Chapter 7: Cat Save Them All

I stretch my legs and jump up on Jasper's bed next to him. It's nice to relax now that the whole ordeal with Ceryeas has been dealt with last night. Being in Jasper's old college room with him almost reminds me of being at our old house in High Rock.

"So, you never told your new friends about me in the two years you've been with them, huh? You weren't that ashamed of me were you?" Jasper asks with his arms crossed behind his neck.

I felt an intense rush of guilt and embarrassment when he said that.

"Well, I mean...I wanted to, but you know I only just learned to speak last night. Plus, after I heard what happened to you, I made a vow to never write again. I did tell Ma'ketra though! I've always planned to tell the others eventually but-"

Jasper laughs, interrupting me. "I'm just messing with you Smallpaws. I'm not mad, but why did thinking I was dead make you decide to stop writing? You used to love writing, it's how we talked - and you're an Alfiq, so writing should be especially important to you, since it's how you record your memories."

I was surprised to hear him say that. I didn't think he knew that last part. How did he know?

"Yeah well, that's the thing," I say, still feeling embarrassed. "I only learned that after you were gone, when I already started to forget some things and I felt...Well, I felt that if I couldn't remember anything about my best friend in life, then nothing else was worth remembering."

Jasper frowns, and lifts me up onto his lap and starts to pet me again.

"Smallpaws, as much as I feel honored that you find those memories so important to you that you would do that, don't let that make you throw the rest of your life's memories away. I'm not the only best friend you're ever going to have."

"Yeah, I guess. I know you're right. How did you know about that anyway, about Alfiq memory loss?"

"Well, after I moved out of the house and into college, you'd be surprised how many books they have about any number of topics, and one of them was about Alfiq. 'The Chroniclers of Elsweyr' I think it was called. Interesting book. It was all about that topic, and so when I found that out I decided to write a book for you. Your own Krozijkajabo. I intended to give it to you when I headed back home after leaving college, but as you can see, there were some complications. So here, I'll give it to you now."

Jasper set me aside and opened one of the boxes in his room and, after some searching, pulled out a big book and set it down in front of me.

"Wait, you mean...Is this-?"

"Yeah. I wrote about everything I could remember of your life since the day we adopted you, until the day I left for college. I knew that you probably would have started to forget by the time you found that out about yourself, and took it upon myself to make up for that. After all, it's the closest family relative's duty to write the first few years of an Alfiq's life. I just wrote a few extra years for you too. Right?"

"Yeah..." I sniffle and start to tear up again, "that was really thoughtful of you."

It was hard to take in. Sitting in front of me was the complete story of the first 12 years of my life. Memories I'd long forgotten by now, details I would have never been able to recall. I had thought all hope of remembering them was lost, but no. I'd given up hope on ever remembering them, that I wanted to forget everything else, I wanted to forget Jasper even, to ease my pain, but now?

"I've missed you, Jasper. I thought I was going to forget you forever, and now you're here, alive, and with all my lost memories just here sitting in front of me. This is...more than I could have ever hoped for."

"I've missed you too Smallpaws, I've missed you too. Since my first day of college here, I kept telling others about you and our adventures. There were always things I wish I could have told you about, or times I wished you were here with me. Then, I thought I was going to leave and get to see you again. Then Ceryeas happened and...I didn't think I'd see you ever again, or anyone for that matter. You really saved me, and you know how I don't like admitting that sometimes. I mean it, you're a hero."

I smiled, and we both sat there in silence for a little longer. Then I remembered something that I had to ask about.

"So, I heard the name mentioned a couple times in your journal, and then Ceryeas mentioned her by name-"

"Cylesse," Jasper says, interrupting. He looked down and closed his eyes, and I could tell they were starting to tear up, and now I felt bad for bringing her up.

"You don't have to talk about it, Jasper, I'm sorry."

"Yeah, no it's okay. I just don't know when I'll be able to accept that she's gone. He tried to do the same thing to you, you know...He was about to-"

"Yeah but he didn't, we stopped him."

"Yeah, we did didn't we. You did. You saved me, I just wish I could have saved her."

I sat there and let silence say the rest. I knew that feeling.

"I don't even know if she's still alive in some way, you know? I don't know what happened to her."

"Whatever happened, she is still alive in some way, you know. Even if it's just through your memories."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

We were silent for a little longer until I decided to change the subject.

"So, what do you think you'll do now?" I ask.

