‧͙⁺˚*･༓ Saving Senchie ༓･*˚⁺‧͙
Waking a few hours later, mostly from hunger, Malira chose to remain awake - she had a quest to do after all.
The quest to save Senchie, Mirani deserved to spend not one more night without him.
She lay awake, staring out the bedroom window, she could see a few stars twinkling in the night sky.
Sounds of her parents could be heard downstairs. They would be going to sleep soon. She would silently crawl out her window, climb up onto the roof to a nearby tree that was located at the back of the house, climb down the tree, sneak around the side of the house, across the street and onto the argonian's side. This is when it would get tricky; she could not be caught - being caught would mean many belt marks.
She winced to herself, feeling her heart suddenly throb with anxiety, no - she could not think of that right now. Only think of Sanchie.
After entering the argonian's side, she then would have to sneak by two imperial guards that patrolled the city's Town square. Still, once she was clear of that she had a long row of thick bushes lined along the poor district's river, she could stay hidden in the long line of brushes while she crawled towards Jaraleet's hideout.
Malira stared blankly up at the ceiling, she went over her plan, repeating it over and over in her head. Before she knew it, she could hear the footsteps of her parents climbing the staircase, passing her bedroom, opening their bedroom door and quietly closing it as they entered.
She listened to their soft voices through the wall. They usually spoke of their day before they went to sleep, tonight though the main subject was of her and her sister.
"Airul did not belt little Mirani too fiercely? She is but a cub." Her mother's voice was soft and full of love. "This one can not believe you made them choose ."
"Your heart is large like a mother's should be - but daughters must learn not to do such dangerous things, yes? Malira could have been killed." There was a slight pause before he continued.
"Mirani volunteered punishment, this one could not do it, Airul is proud of his youngest - she will grow to be a very tough khajiit one day."
"If only this one kept her big mouth closed!" Malira hissed harshly to herself.
Early in the morning, their mother had sent them both to buy a yard of cloth from the local trader, only to be intercepted by Jaraleet and his scaly group of friends, and of course, none of them was the least bit friendly.
First, Judina - one of Jaraleet's female friends had purposely tripped Mirani over, making her cry as she fell and grazed her knee.
This immediately caused Malira to turn hostile, spitting as she hissed offensively at Judina, and a khajiit hissing at an argonian was offensive enough to cause violence towards either party. But knowing Malira was the daughter of a rather large and extremely scary-looking khajiit father which roughly represented a large white-stripped senche-raht - Jaraleet thought it wise not to strike her.
Frustrated, he instead snatched Mirani's beloved Senchie, cruelly hovering it above her head as she desperately clawed at it until the poor cub broke down and cried.
Malira could feel her claws itch, wanting to scratch the ugly lizard's eyes out but Jaraleet was at least five years older than her and almost twice her size.
So instead - she challenged him to The Wall.
She would sometimes watch the older khajiit children race against the argonian teens, a few times while no one was looking she would test herself and climb the wall to see how hard it indeed was.
The first time she tried, she quickly climbed as high as her house, but overconfidence got the better of her - falling, she had severely twisted her ankle.
Lying to her father, she instead said she fell out of a tree. Then she tried again, but that time her father caught her sneaking back into her room - that night she received ten strikes of his belt.
After challenging Jaraleet, a date was set for the race, she had one week and during that week, at night while everyone slept, she would sneak out of her house and practise climbing the wall - despite the risk of punishment.
Getting Senchie back was the fuel for her courage, and it worked as good as any guile magic.
By the third night, she had succeeded at reaching the top of the wall.
She knew she was a great climber, but what Malira didn't realise - was that Jaraleet was a cheat.
If only she didn't hiss at Judina and just let Jaraleet and his cold-blooded friends have their fun, her sister would be sleeping peacefully with Senchie, dreaming of warm sands and sweet milk.
Slowly slipping out of bed, she carefully tucked her sister back in and began readying herself for the night ahead.
Her parents would be fast asleep soon, and she had until the sound of the first morning's church bell to rescue Senchie and return to her bed.
She slipped on an old dark-brown coloured set of sleepwear, black would have been better, but she didn't own any black coloured clothing, not that it mattered much - her fur was as black as night, just like her mother.
Looking through her cupboard, she found a dark green headscarf and for the final touch - a dark blue pillowcase, ripping it down the seam, she would use this as a face mask.
"Ok, time to go." She whispered.
"This one is coming too."
Jumping half a foot in the air, her tail puffed up to the size of a small blackberry bush.
Turning, she saw Mirani climbing out of bed, her short mane frizzed up and tangled, Malira frowned crossing her arms.
"No. This one goes alone. It will be too dangerous, Mirani must stay home in bed, where this one knows you are safe ."
"No. This one is coming!" Raising her voice, Malira quickly snapped her finger to her lips.
