-Imperial Sewers-

Xahrshi's portal opens into a place of despair. Dark gloomy corners, damp stone walls streaked with filth and dried blood, skeevers that hiss from the shadows, and a cold that seems to penetrate to one's soul. The vampire Khajiit gestures around as the others follow him out of the portal with their prisoner. "The Plane-meld may have failed, but places in the sewers are still very close to Coldharbour," Xahrshi explains. "In time the barriers will be strong again, but for now it suits our purposes."

Lyssavi walks around looking at everything. Curiosity in his eyes as his fingers touch anything that interests him. Ri'Zakar laughs before turning serious, his eyes moving to Spiders-In-Scales and their prisoner. A hungry look crosses his eyes. "Do what you will with her," Ri'Zakar says. "Just make sure she's still alive for me to devour her heart."

Spiders-In-Scales smiles, grim and full of the promise of such agony as his eyes dart around. Numerous places to keep prisoners here, and he can hear the echo of past screams. So many were brought here. Made to suffer here, to scream here. It makes his scales shiver in pleasure. "Spiders likes this place," Spider's hisses. "I can hear all the agony seeped into the stones." He grips tighter on Shade Whisker's arms, the female Khajiit silent, consumed with paralyzing fear. "Will take her to the place where the screams are the loudest. She will scream there too. She will tell Spiders all her little secrets." And with that, he turns left and takes their prisoner to a secondary room.

Xahrshi turns around and his vampiric eyes lock onto Ri'Zakar's in curiosity. "Why?" Xahrshi asks. Curious about what would drive a Khajiit to devour the hearts of his race. "Simply out of hate?"

Ri'Zakar studies Xahrshi in silence for long moments, thinking if Xahrshi is a Khajiit like all the rest, or if it is possible to see him simply as a vampire. At last, he decides and the hate fades into the shadows. "Power," Ri'Zakar growls. "It is a happy coincidence that what I hate, fuels what is inside of me, what is very much a part of me."

The vampire takes in Ri'Zakar's words, carefully studying him. The parts of him that are what you would expect, and the parts that are not. Scales mixed with fur, a hint of unnatural power lurking within those eyes. "This one saw many of the Daedra's experiments during the Plane-meld," Xahrshi says. "This one IS one such experiment. Once a filthy cursed beast, now a vampire. But you? Are you someone's experiment?"

Ri'Zakar crosses his arms. "I am no one's experiment," he growls softly as anger once more starts to bleed to hate.

The tension starts to rise once more but once more it is Lyssavi that breaks it as he moves to the vampire and starts to circle him. "How… Why?" Lyssavi says in wonder. "To be one thing, and then be another?" The Nord starts to move his hand toward the vampire and pauses as if just now remembering they are allies. "You… would not let me look at you more closely, would you? Without clothes preferably? I promise not to cut you up to see how you work. Though it would be….interesting." The Nord's eyes are shining with intense curiosity.

Xahrshi starts backward, and such is the shock on his face that Ri'Zakar throws his head back and laughs. "Best answer him, vampire," Ri'Zakar says. "Otherwise…" another laugh.

Xahrshi blinks several times as if not sure how to respond but at last, he trains his gaze on the Nord. "Infected by the cursed wolves of Hircine. Cast out of my life. And my new pack," disgust fills his voice at this, "Abandoned this one to death and hunters. But a Dremora rescued me, adopted me. Let Xahrshi choose his master, not have it forced upon him." A smile then, dripping with venom. "She gave me to the Daedra's experiments. And this is the result. Vampire, not Wolf. Cold ice and not burning fire. This one serves Molag Bal and Coldharbour. Until all fades into the void itself."

"Transformed not once but twice," breaths Lyssavi, fascination in his eyes. "And you could become even more interesting! I rather study you alive than dead. Just like my very best friend." he says as he gestures to Ri'Zakar.

At Xahrshi's bewildered look, Ri'Zakar shakes his head. "You will get used to him. He grows on you." At the look he sees in the vampire's eyes, he adds, "Wanted for murder, Lyssavi is. Stormhaven, Skyrim. His curiosity holds to no laws."

Lyssavi crosses his arms. "I do not know why they have issues with me cutting people up. I need to know how they work. I need to know how they all work so I can make things...things for Peryite… things for me...things for us now. So many things!"

