Erik awoke to the sound of M'rissi thrashing about in her bedroll much as she did in the cabin the week before.
He sighed and sat up, putting his hand on her shoulder in a firm but gentle grasp.
"Wake up, M'rissi. You're having a nightmare," he said as he moved closer to her, but her eyes didn't open.
Damn it, she's not waking.
Erik shifted M'rissi, careful not to be too sudden, until he had her head in his lap. He began to stroke her hair, brushing the loose strands out of her face and running his hand through her hair.
"It's a nightmare, M'rissi. Wake up," he whispered as he scratched the soft fur just behind her ear. "It's okay, you're safe…"
Slowly, the young Khajiit calmed down, and her fluttered open.
"You alright?" he asked, stroking her hair.
"You—you woke her," M'rissi said, looking up at the Nord. "Again…"
"You were thrashing about—again," he replied, offering a warm smile. "Those nightmares must be pretty bad. Do you want to talk about them?"
"She does not—but M'rissi thanks you for your concern."
"Well, if you ever want to talk, I'm right here."
M'rissi nodded, sitting up. She hesitated for just a moment before she wrapped her arms around him in a light hug and broke away.
"How far are we from Ivarstead? You said we would be there by now."
"That was before that storm hit and made us stay in that cave for two days, remember? We're lucky it happened to be above ground, most caves just flood." Erik sighed as he and M'rissi crawled from their tent, taking his bag and producing his map. "Well, if we just passed Nilheim, we should be pretty close. I'm thinking a few hours at this point. When we get there, we can finally start practice with that bow."
M'rissi frowned as her ears flattened against her head.
"She does not want to practice; she wants to relax. M'rissi has been walking for days and days and days, and she is tired of walking!"
"You walked from Solitude to Riverwood, I think you'll be fine," Erik replied, rolling his eyes. "Come on, you've been getting better, if you can nail the targets I set up—I won't make you practice until we get there. I promise."
M'rissi groaned, but sighed.
"Fine. M'rissi will do your practice. But she wants fishies for recompense! She can hear the river nearby, you will fish for her!"
Erik sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"Alright, deal."
M'rissi grinned and giggled as Erik used a flint and steel to give their fire life once more.
"I have to say, I've enjoyed our time together. Even though the Thalmor are trying to find us, being with someone in the same situation makes it…"
"Easier?" M'rissi asked.
"Yeah," he answered, poking the embers with a stick. "You know, we could probably make good money if you learned to hunt. We could save every other kill—or parts of a kill—for ourselves, sell the rest."
"M'rissi would like that. She wouldn't have to worry about where her food comes from—or if it is safe to eat."
"Yeah, I imagine only being able to eat meat and not knowing how to hunt, or not having any money is a bit tough," Erik said, grabbing the bow he gave her and handing it to her. "If you can learn, we'll be able to sustain ourselves while traveling, and get to Morrowind faster."
"M'rissi will learn," the Khajiit replied, taking the bow and grabbing the quill. "She will bring us food, and protect you."
Erik smiled and grabbed his sword and shield from the tent.
"And I'll protect you. We only have each other, after all, right?"
M'rissi nodded, giving a smile that showed her sharp teeth.
"You are right. M'rissi only has you, and you only have M'rissi. Though—she wishes she could bathe. She can smell her stench, and she does not like it."
"Yes, we've been out here for quite a while now. Ivarstead should have a bathhouse that we can use," Erik said, grabbing one of the bags and fishing out a piece of venison and handing it to M'rissi. "Here, it should still be good from yesterday."
The young Khajiit nodded and bit into the meat and gagged as she swallowed her bite.
"It is tasteless. She cannot wait to taste good food again."
"Yeah," Erik shrugged, popping a few berries into his mouth. "The berries aren't bad, but you can't eat these as a Khajiit. Still—I'd prefer meat. But, I can deal with a week of not eating meat if it means keeping you fed."
"You are kind to worry about her, but M'rissi can find food for herself."
"Well, I haven't heard you complaining when I go to hunt for your food," Erik grinned and nudged her. "You don't really mind it, do you?"
"Not at all," M'rissi replied, smiling at him. "She—she has never had anyone do these things for her. Being kind to her, and helping her, she means. This is—new to M'rissi."
