Winterhold never seemed to get out from under the blizzards. Always the winds howled outside and threw snow in your face no matter were you looked. Blizzards made Durga want to make a nest of pillows and covers and sleep in front of a roaring fire, preferably with a nice, firm, hot man to cuddle. That however was not doable in the middle of the College's Hall of Attainment.

The magic well in the center of the hall keep it warm enough but the cold light and the intolerable quiet made it feel empty, vulnerable to the biting cold outside. Durga rolled over on her horribly stiff bed, rubbing clawed hands over her fuzzy, pointed ears and her pink nose, trying to find some slightly comfortable position. She had to sleep, she'd been working almost non-stop since she entered the College of Winterhold. Tolfdir was nice enough to work with but Mirabelle and the others were real taskmasters. If she wasn't running errands or finding lost books she was trying to master a spell or pouring over volume after volume trying to commit them to memory.

All in the name of getting a better handle on her talent and moreover avoiding a life of cheating and thieving. She has mountains of work to do still and needed to sleep, but her mind refused to shut up and her damn mattress refused to give an inch to her weight.

The great doors at the entrance parted and someone stumbled in. Durga growled and yanked her wolf pelt up around her neck. Despite her thick snow leopard's fur the blizzard bit right through to her bones. Oh how she hated that there were no doors to the private chambers of the students. Soft footsteps came up from the door and she heard sniffling and brushing along with the quiet plops of snow falling from clothes.

Another student walked into the hall, Durga kept her eyes shut still trying to find sleep; till she heard him digging around the wardrobe in the room directly across form hers. Unless someone was stealing in broad daylight (which she highly doubted) Faelian was back from his studies. Despite herself Durga purred lightly, and opened her sapphire blue eyes to take a good long look at him.

She had a liking for mer in general, and found Altmer to be a kind of forbidden fruit she couldn't resist. Faelian caught her attention the moment she saw him, and she was more than a little happy to find he had his living quarters in full view of hers. She watched him tuck some new books away with his collection, paying close attention to his slender but still quite manly hands. His skin tone was a little richer than most Altmer, making him look like he was made of real gold. His eyes were an unusual hue, somewhere between moonstone and citrine, and his hair gleamed like amber beneath his thick woolen hood.

Faelian locked his wardrobe and pulled off his thick over cloak, draping it over a chair to let it dry. His long hair was badly mussed by the hood. As he shuffled about his room Durga eyed him, letting half formed fantasies float over her. She focused on one in particular, taking him back to Breezehome and making that nest of furs and pillows and slowly peeling him out of his thin mage's robes. The fantasies soothed her overactive mind and Durga was drawn slowly into a light doze with images of Faelian still flitting about under her eyelids.

Faelian had noticed Durga's glazed stare as he pulled his alchemy bag out of a drawer. The Khaijit watched him a lot. He wondered idly if it was because her room happened to be directly across form his, but quickly remembered her lingering stares in the Arcanaeum and the Hall of Elements.

She was a strange one no doubt. She was the first student in decades to be accepted on ability alone. Faelian had been studying here for two years and only in the past months had he mastered the summoning of an atronarch. Durga did it to prove she was worthy of studying here. The woman's clouded past intrigued him, but her demeanor pushed him away.

She was as playful as a kitten, bubbly and vivacious with no concept of personal space. People like that made reserved Faelian feel crowded and uncomfortable. She was also a shameless flirt, even going so far as to tease Ancano. In the end she confused Faelian. As he set about making a simple restorative potion he glanced back at Durga's room. She fallen asleep and had her furry hand tucked up over her face, the furs she piled on her bed rising and falling with her deep breathes.

A smile tugged at Faelian's lips and he fought it down. Sometimes that cat was downright cute. A couple of hours later he felt eyes on him again as he dug through several bags looking for a rare ingredient. He glanced across the chamber to see Durga staring at him again. She was obviously just waking up but that heat in her eyes… it made his face flush a bit.