"I don't know, it feels so strange to have that choice again, to do whatever I want. I'll have to think about it more, but I know that whatever it is, it involves getting as far away from this college as possible."

"You could always join us on our travels. We like to call ourselves the Pride of Portneu – one of the places we saved. It's exclusively made up of Khajiit, but you could pass as a Tojay, maybe. We'll just say you lost your tail in some horrific accident, and you could wear a hood to hide your ears and-"

Jasper laughs, interrupting me. "As much as I would love to go out traveling the world with you and your friends, Smallpaws, I think I should stick closer to home for awhile. I still feel very weak from the whole thing, and I can't seem to be able to use magic right now, I wouldn't be much help."

"You can't? What do you mean? You did that awesome thing with levitating the bridge back up!"

"Yeah, but ever since the portal closed, I feel like my connection to magic has been severed. It's like I was the Nexus, and now that it's gone, so is all of my magic. I don't know if I'll ever get it back. Maybe it's for the best though, I feel like I can think clearly for the first time in a long time without it."

"Huh," I say. It's all I can say to that. That's a strange concept, Jasper without magic. Almost as strange as Smallpaws without magic.

"Well, if you're planning on going home, maybe I could come with you then. We could go back to High Rock together and see the old family, and see how frightened they are when I show them I can talk-"

"Someday, perhaps, but you have a long journey ahead of yourself already with your friends first," he laughs. "And if yesterday was any indication, they need you, Smallpaws. Just as much as you need them. I wouldn't want to be the one to break up the Pride of Portneu."

I frown a bit and sway my head side to side thinking of how to respond.

"Yeah you're right, they'd probably be dead without me," I laugh. "And I wouldn't want to have that on my conscience now, would I? Someday then, after this is all over and Ra-Zara'chi is stopped."

I stay silent again, drifting into thought. I feel sad to leave again so soon after just being reunited with him after thinking he was dead the past two years, but he's right.

"So, any good pranks you've been doing since you started traveling the world?" Jasper says, changing the subject.

"Oh you bet, the stuff we did back in High Rock was small-time compared to some of the things I've been up to lately, you wouldn't believe it!"

"Oh yeah? Tell me about it then. I find it hard to believe that plaguing half of Wayrest of that ugly skin rash for a week - on Heart's day, even - was small-time."

Both of us laugh together and continue our talk of stories, new and old, for what feels like hours into the morning.

Khinashi sighed and stared aimlessly at her food. Around her everyone else was happy and they chatted away like nothing bad ever happened, and that they all didn't almost die last night, but Khinashi could not help but feel an immense guilt that stole her hunger, and in its place, put a feeling of emptiness that couldn't be sated.

Khinashi was, of course, happy that Jasper was able to be saved, and the college and all of those who could have perished if that portal wasn't closed soon anyway, according to Jasper. Still, Khinashi felt like she put her friends in danger against their will, just like Ceryeas had when he forced them to do the experiment. They all knew something was off about Ceryeas, and Khinashi didn't listen, and it almost got them all killed.

Jahirr's constant warnings are starting to make sense now. We can't afford to let our guard down anywhere.

Khinashi heard a chair being pulled out in front of her, and looked up to see J'shabi sitting down and smiling at her.

Khinashi smiled back weakly, but then frowned. How can J'shabi be happy to see her after what Khinashi caused? The Suthay's ears flattened in annoyance and she looked away, avoiding everyone's eye contact.

"Hey, it's the man and the Khajiit of honor!" Muffin said excitedly, and started clapping. Others started clapping too, and so did Khinashi. If there was anyone who deserved praise right now it was them. Smallpaws saved us all, he acted with every bit of bravery and skill that Father always had.

"It's nice to see you up and about already Jasper, you look great!" Muffin said.

"Yeah, well a good rest and some food and drink is the best cure for any wound, I like to think so anyway," he said as he sat down.

"Really? You feel that much better already after what you've been through for the past two years?" Divyral asks incredulously.

"Well, it might be months before I fully recover, but I feel okay right now. I can't seem to muster so much as a single spell anymore though."

"What? Really? You can't use magic anymore?" Muffin asks.

Jasper shrugs. "I can't tell if it's permanent, but in a way it almost feels like a relief. When I was trapped in there, anytime someone used the Nexus, it was as if I was casting their spell myself. I knew everything about the spell - how it was cast, why it was cast, where, when, and by whom. I pretty much have a complete understanding of it all and - because I do, magic almost frightens me, now that I know what it's truly capable of, and what it can do to people."

