CatDance #40 (Epilogue 2 – Conclusion)

“A letter from Solitude?” Kitty asked as Muz-Ra handed her an envelope. After yesterday’s marathon session with soap, water and scrub brushes, the residents of Castle Kitty had managed to clean up the kitchen to a respectable level and the stench from the fire had almost disappeared. What wasn’t respectable was Muz-Ra’s outfit – or more specifically the lack thereof. Kitty almost didn’t notice, having known the lusty Argonian for so long. But as she looked back, Kitty suddenly realized she was looking at a naked Muz-Ra. “Red! Did you do that to the courier again? Really?!” “Sure! I think he’s beginning to look forward to it in fact. Mustn’t disappoint the poor guy.”
Kitty just shook her head. “Well, glad to have you back again, if only for a day.” “Oh, no problem Kitty. I’d have been back before, but you know the Jarl. After a day of no Muz-Ra, he gets irritable to the staff around Dragonsreach. Irileth practically begs me to come and visit.” “Somehow I doubt they have to twist your arm much,” Kitty smiled at her friend. “No, not much,” she replied. “So, sounds like you and the Jarl are still as hot for each other as ever?” “Oh definitely! Why the other day we were playing in the dungeon and he found this big…” “STOP!” Kitty shouted, forestalling the inevitable details. “I do not want to hear it!” “If you insist. Let’s just say that we both have very vivid imaginations!” “Well, I’m very happy for you, Red.”
“So, who is it from anyway?” “Oh! It’s from Illdi. She’s a student at the college I met. She gave me that book to read.” “What’s she say?” “Let’s see… ‘sorry I missed you before you left’… ‘congratulations’… ‘teach me’… OH! Oh no! I have my first student!!!”
“Well that’s great! When is she coming? We’ll have to figure out where to put her. And where you can teach too!” “Yeah! She’s coming right after I accept her. I’ll write back to her tonight.” “Oh, don’t be afraid Kitty. You’ll make a fine dance instructor. I’d best get back to the kitchen though.”
“Are you staying the night?” “Yeah. I’ve gotta let the Jarl recharge his batteries.” “Oh, is that what you call them?” Kitty joked as Muz-Ra left the room.
“Now,” Kitty mused to herself, “Let’s see what this book is all about. Ah… here it is. ‘Lorna the Bard – Book 1’”
She lay back down on her bed and began to read.
A few pages in and she sat up to get more comfortable. A few pages more and she realized she was touching herself.
“Oh my!” she said aloud, realizing what she was doing. She looked at the book again and set it on the table. She debated if she should go on reading it or not. “If I do, I’d better lock the door first!” Then she thought of Mikael. He’d be working tonight, but he did ask her to visit him as soon as she got settled in. Instead of locking the door, she pocketed the book in the ubiquitous magical inventory that all residents of Tamriel inherently possessed and headed out to find Ubergard.
She found the giantess with K’rris outside by the ‘lover’s tree’ as Kitty had named it. They both stood up immediately as she came upon them, giving Kitty the idea that they had been doing something embarrassing. “Oh, hi K’rris. Say, Ubergard. I’m thinking of going to the Bannered Mare tonight. Want to come along?” Ubergard looked at K’rris, who nodded happily. “We’d be glad to! We’re… kinda going to go on a date.” “You two?” Kitty asked, incredulous. “On a date!?” “Well yes.” Ubergard stated. “You got a problem with that?” “Oh no! Not me! I just… well. I had no idea…” “Hey, it’s just a date. Don’t go making some big deal about it.” “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“And Kitty…” “Yes?” “Don’t tell Red. We don’t need her brand of ‘advice’ just yet.” Kitty mimed locking her mouth and tossing a key away. “Not me!” “Too late,” Muz-Ra laughed, walking around a corner.
“Now, don’t worry about me. Just because I’m an expert in the field of intimate bliss, I won’t offer any of my ‘advice’. Have a good time. But if ever you have any questions or need inspiration…” K’rris spoke up, interrupting her. “…we’ll figure it out between ourselves, thank you very much!” Muz-Ra considered that, as if pondering the thought. “Yes,” she concluded. “You’re right. You may not get it right at first, but experimentation is always more fun that just being told the right way to do things by a subject matter authority.” “RED! We’re just going on a date! Unlike some people, we’re not going to jump in the sack tonight!” “Ubergard, I’m offended. I’ll have you know I waited a week before the Jarl and I jumped into the sack!” “As I recall, that wasn’t your preference.” “Yeah, well. Still…”
Ubergard turned back to K’rris. “Let’s go back to checking the ramparts, K’rris.” As they were heading back inside, Muz-Ra shouted after them. “JUST ONE THING K’RRIS!” “YES RED?” K’rris called back. “DON’T NEGLECT THE CLITORIS!”
THE END OF CATDANCE From the author: …ending with words of wisdom throughout the ages across all times and places from Muz-Ra! And now a bit of a hiatus for Thanksgiving and perhaps a bit of adjustment to the Khajiit and Argonian textures before the next story starts.