She finally stopped staring, stretched and slowly dragged herself out of bed. About the only time she was ever quiet or calm was when she was waking up.

Durga shook her head and rubbed her ears, her whiskers twitched as she felt a small sneeze coming on. She did her best to bite it back she didn't think a big cat sneeze would be appreciated in the close quarters. She could still feel sleep sticking to the fur about her eyes. She ignored that for now and shuffled to the tiny dinner room on the second level of the Hall.

The long table within was always stocked with foods, mostly grilled vegetables, fresh breads and even sweet rolls. Lately there was an unsual amount of meat on the tables as well. Durga peeled a bit of meat from a still steaming pot roast and popped it into her mouth. Her ears sagged, as she tasted the slightly rank, gamey meat. The old mammoth that fell dead outside town; that was where they got this meat from all of a sudden.

She ripped up some bread and put it and some leeks, potatoes and carrots on her plate. As she ate her mind wanders back to her home in Whiterun. She missed cooking a good Elswyer dinner over the big fire pit. She missed a lot of things in Whiterun.

He heard steps behind her and thought it might be Mirabelle or even Ancano, the Thalmor was pestering her a lot lately. Faelian popped into her range of vision as he was reaching for a bit of meat.

"Don't," she said quickly.

Faelian shot her an annoyed look and ripped of a bit anyway, then grimaced as he too realized where it had come from. He spat his bite out.

"Why would they feed us this?" he asked.

"If Durga knew that she'd have Mirabelle's job."

Faelian picked up his own plate of everything-but-meat and sat down nearby. Durga kept her eyes off him and stared idly out the window, still blinded by flying snow. Another student joined them after awhile. They said nothing to each other and the stifling silence of the Hall continued its reign.

Durga was nearly falling back asleep over her food when swift, harsh footsteps could be heard coming up the steps. None of the three needed to look to see who it was. Ancano was stalking through the Hall, most certainly looking for his next interrogation victim.

The imposing Altmeri circled the floor, poking his white haired head into every chamber before reaching the three at the table. Each one felt a sight pit in their stomachs form as he approached.

"I'm looking for Mirabelle." Ancano said briskly, and with no small hint of annoyance, "Who has seen her recently, and where?"

There was a long moment of silence and Ancano kept his piercing stare on them, liking her was trying to mentally force them to speak. Finally Faelian spoke up.

"I saw her heading towards the Arch Mage's quarters three hours ago."

"That hardly helps me." Ancano hissed, his scowl growing deeper.

Faelian shrugged and took a swig of mead.

Ancano turned to the recent arrival, a young human woman. She simply shook her head. He didn't take that as an answer and stepped closer towards her.

"I've been working in here all day, I haven't seen her at all." She said defensively.

He turned then on Durga, who ignored him. She in particular got under his skin for some reason and he came within inches of her, staring hard enough to make her clothes smoke. Durga took one more bite, slowly swallowing and washing it down with mead before turning and looking him over, very slowly.

Faelian saw Ancano's eyes widen ever to slightly as Durga drank him in. He felt another smile tugging at his lips; he recognized that heat in her eyes.

"Durga has been sleeping for hours, because she needed sleep. But, she does remember…" she placed a sharp finger to her temple. Ancano sneered.

"What does she remember?" he sounded like he was ready to stab her.

"You are so tight, you tie yourself in knots." A smile grew on her face as Ancano's brow lifted, "Do you ever relax yourself? Durga thinks you need it."

Confusion blossomed on his face. Her grin got larger and she purred, giving him a hungry and lewd look.

"If you need help, Durga would happy, very happy to help."

She made a gesture, like she was rubbing something thick in her hand and Ancano grimaced.

"Ech, Khajiit! Mirabelle! Has the Khajiit seen her?" he said through clenched teeth.

Durga laughed.

"She may be heading back to the College now. Said she was going to the Inn for awhile."