Khinashi tensed up at hearing that. She couldn't imagine the pain he had to endure, if she had been through the same thing, she might want to give up magic completely too. Last night there were times when she even considered it, seeing what Ceryeas did with his magic, and yet it was magic itself that saved them, too.

"Wow, it sounds like you would make a great professor of magical theory now though right? Even without being able to-" Divyral cleared his throat, interrupting her and giving her a look that suggested she wasn't being tactful.

"I understand, Jasper," Divyral said. "A traumatic experience like that will take some time to get past. In that case, I take it you probably won't be staying with the college for much longer, then?"

Jasper laughed. "Yeah, no. I'll stay long enough to heal and get things sorted out to prove what Ceryeas did, but not for much longer than that. I was already planning on leaving anyway just before all of it happened in the first place, no offense to anyone here. For now I just kind of want to put magic and this college behind me for awhile."

"You are welcome to travel with us if you wish, Jasper," Jizad suggested. "Magic or not, your insight could prove useful for helping us find out what happened to the moons."

"The mystery of the Void night is a tempting offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to turn you down, Jizad. I'm still pretty weak from everything, I wouldn't be able to manage the trials of the wilderness right now."

Jizad nods. Khinashi looked over to Jasper. "Jasper, you mentioned you know a lot about any spell that was cast with the help of the Nexus, yes?"

"Correct. A very intimate knowledge of it," he replied.

"Did you learn anything from the experiment that Ceryeas did, then? Not that this one wanted it to happen the way it did..."

"It's okay, Khinashi. We know what you mean. I'd like to know too," J'shabi said.

We all looked to Jasper for the answer. He shrugged. "I'm not sure how much of it is reliable. The experiment didn't last its full duration - and that's for the best - but there were a few things I could infer from it," he said and paused and looked at each of us, as if we needed to accept that we wanted to know. We nodded.

"Well, I found out that - no surprise, there is indeed a connection between what forms of Khajiit you are, and the moons. Right down to your soul signatures. It's very distinguishable. If you know how to read the energies a soul gives off, you could tell what form a Khajiit is or was in life, just by that alone."

Khinashi tilted her head. Interesting, but not quite significant. What would we be if not the obvious by how we look?

"So, was Ceryeas right? Can that connection be used with any magic you know of to bring the moons back from where ever they are? Or at least tell us where they went?" Jizad asked.

"Not exactly, the connection is very weak, so no. It wouldn't bring the moons back by itself. Not without sacrificing thousands of Khajiit and using their souls all at once in a ritual performed by a dozen powerful mages."

"Well, it's a good thing Ceryeas didn't learn that," Muffin said. "He might have actually considered doing that, he really wanted the credit of bringing the moons back," she laughed, and then stopped when she realized no one was else laughing.

"There was something else I found peculiar with the experiment, though," Jasper said, and looked at Ma'krin, Jizad and J'shabi. "I mentioned that I could tell the form a Khajiit was born as by their soul signature alone, but I guess it may not always be completely accurate."

Khinashi furrowed her brow. "What do you mean?"

"Because out of the five of you that underwent the experiment, three of you came up with a result that does not match what you appear to be."

J'shabi laughed. "Go on, tell us then. What did the experiment 'reveal' us to be?"

"Jahirr and Ma'ketra were shown as a Pahmar-raht and Senche respectively, as expected. Ma'krin, however, had the signature of a Senche-raht."

In response, Ma'krin looked up from his food in surprise, and then had a look of confusion as everyone stared at him. Khinashi was just as confused as him.

"Wait, but Ma'krin and Ma'ketra are twins, they were born at the same time," Khinashi said. "How could they be born as different forms?"

"Yeah," J'shabi added. "And Ma'krin is big, but...he's not Senche-raht big, I know that much."

"Actually, Senche-raht tend to stay the same size as Senche until they hit puberty," Jizad said. "Then they grow rapidly, as this one remembers Zan'ir did. Even before puberty though, they need to eat a lot more than Senche to stay healthy, or they will always be tired and moody."

Khinashi's jaw gaped open in realization. That describes Ma'krin perfectly. He nor Ma'ketra have had their puberty yet, and ever since they lived with her, he has always been hungry, tired, and never social. We all just thought that's just how he was, even his parents, but has he actually been hurting this whole time and we never even knew? Is Ma'krin really a Senche-raht?

