This story begins in a village in Elsmere where a group of khajiit called home, living among their own kind in peace away from the noise and bustle of the city. A young female of about sixteen called Tigerlily, was still living with her mother and helping the members of the village but she longed to be out on her own and finding her own way. Today she was out by the river enjoying some time alone to herself, her golden eyes looked up to the sky for a brief moment before returning to look at the water as it flowed over the rocks. Her thoughts were running through her mind, "I wish I could find a way to make a life on my own outside this place.." she said to herself as a frustrated sigh passed through her furry lips. She watched a few fish swim in the water but as the wind changed something caught her attention, "huh what's that?" she stood up and followed the scent that filled her senses. She walked along a path that went down the stream and followed it all the way down to a pond where she and her friends would swim. She stopped short as thoughts raced through her head, "why would there be a scent down this way?" she wondered. She aired on the side of caution as she approached the area. Once she stood beside the pond she scanned the area carefully that is until something caught her eye, "huh what's that?" She walked over to what she had seen but once was closer she could tell what it was, "it's an argonian..." she said as a gasp escaped her lips. She got closer to the argonian knelt beside him and turned him over to have a look at him. Now that she turned him over she scanned him for injuries, "no injuries so I guess he's just unconscious and weak." She sat there looking at him for a few minutes before deciding to take the argonian to a nearby cave to hide him until he recovered. She placed some soft hay inside the cave and placed the argonian on it before placing an old blanket over top of him. "Now to get some wood to build a fire..." she said to herself as she left the cave.

While she went to fetch some wood to make a fire to keep her guest warm he began to wake up, "hmm where am I?" he said to himself. He looked around a bit at his surroundings, "I'm...in a cave..." he said but his thoughts were interrupted by a pounding in his head, "damn...I wish I could remember what happened to make me end up here..." he silently said to himself. His attention turned to the footsteps that approached, "who's that?" he wondered as he watched a figure enter the cave. He watched as a young woman knelt down and began making a fire and upon finishing noticed that he was awake. "Oh you're awake well that's a good sign..." she said smiling. He looked at her, "where am I?" he asked. "You're in a cave just outside my village I hid you here while you recover.." she replied kindly. "I see..." was his only response. She looked at him, "what is your name?" He was silent for a moment before answering, "Dejara." She smiled, "I'm called Tigerlily." Dejara was silent for a moment before he spoke, "thank you Tigerlily for saving me." She smiled, "you're welcome now come on we need to replenish your strength," she said as she began feeding him some warm mash she had made that morning. Dejara ate all he could then once she had fed him she began asking him some questions, "how did you end up here?" she asked. Dejara looked at Tigerlily as he answered, "I was shipwreaked some distance from here on the beach...I don't know how I came to be here near your village though." Tigerlily looked in the direction of the shoreline before turning her gaze back to him, "where are the rest of your crewmates?" "Dead..." was his only reply. Tigerlily remained silent for a moment before speaking again, "where did you come from?" Dejara was silent as he tried to recall where he had travelled from to end up here, "we sailed from Skyrim...we were a merchant ship. We were bringing some new goods into port to bring to the merchant shops. When we left the port in Skyrim the weather was calm but once we got out into the open water a storm came out of nowhere. We managed to hold the ship together for several more miles till we could see land in the distance but then the wind tossed our sails and broke our mast causing our ship to spin like a top before tipping over and capsizing tossing my crew and I into the sea. I was able to get back to the surface and hold onto a crate along with a few of the others but after a few days adrift many became too weak to hold on anymore and simply gave up. I was determined to survive and somehow I made it to shore. I must have passed out because when I awoke I was laying on the sand. I got to my feet and stumbled inland till I got to that pond and I just collasped and that's all I remember." Tigerlily felt bad for the lizard he was in a strange land and a long way from home, "don't worry Dejara once you're strong enough we'll find a way to get you back home." Dejara smiled, "thank you gentle heart.." he replied in almost a whisper as he fell asleep. She gave a soft smile before she returned to her village while the argonian rested in the cave.

