Ka'zhid didn't want to visit this strange land but… since he was here he might as well see what it had to offer. Ancano was the cause of all this. If he hadn't messed with the eye Khajiit would not be here in the first place.

Ka'zhid and Tolfdir had walked into the Hall of Elements wary of what might lurk inside. They had found Ancano still surrounded by a golden glow and zapping the eye. Tolfdir had tried his best to use Destruction magic but Ancano had merely used a paralysis spell on him. Ka'zhid had tried everything until finally turning The Staff of Magnus on the Eye. When the tendril had reached the eye an explosion of noise was followed by a blue portal opening. Not the usual purple of daedra but a strange gold- with black flecks.

"You mindless fool! You have just aided your destruction. This is how I will rule the world by summoning the most powerful of servants. Servants that no man, mer or beast can defeat!" Ancano couldn't continue. He was too busy cackling to himself.

"Come forth my servants greet your new master." Ancano had positioned himself just right.

This must be done ... to save the college. J'zargo was standing near the entrance to the hall open mouthed. Ka'zhid hefted the staff debating. Ancano's maniacal laughing made up his mind. He threw the staff towards J'zargo. It clattered to a stop at his feet.

"Use it J'zargo. Use it on the eye!" he shouted.

He charged towards Ancano. The elf turned around to late his eyes widening. Ancano's golden aura protected him from spells and swords. But it could not protect him from the 5'10" wall of fur and fury that came at him Ka'zhid slammed into Ancano sending them both tumbling into an unknown void. As he passed through Ka'zhid's vision changed from sky blue to another world. They were a few feet above a snow covered plateau. It was only about thirty feet to the edge and the drop to the forest below would mean certain death if one wasn't careful. It appeared to be sunset and quickly growing darker. This will serve.

When they landed Ancano bounced a few feet away but Ka'zhid landed on his feet. When Ancano got to his feet he was sadly still encased in the familiar golden aura that was starting to irritate Ka'zhid. Still he had to buy J'zargo time. He cast firebolts at Ancano but they did little.

"You think you can best me cat! You dare chall…" he was interrupted by a thunderbolt striking him in the face. It momentarily blinded him but caused no other damage.

"Feel the wrath of this cat." Ka'zhid said, summoning another thunderbolt in his hands.

Ancano merely batted the bolt aside with a wall of energy. Ka'zhid took a step back letting loose another bolt. It was again swept aside. Ka'zhid fired another bolt but his magic was draining faster from using such an advanced spell and the use of the earlier fireballs. Ancano noticed this and started to press his attack, sending spells of his own back at Ka'zhid. The khajiit ,even with his heightened senses and reflexes, was hard put to avoid Ancano's spells and cast his own.

Both of them noticed another thing...the portal was closing. The Eye must have a great store of energy, far greater than we imagined. Even so J'zargo using the power of the staff must be stabilizing the Eye and with the power of the eye shutting down the portal. Ka'zhid looked at Ancano to see another effect of the stabilizing eye. Ancano's golden glow did seem to be fading and his attacks less powerful. Even as Ka'zhid watched the glow start fading at an alarming rate.

Ka'zhid put his last magic reserve into his hands powering up his sparks spell. Directing it towards Ancano he fired effectively emptying the last of the magicka reserves. Ancano had time to put up a ward but that was what Ka'zhid wanted. Ancano sneered at the attempt and went to sweep away this nuisance once and for all. As he raised his arm to cast away the pest he noticed his golden glow was gone. And he saw Ka'zhid give him a wolfish smile (or as much as a cat can give).

A ball of magelight hit Ancano in the face. The High Elf flailed around trying to dislodge the magical sphere of light. Ma'zhid looked to the portal. On the other side he could see Tolfdir and J'zargo beckoning furiously dangling a rope just within reach. He ran for the portal as it got smaller and smaller. He reached the rope and began climbing. He was almost at the top and reaching for J'zargo's hand when an ice spike severed the line between them.

Ka'zhid had no time to react and head hit a large rock. He could feel blood seeping out of his head and into his hood. He struggled to his feet feeling dizzy multiple images of his surroundings dancing before his eyes. Suddenly three Ancano's began walking towards him swimming in and out of his vision like a horker swimming under ice.

"You have thwarted my plans for now, but it is only a temporary setback." Ancano dealt a punch to Ka'zhid that left him staggering. The khajiit's eyesight began to swim more but now his purpose was lost. No, not lost...completed. I have done my duty to the college. Now I need a new purpose and I have one.

Ka'zhid spat before speaking "If it is the last thing this one does he will kill you." Ka'zhid stood up straight. Or as straight as he could with his wavering vision.

"Ever since you've come to the college you've been nothing but a pest." Out of nowhere a punch doubled Ka'zhid over. Another punch connected with his head sending him to the ground he had just shakily managed to get off of.

"What I still wonder is how such an insignificant worm can interrupt ME!" A kick to Ka'zhid's side sent him rolling over until he was on his back. The new view gave him a view of Ancano sneering down.