"Ok. ok - this one will find Mirani nighttime clothes." Mirani's face lit up like a torchbug.
Her sister needed the dark clothes much more than she did, as her sister's fur was coloured like their father's - white as snow, though she lacked the fierce thick stripes.
"Mirani brings her bow." Crawling underneath the bed, she quickly came out with a small toy bow with an added quiver full of crudely looking blunt arrows.
Eyeing the bow, Malire smiled widely, "Be this one's cover."
Mirani smiled back, her head nodding enthusiastically.
Finally, both were clothed in a strange mix of dark coloured clothing, looking like quite the pair of thieves.
Malira slowly and as quietly as she could, slid the window open then turned to her sister.
"You first."
She nodded excitedly as Malira helped her out the window, pushing her up onto the roof.
Malira didn't need any help, pulling herself up they then quickly tiptoed to the backyard tree.
The tree branch was a little higher than Malira, allowing her sister to climb up onto her shoulders, Mirani grabbed the branch, slipped a little but quickly recovered. She turned back, grinning from ear to ear - her mask half sliding off her face.
"Good. Climb down; this one will meet you by the bottom of the tree." She whispered loudly. "And cover its face!"
Mirani, suddenly going serious, did as she was told and carefully climbed down the tree.
Landing a little roughly, she regained her balance and quickly hid within a nearby shadow.
Squatting down, Malira readied herself, pouncing as high as she could she launched herself onto the overhanging branch - just grabbing the stem with one paw, half panicked she held tight with the other as her legs swung wildly.
"Come… On." She growled, gritting her teeth throughout the struggle.
Reaching as high as she could, her back leg was finally able to swing over the branch, giving her enough strength to pull the rest of herself up.
Climbing down the tree was easy, one last drop and she was on the ground.
Her heart suddenly dropped, where was Mirani?
"Boo."
Malira jumped, this was the second time her sister had snuck up on her.
"Mirani-Quiet Paws this one should call you." She huffed sarcastically as they both started to giggle quietly. "Come. We must be very quiet now."
Malira went first, edging her way to the front of their house, the small torches had lightly lit the road, shadows danced from each empty lit spot to the another.
Suddenly she felt very unsure about this quest.
Looking left, right, straight - the coast was clear.
Grabbing her sister's paw, they quickly sprinted across the street and into a nearby bush.
Malira's eyes remained wide and unsure, slowly a smile began to form on her face seeing her sister suddenly knock an arrow.
She looked like a real archer by her side.
Mirani looked to her sister, noticing her massive smile. She couldn't help but smile back, quickly looking away, her right ear twitched at a strange noise closeby.
Malira knew how dangerous it was to be on this side and at this time of night, but her sister did not, in all honesty - Mirani looked as though she was on the most exciting adventure she had ever been on.
"Come." Malira poked her head slowly from the bush. A very drunk and very homeless smelling argonian stood standing only a few feet away, pissing on a nearby tree.
Malira took her chance, stepping lightly from the bush, she slowly crept passed the argonian, heart in her throat she didn't dare even breathe.
Having passed the argonian, she slowly reached out for her sister's paw but grabbed only air.
She reached again but nothing.
Turning around, her fur slowly began to rise, puffing with fear up her back.
Mirani, for a reason only the divines knew - had stopped dead and was now staring straight into the hind legs of the homeless lizard.
She froze, watching her sister, she couldn't yell out, and there was no time to retrieve her.
The argonian yawned loudly as he stretched his arms high over his head, then drunkenly turned.
Suddenly wanting to warn her sister, Malira smacked her paws over her mouth. Mirani, as silent as a shadow, simply stepped around the argonian.
Malira's jaw dropped, she couldn't believe it, her sister was actually having fun!
Mirani kept her footing as she watched the argonian stomp away - back to whatever alleyway he had chosen to ferment in.
Once he was gone, wide-eyed with amazement she spun round to her sister.
Mirani smiled brightly at her sister before joining her once more.
"Did sister see? This one is sneaky like a mouse, yes?"
Malira blinked, still too stunned to form words.
Tilting her head, "Malira?" She said, confusion forming on her tiny face.
Malira slowly grabbed her sister's paw, turned and ran almost yanking the cub off her feet.
"Never do this again! This one nearly has a heart attack." Malira whispered angrily.
Mirani's smile began to fade from her face slowly.
"But yes, this one is very impressed."
This caused a small smile to remain, Mirani's whiskers twitching as she smirked.
They had nearly reached the town square, Malira could see the top of the fountain pointing up above a large stone fence.
Rounding the back of a wooden shack, Malira looked to a nearby barrel, pushing this up against the large fence she slowly spied above the wall.
"Are there guards?" Mirani asked, suddenly being ' shushed ' by her sister.
She nodded in answer - in fact, were three guards.
Malira had only planned for two.