CatDance #39 (Epilogue 1)

That evening, after much scrubbing, cleaning and carting of water, Ubergard met K’rris alone outside on the balcony. “Thanks for coming up K’rris. I’ve been wanting to talk to you privately.” “Of course, Ubergard. What can I do for you?” “It’s about Udaran.“ “Udaran? What about her?”
“I understand you like her. A lot.” K’rris sighed. “Oh. That… I do. A lot. But she has no interest in me. I think she likes me fine, but that’s all. We get along too but, it’s kinda hard.” Ubergard looked at him. “I know it is, K’rris. I know it is.”
“Why do you ask?” “You know, I’ve never been been very good with people. I know more about how to take their heads off than how to win their affection.” K’rris stayed silent, not sure what to make of this from Ubergard’s normally stoic demeanor.
“K’rris, I’ve learned a lot on this trip about myself. K’rris…” “Yes?” “K’rris. I like you. A lot.” K’rris looked at her, uncomprehending. “Well, thank you Ubergard. And I, you. But I don’t understand what that has to do with Udaran.” “Oh for god’s sake K’rris. Do I have to spell it out for you clearer than that? K’rris, I want to be your lover. I LIKE you!”
Understanding dawned slowly on the Khajiit. “Me? You like me?” Ubergard laughed at him. “Yes, dammit! You! But this whole Udaran thing has me stuck. Do you think you could ever get over her? Do you think I… might be… of interest to you?”
K’rris’s mind swam. “I don’t know Ubergard! I’ve never had anyone interested in me before.” “And this,” she said, indicating the scars that would be there for the rest of her life. “Do they bother you?” K’rris scoffed at that. “Uber, I’m a warrior. Scars are an aphrodisiac! You know that. You’re a warrior too.”
“Well, I had to ask. Udaran certainly doesn’t have any scars! But as for never having had someone interested in you, I am surprised. But you have one now. And I should warn you, I’m used to getting my way K’rris. But don’t panic. Let’s go on a date sometime. What do you say?”
“I’ve never been asked on a date before either. Of course Ubergard! I’d love go out with you! But… are we… compatible? I mean… physically? I don’t know much really about Argonians. Hell, I don’t really know that much about females in general, despite having worked in a Khajiit brothel. We didn’t really… fraternize.” Ubergard shrugged her massive shoulders, while other massive things bounced in firm but pliant accord, which K’rris really noticed for the first time. Bounced… interestingly! “Who knows? But it’ll be fun to find out! And remember, I’ve seen you in the hot tub. I don’t expect any real problems there. If you’re willing to learn, so am I.” she smiled. “But for now, how about a little sparring practice? Let’s get this damn romantic stuff off our minds! Plenty of time for that later.”
And for the first time, K’rris watched the giant Argonian’s movements with more than just martial interest. “Me?” he thought. “She likes me?”
For her part, Ubergard noticed the distracted way K’rris parried her practice blows. He was quite good, and they’d long been sparring with their preferred weapons rather than blunted replacements, relying on the other to pull his attack at the last second. But this time it was as if he were trying his best, but his mind was on different things. “I’ll have to work that out of him,” she thought. “A good guard can’t be distracted by such things,” she thought as she leapt unexpectedly into the air to deliver a kick rather than her blade. As she expected, he was watching other parts of her rather than her foot and he received it without grace.

