Sabhira’s Daughter #32

Kitty rose early and slipped out back without waking the others, though Ubergard’s unblinking eyes followed her. In fact, Kitty was not convinced that the Argonian was awake, but she didn’t feel the need to find out. After her needs were met on her way back to the cabin, she noticed a dark shape far away down the hill but moving rapidly in her direction. She knew undoubtedly that it was FarSeer in his altered form, but as the distance was closed and she knew he was coming to meet her, she trembled involuntarily.
Finally, as it turned the last corner and approached her, she could see it’s form only too clearly. Though every nerve and instinct told her to flee, she decided she must trust in his words. Inside that thing, her friend was looking at her. For his sake she would trust him. But when he came within reach, her will gave out and she fell to her knees, looking away from him.
“I’m so sorry FarSeer… It’s too much. I trust you, but I can’t handle this. It’s my fault, not yours. I’m sorry.” She felt a claw her brush shoulder as if in consolation, but at her involuntary shudder, it moved away. With a rustle, it was gone.
Kitty sat there for some time before gathering her courage and heading back into the cabin. If Ubergard was awake, she remained silent and Kitty lay back down. Her sobbing caused Udaran to wake.
“What is it Kitty?” she asked quietly. "What’s wrong?“ Kitty looked to her friend and snuggled closer. "It’s nothing,” she lied. "Bad dream.“ "I can’t say I’m surprised with all the talk of werewolves last night. But calm down, it was just a dream.”
“Dream? Did Kitty have a bad dream?” Muz-Ra asked as she rubbed her eyes. “Yes, but it’ll be ok,” Udaran answered her. With that they began to dress and gather their things for an early start. “Oh, are you awake in there?” said a familiar voice from outside a little later. "I’ve got a breakfast ready for you if you’ve time before you have to go.“ "Breakfast? Of COURSE! Thank you again!” Muz-Ra replied happily as they all rose to leave the cabin.
“It’s a long walk, but if you stick to the course I’ve given Ubergard, you should get to Markarth tonight. I’ll walk you back to the road,” FarSeer answered after they had eaten. “That’s great. You’ve been a big help to us FarSeer. Better than we could hope. We all really appreciate it,” Udaran thanked him as she gathered her belongings. “And thanks for the dried venison too – it’ll come in handy on the road,” Muz-Ra agreed. FarSeer looked to Kitty, who hadn’t said anything throughout breakfast and was obviously avoiding FarSeer’s gaze. While it was obvious something had changed in her, the others knew better than to bring it up.
A few minutes later, they had walked the path back to the road and were ready to continue towards Markarth. “Well, thank you for staying with me. Will you be coming this way on your return?” FarSeer asked Udaran. “From the explanation Ubergard’s given me, I understand that this would out of the way. The main path from Markarth to Whiterun goes north of the lake. Though your hospitality is appreciated, I think we’re all getting a bit tired of the road life. Probably not.”
“I understand. Well, until whenever we meet again, fare well. Oh! I forgot to mention it. You won’t have any problem with that wolf pack anymore.” “You’ve killed them?” Udaran looked up at the Argonian. “Not all, but the pack is greatly reduced. They wouldn’t attack anyone on the road again. At least until their pack increases again. I’m a pretty good manager of the resources around here, but I had let them get too numerous. They’d gotten bold. They are not anymore.” “And it’s appreciated, for other travelers as well I’m sure. Good luck FarSeer. Perhaps we’ll meet again.” “Perhaps. Goodbye, and be safe… Goodbye Kitty. I’ll remember you fondly,” FarSeer said and turned back to his cabin. Kitty did not respond but gave him a sad look.
With that, the four turned toward the north following the western edge of the lake back up to the main road between Markarth and Whiterun. There they turned westward into the more mountainous land approaching the city of stone. Conversation was spare as both Ubergard and Kitty seemed to be lost in their thoughts, or just preferring to let their mind wander during the monotonous trudge of the journey.

