Vilkas tried following the conversation between Mori and Nevras. He could kind of understand when Mori was trying to explain her views, as they seemed very close to what he knew.
When Nevras talked, Vilkas' thoughts turned to the feeling of Mori's arms wrapped around him and her body pressing on his back instead.
But it is strange. As overwhelming as her power seemed at the start, it...feels less...alien. It is less disturbing. Like ice wraiths or wisps - understandable. Terrible, but understandable.
Am I just making excuses?
Eh. What does it matter.
"We should go to sleep," he interrupted the debate some more time in. "Want to keep watch, Nevras?"
"You won't ever let me live it down, will you?"
"Nope."
"Fine, fine, I'll keep the first watch. At least I'll have some more time to think about all of this..."
"I'll take the middle one," Farkas offered, winking at Vilkas. "You have the last one."
I won't say no to less interrupted sleep. Especially with Mori.
He left the tent to Farkas and moved into a makeshift one he shared with Mori. She shifted into the leopard and lay down on the outer side, blocking wind from reaching Vilkas with her body.
He pulled a blanket over himself and cuddled close to her.
I could get used to this.
XXX
They crossed the valley between Forelhost and Mount Trolhetta the next day. With the help of Yvaine's potion, Siga was able to travel considerably more than before.
When they stopped to camp that evening, she even had energy to do some grooming after dinner, especially haircare.
Mori, staying in her leopard shape, watched her comb the golden locks, apply various mixtures and rebraid it. She was sitting close, eyes trained on Siga's doings, the tip of her tail swaying from side to side slowly.
I should find a nice comb for her.
Vilkas wasn't the only one who noticed Mori's enchantment. After finishing her braiding, Siga smiled at Mori. "Do you want to borrow my comb?"
Mori hesitated.
"It's no problem, really." Siga frowned. "Or is it...do you not know how to properly care for your hair?"
Mori slowly shook her head.
"I can teach you," Siga's face brightened with a genuine, girlish smile. "Do you want me to?"
Mori hesitated, her tail twitching. Then she nodded.
"Splendid!" Siga rubbed her hands. "Vilkas, give me your cloak," she reached her hand out. "She needs to stay warm."
Vilkas shook the cloak off of his shoulders and handed it over. He watched as Siga shooed the other two men further away with their evening amusements, then prepared a seat for Mori, her back turned to him.
"You can turn whenever you're ready, dear," Siga started going through her cosmetic bag. Vilkas had thought little of the bag before, but seeing how interested Mori was and the fact that she was willing to change into her human body for it made him reconsider.
And change she did. It was the first time he had seen her do it in such a bright light, since the fire was quite close to the women. Once her body solidified, a flaxen mane spilled everywhere, falling all the way to the ground she was sitting on.
Siga gave her the cloak. "May I touch your hair?"
Mori made a soft mhm as she wrapped the cloak around her body. Vilkas looked away.
As much as I'd like to, it would be disrespectful.
Images of the faint outline of her curves he had seen in the darkness before flashed through his mind, making his cheeks burn hot.
Siga started going through Mori's hair, feeling out the texture and knots. "It's not so bad," she commented, pleasantly surprised.
"Yvaine combs it for me sometimes," Mori shyly pulled the cloak closer to her body.
Vilkas watched Siga's fingers slide through the flaxen locks. Shor's bones, why can't it be me touching it...
"So first we need to disentangle it," Siga pulled out a comb. "You need to start from the bottom, so the comb doesn't catch and pull once you go down from a higher place..."
Vilkas watched and listened to Siga explain intently. After showing Mori how to do so at a part of her hair, she let her try it out herself. But when half of the hair had been done, Siga directed a sly smile at him.
"Say, how would you feel about Vilkas trying to comb it for you, hm?"
Mori's hand froze mid-movement. Not for long. She let it fall down and turned her head a little, eyes shy yet excited. "I would like that."
"Come on, then," Siga gestured at Vilkas. She didn't need to call him twice - he came over and sat down next to her on Mori's other side.
"You watched and listened, no? Try it and be gentle," Siga handed him the comb.
He was used to just running comb through his own hair without too much concern, but gods forsake him if he wasn't going to pay the utmost care this time.
At first, he remained tense, strictly adhering to only the necessary moves, but as he worked through more of the hair, he relaxed, letting his fingers slide along Mori's back when getting a hold of a strand.
In the end, while both of them were enjoying themselves, Siga had to break it for the next step. "That's enough combing for now," she coughed a little, hiding a smile. "Now, since we don't have a bath ready, we'll need to use these," she pulled two bottles out, "instead of the usual washing mix. Give me your hands," she turned to Vilkas.
