(Updated)

Helloooow possible readers and thanks for clicking! As an lost and found again author I dont have much to say other than have a possibly nice reading moment. Onwards ;)

Pitch-black night covered the world like a blanket when I stepped outside the door frame, holding a leash in hand. With all the city lights around my eyes got used to the dim environment fast, surrounding areas being a bit cold as well. Cool, fresh air blew across the quiet yards, sending chills down my shivering arms.

Cars could be heard somewhere far and as bold as ever German shepherd Buddy skipped alongside. A big yawn escaped from my mouth and I rubbed my very tiring eyes. All of that tends to happen when you are playing video games around the clock, It was a weekend after all. Yay freedom and the reason for this very ordinary exit was simple - all respectable dogs gotta pee sometimes.

When you're drowning yourself to the screen fighting dragons and fulfilling prophecies, some even might forget regular life duties. Those that anyone tries to fit inside their actual way of living, and yes, it sure was a way of living. To be clear Skyrim was the subject in question and my true love. I mean damn, can't a woman have her addictive obsession as well? There are worse things to be obsessed with than a piece of deep entertainment, I'll tell you that one.

I wore my usual spring jacket on top of a half-sleeved collar shirt and black leggings for the day behind me. Basic sneakers graced my feet which I had thrown on. The intention had been to turn around a corner and slip back to bed, simple plan even if I say so myself. somehow though, the constant waiting for my dog to take a piss stretched to be way too long. Buddy focused on sniffing the ground more than anything and I let frustrated sigh take over.

"Come on Bud. Pee already! we haven't got all night" Murmuring, I gave him some more room to wander but in the middle of impatient walking in circles something changed.

He froze with perked ears. Buddy stared at the nearest neighborhood where lights flickered, whole body tensed up and hypnotized eyes fixed. As he licked his nose, the nervous demeanor got my attention for a while. Still, even with narrowed eyes, I saw nothing back there. Nothing worth watching for besides thick blanket of clouds sliding away from the moon, looming over the horizon. Nothing out the ordinary, not even single walker.

Finally, when I was about to lose my wits and drag him back with an angry complaint, Buddy huffed and ruffed once. Before I knew, the painful shoulder marked the end of the leash running from me straight across the car way. Mouth gaping open, my stunned brains watched the dog growl and bark like a maniac. His growls echoed through the area. Fast as lightning he bolted without shame into other people's gardens, yipping and yapping away. What on earth was going on?!

With very inappropriate thoughts, I began the desperate chase to get my pet back.
"Buddy! Buddy come back! Back! God dammit, what's wrong with that dog? Buddyyyy!" Great. The old lady in my neighborhood just loves loud run-away dogs in the middle of the night. The warning note next to my door last year could tell you that.

I tried to sprint as fast as I could, but somehow the dog kept going and going and going. Internal scream remarked to not lose sight of him, although I couldn't help asking: the heck is he chasing anyway? The last thing I wanted to do right now, capturing the running animal or jumping over flower benches. Still, I continued calling him out, so much without any success since he didn't listen. At all.

So we ran to the right.

We ran to the left.

We ran in circles.

Minutes passed. Soon my calf muscles were killing me, my lungs popped and heart made its way up to my coarse throat, dry and sore. The stupid mutt only barked, not giving me a break at all.
"Why are you like that now? Mother of God, I can't stand you!" I yelled and wondered why there's no one cursing at me already. In order to catch my breath, I gave up for a moment, completely swearing for Buddy and his weird shenanigans. At this rate, I'd get asthma. Or a heart attack.

He had never run away from me like this, but my eye managed to catch how his tail finally turned between a couple of wooden houses. My person jogged after him, fearing he'd go on the road again. With all the hassle going, it took a while to see the unusual there. I now glimpsed a faint, white gleam between the dark silhouettes and thought this should be my doom. Someone most likely came checking what's going on and then I'd get thousands of thread letters, for letting a pet rampage in such a manner.
Wait? Didn't Buddy run towards this guy?

"Catch the dog please, catch him!" I screamed for whoever there could be with a flashlight, still following the growls and grunts. Now to think of it, someone really had a massive flashlight. So bright and big when approached, could there be some kind of construction site or something? But then I didn't hear any vehicles. Better to find out and when I turned around the corner I decided…

…that the strangest moment of my entire life happened.

