Chapter III

Come Together

Hugh grabbed the phone from the nightstand as it began shaking violently, rousing him from his slumber. With a groan he swiped the screen and made it stop. For a few moments he kept his eyes closed, hoping that when he opened them he would be back in his cabin on Earth. Or in a hospital, rescued from hypothermia and that weird-ass hallucination about being in with the best goddamn ENB mod he had ever seen. But the hide bedding he was wrapped in told him that was just wishful thinking. Sighing heavily he opened his eyes and climbed out of bed. He pulled on his pants and shoes and exited his room.

In the main hall Delphine was tending the fire pit. Behind the counter on the wood-fire stoves a cook fried eggs and potatoes. On the counter itself glass pitchers were full of—what Huey guessed—snowberry juice. Along with a plate of breads that weren't fresh-baked by any means, but had been toasted in the oven for a short time.

"Help yourself to breakfast, no charge," Delphine said over her shoulder as she pushed the burning logs around with a poker.

Wow, Skyrim has continental breakfast. Good for them, Huey thought.

"Looks good, thanks," he said. He grabbed a plate of the bread, spread butter on it, poured a mug of snowberry juice and took a seat by the fire pit. Just as he began eating Bastet's door opened and she came out, not hesitating to go for the counter. The cook had just finished a round of eggs and potatoes as she poured herself a glass.

"Eggs, miss?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you," said she, grabbing the plate from him. She went to Huey and claimed the seat next to him.

"You're going to eat just that?" she asked, eyeing the bread.

"Never was much of a breakfast guy," he replied, sipping the juice. And at that moment, he became the first Earthling to know that snowberries tasted like... snowberries.

"Good job, Kynareth," he muttered with a smirk. "Streamlining fruit juice. IGN would be proud."

"Are there going to be a lot of those jokes only you will get?"

"And then some."

The door to the inn opened, letting frigid morning air rush in, making the fire flutter with alarm. A man in thick leather clothes stepped inside, a fur hood and cloak draping over him. In his arms he held a stack of papers neatly bundled with twine.

"White-Horse Courier newsletter for ya," he said, dropping the bundle on a side table. This intrigued Huey greatly. Meanwhile, Bastet ate her eggs disinterestedly.

As the courier used a knife to cut the twine, Huey called, "Hey, toss us one, wouldja?"

"Will do!" the courier replied, grabbing a paper and underhanding it to Hugh. He grabbed it out of the air, waved his hand in thanks, then looked at the front page.

The head article read: "Royal wedding to be held in Solitude in two weeks!" Ah. That must be the one between... uh... that chick you kill in the Dark Brotherhood questline. The Emperor's cousin. It hit Huey then, with no lesser force than a piano falling from the top of a building, that he could stop the whole affair just by going to that farm outside Whiterun and telling a guard that Cicero had the Night Mother in his cart.

"Shit..." he whispered. Bastet's ears twitched at him before her head turned.

"What is it?"

"Shit, uh... no, better not get involved," he told her, waving his hand.

"Sounded serious."

"Way serious."

"So why are you saying we shouldn't get involved?"

"Dark Brotherhood." When Bastet failed to answer, Huey took that as an indication that she begrudgingly agreed with him. He ignored that article and instead turned to other pages, skimming over opinion articles and editorials all concerning the civil war. One article caught his eye, about Whiterun itself.

"Strange girl found nearly dead in fields outside Whiterun, by Talika Vakoff.

"No more than two days ago, a patrol of Whiterun Hold guards were making their way down the road west of Whiterun City when they spotted scavengers circling overhead nearby. Normally they would associate this with the natural cycle, but what spurred them to investigate was a struggle where the birds were circling and a weak voice trying to drive them away. When they arrived at the scene they beheld a teenage girl who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, pale and freezing. They quickly drove the birds away and offered her their cloaks, but not without noting her peculiar clothes. Thin, somewhat exposing, and unfit for the climes of Skyrim, even in a warmer area such as Whiterun Hold.

She wore blue pants of an odd material, bright red canvas shoes, and a black shirt. However, printed in vivid detail on the front was a strange symbol, almost daedric in nature. But emblazoned over the symbol were silver letters spelling 'Evanescene.'" Huey shot up straight, knocking his drink on the floor in the process, eyes wide. A few heads turned and Bastet looked at him, alarmed.

"What is it?" she asked, absentmindedly grabbing the spilled cup from the ground. He didn't reply, but kept on reading.

"As the guards brought her back to the city they questioned the girl. She was delirious, saying she was from a place called 'Minasoda.'" That had to be Minnesota! She was from Earth! "When they asked her her name, she replied Johanna before passing out. She was brought to the healing house in the Wind District and is currently under the care of the healers. When one healer was questioned about the girl, he said the one named Johanna was recovering 'Slowly but surely.'"

There was more but that was enough for Huey. He tossed the paper away and got up.

"We have to go, now!" he said to Bastet. She was confused, but obliged, but not before snatching up the copy of the White-Horse Courier for herself.


Within a few minutes they were in their armor and striding down the road leading out of Riverwood. Bastet's steel sword swung at her hip, the leather creaking against her plate male. While on Huey his bow jaunted slightly against the quiver of arrows on his back, his shortsword snug on his side.

When they were safely out of earshot of any villagers or guards, Bastet spoke up, "I read some of that article. That Johanna girl... she is from your world?"