Ma'ketra walked over to Ma'krin and signed to him, but he shook his head repeatedly, about whatever they were talking about.

"As for them being twins," Jasper added. "Twins aren't born at the exact same second, after all. Is it possible that in the time between when Ma'krin and Ma'ketra were born, if they were born at night, it could have been right as the phase was at the turning point between a Senche-raht and a Senche, as far as the lunar forms are concerned?"

Khinashi thought that over. Hmm, theoretically. The difference between a Senche-raht and a Senche is that while both of them are born under a full Masser, Secunda is waxing for Senche-raht, and full for Senche. If Ma'krin was born first, at night...perhaps...

"That is possible," Khinashi said.

"But it could also just be wrong, because Jizad's soul signature was way off," he said and laughed.

Khinashi looked at Jizad, and he looked like he'd just seen a ghost. "What did you see?" Jizad asked hesitantly.

"It said you were born as an Alfiq. How could that be possible?" he said.

Jizad laughed weakly. "Yeah, that is silly. This one has...always been a Dagi as long as he can remember. How could he be anything else? That does not happen, yes?" he asked. Jahirr gave him a strange inquisitive look.

That...is difficult to explain. Unless-

"Maybe I got in the way when I knocked his gem over, and you're reading my soul signature instead?" Smallpaws said, interrupting Khinashi's thoughts.

"I guess that would be the more logical explanation," Jasper said and shrugged.

J'shabi laughed. "So, you've told us Jahirr's, Ma'ketra's, Ma'krin's, and Jizad's. You mentioned that there were three that were off the mark, so that would leave mine as one of them. Go on, what did it show? That I was born as a Pahmar-raht like my parents?" J'shabi laughed some more.

Jasper frowned and looked away. "What is it? What's wrong?" J'shabi asked.

"Your soul signature showed no influence from the lunar lattice," Jasper said plainly.

There was silence for a few seconds.

Khinashi spoke first. "That cannot be right, her parents-"

"Pttbh. That's even sillier than Jizad being an Alfiq!" J'shabi laughed hysterically. "Wow, maybe the experiment wasn't so accurate after all, you had me thinking Ma'krin was a Senche-raht for a minute there!" she clapped. "You should have started with that, so I knew not to take it seriously."

No one else was laughing. Khinashi looked at J'shabi with a strained smile.

"What? C'mon guys, isn't it silly? I'm an Ohmes, why would it show anything otherwise? Maybe Ceryeas just didn't properly even set mine up or something, I don't know."

"Could it not mean-"

"No, Jizad, it couldn't," J'shabi interrupted. "I get it, I look like a Wood Elf, all Ohmes do, and I don't tattoo my face like other Ohmes, but I'm a Khajiit, same as you! You know I was raised by my Pahmar-raht parents in the wilderness of Hammerfell, until they were murdered when I was probably around four!" she said, in a voice that was raising every second. She pounded the table, and looked shocked by her own reaction.

"Look, I remember them clearly," J'shabi added.

"Can you remember even when you were a baby?" Muffin asked. "Maybe-" she said, but Divyral bumped her, and she must have realized she made a mistake when she saw J'shabi glaring at her. "Sorry," she said quietly.

J'shabi sighed. "No, I'm sorry Muffin. You barely know me, it probably seems silly to worry about anyway. It's just that I spent so much of my life thinking I was something else, and that I was raised by wild animals. When I realized they were my parents and that I'm a Khajiit, everything finally clicked, and when I traveled to Elsweyr, I felt like I finally found where I belong."

J'shabi scoffed. "And I'm not about to start second guessing all of that again just because of some stupid experiment," she laughed. It sounded forced.

J'shabi started acting strange, fiddling her thumbs and playing with her food. She just kept holding a smile.

"J'shabi-"

The sound of her chair interrupted Khinashi, as she scooted away from the table, stood up and walked down the hall without saying a word. Moments later, we heard a door being slammed shut. Khinashi shared a glance with Jizad, and she stood up to follow where J'shabi went.

As Khinashi follows J'shabi out of the lobby, Jasper and the others start talking among themselves again. I move across the table to sit next to Ma'ketra. I smile as I look at her.

"So, you have not forgotten about this one after all, now that your best friend has returned. This one would have thought you did not need her anymore, now that you have him, and now you can speak to the walkers." Ma'ketra signs, sarcastically, but I can tell there was a hint of sadness in them.

