Author's Note:

To clarify, the only PCs will be the Heroes (the Dragonborn, Harbinger, Listener, Arch-Mage, Nightingale, and the Vampire Hunter): just because individuals have names you've never heard before, doesn't mean they're a PC.

According to the in-game Skyrim book Cats of Skyrim, the spelling of "sabre cat" is "sabrecat" and so I will be utilizing that spelling, not UESP, Elder Scrolls Wiki, nor Skyrim's spelling.

Concerning the size of Skyrim, I'm estimating it at roughly 250 miles wide and about 375 miles long, giving it an area of about 93,750 square miles. As a general guideline, that makes the distance from Riften to Shor's Stone 50 miles.

For travel times, I'm assuming a horse can walk at 4mph, trots between 8 and 12mph, canters between 12 and 15 mph, and gallops between 25 and 30 mph. A horse pulling a cart, maybe a couple horses actually, will probably trot. However, if not everyone is in the cart, it'll be walking so that the humanoids can keep up. So basically, from Riften to Ivarstead (estimating approximately 150 miles, because roads twist and turn and everything) at 4mph, it's going to take 37.5 hours...

Also, The Rift is described as being a "temperate region" with "deciduous forests" (UESP's Skyrim:The Rift and Lore:The Rift, accordingly) which means that the average temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit with a precipitation of 30 - 60 inches per year, with it snowing in the winter (University of California, Santa Barbara).

Now, skinning animals doesn't take much time for the PC in Skyrim, whereas realistically it could take up to a couple of hours. To resolve this, a PC may take a few seconds to loot and skin an animal, but an NPC by themselves will take at least an hour.

Why is this important? Because I'd like to make this a little realistic, and I'm making the math justify a long travel time between Riften and Ivarstead so people can't argue.

As a side note, I'm going to be shooting for about 3000 to 5000 words per chapter. All chapters will be meaningful, no fluff like they sometimes do with anime. Last chapter was pretty short due to my long note, sorry about that. I shouldn't have any other long notes, besides this one, since I'm establishing the math here. But you can expect a little lore, a couple assumptions, and/or weather/climate explanations at the beginning of each chapter.


Chapter Two

The cart bumped and jumped at every loose stone in the road, creaking from the strain of carrying the cumbersome supplies towards the front. The erratic motion made it nearly impossible for the children to rest throughout the night, and so they sat awake and in silence. Early morning rain soaked through the children's thin clothes and chilled them to the bone. The rising sun's rays could not pierce the gray gloom and did nothing to warm them. None complained, fearing one of their four escorts would lash a hand out at them.

Once Hroar released a mighty sneeze, the red Argonian jumped into the cart and distributed fur blankets amongst the children. The wilderness of the Fall Forest was much different than Honorhall: the forest was open and fresh and clear in stark contrast with the stale and suffocating orphanage... but they had at least been warm in the orphanage. The city walls had protected them from gusts of wind, but there was nothing to shield them from the elements now, save for the wolf pelts wrapped around them.

Lucia sighed and watched her white, frozen breath fade to nothing. She would have been excited to leave Riften and finally see the beauty of Lake Honrich: its waters glittering beside them and fierce hawks swooping down from the sky to haul squirming fish out from the tarn, or even the wheat, leek, and potato fields of Snow-Shod farm... if it had not been so cold.

"Early winter this year." Gah-Thux said conversationally.

"It is not winter yet," the sole female mercenary replied, "Cold, yes, but not winter.

A young, handsome Nord clad in gleaming white armor stated, "If a cold Last Seed follows a hot Sun's Height, hard and dry will be winter's bite." Turning to the cart, he continued, "I hope you all have a place to stay, children."

Blushing fiercely as his gray eyes met hers, Lucia whirled her face away to hide from his gaze. She looked to a spot behind Francois, focusing instead on the bridge leading across the lake to a cluster of several small islands. A two-story house sat on the furthest island and several men milled about. They shouted at one another and pointed to objects Lucia could not quite make out.

"What do you think has them buzzing around?" an Imperial quipped. He flashed an open mouth grin to his comrades.

