[b][i]Dervs and Roze built this collab in a cave with a box of scraps.[/i][/b]

With a light sigh, Roze closed her eyes briefly, and turned from the waterline, dropping her amulet from her grasp and letting it hang around her neck once more. What good would praying to Gods be now? She'd never prayed to anything before, barring Nocturnal. And Nocturnal favoured only those who thieved - she would do nothing for Roze in her current predicament. It was Roze's own fault, after all, for being in this situation. And although they were far from danger, the group was far from being safe. Hell, Skyrim was far from being safe, with those Kamal landing on their shores and slaughtering their people.

Once more, Roze's mind was brought back to the Nord who had died before her, and she shuddered as she wandered slowly down the docks. Why did her mind continue drifting back to this warrior? So many had died already, plenty in more horrific and painful ways than he. But his gaze had been almost accusatory as his decpitated head had stared at her from the floor, blood still misting and steaming in the cold air.

Pausing mid-step, Roze brought her hands to her face, pressing her palms hard against her forehead.

[i]"Stop. Just... stop thinking about it. Everyone here has seen the same, if not worse than you. And they're not being such babies about it."[/i] She thought to herself sternly... not that that did much to relieve her guilt. She'd heard of Survivor's guilt before, but had never considered it to be this... effective, to the mind or heart.

While paused in her wanderings, Roze noticed a lone figure at the side of the dock, sat a few paces from where she was. She would have wandered by, but after noticing a sketchpad in the hands of the Khajiit, her curiosity perked up. Surely, for a Khajiit, even drawing the bloodied moons would be bad luck? Momentarily distracted from the innermost turmoils of her mind, Roze stepped forward quietly, looking from behind the shoulder of the unknown artist to see what they had drawn.

Do'Karth's hands deftly and with great care worked while he allowed his mind to slip into an almost meditative state. Sitting on the docks, resting his back against one of the posts that kept the planks above the water, he regarded the hamlet of Dawnstar with an eye for detail, and a rough outline of the harbour began to take shape as the icy water just feet below lapped gently beneath Masser and Secuna's ever inquisitive light. It was a shame he had no way of capturing the brilliant greens of the waves, but he felt it was something he would not soon forget. 

He was suddenly aware of a presence standing just behind him, where two lengths of dock intersected at a perpendicular angle, and he turned to regard the newcomer, unable to quite place the face, even though there was an air of familiarity to her. "It is a cool night, one suspects that you wish to avoid company to the extent of forsaking comfort this night. What can Do'Karth do for you?" he asked.

Roze's eyes darted from the pad to the eyes of the Khajiit, somewhat skittish in her response - was it that obvious she wanted to be alone?

"Oh - I, uh, I was just seeing what you were drawing." She replied quietly, eyes turning once more to his sketchpad. From what she could see in the shimmering light of the moons, there lay a outline of the bay, some of the docks and buildings included. There was an eye to detail, even in that rough draft. "Um... sorry to bother you." She added hastily in after-thought. Normally she'd be quite happy to saunter on in, maybe even offer some advice; but in such a sobered mood, such actions seemed pointless.

"Please, stay." Do'Karth said, gesturing for Roze to sit. He offered her the sketchpad. Contained within were images from across Tamriel, from tranquil forest meadows to the towering ruins of Stros M'Kai, and several faces, people of all races. "This one records where he has been, things that inspire him. He wants to be able to look back and reflect on the roads he has travelled, the people he has met, and in his old age, be able to remember. Do'Karth came to Skyrim to see its rugged beauty and to behold its people, so different from khajiit. He also wished to see a dragon, or at least its bones." the khajiit said, lips upturned in a slight smile. "It is why he sits alone on this dock, suffering the cold. There is a peace here that resonates, can you feel it? He does not know when he will be able to enjoy a moment of his own again."

Despite Roze's attempts of seeking solitude, the offer to look at the drawings was too good a one to dismiss; besides, this Do'Karth seemed somewhat companionable. Not quite as serious as the last one she had spoken to.