Sabhira’s Daughter #31

“So… your brother the werewolf? I must say he is a fine specimen though!” Muz-Ra said jokingly to Ubergard, but she did not respond. Though she wore the same tough expression she had adopted since she first saw FarSeer, Kitty wondered if perhaps she detected some other emotion in the giantess. Certainly the Argonian seemed to be lost in her own thoughts anyway. “I don’t think she wants to talk about him Red,” Kitty suggested. “They sure seem to grow large in Uber’s family though. Do you suppose the same holds true for his manhood?” Muz-Ra speculated. “I don’t think ANYONE wants to talk about that Red!” Udaran said.
“Ok, come on up girls,” said FarSeer from within the now-lit cabin. "I told you it wasn’t much. I’m cooking some food out front. It should be ready in an hour or so. And before you say anything Ubergard, it’s venison.“ "Saving the good stuff for yourself?” Ubergard shot him a nasty look. FarSeer sighed and turned to the others. "Can I get you anything to drink? I’ve some mead and some spiced wine.
“That was just excellent FarSeer. Maybe a bit light in the vegetable department, but you do know your way around a slab of meat!” Muz-Ra thanked the big Argonian, smacking her lips and began to chisel out some fragments from between her teeth with a small stick she’d found for the purpose. Kitty could swear she heard from Udaran under her breath, “As do you.” “Thank you Red. Now, as for other accommodations, I’m afraid I have little in the way of a lavatory here. There’s a bucket of water in the corner for washing, and for any other needs there’s a hole about a hundred feet directly behind the cabin. Just watch your step. I’ve erected a band of rocks around it for privacy so you can’t miss it.” “From what I’ve seen of male urinals recently, I’ll bet YOU can,” Muz-Ra quipped with a chuckle.
“I’ve put down some mats for bedding but they’re not much I’m afraid.” “Oh, I was going to mention, FarSeer. I hope you don’t mind, but I sleep in the nude. Not to be provacative mind you, and to be clear, I’m not interested in males anyway, but it’s just how I sleep. Is that going to be ok?” Udaran asked without a trace of embarrassment. “Sure Udaran. I can’t say I wouldn’t enjoy the view, but don’t worry. In fact, I spend my nights nude too you might say!” “Oh REALLY?” Muz-Ra perked up, suddenly interested. “Oh yes. Though you might find my appearance somewhat altered. I don’t sleep, but I do get cranky!” FarSeer explained with a smile.
“OH! So you spend your nights as a wolf?” Udaran asked. “Werewolf. It’s not the same form at all. In fact, I often wonder how that connection was ever made. But again, don’t worry. My consciousness is fully intact. I don’t hurt anyone. Years ago the body change did affect my mind and I couldn’t say that – but time and experience work wonders. I’m as much myself in werewolf form as I am now. I just can’t talk, but I can think. Sleep, however… it’s not that I can’t sleep. It just does me no good, so I no longer even try,” FarSeer went on.
“So, what do you do all night?” Kitty asked, genuinely curious. “Oh, mostly just run, hunt and kill. You’ll notice I have no weapons. Don’t need em. That venison you ate, I took that down just last night.” “You’ve got yourself quite a place here, FarSeer. A nice life. But doesn’t it get lonely?" FarSeer let out a sigh. "Yes, it does. To be honest, you’re the first people I’ve had here in months. But when you choose to follow my path, you have to anticipate solitude. Mostly I wouldn’t have it any other way. But, I’m a social creature too and once in a while it get’s a bit much. Which is why I really appreciate you girls visiting me.”
Ubergard seemed about to say something, but thought better of it. Instead, she confessed, “I will admit you’ve built a nice life here FarSeer. Though I disagree with your life choices, you’ve done well with it. Better than any of us in the family expected. When next I see them, I’ll let them know.” Kitty noticed that FarSeer seemed to listen to his sister’s few words as if they were words from a god. Perhaps it was a trick of the light that made his eyes shine a little brighter. But he remained silent for some time before he asked Ubergard if she would mind walking with him for a bit. Kitty was not that suprised when the giantess agreed and the two walked out into the night, though Kitty certainly noticed that Ubergard didn’t forget to bring her huge axe along too.
While they were out, the three remaining travellers prepared their beds. Though the mat that Kitty lay upon was certainly firm, it was surely better than sleeping on rocks and roots. Udaran stripped out of her clothes and settled in as Muz-Ra returned from a trip behind the house. “How was it?” Kitty asked, knowing that she would find out herself in the morning regardless. “Oh, smelly as you’d expect. But he’s put up an acceptable seat. He even sanded and varnished it – no spliters in the butt there. I’d not want to try it in the rain though.”
At that, footsteps were heard entering through the door and Ubergard and FarSeer’s forms were seen in the doorway. “Good night girls. I’ll see you in the morning.” “Good night FarSeer,” Ubergard grudgingly responded. "Don’t kill anyone we know.“ "Thanks,” FarSeer said sarcastically. "Oh, and Udaran?“ "Yes?” “Nice!” he smiled, and left the cabin. Kitty heard a snort of disgust mixed with amusement from Udaran, “He wishes!”
Kitty then snuggled up, happily against Udaran, and fell into a contented and undisturbed sleep. Somewhere in her sleeping mind though, she did notice that there was no snoring from Ubergard all night long.

