Tales from Tamerial (fanfic)

A Spriggan's Remorse

A tale of an Orc and her trials in the Greenspring Cavern.

18, Frostfall.

It had been an early trek from her home in Giant's Grotto

The young Orc woman had been on many adventures since leaving her captive bindings in the now ruined city of Helglen

The spring-like weather within the cavern was beautiful and mesmerizing to the young orsmer woman but she knew her purpose was to retrieve the treasure without fail. She stood in the entrance and used a detect creature scroll which revealed seven Spriggan's and four Mountain Sabertooths. The Orc drew a breath in softly and sighed with relief

" At last some warmth" she muttered softly as her gaze marveled at the warm spring-like cave in which she sat.

"Oh, Sel doesn't start turning feral now. This is just a cave" she said softly to herself.

The young female was from the small Ash yam farm on Solsthiem. Her mother had named her Selkah Snowmaiden for her stark white hair and pale blue eyes. She was born in the middle of winter and to Orc farmers. Not long after her birth was she taught to wield a hammer and when she turned four her first bow was forged from orichalcum. Now of age, she must complete the quest for wisdom and strength that Malacath himself gave to her.

Quickly Selkah set about making camp using her wolf hide bedroll on a small hidden ledge. A small fire burned just as the moon overtook the three large holes in the ceiling. Soft moonlight filled the cavern with the sweet scent of the Mountain flowers and fungi.

Her eyes shone like stars in the half-light as she watched a nearby rabbit hop frantically away from her firelight. Selkah had packed for the journey and but still eyed the rabbit and it's few companions with hunger as it would be a few nights before she could retrieve the treasure.

Smiling softly to herself as she eyed the beautiful underground lake and wondered if fish swam even here in the moonlit depths of the earth. Skyrim held such wonders and Selkah knew only one or two of them. She knew her mind was drifting towards capturing food because it had been three days since she had eaten anything truly substantial. Without another thought, she began setting small rabbit traps as their meat would preserve well in her mother's herbs. 

"Mmmm tiny rabbit you will be a warrior's feast" She exclaimed quietly to herself while staring at them a little longer. 

She could see through the gaping hole in the ceiling of the cave that nightfall was coming in quick. Meandering about collecting sticks and stones for her fire pit she stumbled upon the corpse of a khajit adventurer and two dead mud crabs. Looking somewhat fresh she harvested the meat from both but only a small amount of Chitin as one was damaged from fighting. Finally, she ransacked the corpse of the khajit not only to replenish possible supplies but also to see if he had anything to identify him. Most would leave him there unknown and unloved for. But she knew that a Khajit needed to be freed so she built up a small pyre and placed his form on top. 

Out of the cat's pockets and bag she had looted a rather nice chunk of Obsidian, a fine cut ruby, an abundance of mushrooms and other plants and 17 gold pieces. She felt sure the khajit was not an adventurer and maybe just a wanderer. A seemingly well-to-do one, his clothes would have sold for a nice price if they hadn't been torn to shreds by the crabs. A small dagger had been inside one of the mud crabs faces but she didn't need it so instead of taking it she added it to the small shrine she had begun building for the khajit male. 

"You poor man, I hope you have no litter and wife at home waiting for you to return." She sighed as she finished the shrine off with some wild mountain flowers a small candle from her bag and some burning incense upon a lump of old charcoal. 

Behind her a rabbit squealed in terror as its hind leg was now caught in her trap, she thought to herself that it was so easily caught that it was odd but she remembered these rabbits mostly didn't come in contact with traps or people. Quickly she leapt to the rabbit and killed it with a quick stab to the brain. Lifting the small intestine rope up she examined the rabbit for a disease which it thankfully did not have. She moved back to her small camp and began building her fire, bleeding the rabbit and finishing up the camp. 

The light was fading fast as she ate her supper of bread and roasted rabbit, which she enjoyed thoroughly. Drool easily escaping down her chin due to her two large tusks. She burped audibly and sighed as she settled into her bedroll and tent. Watching the fire flicker, wolves howled and Spriggans chanted as they wandered the cave. She had no worry of them attacking her as they were far off. So she allowed herself to drift off into dreamland, her white hair glistening orange in the firelight as she snored. Her dreams were of home and her family, sometimes future adventures and possible treasures she would find in this cave.

Darkness seeped into her mind until she was truly asleep and warm.....

More to come............................