Arriving prepared to ask if someone caught Buddy, I almost said my thanks only to see there was no construction site. There were no people either, no cars and definitely not flashlights of any kind. In the middle stood huge white swirling thing, levitating above the ground. A pool of water made out of light, if that'd make any sense. It emitted strong shimmer and spectrum of colors. Buddy in the other hand remained right next to it, agitated. Creeping up I reached his collar but my gaze and thoughts were in the appearance in front of me.

"What the..."
I stared at it. I stared at it without blinking, as my life depended on it even if the shine hurt my eyes.

Trying to find any logical explanation led only to nothing. There weren't any. Throwing the explanations to trash I took a new approach with a deep breath. What could it be?
A portal of some kind? All its inner colors brought in my mind a portal. If anyone has been watching enough movies, it is me and I knew this must be something big.
"Stay" I commanded the dog who was afraid of approaching the shimmery thing any further, unlike me.

My stomach threw itself upside down. What would happen if I touch, could I touch it? Bria seriously: you have to try. It could be dangerous but what if it goes away and you'll never know? I took a couple of steps closer and checked over the shoulder if there was anyone else in sight. Nothing. I brought myself even closer until white mist filled my vision and turmoiling feelings got together.
Who wouldn't investigate? This was way more than anything and everything normal. One last pep talk crossed my mind. Finally, I slammed a hand to the surface of the white whirlpool and experienced something I didn't quite expect – a strong pull kicked me off my feet.

The transition had been instant and I screamed like a tortured cat, eyes closed, hands swinging around. Free falling into nothing got me for seconds, longest terrifying seconds of my life. Falling. Screaming. Falling until the imaginary falling ended. Sudden crash landing with a tumble got me, the star-filled vision in my head went around and I saw nothing.
Pain struck as a hard slam made me huff out a loud groan. Whenever I started to recover, the ringing in my ears cooled, I found a collection of dirt and grass under my now aching arse.

When daring to open my eyes, shaking in the process, the houses were nowhere to be found. Night had turned to day. Actually, the city was nowhere to be found, no Buddy, no sizzling levitating thingies – only me and the green deep, deep forest even if it was the most beautiful forest I've ever seen. I freaked out anyway. What happened, where am I? Did I do this?

A couple of minutes I sat confused on the ground. While taking in the nature change I stood up baffled and eventually decided to investigate surrounding areas. At least my legs didn't seem to retain injuries minus few scratches. Sun shone right through the leaves of tall oak trees and the birds flew around in the sky visible at some parts. I made out the smell of fresh soil, mushrooms, and plants so strong, that it was almost overwhelming. Like nature itself would be pure nature, no dirty litter lying around.

Everywhere seemed to be life. I couldn't make out many creatures, but regardless had a feeling of being watched. Dried leaves crushed under my sneakers as I took a couple of steps forward, only to figure out if I could see something revealing.

Wow, it actually looked like many countries I know, but still not quite anything that much. Also at the same time, I had a strange feeling that this wasn't any ordinary place at all.
"Buddy?" I spoke aloud to make sure but got no response, which made me clear that I was in fact alone. Alone in the middle of the wilderness, but then for real the thing had to be a portal to somewhere! I don't know if I should have panicked but I decided to be the person against the rules and got a tad excited.
"No distress in here yet. Let's find out first where we are." I whispered to myself and stumbled forward, crossing the trees and mustering up smiles on my way.

Here we go, right? Right? No question and since I was completely out of directions, I decided to travel straight in the hopes of getting somewhere. Straight being the direction I landed face towards. It felt like a good thing to do and although there lingered many unanswered questions, I could spare time for them later. One thing was extremely weird though, the place appeared to be different time zone.

Regardless of the sunshine, it wasn't too hot - not cold but not hot either, a decent warmness radiated all over. While speaking about the air, I felt it lighter to breathe. Funny, could I be somewhere high? (you know what I mean.) All the while traveling I got sidetracked by little things like odd looking plants and noticed how I came towards an opening. A gap where the trees changed to thin birches and few spruces showed themselves between.

The terrain became hard and rocky to walk so I needed my balancing skills more than I'd have liked to, dodging and climbing small bumps, roots, and rocks. Everything seemed calm for some time but soon I jumped sideways, startled by a fox running past me. Such was the speed that it made me think he didn't want to end up eaten by something. Myself only gawked after it with tremendous interest since I'd never seen a fox so close up.

As I was about to continue with less excitement than earlier, the safe environment turned into something else. Long, blood-freezing roar sliced the air. The voice trembled my eardrums and the roar in question was something I couldn't recognize - it scared the living shit out of me. My heart started racing. My muscles froze and the blood in my body escaped away from my hands and feet, while I spun around trying to find the source.

