It had taken her another week to get back to Solstheim, though the weather was calmer and the boat more sea-worthy than her last trip. She found that to be a touch unfortunate, since it left her with little to do but stare at the sea and brood and argue with the unpleasant voice of her anger and hatred. When they finally docked at Fort Frostmoth she decided not to stick around. She had no desire to speak to Darius again, and had no need of supplies, having plenty stored in her bag of holding. She immediately set off, skirting around the walls of the fort and heading north-west toward the line of mountains that sheltered the north-western corner of the frozen island.
It took her three days to pass through the Hirstaang Forest, cross the Isinfier Plains, and reach the Moesring Mountains. She saw little of the native skaal, but plenty of the local fauna. More than a few hostile critters tried to impede her way, to their misfortune. She was in no mood to show mercy.
She didn't forget her promise to Ajira, and collected belladonna whenever she came across it. It was an odd plant, in that it bloomed and fruited all year round, come sun or snow, rain or drought. Growing low to the ground, it was rather hard to spot unless the berries were ripe, at which point they were a vibrant red. Since Okami wasn't interested in the unripe berries, this worked more to her advantage than not.
At the foot of the Moesrings, she camped below an enormous and ancient stone altar. The signs around a large fire-pit near the base of the hill the monolith rested upon made her think that the site was often used as a way-point.
The next morning she climbed into the Moesring mountains. They were small as mountains go. Red mountain in Vvardenfell was twice the height of the tallest peak. But this far north and this high up it was still cold, and she was hiking through snow by the time she'd ascended more than a quarter of the way to the nearest pass.
When she reached the top she was afforded a marvelous view of Solstheim. The thick evergreens of the Hirstaang stretched to the south, the Isinfier Plain stretched east, the arms of the Moesrings curved north and west. Near the northwestern-most corner of the island was an enormous field of ice, which she supposed must be the Mortrag glacier. To the east of the glacier, near the north shore of the island stood a colossal keep of grey stone. Okami thought that this must be Castle Karstaag, where the giant lived. If her judgement of distance was correct, the scale of the building was far too large to accommodate a human.
Remembering Kouga's words she examined the territory due south of the castle. It took a moment for her to pick it out, but there were two dozen large rocks protruding from the tundra soil. They seemed perfectly natural, until one looked at the shape they outlined. If one looked very closely, it resembled a wolf's head, muzzle raised in a howl to the moon.
"That must be Hrothmund's Bane," she murmured, and began her descent down the other side of the mountains. The sun was setting by the time she reached the nearest of the standing stones. Up close they were twelve feet tall, covered with lichen, nestled in the earth of the tundra like the hand of a god had dropped them there. There was at least fifty feet between each rock, and together they encompassed a half-acre. Her eyes didn't detect any signs that someone was camping near here, but that didn't mean Kouga and Kiba weren't in the vicinity.
Not knowing what else to do, Okami began walking the perimeter, moving from stone to stone, examining them minutely for a scribbled message, claw marks, anything that could confirm she hadn't come all the way out here for nothing.
Twenty minutes later, she'd found nothing, it was almost full dark, and Okami was trying to decide where to set up a camp. A fire would be visible for miles on the open tundra, though the wind was strong enough to eradicate any smoke column. If she didn't want to attract unwanted attention she would have to keep the fire small and place it in a hollow that would shield the light from the surrounding territories.
No sooner had she found a spot and began scraping the tough, scraggily tundra grass away from the semi-frozen earth in an attempt to construct a fire-pit, than a faint roaring sound reached her ears. Warily, she stopped her activities and scrambled low-to-the-ground until she found a vantage point that allowed her to see the source of the commotion.
To the north activity boiled around the giant's castle. There was just enough twilight that Okami could vaguely make out an enormous figure standing near the door, tiny specks swirling around it's feet. The roar came again, and Okami realized it was the giant. She was amazed that it's voice could carry this far.