Inclining her head in thanks, Roze knelt beside Do'Karth, wincing as the movement jarred her side... but seeing the drawings was enough to distract from her pain. Although she had no skill in drawing herself, she greatly admired artwork. the amount of times she'd witnessed a beautiful sunset or landscape high up in Skyrim's breath-taking mountains, and wished she could capture the moment on paper, were countless. The same could be said of the faces of people she had met, just like Do'Karth had stated - there were a few faces she could not recall from back home in Riften. Even her Father's face was beginning to blur around the edges in her memory, and that thought alone was a solemn one.

Listening to his words of the calmness of the bay, a smile ghosted Roze's lips.

"I know what you mean... after Windhelm, it was hard to imagine such quietness. Even as we fled, you could still hear those Snow Demons as they cut down others... Dawnstar is a haven from such acts." She said, gazing upon the beautiful drawings within Do'Karth's pad. They were truly something to admire; some of the faces even looked vaguely familiar to her. 

"You know," She said after a moment, smile beginning to grow as her eyes found Do'Karth's. "I've seen dragons. Dead and alive ones... even one caught inbetween as Alduin brought it back from it's grave." 

The khajiit nodded solemnly in agreement, pulling the piece of parchment from his belt that was his initial sketches of Candlehearth Hall that had been interrupted by the riot. He never had a chance to finish the drawing, and he likely never would now the city was occupied. He offered it to the woman. "Windhelm was a tragedy, but not one we should dwell on. Sometimes one must shrink their world to the people who matter, and no more. Things become too heavy if one dwells on death for too long." he gestured up to the sky. "And the gods take care of their own, Do'Karth believes. He is only here because they chose to spare him many moons ago. It took a long time to figure out why." the khajiit shrugged. His eyes widened with glistening curiosity when Roze mentioned dragons.

"By the twin moons! That is truly magnificent! Please, do Do'Karth the honour and colour his imagination with what they were like. Did they block out the sun? Did their shouts fill the air from impossibly far distances?" the khajiit asked, feeling somewhat giddy. It was something he had long wondered about, and she was a window into that world. "An undead dragon, even! Who could have even believed such a thing?!"

Taking the parchment, Roze's heart sank upon seeing the beginnings of the familiar inn, sat in the stone courtyard. It would be a miracle if anything in Windhelm survived, with those Kamal swarming around it.

[i]"Another one who thinks the Gods will help us?"[/i] She thought; and while not saying anything insulting out loud about the subject - because she was not one to deny someone of their beliefs (Like a certain group of Altmer she despised) - her smile did indeed dim slightly at their mention. The Gods hadn't done anything to help the mortal plane in eons - not even during the Dragon Crisis.

Speaking of which, the way Do'Karth's face lit up at the mention of the winged beasts was almost endearing - his enthusiasm was certainly infectious, too.

"Well, I'd just left Rorikstead when I felt something change in the air. Like when you can sense a thunderstorm approaching before it has even rumbled; the wind became impossibly still, and the air had an electric feel to it. It was if the sky had been slumbering, and a charge had awoken something alive in it." She told, the hairs on her arms raising just in the mere memory of it. "And as I climbed a rocky outcropping to get a better look at the sky, I heard it: the crash of sound hitting me like a wall of snow. If I had been further away, I would have assumed it to just be thunder - but Gods above, I knew it was a Shout. Even before I saw the dragon itself in the sky, like a nightmare with wings, I knew it was a Thu'um. Now, I'm no Dragonborn, but I could feel the essence of magic in that noise. It was unlike anything I'd ever witnessed before."

Roze paused, settling herself more comfortably on the docks as she told her tale, words regaining more passion as she regaled her story of seeing such awesome events.

"I'd seen a few dragons before, but this one was different - he matched the descriptions of Alduin that I'd heard; of a vast black Dovah, with an almost dead look to his scales and covered in razor sharp spines. Seeing the World-Eater himself was a terrifying experience - but a magnificent one all the same. He wasn't anything like the other dragons in the wilderness - while they could be seen as actual creatures, he was more mysterious - like shadows given life. And spikes. A lot of spikes. Oh, and his voice! He wasn't just using Shouts, he was speaking in Dovah, and in the common tongue - what a curious sensation that was. You don't expect an ancient legend like Alduin to speak like a man."