Gah-Thux turned to the children and explained, "That's Goldenglow Estate over on the island. It's a honey farm."

The female Nord squinted her eyes to get a better view of the island. "Looks like they have a problem with their hives..."

Shaking his head, the Argonian chuckled under his breath.

"Is something amusing, lizard?" the male Nord inquired, a sharp tinge of disdain was audible in the final word.

Gah-Thux's smile fell into a grimace. "Watch it bud. You have no idea who your green-ass is messing with."

"Ha! If anyone is 'green', it is your kind. Your kind do not belong in Skyrim. If you do not watch yourself, you will get what is coming to you from one superior to you. If you do not shape up soon, that person will be me." the white knight sneered in response.

"Don't you know, a knight in white armor is just a man who has never had his mettle tested."

As the pair began to argue, Lucia looked to Aventus for reassurance. When she first arrived in Honorhall, Grelod had welcomed Lucia by screaming into her face until the young girl began to sob uncontrollably. That night, the other orphans consoled her and attempted to bring her spirits up. It was Aventus who had managed to make Lucia smile by mocking Grelod and personifying her as a cranky hagraven. From that moment on, the two of them were inseparable.

Aventus and Lucia would laugh and talk whenever the opportunity arose, doing everything they could to raise everyone's spirits. Their lifestyle may have been bleak and their caretakers callous and heartless, but they at least had each other.

The night following Grelod's cleanse of Dibella from the girls was the night Aventus left. Lucia had been burned so badly, she trembled; but she did not cry, more fearful of Grelod's wrath at seeing her tears. Aventus tended to Lucia's wounds as best he could and he made her a promise. The next morning, he was gone. Grelod had been furious, demanding how and where he had gone, but they did not reveal his plans: to depart to Windhelm and call upon the Dark Brotherhood.

Several weeks passed and there was no sign of Aventus or the assassin... nor was there any sign of Grelod. Somehow, the elderly woman had disappeared and was now nothing more than a nightmare still present at the back of their minds. A few more weeks went by and Aventus finally returned; a broad, crooked smile crossed his face when he saw Lucia again.

That same smile he flashed at her now, and Lucia knew everything would work out somehow.

A sharp bark pierced the air. As Lucia turned to look at the threat, the ring of steel released from its sheath filled her ears.

"Dogs!" the helmed woman in black armor yelled. Lucia twisted around just in time to see a flash of brown jump off of a rock outcrop and onto the road. The dapple gray horse emitted a horrific screech and the Imperial yanked down on its reigns to prevent it from bolting as another dog joined its companion. Two more wild dogs appeared from behind the cart, jaws dripping with white foam flecked with red. Bloodshot eyes pierced into Lucia's eyes and her breath caught in her throat.

The white knight bolted to the back of the cart, dipping his shoulder as the canine pounced. Howling with rage, the beast whirled around and smashed its head into the Nord's back. A flow of bright red blood poured over the dog's face, yet it seemed unfazed by its own injury. As the knight fell, the fourth dog pounced upon his back, jaws closing around the nape of the man's neck. The Nord fell onto the dog, which yelped in pain, but the third dog was already upon him and gnashed its teeth against the Nord's face.

As the pair of dogs tore into the screaming knight, the female Nord shrieked in fear. "Crisnon!" The nine children stared in horror, frozen in place.

Gah-Thux shoved the woman aside and swung his scimitar down onto one of the dogs. But they was not finished. As one, the pair of dogs leapt out of the way, blood dripping down their jaws. The Nord Crisnon had fallen silent and Lucia paled at the thought the man might be dead.

"Luvas! Get the children out of here!" Gah-Thux charged the dogs as the Nord woman regained her balance and followed the Argonian's lead.

"You were the one who -"

"Don't argue," the Argonian jumped back, the dogs nipping at the spot he had been standing in mere milliseconds before. "Just do it!" He jabbed his blade forward, aiming for the canine's eyes.