The specks heaved and separated into two groups which swiftly departed to the east and west. As Okami examined their courses she realized they were pursuing something. Two somethings, heading in opposite directions at tremendous speeds. A touch of amusement lightened her mood a bit as she realized Kouga and Kiba had caused the trouble. She'd half thought their boast that they would steal from the giant was the chest-beating of young skaal males. Apparently the wolf twins had at least three sets of balls between them.
Though she strained her sharp eyes and climbed to the top of a standing stone, she was unable to keep track of the brothers as they entered rougher ground away from the castle. The sun had set and the moon was barely peeking above the horizon. The light was too poor, even if they hadn't been trying to avoid detection. Their pursuers, which Okami assumed were the giant's frostling servants, lost them as well, and despite almost an hour of milling in the general areas they had lost track of each boy, they eventually returned to the keep, empty-handed.
Okami decided to forgo the fire and keep her perch, watching for the approach of the young men. Despite her vigilance she was caught by surprise when a voice called to her from the base of her perch.
"Okami! You came!" She looked down into Kiba's grinning face, and couldn't help but smile back, her mood lightening a bit more. It felt good. She was tired of carrying her anger around with her. It was like a lead weight in her chest, constantly pressing down on her heart and lungs. Her angry voice hadn't been as outspoken since she'd started the hiking part of her journey. Perhaps the exercise and natural surroundings were chasing it away finally.
"Of course I came," she replied, sliding from the rock and landing lightly on her feet next to him. She noticed he'd changed his garments to something closer to his brother's outfit, losing the furry disguise he'd sported when they first met.
"Come to our camp," he said, indicating the direction. "Kouga should be back pretty soon."
"I'll admit, when you two said you were going to steal from the giant, I thought you were full of shit," she said as they walked across the uneven terrain.
"I guess it is a pretty bold claim," laughed the wolf boy. "It's dangerous, true, but the spoils are pretty decent." He brandished the heavy sack slung over his shoulder. Okami's nose caught the faint scent of raw meat. She wondered briefly just what kind of meat a giant eats and hoped it hadn't walked on two legs once.
Kiba led her into a well-concealed barrow and down it's dark, twisting passages, past the scattered, crumbling bones of the ancient dead, ensconced in crude alcoves carved into the walls. Eventually they emerged into a mid-sized cave that looked like it had been used once for death rituals. Faded symbols were carved into the walls, floor and ceiling. A stone slab stood near one wall, bracketed by a pair of decayed shelves. A pile of broken pottery was shoved against one wall and a pile of scavenged burnables against another. The boys' meager belongings were scattered around the central space.
They had just finished stoking the fire when a call echoed down the corridor. "Is that Okami I scent?" asked Kouga as he rounded the corner and entered the room. "You made it! Great!" He tossed a full rucksack next to the one Kiba had brought. "We just raided the giant," he continued, sitting and pulling off his boots and bracers.
"I saw your escape," said Okami with a grin. "That giant has a powerful voice."
"He's loud, but old and slow," replied the long-haired brother, voice muffled slightly as he pulled his half-cuirass over his head. He tossed it with his boots and bracers, and across the fire Kiba followed his example. Soon they were once again unabashedly half-naked. Okami decided it must be a skaal thing. She wasn't sure how anyone could run around half-clothed anywhere in this frozen land.
"Yeah," agreed the short-haired brother as he rummaged through one of the sacks. "His frostling minions are more trouble than he is, but thankfully, they're stupid." He came up with a haunch of mutton and proceeded to skewer it and hang it over the fire to cook. Kouga reached in the other bag and pulled out a huge loaf of bread and a chunk of cheese.
"This should last us a while," he said, licking his lips as he pulled out a dagger and cut the foodstuffs into three even portions and passed them out. Okami thanked him and nibbled at her share. The twins ate with a great deal of appetite and gusto, rapidly polishing off the bread and cheese then waiting impatiently for the meat to cook enough to be edible.
"So, did you find the magic you were looking for?" asked Kiba as the mutton sizzled and dripped fat into the fire.
"Yes," the woman replied, reaching into a pocket and drawing forth two amulets. "They're not cheap, I could only afford two. So, what I'll ask you to do is use them and wait in the town where they take you until I get there."
