Taeyva's surroundings fade away as she closes her eyes. Darkness overtakes her vision as her other senses heighten. Heartbeats ring in her head like the pounding of a drum. The erratic, out of rhythm pulsing of the prey, blood surging through their veins by fear and adrenaline.

Then there is the eager and steady pace of the hunter. A rapid beat for sure, but a focused one. It is these beats that cry out in multitudes. Hundreds of options for her to choose from, but Taeyva does not have time to be selective.

Taeyva: Jaeger...

The wolf halts, obediently. The rest of his pack dashes away, the sound of their paws against the snow fades, until only a the delicate patter of snowflakes remains.

Taeyva focuses. What feels like a few minutes happens in an instant. Her and the wolf's heartbeats synchronize and the darkness consuming Taeyva's sight falls away.

The world opens up before her in grey and white. The trees around her tower higher than she is used to. As she cranes her head upwards she catches sight of her snout. Raising her head as high as she can, she lets out a joyous howl, before lowering back down and sprinting into the snow.

She does not have much time.

Earlier...

Davey: Believe me, I don't agree with this either. 

Davey sighs with a contemptuous shake of his head. The march from Riften was more of a despondent trudge. The remaining soldiers wheeled the last corpse loaded cart to the fort and immediately set to work on burying the dead. Taeyva and Torund followed from the rear, joined only by Talen. They spoke softly, though it did not matter. Burdens of a heavy heart kept everyone else too occupied to hear them.

When they arrived, Isran took those in charge inside, along with Taeyva and Torund. They gathered in Isran's chambers, yet before a word could be uttered, Carcette held up her hand and scowled directly at Taeyva. "We decide what to do about her first. She needs to leave." After a while of belligerent arguing, Taeyva begrudgingly recused herself and Torund. Davey immediately followed them, while Mike was ordered to stand at the door and keep anyone else out.

Torund: Next time I'll just let her be gutted.

Torund concludes with a grunt, immediately curling his lips into a scowl. He glances over to Taeyva.

Torund: Why exactly are we doing what she wants?

Taeyva doesn't respond. Since they entered the small side chamber, she has kept her attention to the far wall, only rubbing her arm and occasionally shifting her feet. Torund just sighs and rolls his eyes. As he does, Davey clears his throat.

Davey: I know you've had trouble with the Vigilant. But the Dawnguard aren't like them. We'll stand by you, believe me.

Taeyva: Why do you keep saying that?

Davey falters.

Davey: Err... Huh? What did I say?

Taeyva spins around. She glares at Davey, her eyes twitching.

Taeyva: "Believe me. Believe me." Of the only two times I've ever heard you speak, you say that. Why? Why should I believe you?

Taeyva cuts off sharply. Davey takes a step back. He gulps loudly into the tense silence.

Davey: We've met bef- 

Davey drops his arm and readjusts himself. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Straightening his shoulders, he opens his eyes and smiles. Taeyva raises her brows, ogling him curiously.

Davey: Because I'm going to prove it. Come on.

Davey: You have a place in that discussion, whether Carcette likes it or not.

 

*         *         *

 

Carcette: She saved our lives, yes. That's the only reason I've not killed her.

Carcette: We give her the chance to leave alive. That's all we owe her.

Dennis grunts, following it with an agitated sigh.

Dennis: We owe her years of her life back and more, Carcette.

Carcette whips her head around and bears down on him with a glare both incredulous and disdainful.

Carcette: Excuse me? Are you forgetting what she is?

Dennis: That's not-

Talen: Enough already.

Talen hollers at them, his shoulders tense.

Talen: Quit acting like she is some monster and quit thinking you're the only ones in charge here.

All all eyes turn to Talen, he feels momentarily uneasy. Then, as soon as it appears, a robust sense of confidence replaces it. Talen straightens up, squaring off his shoulders, and nods to everyone around him.

Talen: At the very least, she needs to be part of this conversation. Not to mention we lost in Riften; we are weaker now. She offers the best strength we have. We need her.

Isran nods, admiringly. He pats Talen on the shoulder.

Isran: I agree. Though we should maintain a level of caution around her, I see no reason to be rid of such a powerful asset and ally because of prejudice.

Carcette bites her lip, glaring at Talen for a moment before turning away. She shakes her head.

Carcette: Don't forget who it is we are fighting here. The daedra are out to destroy our world, and she fights for one of them. She-

Davey: She fights for us as well.

Carcette twitches at the interruption. As Davey strolls into the main room, everyone goes silent before all eyes are upon Taeyva, striding contemptuously behind him.

She stops before the group and crosses her arms.

