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Stranded Beyond Hope

Chapter 3: Beginnings

Krystal woke up to the sound of her stomach emptying.

With a groan she heaved into the bucket sitting beside her bed. Her stomach felt like curdled milk and her mouth was fuzzy and dry, which did not help her pounding headache. Thankfully, there had been a bucket placed next to her bed, otherwise this would have been a much harder mess to clean. Once she had finished voiding the remnants of her last meal, she lethargically sat up, looking around the quarters and wiping her muzzle.

The other beds in the chamber were empty, and the torches had been relit. She couldn't judge what time it was since she was underground, but it had to at least be the next day. Her gaze transferred to her left and she noticed that a glass jug of water had been placed on the table next to the bed and what looked like a small burlap bag tied with a leather cord, a handwritten note sitting beside the stein.

Put this in the water.

Krystal did as the note suggested, pouring the silvery powder and watching as the clear liquid turned a rosy pink. She hesitantly drank from the jug and was surprised when her aches began to fade and her stomach settled. The vixen eagerly downed the rest of the potion and sighed in relief, turning to look at the note.

Memories of the previous night swiftly flashed in her mind, at least what she could remember. Most of the previous evening was still incoherent. But something shone through her muddled recollections. Someone had helped her, someone with golden eyes.

The vixen studied the paw she had used to caress the stranger's hand, running her other paw across the black pads, the man's golden eyes lingering in her mind. She wished that she knew who helped her so that she could properly thank him. She had appreciated the fact he stayed until she fell asleep, more than he probably realized.

She also appreciated all the things he had left for her, it made her awakening far less unpleasant.

Krystal slipped out of her bed and picked up her stuff. Kodlak had wanted to speak with her and she hoped that she was not late. The vixen quickly departed the chamber and headed to Kodlak's room across the hall. The door was closed and so she softly knocked upon it.

Within a few moments, the harbinger bade her to enter.

The timeworn man was once more sitting at his desk, steadily writing into some sort of book. Krystal was curious as to what it was he was writing.

He looked up to see who it was and smiled warmly.

“Good morning. I trust your awakening was pleasant?" Kodlak smile shifted into a knowing grin.

Krystal winced. “It could have been better."

“I don't doubt that." The harbinger chuckled and slowly closed the tome he had been scribbling in, placing it into a drawer of his desk. “Are you ready for your next test?"

She nodded fervently. Krystal was eager to do something to counter the thoughts of her past. Her home was out of reach, perhaps permanently. And dwelling on it would not help her in any way. It would be best to place them aside. Doing this job would help.

“So eager, I hope that you truly are ready, for it will not be an easy task. But do not worry. You will not be venturing alone."

“What is the task?" She wondered. Krystal hoped that it would not prove to be too difficult.

“We have heard word that one of the final fragments of Wuuthrad was unearthed in a burrow two days journey north of Whiterun. You and your mentor will seek out this tomb and recover the piece. Bring it back to me and your final test will be complete." Kodlak pulled out a small map, handing it to her. “This will show you the way, the burrow has been marked on it."

She nodded and retrieved the map. It didn't seem like such a bad quest. All they had to do was walk in, grab the piece, and walk out.

It would be easy.

“A message of warning however, the draugr killed the miners and now guard the tomb. You will have to fight through them in order to reach the fragment. Once you have it return to me and you will receive your reward."

Krystal's confidence took a steep dive.

Or not…

“I can see you are nervous about this. Do not be, I have chosen one of our best to go with you. Stick to their side and you will be fine." Kodlak explained in an effort to placate her concerns. “Your mentor will be waiting for you outside of Jorrvaskr for when you wish to depart."

The vixen nodded and left Kodlak's room, and headed upstairs. The morning mead hall was mostly deserted, with only the old woman from before dusting the halls shelves and tables. Judging from all the times Krystal had seen her and what she did, she must be Jorrvaskr's caretaker.

Krystal retrieved her cloak from the chair she had used last night and wrapped it around her shoulders. It would be cold outside of the city's walls and she wanted to be prepared. There were a few sweet rolls on the table and she snatched one, quickly scarfing it down and grabbing one extra for the road.

Licking her chops and savoring the sweet aftertaste of the confectionary treat, Krystal brushed the crumbs off her muzzle and fiddled with the straps of her satchel as she headed towards the hall's main doors, wondering who her mentor would be. Maybe it was Farkas, or Aela? But the odds were that it would be Vilkas, since he was the one to test her previously.

