few weeks, the goals of this pack for our preparation are complete. Other, capable teams are handling the gathering of sigil stones and other minor resources for the portal, of which I will personally oversee the construction. For the rest of you, unless something unexpected happens, I will have no more tasks for you. If you can think of something else for our preparations that you believe would be beneficial, then I encourage you to pursue it, but otherwise, you will only have your normal duties for the next few months. I...do not think I need to elaborate upon how dangerous this invasion is going to be, especially considering our pack's role within it. We have always been strong together, and right now, with how far we have all come, I firmly believe this pack is a force that the Daedra themselves should fear. There is no one who has a better chance of defeating Clavicus Vile than all of us, fighting together." She said with complete, unwavering confidence. However, she soon lowered her head and let out a long sigh. Her next words weighed heavily upon her heart."...but, even for us, there are no guarantees. If there is anything you would not wish to leave...unfinished in Tamriel, you should tend to it before the portal is ready."

[Muttonhawk]

"It's all the same to us, captain," Marod responded to Lorag. "It's in all of our interests for now to leave the past alone."

The friendly atmosphere fell sharply serious with Meesei's next order of business. She said what had been at the backs of all their heads, to varying degrees.

The eyes of the pack turned down. Janius was the first to speak, itching at the back of his neck. "I suppose it would be nice to visit our families one last time. My family, Sabine's, Ahnasha's, Fendros'...Maybe even yours, Kaleeth?"

Fendros stayed quietly frowning. The question of his father was unspoken but obvious. Fortunately for him, it was not the only unresolved matter.

"Perhaps..." Janius cleared his throat. "If we might speak as a pack, in private?"

Lunise and Marod did not take long to respectfully shuffle out of the meeting room.

"Lorag?" Janius resumed. He proceeded cautiously. "Ever thought about, uh...What that kid in Cheydinhal might be up to?"

[EliteCommander]

Lorag was quick to become stern and stoic, particularly as Janius brought the attention of the pack onto him. "Rarely." He answered, offering no indication that he intended to elaborate at all.

"We have had people keeping an eye on her in the city since we located her, but there has not been any signs of strange activity from the traitor. At least, nothing that our contacts have seen." Meesei commented. She doubted that Lorag would be willing to open up on the subject, but she at least did want to let him know that it would be an option to travel to the city.

Ahnasha too understood that Lorag did not like to be pressed on anything relating to Harriet or his potential daughter, so she spoke carefully. "Well, whatever you choose to do, me and Fendros might end up going to Cheydinhal. If you wanted to come along, for whatever reason, you could. Of course, that is if we go." She said, looking somewhat nervously towards Fendros. "I know my family has been pestering me in their letters that they want to meet yours. I can think of so many ways that could go wrong, but I am starting to run out of excuses to give them."

[Muttonhawk]

Janius did not press Lorag further. His only intention was to put the idea in Lorag's head.

Fendros peered up at Ahnasha and looked down again just as quickly. His mouth shifted uncomfortably. "I had been hoping to keeping putting it off, honestly. Even without your family knowing about our lycanthropy, most of mine are still...traditional. But if we must, perhaps we can have them meet somewhere off the vineyard. Away from father."

"He's still been stubborn with you?" Janius asked. "Even after all these years."

Fendros shook his head. "I haven't heard a word from him since I first told him about everything. If it weren't for Llarasa's letters, I wouldn't know whether he still existed."

[EliteCommander]

"I have just been lucky that my family does not have the wealth to go traveling across the provinces at their whims. Though, my mother has always wanted to travel at some point in her life, and they have been saving for that purpose, according to their letters. And with my mother getting older, I have to imagine they will want to take that trip soon." Ahnasha explained.

Ahnasha looked away for a few moments, staring off seemingly at nothing as she tapped her finger steadily against the stone table in thought. "I have to think that they've been picking up on the fact that I've been making excuses. And I think they know why...well, not the reason why, but a reason. I think they suspect your family isn't approving, but I've always known them to be optimists, if nothing else. They probably believe they can make them like them, no matter what beliefs your family might have right now."

The idea that Ahnasha's family might actually want to meet Fendros' was frightening for a few reasons, not the least of which being the fact that they did not know of their lycanthropy. But, in the back of her mind, she knew she was more comfortable concentrating on that problem than the looming shadow of the upcoming invasion.

[Muttonhawk]

Fendros turned his curled fingers up and shook his head a tiny amount as if at a loss. "Well, they are partly correct. About approval of us, that is. Whether my family will like yours is difficult to say. Monderyn and mother might like you, but that doesn't mean they have completely let go of their prejudices. Mother had a hard enough time coming to terms with us." Fendros turned his head to look at Ahnasha. He looked almost pained to ask. "How...do you think...your family would take being belittled?"

[EliteCommander]

"Like I said, they're optimistic." Ahnasha answered. "My brother could have changed since his youth, and I don't know his wife well, but my parents have always believed in winning people over with excessive kindness. To be fair to them, it did work at least once to my knowledge, on a Breton couple, but I'm not sure about your family. Honestly, though, I'm more concerned with keeping our secret from them. I believe that most of your family would be willing to keep the secret if we asked them, but do you think your father would tell them? Out of spite?"