Taeyva: Carcette.

The Keeper's lips curl as she clenches her fist around her arm.

Carcette: You are not supposed to be here.

Taeyva: If I wasn't here, you'd be dead in Riften.

Davey: Guys? Can we cut it out for two seconds?

Davey: Carcette. Taeyva is staying. You know it; you're the only one who disagrees with it. Everyone else, we have bigger fish to fry right now.

Mike: Yeah! We do!

Mike suddenly barges into the conversation. His eyes wide with shock. He doesn't spare a second as everyone's eyes turn towards him.

Mike: Word just reached us from outside...

Mike: Solitude has been attacked. Destroyed!

Mike: We don't know by what, but the city is in flames. We have to do something!

There is not a second of indecision. Isran steps forward, his expression cold but determined.

Isran: We'll never make it in time with all our forces. And even if we do, we aren't ready for another fight.

Taeyva: That's suicide. There's no gain from saving a city, only the people in it.

Taeyva: I can do that. But I'll need your help.

For the first time since they've been in the room, there is a brief silence. Cautious glances are shared as doubts about this strange, new girl's offer begin to surface. 

Isran steps forward first.

Isran: What do you need us to do?

Carcette: This is mad, Isran!

Carcette: You're giving a Prophet the opportunity to wield her powers. She'll bring this fort down on top of us!

Isran huffs and shakes his head.

Isran: I don't know what that means, Carcette. She's just a girl who has connections to a powerful entity. I am giving her the opportunity to prove herself, nothing more.

Carcette clenches her jaw.

Carcette: No! She's more than that. She's-

Isran: Be quiet. You are under my Fort, my command. I don't know what you're rambling on about, but this is the course of action we are taking. I won't hear any more of this.

 

*         *         *

 

Davey sets the barrel down with a loud thud. All but Isran and Carcette have gathered around the bed where Taeyva currently sits.

Davey: Alright, that should be enough. How exactly does this help?

Taeyva doesn't respond, taking deep, controlled breaths. Torund, who has pulled up a chair beside the bed, leans towards her.

Torund: You don't need to do this, Taeyva. In fact, I think you shouldn't.

Torund: Solstheim was not very long ago. If it happens again, there won't be a way to save you.

Taeyva sighs.

Taeyva: I have to try. If you can supply me with a steady supply of magicka, I should be able to maintain control.

She glances to Davey.

Taeyva: Torund is going to feed me your magicka potions. It will give me a source of strength that should prevent these chains from stopping the whole of my abilities.

Davey steps back, scrunching his brows.

Davey: Woah woah woah. You want to be force fed two barrels of magicka potions? You know how dangerous that is, right?

He stares at them for a moment, waiting for an answer. When one doesn't come, he shakes his head, flabbergasted, and huffs.

Davey: Yes, potions are designed to help, but they are easy to overdose on. Take too many at once and they could very easily go from healing you, to harming you.

Davey: You're going to need someone to monitor your life signs. Someone who knows what to look for.

Torund scoffs.

Torund: And I suppose you want that person to be you? Look creep, I know what you're after and I-

Taeyva: Torund.

Taeyva slides onto the bed and nods to Davey.

Taeyva: He's right. This is dangerous and if he knows what to look her, he could very well keep me safe.

Torund sighs in disagreement, but nods his head anyway.

Torund: Fine.

Davey: Don't worry. I know what I'm doing, believe me.

Torund: Ready?

Taeyva lays her head against the pillow and nods her head. She bites her lip apprehensively.

Taeyva: Don't let anything bad happen, okay?

Torund gives her a warm, yet worried, smile.

Torund: I won't.

Talen: Good luck, Taeyva.

Taeyva glances down towards Talen and smiles.

Taeyva: Thanks, Talen. I'll see you when I get back.

As she finishes, Taeyva sucks in a breath and closes her eyes.

Taeyva: Okay... Let's do this.

She lets out a slow exhale...

...then her eyes fly open with a gasp.

Night arrives sooner in the capital city of Solitude. Black smoke rises into the black sky, shadowing it in darkness.

Beneath the haze, the fires lash across the roads and buildings. The tendrils proliferate and spread as they find new grips on parts of the city. They roll over homes and stands, tearing them down in small infernos. Bodies begin to char as tendrils lick the decaying flesh. They only move when the ground shudders beside them.

Stalking the streets of Solitude are the beasts that wrought this destruction. Dragons.

Whether by blood lust or obedience, they patrol the city. They slighter throughout the buildings and emerge from the flames they produced, scanning for more lives to claim.

Despite the immediate, absolute destruction of the city, survivors surely remain.