"Yes," he replied. "The Evanescence shirt. It's of some lame-o metal band, that's what gave it away. No one in Whiterun has any idea, of course. But this means I'm not alone. There could be more. I'm not the first, then, since the paper says she's been here for two days."

"Does she play the Skyrim game you think?"

"Dunno. Doesn't matter, she needs to be with us." He looked to Bastet then. "If you're willing..."

"Of course," she said back, looking slightly offended. "Since I may be one of the few Tamriel natives that knows the truth of this... it could be happening all over... how do we...?"

"All in good time. Let's just get to Johanna first," he said back. They hastily followed the road to Whiterun, winding along the White River through tall pines. Soon they came to the plains, yellowish green and going on for miles. Huey was taken aback by the vastness. At first he only thought the plains seemed far bigger because they were here in the flesh, but no, it wasn't a trick of the mind. He could only see the northern mountains as bluish silhouettes on the horizon, meaning they had to be twenty miles out at least. Then he saw Whiterun. It was enormous! Massive walls and towers guarded hundreds of buildings, all climbing the hill they were erected upon to eventually come to Dragonsreach. The old Nord palace itself was twice the size of the 'original' version, both in width and height. Outside the walls sat even more buildings. Stables, farms, mills, and a small outer market of stalls. There were several gates leading into the city, too, not just one.

"As always, real life's a pain in the ass and video games only make things simpler and better," Huey sighed. "What a fucking zoo."

"Heh... this place?" Bastet said with a lopsided grin. "Is the game version of Tamriel really that different?"

"Actually, yeah. The game's resources are limited, so... basically they're just abridged versions. This is the real Whiterun. Oh, and by the way..." Bastet looked to him again. "The most populated city on Earth? Tokyo, Japan. Over thirty-seven million." Bastet's jaw dropped.

"What? No, that's ridiculous. The entire planet of Nirn doesn't even..."

"Oh yeah, Earth. Twenty-seven thousand miles in diameter, total population estimated at seven billion. Cray-cray, huh?"

Bastet shook her head numbly. "And you mock our world for being strange and frightening."

"Hey, numbers aren't scary. Dragons, daedra, and bad meshes and textures are frightening. Thankfully we don't have the last problem, with good frame-rate to boot."

"Whatever you say," she responded with a sigh, shaking her head. Huey smirked as they continued downhill. They followed the road to Whiterun for a good fifteen minutes. The closer they got, the more Huey realized that this truly was the trade hub of Skyrim. Hundreds of people meandered in the markets and hamlets skirting the city. People of every race in Tamriel, selling hosts of exotic items. From combat and survival gear, to food and alchemical ingredients, to clothes and jewelry. It was like the Nexus! No wait, scratch that, there'd be more skimpy sex suits and anime shit if that was true.

Bastet and Hugh waded through the crowds as they made their way towards the central gate. The babble was almost overwhelming, coupled with the vendors shouting from their stands.

"Watch for pickpockets," Bastet said over her shoulder to Hugh. He kept his hand firmly on Alvor's gifted bag of coins Bastet had split with Huey. Just then, a group of children—urchins most likely—scrambled by, bumping into Bastet and Huey. He was pretty sure he felt a tug at his coin purse, but he kept his hand firmly on it. For a split second he noticed one boy eyeing the shortsword as he passed, but clearly thought better of it. Then just like that, they were gone, melding into the crowd behind the twosome.

After a bit more of maneuvering through the throng of buyers and sellers, they at last came to a final crowd all surrounding the front gate, the multitude shouting at a line of guards standing sentinel in front of the massive wooden doors.

Oh boy... Hugh thought, knowing what this was about.

One bold woman stood in front of the crowd, shouting the loudest.

"You keep us out because of some rumor of dragons returning! But what if it attacks?! You're all safe in your walls while we're stuck out here in the open?!" she bellowed, the crowd roaring in approval.

"I'm under orders-" one guard began, but was cut off by the woman.

"Ohhh, orders, orders, orders!" she mocked. "Maybe the Jarl should order you to have a conscience and let these people in!" The people cheered again as the guards remained silent.

Bastet slipped to the front with Huey, coming up beside the woman—an older merchant, dressed in a red dress. She was aging, a few gray hairs in her scalp and forehead, while the rest remained a mahogany color for now.

"You should let them in," Bastet spoke up. "And the rumors aren't rumors, they're true." The crowd went quiet.

Typical, Huey thought. They didn't really believe dragons had returned, they just wanted in to the city. It's kind of amazing how an entire continent of people threatened multiple times by fantastical apocalypses can be so cynical every time well-known Elder Scrolls prophecies begin to come true.

"What are you talking about, cat?" the head guard asked, but Bastet and Hugh both heard a touch of apprehension in his voice. The woman who had been arguing with them actually seemed to be the only one that knew what Bastet was talking about.

"My companion and I escaped from Helgen," she announced, causing the crowd to murmur. "And there was a dragon!" Gasps and shouts erupted, and the guards all glanced at each other, alarmed. "The size of this gate, black as night, and merciless as a daedra. So you may as well open the gates, not like it will make much of a difference. These walls can't stop birds from flying in, but at least they're not giant fire-breathing monsters."

"At least we can hide inside buildings!" one man shouted.

"Buildings that are burning?" another retorted.

"But we need to get inside as well," Bastet spoke again. "To inform the Jarl. You should let everyone else in while you're at it." The crowd bellowed in approval.

But the head guard returned stubbornly, "But the Jarl already knows about the rumors. What makes you think he wants to listen to a lying, flea-ridden cat like you." There were a couple of laughs from the crowd, but most of them booed and jeered the guard. Bastet remained composed.

