A/N: So the prologue and first four chapters are coming out all together, but any chapters added afterwards will be added at irregular intervals as I finish the chapter, which can and will take time. Hopefully you understand. Anyways, Have a good day/night, and enjoy the first chapter of Catale.
Chapter One:
Ceria woke up cold and alone. She shivered as she opened her eyes, unsure of what was going on. Was she dreaming? Or was there really snow all around her, and a white forest clutching at her like a mother would her newborn child.
Whiterun doesn't have snow. And, I thought I was home, in bed? Why am I so cold all of a sudden? Where's Mother? Perhaps she or Father could explain what's going on.
She started walking in a random direction through the snowy forest. She shivered, unused to such cold. Her fur was no match for the blistering cold wind that whipped in her face. She called out for her parents, hoping they would find her before she froze to death.
She heard a branch snap behind her, and froze. Ceria turned her ears behind her, searching for any noises that may help her. However, all she heard was the rustle of the wind, and her own frantic heart. She pushed on, wary now.
She thought she heard footsteps behind her. She stopped. "Mother? Father?" When nobody answered her call, she continued on, faster now.
She came to a bridge, barred by a wooden fence thing that wouldn't keep anyone out. She paused, not sure what to make of this construct. She heard steady footsteps behind her, and stiffened. A deep voice called out to her. "Hey, kid. Don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand." She slowly turned around, wary and scared.
A dark figure held his hand out. She gulped, nervous. She hesitantly stuck her own paw out, and started when the figure grabbed it. Then, a loud sound startled her, and she tried to retract her paw from this stranger's grasp. However, the figure kept a firm grip on her. Just as she was about to call lightning to her aid, the figure released her hand, stepping into the light.
Ceria gasped. A skeleton stood in front of her, slightly taller than she. She stumbled back in shock, lightning dancing on her fur as she lost control of her magic, sparking up in stress.
The skeleton smirked. "He, he. The old whoopee-cushion-in-the-hand trick. It's always funny." He then saw how terrified Ceria was, as she tried backing away from this skeleton. "Hey, you okay, kid? I didn't frighten you too bad, did I?"
Ceria whimpered as the skeleton took a step towards her. "D—don't hurt me," she stuttered. "Please."
The skeleton frowned. "Who said anything about hurting anybody? I'm sorry if I scared you, but—"
Ceria backed away, tears shining in her eyes. As the confused skeleton took another step towards her, she turned and fled, racing away from the scary skeleton. She remembered her father's warning about skeletons. "Ceria, honey. If you ever meet a skeleton, watch out. There's usually more around, and a powerful necromancer too."
She raced through the snowy forest, until she was in a clearing. She stopped to catch her breath. As she stood panting, she looked around, curious as to where she was going next. She saw a mound of snow in front of her. Ceria took a step toward it, and was surprised to see a small dog hidden in the snow. It yipped at her. She blinked, not certain how to react. She didn't like dogs all that much, probably because they always tried to chase her.
This dog seemed to be trying to stand on its hind legs. Except that it kept going up. Soon, Ceria was looking into a large dog's eyes, as a metal armor and spear was uncovered from the snow. Ceria took one look at the ferocious dog, which growled at her, and turned and ran away. It barked at her, and started chasing her.
Ceria ran for a while. However, the dog was faster than her. Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, they did. She hit an ice patch, and went flying through the air, down a cliff, and into the snow below. She heard a crack, and felt tremendous pain in her leg. It was all she could do to roll over as the large dog fell down next to her.
The dog shook itself, before looking around. Spotting Ceria, it growled before pouncing. The last thing Ceria saw was a large grey mass of armor slamming down on top of her head. And then she blacked out.
When Ceria woke up, she hurt. Her leg was on fire from the pain, and her head didn't seem to be all that better. She opened her eyes, crying out in pain. What she saw just confused her.
She was on some sort of green seat. Not a bed, but not a chair, either. Sort of a combination of the two, it seemed. She could see all kinds of weird things around. She assumed she was in someone's house. She could hear muffled yelling coming from outside, but even straining her ears, she couldn't make out the words.
Ceria looked down at herself. Her normally spotless white fur was matted with dirt and blood. Her leg… It was twisted at an awkward angle, and hurt like Oblivion. She could feel that it was broken, and whenever she tried to even twitch it, it would flare up in agony, and she would gasp in pain.
As her inspection finished, she heard a door slam open, and two skeletons stormed into the house. One was familiar as the skeleton that had scared her off, and the other was much taller and lankier, and his voice was much higher-pitched.
"I don't care, Sans! If someone is hurt, I'm going to help them!" Just then, the taller skeleton noticed that Ceria was awake. "Ah, you're awake! Good, you don't sleep for as long as my dear brother sleeps!" He sent glares at the other one, who just shrugged at him.