"And the resurrection! You must understand, at this point, dragons weren't being seen very much. The attack on Helgen had only just happened, so there weren't many of them about at this point... to see one of them being brought back from the dead was - well, stunning. A lot of us didn't know where they were coming from, you see. I'm not even sure how Alduin was doing it, but the process wasn't like your usual necromancy spell. First, a pillar of darkness appeared over the burial mound, wisps of colour dancing around it as Alduin did his.. ritual, I suppose you'd call it. And then, a vast skeleton erupted from the ground, letting loose a terrifying screech." Roze paused with a light chuckle as she recalled it. "I nearly fell off the rocks I was hanging on to in fear."

"They spoke, then. In that strange dragon language - and as they did, the air around the new dragon began to shimmer, small flecks of something being caught in it. After a few moments, I realized it was flesh - whatever spell Alduin performed, it was building up the dragon's body once more. After it finished, it was a magnificent bronze colour - I could see his scales shining even from where I hid. They took off soon after that, wings beating louder than the drums of war." 

Do'Karth felt almost like a child being told a brilliant story around a campfire, and this woman certainly had a knack for theatrics. Her voice carried an almost lyrical quality, which was common for many Bretons, but there was a certain charm to her tone that was seldom heard. Her descriptions of the fantastical beasts, as if dregged up from some nightmarish underworld to rule the skies, sent chills down the khajiit's spine, and he loved it. "The World-Eater..." Do'Karth repeated, testing the words in his mouth, feeling their weight. The recounting of the resurrection was a detail that was certainly new to Do'Karth, and it was suitably shocking. Who could have known anything like this could have existed on Nirn? Apparently Akavir had dragons, and after seeing the horrors of the Kamal, Do'Karth was beginning to believe it. Dragons seemed like the only thing that would be able to withstand such creatures. When Roze finished, Do'Karth clasped his hands together joyfully. 

"Simply wonderous! Thank you, Do'Karth was utterly enraptured in your telling. You must promise to share with him more stories, and he will do the same for you- It has occured to this one he has not asked for your name! One thousand apologies, this one seldom forgets his manners." He placed a hand flat against his chest. "As you likely have concluded, this one is pleased to be Do'Karth, forgive his peculiar way of speaking. He had no idea it was uniquely a khajiit thing. May he be honoured to learn the name of the Breton with the silken, illuminating voice?" 

Roze chuckled lightly at Do'Karth's response, even pausing slightly in surprise at the sound coming from her - laughter. After the past few days, Roze had expected to never laugh again, and yet here she was. Perhaps Do'Karth was quite correct in not regretting the past - it certainly didn't get one anywhere. But the good things... they certainly did.

"Rozalia Éathliel, at your service." Inclining her head with a smile towards the Khajiit. "And do not apologise, my friend - you've done me a great service by listening to my story, which I am glad to hear you enjoyed."

"Laughter... has been in short supply these days. It is good to hear it. It means healing, and this one considers himself something of an expert on that subject." Do'Karth said with a chuckle. "And please, you humble this one. All Do'Karth did was listen, you conjured up great fell beasts with just your voice! Perhaps you have this Thu'um, no? Are you from High Rock, Rozalia? Or has Skyrim always been your home?" he asked.

Do'Karth's quip brought forth more light laughter from Roze, and truly, it was a comforting thing to hear - indeed, it was healing some of the heaviness that had sank into her heart in the past week. As for her physical injuries, it wasn't doing much... but perhaps Do'Karth could aid her on that front, with his self-professed expertise?

"I've never even left Skyrim, actually - I was born in Riften, but I've travelled around the country since leaving a few years ago." She replied, smiling almost wistfully. It was true; she hadn't been in Riften for a good amount of time, and she did find herself missing the place at times. And the Guild... but she doubted they'd allow her back in after she and her Mother had departed on somewhat sour terms.

"How about you? Are you from Elsweyr? I've always wanted to visit there, even moreso than High Rock - it sounds very exotic."

Do'Karth nodded. "This one passed through Riften on his way to Windhelm. He was warned about thieves, but warning a khajiit about thieves is like warning a fish about water." he raised his hands in mock surrender. "Not that Do'Karth would ever steal anything! Well, maybe if one were to leave a salmon unsupervised and he were feeling peckish..." the khajiit grinned, adjusting himself to leg his bad leg stretch out. He began to massage out the tightness. 

