"Well me and Swims are old enough and we decinded now was the time to go on our own adventures for real, but a few days ago we ran out of food and there was no animals to hunt so we turned our direction towards here hoping for a nice place to stay for the night and a warm meal but we ended up getting attacked by those bandits, I shot at one of them with an arrow which I hit the nord's hand to delay her from killing us but my second arrow missed and then she started to attack Swims until I submitted then she pinned me to a tree after that I don't remember what happened" Vera said

Do'Khajra audibly sighed when he heard Veria's explanation. "Veria...Mara help me, is that what this was about, an adventure? Khaj thought you two were smarter than that. This one is a soldier, and even he is cautious about going into the wilds. You don't have the training or experience to survive outside of Leyawiin's wall. Maybe in the future you will, but you need training for now." He said as they started heading downstairs to the basement of the chapel. "Just...just think about it, alright? Khaj has been doing this for years, you can trust his judgement."

As they reached the room, Murnglesh led them inside. Swims smiled once more when he saw Veria and Do'Khajra, being careful not to hurt himself again in the process. "There is our savior. Do'Khajra, I'm sure Veria has already said it, but I have to thank you. We wouldn't have survived without you, and your patrol of course. Please pass on my thanks to them as well."

Khaj had a wide smile on his feline face, as he certainly seemed to like the praise. "Ah, well, Khajiit only does what he has been trained to do. Khaj may not have known you two very well before he joined the Legion, but still, it is good to be reminded of why he joined in the first place. He was glad to protect you."

Vera smiled and sat down beside her lover holding his hand but didnt say anything as she was thinking about what the feline sad. 'Hmm perhaps he does make a point we have really no skills to be out here but where would we trin and how much gold would it cost just to get training from others' she thought with a frown on her face not noticing the conversation around her. She thought about how much gold they had and knew they didnt have much gold and it not like they could seel what they had knowing it would make them defenceless.

Vera smiled and sat down beside her lover holding his hand but didnt say anything as she was thinking about what the feline sad. 'Hmm perhaps he does make a point we have really no skills to be out here but where would we trin and how much gold would it cost just to get training from others' she thought with a frown on her face not noticing the conversation around her. She thought about how much gold they had and knew they didnt have much gold and it not like they could seel what they had knowing it would make them defenceless.

After leading them back down to the room, Murnglesh went back upstairs to return to her duties, leaving the others to their conversation. Swims was glad to be able to give his thanks to Khaj, though he wasn't too certain what to say beyond that. Khaj had been an acquaintance for him and Veria, but it wasn't as if they were close friends. Still, they were on friendly terms, so he was sure he could find something to speak about.

"So, Khaj, how have things been going for you since you entered the Legion? I can't say I know much about a soldier's life." Swims asked.

Khaj went over to the table in the corner and took a seat on one of the old, wooden chairs. "Well, Khaj made captain. He has his own patrol now. Honestly, though, for now at least, we are more guards than soldiers. The Dominion is a threatening presence, but the bandits and other vagabonds that operate in this area are more of an immediate concern. Khaj does not disagree with that sentiment; he would much rather fight criminals than soldiers."

"You certainly do know how to fight. I...don't remember much, but I think I remember you taking them out very quickly. I can't wait until I am good enough to do that." Swims remarked.

Khaj put on more of a concerned expression and let out a slight sigh. "Look, Swims...Khaj spoke to Veria, he knows why you were out here. It is easy to understand why you would want to get away, but...please, just go home. Khaj spent years training to learn how to fight, he is a soldier. You do not have that, and a patrol may not come around next time to save you. Khajiit does not wish to insult you, he is just speaking the truth. You are not soldiers, please do not put yourself into danger."

"I...I understand." Swims responded. He wanted to shout in protest, but deep down, he knew Khaj was right. If he was as good as he wished he was, those bandits would not have bested them. Swims turned his head and looked to Veria with a saddened expression. "After I get better...do you want to head back to Leyawiin?"

Veria who was listening nodded which a matching sad expression on her face "I guess we have no choice in the matter he is right, we have no fighting experience and it will take years before do have a lot of it in order to survive this world" she said with a sigh ready to cry considering she dreamed about this adventure since they were little kids pretneding to be on adventures in their hometown

Veria who was listening nodded which a matching sad expression on her face "I guess we have no choice in the matter he is right, we have no fighting experience and it will take years before do have a lot of it in order to survive this world" she said with a sigh ready to cry considering she dreamed about this adventure since they were little kids pretending to be on adventures in their hometown

"Thank you for understanding." Khaj said, with genuine sympathy in his expression. "Well, this one just wanted to stop in and check on you. Khaj needs return to his men now, as we will be leaving the town soon. When you are ready to leave Blankenmarch, you should wait for one of the Legion patrols and follow them to the city, just to be safe. Take care, both of you." Khaj said before standing up and exiting the room, leaving Swims and Veria alone.

Once Khaj left, Swims reached up with his free hand and placed it gently on Veria's cheek. Despite their misfortune, Swims did his best to keep a smile. "Don't worry, my love. We will have our day, our adventure. I don't care how long it takes, how much we have to train, we will not abandon our dreams. Until then, we have each other."

