-Summerset-
The portal opens in a grand house, immaculate and perfect, the very state of Altmer being and it is here the four villains walk out, splattered with blood dirt, and other things. Lyssavi wanders around the entrance. "Have I cut up an Altmer before?" the Nord wonders.
"They scream rather easily," Spiders says. "At least the one I found."
Ri'Zakar is growling, his fur bristled with rage. "We are here because of some letter from a random High Elf" Ri'Zakar growls. "I was close. So very close."
Xahrshi turns to Ri'Zakar. "Is your revenge more important than your hatred of the moons, of Khajiit?" the Vampire asks and at the Reachman's continued growls he hands him the letter.
As he reads his growls stop. "He knows what we seek? How?," Ri'Zakar says then a small smile. "But if this is true… Or it could be a trap."
Spiders laughs his eyes turning blood red. "If the elf lies spiders will rip his skin off until he begs for mercy," Spiders hisses.
A few moments later their conversation is cut short by an Altmer aid who gives them a strange look. "I do not know what his Lordship wants with scoundrels like you, but he says it is of importance. Follow me and I will take you to the Kinlord," he says and turns the frown never leaving his face. He had served his Lord for many many years and trusted him, but...this? Still, he does as bid and leads them into a large library.
Waiting for them in a chair is an Altmer in elegant clothes, silver hair pulled up and gold eyes watching them carefully. "You may leave Eldanil," The Kinlord tells his aid and with another small frown Eldanil does as instructed closing the door on the way out.
"Ri'Zakar...of the Storm Claws Reachman tribe. Allied with the Mad Necromancer in the war, presumed dead as with all your clan. Xahrshi was once rather high-ranked in the Dominion until a werewolf attack. Presumed dead, since you left no one alive in your attacks during the Plane-Meld when you switched sides. Lyssavi...wanted for murder in East March, the Reach, Stormhaven, Glenumbra...they think you are a sadistic killer who likes cutting up their victims. If they only knew truth… and Spiders-In-Scales, a former slave who was classified at zero threat...until one night you found yourself and murdered slavers and slaves alike." The Kinlord folds his fingers together and smiles.
"How do you know those things?" Ri'Zakar growls softly.
"I have my sources," The Kinlord responds. "But does it matter what or how I know what I know? I am prepared to give you the key to your ultimate desires. What else matters in the face of that?"
This catches all their attention, even Lyssavi who has wandered to run his fingers over the Altmers book collection. Xahrshi steps closer. "We should know your name at least," the vampire says.
A small smile. "Very well. You may call me… Kinlord Vasuki," the Altmer tells them and then gestures to a black box on the table before him. "Being a Kinlord of notable standing I have access to a great many things," Vasuki tells them, "Including forbidden knowledge…that my kind has a notion to hide away thinking it is theirs to possess alone, not to use mind you, but out of a high and mighty standard that any other race cannot possibly use it correctly or wisely," he smirks. "They would erase the fact that Mannimarco was an Altmer from history if they could. A blight on perfection." At a soft growl from Ri'Zakar, he waves his hand. "I have wandered away from the matter at hand. As you well know the use of Daedric and darker forms of magic are frowned upon, and you will need the darkest sort of magic for your...unusual goals." At their suspicious looks he adds, "A shadow whispered in my ear. She said you would be familiar with that...whispers in the dark is it?" With those words, the Kinlord now has their undivided attention. "Yes, now you believe me. Not trust, no. But believe."
Xahrshi gestures to the box, his eyes never leaving the Kinlord. "What is your price?" the vampire asks.
A smile from the Kinlord, one that never reaches his eyes. "Nothing, nothing at all. Free for the taking."
"Nothing is free," Ri'Zakar growls softly stalking closer. "Power always has a price. I wish to know what yours is before we pay."
"Tell us," Spiders hisses. "Or Spiders will make you."
Xahrshi holds up a paw. "Let us not make our potential benefactor angry," he says. "But yes, tell us what do you get out of this?"
The Kinlord laughs and folds his hands together. "Why? Perhaps I want to see if it is even possible. Perhaps I am just bored. Or….perhaps I want to see the world burn." another smile, this one reaches his eyes and it is anything but nice.
Spider's eyes shift to silver and his eyes stare at the box. The box that has started to sing, Muted, but it wants to be open, what is inside wants to be READ. "Spiders believes him. He wants it to rain crimson. He wants the screams."
Xahrshi studies the Altmer anew. "You do not seem like a typical Altmer. Not the same as Mannimarco, but not like the rest of your race."
"Oh goodness, the rest of the world thinks so!" Vasuki says. "Please keep it that way for now. That...perhaps that is the only price I ask," he gestures at the box and Xahrshi picks it up and opens it. One look has the vampire's eyes widen and he quickly closes it giving a strange look to the Altmer before turning to the others with the box tucked under one arm.
"I want to see!" Spiders hisses his claws flexing in excitement. "Spiders heard your song crescendo. The excitement, the blood-lust."
"Not here," the vampire insists and turns to Ri'Zakar. With a fanged grin he says, "Nirn and Oblivion are filled with things of power, things mortals should never have. The Mad Necromancer had one. And now this Altmer has gift-wrapped us another. We need a place of ancient power to study this. You know of such, do you not?"
Ri'Zakar's eyes are on the box but he knows what the vampire must speak of. The ancient ruins underground that Nirthaarnkras had been trapped in. The faintest glimmer of pain in his eyes, a single thought of clan now lost and he moves and places a clawed hand on the vampire's arm. "Take us there," he says and the vampire opens a portal and the two walk through followed by Spiders. Lyssavi starts to it as well, several books in hand but he stops and looks back at the Kinlord. "I usually forget to ask," he says and the Kinlord laughs and gestures for him to go with his absconded books. The Nord smiles and happily follows the others, the portal closing behind.
Kinlord Vasuki rises from his chair and heads out of the room where Eldanil meets him. "My Lord," Eldanil says, "I know it is not my place, but this is most unwise. I have held my tongue about your secret questionable activities these last few months out of loyalty, in hopes they had a reasonable goal. But...I cannot keep quiet any longer. I must inform on this."
Kinlord Vasuki looks into his aid's eyes. "I have my reasons," he says, "But if you feel you must, you are free to do so."
"I...I am sorry about this," Eldanil says, "But I must."
as the aid turns Vasuki strikes, a knife, a single stab through the ribs into the heart, and as Eldanil'd body falls to the floor the Kinlord smiles. "I am not sorry about THIS," he says and then as the footsteps of the servants approach he hides the knife in his robe and leans against the wall. "Oh help, help! A thief has murdered Eldanil!"