"Because I spoke with Alvor from Riverwood. He sent me to request aid from the Jarl. I promised him, and I intend to keep that promise."

"Is that a threat?" the guard retorted, letting a hand rest on the pommel of his sword.

At this Huey decided to put in his two cents, "You know there are way more people out here than just this lot, right?"

"What's your point, Imperial dog?"

"The point is once the 'rumor' starts kicking into full gear, you'll have thousands of panicking people wanting to bash your helmets in just to get inside. Savvy?"

"Another threat, huh?" Huey huffed and approached the man.

"Listen, shitbird, you better let everyone in, or you're going to have a real problem."

"I don't have a problem at all, I'm following orders, and as long as I do that, I'm in the right."

"Yeah, sure, okay. But see, here's the thing!" Huey exclaimed as he turned to address the crowd. "This guy is just following more than orders! He personally doesn't want us in the city. And he's even denying two people who have a request to the Jarl for the protection of Riverwood. I think he knows once we say to Jarl Balgruuf what we're going to say, the Jarl will change the orders and let you all in, because he's a decent man." The crowd murmured in approval.

"So, in some way," Huey continued, turning to the guard again, "You're... kind of disobeying the Jarl's wishes. He wants his people protected, and lemme tell you, bucko, you ain't doing much protecting."

"Ah! Fine!" the guard snapped, flinging his hands in the air. He spun around to the other guards. "Stand aside, men, unlock the gate. Tell the other gate guards to do the same. We're letting people into the city again." The crowd cheered and began clamoring with their belongings as the guards did as ordered. The head guard turned to Huey, however.

"Bet you think you're real clever, don't you?" he growled.

"It's what gets me by."

"Typical Imperial," the guard sneered, and with that walked away as the gate opened. Bastet approached as Hugh smiled smugly, she sharing a similar expression.

"Nice work, there," she said, the two of them making their way into the city.

"Hey, where I'm from, bureaucracy is king. I'm about average at rooting out bullshit at home, but here? Where everything's about honor and people are terrible at lying? It's easy to undo all the loopholes."

"Hmm. Maybe you're more an Imperial than you realize."

"Oh I get all the smarminess from my French roots. I'd probably fit right in at Cheydinhal or Chorrol."

Now that they were both in Whiterun, Hugh could really take in 'real' Whiterun. The streets were broader, bustling with dozens of men, women and children. There was the mostly-familiar sight of War Maiden's by the gate. The forge outside was much larger and had several other blacksmith apprentices, along with... what's-her-name. The outside-merchant. There were iron wares on display outside in locked cases, surrounding the entrance to the building. Across from War Maiden's was the Drunken Huntsman, larger than life and sporting a group of tipsy hunters loitering outside the front entrance with bottles of mead and ale in their hands. There were dozens of other buildings along the winding streets, some shops, others homes. Now this was a city.

"When we get to the Wind District, we should split up," Bastet said to Hugh. "You can see Johanna in the Healing House, and I'll speak with the Jarl. We'll meet each other outside Jorrvaskr then speak to Oshana. Sound like a plan?"

"Sure does," he agreed. It took them a good ten minutes of weaving through crowds and pardoning themselves when bumping into someone before they came to the Gildergreen tree, marking the Wind District.

"Wow..." Huey murmured. The buildings in the square were taller and grander, painted with whites and golds and finely trimmed. The Temple of Kynareth was like a wooden version of the chapels in Oblivion. Tall and grand, standing above all the other structures besides Dragonsreach. Beside it was the Healing House, actually a wing of the temple. Bastet and Hugh stopped under the Gildergreen, sadly bare of leaves and marked by the lightning bolt that had seemingly killed it. Hugh wondered if someone would eventually quest to save the tree if he and Bastet ignored it.

"Hopefully it won't take long," she said to him. "Ahem. Any... tips?"

"Uh... seriously?" She shrugged.

"Well... after you tell him everything, he's going to ask you to go on a quest for him. We'll actually have to head back to Riverwood's direction to that Nord tomb Bleak Falls Barrow. They're gonna want us to return with an artifact called the Dragonstone."

"I see," she said. He could tell that didn't really help with whatever she was searching for.

"Listen, I can give you all the tips in the world and spoil the entire plot of the not-a-game—which may or may not come true, remember—but that ain't gonna make things that much easier... considering it was kind of predictable." She sighed, folding her arms and looking up at the tree.

"I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around all this," she said softly.

"Welcome to the club." After a short silence, Huey said, "Okay, I'm gonna check on Johanna. I'll see you outside Jorrvaskr." She nodded in return and they both went off. Huey entered the Healing House. The room was large and open, brightly lit by roof windows. Across the wide floor rows of cots with feathered mattresses and violet linens adorned the hall. A few were occupied by men and women, changed out of their average clothing into thin white robes. Several priests and priestesses tended the wounded and sickly with potions and the golden glow of healing magic. Hugh observed the magic and potions and their effects. They weren't deus ex machinas, of course. They seemed to only stabilize and offer some pain relief, but the wounds obviously needed to heal on their own.

As Hugh looked around a priestess approached him.

"Greetings, child. You look to be searching for someone?"

"Yes. I'm looking for Johanna?"

"Ah, the strange girl. You know her?"

"I do," he lied. "Cousin from Bruma. I'm in Whiterun on business, but then I saw that article about her in the White-Horse."