She smiled and nuzzled his hand nodding "True true, I know we will just not right now" she said kissing his hand before leaning up giving him a kiss on his lips knowing they were fully alone. "Until that happens I will always be with you forever" she said snugging into him careful of his wounds feeling a little dizzy from her head injury and following her need to relax

Swims laid back in his bed with Veria, content to hold her in his arms as they relaxed. Neither of them were in especially good condition, so it was not too long before they fell asleep for the rest of the night.

Between the potions and the magic of the preistess, both Swims and Veria were perfectly healthy by evening of the next day. They could have left then, but just like Khaj recommended, they decided to wait until the next day to leave with a Legion patrol. Swims' iron chestplate had been damaged beyond use by the bandits, and while the rest of the armor was still usable, he decided to simply sell off the entire set and use the gold to buy enough food for the return trip. He kept his sword, but why would he need a set of heavy armor if they were no longer going to be adventurers. He did not have any other clothes of his own, but luckily, the preistess was kind enough to donate to him a simple, worn set of clothing.

Thanks to the Legion patrol, the journey back to Leyawiin was far less eventful than the trip to Blankenmarch. The soldiers were willing to escort them, though they were not particularly social with Swims or Veria. It seemed they had little interest in speaking to a pair they percieved as naive children. Swims found it a bit easier to travel this time, since he no longer had to carry around a heavy set of armor. Still, it was a lot of effort for he and Veria to keep pace with the soldiers.

Once back in Leyawiin, Swims returned immediately to his family home, and invited Veria inside as well. It was the middle of the day, so his parents were running the store, while his brother and sister were off at their respective jobs. As a result, the house was empty for the moment, apart from Swims and Veria.

"I am not looking forward to telling my egg-brother about this." Swims commented as he took a seat in one of the chairs in the main room. "He didn't believe I would succeed; he said I would be back within a month, and...well, I guess I am."

Veria nodded "I know I was there when he made fun of you about our plans...I guess he can say he told us so that we werent ready" she said with a sigh feeling more relaxed in his home. She got up and got on his lap kissing him on the lips.

"Look better luck next time we just need more training" she said with a smile on her lips before she gave him a small, love filled kiss to show her love for him. She pulled back and leaned against him rubbing his scaled covered chest.

For the rest of the day, Swims was uncharacteristically quiet. His parents were, of course, overjoyed to see that he had decided to return, and for them, they just assumed his silence was because he was upset that he had failed to become an adventurer. Only his brother, Hides-in-Shade, knew the true reason for his awkward silence, but mercifully, he decided not to inform their parents. Instead, he made subtle jokes while in the company of their parents, and more direct jokes poking fun at his taste in mates when they were alone. If there was anything positive that came from the experience, it was that Shade was too preoccupied with what he had just learned to make fun of Swims for returning home so soon.

The next day, Swims left the house soon after breakfast. Ostensibly, it was so he could get some fresh air, but really, he just wanted to visit Veria. He made his way across town, through the market that was just starting to come to life for the day until he reached Veria's family home and knocked on the door. Given how close of friends they were, he had been over countless times, so Veria's family would not find it strange in the slightest for him to be there again.

The door opened revealing Veria's little sister Vah-Ji-Nah who had short brown hair and blue eyes. she smiled brightly and hugged him. "Hello Swims I am glad that you and big sister are home please come in Veria will be home soon she had to do something for mama" she said pulling him without giving him a chance to answer, the house clean as always with a fire in the fire place and the table clean of anything, food put in the little cupboards as well as the little plates.

Swims nodded graciously and stepped inside, not that Vah gave him a choice. As usual when Veria was not at home, he took a seat by the fireplace as he waited for her to return. He looked around at the familiar home. It was probably the place in Leyawiin he had spent the most time in that wasn't his own home. Despite their failure at becoming adventurers, he was actually comforted by being in such a familiar, safe location. "So, Vah, what do your parents think about myself and Veria returning?"

"Oh they knew that they would be back uh huh, they even knew that you guys weren't ready and kept Veria's room the same for her prepared for her return" she said with a smile on her lips."So what happened that caused you two to return, you weren't even got a month at all" she said looking up at him from her psootion on the floor at his feet, her usual spot for when he was sitting down.

"We...ran into some trouble. An old friend, Khaj, that Khajiit who joined the Legion, he happened along and helped us out." Swims explained, shifting in his seat somewhat uncomfortably. He really didn't want to get into the details, but at the same time, he did not want to lie.

"Our friend said we weren't quite ready, and recommended that we get more training before trying again. I trust him, so...that's exactly what we're doing. We're going to get more training and, in a few years, we'll try again. I don't think we're going to be giving up on our dreams." He said.

"Perhaps you can make that happen huh Swims" she said with excitement as the door open indicating Veria finally came home. Veria walked unti she came into view and her face turned slightly red when she saw Swims.

"Hey Swims its a pleasure to see you again" she said with a smile on her lips

Swims returned Veria's smile and stood up as she entered the house. He was not sure if Veria had told her family about their relationship or not, so he did not do anything to hint at it. After all, none of his family apart from his brother knew about it yet as well. He walked over to her, still maintaining his smile. "Hello, my friend. I don't suppose you have any time to yourself today, do you?" He asked.

"Actually I have all day, my parents got the news of what happened and are giving me much more recovery time from the attack no matter how many times I told them I was fine, but my mother and father was persistent so I agreed" she said with a smile looking at her lover."What about you I was hoping we could go to our usual spot and ya know do whatever" she said.