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Kah'jihreed quickly followed the Wood Elf into the forest.

"Agreed," Selara said, hating the bitterness that seethed in her tone. "I don't recall ever seeing a substance like that black goo either. Those that did this...Malatar, they must pay." Abruptly, she gestured, willing a ball of soft blue light to form. "Doesn't help much with the smoke, but I'd prefer not to stumble."

"We must concentrate on the escape! If we're able to get outside, we will head directly into the wilderness! Do you understand?"

After running for about five minutes, Irri suddenly stopped. They were at a large granite knob that protruded from the forest floor. "We could wait here." She said simply, sitting down leaning against it. it was at the top of a small rise, so it had an above-average view of the surrounding forest, and of the white stones of the Ayleid ruins.

Ormis decided to walk out into the woods like the others. He quickly ran into the surrounding forest, and soon slowed down. He looked around and stopped. He realized he was lost.
"I can't wait to get back to Skyrim." He said aloud.

"Yes..." Kah'jihreed agreed. After a short while of sitting and scratching his arm he tried to start a conversation.
"Khajiit still does not know this one's name. Khajiit is certain that it would prefer to be called by its name rather than 'this one'."

"This one is Irriwen." She replied seriously.

The Khajiit smiled, at least as far as his feline features allowed him to.
"And Khajiit is called Kah'jihreed by his kin. Sadly he does not know what it means. His elders decided that Elseweyr was no longer worhty of being their home," he said, his tone becoming gradually heavier with grief.
"He misses his homeland greatly, even though he has only gazed upon it from afar."

With heavy hearts, the crowd accepted the Ayleid's fate. They decided to disperse shortly after, additionally being pushed by the Thalmor.

By the guidance of the Nine, everybody was staying at the Treeside Inn, a rather large Inn nestled on the ground next to a huge Bosmer city in one of Valenwood's famed enormous trees. All they could do was wait to learn the motives behind the genocide of the last remaining Ayleids...



Meanwhile...

Malatar and Selara ran down the tunnel which emptied into the forest, a few dozen meters away from Tarnabye and seemingly devoid of life.

Irri looked at the Khajiit for a long moment. "Kah'jihteed. Well met. Are you from Pelletine or Anequina?" She asked.

Selara smiled, though the wry expression was not at all one of good cheer. "No, Malatar, I'm afraid I don't at all understand what you mean by 'wilderness.' The long sleep has robbed me of my wits." She sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. All this...it's too much, you know? But yes. First we make our way outside, and then to whatever cover we can find as quickly as possible. There's no use letting whatever's out there that set this up in the first place know that their ambush wasn't a complete success."

She was quiet for the rest of their journey towards the out-of-doors, trying stubbornly not to mull over the past few minutes. The air outside was a welcome relief, and she breathed in deeply as she ran for the embrace of the surrounding forest.

The Khajiit shook his head.
"Kah'jihreed's ancestors hail from Elseweyr, but he does not. It is his home, but he has never been there. The oldest of his family once said that Pellentine and Anequina are not Elseweyr, but that Elseweyr has vanished. Kah'jihreed believes that by this they meant that the deserts are foreign to them, now that they have their old names once more," he said, his eyes and voice sad.

Eventually Sebastien allowed the crowd to bring him along. He saw a few curious bystanders attempt to get closer - fools, them - but decided to ignore them, except for a Khajiit, much too close to the Thalmor guards, who had called out, "J'Dar needs to know how The Wild Elves ignited." What in oblivion for? thought Sebastien. "J'Dar needs to know who you are called!" Sebastien shook his head and wagged a finger toward the beast. "You're going to get yourself in trouble with those questions, Khajiit," he called out, and then turned to retreat, less by will and more because the guards were pushing everyone away from the ruins.

He, of course, was filled with his own questions. Where had the explosion come from? What did it mean? One of their wayward traps gone awry, or a group of sneaky adventurers who had ruined things? Had the Thalmor...no, he wouldn't bother with that. Were all the Ayleids now gone? Had he missed his chance to witness such a fantastic thing?

He released one slow, deep breath through his nostrils, feeling his lips tighten in a frown as he flexed his fingers over his hilt and stepped into the coolness of the shade. He paused, letting the crowd drift by, and thoughtlessly ran his free hand over his coat, as if soot might have collected there.

"This is not a time for sarcasm, Selara!" Malatar scolded in his authoritative voice.

He turned away from the woman. "Get on my back." he instructed sternly.

As they were being pushed away from the ruin, J'Dar tapped the Breton on the shoulder. "Manmer" The Khajiit said. "Why do you question J'Dar?" He asked logically. "Don't us all need to be knowing?" He coughed as the stampede of dust came up with the guards pushing them away from the ruin. "These elf killers be crazy, J'Dar thinks. If you think like J'Dar does, these people may be crazy enough to kill more, including J'Dar!"

Sebastien turned after the tap on his shoulder with a raised eyebrow, observing the Khajiit even as the guards ushered them forward still. He turned to face him completely. "I do believe we all need to be in the knowing, yes," he agreed. "But who knows what lies within those ancient ruins. There are many ancient secrets...and magics...and if the Ayleids are awakening after all these years - well. If it's any consolation, I don't think you and I are as interesting as these ancient elves." He frowned, his thick eyebrows falling into a determined V. "And you'll stay that way if you don't attract the attention of these Thalmor."