"Don't be silly, Ma'ketra. No one can replace you. I mean, after all, none of them have as fluffy a head to sit on," I sign and laugh.

Ma'ketra laughs too. "Oh, so that is all I am to you, Snorepaws?"

"You know you'll always be my best friend too, Jasper or no Jasper, that won't change. It's because of you that we came to this college in the first place, so I owe this all to you. You changed the way the vote ended, so that we did. You pushed me to seek out the truth when I was too scared to do it myself. Thank you Ma'ketra, and for once I say that without any joke."

"So you are saying for once, it is not Ma'ketra that was the scaredy-cat that needed pushing?"

I chuckle again. "Yes, for once I was the scaredy-cat...At least, until after I got over that initial scare - after that I was like, super brave and saved you all heroically."

"That passing moment of humility did not last long, no?" She signs.

Before I can respond, I see Jahirr growl for our attention, and he signs to us.

"Do not let your easy victory get to your head, Smallpaws. There will be many trials still before us, and we might not always be so lucky as we did this time."

"Oh come on, Jahirr, can't we get one victory-breakfast before you start being all doom and gloomy again?"

"Evil does not wait to strike until breakfast is over. We must be ever-vigilant," Jahirr signs.

"Wise words, oh mighty Jahirr. This one will keep her claws sharp while she eats," Ma'ketra signs sarcastically.

"Yeah, and where was your ever-vigilance last night? You got mind-controlled just like the rest of them! How come you didn't see that coming?"

"Would you believe this one if he said he was not possessed, and that all of his actions last night were his own?" Jahirr signs.

"Uh, no. I wouldn't." I sign back.

"Good, because that would not be true," Jahirr signs as he turns and walks away.

"...Wait, he didn't actually answer my question!" I sign to Ma'ketra, who shrugs.

Khinashi walked up to the door that J'shabi went into. She put an ear up to the door and heard sniffling, and paused for a moment if she should just let her be for now. She decided to knock and give her that choice.

"J'shabi?" Khinashi said, in a voice that cracked from her own troubles.

Khinashi could hear movement in the room, then silence.

"You can come in," J'shabi said, as Khinashi was about to walk away. She pushed the door open slowly and saw J'shabi sitting on a bed facing the other way, looking out a window, where light shined into the room.

J'shabi wiped her tears and nose, and looked down to the floor. Khinashi walked up and sat beside her without saying anything. They both sat there for awhile, wordlessly. Khinashi held out her right hand with her palm facing up, and rested it between their knees. J'shabi held her hand and smiled weakly at Khinashi. Then sighed.

"I'm sorry for how I was acting out there," J'shabi said, breaking the silence. Tears started to roll down her eyes again, J'shabi wiped them away with her free hand, and looked away.

"It is okay, J'shabi. No one is upset," Khinashi said.

J'shabi laughed weakly and sniffled. "I know it shouldn't matter anyway, I'm just being stupid-"

"You are not stupid, J'shabi," Khinashi interrupted, and pressed firmly into J'shabi's hand. J'shabi looked up into Khinashi's eyes. "You are wise, and your feelings are real things to process. This one has learned that is not always easy," she pauses for a moment. "Sometimes it feels easier to ignore them, to push them aside for more important things, but maybe they should be important too."

J'shabi smiled and looked away. "Sounds like you're being the one with wise words today," she said in a tone Khinashi could not quite decipher.

"But you are also right, J'shabi," Khinashi said. "No matter what, you are Khajiit. You are Ohmes as sure as you are my best friend, and this one loves you like a sister. We are your family and your people, no matter what the blood in our veins nor the influence of the moons would say, either way."

"Thanks, Khinashi...I think I needed to hear that," she said. J'shabi hugged her tightly, then she pulled away. "You should listen to your own advice too, you know," she said.

Khinashi's ears flattened and she looked away embarrassed. It was J'shabi's turn to press into her palm now.

"You've been through a lot too recently, and I don't just mean since we got to the college. I've noticed it start to take its toll on you, and I think you've been using the quest to distract yourself from thinking about it."

Khinashi's eyes started to fill with tears, but it was J'shabi's hand that rose to wipe them away for her.

"It is too much to think about..." Khinashi said in broken words, as the tears overflowed.

J'shabi pulled her into another hug and let Khinashi cry on her shoulder. "It's alright, Khinashi. It is a lot. More than anyone should have to bear. It's been one thing after another since Torval, but you should give yourself time to mourn."