Sabhira’s Daughter #30

“We would love to!” Kitty spoke up, with an agreeing nod from Udaran. “Sounds good to me!” Muz-Ra added. “Only if you tell them first, FarSeer. They need to know who they are planning to stay with,” Ubergard demanded.
“Kitty,” the Argonian turned to the little Khajiit with a somewhat sad expression on his scaled face, “though An-Dee… I mean Ubergard… means to dissuade you from coming with me, I suppose I do need to tell you. I am a werewolf.” A gasp came from Kitty involunarily. Though she’d heard of the affliction before, she’d never met an actual werewolf.
“A werewolf!? Are you kidding?” Udaran asked, shocked. “No. It’s true. But I can control myself. I would harm no one. I’ve learned to handle it. I wouldn’t lie to you about that,” FarSeer said, looking at Kitty. “Wolves and worse he said. He just didn’t mention that he WAS the ‘worse’,” Ubergard stated flatly.
Udaran looked at the male Argonian, who seemed to be looking for absolution from Kitty. "FarSeer, if you say we’ll be safe, I believe you.“ "Oh, you’ll be safe. I’ll make CERTAIN of that,” Ubergard said, towering over FarSeer. “Well then let’s go,” Udaran said cheerfully. “Lead the way FarSeer!”
Muz-Ra leaned close to Udaran as they walked off the trail into the wild along a barely noticable path, and whispered, “Are you sure about this Udie?” “No, but I’d much rather know where he is than spend the night outdoors NOT knowing. Besides, Ubergard may hate him, but I believe in HER too. We’ll be ok. I think.”
“I CAN control it Kitty,” FarSeer repeated. Kitty walked alongside her friend, “I’m sorry FarSeer. I’m sure you can. Have you tried to do anything about it? There may be some way to remove it you know. I’ve heard of…” Ubergard interrupted her, “He didn’t become a werewolf accidentally Kitty.”
“That’s true. I chose this life.” Kitty turned to his accuser, “And just how do YOU know so much about him Ubergard?” “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought I mentioned it. She’s my sister Kitty.” Ubergard nodded, “Unfortunately, that is so.”
“What a night of revelations this is turning out to be!” Muz-Ra suggested. “That’s my place just ahead. If you wouldn’t mind, could you stay here for a minute while I clean up and get some food cooking? I wasn’t expecting guests and, being unmated, I’m afraid the place is something of of mess. Just give me 10 minutes,” FarSeer requested and then was off. “Probably off to hide the bodies,” Ubergard muttered.