"I see. Finally, we can find out what is true about her," the priestess replied, relieved. She lead Hugh through the rows of beds to another room. "She was delirious, wearing those strange clothes, saying she was from places called 'America' and 'Minnesota.' I am no traveler, but I'm educated in Tamriel's provinces and do not know of such places. She said they were a country and a state, after all."

"The cold must have messed with her mind."

"Hopefully not permanently. She spoke of these things this morning. By all rights, she is fully recovered. Warm, satiated, and in proper cloth. Distressed, but not manic. She tried to reason with us quite civilly that she is from those imaginary lands."

"I'll talk to her, see what's wrong. She's always had an active imagination, maybe the shock of what's happened to her is just lasting a little longer than normal."

The next room they found themselves in was a corridor with several doors. Presumably they were private rooms. One such door was closed. Huey swallowed, the lump in his throat returning. The priestess knocked on the door.

"Johanna, you cousin is here to see you. Are you decent?"

"Cousin?" a girl's voice came from the door. "Yeah, come in." The priestess pushed the door open and let Hugh in. Johanna sat on the side of her bed, dressed in the same white robes as the other patients, thin slippers on her feet. She was dark haired, the color of earth, with gray eyes; skin pale and young, with her body still maturing. Still a little gaunt with her brush with hypothermia, but otherwise healthy.

Johanna of course didn't recognize Huey, so he spoke to the priestess before Johanna could say anything, "Could you give us the room, please?"

"Of course, I'll be right outside if you need me," she said back. The door closed behind her, and the two Earthlings faced each other.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"My name's Huey Sylvester. Now don't freak, but I'm from Earth. Ontario." Her eyes lit up and she jumped out of bed.

"Really?!" she cried.

"I said don't freak!" he hissed. She shrunk back, covering her mouth.

"Sorry," she said under her hand.

"Just take it easy. You're from Minnesota?"

"Yeah!" She looked surprised. "How...?"

"There was an article about you in the paper, that's how I found this place and came to see you."

"What the hell is going on?!"

"I don't know. I only, er... 'got here' yesterday. But the paper said you'd been here for two days."

"Here in this... hospital place," she corrected. "But I was out in those fields for one other night. It was terrifying. There were giants! And mammoths! I've never played Skyrim, but I know what this place is... are we really there? Uh, here?"

"We sure as shit are," he moaned, going over to a visitor's chair and slumping into it. "So how'd you end up here? I mean, like, where were you on Earth before you found yourself in the fields?"

She sat down again and recounted, "I was home. My parents were out, and my brother was at work, so I was on my own. I was just watching TV when... this wind just started up inside the house! We had the windows closed because it's freezing outside, but this wasn't just some draft. I got up but got knocked on my back." She shivered. "Then I went blind for a few moments, all this noise in my ears. And when I could see again... I saw stars. Constellations I didn't recognize. Then I sat up and I was in the field." She hugged herself and remained silent.

"Jesus," he whispered. "I was out in the woods when it happened to me. Hunting. Did you see anything else before you woke up in the field?"

"I don't know, I think I was just seeing things... but I thought I saw a... crab before I was knocked down. Ginormous! And gray, but I didn't get a good look at it."

"Weird. I was a sabercat before I got sent here."

"Sabercat? You mean like a saber-tooth lion?"

"Yeah. Big motherfucker. Lucky I was hunting, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to shoot it before it attacked me."

"So wait, you have a gun?"

"Did. Lost it during the tutorial," he chuckled.

"That's not funny."

"Hehe, yes it is." She huffed indignantly.

"So do you actually know how to fight with swords and stuff?"

"Not really. I can do okay with a bow, but we've got a hero on our side who can actually fight."

"So wait, you're teamed up with the main character?"

"Her name's Bastet, and yes, she's the Dragonborn."

"What's that mean?"

"It means she can use the ancient powers dragons use, and she's the only mortal that can permanently destroy a dragon by devouring its soul."

"Eww..."

"It's not gross or anything. They just kind of burn away and she'll absorb them like a black hole of dragon-munching."

"That's not much of a better picture."

"Point is we've got friends in high places. Although..." She looked at him inquisitively.

"What?"

"Well, no offense, but you don't seem cut out for this kind of... experience. I know I'm one to talk, but I've already been in a few battles, so I know I can handle myself. But you're just a kid."

"I'm sixteen," she snapped. "I know I'm youngish, but I'm not a child. You can't be much older."

"I'm thirty."

"Oh."

"Hey, if you thought I looked twenty or something, I'll take the compliment. Anyway, you are a kid, considering you like Evanescence-"

"Hey!"

"But could you honestly say that you'd be able to keep cool in a tomb full of draugr?"

"What are those?"

"Ugh, they're zombies with swords. Or giant spiders?"
"I love spiders."

"Yeah, well, spiders don't love you. And here they're taller than most people. Also, they spit venom as well as injecting it."

"Okay, okay... you've made your point," she mumbled.

"Look, I'm not going out of my way to try and upset you. I'm trying to protect you. But at the same time, we should stick together. Bastet is our best chance at getting back home. She'll come across people who might know about what's happening."

"Do you think we'll find others like us?"

"Maybe. But we'll need to find out more than just getting home. We need to stop this so it doesn't happen to other people."

"Yeah," she agreed, nodding vehemently. "Do you... do you think if we get back, everything will be... normal?"

