The Elder's Scrolls

Finding Hope

Something about the stillness of the forest unsettled Indrele. The golden leaves that fell from the thin trees were beautiful, but the way the shadows constantly flickered and moved unnerved her. As she continued her brisk walk towards what she hoped to be Riffen, she kept her thin, ashen grey hands curled over firebolts.

A warm breeze carried the sound of talk and laughter over a small rise in the land, and before long, came the source. A band of Khajiit, burdened with the weight of rolled up tents, bed rolls, and merchandise, talked amoung themselves. The occasional chuckle could be heard, followed by a whisper of the feline voices. As the caravan drew nearer, Indrele could hear what sounded like song.

"On to Dawnstar we go, through the forest and into snow! Oh what the journey will bring, we'll never know! Something fierce, something strong, something worthy of a song! Hey!"

The song ended in laughter. Indrele smiled, despite herself. The Khajiit surely are merry people, she thought.

A female Khajiit with dark brown fur called out to Indrele as the group drew ever nearer.

"Hail, Dark Elf!" Her words were free of hostility. "What brings you to the Rift?"

Indrele offered a slight smile. "I'm seeking work."

A silver tabby Khajiit came forth, a lute in his paws. "Aren't we all?" He gave the strings a few careful plucks with his claws. "These Nords are so unfair to us,"

The Dunmer nodded. "I agree. I've come from Windhelm. I was barely getting by, living under Jarl Stormcloak's taxes." She hissed the word 'Jarl.'

The tabby laughed. "Dro'marash," he extended a paw, which Indrele took.

"Indrele," she smiled again.

"This one is known as Ahkari," the brown Khajiit said, whipping her tail. "And the other two are Kharjo," she pointed to a male Khajiit in steel plate armor. "And Zaynabi." She extended her hand to a golden brown female Khajiit behind Kharjo.

Indrele dipped her head to each in turn. "Very nice to meet each of you."

Dro'marash purred. "Ahkari, this one thinks we should let the Dark Elf travel with us."

Ahkari turned her icy blue gaze to Dro'marash, then back to Indrele. She smiled. "If this one would like to join us, she may,"

The dark brown Khajiit gave a gathering sweep of her tail, then set off again with Dro'marash, Kharjo, and Zaynabi following.

It didn't take long for Indrele to make up her mind. A new sort of happiness had found it's way into the young Dunmer's heart, and, with a sweep of the skirts of her dress, similar to the Khajiit and their tails, she turned on her heels and set off after the caravan.

Song had picked up again amoung the Khajiit, and Indrele joined them just in time to finish it off.

"- something strong, something worthy of a song! Hey!"