A/N: Hey its been a while! Sorry about the wait, if anyone was waiting. For the record if did not take me for years to make this. I honestly just gave up. After finding the pieces to the story and remembering just how much I enjoyed writing I decided to pick it up again. I'm also working on an original story I found with this one. I do fully intend to finish this as well after I brush up the story board which I will admit was horrible. I can't even read that first chapter. This one is actually tow different chapter I edited and joined together. Hope you guys like it and see you in eight years.(That was a joke I swear)

Brother Tolan

27, Sun's Dusk, 4E 205-

"No."

"It would be faster if you helped."

"I said no."

"You just have to…"

"I am not touching that fucking spider, Al!" He knew I hated spiders. The eight legged freaks had jumped us almost two hours ago. Just when I thought this was the smoothest 'adventure' I'd ever been on.

"I'm almost done anyway," He called back.

I was a few yards off and downwind of him. I couldn't stand the stench of those damn things. I sat on a fallen tree, drumming my fingers on Grohiik's haft the blade resting at my feet. Looking down I noticed my dragonbone boots are covered in spider blood. Which explained why I could still smell the damn things. Gods I hate spiders. I got to my feet and checked myself for more. My gauntlets were clean so was my guild master armor. I found a dried splatter of green goo on my bare arm and nearly throw up the deer I ate this morning. Shouldn't have cut the sleeves off. I swore this little 'adventure' just kept getting worst. After yesterday I'd hoped it would, at least, be less annoying.

We left early in the morning but spent the day before preparing. At least Al did. I hoped in the excitement I might be able to ease my way out of paying for the celebration party. Shivani had somehow tracked me down while I was running around the city. She and Vekel tallied up the drinks, the food, the drinks, and some broken furniture. Which summed up to three hundred forty-six thousand five hundred and forty-two septims plus a favor. Shivani had genuinely felt sorry for me (not enough to cut me loose), Vekel laughed hard enough to kill himself. I literally gave away a small chest full of gold. I had never gotten sick before but I was very sure the feeling was akin to what I felt giving away all that gold. Alain had actually spent the day getting ready for our adventure (hate that word). After being robbed by my friends I made sure the city wouldn't fall apart. I left Brynjolf and Karliah in charge of the guild to make sure everyone kept a low profile. Maven hadn't taken the news about the vampires well, so of course she blamed me for it. She doubled the guard at night and set a curfew for the safety of the city. After that she charge her Thane, me, with solving this problem as soon as possible. At least she didn't try to make me stay to protect the damn city. Considering the outstanding job the guards had done the other night. I left the actual protection of the city to Lydia, Argis, and Iona. They would be able to handle anything. Now I just had to worry about a ballsy vampire clan and the hunters that had somehow set up shop in my back yard.

I had hoped that our trip to Fort Dawnguard would be quick and easy. Al and I ran through the forest of barren trees, as far from the road as we could. I didn't think it would be much of a problem if someone saw us. It's not as if stranger things didn't happen out on the road. Seeing two people sprinting fast enough to almost blur your vision wouldn't be the strangest thing in Skyrim. It was however attention grabbing. So we stayed in the trees to simplify things. We made good time at Al's fastest pace which was pretty damned fast. I had to put in a good effort to just stay ahead of him. At some point during the day our run turned into race. It was fun even when he blew past me and I had to give chase. I couldn't remember the last time I'd done something so genuinely childish. We could have made it to the Dawnguard's fort before sundown If not for the fucking spiders. We were a few miles south of Black-Brier Lodge when we ran into them. If I had been paying more attention to my surroundings, and not trying to outdo a pup, I'd have notice them sooner. There was four of them, all about waist high. If it wasn't for Al I'd have ran straight past them. Since he was there I didn't want to look like a milk-drinker. They were a good distraction from the race I was losing, no matter how disgusting. Still I would have preferred to fight four giants over them. Giants were edible at least and a great deal less creepy. The fight was relatively short but Alain wanted to try milking the venom from them. That's what took ages.

Back on my fallen tree I resisted the urge to wipe the green blood off because I'd have to do it with my hands. I couldn't wait to see how the rest of this fucking 'adventure' went. The sun had disappeared behind the Throat of The world over an hour ago. True to his word the kid came jogging around the side of the rock. He wore a full set of thieves' guild armor his bow on his back along with a quiver filled of ebony arrows. He also had Chillrend belted on his hip. Lydia had been teaching him how to use it. I didn't see the point now that he was on his way to being a master bowmen. I guess it was good for a backup weapon. I personally preferred my claws if I was to go without my axe. He stuffed a few black vials into a pouch on his belt.

"It's about time," I yawned. "I'm starving. That pond we past might have fish or mudcrabs in it."

"I hope its fish, mudcrab shells get stuck in my teeth," He ran his tongue over his fangs picking at shells that weren't there yet. His ice blue eyes still lit up at the thought of food.

Al followed me back to the pond we passed about an hour or two ago. I listened as he told me how useful the frostbite venom was. He tactfully avoided talking about his first time milking a spider. I could tell it shaved off years of his life holding it in. He was always talkative especially when he was around me. That is when he wasn't asking me a million questions at every waking moment. Sometimes I wished he'd latch on to Argis but then I'd probably miss him. I stepped out of the trees and onto a beaten path leading west down to the road. We passed over it and around some large boulders to a small misshapen pond. It was partly surrounded by trees and rocks hiding it from view. It was fed by a small stream coming from the road. The first thing I noticed was a large humped mudcrab as it hunkered down just inside the shallows of the pond. There was only six of them to split between us but it was enough to fill our stomachs. After finishing we settled down for the night next to the pond. I laid Grohiik down and began unstrapping my boots and gauntlets. All did the same with his weapons before rummaging through his pockets. I was just getting my last boot off when he pulled out a small molted green rock.

"What's that?" I asked.

"I found it on one of the spiders," He said staring at it. "I think it's an egg."

"Why do you have it?" I tried hard not to sound disgusted.

"Well you can use it for alchemy," He held it up so I could get a better look.

"No shit?" That was the first thing I'd ever learned about alchemy. "So what can you do with it?"

He shrugged, "I don't know yet."

"Well how do you figure it out?"

"You have to sample it," At my blank stare he continued. "You know, eat it."

"What dumbass told you that," My stomach revolted at the idea.

"Well…my mom," His voice was quiet

Shit, "Al I didn't mean-"

"It's okay." He said. "It is kind of stupid."

We sat in silence as night rolled over Skyrim leaving only the pale moonlight that peaked through the clouds. Alain almost never talked about his mom and I didn't know if that was a good thing or not. I knew me calling his dead mother a dumbass was a definitely not. He stared out over the pond, knees drawn into his chest and arms wrapped around them. In the silence I wished Lydia would appear and fix this. She'd probably nock my teeth down my throat but I deserved it.

"Did she…uh…teach you how to make potions?" I ventured.

"A little." He stared at the pond with tears in his eyes. I felt like even more of an ass.

"You know, when my mom was teaching me enchanting." I stared at the torchbugs as they flew overhead. "I thought it was a waste of time."

"What?" He looked at me confused

I smiled, "Yeah I hated it."

"But you enchant everything." He dried his eyes on his sleeve. "You even put a fire enchantment on that broom."

"And Iona almost burned Lydia's house down with it!" The memory of Iona and Lydia frantically stomping out the fire was priceless. Argis ran in and grabbed the broom to help put it out but only made worst. We both started laughing at the thought. It broke the sullen mood and made the cold night slightly warmer. When we stopped the silence came back but not in the same way. Not nearly as painful, thank The Nine. We both laid back staring at the dark clouds blotting the sky.

"Enchanting is sort of my way of remembering her," I told him eventually. "The way you remember your mother is not stupid. No matter what it is or what anyone says, alright."

He turned to me eyes still a little watery, "Thanks, Red."

"Yeah, well try not to crunch too loud on your baby spiders." I turned over to go to sleep and so I didn't see him put that thing anywhere near his mouth.

I woke with a cold feeling in my chest that had nothing to do with the weather. I knew I had a nightmare but I couldn't recall it. As I stared into the darkness I saw a fine layer a snow had covered everything. I lay still waiting for the chill to fade from my chest. Al was using my back as a pillow his rhythmic snoring was the only sound in the early morning. I waited awhile before finally getting up waking the kid in the process. After dressing and a quick drink from the pond we were off. On the way Al shot down a deer for our breakfast, between us it wasn't much but it was better than nothing. Sometime later it started to snow big heavy snow flakes adding to what already covered the ground. We reached the place Al pointed out on my map by midday. It turned out to be a fucking cave leading into the mountain side just off the road to Morrowind.

"He said Dayspring Canyon," Al looked at my map and then back at the cave entrance. There were two lit braziers on either side but otherwise it looked like any other cave.

"You said it was a fort," I looked over his shoulder at the map.

"The Orc said it was a fort inside Dayspring Canyon," He said defensively.

"Well this is the smallest fucking canyon I've seen in my life," A growled creeped into my voice.

"Has the map ever been wrong before?" He asked as he rolled it up.

I didn't know exactly, it originally belonged to my grandfather. The map was magic that I knew for sure. I was unwilling to disenchant it to find out how it really work. It showed where you were as a small white arrow that moved as you did. If the person holding it knew of a place but the map hadn't been there it showed up gray. When you brought the map to the place it turned white and its name appeared next to it in small letters (no idea how it knew the names). When underground I could flip it over and see the immediate area as I went. Over the years I've had the thing it had never been wrong not even once. The damn thing even knew the way through Sovengard.

"If the map says this is the place then this is it," I growled. "But I swear by Shor if these people are just a ragtag band of dumbass's living in a cave…"

I headed toward the mouth of the cave taping Grohiik's cold haft on my shoulder. I couldn't believe I ran all the way out here to talk to some jackass in a cave. People that lived in caves were never right in the head. The Forsworn were a very good example. Sapphire was right these fuckers where no doubt lunatics. Al grabbed my shoulder before I could go in. I was pretty sure he was about to ask me not to kill anyone.

"Should we go in there like this, Red?" He raised a clawed hand and wiggled his pointed ears. "They might…"

"Alright," I sighed

We both shifted back to our human forms Al had an easier time than I did. When it was over our claws, fangs, glowing eyes, and pointed ears were gone. My skin felt hot and an itchy tightness settled in my chest. It was easy to ignore drunk but sober was a different story. Al looked completely fine as usual. I took a deep breath before I walked into the cave. Al followed, bow drawn arrow ready it wasn't his first cave. If the cave didn't end in a giant cavern with a fort carved out on the inside everyone dies. We walked in silence through the dark tunnel just barley wide enough for us to walk abreast. I had no idea how 'normal' people did this. My night vision in human form was terrible. After almost an hour of tripping and stumbling I was ready to eat the first living thing I found alive. Finally we saw daylight and the tunnel widened until it ended in a large snow covered pass. We kept going until it ended suddenly and we walked into an actual fucking canyon. The place seemed to be caught in a perpetual spring. It was filled with trees still sporting their leaves with no sign of falling or changing color. A water fall fed a small lake that had absolutely no ice covering it. Even the air had no chill of the coming winter in it. Al and I looked at one another puzzled. I hadn't expected this nor had I ever heard of a place like this but I shrugged it off. This was weird but I've seen weirder. I kept moving Al followed bow still drawn staring at the trees. We made it to the edge of the lake I could see that the top of water fall was covered in ice. It looked like it melted as soon as it entered the canyon. Al came up next to me and elbowed my side. I turned around and noticed someone was making their way toward us from a hill further in. They were making far too much noise to be sneaking up on someone. That or they had a death wish. When he got close I saw that he was a boy only few years older than Alain. He had golden hair with blue eyes and was dressed like a farm hand with a rusty axe at his side. Most definitely not a hunter and not the reason I was here.