The first to arrive is a Khajiit, "My Lord!" the Khajiit says quickly feeling for a pulse before shaking his head and turning to his Lord.
"I...I feel faint. The blood," Kinlord Vasuki says. "You know I hate blood Kharidzo. And Eldanil...the shock. I feel weak, you know my condition has worsened as of late. Please...can you deal with this? I …" he looks close to fainting and the Khajiit takes his arm. "This one will bring you to your room and contact the authority. Tell Kharidzo what he looked like and this one will take care of it why you rest."
"Dark hooded clothes, scarred face. One...one of the Hulkyd. Why they would come in here…" he trails off as Kharidzo leads him to his bed where he lies down.
"This one will tell them, they will deal with this. And we will morn Eldanil," says the Khajiit before leaving the room.
Vasuki waits till the footsteps have faded before smiling. "Too easy," he says with a laugh closes his eyes, and is soon asleep.
-?-
Nothing to do...nothing to steal...no trouble to get into...nothing to do, is Book's thoughts as she dozes on a carpet. Stratos said to stay and be quiet. He then took off all but his underwear and went to meditate in a corner. She lazily opens one eye, yes he's still there eyes closed. Perhaps he sleeps instead and her gaze falls to her hand. In this small house of gray stone and brown walls, she is a vivid sea-green. The curse that had been consuming her...that she had started thinking perhaps it would be better if she let it claim her and let fate take her away from this life...until she met the others with stories as tragic as hers, more so in fact. Her eyes move to Cheese who's lying on his stomach snoring, cracker crumbs all around him, and Licks resting sitting up, the self-imposed muzzle around his jaws least he says a word when in slumber. Book's eyes start to drift closed again. Before she can fall fully asleep however Stratos bolts straight up and shrieks a blood-curdling scream of madness that sends all three Argonians bolting straight up looking for danger, and finding none. What...Lick's gaze says as he gestures with his claws.
Stratos fails to answer instead he starts to pace in a circle his eyes glinting madly. "Butterflies, butterflies all in a storm! Broken wings lost too soon. It is TO SOON TO SOON TO SOON!," he yells then stops. "Find them. Talk to them. TRY. It is too soon to do so, but it is too soon for this too! TOO SOON! Something...something has upset the board...the threads of fate….the threads of it all are coming undone!"
Books slowly backs away, her scales turning an even more brilliant green even as her spine tells her to hide. The Breton had always been mad but threads of sanity ran through the madness that was his river, but now the river had become a deluge. "Stratos…," she whispers. Around her, the other two are also distraught by the Breton's actions. Licks has taken the muzzle off and is poised to do act should a threat arise, and Cheese is looking uncertain and lost but still, his stance is that of the Knight he once was.
Stratos turns to them a faint spark of sense dawning as he opens four portals. "Go. This is not how it should be, not how the butterflies should fly….still a chance…," Stratos says then falls silent as his intense eyes bore into theirs.
The silence stretches and at last, Cheese breaks it, "There are three of us. Four of them," Cheese says.
The Breton looks lost for a moment. "...I was meant to find four of you. The last...lost to her curse. I found her dead… I...I will look after Leaps." The three turn to go but the Breton's next words stop them. "I...this was not meant to be. You must bring sense to them. Talk to them, reach them...I no longer feel the presence of their guide on Nirn. She...has been taken off the board. This should not...not of been possible!" The madness starts to take over again and then once more the flood recedes. "...I have withheld things. Secrets… but secrets destroyed their fragile bond. You would have never had cause to know it...but the board...the pieces...butterflies..."
Licks takes a step forward and slashes a claw down. The meaning is clear. Tell.
"You MUST reach them," The Breton says. "Yo … are linked to the butterflies, I am linked to the guides as they are me. It had to be this way... But if you FAIL to reach them, if they fall, your curses will in turn devour you…"
Lick's eyes fill with fury and he opens his jaws then slams them shut and makes one step toward Stratos. Cheese blinks looking bewildered by this seemly betrayal. "Why?" Books asks. "Do...do we deserve to suffer this much for our mistakes?" As soon as the words leave her she knows the answer in her spine. She deserves it and Licks and Cheese's eyes show the same. People had died for their mistakes. Would continue to die, perhaps.
"I…they would need you. In the future. But your curses...would have consumed you far before that moment. Which is now this moment, not that moment, because it should have been that moment!" he says then takes a deep breath. "The butterflies that fly in the dark wish to break what cannot nor should not be broken. The fate of everything was, is, at stake. That is why. Chosen heroes, flawed heroes. Heroes that would need a guardian and need broken ones to find them when they broke. I...cannot say more." Stratos turns to a portal. "Fail...and I cannot save you. The guardians too are linked to the game, to the rules. Broken… I am broken now. Like jagged shards and slices of reality crumbling into dust. Time is nearly gone." he enters the portal and it shuts behind him leaving the three Argonians to decide.
Books reaches out her claws, lightly touching her two companions. "I owe it to my Bosmer to try. He died because of me. I was alone and lost because of what I did. I swim in this river even with all I know now. I'll try." and with that, she is gone through her portal.
Cheese places one fist against his chest. Knights protect, but he has killed innocents in blind mad rage because of taking what he should not of, eating it. The right reasons, all the wrong choices. "I go to," he says and he too is gone. Licks stands there for a moment. The depths of pain in his eyes makes the decision clear and he too walks through a portal.
-Reaper's March-
Leaps-With-Wolves sits on a rock dejected. Not knowing what to do...she should find her...companions...but the hatred in Tervven's voice, the pain in Talshaza's. And Rel'ihala. Leaps did not know how to feel about her. She was aligned with THAT prince. The one she may very well be protected from, but that she must never encounter. She did not want to put the protection to the test, she was not in her proper time, after all.
Time passes and then a blue glow snaps her out of her thoughts and she leaps from the rocks to stare at the nearly naked Breton that has walked out. "Butterflies cannot go home," he says quietly and at her heartbroken look, he adds, "The fate of all is at risk. You understand this better than your fellow butterflies."
The threads of madness in his eyes, butterflies. This man was touched by the Prince of Madness. Yet he spoke sense. She knew this from her family's stories all too well. "I am lost," Leaps admits. "They are lost."
A pained look across the Breton's face. "It was not to BE this way...something that should not be on the board is...I do not want to. The storm took the butterflies." The portal stays open but it shimmers a bit and the Breton glances at it. "It does not lead home. But it leads to a place that may help you decide what to do," he says. "This...is all I can do. My curse is soon to consume me, the screams and madness and all the shards of reality crumble."