"Now rub it in your fingers...yes. And now you need to go through aaaaaaaaall that hair," she picked a strand, showing him a motion, "like this. Go on."
It took a while, but Vilkas didn't mind. It even seemed to end too quickly once Siga stopped him again.
"And now we braid it. Or style it in other ways. Though, don't use these too often, it would be better to wash your hair next time, with some other mixtures."
"My hair doesn't stay braided if I change shape," Mori mumbled, sounding unwilling to leave the comfort of having Vilkas treat her hair. "All the things used to hold it in shape just fall off, like clothes do."
"We can just do the braiding for you to try it out. And Vilkas," Siga quickly added, noticing Mori's hesitance.
"Alright," all the uncertainty left her in an instant.
XXX
"Done playing the matchmaker?" Nevras commented once Siga made her way to their tent.
She looked over her shoulder. Mori and Vilkas were still sitting together, backs to the dying embers of the flame, talking quietly.
"Job well done," she grinned.
"Eh, I think you didn't need to do any poking," Nevras shrugged. "Seemed pretty intense to me. I'm sure they had gone at it already."
"Ha! That's exactly where you're wrong, Nev. Just look at them. Probably hadn't even kissed."
"Let's bet-"
"Whatcha betting about?" Farkas peeked out from his tent.
"Whether or not your brother boned the witch."
"Don't talk like that, it's disrespectful. Use their names," Farkas frowned. He scooted closer. "I bet they got busy already."
"See?" Nevras looked at Siga.
She shook her head. "You two are absolutely blind. Can't read a cue."
"So we bet they did, you bet they didn't. What are the stakes?" Nevras rubbed his hands together.
"If I lose, I'll introduce you," Siga looked at Farkas, "to all the beautiful ladies and gents in Winterhold, as long as they're free."
"That's a good tradeoff," Farka grinned.
"And for me?" Nevras wanted to know.
"We'll have a dose of Telvanni diplomacy as you wanted," she frowned.
"Oho! Staking it high!"
"What do we get you if you win?" Farkas ignored Nevras' remark.
"You get me a batch of that mead we had in the pass, and a recipe for it," Siga grinned again. "As for you, you will listen to me in the matter involving the...diplomatic problems."
"Deal," Nevras' smile turned wolfish.
"Good with me," Farkas offered his hand for shakes.
XXX
"Looks like we're here," Vilkas pointed out a cave entrance, partially hidden in the birch grove surrounding it.
"We'll have to leave the horses here," Farkas sighed. "I do hope nothing will eat them."
"Can't you do anything about that?" Nevras looked at Mori, standing by Vilkas' side in her leopard form.
Mori nodded. She turned around and touched each animal on the nose. They laid down, falling asleep immediately, the outline of their bodies faintly glowing purple.
"Just like that? They'll be safe?"
She nodded again, adding a low growl to the gesture.
"Time to take out the old cane," Siga sighed. "I hope we won't have to climb all the way up."
"Honeycakes, I'm pretty sure we will," Nevras leaned over. "It always is like that. Either to the very top or to the deepest depths."
"Divines spare my soul...what is it?"
Mori walked over to Siga, mrowing. She stopped by her side, bumped Siga and then bent to touch her own back.
"Are you offering me a ride? I won't say no!" Siga grinned. Mori lowered herself to allow Siga to mount comfortably.
"O my, this is much more comfortable than riding a horse," Siga's smile grew even wider as they walked up the slope to the cave.
XXX
First they walked through empty lava tunnels, winding their way through the mountain.
They followed Nevras. He brought some sort of tracking device, claiming it was tuned to ancient artifacts.
As it was their only lead, even Vilkas had to agree to give the directions a try.
From time to time they ran across old nordic gates, rusted and often blocked by rocks and dirt. In the end, the device led them to an endless staircase, leading up.
"My, I'm REALLY glad you offered a ride," Siga patted Mori's head.
The witch mrowed and continued climbing the steps as carefully as possible.
"Ugh, finally," Farkas huffed. The climb led them a great distance up, ending at half open ancient nordic doors.
The door wouldn't budge for Farkas alone. It took both twins to open it properly.
The outside opened up into a typical round burial mound. The surroundings, however, changed drastically.
"Did we wander over to Morrowind?" Vilkas touched the grey, unhealthy looking grass.
"Looks like it," Nevras frowned. "That's not optimal. We should be quick about our business."
"What is that?" Farkas pointed out the strangely shaped structures exuding hostility.
"Those...those are daedric ruins," Nevras' voice shook a little. "I was hoping the shard would be down in the nordic spaces instead."