Khinashi sniffles. "Yeah," she said weakly. "It is difficult when this one feels so distant from him, so far from Torval."

"Hmm..." J'shabi said, and pulled away. Khinashi was confused, but J'shabi looked lost in thought.

"Perhaps there's a way you could feel closer to him, then," she said at last. Khinashi tilted her head to the side.

"Your father didn't always live in Elsweyr after all. You said he grew up in the Imperial City, right?"

"Yes..." Khinashi replied slowly. "In the 'Waterfront District'. He grew up as an orphan there and left to travel when he was around sixteen."

J'shabi smiled. "Then maybe that can be our next stop. You could go there and try to reconnect with him by being in his hometown neighborhood, maybe there's even people still there that might have known him when he was young."

Khinashi smiled, but then frowned. "Do you really think there would be anyone like that still there?"

"Jo'azha made an impression on everyone. I'm sure there is, though he would have just been Azha back then, or maybe J'azha."

Khinashi nodded. "This one does not know actually, he never said much about that part of his life. Perhaps it would help for Khinashi to mourn, to learn the one chapter of his life that he never told her."

J'shabi smiled. "Then it's settled, we should tell the others." She started to get up, and Khinashi wiped away more of her damp fur, but then she sat down again and looked at Khinashi.

"Oh, there was something else, too." J'shabi said and rested a hand on Khinashi's shoulder.

"I know you've probably been beating yourself up over everything that happened here, but I want you to know, Khinashi, that none of us blame you. None of us could have foreseen that Ceryeas was a completely maniac who sacrifices children for his experiments."

"Yeah, but-"

"No 'buts', we all came here of our own will, and if any of us seriously thought we were in immediate danger we would have mentioned it, he tricked us all, not just you. Besides, you did pretty good too Khinashi. Seriously, not even being trapped inbetween stone walls can stop you from finding a way out."

Khinashi laughed weakly. "Yes, the look on Ceryeas's face when he saw this one afterward was priceless."

The two Khajiit laughed some more and then headed out back into the lobby.

"So, where does the mighty Pride of Portneu plan to go next on their quest to return the moons?" Muffin asked, as J'shabi and Khinashi returned to the table, they both looked to each other.

J'shabi spoke first. "I don't know if it will help return the moons, but for personal reasons, I think we should stop by the Imperial City. There's something there that would help Khinashi."

Khinashi looked to Ma'ketra, and she nodded. Jahirr does too, as does Jizad, and finally Smallpaws.

"I had a lot of fun the last time I was there, pretending to be a housecat. Lots of chances to overhear some juicy gossip!" Smallpaws said.

"Hmm," Jasper said, with a hand to his chin. "Actually, that's a great idea, I think that's exactly where you could find out a way to bring the moons back."

Everyone looked at him attentively. "Well, from what Smallpaws tells me, it seems like a bit too much of a coincidence that this Ra-Zara'chi upstart murders and impersonates the Mane around the same time the moons disappear-"

"What? The Mane of Elsweyr was murdered and impersonated?" Muffin asked abruptly.

"Oh, uh...I thought they might have told you already." Jasper said, looking guilty and embarrassed.

"It is okay. We have to be careful who we tell that to, but we can trust all of you," Khinashi said. "This one saw Ra-Zara'chi's betrayal with her own eyes, but Khinashi and her friends have only had the chance to tell a few others before he sent assassins to try and kill us, before we escaped Elsweyr."

Muffin and Divyral looked at us, confused and worried.

"Wow...This goes a lot deeper than I thought." Muffin said.

"We have friends in Elsweyr who are already planning to deal with Ra-Zara'chi, but it will take time," Khinashi said.

"Well, when the time comes, let us know. Maybe we can try to convince the college to help you. I mean, if it weren't for all of you, the College of Whispers could have been destroyed. I figure it's the least we can do to repay you."

"I agree Mulfendun, but it's not up to us. We'll have to convince our superiors that a group of mysterious Khajiit children arrived while they were gone, destroyed the Nexus, and that the Nexus was being powered involuntarily by draining the power of a former student by the well-respected headmaster. Since Ceryeas is dead, he can't be questioned to verify anything."

"Well yeah, it'll be tough, but we have to do something! Jasper is here, and we have those notes...And Professor Merellis saw everything, you can convince them to help, right Merellis?" Muffin said, looking at the conjuration professor who hadn't said a word yet.