Leaps bows her head toward the strange man and walks through the portal.
-Stormhaven-
A cozy room with a crackling fire is Leap's first sight as the portal closes behind her. The second is a happy squeal as a young Bosmer girl runs at her and hugs her leg. "Scales!," she says happily. "Do you know Cwab?"
"Aliya!," a male voice rings out as a Breton with messy brown hair and intense dark brown eyes walks into the room and focuses his gaze upon Leaps. His eyes start to narrow as he considers the stranger suddenly in his home but as he stares into her eyes his gaze turns puzzled. "You...somehow remind me of someone. Or someones," he says as he seems to know she means no harm or threat and accepts the oddity of her being in his house. "Whomever you are, you must be here for a reason. "Join us for dinner."
"Yes!" Aliya squeals and grabs Leap's hand pulling her into the dining room. "Knight Daddy is the best cook EVER!" she says as she leads the Argonian to a table already set out and Leaps sits next to the excited little girl. "Sneaky Daddy would be here but he's still gone!" and with that, she pouts just a little.
The Breton laughs as he sits down. "Still in Blackwood, his current job is proving...interesting. He'll return soon." The light in his eyes as he says that catches her eyes and he adds, "Once you find the one…" he says and he falls serious, "Though light and shadow, sorrow and joy. It makes the journey, no matter how hard, worth it to find someone like that."
A flash of sorrow crosses Leap's face. Perhaps her father had found that one...but she had been taken from life before Leap's had even been hatched. Some of the sorrow she always saw in her father's eyes was related to her. She thought all until she knew the truth about her family.
"AND ME!," Aliya insists, breaking the quiet moment with her joy.
"And you," the Breton says with a laugh. He glances at Leaps. "We adopted her. Too many orphans after the war.
Silence falls for a bit as the three eat lost in memories and after a time Leaps places her fork down. "It is very good," she says then looks at the Breton. "Were you in the war?" Leaps asks.
The Breton looks startled and then laughs. "You do not know who I am? It has been quite some time since that happened. It's nice." His expression turns serious and he glances at his daughter. "Go wash up and play in your room. We'll clean up later."
The little girl makes a face. "Grown-Ups talk," she says and with an eye roll does as she's asked.
He turns his attention back to Leaps. "Yes," he quietly says. A single word that holds so much.
"Is it worth it?" Leaps whispers. "To fight? To try and fix what is broken, even if it seems impossible?"
"To not fight is to lose," the Breton says. "And perhaps not just a little, but perhaps everything. The fate of much, perhaps too much at times, can ride on so few." He leans back in his chair. "What happened?" he asks. This Argonian is starting to remind him of how he was, once. Grown, but just, on the cusp of fate's cruel grasp.
"I lost my friends," Leaps whispers. "We...found each other. Started to trust each other. But...too many secrets we did not know how to share." Leaps closes her eyes. "I did something to one of them when we first met. Lost my temper. I tried to fix it, only made it worse. I thought he was starting to be alright with it...but now he hates me. Someone told him things I should have." Leaps sighs softly. "And one of the others...I do not know if I should ever trust her because of where she comes from. And the last…" she trails off. Talshaza...she cannot find a way to put that into words without revealing too much.
The Breton folds his hands together. "Secrets can tear us apart. So much can destroy the bonds we need. All you can do is give up, or you can fight for them. Hate can be overcome. And trust can be earned. We all have light and dark in us. And it is not always the dark that harms. We are capable of great good, and great evil. Some...have done both at times, in the name of darkness, as well as in the name of light. Things are not black and white." he falls silent and looks carefully at Leaps. "Friends are worth it. They become family and the bonds formed in light and shadows nothing can tear asunder."
Leaps ponders the words carefully and then stands. "It is important, they are important and I will find them. I fix this," Leaps says and turns to go, not surprised to see the portal has opened once more for her and she turns her head to look back at the Breton. Some of the things he has said have reminded her of stories her family told her of long ago. And neither of them had introduced themselves. "Thank you," Leaps says quietly. "I think...perhaps I do know you from stories my egg-father told me. I am Leaps-With-Wolves," and with those words she turns and the portal closes behind her.
-Reaper's March-
Tervven sits in a tree staring down at the river below him. He had thought she'd fix things, that he could go home and all would be as it was...even if he never cared for how things were. As he stares into the waters he's lost in a memory from several years ago.
-" You want to WHAT?" Donmis roars.
Tervven is at a loss for words. He did not expect this result. "I…," he trails off as his father glares at him.
"We are a proud House. How could you wish to be in any other?" Donmis says. "You belong here, you will take over when I am gone. And trust me in saying this, for it is for your own good Tervven, you would never be smart enough, or cunning enough for your foolish dreams. Pull your head out of fantasy and back into reality."-
Tervven had never brought it up again. But after that day he changed. Instead of learning his House's duties and preparing for his future, he started chasing around common Dunmer women, and when not doing that was utterly lazy. Even… "Damn it!," Tervven swears as he pats his pockets. It was gone, that little notebook of his. As was his future. The one he had wanted, and the one he had been forced into. Now he was alone, save for the fetching lizard beast hiding under his skin. "Damn it…," he whispers. A glowing blue appears briefly and then fades and the next thing the Dunmer knows there is an orange-scaled Argonian under his tree. "Another fetching lizard? I have had enough of your kind. Enough for a lifetime and beyond! Go away!" he snarls.
Cheese blinks up at him unphased, for he had been a slave once upon a time and was used to the Dark Elves' attitude toward those they considered less so he ignores Tervven and sits under the tree. "Cannot go back home to my life either," Cheese says. "One mistake. Ruin."
"Mistake?" the Dunmer spits. "This was done to me on purpose! Did someone mess things up for you?"
Cheese shakes his head. "Wanted to save them. But my weakness caused me to take more than I should. Cursed. Innocents die when it sweeps over me." Cheese shudders slightly. "You need them. You could be lost too. Your beast could rend and tear and when you wake from the nightmare, crimson, and carnage all around," Cheese says. "And it may happen over and over. Till all you are is lost. I was nearly all the way lost before my friends. Cursed like me, in different ways."
The Dunmer is silent. Perhaps the words have started to reach him for he sighs. "...They are not my friends," he says. "That fetching lizard ruined my life! Sold me out to her Prince! Some shadows had to tell me all her little fetching secrets."
Cheese's eyes move to look into the tree. "So they did not try to be nice to you? Or help you?"
Tervven falls silent. He never had friends. Never tried, after his father denied him his wish. The journey, as short as it was, with the three women he had been thrown in with was... different. Then the thoughts become too much and he stands. "I...I deny all of this. I do not care!" he yells and leaps from the tree, a Dunmer one moment, the Were-Lizard the next as he takes off.