"Like we never left? I really can't say... but I doubt it. I say that so you should... prepare yourself. This could take months to get to the bottom to. And we'll be considered missing persons if months go by back on Earth. Well, you'd be missing. I'd probably be declared legally dead, since I disappeared in a remote area."

"Oh my God!"

"Yeah, fun times," Huey muttered, clasping his hands. There was a long silence. Johanna played with the strings on her robe while Huey sat in thought, brooding at the floor. But he needed to get back to it.

"So," he spoke up, rising to his feet, "Did the priestess clear you to leave yet?"

"They think I'm crazy," she said, chuckling humorlessly. "I wish I was."

"I know the feel."

"I think they'll let me leave. But I probably shouldn't be wearing jeans and a tank around the middle ages. Or this freezing-ass place."

"I've got you covered. I could buy you some good traveling clothes. But for now, just put on your old clothes. People won't really care, they'll just think you're weird."

"Nothing new there."

"How's that?"

"Oh you know. I'm the weird girl because I like video games and metal."

"Meet the new century, same as the old century. Also, Evanescence equals metal? Does not compute."

"Don't be an elitist!"

"Oh I'm all sorts of elitist! I like trve kvlt medul! I am a part of the PC Master Race, and I'm a nostalgic eighties kid. And to top off the cancer, I use the word 'cancer' metaphorically."

"I guess I should just jump off a cliff right now, then," she sighed, stepping behind a screen and changing into her old clothes.

"It'll save you the trouble of going insane."

"So anyway, who's Bastet?" She gasped. "Is she a kitty like the ones I saw outside the city?!"

Uh oh... "Yes, she's a Khajiit. Don't be a weaboo furry about it and make it weird for all of us."

"Wow, you're a dick!"

"The biggest. Seriously, though, don't make it weird."

"Well I'm sorry if meeting cat people is normal to you."

"It ain't. I just don't make it weird."

"Wow."

"Yep, I'm a real pain in the ass, and I love me for it."

After Johanna was dressed, the two of them left the room. The priestess smiled at Johanna.

"Good to have some family by you side, yes?"

"Yup. I love my cousin!" she proclaimed, wrapping her arm around Hugh's shoulders.

Laying it on a little thick, there, Huey groaned mentally. But the priestess beamed, apparently not much smarter.

"Good to see you in high spirits! I presume you're from Bruma, as well?"

"Sure am!"

"Good. Glad we got that America nonsense out of your poor head." It took every fiber of Huey's being not to burst out laughing at that.

"So... oh, uh..." Johanna looked worried all of a sudden. "How much do I... owe you?" The priestess looked startled, holding her hand over her chest.

"My dear girl, this is the House of Kynareth! She does not seek money. She seeks to soothe the hurt and ill. You were such, and by her mercy, are now not. Pray thanks at her alter, and simply be on your way."

Johanna smiled (a bit awkwardly) then went with Huey down the hall. The priestess entered Johanna's old room, probably to tidy up. The two Earthlings entered the main hall of the temple. At the end upon an altar sat the violet iron, sapphire owl statue: Kynareth's shrine.

"Probably should pray to her, since she's real here," Hugh said to Johanna.

"But I'm Christian," she whispered back.

"That's a whole universe away, Johanna. I could get into an atheistic argument over it, but here, in this world: the Nine Divines have proven multiple times how real they are. And I bet Kynareth really did save you, because by all rights, you should've been eaten by the wolves and sabercats that roam the fields." She turned to him, wide-eyed.

"Look," he said, putting her hand on her shoulder, "I'm not saying these things to freak you out, I just want you to understand how this place works. Or, how the real version works anyway. You've never played Skyrim, I have, but that doesn't really matter. We're both more vulnerable here than we ever have been in our lives. We don't have electricity, super markets, police officers or cars. Just the clothes on our backs. So I suggest we both pray to every god in Aetherius when we can, including Talos, so fuck anyone who says there's only Eight Divines."

"Heh, you sound like my super hardcore religious aunt, only she'd say Jesus."

"Yeah, well, as an atheist it's my responsibility to amend my beliefs when there's physical proof of a deity."

"Whoa..."

"Keanu Reeves, nineteen ninety-nine." Johanna laughed at that. It made Huey feel slightly less like an asshole, considering all the hard truths he had been putting on her in all twenty minutes of knowing her. So they approached the shrine and knelt before it together. Huey had once identified as Catholic when he was a teenager, but had started disbelieving all that a little before turning twenty. But here, now? This was probably as strange for him as it was for Johanna.

Kynareth... listen, I know you love nature, and your Spriggans are your wrath given form on Nirn... but seriously, people have to eat and build their homes. So maybe tone down the 'fucking kill everything' default setting Spriggans seem to be on all the time. Unless, you know, that was just Bethesda being lazy with their AI, because they've always been good at AI. Wait, what the fuck am I doing, you're probably actually listening-

Huey—trying really hard to be graceful—stood from the shrine, almost habitually doing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit gesture. He felt stupid, having just telepathically sent a rude letter to a divine being. Johanna followed his lead, started to get up, then actually did the sign of the cross. She gasped slightly when she realized her slip. Huey couldn't take it anymore and finally laughed. Heads turned and he quickly shut himself up.

"Alright, time to go," he said hastily, taking Johanna by the shoulder. He smiled politely at some of the healers as they left, their eyes following him with befuddled looks. At last they were outside in the sunny, warmish Whiterun Hold air. Johanna stopped to gaze around, mesmerized by the sights around her. Huey took the opportunity to light himself a cigarette.