In the next room, it is even darker, only a single torch burns with unnatural blue flames. Splashes of old blood on the walls, manacles and chains hanging from the far wall. This is where Spiders-In-Scales drags Shade-Whiskers chaining her to the wall, her feet barely able to touch the cold stone floor. "So quiet," Spiders whispers as his claws touch Shade's face, causing her to flinch. Spiders laughs and moves to a table near the torch, filled with various sharp things.

The chains around her wrists were ice cold, the icy cold of this place seeping past her fur making any thought of warmth seem endlessly away. Shade tries to breathe, and tries to calm. If she had remained calm, she might not have been caught. But the shock of seeing a vampire, for the first time since that nightmarish night, and then being grabbed by a being that seemed to seep fear from his very scales. Too much. Far too much. She was not strong enough for this. Back at home, in Clockwork she never doubted herself. Never. Chosen guardian, trained in martial skills as well as magic...among other things. But all that skill, all that training vanished when she saw that Khajiit vampire. Nightmares from that night… she had been so young. Her mother was so brave. Why...could she not be that brave?

Spiders runs his fingers across each of the sharp things. So many things just left here. Filled with songs of pain and agony. Filled with days devoid of all hope and light. With a twisted grin, he picks up a small serrated edge and returns to his prisoner. Still so quiet. Still so afraid...but it had been the vampire who had caused her to panic. Caused the fear to burst free. "Little Khajiit," Spiders whispers as he moves to her, watching with delight as her eyes widen at the torture instrument in his hand. "You are too quiet. Spiders needs you to speak. To tell all your secrets. Who you are, why you hunted us. Tell all your secrets….but first….," Spiders laughs a sound that of pure evil. "First, you must scream for Spiders. Scream so I may see where it leads."

At first, Shade cannot tear her eyes away from the blade, the silver glimmer of it tainted with old blood. But then she forces her eyes from it to stare this nightmare of an Argonian right in his eyes and she opens her mouth and hisses. Fear is in it, but anger and defiance as well as she decides not to give in to fear any longer...even if this is where her life is to end.

Spiders laughs and moves closer to her. "Spiders hears your song again. Over the fear, over the despair," he tells her. "Sing for me, scream for me." With a savage grin, he brings the blade up to the side of her neck. Through fur and muscle, he cuts...so very slowly the blade shredding into her flesh. And it is not long until the screams start.

-Leyawin-

A day's worth of travel and Leaps-With-Wolves, Rel'ihala, Talshaza, and Tervven find themselves in the town of Leyawin. A short trek to the local inn where they sit around a table with food and drink. All too aware that they are attracting a fair bit of attention. Even for such a diverse place as Blackwood, they stand out. Rel'ihala wearing Argonian armor, was splattered with blood. Tervven with his muddy clothes and badge of his house on display, Leaps in fur and leather. "We need new gear," Talshaza says. "We…" she trails off and thinks of the night before. Of just whose staff she now had, of just whose power she now had. She had not told the others yet. Still had not come to terms with it herself. She did not feel different. "We need to blend in. And find out why we were brought together."

Tervven crosses his arms over his chest. "Brought together? You cannot be serious. You are serious. There is no way any force would put us together."

"Just an accident…," Rel'ihala says. "I was sent from home, yes. But not because of this. Because…" she trails off and says no more.

Leaps-With-Wolves looks around at the three realizations dawning. The two Dunmer...had never been away from home. Had never seen the world, and the depths of it. And Rel'ihala… she was a mystery. Leaps tilts her head and places her claws on the table drawing the attention of the others. "I lived a simple life in the Marsh," Leaps starts, "I thought all I knew was there. I thought all my father and grandmother knew was there, despite…" she pauses..how to phrase this… "Despite my grandmother's differences. But the truth was they lived more complicated lives than I knew. They saw the threads of fate, knew what it was like to be ensnared by it… and the depths that exist, that can consume. So very very much. If I had wished for a simple life, I would not know such truths as I was told. But the song of Hircine sung to me. So I had to know." Leaps study the three. She sees she's getting through to Talshaza but the others... Very well. A small simple truth. "Fate has ensnared us. I know this because my life was far from here. Farther then you know, farther then...then I can ever return to. I was brought here for a reason. We all were."