"Less venom…," Cheese whispers and sets off after the were-lizard, keeping upwind so Tervven would not know he was being followed. In the past, before the curse, a good sit and something tasty had always sorted out Cheese's river. He hoped it would be the same for the lost Dunmer.
Some distance away Rel'ihala is sitting by a rock head resting on her arms as she fights against the memories that threaten to consume her. The memories that kept her from accepting her mentor's offer. As hard as the Imperial struggles though, the memories eventually win and pull her under.
-The little girl stands at the foot of the stairs hidden in shadow as she listens in on her mother talking to a soldier, and she hears things little ones should not here.
"Things have taken a turn for the worse," The soldier tells her mother. "This is not an easy thing to tell, but your husband has been declared a traitor by the Emperess for failing to follow orders."
Her mother gasps in horror. "He is no traitor, Lian," she says.
"I know. Those who trust and follow him know. Most of us are with him still, declared traitors as well. But they are hunting him now. They want to set an example of him, to prevent true Imperials from rising up against all this wrong. You and your daughter need to leave the city. They will come after those who side with him..and they will come after his family too. These are dark times...how we have fallen." Lian takes a breath. "I have already spoken to others of his extended family. Come dusk, we need to leave before it is too late."
Her mother closes her eyes. "The house in the country. It is not linked to his name or any of ours. He...he said we would be safe there."
"Pack lightly. I'll return with my men to escort you out." And with those words, he leaves.
The little girl cannot help but to sniffle and her mother rises and turns to her and the girl runs to her mother's open arms. "Daddy's not a traitor," she whispers. "I want daddy."
Her mother's arms were around her, warm and safe. "Never believe that. Never," her mother tells her. "Your father kept his promise. He did the right thing. And he… he will keep his promise and come back to us. Be brave, my little angel."-
The memories at last let go and Rel'ihala raises her head. "Why will you not leave me alone!" she yells then closes her eyes. She should have gone with Xahrshi. Her...not friends. Those people...just left her. After...just because of where she was from? She should have gone with him. The only thing that stopped her was the other girl's memories. The one that had flashed before her eyes at that moment...so what if the Daedra killed those people? They must have been weak. The strong cull the weak, it was what she was taught. You do not sit and cry for the weak. But the other girl did. The other girl trembled and cried and was so weak. Why did she have a hold over HER? She was strong and fierce...and was just fine being all alone.
A clatter of claws has Rel'ihala's head snapping her eyes open to behold an Argonian with glowing white scales. "You stand out a lot," Rel'ihala says. "Now go away."
Books ignores the angry words and sits down in front of her. "You do not sound as if you want me to go away," Books says. "Where are your friends?"
The Imperial swallows. When she's alone the memories are worse. They indeed plagued her when traveling with the others...but nowhere near as bad. But her traveling companions had run to all corners of Reaper's March. Unable to look beyond secrets. Unable to look beyond...certain facts. The Daedra were not...bad. They saved her and gave her purpose and life. But all they saw was nightmares. "Not friends," Rel'ihala hisses, "They ran away. Glad. They are a weakness. I am not weak."
Books rests her head on her knees and looks at the lost Imperial. "I thought I wanted to be alone too. To live alone, to fall alone. Thought that was all I deserved. My mistake cursed me and my beloved died. He was the most precious shiny in all the world. If I had not let greed blind me...he would still be here with me. But at long last I found others like me. We swim in the cursed river together. You...should not give up so easily. You should still try. Try to explain your truth. Try to let them accept it."
Rel'ihala is silent for long moments before she stands up. "I… should not need them. I should be strong enough to cast the other girl from my mind and stand strong. So I can return home!" the Imperial says and then she turns and one more runs.
Books stands and waits for a time then starts after her. She will have to be very careful or the Imperial will know she tails her. Books...is anything but stealthy with her scales glowing in the night. But she saw the look in the young woman's eyes. Doubt, a desire to try. She just needed to realize that herself.
Talshaza had found the road that leads through much of Reaper's March and she was slowly walking down it lost in thought. She had found companions and thought perhaps they could be friends. But the shock of finding out secrets, and not just theirs. She had no idea Iveryni had...done such a thing. That was enough to send her reeling but to know Rel'ihala was… or knew how to use...dreaded necromancy… and Leaps… how...why? The war had ended, the truth of it all was that the heroes won, but details had always been lacking. But was that how it happened? If so then how had the mad necromancer been allowed to LIVE? ~Talshaza...~ The staff whispers. "Not now!" the Dunmer woman snaps. She cannot handle anything more. She...perhaps she should just go home.
Claw-steps soon join her and she glances at the Argonian who has joined her on the road. He looks at her quizenly and she just sighs and tries to outpace him but he pulls in front of her and stops and sits, gesturing for her to do so as well. Talshaza pauses and then sighs and sits down as well. She should be more careful. But she's too tired, too heart-sick to care.
Licks studies the Dunmer and then scratches his claws into the dirt, a nearby lantern the only source of light in the night. ~Friends?~
The Dunmer stares at the words. "I...do not know," she whispers. "Too many secrets and shadows," a single tear falls down her cheek. "I cannot be this. The staff and the power in it...what it has unleashed. Perhaps it is more of a curse than a gift. Perhaps it found the wrong Dunmer."
The Argonian's claws scratch at the dirt. ~At least you can choose to use it or not. At least you have hopes of controlling it.~
She reads the message and then brings her eyes up to the Argonian, seeing what she was blinded to at last and the pain she now sees in those eyes, there is no end to it and it chills her to the bone and she leaps up. "I...I cannot do this. Not now, perhaps not ever," she whispers. "I need time to think. I need…," a look comes over her and she raises a hand to the pendent. Knowing where she needs to go and why. That cloaked man in Blackwood...the look he gave her. She opens a portal and looks back at the Argonian. "You are going to follow me, are you not?" she asks.
Licks nods as he rises. Gestures that he will stay back and leave her to her task in peace.
Who was this strange Argonian? Why did she feel no trepidation at him following her? She did not know and she puts it out of her mind and steps through the portal.
-Blackwood-
The portal closes and Talshaza looks around. She thought she'd appear in the city, but instead, she's underground. Unsavory types are dealing with fences and are cloistered away in dark corners. The Dunmer swallows and slowly starts to explore, all too aware she does not belong in a place like this. All too aware these people know.
"Over here," a soft voice calls to her.