Sabhira’s Daughter #29

As with the other times, Kitty’s blindness wore off so suddenly that she didn’t realize it until she looked at the huge muscled arm she was holding. “OH! Hello again FarSeer. I can see you now. My but you’re big! Say, hold up a second and let me get my boots back on.” “No problem. That’s great! And yes, living out here in the wilds will certainly build muscle. There’s always something that needs lifting, carrying or pulling it seems. So, if I understand right, that cloak of yours blinds you for the same amount of time you were invisible, right?” “That’s about it.” “I’m not sure if that’s a curse or a blessing.”
“Well, it has helped me out on occasion. For all your help though, I’d like to give it to you!” “Thank you, but no. The more I stay away from magic, the happier I’ll be. Besides, it would never fit me.” Kitty considered that. "I guess so. But surely there’s something I can do to repay you?“ "Maybe after we find your friends. If I gauge the timeline right, they shouldn’t be too far.” “I was thinking of repayment BEFORE we find them,” Kitty said with a gleam in her eye.
“KITTY! Oh thank god you’re ok. Where have you been? We’ve been looking for hours! After it got dark, we feared the worst. Ubergard’s been beating herself up for letting you go alone,” said Udaran and then called out, "Ubergard! Come back! We found her!“
"I’m sorry Udaran. Hi Red! It’s a bit of a long story, but the gist of it is that I was chased by wolves and ended up stuck up in a tree a long way from the trail. My new friend FarSeer here helped me out and led me back to the trail while I was blind.” “Well thank you, FarSeer! We’d be lost without our Scout!” Muz-Ra added, looking the big Argonian up and down approvingly.
“I don’t know about that Red, I think maybe you would do better WITHOUT me. I’m not proving to be a very good scout.” At that point Ubergard came into the clearing and stopped cold at the sight of FarSeer. “An-Dee?” FarSeer asked as if seeing a ghost. “Heem-Ja. So this is where you’re hiding now,” responded Ubergard with obvious disdain.
“I’m called FarSeer now. And I’m not hiding,” FarSeer protested. “Call it what you will. And I’m known as Ubergard here, so I’d appreciate it if you’d use that name. Actually, I’d appreciate it more if you never spoke to me at all.”
Kitty was outraged by this rude introduction. “Uber! Please! FarSeer probably saved my life. Please show him some respect!” “I’m sorry Kitty. You don’t know him. I do. I give respect to those who deserve it.” “I don’t care what you think Uber, he DOES des…” Kitty started angrily before FarSeer interrupted her.
“No Kitty. She’s right. You don’t know me. I’d best go. I’m glad you’ve found your friends, but I must be off now.” With that, the Argonian turned to leave.
“Wait!” shouted Udaran unexpectedly, casting an angry glare up at Ubergard. FarSeer stopped and turned back. "Yes?“ "You’ve returned Kitty to us and have asked for no payment or reward…” The barest glance between Kitty and FarSeer went without notice from the others. Udaran continued, “…and we could use your guidance as I’m sure you know this area far better than any of us. It’s late and we need to find a safe place for the night. Maybe you could guide us to somewhere appropriate?” The Argonian considered this for a moment.
FarSeer replied quietly, “This area is teeming with wolves and worse. I daresay with Ubergard, you should have no problem if you stay close to the trail. However, if you wish, you’re welcome to the rough hospitality I can offer. I have a cabin not far from here. Maybe an hour’s walk. It’s small and sparse, but it would provide a roof over your heads and I have a pretty well-stocked larder. If you are interested, you may follow me. I would be honored to have you stay the night. Even An-Dee if she would condescend to do so.”