Rel'ihala's eyes focus on the Argonians as her fingers glance over the bone bracelets on her wrists. "I was satisfied with my life. Until…," Rel'ihala pauses and frowns. Until the other girl's memories invaded her dreams. Unsettled everything. "Until the accused dreams started. My guardian cast me out. How they have anything to do with this, I do not know but I cannot return until this is dealt with. So we will deal with it."

"It will not be a simple matter," Talshaza says. "This staff...told me things in a matter of speaking. There is a threat out there. One we seem tasked with stopping. But why it would pick me..."

"This is Fetching idiotic!" Tervven spits. "I am ONLY here because that thing bit me!" he says pointing at Leaps, who utters a soft warning growl.

"Enough, Tervven," Talshaza says and the Dres turns his astonished eyes to her. As if surprised she would take their side. "She may have accidentally infected you, but she saved you from turning prematurely. She did not have to do that. She could have let you turn and go on a killing spree till someone put you down. Would you prefer THAT?" Leaps and Rel'ihala look surprised at the hint of anger in the Dunmer woman's voice. She had been so quiet, so calm. And her words shut Tervven up, he turns his head away falling silent.

For long moments the four sit in silence before Tervven rises and at the other's questioning gaze he glares. "I am going to buy the supplies. I doubt very much any of you have much in the way of coin. But my Father gave me more than enough, just in case." And with that, he walks away toward the door.

Talshaza rises as well. "We should not split up too much," she says quietly. "I'll keep an eye on him." And she follows the Dres.

-Imperial Sewers-

"I need a werewolf," Lyssavi says as he lies on a table looking up at the stones above. "If I can just have that...I think I can find the answer."

Xahrshi glances up from sharpening his weapon. A small fanged smile crosses his face. "This one knows where they lurk in Reaper's March. But we should decide on our ultimate goal. How to obtain it."

"Shatter the moons," Ri'Zakar answers. "But how? All of us have power, but not that much," he slowly growls. "Power to shatter what lies beyond reach…"

The three fall silent as they think of this impossible task. And of their desires. It is in this quiet that Spiders-In-Scales returns, scales flecked with blood. Slowly he circles the room licking blood off his claws and at last stops. "Spiders thought she was weak. A little kitten out of her depth. But she is well trained. Did not speak a word under pain, but her screams were a music I understand." A small fanged smile. "The dark whispers to us. But the light can also whisper. But who does it whisper to? That eludes. That is hidden beyond her screams."

Ri'Zakar rises from his sitting position and moves to Spiders. "Can you learn more from her, or can I have her now?"

Now that the beast has left, she can faintly hear the others. Deciding her fate, this...is where she will fall? Shade shudders softly as she feels each cut that the monster makes. The blood that clots in her fur. Slowly her eyes closed as if this was a nightmare she could awake from. But all that comes for her is darkness as she slips out of consciousness.

A few moments pass and then the single torch dies and all light fades. The movement of a cat made of shadows makes its way to Shade. "Little kitten," the shadowy Khajiit whispers as her claws move to Shade's cheek caressing it. "Caught so easily, and so soon. This one is disappointed in you. So tempting to let them have you. But…," she trails off and her eyes narrow. "But that is not how this is played. There are rules and this one…" silence again and her claws move to the manacles undoing them in practiced movements. Shade falls into the Shadow Khajiit's arms and both fade into the shadows.

-location Unknown-

Books had been sleeping but something had awoken her, like shadows brushing against her spine and when she opens her eyes and bolted up the first thing she saw was a female bloody khajiit on the floor. "AHHHHHHH," she screeches and backs up and somehow manages to trip over her tail and fall on her butt. Claws alert her of one of her allies and she glances up to see Licks enter the room. "She she...I do not know how she got here!" Books hisses.

Licks narrows his eyes in suspicion but Cheese is next to arrive and the former knight pauses only a moment before moving to the Khajiit. With deft hands, he gently picks her up moves her to a table, and gently inspects the wounds. "Need hot water, towels, bandages," Cheese says.

"Ok," Books says before turning and running out. A few moments pass but it is not supplies she returns with, but Stratos Firn.