"Me the one who was to be supreme ruler of Tamriel! Me the one who was to ascend to godhood! Me, the one who had a world of knowledge at my disposal! Me the one who could've made the world bow at my feet.!" A kick followed after every exclamation which Ka'zhid was pretty sure broke several ribs.

"I could have made Hermaus Mora bow before me with my knowledge!" Ancano walked around Ma'zhid.

"Some knowledge is best left lost." Ka'zhid finally spoke as he clutched his aching side with one hand. Using his other hand he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees.

"You know that resistance is futile yet you still fight." Ancano mused.

"Khajiit knows if he keeps fighting he can make the world a better place." Ka'zhid sat back on his haunches and regained what little strength he had left after the punishment to his body.

"The world always remains as it is. It never changes despite the destruction wrought by those seeking to 'change' the world. But I-I could have changed the world...but you defied me." Ancano lashed out with incredible speed aiming his fist at Ka'zhid's head.

With the same speed Ka'zhid drew his elven dagger and stabbed Ancano in the swift moving forearm. Ka'zhid barely managed to pull his knife free before Ancano stumbled back a few steps. Ancano merely healed the wound but now he had a steely look of hatred and pure anger. He unsheathed his steel dagger and advanced. Ka'zhid got unsteadily to his feet one last time.

Ancano slashed crossways barely giving Ka'zhid time to jump back. Pain spiked in his side making him hiss through his teeth. He had to sidestep to avoid a lunge from Ancano. Ka'zhid brought his dagger down intending to slash Ancano's wrist but found Ancano's arm already gone. The two opponents started to circle each other looking for openings.

Ancano was in all together better shape as well as quicker but he was unused to wielding a knife. Ka'zhid's conscious was barely holding together, his body was to say the least damaged, and he couldn't keep up his defense much longer. Better die young than to fade into the sands of age.

He dropped his hand from his injured side. Ancano took this as a sign of weakness and pressed his attack. He started by lunging forward hoping to take Ka'zhid in the gut. He was surprised by a boot kicking upward, depriving him of his knife and nearly breaking his wrist. It was at this moment he knew…he'd fucked up. If the animalistic growl coming from deep within Ka'zhid's throat was anything to go by he was about to suffer.

Ancano didn't have long to contemplate this thought before Ka'zhid rushed by him. Ancano didn't see the point in running; he could easily just bring the weakened Khajiit down with a simple sparks spell. Then he felt the pain in his side. He looked down to find a gash slowly pouring blood. Before he could summon a healing spell he felt the same pain spreading in his shoulder as Ka'zhid rushed past again.

Between Ka'zhid's attacks and the drain magicka poison this should teach that Altmer bastard to mess with a Khajiit. The stamina potion helped quite a bit to. It did nothing to alleviate his pain, but it kept him going long enough to cut Ancano a dozen times. Yet he could feel the effects slowly fading leaving him on his less than reliable legs. Ancano too was feeling the effect of the poison. Every time Ka'zhid landed a slash Ancano would try to heal himself or summon sparks, but his attempts were ineffectual.

Ka'zhiid had one good dash before the potion wore off and he wasn't going to waste it.

With the little stamina he had left he rushed forward. Not to slice the Altmer to ribbon as before. No, this time he was going to finish the job. Ancano, still enthralled trying to summon any spell whatsoever didn't see Ka'zhid coming until it was too late. And by then Ka'zhid's elvish dagger was already buried in his chest.

Ancano looked down surprised. He tried to speak but all that came out was a gurgling sound instead. Ka'zhid grabbed Ancano's shoulder and pushed the dagger in a little deeper. Ka'zhid was so close that Ancano could look over his shoulder. He could look over Ka'zhid's shoulder, the signs of their original landing, the scorch and lightning marks, the snow diluted with blood leading up...to here.

Ka'zhid withdrew his knife and shoved Ancano away. The Altmer tried stepping backwards to steady himself only to find empty space. He scrambled on the icy ledge finding a small rock ledge buried under the snow. Ka'zhid fell rather than sat in the snow. He was panting and losing his consciousness.

"How the tables have turned Ancano?" Ka'zhid said looking down at the Altmer. There was no reply as Ancano tried to haul himself up on weakened arms.

"This is why Ka'zhid persists in his efforts to rise. So he can have the pleasure of knowing he killed you before Kajhiit dies." He said this as he pulled out a small healing potion. He uncorked and drank the potion.

"This one almost feels pity for you. To die by falling thousands of feet to your death. Hmmm, considering that it seems like the perfect fate for you. After all the death and destruction you caused." Ka'zhid stood up unsteadily and started to stumble rather than walk away.

"Wait, you can't leave me here it's against…" Ancano started.

"You lost all rights when you fiddled with the eye. It could have been the downfall of us all. You still have a price to pay for the destruction wrought on Winterhold and for the death of Savos and Mirabelle. Two of the finest people this one has ever known. So do not tell me what is right." Ka'zhid spun around, delivered his verbal barrage and then walked back to where the portal had opened.

