A/N: This is my first fic on here and I'm excited! Constructive criticism is appreciated and welcomed. And the usual disclaimer that I do not own Oblivion with the exception of my OCs.

The Twenty-Seventh of Last Seed 3E 433 of Tamriel

The Green Road, Outside the Inn of Ill Omen

Ahrassi crouched just out of sight of the Imperial Forester. She didn't understand what had whipped him into such a rage, she had only stolen a single apple. She was hungry, and the Nord inside probably had plenty of food to spare. She pondered for a moment how beautiful it would be to watch the inn burn to the ground, but shook it away

She was thankful that, like all other Khajiit, she could see clearly through the inky darkness and the Forester even more thankfully couldn't see her. He paced about the area for a few minutes and placed his bow around his shoulders again and stomped back into the Inn, cursing under his breath as he went.

Ahrassi waited until the heavy wooden door slammed shut that she creeped out from her spot beneath some of the low branches of a tree, taking extra care to not get her green robe caught as she moved slowly towards the road. This wasn't the first legionnaire who was on her case since she departed Leyawiin a few days ago, it wasn't like she had planned on stealing things, she just needed a little extra food to get by until she made it to the Imperial City.

She had left behind her life in Leyawiin, she was a court dancer who had decided that the Countess' jeweled necklace would look better on Ahrassi's neck then the Countess'. It was also a bit of justice, the Countess was very clear in her disdain of Ahrassi, simply because she was a Khajiit. If anyone deserved to be stolen from, it was her.

The Captain of the Guard who had found her picking the lock on the jewelry box begged to differ and if it wasn't for the blessings of the Shadow stars she was born under she would've never escaped. Letting the power of her birthsign cloak her, she had snuck out of the castle while the guards charged around, shouting at one another, searching for the rogue Khajiit.

Ahrassi didn't bother stopping at the Faergyl Inn, she just needed to put more distance between her and Leyawiin as best as she could. Who knows if that Forester would be back out to track her, or if the Countess might've sent a troop to apprehend her. She sighed and began to pick up the pace, maybe if she was lucky she could make it to the Imperial City by the following morning.

Chorrol, The Mages Guild

Elise Deveraux, a youthful looking Breton with blond hair, rested in the spare bed the Guild kept for traveling members, a book rested open in her lap but her gaze drifted out the window. The sun was just starting to paint the sky pink and Elise could tell it was obscured just behind the household across the way. She sighed, she had intended to head down to Weye soon, but she had wanted to get some sleep before she left.

"It's no use wasting the daylight." Elise sighed to herself as she pushed herself off to the side and stood up, placing her book in her satchel and threw it over her shoulder, making sure to pat the wrinkles out of mage's robes. She had planned to ask that fisherman if he could find her some scales from the slaughterfish in Lake Rumare for her. A friend of hers had told her that he was reliable source and the scales were second to none for some of the new alchemical formulas she wanted to try out.

With a yawn and stretch she pulled her shoes on and headed down the stairs into the Guild lobby where Teekeeus was already up and about, his snout shoved in a book about mysticism. Elise waved to him on her way out, a gesture he barely returned. He seemed consumed so she didn't bother him further, instead just slipping outside to greet the warmth of the morning under the Great Oak.

Just standing near the Great Oak reminded Elise why she loved Chorrol. It was a warm and inviting city with plenty of people milling about. The food was good and the Countess made sure that the beggars were kept to a minimum. Thank the Nine Divines for simple pleasures like that. She feared that wouldn't be the case when she made it to the Imperial City, nasty urchins tugging at her robes, asking for a coin. Savages, the lot of them! Elise huffed, spoiling her own mood. She would be stuck with this mood the rest of her walk to Weye.

Stomping slightly, Elise marched through town, past the shops not yet opened and through the front gate, she just hoped that she wouldn't run into anything on her way, she had seen a goblin corpse in Fort Ash the last time she came through, not stopping to check to see if there were more, but this time she might not have that luxury.