Two of the guards stood facing each other, their imperial armour gleaming brightly off their handheld torches, the pair appeared to be talking to each other while the third stood just off to her right.
On closer inspection, the third guard sounded like he was growling? Tilting her head in confusion, she almost started to laugh once realising.
The silly imperial guard had fallen asleep, snoring like an angry orc.
"Ok - This one will help sister over, once over she does not move - Yes?"
Mirani nodded, her head excitedly bobbing up and down, Malira gave her sister a stern nod then quickly pushed her up onto the barrel.
Mirani paused as she swung a leg over the wall, hearing the guard's snores she softly snorted.
"Hmph!" Malira warned, coughing into one paw.
Biting her lip, she continued over the wall, the drop was higher than expected, dropping hard she fell landing on her behind with a comparatively loud, " oof. ''
Malira heard the noise, heart fluttering like a thousand butterflies, she clawed her way up the wall, poking her head over just in time to see her sister crawl under the lip of the large fountain.
Exhaling a large breath of relief she had almost forgotten about the sleeping guard - sure enough, he was still asleep.
Another sign of relief.
Malira looked back to her sister, still safely hidden but not for long, the other two had begun to walk clockwise around the fountain. Almost doing a roll, she jumped from the wall, skidded over to her sister and waited within the fountain's shadow.
"Mirani and Malira are too-." Almost shoving her paw down Mirani's throat, she froze listening to the guard's footsteps.
"And I told this bloody breton just to give the old wench her gold coin." The imperial strolled by, suddenly stopping, Malira clawed painfully into the dirt.
The guard chose to stop precisely on her tail.
"Stupid wench had a daughter though - the tits on her." They both laughed as they finally continued on their way.
Softly growling in pain, she rubbed her tail, trying as hard as she could to keep her anger at bay she continued to wait until the guards had entirely circled back around.
"Now." Both of them dashed from their hiding place and directly towards a long planted row of bushes.
They were now along the poor district's river, Jaraleet's hiding place was close now - and so was Senchie.
"That was a close one," Mirani said, excitement now overflowing from every part of her. "Now, where?"
That was an excellent question, Malira knew precisely how she was going to get to Jaraleet's hideout but had failed to plan what she would do once they got there.
Malira stared blankly at her sister, "Oh, umm…" Gulping nervously as they crawled amongst the row of bushes. "This one will show you when we arrive."
She didn't even know for sure if Mirani's toy was even at Jaraleet's hideout, what in nirn would she do then? The thought of disappointing her sister again squeezed at her heart.
No, it had to be there.
Malira stopped suddenly making Mirani bump face-first into her sister's behind, scrunching up her face, Mirani opened her mouth to complain.
Her mouth half-open, she realised her sister's ears rotating slightly, copying her - she could hear voices! Argonian voices!
"Passs me another one!" It was definitely Jaraleet's voice, and he wasn't alone. "Ssstupid little curr."
Judina, Jaraleet and one other male argonian sat propped up against a wall, the bridge overhead forming a low hung roof to their small hideout.
"Here." Passing Jaraleet his beverage, Judina continued, "Little dry scales, although the bigger one is quite brave - sure tested you ." Judina laughed, making Jaraleet leer menacingly back at her.
"Little fleabag, she and her whole fetcher of a family!" He yelled, his eyes wide with fury.
"Now now, just cause she had you-."
"She did NOT-." Jaraleet swiftly backhanded Judina, making her knock over a nearby box, "-have anything !"
The other friend of Jaraleet had been quietly observing until that moment, suddenly grabbing Jaraleet's wrist before he could lay into Judina a second time.
"Don't. Touch. Me." Jaraleet hissed coldly as he snatched his arm back.
"Anash, it's ok," Judina said, rubbing her cheek which had already begun to swell. "Maybe we should be going?"
Anash helped her up, not taking his reptile eyes off Jaraleet he nodded stiffly and made his way passed him.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Judina said before kicking the box as she left.
Watching the two leave, Mirani gasped, making Malira jump slightly.
Grabbing Malira by the sleeve, she pointed excitedly over at the box.
"Senchie!" She whispered, "look! Near the box!"
Malira followed her sister's gaze and saw it.
The toy had been stuffed in a large crate, along with dozens of bottles containing beer, it now laid out in the open.
Watching his friends disappear into the night, Jaraleet scoffed, carelessly waving away his friends while taking another deep swig from the bottle of beer.
His face winced from the taste, awful tasting stuff but it did its job.
Turning back to the cover of the bridge, he too saw the toy.
Mirani held tight to Malira's arm as the argonian scooped up her toy, holding it limply by his side.
She was terrified that he might - in a moment of rage - tear it to pieces, and there would be nothing she or her sister could do.
"Senchie." Mirani moped with a sadness that tore at Malira's heart.
"We will get Senchie, but now we must wait. Wait till the time is right."