The Breton tilts his head a knowing smile on his lips. "So the butterflies have found her, the Guardian of Clockwork," Stratos says and at Licks questioning gaze he adds, "Those that wander lost, must have a guide." He moves to Shade-Whiskers and places his hands over her body and a soft blue glow slowly mends her wounds. Once done he gazes at the three Argonians. "Go," he instructs. "I will take her where she is meant to be once she awakes from dreams of shadows and memories." Licks briefly steps forward but then turns and leaves, Books and Cheese following.

~Long ago, Northern Elsweyr~

A silver Senche-Raht runs across the wild planes of her homeland under the light of Jone and Jode, and a small Khajiit kit holds on tight to her back. At last the Senche-Raht's energy fades and she pauses near a cliff breathing hard. "Mother… did we lose them?" The small kit says, her fur fluffed in fear.

Silver-Mist looks behind her at the night. Still, quiet. Perhaps she outran them. Perhaps she and her kit are safe. "Shade-Whiskers…," she starts and then stills her fur bristled in threat. The foul smell of tainted blood. And this time it is nearly overwhelming. "Get off little one," Silver-Mist hisses. "Hide. This one will keep you safe."

Shade slides down and hides behind a rock under the cliff, her eyes wide with fear as her mother turns to face the night.

"Come out and face this one," Silver-Mist hisses. "You will find Silver-Mist's claws very sharp and you will not live to regret knowing this!"

Cackles of laughter, eerie bone-chilling hisses, and then the light of Jone and Jode is cast into darkness as clouds cover the moons. "Nothinggggg will save you, cat," a sinister voice hisses. "We want blood. We will have it!" And with that, the shadows come alive forming into creatures with pale corrupted flesh and glowing hungry eyes. Vampires, and so many more than Silver had guessed followed her and her kit. Fear briefly crosses her eyes but fades quickly. She will protect her kit, even if it means her doom, and with a roar the Senche-Raht leaps at the monstrous creatures, and the battle is joined.

Shade-whisker trembles as she hides behind the rock. Unable to watch the battle, fear for her mother overwhelming her, fear of the monsters even more so. "Please," she whispers. "Save Mother. Stop monsters."

An earsplitting screech a moment later as one of the vampire's claws grievously injures Silver and she falls back hissing, blood running down her fur to splat against the ground. "No!," she hisses. If only they would just take her and leave her little one alone. But these are creatures of the darkest pits of Nirn and Oblivion, corrupted and merciless. They will take them both… "Little one, I am sorry," she whispers. "May Jone and Jode protect us and guide us to the Sand behind the stars."

The vampires move in, and just when all hope seems lost, a glowing portal opens up underneath Silver-Mist and sends her and her kit tumbling to the unknown.

-Clockwork-

Light, near blinding after being in the dark and terror for so long. "Jone and Jode have saved us, little one," Silver-Mist whispers before collapsing into a heap. Shade-whiskers darts to her mother's side and wraps her arms around her mother's neck burying her face into bloody fur. "Help her," Shade-whiskers cries. "Please."

Footsteps all around, and she feels arms pull her away from her mother. "No!" Shade cries out struggling.

"We will try, but you must let us," a calm voice says. Female, not Khajiit but soft and somehow warm, and Shade relaxes just a little.

"Mother...," Shade whispers before she goes limp, darkness taking her."

-Now-

Shade slowly opens her eyes. Light, warm. No longer in that cold and dark sewer, no longer in the grip of painful memories. A single tear rolls down her face. They had kept their promise, the Dunmer of Clockwork City. They had tried. But the blow that the vampire leader struck before the portal opened had been a fatal injury. Too much damage, too much blood lost. It would have been easy to lose herself in the loss and fear back then, but Sothe Sil had taken a strange interest in her. Kept her mind busy with studies and training as she grew up, so very far from home. "Wait why am I just….," a puzzled look crosses her face as she pushes herself up and looks around. She felt… safe here somehow, and...the pain was gone. Fur still matted with dried blood, but wounds closed and healed. Her eyes move around before falling on a Breton leaning against a wall arms crossed. This man...was very under-dressed. "This one is confused," Shade whispers as she wraps her arms around herself. Despite the warmth and safety she felt in this place, the cold of that hateful place lingers, the memories of cold slivers of fear.

"Butterflies," Stratos Firn softly says and at her perplexed look a soft laugh is added. "They are...lost. Scattered and un-gathered. Like sheep in the sky floating away from the shepherd. They need to be guided." A tilt of his head, an unfocused look. "Three guides for three groups. You are one."

