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Legal stuff: This is fan fiction based in the Elder Scrolls universe, everything relating to Elder Scrolls is copyright Bethesda and I am not connected to them other than buying their games, etc ad nauseum. Due to my inability to find certain lore, I have shamelessly fabricated a reasonable facsimile in places: may Sheograth have mercy on me.

Chapter 3

I kept getting frustrated with the casual Khajiit pursuit of what interested them at the time instead of focusing on the quest, but baking your brain in the desert while constantly ingesting drugs leads to erratic behavior. Even I started to get affected by the heat- although having nice clean roads made sense sitting around at night when it was cool, we just shovelled most of the dirt out of the way, then played in the river when it got hot. I was fondling Makari behind a bush when we heard Bugeater-

"What kind of birds are those- they float on the water!" Desert Khajiit only know of three kinds of birds- bird-that-can-be-eaten, bird-that-eats-dead-things, and bird-that-eats-living-things, so everything gets categorized accordingly. We listened as the three Khajiiti tried to grasp the concept of having enough water for something to live in. Eventually Orpheus informed them that those were migrating ducks... which were delicious.

In the evening we had good paths from the ridge and down both roads, and had the houses on the west side cleaned up enough to live in- they were intact enough to be well sealed and mostly empty. We had a light supper and then all went to bathe. Then I bug them to prepare for adventure, saying-

"Alright, I wanted to explore the area tomorrow- not far, just a short walk around to see how safe we are, and if anything interesting is there. I want my wife and kids to come, Zed and Orpheus and Ziraj can stay here to keep an eye on things. Yes I know, dividing our forces, only a light patrol- we haven't seen signs of anything big around here so I feel safe enough." They complained they were mostly packed already, but still we went back to the inn and got organized for an early start. I have a glass helmet and sword as partial payment from Orpheus, my light armor, a few basic potions, a lockpick, some trail mix and jerky, water, and a journal and writing tools to make maps and notes. I gave Makari a dwarven crossbow I got in Skyrim but she kept her Khajiit bow and arrows, as well as darts, stars, and a few smoke bombs, which all the other cats were using- up close they just whip out their claws. She still had her Khajiit style armor, and plenty of lockpicks and small useful items like needle and thread. She also packed some dried fruit, and of course moon sugar. Although we were armed, the climate was the main enemy- there were a few poisonous reptiles and insects, but most wildlife was small- armadillo, baboon, mini-camel, antelope. There were rumors of gryphons, the phoenix, the thunderbird, but it was more likely to run into a winged twilight or daedroth than imaginary creatures.

I let everyone get up late, as we'd be heading east, and we go over the ridge into another valley, less than a mile wide with a dry riverbed at the bottom, and to the east are even higher hills. We look around and turn north to some ruins, only a few buildings were there but it was worth adding as a landmark. The architecture isn't like anything I've seen, a long thin brick, most apparently was just sun dried and has crumbled, but one building was fired brick and still had stumps of walls. Everything that could be sold was gone, only pottery shards and fragments of stone tools- but not primitive, the pottery had intricate designs and the tools were apparently very well made from volcanic glass. I blurt out-

"Do you think this was First Era, or they just used stone out of poverty? Let me check my notes- First era 2260, Thrassian Plague wipes out most Khajiit, only two of sixteen kingdoms remain. All those eras are hard to sort out, but I made a timeline see, nice and neat- hmm, that was over 2000 years ago, and recorded history starts about 7000 years ago, so that leaves lots and lots of time." Makari digs up something and says "They were Khajiit, look at these little statues." Crude clay sculptures in various Khajiit forms were in one house, perhaps childrens toys or idols. I go to the standing walls, and see some plaster with faint colors- paintings! I brush away the dust, and see sunbleached murals of grasslands and fat animals. I call her over and say "Look- thousands of years right? I just realized, brick needs water, and is usually made nearby. So what happened?" She was as puzzled as me- "I don't know any stories about such things, of course old people say the past was better, but... it's just mysterious." "This could explain why there were more kingdoms ages ago too. Well, it's interesting, but doesn't help us- I've marked it on my map, and we've rested a bit, so let's go over there where those other ruins are, we can check the old riverbed for ores and such on the way."

