"Please sir! Just a few septims to feed my sister!"

A young man wept at the nobleman's feet as he scrambled desperately at him. Avoiding any contact with the Nobleman's horse.

"Get off me, freak!"

The poor boy received a swift kick to the gut and was kicked once more in the face. He coughed up blood uncontrollably and smirked to himself as the bastard noble rode away with his wife and two guards. He limped back toward a thick cluster of trees where his Spriggan caretaker raised him. 

See, he was abandoned in this region of Skyrim eighteen odd years ago by someone from the other side of Skyrim, as he was around The Reach. Everyone he met called him a freak, and in his mind, they were right to. He was a half Nord and half Khajiit hybrid.

He looked like a nord at first glance, but he had furry black ears on top of his head and a tail to match. His hair matched his ears and tail fur. Since he had of Khajiit ears, he didn't have human ears. His eyes were bright green, and he could see in the dark. 

He was found by a Hagraven and three Spriggans when he was six and granted his the name, Xu (Pronounced Zu). They told him they loved him and treated him like he was a blessing to them, never once did they treat Xu poorly. 

When Xu was ten Madam Rosmerta (Hagraven), Miss Dusken, and Miss Thistlebloom were killed by the Vigilantes of Stendarr.

Miss Duskthorne was the only to escape, and she carried Xu in her arms, surrounded by thorns enchanted with protective magic.

She enchanted creatures to fight off the Vigilantes as she ran into the forest. She hid herself and her ward inside a cave and they hid for days on end before they traveled to the deserted ruins of Dead Crone Rock. They lived in the cave above the Rock for six more years before they ended up in the particular forest Xu's in now.

Miss Duskthorne was mortally wounded by a hunter a year ago. She gave her beloved child a dagger she called Nettlebane. She died a relatively peaceful death, becoming a beautiful pink Canticle tree. Xu made a lovely ring around the tree with white and pink flowers.

Now that his backstory is finished, back to his thieving exploits. Xu counted out the gold and jewels he snagged off the noble.

"Perfect."

He smirked and ran to Markarth, having tucked his tail away and hiding his lovely ears under a hat. Xu gained access to the Silver-Blood Inn, where he purchased a room for the night and ate as much food as he could afford.

<~>

When Xu woke the following morning, he snuck around to the Lock Box and used his trusty lock pick to pick his way inside. Xu stole back all his money, and the money of everyone who stayed there. He quickly left the city and ran up the carriage driver.

"Where do you want to go?"

"Um, Riften sounds good."

Xu handed the driver some coins and he nodded.

"Climb in back and we'll be off."

He did so and sneakily ate his bread while the driver was talking about the Black-Briar Meadery.

<~>

They reached Riften a whole day and a half later and Xu practically leapt off the carriage. He eagerly walked up to the gates, but was stopped by the guard on duty trying to force a visitor's tax on him

"This is obviously a shakedown. I do wonder what the Jarl will think about this."

"Keep your voice down. Don't mention this to anyone, brat."

"Oh, I won't, so long as I have no problems like this in the future."

He quickly unlocked the gate and let the crafty boy through. Riften was surprisingly dark and bleak compared to Xu's life in the forest. As he made my way inside, he was assaulted by a variety of new and fascinating smells.

Xu wandered through the Hold until he reached a shop called, The Pawned Prawn. He saw himself in the window and came to the conclusion that he had a fairly feminine build.

He found a house and stole a dress, boots, a bonnet, and some expensive looking jewelry; along with some lovely jewels and gold, of course. He combed through his shoulder length black hair, and looked back into the window.

Xu was now masquerading as a lovely female of Nord decent.

He walked into the shopping square and saw so many new, and fascinating things. A woman selling armor, an Argonian selling jewelry, some passersby ogling him, and a Nord eyeing him with a strange glint in his eye.

Xu walked up to the Argonian and started examining his wares. They looked legit; and valuable. He smirked and picked up a silver and sapphire necklace.

"Authentic Argonian craftsmanship."

"It shows, very lovely work."

He turned around to persuade some people behind him, so Xu took that chance to swipe a few rings and the necklace. He nonchalantly walked over to the Nord's stand, where he found a huge, hefty bag of gold.

He almost started drooling at the sight of the bag. So much food could be bought with it. While he was chatting with a woman he kept referring to as Sapphire, he snatched the bag and quickly left the square.

Xu left the Hold for the night and set up a small fire in the forest. He then piled all his freshly acquired loot into a big pile before sorting it into different piles; jewels, gold, and jewelry. The bush directly across from Xu was rustling. He took out Nettlebane, and crept toward the bush.

"Here bunny, bunny, bunny."

 Underneath the bonnet his ear twitched. A subtle sound sound someone dropping to the ground behind him. He quickly turned and threw Nettlebane at the thief.