Wailing carried far into the forest, followed by another lower one and it was close, coming my way. The catch was, this couldn't be an ordinary animal, it had been a huge, thundering roar of anger and I became terrified for my life, not able to move. I listened hard, releasing short, shaky breaths.
A sudden realization came over me that the lack of other creatures nearby showed around. No birds chirped inside nests and that particular detail signaled the mark of danger.

I admit I could have run. I could have run somewhere else but I wasn't sure why I didn't. The fear paralyzed me and I jumped again for another loud growl even closer, no don't close your eyes! Is it a bear? I've read about bear encounters - no it wasn't, I was sure I have heard the sound before but how could I have? There was no way.
The answer came soon enough when I almost peed my pants: the plants cracked in the distance and something gray approached among the trees. Something gray and humongous with three soulless black eyes and horrible teeth.

I smelled it. I smelled the rotten flesh from its breath and it sniffed the air with two large breaths and kept grunting. It shuffled closer and I was almost hyperventilating with my eyes wide. The thing, the predator in front of me was a troll. Not a bear, a real troll! I backed few steps and cracked a branch which made tears climb to my eye corners, as its full attention darted on me. The thing was way taller, sharp claws coming out of its paws and fangs made for ripping flesh from bones.

Panic built up to my guts. I thought intestines being ripped off by the monster in front and backed up even more. Slow. Slower. Trolls always scared me in the game but like this, this was unbearable. I was going to die. It took only one savage hunting roar and the creature spread his hairy limbs, I knew to do the wisest thing I could manage –

I screamed. Screamed so high my own ears couldn't take it and then I was on my way. Which way then? The opposite way. I didn't even think I could ever run that much fast when I did back then. Even the hardness of the terrain didn't matter, I jumped and jumped some more, ran and jumped and dodged. The fear of death banged my chest so hard that all I could do was to go forward, not even seeing where. I wouldn't look behind me, not once.

Was he still there? Who would know, but the only thing I heard was the beat of my heart and wind in my ears as I kept running. Sudden downhill surprised me but I regained balance after stumbling.
Sweeping myself blind through some foliage I intended to keep going but found out that not being an option. Without any warning out of nowhere, the impact force hit my front as I crashed into something.

The sand under my shoes slipped and I fell back on the ground with a squeal, mixed in mild woah. It took me a couple of breaths to realize that the something I'd collided with moved. For now, I focused rolling on the ground while rubbing body parts that actually hurt. Oh, that'll leave some good bruises at least!

"Uuuh, why's there a brick wall in the forest?"
I groaned and when I finally opened my eyes, a shadow remained in front of me. A shadow. Of a person.

Jumping my confused eyes up, I figured there stood a man wearing what definitely had to be a studded armor and the horned iron helmet. I cannot go wrong on this, I recognized it immediately. Large fur belt which was part of the whole thing held various weapons and separate pouches. He stared straight at me with annoyed or rather surprised expression – couldn't tell for sure since his features were covered.

I laid on the ground with dusty clothes, judging the armor combination like a true nerd. So much I figured out of his appearance that he might have been as well one big muscle. His arms looked carved out of stone, dark brown hair being medium length by judging how I saw the tips under the helmet plus a short beard rounded his chin. Wow wait, this look is so familiar to me. I wasn't even thinking correct anymore after being almost chased down to death, this was all nuts.
Wait could it be again?

There remained this awkward silence when we both stared at each other. The man kept his hand readied on a sword without drawing, my own face now changing between all the emotions I went through. They are challenging to describe when I realized many things at once. The person wore armor from Skyrim, I perceived the humongous snowy mountains far away as now open road led my eyes to them.

Trees hummed in a gentle breeze, dropping yellow leaves on the bumpy way and me, I gasped for air. Sweat drops glued my hair on my forehead. The one big thought here, I happened to meet a troll (I meant the creature) so I am in the Skyrim! Tamriel? Nírn? There was no other choice. The second big thought: the troll was still out there but I didn't get far on the line before something finally happened.

"This must be one of the strangest moments in my entire damn life", I heard the man complain with a quite deep, raspy voice. My first reaction to this was the same stupid stare as before, of course until I got the reality together. Barely. Oh, by the way, thanks for helping me up and stuff.

"You just said it..." I puffed still in surprise, starting to climb up on my feet while gathering strange looks about my outfit I assumed. The situation escalated when this guy stepped further and caught my attention by turning me to face him. I felt threatened which made me take a few steps back. Was this the famous -into-the-frying-pan- moment?