The only question is: where?

General Tullius: I think it's moving on...

Jarl Elisif: Are you sure?

General Tullius: As much as I can be.

Only some hours ago was Solitude attacked; before the first was even up, the city had already lost. Nearly the entire city had gathered in the temple courtyard for that sermon. It was the perfect place for a slaughter. Tullius had been on edge prior to Olivia's sermon and the only thing her words did was send him over it. The people's infatuation with the priestess made them blind. They could not see the red in her eyes and the quivering of her arms, nor hear the strain in her voice. Something was off.

When a roar rang violently in his ears, he was the first to react. Tullius grabbed Elisif and hollered for everyone to run. The Jarl, yanked from her seat, had but a moment to protest before a blast of heat seared their backs. She screamed and fell. Tullius had to turn around to heave her up, doing so just in time to see a gout of fire plummet from the sky. The people still in the courtyard had no chance. Those who had attempted to flee where immediately incinerated at the gate. Many collapsed by fright as others were flung backwards by the force of the blast. Tullius forced himself to look away as he hauled Elisif into his arms, just as a dragon landed in the center of the crowd.

Guard: What about the other two? They could be patrolling from above.

Imperial Soldier: Oh shit... Oh shit... Oh shit...

Jarl Elisif: Oh gods, he's right....

Tullius takes an abrupt breath, clenching his jaw. He can't blame them for their fear. He isn't without it either. But right now, someone needs to be steadfast. If that someone is him, then so be it.

General Tullius: They may be. We'll have to make a run for it.

General Tullius: The longer we hide here, the sooner they'll find us. Our best chance is to try and escape.

Imperial Soldier: How can we even do that?

The Imperial soldier, who had been stuck in a panic most of this time, suddenly bursts out.

Imperial Soldier: The city is in flames! Destroyed! Every alley and building is a pile of rubble and fire. We'll never find a way out.

Guard: Woah, don't yell.

Imperial Soldier: No. If we go out, we die! It's that-

Voice: WOOF!

The group goes quiet from the sudden bark. They each look down and adopt the same stunned, and perplexed, expression.

General Tullius: What the...

Jarl Elisif: How?

Imperial Soldier: ...simple... uh, is that a wolf?

Guard: Um...

Guard: ....yeah. Yeah, it is.

Wolf: WOOF!

The wolf startles them once again with another bark. It raises it's snout and sneezes loudly at Tullius, gesturing with it's head.

General Tullius: Okay... This is getting strange.

After another moment of bewildered silence, the guard clears his throat.

Guard: Is it just me, or is it trying to talk to us?

General Tullius looks at the guard with raised brows. He looks at the wolf, back at the guard, then to the wolf again.

He straightens up, a slight smile starting to form.

General Tullius: More than that. I think it's trying to help us. If it got in here, then it knows how to get out.

General Tullius: Looks to me like we've actually got a chance now.

Torund: Woah!

Torund yanks his arm back as Taeyva suddenly sits up. Her eyes are wide and her chest heaves as she desperately tries to refill her lungs. 

Torund: Taeyva? Are you okay?

She continues to pant, unable to get out a response. As she does, she glances about her surroundings. The floor is littered with empty potion vials. The bed sheets and cover are soaked. it doesn't take her long to realize it's from the sweat that covers her body.

Talen: Hey? Taeyva?

Talen's voice pulls her back to attention. As he comes into focus in her bewildered eyes, she nods.

Taeyva: Hey... I-I'm good. I'm good.

She sees everyone staring at her anxiously and takes a deep breath.

Taeyva: So are the survivors. We should have company soon.

Proventus Avenicci: Wh-what? You're sparing me?

Malkor looks past the cowering steward and over to the fallen warriors. They put up a worthy fight, but not one Malkor couldn't handle. What was difficult, was actually making his way through the city. 

The guards had constructed a formidable barricade before the front gate. As soon as he opened it, Malkor was fired upon by a barrage of arrows and bolts. Fortunately they did little more than ring against his automatons metal hulls. No, what was truly challenging about this assault, was sparing as many lives as possible.

As they made their way through the streets of Whiterun, even some of the citizens attempted to fight back. It took more than a few bludgeoning's and slashing's of the aggressors to dissuade more from attacking him. The trail of carnage behind him was much larger than planned. Every few feet Malkor would have to stop and repeat himself, "this city is falling. I am granting an opportunity to escape with your lives. Take it now, or not at all."

Malkor expected most of the people to heed his words. He underestimated just how adamant the Nords really are. In the end though, it was little more than a small hurdle. It did not take long to arrive in Dragon's Reach and do what he came here for.