Sabhira’s Daughter #28

Kitty heard some rustling below her and perceived that the wolf had apparently left, and then a few more minutes before an obviously Argonian voice spoke from below. “Hello lady Khajiit. What are you doing up there?” “What? Oh! Hi, I’m kind of stuck up here. A wolf chased me up and I can’t get down.” “Well, the wolf is gone now. You’ve left a nice cloak and boots down here too you know. Were I inclined, I might be tempted to steal them!” “I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t. I’ve got friends nearby you know,” Kitty added.
“Friends eh? It seems they’re not close enough to help you down though. I could do that for you, if you’d like.” Kitty thought about that for a second. She had no idea who this was below. She wasn’t even sure that he was alone. But she was pretty much helpless anyway. If he had any evil intent, he could easily shoot her down or probably come up and get her anyway. “I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage. I’m blind up here, and I don’t even know your name!”
“I’m called FarSeer. Nothing mystical, I just have good sight. Which is helpful in this case as I saw you being chased a while ago. But you sure didn’t seem to be blind then.” “Well, it’s nice to meet you FarSeer. I hope. No, it’s a temporary condition. It will clear up in a while.” “Interesting. As is those clothes you’re wearing. I’m awfully curious to know why a Khajiit, dressed like that, found herself chased up a tree by a wolf out in the wilds of Skyrim. I know I’m a stranger to you, but I’m fairly well known around this area. I live in a cabin not far from here. Just one of those random hunters that keep to themselves in the wilds I’m afraid. If you’d rather, I’ll leave you be. I understand your predicament and won’t hold it against you if you’d prefer me to go. But you know it’s getting late. Wolves and worse may be back after dark. I’d advise you to accept my hospitality, at least till your condition clears up.”
Kitty realized that what he said was true. Walking down a trail with Ubergard and the otheres around her was one thing, but now she was alone, blind and weaponless. She made up her mind, having really little choice. “Ok, FarSeer. I’m going to try and come down. But I’m afraid I’m much better climbing UP than down. You might want to watch out for falling cats.” “Oh, don’t worry about that. I’m pretty strong. I’ll catch you if you do.” “Um… how high up am I? I can’t really tell.” “High enough. Do take care. If you fell from there it would be… troublesome. I’ll tell you where the lower branches are for a foothold. That should help.”
“That’s it. You’re doing fine.”
The process was tedious, but she ALMOST made it before a branch gave way unexpectedly. She let out a shriek but the time she spent in the air was mercifully short before she slammed heavily onto something scaly but yielding. FarSeer let out an unexpectedly high-pitched howl of his own as the impact knocked him to the ground as well.
“Oh! I’m VERY sorry FarSeer!” Kitty apologized, sitting up rapidly. “Nmph frovlm ldy. Bt pls mve. Yr sttng on m fce,” came the muffled reply.
Kitty took a second to work out the garbled words before she yelped and leapt clear. “Oh my god! I’m SO sorry. Did I hurt you?” Now clear of her weight, the Argonian sat up and replied, “My muzzle, no. My genitalia… I’ll just have to walk delicately for a while.” Kitty felt the fur of her tail bristling, and hoped her new acquaintance didn’t notice her Khajiit-ish blush. “Now how can a female dressed like that be embarrassed? Which reminds me, what is YOUR name lady?”
“Call me Kitty, FarSeer. I’m so sorry!” Standing, the Argonian took her hand. "Happy to meet you Kitty. Now if you’ll walk with me, perhaps we can find these friends of yours? If you didn’t just say that to warn me off that is.“ "Oh no! They’re back around the trail somewhere, a bit farther east – or at least that’s where they were when I left them.” “I THOUGHT you surely weren’t alone. Well, Kitty, I’ll take you back there and meet your friends.”
“Thank you FarSeer. You’re awfully kind to strangers you know.” “Not all, but your predicament raised my protective nature. And your clothing, other parts. Before they were so rudely introduced!” laughed the Argonian. Kitty laughed along with him as they walked back, and explained where she was from as she waited for her blindness to clear up – taking care not to reveal TOO much of their current mission. FarSeer might be helping her, but she still knew nothing about him really.

Sabhira’s Daughter #27

A few minutes passed before Udaran spoke up, “I don’t see or hear anything. Uber?” “Nothing here either, but something’s out there.”
Kitty sighed and admitted, “Sounds like Scout work to me.” “Be careful Kitty. Just go far enough to see what it is and come back,” said Udaran as Kitty once more donned her invisibility cloak. “I’m really starting to hate this thing,” Kitty thought as she raised the hood.
With that, Kitty headed back to the trail, it’s hard packed earth and stone offering a quieter approach. Stealthily she crept farther down the trail, stopping to listen every few paces, then continuing on when nothing presented itself.
Soon she was out of sight of where the others waited, and before long out of earshot as well. She considered turning back but decided to continue on since she had as of yet seen nothing unusual.
Then she saw them. Three lean wolves emerging onto the trail in front of her from the grass. She immediately dropped into a crouch, and at the same time she realized two facts.
First, the slight breeze was at her back carrying her sent towards the pack. Second, they were crouched facing her direction and were slinking towards her. Then she heard a sound from behind her. She turned back but froze when she saw two more wolves directly behind her and looking her way. While she may be invisible, their sense of smell was obviously indicating her presence nearby. And they were blocking her retreat.
Panic began to assert itself in her rapid shallow breath and she saw many sets of ears twitch just before they all bolted directly at her. Had she stood still, perhaps they would have stopped short when they could see no prey, but every instinct was dead set against that course and she bolted off the trail in the direction of the lake. “WOLVES!” she cried as loud as she could, trying to at least alert the others.
That, of course, gave the wolves a definite quarry and like dogs chasing an unseen fox, they were fully in the chase. Her feline instincts dropped her to all fours, trying to gain the few seconds she needed and, save for one particularly fast wolf, she left the others behind as she raced toward a large tree.
It took a few minutes before she managed to stop shaking and regain some sort of composure. Though she couldn’t see anything, she could hear the wolf below and she could do nothing but hold on and hope she was far enough up already. Her position was precarious, so she did the only thing she could think of. “HELP! UBERGARD! MUZ-RA! I’M HERE! UDARAN! I’M STUCK UP IN A TREE! CAN YOU HEAR ME?” Kitty screamed at the top of her lungs. However, no reply came and she realized she had gone too far from the trail.

