Prologue
The sounds of winds howling echoed over the mountains as the snow fell, this snow was anything but gentle, it was clear a snowstorm was on the horizon. Yellow eyes watched from the shadows low growls escaping their throats as they watched their presumable prey. Two khajii one male one female riding on horseback. The male was a cathay with a light copper top coat of fur, the bottom coat was a dingy white color, and his eyes were golden and seemed to gleam in the darkness. The male wore fine furs to keep him warm from the cold that surrounded him and his companion. The female was a suthay she was much shorter than her mate. Her coat was a light gray color her undercoat was a pure white color, her eyes a violet color. "S'ara I could use a little help here." The male's black ears perked up when he heard his mate ask for help, he gave a sheepish grin acknowledging his mistake. "Forgive me Zaysrin, I'm just trying to get us to him as quickly as possible." S'ara grabbed his mate the khajiit was heavily pregnant which was evident when she came down from the horse. "The nords territory, S'ara we can't stay here let alone bring a cub into the world here these people are some of many who hate us the most." There was worry in Zaysrin's voice and for good reason many nords truly hated their feline race due to their reputation of thievery and saw them as beasts. "Yes we can this one has a friend here this one saved his life long ago and now we are in need of him more than ever he will sneak us in and give us shelter from the cold." He turned toward the mountain and began to climb, he suddenly felt the touch of Zaysrin on his shoulder. "But are you sure we can trust him?" He stepped back down on the ground and turned toward his mate. "This one swears on my name as a trickster and you know how dearly this one holds that title. Now get on my back, don't want you climbing this, besides it seems our horse has vanished." She turned around and saw the hoofprints in the snow and rolled her eyes. Zaysrin hopped onto S'ara's back holding on tightly to him, the large cat began to scale the mountain using his claws for a good grip. As he climbed his ears perked up hearing the sound of low growls. "Damn must those wolves come now?" The cathay was clearly annoyed and frustrated. "Zaysrin get off of my back right now take my sword with you." He spoke in an authoritative tone. "S'ara The Trickster I am not leaving you here you could die!" "This is not the time to argue you carry another life inside of you my life is meaningless at this point now just do as I say and go!" There was sadness in Zaysrin's violet eyes as she climbed down from his back. "Listen Tymdall is a blacksmith go around the left wing of the mountain knock and the back window he will know who you are." She nodded listening to her mate's instructions she placed the sword on her hip and climbed an easier path, she glanced back at S'ara murmuring an I love you under her breath and she continued on."
The great cat sighed as his mate left him he enlongated his claws and saw the wolves beginning to come out of the crevices in the mountain. One of the wolves came at him and using his claws he fought with the beast catching it by the jugular and snapping its neck. Given his size one wolf wasn't enough to deter him, however an entire pack that was a different story.
As Zaysrin climbed the mountain with her mate's sword close beside her she began to speak. "My child if in case he does not returnthis one shall tell you of your father S'ara The Trickster. He is a brave soul who has a proud lineage, his great great grandfather was a mane. Those in Elsweyr believe it to be a reincarnational trait others say it lies within the bloodlines, but only the moon shall tell what we are to become. We left Elsweyr to get to know you in peace without other khajii surrounding us asking if you are a mane or not and frankly my child I care not whether you are a mane, a cathay, or anything in between. What you are is a khajiit born out of the love between S'ara and I you will carry on our bloodlines and that is something to truly be proud of my dear child." Zaysrin reached the top of the mountain she placed a hood over her ears and wore a wrap around her mouth hoping that and the shadows would be enough to conceal her. Moving swiftly she was able to find the blacksmith's workplace and home, as she was instructed Zaysrin knocked on the back door awaiting to see who was behind the door she kept her hand on the sword. A man soon came to the door like many nords he was tall, he had blonde hair and grey eyes and was still wearing his fur armor. Zaysrin eyes him in a suspicious manner before posing her question. "Tymdall?" She asked still keeping her hand on her sword. The man towered over the small cat he stepped towards her and said. "Yes that is I." He looked around and motioned for her to come in quickly. She wasn't one to jump at something like that but sense khajii were not wanted in their cities she had no choice