Edge of the Great Forest, Green Road

Ahrassi had slowed her pace a bit, no point in running, that would be more suspicious. At least she had made good time along the road, and it seemed for now that the Countess hadn't sent anyone after her and the Forester really did give up looking for her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she stared across the water towards the outer walls of the Imperial City, and the White Gold Tower rising out from the center, a beacon for her.

The Imperial City would mean safety. She could paint, or dance, or maybe steal, but whatever the case there would be too many people there for her to be of much notice. The Imperial Watch was far more concerned with the Grey Fox, it's practically all people talked about these days. The Imperial City might have people that might even appreciate her more … eccentricities. In any case, it was a place where Ahrassi could feel at home.

"Just a bit further now and this one can be invisible in the crowd." Ahrassi assured herself, her pace picking up lightly, spurred by the hope that the White Gold Tower gave to her.

Ahrassi all but ran across the bridge towards the city, it's gleaming white walls calling to her like the wings of a bird wrapping around her for safety. She was going to be free from the Countess and the prosecution, this was the city where she could escape notice and make money so she wouldn't have to steal ever again.

As she reached the giant doors leading into the city a heavy metal hand clamped down on her shoulder. Letting out a small yelp she turned to see one of the Imperial Watch's guardsmen holding up a flyer with her face drawn on it.

"I've found you criminal scum. By the orders of Countess Alessa Caro you are to be apprehended. I'll take you to the Imperial dungeon until one of Leyawiin's guard comes to take you back." He sneered at her, his brown eyes boring holes into her. There was no use in trying to escape anyway, there were too many guards around now, and besides, the sense of comfort she once thought she would get from the Imperial City had all but vanished.

"This one will go with you willingly." Ahrassi sighed, beaten, forlorn. She would probably spend the rest of her life in a dungeon, especially if the Countess had anything to say about it. Just another Khajiit off the streets for her, a small victory against Ahrassi's people.

Weye

Elise had finally made it. Scratches across her sleeve were coating in what looked like slobber. At least she had been able to heal her wounds and find Aelwin. He seemed a pleasant enough sort, a fellow Breton, and not quite a beggar, though much lower station than Elise would like to associate herself with.

"Damn those animals. I tell you, that Delphine in Bravil is right. Kynareth be damned, those creatures deserve to be exterminated!" Elise raved to Aelwin who simply nodded cautiously. In truth Elise had to flail about wildly with her dagger, slashing at the wolf as best she could. It was such a shame she hadn't given time to learning the Destruction school, but at least the poison coating her dagger seemed to put the wolf down with ease.

"I-I'm sorry to hear that..." Aelwin started, "I-is there a reason you wanted to see me?" He seemed sheepish. Maybe he didn't like mages, or maybe Elise was just a bit too forceful for his tastes. In either case, his nervousness went unnoticed by Elise, she just continued prattling on about how she hated those woodland creatures, finally catching herself.

"Ah yes, I need some portions of Rumare Slaughterfish scales. I believe...twelve portions should do? I promise to reward you handsomely, you think you can do this, yes?" Elise procured a small coinpurse from her pack and jingled it to enforce her point. His vigorous nod was all she needed. She started walking up towards the bridge, Aelwin following a step behind her, limping slightly. "I'll be at the Tiber Septim Hotel tonight, please do not take to long to procure the samples. I'm a very busy woman and do not appreciate waiting."

"Yes, ma'am, I'll get them as soon as I can." Aelwin nodded, turning and limping back towards his home, muttering under his breath. A more observant person might note his worry but Elise just knew that he would follow through. These...poor did anything for the promise of a decent pay. She didn't bother even speaking to anyone as she marched through the large double doors of the city and making her way directly to the hotel.

A/N: There's the first chapter! Please read and review. I'm planning on adding another character to the mix, so it'll be three (or maybe four if I go a bit more crazy) characters total. See you next chapter!