"Yeah? Well—I hope you realize that's changing."
"She does—and she hopes this does not change," M'rissi said with a sigh, leaning into Erik. "You have been so kind to her. She knows you say she does not have to repay—but she feels as if it would be rude not to."
"Well—" Erik gulped; his cheeks burned as he looked off.
The girl had grown on him, and for her to be this comfortable with him—it was something he hadn't quite expected. Even after the night she spent in his arms, she didn't let him so much as hug her when she had nightmares.
"If you want to repay me—there is one thing."
"Oh?" M'rissi perked up.
"I—I would really like to get to know you more. It doesn't have to be now, or soon, but when we get to Ivarstead, I wouldn't mind having an entire day to talk about ourselves and learn about each other."
"But—you are a Nord. And M'rissi is a cat—an animal—"
"Stop with this animal business," Erik said, cutting her off. "You are no more an animal than I am. I swear—you're going to make me put you in front of one of those mirrors from Solitude, aren't you?"
"Then what is she, if not an animal?"
"A person? A woman?" Erik asked, sighing as he looked up and saw the sun beginning to rise above the mountains. "We should get moving. I don't want to hear any more of this animal talk. You aren't an animal, damn it! If you keep doing this, I might have to do something drastic."
M'rissi said nothing, but helped Erik break down their tent and helped him into his armor after they finished packing their tent and destroying any evidence that they were ever there.
Soon, they were on their way.
Hours passed as the two traveled.
"Hey, you alright?" Erik asked, nudging M'rissi. "You've been quiet for a while."
"She thought you would not want to talk. You seemed angry with M'rissi earlier."
"Angry?" Erik asked. "M'rissi, I'm not angry, far from it. I'm frustrated that you keep calling yourself an animal. You aren't, and I don't know how to show you this. The Khajiit aren't animals, even if some Nords and Elves treat them like animals." Erik sighed and stopped them. They could see Ivarstead as they crested the hill. "Personally—I've always admired the Khajiit. I want to be trained to fight by one of the caravans. I just—I don't want you to think of yourself as an animal anymore."
"She understands," M'rissi replied, nodding. "Is that the town?"
"It is," Erik nodded as they started towards the small mountainside town. "They have a lake we can fish from, and the surrounding forest is rife with deer we can hunt and sell. It'll be a good home for us—for the time being."
"Fish?" M'rissi perked up. "M'rissi would love to have fishies to eat."
Erik chuckled, and the two of them made their way into the town, where Erik sought out a couple of the town's guards, while M'rissi hid her face with her cloak.
"Greetings traveler," one of the guards spoke. "What brings you to Ivarstead?"
"The war—mostly," Erik replied. "Wanted to get away from it. My friend and I come from Rorikstead, and we were hoping we could set up a camp near the edge of town so we could have a place to stay while we hunt and sell what we kill."
"Certainly, just make sure you're not on anybody's property and there won't be an issue," the guard replied. "There's a bathhouse in Vilemyr Inn that you can use for free, and Wilhelm always has a job for anyone who asks."
"Good to know, thank you for your help," Erik nodded and motioned to M'rissi to follow him as he walked off. "We'll set up camp and then we can get started on those archery lessons."
"How will you teach her?" M'rissi asked.
"I have a few ideas," Erik replied before they set about getting their camp ready. When they were done, and Erik was out of his armor, a young redheaded Nord approached them, a bow and a quiver full of arrows on his back.
"Hail, traveler," the Nord called out. "We don't get many visitors to Ivarstead, what brings you here?"
"Looking to get away from the war," Erik replied as M'rissi turned to face the stranger.
"Oh—my, you're quite easy on the eyes. Strange looking—for a Khajiit, at least. Are you a hunter? I could teach you a few things about—"
"No. She is fine," M'rissi replied, glaring at the man. "She can be taught by her companion just fine."
The man shrugged.
"Alright, well, if you change your mind—"
"She will not." M'rissi's glare seemed to pierce through the man's very soul. He didn't stick around much after that, turning and walking away at a haste.
"You really don't like strangers, do you?" Erik asked.
"M'rissi has learned that most strangers would hurt her for their own gain. She has learned that the hard way."
"You trusted me, though, and I was a stranger."