Ancano wasted no time and stomped off, grumbling curses in Altmeri as he left. As soon as he seemed out of earshot, the human woman burst out laughing, and Faelian was barely stifling his own.

"Are you sure that was wise Durga?" he said, still chuckling.

"Wise? No, fun!" she flashed him an exuberant smile.

"Why would you antagonize him like that?" said the other student, Ysolde. "He could vaporize you in an instant."

"And then get kicked out of the College." Durga shrugged. She was quite awake now; Ancano's little visit had been useful. "He hates Durga, and all of us because we don't do what he wants. He is like a crying kitten, biting and scratching because he does not get what he wants. You never give a brat what they want, or they will never stop being a brat."

Faelian nodded at that. J'zargo, the College's other Khajiit and resident 'jackass' came in.

"J'zargo just saw Ancano in a huff. What happened?"

"Durga got him flustered." Said Ysolde.

"How?"

"Durga told him he needed some… self attention." She gave J'zargo a kind of toothy grin only Khajiit could manage. He returned it and began chuckling too.

"J'zargo wishes he had thought to say that."

He joined them at the table.

"She even offered to help." Faelian's tone was equally amused and unsettled. J'zargo screwed up his face at the thought.

"Durga thinks he might accept, if he did not have a rod so far up his ass."

There was a pause, and then Ysolde and J'zargo simultaneously said,

"What?"

"Durga thinks Ancano has a taste for her, maybe for Khajiit, and does not like to admit it to himself."

Ysolde scoffed.

"Durga is on skooma if she thinks that." She said sarcastically.

"Think. If you said that to Ancano would he get half so flustered? Durga thinks he wouldn't give two wits. Only when Durga teases him does he get so mad."

J'zargo started making the strangest noises, like he was holding back laughs and shudders at the same time.

"Faelian."

Durga startled him mid-swig. He quickly swallowed and cleared his throat.

"You were with Durga and Tolfdir when Ancano asked her about the Eye. Durga made a joke, then teased Ancano by brushing his leg with her tail. He blushed, his face was nearly red as rubies."

"Faelian, is that true?" J'zargo asked him.

Faelian thought back a moment. It was but he hadn't noticed Durga doing anything with her tail. He'd assumed Ancano was flushing with anger, but now that he thought about it, that look was embarrassment.

"Yes, I think."

Durga grinned with pride. J'zargo shook his head and rubbed his brow. Ysolde tried to start some idle chat about the gossip down in Winterhold, but the thoughts Durga has implanted were still swimming around in everyone's mind and the conversation fizzled quickly. After several minutes of awkward silence Durga perked up, her ears stood straight and her whiskers twitched. Most everyone had come to recognize that look as one of her 'idea' moments.

"What is it Durga?" J'zargo finally said.

"Would you like some entertainment at Ancano expense everyone?" she grinned wickedly.

"How?" Ysolde asked incredulously.

"Well, why don't we find out whether or not he really likes Khajiit?"

"Again, how?"

"Durga has an idea, simple and humiliating, and surely very funny."

Ysolde opened her mouth but Faelian spoke first.

"How humiliating?" he asked, a smile like the blade of a knife in his golden lips.

Durga motioned everyone in and whispered her simple little plan. At first everyone shook their heads and insisted it was impossible, potentially fatal. Durga pressed and it didn't take much to sway them, namely the thought annoying and intrusive Ancano left speechless for once, perhaps even permanently humiliated. Like Winterhold itself rumors traveled around the college like wildfire, and soon everyone up to the Arch Mage had heard some bit of the plan, everyone except the mark.

The next day Ancano was in the Acanaeum at midday. Durga was thankful for this rare bit of routine from the man. She, J'zargo, Faelian, and Ysolde were in there as well, half studying. A number of other students milled in and out along with some professors. Ancano took notice of it, Durga hadn't thought for a minute that he wouldn't but thankfully he seemed not to be putting it together.