The Imperial jumped into the driver's seat of the cart and urged the horse into a trot. The horse shook its head wildly, as the dogs continued to snap at it. Slashing at the beasts, the mercenary managed to drive back the dogs a foot. It was just a foot, but it was enough. Lucia lurched awkwardly to the side with the sudden surge of movement. As they sped away, the two mercenaries and the four dogs faded in the distance, the howls and battle cries bounced off the cobblestone road and echoed into the sky.

"We can't just leave them," Samuel called to Luvas, "They'll be torn to pieces!"

"I am not going back there!" The Imperial ignored the boy and pushed the horse into a gallop.

Spinning around to glare at the man, Runa spat, "You call yourself a mercenary, but you're nothing but a coward!"

"Listen young lady, I -" Luvas was cut short by a wild bellow.

A young Redguard wielding a crude green blade threw himself onto the Imperial. He quickly and repeatedly thrust the sword into the Imperial's leather cuirass, a sickening shredding sound emanated with each plunge of the blade. All the while, he screamed like a madman. "Whatcha gonna do? Huh!? Whatcha gonna do!?"

With a terrible scream, the cart came to a crashing halt, throwing the children into a jumble amidst the stack of supplies. Lucia raised her head, looking past the Redguard, she saw a male Orc smashing a battleaxe into the decapitated horse. Lucia's stomach twisted at the stench of the dead and the blood in the air. Throwing his head over the side of the cart, Hroar retched.

Something jumped onto the cart, turning every child's head save for Hroar who was still emptying the contents of his stomach. An unhelmed Nordic woman clad in steel armor strode up to the children. "You picked a bad day to get lost." She threw Francois behind her and out of the cart. Samuel and Aventus tackled the woman, driving her off the cart and narrowly missing the Breton boy on the ground. The bandit recovered from her stupor and smashed her armored fists into the boys' faces.

Hroar tumbled off the side of the cart, Blaise and Sofie scrambled to their feet, and Alesan and Runa jumped onto the bandit brawling with their friends. Everything was happening so fast, Lucia could barely keep up. Shaking, she rose to her feet, unsure of what to do. The sickening shredding finally ceased and Lucia whirled around just in time to see the Redguard divert his attention to her. Lucia stood, paralyzed in fear as his blood-covered hand reached out to her.

A triangular bit of metal protruded from the man's throat and his hands reached up, grabbing uselessly at the obstruction. He fell to the road with a THUMP.

Something snatched Lucia's hand and she screamed in terror. Her eyes met Aventus' and he barked, "Let's go!" He dragged her off of the cart and yelled at the others, "C'mon!"

Lucia caught a glimpse of the Nordic woman rising to her feet when an arrow pierced her skull. As the corpse fell to the ground, the girl swiveled her head away, having no desire to divulge the secrets behind dead eyes. The nine orphans sprinted off the road and into the forest. Soon they were breathless and began to cough up blood, but they did not stop. Anyone could have slain the bandits: other mercenaries, another bandit clan, guards, and the children did not wish to take their chances with others.

No, they would rather face what lay in the depths of the forest.

Finally, Aventus halted. The others collapsed to the ground, swallowing gulps of air. "Do we have everyone?" he asked, panting.

"One, two, three, four..." Samuel began to count. "Nine. That's everyone."

Everyone sighed with relief. Lucia looked at Aventus and nodded, "Thank you."

The boy managed to smile, "Of course."

It was then Lucia noticed the gash on Aventus' forehead. "You're hurt!"

Wiping his brow, the boy stared at the back of his hand, "It's nothing."

"Who do you think killed them? The bandits." Blaise asked.

Aventus shook his head, "Don't know. It could've been anyone." The group was finally catching their breath and they turned their heads this way and that, assessing their surroundings. Lucia stared off in the distance, remembering the screams of the mercenaries and the bandits... and the Redguard reaching for her. She shook her head, forcing the memory out of her mind.

"Great, now we're lost. Nice going, Aventus." Francois mumbled bitterly.

Before the other boy could throw back a retort, Alesan pointed up towards the sky. "A watchtower! I'll bet we can find our way from there!"