Sabhira’s Daughter #26

As the group continued down the path, skirting the southern shore of the lake, Muz-Ra turned to Udaran and asked, “So Udie, you haven’t said much.” “About your story? Well, a couple things DO strike me as odd, though I really can’t doubt it. It’s tough to disbelieve anything here.” “That’s true,” Muz-Ra replied, tossing a pebble she’d picked up out into the lake. Ubergard, just a few steps ahead, turned around quickly with a frown. "Don’t do that. You never know what may lie at the bottom of a lake. No need to disturb it.“
Muz-Ra put her hands up in defense, "OK! OK! Looks peaceful enough.” Ubergard snorted. "Just remember, we don’t ALL have guardian angels,“ she pointed out, turning back. Udaran took that opportunity to add, "That’s one thing right there. How did they know what was happening to you? Do you think they’re watching your every move?” Muz-Ra looked shocked. "I… don’t know! I sure HOPE not!“ Now the Argonian looked a bit worried.
Udaran went on, "And they took you to their realm using your outfit you say, yet they return you naked. Does that make sense?” Muz-Ra shrugged a bit more perplexed herself. “And then there’s YOUR attitude. If what you say is true, why would you trust them so much? After all, it sounds to me like they basically made you their sex slave. They can transport people from place to place, heal critical wounds, even restore your eyesight but they can’t clean up their own castle?”
Muz-Ra bristled at that, “Now wait a minute. I never said I had sex with them!” “No? It sure sounded like it to me.” “Well, maybe I embellished a little bit. I tend to do that you know.”
“I don’t know Red, it just sounds a little TOO convenient.” “Well, maybe it is, but I know I’d be dead without them! THAT you can’t argue with!” “Frankly, it sounds to me like they have something else planned for you.” Muz-Ra pondered this in silence for a while as they continued on.
Kitty listened closely to this exchange, and sensed the tenseness between the two. “Well, I don’t care what their motives were, Red, we’re ALL very glad to have you back!” Udaran agreed, “Absolutely Red. I’m suspicious by nature. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“Ok Udie,” Muz-Ra replied, “and you’ve given me something to think about. When we get to Markarth, maybe I’ll change out of this outfit.” Kitty noticed Muz-Ra glance down at her golden bikini with a quick but odd expression. Was there perhaps a touch of suspicion there?
“Well anyway, it’s getting late. Uber, do you have any ideas where we should stop for the night?” Udaran called ahead to the big Argonian. Without answering her, Ubergard suddenly stopped with a hand raised back in warning. The other three crouched instinctively as they watched the warrior scrutinze the landscape ahead.
Udaran whispered, “What is it Uber? I don’t hear anything.” “Exactly. The animals have gone silent. There’s something ahead that disturbed them.” Udaran turned back to the others, “Let’s get out of sight. Quietly.”