It takes about another hour to get down and avoid being stung, and then another to go over through the stones and brush to what was a mine and camp. It looked like there was a good wall around it- probably a good idea out here. The entrance was open, and I said "Well if it's still standing, it'll be safe enough to rest inside right- well yes scorpions and lizards and such, oh my. Let's check it out."

Tsalani, Bugeater, and Makari got their bows out and waited behind me as I moved closer to look inside, since it was my idea. it appeared to be a standard shaft in rock and I stepped in so my eyes would adjust, then moved a few paces till there was a room on the side. Makari slips up beside me and touches her nose, and gestures at herself- she smells a Khajiit. She uses her night eye, and gasps, pulling me back to the entrance slowly. She mimics a big scary cat, and I'm confused until I remember what her mother said so I whisper "Pahmar?" and she shrugs "Maybe." I sign language "What do?" and she looks around, and signs "He smell us so no run." -obviously if she could smell him, he'd smell us. Hmm. I sign "Say hello?" and she worries over it but finally nods, and whistles in a code tune their family uses- "A D F E E A" and we hear rumbling and then whistling "D G C F". She relaxes and we all go in, and in the first room a giant furry pile rises up, eyes gleaming in the darkness.

It snuffles at us and grumbles "I smell kin- why are you so far from Tokhari? This mine was looted long ago." Makari speaks for us- "We didn't know, we had come looking for ruins with old technology and came in here to rest. I am Makari, daughter of Fire at Night, who is our clan mother now, Ri-tsanarra died a few years ago." It nods, "Ah yes they sent a message mother had died. That was the only one I've had though, they are happy to leave me to my meditations, and I know it is a long way just to visit." We look at each other surprised, and I speak this time, wanting to make sure this tiger thinks of me as friendly. "The clan mother Fire said you were a cousin, or at least she had a cousin like you." It looks at me and nods "Oh there is another, Nord that has his smells mingled with my nieces, she just likes to keep me secret... for unpleasant surprises. Oh you barely flinched, good, you would be brave to come this far. Yes I will accept you, if you behave well. But you said you were after things, and this one has been to wild places, yes, would you like to have my help? You don't look prepared for a very long walk." Makari and I look at each other, trying to decide who should speak, then I said "It's your cousin- visit with them!" and they all laughed and she started "Well, we found this old town with a spring over there-" "I know where that is." "-so we have been camping there, wanting to go dungeon crawling in the area." "Ah, yes." She hesitates, thinking, then realizes in our haste we hadn't introduced ourselves- "Oh, sorry, these are our cousins Tsalani and Bugeater, and Hrothmund is my husband... and uh we are the clan parents of our new village at the spring." The big cat coughs and snorts "Oh, well, ambition is good, it teaches you limits... hmm... how many are there?" "Not many now, but we have some refugees coming- there is minor trouble with the Thalmor." "Oh I know nothing of that, but it is nice you are being so kind. Hmm, not to be sudden but can I come live with you? I could be of some use if there are enemies and guiding you in the wilds."

