Chapter Text
I watched as the fire raged through the new house. My blood was pumping fast as I listened to the screams of the bandits as they tried to push through the double doors at the front of the tall jeweled building. The guards are going to be here any minute. I want this image to be burned into my mind- no pun intended. The screaming finally stopped- and a good thing too. The crates blocking the door on the outside were starting to give- so… that’s good.
There’s the sound of clanging armor in the distance, so I’ll have to be on my way. I walked over to the thick bushes and trees and there stood my lovely steed: Shadowmere. My partner in crime was still as if knowing we couldn’t get caught.
I removed the necklace, that I was hired to retrieve, from my pocket. It was the most exotic thing I have ever seen in these parts of Skyrim. Imported maybe? It doesn’t look like any jewels I’ve seen imported- even illegally!
The pricey thing had small, black-grey, swirly, pearls all around. There was a big emerald cut into a half-moon shape connected to the others by the two points.
It looks like it’s a one of a kind- to bad I can’t sense any enchantments attached to it. Other than its looks it really doesn’t have any real meaning to it.
…
I still want it though… make my fireplace a little less bland. Ha!! I’ll just have to steal it back when the owner comes to retrieve it from the companions.
The sound of the guards scuffling around the house pulls me from my daydreaming. They won’t be getting in there anytime soon. I hopped onto shadow’s back, turned him around, and urged him into a gently trot up the hills and through the brush.
We were far up the mountain when I saw the fire start to spread to the trees and try to claw at nearby houses. Incompetent guards…! They are so completely useless! I saw the neighbors running from houses in their sleepwear fearing for their respective homes.
I roll my eyes as the bucket heads ushered everyone onto the road. I guess I should help or at least simmer it down.
I sucked in the cold air around me and focused on the dragon soul infused within me. I recalled the ancient tongue of the dragons and I let go of the breath I had with a loud shout:
“STRUN BAH QO!”
Not even the shout was finished when the skies above me, once clear for the moon to be seen, started to gather the clouds above this little town. Soon there was a clap of thunder and light flashed across the sky. A heavy rainfall started and calmed the once raging fire.
I patted shadow’s head, “Well that should be good enough. Let’s head back to-”
“HOLD IT FELINE!!!”
‘Feline?’
I turned and spotted an old man running up the hill after a…cloak? Shadow? The shadow thing ran up to a tree and jumped. I spotted little furry paws appear and dig into the tree and climb.
“Get away from me! You stole it first!” I watched as the little khajiit (what else has furry paws?) sat up on a branch catching his breath.
“Why you pesky, good-for-nothing, CAT!!” the old man bawled his fists and muttered under his breathe some kind of enchantment to make them glow. The child saw this too and proceeded higher into the tree.
“Time for me to make a grand entrance Shadow!”
I nudged him up behind the man, “Hey!” the man jumped and turned around to glare at me.
“Now why are you picking on poor children? Nothing better to do with your miserable life?”
“That thing stole what was rightfully mine and I want it back!” He turned his back on me… No one… No one turns their back on Cylnia the fucking Dragonborn! I put my hand on his shoulder- he turned around and hit me square in the jaw.
“Alright, you old hoot…” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, “I tried to be nice and let you go, but now, if you really wanna play dirty, let’s. Play. Dirty.”
“Bring it tree hugger!”
The old man didn’t last very long. I had pulled my dagger from its sheath, stabbed him in the chest where he would bleed the most, and stepped back before he could utter a word.
He fell cradling the dagger handle.
I almost forgot what I was doing when I heard dry coughing and sniffling.
“Hey Kitten,” I said stepping over the body to the base of the tree, “why don’t you come down here and tell me what all that was about?”
He stared down at me with ice blue eyes as if judging my sincerity, but he slowly started to descend.
“W-who are you?” He asked shyly.
“Ahh… Cylnia… Why was that man chasing you?”
He looked at the paling man making sure he was dead. When satisfied he reached a fuzzy hand into his mud covered, ragged clothing. He pulled out an old locket- most likely made of gold, but I can’t tell with all the layers of dirt.
On the left was a broad shouldered brown Kajiit. He had a wide, black nose and short black hair. (Just longer fur?) He had short whiskers and black pebbled spots. Written on the picture was ‘Lanir’.
On the right was a skinny white kajiit with black around her eyes…her eyes were just like this little kittens’… an icy blue. Her name was Lynil.
I looked back to the child. His eyes were filled with a longing sadness.
“They’re gone…,” he whispered so silently that it’s a good thing I have elf ears, “They didn’t survive the trip here…”
I didn’t have kids, hell I’m not even married! I know couples from my countless adventures. I can’t exactly leave him here, but I don’t know how to take care of a kid. I don’t know how to handle someone who’s lost their parents. I don’t know- Alright, one step at a time.
“Well first thing’s first, what’s your name?”
“Kyrain…” he whispered.
“Well Kyrain, let’s head to my house in Solitude and we’ll figure things out from there… that sound okay to you?” I punt a comforting hand on the boys shoulder.
He looked at me confused, frightened, excited, curious, but cautious, “Can I come? Really?”
His face lit up like I gave him all of Whiterun.
I’ve never seen anyone this happy to go to my house- usually people are afraid of finding bodies or being killed (Both of which have happened).
“Of course,” I smiled at him, “come on we’ll be there in about two hours- one if we don’t stop.” I guided him over to Shadowmere, who stared curiously at the fluffy creature.
“Have you ever ridden a horse?”
He reached his hand up in front of shadow’s snout. Shadow leaned down, giving him permission to ride him.
“N-no … is it hard?” He looked at me.
“Not at all,” I guided him over to the saddle.
“On the count of three jump, alright?”
“One… two… three!”
I heaved him up onto Shadow’s back towards the front of the hard leather.
I followed him up and sat behind him.
“Ready?”
“Yeah!”
“Alright, just hold on and enjoy the ride.”
I budged shadow forwards. I looked behind me at the smoke billowing into the air. With the fire out and the rain stopping, the guards will be able to find those bandits. Maybe they’ll just cover it up or something- who’s gonna care about those sleazy men?
We rode further back in to the greenery until we were riding on a stone road.
“Look,” I pointed up at the city that was on the rock between those two mountains. Magnificent.
“Wow!” He said in awe.
“Soon you’ll be able to see it up close.”
We rode on.