The Khajiit woke about two hours later.  Wulf had been on duty with Aeta keeping him company, when the cat had shifted position.  Realising that that and a few other signs indicated that the…Khajiit…would be waking soon, he sent Aeta to go get Storn and Frea.

When the girl had arrived, with the two shamans in tow, Wulf had quickly informed them that he believed the Khajiit was close to waking.  The others all sat down and it was a while yet before Wulf's prediction fulfilled itself.

The cat gasped and its eyes flew open as it quickly sat up.  The thick woolen blanket fell from it's shoulders, revealing a muscular furred torso.  The Khajiit's strong arms looked well-used, familiar with wielding a sword or climbing trees.  His six-pack was visible beneath the white-grey fur of his stomach.

His eyes, grey and slit-pupilled, locked onto the Skaal, before he asked in a raspy voice, “Where am…"

He coughed and tried again.  “Where am I?"

“Skaal Village," Storn answered the Khajiit.  “Aeta here found you almost dead, not far from the Wind Stone.  We brought you here."

“Aeta?" he asked, voice clearer now, with a smooth accent tinging his words.

“Here," Wulf said, patting the Skaal girl on the back.

“Well, Aeta, you have this one's thanks," the Khajiit said, inclining his head to the Skaal girl.  “He owes you his life."

Aeta blushed and hid ducked a little more behind Wulf.

“Have you a name, Khajiit?" Wulf asked.

“Khajiit does indeed," the Khajiit said, turning his attention up to Wulf.  Though sitting, Wulf was still considerably bigger than the cat.  “This one is Dar'mhirr.  Pleasure to meet you all."

“Indeed," Storn nodded.  “I'm Storn Crag-strider and this is my daughter Frea, our First Hunter Wulf Wild-Born and, as previously stated, Aeta."

“Now," Dar'mhirr said, tilting his head.  “You all mentioned that this is Skaal Village.  Where is that, exactly?  This one has never heard of it."

“Northern coast of Solstheim," Wulf stated.  “We Skaal aren't much talked of."

“So Dar'mhirr has gathered," Dar'mhirr chuckled.  “Considering he has been all over Skyrim and never yet heard of you."

“How'd you end up at the Wind Stone?" Wulf queried.

“Khajiit was wandering Solstheim," Dar'mhirr said.  “He went to the stone and got caught by surprise when fighting that Lurker.  Dar'mhirr is lucky Aeta found him or Khajiit would be dead."

“That you would be," Storn agreed.

Dar'mhirr blinked, his exhaustion and weariness suddenly catching up to him.  He lay down heavily and grunted at the sudden pain in his side.

“You are still unwell, Khajiit," Wulf said compassionately.  “You need to rest.  You'll start feeling better tomorrow.  But for now, just rest."

Dar'mhirr nodded.  “Khajiit thanks you all for your hospitality."

“Don't mention it."

The assembled Skaal got up and left the Greathall, leaving Dar'mhirr to his rest.  The Khajiit was clearly just about done in.

The next morning, Dar'mhirr woke up, confused by his surroundings.  He was in a massive building, with a warm fire roaring in the centre.  His lovely armour, crafted in Elsweyr, was missing, along with his flame-enchanted Dwemer crossbow and ebony mace.

He looked around and jumped when he saw a young Nord girl not far from him, kneeling on the ground and apparently just observing him.

Aeta, he suddenly remembered.  The Skaal Village.  I was almost killed.

“Good morning, Dar'mhirr," Aeta greeted.

“Good morning Aeta," Dar'mhirr returned, inclining his head to the young Skaal.  “What time is it?"

“Still early," Aeta assured him.  “The sun rose not too long ago.  The village has been up for a while, but no one's expecting you to be up yet."

“Well Dar'mhirr is not one to sit around all day," the Khajiit said, pulling himself into a sitting position and sliding the blanket back to look at his wound.  The shamans had done a good job binding it.  A bit of blood was visible on the bandage, but otherwise it was fine.

The Khajiit tried to retake his feet, but grunted and lay back down heavily.

“This one cannot get up," Dar'mhirr confessed.  “Could you possibly help him?"

“I'm supposed to go get Frea," Aeta replied.  “If you wanted to get up, she was supposed to know.  I'll be back."

With that, the Skaal got up and ran out of the Greathall, leaving Dar'mhirr, mildly annoyed, in his bedroll on the floor.  Luckily, the Khajiit didn't have to wait long.  About a minute after Aeta's disappearance, Frea entered the room.  She looked at Dar'mhirr, who had propped himself back into a sitting position.

“Good morning, Dar'mhirr," Frea said, giving a slight bow.

“Good morning…Frea?" Dar'mhirr asked quizzically.  At the shaman's nod, Dar'mhirr shifted position and continued.  “Khajiit is having troubles retaking his feet.  Could you possibly assist him?"

“You really should rest," Frea said, walking over to the Khajiit warrior.  “The All-Maker has not finished his work in healing you yet."

The All-Maker, Dar'mhirr thought, marking that down in his list of gods, goddesses and other powerful entities.  The list was quite full, the most common being a recurrence of common gods, such as the Aedra, just in various naming forms.

“Could not the…All-Maker continue his healing if I were on my feet?"

“You had some serious wounds, Dar'mhirr," Frea said, extending an arm, which Dar'hirr grasped.  “You were lucky to survive at all."

“I don't believe in luck," Dar'mhirr grunted as he attained his feet and the blanket fell into a pool at his feet.  “Luck is a coward's tool.  The only things that count out there are experience against ability."

“Of course," Frea assured him.  “That completely explains why Aeta found you out there.  Just experience and ability, eh?"

Though Dar'mhirr could clearly tell she was teasing, he scowled, before turning it into a grin.  He nodded once.

“Alright, Dar'mhirr can see where such aspects of luck may come in," he admitted.  “Though now, Dar'mhirr has a question for you."

“Sure," Frea said, releasing the Khajiit now that he was sturdy on his feet again.

“Where are this one's clothes?"