Shade blinks. "That is not my mission," she replies. "So…" and then she trails off. She almost gave him too much information. She may feel safe somehow in this place with this strange man, but not that safe. Her secrets were hers.

The Breton gives her a knowing smile. "He whose memories are the stars themselves, he who sees all, but that which falls beyond the star's sight," Stratos says and he moves his hand. "Watching as the butterflies spin in circles and fly toward the sun to burn and die. But do they die? Or is one blinded by the sun and fails to see them fly into the shadows, drawn by what shines in the dark."

Shade is silent for long moments taking in the strange words. This man is mad...but he knows more than he should. Much more. And her thoughts turn to the cat she has been chasing, the shadow that lurks in the dark….only to get lost herself. Sothe Sil sent her without guidance… he must have a reason, but she feels so alone in this. How can she hope to hunt the shadow Khajiit when she is surrounded by such monstrous villains? No other path before her, she takes the only path in front of her. "Who do I guide?," Shade asks.

Stratos lowers his arms and after a few deft gestures, a portal opens. "Follow me," he says, "And I will take you to your butterflies." With that, he passes through the portal, and after a moment Shade follows him.

-Imp Sewers-

A mighty crash and a hellish scream sends Ri'Zakar leaping from the table where he had been resting, A growl echos from his throat as he starts to head toward the scream but Xahrshi holds up a hand. "Wait," the vampire instructs.

"You dare tell me what to do?" Ri'Zakar snaps and it seems as if the two will be set against each other once more, but claw steps halt the fight as Spiders-In-Scales stalks out.

"The cat has escaped," Spiders-In-Scales hisses angrily. "Something helped her. Spiders does not know who or why. Their music is hidden from Spiders."

Xahrshi growls. "Our position is no longer secret. We go…" he trails off and glances at Lyssavi who's sleeping against the wall. A perplexed expression comes over his face. How did the Nord sleep through THAT? "This man is a fool to be that unguarded," the vampire snaps.

Ri'Zakar turns to Lyssavi. "Fool he is not," Ri'Zakar says and his claws pick up a pebble and he throws it at the sleeping Nord.

Lyssavi's eyes bolt open and he catches the pebble in his hand as he rises. "Time to go?" he says as he yawns.

"Werewolf correct?" Xahrshi asks and at the Nord's nod, he turns to open a portal. "Silver Dawn once tried to wipe out the werewolves of Reaper's March. They failed," the vampire explains. "We will have no issues finding one of the vermin there." It seems a rather strange quest, but at the moment the four are unsure how to move forward with their impossible and inspectly linked goals. This...is at least a direction.

Spiders stalks toward the portal. "Spiders will make werewolves scream. Perhaps their song of agony will lead me to what I want." And with that, he steps into the portal quickly followed by the rest.

-Leyawin-

Sun has long since set and the two Dunmers were walking back with the supplies. "We should have been smart. We should have brought the lizard." Tervven mutters. "Fetching things might as well be good for something."

The Dres had been complaining the whole trip. And at last, it is too much for the quiet Talshaza and she walks in front of the surly Dunmer and stops. "Stop it," she says quietly, a thread of anger in her voice. "Her name is Leaps-With-Wolves, and she has gone out of her way to help rectify her mistake."

"She is a fetching lizard. They are slaves, or would be if not for the pact," Tervven responds. "And she is a beast besides, could not even control herself!" At her furious look, he adds, "You are Dunmer too. It is in our ancestral rights to have slaves. Your house must have had some before the pack."

Talshaza crosses her arms over her chest. "My family has never had slaves. We are a small house, farmers." A haunted look crosses her eyes. "Or what remains of my house," she adds quietly. "We are in this together. Try to grow up and stop acting like a petulant brat."

"YOU DARE?!" Tervven snarls. "I am son to a very important Dunmer in the Dres house."

"Then why are you here?" Talshaza responds. "Why have you been…," a thought occurs to her. "You've been cast out from your house," she says.

"I HAVE NOT!" Tervven yells. "I just...have to learn the st… the family...I DO NOT HAVE TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO YOU." With that, he turns and runs down the street only to run headlong into a shadowy figure that bursts from around the side of a building and the two collide and crash to the ground.