CatDance #38

When Mikael finally emerged from the room, Kitty noticed he seemed to be a bit bleary eyed and guessed he didn’t sleep well, but Ubergard was in good spirits so they left the Moorside Inn and began the trek across the mountains. The bracing wind of the pass seemed to fully awaken Mikael and he was back to his former self by the time they were over and back on the road to Whiterun and Castle Kitty.
Ubergard was unusually talkative, at least for her, as she explained what Helfer had said while they were both frozen back at Dragon Bridge. “From what she said, she had seen me in the dark and thought I was her former master, come to exact a more permanent punishment on her. So she instinctively Shouted a force command at me which hurled me from the mountain.” “It must have been very dark,” Mikael commented, “if she mistook you for a male!”
Kitty asked, “And you don’t remember any of that?” “Not a thing. Maybe the knock I got on my head that left these scars had something to do with it. But she must have recognized I wasn’t him at some point since she climbed down to check on me afterwards.” “But chose not to tell us what happened. Still, she did stay with you while you were unconscious, knowing you might remember it,” Mikael pointed out. “And she certainly was concerned for your well-being.”
Ubergard nodded. “Yes. She’s still a mystery. Not exactly evil, just…” Kitty suggested, “Broken, I think.” “Yes. Broken.”
Later, Kitty finally saw the distant outline of Castle Kitty and smiled broadly. “Home!” “Yes. It will be good to get back and see what has been going on while we’ve been gone,” Ubergard agreed. Mikael just sighed.
“What?” Kitty asked. “Aren’t you glad to be getting back?” Mikael looked at her seriously. “I’ll miss having you around every morning.” Kitty laughed, “And every night!” Mikael didn’t return the laugh and she stopped and kissed him. “Let the future worry about itself, Mikael. Who knows what it may bring? I’m not going anywhere.”
That seemed to cheer him up somewhat. “True. And neither am I Kitty. I know you’ll be busy for a few days getting things back together, but come by the tavern when you can.” Kitty hugged him again. “I will. I promise. Just give me a couple of days and I’ll see you then. Want to stop in for a bit before you go back to Whiterun?” “I don’t think so, but thanks anyway.”
A little while later, Mikael turned to head back to Whiterun itself while Kitty and Ubergard continued on to the castle.
They were greeted by K’rris, Udaran and Cheetah at the outer steps. “Welcome back Kitty! Uber!” Cheetah called, jumping up on Kitty and giving her a fierce hug. “Oh my God! Uber! What happened to your face?” Udaran asked, noticing the still livid scars on one side. “Long story, Udaran. But I’m alright.”
“What happened?” K’rris asked as they approached the castle door. “I fell off a mountain basically, but as I said, it’s a long story. We’ll tell you later.” “Um… one thing, Kitty…” stammered Udaran in an unusually hesitant voice. “Yes?” “We… had a little accident while you were gone,” Udaran stated as they went inside.
“WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SMELL?!” Kitty demanded immediately upon entering the castle. “That…” Cheetah laughed, “is Udaran’s cooking.” Kitty looked at the embarrassed Udaran questioningly, while K’rris looked pointedly elsewhere and Cheetah just smiled at her. “Well, see, Red has been at the Jarl’s practically all the time, so I thought I’d give it a try…” “Okay… so…?” “Apparently you don’t make bread by cooking flour over an open flame it seems,” Udaran explained.
“And you don’t try to put out the fire with oil either!” Cheetah added helpfully. “Well, how was I to know that oil burns?” “ DUHHH!” “When was this?” Kitty interrupted. Udaran’s eyes began to well up with tears, very uncharacteristically. “Yesterday. I’ve been trying to clean it up ever since. I’m sorry Kitty! I didn’t know any better. I don’t know how to cook.”
Kitty assured her, “It’s okay Udie. It’s okay.” “You won’t kick me out?” “Don’t be silly. K’rris, go fetch us some water and soap. A lot of it. And as many rags as you can find. We’ll all get to work on it…” Kitty commanded, looking at Cheetah menacingly.

