Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to TES. Bethesda does.

Prologue Part 1: The Winter of 3E 418

The winter of 3E 418 was one of the worst winters Skyrim ever experienced. Food was scarce. Supplies and medicine were hard to come by. Clans and families outside of Skyrim's main strongholds struggled to survive.

Skadi Fireguard's Nord clan, the Eir, was starving. The harsh winter forced her and other skilled hunters to trek south to Cyrodiil to the Jerall Mountains where a large herd of elk was known to migrate to. Skadi and her clansmen were lone hunters, preferring trekking in isolation rather than hunting in groups.

Skadi fought the cold, biting air as she stalked a lone doe through the woods. The lightness of her fur armor and boots allowed her to stealthily maneuver through the snow and rocky terrain. The only audible sound was the gentle rustle of bare tree branches in the winter breeze.

Little did she know she was being hunted herself.

A massive, golden wolf stalked Skadi while she pursued the doe. He was intrigued with this delicate yet strong, mortal woman. He had watched her over the seasons. Seen her hunt. Seen her kill beasts, his beasts. She glorified in the hunt as much as he did.

Multiple howls and low growls echoed throughout the dense forest. Skadi's eyes continuously scanned for danger as she proceeded to hunt the doe. Her heart raced and breathing quickened as Skadi strained to control her fear. She knew a pack of wolves was nearby, and she and the other hunters were possibly in danger.

The golden wolf remained undetected as he followed the unsuspecting huntress. He could effortlessly rip out her throat before she could defend herself. However, her beauty and finesse captivated him. He lusted for her, wanting her all to himself. She was perfect. She was his.

Skadi notched an arrow in her bow, aiming it at the doe quietly grazing the grass sprouting through the blanket of snow. She exhaled slowly, calmly, readying to release the arrow.

The golden wolf howled, startling Skadi, causing the arrow to go wide and missing the doe. The huntress spun around in terror, simultaneously notching another arrow and aiming at the man who now stood a few feet away from her.

The man before her wore nothing but a knee length, hide cloth that wrapped around his hips along with matching hide boots. An elk skull with large antlers and hollow, empty eye sockets concealed his face. He held a long spear and causally leaned against it, arrogantly smiling at Skadi, his eyes blazing bright gold through the skull mask.

Skadi released the arrow, sending it sailing towards the man's heart. He laughed, amused as he caught it in mid air with ease.

The huntress reached into her quiver to ready another arrow. The man charged at her at incredible speed. He batted her bow out if her grasp with his spear, disarming her with ease. He grasped onto her wrist, pulling her forcefully to him. He held her tightly against his bare chest, arms wrapped around her. Warm, soothing tranquility seeped deep into Skadi's core as he pacified her with a calming spell.

She didn't struggle. Didn't fight. The huntress returned the embrace. Skadi reached out to his skull mask. Her gentle fingers caressing the smooth bone. The man grabbed each of the antlers and carefully removed the mask, revealing the handsome face underneath. She exhaled deeply as she gazed up into the man's golden eyes, soaking in his essence, his power.

"Hircine," she breathed.

"Skadi, my Skadi," Hircine whispered as he ran his clawed fingers through her long, chocolate brown hair. "How I have dreamt of this moment." He leaned his head down, his lips caressing Skadi's, kissing her passionately.

Skadi thought she heard the terrifying screams of other hunters mixed with guttural, animal growls in the distance, but Hircine drowned every coherent thought. The only emotion she felt was the strong need to immerse herself in him.

"Come with me, my huntress," Hircine spoke into her ear.

"Yes, my prince," Skadi replied.

Hircine gathered his huntress into his arms and disappeared silently into the woods. She didn't even notice the werewolves indulging in the fresh meat of their recent kills, savoring the warm blood running down their throats. Didn't see the blood-soaked snow, evidence of the savage massacre of her beloved Eir hunters.

Skadi staggered into her camp. Her head and body ached, heavy with exhaustion. She couldn't remember much of the past two days. Everything was a complete blur. She recalled the journey to Cyrodiil with the hunters in search for food but didn't remember events of the hunt or how she returned to camp. She assumed the other hunters returned home sometime before her.

Camp was quiet. Dead quiet.

Skadi called out for her husband, her three sons, her clan. No one responded to her calls.

Skadi trudged to the heart of camp. The haze in Skadi's mind cleared and was replaced with extreme horror. Mangled human limbs and disfigured corpses littered the ground, corrupting the innocence of the pure and white snow. Tendrils of smoke rose from the embers of the charred remains of their huts. Elders, warriors, women and children. All brutally slaughtered.

A soft whimper grabbed her attention. Skadi whipped around, desperately searching for the the source of the sound. She heard the murmur again coming from a pile of dismembered limbs and torsos. Skadi tore at the carnage, praying to Talos there was a survivor. Tears spilled from Skadi's eyes, and her body convulsed in anguish. Buried underneath was the mutilated body of her youngest son.

"Oh my gods, Brand!" Skadi wept as she clutched the her son's mangled body. "What happened?"

Brand struggled to speak. His breath was shallow and uneven. "Werewolves came and attacked the camp." Brand coughed painfully, blood gurgling out of his mouth like a bubbling red fountain. "Hircine took warriors to his Hunting Grounds. He ordered the werewolves to kill everyone else."

Brand coughed harder, choking on the blood spilling out. His eyes becoming glassy while his breathing slowed. His blood smeared face contorted in pain. Skadi lovingly caressed her son's cheek and moved his blood-caked golden blond hair from his brow. Anguish overcame her. She couldn't stop the shaking that rattled through her.

"I love you, Brand. My dearest son," Skadi whispered, the tears cascading down her flushed cheeks. "Sovngarde awaits."

Brand looked at his mother one last time as took in his last breath. Exhaled slowly. His eyes dilating. His body going limp in his mother's arms.

Cradling her dead son in the blood-stained snow, Skadi wailed out to the heavens in heartbreaking agony.

Nine months later, I was born.

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