Chapter I: Back from the Hunt

"Ah, bloody hell, this feels good."

"It should, after today's fecking…what did you call it? Oh, right, 'an adventure'."

Kyr chuckled, observing his companions battered appearance. The dancing light coming from the fire revealed a lovely pattern of bruises on Sven's arms and face. "It's not my fault you that you decided to skin the saber cat while it was still quite alive."

"It wasn't like that," said Sven, grimacing as he shifted sitting positions.

"I believe that I observed the event in full from my position," replied Kyr. "You should know by now that Skyrim's beasts are a bit more prickly in temperament than what is common down south."

The fire suddenly produced a crackling noise, as juices from the thick saber cat roast dripped into the flames. Grasping the spit it was skewered on, Kyr lifted it off the stand and cut two large slices, passing one to Sven. The fresh, tender cut of meat proved to be more than worth the effort involved in procuring it, especially once they washed it down with a sour alto wine.

The fire slowly died down to embers, but the heat that provided was little needed. Falkreath was warm this time of year, even at night. The clear sky above where the two companions lay revealed a vast litany of stars. Both fell asleep to the one of the best sights Skyrim offered.

Groggily rising from a deep slumber, Kyr began breaking camp. The early morning sun was just peaking over the thick trees that surrounded the camp. When Sven didn't awake from the sounds of Kyr's work, he chucked a pack at him, prompting an abrupt and confused grunt. Within a short while, the only remains from their stay were ashes and flattened grass.

A brief walk while eating hard bread brought them to the main road leading back to the town of Falkreath. By afternoon they arrived, and then proceeded to hawk their carefully wrapped pelts to the populace. Scantly populated as it was, Falkreath had plenty of citizens in need of furs, and they sold their inventory quickly.

"Never has been the friendliest place for strangers, to be sure," noted Sven after a few minutes walking away from the town

"I believe you just described the entirety of Skyrim quite accurately, my friend."

Sven muttered something along the lines of "sarcastic bastard" under his breath as they continued along the road.

Evening found the two skirting around Lake Ilinalta, having encountered no trouble on their journey. The made camp near the water in a copse of trees, and rested for the night. Daybreak found them continuing towards Riverwood.

"Not to many beasts to be seen in this area," said Kyr

"Overhunted, I think," replied Sven, "It's been this way as long as I have lived here. You can blame Faendal."

"Don't you think you should just let that little grudge go?"

"Hell no! That bastard deserves all he gets from me and more."

Kyr chuckled. "We'll have to drop by and say hello once we reach Riverwood."

"Definitely not. If I see that prick I'll…"

Both of them looked up at the sound wood snapping. In the emptiness of the forest, it sounded like an explosion to their sensitive ears, trained from months of hunting. Realizing their ambush was botched, the bandits who had produced the noise burst from trees.

With trained reflexes, Kyr whipped the crossbow off his back, drew the string back, loaded a bolt from his hip quiver, and fired it directly into the lead bandit's gut. Lightly armored as he was, the bandit was knocked over by the force of the shot, causing one of his partners to trip over him. The last bandit came to a quick end by Kyr's hand axe.

The tripped bandit tried to rise, but found a crossbow in his face. Sven bound his hands, then rolled him to the side of the road. Kyr and Sven then looted all the gold from the bandits and informed the bound one that a guard would no doubt be along shortly.

"You know, you could at least let me help a little bit in one of these fights," said Sven, as the two continued their journey.

"Wouldn't want to damage those harp-playing hands, my friend. Your wife might get a bit pissed if I let that happen."

"Fuck you. I have other methods of making money besides playing in taverns…"

"Your wife's shop? So much for being the breadwinner."

Sven gave Kyr a thoroughly angry look, then stormed of down the road. Kyr pulled his axe from the bandit it was lodged in, wiped it on the nearby grass, and then followed his companion.

Riverwood was going to be fun.