Jaraleet slumped against the wall of his hideout, taking another long drink he slowly slid down the wall, where he plopped into a slouched ball. Grabbing another bottle, he flung the empty one into the river.
Looking down at the toy now lightly resting by his thigh, he smiled as he grabbed it.
"One day, little kitties will have no one to save them." With that, he tossed the toy aside, ignoring it while he continued to drink himself into a stupor.
The argonian continued to mumble to himself, slowly drinking himself into unconsciousness until finally only snores could be heard, his body remaining limp within the glow of a nearby brazier.
"It is time. You wait here-." Malira turned to her sister but found she had already taken action.
Without thinking, Mirani crept from the bush, Malira snatched at her sister but missed as she tiptoed towards Jaraleet's slumbering heap.
Frustrated, she merely shrugged, let out a ' huff ' of air and continued after her very determined and unruly younger sister.
Hiding behind a large barrel, Mirani was close now. She could almost reach out and grab her precious doll.
Coughing loudly, Jaraleet muttered a large muffled snore, Mirani, half hovering out from behind the barrel, froze.
Malira quickly grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and hauled her back behind cover.
She glared at her sister, scrunching up her face, tears began to fill Mirani's eyes.
Malira quickly pressed a finger to her mouth, trying to calm her sister before she should burst into tears.
Calming, Mirani rubbed an eye while her sister twirled a finger, directing her to turn back around.
Holding the back of her shirt, Malira slowly lowered her sister down, allowing her to reach further towards the doll.
"Little currs."
Malira's tail suddenly puffed up, twitching with fear she leaned back to peer around the other side of the barrel.
Noticing Jaraleet's eyes were slightly open, she almost dropped her sister at sight.
Mumbling incoherently, she realised he was asleep with his damn eyes open.
The sight was genuinely unnerving, his reptilian eyes staring blankly in the direction of her sister.
"Hurry," Malira whispered.
Mirani reached desperately towards her toy, grabbed its little fabric tail and held it high in triumph.
A soft ripping sound could be heard; her shirt had started to tear. Both of them stared at each other as the seams on Mirani's shirt began to open up, stitch by stitch.
"Sister?" Mirani whimpered as she fell, landing face-first just a few feet from Jaraleets scaly toes.
She froze, staring up at him as his eyes slowly started to fill with consciousness.
The argonian stared blankly, not quite sure what he was seeing, was this true? The little curr sister was in his hideout?
He blinked again now, fully awake.
"Bahh!" He roared. "Little fleabags! How dare you sneak into my hideout!"
Mirani held her toy protectively to her chest and rolled out of the way from an incoming glass bottle.
Picking up a nearby rock, Malira sprung from her hiding place, and threw it at the argonian, hitting him squarely in the side of the head.
"Dirty lizard!" Malira screamed, desperate to get his attention.
Slowly turning to face her, Jaraleet's expression turned into a murderous glare that sent chills rippling up her back.
"Y-yeah! D-dirty… Lizard." She just wanted him to forget her sister was there, to give her enough time to run, Jaraleet though - looked like he was going to kill her.
"No one is going to save you now." He hissed, slowly walking towards her.
Mirani unfastened her bow, knocking one of her stick-like arrows, she nervously aimed it at him.
"This one will fire! Don't touch her!" She warned, her voice trembling within her throat.
Jaraleet smiled, taking a sizeable intimidating step towards her sister.
"Sister! Run !" Malira yelled.
Pulling the bowstrings with all her strength, she fired.
The stick-like arrow, let loose, bounced off the side off Jaraleet's chest and plopped with a splash into the river.
All three watched the stick float away, well that was extremely ineffective…
Jaraleet turned, snatched the bow, snapping it in one hand he then pushed Mirani violently to the ground, Malira ran towards him right as he turned, grabbing her by the throat and lifting her off the ground.
She began to slowly choke as he squeezed the life from her, her legs kicking helplessly, clawing at his scales were useless - her claws weren't yet sharp enough to do any damage.
"What is the little curr going to do now, huh? You're going to die, little kitty, kitty, KITTY-." His eyes popped open along with his mouth, leaving an expression of mixed surprise and confusion.
His arm started to shake, blood spilling from his jaws, dropping Malira he fell heavily to his knees then slumped face-first onto the ground.
Malira stepped back, gasping for air, she rubbed her neck, looking past the now very dead argonian, Mirani stood, shaking while she hugged her doll tightly to her chest.
Looking from her sister to the argonian, she realised with an agonising stab to her heart - she had grabbed Jaraleet's dagger, driving it deep into his lower back.
Her sister of just eight young years had just killed someone… And in doing so, had saved her life.
Malira ran to her, hugging her sister tight.
"Let us go home," She whispered.
For a while they both stood frozen to the spot, shaking in shock, hoping for one to carry the other home.