"How long will that be?" he asked, a little dismayed.
"A week at most," she replied.
"A week alone in an unfamiliar place…" said Kiba. "It's kind of scary. We've never been away from Solstheim."
"I'm sure you'll be fine," she said with a reassuring smile. "I'll give you some money to tide you over. If something happens that it isn't enough, I would suggest hunting up a bandit lair and raiding it. With your physical abilities you shouldn't have a problem beating up a few thugs for bounty money."
"We'll survive," said Kouga, nonchalantly, appearing much less concerned than his twin. "But if you don't mind, can we travel together somewhere near the fort before we use them?"
"I don't see why not," she replied easily. "The mouth of the Ignifer river should do." Kouga nodded in agreement and they lapsed into silence as the meat roasted.
As Okami stared into the hypnotic play of the flames her mind drifted toward home. She couldn't help remember the rosy play of firelight across sweating skin. The rage and hurt welled up again as she heard that soft moan echo in her memory.
'Bastards…' hissed the little voice in her head, and she winced. She'd been hoping it had disappeared. 'Fat chance,' it snickered at her. 'I'm not that easy to lose.' She bit the inside of her lip, trying to push the feelings down, and feeling the accompanying rise of shame at her reactions.
"Okami…?" She jolted back to the present and realized the wolf twins were looking at her with wide eyes.
"What?" she asked, a bit annoyed. They looked like they were staring at a viper that was coiled to strike. They glanced at each other, then Kouga spoke for both.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing," she replied shortly. "I'm fine." Another exchanged glance. Her annoyance spiked. What were they, telepathic?
"No, you're not," replied Kiba.
'What the fuck…?! Who does this brat think he is to tell me how I am?'
"You're really angry, and hurt, and kind of guilty," continued Kiba. He tapped the side of his nose with a clawed finger. "We can smell it."
"Great, just what I need, someone who can read my every mood by scent," she muttered, but her annoyance was subsiding. She wasn't one to hold something against someone that they had no control over. Asking them not to use their heightened senses was like asking an argonian to stop being able to breath underwater or a khajiti to stop being able to see in the dark. They couldn't help being what they were, and it would have been unfair to punish them for it.
"I just…" she sighed and ran a hand through her unruly hair. "Had some…trouble…with some…f-friends," she finished lamely. She swallowed hard, trying to keep the angry lump in her throat down. It had been really hard to say that word in regard to Naruto, Sasuke and Gaara just then. That alarmed her.
'Why should it? It's obvious they don't consider you a friend…'
'Quiet.'
"What did they do that upset you so badly?" asked Kouga.
'They stabbed me in the back is what they did, the traitors!' Her rage spiked for a second and she saw the boy's nostrils work and his eyes widen slightly. Was he afraid of her anger? Feeling suddenly ashamed again and more than a little dirty, she turned away.
"I don't want to talk about it," she said as she curled on the floor, back to the fire and head pillowed on her arm. She breathed deeply, concentrating on pushing the unhappiness that gripped her away.
To Okami's surprise, a moment later she felt a warm weight against her back and an strong arm looped around her ribs. Even as she twisted to look at Kouga incredulously his brother settled in front of her.
"Um…" she said intelligently, thoroughly embarrassed. She could feel her face begin to burn.
"It's alright," said Kiba, sounding a touch amused. "We won't try anything."
"You need pack comfort," added Kouga.
Okami didn't know how to reply to that, so she didn't. The twins snuggled against her comfortably so that she was wrapped in warmth, and true to Kiba's words no hands tried to roam or any other funny business. After a few minutes Okami began to relax. The shared body heat was infusing her, making her feel soothed and sleepy, and Kouga was right when he'd claimed this sort of harmless cuddling was comforting. Before she knew it she was asleep.
When Okami woke, she was surprised to discover positions had changed in the night. The three were wrapped and tangled amongst each other like…well, like a pile of puppies. Her surprise came from the fact that she was usually a very light sleeper, and having other people move around her while she was sleeping was normally an instant wake-up call, even if it was Naruto and Sasuke. Yet she hadn't roused once. Odd that she should be so comfortable with a pair of virtual strangers.