"Oh, what? Uh...Yes. I-I will certainly try to, of course," the nervous Imperial replied.

"Anyway, what were you saying earlier about the Imperial City, Jasper?" Smallpaws asked.

"Right. If Ra-Zara'chi did make the Moons disappear, he would have needed to find a way to do it. We learned from the experiment here that conventional magic wouldn't be enough, but what about divine magic?"

"Divine magic?" J'shabi asked.

"The Imperial City is home to the Order of the Ancestor Moth who reside in the White-Gold Tower. It's there that they have a collection of many of the fabled Elder Scrolls, which contain the Aedric Prophecies that archive past and future events. Only the Moth Priests are able to read them, as they would render anyone else blind or mad, but it's been said at times even the scrolls themselves have been used as catalysts for extremely powerful divine magic."

"So wait, you think Ra-Zara'chi stole an Elder Scroll and found a way to use it to make the moons disappear?" Jizad asked.

Jasper shook his head. "I don't know, but even if he didn't, I'm sure that there's at least one Elder Scroll that contains knowledge of the prophecy of the Void Nights. Whether you just need to have someone read it to tell you what to do to bring the Moons back, or if you need the Elder Scroll itself is anyone's guess."

"But if Ra-Zara'chi stole the Elder Scroll, it wouldn't be at the Imperial City anymore, yes? He would have it with him."

Jasper shook his head again. "If he stole it, yes, but we don't know that he did. Even if he did, he wouldn't have been able to read it himself, he would have needed to have a Moth Priest to read it for him. Maybe the one that did is still there, or they might know what happened to them. There might even just be another Elder Scroll that can still help."

"Even if that's true, I really doubt we could just walk up and ask to have someone read one for us? I mean, that kind of sounds like the thing only super important people would be allowed to do." J'shabi said.

Jasper sighed. "Yeah, that's the part I haven't figured out yet. I have absolutely no clue how you could manage to convince the Elder Council or Emporer Attrebus Mede to hear you out, or how to even get an audience with them."

"Maybe we could just steal one?" Smallpaws asked.

Jahirr growled loudly and shook his head vigorously, and started signing to Smallpaws.

"That would be treason," Divyral said flatly.

Jasper laughed. "That would be suicide. Only one person has ever been known to successfully to steal an Elder Scroll from the White-Gold Tower, and ever since then, I'm sure they would have made it impossible. Besides, you wouldn't even know which one to steal."

"But if Ra-Zara'chi did-" Smallpaws said.

"Which we don't know that he did-" J'shabi interrupted.

"But if he did, that would prove it is still possible." Smallpaws said flatly.

"We are already the most-wanted criminals in Elsweyr because of Ra-Zara'chi, it would be best if we avoided that reputation in Cyrodiil," Jizad said.

"But then how could we hope to convince the council, since we are the most-wanted criminals in Elsweyr? Our very reason for needing it is tied to Ra-Zara'chi, we cannot avoid that," Khinashi said.

Everyone was silent for awhile, as they realized the truth in that.

"This is ridiculous, we can't seriously be considering this as our only option? We'll get ourselves killed for sure! There's no way this could work!" J'shabi shouted.

"Bringing the moons back was never going to be an easy task, J'shabi," Smallpaws said.

"Yeah, but-"

"'And Khajiit must be the best climbers, for if Masser and Secunda fail, they must climb Khenarthi's breath to set the moons back in their courses'," Khinashi said loudly and stood up.

Everyone looked up at her.

"This one has always wondered what those words might have meant, the words of Ahnissi, but Khinashi thinks she understands now. To climb is to never give up, to keep going until you reach the top, to persevere against all odds set against us. Khajiit were meant to be able to adapt and overcome any obstacle, and through all hardships, to do whatever it takes to protect the moons, just as they protect us from the infighting of each other. If we stop now, then we as the climbers let go, and let the fate of the Khajiiti fall as Jone and Jode have...and no true Khajiit could let that happen. Will you?" Khinashi spoke to her friends.

There was a lot of signing going on, and J'shabi and Jizad looked at everyone to see how they felt about this. Eventually, J'shabi sighed in defeat, and everyone looked back to Khinashi. Even Jahirr begrudgingly did not interrupt.

"So what do you say? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to save the moons? Our people? Our very way of life?" Khinashi spoke loudly, for all to hear.

All of them looked at Khinashi with a determination that would rival Ra-Zara'chi in every way.

"Then it is time to steal an Elder Scroll."