When the khajiit exited the sqaure opening, he saw multiple altars - at least that's what he thought they were - and stood before a giant staircase flanked by pentagram flags on poles. He ascended the stairs and approached the vampire behind the bar.
"Excuse me, but, er, would you happen to know where I can find a bunny?"
The vampire looked at him skeptically; wondering if he should trust him or just drink his blood.
"We have lots of pets here; taken by Lord Bal's minions from their owners. Go ahead and see for yourslef." He said, gesturing upstairs.
Inigo nodded nervously and slowly back away.
"Thank you, I think, I am sorry." He said, seeing the vampire eyeing him hungrily. "Khajiit is not on the menu. I taste utterly atrocious anyway." He said as he walked toward the skull laden turret.
Inigo emerged from the tower and screwed his face up in disgust at the grotesque demon done in stained glass. He turned and left the catherdal. He found himself back outside and entered the tower opposite the throne room. Inside, he saw more altars and cages, but none of them held animals. He moved deeper into the room until he spotted a wooden trapdoor poking out from underneath an altar. He opened it and disappeared.
Inigo gasped as he entered another room that was wall to ceiling with wrought iron cages. Within these cages were animals of all shapes and sizes: rabbits, falcons, crows, rats and owls. Inigo gazed in awe at the myriad cages filling the cylindrical tower. He thought about calling out but feared a collapse of the tower would ensue.
He gulped, prayed that such a thing would not happen and braced for the worst but hoped for the best.
"Hasir, are you here? If you are, squeak once so I can locate you." He grinned to himself as he thought this was a good plan but felt a boulder drop into his stomach as he realized that there were multiple rabbits in the cylindrical prison, not just his 'furry' friend. Hastily, Inigo began opening all the cages within reach. He soon curse himself as he was soon overrun by a stampede of freed animals.
He saw a horned, black and blue ladder resting between two cages. He thought about using this to free the other animals when he caught sight on a winding staircase running along the inner edges of the tower. The khajiit looked from the ladder to the staircase, obviously making up his mind. With his mind made up, he ascend the stairs and found his furry friend in the cage situated between a tawny owl and a rather talkative raven. He leapt off of the staircase, grabbing one of the cages and using it to swing from one cage to the other. He repeated this daring maneuvre until he latched onto the brown bunny's cage. He locked the cage with his claw and left the tower with the rabbit through the portal from whence he came.
He landed on all fours in the alchemical shop back in Elsweyr. He walked, rabbit in his arms, back to the shop where he met the aged khajiit. He entered and they prepared a reversal potion in the back room. When that was done, Inigo uncorked it and poured some onto the brown fur. The rabbit rose into the air aas the potion worked its magic. Fur disappeared and became scale. The argonian coughed and spluttered. The blue khajiit hugged his friend and asked how his little 'furrry' adventure was; cursed though it may've been.
Hasir rubbed his neck; trying to remember. As a matter of fact, his reptilian brain recalled little before its furry transformation.
"Erm... Inigo, I don't really remember. It was all a blur. All I remember is me dishonoring the Doomstrider and 'poof' I had furry legs and whiskers. I wish I could paint a much better picture, but," He shrugged, "Damn it to Oblivion, I just can't."
Inigo grabbed his friend's shoulder and embraced him.
"It's ok, my friend. I really little after my foray into skooma." Hasir looked at the blue khajiit with an inquisitive look. Inigo gulped. "Anyway, an aquaintance told me that one of Tigress's master is in Akavir we must see her if you're to..." He looked apologetically at the Argonian. "Oh right, sorry. He also said that if you need additional training, you should see him."
Hasir looked wonderingly at Inigo.
"Who exactly is this man? Tigress's master? You mean the Ka'Po'Tun dragon?" He tittered a bit. "He is sequestered in the jade dragon I have in my pocket, or he's supposed to be anyway." He said, looking thoughtful.
Inigo stared at his scaly friend; incredulous.
"You forgot his name and you think he-? No, first off, Tosh Raka is male. I mean, well, I got that splattered in mud, didn't I? The male who he said we should seek out goes by the name of Shen Xiao."
Hasir rubbed his hands together, excitedly. He has been waiting age to return to Akavir.
"Well. What are we waiting for? Let's go to Akavir."
Inigo made a calming motion with his hands.
"You're putting the Saxhleel before the Hist tree. First we should go and see Xhekaj. She is a powerful khajiit mane who rules over these lands and gives khajiit permission whether or not to leave this island... for military or trade reasons. If she is okay with it then and only then will we go to Akavir for some... training."
Hasir nodded and followed Inigo out of the shop. About midway, he stopped and thought on something.
"Hang on. Don't we have to find a khajiit caravan? After all, our end goal takes priority."
Inigo nodded reluctantly and followed his friend as they headed for the Senchal outskirts. They walked for hours until they found a khajiit caravan near the outskirts of the khajiit city.
Hasir was about to approach when the blue khajiit held him back, discouraging him from any possible altercation that might enrage the caravaners. He sat in the dirt and watched while Inigo went up to a black and tan khajiit.
"Warm sands to your fellow khajiit. May I have a word?"
The khajiit nodded and stuck out his hand which Inigo shook firmly.
"Greetings. Ra'jesh is the name." Over there are my fellow caravaners Mu'hara, Ge'kish and W'thistru. What may this one help you with?" He asked with a thick Elsweyrian accent.
Hasir, resenting being told he may be quarrelsome, rudely interrupted Inigo just as the khajiit opened his mouth.
"Forgive him, he gets cranky if he doesn't have his daily skooma fix. We require an army to fight Molag Bal." The argonian stated bluntly. "Also, we wish to have a place to stay for the night."
Ra'jesh looked taken aback by such a bold gesture.
"Are you serious? Skooma addiction is no laughing matter. Trust khajiit, he knows. Such a bold claim." He said, shaking his head. He gestured to one of the big tents at the rear of the camp. "Of course, who are we if not hospitable. The offer we would like to think on a bit more. While we deliberate, you can sleep in that tent with the decorative awning. Do not worry, it has already been made up... if you do not, er, how can Ra'jesh put this... live the life of a khajiit; even if for a little while."
Hasir turned to Ingo, who grew red-faced at the prospect of being reminded of his days of skooma addiction - a spot of shame for most khajiit. Hasir told him to let it pass like a calm river over rocks as they walked towards the tent so graciously offered by Ra'jesh and his fellow caravaners.
Hasir opened the tan flap to find a space not much bigger than the tent extior. He was disappointed to find bedrolls, not bproper beds, have been laid out for them; each with a signle wolf fur for warmth. Inigo laid down and thought of their warm beds back in Jorrvaskr and how they trade in a heartbeat. He rolled over to find Hasir stripping out of his armor and laying down on the thin bit of leather and was soon fast asleep; tail resting limply by his side.
For the longest time, Inigo stared at the rising and falling chest of his reptilian companion, but, soonthereafter, sleep enveloped him like a warm, but rather unwelcome, blanket.
Hasir fell headfirst into a maelstrom of rather conflicting dreams. A kaleidoscope of confusing images. He saw that Tosh Raka become a dragon, not by choice or birthright, as Tigress had predicted, but by the brutal slaugter of his duelling opponent as set forth by the ruler of the Tiger-dragon nation. Just before the Argonian could ascertain the dream proeperly, the temple of Tosh Raka's forced coronation turned into an earthen and foresty landscape with trees and valleys. In this portion of the dream, he was being told by Hircine that he broke lycanthropic law and was to relinquish his lycanthropic powers lest he be set upon by his former brethren.
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