"What can I say, Paps? I'm just a lazybones." He glanced at the terrified Ceria. "Heya, kid. Remember me?"
Ceria stared. She felt absolutely terrified. Two skeletons were right next to her, staring right at her. She was going to die, she just knew it. She whimpered and ducked her head, hoping they would at least make it quick and painless.
The shorter skeleton took a step closer. "Hey, it's alright. Greater Dog ain't here to mess up your day anymore." His voice was softer, which of course made Ceria even more scared.
The other skeleton came over. "Sans? What's wrong with the child? Is she not feeling well?"
The shorter skeleton shrugged again. "I dunno, bro. Maybe she's just scared. She just went through one big ordeal, alright. Hey, why don't you get started on dinner, while I talk to the kid?"
The other skeleton brightened up. "Of course! My magnificent spaghetti will cheer her right up! I'll be in the kitchen if you need me, brother!" With that, he left the room.
The shorter skeleton slowly made his way towards Ceria. With each step, Ceria curled up tighter and tighter, and she started to spark. Lightning danced on her fur, purple and dangerous.
The skeleton stopped when he saw the sparks. "What's up with the lightshow?" he murmured. He sat down heavily where he stood. "I guess introductions are in order, huh?"
Ceria tried to scoot away from the skeleton. She just ended up in a tighter ball, nursing her wounded leg. The skeleton noticed.
"You don't have to be so afraid, you know. We did save you from a super hyper dog earlier today. I think some credit is in order. And as for your leg… My brother, Papyrus can heal you after dinner. I would myself, but… I've never been much of a healer."
Ceria whimpered. "Don't hurt me. Please." She hoped the necromancer, wherever they were, could hear her plea and would heed it.
The skeleton ignored her. "I'm Sans, by the way. What's your name, cat?"
Ceria laid her ears flat on her head and hissed at the word "cat". "Khajiit! What insult!" She buried her head in her arms, hoping that the skeleton named Sans would just go away.
Sans leaned back, surprised at her sudden spite. He noticed that the lightning on her fur was intensifying. He didn't know what the lightning did, but it sure didn't look healthy. "Alright, um, Khajiit. Weird name, that."
Ceria looked up. She was confused and scared and just wanted to go home. "Not a name. A race." She didn't know why this guy wouldn't know what Khajiits are.
Sans scratched the back of his skull. "I don't get it, kid. Can you say more than that at a time, or…"
Ceria tried to calm down, she really did. Better to face her death now, than to get tortured by necromancers, she decided. "If… If you're going to kill me, just… Just do it, already."
Sans looked at her with confusion. "Again with that. One would think you had a thing against skeletons, or something. But I don't think I have the guts to hurt you. He, he."
Ceria blinked, not understanding. "Then… Why doesn't your master kill me, then? I must be more important alive than dead?"
Sans shook his head. "Look. I don't know why you're so scared. But let's start at the beginning, again. I want to help you, after all. I'm Sans. What's your name?"
Ceria hesitated, before realizing that if the skeleton had wanted to kill her, it probably would have done so already. "Ceria. I'm Ceria."
Sans nodded, a sign of encouragement. "Nice to meet ya. My brother, Papyrus, is making dinner. Do you like spaghetti?"
Ceria confusedly blinked. "What is spaghetti?" she asked.
Sans slapped his skull with his hand, making a loud clattering noise that startled Ceria. She mewed, and her tail fluffed up, as lightning sparked her fur. Sans smiled a small smirk. "Sorry 'bout that. Spaghetti is… Well… I don't know how to explain. It's basically a form of food."
Ceria blinked, and her lightning faded slightly. "Food? I… I am a little hungry…"
Sans smiled. "Well, then. Paps will probably make a serving for you. Speaking of, how's your leg doing? Papyrus told me what happened."
Ceria looked down at it. "I… Can't move it. It hurts… I… I think it's broken…" She spoke in a small voice. She hoped it wasn't broken. She didn't know how to heal yet. Well, she knew, she just couldn't put theory into practice.
Sans frowned slightly. "That's… Uh. Well, if you like, I bet my bro would heal it for you, if you let him." Ceria glanced at Sans, a small frown on her face.
"Why? He doesn't know me." She looked at her leg, doubts clouding her mind. "Besides, Mother told me not to let anyone heal me except for her or Archmage Luna."
Sans folded his arms. "Your mother? Wait, I forgot to ask. Do your parents know where you are?" He seemed slightly frustrated with himself.