Back in her village Tigerlily busied herself with small tasks to keep her mind occupied for the time being while Dejara rested in the nearby cave. She was brought out of her thoughts by the sound of her mother's voice, "Tigerlily.." she looked up to see her mother approaching, "hello mother.." she greeted warmly. Her mother sat beside her, "did you enjoy your alone time this morning my daughter?" "Yes I did mother it was very peaceful.." Tigerlily replied. Her mother smiled, "I'm glad did you walk by the stream again?" she asked. "I did but I didn't see anything like I usually do though," Tigerlily replied. Sarabi put an arm around her daughter, "don't worry my Lily of the Tiger you will find another kill soon enough I'm sure of it," she replied kissing Tigerlily's forehead. Tigerlily smiled, "I'm sure..." she murmured. Sarabi spoke once more as she stood up, "perhaps you should try by the shoreline maybe you'll find something there," Tigerlily nodded as she watched her mother walk away. Tigerlily thought on Sarabi's words before standing up and walking in the direction of the shoreline. She walked down the trail that led to the shoreline and stopped when she reached it to inhale the sea air and feel the salty breeze against her beautiful golden coat. As she walked out onto the sand she flex her claws so she could feel the sand beneath her paws. She felt contentment flow through her at being by the seaside, she often dreamed of the sea but had never told anyone about it. She walked along the shore a little ways till she spotted what looked like the remenants of a shipwreck, "that must be from Dejara's ship..." she said to herself. She approached the wreck and began looking through what was left of the wreck, "there's not much left." She stood up a bit frustrated, "there's gotta be something here..." she was just about to give up when she spotted a chest laying among the wreck and an excited gasp escaped her lips, "I wonder what it's in the chest." She knelt down by it and found that she was in luck the chest wasn't locked so she opened it carefully. Now with the chest open she looked inside to find a few trinkets, a pouch of gold and some clothes that looked as if they needed mending. She picked up the items from the chest and was about to head back to her village when something else caught her eye, "what's that?" She walked over to the item and picked it up, "it's a dagger and a sword..." she murmured. She picked them up and wrapped them in a blanket that was laying nearby before making her way back to the village. When she returned to the village she went straight to her lodge and placed the items inside to keep them away from prying eyes but made a note to show what she had found to her mother later.

Later that evening the village ate their dinner and once everyone had gone to their lodges for the night Tigerlily slipped away to return to the cave to check on Dejara and give him some food. Once she had reached the cave she entered only to find Dejara already awake and sitting up, "oh you can sit up now...well maybe you'll heal quicker than I thought.." she commented. He looked in her direction at hearing her voice, "I only heal because of your kindness..." he replied. Tigerlily smiled at him as she set out the food she had with her, "I brought you something to eat Dejara." He nodded a thanks and began to eat what she had brought him. There was silence for several moments before Tigerlily spoke, "I walked on beach earlier and I found your ship or what was left of it." Hearing this caught his attention, "did you find anything?" he asked. She nodded yes as she spoke, "I did...I found a small pouch of gold, a few trinkets and some clothes in the chest but I also found a dagger and sword but I wrapped them in a blanket so no one would see them. I hid them in my lodge...no one knows I have them." Dejara relaxed against the wall of the cave before he spoke, "you may keep the trinkets and the gold but I wish the dagger and sword returned to me." Tigerlily looked at him curiously, "they must mean something to you to want them back.." she said. He nodded, "they do...they once belonged to my father as did the blanket that you wrapped them in." Tigerlily looked down slightly as she spoke, "do you wish the blanket be returned as well?" He looked at her thoughtfully before speaking, "no you may keep the blanket as well I'm sure you could use it more than me." She smiled at him, "thank you Dejara." There was silence between them for a few moments before either of them spoke, "well I better return to my village before anyone realizes I'm gone." When Tigerlily went to stand Dejara took hold of her hand which caused her to look at him, "Dejara?" she asked. He held to her hand for a moment or two and Tigerlily never made a move to get away from him as she looked him in the eye as he stared back at her. She placed her hand on his and it seem to jolt him out of his trance, "was there something you wanted?" she asked. He became very quiet for a moment before speaking, "oh..uh...no..." he said as he let go of her hand. She sat there for a few seconds before standing up, "well I guess I'll head back to my village and I'll come back and see you in the morning." He merely nodded as he turned his gaze to look at the fire in front of him. Tigerlily took notice, "Dejara is there something wrong?" she asked sitting back beside him. He remained quiet for several seconds before speaking, "it's just that...when most see my kind, they shun me or chase me away. Anyone else would've left me to die but you...you didn't, out of the kindness of your own heart you brought me back here and placed me in this cave. I have longed wish that I would meet someone who would treat me with such kindness but I never thought that I ever would. You truly are a gentle khajiit Tigerlily and even if I live to be a hundred I'll never be able to repay the kindness you have shown me." Tigerlily smiled at Dejara, "your words are very kind Dejara and I thank you for telling them to me. When I saw you laying there I couldn't just leave you there to be eaten by predators, I knew I had to do something...to help you. To tell you the truth I've never met an argonian before, I mean I have seen them come to the village a time or two but I was always kept away from such things. I'm sixteen years old but I still live here...I've never been outside of the village to see what's out there. The only time I get to leave the village is to go hunt. I want more than this village life, I want to make my own way in the world and prove that I can be more than a simple khajiit," she said looking down slightly. Dejara looked at her for a moment or two before responding, "Tigerlily..." hearing her name made her look at him, "you're more than just a simple khajiit to me, in the short time I've known you I can tell you have a fire in you that longs to burn brightly, to drive you and lead you where you want to go. I believe that you will make your own way in the world." She smiled at him, "thank you Dejara." He smiled at her before he turned his eyes to the sky, "the night sky is so clear tonight..." he said. Tigerlily turned her gaze to the sky, "it is...the night sky always soothes me somehow.." she then stood from her place, "anyway it's late you should get some rest I'll come see you in the morning." Dejara nodded, "goodnight Tigerlily," he said laying back down on his hay bed. "Goodnight Dejara," she replied as she walked back to her village for the night.