We think this over a bit, I am inclined to be bold and accept, but Makari is thinking and I let her lead since it is her family, and she says "I only know of one brother of my mother... Radirr..." her voice was slightly tense, and I vaguely remembered from before when talking about marriages, he was the one who everyone said had kidnapped and raped a nomad girl, so I worried as the big cat continued- "Oh, yes. I was Radirr. I can explain my side, although it is not to excuse myself. Get comfortable, it will be hot out for a while yet. No don't get nervous, I am not the same as before. You see, I am Pahmar, and of course have been since I was a cub. This made my early life a bit difficult, but I had a cousin who was as well so I was not alone, and our family was very flexible, as I can see they still are-" he says grinning at me before continuing. "- although my power made me a bit arrogant, and when the Great War started, I joined the Thalmor, as many Khajiiti did, to move back into the lands we held in ancient times. I know you might hear stories that Thalmor will make you a monster but sometimes, you already are one, it just takes circumstances to let you fulfill that potential, and they encouraged me to turn it on all humans." He shifted and looked around, unsettled a bit actually speaking about it, and not used to company, but continued- "So I went with my Pahmar cousin on the raiding army, we ran up the river they call the Niben, from Leyawiin to Bravil to the Imperial City itself, eating livestock, killing whoever resisted, and raping wherever we could. This is the usual, yes, if any of you have seen a war, or are you all too young?" I speak "I remember the uprising in Markarth- barely, I was 6 or so. I was born about 170 I think, just before the Great War started." "Oh so you are old, for Khajiit, we mature faster and consider 14 calendar years to be adulthood, though for humans that is equal to 18, and elves are even slower, so it would be more like 30." "Yes, I've heard such things, and talked to 'kari about it since she is ten years younger than me, by the calendar." "Hmm, is it normal for Nords to marry so late?" "If we are restless and can afford whores, or seduce women well." I grin before my wife punches my arm. The big cat laughs and continues- "Ah well I did not think of marriage myself, due to- well you see- and as for those needs... my cousin was willing to see to them, as it was pragmatic."

He is lost in thought again, and I can tell the others are restless and awkward, so I spoke "Do you want to continue? You can make it brief." He grunts, "Ah well, killing machine, taste for blood and rape, and we make it to the gates of the White Gold Tower, slaughtering everyone in the city regardless of race or anything, when my cousin is killed in the counter-attack, and I withdraw with the others. I am upset and after the truce head into the wilds to hunt on my own, eventually coming home to recover." We wait in silence for a while, and assume that is all he is going to say for now. These aren't the best stories to tell sitting around in the dark, so I start telling him of my adventures with Makari, and she updates him on their family. Soon the sun is low, and we are well rested. I tell him we are going back- "We have been gone longer than planned, and I want to get back so we can sleep in beds, and continue exploring tomorrow. You can come if you wish." He agrees, and nobody makes any objections, so we head out and across the valley, and he continues as we slowly follow him on a path he knows. "At home I was calm, and everyone was nice to me, but then we had that raid.... you see, the place you call Bath was empty for some time, but then Khajiiti we didn't know came, claiming to be descended from the old settlers, a young man and his sister. He said their family had gone off to be nomads but always knew they had lived there. We welcomed them, but then he became belligerent. We thought it foolish to fight one person, so I went to intimidate him. However he was violent, and I wound up killing him, and in my fervor I took his sister as my prize. I didn't rape her, she let me claim her according to the old ways." I had a vague idea, strongest warrior takes all sort of logic, and nobody spoke so he continued- "She had been hiding, and when I subsided she told me how he had been afflicted with fevers and it had harmed his mind, and when he developed an obsession with that place she learned that the waters were said to help the unsettled mind, so she went with him to help, but they had not been there long enough for it to have an effect. I was sorry I had been so careless, but she understood, and we lived together there for some time until she was pregnant, then we went back to the village so mother could help. I wanted to see if the water had the power to help me, you see, and it seemed I was better, although having a wife did too."

We were moving across the riverbed now, busy looking for small poisonous varmints and boogers, and we were too busy walking to talk until we reached a clear trail leading up the slope, and he went on- "It was when we were back home that rumors came in of what I did in the war. I wasn't just a regular fighter, but the Thalmor had recruited various 'beast' folk to help in their interrogations, terror, torture, rape. I had buried these things but they talked and I grew ashamed, so eventually I went wandering more and more, until I just lived out here, hunting wild game to survive."