CatDance #37

Then Lurbuk began to sing again and the two bid Jonna a good night, hastening to leave the room. As they entered their own room, Jonna chided the Orc. “Cut out that screeching, Lurbuk. Our guests are trying to go to sleep.”
“We could get another room,” Mikael suggested when he saw Ubergard lying on the bed. Kitty shook her head. “No. Ubergard’s been through a lot today. Let’s stay with her. I think your balls can take a night of celibacy, don’t you?” Mikael nodded. “Yeah, the big girl could probably use some company tonight. But this time, how about you sleep in the middle? Those boobs of hers are awfully distracting.”
Ubergard woke briefly and smiled at Mikael and Kitty as they climbed into bed beside her and Kitty gave her a sympathetic hug. Before long Ubergard was snoring deeply but peacefully.
“Mikael?” Kitty whispered in his ear later. “Hmm?” “I was thinking. Jonna obviously likes you. Maybe, if we’re ever going to break apart, you should… resume your relationship.” “Sorry Kitty. I like Jonna. But I’m still in love with you. I don’t think I could if I wanted to. And I don’t want to.”
After a minute, Kitty added. “What about… with me?” Mikael snorted. “Are you suggesting a threesome Kitty? Be careful what you offer, you might get it!”
“Well, she’d certainly be up for it if she’s jerking off an Orc for thrills!” “True. And what about you? Would you be ‘up for it’ too?” Kitty considered that. Sex with a female human? She wasn’t a complete novice when it came to other females, but a human? Still, it might help break Mikael’s too-serious affection for her, and it would be a new experience… “Sure. If you want to, it might be fun.”
“Your penis seems to like the idea, she noted, feeling him.” “My penis likes a lot of ideas, but that doesn’t mean they’re good ideas!” Mikael laughed. “Thanks Kitty. I appreciate the offer, and as hard as my cock might get, I think I’d regret it later. No, I don’t think so.” Kitty laughed quietly, “Suit yourself!” and she acted like she was going to get up from the bed before Mikael pulled her back and began toying with her as she had done him.
“And those books talk about a lusty Argonian! You’re a sex fiend Kitty! You want bring in Lurbuk too?” “If I’m a sex fiend, you made me one. And sure, I’d love to get a look at him if he’s as big as Jonna says! But if she can’t handle him, he’d stuff me like a turkey.” Kitty replied laughingly, though she laid back down. In truth, she wasn’t too sure about the idea really, but if Mikael wanted to… But it was clear he really didn’t so she gave up on the idea. Instead, she snuggled up to him – assuring him, “You’re just my size. But I can’t help being curious.”
A few minutes later, after some quiet fondling, Kitty fell asleep. For his part, Mikael couldn’t quite get the image of a threesome with Kitty and Jonna out of his mind completely. Damn her planting such an idea into his head. However, his relationship with Jonna some years ago was really enough for him. She was quite the wildcat herself in bed, but that relationship was over. Their personalities had clashed as severely as their sex had proved lusty. As he lay there trying to get the images out of his mind, Ubergard’s snoring began to lull him to sleep. Before drifting off, he suddenly realized the image floating in his head was no longer of Kitty and Jonna, but Kitty and Ubergard. “Ubergard!?” he thought. “Am I really fantasizing about a three-way with a Khajiit and an Argonian now? Damn. Maybe I do need a human woman!”
But try as he might, the images kept coming back to him until finally he fell to sleep. His dreams that night were unusual to say the least. But they remained just that – a dream.