"Anequina, but yes, this one is from Elsweyr. Born and raised there most of this one's life. It is a truly beautiful land, with all manner of deserts and jungles that one would not believe unless you saw them with your own eyes. Did you know some of the oldest ruins in all of Tamriel are found in the deserts of Anequina? It's true. There's a long history there, before elves, before man... khajiit were there."


"Ahah - well now, there's nothing wrong with a bit of innocent burglary. My policy is that if someone doesn't care enough about something to look after it properly, they won't miss it much when it is taken from them." She answered with a mischevious smile; naturally, when one mentioned Riften, the first thing to come to mind was definitely the thievery in the city. It was a wonder people still visited, to be honest.

"I've seen a few ruins up here in Skyrim - ancient, crumbling ones, filled with Draugr and a whole manner of nasty traps... I can't imagine something being older than them." Noticing Do'Karth begin massaging his knee, Roze sat up a little straighter, wincing slightly at the movement.

"You mentioned earlier that you had some skill in healing, yes? I wonder if perhaps you could..." She paused momentarily, pulling her cloak back from her body to reveal the very tattered and blood-stained bandage around her midriff, make-shift sling from her shoulder still holding it together. "... I don't know, do something about this. I'm not an expert at bandaging, as you can no doubt tell." There was some discomfort in her voice - Roze was not one to ask others of aid, especially strangers. However, there was something in Do'Karth's voice that betrayed a kind soul - one to trust in days to come.

"Strange for someone to so freely admit to thievery, but do not worry, Do'Karth does not judge. Khajiit take things all the time and cannot understand why people become upset when they do. It took this one quite some time to figure out that just because something was unattended didn't mean it was free to use." the khajiit replied, raising his eye ridges with an expression that brokered comparison to the realization of forgetting something. 

"But yes, Do'Karth knows non magical healing methods. Nothing overly elaborate and your body does most of the work, but he can mend wounds and prevent infection." he confirmed, regarding the bloodied bandage without much in the way of reaction. "You did an admirable enough job bandaging, but it only does so much if the wound isn't sealed. Do'Karth would be pleased to help you. Come, we should head inside where it is warm and where I can get some clean bandages. I do have a needle and thread for this purpose, and some medical supplies for preventing infection, but alcohol works best." he said, packing his things away and offering to support Roze when he picked himself up  off the docks. "If it pleases you, we can have you mending in no time and Do'Karth  can help carry your burden." 

[i]"Ah, stitches. Wonderful - hopefully the inn still has some rum to numb that unpleasant feeling. Or, knock me out. Either would work."[/i] Roze thought with a slight grimace - but all the same, she was grateful to the offer of help, and showed that with a pleasant smile. 
"Thank you, Do'Karth. It's highly generous of you." She said gladly, appreciating both his efforts, and the arm he offered. At this rate, even some help in walking was enough to relieve some of her discomfort.

Taking his arm and standing up, biting her lip as a spasm of pain shot across her side at the movement, Roze grinned at her Khajiiti companion. 

"I think the alcohol will be on me, tonight - and let's be honest, the bandaging is awful." She said with a light chuckle, glancing down at the tattered thing. Yes, medicine indeed was not her forte. She really needed to invest in some Restoration magic or something.

"We will ensure you are properly prepared with drink before this one begins. Do'Karth finds happy drunks to be much more agreeable when they are being mended." the khajiit replied, helping guide Roze to the inn. He paused for a few moments in thought. "You were the one at the docks, were you not? Do'Karth recalls someone who looked like you making a rather inspired, and somewhat crazy, run to blow up that Kamal ship. Are you one and the same?" 

At this comment, Roze let forth a long and heartfelt laugh - hells, it hurt, but it was worth it. 
"Oh, Gods - I'm never going to live that one down. Yes, that was I, and a very brave fellow named Sagax. We decided our little arrows weren't going to do much against the Kamal, so why not blow them to shit with bombs?" She snickered, leaning into Do'Karth as the pair walked.

"It worked, rather admirably! Do'Karth was busy in a duel of his own with one of the beasts when the explosion rocked his sense rather throughly. If it helps, even the Kamal who weren't incinerated were quite surprised by your little gift." the khajiit grinned, helping her up the steps. "Although, please, try not to blow yourself up in the future. This one is not nearly as proficient at sewing together dismembered body parts." he said, grabbing the door with his free hand and pulling it open to allow the both of them access in the much warmer inn, the fire raging invitingly. After a few moments of searching, Do'Karth miraculously found an unattended bench seat where he sat Roze down gently, promising to be back with supplies.