Silence again, as we absorb this. It didn't help we were potentially pissing off the Thalmor by hiding dissidents. We reach the top of the ridge as the sun sinks. I realize nobody said what happened to the nomad girl after that, or had acted like she was still around, but it could wait till later. We holler and walk into town, and head for the bath house, meeting Zed and Orph and telling them what happened. They were obviously disconcerted having a tiger on the loose and worried about him having Thalmor sympathies, but since he was Makari's uncle they didn't object. I was hesitant as well, and we all would keep an eye on him.

The night was uneventful, and in the morning we all went south along the river, not going out of sight this time. The valley was wider and empty aside from an old broken road, although we found the remains of a trader's cart, with a load of books inside. There were a few in decent shape I threw in my inventory, and when we got back we sat around the fire looking at them. I opened the first- "Oh look- 'The Lusty Argonian Maid'. Well we lack Argonians and maid costumes. Next is 'Words of Clan Mother Ahnissi to her Favored Daughter'- oh well you know that and more, don't you sweetheart?" I smile at Makari/Ri'Saka, and she nods and leans on me. I continue, "And this is 'The Real Berenziah'- oh unexpurgated. Well we have plenty Khajiit penis here so moving on. 'Cherim's Heart'... 'Guide to Dune'... oh look, 'Making a Cat Cry', here you go dear, this is how humans fantasize about Khajiit girls, barely legal, bibulous, and prodigious at performing pineapple prestidigitation." Bugeater says "Barely legal? You know Makari is a teenager, right?" and Tsalani adds in "I've seen her get bibulous too, but we don't normally have any pineapples." She huffs and bites my shoulder, grabbing and tossing it aside, where someone sneakily slips it into their inventory. I go through a few more history books, stacking them as I had a mind to use them in a project, then the last book, small and plain, but with clever stringwork keeping it closed. Makari deftly undoes it, and reads the first page- "'The Khajiiti Pillow Book'... ohmy!" and rapidly leafs through, colorful diagrams flipping by, then glances around and calmly slips it into her pocket- "We'll look at the later..." causing snorts of indignation from the kids, who proceed to tell about the things they've heard us doing until she takes it back out and says "OK, do you want to draw straws for it?" and Tsalani shrugs "Eh, I have the lesbian edition, let him have it." Bugeater says "It's no fun by myself, I thought she'd act out some poses for us, it's your job to educate us clan mother!"

She huffs and draws herself up like an angry snake, "Ri'Saka knows you have seen plenty, peeking in tents at night! You don't have anyone to do things with regardless, and paws are rough so perhaps you should not get too excited." We laugh at him, and he shamelessly shows us his paws weren't too rough.

In the morning we have no plans, I was thinking only of resting, perhaps a short patrol, but we heard a call from the west, and one of the young cats from the village came in on camel, telling us that the party had arrived in the village a few days ago, and now were coming to Bath. We ran around getting ready and asking various questions so we could get everyone settled as easily as possible. I was simply thinking of making room, when Makari pulled me aside and whispered- "What do we do about my uncle? It would be a shock to have him here, but I don't want to hide him either." "Well they'll find out either way, might as well have him with us- your mother is coming, let her decide if he should be allowed to stay, she would know better than us. I'm very forgiving you know, but it might be a weakness this time."

