Skyrim: Dark Firewood

Unseasonably Warm

Faendall woke up first, prying his eyes open to the bright morning sun. He found it a bit hard to breathe, Kerev squishing him against an all too solid tree trunk. His spine was being a bit unforgiving.

Even still, the Bosmer managed to stretch out his legs and take in a solid yawn of fresh air. He placed a hand on his companion's bare shoulder, rubbing it with a thumb. There wasn't much blood crusted on Kerev, the Dunmer seemingly having accidentally wiped it off on Faendall's tunic. He moved to try and get the other to wake.

"Kerev," He mumbled, voice a bit hoarse. "Wake up."

Fear creeped up Faendall's spine for the solid two seconds it took for Kerev to react. Thankfully however, the Dunmer proved easy to rouse.

"Hondil?" Kerev mumbled out, voice a pathetic crackly breath. 

Faendall took a deep breath, ending it in a smile.

"No, it's me, friend." He said, voice nearly a whisper.

Kerev seemed to come back to his senses. He rubbed his eyes and started to separate himself from the Bosmer. His bones were nice and loose, but his muscles were taught. They throbbed and cried out, making the Dunmer wince a small bit.

Faendall was quick to stand up alongside his companion. He gently placed a hand on Kerev's elbow as well as his lower back. He hummed as Kerev started hissing out swears, weakly starting to walk.

"Gods, that fever. I felt like I was in the dessert without shade," he complained.

Faendall giggled a bit, worry starting to creep up his spine once more. He watched as Kerev pulled out his journal, flipping through the now blood stained pages.

"I'm so glad you're alright."

Kerev paused for merely a moment, his breath catching. He continued onward, reading as twigs snapped beneath his shoes.

"Thanks to you, I'll be alright for quite a bit."

Faendall had a lump in his chest, gnawing away at him. He had so many questions, worried that their hosts somehow harmed Kerev while he was away. But he couldn't find it in himself to pry. Even as Kerev started glaring at his journal entries.

The two stayed in a comfortable silence as they walked on, heading for Falkreath. Along the way Faendall scanned for danger, and Kerev removed his semi-torn stained shirt. Faendall managed not to stare, watching Kerev's eyes as the Dunmer started scribbling out an entire page of his journal.

--
Hondil showed me today. Showed me what happens when we get the itch. He said it's okay. That I'm normal. And I'm so happy. I've always been so scared. But now it's okay. I don't have to worry. I'm just strong! Tough! I'll be the very best, most strongest, super cool epic person in the whoooooole dessert! And if I end up doing it when the sun's still up it'll be okay because Hondil will be there so I can be super safe!I'm happy I'm this way.
--

Kerev could feel his eyes burning as he held back the tears. Reading this again, with the curse of hindsight, near tore him apart. He scribbled so furiously the quill was at severe risk of slicing through to the other pages in the journal. He didn't wait for the ink to dry, snapping the journal shut and all but slamming it into his bag. He felt his chest seize up as he fought off a scream. It only got worse as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"It's alright," Faenall's soft voice cut through the cloudy haze of rage surrounding Kerev. "It's all going to be alright, friend."

Friend. That word brought comfort. A comfort Kerev was unfamiliar with. He gave his companion a weak smile, rolling his shoulders back. He placed a hand over Faendall's, giving it a gentle squeeze.