The Story of little Katy 2#

So we headed out of this freaking cave as fast as possible. It only takes us a minute or so, but the short sprint really got to me. As we were seeing the sky above us, I was out of stamina. Embarrassing for a man like me, but with your lungs full of magic shrinking gruel, not bad, I would say. To breathe some fresh air was good, before I took a look to my side. Katy was really taller than me... or, me being smaller to be correctly. It was strange.

"Your good?", she asked, not even needing to take a breath.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You know what I hate most about those caves? The traps. Spikes, Trapdoors, slashing giant axes from the walls and now shrinking mucus. Well, at least something new. The magical effect will shortly come to an end and everything will be as ever. Come, I need a break. Let's setup camp for the night and then find this stupid peasant that was yelling about a vampire in this cave.", I propose while putting my hands on the hips.

Smiling, Katy answered: "You know he was a Lord, not a peasant. Right?"

"Really?", I grinned playfully surprised: "But he smelled like one."

And so we were going laughing into the wilds and hills of northern Skyrim.

It doesn't take long to find a good place to set up camp. And while little Katy was building up the tent and making a fireplace, I searched for wood. I never had a problem taking multiple stocks of firewood at once, but today was different. There were heavy, slowing me down like I was a drunken horker. I barely managed to take them to the campsite before it started again. The Coughing.

The second I reached the fireplace, it was coming out of me again. I wanted to puke, but nothing happened besides me feeling like everything in me changed hurtfully and rumbled around. It was not as bad as the first back in the cave, so I managed to still stand after it without blacking out. But as I lifted my look again, it happened again. I shrunk.

"God Gareth, are you fine?!", Katy started while holding me on both shoulder to stabilize me: "You shrunk again!"

"Don't be silly! I don't shrink, there's no gruel, you know?!", I beef a bit, to ensure that I'm fine.

"Don't make the hero now, I saw it! You shrunk! Look!" she insisted, holding her hand where my eyes normally should be.

"No! You.. you're just standing on a higher slope. That's all!"

"I'm not. Garet this is real. You need help! This won't get away!"

"Of course it will, it just a magical trap, and...", I propose before something happens, that never happened before. Little Katy was interrupting me.

"Yeah, it's probably magical, you're right. And because of that, we are going to the College."

"What?! No!", I answered, angry.

"Gareth, I'm worried about you!", Kathryn started again, but now with a warm, but nervous smile on her face: "I know someone at the college that maybe could help. Please. Don't be a dick now. Let yourself help."

And what should I say? Looking up to a woman a head taller than you, was... intimidating, to be honest. Normally I would argue now, but I can't. Like this damn gruel was not only taking away my height, but my confidence with it. So I nod, unwilling. But after that, Katy was stepping forward, taking me into her arms, hugging me. She was always the hugging type, but now it remembered me that I barely reached her shoulder when standing next to her.

And so we reached the College of Winterhold, Skyrims own little mages school, by the end of the next day. The only got thing? I didn't start coughing again. But as we were standing on the bridge to the college, this doesn't make me feel better.

"I hate mages. Do we really have to do this?", I asked, grumbling.

"I know, I know. You hate Mages and portals. But not all mages are vampires.", Katy answered.

"But all vampires are mages..."

"That's not the same, and you know that. Come, and Garet...."

"...yes?"

"Be friendly. Yes, please?"

"I'm always friendly!", I ensure, but little Katy was only shaking her head while heading forward. It was new that she was taking the lead.