A while later they came over the pass, walking slowly with Jidargo and Krinrah guiding them, then next Artemis and a tall male who looks like her and is arm in arm with Makari's sister Tsukari, and behind them is her brother Shavirr who is escorting a lady. Makari's mother is in the middle with Zed's wife, Ziraj's wife and cubs, and three females who must be mothers as they have assorted children, and in the rear are warriors- two with different armor from the locals. Artemis takes the lead in introductions, telling them each of us already there- the couple Hrothmund and Makari, dear husband Orpheus, loyal warrior Zed, and young single adults Bugeater and Tsalani. (They have a word just for 'young single adult' but it is a bit difficult to write properly. Confusing phonetics is one reason why I alternate between Khajiiti and Common forms of names.) Then she looks calmly at Radirr and cocks an eyebrow at Makari, and my wife says- "Oh yes, we found him in the wilderness..." Mother Fire that Burns like Coals at Night steps forward and looks him over, then grunts "Ah, Radirr, is it you? So long. Yes, I know his spots..." then she steps to us and quietly says "If you think he is good company then I welcome him. This is your home now, right? You think you can be clan mother? No I am not being that way- he never harmed any of us, even when enraged. Everyone is watching though, we will talk later." and she leaves to go hug him and talk with him, and so Artemis continues addressing us now, to go through a bunch of names and kinships I barely bothered following, since Makari would figure it all out for us anyhow- "This young man is Darshadir. As you can see, my half-brother has the same fur as I, like our father. My mother died when I was younger and he remarried this lady here, Stares at Corners, who was my mothers cousin from the same clan and the birth mother of Darshadir. The young lady with your brother Shavirr is Catches Fish who is her niece. The two cubs there are poor orphans we adopted as charity- they were clever enough to sneak in without getting caught." We laugh at the Khajiiti sense of propriety, and she continues- "This female is Chewing Grass who is wife of the warrior Jobirr there, and those are their cubs hiding behind her. The last lady here is Stuck in Tree- she was married to my full brother, who died recently, and those are their two children. These are all that decided to come, others scattered to various relations or towns, since the danger is not overwhelming. I see the place is not bad though, hardly in ruins at all!"

Makari says some traditional greetings and shows them to the inn to sort out housing, as most will be there for the night, but Orpheus takes Artemis and her close kin to the innkeepers house, and Ziraj takes his family to their home. After an hour of chaos, everyone has their things put away and mill around aimlessly. I decide it would be a good time to go to 'our house', and also talk to her mother. Artemis decides to come with to see our place, so all four of us cross the stream, which they are very much pleased and impressed by, to the market square and our two story home. Mother fusses at us- "Oh look, so big, is your head big or your womb, huh?" Makari rolls her eyes "Oh mama, we need room for storage, plus the bottom floor is the store." This gets a "Hmmph, there are no customers, no traders, you'll just live out in the wilds fighting monsters and swimming in your fancy bath house huh? Makes me wish I was young enough to be foolish." We laugh and there is idle chatter for a while, but I manage to slip in a few important things. First I go alone with mother to show her where all my machine materials are, and ask- "If I can, since Radirr told us things the other day, about the war, and his wife... where is she now?" "Oh, when her children reached adulthood she went back home, she kept in touch with her family and went to marry an old sweetheart not long ago. Also, yes I knew he never forced himself on her but rumors get mixed up and there is no point in fighting some. Don't worry about it, if he has been safe so far then he should be alright to have around. Just behave yourself, remember he loves his family." as she pokes my side.

We go back up and she goes with Makari as I take a moment to talk with Artemis. She lets me take her arm as we walk around, and I start- "You know, I wanted you to be clan mother, being a lady and such." She smiles and thanks me, "But I am not really trained to be one, just... a regular mother, and politics too of course, but as a wife, not the boss... I like the idea of ruling Corinth myself, but not for life, too much work!" "Ah yes, I didn't want to be clan father myself... but they said in a year we can run away." She laughs, and pats my hand "Oh yes, too young to be that serious, but I am not that much older than you- I imagine you can't tell my age, but with Khajiits it can be tricky. Yes I know the joke, our wrinkles are covered in fur." "Yes, I'm having trouble keeping so many memorized, though I would with Nords or Orcs or whatever too... so sorry if I confuse your kin." She grins toothy- "Ah well don't worry, there is only one you need to keep straight, and get familiar with." In a split second I think Artemis means herself, and looking in her eyes I almost imagine it, but she continues- "My sister in law needs a man to protect her and her children. She could marry my other brother but that is awkward as well as looks peculiar, but... she can be your second wife if you wish." "What?" "Well, our warrior Jinashi we have planned to marry to Makari's cousin Mavishi, so we have a spare female, and since she already has children she is no no hurry to have more... it would be practical for the most senior male to help raise her children, plus it would be an honor, and help bind our clans together." My head was already spinning from trying to map out all these tangled webs, but I kept cool and said "I assume Makari knew about this." "Oh yes, very rude to usurp her position- I can see you are worried about making her jealous, but this is less sex and more having another hand around the house, and practice raising children, since your wife is still young." I had looked over the widow, and thought her attractive, and agile chasing her kittens... "It is something I'll talk to my wife about, especially the not bringing it up before now part." "Haha, oh yes, we did get lost in conversation and perhaps should have made better notes. There is no need to hurry though, she will stay with me until you decide, and of course I love her little monsters."

