Cat is still wrapped in the lab's white towel, swaddled like an infant. Cicero holds her close, rocking her, talking endlessly about the time they've spent together. She says nothing and continues to stare vacantly at the wintry Skyrim horizon in the distance. The two of them sit by the side of the road which trails just around the city limits of Whiterun.
"...there was the time you drank too much wine..."
"...I sent it away with the redguard servant..."
With each memory, Cicero cries heavy tears, hugging tight to Cat, resting his chin on her head.
"...you are the funniest person I know..."
"...and we laughed and laughed at how angry Nazir was..."
His volume grows quieter as he rocks Cat back and forth.
"...we danced and kissed when no one was around..."
Cicero continues rocking her. Cat says nothing. He wishes she would speak to him. Oh how he wishes she would speak.
"Please," Cicero whispers against her scalp. "Please Wanderer... say something." He breaks into quiet sobs.
Hours pass and the sunlight dims. Cicero clutches Cat to him, nodding off, weary from everything he has been through. As the night slips by and his brain flips through the channels of sleep, the sunlight rises again, ushering in a new morning.
In the distance, a trotting horse neighs, moving closer and closer around the bend of the path. The wagon it pulls seats a man and a woman in their late 40's, wheeling fresh produce recently harvested from their crop.
Cat's eyes are open, watching the wagon approach. It slowly wheels by. The horse's hooves clip and clop repeatedly against the surface of the path. It doesn't move very fast.
Cat blinks, turning her head, watching the couple as they slowly roll past. Something clicks deep inside and she stands up, wriggling herself from Cicero's sleepy embrace. Her movement stirs Cicero who sits upright, rubbing his eyes. He sees Cat standing in the road, wrapped in her towel, shaven and tattooed, narrowing her scope on the wagon.
"Wanderer?" he asks, rising to his feet.
Cat begins walking into the direction of the horse drawn cart. Her face is scrunched with quiet determination. As she walks, she quickens her pace.
Confused, Cicero begins to walk after her.
Cat bends down, grabbing a hefty rock from the side of the road, not pausing in her hastened stride. She raises the rock high above her head and chucks it clean through the air, nailing the man sitting at the head of the wagon.
"You son of a bitch!" screams Cat.
Grabbing his head, the man cries out. His wife gasps, pulling the reins on the horse, slowing the cart to a sudden halt.
Cat picks up another rock and throws it even more powerfully at the man, hitting him so hard in the face that he yelps and falls from his cart.
"WANDERER!" yells Cicero. "What are you DOING!"
The man writhes on the ground, groaning and bleeding from his head.
Cat hurries to him, shouting obscenities.
Cicero is confused, watching as the Wanderer grabs the man by his shirt collar, dragging him across the ground, shouting right in his face.
Then it all falls into place. "Is that..." says Cicero.
"You bastard!" screams Cat, kicking the man in the head.
"Stop! Stop!" cries the man's wife. She jumps from the cart and runs to find a guard on patrol.
Cicero rushes over to Cat and pulls her off the man. Looking down, he sees who it is that she is pummeling. Loreius.
"You!" yells Cicero, pointing directly at his bleeding face. He glances at Cat who has instantly recognized the farmer. Then he looks back down at Loreius who is terrified and confused.
Cicero bends down and grabs Loreius, lifting him to his feet. "You!" he screams again.
"Back off!" shouts Loreius. "I have a weapon." He pulls an iron dagger from his belt.
Ignoring him, Cicero turns to Cat. "Do you remember him?"
She nods.
Cicero gleefully cups his hands to her cheeks. "Do you remember me? Do you remember ...Cicero?"
Cat's eyes lock onto his, processing the question.
"Y – yes," she says with a slow nod.
Cicero turns to Loreius, who is standing with his iron dagger pointed at the two of them. "You..." sighs Cicero, shaking his head. "You wonderful man!"
"What?!" shouts Loreius.
Cicero takes Cat by the hand, leading her away. Hugging her close as they walk, he kisses her on the cheek. "Wanderer," he begins, "let me tell you a joke..."