The vixen pushed the heavy doors open and stepped out into the shady morning air. The sun was hidden behind a thick layer of grey clouds, depriving her of most of its light and heat. From the looks of it, this day was going to be a rainy one.

She hoped it wouldn't. Krystal was not equipped for rainfall of any sort. It would soak through her cloak and penetrate her thick coat of fur. The skimpy clothing she wore was not made for this land's weather. Once night comes she would freeze.

Her cloak fluttered in the terse breeze and the vixen hugged it tighter to herself. As Krystal stood there, she scanned the area in front of Jorrvaskr for any sign of her mentor, but they were nowhere to be seen.

Grumbling, she tapped her staff against the cobbled stone. “Where are they?"

“Being deaf to one's own surroundings will bring about a swift death."

Krystal yipped in surprise and whipped her muzzle to where the unexpected voice had emanated from.

A figure materialized out of the mead hall's shadow, less than a meter from where she stood. From their armor and appearance the vixen realized that it was Fenris.

Was he her mentor? And how had she not noticed him? She prided herself on her acute senses and should have detected him if he had been that close.

The man strode towards her, stopping a few feet away, the faint scent of weapon oil and cured leather wafting past her nose.

“Kodlak has explained to me that you are attempting your final trial?" The man inquired, his etched mask regarding her with interest.

“Yes, I have to retrieve a fragment of Wuuthrad from a burrow two days north of here." Krystal shied away from his odd gaze, turning her own to the cityscape before her, seeing the man nod in her peripheral.

“Ah yes, I have heard of it. I was to take this quest before your arrival. Let me see the map." The man held out one of his gloved hands.

Krystal passed it to him.

He briefly examined the diagram before stuffing it into his bag and walking past her, motioning over his shoulder. “Follow me." And with that he began to head down the stairs and into the city.

Krystal, slightly baffled, followed after him.

The hooded man passed the courtyard with the tree and headed towards the market district, the vixen in close pursuit. Even though she was tall and graced with long legs, Krystal found it difficult keeping up with his unwavering stride. The crowd seemed to part before him, eyeing him with reverence, the one who had slain the dragon. She locked on to his black cloak, using it as a landmark so she would not lose him in the sea of bystanders.

With a burst of stamina she caught up with him, walking by his side. As they weaved through the crowd she occasionally glanced up into his hooded visage, trying to see past his black mask. Krystal was curious as to what laid behind it. What did he look like?

“What is your bust size?"

The question caught Krystal off guard.

“What….?"

“Your bust size, what is it?" The man repeated simply, turning a corner and heading down a street.

Krystal blushed and subconsciously closed her cloak around her body. What kind of question was that?

“Excuse me!" She barked in indignation.

He ignored her outburst.

“No matter, we can solve that later."

They arrived at the gates and instead of heading through them he took a detour, stopping in front of a two story building with a sign depicting a smithy.

Warmaiden's as she read the name.

Still a little incensed at his insensitive question, she reluctantly followed him inside.

The shop had a fireplace on the western wall and a few tapestries hung about with no real order that she could see. A counter sat at the far end and a pair of humans were standing behind it, a man and a woman. The man had a grand black beard and fair skin, a nord she would guess. The woman had a tanned complexation and Krystal was uncertain as to what race she was.

“Ah, Fenris, what brings you back to our humble shop!" The bearded man inquired.

In response, the cloaked man stepped up to the counter. “I need some armor."

“What need you have of our wares? What you have now is better than anything we have in stock."

“Ulfberth, I need a special order made, for a female."

The man behind the bar looked over Fenris' shoulder and spied Krystal standing by the doorway. She was not sure what exactly was going on and she was too shy to approach them.

“Ah I see. This is a job better suited for my wife."

Ulfberth backed up from the counter and turned to head to the back room, quickly replaced by the woman. She looked between Fenris and Krystal with a raised brow, propping her hands on her waist.

“What's this all about?"

“Girl needs better protection then that if she's going to survive out there." Fenris rumbled simply.

The woman examined Krystal, seeing what she wore under her cloak, and nodded.

“Yes, she is. It just so happens that we have some leathers in stock, enough for two suits. But it'll have to be sewn and she'll have to be fitted.

Krystal did not like the sound of that.

“That's fine, but I want a custom job, better than anything else. Do I pay upfront? Price is no object."

The woman shook her head.

“Can't, won't be able to say how much until the work's done."