"She said most, not all," M'rissi replied and gave a small smile. "Now, how should we start?" she asked, taking her bow and nocking an arrow.
Erik motioned to a somewhat thin tree, no thicker than Erik was.
"See that tree?" he asked. "I want you to take a shot at it."
M'rissi tilted her head and drew her bow and released the arrow, sending it flying past the tree, missing by just a few inches.
"Not bad."
"But she missed."
"Not by much," Erik replied, getting behind her. "Draw the bow without an arrow, and keep a good grip. If you let go of the string without an arrow, it'll break the bow."
M'rissi nodded, taking her stance and drawing the bow once more.
Erik took a moment, watching her body tense and shift her weight to her forward leg.
"Relax your body," Erik said as he got behind her and lifted her elbow to be level with her other arm. "Keep your weight even and don't bend your legs. When you have an arrow, use it to aim. Have it just under what you want to fire at."
Erik took a breath and guided her hands to get a better grip on the bow.
"Think you have it?" Erik asked.
M'rissi nodded silently, and Erik could see a faint blush on her cheeks as she relaxed the bow and nocked an arrow.
"Now, try to make the shot again. Try to hit the center of the tree," he said, stepping back.
"Alright," M'rissi nodded and drew her bow again, taking the corrected stance. This time, when she released her arrow, it found its place dead center of the tree.
"Good shot!" Erik smirked, patting her shoulder. "Very good shot. Now, take another one."
The young Khajiit nodded, taking another arrow and nocking it.
This time, when she fired, the arrow landed just under the second.
"I thought you said you were new to this," Erik laughed, smiling.
"She is—but—she is quick to learn."
"Clearly," he replied and walked with her to collect the arrows she shot. "Well, we can either keep practicing with the tree, or we can try something more—worthwhile."
"I want to try with something else. M'rissi is confident that she will be an excellent hunter!"
"If you're as good hitting moving targets as you are hitting stationary ones, you'll be an amazing one," Erik said, smiling. "But—we should relax today. We've done a lot of traveling, my legs are killing me, and I'm sure you could use a nice rest as well."
"But—she thought we would hunt?"
"We will, but we can do it tomorrow. We're in no rush—"
"But the Thalmor—"
"Won't cross into Stormcloak territory without knowing where to go to avoid the patrols. We're safe—for now. We won't have to worry for a couple of weeks, at least." Erik sighed and sat down near the tent, motioning next to him. "Sit with me. Let's enjoy the rest of the day."
M'rissi paused for a moment and grumbled before she sat next to him, her knees pulled to her chest as she watched the townspeople go about their day.
"You know—M'rissi did not know where she would go before she met you. She was just—getting as far away from that witch as she could." M'rissi said after a long while of silence. "And then those mercenaries found her sleeping near the river. One of them—they tried to take her—her innocence. But she got away, and ran until she found your town and got cornered. She is glad to have met you."
"I'm glad I met you as well," Erik replied and offered an open arm, though she did not accept his offer of comfort. Together, they sat there, in silence, until the sun came down and Erik built a fire for the two of them. "You've gone quiet again M'rissi. What's on your mind?"
"But the Thalmor—"
"Won't cross into Stormcloak territory without knowing where to go to avoid the patrols. We're safe—for now. We won't have to worry for a couple of weeks, at least." Erik sighed and sat down near the tent, motioning next to him. "Sit with me. Let's enjoy the rest of the day."
M'rissi paused for a moment and grumbled before she sat next to him, her knees pulled to her chest as she watched the townspeople go about their day.
Her mind drifted to the time that she spent alone. Her weeks of walking and running from the Thalmor that pursued her. Her weeks of scrounging for food, eating from thrown out meals, being beaten, and run off by innkeepers and homeowners.
Then her mind drifted to her time in Riverwood. How Erik saved her and took her in from the rain.
She reminded herself of how different he was to everyone else she'd encountered. How he went out of his way to help her, to feed her. They traveled together, and he could have ignored her the entire way, but he went out of his way to talk to her, to help her. She ripped him from his peaceful life and yet he hasn't shown a single ounce of anger or resentment.
Then she reminded herself of what was looking for her. She reminded herself of the monster that was dead set on bringing her back.