Malkor: Yes, I am.

Proventus Avenicci: W-why?

Malkor sighs. Why is it so difficult for people to just take what he says?

Malkor: Because I have no reason to kill you.

Malkor: But you're also so inconsequential that I have no reason not to.

He gestures behind him with a roll of his eyes.

Malkor: If I were you, I'd take this opportunity.

Proventus Avenicci: R-right. Got it.

Proventus gulps heavily. He staggers to his feet, nearly tripping over the stairs as he does, then takes off down the hall.

Castalia: About time...

As soon as he hears the massive doors slam shut, Malkor drops to a knee before Jarl Balgruuf's corpse.

Malkor: Nothing personal, Jarl. You were a potential obstacle in the future; it had to be done.

Castalia: Wow. Pretty emotional. Even for you.

Malkor nearly recoils from the familiar voice. His jaw immediately clenches as he sucks in a sharp breath. 

As he faces Castalia, the corners of his lips curl into an uncontrollable smile. His jaw, however, he keeps clenched.

Malkor: Hello, Cass.

Malkor: Still remember how to stealth, I see.

Castalia's eye twinkle as she trots through firelight. As she tips her head to the side, her cheeks rise.

Castalia: And you still smile when you see me. Despite your best efforts.

Malkor narrows his eyes. He pushes himself to a stand as his smile immediately fades.

Malkor: Don't get any hopes. I'm not happy to see you.

Castalia turns away.

Castalia: I just-

Malkor scoffs as soon as she opens her mouth.

Malkor: What made you crawl back this time?

Castalia halts. Her forlorn stare casts further into the floor.

Malkor: Another desperate attempt to mend our relationship?

Malkor: Or have you come to sever our ties once and for all?

Malkor grinds his teeth as he speaks. The next words are spit out like venom.

Malkor: I assure you, I've already done so.

Castalia shifts her footing. She rubs her knuckles together, tensely. She clears her throat roughly, following it with a sniffle, before beginning.

Castalia: P-please stop...

Malkor grunts and narrows his eyes.

Malkor: Then fucking speak.

Castalia breaths deeply, once, twice, three times, before slowly glancing up to meet Malkor's stare.

Castalia: I needed to warn you. 

Malkor ogles her dubiously, then warily.

Malkor: Warn me of what?

Castalia shakes as she looks at him. She opens her mouth to speak, but all that comes out is an exhausted sigh. She turns around and leans against the table, unable to maintain eye contact any longer.

Castalia: There's another Prophet. 

The room seems to become even more silent as the words come out; even the crackling of the fire seems to muffle.

Malkor: You told me you and Taeyva were the only two. You swore that.

Castalia nods.

Castalia: I wasn't lying. I also was not telling the whole truth.

Castalia exhales slowly.

Castalia: Malkor. This war is not what you think it is. Not you, nor Taeyva, nor any man on Nirn understands the reality of our situation.

Tenseness gnaws in Malkor's chest as Castalia speaks. He knows Castalia is telling the truth.

Malkor: And what is reality, then?

She takes another deep breath.

Castalia: While you all slaughter one another in control of this world, the vaults of Null are being filled. 

Castalia turns around and sits against the table, shaking her head.

Castalia: In an abandoned world, souls have nowhere to go. No Sovngarde, no Dreamsleeve, no Far Shores. But they cannot vanish, so they go somewhere else.

Castalia: This somewhere else is Null. It was created by the first forbidden soul, a soul that cannot progress to the afterlife. After that, all forbidden souls go there.

Malkor stares at Castalia hesitantly, pondering everything she just said.

Malkor: So now that there is no godly power controlling Nirn, the souls of those living on it are considered forbidden?

Malkor: What does this have to do with another Prophet?

Castalia stands up then stares directly into Malkor's eyes. She speaks gravely, the urgency of it masking her unease.

Castalia: That Prophet currently controls Null and has access to all it's potential power. Not to mention she is a Prophet of Molag Bal...

Castalia: ...and she will be in Markarth any day now.

There is no need for further explanation for Malkor. He immediately turns on his heels and begins to march out of the chamber.

Castalia: You know you can't fight her, Malkor. She's a Prophet; a True Child!

Malkor doesn't slow down.

Malkor: I know I can't. Not alone, anyway.

Malkor: Are you going to join me?

Castalia's heart skips a beat.

Castalia: Wha-Really? You want me to join you?

Malkor sighs.

Malkor: Don't ask stupid questions. Just keep up...

Malkor: ...and don't expect us to return to how things used to be.

 

To be continued...