"Hello there," He called in a boyish voice driving home just how young he was. "I was hoping I'd meet someone-"

I walked past him up the hill, not even sparing him a glance. I wasn't trying to make friends with random strangers. At least, not that one. I followed the beaten path guessing it must be the way to the fort. Al lagged behind to talk to the boy. They followed a few feet behind me and with nothing better to do I listened to their conversation.

"I didn't mean to offend," The new boy whispered.

"It alright he doesn't like talking to new people," Alain told him. "I'm Al."

"I'm Agmaer nice to meet you," Replied Agmaer happily. "Here to join the Dawnguard?"

"Yeah and you?" Al asked

"That's right," Agmaer stated proudly

"Why where you down here, then?"

"I um-" Agmaer coughed then whispered. "I got nervous on the way up."

"About what?"

"Well…I've never done anything like this before, to be honest." Agmaer admitted. "I just wanted to help out, you know. Join he cause. What about you?"

"Same, sort of." Al said vaguely.

"Isran will probably sign you up easy." Agmaer said. "Your dad looks like he's killed plenty of vampires. I've never actually seen a vampire before. Wow…that must be the place!"

The new boy was right that had to be the place. Around a small section of the mountain awaited Fort Dawnguard. Massive and imposing didn't even begin to describe it. Two towers stood apart from the fort connected by bridges. The battlements where nothing but rows of archer-slits. At least I didn't have to worry about them being a bunch of crazies. These people had to be the real deal, maybe they'd be useful after all. This place could hold a gods-be-damned army. All using sliver weapons. Shit, that could be a problem. I shook the thought but tightened my grip on Grohiik. I kept moving following the path around a tower then up a hill. I passed an Orc firing a strange looking contraption at a target. He was dressed in even stranger looking armor. Beside the Orc the place was completely deserted. It gave off an odd feeling that struck a chord in my memory. Al stopped to talk to the Orc Leaving me to walk in silence with Agmaer. He glanced at me a few times but kept quiet thankfully. We came up and around a hill to the large metal doors that were obviously the only way in. A man lounged on the steps leading to the doors. He had short brown hair and a thick beard over tan skin. Dressed in the same style armor as the Orc I pasted earlier. A thick leather cuirass that reached his knees fitted with small plates of metal (steel maybe). Uglier than a troll but it looked sturdy and completely covered his neck. Agmaer walked right up to him, back straight shoulders squared.

"I'm here to j-" He started

"Isran is inside. He's the one you need to impress." The man interrupted. Agmaer coughed and whispered a thank you then strode through the doors looking confident and scared to death at once. After a second of inner debate I donned a disarming smile and introduced myself.

"Names Red," I said warmly. It was by far my favorite ails and the least known.

"Nords do come up with the strangest names," He got up and shook my hand a real smile splitting his face. "Celann. It's about time we got someone who looks like they know what they're doing." He took a long look at Grohiik resting on my shoulder and whistled. "Bet you can do some real damage with that thing."

"Have you known Isran long?" I asked when he let go of my hand.

"He joined the Vigilant of Stendarr same time I did," He answered. "We left the order together to strike out on our own. The Vigilant were too soft hearted unwilling to do what was needing. Our partnership worked great for a while but some of Isran's 'methods' became a bit much for me. We didn't part on god turns to sum it up. So when he came asking for my help I knew it must be bad. I was right."

So Isran was a zealot. Spectacular.

"You don't use silver weapons?" I asked genuinely curious.

"No. We have something even better." He drew his axes and handed it to me. "See the cravings are enchantments. These are specially made for killing vampires and since it carved into the metal they can still be enchanted."

After turning it over a bit I handed back to him. We shook hands in parting and I headed toward the door. Before I could get in Alain caught up. He had the brightest smile I'd seen on him in a long time. He held the same contraption the Orc had and a small sack of what looked like miniature arrows. Whatever it was it had him near to bursting with joy. I was suddenly reminded that he was still just a wide eyed pup. He opened his mouth to no doubt assault me with the story about his new toy. I cut him off before he could, saying we should get inside. He nodded happily and followed me in. I knew I'd have to sit through the tale eventually but for the moment I was spared. Just inside the door I found Agmaer frozen solid staring at two men arguing in the center of a huge anteroom. Continuing my trend of ignoring him I took a good look at the inside of the fort. I suddenly placed the familiar feeling I got outside. The fort was a dead dragon. Once a powerful force of nature, now a skeleton of its former glory. It still had the look of a dragon still big and intimidating but still dead and harmless. That was Fort Dawngaurd. There were cobwebs over everything and it felt abandoned even with people in it. It was dark, dirty, and very noticeably lacking the trained silver-sword-swinging hunter army. I didn't know if I should be pissed or happy about that. I wanted a bunch of idiots I could manipulate but not so many that they'd be a threat if they wised up. Three people was far below the midway point but I'd take what I could get. I turned my attention to the two men arguing. One I pegged as a Vigilant of standard by his robes. He was tall, pale, and balding, with grey sideburns about a mile long. The other looked to be a Redguard dark brown skin shaved head and a long beard. He was dressed in a set of a Dawnguard armor – Isran.

"So now you all come begging for my help," Isran snickered. "Keeper Carcette suddenly find the worth in this crumbling old ruin?"

Tolan hung his head, "They're dead Isran… Keeper Carcette, our brothers and sisters at the hall. All of them dead," He looked up angrily meeting Isran eyes. "You were right. Is that what you want! You were right we were wrong is that not enough for you?"

"Yes well… I never wanted any of this to happen," Isran said subdued. "I tried to warn… I am sorry Tolan."

The Vigilant were dead. That brought a real smile to my face. The Vigilant weren't the most competent hunters around they were the most annoying. They had a bad habit of figuring out what I was when I wasn't human form. Their attacks weren't the problem, clawless mudcrabs where harder to kill. It was them screaming werewolf in the middle of a crowd beforehand. Dealing with the people after that was damn near impossible. It looked like those days were over. When Isran approached me my smile was genuine.

"So who are you two? What do you want?" He asked gruffly.

"I'm Red this is Al, were here to kill vampires," I proclaimed, still smiling. It wasn't a lie. "When do we start?"

"Um well… I do need someone out there takin the fight to these monsters." He sized me and Al up. "Tolan was just telling me about a crypt the vampires have taken a sudden interest in."

"Yes it was something we found behind the hall," Tolan said. "Dimhollow. Brother Adalvald was convince it held an old vampire artifact. It was too dangerous to go deep inside but-"

"So go there and kill everything without a heartbeat," I interrupted. I was pretty sure vampires still had a heartbeat. "Sounds like a plan I'll get to it."

"I think I'm beginning to like you." Isran smirked. It looked out of place on his face.

"I'll meet you there," Tolan uttered turning toward the door.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Isran started. I wandered off as they started arguing Al followed close behind. Having no good reason not to I decided to case the place. When we were out of earshot and line of sight, we split up. I wandered through the empty fort lifting spare Septims and a few jewels as well. Though they didn't use silver weapons they kept a lot of silver rings and necklaces on hand. I stayed clear of those. The place barely had anything else of value, it really was just a crumbling ruin. Damn, I just quoted one of the Vigilant. What I did find in abundance is the miniature arrows Al was so excited about. I walked by the still arguing Tolan and Isran then up to the second floor. Though the place was in shambles they managed to set up a state-of-the-art torture room. Of all the things that needs to be new in this place the bastard chose torture tools. Only a few feet from his bed no less. Isran had a firm grasp of his priorities. I headed down then up another flight of stairs. Out a door I walked onto the narrow bridge of the first tower. There I finally found something useful, a war-axe the same make as Celann's. I tossed it in the air and watched it pass handle over blade before catching it. It was very light, I had an idea about what I could use it for. As I wedged it into my belt I heard Alain's voice. I looked to find him just above me on the main structure. He waved at me through an archer-slit still smiling. I shifted then jumped up catching the battlements and easily swinging over to land behind him. We pooled our finding together. In all we had a hundred gold, a few gems, another war axe, and a lot of the little arrows Al called crossbow bolts. The kid had avoided the silver as well. We got rid of a gaudy shield and a just as useless warhammer. There was no point in splitting the take so I let Alain keep it. I took the other war axe when he said he didn't want it. After grudgingly shifting back to my human form we left the fort. We passed Agmaer practicing with a crossbow. He and Al exchanged goodbyes and good-lucks before we left. I did the same with Celann when we passed him also. When we reached the small lake we both shift and get our gear ready for the run back to Riften. Al stuffed his new crossbow and bolts in a pack he found at the fort. I tightened my belt around my new axes and strapped Grohiik to my back. The overcast made it hard to tell the time exactly but by the growing darkness it was probably the end of the day. We ran out of the canyon picking up speed. I led the way back through the cave easily this time. We made it to the end in only a few minutes. I caught someone's scent and nosily skid to a halt only a few feet from the exit Al seconds behind me. I motioned for him to be quiet hoping that whoever was on the other side hadn't heard me. Someone called out. It was Tolan, the Vigilant of Stendarr from the fort. I forgot about him, Damn it. An annoyed growl slipped out of me prompting the aging Nord to ask if anyone was there. I whispered to Al to shift but he already had. After following suit we calmly walked out the mouth of the cave into the light snow fall. Tolan was a few feet away with a warhammer in hand. Unlike the Dawnguard he used one made of silver. The business ended was a studded square with a wicked looking spike on the other end and a haft made of solid silver. I once again dawned a disarming smile but loosened Grohiiks strap.

"Hello again brother Tolan," I said feigning warmth.

"It just you," The Vigilant relaxed. "Thought some beast was in there."

"Nope just us," Al said quickly.

"Right… I guess you too are headed to Dimhollow then?" asked Tolan. He begin strapping the hammer to his back.

"That's right," I said still ready to cut him in half. "Going to head back home first."

"I'm headed to an outpost called Stendarr's beacon," He said grudgingly. "We might have an extra bed roll or two if you want a safe place to sleep tonight.

"We live pretty close and moms going get worried soon," Alain said then looked at me. "Right Dad?"

"Your right we better hurry," I managed to keep a straight face. "We'll have to pass but thanks anyway."

Tolan seemed relived as much as I was that we wouldn't be going with him. He told us to be careful saying that the Rift wasn't safe at night. We nodded and quickly walked off. We stayed on the road for a good while before heading into the barren trees. Sure we weren't being followed we shifted again then broke into a full sprint back to Riften. We paused at the pond from the night before only to decide we both wanted to go straight home. As night fell the snow kicked up but the cold didn't bother us too much. The run back to the city was thankfully free of spiders but without the distraction the run quickly turned into another race. One that I was very hard pressed not to lose. We reached the southeast side of the wall by early morning, or at least Alain did. I was right behind him but just barely. He waited for me to catch up to him before jumping over the wall. I landed next to the statue of Mara in the graveyard. Seconds behind him. He smiled broadly at me as if expecting something. I looked down at him, a mix of pride and annoyance filling me. As I walked toward the guilds hidden entrance I said flatly: "I let you win." The walk into the cistern was filled with did not's and did too's.