The Dunmer looks over and sees the very man she has sought and he turns and walks down a dark hallway and she follows until they get to a quiet corner. The man is as she saw him last, cloaked and hooded. "Most would not seek out one such as I...unless they have a particular reason. But that is not your reason is it?" he asks.
It takes her a while to find the courage to speak, longer still to ask her question. Not knowing if he would know, just knowing he knows the staff she held. That he somehow gave approval that night she and Tervven ran into him. "Why?" she whispers. "Was it just her who did it, or did all of you…" she stops not knowing how to say the words.
The man turns to look at her, his intense dark eyes staring into her own and then they turn to the staff. "I thought perhaps… but she is still gone. Always gone. Nothing escapes Sithis...death in the end. Not even us"
"A shard of memory," Talshaza whispers.
The man sighs softly. "You remind me of us, back on the cusp of the war. Adults, but so young still. Most of us had our demons. But…" his voice turns soft and warm. "My light...he had no demons save for grief and confusion he had from a lost sister. He came into destiny pure and innocent. Thinking light was light and dark was dark. It was easier for me than for the others. But for him...anything but," he leans against the wall arms crossed. "You have seen darkness, death. I can see it in your eyes. But you have yet to be truly immersed in it, to be front lines of a war in which light and dark blur to such an extent that you are blinded. To have the fate of the world resting on you and your friends, and not knowing what the right path is, if there is any right path at all. Yes, we did things that will stain our souls forever. The scars will last until the Void takes us. Were we right to use such extreme measures? I do not know. I do not think I will ever know."
Talshaza takes in his words. Thinking how bad the Mad Necromancers war was. How if they had lost, all would be dead and gone. Nothing but bones and dust. It had to have seemed worth it to prevent that. Doing anything, at any cost and she slowly nods. "I do not know if I can do this still...but thank you. That puts my mind at ease a little," she says.
He nods and then carefully looks at her. "You cannot be alone in this. Where are your companions? I remember that rude little Dres I ran into."
The Dunmer thinks. Secrets rend them asunder, but should they stay that way? When she ran she wanted anything but to stay close to Leaps and Rel'ihala. Necromancy, the Mad necromancer...to think they could have anything to do with them. "...did you kill them?" she whispers. "In the end? Everything assumes that is what happened."
Silence for long moments. "It should have been that way. With all logic and sense, it should have come to that. But nothing is as simple as good and evil." At her shocked look, he adds, "Do not think they got away free and clear in this. They did not. They have penance that will last for time uncounting and scars beyond number on their souls. But they very much were victims as well as villains in this. Keep that in mind, there is light in the dark, and dark in the light."
Long moments of silence as Talshaza processes this. "I still do not know if I can do this," she says. "But...perhaps I owe it to my companions to find them. To ask their truths, and then decide."
The man nods. "Friends become family, and bonds form stronger than the darkest night, and the brightest day. Remember this." And with those words, he turns and is gone soon after, as if the shadows themselves devoured him.
Talshaza turns and walks out of the hallway, not surprised to see Licks waiting for her and she slowly nods and opens up a portal back to Reaper's March.
-Reaper's March-
Most of the night Leaps-With-Wolves searches for her companions. Briefly picking up Tervven's trail before it vanished into water, Talshaza's before it vanished into nowhere, and no trace of Rel'ihala. The Imperial knew how to hide. With no idea what to do next Leaps turns and starts walking back to the shrine, the last place she had seen her friends but before she can go far a portal opens in front of her and Talshaza walks out.
The two look at each other for long moments and it is the Dunmer who speaks first. "I...thought it was simple. Good or bad, light vs. dark," Talshaza whispers. "But the heroes did unspeakable things during the war in desperation to stop the end."
The Dunmer had been somewhere special that night, just as Leaps had. And now it was Leap's turn to speak. "All my life, I never knew the river's depths. I saw such sadness and pain in my egg-father's eyes, I thought it was just for our lost egg-mother...she died of sickness before I hatched, but when I decided to follow Hircine's path, like my Grandmother, I was told truths. Truths...I did not know yet how to share with you." Leaps says and then pauses a moment before continuing. "My Grandmother and Egg-Father in their past did the most horrific of things. Egg-Father because of the Daedric influence that was within him at the time and for all the pain and torture he suffered...he always said he held blame for what happened...not just the Daedric aspect, and my Grandmother because of love. She lost so much of herself fighting for Nirn in the Plane-meld and beyond...in the end, she could not bear to lose her son. And who his father was...never mattered to her in the slightest."
Understanding starts to bloom in Talshaza's eyes. As with most of Tamriel, she thought the villains to be just that. So simple, when it was anything but. "How are...they alive?" she asks. "The world thinks then dead."
"It is far too long a story to tell in full for now," Leaps responds, "But I will tell you, all of you, soon, but a short version...then ending, Egg-Father and his pack fought back against the Daedric aspect within him...he destroyed the relic even knowing it would destroy him. But certain...beings stepped in and gave them a second chance for penance and for a chance to simply be." At the Dunmer's look, she adds, "Not for free. Never for free. The pack was torn asunder, never to be reunited until they saved as many lives as they took. And their names, including my Grandmother, who was the Vestige and hero of Nirn once upon a time, were wiped from nearly all minds on Nirn and from the history books." she stops and blinks softly. "Even death is kept from them. My Egg-father is the only one who dies, only to be reborn and have his memories restored upon coming of age."
Talshaza quietly absorbs this all, though her face is puzzled. "I never thought much about it. The name of the Mad Necromancer is never spoken, nor any of those who ran...who was his clan," The Dunmer says and then the meaning sets in. They were not just villains, but something else. clan, family, with bonds strong enough that they never were broken, no matter how far into darkness they traveled, and in the end...they found the light again. To be torn asunder from each other after that...for all they had done. "I do not know if I can forgive that easily," she says. "My parents died because of the war. But…," she looks into Leap's eyes. Not a hint of evil, of darkness in those eyes. And then she remembers the Khajiit who attacked her. The darkness in those eyes. Different as night and day. "I will try to understand."
Leaps nods. "My… Egg-father. He still does not think he deserves to be forgiven. Ever. Even though I see nothing of the darkness that once existed in him," Leaps says. "Grandmother and Egg-Father are traveling Tamriel, they can interfere with no great conflict, but they are helping people. The time in my tribe was a brief respite...he found one he loved, if only for a short time, and then to the raising of my brothers and me." Leaps smiles, a hint of sadness in the smile. "My brothers are content to be Argonian. To stay in the tribe, to raise eggs of their own in the tribe. They know nothing of the depths, for they do not need to."
A quiet silence descends on both as they walk together back to the shrine.