"Eww, do you know how bad those are?" Johanna scolded.

"Ugh, don't be a poser," he replied with fake Goth kid tone "If you want to be a non-conformist, you have to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes like the rest of us."

"I don't... know that one."

"You don't watch South Park?"

"No way, that show is so rude!"

"Talos save me..."

"Are you seriously going to be doing that?"

"Yeah, I am. Unlike the other place, someone might actually be listening."

"Uch. Whatever."

"Come on, we have to meet Bastet," Huey grunted, sticking the cigarette in his mouth so he could puff and walk. They walked around the Gildergreen, and then came to—ugh—Heimskr.

"...So rise up, Stormcloaks! Riiiise up, children of the Empire!"

"What's with that guy?" Johanna asked.

"He's the village annoying-fuck," Huey answered.

"Sounds more like a preacher."

"Same difference."

"What's he going on about?"

"So basically there's a group of Elven Nazis—the Thalmor—who are trying to keep the human race under thumb, and they outlawed the worship of Talos because he's the only mortal man to ever ascend to godhood. There was this big war, and the Thalmor won, and made the Empire their bitch. So the Stormcloaks are Skyrim Nords fighting for independence from the Empire, and now the Empire is here trying to quell the rebellion because Skyrim by law is part of the Empire. That's the basic version, anyway."

"Okay, note to self: Stormcloaks rule."

"Aha! It's not that simple, Johanna. But we'll get into that later," he said, nodding over in the direction ahead of him.

At the top of the stairway that lead to the Jorrvaskr Mead Hall (twice the size of the 'original') Bastet waited, leaning on a lamp post.

"She's beautiful," Johanna whispered in awe.

"Remember, don't make it weird," Huey muttered. Bastet stood straight when Johanna and Hugh approached.

"All is well?" she asked, looking at Johanna.

"Um, y-yes, thank you," she said back. "I'm uh, I'm Johanna."

"So I've heard," Bastet replied, holding out here hand. Johanna went for the hand but Bastet clasped her by the wrist. Johanna fumbled to do the same.

"Uh, sorry," she said hastily, shaking and letting go. Bastet glanced at Huey with a brow slightly raised.

"Kids, eh?" said he. Johanna shot him a venomous look at that.

"Well, stick with us, girl. We'll keep you safe," Bastet assured Johanna. "So, Hugh. How do you think we should tell my sister about your... predicament?"

"Same way I told you."

"That's it?"

"What, you want me to draw up some pie charts and a power point? Showing her the video will be fine, it's pretty compelling evidence."

"She can be stubborn."

"Well you're her sister, you keep telling her what's what and she'll come around."

"You don't know her like I do."

"Yeah, I've heard that one before. She'll come around. For now, let's just get her to join the Dream Team and go raid us a sacred tomb full of peacefully sleeping spirits."

"Just don't put it like that, she's a bit superstitious."

"Oh joy."

"Indeed."

The threesome stepped to the doors of Jorrvaskr. Leaning against the wall outside was a tall man in steel armor. Huey didn't recognize him. He was black haired and green eyed, with a thin goatee circling his lips. He was maybe a little older than Hugh, and had a small scar on his cheek that shined in the sunlight. He looked at them disdainfully.

"What's your business here?" he demanded. "I know it's not to join, none of you look like Companion material."

"I've come to see my sister, Oshana," Bastet replied nonplussed.

"Oh, her," he grumbled. Hugh thought he saw hint of jealousy on his face. Uh oh, looks like someone's being out-shined. "Last I saw she was out back. What do you want with her anyway?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business," Johanna said suddenly, trying way too hard to sound tough. Huey had to hide a cringe and resist facepalming. The man's gaze fell upon her. She swallowed at that.

"Don't you have school work to do, girl?" he sneered at her. Hugh again had to stifle a snort, but he stepped in.

"Lay off, pal. She's new in town, trying to impress everyone."

"Wow, great help," she retorted.

"Enough," Bastet growled. "We have better things to do than argue with a whelp."

"What did you call me?" the man snapped, standing straight with daggers in his stare. But she ignored him and lead Hugh and Johanna away. Hugh thought he would pursue, but he just muttered to himself, storming back into the mead hall. What a poser.

They wrapped around the hall and came to the back patio. At one of the tables sat Aela the Huntress, her unmistakable blue face paint and armor making her stand out from the other Companions in their steel and Wolf armors. Beside her was seated a Khajiit, definitely Bastet's sister. She had dark, charcoal gray fur and amber eyes, with her ears were done up with tufts in the style of a lynx. She wore armor similar to Aela's, only black and gray. She was leaning back with a cup in one hand, lazily playing with one of the tufts on her ear while Aela discussed something. Hugh wondered if Oshana had found out about the beastblood yet... or had partook.

Oshana turned and saw Bastet as they came closer. A grin came across her face and her ears shot right up. Aela followed her gaze as Bastet strode over, a wide smile on her face as well. Oshana stood immediately and both greeted each other in the Khajiiti tongue. Aela watched with an interested expression as the two embraced each other, babbling in their language and laughing. Johanna and Hugh came to the table, Aela taking notice of them.

"Hmph, the 'Strange Girl.' What was a milk drinker like you doing in those fields at night?" the huntress asked callously.

"Well, I, uh..." she stumbled.

"Out with it, girl!"

"Ah give the kid a break, she's had a rough time," Hugh interjected. Which was partly true, but he mainly said that because they didn't really have a cover story explaining how she ended up in the Whiterun Plains. He just hoped Aela wouldn't ask anymore questions.