He nodded.

“Acceptable, when can you start?"

“I have some other orders going, but I can work you in today, but final product won't be finished till tomorrow, maybe the next day if I get swamped by my other orders."

“That'll be fine. What do you need?"

“Just her over there..." The woman replied, gesturing to Krystal.

The vixen blanched and slowly approached. She was still not sure what was going on, but she did not like the sound of it.

“Don't be nervous girl. This'll be simple and fast. I just need you to take some measurements."

Krystal nodded cautiously and the woman guided her past the counter and to a small room to the side.

“I'll be outside." Fenris turned and disappeared through the front doors, his task complete.

Krystal immediately found herself missing his presence, he was less of a stranger than this woman. She watched the doors as the woman took her through a different set. The room they were now in had a partition, a mirror, and a shelf on the right side.

“How about we start with introducing ourselves? My name is Adrianne Avenicci." She maneuvered Krystal to stand in the center of the room by a life sized figurine of a female body.

“M-my name is Krystal." She replied in turn, shifting her hindpaws nervously. Krystal had been fitted a few times before, but this time she felt vulnerable. The woman was a complete stranger to her.

Adrianne easily picked up on the vixen's anxiety. “It's alright Krystal. This won't take long. I just need your measurements for the armor."

That was another thing. When had she agreed to this?

“Stand here please."

Krystal moved to stand beside the mirror, gazing gloomily into her reflection. She had changed since coming here. Her eyes were bagged from restless nights, her once proud features were haggard by hardships, and her fur was made unkempt from her rough travels. This land had taken its toll. The vixen wondered how much more it would take. As soon as she was able she wanted to wash herself and get cleaned up.

“Okay, now I need you to disrobe."

She turned to Adrianne with an uneasy frown. She did not like the idea of undressing here. The vixen felt vulnerable enough.

The other woman chuckled. “It's perfectly alright. We both have the same parts, girl. And I can't do a very good job if you keep all this on."

Krystal's frown deepened, but she did as asked. She tentatively shed her cloak and reached her paws behind her back, unclipping the brassiere and gingerly dropping it to the floor beside her. With her breasts exposed she covered them with a paw and slid out of her loin cloth, covering her nether region with the other. Now standing completely exposed, she waited for Adrianne.

Adrianne grabbed an item from the shelf and returned, a measuring tape in hand. She moved behind Krystal and unspooled a few feet. “Move your hand please."

Krystal reluctantly did as instructed and felt the woman as she moved the tape around. The vixen did her best to ignore it.

While she toiled, Adrianne made small talk.

“So…how do you know Fenris?"

Krystal shook her muzzle, a rueful frown covering it. “I don't really. I only truly met him today. He is to help me on my quest."

Adrianne hummed. “That's interesting, because he's going out of his way to help you. A custom job like this is typically pretty pricy, this being no exception. And it seems strange for him to go through all this effort for someone he doesn't know."

Krystal considered what she had said. It did seem strange. Why would he go through all this effort? This day was her first time actually speaking with him, and they had only exchanged a few words. There was no reason for him to do this. What had he to gain? She had no idea what his motivator was, but she was curious to find out.

“Hold your arms up please."

"Oh right…" Krystal shook of her thoughts and moved her arms, letting the woman wrap the tape around her bust.

*****

By the time Adrianne finished measuring her, Krystal was tired of standing up. Adrianne had been very thorough, measuring more than once to ensure she was accurate in her calculations. Krystal dressed back into her clothes and bid Adrianne goodbye.

Departing the room, she stepped through the shop and out to the city, quickly spotting Fenris patiently standing on the opposite end of the street. The man was leaning against a signpost, casually resting a gauntlet on the hilt of a sword.

“All finished?"

Krystal huffed and folded her arms, glaring at him crossly. She was not happy with him at the moment, forcing her to go through that embarrassing experience.

He took her displeasure in stride. “Good. It'll take a day or so before your armor is ready, until then we'll have to stay in the city. Are you hungry?"

She was surprised that he asked, or that he was even interested in her wellbeing. The vixen supposed she was hungry. The sweet roll from earlier was not very filling and she wanted to save the other. But there probably wasn't any food out back at the hall. And she didn't really feel like heading back until she finished her quest.

Krystal nodded.

Fenris leaned off the signpost. “The Bannered Mare is a fine place to sate ones appetite." With no other words, he started to move.

Sensing a pattern, Krystal sighed and reluctantly followed him.