The next three days passed quickly as Alain and I got ready for our trip north. I filled everyone in on what I've learned. I apparently helped Sapphire win a bet with half the guild. The bet being Al and I find a bunch of idiots hold up in some ruin or cave. To be completely honest she was right. Brynjolf mellowed out and had everyone working again I let him tell Maven what was up. Lydia and the others find the news more than a little funny. Especially Iona since she compared them to the metal-heads (Steel-hunters). Al stayed at Lydia and Argis' house but I cherished my eyesight too much to chance that. I slept in the cistern. I took our new toys to Balimund forge for some improvements. After that I put fire enchantments on all of them considering what we'd be up against. Alain also asked me to enchant his bow with the same moonlight enchant as Grohiik he named it Mariana. It was his mother's name. With my first blunder fresh in my mind I just tell him it's a good name. I give him a jeweled necklace so he could it make magic resistant. Mostly to avoid saying anything stupid I went off to buy supplies and dried food. The weather got progressively worst as the days went by. Over a foot of snow hit Riften but by Skyrim standards that was light. It would be a lot worst the further north we got. By time we were finally ready to go it was the first of Evening Star. We both had thick white bear skin cloaks with hoods. We had packs filled with bandages, healing potions, bedrolls, water, and dry food in case we got too lazy to run down a deer. Or a Thalmor justiciar. I doubted we'd need any of the other stuff. We healed fast so there was no need for potions and bandages. The cold could get uncomfortable but not much more. That being said I've never found much reason to run bare assed into a snowstorm. If extreme exposure was on the list of things that could kill us, I'd rather someone else find out the hard way. Lydia also insisted we take all this crap for an emergency. If I was alone she'd have watched me march out stark naked and not bat an eye. As we left, our little pack hugged us goodbye and told us to be careful. At least that's what they told Al. They told me not to get him into trouble or piss anyone else off. Lydia just punched me in the arm and said: "Don't die, jackass."

"…I still say it's about time for them to let that go," I grumbled as we trudge through the snow. It had been cleared form the road somewhat it but was still thick. I pulled my hood down against the snow fall.

"It was an entire coven of witches," Al stated. "You still don't even remember what you did to them."

"It was a whole year ago," I said defensively. "Besides they only attacked us like… eight times."

"In the same week," Al chided.

The debate went on until we passed the stables. It only stopped when we spied a pale balding head. We both went quiet as we drew closer. The man's back was to the road as he talked to Hofgrir. He had on a big brown fur cloak so I couldn't see his face or the clothes underneath. I could only hope it wasn't who I thought it is. My hope was shattered when the icy wind blew in my face and carried an annoyingly familiar scent. Brother fucking Tolan's. I pulled my hood down further and so did Al. We picked up the pace walking quickly as possible without drawing attention. We didn't make it far.

"Hey there!" Tolan yelled out. We kept walking as if we didn't hear him. "Umm…ahh…RED! RED! Over here!" He called in a stuttering roar.

No way to pretend I hadn't hear that. Al and I looked at each other. Then we both shifted back to human form as quickly as possible. I hoped the distance and our thick white cloaks made the loss of height unnoticeable. After doing so I turned to judge his reaction. He was smiling and waving us back to the stables. I growled inwardly and stomped over to bastard. I tried very hard to get into character.

"Well if it isn't brother Tolan," I said through my fake smile.

"I didn't think I'd bump into you two again," He said.

"Me neither," My voice came out harsh. Al elbowed me.

"Thank Stendarr for that axe of yours otherwise I might not have noticed you," Tolan said with a sickening smile. "This may be a sign we should travel together."

"Oh fu-" Another swift elbow from Al cut me off. "Oh fine. Fine with me. Let's go." This couldn't get any fucking worse.

"What about your horses?" Tolan ask.

My shoulders fell, "What?"

"Your horses," He looked at me and Al confused. "You didn't plan on walking across Skyrim in winter…did you?"

"No," Al and I said in unison.

I bought two horses for me and Al. The horses got skittish around me, they didn't seem to mind Al. Besides wolves animals kept a good distance from me. Calming the horses took some time but we eventfully mounted and got moving. Al and Tolan's horses did their best to distance themselves from me and mine. Tolan said that the horses can sense my bad mood. Of course that's wasn't all he said. The man couldn't seem to shut his gob. Much like Alain except I didn't want to tear Alain's face off and eat it.

"I'm actually glad I notice you. I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day." Tolan ranted kicked his horse up to mine. "Talking to Isran can be…trying. But it was wrong of me to act like that."

I mumble something that even I'm unsure of before kicking my horse ahead. From there I can hear Tolan strike up a conversation with Al. Mostly about why I'm so grumpy. Al tells him I don't like horses, which isn't a lie and he buys it. When Al ask him what the Vigilant of Stendarr are I block them out. I tried to think of any reason for use to part ways and failed. It made no sense for us to not travel with him. We were going to the same place for the same reason. It would be strange for us not to travel together. I needed the Dawnguard for the time being. If we left Tolan and he got to Dimhollow after us that would pose a few question. Ones I didn't need asked. Like: how did we get there and back so fast on foot and unscathed? That one always raised eyebrows. So I was stuck with him. Considering how slow the damn horses moved it would be a long time. I guided my horse off the road heading west toward Merryfair farm. When I hear Tolan's voice calling me I pretend not to hear him. I'm half way past the farm when he brings his horse next to mine.

"It'd best for us to stay on the main road," He says in a low voice.

"It's faster this way," I grated.

"The Rift isn't safe," Tolan persisted. "We should head through Eastmarch."

"The roads in Eastmarch will be covered in ice by now," I nearly growl. "Not the best conditions for ridding."

"Listen I didn't want to scare your boy but…" Tolan lowers his voice and leans over to me. "…there are werewolves in the Rift. It's not safe to travel at night."

"The moon won't be full for weeks," I tell him. If you only knew.

"And they haven't attacked anyone," Al says. I didn't notice him on the other side of Tolan. "Maybe they just keep to themselves."

"Well that maybe but I'd prefer not to be their first victim," Tolan pleaded

I smile evilly, "Then we better be quiet at night."

With no other objections Tolan subsided and was surprisingly quiet for a good long while. We traveled along the shore of Lake Honrich's frozen waters. The path is covered in snow but having traveled it frequently I'm able to go by memory. The day goes by quick unlike our progress. We made it to Faldar's tooth by mid-day. The bandits on the forts broken walls yelled down at us to back off. Though I was in the mood to kill something I held back. By time we made it to where the lake tapered off into a river the sun was setting. We kept moving until we reached the bridge at Heartwood mill. Tolan insisted we make camp soon after passing it. He droned on and on about the horses needing a rest. We weren't even a quarter of the way through the Rift. We made camp on the side of the road just to shut Tolan up. He built a fire and started making some heavily seasoned stew that makes even my stomach turn. Again Alain shows no sign of being bothered by something that makes me sick. As they eat next to the fire I sit alone chewing dried venison. I raked my brain for a way to get rid of the Vigilant. No matter how much I wanted to I couldn't just out right kill the man. Especially in front of Alain who for some reason had taken a liking to the annoying bastard. Tolan was apparently an accomplished alchemist. Because some god hated my guts. There wasn't a moment all day that they hadn't stopped talking. When the meal was over I took the first watch just to have a few hours I could sit shifted. When my turn was up I set my bed roll as far from Tolan as I could just in case I shifted in my sleep.

I wake Tolan and Al early so we can get moving hoping we can make some kind of head way. We all pack up quickly only for Tolan to make us wait for an hour while he prayed. Al elbowed me twice to get me to stop growling. When he was done we finally got moving. He and Al kept with the chatter. Tolan tells him a story about how he almost died from eating a deathbell when he was younger. I seethe when he tells of his miraculous recovery. The conversation drifted into the duties of the Vigilant. From what I could tell that consisted of routing out daedra worshipers(random witches) and most recently getting their asses handed to them by the vampires. No mention of actually killing a daedra like most Vigilant claim. I nearly laughed in joy when he says werewolves are abominations. Alain bristled at that.

"Some of them can't control themselves," Al said evenly. "That doesn't make them monsters."

"I take no pleasure I killing them," Tolan proclaimed. "But I cannot stand idly by while they take innocent lives."

"So you don't hunt them?" Alain asked noticeable calmer.

"Not unless I'm given no choice," Tolan said. "We are defenders not hunters."

The only thing missing from that bullshit was the smell. Alain was placated and that was the end of my short lived joy. The Vigilant killed werewolves on sight. In my case tried to. Not hunting them was only a formality. They'd kill you in your sleep and not lose a second of their own. I led us off the road again and ignored Tolan's warning. Cutting through the forest saved us time and we camped at the abandoned ruins of Bthalft. I cleared the place of bandits a while ago but never really figured out what the place was. It made a decent camp site while traveling. Alain and I fully shifted could have covered the same distance within a day, if not for Tolan. The man in question lit the large stone brazier in the middle of the ruin for cooking. I again ate alone wanting nothing to do with his cooking. I let someone else have first watch going straight to bed after eating. Al hastily woke me just a few hours later.

"What is it now?" I groaned still half asleep. The sight of Tolan with his silver warhammer in hand really woke me. I reached for Grohiik but Al stopped me.

"The wolves followed us." He whispered.

Tolan looked back with fear etched in his face, "I told you we shouldn't have come this way!"

I looked past him out into the night and see nearly a hundred glowing eyes in the dark. They didn't get too close probably because of the Tolan but I could hear their excited yelping. They wanted me and Al to go hunting with them, no doubt. In a pack the sure fire way to get fed was to follow the strongest wolf. Al and I were it.

"They're just normal wolves Tolan," I said through a yawn. "They're more afraid of you then you are of them."

Tolan looked back at me dumfounded, "You haven't lived in Skyrim long have you?"

"I'll prove it," I rolled to key feet and lazily walked over to him at the stairs. Then in a voice touched by my Thu'um I shouted, "Get out of here."

They didn't understand the words but they got the meaning. They all froze then scattered back into the snowy night. It made me feel bad but I could always make it up to them when I get back. I left Tolan at the stairs with his jaw hanging open. Alain shot me a wide smile before I went back to bed. I heard Tolan try and fail to start a sentence. The next morning Tolan's prayers are very short. We pushed the horse hard through the pass south of the Throat of The World. None of us wanting to be caught in avalanche of fresh snow. The way through proved to be tricky for the horses as we trudged through the ice and snow. That didn't stop Tolan from halting our progress to investigate an old Alchemist shack. Alain's shared excitement was the only thing that helped tolerate anther set back. It took us the better part of the day to finally make it to Helgan after that. I hadn't set foot in the place since my near execution and Alduin's intervention. I heard it was home to a successful band of bandits now. The jarl of Falkreath had recently sent word to Maven about receiving aid to deal with them. Of course she dumped the responsibility on her Thane (me). They were apparently better trained and armed than average bandits. They often raided small settlements and were wreaking havoc on the roads. At the moment they pose a convenient cover for the supply caravans the guild where targeting. I had put off dealing with for that and because it would annoying. An idea struck me like lighting. I slowed my horse down with a real smile splitting my face. I may not have been bastardly enough (or hungry enough) to kill Tolan in cold blood but it seemed like I wouldn't need to be. I brought my horse to a stop a good ways away from Helgans gate. Al and Tolan stopped talking long enough to notice. They came up next to me wondering what was going on.

"We'll be fighting together, right?" I ventured unable to stop smiling. "This is a perfect opportunity for us to test our team work."

"I am not opposed to the idea," Tolan responded slowly. "Though that fort seems formidable. Maybe we should pick another target."