True to his word, the khajiit was only a few minutes, a candle and a swiped bottle of liquor in hand from a decidely drunk and passed out Nord. He returned to Roze and knelt before her, offering her the bottle. "Do try to save some for Do'Karth, it is for disinfecting your wounds also." 

"You know, that's a shame about the dismemberment - pretty sure one of our number is still carrying around her chopped off arm in the hopes it can be reattatched." Roze joked with a weak giggle, which gave way to a breath of relief as they entered the warm and homey inn. She hadn't realised until now just how cold she had been out there - her cloak was heavy and even lined with fur, but it can only do so much to keep the frost from one's bones.
Taking a swig from the liquor bottle - t'was whiskey, not rum, but at this point Rozalia was not being picky - and the familiar sensation of heat running down to her belly woke her up, in some way. 

On the road, there'd been a distinct lack of supplies, once the Khajiiti caravan had ran out of goods. Which meant no alcohol to help her sleep - but what with her injuries and the devastating escape from Windhelm, Rozalia had been knocked out pretty much every night on the road with mere exhaustion. Now that they were safer, it would be another matter entirely... and she wouldn't be surprised to discover her nights being restless once more.
Making a mental note to stock up on some form of spirit while in Dawnstar, Roze peered at Do'Karth as he unwrapped the bandages from her midriff. She had no idea what the wound looked like - just that whatever stitches had been administered in Windhelm had been ripped open, and the wound was not going to leave a clean scar.

"How bad is it?" She asked cautiously, holding her shirt up with her free hand, the other clenched around the bottle of whiskey.

"Happily, not infected. It is a bit red, but nothing too concerning." The khajiit replied, grabbing some fresh bandages he'd managed to store in his pouch from the company supplies in Windhelm and dampened it with the whiskey. "It isn't ideal, but it will do in a pinch. This might sting somewhat, so please refrain from punching Do'Karth." he said, applying the bandage and as gently as possible rubbing in and around the wound.

After disinfecting Roze's injury, Do'Karth found the needle and thread he kept as sterilzed as possible and took the tip, dipping it in the whiskey and then running it over the candleflame, hopefully killing any bacteria present. Stringing the thread into the eyelet with graceful hands, the khajiit pressed the needle to the skin. "Tell me if you need Do'Karth to stop. He does not wish to hurt you, but a small amount of pain now is much preferable to an infection that will kill you. He has seen it happen. Ready?" he asked, and the needle punctured skin.


Roze wasn't quite ready for the needle - but she tried to not squirm too much as thread drew through the new hole in her flesh. Although certainly not the most painful thing she'd ever experienced, the feeling of having stitches put in without any real form of pain relief was not a pleasant one.

Taking another swig of the whiskey and seemingly clinging onto it for dear life, Roze tried to avoid looking as Do'Karth worked.

"Shor's bones, it hurt less with the splinter of wood in." She joked weakly, a slight shakiness to her voice that would no doubt disappear once she got drunk enough. "However, don't stop. I'd rather it be over and done with."

"This one is relieved it is not entirely terrible. Some people claim this part is far worse than the actual injury." Do'Karth said with a smile as he continued to work in a steady and precise manner. After several minutes, the wound was closed up and the dressing applied. Satisfied with his work, Do'Karth hurried off to clean his hands and rejoined Roze, sitting next to her on the bench. He took the bottle of whiskey and sniffed it. "It could use sugar." he observed before taking a swig of his own, face contorting in a grimmace before he took another. "By Alkosh, how do people drink this for pleasure?" he asked, setting it down. He was decidedly not much of a drinker. 

The pair settled in and began to mingle with other survivors in the company, having ended their temporary isolation out of doors, and for once, the air held a certain levity that had been absent for some time. Although the losses were staggering, and many had lost friends - Do'Karth considered himself fortunate that he had not had time to acquaint himself with many of the others, and those he had met had survived, there was a sense of relief of having escaped immediate peril and the confining walls of the doomed city. While it was impossible not to think about those left behind and at the mercy of the Kamal invaders, for those who had braved the deadly escape, at last there was refuge. It would have to be enough.