CatDance #36

In the end, Ubergard found Kitty and Mikael waiting for her at the edge of the town of Morthal. As she approached, Kitty spoke first the obvious question. “So… did you find Helfer? Was she…” “I found her,” said the Argonian. “She was hurt but still alive some way down the river. But before you ask, no. I didn’t kill her, though had I caught her on the bridge I would have. But when I saw her laying there, injured and afraid, I couldn’t do it.”
The three walked into town towards the Moorside Inn as Ubergard continued. “I’m not some impartial judge here, you know. Helfer is a broken person… and a murderer. You didn’t hear the story she told me when you were both frozen, and I won’t repeat it now. But she has killed before. But still, I was also responsible in a way. I hurt her badly. Like a wild beast when injured, she lashed out in any way she could.” “What did you do?” Kitty asked. “I… gave her a healing potion. It’s not going to fix her voice, but it will keep her alive. But I feel sure that she’s lost the power to Shout for good.”
“Well, that’s a relief anyway. Do you think she might follow you? Still be a threat?” Mikael asked, still concerned for Kitty’s safety. “I don’t think so. I think I understand her better. When she had her Shouting ability, she felt that she was somehow worthy enough for my love. Without it, she would not presume to be my equal. So no, I don’t think we’ll ever see her again.” “What will happen to her, do you think?” Kitty asked. Ubergard pondered this as they approached the door to the Inn. “She’s resourceful. She’s a survivor. And, frankly, she’s got a body that anyone would envy and she’s not afraid to use it. She’ll be fine. I think.”
In the tavern, the orc bard Lurbuk was ‘singing’ again. Kitty noticed that no one was there save the owner, Jonna. However, the singing stopped when they entered. Kitty went to her at the bar and requested a room for the night, which Jonna was more than happy to supply. Ubergard excused herself after that and retired early for the night while Jonna sat with Kitty and Mikael at a table to talk.
“So, how’d it go in Solitude? Y’all seem pretty down,” Jonna asked Mikael. “Not because of the College. But it’s a long story. You remember the other Khajiit that came in with us?” “Helfer? Sure. Kinda weird though.” Mikael nodded. “That’s the one. Let’s just say we had a falling out with her. Should she ever come back around though, just be aware she can be… dangerous.”
Jonna nodded, “Ah. Gotcha. But the College?” “Oh, that went better than expected actually. Kitty here is now officially a Master of Dance and can teach students of the art from her home near Whiterun.” “REALLY?! Well, you oughtta be proud, Kitty.” “I am! I’m just kind of coming to grips with it really. But looking forward to it.”
“You sure did a great job with Helfer,” Mikael reminded her. “She was keeping up with you at the ‘Skeever after just a day of practice.” Kitty looked a bit wistful. “If only… she was a model student. Of course, being a Khajiit doesn’t hurt either. We’re pretty good at stuff like that you know. Had she been different, I’d have suggested she train as a Bard herself.”
Kitty then changed the subject. Speaking in a low tone, she asked, “Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask you something Mikael…” She then nodded towards Lurbuk. “Not meaning to be offensive, but… how did Lurbuk graduate as a bard? I mean… really, he’s pretty bad.” Mikael smiled. “Oh, I know. And so does the College. But he’s the first ever Orc graduate. He was there for four years, and no matter how bad he was, he stuck with it. I think they finally just gave up and gave him the diploma. For his dedication if not for his talent. Besides, he IS the best Orc bard they’ve ever had.” Jonna laughed. “He’s the only Orc bard they’ve ever had!”
“Then why do you keep him here? You surely could hire better if you really wanted to.” Jonna sighed, looking at the Orc. “First, you’d be surprised how cheap he is. This place is so dead, I couldn’t afford anyone else. Second, he’s kinda a legend anyway. Folks actually do come in just to see him. Don’t stay long mind you, but at least they come to see the lunk. And finally… he’s kinda cute. Has an enormous penis too!”
Kitty looked startled. “You and Lurbuk?!” Jonna laughed. “Me? Oh no. I couldn’t handle it if I wanted to. He’d split me in two, though what a way to go! But when you hang out with a guy as long as he’s been here… Well, maybe once or twice when I was really drunk… Ain’t no other Orcs around you know. And he tries SO hard to be a Bard. A little pity-fondling surely can’t hurt. He knows better than to take it seriously. I make damn sure of that. But even Lurbuk needs a little somethin’ every once in a while.” Looking at Mikael she added, “Plus it’s not like there’s any other men around here I’m interested in.”
Mikael looked to the Orc who was busy scrawling something meant to be music onto a parchment on the floor, then back to Jonna and affected a disgusted look. “Hey!” she rose in protest. “Don’t give me that look. You’ve got your furry pussy here – no offense intended Kitty. I’ve got my dopey Orc but hung like a horse. We all got our kinks.” “Well I think it’s sort of sweet,” Kitty interjected.