Sabhira’s Daughter #25

Kitty looked at the Argonian’s outfit as if looking at it for the first time. "I always thought your bikini seemed somehow different than the costumes that most of the girls wear!“ she observed. "Oh yes, this isn’t something H provided. I brought it with me into the Chateau. And I could never part with it. I once had it examined by an alchemist who claimed that it is, in fact, some odd form of flexible gold,” Muz-Ra explained while performing a proud pirouette.
“GOLD? You’re wearing pure gold?!” Kitty asked excitedly, her tail twitching. “Oh calm down Kitty, you look like a cat that just heard the can opener! Besides, that doesn’t explain ANYTHING about what happened at Helgen,” Udaran said, turning to Muz-Ra with her hands on her hips. “I’m getting to that…” Muz-Ra said.
“Up until Helgen, it had never shown the slightest sign of having any sort of magical attribute, but now I know better. When that Mage burned me, I was nearly killed outright. I’m sure Ubergard got to him as quickly as she could, but my body had already been severely burned and my eyes were useless. I knew I was about to die, but the pain was so unbearable I welcomed the end. Then suddenly my outfit came to life somehow and swept me away from that place.”
“Blessedly, the pain was instantly erased and I seemed to dream, or at least that’s the best I can describe of what it was like. At times I felt like I lay in a molten sea, at others the feeling was a blessed coldness as if I lay on the peak of a windswept mountain. Yet again sometimes it felt I was bathed in an ocean. But my eyes were sealed shut.”
“Some time later, I’ve no idea how long, I heard the Master’s voice and the Mistress as well. Though I could not see anything, he told me to relax and not be afraid. He said he had used the outfit to recall me to his realm before my death was irreversible, as a way of paying me back for my service all those years ago. Even the Mistress was kind to me and I felt my body become whole again as she did SOMETHING to it. I can’t say if she applied some ointment or cast some spell, all I know is I felt myself return to normal physically, and I know it was her that did it.”
“I remained with them for what felt like weeks, but my eyes were never able to open and I could not stand. I feared I’d gone permanently blind, but the Master assured me that it was only temporary. Finally, the Master told me that it was time for me to return and I felt him once again carry me with strong arms up the tower. Though I couldn’t see it, I FELT him lay me down again onto that strange blue lens. He also told me he had informed my friends about my return and I would not awake alone. Further, that he was sending me back to the Guardian Stones, a place where his power to transport was particularly adept. He assured me he had returned my possessions ahead of me.”
“That must have been my dream,” said Kitty, recalling the odd way the vision she had the night before seemed distorted, as if seen through a long distance lens. Muz-Ra agreed, “I assume so too. The next thing I knew, I was laying between the Stones where you were sleeping. And that’s it, that’s all I know.
"Solid gold bra and panties huh? Must be nice!” Kitty said, admiring the material. “And no, you can’t try them on for size Kitty,” Muz-Ra smiled. “I know they wouldn’t fit! But still, flexible gold.” Kitty said, her fingers involuntarily reaching out as if to touch the magical cloth.
“Naughty Kitty. Go ahead, you may touch the Golden Body.” “Ooooo! It’s smooth! And surprisingly warm,” Kitty said as she slid her paws over the smooth surface with it’s slightly indented runes.
“Well thank you Kitty. But if you don’t mind, you’re turning me on and I’m SUPPOSED to be hetero,” the Argonian warned with a gleam in her eye. “OH! Sorry,” Kitty apologized as she yanked back her hands.
Udaran sighed and cleared her throat, “Well, if you two are done groping each other, can we get moving again?”