"My secret," Talshaza says at last. "This staff was Iveryni's and a shard of her memory is within. I saw her do horrible things during the war, that Khajiit that attacked me, she killed his tribe including children because they sided with the…," she stops and looks at Leaps.
"He was known as Viperish Night back then, now he goes by Keerasi-Zish, his egg-spoken name.
The Dunmer nods and speaks again, "History is written, but there is much we do not know. I thought...I was naive. I do not think I wish to be so anymore."
Leaps smiles softly, "It is not so bad to be naive when one is young. Carefree days in the marsh with my egg brothers, I would not trade that for anything, even if I chose to leave such days, even if it led to knowing what is in the depths." Leaps looks curiously at Talshaza. "I...looked for you. But I feared you would run again. Did...someone strange take you someplace?"
"I met an Argonian who did not speak," The Dunmer answers. "But I sought out the assassin I and Tervven ran into in Blackwood myself. The way he looked at the staff...I wondered if he might be one of the four from the war, and if not someone who knew them," she says and her look turns thoughtful. "It was him and he helped me understand some things. Enough to bring me back to you, and the others I hope. I will try not to run again. I was...afraid."
"A strange Breton found me," Leaps said. "Took me to a house where another Breton helped me," she trails off and tilts her head. "Hearing stories of them and seeing them in the flesh is different. I did not know who he was at first, but one of the four as well. The depths are worth it, the fight is worth it."
A small laugh from Talshaza. "Seems we both met heroes tonight," she says. "I…," she trails off.
"Not what you expected," Leaps finishes for her. "He was so normal, yet so touched by the war, yet they made bonds that lasted, made a calm and happy river after."
"It seems both sides ended the mad war," Talshaza says. "And now it is up to us to stop the next. Even if I am still afraid."
Silence falls after that, no more words need to be spoken as they walk back to the shrine in hopes their companions will be waiting for them.
Unknowing to the two women, something sinister watches from the shadows. As soon as they disappear from view the Shadow Khajiit emerges a hiss on her lips. "So those two found their way," she whispers with narrowed eyes. "Very well...the other two will not find their way so easily. This one will make sure of it." With a sinister grin, the cat slips back into the shadows.
-Near Dune
The Dunmer Were-lizard and Cheese approach Dune and the Shadow Khajiit watches from the shadows as the Were-lizard pauses near the city and then continues. With a small twisted smile Shadow Khajiit's eyes fall on Cheese who's nearing the city now, intent on quietly following the lost Dunmer. "He will be lost, this one will make sure of it," she purrs and then pushes a food cart down the wall.
Cheese's eyes are locked onto the were-lizard in the distance as he keeps up a steady pace...but then he stops as a wheel of cheese rolls from a cart and onto his clawed feet. It is all he can see, all he can know and he sets upon it and once every crumb is gone the Argonian turns his eyes, now filled with lost berserk rage...upon Dune.
Unaware of what is going on behind him Tervven continues until he trips over a rock and collapses on the ground, his were-form leaving him. All around him are giant scorpions but they give him a wide birth knowing he is the alpha predator, even if he's a bit clumsy. "Damn fetching lizards…," Tervven whispers as he closes his eyes, uncaring of the dangerous creatures all around him. She was the source of all his woes! But...he cannot help remembering the hunt in the forest. How he had never once in his life felt so...free. Unrestricted by house or father or his inability to seize what he wanted. Slowly he opens his eyes. Would...would she care enough to find him? After all, he said? In that moment he finds himself hoping she is looking for him. That she will find him. He has always been alone in many regards, but he never has felt it so profoundly as now and he struggles to sit up looking back toward the shrine. Perhaps he should go back. Perhaps… "I deny all of this…," he hisses but as he rises he starts to retrace his steps regardless but before he can go too far a portal opens and he stops and looks through it. A place of dust and shadow, and so many books. One's he has heard of, ones he has not. A book covered in dust catches his eyes. Werewolf on the cover, Daedric curses below.
~Are you sure...there is no cure for your affliction?~ A shadowy voice asks him. ~Would it hurt to take a single look before you return to your companions?~
A step forward as he remembers learning things against his father's wishes. Books hidden away, now forgotten since he gave up that path the day his Father denied it. One look...would not hurt. The books would be worthless and then he could return. Just a single look. And with that, the Dunmer steps through the portal and it closes behind him.
The shadows move to a different location of Reaper's March, a fire in which sits a group of mercenaries. The Shadow Khajiit whispers. ~A bounty is near. The Argonian thief whose scales do the strangest things. You are aware the bounty is rather large. She has in the past stolen things from a Telvanni Mage. You know they pay well.~ The group of men look around and then discuss it...and set out. Seeming to know where to go...for the shadows lead them thus.
Books are following Rel'ihala in the Imperial's mad dash across the wilds of Reaper's March. So intent on her chase she fails to notice the men approaching her until she's surrounded. A small hiss as her eyes dart to each in turn. Dangerous men, many. And she scales glowing with the light of the moon, a beacon in the dark. She knows why they are here, she's aware there are warrants out for her arrest and even bounties but why now? Her thoughts go to Stratos. Things are going...wrong. A small hiss as she withdraws a knife. "One chance," she tells them. "Let me do what I must then you can have me. If not, you will die. I must do what I must. No matter what!" The mercenaries laugh at that and close ranks and Books desperately looks toward the wilds. Can she deal with these fast enough? She must help the Imperial. Before it was too late.
After running for what seems like forever Rel'ihala stops and sits on the ground breathing hard. Memories of another girl clashing with the strange Argonian's words, and the past few days with companions. "Who…," she starts then growls and starts again. "I am Rel'ihala. Ward of Zen'la, student to Xahrshi, one day to be one of Coldharbour's best warriors," she says and then falls silent and looks at her hands. Was all that...bad? It was all she knew, save from the other girl's memories. Nothing about it seemed evil to her. But others...did they think so? She had never been outside Coldharbour since being adopted. Never knew anything else till recently. With a sigh, she thinks of things she would never voice. For months she's been fighting the girl. Fighting the unwanted memories. She did her best to shut them out, to kill them, but all efforts failed. Sleep impossible, training even harder with so little rest. And there was no forgiveness in Coldharbour. One slip and she would be dead, never to be more. She had … failed. Failed to deal with the girl, she did not even know how. Did…would they...could they...help? If they ever accepted her? Slowly she rises and turns the way she came. She could go back. Do what that strange Argonian suggested. Tell her truths, see if they would understand...and what else was there to do? So she takes a step and then another.
~Are you sure?~
Rel'ihala stops at the shadowy whisper and looks around eyes narrowed.