She began trying to squirm free without rousing the wolf twins, but eventually she had to give up and shake them awake. She had to pee too badly to wait for them to wake on their own.
They exited the barrow and retreated in opposite directions to relieve themselves. Okami took shelter behind on of the giant stones, wishing for some better cover. She felt exposed with the miles of empty tundra staring her in the face while she squatted with her pants around her ankles.
Back in the barrow, the meat had cooked over the coals all night. The outside was a bit charred, and it was more heavily cooked at the bottom than the top because no one had turned it. It was still perfectly edible though, and with a bit more bread and cheese it made a fine breakfast.
"Are you feeling better?" asked Kouga as he paused from chewing to reach for a water-skin.
"Can't you tell by scent?" she replied a bit ironically.
"Well, yeah, but only what you feel at this moment."
"Then I guess I'm fine for the moment."
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" prodded Kiba. "It's not good to hold things like that in. You should get it off your chest before it turns poisonous."
"It already has," she sighed, running her hand through her hair and feeling a twinge of guilt. "It was from the beginning." They didn't press any father, just let her think while they finished breakfast and started packing.
The three were well on their way toward the southern coast of the island before Okami was able to muster the ability to speak of her troubles. She had wrestled with it for a few hours as they walked, and as usual, the physical activity helped clear her head. She didn't want to expose her private issues to two strangers, but another part of her argued that they had stopped being strangers when they had agreed to follow her away from their birthplace. Plus, she was trying to establish a new community of people based on trust, and how could she expect others to trust her if she didn't show them the same regard?
"I don't know how it's been up here in Solstheim," she began without preamble as they hiked toward the Moesrings. "But in the southern regions our kind, Lorkhan's Children, the Millennium Born, are often regarded with hate and fear." The twins stayed silent, but their attention was clearly centered on her words. "Countless children were out-right abandoned in the first few years, and those who survived were mostly rounded up by imperial soldiers and stuffed into makeshift orphanages.
"Conditions were bad in those places. They were over-crowded. The adults that oversaw them were usually fearful and cruel in their own right. Supplies were scarce and they weren't distributed fairly. The children were left to fight amongst themselves and the strongest inevitably got the best of everything, such as it was. But in the sixth year those who were in the orphanages were the lucky ones. That year there was a massive outbreak of 'witch hunts'. Thousands of children were slaughtered.
"I was one of those so-called lucky ones. When I got tossed into the orphanage I was terribly ill. Everything I can remember is distorted by fever dreams. But my frie - Naruto and Sasuke - they helped me. Granted it was out of survival instinct. They saw my powers, and knew it would be to their advantage to help me. But I was grateful anyway. Too few people had been kind to me, but I remembered that it was possible. My mother had loved me, hadn't cared that I was born a freak of nature. I remembered that much…before she died and I was alone. And maybe that's why I was different. Most of those orphans didn't even remember their parents. They were abandoned too early.
"Anyway, I was grateful and I made sure they understood that. And before we knew it we became very close. I considered them my brothers, and I…I would have said it was beyond friends, even beyond family. But…" She stopped, her throat closing. It was several minutes before she managed to speak again.
"For thirteen years we've supported each other and guarded one another's backs. It helped us survive in a world that would just as gladly have left our corpses cooling in a ditch somewhere. A few years ago I became aware of a new dynamic in the relationship between Naruto and Sasuke. They loved each other on a different level. It took them longer than me to figure it out, but last year they became lovers. It didn't bother me. On the contrary I was happy for them, glad they were finally on the same page. It made the family feel more complete somehow. I suppose it also made me a touch lonely, but not in a way that made me fell left out or anything. More like, I wished I had someone I could be close to in the same way.
"As chance would have it, I actually met someone I like - liked - just a few months later. There were some complications - we were on opposites sides of a conflict at the time - but things were resolved and eventually Gaara and I began spending time together. A lot of time. Naruto and Sasuke knew how I felt about him even before they met him in person. They said they approved, encouraged me, even prodded me for information on how things were proceeding when the relationship seemed to have stalled at the farthest edge of friendship.