"You know—M'rissi did not know where she would go before she met you. She was just—getting as far away from that witch as she could." M'rissi said after a long while of silence. "And then those mercenaries found her sleeping near the river. One of them—they tried to take her—her innocence. But she got away, and ran until she found your town and got cornered. She is glad to have met you."
"I'm glad I met you as well," Erik replied, and opened his arm to her.
It was an offer of comfort, she knew this. She'd accepted many of those offers since they've met, and she couldn't deny that she enjoyed being held by him. But—she couldn't accept this one. No matter how bad she wanted to, she just couldn't.
Hours passed between them. Silent hours that left her to sift through her own thoughts again. This time, her mind brought scenarios where they were found, and Erik was killed, or worse, and her heart ached at the products of her imagination.
M'rissi couldn't help but shrink deeper into herself, feeling the cold embrace of depression as the sun began to set beyond the mountains, covering the mountain-side town in darkness.
Then a voice cut through the darkness like a knife. "You've gone quiet again M'rissi. What's on your mind?"
For a moment, M'rissi forgot how to breathe, and she turned to the source of the voice. Erik sat there, silhouetted by the setting sun behind him and lit by the soft light of the campfire that he'd lit.
M'rissi hesitated at the question. How would she even answer that? How would she tell him all the ways she's terrified of losing him? No—it was better for him not to know. She had to come up with an excuse, even if he didn't like it.
"She—she still asks herself why such a kind person would help an animal—"
M'rissi's words were cut short by Erik, who leaned in and kissed M'rissi before she could finish her sentence.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she pushed him away, holding him at arm's length.
"What—what are you doing?" She exclaimed.
Erik raised an eyebrow.
"I told you, the next time you called yourself an animal, I'd do something drastic," he replied. "Would any man in his right mind kiss an animal?"
His response baffled her. When he warned her earlier that day, she imagined many things, but this was not one of them.
This was supposed to just be fantasy, she thought as she wrapped her arms around her knees again and hid her blushing.
Erik sighed and moved closer, cupping a cheek with his hand. She could feel the rough calluses that covered his warm hands. They scratched against her cheek, and yet she found comfort in the touch.
M'rissi looked up to him, her orangish-yellow eyes pierced through the darkness, glowing in the darkness of his shadow.
"M'rissi—I—I can't stand seeing you like this. Anytime we aren't doing something, you just curl up and stop talking. Tell me what's really on your mind." Pain filled Erik's voice as he spoke. A genuine pain that could only come from genuine concern, a concern for her. Concern for a cat that had wandered too far from her home—or so Isael would have her believe.
"She—she is afraid," M'rissi admitted. The words slipped out before she could stop them, and when she realized what she'd said, it was too late to take them back.
"Of what?"
"Of losing you!" she said without hesitation.
No point in hiding it from him…
Tears began to sting her eyes as her imagination went to work once more, forcing her to push the thoughts out of her mind and keep talking.
"You have been so kind to her—you saved her, and have given M'rissi a chance at a better life. She—she could not stand to lose you. And the thought of it—it brings an ache to her heart that she's not ever felt before."
Erik paused for a moment, as if processing what she was saying before he smiled and brought himself closer.
"So—what you're saying is—you can't live without me?"
"She thinks so, yes."
"Well, I can't say I'm not scared of losing you either. I gave up my life in Riverwood for you, put my neck on the chopping block more than once for you. And—I've enjoyed traveling with you, and I want nothing more than to see you smile because the smile you have is beautiful. If anything happened to you—I don't know if I could live with myself."
His words made her heart flutter with joy, something M'rissi hadn't felt in a long time.
This is supposed to be fantasy—but if this is a dream, M'rissi does not want to wake up.
Without thinking about it, she leaned in and returned his kiss with a soft peck.
"She—she thinks it is love that she feels for you, no? She—loves you."
"I—I love you too."
Erik nodded and ran a hand through her hair before he kissed her. Her heart fluttered with butterflies as he cupped the back of her head and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They deepened the kiss and she felt his tongue slip into her mouth. But soon her hands wandered down to his chest, feeling his rock-hard muscles—it drew something out of her that she'd never felt before.
It was like a heat, deep within her. A yearning for something that she didn't quite understand. Her hands continued to explore, until she felt Erik stop them, right before they rested on his groins.
