Tédien watched as the sun rose higher and higher into the sky; but clouds were rolling in again, and the air smelled like rain. It was still muggy, but as the waves lapped against the ship, she smiled. She would come back to Morrowind for sure, because she loved the place, even if some of it was covered in ash and lava flows. She had never been to Skyrim, but the twins had, and as they talked about snow, and ice, and giants, she started getting excited. Morrowind was full of grassy planes, and sandy beaches, although most of the Southern region was full of debris from Red Mountain. She had never seen snow before, even when she lived in Cyrodiil as a young child. She had no idea what it was like, and she was eager to go, even if it was for a job.

Tédien was part of the Fighter's Guild, a group of soldiers whose alliance fell with neither the empire, nor any ruler of any kind; they fought for the people themselves, regardless of who it was. If someone needed help, they were there, and that was why she was trying so hard to get to Hammerfell, because she was trying to help complete a woman's dying wish to the man she'd loved in her youth. At least, that was her story. But Tédien had agreed, and accepted the assignment from her superior. She had to travel all over Morrowind to retrieve different parts of the package: the enchanted box, the mesh bag that held the item in question, and the letters from the woman to her ex-lover, which she was currently looking for. Two pages were in a Daedric ruin outside of Skyrim, on the border of High Rock, and the other six were in a Dwemer ruin in Skyrim itself.

I really hope we find someone who can translate these damn maps. she scowled, thinking about the Daedric and Dwarven papers she had in her satchel. But who says I can't mix business with pleasure?

The ship passed the small islands that dotted the coast, and Tédien watched the Ashlander tribes traveling from one camp to another, and in one instance, get attacked by a group of Argonians. Ever since they'd taken over Morrowind, more and more natives fled the province. Black Light was the new capital after Mournhold fell, and Tédien sorely missed hearing the stories her grandfather had told her when she was young, of how Mournhold had been the greatest place in the world, the most beautiful place, with navy and pine buildings, a sprawling castle, dark dungeons with treasure, and some of the nicest people you'd ever meet.

I miss being a kid, she moped, putting her chin in her hand.

Abruptly, her scamp perked up, growling playfully as Soren and Draven walked by, swiping its tiny claws at their clothes and catching on the Breton, squealing as it was suddenly pulled from Tédien. Soren was alarmed by the sound, whipping around so fast that the baby scamp lost its grip and fell, slamming hard onto the floor.

Tédien gasped, standing and moving to pick up the tiny creature, which was making small crying noises. It rubbed its snout on Tédien's shoulder with a whine. Soren apologized to the thing, but the scamp was having none of it, swiping its tiny claw angrily at the man, and Tédien chuckled as it burrowed against her head, sitting at the juncture of her neck and shoulder and holding onto her hair.

"Damn, I'm sorry, Tédien," Soren said. Tédien shrugged, he didn't know the scamp had grabbed him.

"It's been hit by worse," she said.

"It's a male," Draven said, and Tédien cocked her head to one side, like how-the-hell-can-you-even-tell? "The ears are sharper, and it's tail is longer. Female scamps have rounded ears and smaller tails."

"Well now I know what gender to call you by," Tédien studied the scamp, who was still snarling at Soren. "But you need a name…"

"Midget." Soren supplied.

Draven threw out "N'wah", and other Dunmeri insults, but he was smirking.

Tédien continued to look at the small Daedra, who in turn began to stare back. She ran through names in her head, when suddenly, a memory, was it a memory? came to her: words from her mother. No. It wasn't her mother, but there was something…familiar…and words she could barely hear, but knew, though she didn't understand why.

"Malkiir." she said suddenly, and both of her companions turned to her, eyebrows raised.

"How'd you come to that conclusion?" Draven asked at the same time Saedryk questioned. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Little boy," Tédien's voice had dropped an octave or two, and her tone was low, husky, almost seductive in how she spoke. "He's a runt, and a boy, and I'm willing a bet my entire coin purse that he doesn't reach the full height of a scamp."

Soren gave a lopsided grin, "What if he grew to be the size of a Hunger or an Orgrim? Super small at first, then turns into a giant as it grows."

"Like you, ya freak?" Tédien teased, eyeing the twins. Soren was shorter than his brother, reaching nearly five feet and ten inches inches, while his twin Saedryk, who had been much smaller as a baby, was nearly six-and-a-half feet tall. Draven was almost six feet himself, while Tédien brought up the rear at five-foot-six.

The ship lurched suddenly, and Tédien stumbled, more so because the scamp decided to ground his weight into her neck and push her forward. Soren groaned and closed his eyes while his brother backed away in case he got sick.

"Gods, how much longer?" Soren whined pitifully. The sky was still bright, the sun still hot, and they had another full day or two before they reached Black Marsh.

…

The colors were so beautiful…all shimmering blue, silver and crystalline green. And the voices…soothing, but strong.

Tédien knew these voices. She had all her life. In her dreams, she'd hear the whispers, feel the subtle pulse of energy like she'd been immersed in a warm bath. But they were gone as soon as she woke up and she couldn't remember what was said.

But this time…it was different. The words were louder, dancing through her frontal lobe like a Khajit on moon sugar.

Tédien opened her eyes, and all she saw was swirling white, blue and another color she couldn't identify. But the voices suddenly became deafening, and she covered her ears. The light twisted around her like ribbons, sparkling tendrils of energy that ran into her veins and lit her up from the inside. Her body was vibrating, on fire, her very pores stinging as the words rose to a crescendo-

She didn't hear Draven call her name in alarm as she fell into the light, a silent scream leaving her mouth.