Early the next morning Tigerlily was up and on her way to the cave to check on Dejara with his belongings in her arms. When she reached the cave she saw that he was still sleeping peacefully so she quietly placed the items beside him still wrapped in the blanket. She turned to see that the fire she had built had died and needed to be rekindled, "should be an easy task..." she said to herself as she walked from the cave and headed into the forest. She glanced around the clearing and found just what she needed to get the fire going again. With the wood in her arms she walked back towards the cave with a spring in her step and upon entering found him just starting to awaken, "I hope you rested well..." she greeted. He looked in her direction when her voice reached his ears, "good morning gentle one...I did sleep peacefully. Did you?" he asked. She placed the wood down by the dead fire as she spoke, "I did as well..." she replied. "That's good to hear..." he responded. Tigerlily removed the burnt bits left over from the previous fire to place the new tender down. She drew her dagger from her hip and struck a nearby rock, sending sparks onto the tender. Within minutes it caught and she placed the small limbs she had gathered before placing one or two larger ones on. Dejara was impressed with her skills, "impressive..." he smiled at him briefly before reaching into a pouch at her hip and producing some food, "here it's jerky that we make here in the village...we make it from deer meat..." she said handing it to him. He gratefully accepted it before biting into it, "hmm...it's more tender than I believed it to be..." he said to himself. He then noticed the blanket laying next to him, "what is that?" he asked. She smiled as she spoke, "go ahead and look..." she replied kindly. He set the food to the side in order to look at what was wrapped in the blanket she had placed near him. He pulled one of the folds of the blanket back and upon doing so he caught sight of something shimmering, "what's this?" he said to himself. He pulled back the other fold of the blanket to reveal his father's dagger and sword, "my weapons..." he said glancing at her briefly before picking up the sword. She smiled at seeing him brighten at having his possessions returned to him, "it makes my heart smile to see you happy Dejara," she said. He turned his head to look at her, "I am...I'm pleased to have these returned to me, they have a great value to me. Far more so than any treasure..." he stated rubbing a clawed-finger over the emblem on the hilt. She watched him curiously, "what's that symbol?" she questioned. "It's our family's crest, see here..." he said bringing it closer for her to see, "the two argonian heads with the vines around them is the crest of my family. Father created this crest long ago, when he became the leader of the village where I was hatched," he explained before setting the sword back on the blanket. Tigerlily smiled, "what was your village like?" she asked, now insatiably curious about the argonian sitting next to her. "It's not as nice as your village but it was mostly because it was situated near the Blackmarsh," he replied. Tigerlily tilted her head slightly, "I thought your country was called Blackmarsh?" she asked. He chuckled, "it is but my village was literally built near the Blackmarsh itself. Nothing but mosquitoes and diseases there..." he replied. Tigerlily was silent for a moment or two before speaking again, "it sounds like it would be difficult to live there..." she said. He nodded his head, "it was that's why when I was old enough to leave the nest, the first thing I did was hop onto a ship and never look back." "So how did you end up with your father's weapons?" she questioned. Normally Dejara was reserved and never really spoke to anyone but for whatever reason he found that he could be open with this young khajiit. She had saved his life so he felt as though he owed it to her to be honest with her, "the night I left the village, I slipped into my parents' room because I knew my father kept his sword and dagger near the bed. I eased up to the bed and took both the dagger and the sword. Once I had them in my claws I packed my belongings in a satchel and hopped onto the next ship that was sailing to Skyrim. I haven't been back since..." he said looking down slightly, "I don't even know if my parents are still alive, especially when word spread that Blackmarsh was attacked some time ago." Tigerlily was silent for the longest time but when she looked at Dejara's face, she saw the look in his eyes, "Dejara? What is it?" she asked. He refused to meet her gaze at first but upon feeling her soft touch on his clawed-hand he looked at her, "whatever it is you can share it with me...you can trust me." He looked down at her hand briefly before speaking again, "it's just...I don't regret leaving but I wish I could've brought mother with me. To take her away from that horrible place, she was in failing health when I left." She was sympathetic, "I'm sorry Dejara..." was Tigerlily's only response to his words. He looked at her, "why are you apologizing? You have done nothing to apologize for..." he stated. "I know but...leaving your mother behind, knowing that she wasn't doing well there...must weigh heavily on you. And I'm sorry for that..." she said. He gave her a small smile, "I appreciate that gentle heart, truly..." he replied. She gave him a gentle smile before she pulled her hand back into her lap. Silence passed between them for several moments before either of them spoke again, "well...I must be heading out to hunt down some breakfast but I'll be back a little later," she replied. Dejara nodded his head, "alright..." he said looking at the dagger that lay next to him before picking it up. Tigerlily watched him briefly before standing from where she had been sitting but was stopped when the argonian spoke, "gentle heart..." he said. She turned her golden eyes to meet his yellow ones, "yes..." she said in almost a whisper. "Would it be alright...if I accompany you on your hunt?" he asked. She was silent for a moment before answering, "I normally hunt alone but...I would very much enjoy your compay." Hearing this made the argonian smile the first genuine smile she had seen. Dejara stood from where he had been sitting, strapped his sword and dagger back at his hip before approaching Tigerlily, "come on...I can show you how we hunt these lands and maybe give you a lesson as well..." she said. "I would welcome that..." he replied as he followed her out of the cave.