The Bannered Mare was a huge three story inn and even as she approached Krystal could hear the patrons and sounds of music. It looked like lively place and the vixen's tale wagged in excitement.

Fenris opened the door and let her enter, following behind her.

The first floor was dappled with tables and benches around a large fire in the center, the scent of cooked meat and ale filled the open expanse. A man stood near the center of it all and was singing as he strummed some sort of instrument. Krystal picked up on the words and realized he was singing a song about the Dragonborn. Reminding her of the reason her chances of getting home were slim.

She heard Fenris chuckle scornfully behind her.

“Come, let's find a table."

They found a table near the back, away from the more rowdy elements of the inn. The cloaked man pulled the chair out for Krystal in a sudden display of chivalry that surprised her.

She smiled.

“Thank you."

He nodded silently and took his seat.

The inn was pleasantly crowded tonight, the barmaids busy serving the hefty numbers of patrons. Krystal anticipated that it would be some time before they managed to get to her and Fenris who would be a lower priority. This gave Krystal time to study her silent mentor.

Fenris sat across from her, all aspects of his demeanor hidden behind his carved mask. His gauntlets sat idle on the wooden tabletop and his hooded form attentively scanned the inn's environment. The silence between them grew uncomfortable, at least for her.

It was then the Krystal decided that he was not much of a conversationalist.

The vixen liked to talk with people. She enjoyed socializing, and he was making it rather difficult to do that. With an awkward cough, she tried to clear the air.

“So…Fenris…why did you join the Companions?"

She watched as his mask shifted to her, the bright pinpricks of light behind it staring into her eyes. It made the vixen somewhat uncomfortable.

“Why do you wish to know?" He retorted simply, an air of guarded curiosity in his tone.

“I just thought we should get to know each other since we would be traveling together for some time." She replied, scratching at her arm nervously, confused as to why he was making her act like this. This man seemed to easily manage riling up her emotions.

Fenris pulled his gauntlets away from the table and dropped them out of sight. He remained silent as he mulled something over. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he shrugged and leaned forwards, placing his elbows back on the ale stained table.

“I joined same as any of the others, for battle and honor."

He sounded sure of himself, but Krystal could detect the doubt lingering inside him, and something else…anger? This made her curious as to what the truth may be. But she didn't know him nearly well enough to pry and so she nodded in acceptance.

“Why did you join?"

Krystal grinned. That was an easy one to answer.

“I needed a place to stay and earn some coin."

“Seems like a dangerous way to fulfill both needs." It was hard, even for her sensitive ears, but she could hear the dim tenor of amusement in his voice.

“I was not given much choice."

“Ah, neither do many people in this land. Skyrim is a hard place and it will devour you if you are not vigilant, as it did my parents." He nodded grimly.

“What happened to them, your parents?"

“A personal inquiry there, fox, but I will answer." Fenris replied with a cynical chuckle as he leaned against his chairs back.

Krystal winced, realizing that she might have overstepped her bounds with that question. Her curiosity often got the best of her.

“My father fought for the empire in the legion and my mother died giving birth to me. On my fifth naming day, he was officially discharged and we left Solitude to make the journey to our family's home here in Whiterun. But on the third day we were attacked by bandits. He was killed and I was left to die in the frozen tundra."

Krystal could decipher no change in the man's voice as he recounted his tragic past and his expression remained unreadable with that mask in the way. She could not imagine having to live through that. Krystal felt sympathy for him, wanting to reach out and comfort his soul. But she could not get herself to do it. Something held her back. She was hesitant to touch him.

“That's terrible."

Fenris shrugged humbly. “As I said, Skyrim is a hard place. My miserable story is just one of many. Now with this civil war I can safely assume it won't be the last. War is in this land's blood. The people here are no stranger to its effects."

“If I may…how did you survive?"

Fenris for once sounded distracted, absorbed in his past. “I was picked up by a khajiit trade caravan making its way to Whiterun. They took me in and cared for me till they arrived. The caravan master treated me well, like family. So when it came time for them to leave, I left with them. I had nothing left anyways, having been orphaned by the bandits."

Krystal had a thought. “Was it Ahkari's caravan?"

Fenris flinched, almost imperceptibly, replying defensively. “How do you know them?"

“They were outside the city when I arrived yesterday. She bid me stay awhile and answer some questions. Then she gave me this and sent me on my way." Krystal showed him the medallion.