"Why not just climb a tree?" Hroar gazed up at one of the thin trees.

"These trees look pretty young, I don't think they could hold our weight," Alesan explained, kicking a tree. "The tower is made of stone and it will let us see for miles and miles! Besides, when will we see another watchtower?" Alesan was already running up the hill towards the tower.

Samuel began to run after their friend, "Al, wait!"

Ignoring the call, Alesan bounded up the hill, not bothering to wait for his friends.

When the others caught up with him, passing through the archway in the stone wall, they were out of breath again. They leaned on their knees in an attempt to recover. After several gasps for air, the group made their way towards the tower.

Sofie stooped down to pluck several mountain flowers of various shades from the path. "The flowers in the Rift are so much more vibrant than the ones in Eastmarch..." A blast of wind shot through each of them and the orphans were painfully reminded of the morning rain and their lack of proper equipment. In the rush of adrenaline and fear, the children had not even considered bringing along the pelts which had kept them warm for several hours.

"At least the tower will give us some shelter from the wind." Runa rubbed her hands together vigorously.

The nine hurried up the stairs, but Lucia paused. Pointing a quivering finger at the ground she whispered, "Wh-what is that?" The others turned and gazed at the heap of decaying goat heads. Maggots and flies squirmed through eye sockets and cheeks. Coagulated blood coated the ground, glistening like scrib jelly. Hroar heaved once again, chunks spraying into the organic mass. Humongous brown tusks jutted out here and there. "Those are mammoth tusks." she breathed in realization. Lucia remembered the giants and their mammoths tromping on the horizon, through the plains of Whiterun not far from her parents' farm.

Mammoths were gigantic, only strong warriors and fools dared to face them. There must have been at least five tusks in the pile. Whatever had killed the mammoths would be a force to be reckoned with.

"I-I think we should go guys." Hroar began stepping backwards, his eyes darted around in search of some unseen threat.

Lucia glanced at Aventus for guidance. The dark-haired boy stared hard at the mass. Finally, he spoke, "I do not think we should worry."

"Don't need to worry!? We can barely defend ourselves! How can we expect to face whatever did this!?" Francois hissed with dread.

"Look at the heads," Aventus pointed, "There's almost no meat on them anymore. That means they've been here for quite some time. Whatever did this, obviously isn't here anymore."

"But what if it's inside..." Sofie's voice fell silent.

A low, rumbling growl sent a cold shiver of fear up Lucia's spine, and the children spun around to the archway they had passed through mere moments before. The light brown sabrecat stood beneath the stone structure, its amber eyes locked onto its prey.

"Why does everything want to eat us!?" Runa yelled in exasperation.

The cat curled up its lip and snarled. It leaned back on its haunches and exploded forward, hurtling towards the children. With a scream, it fell to the ground, an arrow stuck in the scruff of its neck.

Torn between running up the stairs to possible safety and meeting the newcomer, the children remained standing upon the stairs.

A hooded woman in studded hide armor knelt over the sabrecat and picked through it. As she skinned the animal and packed the pelt into her pack, the children stared. The woman wordlessly and methodically sliced skin from muscle and fat. Lucia barely managed to hear the words "tastes disgusting" before the woman stood up. The newcomer rose to her feet and spoke in an exotic tone, "Hello there." Several greetings were muttered by the orphans and the strange woman folded her arms across her chest. "You kids didn't happen to be traveling with a shirtless, red Argonian, were you?"

"Ye-" Hroar's excited cry was silenced by Aventus' punch.

"Why do you want to know?" The boy stood protectively in front of his friends. Samuel took position beside Aventus, the pair had always been the most vigilant when it came to the group and their well-being.

The Imperial woman smiled kindly. "Gah-Thux and I go way back. After I dispatched the group of bandits, you ran off. He asked me to find you."

"Wait," Runa spoke up, "That was you?"

The huntress pulled a red-orange tailed arrow from her quiver and offered it to the girl. "You can compare them to the ones in the bandits." Runa led the others down the steps and accepted the token, examining it. Gesturing for the children to follow her, the woman brandished a walking stick and began to make her way down the hill. "Or you can say hello to the hagravens for me."