~To travel with your companions, is it not against everything you've been taught and trained? Trusting in others, is this something the Daedra would do? Stopping villains?~
Rel'ihala's expression turns uncertain for a moment before focusing straight ahead again. And then a portal opens. A blast of frigid air pauses her once more and she stares at it. "She told me not to go home…," Rel'ihala says as she longingly looks at the portal. Torn between two paths.
~A moment. Just a moment. Then come back to the warmth of this place.~
The Imperial turns to the portal and almost steps forward. Before the memory flashes, the one that crashed into her mind when Xahrshi held out his paw to her. Confused once more she turns and runs toward the Shrine.
The shadows part and the Shadow Khajiit emerges as the portal closes. Her eyes narrow as she hisses. "This one will take a bit more of a push. But perhaps home was the wrong tool to use. Perhaps this one should go after her fragile mind instead." The Khajiit hisses and then turns enveloped by the shadows once more.
Halfway to the shrine, Rel'ihala stops dead in her tracks. In the shadows a girl waits, watching her. "You...Who are you?" The girl stares at the Rel'ihala, her eyes unnatural glowing in the darkness before she fades from view. Rel'ihala backs and then turns, the girl is behind her. "GO AWAY!" Rel'ihala hisses and calls forth shards from the ground sending them scattering all around the girl who vanishes once more. Breathing hard the Imperial turns only to find the girl in front of her again. She leaps backward and falls through a portal.
The Shadow Khajiit emerges from the shadows and laughs. "To think the big bad warrior would be so afraid of a little girl," she hisses as she steps into the shadows. The trip to Imperial City should help break her. Enough so she will never think to return to her companions. One last sinister laugh and the cat vanishes into the shadows.
-Summerset-
The Kinlord had slept the day away. Waking briefly for dinner and taking his servant's report before sleep takes him again. When he wakes once more it is deep in the night and the manor is quiet. Kinlord Vasuki makes his way to his study and places a hand against a secret panel. It opens and he walks in humming under his breath as it closes behind him and he continues down a curving staircase into the depths of a cave that exists under the manor. Here he moves through the narrow tunnel until it opens up into a larger cavern lit by eerie glowing candles, the flickering light revealing strange runes carved into the wall. A pedestal with a glowing gold book with twin moons sits near the center of the cavern in front of a barrier and inside two Senche-Rahts. One has soft white fur that seems to glow in the dark, and the other has vivid golden fur that also glows. Both cats have magical chains encircling their legs making any escape impossible. The Kinlord steps close to the barrier and his eyes inspect every inch of the room before they return to the cats. All is as it should be and a small evil smile crosses his face. "Little cats," he says in a mocking tone and laughs when growls meet his words. "You thought to save yourselves, to save everything else. Not directly, never directly, but in your own little way," Kinlord Vasuki says with a sinister laugh. "But you made one mistake. You never saw me coming. No one did, no one could," he throws his head back and laughs. "The board is now MINE. Now to sit back and watch the show."
-The Reach, deep below-
The portal opens and the four villains walk out. Lyssavi stops dead in his tracks and he turns in a circle taking it all in. With a flash, he's off to explore and touch everything. Spider's eyes turn gold as his gaze moves to the corners. "The song here is faint, ancient," Spiders hisses as he moves around. Xahrshi moves to a large upright stone in the middle and places the box, turning to Ri'Zakar. "Dragon Priest temple," he remarks.
Ri'Zakar's eyes move to the box. "Yes. I do not know why they would imprison a dragon in a soul gem if it were them. Or even how. Nirthaarnkras did not tell me.
The vampire looks at the Reachman curiously. "You do not have his memories?"
Ri'Zakar is quiet for long moments as if deciding if he should answer or not. "No," he says at last. "Fleeting dreams, power unlike any I had before...and this strange transformation that occurred at the edge of death." his eyes move to Lyssavi. The Nord had saved him just as much as the dragon had.
"The box," Spiders says returning. "Spiders can hear it. It wants OUT."
The Nord also returns. "How does a book want out?" he says puzzled.
A laugh from Xahrshi. "It is a book. It will tell us how to do the impossible. But," a fanged grin at this, "it is also a gateway to a prison if that is the right word." And with that, he moves to the stone and opens the box. Inside is a book as dark as the darkest night with a faint shadow of a moon on it and he places this book on the stone. "Circle, and draw your blood at the last word," he tells them. To do what the vampire wants, without question… but what they desire is more powerful than anything else. Spiders is the first to come closer, followed by a bright-eyed Lyssavi and finally Ri'Zakar.
Xahrshi opens the book to the first page, the words are in an ancient lost language and the vampire runs his claw over it and it transforms into modern words. "By what is hollow, what is dark, by death and decay, by eclipse and shadows, we call to you. We who curse the bright, we who curse the blessed, we who would see them shattered and broken, we release you!" Xahrshi intones and then with a quick claw slash his blood splatters on the book.
Spider's eyes glow blue as he hears the books song and that which they will release and his spine tingles. So close to the song he seeks and he eagerly rips open his arm and spills his blood as well. A small curious smile on Lyssavi's face as he takes a knife and adds his blood as well, and then it is Ri'Zakar's turn. A small pause as his thoughts briefly touch his clan, lost forevermore from his grasp. They would not want him to do this...but he no longer is bound by clan and blood. Only hatred sings to him now and his claws puncture flesh splattering blood upon the page.
The last drop of blood hits and the book glows with black light and a wave of force pushes the four away. When the light and shadows fade a Senche-Raht with fur as black as the darkest night has appeared. His eyes glow as he glances at them in turn then tilts his head up and howls a bloodcurdling shriek. "Freedom," he hisses. "And this one can feel bright and blessed are trapped as I was." he turns to the villains with a delightful look in his eyes. "You will learn how to do what this one wants, and you will do it for it is also what you want." His eyes glow with deadly promise as the four gather around him and the book.
-?-
Stratos Firn returns to the house and stands in the middle, it feels so empty without them. A shudder passes through him and he moves to the wall and leans against it arms wrapped around himself. Two found, two lost. Not enough. Never enough. What would happen to Books and Cheese? Their charges, lost, perhaps never to be found. He had told the truth. They had to be connected. Just as he had to be connected to Shade and the Shadow Khajiit. But something had happened to Shade. He felt her briefly and then nothing more. And the Shadow Khajiit..something had snipped her leash. That …. should not have been possible. "This is not possible!" he yells.