"Quite," she said back, but had a clear look of suspicion as she took in Johanna, and Hugh for that matter, despite him looking more 'the part' with his armor. She decided to ignore them, thankfully, and turned back to the sisters.

"I guess you're Bastet, considering you're not throwing about spells and being smug about it."

"You'll meet Jasi soon enough, Aela. I just know how excited you are for that moment," Oshana shot back.

"Oh I'm waiting with bated breath," the huntress replied.

"For now you'll have to contend with Bastet... and her new friends..." Oshana at last took notice of the Earthlings, but not without some appraising disdain.

"Hogarth and Johanna," Bastet introduced them. "I met Hogarth on the road, he gave me a hand dealing with an ambush of frostbite spiders, and it's better to travel with a partner. In fact he knows Johanna. He was on his way to Whiterun to retrieve her when he spotted me having trouble with those insects."

"Pleasure," Hugh said to Oshana, offering his hand. She 'wrist shook' him, then did the same to Johanna.

"Well, I can see you all want to get caught up," Aela spoke as she rose from her seat. "We can talk later, Oshana."

"Of course," she said back, and Hugh noticed she looked a little troubled. Maybe this was about the beastblood. When Aela took her leave, Oshana turned back to Bastet.

"So what happened on your way here? You look troubled, and I can tell it has little to do with a few spiders."

"Is there somewhere more private we can speak?" Bastet asked.

"There are a few rooms in the bottom floor of Jorrvaskr where we can speak undisturbed. Come." With that Oshana led them into the mead hall. The interior was cavernous almost, much like the game version of Dragonsreach. A fire pit roared at the center of a collection of long tables covered in fine plates and goblets, all stacked with rich food and drink. A great number of Companions ate and talked at the tables, swapping stories, telling jokes, and arguing as warriors do. The guy that was outside earlier sat away from the center tables and instead drank from an amber bottle in a corner seat, eyeing their little company sourly, especially Oshana. Looks like someone has to attend Jelly School, m'kay?

The foursome descended a flight of stairs into the 'cellar' of the mead hall; long and sporting at least two dozen doors. Oshana made a beeline for one door and pushed it open. She stood aside to let them enter the small room. A circular table sat at the center beneath an iron chandelier of goat-horn candles. It was a pretty sparse room, and only seemed to just be a Nordic conference room. They all took seats across from each other after Oshana shut and locked the door.

"So," the dark-haired Khajiit sighed, "What happened? And who are these two, really?"

"Well..." Bastet swallowed, clasping her hands on the table. "For me, it began when I tried to cross the border. Imperials and Stormcloaks were in a skirmish, just my luck. But it was more than that. Ulfric himself was with those Stormcloaks."

"I've been hearing that rumor that he was captured but then escaped because of a... dragon. That can't be true... can it?" Oshana asked. Bastet sighed wistfully.

"I am afraid so. The Imperials captured me along with them, declared me a rebel as well."

"Gods, Bastet... you... they were..."

"Yes... I was in line on the chopping block." Oshana cursed in Khajiiti. "You shouldn't worry now; I'm here, I'm fine."

"I know, but just the thought of those cretins falsely accusing you... then murdering you!" Oshana shivered, but Bastet took her hand, murmuring some words of comfort in Khajiiti. Oshana smiled gratefully and said something back before they both leaned back in their seats.

"But honestly," Bastet continued, "That's the least interesting part. A dragon appeared before the rest of the executions could take place. It uttered something in its language, made fire fall from the sky! Just like in those stories Baymar used to tell us back in Rimmen."

"But doesn't the prophecy state dragons returning a sign of the End Times?" Hugh let out in involuntary snort. Oshana looked sharply at him, then said, "I assure you, it's no laughing matter. You should be more aware of the Elder Scrolls prophecies, since people seldom are."

"Oh it's not that," Hugh said back. "I agree with you, actually. It's just, how many 'End Times' has Tamriel been through? A handful. And as far as I can tell, the times haven't ended. The prophecies should be renamed, 'Some tool tries to end the world, but really sucks at it when he's defeated by a mortal.' Like, every time." Johanna started snickering at that.

"So true," she said.

"And... that's when this fool comes in," Bastet sighed, gesturing at Hugh, who waved and grinned at an unimpressed Oshana.

"Oh I came in, alright," he replied, reaching into a pocket and pulling out his phone.

"Oh... I wonder if mine works..." Johanna said suddenly, pulling an iPhone from her pocket. "Charging? But it's not plugged in!"

"Here," Hugh said, letting Oshana take the device with a perplexed look. "Take a gander, Ned Flanders." Bastet watched her sister as the trailer began playing.

"What is this daedric trickery?" Oshana demanded, but her attention on the screen was rapt.

"That's also something I should consider," Hugh thought aloud. "Maybe a daedric prince was in on it."

"That could be problematic," Bastet remarked.

"Like it already isn't?"

"A what prince?" Johanna asked.

"Demon lords, basically," Hugh explained. "Tamriel has, I think, twelve demi-Satans. Although two of them are actually good...ish, and one just wants to party hardy."

"This is ridiculous," Oshana blurted out as the trailer ended. She tossed the phone onto the table, shaking her head, but it was clear she was shaken up. "What even was that? And who are you? The both of you."

"For the record I haven't played Elder Scrolls," Johanna put in. "I'm more into JRPGs."