"It should be empty, no?" Siga wondered. "It's ancient."
"Well, yes. But in Morrowind, there are always some cultists to be found, and they just LOVE these old places."
"Shields up?" Farkas looked at Vilkas.
"Aye. Guard the rear. Where to next, Nevras?"
"Right into the ruins, I'm afraid.
XXX
The device led them even higher up, to the summit. On the way, they ran across a small group of robed Dunmer.
Vilkas raised his hand to stop the others. After, he snuck forward, listening in.
"...what are we going to do?"
"We just need to get the xivilai under control again!"
Nevras almost choked.
"What was that?"
"Probably some of the smaller daedra. Get up your spells, we need to dominate them if we're to stand a chance."
Vilkas motioned to Farkas. The twins raised their shields and charged at the approaching Dunmer.
The first got caught unaware. Farkas slammed one, sending her stumbling under the feet of the other two behind. Vilkas moved in, catching the spells flying out in Farkas' direction with his shield.
Farkas stomped down as he advanced, breaking the cultist's neck.
Before either of the twins could continue the onslaught, rocks flew past them. The heads of the other four cultists exploded in blood and bone.
"Uhhhhhh," Nevras let his arm fall down. "My, you were right, this is damn messy," his eyes darted between Mori and the dead bodies on the ground. His shoulders quivered a little.
"Cover!" Vilkas shouted, shoving Farkas to the side. Fire engulfed the space they had been in just a heartbeat later.
A group of scamps began pouring in.
The twins were on the move. Closing the distance, they broke into the scamp group like an avalanche.
Nevras caught himself. He shook his head, grabbed his staff and moved in. When two scamps summoned a fire jet, Nevras raised a shield next to Farkas. The flames splashed against it.
Soon the scamps lay dead on the ground.
"That complicates things," Siga commented from the back.
"What is a xivilai?" Vilkas turned to Nevras.
"A whole heap of trouble," the mage shuddered. "You two should use those big weapons of yours. Shields won't last too long against the flames and claws, and I can block for you. You need to get rid of the lesser daedra as fast as possible."
The twins reluctantly obeyed.
"Ah, you have the battle axe from me," Nevras sighed in relief. "But your weapon is not enchanted? Nor silver..."
"What does it matter?" Vilkas grumbled while keeping an eye on the hallway the scamps had come from.
"It matters because daedra are immune against, or at least resistant to, normal weapons!"
"I only have Skyforge steel. It'll have to be enough. We should go."
"Moment, I think Mori wants to change," Siga called out.
The men looked the other way. Soon Vilkas felt a tap on his back. "Can I have your cloak?"
"Sure."
After a little bit of rustling, Mori took a shaky breath. "I'm ready."
They turned back to her. She flinched under all their gazes, but remained unchanged. Her hair was tied back into a ponytail and the cloak she had borrowed made for a handy emergency suit of clothes.
"I can help," she looked at her toes. "I won't interfere until I have to."
"That's a good use for a cloak," Farkas grinned. "You sure it won't drop? Don't want Vilkas to get distracted."
"It won't," Mori shot him a dark stare. "Falco taught me to wrap and tie it. I tested it before." She reached out to support Siga, holding a crossbow in one hand. "Let's go?"
XXX
They mostly snuck up to the summit, as the numbers of roaming daedra kept growing. Luckily the ruins were mostly just building parts or open hallways, and their way led up the slope through jagged cliffs and tree-like mushrooms.
"According to the device, the shard is right there," Nevras pointed to a relatively well kept open pavilion. "The bad news is I think I saw the xivilai there as well."
"The large blue thing?"
"The large blue thing, yes."
"We need to kill it, right?" Vilkas looked at the surroundings. "If we get in there, can you block it, so the smaller ones can't follow?"
"For a time."
"Do you have a spell that could wipe them out quickly? Because we're going to die if we have to deal with the horde."
"I have...something," Nevras tapped the handle of his staff. "I can't do it alone, though. I can't power the spell, I can just draw the form of it. Can you power it?" he looked at Mori.
"Yes."
"Alright. Let's try to sneak in," Vilkas pointed out a way, "if we get spotted, we run for the pavilion. Nevras, you put up the barrier the moment we're in. Farkas and I will fight the...thing...while you two prepare your big spell. Clear?"
Everyone but Siga nodded.
"I can't run," she spoke up.
"I'll carry you," Mori piped up. Nevras raised an eyebrow at her.
"You're even smaller than she is! How are you going to carry her?"
"With the strength of the bear," Mori looked him dead in the eyes. Tufts of fur popped on her shoulders and back. She grabbed Siga and hoisted her up without a problem.