Once they had walked from the cave Dejara followed Tigerlily into the forest, making sure to pay close attention to his surroundings and whatever she saw fit to teach him. She stopped in front of him to scan the ground below her paws, she scented the wind as it shifted around them before she darted in a direction with Dejara right on her heels. To the young khajiit's surprise the argonian was able to keep pace with her, "good...he may prove to be a good hunter afterall..." she said to herself. She came to a stop near a clearing before peering through the brush, "there's our prey..." she whispered. Dejara nodded his head as he watched Tigerlily pull her bow from her back and knock an arrow. She steadied herself before letting it fly, hitting the mark and making her kill clean. Dejara was silent after wittnessing her skills as a hunter, "impressive..." he murmured. She smiled at him as she stood from where she had been crouched in the bushes, "thank you...now it's your turn..." she stated. "I hope I can manage to hunt prey to your standards," he replied. She smiled, "it's easier than it looks...besides with you now healed, you'll need to be able to provide for yourself..especially if you wish to return to Skyrim..." she said. He nodded his head to let her know he had heard him, "you have a point..." he said. Tigerlily cleaned her kill quickly before leading Dejara into the bushes once more. Dejara noticed that Tigerlily let him take the lead, "she's testing me...to see if I was paying close attention," he said to himself. He knelt down to scan the ground, looking for any sign of any prey as he knew he had to prove himself now. He found a small track that led towards another clearing, "this way..." he whispered as he crept through the brush with the khajiit right behind him. He was careful of where he placed his foot so as not to alert any prey that was close by, but he paused for a moment to scent the wind as Tigerlily had wind shifted and seem to encircle them for a moment before changing direction. After a moment more Dejara followed the scent towards the riverbank, "there we are..." he murmured. He glanced down at his dagger before he felt a light touch on his shoulder, "here...use this..." she whispered, handing his her bow. He nodded a thanks before removing an arrow from the quiver and placing it on the bow, "take it slow and steady yourself..." were her only words as he aimed the bow carefully. He took in a breath slowly and as he let it out, let the arrow fly, making it hit the deer in the shoulder and dropping it in it's tracks. "Well done..." Tigerlily praised. Dejara smiled as he passed the bow back to the khajiit before going over to his deer kill to begin cleaning it. Tigerlily was impressed with Dejara's skills, "you're a fast learner..." she commented. He smirked, "yeah well it's either learn or go hungry..." he stated. "Very wise..." she replied. In no time Dejara had the kill cleaned and the meat collected, "come we should get this back to your cave and I to the village so everyone can eat," Tigerlily said. He smiled at her, "thank you for showing me how to use a bow properly," he replied. "It's no problem.." she said. With that they got back to the cave where Dejara was staying, "I'll return soon...I have to get this to the village." "Alright, I'll see you later..." Dejara replied as he placed the meat on a couple of sticks he had grabbed on the way back. Tigerlily watched him briefly before disappearing from sight as she head back to the village.

