Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The book seemed impossible. Fendros stood reading for a long while. Two chapters later and he sat down at Meesei's desk to read more. The underground lighting and near-silence of the night left him undisturbed until, through his nodding off, the folded note fell to the floor.

Fendros picked it up, read it, and let his head bow forward, soundlessly chuckling to himself. He could suppose Meesei would not have bothered with her warning if she had intended to give him a glimpse into the future. But that there was nothing else she had seen fit to mention was a comfort.

He ran his thumb over the torn page edges still clinging to the binding. It had been quite the tale over these long years. What he did not expect was to feel a little excited anticipation at what might come next.

He faintly heard another packmate waking and preparing for the day when he drifted off to sleep in his chair.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros stopped when he first entered Meesei's room. Through the vestiges of apprehension at rifling through her belongings, he could hear just how silent the room was. Silent and missing Meesei herself.

His eyes welled up more tears. He thought he was done with weeping back with Ahnasha.

He took his time slowly pacing around Meesei's desk and looking over the carefully prepared items without touching them, seemingly out of respect even though he and the pack would have to go through them later.

The book titled Godhunter initially took Fendros to thinking someone had placed it there after his speech to the clans after the battle. He spun to the door with his brow low. Just more silence. As he slowly turned to see the book again, he entertained it as Meesei's doing.

He reached for it, took it, looked at its front and back covers, and sighed uncertainly as he opened it to the first page.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"I just need to check one item in particular," Fendros said, sliding out from their blanket. "I'm not sure I could sleep until I do. You stay and rest, I'll try not to take too long."

Fendros brought his palm gently to Ahnasha's head and gave her a kiss on the temple. Then he stood up with a deep breath, exhaling tiredly between his fingers as he made for the door.

The pack's quarters were especially quiet at this time of night. Fendros couldn't shake the feeling that he should already know which book Meesei was referring to. He put the question down to his mental fog and went with the assumption that he would know when he saw it.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros looked ahead, leaning his elbows on his legs. A flush went over him as he pulled back his frustrations over Ahnasha's continued delving into dangerous magic. He levelled his tone carefully, but in doing so partially gave away his overall misgivings: "It's different now. She may have kept her word when Molag Bal himself expressed interest. But now, if she decides to betray us, she may not have to answer to her master."

He turned to look at Ahnasha. He almost pleaded more reasons, but caught himself short. "We can talk about it more, but...Meesei isn't speaking out of nothing." He sighed and ran his hand over his ear. "Besides, there is something I need to check in Meesei's study."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

"We talked about a number of things," Fendros said. "Warnings were among them, but not particular worry." Fendros turned his head slightly away from Ahnasha, looking at her eyes. "What did she warn you about? You look as if it might be more than just overprotectiveness."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros awoke with the same tightness in his chest and eyes that he had saying goodbye. He sat up and wiped his eyes, realising he had been weeping in his sleep. When his eyes found Ahnasha, he swallowed, tried and failed to bury his grief, and then embraced her.

A time passed. He did not track how long it was. He let the fact of Meesei's departure run through and turn his emotions roiling.

When he finally had the temper back to ask, he murmured to Ahnasha. "It was Meesei in my dream. What was yours?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros' eyes drifted ahead. Beyond the creeping grief, the realisation of Meesei's coming departure made Fendros feel a fool for talking in such a detached manner. The hug that followed helped him move on to more important things.

He returned the hug just as tightly. As much as he pressed his lips together and closed his eyes, he couldn't stop himself from starting to cry once more.

"Thank you, Meesei," he said after a slow breath. "Thank you for everything you were to me and the pack. Pass my regards to Ri'vashi, and tell Do'rhajul Sabine was right about him. And...if this is to be goodbye...good hunting."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros nodded firmly. "I understand. I had considered that I would tell those unwilling to follow our new agreements to leave the clans and roam independently, as our pack used to." He sighed. "I had not considered the daedric opinion."

For a short moment, Fendros clasped his hands and held his breath as if about to continue, but his thoughts ran dry. "I will meditate on this more. I cannot see myself doing nothing to ready ourselves for a conflict or whatever form this might take. I should like to include you in discussing the situation as it develops."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

The memory of Lunise when they had returned in victory flashed through Fendros' mind like the end of a melancholy dream. Even without his heart pierced with his own overwhelming sympathies towards her, the way Lunise normally carried herself made her breakdown a shock to Fendros.

He nodded. "Of course." He swallowed down his emotions. "I don't think I need to tell you her current state. We are looking after her as well as we can." He scrunched his eyes shut as an unwelcome thought crossed his mind. "She will not overly resent our being able to meet with you, will she? No...nevermind. You know her better than I."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Fendros blew a breath out through his lips. "I am sure it was a generous boon to receive, though you will forgive my being overwhelmed at the idea of it. There are so many unknowns out there." He smiled. "But, I am sure if anyone can explore the expanse of existence carefully, it would be you. Just don't get eaten by a strange monster out there, will you?"

He cast his eyes down. He falsely started to speak, and then tried again. "I was going to ask if you had any messages, actually. I am glad you will be able to speak to everyone personally."

At a loss, Fendros tilted his head forward and ran his hand back over his hair. "Tomorrow begins a busy day. I am surprised I was able to sleep at all. Don't take this the wrong way, Meesei, but you left me some rather large shoes to fill."