Chapter 4

Run

I hadn't heard that sound in like, forever. My heart was pumping, but not in a good way. I was out of breath and I wasn't even running. Every part of my body froze and Cody just stopped in his tracks. The roars became louder and I started to shake violently.

No. Not this again. I...

I forced myself to move and charge myself forward. The sound came from behind. I could sense the lingering tinge of the heat. It had given off a terrible shout. By Talos I pleaded for it to go away, but the memories of Helgen flooded back and the only part in my mind was that terrible dragonfire.

My body argued with me. With everything. My nerves, my muscles...all influenced by this creature that inspired something so extremely painful and agonizing that I couldn't stand it. My mind was everywhere, scattered in the mess that was my head. Sweat; a clamped throat that prevented me from speaking, my eyes aching as tears fell everywhere. I'd taken every breath as if it were my last. By the Gods, they just might be.

Yes...the sweat, the tight throat, the flush of heat, the heavy breathing, the inescapable fate of my nightmares.

I turned around, seeing the giant red flying lizard shouting at me, casting it's flames towards me. I flanked to the right, diverting myself into the amber-leaved woods of fall.

I've practiced my archery in these woods, for bears and the like. But the beast flew over head, overshooting it's mark and flew around and stared at me. Cody skidded to a halt, while the dragon yet again attempted to cook me.

Please Talos, I didn't want to die.

We continued our hasty rush through the woods, trying to lose it's trail. We came into the thicker part of the woods, as I had hoped to lose in underneath the cover the the trees.

My heart was beating as fast just as it was on that day in Helgen and that day at the Western Watchtower. I was drenched in sweat and salty tears.

Get it together Petra!

It flew off to the side, probably trying to flank me. In that moment, Cody tripped over a rock, sending me flying...

I remember hitting my head on something, a huge surge of pain then the darkness that followed.

But the darkness came and went as it pleased. I couldn't see Cody, I feared he'd been killed by the Dragon. My head hurt. I pressed my hand against it, feeling a warm ooze. I'd been critically injured and I was barely conscious. Just fantastic Petra you clumsy idiot. Now you're covered in blood. Such a fool! Idiotic, cowards and other refutable insults to myself!

The one thought in my mind was Cody. Please be safe. Run to Riften and stay there...my only...companion was just at the desperation in those forethoughts, as I dragged myself along the ground, trying to find a notable hiding spot. Every effort to move to pure agony. I swallowed hard. Push yourself Petra. Move!

I could hear the Dragon's roars still, but they were getting fainter to hear. It was either I'd hit my head so damn hard it affected my hearing or it was actually leaving. I so desperately hoped it was latter, as you would guess.

I'd looked around. I managed to pick myself off the ground. Magical...I could use a tankard of ale right about now. But seriously though, I'd never picked this job itself to get into anything unbelievably violent. It wasn't a requirement but it'd be handy if in the case I had to something no words could convince a person to do something.

People could be as stubborn as each other. So stuck in their ways that ultimately change challenges them the most. They hate it. They're often called Nords.

Me though, change isn't entirely awful. For reality to stay the same can substantially boring real quickly. Parts of us are naturally stubborn, our hearts that rule our heads. Influenced by pride. Again, it was just an expectation of us.

Stubbornness was not all bad. It could also been seen as a gift from the Gods. A way to tell us not to give up in what we believe in. If you honestly believe such tripe. No, it was a way of refusing us to die.

At that moment that's what it was. I was still damn right shaken with fear and spilling with blood enough for the wolves to suss out, a part of me kept upright. But I could be overcome with the very anxious of the dragons return and unable to move at all.

I honestly had no idea where I was. While the cover of the trees protected me from the sight of the beasts above, it also prevented me from seeing the silhouettes of the trees. Smart Petra, now you really are going to die with no one knowing where you were. I felt more sorry for Cody than for myself. He'd better have gotten himself to safety...

I found a bear cave, two bears. I rolled my eyes and took out my bow. I staggered a bit, a bit stunned still from my concussion. I was willing to fight bears. Easy work. Two shots to their heads. No, two shots to each bears head. They were down and out before they could barely touch me. I was proud I could still had skills despite being injured.

I made my approach to the small cave. To say it was a cave was shameful. I was just a small nook underneath some rocks. There was a distinct rot floating in the air. I'd realized my heart was so twisted and torn from the experience, that that push of the smell made me vomit. I was lucky I knew I was going to, I forced myself to nearby to let go of that apple I ate earlier.

Can you believe I actually started to crawl around? Oh the Guild would start hackling at me. But they don't have stories of fighting off Dragons now do they? All they do is sit around and tell of their crude and sexual jokes was just so...chauvinistic. I don't know how the other girls do it. Especially Vex. Though, they'd never say it around her or they'd risk a dagger to their throats. I wish they were smart like that around me. Perhaps I should just demonstrate the risk of taunting me one day and then they'll learn.

I leaned back on the stone edge behind me. Not exactly comfortable, but a lot better than sitting in the gut of a dragon or with teeth digging into my skin...By the Gods that thought just made my stomach twist so bad that I could have thrown up again. My breath was till heavy and my whole body and muscles were so tense that I became solid in that spot. I sobbed and shook like mad.

My whole body flushed under the image of of the beast. I made utmost dedication to force my head to look to my right, peaking through the bushes of the trees, seeing the sun rise in the distance made relax slightly and smile.

I don't normally smile like that. It hurt. It did little to ease the pain. My throat was sore and tight from fear and my face was wet with salty warm tears.

Everything went dark again.

Then the next thing I know, some red-headed bastard decides to stick his face in when I awoke again.

That's it, I blacked out altogether.