The Dunmer wastes no time leaping to his feet. "You Fetching…"

"Tervven be quiet!" Talshaza cries as she moves toward the two staff held at ready. Seeing what Tervven did not.

The man rises from the ground, clad in black robes. His eyes are that of a killer and they are focused on Tervven as a hand reaches for a blade. Talshaza starts to bring the staff up but a voice stops her. ~Wait~ And the female Dunmer stills.

The assassin's eyes move to Talshaza and quickly focus on the staff, and then his eyes move to her eyes and the world seems to still. Unfathomable emotions cross the killer's eyes and at last, his hand falls from the knife handle. The slightest bow of his head to her and he melts into the shadows and is gone.

"Wha...did you know him?" Tervven quietly asks. Subdued, as he at last realized how close to death he had just been.

"Not I," Talshaza says shakily. "Let us return to the others." She walks back to the inn and Tervven follows, quietly.

Behind the Inn a portal opens and Stratos walks out followed by Shade. He casually walks into the Inn, and one would expect him to get strange glances, but no one seems to notice him. He walks to a back table and sits and Shade joins him. "All need to see my glory...but this requires…" Stratos's left eye twitches slightly. "Compromise… like wearing some form of bottom covering."

Shade opens her mouth and then closes it. This man was...touched. But he was the only way forward. "What are we looking for?" she softly asks.

The Breton's eyes look around the inn before falling on a table near the stairs and he gestures to it and those who sit around. Two Dunmer, an Argonian, and an Imperial. "The Butterflies that fly searching for the light...and who they truly are," he answers.

Shade stares at them. They...are not what she was expecting, the four cannot be any older than she. "So young…," she whispers.

"Two more than they seem. Two yet to BE more," Stratos replies. "They are the heroes of this story."

A painted look crosses Shade's face. The monsters these four would be pitted against. Ones who had lived longer harder lives. Merciless, pitiless. "I have to help them," Shade firmly says.

Stratos tilts his head. "This one. Then I. Between two worlds."

The Khajiit looks at her paws. She had lived more in Clockwork than in her homeland. "Sometimes I slip into the past. Into a small helpless kit. But that past died." What she does not add is it died with her Mother. Innocence lost in the horror and violence of that terrible night. Slowly she turns to look at Stratos. His eyes were frightening. Madness, oceans of it. He should not be acting so… she quickly turns her eyes back on the group. They would soon face horrors of their own. "I must help them," she says again.

"Guild not help," Stratos says firmly.

"Why?" she responds.

"Rules," he answers then his eyes move to the air as if staring at invisible creatures. "I know not who's. But that which sent you here knows of them as well."

Shade falls silent thinking of this. And of something else. An echo of a voice in the dark. "You...did not save me," she whispers not surprised with Stratos shaking his head no. At last, she Remembers. She was unconscious, just. Memories, fragments floating back from that time. The feel of claws on her cheek, dark whispers in her ears. The one she was sent to hunt had saved her. "Why?"

A strange smile from the Breton. "Rules," he says again, and at Shade's impatient growl he adds, "You will understand in time." With that, he stands and a book appears on the table in front of him. An odd look crosses his face. "I think I stole this. Once I…" he trails off and motions to the group of unlikely heroes. "Find a way to give this to them without them knowing it was you," he instructs. "The rest will be up to you after this." a small knowing smile. "We each have our butterflies after all."

Shade's eyes are on the group and she says, "But…" but Stratos is gone, leaving her alone. Slowly she places a paw on the book as her thoughts come together. She was a guardian for clockwork chosen by Sothe Sil and sent on a mission that seemed to have nothing to do with her guardianship and it was turning out very differently than she expected. But Sothe Sil must have seen this. She Must have known things, rules… rules she was not aware of. A soft growl. Her prey, the Shadow Khajiit, must be the guide to the villains. Slowly she stands up casts a cloak over herself and steals away upstairs. Her sharp ears after all had picked up what room the heroes had rented...

-Inn Room-

Upon seeing the room Tervven at last speaks. He had been quiet upon coming back, letting the others talk. But now he breaks his silence in typical Tervven fashion. "This is the best room they had? And only two beds!?" he stalks to the bed furthest from the door and sits on it arms crossed. "I paid for it, I get one of the beds."

