Chapter 16. Skooma's leg
A/n: Here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for… Here's Larka!
"Skooma no feel good." He said, licking his hurt leg.
"It's Okay Skooma. I do believe we'll find a city soon. Come now, let me catch my bearings." She said, climbing up one of the taller trees.
Vvardenfell gazed at the vast landscape around her. Skooma's unnatural cry would be attracting predators, she had to hurry!
She saw, though very faintly, the horizon of the sea of ghosts, but nothing other than some dead and living trees surrounded her. Skooma continued to wail in Vvardenfell's arms, his cries getting louder and louder.
"Hush." Said Vvardenfell, trying desperately to comfort him as she climbed down the tree.
Vvardenfell saw a shadow run by out of the corner of her eye. She turned, but all she saw was a small patch of Black Anther blowing steadily in the breeze.
She saw it again, turned quickly, and this time saw a black cloaked figure slide behind the cover of one of the trees.
Vvardenfell held Skooma close and walked up to the tree. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest, but before she could even reach the tree she heard a woman's voice behind her.
"Exploring?" It asked her, Vvardenfell summoned her dagger and turned to see a smug-looking Dunmer woman clothed all in black with her hood up so that Vvardenfell could not see her waist long Silver hair. This woman truly appeared as a person of the shadows and for a minute Vvardenfell was beginning to wonder if she could handle sutch a formidable adversary.
"Are you friend or foe?" Vvardenfell asked, her voice sounding the slightest bit shaky.
"Could be neither, could be both." The Dunmer awnsered, looking down at Vvardenfell like she was Guar dung. Here was this well-kept Dunmer woman and the very rugged in appearance Vvardenfell whose hair appeared like it had never been brushed before, battle wounds covering Vvardenfell's body, and on top of that, carrying a Mudcrab in her arms like a baby.
"I'm Vvardenfell." She said, truly not quite knowing what to say, but holding out her hand nonetheless.
"Larka." The Dunmer said, not accepting Vvardenfell's invite for a handshake. Larka moved her and inside her robe and stared at Skooma with intrigued eyes. Vvardenfell followed Larka's stare, and giggled at her reaction.
"This is my friend." Vvardenfell said to Larka. "His name is Skooma. Tell me, do you know how to heal? I fear that he hurt his leg on the way over here."
"How can you tell?" Asked Larka hesitantly. She found herself interested in the sight of these two VERY odd companions.
"Well…" said Vvardenfell, thinking before talking, and finally coming to a decision. "He talks."
"He WHAT!" said Larka, her eyes growing wide as she prepared to draw her tanto, just in case Vvardenfell was…dangerous.
"Skooma talk." He said between sobs. "Friend girl, who scary person?" He asked, looking up at Vvardenfell.
Larka took a step back and began pinching herself.
"I hope you don't mind me asking, but what are you doing?" Vvardenfell asked, trying to hold back the urge to laugh at the amusing sight.
"I must be dreaming, this can't be happening!" Said Larks, still vigorously pinching herself.
"Well, unless we're sharing a dream I'm pretty sure this is real." Said Vvardenfell as Skooma continued to wail uncontrollably.
"Shut that thing up!" Hissed Larka. "It's probably attracting every predator for miles." Larka said, putting her hand over Skooma's mouth.
At that moment a Nix-hound darted out of the bushes.
Vvardenfell fell back from the surprise, but Larka drew her Tanto from within her robe and ran towards the creature. She lifted her sword and brought it down upon the animal's back, breaking it's spine. Larka stepped back and looked smugly at the dead Nix-hound lying in a pool of blood. She quickly turned to be sure that there were no more coming.
Taking out a cleaning cloth and wiping her blade silently, Vvardenfell could not help but be afraid of this mysterious elf. The speed of which Larka moved was incredible, and her actions were so un-remoursful. Larka turned and faced Vvardenfell suddenly.
"So, you say that it's got a hurt leg?" She asked, walking up and examining Skooma's front white limb. He winced painfully as Larka moved her hand to form a beautifully colored healing spell until Skooma's arm returned to it's original stature.
"Are you planning on camping here?" Asked Larka abruptly. Vvardenfell nodded.