"And exactly what makes you run into me in the middle of forest, huh?" He made it sound like it would have been my fault and well it kind of was, but then again why is he sounding not-friendly? I meant in the way I'd think I could be ending up as a corpse if I ain't explaining why such an insult occurred at the mister brick wall here. Of course on a purpose.
After which I remembered once more I was being chased or did he give up? What if the creature still wandered around? And do trolls have a good sense of smell? Now you can panic again I'd guess. I glanced back to the woods feeling really uncomfortable and pointed that way. "

There, there was a troll! And I mean it, it chased me and I actually thought I'm going to die but there was a troll and if I'm not wrong it's coming this way. Are you even listening?!" Still somewhat panting I found myself rambling on, all the while my legs started to feel powerless and squishy from the escaping.

Adrenaline rush might have settled down.
"A troll you say? Sure there was" the man chuckled and turned away waving the topic in the air. Wait, was he leaving? I stunned myself again, but this time it was his attitude. Outrageous.

"What? What do you think you're doing, you can't do that, excuse me come on, I know what I saw! You think I'm running like hell for fun?" storming in front of him, I blocked his way and crossed my arms, turning the action into a yelp when something pushed itself out of bushes. Once again I did the cleverest thing and ended up hiding behind his back just in case.

"Oh my god, it's coming do something, why are you standing there!?" More shrubbery moved and he watched in light amusement, either at me or the forest. "You are one stupid thing man. Are you deaf? IT'S A…." The thing popped finally up and I had this terrified expression on me. It changed into a shock.

"It's a goat." My shock changed into a realization as I was actually hanging from his arm and I had to let go rather fast while staring at the fluffy animal with white fur and horns.
"It's a goat!" I said again in disbelief and started to look like a fish on dry land when I pointed first the animal. He was grinning for his life and looked like he'd like to burst out laughing.

"I, but I swear there was a troll. What the...? There was a troll!"
"You have some trolls there woman"
"I'm not crazy!" I managed wild gestures with my hands, raising an eyebrow.

I didn't like where this was going so I gave few eyeballs at the goat.
"What. is this sorcery? Ooh, I know!" I wondered for a moment. "It's a magic goat!" I tried to walk to the animal but as it would be normal, it fled when I got too close and the moment of silence fell again. I coughed into my fist. Did I ruin it already?

"Yeah…" I muttered and bit my lip. "Well, that was random." I heard how he hummed, seeing how the man started walking, not saying a word until he passed. So what's his deal, package much?
"You know, I don't believe there are any trolls around here, so good luck with that."

"Wait, where are you going? You can't just leave besides exactly who are you anyway, I might have seen you before." this was an unwise thing to say to a stranger, but I was done with his ignorance. I caught up with the fellow but instead, our thing turned another way around. I started to piss him off when he spun and in the blink of an eye pinched my arm into his grab.

The man came closer and looked at me straight into me so intense manner that it knocked the speech out of mine.

"Look. We haven't met, I never forget a face and especially a person when they are wearing something that strange. I don't know who you are and why are you stupid enough to be here without any weapons, but that isn't my problem. Unless you want to make it one."

We locked ourselves in that position, with the difference being this time I paid attention to his eyes. The sight fluttered everything there is in me, they were blue, so deep and full. Of something living that I swore I could see an ocean storm swirling in them. A strike of feeling ripped me off my defenses, while my hands turned cold and sweaty for a moment without any particular reason. Lowering my head in defeat I still kept at it because I didn't want to give him the joy of turning me down as intimidating this happened to be.

Besides I couldn't have removed my eyes from the man. He knew the question I'd asked from myself and he knew I knew the answer to it. This guys identity came through. At the moment my brains still worked and I was sure I heard the voices chanting in my head, what a wonder.

"Oh my god. You, you are…"

I didn't mean to stammer but it was too much. "I know who you are! You are Jesus Christ- I MEAN NO, no, no you're not Jesus I meant-" He exhaled slow and deep.

"The Dragonborn, that's correct."

I ripped myself apart from his grip and tried to concentrate. Was that hint of a smile that flashed on him? No, it was more of a twitch in the corner of his mouth but it didn't hold any emotion. I guessed my reaction seemed to be familiar and it wasn't hard to believe either. Also, you aren't telling me that first I am pulled into a portal that leads me to Skyrim and if that's not enough I happen to literally crash on the hero of my life. The One true one, he wasn't even real and now well, he is real. Right then and there.
If my head could create a shining white light coming from heaven on him, this would be happening right now.