Farkas bit onto his fist, fighting for dear life not to laugh.
"Let's go," Mori ignored all of that.
They followed Vilkas' lead. When stepping on the staircase leading to the platform under the pavilion, a loud screeching rose behind them.
"Run!"
All four of them broke into a sprint.
Mori started leaping, getting ahead of everyone even with Siga in her arms. She stopped on the platform and turned so that Siga could shoot her crossbow at the clannfears chasing after the others.
Two silver bolts made short work of one monster.
Nevras reached the platform first. He whirled around, fingers forming a spell. He grabbed the corpse with telekinesis and hurled it at the others climbing the stairs.
Mori leapt again. A firebolt flew past her and Siga, disappearing in the distance. With two more leaps, Mori landed inside the pavilion.
She darted to the side. A beaked warhammer slammed into the ground behind her.
"You will die far away from your trees, sprite," a deep, dark voice growled from the side.
Mori continued running.
The xivilai laughed. "I will enjoy feeding you to my clannfears." He had a hulking figure, wielding a two handed weapon in one clawed hand like nothing. Glowing red tattoos covered his chest, arms, wrists and ankles, all on show because he only wore a loincloth. His eyes were glowing yellow. Horns curled up from his forehead, tall and sharp, and behind them rose a wild mane of black hair.
Mori growled at him, showing off her fangs.
There was an open portal to oblivion in the center, flickering from time to time.
The others ran in. Nevras summoned a purple barrier around the whole pavilion, locking them in with the xivilai.
"More amusement," the xivilai almost purred, lifting the hammer up. "Watch them die, foul sprite!"
The twins split, running around the xivilai. The blue giant turned after them, smashing around with his hammer.
Mori hesitated for a moment. But Siga's weight in her arms made her stick to the plan. She sprinted around the pavilion, stopping at Nevras' side.
A look outside revealed a horde of monsters crawling against the shield the mage had raised.
They scratched at it, hit their heads and flung spells.
"How does this work?" she asked, putting Siga down carefully. Her eyes kept darting between the runes Nevras was drawing on the ground with a shaky hand and the twins battling the xivilai.
They weaved around each other like a river, avoiding the monster's attacks and slashing back at it.
The runes, once finished, started giving a faint light.
"Well, I've never tried," Nevras chattered nervously. "It's supposed to be a spell that destroys daedra. Or sends them back to oblivion. Not sure. I only studied it for fun. I can't power it at all, it's outside of my set of skills. The way I'm drawing it is to cleanse all the beasties out-"
Mori growled. She whipped around, her clawed hand closing around the neck of a clannfear. The daedra had leapt at them, aiming for Nevras.
Siga yelped. "I thought they were supposed to stay out!"
"They did! The fucker summoned this one!"
Mori snapped the monster's neck. "There are more coming through the portal."
The xivilai had just swept Vilkas off of his feet. Farkas went forward recklessly. His assault gave Vilkas enough time to get back up.
Mori twitched.
I need to help!
No. I need to protect these two. Everyone but me will die if the spell is not finished.
Thunk!
Siga's shot killed a scamp that had just emerged from the flickering portal.
Nevras backed away, connecting the first rune circle with another he started. Mori led Siga along, eyes darting around the room.
Vilkas had just slipped under the xivilai's arm, slashing at his ribs. Farkas followed with a strike at the monster's other arm. He added another small cut. There were many on the xivilai's body, trickling precious blood.
He didn't seem to mind.
Vilkas came in with a powerful slash from behind. The xivilai turned. Clang! Their weapons collided. Vilkas jumped away, narrowly escaping the xivilai's grasp.
Nevras' shield rippled.
"Oh no," the mage lifted his head. He started frantically reinforcing the spell.
Now seems like a good time. I'm not coddling anyone.
Mori stepped in. She grabbed Nevras' hand and poured magic into him. "Use it! In the shield!"
He screamed in pain.
Too much? I should stop the current.
Nevras gasped. He was quick to recover - as soon as his lungs filled with air, he poured the power he had been given into the shield.
It flickered. With the sound of a rockslide, it solidified into a thick wall of purple energy.
Eyes wide, he shot a look at Mori.
A silver bolt buried into a scamp behind her back.
Nevras grabbed his magic chalk. He finished this circle and started backing away to draw another one.
Mori grabbed Siga. She carried her over to Nevras. As she did so, Siga shot another scamp.
"I don't want to sound like a killjoy, but there is something big in the portal!" Siga called out.
Mori put her down and looked.