"I—I think we should head into the tent," he gave a soft chuckle.
M'rissi nodded, feeling her cheeks burn with fire as they retreated into the tent and Erik closed it, closing off the light from the campfire and leaving only the soft light from a single candle to illuminate the darkness.
"She—she wants something—but—she does not know what it is," M'rissi admitted as Erik drew close once again.
"Then—follow my lead, and tell me if I go too far," Erik replied and planted a kiss on her neck. His hands moved to untie her elegant robes, which were filthy from the journey here. She didn't stop him.
When they fell, she could feel his gaze on her bare body.
"E—Erik…" she whispered, being met with a kiss.
"You're beautiful," he replied, tossing the robes aside and moving to take his shirt off. But M'rissi stopped him, her heart pounding as she took over and lifted the shirt above his head.
She'd seen most of his upper body before, she'd snuck peeks at him when they cleaned in the rivers and streams on the way here, but this—this was different.
She gasped and ran her hand over his chest and down to his belly, and felt Erik's hand on her breasts as he laid her down and planted kiss after kiss. He soon created a trail of kisses that lead from her lips to her cheek, down to her neck and shoulder and drifted down, down, down to her belly, where she stopped him.
"She—she hasn't washed today," she whimpered, knowing where he was going. "She is going to smell."
"M'ri, I haven't either. I can stand a little musk," he chuckled, and before she could stop him, she could feel his tongue on her lower lips.
It was a sweet sensation that brought out a soft whimper from her.
Erik responded to it by licking again, and again, until he'd found a sweet spot that made her head go light.
It felt like hours of sweet bliss as she lay on his bedroll, feeling him lick and suck on her sex. Her eyes closed, biting her lower lip as she felt a pressure start to build between her legs.
And that pressure grew as he pushed a finger into her lips and elicited a gasping moan from her as that pressure soon became too much and burst. A shock of what felt like pure electricity shot through her body as she climaxed and held back a moan that surely would have woken the sleeping town of Ivarstead.
"E—Erik—oh gods…" M'rissi panted as Erik responded with a chuckle and a kiss. She heard the ruffle of fabric, and opened her eyes when she felt something pressing against her lips. But it didn't enter. "Erik?"
"I need to know—do you want this? I don't want to do it if you're uncomfortable—"
"Please—don't make her beg," M'rissi replied. Her words seemed to shock Erik, but he nodded and held her close as he pushed himself into her.
She had to grit her teeth when she felt the girth and length of his member. It was nothing like using her fingers, and it kind of stung a little.
"Be—be gentle," M'rissi whispered into Erik's ear.
"I will," he responded, kissing her neck and slowly began to move.
His thrusts were slow, gentle, and with each thrust, M'rissi felt so full. It felt like he was hitting all the right spots, and she was loving it.
"Gods…" Erik gasped, looking into her soft, glowing, orangish-yellow eyes.
That pressure came back, as she got used to his size and he started to pick his pace up, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
Oh gods…
M'rissi let out a soft moan as the pressure built up with each thrust, and this time Erik would also let out his grunts and moans.
Soon it was almost unbearable, her moans too difficult to try to silence.
She felt her toes and fingers curl against his back and she could almost see stars this time. She felt his member throb inside of her with each thrust, and then, right as she came to her second climax, she felt something warm and sticky spill into her.
"By the gods…" Erik gasped, touching his forehead to hers.
"She—feels so light-headed," M'rissi said between breaths, kissing Erik and cupping her hands against his cheeks as he pulled out. "What was that?"
"That—that was sex," he said with a chuckle. "You've never read the Lusty Argonian?"
"She—she was not allowed to read with Isael," M'rissi replied. "She hopes we can have more of this—sex."
Erik laughed and kissed her, rolling off of her and wrapping his arms around her.
"We can," he replied and ran his hand against the soft fur that lined her sides. He traced the edges of where her fur turned to soft, supple, skin on her belly and around her breasts. "I never imagined you looked this—this—"
"This what?"
"This sexy," he grinned, and once again M'rissi's cheeks burned. She looked up to him and kissed him, nuzzling against him.
"She loves you," she whispered.
"I love you too," he replied.