CatDance #35

Helfer looked away, but nodded as Ubergard turned to go. “At least she didn’t try to take my blade,” Ubergard thought and looked back as she saw Helfer drink the healing potion. Then the Argonian turned back and returned the way she had come.
For her part, Helfer was not immune to the kindness Ubergard had shown her. The potion stopped the bleeding and the pain, but it did not restore her voice, though months later she would manage to regain a raspy imitation of it. Enough to communicate with, but she would never again Shout. But for now, as she watched the Argonian retreat and cross the stream, she regretted much that she had done.
But above all, she regretted that she had lost her sting. She was nothing now. She was an ant, and would be stepped on by the first person bigger than herself. With it, she could dream of equality with such as Ubergod. She could not do magic, above the very basest of spells. She could no longer Shout. She could never hope to match the Argonian physically – not with the most intensive training imaginable, even if she could find some way to obtain it. No, Ubergod was beyond her wildest dreams now, ant that she was.
She wept until she could weep no more as she watched Ubergard until the Argonian was out of sight. Then finally hunger brought her back to more practical matters.
She still had some skills, distasteful though they were to most. But fortunately for her, her own upbringing left no moral taint for whatever means to survive she had left. Surely in the town beside the bridge there was someone who needed… companionship. She began the walk back there. She would need to communicate somehow. She knew no letters. It would be difficult. But she still had her body, and it could speak for her until she found a better way.
And as she walked, a new idea sparked in her head. The bow. The arrow. Those were stings of a sort. A sort she could learn to use. It might take years, for she would have to become very good at them. But it was hope. A slight smile rose on her lips. “Maybe someday,” she thought. “We may meet again, Ubergod. And maybe in time, you will love Helfer… or… not.”
She bore Ubergard no malice in her mad heart. Without a sting, she could not expect the giantess to love her. There could be no love, no respect, without something to equalize their stature. Perhaps archery or something similar could fill that void. And perhaps she would forget Ubergard someday. Maybe she would never rise to that level of ability. But she had hope again, and with hope there was a reason to live.
Crouching to spy out the village, she saw a man working in the mill. He did not look friendly, but he did look single. And strong. Large. She cared not if he was male or female. She had skills to please either. But his bulk was… inviting. She would soon find out what he thought about female Khajiits.
Since she couldn’t speak, she decided to leave her robe off and let her body do her talking. She was still damp, with mud and blood still clinging to her. She mentally became a stranger, nearly drowned as she had been swept over the waterfall, her voice lost by the accident.
Oh yes, it would be a hard man indeed to not be kind to such as her. As she approached, she waved to the man to catch his attention. And she began to limp…

CatDance #34

Kitty stood beside Ubergard, looking at the rushing water below. “She jumped over! What happened?” Instead of answering, Ubergard watched the water for a long time until, satisfied that Helfer was not going to reappear below, Ubergard explained briefly. Then both went to Mikael. A prick from her blade and he too fell to the ground but was soon back on his feet and asking questions.
“She is gone, but I do not know if she lives or not. She planned on forcing me to drop you over the bridge in frozen state, to lie on the bottom of the river forever.” “Force YOU? How could she do that?” Kitty asked, disbelievingly. “Another Shout. Some sort of Compel Shout. I could not break it, but I was able to use VirginDruung to break your frozen spell. It is magical, so I thought it might work.” “Good thing! Otherwise…” “Otherwise you’d be laying at the bottom of the river and I’d be trying to get to you. If I survived Helfer’s plans for me that is. But I have no idea what those were.”
“But, if she cast the freeze Shout on you, how did you break free?” Ubergard looked down at her armor. “It did not work. My armor prevents cold from reaching me remember. I had no idea if it could withstand a Shout, but I had little choice. I just acted frozen until she ran past. Then I threw VirginDruung at her. I didn’t have time for anything else. The handle broke her throat in some way. She could no longer Shout.” “Damned good throw, Ubergard!” Mikael praised her. “You credit me too much, Mikael. It was a damned poor throw. I intended to cut off her head,” Ubergard said, returning to the side of the bridge and looking further downstream.
“Do you think she survived?” Ubergard shrugged. “No idea. Probably not. Why don’t you two go on ahead. I’m going to scout out downstream. We don’t want her following us. Ever.” Mikael looked at Kitty, both nodding approval. “If we don’t see you before then, we’ll meet you at the inn in Morthal,” Mikael suggested. “The Moorside Inn,” Ubergard confirmed. “I’ll meet you there.“
Kitty and Mikael continued on towards Morthal while Ubergard began following the river downstream, determined not to allow Helfer to escape if she still survived.
As the banks became smoother and it’s speed dwindled, she spotted a figure on the far bank. Pathetic now, it lay gasping and dripping mud and blood from it’s mouth. Helfer did not see her as she crossed the river until she was almost upon the wretched Khajiit.
Helfer did manage to crawl a few feet away before she realized the futility of any escape in her current state and resigned herself to the inevitable.
She then sat back, her throat laid bare for the stroke and a look of sad acceptance on her face as she closed her eyes tightly. Ubergard’s fury turned to pity at the creature on the ground in front of her now. She lowered her blade and knelt as Helfer waited, still coughing blood sporadically. "I cannot do it, Helfer. Here. Take this.”
Helfer opened her eyes and accepted a small red vial from Ubergard. Tears began streaming from her eyes now but otherwise she remained silent. Whether the vial contained the healing potion it appeared to, or a nasty poison, she accepted it from the giant Argonian as her fate.
“You are a murderer, Helfer, and would have done so again. But your life has been a hard one. I cannot be the person who ends it.” Helfer looked up at her with something in her eyes that still looked like love to Ubergard. The Argonian bent to kiss the Khajiit. “I am sorry I can do no better, Helfer. This may not restore your voice. But it will keep you alive. Do not follow me. I will have to kill you. But you can make a new life here in Skyrim. You can forget what you were, what you have done. Worse people than you have managed that.”