"I think they have a cream for that," Hugh shot back, making Johanna pout at him. "But the important thing here is... well, Johanna and I are from a different world. Well, universe. Yeah, an entire universe," he said to Oshana when she gaped at him. "You have aedra and daedra and Oblivion, and we have... uh, infinity that might not be infinity. Some scientists say our universe—as ginormous as it is—is finite, while others add that it's expanding. But that's not important-"

"Um, hold on, yes it is!" Bastet cried. "You said with that... multiverse thing that our worlds are all bubbles floating next to each other! If yours is expanding then doesn't that mean it might collide with ours? It could explain how you got here." Johanna and Hugh looked at each other. She was pale, and so was he, probably. Poor Oshana was just lost and looking between the three of them dumbly.

"Okay, that might be true," Hugh said, "But the whole expanding thing is a theory. Sure there's some evidence of it being true, but nothing's confirmed. Right now I think we should just focus on the dragons, and then how we're going to get me and Johanna home."

Bastet sighed, rubbing her eyes with her palms. She looked to Oshana then.

"Sister, I know this is hard to believe, but... there's some truth ringing to it. Hugh... somewhat knows what goes on in this Skyrim, based on his experiences with the fictitious one."

"Like he's a seer?" Oshana asked, looking incredulously at the Canadian.

"Eh... sorta," Hugh said. He looked to Bastet. "So did the Jarl send you on the quest for the Dragonstone?"

"He did," Bastet said, nodding, looking at Oshana. "Hugh said that would happen, and it did."

"It doesn't mean I'll be right every time," he added. "If you're questioning your existence right now, don't. You're not the product of someone else's imagination in a different realm."

"I thought as much briefly," Bastet said. "But he's right. We can't explain how our world can be fictitious in another, but what's important to know is that we are real."

"So what is it we're going to do?" Oshana asked. "Search for the Dragonborn?"

"Well... don't really have to..." Hugh said, jerking his thumb at Bastet. Oshana blinked silently.

"She... no, no, that's ridiculous... er, no offense, Bastet. But the Dragonborn was a nord in that... thing you showed me."

"That's the thing with the Skyrim game," Hugh argued "The Nord you saw was a placeholder, but in the game you can create your own character, and he or she could be of any race in Tamriel, including Khajiit. Plus, even in actual Tamrielic history, there have been Dragonborn people of non-nordic descent. So it's not so far-fetched to say a Khajiit can be the next Dragonborn."

"It is the will of the Divines, Oshana," Bastet said. "Anyone can be a hero in times of crisis, and the Divines can pick anyone." There was a short silence. Oshana stood and leaned against the wall with her arms folded, her brow furrowed in deep thought.

At last, she turned back and said, "I will come with you on your task. If you really are Dragonborn... I will be with you until the end. The Companions will have to wait... although honestly, I don't think there's much left for me here anyway." She murmured the last sentence to herself, but Bastet heard.

"Why is that, sister?" Oshana shook her head.

"A disagreement I am having with the Circle... the veteran members of the Companions." Bastet could see Oshana didn't want to reveal too much about it, so she decided to leave it at that.

"That's unfortunate, I know how much you wanted to be here after listening to Baymar's tales."

"Ahh..." Oshana waved her hand. "They were tales, nothing more. They're decent people, and I've had some good adventures, but we just don't see eye-to-eye on key things. Let's just hope Jasi is having a better time at the college."

"Or not," Bastet joked. Oshana snickered.

"Oh come now. Even Jasi would have to pause her precious study of the 'arcane arts' to help her dear little sisters, magicless bags of meat as they may be." The two of them laughed together.

Johanna leaned towards Hugh and asked quietly, "Why is it that mages are always pompous in fantasy stories?"

"Because tropes. What else is there?"

"Good point."

"So," Oshana said, turning to Hugh and Johanna with a smirk, "Can these whelps actually fight?"

"Hugh is decent with a bow. Her, I doubt," Bastet answered.

"Well?" Oshana asked of them expectantly.

"Oh, uh, um..." Johanna sputtered.

"Yeah, what she said," Hugh interjected, waving at Bastet.

"Well I've got to contribute somehow!" Johanna exclaimed.

"You can not get in our way, I think that would be best," Oshana said.

"I don't know," Bastet said back thoughtfully, rubbing her chin. "Maybe she can assist us if we get hurt, be ready with potions and healing scrolls." Hugh smirked at Johanna and nudged her.

"There, Jo, you get to be the White Mage."

"Oh yeah, and what're you?" she demanded.

"I'm the Cuntsman Sniper, obviously. Probably should start drinking a lot so I can have some Jarate ready."

"Ew!"

"Is this going to be a regular occurrence with them?" Oshana asked Bastet dryly.

"I'm afraid so," she answered with the same tone.

"Don't worry, you'll get used to it," Hugh said, heaving himself from the chair. "We'll try not to embarrass you too much in front of important people."

"Like I care what a bunch of smelly nords think," Oshana shot back.

"Well, well, I see being here has really gotten to you," Bastet remarked with a smirk.

"I was at Windhelm a few weeks ago. That damned cesspit has left a sour taste in my mouth, from the Nords and Dunmer alike. But Windhelm is Windhelm, it's been fine here," Oshana said. She went to the door and unlocked it.

"So..." she looked to the three as they stood side-by-side. One armored warrior, one armored hunter pretending to be a warrior, and one high schooler in an Evanescence T. "These are my new Shield-Sisters and Brother, it seems. Gods help me."