He could still hear Ancano's cries but he ignored them. He looked around until he found what he was looking for. His satchel. It was the most important and valuable thing after his relationship with Brelyna. That was the brightest part of his life. He had little or nothing to his name, no family, and barely enough money to pay the college's tuition even with the let up he got for helping out around the college. He was surprised to have lasted the first two years let alone another four.

Now that his relationship with Brelyna had been brought up he couldn't get it to leave his mind. As was the case most of the time. She was what had kept him going for the last month trying to put down Ancano and his scheme. Here this one is half dead, on a plain of existence he has no knowledge of, without a way to get home, yet here Ka'zhid is thinking about a girl. He sighed. He hadn't even asked her out before walking into the Hall of Elements. She had just kissed him and told him to put an end to Ancano. And he had done exactly that. But he still regretted not asking her out before his death.

He had been standing for too long. His legs no longer had the energy to support. As he fell to his knees he clutched the satchel closer. Not wanting to lose it. His name was stitched onto the inside of the flap. He opened the small bag and looked at the fine stitching. He ran his thumb over it before closing his eyes and falling into a deep deep sleep.

-~o

Ka'zhid was pretty sure he'd gone to sleep on an ice covered plateau far above a forest. But here he was in a crater laying next to a smoking dark blue stone. He panicked and jerked his hand but he thankfully still had his satchel. Placing it on the lip of the crater he tried to stand up and survey his surroundings. Only to find an arrow aimed at his face.

The pair stared at each other for a long minute observing each other. The boy seemed to be armed with only a bow and knife. His clothes were in rough shape. He also looked to be somewhere about fifteen or sixteen. Probably hunting for food to feed his family who are not well off.

"Who are you?" The boy asked.

"This one could ask the same of you." The accent seemed to puzzle the boy.

"Will you tell me your name at least?" The boy persisted. He must have deemed Ka'zhid was not a threat as he lowered it but he still kept the arrow knocked.

"This one has no reason not to tell you but he also has no reason to tell you."

"Alright if it eases you my name is Eragon."

"Ka'zhid. A pleasure to meet you." He stepped out of the crater tentatively trying not to jostle his wounds. As he was he did exactly that he tripped on the lip of the crater and stumbled forward. His tail flicked at the pain. Eragon's eyes widened and he aimed the arrow at Ka'zhid again.

"Wha-what are you?" The boy actually seemed frightened.

"A Khajiit boy. Have you never seen one?" Eragon didn't reply so Ka'zhid flipped back the hood of his Adept Robes. Eragon's eyes only seemed to widen more.

"Wha-what, h-how?"

"Have you really never seen one such as me."

"N-no." Eragon again lowered the bow but kept it slightly drawn. He seemed more wary.

"Strange, very strange," Ka'zhid looked back at the crater. "Would you know anything about this strange stone?"

Eragon peered into the crater and poked the stone with his bow "I'm afraid not."

"Well you can have it. Ka'zhid has no use for it but the satchel is mine." He kneeled slowly to pick up, said satchel. Eragon, he noted, did his best to keep on the opposite side of the crater from

"Do you know how it got here? Where did it come from? Was I meant to have it?"

"No, No idea, possibly this one does not know anything about this strange plain of existence." Ka'zhid stood up slowly and put the satchel strap over his shoulder. Eragon seemed deep in thought about all these strange happenings.

"Could you tell this one where the closest town is?" His side was still tender and he would need to visit a healer. Magic can only do so much.

"Yes," It was said slowly as if the boy was still contemplating the answer "I can lead you there."

"Ka'zhid senses there is a but coming."

"People may not react well to something so...new." Eragon's eyes narrowed.

"How did you come to be here? Do you always appear in a flash of light?" The boy seemed to have kept his curiosity in check until now.

"Khajiit was dealing with a...matter of great importance when a portal was opened. This one ended up on this side of it. As for this," he gestured at the crater "This is completely new to this one."

"What was this matter of importance? Does it involve magic? Can you use magic?" The boy seemed to have a slight return of caution. Good, his caution will keep him alive.

"This one is curious. Ka'zhid will not give that story lightly. But yes this one can use magic." The boy seemed to clam up at that. Magic must be as frowned upon as it is at home. They stood in silence in a moment.

"Do you always talk in the third person?"

"Ha," Ka'zhid coughed and grimaced from the pain "It is the quirk of my people."

"Are you alright?" The boy's guard seemed to be actually concerned.

"This one has some broken ribs and possibly a concussion. Khajiit was hoping to see a healer in the nearest town." A contemplative look was fixed on the boy's face.

"I may know someone who can help. Follow me." After placing the stone inside his pack Eragon led him to ,what would unknowingly become, his new purpose.


To anyone reading this thank you for not bailing. Unless my writing is that bad. In that case R&R please it is greatly appreciated. It lets me know where I can strive to become better. If this story isn't your style please don't be a jerk about it just move along to the next story tht catches your eye. To all you lovely ladies and gentlemen I bid you gooday.