CatDance #33

From a few steps away, Helfer called. “Alright, Ubergod. Now drop her over.” Try as she might, Ubergard could not resist the command and began walking to the bridge’s raised wall with her inert burden. But as she turned, she turned a little sharply and felt the edge of her blade touch Kitty’s thigh.
The magical blade, always honed to a razor’s edge, did no more than nick the black latex, but the reaction was instant. Kitty’s form dropped from Ubergard’s hands, suddenly unfrozen as Kitty blinked at the sudden change. Ubergard knew she had only a second to get Kitty moving as she felt the compelling force to grab for the Khajiit and complete Helfer’s command. But she was not compelled to remain silent. “KITTY! RUN FOR YOUR LIFE – NOW!”
Kitty ran. On all fours it was only an instant before she was out of Helfer’s sight over the peak of the bridge. Helfer spat and Shouted again, this time at Ubergard to freeze her. “LIZ! SLEN! NUS!”
Ubergard froze as Helfer raced past her a few paces to the peak of the arch, Kitty now clearly visible running down the other side of the bridge.
“LIZ!”
“SLEN!”
Suddenly Helfer sensed movement behind her and turned around instinctively. “CRACK”
Not having time to get within striking range, Ubergard had thrown her blade with all her strength, the blade spinning horizontally. The handle caught Helfer viciously in the throat and silenced her, bones cracking and vocal cords snapping.
She fell to the ground, spitting blood. Ubergard got up and advanced on her, murder clearly on her mind. The Khajiit was helpless now as she looked around desperately for something to help, but nothing appeared. She could not outrun Ubergard in her current state, she could not shout, and worst of all, she had no time.
Ubergard was steps away now. Helfer had one frantic moment of fear as she knew what she had to do. It was that or have this berserk Argonian throttle the life out of her. She took the only exit she could see. She ran and leapt off the bridge.
UUbergard watched her fall till she hit the water and was out of sight. From to her right, she heard Kitty calling as she returned, but Ubergard could not make out the words over the nearby noise from the waterfall.