I turned my back on the man, I had to take a moment for myself. Breathe. Tell me, this is a dream okay! Okay, breathe what if I fell asleep on my laptop again, yes that would be logical. But no I'm awake and he's the Dragonborn! I spun back to him and tried to collect myself. Took some will not to squeal, I meant to be an adult but the fangirl inside me didn't give up and I nearly burst into happy tears.

Holding those back as best as I could, I let a wide smile make its way to my face. It was the kind of Now I Can Die Happy- smile that reached every corner of me. The sitch lasted a while before realizing how out of place I was, I swiped a tuck of hair away. Getting serious again and I couldn't start being dumb, it was all real. Even then after a moment, the man only glanced at me and if he doubted my sanity he didn't show it.

"You think I'm crazy don't you?"
"I have seen worse." Might have not been a compliment.

"I just - umm - this is messed. let's take this again." I blew out the steam and let my gaze drift elsewhere. "Name's Bria. If I may ask yours?"
"Gair." I nodded as an answer.
"Where are you going right now?"
"I don't know."

Right, I had to expect that. It would make sense kind of if he didn't always have a plan where to go (I'd imagine) or then he straight up lied, which seemed a highly compatible option. I could tell he didn't trust me, but who would? I am actually no one here, a random human. To me, this situation started to light over, not in a good way. I was stuck in Skyrim's wilderness with nothing, I wouldn't make a night in here and the thought of that made me uneasy. I didn't even know where in the map I'm exactly in and Gair was the one with no words coming from his side.

"Take me with you.", I snapped and the man shifted from his place with a grim face. Smooth start, great!
"No"

It was like a slap on my face.
"No?! Wait, you can't just..-" I wondered how many times I've already said that. Lucky he decided to elaborate.

"Oh, I can and I will."

Now I felt like slapping my own face and for the third time ran him out and tried for my best to come over. I wouldn't get anywhere by screaming at him, he'd keep going to be a stubborn cow.
"Please, wait- " He shoved me to the side and kept going.

"No. You are absolutely no use to me. I can see you can't even fight, and would only slow me down. I don't want a liability to drag behind, is that clear?" You mean what exactly? I didn't know him sure, but are you positive that this guy was the Dragonborn? Really, because the only thing I saw right now was a man that didn't care about anything. What is wrong with him? What is wrong with everything? I closed my fists and bit my teeth together, I am so not ready to give in. I would follow him even if it meant he'd ignore me, I had no choice.

"Get back here! I know I suck, but would you listen to me?" I screamed after him and took again a sprint forward. I noticed how my voice grew more and more tender, I couldn't help it but tried to calm myself.

"Just- just listen, please! I'm far away from home, I have never been in..." I took a breath. "...around here which might be obvious. I also have no clue how I even got here, I'm lost. Seriously I..." I swallowed. He did make me feel like a guilty here and all I wanted was to get somewhere.
"Can't fix the fact that I'm completely useless as you'd put it but I also don't wish to die here and I'm asking you to help me. Please" Whatever happened to the hero.

Certain desperation attached within my voice when I thought I didn't want to fight. We had moved quite the distance now and stood face to face where I managed to stop him once more. Gairs eyes flashed strange for a moment but after the depressing silence filled with only nature, he muttered some curses under his breath. It seemed like he'd be making the hardest decision of a century.

"Very well then. Whatever. But I have conditions."

"First, you will be on your way in the first city we come across. Second, you'll have to keep up or otherwise, you are dropping off where ever you might end up dead. And third, you will do everything exactly as I say – no wandering around! And If I see you doing anything suspicious enough, that's going to end there" The man's speech was harsh, as annoyed as before even cold.

Nothing good could be coming from this, but there was no chance to get a better deal. The last words made me think that they might have meant something far worse than just dropping me off.
"Understood." I said.

"It better be." he muttered and started moving again so I took that as a confirmation, going along. This would be the most exhausting day of my life. It was yet a day here, I had stayed up all night and why I thought that we wouldn't stop walking soon enough. I made a promise. I won't be laughing ever again to those videos on YouTube, joking with the followers of Dovahkiin.
Did I mention, I hate walking long distances? Well, I intend to keep myself in this now. Relax Bria, It's going to be fine. Maybe, how the hell I'm going to even get back home? Do I want to get back? Is there actually anything left of me to go back?

I guess that didn't matter now. Not yet.