Talshaza turns a silent gaze on Tervven but before she can speak Leaps-With-Wolves sits on the floor by the first bed. "I am used to sleeping on the ground," Leaps says. "My pack lived out in the wild." A longing look on her face. Such simple days those were. Not the Marsh, but the wilds of Skyrim had become her home, her pack her second family. And now...beyond all reach.

The female Dunmer sits on the bed next to Leaps. "Where is your pack?" she asks.

The Argonian looks up at her before looking away. "Beyond my reach," she whispers. The same answer she's given before. Truth, yet not all the truth. She...cannot share her truths about where she came from….nor the truths of her family's past.

Rel'ihala shrugs and moves to sit by the far bed. "Slept in worse places. In colder places," she says glancing at Leaps before leaning back. The Argonian had secrets. Rel'ihala knew secrets all too well. Secrets she would not be sharing with these strangers. She was only with them so she could quiet the girl's memories and cries and go home. This was not home. Too warm, too soft.

Seeing that everyone is well adjusted to the sleeping arrangements Talshaza lies on the bed looking up at the ceiling. So far from home with strange companions...her fate had become frightening and strange. Her hand moves to the staff idly touching it and then her eyes fall on a book and she sits up and starts to flip through it. "What did that Argonian say?" she asks Rel'ihala.

The Imperial glances at her. "Crazy talk about a lady, darkness, songs." A small frown as she gives thought, then decides to voice her thoughts. "He… I am almost certain he had power of some kind from Oblivion, from a Prince perhaps. Why?"

The Dunmer passes the book around so her companions can see it. A book about the moons, including the lore around a third moon, a shadow moon, and the legends and stories. Leaps is last to take the book and as she flips through it she stops. "Reaper's March is known for werewolves, including a shrine to Hircine," At her companion's puzzled gaze leaps and shows them the page. A dried butterfly is pinned to it. "This...did not come to us by chance."

A glance between them all. They are rather lost still, but this is a faint path. Reaper's March...is where they shall go next, and even Tervven has no objections, remembering Leaps-With-Wolve's promise to take him to the shrine to implore Hircine to lift the curse.

-Summerset-

An Altmer sits in a chair hands folded in front of him. His pale blonde hair is up and he is immaculately dressed, the very picture of Altmer alicatracy. His intense eyes are on a male Breton courier who stands in front of him. "You come highly recommended, for your….distresion," the Altmer says.

The courier nods. "I'll deliver anything...anywhere...for the right amount of coin. No questions asked," the courier replies, running a hand through his tousled brown hair.

The Altmer smiles faintly. "Most men can be bought...but you seem to have a code of honor despite your complete uncaring for what the job entails."

The Courier shrugs. "Keeps me in business being honorable with my customers. Happy customers become repeat customers and spread my name to others. More gold for me. All that dries up if I sell out." Another faint smile and the Altmer lowers his hands and reaches to the table next to him. A bag of gold is what is offered to the Breton first. At the amount the courier's eyebrow lifts. "Triple my going rate including expenses," he remarks.

"I can be...honorable as well," The Altmer responds as his hands reach for a sealed letter next. "The men you are to deliver this to may be tricky to find, and they are very dangerous."

The courier takes the letter and carefully tucks it away in a hidden pocket. "Good at tracking and good at dealing with dangerous types. Who gets the package?" the courier asks

"A very unusual group," the Altmer answers. "Two Khajiits, a Nord, and an Argonian. You will find them, no doubt, up to no good, and most likely in Reaper's March."

The courier shrugs at the last bit. "Their business, not mine. Mine is just delivery," the courier responds and then turns to go but halts at the Altmers last words.

"One last thing. If they are not together when you find them….it is best you hand the letter to one of the Khajiits rather than the Nord or the Argonian"

The courier pauses. "Why is that?" he asks.

The Altmer laughs. "My sources say the Nord is a sociopath who sees no issue in cutting up strangers for the sake of science… and the Argonian is reputed to be vicious and coldblooded with a tendency for torture."

"Understood," is the Courier's only response to this before he walks out.

The Altmer sits back in his chair a strange smile on his face and slowly he relaxes in his chair his eyes closing as he slips into sleep. A while passes before a servant comes in and starts to quietly set out tea and only speaks when he sees the Altmer's eyes open. "Have you been sleeping long?"

The Altmer looks thoughtful. "I...suppose I have. The day is warm. It is easy to slip into sleep."