Gwenneth Gut-Ripper's History part 4

County Cheydinhal

Gwenneth had dragged her belongings well East of Bruma, past Gnoll Mountain, until she arrived at Lake Arrius, North of Cheydinhal. To her North the Jerall mountains rose up, and she dragged her bags North to the base of the mountains, hiding them in a rocky outcrop.
She didn't plan on settling in yet another city or town again. This time she would make her home in the wilds, and rely on herself only. As she wandered around she saw a good spot for what eventually be her new home. A large half moon shaped rock formation, at the base of Jerall mountains, not visible from the paths well below and above.


She had spotted a bandit camp at Gnoll mountain, which she circled earlier because she was dragging all her belongings with her at the time. The next morning she visited it with drawn axe, taking the two bandits by surprise. She took the tents, supplies and everything she could find of use, and used it to set up her camp at her new found secluded spot.
Over the next months she spent all her waking time cutting trees, and dragging the logs one by one, while taking care not to be seen traveling to her campsite. Slowly but steadily her wooden cabin was taking shape, and before winter set in it was ready. Gwenneth had a new home.

Gwenneth's wooden cabin in County Cheydinhal

Lake Arrius was a good source of fresh water, and Gwenneth's hunting skills were so refined by now, that she had little trouble finding food. Next to that she would raid bandit camps from time to time, providing some extra food and some gold, that she would use to buy supplies in Cheydinhal during the cold winters, when hunting revenue would be low. She also had discovered an abandoned mine North of her home, and within months she had stripped it bare from anything usable.
For the next two years, she continued to live in seclusion, and her fighting and hunting skills, as well as her endurance grew by the constant hunting, raiding and at times harsh weather conditions. Then misfortune struck.


Gwenneth had been scavenging for food, mushrooms, berries, anything she could get her hands on, but she had found little, and she was straining to see as the sun was already setting. Then suddenly something crashed through the undergrowth behind her, and as she turned around a huge black bear jumped her and threw her on her back, its enormous weight knocking the wind out of her.
Gwenneth tried to reach for her axe, but to no avail, as she felt one of the bears massive claws enter her side between her ribs, and another claw on the side of her face. She could taste the forest ground in her mouth as the claw ripped through her cheek, and she struggled to take a breath with the bears weight on her chest.

Black Bear

 

Then suddenly Gwenneth heard a dull thud and the bear released its grasp, backed up, and raised itself. As Gwenneth finally took a breath again and looked the beast in its eyes, she heard another thud, then noticed an arrow had entered the bears head from the side. Then another arrow struck its head, and the bear collapsed. Gwenneth gurgled from the blood that started to run into her throat, as she tried to look into the direction the arrows had come from, then passed out.


The first time Gwenneth regained consciousness for just a few seconds, all she saw were two large black eyes, inches from her face. The next time she saw nothing, but smelled a strong herbs odor. Many times she woke up, just to pass out again, only seeing small bits of her surroundings; her blanket, wooden beams, a thatched roof, the lantern she got from the abandoned mine, a Bosmer....

...two large black eyes, inches from her face.

A Bosmer!?! The shock sent a stream of adrenalin in her blood, and this time she stayed conscious.
Slowly and painfully Gwenneth turned her head, and there she was, a female Bosmer, sitting in a chair just across the room, actually smiling at her. Then Gwenneth noticed she was in her own house. "Who are you?"; Gwenneth tried to say, but no sound left her mouth. The Bosmer stood up and walked towards Gwenneth. "It's okay, try to get some rest, we'll talk later", the Bosmer said in a soothing tone of voice, as she adjusted the cloth with medicinal herbs on Gwenneth's cheek. Gwenneth closed her eyes.