“Yeah, that certainly sound like the motherly feline I know. Tell me, how is she?" For once he seemed eager to speak.

Krystal was happy to indulge him, glad to have made some headway.

“She looked to be doing perfectly fine when I saw here."

He nodded slowly and exhaled in relief. “That is good to hear. I always worry about her, especially with this rebellion. I fear that the Stormcloaks may try and ravage the caravan."

The vixen hoped that wouldn't happen. She liked Ahkari and the other khajiit. They seemed like good enough people.

Suddenly, Krystal realized that she had been talking with Fenris, and having a pleasant time, her thoughts drifting away from her home and her worries. She gazed into the man's obscuring mask. Who was this man that made her forget so easily?

She was finding herself to be comfortable around him, an odd position considering how long she had actually spoken with and gotten to know him.

“So…what can I get you two?"

Krystal turned to see one of the barmaids standing by their table, holding an empty tray in one hand and a pad in the other.

“I am not hungry, what do you want?" Fenris turned to her.

“I don't know…" She was unaware of what they had here. “Something with meat I suppose."

The barmaid nodded and turned away, heading back into the crowded center of the inn.

Fenris resumed his silence after the barmaid departed and held it until Krystal finished her meal and they exited the inn.

Thankfully the cloud cover had retreated and the sun's warm light shone down on the city. Krystal hazarded a guess that it was sometime during midday, and wondered what it was they were going to do now. Fenris had said they would not be leaving the city until her armor was complete, which made her think.

Why had he done that?

He had no obligation to help her beyond her quest, no obvious compulsion to help.

As she followed him through the city, eventually her curiosity became too much.

“Fenris, why did you do that?"

The man hummed a response as he kept walking.

“Why did you order something for me?"

He shrugged.

“My job is to watch over you until your quest is complete. With what you have now, a skeever could be potentially lethal. And someone of my experience could slay you without effort."

Krystal took offense to that.

“I bet I could take you."

He froze mid-step, turning to her with an air of disbelief.

“Is that so?"

She nodded confidently. She managed to beat Vilkas and she was sure she could beat Fenris as well. Maybe then he would treat her like a real woman. The vixen felt an odd desire to impress him.

“Care to prove yourself?"

She nodded again.

Fenris chuckled.

“Very well…"

He increased his pace and switched streets, taking a path that led back to Jorrvaskr. He directed the way to the sparing ring behind the hall and bid her stand on the opposite side as he took his position.

“Let us see what you can do, little fox."

Slowly, he unsheathed one of his longswords. It was a strange weapon, with a curved hilt and long slender black blade. He rotated it in his gauntlet a few times and held it to his side.

Krystal scoffed. He didn't even have a shield and he wasn't using his other weapon. She was certain that she would be able to beat him. The vixen removed her cloak and griped her staff in both paws.

“You're move."

Fenris took a short step back.

She lunged forwards, intent on cracking the top of her staff against his mask.

Fenris leaned back slightly, letting the crown of her weapon rush centimeters past his hood.

Narrowing her eyes, Krystal whipped her staff around her head and brought it scything down to his waist. Her speed ensuring that she would land her blow.

Yet once more, Fenris shifted and dodged the strike, almost faster than she could detect.

With a snarl she slid forwards, aiming for his legs…

And she watched as he took a swift step back, her staff hitting nothing but air.

Krystal leapt to her paws and lanced out a foot to try and catch him by surprise. He did not move to dodge it and she felt a surge of satisfaction. Now she had him!

She felt a jarring impact as her foot collided with his gauntlet, Fenris catching it mid swing. He twisted his grip and forced her to spin to the ground where she felt something cold and sharp rest against her throat.

Krystal was stunned.

'How did he beat me so utterly?'

“Impressive, you have the speed and skill. Yet you lack something any successful warrior needs…patience." Fenris regarded her prone form as he lifted his blade from her neck. “Before we set out, I will impart upon you the skills you will need to survive outside these walls, or at least enough so you will not fall to the first enemy to cross your path."

Fenris extended his free hand.

Krystal grudgingly let him help her up and she resumed her stance, clutching her staff determinedly.

'I will prove myself to him.'

The hooded man returned to his previous position.

“Now…let us begin."

*****

Six hours of intense training later, a bruised, battered, and defeated vixen trudged after Fenris. Krystal was not pleased. Not once had she managed to land a blow on him, not once. The man flowed like liquid and struck like a viper. She was beginning to see why he had been able to slay a dragon.