Ceria shrugged, hissing as her leg flared up. Lightning danced on her fur. "I'm not sure where I am, now. I know I'm not in Whiterun, as Whiterun doesn't snow. So, no, I don't believe so." She looked down, tears shining in her eyes. "Father told me that if I ever get lost, that I should just call him using the Thu'um. But… I don't have that power. Mother tried to teach me, but…" Lightning started to intensify, becoming stronger than Sans had ever seen it.
Sans didn't know what to do. Obviously, he had to calm this kid down. However… He wasn't really all that good with kids. "Uh… You want to hear a pun or two?"
Ceria blinked. "What is a pun?"
Sans smirked. "This is a pun, kiddo. You know why the ghost didn't go to the party? He had no body to go with!" What a classic.
Ceria smiled slightly, her sparks fading. Sans took that as a good sign. Time to bring out the big puns. "What did the tree say to the rock? 'Leaf me alone!' I would heal you myself, but I don't have the guts to do it. What did the skeleton say to his bro? 'Don't worry; I've got your back.'"
Ceria let out a small giggle. Her lightning faded completely. She smiled at Sans. "You remind me of a Bosmer friend I once had. He was blind, but would always be telling jests. Every time I saw him, he would make me smile."
Sans smirked. Job well done, a cat befriended. Just then, Papyrus leaned out of the kitchen. "Dinner's ready, Sans! Will our friend be eating, too?"
Ceria started at the abrupt sound of the other skeleton's voice, but settled down a moment later. Her stomach growled at the offer of food. She hadn't eaten for… She didn't remember the last time she ate. She nodded at San's inquiring look. Sans turned to his brother.
"Sure, bro. Just give her a bowl, okay? She's probably going to stay on the couch for tonight, you know?"
"Alright, brother. Just give me a moment. And, this time, NO KETCHUP!"
Sans wrinkled up his face. "But… You know I like the taste!"
"Sans! We have a guest! Not to mention that this guest is a child! No arguments!"
Ceria felt the need to speak up. "Cub, actually," she muttered.
Sans turned to look at her with a confused expression. "Huh? Didn't hear ya. Mayonnaise you speak up?" He started to smirk.
Papyrus walked into the dining room, carrying two plates of spaghetti, and one bowl of it. He put the plates down to the dining room table, and slowly walked over to Ceria. He held out the bowl to her. He spoke in a softer tone, realizing that the child was afraid of his loud voice. "Here you are, a bowl of spaghetti made by the Great Papyrus."
Ceria hesitantly accepted the bowl, nodding her thanks. She looked down at the food inside. It smelled good, at least. She hesitantly took her first bite. Mmm! Delicious. Three large bites later, the bowl was set down, empty.
Over at the dining table, Sans and Papyrus were arguing over Sans's sock. Ceria chuckled to herself. Just like the twin Argonian hatchlings, always snapping at each other for no good reason.
Once things settled down, Ceria closed her eyes, and was half asleep when she heard footsteps approaching. She yawned and opened her eyes to see the two boys worriedly watching her. She could see from their expressions that something bad was about to happen. She warily sat up, hissing in pain as her leg flared up again.
Sans was the first skeleton to speak. "Hey, kiddo. Sorry to wake you, but… Papyrus agreed to heal you. If you'll let him, he'll fix your leg now."
Ceria eyed the taller skeleton warily. He fidgeted as she watched him. He slowly came towards her, kneeling down next to her. She flinched as he reached out to touch her. Instinctively, lightning sparked in her fur, and her ears flattened as she hissed at him, warning him to back off. She curled around herself, protecting her wounded leg and keeping a watchful eye on the skeleton.
Papyrus flinched as she hissed at him. He turned to Sans, worry in his eyes. "Sans, I need to touch her, but she won't let me near. What do I do?"
Sans slowly came to sit next to his brother. "Let me talk to her, bro. She's just scared and hurt, that's all." He turned to Ceria, who was in no mood to chat. She hissed as he shifted closer, and he stiffened. "Look. You're hurt. You know that, I know that. Now, Papyrus has generously offered to heal you, to make you better. I know you're scared. This has been quite the day for you, I'm sure. However, I'm just trying to ease your pain a little, make your day that much better. Will you let me, or not?"
Ceria froze, and looked from skeleton to skeleton. Her heart beat faster as she tried to figure out what to do. Be nice, like her father, or be mean and survivalist, like her mother? She mewed a little to herself. Finally, she came to a decision. She looked at Sans, and gave a small nod.
Sans smiled. "Good. Hey, it'll be alright. It'll be painless, you'll see." He turned to Papyrus. "Okay, bro. This might be your only chance. Get in there and fix her up."
Papyrus frowned. "I'll try. Alright." He carefully reached out with his hand. "This… Won't hurt. I promise." His hand started to glow a bright white. Tendrils of white energy surged from his fingers as he put his hand upon Ceria's chest. Ceria closed her eyes as something within her began to stir.