[I]3rd of Second Seed, 4E 208[/i]

The sun shone through the drifting clouds, she could smell rain on the wind, the Gods surrounded her. Kynareth would bring life anew with each droplet of rain, and it was through Azura’s love of mortalkind that the sun rose, and the moon set each day. She took her time picking her way east across the land. Rhona Amoretto was in no rush, and she certainly wouldn’t be rushed for anyone or any cause. Not even the rain. She had arrived in Anvil only three weeks ago, and had stayed long enough to earn back the coin she spent coming from Rihad. Too long had she been gone from the green hills of Cyrodiil, and while the warm sun in Hammerfell provided her with an easy winter, she yearned to see familiar land once again. Being back on Cyrodiilic land brought her enough peace, even the air smelled sweet. She stopped for midday lunch, pulling out a hunk of hard bread, and settled down on an embankment, the grass serving as a natural cushion for her tired legs. Rhona offered her thanks for the sustenance, and ate quietly, humming to herself as she tore apart each piece. 

“Baaa.”, the sound came to her left, and when she turned, she saw a brown and white goat plodding its way over to her, picking its way through a meadow of flowers.

“Hello friend.” She smiled as the goat pushed its nose into her bag, sniffing for food, “Here. You won’t find much in there.” Tearing the rest of the bread in half, she offered it to the goat as a gesture of kindness. Surely an animal like this would be hungry. It lifted its head up, and bleated once more before taking the bread from her. Together they ate in silence, each chewing thoughtfully on the morsel in their mouths. She finished her lunch, dusted her hands off on her dress, and set off down the path, her leather boots in one hand as her bare feet slapped against the dirt path. When she glanced behind her, she could see the brindled goat plodding along behind her, its ears flopping with each trod of its feet.

“Kynareth, are you blessing me with a companion today?” She asked aloud, smiling to herself. 

She continued on down the path, humming as she gazed on in wonderment at the surrounding nature, “Can you believe it? We walk this world, and we are surrounded by great beauty. Just look at the trees, do you see how Kynareth’s graces them? Do you see how they bend with her caress? Ah, and what a breeze it is, such a cooling wind. And Azura, of course we must thank her for causing the sun to rise. For I can see miles in the daylight, but when Azura sets the sun, and raises the moon, it is Nocturnal that gives us light in the darkness. For the stars shine bright on a cloudless night. What do you-” She turned to address the goat, but it had long since disappeared.

“Farewell to thee my friend.” Just like friends and lovers, even temporary companions came and went. 

[I]Skingrad, Night[/i]

Rhona arrived late in the evening, just as the moons had begun to rise over the eastern horizon, spilling silvery light across the land. As she came into view of the city, she could see the glittering of campfires outside of the city, and white tents shining like beacons in the darkness. A festival perhaps? What merriment that would be! It had been quite some time since she had attended a festival, yet for the life of her, she couldn't remember what the celebration could be for. When she reached the outer edge of the tents, Rhona realized that something was wrong, and as she stopped to speak with the harried souls that wept, they spoke of tragedy. Airships had arrived over the Imperial City, people were slaughtered mercilessly, those that could escaped with their lives and made it to the city. Her heart pained for them, she could barely imagine the tragedy they endured. The cries of terrified children filled the night. There were several injured people, and while she wished to comfort them, to heal them, she knew that her experience in healing was not enough for the wounds they suffered. However, as she wandered through the throng of people she received more troubling news, Count Hassildor closed the gates to these people. While she knew he meant well for his people, she couldn’t help but feel that he had made the wrong decision. These people [i]needed[/i] him, even if he couldn’t provide for them. They needed comfort, to know that they would be safe should those that bombarded the Imperial City arrive here. There was nothing she could do, and so she settled on the outskirts of the camp. She gathered what wood she could find, pitched her tent, and added tinder to the wood pile. With a careful flick of her fingers, she set the pile ablaze. 

“Blessed are you Kynareth, and blessed are you Meridia.” She pulled her cloak around her, and settled down for the night. She had a small dinner before sleep took her entirely.

She didn’t remember the fire dying down, or even falling asleep for that matter, but morning came nonetheless. Rising with the first rays of light, Rhona set about her morning ritual. She grabbed her rucksack and headed off for the woods. She found the stream she sought, and set about bathing her body. The water felt cold against her hot skin, and soon the water swirling around her legs had become dirtied from the excess build up of dirt. When Rhona had finished, she rummaged in her rucksack, and removed her tinctures, and from each bottle, placed three drops under tongue. Then she rubbed lavender oil on her neck, under her armpits, and on the back of her knees. Rhona pulled out her pipe, and packed it full of her dried herbs, where she lit it with a flame from her fingertips. There she inhaled slowly, letting the smoke fill her mouth, and exhaled through her nose. She felt the first wave of relaxation hit her, and inhaled again. Her shoulders drooped as she continued puffing. Her mind wandered, what of her mother and sister? Or Cezare for that matter? 

A sudden wave of dread filled her as she realized that Cezare could have done well to return to the Imperial City after her run in with him months ago in Chorrol, and if he had survived the attack, and made it out of the city, he could have well headed here for safety. Her limbs began to tremble at the thought. After all this time, there was a chance she would find him here. She tried to chase the fear from her mind, and decided that she would set out through the camp and see if her mother and sister were here. 

“Meridia, gave me the energy to make it through this day. Mara, I ask, give me kindness and love.” And so she set off back to the camp, curious to see if she recognized any familiar faces among the desperate.

When she returned to her tent to leave her rucksack, Rhona discovered a curious sight. The goat from the day before sat beside the fire pit, his head resting upon his legs. She grinned, “Kynareth, it seems you have returned to me a friend lost.” Rhona stooped to stroke the goat’s head, it opened its eyes and blew a poof of air out of its nose.

“I think I shall call you Tobias, little one.” When she turned to leave, staff in hand, puff of herbal smoke curling around her head, Tobias rose to his feet and trotted after her. She passed many weary faces, but none were among those that she recognized, at least not yet.