~They will fall to madness~
Stratos jerks around and stares at the mirror where a shadowy form has appeared. It gets close and closer and then it is him and he is it. But that is not right for he is here and that is there. "No, no no," Stratos says throwing a hand of warding up at the mirror. That was the Stratos he was, after the madness had devoured him whole. He had...he had been given threads of brief sanity, among the madness all consuming. But it was slipping away.
The figure laughs. ~You will fall as well once more. You will be as you should be! Mad, crazy, all the butterflies thrown to the winds! Admit it, it felt so good to be so unrestrained so FREE. You brought it on yourself you know!"
Stratos howls and grabs a chair and throws it at the mirror and it shatters into pieces. But a moment later the pieces fly up in the air and encircle the Breton screaming at him.
~You thought to escape your fate?
LET YOUR GLORY SHINE!
Forget this sanity….IT IS LOST~
Stratos falls to the ground and grips his head with his hands. "I KNOW!" he yells. "All the glory, the butterflies, but one task. I could do this one thing before it took me again!"
The voices scream at him again. ~FAILED!
THE END
They will fall
all the pretty butterflies…..
YOU WILL FALL AGAIN
back to where you belong
back to the depths of madness!
MADNESS~
Stratos falls to the ground his fingernails gorging at the floor. "So be it," he whispers. "But let them have more time! Butterflies are not yet lost. The guides may be, but the butterflies still fly! Still have a chance to be unlost!" he yells.
~Grrrrrrrrrr
Fine
for now!
but you will take
Their burden
YOUR PART IS OVER!
They will remain at the edge
of madness
until…
What should not be broken
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssss broken
Until they fail!
To beeeeeee what they need to be
It is doomed to fail now!
That which should not BE
on the board
IS!
No way for the butterflies
TO BE
SAVED! But you will have your time, and you will fall NOW!
Even though...
Madness
chaos
will be the end result
THE END
AGREE?!~
It was never meant to be this way but the why of it is slipping away as Stratos teeters on the brink. There had to be hope. There was two butterflies unlost. If they could find the lost….maybe..."Agree," Stratos hisses and then a tide of madness sweeps over and the Breton is utterly lost to it forevermore.
-Shadows-
No way out. No hope, and yet Shade-Whiskers refuses to give in to despair. She will find a way out. No matter what. Even if it seems hopeless, there must be a way out. After another time of searching, she sits on the ground and quietly meditates. This place is unnatural. There is no sense of time, day or night here. There is no hunger or thirst as well. If Shade was not sure she still lived, she would think herself a spirit and nothing more. Suddenly a tremor passes through her and her eyes bolt open. Knowing somehow what has happened to her fellow watcher. And then the shadows seem to grow more dense and Shade springs to her feet and hisses. "I know you are there!"
The Shadow Khajiit appears with a smile cloaked in darkness. "Having fun, Kitten?" she purrs.
Shade-Whiskers hisses. "You will not win! They are not lost, I can still feel them."
The Shadow circles her. "Two perhaps not...but two so very close. As for winning…my master has won. It is just a matter of time till all know it."
Shade stares into the Shadow Khajiit's eyes. "Evil never wins utterly," she says defiantly. "You will be stopped. I trust them to find their way."
A wicked smile from the Shadow Khajiit. "Never wins...perhaps not the war, not yet. But the battles it has won...your Mother would agree would she not if she still lived? Butchered by vampires, why a little kitten watched in such fear."
Shade freezes. "How do you know that? How can you?" she hisses.
The Shadow Khajiit laughs. "How does this one know? This one was there," she says, and as she walks toward shade the shadows that have always surrounded her fall away.
Shade takes a step back and then another. The eyes that stare at her are HER eyes. The fur, the same dark gray, the hair the same silky locks she possesses. The only difference is the netch spots, crimson red and ebony black. "This is...this is a trick!" Shade hisses.
"A trick?" Shadow Khajiit purrs. "No trick. You must remember that night not so long ago. The nightmare, the certainty that all was wrong when nothing was. This one was created on that night. Shade…," she laughs. "What a strange turn of the tail that your name is thus, when you no longer have shade or shadow, for it was rent from you to create this one." A devious grin. "If you must still be Shade-Whiskers, then this one is Shadow-Whiskers. One and the same, and yet torn asunder."
It cannot be so, but it is not the first time shadows have taken leave of another. It had happened in Clockwork, once. And as Shade studies Shadow, she sees herself in those eyes. The darker parts of herself, the times when despair nearly overwhelmed her. "How?" Shade hisses.
"My Master," Shadow purrs. "But that is all you get for now. You must stay here...until all your butterflies have fallen and you have nothing left to guide." She laughs and vanishes, leaving Shade utterly alone once more.
-Two weeks later, Rawl'kha-
Talshaza and Leaps-With-Wolves sit at a table. Night has covered Reaper's March. "How could they just vanish?" Talshaza whispers. "Tervven, Rel'ihala, the strange ones that helped us, even our guide."
Leaps is quiet in thought. The two women had spent the last two weeks up and down the whole of Reaper's March, finding nothing. And the ones that helped them, their mysterious guide, were gone. "I thought they would return to our river," Leaps says at last. "I do not know what to do."
The two sit in quiet thoughts as the moons rise above. Suddenly Leaps jumps up and growls softly as his spine tingles in warning. The Dunmer looks at her in alarm and a moment later a great roar echoes as the ground quakes violently. The two hold on to the table and after the quake passes Talshaza rises. "Leaps. I need to go home," she says.
Leaps blink rapidly. "You cannot leave! We need to…," she trails off. Need to do what? She looks helplessly at the Dunmer woman.
"Need to find our friends. Need to fight the villains. Yet not a single sign of either," Talshaza says as her hand moves to her staff her expression troubled. "Leaps, the whispers from Iveryni shard grow quieter each day. I must return home to check on my brother and to learn whatever I can before it is too late," she says and moves to the Argonian, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I will return, I promise. We are bound, we are friends. I will not forget this. I have told you where home is, find me if you need to, or I will come to find you when I am done."
Leaps sighs softly, her hand going to the Dunmer's. "They are lost despite it all," the Argonian admits. "I will continue to search for anything that may help us find them, or find out what is going on. Here...and in any other places I can think of."
The Dunmer nods. "I sent word to House Dres of Tervven, but they never did respond. I will go call upon their house when I return, in case he went home," she says and her hand leaves Leaps to clasp at the amulet. "Until we meet again, Leaps-With-Wolves," she says and opens a portal home, vanishing within.
Leaps stand still for a few moments then she turns towards Reaper's March. No trace here, so she will hunt elsewhere. Anywhere she can think of, perhaps even to the one place she should not hunt in… for Rel'ihala may have returned home as well. And with that, she sets off.