Low and behold, it was same red haired Nord from the shopping square. Nettlebane hit him in the leg, just below his knee, stopping him from moving. Xu quickly shoved all his loot into into his bag; a ratty satchel hanging from his shoulders.

He quickly grabbed Nettlebane and pointed it at the thief.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Xu's voice surprised him with it being less feminine, but not all that masculine either.

"Well lad, you can't steal from one of the best thieves in Riften and not catch his attention. You stole my own gold even. Can't say I'm not impressed lad."

"Well, Mr. Human, this is my loot. I stole it fair and square, and I'm not above pulling Nettlebane to your throat, but since you're good looking, I'll let you leave without much more consequence."

Xu put out the fire and scurried up the tree with speed that made the man's head spin. He enchanted a bear and made it scare the Nord into leaving. It worked, the Nord limped away, as fast as he could. He didn't want to kill the man, so Xu recalled the bear and sent her back to her den. He dropped back to the ground, rekindled his fire and found himself face to face with a fox.

Based on the light green glow radiating from the small creature, there was a Spriggan nearby. Xu quickly bowed his head in respect.

"Greetings, I come from the deceased clan in The Reach. I apologize for intruding on your territory. I promise to not hurt your land while I'm here."

The fox was called back to its enchantress, leaving Xu was to himself. He started to feel worried for Nord, but couldn't explain why. Xu sighed in frustration and ran through the treetops in the direction he limped off. Xu saw him leaning on a tree with a fire in front of him. He was attempting, and failing to properly wrap his wound. He laughed at the human's inexperience or incompetence.

"That is not how to dress a wound Mr. Human."

He looked up as Xu dropped down in front of him. Quickly taking the bandages from his hands, he cut away the already bloodied ones. He took my small jug of water and cleaned the wound before wrapping it with clean bandages.

"There you go Mr. Human. That makes us even. It will get you to a proper healer."

Xu turned around to jump into the trees, but was stopped with a hand grasping his wrist.

"You are such an oddity lad."

"I suppose you're right; but what wrong with that? Miss Duskthorne always said that people were more interesting when they were odd."

"I suppose I'll have to agree with that. Lad, I could tell that all your loot was not earned honestly."

"Oh I guess. However, no one wants to hire a filthy, Spriggan-raised Freak."

Xu seemed to render him speechless, constituting the need to stifle giggles. After a while the man grew less on edge and started recounting stories about successful and disastrous exploits.

Xu was awed at his many adventures and chipped in at times to tell his own tales. Soon enough, they heard voices nearing their location. Xu scurried up the tree without delay. The Sapphire lady and a balding man walked out from the bushes.

"Brynjolf, what are you doing out here?"

"Sorry Sapphire. I got preoccupied."

"Well, Mercer wants to see you."

"What Delvin meant to say, was that Mercer is pissed because you didn't show up to the Cistern."

The Sapphire woman was scolding Brynjolf, the Delvin man was snickering. 

"Oi, Brynjolf. What's that bag for?"

Xu panicked and felt his waist, but his satchel wasn't there. It was next to Brynjolf, from when he took it off.

"Just got some old dirty clothes in there. Don't worry about it. What does Mercer want? I wasn't told to be at the guild today."

"Don't know. Just get your ass over there."

Xu watched Sapphire and Delvin leave before jumping down. 

"Your bag."

"Thank you, Brynjolf."

"Not a problem lad. Although if you really want to thank me, how about meeting me in the sewers below the city?"

"Maybe someday. I want to go to Whiterun tomorrow."

"Well, take these then. This is book details all the Shadow Marks all over Skyrim, and this, this is a just a regular old amulet of Talos. It's very dear to me, so next time you're in Riften, come down to the Flagon and return it."

"Alright. I promise I'll return your amulet the next time I see you Brynolf. Give me a second."

Lamari took a Spriggan taproot from his bag with gentle hands.

"This taproot is from my caretaker. Hold onto it for me?"

"Of course lad. I'll give it back the next time we meet."

Xu smiled brightly at him and took his arm over his shoulder.

"Lad, it's too dark to travel."

Brynjolf lunged forward some when his leg hit a dead tree branch. Xu took off his bonnet to use as a bandage substitute.

"Lad?"

Realizing what he just did, Xu snatched his ratty green hat from his bag and shoved it on his head. 

"Pretend you never saw anything. I'll help you to the gates."

Xu continued to help Brynjolf to the main gates and left him to the care of the guards. After placing a couple coins into his dress pocket, he gave his bag to Brynjolf. 

"Keep it. I can get another in Whiterun."

"What's your name lad?"

Xu had paid the carriage driver to go to Whiterun.

 "Hmm? Oh, my name's Xu."

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I love Skyrim! I've probably played it a million times! My newest character is called Xu.