Author Notes: So this is my very first story. I would love as much feedback as possible. FYI: updates may be a little slow. I am a busy college student and I am also still ironing out what I really want from this story. Let me know what you think. These four characters are young, the oldest being only 17 years of age, but still ever adventurous. I hope you enjoy!

** This is a rework from the original posted chapter.

"It's so dark in here," echoed a young voice.

"Oh! I stepped in something!" cried another.

One of the four children, a Dunmer named Wahren, hushed the both of them. "Stop crying about every little thing, you guys. We're nearly there." His red eyes pierced back at the two would-be adventurers, peeking over the crimson scarf he pulled up to his nose.

He stared at his clumsy friends and smirked. The Nord, Garm, was scrapping what looked like moss of the bottom of his footwraps while Kharin, the young Khajiit cub pinched his nose to protect from a stench only he seemed to smell.

"Where are you taking us?" asked the young Dunmer girl, the only girl in their group

"I told you, Adelei," he explained, "I found a really cool spot in this cave while I was out yesterday."

"Well?" questioned one of the other boys, "Are we almost there then? I'm getting kind of hungry."

Wahren rolled his eyes. "You're always hungry Garm."

The others chuckled while they made their way down the damp corridors of the cave.

"Look! We made it!" cried Wahren.

The others looked around in wonder as the cave opened up in a vast grotto with glistening streams and lush gardens.

"Whoa, Wahren," said the cub, "you weren't kidding about this place."

"It's beautiful!" exclaimed the Adelei.

The four young adventurers ventured into the grotto, eyes widened by the wonder that surrounded them. Garm grabbed things that looked like fruit off the small trees. Kharin sat crossed-legged in the center of a field of flowers, taking in the pleasing aromas that surrounded him. Adelei skipped into the waters of a shallow stream. She was the youngest of the group. Wahren stood as a tower, watching over his friends.

"How long has it been?" Adelei asked standing in the cool water.

"Since what?" he replied.

"Since you saw your parents. My pa told me that it's been a long time but he won't tell me any more than that."

Wahren looked toward the ground as he thought back on the last time he saw his parents and brother.

"Well?" she urged on, suddenly standing next to him.

"About three years. It was just before the mountain on Vvardenfell erupted."

"Oh," she sighed as she realized the pain it brought him to talk about his past. "I'm so sorry, Ren." The two young Dark Elves sat down by the bank of the streams.

"My father had let me go with my uncle to deliver goods to Cyrodiil by way of Cheydinhal."

"That's a long way from Kragenmoor." stated Kharin. Garm and Kharin had noticed the two sit down by the small creek and decided to join them.

Wahren was annoyed that the others were prying, but he continued anyway. "Well both my parents had wanted me to see the White Gold Tower, but they needed to go to Vivec on official business with the Temple. So my brother went with them and I traveled to Cyrodiil with my uncle Rowan. It took us about a month to reach Cheydinhal, but when we arrived, couriers were raving of news that the Red Mountain showed signs of eruption. We feared the worst. My uncle was very devoted to the gods, but even he cursed them when we heard the news."

"What did you do?" asked the Nordling.

"We continued to the Imperial City with all haste. Our visit was short though, we knew we needed to get back to Morrowind. But by the time we made it to Cheydinhal, people were flooding into Cyrodiil. They closed off the border to Morrowind. That's when we heard - Dagoth Ur had erupted." Wahren forced his eyes shut, holding back any tears that threatened his prideful demeanor.

The other three stared at the ground. No one wanted to risk breaking the silence.

"Did you ever find out for sure?" Kharin's question broke through the silence of the grotto.

Wahren didn't answer, he just pulled his scarf further up his face, as if hiding from the world.

"So you don't know if they survived?" Adelei asked with hope in her eyes. "They could be alive!"

Wahren looked up with surprise. No one had ever really considered it possible. They were in Vivec! Too close to the mountain to have survivors. "I don't know, Adelei. Even my uncle lost hope." There was a pause, but He looked up at Adelei and let out a smile. "Maybe they're out there somewhere."

"Yah!" She smiled back with hope glistening in her eyes.

After a long pause, the four continued to share stories as Garm made a makeshift campfire.