We spend three days on repairs before I call a break. Everyone had been travelling for days before that, and we got enough done to be livable, the rest we'd have plenty of time to deal with polishing up and getting settled in. Also, every morning and evening I made sure there was at least a brief patrol, and would go with Radirr and Ja'Qanar to discuss locations to loot, planning a longer, larger expedition this time, but first I had to deal with our village. My house- well Makari's, or Ri'Saka as they said more often- was cleaned nicely and we had taken a corner bedroom for ourselves, with her sister Tsukari in a room of her own on one side, and Tsalani in her own room on the other. We were all happy with this arrangement, and looked forward to happy days. On the first day of break, Stuck in Tree came to visit to discuss our potential marriage. I was somewhat interested, mainly for practical reasons, but she was going back to Corinth eventually, and I was happy with my wife, even if the possibility of another tempted some parts of me, guess which three. We were in the kitchen having tea, no furniture yet only pillows, and the other girls came in to listen in since eavesdropping was hard in a big house. The lady had finished speaking tepidly, and I was pondering, when Tsalani boldly spoke up, "If you aren't interested then don't marry her- there is another bachelor here." I was confused, since as I said it was hard to recall every name and face, but her glare made me remember she was rather masculine... Ri'Saka growls, "Be careful, by the old rules you know you must fight to make your challenge, and I don't want you two beating the crap out of each other." Tsalani huffs "He doesn't follow the old rules, and I'm not challenging him, I'm suggesting, since I want to leave to someplace more exciting, and would make a good husband. I can hunt and sneak and do everything except get her pregnant, and you're not planning on doing that with her are you?" Everyone looks at me and I don't know what to do but shrug and say "We've been over this, the Khajiit breeding with human thing, but since our plan for now was short term- then no. You were here listening uninvited." I say to throw her in defense for a moment. I respected her balls- well ovaries- but she was being a bit brash about it... oh I can say anything, so I tell her- "I admire your ardor, and thank you for reminding us you need a wife, but my wife is right that you are challenging more than suggesting." I say, hoping she'll get a hint. Everyone looks at her sideways, and she thinks for a moment, shuffling her feet, then says "Clan Mother, may I speak with you all about marriage as well?" and Ri'Saka says "Yes dear, you are single so it interests you- and sister, you might as well join us too." We get in a comfortable circle and Makari- Ri'Saka the clan mother- says "Now then, we have some single young adults here yes. Dear sister is happy with the man we chose for her, but we have two more women here who need marriage. Lady Stuck in Tree, what do you look for in a mate?" And on it goes for some time, formal but brief, mainly to see if the widow was interested in a female husband as naturally everyone had neglected to ask her opinion. I suppose that is fair, as they hadn't asked anyone else's opinion before going gaga playing matchmakers, perhaps it would teach them not to meddle so much... not that I told my wife that, I've been punched and nipped enough. Eventually she warmed to it, as she hadn't really wanted to have sex with me either, and it would be better to have someone able to stay long term. No worse than what Artemis' marriage... guilty thoughts appear before I hide them. I can behave myself- I love my wife... and her very sharp claws and teeth.

Plus, this talking stuff is finally over- I'm free to adventure now! I'll have at least one senior male here while I'm gone, Ziraj wants to be clan father some day so he can be my deputy while I ride out on the range, smashing monsters and looting ruins.