"These bandit have been preying on innocent travelers," I informed him with an air of severity. "We should take this chance to stop them."

It worked like dragon fire on a troll. Tolan went on a rant about protecting the innocent and Stendarr. I promptly ignored every word. He agreed which is all I needed. Alain just stared at me through the whole ordeal. The three of us dismount, tied the horse to a tree, and got ready for the fight. At least that's what me and Al. Tolan just grabbed his hammer and a healing potion and wandered off to pray. I replaced the fur lined clothes with my guild master armor and dragonbone boots and gauntlets. I tightened my armor and put one of my new axes in my belt. Alain walked over to me after dressing himself in his full set of guild armor. He had Chillrend at his hip and Mariana stuffed into a full quiver over his shoulder. It looked like he'd be using his new crossbow which he had in hand with a pouch of bolts tied to his belt.

"What's really going on, Red?" He asked still looking skeptical.

"Just want to know if he can fight as well as he talks." I couldn't tell him what my plan. By the look on his face I needed to tell him something. "And you've never fought in human form before."

"So what," He said defensively. "I can handle it."

"You sure?" I asked steering him further from his question. "Won't be as fast or as stro-"

"I can handle it," He insisted with a growl.

We were luckily interrupted by Tolan's return from praying and we pushed on. I knew Alain could handle himself in a fight shifted or not. He had bested Lydia during sword training though she had gone easy on him. When he found out he'd been upset and challenged her. Since then he had yet to win again and it remained a sore spot on his ego. Prodding his temper may have been low but if it got Tolan away from him and me it was worth it. Once at the gate I pick the lock and walked in with Grohiik in hand. Two Nord bandits were just on the other side. They wore furs against the cold but carried steel shields and swords. They were surprised by the sight of us. Tolan screamed something about Stendarr before charging them with me. I brought Grohiiks icy blade down on the bandit's shield. The blow forced him to his knees. If I had been shifted that shield would be in pieces. The bandit went for my legs with his sword only to have it clang off my dragonbone boots. I smashed my knee into his face knocking him to the ground. I stepped in for the kill just as bolt planted itself in his chest. He went up in flame and died in an instant. I angrily turned back to Al to see him reload and glare back at me. I also saw that Tolan had fared better then I'd hoped. He had his bandit down and was delivering the final blow. We waited to see if we had been discovered but it seemed we had caught them unaware. The damned weather must have them lazing around somewhere. I convinced him to split up claiming we could cover more ground. Alain still sour with me about questioning him chose to stay with Tolan. They headed to the right toward the keep and I made for the ruined tower. When they were out of sight I shift feeling relived to stretch my claws again. I jumped over a heap of ruble blocking my way and follow the sound of voices. I could have just as easily followed the scent of unwashed bodies. I hated bandits, they stank, they were stupid, and they were everywhere you didn't want them to be. Just like fucking skeevers. I came to the house I once jump through to escape the tower beyond. The hole in the wall was still there and when I walked through I was met by six bandits. They were sitting at a table on the far side of the house. Five clad in steel armor and helms with steel swords at their sides. The last was a Redguard woman in leather armor standing in the back with a bow. When it takes them too long to notice me I tap Grohiiks pommel on the floor. Once noticed they got up spewing threats and laughing. When they finally attack so do I. Time to let out some pent up aggression.

I was in one's face before he really knew what going on. I swung Grohiik low and the cold blade cleaved straight through his armored abdomen. Both halves of him hit the floor. There was no shower of blood as the axes cold blade snap froze the wounds. I side stepped a sword thrust and brought Grohiik down on the attacker. The blow planted the bandit into the floorboards. Another brought his sword down on me. I knocked the blade away with my dragonbone gauntlet. Then I dealt out a punch that the launched him into the far wall. He didn't get up. The last two tried to attack at once. With two swing of Grohiik I turned them into four. I placed Grohiik on my shoulder slightly disappointed. The fight passed far too quickly to even call it that. The scent of fear and a thundering heart seized my attention. My eyes locked onto the Redguard woman. She stood staring at me with an arrow notched that she hadn't time to loose. I gave her a wide smile showing all my fangs. She bolted. I suppressed the urge to chase after her. The need to hunt had built up over last few days and I used the opportunity to practice my control. The lingering scent of her fear made it difficult. With a few deep breathes the feeling passes. The need was still there but I could wait to deal with it. I headed out the door she used to escape. Tapping Grohiiks haft on my shoulder I try to put the sweet scent out of my mind. The door led to the court yard I was sentenced to death in. In the middle of it stood a Steel Hunter. The scent of my own fear clogged my nose sparking unpleasant memories. In a full set of steel plate he stood with a steel shield and sword. He was yelling after the Redguard woman as she passed by him. She yelled back for him to run. He was a bandit. It was just a bandit. A hysterical laugh whooshed out of me and I take a deep breath as my fear subsides. It was just a well-armed bandit. He noticed me and charged. Definitely a bandit. I meet him half way with an earnest swing of Grohiik. The man brought his shield up just in time for it to save his life. The blow propelled him across the court yard. He managed to get back to his feet without stumbling. He dropped his ruined shield but he couldn't do the same for his broken arm. He came at me again with a roar. I was through toying with him. I side stepped a swing and leveled the man with a blow from the end of Grohiiks haft. I separated his head from his body before he touched the ground. My ears prick to a whistling sound. I dip my head to the side in time to avoid an arrow in my neck. A Bosmer on top the tower trained another arrow on me. I turned and dashed through the snow into the tower. I half jump and run up the stairs to the top. I snatched the new axe from my belt and hurled it at the wood elf. The Bosmer turned and was hit in the chest and thrown from the tower in flames. Guess that's all of them. I hated bandits they never really put up a good fight.

The top of the tower held little of interest or value beside a bowl of apples on a table. I took the bowl and walked over to the edge of the tower. I could see Alain and Tolan still fighting beyond the wall that separated the keep from the rest of the fort. Alain had a few bodies down in flames proving he had a natural gift with any bow. Tolan was still alive. I laid Grohiik down and sat on the towers edge eating apples as I watched. Tolan engaged three bandits' two Nords in furs with iron swords and a very large Orc dressed in full steel armor with a great sword. Tolan, to my great irritation, was not bad with his warhammer. He blocked and dodged blows from all three well enough. Alain reloaded his crossbow and fired. The bolt struck a Nord in the head and he went down on flames. The bandit maneuvered Tolan in front blocking any more bolts from Al. Either way some pressure was been lifted from Tolan and he used it. He kicked the Nord in the shin dropping him. Tolan then drove his hammer into the Orcs chest staggering him. Tolan turned back to the Nord and delivered the killing blow. A mistake. The Orc recovered and struck Tolan across the head with the pommel of his greatsword. Tolan went down. Just as he hit the ground an Argonian walked out of the keep. He had no weapon and wore only a fur tunic. His hand were wreathed in flames. I smile ripped across my face. If there was one lesson Alain had been we taught it was always aim for the mage. I love bandits. Al would have to shoot the mage and Tolan would be run through. I watched as Tolan's executioner lifted his sword. Then he erupted into flames. I dropped the bowl. Alain! I looked back at him dumbfounded. So did the mage. The Argonian sent a ball of fire hurtling toward him. Alain tried to dodge it and was too slow. It exploded when it hit throwing him back like a rag doll. I couldn't breathe. He hit the ground hard peppered in flames and began rolling to snuff them out. The necklace must have saved him but only just. The Argonian closed on him readying another fireball. Tolan was at the mages back seemingly appearing out of thin air. With a single stroke of his warhammer he brained the Argonian. Al got up still patting at flames on his armor. He looked okay.

A breath of relief whooshed out of me. My guild armor was tight across my chest. I could feel the fur along my spine. I had nearly fully shifted and jumped from the tower. I took a deep breath and calmed myself. I forced myself to shift all the way back to human form. I watched Al collect his crossbow. It helped calm me down. As calm as I could possible get I hopped down and snatched up Grohiik. On the way down I seethe about Tolan's survival and Alain's idiocy. He had almost gotten killed. I really couldn't blame anyone but myself. This had been my idea. I needed to talk to him. No matter what he thought of Tolan, if it came down to it the Vigilant would kill him for being what he was. He may feel bad about it after words but he'd do it. Once out of the tower I passed the still smoldering Bosmer and took my axe from his burnt out husk. Out of habit I cut the coin purses off the bandit's bodies. It wasn't much but it helped lighten my mood. I had to climb over the heap of rubble. I made it back to the gate first and Alain and Tolan joined me a few minutes later. Tolan had a big purple welt on the side of his head. Alain's armor and grey hair was a lot darker in a few place.

"You okay kid?" I asked. I reached over and turn his head to inspect a burn mark and his neck.

"He'll be all right," Tolan laughed. "Might be coughing up soot for a while though."

"I'm fine," Al grumbled pushing my hand away. "And yes I'm sure."

"We better get moving then," I said turning toward the horses.

After changing back into our traveling cloths we saddled up and got moving before nightfall. Tolan noticed how unscathed I was after the fight. I just told him there was only two bandits on my side. That prompted him to tell me about their fight with great detail. If I had ignored the man any harder he'd cease to exist. Alain was quiet. I asked again if he was okay only to be met with a groan that he was. We stopped at the guardian stones when a light snowfall kicked up. I skipped Tolan's horrible stew again and I took first watch. When Tolan started snoring I shifted. I sat back against the thief stone contemplating my situation. The only outcome that worked in my favor was Tolan dying without his blood on my claws. A few minutes into the night Alain got up from his feign slumber across from me. After making sure Tolan was asleep for real he shifted. Once he did the burn mark on his neck healed and he let out a relived sigh. It was probably the first time he's shifted since we left Riften.

"Must feel good to stop pretending," I commented.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked with a puzzled look. I got up telling him to follow we walked down a path behind the mage stone. We stopped at the partially frozen river so we could talk out of earshot of Tolan.

"You did a horrible job with that necklace," I told him. "So I guess that dumb move at Helgan wasn't completely worthless.

"I'm not as good with enchanting as you are," He responded. "And what was I supposed to do? Tolan could have died."

"Oh what a pity that would've been," I could cut my sarcasm with Grohiik.

"Should I have just let him die?"

"Yes," I snapped.

"You were trying to get him killed," His blue eyes lit with fire at the realization.

"Alain if he saw us like this he'd kill us."

"Why can't we give him a chance?" He shouted angrily.

"Because he's a hunter and all of them are the same," I yelled vehemently. "He'll turn that hammer on us without a second thought. Do you expect me to wait for it to be over our heads?"

"You sound like them," He didn't look at me but I could see the tears.

"Al I'm just-," He walked off before I could finish.