As Fendros and Ahnasha were speaking, Kaleeth kept giving anxious glances towards Janius. She looked uncertain, and hesitant to speak for a while. When she finally did, it was soft enough to not be noticed by most of the others. "I haven't seen my family in so long. I can't sent letters like everyone else. I don't even know if they think about me any more."

[Muttonhawk]

"He is not the type to-" Fendros stopped and fumbled over his words. "He...I do not want to say my father is free of pettiness. You know he isn't. But I do not believe he will go out of his way to reveal all our secrets. He has disowned me, not sworn vengeance. Nevertheless, he will not be happy to see any more non-Dunmer relations." Fendros closed his eyes and sighed through his nose. "Your are correct about the others, though. They'll keep our secret." He opened his eyes and looked to Ahnasha with a little more hope. "If I am honest, I look forward to seeing everyone again. Llarasa has been always asking about how Rhazii has grown."

Janius picked up on Kaleeth immediately. He reached a hand up to her shoulder and smiled at her comfortingly. "I doubt they have stopped thinking about you," he murmured softly. "I just thought...you know, it's a lot easier for us to travel as a pack these days. We have a much better chance at finding your family again if you felt like it. It just might be nice before..." He shrugged. "...this invasion gets underway."

Without much else to add, Sabine listened in on Janius and Kaleeth's conversation. She leant in towards them. "I wish to visit Ariel in Thorn. I could teleport you around Black Marsh. We could search for your village, Kaleeth."

[EliteCommander]

Ahnasha laughed for a second. "She'll probably be surprised to see him now." She commented, though by the look on her face, her thoughts were still clearly dwelling on her own family. "Still, regardless of what my family does or does not decide to do, I think it would do well to visit yours one...more time. If we can avoid your father, it might help our spirits a bit.

"I would not need to do much searching." Kaleeth replied. "I know exactly where they would be. Well...I know all of the places they go. It changes depending on the time of year and where the flood waters are, but they've always stopped in the same places since before even my father was hatched. Finding them isn't a problem, it's just...I don't even know if I would be welcome anymore. The way I left, I just abandoned them all. I left my parents without any children, and gave up on all my responsibilities. What if they just hate me now?"

[Muttonhawk]

Fendros smiled. "Then we'll visit them," he said, before looking to the others. "Anyone is welcome to come with us. We'll send word ahead; we will not be leaving immediately." Fendros glanced at Lorag briefly. Only him and Meesei were unoccupied by other conversation.

In the pause, Fendros turned to Meesei. "Do you have any plans for yourself, Meesei? Anything you wish to do?"

Janius drew his words out to console Kaleeth. "No, no, I do not think so, dear. They're your parents." He paused and thinned his lips. "Listen, would you rather risk finding out they hate you or would you rather never see them again? Maybe...maybe it would be worth it for Julan, at least. He should see his grandparents and learn more about your culture."

[EliteCommander]

There were a few, long moments of silence from Kaleeth. Her worries about her family had been in her mind long enough that it would take mroe than just a few words to rid her of them, but the mention of Julan was exactly what was needed to make her seriously consider it. Not to mention, the weight of Meesei's warning had put out of her mind any thoughts of just doing it later. "You...might be right. About Julan. He does deserve to know his family. I know what my father probably thinks of you, but Julan is still his grandson. I shouldn't be selfish."

Kaleeth allowed herself to smile as she finally lifted up her head. "And he really needs to see more of Black Marsh. He barely ever has anyone to speak Jel to. He probably needs some practice in the language."

Meesei, meanwhile, was just as hesitant in her response as Kaleeth, though her reasons were less obvious. She allowed herself time to think for just long enough to avoid being awkward. "Relax, for the most part. Given my position, I am still going to have my responsibilities, but hopefully less than I have had as of late. It is possible I could have some time to take for myself. Perhaps we should find the time to do something...fun, Sabine. Or even all of us together? I honestly cannot think of the last time we have all joined together for something outside our professional duties."

[Muttonhawk]

The response to Meesei was subdued, but positive, with smiles coming to just about everyone's mouths. After a second, Fendros' smile in particular curled up more tightly than the others. He held a knuckle to his mouth to stifle a laugh to silence and breathed in through his nose.

"What's so funny?" Janius asked.

Fendros looked to Janius knowingly. "Someone is about to suggest we go for a swim."

"Hah!" Janius grinned. "Just like we used to. That said, I hear that the Bards College in Solitude holds its recitals soon. Perhaps we might go and see a performance?"

"I would be happy if we just got to hunt together," Sabine said. "Without the full moons. Just us."

[EliteCommander]

"Well, we need not rush our decision." Meesei commented. "I am still going to be busy in the short term, so we will have time to think. I might try asking around and seeing if there are any festivals ongoing, or coming up soon, somewhere in Tamriel. I am sure there is someone celebrating something interesting. Or try to find some worthy prey for us, depending on what we choose. Perhaps I can beseech Hircine to summon a unicorn for us?" She chuckled.