But, in the last match she had been so close! Her staff had missed his arm by millimeters, but he managed to shift out of the way at the last second and slap her rear with the side of his blade.

She swore he had been smiling under that damned mask.

The area of impact still throbbed painfully and Krystal groaned as she delicately prodded it with a paw.

He had been none too gentle.

“You did well today, fox. You learn fast and move even faster." Fenris claimed as he walked down the steps of Jorrvaskr. “I can see how you managed to beat Vilkas, and you would probably be able to take on Aela. She and I have sparred a few times and I can attest to her skill."

Despite her sore muscles, Krystal could not help but pull her aching muzzle into a grin and softly wag her tail at the sound of his words of praise. She didn't know why, but hearing him applaud her skills made her feel bubbly and giddy. If someone with his level of talent said she was doing well, then it could only mean good things.

“Thank you."

Fenris shrugged as he made his way down the now deserted streets. The sun had retreated past the mountains and dusk was soon approaching. The day was at its end and though she had not accomplished anything significant, Krystal felt that she had spent it well.

“Thank yourself. It was not I that imparted your gifts upon you."

Still, the vixen persistently continued.

“That aside, I still wish to thank you, for what you have done."

She was referring of course, to his expenditure on better gear for herself, as well as giving her extra training. She knew that others offered such teachings for a price, and he had done it for free. Krystal was still broke, not having a single coin to her name. She would not have been able to afford any of what he had done for her.

Fenris paused. “….If you must continue to offer your thanks, I will humbly accept them. I was glad to be of help."

Krystal beamed, happy to have conveyed her appreciation. She turned her attention to the fading sun's light and asked a question.

“Where are we going now?"

“Now, we rest. Chances are that we will be setting out on your quest tomorrow and I am sure you would like to sleep as much as I." He responded simply.

Krystal was in agreement. She could use a bed to rest her weary body on. But Jorrvaskr was behind them. Why were the heading into the city?

She watched inquisitively as he stopped outside a large homely looking structure a few building down from Warmaiden's. Fenris pulled a ring of keys out of his bag and flipped through them, sliding one into the lock.

“What is this place?"

“This is my house." He responded simply as the door's lock clicked and he pushed it open, holding it and gesturing for her to follow.

Inside she saw the warm light of a hearth and could scent a pleasing aroma seeping past him. As pleasant as the household looked, she was warry of following him inside. She was not sure she knew him well enough to enter his home, or trust him for that matter.

Fenris could see the hesitation on her muzzle.

“If you wish to go back to Jorrvaskr you may. I just thought you would appreciate having a private room to sleep in. I did not intend to appear as if I was propositioning you for anything illicit."

Krystal though his offer over.

She would already be spending time on the road with him, where it would be just the two of them, far from any city or other semblance of civilization. So sleeping in his home for a night or two did not sound too presumptuous. And the idea of a room to herself appealed to the vixen greatly.

“I would have no problem sleeping here." She decided, slipping in past the tall man.

Fenris nodded.

“Then, I bid you enter and welcome you to my home."

Krystal walked a few feet in and looked around curiously, wondering what a man like him would decorate his house with.

A miniature hearth lit up the first floor and a spit was centered over it. A small table was off to the side and had a place setting for one, a neat stack of dirty dishes stacked up on it. The house itself was sparsely ornamented, only having a single rug in front of the door, a dresser near the table, and a few pictures lining a shelf on the far wall. There were several rooms, all with closed doors and a staircase leading up to the next level. It was a big place for one man. The building gave of an atmosphere of loneliness. There were only enough things for one person, one set of tableware, one chair, one bureau for storing clothes, one chest for items, and the dim hardly tended hearth in the center.

She looked over to Fenris as he began to fiddle around the house with mild awkwardness. It was obvious to her that even though he was a reclusive individual, he was starved for personal connection.

“I…uh…apologize for the…uh…state of my home. I do not often…receive…uhm…visitors." He had a slight difficult with stumbling over his words as he tidied up, removing the dirty dishes from his table and clearing it of scattered junk.

It was…cute.

“That's fine." She replied kindly.

He finished clearing of his table and sighed, scratching at the back of his collared suit. “The guest bedroom is over here." He motioned towards the door to his left. “It is a little dusty, but there's a bed, a chest, a dresser, and a basin. My room is upstairs to the right and down the hall if you need anything. But…knock, before you enter." He uttered the last part pointedly, with a hint of warning. “If you are hungry, there's some dried meat, cheese, and bread in the kitchen cupboards, as well as water in the barrel."

