Nothing could penetrate the Mist. She had tried everything she knew; Torches, Magelight, even dragon's fire. In the Mist she could hardly swing a sword without hitting a tree or a fellow hunter.
And that was just the beginning of her problems.
If she hadn't been Dragonborn, she probably would have died within the first days of the Mistwalkers. Nearly all of her closest friends had gone insane. The last ones left that she knew of were her best friends Farkas, Lydia and Serena, and her daughters Sofie and Za'Mara. Most citizens who lived in open cities and villages had moved to the walled ones, so streets were normally crowded with beggars and double-crossing merchants. Nerai had chosen to live in Solitude, for even though it was a known Imperial city and she was a famous Stormcloak commander, it had the tallest walls and largest guard.
She also hated the fact that the only way she could see her mentor and friends (who happened to be dragon) was on rare hunting trips or going to the Throat of the World, and even then it was difficult to cram three huge dragons on the small peak.
And here she was, the Dragonborn, cutting carrots to help Farkas cook a small dinner for Za'mara's 10th birthday. Earlier they opened her gifts, which consisted of a pet rabbit, a new doll, and Nerai's old glass dagger. Her daughter Sofie, like all children, was very jealous of her Khajiit sisters' gifts. And since Nerai was had a soft spot with her children, she had given Sofie Farkas's Skyforge Steel dagger.
She noticed small hand tugging on the hem on her long bearskin cloak. When she looked down, she saw Za'Mara. "Mama, Meeko's chasing my rabbit!" she complained. Nerai sighed. Meeko's was the family dog, and he was usually obnoxious like this. "Farkas, I'll go deal with Meeko. You can stop cooking; I think the stew's done." she said. Nerai walked out of the kitchen to find Meeko barking at a quivering ball of fur under the dining table. She was about to yell at the dog when suddenly, there was a loud knock at her door. Farkas got there first. Nerai peered over his shoulder and saw three Solitude guards stood at the door. "You need to leave! The Mistwalkers have invaded the city!" one shouted.
For a moment, everything in Nerai's world suddenly stopped. Surely the guards were tricking them? No. Of course not. They weren't that cruel. She was vaguely aware of someone shaking her shoulder, and she came out of her trance.
"Nerai, call the dragons! I'll get your gear!" Farkas yelled. She had to stay calm. Her children clinged to her legs. "Sofie, go get your special things. You too, Za'Mara." "I'll go get Meeko and the rabbit." She said with her voice wavering. She looped a long leather strip around Meeko's neck and scooped Za'mara's rabbit into her free hand. Nerai ran outside and shouted.
"OH DAH VIING!"
The dragon was already circling the city. He landed facing her "I know what is happening. I do not mind taking your family or your possessions to the Throat of the World." He said in his deep draconic voice. She dropped the rabbit into a wicker basket and threw her arms around the red dragon. "Thank you, hin sil kos sahrot!" she nearly shouted. "Hurry now. Paathurnax will worry. She ran back to the house and slipped into her ebony armor. Farkas handed her the survival gear. "Thank you Farkas. Odahviing's outside." She said quickly. Everyone in her family loved dragons. Nerai had even let her children ride Odahviing once. He was like a brother to her. She heard her children run downstairs.
"Alright guys, Odahviing is outside. Hurry!" she ushered the kids out the door and took one last look at Proudspire Manor, and was swept up onto the great dragons back. Their gear lay between her and Farkas. And then she noticed; they were missing something, or more, someone. "Odahviing!" she shouted as he lifted them into the air. She looked down, and saw Solitude burning. Her home and her friends, and couldn't save them. Her eyes felt wet. "Odahviing, can you get Shadowmere?" she shouted over the screams and sword clashes below. "Aal Kos. I will try." He growled." Thank you again, Dovah-Vahlok." She almost relaxed. Nerai looked back at Farkas with a pleading look.
"Yeah, we have everything." he said.
"Oh Farkas, your amazing!" And with that, she turned around on the dragon's back and kissed Farkas full on the mouth.