Warnings: Humor (befitting the setting of Oblivion), Language, Violence

The tidbit at the beginning is usually how the character got arrested prior to the Emperor's escape. And is told from the character's perspective, which is why their inner monologue is different.

Moments in the Life of: Dar'athra

A Glimpse

Cyrodiil is nothing like Elsweyr. No warm sands, only changing weather and cold stones. This one does not like it here. Strangers, hunters of the weak, walk everywhere. Few who approach are prey. Dar'athra feels...lonely here. Eh? A hunter approaches once more with tin suit. Hm? Perhaps the Imperial made a mistake. Dar'athra owns no skooma. This one has no desire to be arrested. Even if Dar'athra had any, it would not have come on the boat here. This one is innocent!

No! Such actions will not be tolerated! Dar'athra demands to- Oof! THWACK!

Headed Nowhere

Blinking, Dar'athra came to a stop beside a traveling legionnaire, "Hm?"

Tail swishing behind him, the grey-furred Khajiit circled around the stationary soldier. Tabdak-tabdak. Hooves clacked against the stone roads but made no progress. Oblivious to the fact, the legionnaire surveyed his surroundings over and over again. Cyrodiil is very strange... Dar'athra stepped in front of the Imperial and his horse. With an exaggerated wave of the hand, he received the man's attention.

"Greetings, citizen." The legionnaire greeted as his horse walked in place. "You are well, I hope?"

"Yes, this one is fine. And you?" The grey-furred Khajiit gestured to the man.

Bowing his head, the Imperial smiled. "I am well. Patrolling Cyrodiil's roads is not an easy task. However, I perform my duty with pride."

Hm...pride. Dar'athra suppressed a grin. "The province benefits greatly from such loyalty."

"You're quite the charmer, aren't you? Well, I'd better keep on going. Stay safe, citizen."

"Dar'athra promises, of course." Nodding, the grey-furred Khajiit ducked out of the legionnaire's way. Easy target.

He dropped into a crouch behind the soldier. Quietly, the Khajiit grasped the man's coin purse from his belt and tugged it off. Dar'athra tucked the stolen coins into his own coin purse before discarding the emptied pouch. Fool will have no need for money. Standing straight once more, he dusted off his greaves. Dar'athra sent the man a friendly wave goodbye as he passed the stationary soldier.

Stupid horse has an even stupider owner.

Adoration

"Can't I do anything to help you, Grand Champion?" A young, eager Bosmer chimed as he followed after Dar'athra and his other companions.

Beside the Khajiit, a hooded Imperial leaned close to whisper. "Care to tell me why we brought him along?"

"Dar'athra cannot speak for the champion. Leaving the young Elf behind felt wrong."

"Now, now, Vercius," A smiling Dunmer clapped a hand against the Khajiit's back as she walked to his left. "Have you ever known Dar'athra to say 'no' to anyone?"

Crossing his arms behind his back, Vercius frowned. "Fair enough point. However, it was because of Dar'athra's inability to say no that the previous Grand Champion...refused to fight back."

Scowling, the Khajiit hissed at his friend. "Dar'athra stands near; do not forget that. Besides, the quest accomplished what was necessary. Sionne seemed happy."

"Damn right I did!" The aforementioned Redguard cheered as she batted away her fan's hand on her arm. "I mean, I wasn't happy that Agronak gave up the fight. Anyway, Dar'athra and I got to help someone discover his family history; even if it was horrible."

"Because helping people discover how bad their lives really are is something to be proud of," The Dunmer deadpanned.

Sionne playfully shoved the Mer. "Ah, shut it, Adovesa."

"Ah, one of your adventures? Please, do tell!" The blond Bosmer excitedly hurried to the Redguard's side.

Dar'athra snorted at Sionne's attempts to calm the boy. Truth be told, the boy is only good for entertainment. For now. He looked to the brooding, hooded Imperial beside him. Vercius narrowed his eyes at the excited Bosmer, a familiar blood-thirsty glint appeared. Before the Ebony-clad man could move a muscle, Adovesa stepped towards him with a knowing look. She locked arms with him and held him in place. Strong grip for a sorceress. A grin spread across the grey-furred Khajiit's face.

"I could deal with the boy without a problem."

Clang! The Dunmer promptly stomped on the man's foot. "You know better, Vercius."

Wincing, Vercius subtly jabbed the Mer with his elbow. "I know that Sithis could always use an extra soul."

"Even one so annoying?" Dar'athra wondered, his tail swishing about.

At this, the Imperial's frown deepened. He walked arm-in-arm with Adovesa in silence. As the two walked, the Dunmer offered her friend quiet and insincere words of comfort. Vercius sent glares at both Adovesa and Dar'athra. Sometime the night stalker is so foolish. Chuckling at the Imperial's expense, Dar'athra sauntered ahead.

Containers

Leaping on to a tree branch, Dar'athra crouched in anticipation. Adovesa should remain cautious. Drawing his dagger, the Khajiit eyed the road. Skilled sorceress or not, the Mer could die. His eyes landed on a traveling caravan of six people. The driver lazily held the reins with his head occasionally bobbing up and down. Two guards walked beside the horses, three guards walked behind the carriage. A challenge...

Rolling his shoulders, the Khajiit hopped down from his hiding spot and approached. Where is she?

Fwoom! A large fireball hurtled towards the driver. The poor man fell out of his seat with a shout. Two panicked whinnies erupted from the horses' mouths and they struggled to hurry along the road. Fwoom! The second fireball set one of the rear guards aflame. He fell with a scream as he rolled on the ground. Of course; the sorceress must take all the fun away...

Dar'athra leaped into action. Clang! Dagger clashed against war axe. Taking in his opponent, the Khajiit's experienced eyes told him everything. The guard's arm trembled but held firm. Her stance enabled her to keep her ground. Yet her swings, those could easily be manipulated. Sidestepping out of the weapon lock, Dar'athra lunged again. The woman shall try to counter! He parried the attack with ease before he grabbed her shoulder. After plunging the entirety of his dagger into her abdomen, Dar'athra ripped the blade out and faced the remaining rear guard.

"Couldn't wait for all the fun?" With a spell crackling forth from her fingertips, Adovesa stepped out of the treeline with a grin.

Shrugging, the Khajiit dodged his opponent's strike. "Dar'athra refuses to stand idle."

Letting loose a plethora of spells, the Dunmer smirked. "Who would've thought, the Arch-Mage and an infamous thief team-up to raid a caravan?"

"Always for a friend in need," The Khajiit murmured as he kicked aside the burnt guard in front of him. "What treasure does this caravan hold?"

After finishing off the remaining guards, Adovesa climbed into the carriage. She knocked over a crate, causing it to fall on the ground behind the carriage. Curious... Dar'athra approached the fallen crate. He gripped its cover while looking to his friend. Adovesa hopped back down and nodded eagerly. The Khajiit pulled on the crate with all his might. Perhaps the Guild may benefit from- Crrick!

"This...this...is not what Dar'athra expected."

Frowning, Adovesa pulled the crate's contents out. "Some yarn and a cabbage? That can't be right..."

The grey-furred Khajiit sighed as his friend began shoving crates off of the carriage. "Things never change..."

Don't you guys just love entering dungeons and finally finding a chest or some sort of important-looking container? And then when you open it, you find something useless? Or barely worth the effort? No? Well, neither does Dar'athra. Poor guy. I mean, Adovesa can probably use the cabbage for alchemy.

Edited the previous chapter of its errors. Like the warning for violence when there was none. Ironic, considering Vercius' background and occupation.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to let me know what you thought.