Krystal nodded and headed towards the guest room as Fenris headed up the stairs.

She opened the room and was surprised to see that it was not as bad as he made it out to be. There was hardly any dust, and it looked like he cleaned it out regularly, even though he rarely had guests, another sign of his loneliness.

Krystal padded over to the bed and draped her satchel on the banister before undressing and slipping into the sheets, murring in pleasure as she sunk into the cushioned mattress and fluffy satin pillow.

It was definitely better than the bed at Jorrvaskr.

*****

Krystal awoke the next day, redressing as she left the bedroom. Fenris was already awake, and wearing his armor.

She wondered if he ever took it off.

He was sitting at the table, a plate of food cooling on the opposite side. She was surprised to see that he had dredged up another chair, having placed it before the meal.

Even though she had barely made a noise, he turned to regard, and she was caught off guard, seeing his mask sitting on the table next to him.

His hood was pulled back, revealing his face to her for the first time.

Fenris was a human, with short raven black hair and alabaster skin, a strong square jaw and honest features with a thin layer of stubble around his jawline. But what had truly caught her off guard had been his eyes.

They were deep golden yellow, like a wolf's. And that's when she realized it.

He had been the one to comfort her that night.

“Good morning, there is some food here if you are interested…….are you well?" He asked in puzzlement as she stood there staring at him silently.

Krystal shook her muzzle positively and nodded slowly, moving to sit at the opposite side of the table.

“Yes, I am fine."

He smiled softly. It was a warm and honest thing, bereft of any trace of deception.

“That is good to hear. I hope your rest was fine also. I know it was not the best of rooms. But it is what I had available."

“No. No. The room was perfect." She mumbled distractedly, still caught up on the startling revelation. He was the last one she had suspected, and in fact, had not even considered it. The notion was…strange. And yet she was surprised to find that she was glad to know that it had been Fenris who had stayed with her when she had needed comfort.

“Excellent, I made breakfast if you are hungry, just some bacon and eggs to fill you up, nothing special." Fenris continued, oblivious to her internal quandary.

Still disoriented, she tucked into the plate of food, occasionally glancing up at Fenris, whose attention was focused to her left, absently gazing out the window by the door.

Krystal studied him as she snapped up a piece of bacon, the savory cured meat settling pleasantly in her belly.

What was he getting from all this?

What had he to gain from doing so much to aid her?

Krystal was tempted to find out, but could not bring herself to peer into his mind. Doing so without someone knowing was a terrible offense back on her world, the ultimate breach of privacy. And she did not want to alienate herself from him or anyone else.

She had to instead content herself with not knowing for the moment.

As she finished up her meal, Fenris slipped his mask on and pulled his hood up, rising from the table as he did.

“There are a few things I would like to do before we head out, some errands that need doing. I'll be awhile. I suggest you see if the armor order is finished." He reached into his bag, pulling out a hefty bag that tinkled as he held it out to her. “This should be more than sufficient to pay for it. You may keep what remains. Call it an advance for your quest if you want."

Krystal grabbed the heavy sack of coins and listened as he continued.

“When you are done you may come back here or explore the city, but make sure to comeback before midday. I would like to head out before the sun reaches its zenith."

Fenris exited the house, leaving her on her own.

Krystal looked to the bag of money in her paws and decided to check the armor shop first thing. She was a little excited to have coin now and eager to explore the market.

*****

“How is the fit?"

“It fits like a glove." Krystal responded to Arianne's question happily as she twirled in front of the mirror, inspecting her new outfit.

She had been mildly surprised to hear that Arianne had finished her suit, but the woman with help from her husband had managed to put it together in record time. And despite the haste in its manufacture, the leather armor was wonderful.

It was sleeveless, so as not to compromise the full range of movement for her arms and it had a high collar lined with a thick coating of fur to help keep her warm. The hide of the outfit itself was supple yet strong, and adhered easily to her body like a second skin. Arianne had also carved designs into the leather, filling the indentations with dye, the bold streaks of white forming intricate patterns and reminding Krystal faintly of the royal family tattoos highlighted into her fur.

The boots were the perfect size and fit as well as unexpectedly comfy and were sure to be a blessing on the road.