I stood there by the river in silence for a long while. Damn it all. That wasn't how I wanted it to go. In all honesty I should have thought that through better. Something else that was also my fault. When I finally walked back to the camp Al was wrapped up tight in his bed roll. Not really sure what else I could say to him I don't check to see if he is really asleep. I shifted back to human form before Tolan took over the watch. I somehow managed to go to sleep. I woke first again and proceed to wake the others. The night had done nothing to mend the fight Alain and I had. If anything it made it worst. The only thing I could get out of him was a few clipped words and a glare. The thing that really pissed me off was that if Al had been anyone else I could have talked him into killing Tolan for me. Honeyed words my ass. Once we got back in the saddle we moved on. Tolan asked more than once was Al okay. He doesn't say much besides everything's fine. We rode through Riverwood only stopping at the trader for food. We reached Whiterun before nightfall and at Tolan's infuriating insistence we sleep at the inn. I don't tell him about the house I own in the city. I had turned it into a safe house for the guild anyway. The three of us instead had to share a room. During the night after the Vigilant was asleep I crept out to hunt. Alain refused to come with me so I went alone. I left Grohiik behind and headed to the city gate. Once out I jogged to the outer gate then sprinted onto the snowy planes. The snow was thick away from the road forcing me to nearly leap with each stride even after I shifted. If I had more time I would have fully shifted. I ran through the snow enjoying my few moments of freedom even if it was by myself. I caught the scent of an elk and ran it down. The hunt calmed me in a way that I can only describe as meditative. There is little left of the deer after I've eaten my fill. After cleaning the blood of with snow I looked back to the city and notice how far I've gone. I could barely see Whiterun in the distance. I half ran half jumped back to the city. I skipped the gate and instead scaled the west wall into the Cloud District. I shifted then walk back to the inn. The place was empty when I got there though the fire pit is still lit. I take off most of my wet clothes and lay them by the fire to dry. After finding a blanket and pillow I claim a bench as my bed for the night.

Someone kicked me awake the next morning. I opened my eyes to see Al, he didn't say much besides: time to go. I got my gear back on and head upstairs for my axe, pack, and cloak. I found Tolan in the corner praying and left him to it. With my stuff on I head out to the stable. Al was already there saddling the horses. I begin helping and somehow coax a few words out of him. I actually got him to laugh a little. Just when I thought it was a good time to bring up our argument Tolan walked in and I was unable to stop a growl at the sight of him. That didn't go over well with the kid. Back to painful silence we rode back onto the road north. The snowfall stopped midway through the day but the sky turned a dark ugly color. A bitter icy scent hung in the air so strong that I could pick up in human form. Kynareth please don't do this right now. We rode past Whitewatch Tower and hurried onwards to Loreius Farm. Though it shouldn't have been too late in the afternoon the sky has gone completely black. About an hour after we passed the farm the storm hit. A complete white out. The wind fought us to the point of dismounting to lead the horses. It got worst as we went. The cold spears through my cloak and stole the feeling from my finger. It was the first time I had ever been in a snow storm without being fully shifted. It hurt to breath like my lungs were being iced over. I can only imagine what it was like for Al. I have to get him inside someplace. I took out my map to see where we were. Too far to get back to Loreius Farm but the Tower of Mzark was half a mile off. I shouted over the wind for him to follow. We trudged through snow that reached my knees as we head up the hill to the tower. I kept looking back to make sure Al was still there. He was practically dragging Tolan and his horse through the snow. At the top of the hill I could make out the Dwemer tower with it gates blown closed by the wind. Once at the tower I pull the gate open and cold metal tears my skin. I turned back to Al and screamed over the roaring wind.

"Get on the lift," The cold air burned my throat.

"We can't leave the horse," Tolan screamed back.

Was it too much to ask for this fucker to get lost in the storm.

"Then take the damn things!" I bellowed. I pointed to Al. "You go first!"

Al blind folded his horse before going inside. He positioned the horse away from the sides then pulled the leaver. With aloud clang and hiss the lift went down. I waited out in the storm with Tolan. Alone. If he was to suddenly fall and break his neck… Al would never forgive me. Damn it all. It took a while for the lift to come back. In that time I seriously contemplated ending the storm with my Thu'um. The Voice was my trump car along with shifting. My dad use to tell me that your best weapon was one that nobody knew you had. I definitely didn't want Tolan to know. Might still need to roast your ass. The thought warmed me a little. When the lift came back I sent Tolan down next just so Alain wouldn't think I killed him. He tried to insist I go first but I didn't move. He blind folded his horse as well before pulling the lever. I could barely wait for the lift to go down before I shifted. The relief was minimal but better than nothing. My skin warmed slightly and the feeling in my fingers comes back as I flex my claws. The cold was still ungodly but my lungs don't hurt as much and the wind lost a bit of its bite. My horse got spooked and started to dance away. I grabbed his reins and pulled him back whispering: 'Don't worry it's not your neck I want to break.' He seemed understand me and calmed down. The lift finally came back. I pulled the horse with me onto it. I didn't bother blind folding him. I pulled the lever then wrapped my arm around his neck. It didn't move an inch. The lift lurched into motion and we descended. About half an hour down the lift began to slow and I grudgingly shift back to human form. My skin suddenly felt as if it was on fire and the shivering came back. I hadn't noticed I'd stop shivering to begging with. The lift clanged to a halt and I stepped off into the stone corridor. I grabbed the hoses reins and brought him along. The corridor led out into the room where I found the Elder Scroll of time. The Dwemer container for the Elder Scroll was still open and glowing faintly. The whole contraption hasn't moved. I pulled the horse over the glass floor and over to the stone ramp leading down. I carefully led the way down so the horse wouldn't foul a leg or fall. What a tragedy that would be. The sound of gears grinding and metal scraping together was deafening. As I reached the bottom I saw Tolan and Al's horse just outside the door. I left mine next to theirs and walked through the doorway. The room beyond was about the size of a small house. It may have served as a waiting room to the Dwemer once. A gas light hung from the ceiling casting a greenish glow on the room. A pipe had burst through the stone work next to it. The pipe leaked a welcome stream of steam into the room. Al and Tolan sat by an old fire pit in the center of the room their cloaks laid out on one of the stone benches close by. Tolan was trying to get a fire going. I claimed the corner of the room directly to my right. I throw my wet cloak on to the Dwemer metal table built into the wall. Then I sprawl out under the broken steam pipe. The fiery feeling in my skin faded after a while and I drift off into to sleep. I had no idea what I did to piss Kynareth off but I hoped she got over it soon.

Two hot, irritating, gods-be-damned days later and the storm had only gotten worst. The heat from inside the Dwemer ruin lost it charm damn fast. The steam from the broken pipe never stopped and Tolan insisted we had to cook our food. So he lit a fire every meal time to make his god-awful food. So that just added to the heat not to mention my growing hate for the man. Tolan tells an insufferable story about a storm like this lasting for almost two weeks. I snapped. I took the lift back up to the surface. Once up top I took a deep breath feeling the Thu'um build in my chest bolstered by my anger. I let it loose toward the sky putting every ounce of my frustration behind it. "Lok Vah Koor!" The shout boomed like thunder shaking the ground. The roar of the wind stopped almost instantly and the sky began to lighten. The storm didn't end really but it lost a great deal of its strength. Clear Sky's was easily the most useless shout I knew. In storms like this I could I either walk through it fully shifted or sit it out in a Dwemer ruin. I refused to do it with that man. Sure the storm was sufficiently weakened I went back down the lift. When it stopped I immediately go to the room and start packing my things. I tell the others that the storm is passing and we should move. I shrugged when asked about the tremor. I was ready and leading my horse up to the lift before Tolan or Alain.

I waited for them on the surface watching the sky hoping it stayed calm. The clouds made it difficult to tell the time bit I guessed the sun had just risen. The snow hadn't stopped falling but without the wind it was just an inconvenience. That inconvenience nearly reached my waist but it wouldn't be a problem for the horses. In all honesty I should have used Clear Sky's again but I didn't want to press my luck. The storm would be back if not today then definitely tomorrow. Tolan wasn't so much a fool that I could risk shouting again. Alain had probably figured out what I'd done. As if conjured by the thought Al rose from the lift with his horse and quickly sent it back down for Tolan. He had a look on his face that I hadn't seen since my scheme to kill The Vigilant. Wide eyed excitement.

"Did you use a shout to stop the storm?" He asked when he finally made it close to me. "Are there really shouts for that?"

"Yeah there are shouts for nearly everything," I told him. I chanted in my head not to mess this up. "There's even a shout that slows time."

If his eyes went any wider they would have popped from his head. Just like always he assaulted me with a hundred question that I had no idea how to answer. As annoying as it was, it put a smile on my face. When Tolan finally joined us I didn't let it ruin whatever ground I had won back with Al. I pulled out my map to show them the path we'd take around the side of the mountain. It led practically straight to Dimhollow crypt and we could get there within a day. With the end of the sorry adventure in sight I eagerly rolled up the map and mounted my horse. Then Tolan opened his mouth.

"I know where short on time," The Vigilant began. He had mounted his horse but had yet to move. "But I'd like to take the north road through Fort Dunstad?"

Slow deep breaths. Happy thoughts.

"That could take a day if not more," I managed not to growl. "We shouldn't risk getting caught in that storm again."

"I understand but the hall sits just below Dimhollow," Tolan tried to explained.

"The one that was destroyed," I got that out well. Despite my clenched teeth.

"It was my home once," Tolan pleaded. "I want to see what has become of it."

"If we push the horses we could get there before nightfall," Al added. That was all it took to tell me they had spoken about this beforehand.

Slower deeper breaths. Happier thoughts.

If I said yes we stood the risk of getting caught in the storm again and fighting vampires in the middle of the night. With the expectant look on the kid's face saying no was out of the question, "Alright."

By the look on their faces, they had expected more of an argument. I turned my horse back down the hill thoroughly pissed and somehow just barely hiding it. I wasn't doing a good enough job for Alain and Tolan's horses. Whenever one of them tried to bring their horse next to me it shied away. My horse had either gotten use to me or realized it couldn't escape. If it was the latter I could relate. We rode hard back to the road and started north. The snowfall didn't increase nor did it stop. The cold wasn't as bad as the storms but I still lost the feelings in my hands when I left them still. We moved at a brisk pace just short of gallop. It somewhat made up for the longer rout though we had to deal with the bandit at fort Dunstad. Luckily most of them had taken shelter from the cold in the fort. The few that were out couldn't stop us from galloping through their poorly constructed gate. Alain pulled out Mariana and put down anyone who tried to follow or attack. I got in a few swings with Grohiik as we passed but it was by far the dullest fight I'd ever been in. It was still the highlight of the day and lasted less than a minute. By time we reached the Hall of the Vigilant the sun was setting.

Tolan led us the rest of the way to the Hall. Or what was left of it. We came around a bend and atop a small hill sat the burnt out husk of the Hall. Tolan froze in the saddle staring at it. The roof was caved in, the walls burned down or knocked, and that was just the halve that survived the fire. It looked like a whole section of the place had been reduced to ash. Probably by magika fueled fire instead of the normal stuff. The snow had drifted over any sign of the battle before but there were no bodies. Any vampires would have burned away in the sun. No vampire I had ever fought was without at least one thrall. If they had waged a war on the Vigilant the ground should have been littered with bodies. Especially those on the losing side but I didn't see any dead Vigilant or any other combatants. Unless I was mistaken, vampires didn't actually eat people in the same way I would. So where are the bodies? Tolan dismounted and staggered up to the wreaked hall with a stricken look on his face. Alain dismounted and shot me a pleading look. I waved him off and he followed after Tolan with his bow. I had hoped seeing the ruined hall would put me in good mood instead it raised questions. I dismounted and tied all three of the horses to a tree. Instead of following Alain and Tolan, I shifted and searched the grounds outside. I dug through the snow where I scented old blood but found nothing but found nothing. Following the scents and searching the snow lead me further away from the hall. That's when I noticed the scent of charred flesh. Human and Mer flesh. It was strong enough to hold its own black red color in the air. I followed it away from the hall and into the trees. A few minutes later I found the source. Of course it was a pile of burned bodies though the fire had been half-assed. It had long since gone out but besides making smoke it hadn't done its job. It looked to be more than fifty of them. There were some black skinned furless dogs among them that I'd never seen before. None of Stendarr's faithful's. The smell had attracted a few stray wolves that were pulling bodies off the pyre. Besides hurrying away with their prizes they ignored me. Someone had done this to attracted scavengers. They were still warm. That answered the first question. I didn't really care about the second but Alain and Tolan hadn't emerged from the old hall yet. So I continued the search just to draw my attention away from how little sunlight we had left.