"But the night I left here…I suppose they weren't expecting me home so early. I walked in on Naruto and Sasuke getting intimate with Gaara in our living room."
She let that stand for a while, not wanting to speak through the renewed anger and hurt, afraid of just what would come out her mouth.
"Gaara…he wasn't mine, I know that, it's not like they were trespassing or something. But…" To Okami's horror she heard her voice become plaintive, even whiney. But she couldn't stop. "I don't understand why they would do that to me! W-why would they sneak around behind my back and…and do that…I…" she stopped again and scrubbed at the tears that were staining her face. "I was so angry…and m-my thoughts…they turned really nasty. So I r-ran away instead of confronting them. I…was scared I would h-hurt someone. I was really afraid I might even kill one of them if I h-had to look them in the face, and…I can't…I can't b-bear the thought -"
She stopped dead in her tracks and fell into a crouch. Images of Sasuke and Naruto lying broken, eyes lifeless, were flashing through her mind, and it left her paralyzed. She felt the wolf twins embrace her again and she wish she could just sob and scream and rage at the sky, just let it all out to disperse in the vast spaces between the stars. But she couldn't. She didn't know why. She wasn't sure how long she huddled there struggling with her misery, but finally she mastered herself, took a deep breath and raised her head.
"I'm okay," she said as Kiba and Kouga drew away, their brows furrowed with worry. "I'm sorry I delayed us, let's keep going."
"Maybe we should camp and cross the mountains tomorrow," suggested Kouga. "It's still pretty cold high up, and I don't fancy getting caught in the heights over night."
"How long was I sitting here?" asked Okami looking at the westering sun in dismay. The men shrugged like it didn't matter at all to them. Maybe it didn't. Okami sighed, disgusted with herself for wallowing in her self-pity. "I'll go look for firewood."
They made camp in a sheltered gully in the foothills, where years of spring run-off had eroded the ground away. The melt hadn't truly started in the mountains, so there was a mere trickle of water running along the bottom, and plenty of space to build a fire. Not wanting to think about her own troubles, Okami asked her companions about life in Solsthiem.
"How has life been for the Millennium Born here in Solstheim?" she began.
"Nothing like what you described in the south lands," replied Kouga around a mouthful of roasted tundra hare.
"Some people are suspicious and shun us, but those are a very few, and most people scoff at them," added Kiba. "Though to be honest, only six of us were born here that we're aware of, so maybe that made a difference."
"That's all?" said Okami, surprised.
"We skaal have never numbered more than a few hundred," explained the short-haired brother with a non-comital shrug. "Not many children are born every year."
"And everyone knows each other, at least by reputation," Kouga put in. "It's kind of hard to stir up a lot of trouble in such a small community. Life is hard enough up here that people don't have a lot of tolerance for folk making un-needed hardship, either. If someone had suggested killing six children just because we were a little different, they would probably have been banished to the wilderness for a year so they could appreciate how hard it is to make it alone, and learn to value every person that contributes to society."
"Wait, if that's the case, why did you guys start stealing from the Steads?" The brothers exchanged a bewildered glance.
"We never stole from our own people," denied Kiba, and Okami believed him. The two were utterly transparent. Like the wolves they ran with they displayed their thoughts on their bodies through posture and gesture. Perhaps that was the source of her comfort in their presence.
"I should have figured that half-wit Darius had lied or doctored the reports," said Okami sourly. "So how did the whole ordeal with the legion start, anyway?" The twins grinned at each other, their eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Right of passage," said Kiba with a chuckle.
"We ambushed and stole some stuff from a legion caravan going to the ebony mine," embellished Kouga. "Nothing big, some food, a few weapons. Didn't hurt anyone. It was just a coming of age ritual."
"But it was so much fun we kept doing it," laughed the short-haired brother.
"There were some frostlings stealing from skaal gardens and such before we started our little ruckus. Maybe they attributed it all to us."