To top it all off, Arianne also gave her a snowy white cloak, being of much better quality than the one she had previously. Then inner layer was covered in felt to help trap in her body heat, which would be vital in the frigid environment outside the city. The outer surface of the cloak was lined with waterproofing, promising a dry vixen should rain occur while they traveled.

She thanked Arianne for the clothing and paid with the bag Fenris had given her, with a hefty remainder still inside. It had been understandably expensive, costing two hundred coins, and Krystal was surprised that he had given her such an allowance left to spare, with four hundred left free for her own use.

Krystal left the shop, a slight spring in her step as she wandered around in her new clothes. They were much more comfortable then what she wore before. The vixen was hesitant to get rid of her old apparel, since they were a connection to her home. But they were not suited for the world she now lived in.

The vixen saw that there were a few hours to spend before noon, but what to do with them?

The jingling coin purse on her waist was telling her to go to the market and see what this world had to offer, so she did just that.

Krystal walked through the city's cobbled streets until she arrived at the market district. It was a huge space, crowded with stalls and merchants pedaling their wares and throngs of city goers going about their day.

The female fox smiled as she watched a mother and her daughter selling what looked like their homegrown fruits and vegetables, a faint pang of longing joining her happy thoughts.

She wanted to have kits of her own but the likeliness of that happening seemed far away from her. The vixen was unlikely to find the perfect suitor amid the men of this land. Krystal wanted a loving kindhearted man, an improbable find in the frozen and unforgiving expanses of Skyrim.

A purchase was made and Krystal walked away with a small sack of apples, the woman's daughter thanking her as she left.

“Thank you, Miss Fox lady!"

Krystal waived back at the cute child as she departed, looking to see what else she might want.

As she wandered, Krystal came up with an idea.

She wanted to thank Fenris for all he had done for her. And though she was technically using his money, the vixen still wanted to get him something.

But what would a man like him want as a gift? The easy part was buying the gift. The hard part was finding the right one.

Krystal meandered the maze of market stalls for some time, seeing if something would jump out and catch her eye.

'What to get, what to get? What would he like? Maybe he would like a sword, or perhaps a shield?' She thought with a grin.

But then frowned when she realized she did not have an eye for weapons, and wouldn't even know what to buy.

'Maybe something else, something more…pedestrian…' The vixen spied something off to the side and grinned, 'perfect'.

She made her purchase and spoke with the vendor, arranging for her acquisitions to be dropped off in front of his home. Krystal was confident that he would like what she had obtained for him.

The vixen hung around the market district until just before noon, heading back to Fenris' house by the gates. As she approached she saw the man standing next to a mound of wooden containers. She giggled, feeling the bafflement seeping out of his aura.

“What in the…" He muttered quietly to himself, studying the strange load of boxes that had been dumped by his home.

“Do you like it?" Krystal asked eagerly.

Fenris whipped backwards, looking to her with his black mask.

“What is this?" He gestured towards the pile.

In response, Krystal moved to one of the boxes and pulled the top open, revealing a set of tableware.

“I got you some things for your house." She explained as she put the lid back on. The vixen took note of the barrenness of his home and thought to correct that. “That way you have some spare things when I'm here."

Surely that would be a good gift?

Krystal watched anxiously as he silently observed her and the boxes.

“You…would wish to stay at my home longer? Even after the quest is done?" Fenris asked slowly, with a hint of hopeful disbelief.

He truly was a lonely individual.

Krystal nodded with a smile. The vixen had enjoyed having her own room again and she could have a worse housemate.

She could see how stunned he was, even with the mask hiding his features. She wondered why it was such a big deal to him. He seemed like a nice enough guy, where were his friends? Surely a famous individual, a dragon slayer, would have a plethora of companions to call upon?

Krystal yipped in surprise when the man hugged her out of the blue, her shock quickly melting into a murr of contentment as she accepted his embrace. It was strange, but she immensely enjoyed being in the man's arms. It was a comfy and soothing experience that she would not mind repeats of.

“Thank you for the gift." Fenris quickly pulled away from the brief hug, seizing back control of his body after his unexpected reaction, appearing to be slightly puzzled.

Krystal sighed quietly, the pleasant feeling fading away.

“Thank you for all that you have done."

“Then we are even, a gift for a gift. Now, would you like to help bring your presents inside?" He inquired.

Krystal agreed and the pair quickly transferred the containers into his home, stacking them by the door.

Fenris had decided to deal with them on their return and so after locking up his home they passed through the city's gates and to the beginning of their journey.