A terrifyingly large toothed maw of something reptilian was poking out of the portal. Clawed hands grabbed at the edges of reality.
The portal became slightly larger.
Farkas yelped. He moved too close to the maw and it snapped at him, forcing him to dance around to avoid losing legs.
The xivilai used the moment to swipe an arm against Farkas. The hit sent him flying.
Vilkas screamed. He jumped in, putting more pressure on the xivilai.
"That's it, little warrior, get angry. ANGRY!"
The xivilai laughed, getting more playful with Vilkas. He let his weapon rest. Instead he started grasping at Vilkas with his clawed hand.
"I can't get a good shot!" Siga lowered her crossbow. "At neither! Both twins are too much in there!"
Mori looked between the fight and Nevras.
The shield was holding. He was finishing the third circle. One more to go.
Vilkas and Farkas were fighting together again, but Mori could see fatigue setting in. Vilkas was attacking recklessly. Farkas went too close in for an opening. The maw would snap whenever the xivilai forced either of the twins too close to it.
It tore off Farkas' cloak.
In exchange, Farkas managed to open a large wound on the xivilai's stomach.
The hammer came back into action.
Mori looked at Nevras again. He was backing to the fourth and last circle's location, Siga following with her crossbow at the ready.
The portal enlarged again as the creature kept pushing against it.
Farkas went in for an attack.
The xivilai whipped around, his hand wrapping around Farkas' neck. With one fluid motion, he lifted him from the ground. A quick flick of his wrist landed the warhammer on Vilkas' side.
Mori started running.
The xivilai grinned, showing his fangs. His fingers moved to snap Farkas' neck.
Mori leapt. She landed on the xivilai's back, burying claws into his flesh. With a bestial growl, her jaw unhinged a little bit too far.
Her fangs sank into his neck.
The xivilai roared. He dropped Farkas like an obstinate mouse, waving his hand at Mori angrily.
She climbed around like a spider, leaving deep gashes in his flesh.
"Gah! You OBNOXIOUS woodland FILTH!" the xivilai ran against one of the pillars. Mori dropped before he could crush her. He immediately started stomping around.
The warhammer swung at her. Mori crossed her arms before her chest. A giant spectral crab shell appeared, blocking the hit. The power of the hammer sent her sliding back.
The xivilai scoffed. He turned around, catching Vilkas' swing with his meaty forearm. Snarling, he swung his arm, ripping the sword out of Vilkas' hands.
Before he could swing at him, Farkas jumped in, drawing the xivilai's attention away.
Mori looked around.
Nevras was almost done with the last circle. The portal in the middle cracked and flashed, growing large enough for the reptilian thing to push its whole head through.
It was a daedroth.
It was looking at Siga.
Mori sprung up. She took two leaps, grabbing Siga mid-flight. Immense heat flashed behind their backs.
Mori dropped Siga behind the daedroth. It was dangerously close to the xivilai fighting the twins, but at least its fiery breath wouldn't reach her. Nevras, on the other hand, was completely out in the open.
Mori ran around again.
The daedroth was opening its maw, flames gurgling deep inside its throat.
Mori jumped, landing on top of the long snout. The jaws shut with a loud snap. The daedroth let go of the portal, swinging its claws wildly at her.
Mori unsheathed her own, engaging in a messy battle of claws.
"Witch! Light it up!" Nevras jumped away from the rune circle.
The daedroth used the moment to throw Mori off. She flew high in the air. The daedroth opened its maw, waiting for her to fall in.
Ethereal wings grew out of Mori's back. With one flap, her fall turned to ascent. For a heartbeat, her eyes lit up like a starry night sky. The rune circles followed, one by one. She spread her arms. The skin on her hands and forearms turned dark blue with the spattering of stars.
Faint hoof beats ran through the pavilion. With flapping of millions of wings and echoes of hawk screeches, power began radiating from her body. The runework on the ground thrummed, filling up with magicka. It hummed, again, again, again. Louder and louder.
Finally, the runes exploded into a stampede of spectral beasts, charging down the slopes of Mount Trolhetta. Unending stream of deer, wolves, boars, hares, birds, lynxes and others poured over the daedra, banishing them upon touch.
"Woo!" Nevras cheered.
A clawed blue hand wrapped around Mori mid-fall. She shrieked in agony as a stream of lightning coursed through her body.
XXX
Welp, random cultists doing weird things in an old daedric ruin fucked up! Who would have guessed, eh?
Xivilai from Oblivion are my favourite. Super scary, hard to kill. Many screams were had when they ambushed me somewhere. The daedroth is inspired by their ESO variant, as much as I like the Oblivion and Morrowind variations.