Sabhira’s Daughter #24

“Ok, so where was I when I was telling my story?” Muz-Ra asked as they began to walk. “You’d just climbed to the top of the tower and the Master and Mistress were gone,” Kitty recalled eagerly. “Oh yes, I remember…” Muz-Ra said as she continued her tale.
“At the top of the tower there was a stairway to the roof. When I emerged, I saw a machine of sorts, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. It was a mass of lenses and gears as best I can describe it, slowly moving and gyrating on different axis in complex arcs. Yet in the center was a larger lens of different character. It was this that beckoned to me as if it wanted me to step upon it. I can’t really explain how I knew this, but it was the same imperative that had led me to the tower in the first place, but even stronger at close range.”
“Having no reason to do otherwise, I stepped upon the mechanism and then to the lens, to the very center. Suddenly, all the peripheral glass-work came to a stop and seemed to focus on me. There was a sensory explosion of sorts, as if all my nerves were instantly tweaked and I fell immobile but conscious to the odd blue lens below me. It was a feeling I can only call orgasmic, though it was not concentrated on any particular part of me but instead it radiated from everywhere. It lasted only a split-second, but in some sense that moment lasted much longer and my sense of self disappeared.”
“The next moment I was aware of, I was again lying naked, still on the island but outside the walls in the exact position I had been in when I first sprang from the water to escape the monsters that dwelled there. However, I was not wet so I knew I’d not imagined it all. Of the castle itself, I could see no sign. It seemed to have disappeared. Having no other recourse, I entered the water, oddly clear now of any reptilian guardians, and emerged on the far side. As if through a haze, I was then again able to perceive the castle back on the island. I’ve no explanation, I’m just describing what happened.”
“However, there was one thing more I haven’t told you yet. Nearby where I emerged was my original clothes, complete and whole as if the episode with the reptilian guardians had never happened. And there was one other thing in the pack. A metallic yet flexible, yellow and terribly skimpy two-piece outfit. On it’s surface was scrawled patterns that I took to be decorative but now I think perhaps they are some sort of runes.”
“I tried them on, and of course they fit perfectly – no mean feat given my proportions even then! I turned back towards the island, hoping to at least catch a glimpse of someone at a window to acknowledge the gift, but I saw no one.”
“So I put on my old adventuring clothes, turned and left, never looking back. I often used to wonder if it was all just some weird dream. Years later I tried to retrace my steps, but try as I might I never did rediscover the island, let alone the castle.”
“At the time I wasn’t nearly as… daring let’s say, as I am today and I just kept the odd outfit with me. It wasn’t till years later that I began to wear this outfit regularly. It served me well, especially when I came to be employed by H and needed something exotic to wear.”
“What else but my gift from the Master? And so I wear it still today, and it hasn’t worn or faded a bit in that time.”

Sabhira’s Daughter on short hiatus (really, I promise!)

[Progress edit – COMPLETED! WOOHOO! I’ll probably waste a day, but then will be starting on #24 finally.]

Though I have the next post written, I’m going to take some time and revise the format rather drastically. I recently started copying to SoFurry as I feel it’s definitely a better venue for this project. (I was going to do FA, but copying the HTML over there was going to be a real pain in the ass.)

Then I started receiving some critiques. Just a couple, but when words like “atrocious” are thrown around, you sit up and take notice.

In particular, there’s a couple format changes I have in mind. While the critics there did suggest I turn it into a true comic, with text in the images, I’m still not going to do that. Those of you that have been with it since Katherine Managan days know I started that way but abandoned it as too constricting (and frankly too time-consuming). I originally had two goals in mind, to be able to post new content quickly, and to provide high-res images.

What I had in mind was less of a comic format, but more of a heavily illustrated short story.

However, the critiques I got DID alert me to two issues that I can address without having to radically go back and change everything.

1 – I had come up with my own shorthanded way of doing dialogue. That was pretentious of me and really hurts the readability of it. So I’m going to redo ALL the text following standard grammatical rules. Yes, double quotes, “ she said.”, all of it. It’s going to take a while to do that, but I have to agree that it will improve the overall readability. Plus, doing so will force me to rethink sentence structure and allow some more detail in the text portions.

2 – The images are too big. They overwhelm the text. I do hate to lose the high resolution aspect, but I can go back to the “click the image for high resolution” method that I’d started with. In fact, I’ll probably reduce the images QUITE a bit, but you’ll still be able to click to get the high-res versions.

I’m going to do this starting with Sabhira’s Daughter #1 so, if you feel the desire, you can sort of watch my progress as I go through revising them all. If you click here, this is the new format I’m going for:

http://tailsofthekhajiit.tumblr.com/post/131598377763/sabhiras-daughter-1

Sorry for the delay. I’d been churning out posts at a pretty breakneck pace, concentrating primarily on the images. It’s time to turn my attention to the text as well and I do think this will improve it overall. While it still won’t be a comic in the accepted form of the term, it should at least be easier to follow I’m hoping.

And, of course, any comments or critiques are ALWAYS welcomed! If I can handle someone calling my “baby” atrocious, I’m sure I can handle others. (Yeah, it does sting a bit, but if the end result is a better, more readable, more accessible story, it’s a sting I’d best get used to.)