Just before I gave up and decided to rush the others out of the damned hall I found a grave yard. It was on the way back to the hall and made behind a small outcropping of rock. The rocks had protected it from most of the snow making it easy to see. It had been done deliberately. There were maybe twenty five all covered in smooth stones. It was a Nord's way of burring the fallen if they fell in the wilds. Each one had a weapon at its head that more than likely belonged to whoever was underneath. There were great-swords, axes, and staves. Besides being frosted over the graves looked fresh. They could have been made after I ended the storm. So the bodies were burned to keep the scavengers from digging up the graves. Someone got here before us. These were without a doubt the missing Vigilant. I heard Al calling my name and knew it was time to shift back. Knowing Tolan would want to see the graves I called out to them from where I stood. The two of them eventually made their way over to the small graveyard. Upon seeing them Tolan knelt in front of them and started to cry. Alain stood behind him distraught.

"I had hoped someone survived," Tolan wept. Then smiled. "They must have all fought bravely."

"Should have tried doing it well," I mumbled. I must have been too loud because if looks were arrows Al would have turned me into a pincushion.

"We should get going," Tolan rose from graves. "I have wasted enough of our time."

"It wasn't a waste," Alain told him after shooting me another heated look. "At least now you know what happened to them."

"I suppose you're right," Tolan wiped the tears from his face then looked up at the mountain. "It's time we ended this.

I may have hated the man, a lot, but it took a lot guts to see a graveyard of friends then face what killed them. Something in that crept was probably going to show them to him. We back tracked to the horses and prepared for what came next. The clouded sky had grown dark telling me the sun was gone. There was no point in rushing at this point so I took my time getting my gear on. Once the armor was on I stuffed both of the new axes in my belt. When I was done I fiddled with saddle waiting for Tolan to do what I knew he would. After dawning his robes and some armor he grabbed his hammer and a potion then walked off to pray at the graves. Alain ready and armed before him followed. I called him over before he got very far. With a deep breath I readied myself for the only way this was going to go.

"What do you want Daylen?" He asked.

"I know your upset," I said. "But I need you to focus."

"What if that had been our friends back there?" He asked sharply. "Would you be making jokes then? Would you even care?"

"They would have tried to kill our friends," I said evenly. "So no I don't care about them being dead."

"How can you not care about all those people dying," He shouted.

"Because now they won't be my problem," I told him the truth. He took it about as well as expected. After venting his frustration about how callous I was he stomped off. I stepped in front of him before he got very far. "This conversation isn't over."

I locked eyes with him. Even under the dark brown of his human eyes I could see the anger and the confusion as well as the disappointment. I knew that I'd never live up to the hero he made of me in his head. Slaying dragons and saving the world that's what he knew. What he didn't know was, I had never made a single step of that journey with good intentions. This was probably the first time he ever seen me as anything other than a hero. There was nothing I could do about it now. Unblinking I stared down at him and eventually his anger weathered under my gaze. His instinct won out and he hung his head looking for all the world like a pouting child. Human form or not we were still wolves and I was the alpha.

"When we go into that crypt we're going to play by the rules," I told him. "Which are?"

He stated them from memory, "The dust inside will scent blind you so don't trust your nose. Be careful not to wake too many draugr they can swarm us. Stay clear of the sarcophagus their heavy and can break bones if they fall on you. Don't go anywhere near the draugr with horned helmets. Watch for pressure plates especially when entering a room or chamber."

"And," I promoted.

"Stay close and don't get separated," His voice was barely more than a whisper. "And if…if something happens to you run back to the others."

"Alright give me your necklace and put this on," I took off my mother's necklace and handed it to him.

"Because yours is so much better than mine," He mumble. Still not looking up he snatched my necklace and threw me his. Once he put it on I let him go and he stomped off after Tolan.

I could have told him it was my mother's but using that on him now seemed wrong. Our mothers being gone was a soft spot for him. I wasn't going to pull that card on him. I checked the horses again for no real reason. It was full dark when the two of them came back. After a brief conversation that consisted of Tolan trying to apologies, we finally made for Dimhollow. We followed a thick snow cover path behind the hall and up the side of the mountain. Which was so steep we nearly had to use our hands. It took us nearly an hour to reach the crypts entrance. Once there I noticed an abandoned unlit torch on the steps. Tolan and Alain ignored it and continued inside. With a firm drip on Grohiik at my shoulder I followed. Let's get this over with. Not use to following I took the lead again. After walking through a dark narrow passage we entered a small cavern. Its ceiling was supported by a few stone pillars with water gushing from somewhere above fed a small stream below. On the far side of the cavern I could see the crypts entrance. I also saw someone in front of it. I ducked and motioned for the others to do the same. There were two of them both dressed in the same sinister looking armor as the vampires that attacked Riften. There was a woman's body at their feet one of them was feeding on her. I could hear them talking but could only just make out the words in my current form. A mission and someone named Lokil. I was so focused on trying to ease drop that I didn't notice Tolan come up beside me.

"What's going on?" He whispered. His eyes widened as he shouted, "That's Keeper Carcette." Before I could stop him he charged the vampires screaming no like an idiot.

"Tolan stop," Alain called before going after him.

Unable to stop him either I was forced to join in on their idiocy. Tolan reached the vampires first. He brought his hammer down on the vampiress feeding on Keeper Carcette. Of course he missed. Even without their heightened hearing they would have heard us charging in. The vampiress dodged effortlessly and in the same motion put a dagger between his ribs. When Tolan went down Alain fired a bolt at her. She dodged that as well. The axe I threw right after struck her in the chest. Her pitched scream filled the carven as she went up in flames. Alain rushed to Tolan's side. A shadow seemingly came to life and tackled him to the ground. Alain lost his crossbow as the things jaws clamped down on his arm. Its teeth tore through his armor drawing a scream. It was one of those dog things I'd found burning. Only seconds behind him I cleaved the creature in halve with Grohiik. I turned to face the other vampire and found him in my face with a sword. I bring Grohiik up just in time to keep my head. The blow smashed against the battle-axes haft nearly taking it from me. I managed to maneuver him away from Al. Mostly by barely blocking his attacks and being pressed deeper into the cavern. He was terrible with a sword. That alone saved my life. He made wild swings only using one hand like a novice. Every blow was aided by his strength and speed. They were predictable. In desperation I faked an opening. He took it. I knocked his blade aside and smashed Grohiiks pommel into his throat. While he gasped for air I tried to end him. Only to be hit with a kick the shot me into the far wall. I lost grip of my battle-axe on the way. By time the torchbugs stopped blurring my vision the vampire had recovered. I snatch the remaining fire axe from my belt and launched it. The vampire caught it with a smile. He also caught a crossbow bolt in his throat. He fell to his knees in flames and out of spite I grabbed Grohiik and took his head. The swing took more out of me than I thought it would. I stumbled and had to lean on the battle-axe to catch my breath. I was bleeding from a few dozen cuts I'd been unable to block. Alain leaned against a pillar with his arm bleeding at his side. I regretted not bringing a potion in with us. I could have shifted to heal most of the wounds if not all of them. Before I could I saw Tolan trying to get up and fail. Defiantly still alive. Because why not and fuck me. When I caught my breath I stumbled over to him remembering he had brought a healing potion. Looking down at Tolan I saw that he was just barely alive. The dagger had unfortunately been planted on his right side missing his heart. By the wheezing and gushing blood I guessed the dagger had opened a lung. I took the potion tied to his belt. He was just barely conscious his eyes were open but whatever he was looking at wasn't in the cavern. When Alain managed to stumble over I thrust it into his good had and told him to drink it. When he tried to protest I pointed out that Tolan's wounds couldn't be helped by a potion at this point. Al grudgingly chugged the bright red liquid and the bite marks on his arm quickly disappeared. Knowing the next thing to come out his mouth I assured him that I'd save Tolan. Mostly because I needed to have a word with the man. I knelt next to the Vigilant and (un)gently pulled the dagger out of his chest and placed a hand over the torrent of blood that followed. With my gear on casting the healing spell was nearly effortless even in my sorry state. I made sure that Alain could see the bleeding had stopped and I was actually healing he man. Then I sent him off to find a way to open the gate. Once I was alone with Tolan I used both hands forcing the wound shut. His breathing returned to normal and I waited from him to come to. I didn't wait long. Within a few seconds of healing him I slapped (punched) the man awake. His eyes finally snapped open in alarm.

"Keeper Carcette-," He begin.

"Was dead before we got here," I informed him.

"I had hoped that maybe I could save her." He tried to get but was still too weak. I stood and offered him a hand to help him up. When he extended his own I reached past taking a fist full of his robe. I dragged him to the nearest pillar and slammed him against it. "What's wrong with you!"

"You nearly got us killed," I roared. "For a dead woman."

"I'm sorry she was my teacher I had to-," He started

"I don't care what she was. She's dead now," Even wounded in human form my anger gave me strength to lift him from the ground. "Almost like Alain was."

"I didn't mean-,"

"Listen closely Brother Tolan," I growled lifting him higher. "If you do anything to get him hurt again. I'll rip you open from your belly to your brain and feed you your innards. Is that clear?"

Wide eyed he nodded and I released him letting him fall to the ground. Just then gate blocking the crypts entrance raised. Soon after Alain returned holding an overly large healing potion he'd no doubt found. I took the bottle from him and intentionally drinking more then I need before tossing what was left to Tolan. We collected our things and moved on through to the crypt. Knowing just how outmatched we were (because of Tolan) going quiet was the safest rout. Being what we were Alain and I could keep clear of even a vampire. Tolan on the other hand. I had him stay as far back as I could without outright telling him to wait outside. We came across a lone vampire wandering amongst resting draugr. After the ass kicking I had just gotten I wasn't eager for another. I didn't need to either. I threw pebbles at the heads of as many draugr as I could. The vampire noticed me too late and was swarmed. The vampire held his sword like a novice. Much like the vampire I'd just faced he made up for it with strength but also used magic. His sword sheered through the draugr's rusted armor. He launched fireballs into the crowd of shambling corpses. I watched how he fought when an overlord closed in. The overlord bested him easily proving his inability to use a sword outside of brute strength. Before the overlord could end him he set it aflame. The vampires fought like I did when shifted. Difference was I chose to fight like that and it looked like they didn't know any better. In the end the vampire won nearly killing most of his undead cousins and sending the others running in flames. His victory was short lived. With his wounds he could do little more then watch as Al put a bolt through his heart. We couldn't use the same tactics for the rest of the crypt but we managed. Staying out of sight me and Al were able to take the other vampires down without much trouble. With their heighten senses they easily picked out the sound of an axe thrown at them. Some caught the axes I threw others dodged. None did the same with crossbow bolts. After the main threat was down we made quick work of the skeletons and weird dog things afterword. It gave Tolan something to do besides complaining about feeling useless. Further into the crypt I noticed some stone work that didn't match the ancient the Nords. It looked to be around the same age but made by a very melodramatic artist. We ran into more of it the deeper we went. We eventually ran into a section of the crypt that had been infested with frostbite spiders at some point. The vampires thankfully wiped them out before we got there. We reached a closed gate with another lone vampiress behind it. There was no way around her and no way to kill her without opening the gate first. So I opened it and distract her for Al to take a shot. The second she went down a giant frostbite spider fell on me. I panicked and just barely got Grohiik between me and its jaws. It pull the battle-axe from grasp forcing me to hold it back with my hands. Alain fired a crossbow bolt that did nothing. Until Tolan hammered it into the creature head. I kicked the spider off me as it writhed in its death throes. I was forced to thank Tolan. Once my ordeal was over we continued on. There was nowhere to go besides a door with two hulking winged statues on either side of it. Cause blood drinking sociopaths weren't ominous enough.