Upon returning to the village the sound of her mother's voice reached her ears, "Lily of the Tiger..." she called. The young female looked in her mother's direction, "yes mother..." she said. "It's good to see that you have returned from your hunt with enough meat to feed everyone," Sarabi said. "I guess the gods looked upon me with favor this day," she replied. "Such a skilled hunter you are my daughter," she praised as the pair began to prepare the meat for the meal. While she worked her mind kept wandering back to the argonian sailor back in the cave, "he's had such a hard life...he's lucky to have made it as far as he has..." she said to herself.

Some time later Dejara was still sitting in the cave eating on the meat he had collected earlier in the day, he had been grateful to the khajiit's hunting lesson but he was no stranger to getting his own food. He had learned how to fish long ago but being without a fishing pole, he was just glad that he wasn't going hungry today.

When Tigerlily had returned to the village with her kill she was praised by her people at her skills as a hunter. She kept herself busy around the village for most of the day but had promised Dejara that she would return to his cave at sunset to spend time with him.

When sunset finally came Tigerlily slipped away from her village and back to the cave where the argonian was and upon entering found him cleaning his weapons. "Hello Dejara, you seem in good spirits," she said. He looked up from his sword when he heard her voice, "I am gentle heart and it's all thanks to you...I am in your bebt." Tigerlily sat at his side as she spoke, "you're welcome Dejara, I am pleased that you are recovering so well." Dejara let a smile play on his lips, "I hope I can repay your kindness one day Tigerlily, truly I do." She smiled at him as a question burned in her mind, "what will you do once you are fully healed?" she asked. Dejara was silent for a moment as he was unsure what he wanted to do, he stared down at the sword in his lap as he spoke, "there's part of me that wishes to return and yet..." he turned his yellow eyes to meet her golden ones, "there is a part of me that wishes to stay here." Tigerlily remained silent as he continued, "these past couple of days have brought me peace that I didn't know I wanted." He raised a clawed-hand and clutched the locket he always wore, "I know my heart will always be in Blackmarsh where I was born with my mother. I've spent so many years on a ship, selling my wares to different cities and villages like yours." He closed his eyes briefly as he gathered his thoughts before speaking again, "maybe it's time I found a different path..." he said looking at her. She placed a gentle hand on his clawed one, "follow your heart and trust your instincts, they'll never steer you wrong." He smiled at her and placed his free hand on hers, "thank you Tigerlily."

A comfortable silence passed between them with the pair simply looking into each other's eyes. Neither seem to want to look away from the other, "why can't I look away from her? Why do I find myself not wanting to be without her?" Dejara's mind was reeling with these thoughts as he gazed at her lovely face, "she's beautiful..." Tigerlily could tell that Dejara was admiring her and she in turn found herself doing the same thing, "despite being an argonian..he is very handsome." Her cheeks wore a light blush and she was quite certain that he could see it, "Tigerlily..." he murmured, raising a gentle hand up in order to caress her face. She found herself leaning into his touch and purring softly, when her gaze met his again, her eyes sparkled in the light of the fire. The pair felt as though they were being pulled by some invisible force and they found that they couldn't resist it, "Dejara.." she whispered. The young female placed her paw-like hand on his clawed one as she leaned towards him, Dejara felt himself mimic the action until there were mere inches between them. Taking only a moment to glance at one another they quickly made a decision and gave in to the pull, pressing their lips together in a brief but sweet kiss.

When they let go of the kiss Tigerlily could only smile at the argonian and he in turn smiled at her. She then found herself leaning towards him again but this time she rested her forehead against his. Though initially surprised by the action Dejara tenderly nuzzled her, it was such an intimate gesture and one that neither of them ever felt the urge to do before this moment. They knew from the moment they met that there was something special between them and now they were beginning to understand what it was.