Puppy Love
K'mba Snowpaws rode along the still icy road. Early Spring had the roads at this elevation turning to slush, but the temperature was such that warm cloaks and hoods were still needed. The Khajiit scanned the area ahead with his keen vision, looking for any hint of robbers lurking behind a snowbank or behind a crop of rocks.
"So far, so good." he said, and patted his horse's neck. "We are making good time, Chestnut. With any luck, we should AHHH!" the last word turned into a yell of surprise and the mare scooted sideways, shying hard and almost sending K'mba tumbling to the ground.
Cat reflexes kept his behind in the saddle, but that didn't mean his nerves were unscathed. "What was that about? You nearly killed me! One of these days this one will trade you for a horse that does not do such foolish things." He paused, willing his heart to return to it's usual beating pattern. "Then again, finding such a horse that never gets frightened would be as rare as an unwanted batch of moon sugar cookies. Let us see what caused you to be so afraid, eh? Surely whatever it is can't be all that bad."
K'mba dismounted, and walked closer to the ditch. His sense of smell immediately picked up on carnage, and as he looked closer, he saw the skinned body of a canid, and nearby several smaller corpses. "Poachers." the cat spat the word, his eyes narrowing. "K'mba has no love for those who kill only for greed. Even those who kill dogs." He turned to remount when his ears picked up a soft sound, barely audible. Intrigued, he walked a few paces to find a hollow log, partially covered in snow. Inside the log was a tiny cub...or puppy...he wasn't sure of the right word. Was it a wolf? A dog? A mixture of the two? It was difficult to tell.
"Dogs are not good for Khajiit." he told himself. "You will only grow up and eat me, little whatever you are. I cannot do anything for you. May Mara watch over you." He turned, and the air was filled with a chorus of wails and howls and cries. K'mba hung his head. "If I do not take him, he will die. This one does not want such a deed on his conscience. On the other paw, he is a dog. All Khajiit know of the evilness of such creatures. How they hunt Khajiit for sport, how their jaws drip posion, how even their breath can make a grown warrior tremble. No, no, it is not my problem. Nature must take it's course."
Tiny cries filled the air once more.
"On the other paw, he is small now. Surely harmless, even to a Khajiit. If I take him into town, perhaps somebody there will take him and K'mba would have done a good deed." He sighed in resignation. "Very well, little canine...thing. It is your lucky day. K'mba shall rescue you. Please, do not bite or try to eat this one."
The Khajiit reached into the log and pulled out the tiny pup. Half starved, and shivering from the snow he was a pitiful sight. K'mba held him close to his chest, under his travelling cloak and the puppy settled in, licking K'mba's paw and trying to nurse off of a knuckle.
"Dammit." the Khajiit cursed. "You have discovered K'mba's greatest weakness...this one cannot resist helping the helpless. You are also too damn cute. K'mba cannot resist cute. Just ask K'mba's ex bedmate. A joke! This one jokes. You will get used to it. Come, nameless one. We must get to town, and get us both food. And maybe, later on, a dancing girl. Just for cultural appreciation, you see."
Carefully the Khajiit climbed back up in the saddle, and guided the horse towards the city in the distance. "A wise man once said, 'this could be the start of a beautiful friendship'. This one agrees with that." He looked down and saw the puppy had all ready fallen asleep, his legs dangling over the big cat's arm and his head snuggled tightly against his chest. "Besides, it is good to have a friend."