CatDance #32

Everything began to happen in slow motion as Ubergard was blown back by Helfer’s shout. Helfer then turned to Kitty and began another Shout, “Liz! Slen!…” However, Mikael ran to intercede while yelling at Kitty, “Kitty, RUN!” “NUS!” And instantly Mikael’s form was frozen into stasis.
At Mikael’s warning, Kitty had dropped to all fours and was running back across the bridge at top speed when Helfer stepped to the side and repeated her Shout. As she heard the last word, time stopped for Kitty as she too froze in complete paralysis. Meanwhile, Ubergard had gotten back to her feet and had her blade out running full speed towards Helfer, menace obvious in her face.
Helfer smiled at the onrushing Argonian and she again spoke arcane words without any apparent fear. “Gol! Hah! Dov!” she Shouted, then added calmly. “Please stop now, Ubergod. Put away your blade. Be still.” Ubergard stopped.
“You may speak, but do not move,” Helfer smiled as she stepped up to Ubergard. “This one regrets not being able to use magic properly. It has never come easy to me.” she said as she gingerly touched the scars on the side of Ubergard’s face. “Regrets also for this, my Ubergod. It was dark when I saw you on the mountain. You appeared to me to be my master, coming to slay me after he banished me to this cold land. He too is an Argonian. It was an accident that this one Shouted you off the edge. She rejoiced when she saw your female form still living below. Helfer did save you, you know.” “What have you done to them?!” Ubergard demanded, though unable to move otherwise.
Helfer looked at the oddly positioned statues. “Oh them? They are frozen, my Ubergard. No harm. Well, not yet.” “You’d better not harm them or I will cleave your sad head from it’s neck, I swear it!” “Helfer? Helfer would not hurt these two. They are little, like Helfer. It is large, powerful ones like you that hurt. Not poor Helfer! But you will hurt them. Oh yes, you will hurt them badly.” “Helfer, it’s not too late. You can stop this. Release them and I’ll do whatever you ask!”
Helfer’s demeanor instantly turned back to the raging feline she had been moments before. “Too late, Ubergod! You could not love Helfer, you said! You think now you could, dear Ubergod? Helfer does not believe this. But this does not matter. You will not matter soon. Just a little something you could do for me first.” “What is it? Free them and I’ll do anything.” “Helfer wants you to free them. You can do that for them, Ubergod. You will do that for them. Helfer could release them, you know. The slightest touch of magic and they would be free. Helfer can do small magics. But oh, the things that can happen until then. Do you know what happens if you drop a frozen one from a height like this onto rocks below? Oh yes, it is not pretty. They shatter. A million little Kitties, twinkling like glass. Helfer knows. Helfer has seen. Helfer has done!” Ubergard’s eyes grew wide in comprehension. “No! They’ve done nothing but help you Helfer! I hurt you. I’m the one you want. Why would you do this to them?”
Helfer’s face once again assumed it’s raging countenance. “To hurt you, Ubergod. As you have hurt Helfer. Your death means nothing to Helfer. Helfer liked you. But Helfer wants to see you cry. Do lizards cry, Ubergard? Helfer will know this.” “We do. No tears, but we cry. And we remember. If you do this, I will remember.” “Not long will you remember. Don’t worry, they feel nothing. They see nothing. They just will never know another moment. But no, Helfer will not have you shatter them. Last night was long. Helfer has a better idea for your Khajiit friend. She you care about most. You will drop her in the river. She may die instantly, but probably she will not. She will lie there, at the bottom of the river. For years. For decades. For centuries! Perhaps someday she will be rescued, but not by you. And if that day comes, you will be gone. Helfer will be gone. All will be gone. But no one will know she is there.”
Ubergard flexed her jaw. The keen eyes of Helfer noticed, but did not comprehend. Yet Ubergard was testing something. She had some free will. She may have to do as she was bidden, but beyond that she could do as she wished. She breathed without Helfer’s permission. Her heart beat. What did Helfer say? The slightest touch of magic? But she was no mage. She had no magic… or… did she? She needed more time to think… “Why did your master exile you here, Helfer? What did you do?” Ubergard asked, not really caring but trying to stall the crazed Khajiit. Perhaps someone would come along soon.
“Bah! He is nothing. He cannot Shout. But… Helfer could only do small magic. She could please him in other ways, but she could not large magic. But Helfer is clever. Helfer is small, but she needed a sting. She found a book of Shouts. Master could not do the Shouts, but Helfer could. Helfer could do them well. Helfer practiced in secret, but still she could do only small magic and the Master grew bored of her. Even all her skill at pleasing him could not stop his disappointment. He took another. He left Helfer alone and loved another.” “But Helfer shattered her. Shattered her to little tiny pieces. Oh yes, never to be put together again. Poor Master was heartbroken, but he knew who had done it. He knew how. He tried his magic on those shards. They instantly unfroze. That was a horrible thing he did. She oozed. She dripped away. She melted. And the smell was awful. Oh, Master, you should not have done that. He killed her, do you understand? She was, in a way, still alive until he did that. Still could be brought back. Maybe, somehow. But the goo that dripped away was not living. Helfer prays it was not living.“
Suddenly Helfer’s gaze focused back on Ubergard, "Enough. Ubergod, take your friend Kitty. Carry her up to the top of the bridge and drop her into the river below!” “What’s the hurry?” Ubergard asked, though she turned and approached the frozen form of Kitty. “Do your Shouts not last forever?” Helfer followed at a safe distance behind. “Oh, don’t worry Ubergod. Kitty will stay frozen forever. But you… Never mind. Helfer has a plan for you too.” Ubergard lifted Kitty easily, totally unable to stop herself from carrying out the will of the mad Helfer.

Design a site like this with WordPress.com