but to go in. Upon entering she saw his home was decorated with weapons of every kind swords, archery equipment, daggers, and shives, even axes. He had the fireplace running it was so warm such a big contrast to what was waiting for them outside. "You must be S'ara's wife excuse me mate, where is he?" Zaysrin removed her hood and wrap revealing her face. "We were attacked by wolves further down the mountain this one was told to come here I was also told I could trust you." She stood by the door in case he had some form of attack or a trap planned. "Aye you can so there is no need to be afraid I am in your mate's debt and I am in yours any friend of S'ara is a friend of mine." The feline moved closer to the nord ever so slowly her hand moving from her sword to her protruding belly. "I would never attack a woman nevertheless a woman who is with child. Make yourself comfortable I have soup on the pot over there." He pointed towards the fireplace with a cauldron hanging over it keeping it warm. "Are you not going to help S'ara?" Zaysrin had worry in her voice it cracked at the end of her sentence letting the listener know she was on the verge of crying. "No, I was given orders by him to stay and protect you its what his letter said." "And you follow his orders because?" "Because you may carry the next mane in your womb is that not important to your people?" She sat down in a large chair by the fire. "It is but it is rare only with a certain moon alignment can a mane be born granted it is in S'ara's bloodline, but that still doesn't mean our child will be one." A gasp escaped Zaysrin's mouth as she felt a sharp pain within her womb, her violet eyes widened as the pain continued. "What's wrong khajiit?" Tymdall noticed her pained expression and rushed over to her. "The cub its coming!" Tymdall's eyes widened. "Here? Now? Aw that's my favorite chair." Zaysrin let out an angry hiss at the man. "Right sorry, I shall fetch a midwife for you." "No if any other nords find out I am here they will surely kill me!" She threw her head back and cried out in pain. "Tymdall you must help me please!" Going against Zaysrin's warning Tymdall went to fetch a midwife. Tymdall returned quickly with an elderly woman in toe. The woman was dressed in a nightgown and wore long gray braids. "Please you must help her Brata!" The elderly woman gasped at what was awaiting her in the blacksmith's home. "Tymdall are you insane you let a thief into your home!" Tymdall hushed the old woman he grabbed a war axe off of the wall and held it to her throat. "Look this khajiit is clearly in labor and she needs help now either you help her or you get that tongue of yours cut out." Bratta nodded. "Okay I will help it." Bratta shook her head and went over to the khajiit. Long agonizing hours passed as Zaysrin gave life to the newborn cub. A female khajiit it's coat an auburn tone decorated with russet stripes, and splashed of cream on her paws, mouth, and around her amber eyes. Bratta took the babe in her arms and cleaned the blood off of its fur the best she could and handed the newborn to it's mother. Taking the cub in her arms Zaysrin reiterated the story she told as she climbed up the mountain, however with each word her breath seemed to get weaker. Tymdall stood by listening intently learning things of S'ara's past he hadn't known before. "Brata come with me." Tymdall commanded calmly offering his hand to the elderly woman. The pair stepped out into the snow together Tymdall looking off down the mountain awaiting his friend's arrival. "You have helped those creatures they are safe for now but what shall happen when the dawn comes?" Bratta questioned. "I shall continue to help them nonetheless. I am a man of my word no matter the circumstances." His eyes were still focused on the mountain terrain below. "You may go Bratta I shall wait here for S'ara." The old woman squinted her eyes at the blacksmith in a curious manner. "What of the beasts in there are you not going to watch over them?" Tymdall chuckled. "I am surprised at you Bratta, as a midwife you should know there is nothing more dangerous than a new mother her protection knows no bounds." With that the woman returned to her own home, Tymdall waited until dawn soon replaced the moonless sky. He retreated back inside and was greeted with an odd silence. He rushed over to the infant khajiit and Zaysrin. The cub was fine it seemed, but Zaysrin herself showed no signs of life her body cold to the touch even for nord standards. The cub began to stir and let out cries of hunger. Tymdall picked her up and cradled it in his arms. "Poor child to lose everyone." In that moment emotion hit the nord realizing his friend S'ara was gone and would not be scaling up that mountain anytime soon. Tears formed in those grey eyes of his, the cub looked up at him and mewed. "S'ara may be gone but his legacy is not." Tymdall paced the wooden floors with the cub in his arms. "Born out of love your mother said then ...I shall call you Freya."