I can still smell the burning of the fur beside me. The wretched...putrid smell still staining the inside of my nostrils. Even sometimes when I wake up it's still embedded into my membrane. The screams bouncing off walls and back into my ears. The sight of my very brother being torn away from my mother and I. The fate of him still unknown to me this day. Though I know for a fact those monsters.. Those savages..They had to of killed him. For what use was a baby if not for a bartering chip? A chip that was used against the wrong family.. A poor family struggling by with a farm just on the outskirts of Alabaster. A city that just vaguely escaped my infant eyes as the carriage carried me into the distance. The flames consuming the sight of what was once my home and my injured mother. All at the hand of bandit's...And for what? That's the question I ask myself daily...Though it's mostly why. Why did they do it? What could they have gain for slaughtering innocent women and children? Though, I suppose the question itself is mundane. Because anyone who wants peace, and isn't prepared to go to war, is a damned fool. At least that's what my father..My adoptive father...told me before he trained me. For seven years, I've trained for this journey. A journey to maybe uncover a little more about myself. A little more about my parents other than word-of-mouth and charred journal's with reconstruct-able sentences. I want to know them, the childhood I missed out on..and why. This is my mission, my prerogative and my drive for war. War against the shadows of these very lands..
Tamriel: A Tail Of Two Cats.. ( Who Will Save Us Now.- Dave Chappell.)
A city would pan into view just off in the distance in the midst of what would seem like the third day of rain. This city was built and modeled of stone. From structure to the street's, the sound of light bustling could be heard outside of an inn window. This inn's room lit by the flame of three candles. Placed about the room to give a nice perimeter. Sitting inside was a feline, not a day over the age of seventeen. Her svelte form fixed comfortably within the wooden chair of which she sat. The room was spacious, a master suite with a fire place which was currently not lit. A small oven, which was cooking her recently caught venison. The scent catching the attention of the patron's downstairs.
The room itself, much like outside, had a dreary tone to it. The gray of the slowly setting sky above just adding more to the colorless room. Though the decorative blue tribal rug and small mount heads posted in the room allowed for slight vibrancy. A gentle beacon of hope in a none deliberate form. Slowly sitting back, her hand rested on her flat and toned stomach. Her tail flickered behind her while she looked towards the ceiling. Her icy blue eyes grazing the small details absently. Soon though, her attention was brought back to the bandage wrap around her forearm. Her fur was grey, black leopard stripes lining them just like the rest of her body. This not including her head. What made her unique from her family was the three stripes on the back her her head. Which based from the neck and spread at the ears and center. This small birth mark had a meaning. A meaning that not even her foster parents could provide. However it was something her and her dead brother shared.
Slowly she got to her feet and made her way to the mannequin. Her eyes fixed upon the outfit she had stored on it to keep it pristine. As the stay within the walls of Alabaster had been her time to relax. So she didn't feel the need to carry the entirety of her armor. Though, she felt it would be right to. At least for the trip she would make tomorrow in the morning. That is if the rain had settled. For the first time in fourteen years she would set foot onto a property now deemed abandoned. The charred remains of a families lively hood left to rot in the sands of time. The thought of this felt hauntingly familiar, a sight she had seen a thousand times yet never adjusted to. Maybe it was the thought of abandonment that scarred her from her preteen years that really made it feel unsettling. Or maybe it was just the concept that you wouldn't know what awaited you. Which she never liked..The thought of being unprepared.
The sound of light knocking snapped her out of the silent daze she was in. Getting to her feet and reaching for her shirt. She slipped on the white cotton blouse before opening the door. The Inn's keep's young daughter looked up with a small letter in hand. Her smooth face and bright smile never failed to warm the heart of Ser Integra. The young girl brushed her brown bangs from her hazel eyes before speaking. The way she spoke was mature for someone her age, yet after a lengthy conversation a day prior. The khajiit knew well where she got her mannerisms and articulation from.