And really, why in the name of the Divines would he suspect this? Finally he looked to be wrapping up, time for his usual small tiff with their grumpy and over protective librarian before moving onto his next task. Quickly but separately the four conspirators left the room and his in the steps leading down to the Hall of Elements. Durga snucke up to the edge of the steps as Ancano's argument Urag drew to a close.

There was a bang as Ancano deliberately slammed some volumes down on Urag's desk. Durga popped up as Ancano came into the stairwell. The Thalmor staggered and scowled, puffing himself up.

"What do you want?" he hissed.

"Durga has something very important for you." She said sincerely, stepping closer to him.

He barely got the 'wha' out before she pounced. In a second his was pinned against a wall with his hands locked behind his back by her large, clawed hand and her other arm around his waist. She crushed her mouth to his, and all the others waiting out if sight in the stairwell and just around corners peeked out to take in the sight. Even U'rag got up form his desk and ventured out to get a look.

Ancano let out a muffled yell when she pinned him, but now was making small, confused whimpers. His eyes darted about, not to anyone watching but back and forth between Durga and anything else. His chest heaved as she pressed her lips to his. Amazingly he seemed to be partially accepting it. He wasn't lashing out, or maybe he was just shocked.

Amazed looks grew on the faces of the watchers as Ancano stiffened in Durga's embrace. Faelian could just hear a tiny, wet sound. Durga was licking his lips, daring him to let her go further. To everyone's amazement he relented. Ancano parted his lips just a bit, enough to let her slip her tongue into him. She tilted her head and began purring, Ancano's eyes momentarily rolled back into his head. He was making moans of his own now, stifled but still audible.

Everyone had managed to keep quiet up to now but finally one student couldn't contain herself anymore. From the Arcanaeum Ancano heard a cough and snort and realized the full situation. With a huge heave he got Durga off him, throwing her back several feet.

His hair was slightly mussed and there was a sticky gleam over his mouth. Durga tittered but caught herself, quickly taking up an innocent pose.

"Durga just had to be sure, and so did they?"

She motioned around her, and all the voyeurs came out form hiding, wild smiles on their faces. For a second everyone was frozen, then Faelian began a slow clap.

"Well done you two, well done. Very entertaining." He said, and soon all the others clapping as well. Ancano stood to his full height and shot withering glares all around, which did little to frighten anyone now. He shoved his way past them, up the steps towards the Arch Mage's quarters.

Tolfdir stepped out from the crowd.

"Out of line Durga." He gave her a fatherly look of disappointment, "Completely out of line."

"Perhaps." Mirabelle had also been among the on-lookers, "but I think that was needed. Might keep him a little quiet for a few days."

"Still, we better get up there." Tolfdir sighed, "Durga, don't go far."

The two professors went up the steps and Durga made her way through the crowd on students back to a desk. She got many pats on the back, amid the clinking of bets being exchanged.

"I never would have thought he'd like it." Faelian said as he sat down next to her. "You were right, perhaps he does have a naughty taste for Khajiit."

Durga shrugged, her normally playful smile absent.

"Do you think you'll be thrown out?" he asked her.

"No, but Durga thinks Ancano and the Arch Mage with make very sure she's miserable for awhile."

"Was it worth it?"

She paused a beat before nodding vigorously, an ear to ear grin back on her face. She licked her lips several times running her tongue over whiskers.

"He tastes quite good, like cloves."

Faelian snorted, then chuckled.

"Durga!" Mirabelle stood in the doorway, beckoning.

"Wish Durga some luck." She said with a sigh.

Faelian smiled as he watched her leave. She was gutsy, almost to the point of stupidity but he found it endearing. A fearless risk taker, who knew her way around the intricacies of magic almost as well as she knew her way around a sword. He shouldn't be able to stand her but somehow she'd wormed her way into his good graces along with nearly everyone else in the College. He wondered what kind of life made a woman like that.