Meesei let out a slow sigh, looking off at nothing in particular. "But, joking aside, just ask myself or Sabine when you need teleportation. I do not care what responsibilities I have, I will make time for any of you. I encourage you to do whatever you feel you need to do. Best not to leave yourself with any wonders or regrets. I do find myself feeling rather tired right now, after that fight, but I do look forward to spending time with you all again, no matter what we do. With all that has been happening, with how our responsibilities tend to pull us apart, I do think it will be wonderful for it to be just...us again, if only for a moment."

[Muttonhawk]

Smiles spread quietly around the pack, one by one.

"Look how far we've come," Fendros said. He glanced to each in the pack. "Over fifteen years ago, a pack started. A family. We were scurrying about the wilderness chasing the next quarry. The next achievement." His eyes lowered. "And here we are. We've grown in power, in responsibility. We have children who are already chasing things like we did, for better or worse. I feel like I have done more in these years than I would have in an entire elven lifetime."

Fendros pursed his lips at the last words. He breathed in, clearly holding back emotion.

"I should surely leave such speeches until just before our invasion," he continued. "I just...I think I have taken notice with all this reminiscing and going back to things we used to do." He frowned at the table.

[EliteCommander]

Ahnasha gave an encouraging pat on Fendros' shoulder, then gripped it firmly. "Yeah, I think we can save our melancholy for later. For now, we can do our best to try to enjoy a well-deserved break."

---

The pack did eventually leave the meeting chamber, in a variety of different moods. The invasion would be looming over them, but for now, at least, they had time to collect themselves and deal with any unresolved issues. For some, it might have been difficult to go about their normal duties for the day with it on their minds, but for Meesei, at least, she had made up her mind even before the duel that she would not be taking on any more work for the day. She was quite genuinely exhausted from the duel, but she did not head directly to her own room. Rather, it was Lunise's she had went to after enough time had passed.

After Lunise answered the knock at her door, Meesei made sure to wait until the door was closed in its entirety before speaking a word. Although, she was slow to speak regardless. Her fatigue was obvious, as was the stress in her mind. Nevertheless, she managed to give a subtle smile. "So, was the duel...to your liking, as an observer?"

[Muttonhawk]

Lunise answered the door cordially, giving Meesei a quick "greetings" before stepping aside to let her in. As per usual, Lunise visibly relaxed in private with Meesei, though she showed an anxious glance at the walls. They both knew that Hal-Neesa could have been spying on them. Speculating that their relationship might have been compromised already did little to relieve Lunise's tension.

Eventually, she stepped forward and loosely held Meesei hands. "I knew you would win," she answered coyly. "But you were very creative. Once again, you surprised me, this time by mimicking the spell Teroiah's family was renowned for developing themselves. I only wish I did not have to concentrate so hard on appearing passive." She smirked. "Your channelling could use some work, though. That lycan form is rather inelegant for magic no matter a ring or a master mage wearing it."

The amusement wore off. "How are you feeling, Meesei?" Lunise asked.

[EliteCommander]

"Indeed, I have to wonder what she thinks of me. The way I first learned magic was difficult, more...obtuse than what most mages experience, but it ended with me approaching magic in a fundamentally different way to allow for such adaptations. I had to use twice as much magicka to attain the same power as her, but perhaps I can convince her to demonstrate it a few more times so I can pick up the details." Meesei chuckled.

Meesei stepped over and took a seat on the edge of Lunise's bed, letting out a long breath as she was sitting down. She leaned back somewhat, supporting her upper body with her hands and closing her eyes. "For the most part, I am just tired. For that entire duel, all the power we demonstrated, only one of us even received a flesh wound, and a minor one at that. But, it still took all of my focus and ability to face her. I knew I would win as well, but only if I did not make any mistakes. I accomplished what I needed to, though. I made the time to have a talk with the Invigiator, or...whatever it was that she held as a title. I should probably be sure to memorize it before we next meet. Although, I feel that I just wish to do...nothing for the moment. I believe I have earned it."

[Muttonhawk]

"Invigilator," Lunise corrected. "And it is not her permanent title, as such. Siloune's position is more of a superintendent of officers such as myself."

Lunise let Meesei go as Meesei sat on the bed. Lunise strode across to her desk, where a letter was drying, illuminated with a mage light. She continued as Lunise folded the letter and then picked up a stick of sealing wax.

"An invigilator is simply a formality given to the referee of a magical duel. Such duels are traditionally examinations for students of magic."

Bringing a magical flame to her hand, Lunise melted enough sealing wax to close the letter, before quickly pressing it shut with a Thalmor seal from elsewhere on the desk.

"It has been quite some time since I was under such examination, though I could never forget the exhaustion I felt after each one." She turned around to face Meesei. "Indulging in nothing for a while afterwards seemed the best part of those memories." She sat beside Meesei and laid flat on her back, her legs still bent at the edge of the bed. She had her hands on her stomach. "You need a good rest if you want to organise the remainder of this invasion, too. My father was always eager to remind me that 'even gods need to sleep sometimes.' I was never a deep sleeper, unlike you."