Through the door the gaudy stone work was all that remained. We entered a low ceiling room that, by the look of it, had just recently been passed through. An empty pedestal, a lever, and more monstrous statues were all the room held. Beyond the only door was a balcony. I could hear voices from somewhere past it.

"That sounds like Brother Adalvald," Tolan whispered. I skewered him with an icy glare.

"We should see what's going on before running in there," Alain told him.

That seemed to placate him more than my promise of violence. We crept through the door staying low and hopefully out of sight. From behind the balcony's railing I could see we had entered another carven. It housed a small lake with a manmade stone island siting at its center. It was surrounded by arches sporting the same stone work I'd seen mixing with the ancient Nords. Two bridges severed as a way on and off the thing. The closes of which came from another balcony below us. That was occupied by four vampires and a literal mob of fucking thralls. They were dressed and armed like the bandit they had probably been before. Fur and hide armor with steel or iron weapons. I stopped counting them after I hit thirty. Most of them milled around the stone island aimlessly. I couldn't even see all of them out there. Fan-gods-be-damned-fucking-tasic. The way they stumbled around had me hoping that their minds had been completely broken when they were turned into thralls. I had no idea how the process worked. I did know the broken ones were little more than braindead puppets. They needed constant direction or they stood around like mannequins. If I could figure out which vampire was controlling them they'd cease to be a problem. I refocused on the vampires hoping to figure out which one I needed to die. Of the four of them three were Nords and one was a dark elf vampiress. They were all dressed in matching armor and had the same bat like facial features. They stood around a shirtless Nord wearing an amulet of Stendarr. Brother Adalvald, I guessed.

"I say he's no longer useful," said one. "He doesn't even know what this place."

"I don't recall asking you," said the oldest looking one. I pegged him as Lokil.

"I think there something he's not telling us," said the Dunmer.

"I'll never tell you anything vampire," Adavald declared. "On my oath to Stendarr there is no is no pain that will force me."

"So you do know something," said the other Nord.

"He's served his purpose," Lokil smiled evilly. "Let him go to his god."

"Do you think that wise-,"

"We can't just let him die," Tolan whispered furiously. Completely distracting me. "We must do something."

That was idiotic at best and suicidal at worst. What we should've have done was wait to see what they were up to. Then fully shift and rip through them. Couldn't do that with Tolan around. Given the look on his face and Alain's they wanted something to be done now. Which meant no answers and a fight we probably couldn't win fairly especially not in human form. At least this wasn't going to be boring. Coming up with a plan was easy. There was only two ways we could do this without me and Alain shifting. The other would see us visiting Sovengard without a portal. There was a staircase that lead down to the lower balcony. It was out of sight to those below us. Alain and Tolan moved down the stairs to get into position. The vampires continued to argue and I noticed more than one of the thrall completely stop moving. It didn't help me figure out which was pulling the strings since all they were distracted. What in oblivion did they need so many for? I took a moment scan my playing field closely. The main bulk of the thralls where on the stone island it was Tolan's job to keep them there. On the balcony below the vampires still stood around Adalvald to my left. To my right three thralls stood at the base of the staircase with blank stares. When I saw Alain's hand wave from around the corner I readied myself. I tied Grohiik to my back and pulled both fire axes from my belt. I looked down at my targets instantly picking Lokil to go first but he was too far away. So I settled for the one of the Nordic vampires standing right in front of Brother Adalvald. I took a deep breath then I jumped over the balcony railing. The drop wasn't far enough to hurt me. It was far enough to hurt the vampire I landed on. I planted an axe in his skull the second he hit the floor. Once he was in flames I aimed the other axe at Lokil. He dodged the axe and it sailed off into the darkness. Shit. Alain and Tolan came around the corner. They put down the thralls in their way and moved to their positions. Tolan rushed to the bridge using it as a choke point to keep the other thrall at bay. Alain stayed where he was firing bolts at both the thrall and their masters. Brother Adalvald wisely scooted far away from the fight. I was left with the three vampires. Lokil and the other Nord drew swords the Dunmer's hands began to glow. Knowing it would be useless I dropped the fire axe and untied Grohiik.

Lokil opened his mouth to more than likely say something demeaning. I didn't give him the chance. I moved on him with the intent to cut him in half. He blinked out of existence before I was anywhere near him. That was going to be a problem. The Nord swung at me wildly and the Dunmer readied a spell. I side stepped the blow. The Nord with his weight behind the swing was unbalanced. I hooked Grohiiks haft under his arm. Using his momentum I spun him around and loosed him on then Dunmer. They collided and fell to the floor. The elf lost control of her lighting and it fired off at the ceiling. Lokil reappeared behind me ready to take my head. I had to drop to the ground to avoid it. Then I dealt a swift kick to the vampires groin doubling him over. Al took a shot at him. Lokil disappeared before the bolt hit him. When I got back on my feet so did the other vampires. They looked very upset. They came at me like they were. The Nord gave me little time to think as he waded in with savage blows. I was able to parry them nocking his blade away with my axes haft. I had no time to strike back. I tried to keep him in front of the Dunmers spells. She didn't care. She fired a lightning bolt that nearly killed her comrade as well. Alain caught her with a bolt. It hit her shoulder throwing off the aim of her next spell. She turned on him then. They exchanged spells and arrows neither managing to hit the other. I may have been robbed of Alain's help but I was saved from further spells. The Nord vampire needed the help more than I did. He was faster and stronger but I was the better swordsmen. After every wild swing I punished him. It became a battle of inches and he was bleeding more than I was. With a few quick glances I was able to see Tolan wasn't doing as well as I was. There was a crowd of thralls on the stone island all rushing the bridge. Tolan was good with his hammer but he could only hit so many people. The thralls were swarming him. Alain switched his focus to the bridge firing crossbow bolts into the mob. The Dunmer hit him with a lighting blot. The cross bow went flying and he went down. The elf turned to the bridge with a look of concentration. The thralls double their efforts attacking Tolan together. She was controlling them. I moved on the Nord vampire who's blows where weakening. After a clumsy swing I knocked the Nord's sword from his hand. Then I stomped on the inside of his knee. He went down with a scream. I lifted Grohiik to end him. Lokil reappeared blocking the blow. He then backhanded me into a wall. Before I could get back to my feet he was on me. He arched his sword down at me. I caught the blow with Grohiik haft and he kept adding pressure keeping me on my knees. He was playing with me. I slid the battle-axes haft down Lokil's sword hooking it on the cross guard. I twisted the sword from his hand. Then drove the axes pommel into his groin. He again doubled over with a cures and blinked away. I moved the Dunmer while she was distracted. I saw Tolan go down under the mob of thralls. I ignored him. Alain back on his feet didn't. He came down the stairs in a blur. Chillrend in his hands and eyes glowing blue. I shouted for him to stop. The elf heard me instead. She turned on me and hit me with lightning bolt. I was thrown across the balcony. Away from Alain and back into the wall. Through the haze I was able to see Al on the bridge. With an inhuman snarl tore into the thralls like a crazed daedra. Tolan was getting up behind him. I stumbled to my feet forcefully shaking off the daze. Tolan picked up his hammer. I ran toward them. Lokil appeared in my way and I tried to push past him. I managed to slip past after striking the vampire across the head. I shouted the kids name again. The Nordic vampire grabbed me wrapping his arms around mine like a vice. Alain finally heard me and turned around. Just as Tolan drove the sliver spike of his warhmmer in to his stomach. Lokil stepped in front of me snatching my battle axe from me. He lifted the weapon over me like Tolan did to Alain.

With a roar that shook the cavern, I shifted. I head-but the Nord behind me loosening his grip. As Lokil brought the axe down on me I grabbed it then his throat. I tossed him into the Dunmer behind me. I took Grohiik in both hands and launched it at Tolan. It struck him in the back throwing him to the ground. The kid was down but I could see he was still breathing. I turned to the vampires with my claws out.

"I knew I smelled a dog," Lokil hissed. As he untangled himself from the Dunmer. Once she was up I spied the thralls shambling across the bridge. They thankfully ignored Al. I was stronger and faster than they were now. I was also very aware of what happened to the vampire when swarmed by the draugr. This wasn't going to be easy. Lokil blinked out of existence again after saying, "Lord Harken would love another pelt. Kill it."

I had a sole second to wonder who this lord was before it started. The Nord retrieved his sword and went into a flurry of slashes. If not for the Dunmer's lighting I could have killed him. Each of her spells unbalanced me leaving me open for the Nord's blade. Even then he wasn't good enough to kill me. There was no way for me to score a killing blow on him either. I couldn't win this with just my claws I needed a weapon. Just then Lokil reappeared with a swinging sword. I ducked the blow and grabbed his wrist. Before I could take the sword I was hit by something made of fire. It seared my bare arm and I could hear the bone crack as I was thrown to the floor. I looked up at my assailant and saw an orc thrall holding Tolan silver hammer. Lokil stepped aside as the thrall raised the hammer again. Instead of bringing it down the thrall jerked forward and collapsed. Chillrends icy glass blade was in the thralls back. Alain had thrown it. That's my boy! I grabbed Chillrend and lunged at Lokil. Within a few seconds I disarmed him. He disappeared before I could end him. The other thralls rushed the balcony. With each swing of Chillrend I took limbs putting them down in droves. The just continued coming. There was no end to them. I did all I could to keep them from circling me. They still pushed me to the far railing and kept me there. The vampires weaved through the horde appearing only when I was distracted. The Dunmer stayed out of sight orchestrating the thralls. The Nord and Lokil wadded in on me again. During the fight I didn't notice one of the thralls holding Tolan's hammer. I did notice when I was hit me with it. This time the blow broke my sword arm. I lost Chillrend when Lokil kicked me to the ground after. The thralls backed off then but stood behind Lokil and the Nord. The Dunmer appeared as I shakily regained my footing. They all smiled at me so sure of their victory.

"Any Last words dog?" Lokil asked with an evil smile. He picked up Chillrend inspecting it as if I was wasn't really there.

"I might have three," I said after a deep ragged breath. Lokil lunged at me with his sword. I side stepped and locked his arm in my good one making sure he stayed. I poured everything I had left into my Thu'um. Then I shouted in his face, "YOL TOOR SHUL!"