" Ms. Ser Integra. The courier dropped off a letter for you. He said it was from Imperial Legate Herald." She poke, her hand offering the letter. A letter which the teenager was awaiting for sometime. The khajiit flashed a smile before taking the letter lightly.
" Thank you, dear. Tell your mother I'll bring the venison down tomorrow. After a hunting trip like that, I'm really going to need the rest." Ser Integra said. The young girl nodding in affirmation. Soon skipping off, the red dress kicking up behind her black shoes. Ser Integra shutting the door shortly after the young girl had vanished off into the red carpeted hallway. Ser bolting her door before opening the letter. She laid on the bed and sprawled her legs out. Reading to herself.
To My Daughter, Ser Integra.
" Your mother and I are proud of the astounding young woman that you've become. The rate of which you matured despite the diversity against you makes us thankful. Warming the cold, steel heart of this old military legate." That line made her smile, a forming tear caught by her finger." I know you must feel homesick and hopefully this lands on the day that marks the seventeenth year of your life on this planet. The first in some birthday's I know we'll miss, but know you'll be in our hearts and we'll do our best to time anything we send. Your mother and I miss you both and hope that you're safe. Best of luck, oh, and one more thing! If by the time you receive this letter you happen to be in Alabaster. An old comrade of mine there lives along the southern wall. He may be able to help you with the beginning of your search. He goes by the name " Leo.".
Love, Mom and Dad."
A small, slightly saddened sigh escaped her while she folded up the letter and stored it in the desk after getting to her tired feet. Soon she found herself looking outside into the candle lit town. The street lamps igniting a small flame through straight row's of Alabaster's cobble street's. Below the waning, but remaining sound of haggling could be heard. She removed her shirt once more and set it on the desk. Crawling into the firm and warmed mattress after putting out the oven and the candle's. Nothing left but natural and city light slightly cracking through the caged window. Her eyes settling just as her body found the right position beneath the sheets. Falling into a welcomed slumber after three nights of endless travel. Her heart warmed by the written words her father. Of whom, much like her mother, she missed dearly.
Yet as Ser Integra's day came to an end. Just outside of Falkreath another's night of interest would begin. Lining the snowy trail were a plethora of footprints. A dark entity with a feminine figure stood looking down this path. Her focused brown eyes fixed on the dim lantern light ahead. The clear nights sky and calm wind allowed the female to mentally plan her shots as she scaled the side of a high sitting tree. A male shadow perched behind the heightened stump of a cut down oak tree. The nightingale armor coming into view as he slowly got to his feet. The male walking with arms behind his back as the group of bandit's slowly started to make their way down the path. The trail of prisoner's bound and stepping in forced unison on the once virgin snow of Skyrim's trail towards Riften. This was Aegeus, an ex-legate of the Imperial army much like his own siblings. Who were perched throughout the various location of this path as part of a task. A task given to them by the Jarl to save his brother's family from a rather cocky group of bandit's lead by an older Elf.
Aegeus soon walked from bushes and stood at the front of the stopping caravan. The elf holding onto the grip of his ebony blade. His matching armor slightly shown beneath the barren moonlight. The nightingale standing silently at the front of what looked to be ten men in total. The elf glared the black clad mystery of a man. His glowing eyes attempting to pierce Aegeus's emotionless mask. Aegeus was a built man, standing at six foot six. He was quite the mountain against certain foes but moved much like a cat. Quick on his feet and carried his weight with ease.
" Who are you?" The elf called out to the silent shadow. As if speaking into the night itself." You either must have a lot of gull or a lack of brains. Did that pesky ruler of yours send you?" His mouth moved a mile a minute as he spoke. His tone loud, brash and impatient. Aegeus would simply hold his tongue as the man would walk towards him.
" Hello, does a cat have your tongue you milk-drinker? You're sort of in the way of our journey here. So unless you have a death wish. You have exactly five seconds to move from my path before I take your head as my trophy." He warned. Aegeus could smell the stench of death from the man with the mix of unpleasant body odor. The elf holding his fingers up right in Aegeus's face.