"I wouldn't doubt," said Okami. "That whole fort is chock full of imbeciles and incompetents, not to mention thugs and lazy bastards. You said there are six of you here? Do you know the others well?"
"Were six," corrected Kouga. "One was victim of crib-death, but before she died they say her hair grew unnaturally fast and moved on it's own. Some people claim her own hair strangled her to death."
"Toben died two years ago on a hunt, gored by a wild boar," supplied Kiba. "He was super flexible, like he could bend over backwards and put his head between his knees without falling over."
"Some normal people can do that," objected Okami.
"Yeah, but with lots of training. He could do it from the time he was a kid. I once watched him wrap his arm around his own head and grab the shoulder it was attached to."
"Then there's Maysa," continued the long-haired brother. "She didn't seem abnormal at first, but over time she began developing gills, and her lungs got weak. When she was 10 she was forced to take to the sea permanently. We still see her sometimes when we visit the beach."
"The last was Krin. He could turn invisible at will," said Kiba with a grin.
"No shit?"
"Truth! And one day he disappeared and just didn't reappear. He was always a bit of a loner. People figure he either got on the wrong end of a snow-bear or he just decided to go hermit."
"And now I'm taking you away as well," mused Okami. "Perhaps with such a small population it was inevitable that Lorkhan's Children would fade from here quickly."
"Life will go back to the way it always was and soon few will even remember that there were mutants living among them," said Kouga with a shrug. "It's the nature of things."
"Still, I hope I can live up to your expectations. I'd hate to think I tore you away from your home for no reason." To her surprise they laughed at that.
"Nothing can tear us away from anything," said Kouga a bit cockily. "We go where we choose to."
"Yeah, and we choose to go with you, so don't go putting more burdens on your shoulders," concluded Kiba.
"Of course. I apologize," she replied with a smile. "Let me re-phrase. I hope you don't come to regret your decision."
"It'll be an adventure," countered Kouga. "And really, when has any adventure been without risks and a few disappointments? But I don't doubt that the rewards and the fun we'll have will be worth it!" Kiba nodded in agreement.
"That's a good attitude to have," laughed Okami, then yawned suddenly. "Looks like it's time for me to go to bed." She said ruefully. They hadn't really exerted themselves physically during the hike, but the emotional turmoil she'd gone through earlier had drained her reserves of energy. She was amazed that experiencing intense emotions could be as wearying as running hard for a few miles.
She curled up to sleep, and when she heard the twins settle on the other side of the fire she was both relieved and disappointed.
The next morning she confirmed that the dog-pile was their normal mode of sleep, or what it turned into during the night anyway. The two were tangled up like a litter of pups again when she woke, one snoring softly. She quietly went about stoking the fire and beginning breakfast, allowing them to wake on their own. It didn't take long after she spitted the remaining rabbit from the night before and set it above the fire. The scent of roasting game roused them quickly enough.
They made solid progress over the next few days, clearing the Moesrings in good time and navigating the pine forest without too much mishap. They were attacked by a spriggan at one point, but they outran it, preferring not to tangle with the magical creature. It took four days to reach the mouth of the Ignifer river, from where the tips of the fort's battlements could be seen.
"Wear the amulets, hold them in your left hands and think 'return'," instructed Okami, handing them each a pendant and a bag of coins. "They will take you to the northern port town of Dagon Fel. It's small, but there should be an inn where you can rent a room, unless you prefer to find a cave or ruin to hole up in. It's up to you. I should be there in a week or less."
"How? I mean…the boat will take a week at least to cross the sea, and that's assuming it's even in port at the fort right now."
"I'll use my own return spell. It takes me to my house though. It should only take 3-5 days from there if I'm lucky in catching the striders and boats. They're daily trips, but if you miss the run, many don't have a second run to catch."
"Are you going to be okay going home?" asked Kouga, clearly concerned.
"I probably won't go in. Just straight to the strider service." She shrugged. "I know I'll have to deal with it eventually, but I want some more time to calm myself." They nodded, though they didn't look happy. "Alright then. I'll see you shortly."