I held the last word and a torrent flames erupted from my throat. It lit the cavern like the sun. I turned Lokil's head into ash and bathed the balcony in fire. Still holding the shout I turned on the vampire as they stood in shocked terror. They were caught in the blaze. Not even the Dunmer fire resistant flesh could withstand dragon fire. I held the shout until the power of my Thu'um was exhausted. There was nothing but a field of ash by then. The only ones saved from the fire were the thrall that stood at the back of the crowd. I fell to my knees dropping Lokil's twitching body. The remanding thralls ceased moving like puppets without strings. Thank the Nine that's over. The Nordic vampire stood up from the ashes. He'd hid behind the Dunmer. I hate vampires. He'd lost an arm and most of his face to the flames but he was alive. He locked eyes with me as we both held our wounded sides. He ran. I scrambled across the floor after him. On the way I found my discarded fire axe. The vampire charged over the bridge passing Al. With my off hand I launched the axe at him. I missed him. Alain didn't. From the ground he picked up his bow and put an ebony arrow through his back. It must have pierced his heart because he let out an inhuman screech and fell to floor writhing. After a painstakingly long time the Nord stopped moving truly dead. Hopefully.

Bleeding and dizzy I stumble over to Alain. I managed to do so without falling over more than three times. Alain sat against the bridges railing as far away from the bodies as he could get in his condition. I sat (collapsed) next to him and inspected his wound with my blurry vision. He held a hand over it despite the bleeding having stopped. The cut was deep and the edges around it dark from where the silver burned his skin. It would takes weeks to heal on its own but when it did there would be scar. His first one and he'd have it for the rest of his life. He didn't look to be in any danger from the wound yet so I let it be for the moment. At the moment I was too beaten to help him anyway. After a while of siting in silence he told me what happened. I had seen a great deal of it already but I didn't stop him. He told me about the thralls swarming Tolan about losing his crossbow. He panicked when the Vigilant went down and rushed in. If he hadn't shifted he wouldn't have been able to save him. He described the terrified look in Tolan's eyes at the sight of him. They had been friends and the man looked at him as if he was a monster. He trailed off after that. I wanted to say something to him but everything that came to mind just sounded outright condescending. After everything that had happen, the last thing that needed to be said was I told you so. Al had learned his lesson and he'd have a scar as a reminder. So I said nothing. I just put my good arm over his shoulder and we sat in silence waiting for our wounds to heal.

We both managed to drift off to sleep despite what had just happened. It was probably more accurate to say we both blacked out. When I woke my broken arm had healed and most of the other cuts and gashes. The bone of course hadn't reset itself right leaving an odd shaped lump above my gauntlet. Next time I fully shifted it would be forcefully and painfully corrected. Not looking forward to that. Alain's wound was still open but looked less painful. After waking him I began healing the both of us staring with him. The silver inflicted wound would take longer to close than any of mine. After the wound was healed it left a white scar across his stomach. I would have traded every ounce of gold I had for it to be gone. He traced the puckered skin with a finger but said nothing of it. After he was healed and up I did the same to myself. With both of us on our feet we searched the balconies before moving on to the Island. We found almost nothing of use among the corpses or ashes. Al collected some of the vampires' ashes saying something about alchemy. There was only a hint of his normal excitement but it was better than nothing. We hadn't said much to each other besides calling out what we found. Hearing him over explain something had me hopeful he'd get over this unchanged. Even if I knew he wouldn't. While searching Lokil's headless body I found a note. It was so stained with blood I couldn't make out most of it. There was something about an awaking and needing blood. I continued searching and found an old beaten journal also soaked in blood. The inside was illegible but the cover stated it belonged to Vigilant Adalvald. That raised a question. Where in oblivion had he gotten off to? Surveying the battleground told me he wasn't among the dead. It was very possible that I had cooked him along with the vampires. My aim hadn't been accurate and I was desperate. I tried to pick out his scent from the fallen but only got burnt flesh and blood. I listened for another heart beat beside the remaining thralls and Alain. When I found none unaccounted for I wrote him off as dead. If he had lived I'd have had to kill him anyway. Seen too much and all that bullshit. After we found nothing else on the bodies we searched the remaining thralls. There was still at least eight of them left. They stood with blank faces unmoving and unresponsive. Also useless. They would eventually starve to death down here. That wasn't my problem. With the balconies pointless search over, we moved onto the stone island. Alain found his crossbow and stuffed it into the quiver on his back. We passed Tolan's body with Grohiik still in his back. I had avoided grabbing it in an attempt not to upset the kid. No way around it now. The battle-axe had been in the Vigilant's back for a long time frosting over most of it. When I pulled it out most of his upper body shattered like glass. The sound mad Al flinch. If I had the ability, I'd raise Tolan from the dead and kill him slower.

On the stone island I found one of my fire axes lying on the floor. Thankful to have found one I put it back through my belt. Other than my lost axe the island held nothing I would call useful. There were a few piles of bones so old they fell apart when touched. There was another bridge on the far side that I guessed lead to the exit. Ancient Nord crypts always had a way out. Leaving that for latter I continued searching the Island. There were odd empty metal braziers set in groves on the floor. They looked like they could be moved but no matter how hard I pushed they didn't budge. At the islands cent was a stone plinth that held nothing. There was a type of button on top of it. It was wide and stain with old blood. The scent had faded and it, like everything else, was covered in dust. I looked at Al who shrugged. Everyone who knew what the deal was either dead or brain dead. I had a sneaking suspicion this was where I should end this adventure. Of course that was the smart thing to do. Unfortunately I had come here to get answers about my new enemies. They wanted something from this cavern which meant I wanted it more. Just how much more? With a deep breath I did what saved many young adventures from old age. I touched the very obviously booby-trapped button. I was rewarded with a spike the sprung up to skewered my hand. Al jumped back at my pained yelp. I pulled my hand away before it could go any deeper. Whatever the spike was made of it cracked my dragonbone gauntlet. There better be some type of super weapon in this thing. The spike stayed there for a moment before descending back where it came from. The whole cavern seem to shake and Al cautiously inched toward me. It stopped suddenly and the braziers lit with purple flames along with the rivets in the floor. The fire didn't burn but touching the brazier drained our magicka. Of course they moved now and were apparently supposed to be. It took us a long time just to move a few of them. Neither of us had much magic to spare so we took turns moving them. We switched when our noses began to bleed. It was a sure sign that a mage was over extending themselves. Being no fancy magic casters ourselves, it did take much. Once the last braziers was in place the cavern shook again. Like the last time the quaking stopped suddenly. This time the braziers moved on their own all sliding back to where their rivets ended. The floor collapsed. Alain and I dashed back to the far end of the Island. When all the moving stopped, a stone monolith was revealed beneath the spike button. Cautiously we approached it weapons ready. One side of the monolith slid open and inside was a draugr. For a moment I thought it would attack but instead it fell to the ground in a cloud of dust. Sure we were in no danger I relaxed. I kicked it over and saw fangs behind dried out lips. Standing above the thing now I could tell it wasn't a draugr, though it looked like one. It was a dried out vampire. It was dressed in similar armor to the vampire we had fought though it looked fancier sporting a cape. I couldn't tell if it was male or female in the scrawny condition it was in. The armor hung of it like an ill-fitting mannequin. There was a few drops of my blood on its mouth. I also noticed that patches of it hair had begun growing. It wasn't dead. Sleeping maybe, or was it recovering from being down there so long. The process seemed to be slow so I had time to think. Whoever this vampire was they were more than likely connected to the ones I was looking for. They also must have been very powerful or very important to be worth all the trouble. So I either had a useful hostage or powerful enemy. Damian told me a vampire's power was relative to their age. The older the stronger. This thing looked to be as old as the draugr that roamed the crypt. Which translated into a problem. One more I didn't need. As much as I wanted to walk away from this with something it wasn't worth the risk.

"I guess we should probably kill it," Alain said aloud.

"Ye- wait what," I was genuinely surprised he had said that. Looking at him I could tell he was angry. I didn't know if it was at me, himself, or Tolan but he was angry. I did know that he didn't mean that. Not entirely. Al was too soft hearted for that. "You think so?"

"It could wake up and try to kill us," He said sounding more like me than himself. That bothered me for some reason. "We should just get it over with."

"Well…it could know where the rest of that clan is," I said raking my brain for any reason to change his mind.

"What if it's one of them," He looked at me like I'd lost my mind. "We can't trust it."

"Won't know that until it's awake," I said ending the debate and hopefully not our lives. "Beside I want to know what I almost died for."

Alain argued further making more sense than I was. He was absolutely right and at any other time I would have agreed with him. Right now I was just out to prove him wrong. I sent him off over the other bridge to scout our way out. He stomped off in a huff grumbling. I was left alone with the vampire. The kid was too young to be talking like me. I wanted him to be more cautious about who he made friends with. I didn't want him killing people because they maybe couldn't be trusted. Technically that was my job and even I went to Damion for the killing bit. Now I was stuck with 'hopefully not a Tolan'. Looking down at the creature in question I saw that it now had a full head of hair. It was more of a black rats nest. That looked to be all the few drops of my blood had done. It dawned on me then what the other vampires had intended to do with their small army of thralls. I laid Grohiik next to the sleeping vampire and went back to the balcony to collect the thralls. They hadn't moved from where I'd left them. I counted them all again finding none missing. Getting them to the Island was easy enough. If I pushed them they walked. I herded them over the bridge in groups and went back for more until I had them all. Then came the annoying part. One after the other I knelt them down over the vampire and tore open their throats. They jerked around after their throats were open spilling most of the blood in the wrong place. I made sure to snap their necks before cutting them after that. When they were dead and dry I threw them over the railing into the water below. It seemed I was right about what the thralls were for. Soon after the first thrall was drained the vampire began to regenerate rapidly. It grew in size filling out the armor it wore and looking more alive. Or whatever a vampires' equivalent of alive was. I could tell it was a woman half way through the thralls. Though she either had a lithe build or she was still dehydrated. The color of her skin was grey still but I guessed she'd be pale. She looked to be a Nord by her height. Her skin eventually turned snowy and her hair fully grew into an ebony mop on her head. By the last thrall I could tell she was pretty though dirty having been locked away for however long. The smell of blood was better than what she smelled like before. She had yet to move or even open her eyes and I still couldn't hear her heart beat. I shook her and got nothing. I couldn't use the other bodies seeing as me and Al had taken limb leaving many to die of blood loss. Tolan's frozen ass proved useless even in death. Well I'm already on the horse to stupid town. I opened her blood stained mouth further reveling her fangs. I took off my gauntlet and, while reminding myself I was immune to diseases, put my wrist in her mouth. I let her fangs pierce my veins. The blood dribble out and her fangs stopped the wound from healing. The regeneration looked to speed up even more. Her pale skin smoothed over and her lips became distractingly full. No heart beat yet. Al came back from scouting and told me about the door he'd found and some unusually big statues.

"Their as big as I am fully shifted," He stared at the vampiress at my wrist suspiciously. "I stayed clear of them but they looked brand new."

"I doubt they're that big," I said. He wasn't a giant like me or bull when he was fully shift but he was still big.

"Yeah they are," He insisted. "I mean it Red, they give me the creeps. Almost like their…"

"What's wrong?" I asked when he trailed off.

He reached into the stone monolith and brought out leather back pack. For it to have survived that long it must have been spelled or something. Al reach inside and pulled out an elder scroll. My mind reeled at the sight of it. This could be really bad. The vampiress jaws came down on my wrist hard. I yelped as the fangs dug deep into my flesh. Al had his bow out and an arrow notched in a second. I waved him off quickly. It didn't hurt so much as startle me. If I wanted her off she'd come off. Al lowered his bow but the arrow stayed where it was. The vampire's heart started beating suddenly. Slower than a mortal. One of her hands came up to closed on my arm then the other. She began drinking in earnest and I started to feel dizzy. I was starting to wonder if blood loss was on the list of thing that could kill me. Then her eyes opened then. Twin globes of scarlet gold bore holes into mine.