"Hagravens!?" Francois squeaked.

Turning back to smile, the huntress said, "I hear they like to feast on the flesh of young girls. Keeps their skin hydrated and springy." The orphans clambered to catch up with the woman. "I'm Jasia, by the way. Jasia Vesnox."

Picking her way over the wolf carcasses, Lucia heard Aventus inquire, "How did you manage to find us?"

"I'm a hunter," Jasia shrugged, "It's what I do." Her eyes lit up as if she had remembered something and she began to jump as she walked, almost skipping.

"Isn't it 'huntress'?" Sofie asked.

"Hunter, huntress. Both hunt. Does it matter?"

The sun finally began to break through the clouds, warming the children's skin and beginning to dry their clothes. Lucia noted how, despite the fact they were walking, they seemed to move much faster through the forest than before. Before long, they had reached the road. Gah-Thux and the female Nordic mercenary were sifting through what remained of the cart. The woman had removed her helmet, revealing a short cut of auburn hair. There was no sign of the other two mercenaries.

"I found them!" Jasia called in a sing-song voice.

The Argonian looked up from his work and a look of relief washed over his face. "Thanks Jas."

"Sabrecat had followed them while they were on their way to Darklight Tower. I found them just in time. Poor kids were almost hagraven food."

Eyes narrowing at the last sentence, Gah-Thux queried, "Wait, I thought you had cleared that place out a couple of days ago."

Jasia shrugged. "Yeah, but they didn't know that." She looked at the children, then to the Argonian, then back again, ignoring their gawking faces. "Where were you all headed anyway?"

"Ivarstead. I was going to drop them off there and then the mercs and I would head up to the Throat for some work."

"'Mercs'? Where are the others?" Jasia looked genuinely confused.

The Nordic woman's voice cracked, "My brother and..." she blinked back tears forming in the corners of her eyes. After a shaky intake of breath, she continued, "Luvas were both killed this morning." Her lips began to quake from her grief. She clutched something in her hand and walked to the edge of Lake Honrich for a moment alone.

"Luvas was her fiance." Gah-Thux explained once the woman was out of earshot.

No one said anything for a while. It was Jasia who finally broke the silence, switching the subject. "After Ivarstead, where were you thinking of going?"

Lucia glanced at Aventus, he was the one who had devised the plan after all. Surely he knew where they should go next... The dark-haired boy allowed a sheepish expression to come over his face. After a moment, he regained his composure and looked Jasia square in the eye. "Anywhere but here, ma'am."

Smiling, Jasia stated, "That's what I like to hear!" She gasped suddenly and her eyes lit up, she clasped her hands together beneath her chin. "Do you need a guide!? I can be your guide, if you want!"

"Uh..." Aventus looked to his friends for support.

Before anyone could respond, Gah-Thux exclaimed, "Jasia, 'do they need a guide'. Look at them! They wouldn't last a night in the wilderness by themselves!" Lucia turned to Gah-Thux's voice and noted the sly grin upon his face. It did not seem they had much of a choice at the moment. However, his logic was sound. None had ventured across Skyrim save for Aventus. If the group wanted to survive, they would need a mentor.

Clapping her hands excitedly, Jasia whooped with joy. "It's settled then! C'mon kids! Let's head off into the wilderness, hunt some deer, club some rabbits, and try not to starve or freeze to death!" Without another word, the huntress skipped into the forest, giving the children two options: follow or be left to the elements to fend for themselves.


Things are really going to pick up now, so if you didn't like how slow it was or how it doesn't really mesh in with the Main Quest, here it comes.

Next stop: Helgen. And if the PCs are getting on your nerves, don't worry, they'll be taking a backseat.

Semester is coming to a close and I'm actually really getting into this story. So - no promises! - but we might be seeing two chapters a week starting the week after next (finals next week, yay) up until mid-August. Don't quote me, but that might be a thing.

Remember, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please either PM me or send me a review.

Thanks for reading guys, I really appreciate it!