"Wait," stalled Kiba. "What if something happens to you and you don't make it?"
"If I don't show up in two weeks, inquire about passage to Balmora. There, find the Southwall Corner Club and ask for Hikaru and Kaoru. Incidentally, they're identical twins too. Explain to them what's going on. They'll be able to help you or at least inform you what might have happened to delay me."
"Are they Milleni - I mean Lorkhan's Children - as well?" asked Kouga.
"No, they're a few years older than us, and therefor normal humans. But they are very clever, skilled and resourceful. I trust them quite a bit, though not with my money. They are thieves by trade, after all." Two sets of identical eyebrows raised at that.
"Thieves huh? And you said when we met you were an assassin," mused Kouga.
"Second thoughts?"
"No, just wondering how a person who feels so guilty at the mere thought of hurting someone who obviously wronged you can also get paid to kill people."
"It's different. I…love my friends. And the Morag Tong aren't simple assassins. They don't accept any contract that comes their way like some other assassin societies, like the Commona Tong or the Dark Brotherhood. An applicant must prove that they have been wronged by the target, and usually the more grievous the wrong, the less the Morag charge for their services." The twins looked a little bewildered, so Okami elaborated.
"For example…if a rich man gets his pocket picked and asks the Morag to take revenge for him, they would certainly charge him an exorbitant amount, if they could be persuaded to accept a contract on such a petty wrong in the first place. On the other hand if a poor man comes and proves that a noble raped and murdered his sister, and got away with it because of his wealth and power, they might do it for no more than a copper coin.
"The Morag Tong developed in Vvardenfell as a means to keep the powerful in check. It's very easy for those of great resources and influence to get away with terrible crimes because they either are the authorities, or they have some control of the authorities. The Morag Tong is incorruptible. It's leaders take a magically binding oath upon stepping into that position, that makes it impossible for them to be bribed or influenced. You see, long ago Vvardenfell was awash in corruption, and the poor were virtually slaves to the whims of the wealthy. The Morag Tong was the people's answer to that. Though the powerful tried to stamp them out, they endured, and after a thousand years they have become institutionalized, impossible to remove so ingrained into the culture are they.
"The thieves guild was another means of achieving balance. They have their own set of rules and morals, despite what most people think of them. They do not steal from the impoverished, for example, nor do they kill in the process of stealing. Members caught breaking the rules are severely punished, sometimes even expelled if the affront is great enough. The balance the thieves guild provides is economical. They are responsible for a great deal of wealth redistribution, from the rich to the poor. The guild tithes it's members a percentage of what they gain, and a good portion of that is distributed to those who are stricken with extreme poverty. Incidentally, I also work for the thieves guild. The two societies are on very good terms, seeing as they tend to share the same moral compass."
"The south-lands seem very complicated," sighed Kiba.
"Not our problem," replied Kouga. "We're just along for the ride, and to protect you, Okami."
"Protect me?" she laughed, startled and incredulous.
"Yes," he affirmed seriously. "We will be your body-guards."
"I don't need -"
"Are you sure?" interrupted Kiba. "You said yourself our kind is hated and feared by most people, and how do you think many of those people will react when news gets around that you're trying to build a - whats the word? - a guild full of us?"
"Well, I can't say my life specifically hasn't been targeted before…" mused Okami. "But bodyguards? How am I supposed to work or move unseen with a pair of tag-alongs?"
"How much time for said work do you think you'll have once you start having to manage a guild? If it's anything like managing a Stead, it'll be a full-time job." Okami was taken aback. She hadn't thought of that.
"Well, maybe. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. My dream guild is still a long ways off. Until then we'll just play it by ear, yeah?" The wolf twins nodded their agreement. Moments later, they had disappeared, and it was time for Okami to do the same. She looked at the sun, trying to estimate the time. It was early afternoon. If she ran straight to the mages guild and ported to Ald Rhun she could make the second stilt-strider run. With a deep breath to settle her nerves she twisted her fingers into the required hand-gesture, spoke the proper words and vanished.