" Five...four..." As he counted down, the nightingale caught the planned glimpse in the corner of his eye. Three arrows scattered killing three soldier's. The thump's causing the man to turn around. This causing Aegeus to take his move and quickly pull the man's arm back towards the center of his body. Breaking it with ease after it was removed from socket. Quickly he pushed the ebony armored elf to his knee's. The elf spotting another, more slender male shadow flip from the top of his wagon and land between two more of his soldier's. The two turning their heads before collapsing. Two more arrows of which had seemingly manifested from nothing pierced their necks. The slender male quickly pushed the slower body to the side and ran towards the two. Jumping and flipping over the kneeling Aegeus, he threw two daggers and killed the scouts which were returning. The final three rushing in from the back before, an eerie whistle filling the silent night. This whistle followed by three more body smacking against the snow. A female in matching armor soon swung down from the tree of which she was perched. Resting her bow back around her body. The two in front eyeing the man which Aegeus retained.
" Nobara, Argus please free them and get them ready for the short journey home. As for the elf, I'll restrain him and begin interrogation. " Aegeus instructed. His siblings nodded before walking to begin freeing the prisoner's. Aegeus effortlessly grabbed the elf's harness and dragged him by his knee's. Throwing him to the ground and aiming his sword's tip right at his neck. The elf only smiling as his black shoulder length hair covered his devious eyes.
" Alright, who hired you?" The eldest of the trio started off with an easy question. Figuring he'd work his way up. But knowing he would have to be forceful about how he handled the man. Having a decent history with hostage situation's during the civil war. He was quite efficient in getting what he wanted out of someone.
" Afraid I'm not at liberty to speak about that.." His tone was cocky and seemingly full of himself. A smirk hitting his face again as Aegeus sheathed his blade. Elbowing the man dead in the face before pulling him back up by the shoulder's.
" Who..hired..you?" Aegeus asked once again. The elf simply shaking his head at the question. The imperial cocking his head slightly before getting to his feet and resting a foot on his chest.
" Usually I'd worry about stopping something at the source. But I'm sure I'll fi-." his sentence was cut off by the elf whistling. Aegeus turning his head left then right. Tilting his head slightly before looking back down. The sound of heavy foot step's bellowed from behind as a bear came sprinting dead at Aegeus. The nightingale quickly moving out of the way as the Elf scampered to his feet. Holding his wounded arm and retreating into the woods. Aegeus growling before his attention was back at the standing bear. Wasting little time, Aegeus planted the tip of his blade through the heart of the animal. Killing it with little remorse of his action's, The bear falling to it's side before crumbling to ash. Which seem to throw him off even more. A familiar? When did he have the time to cast that.
Nobara had returned from the prepared wagon. Aegeus gritting his teeth beneath the mask, his sister glancing down towards the blood trail then back to her brother. She simply grabbed his wrist and pulled him along towards the caravan they had effortlessly hijacked. With little time to spare and no way of really knowing if there was back up. The trio, with they're completed mission resting in the back of the wagon, headed off to their objective. The city of Falkreath, where the Jarl awaited their return. The moon slightly shifted in the night on their journey. As Argus had his mind set on the prize at the end. Nobara knew something had irked Aegeus about the man that escaped. She felt it a bit to, just from beginning looks. Something was off about him. Though this was something she felt she would address later, right now they just had to focus on the task at hand.
Back in Alabaster, the sun was just beginning to rise. The grey clouds slowly cracking and the orange rays slivering their way through in a shattered way. A small bit of these ray's hitting Ser Integra's eyes. Which caused them to slightly crack open, before she knew it she had sat up and stretched her body. Her rested body not matching her weighted mind. Though physically she felt weightless, behind her eyes it was as if chains bounded her brain by thought. With good reason, this was the day that the beginning of real journey began. The journey to find out who she was.