A/N: That's right... We're Doing It Now! Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

Disclaimer: I Don't own The Elder Scrolls Series, only My OC's.

Chapter 10: Crossing Paths

Shouts-at-Sun's POV

I descended the 7000 steps and reached Ivarstead. I stayed at the Vilemyr Inn in Ivarstead, since it had been well over a day now since I'd had a chance to rest.

In the morning, I set off cross-country to the northwest. According to the information I'd been given, Ustengrav was northeast of the city Morthal. I spotted a number of other locations along the way, and took note of them as I passed. It wasn't an easy journey, seeing as a major mountain range stood in my path. Along the way, I had several fairly standard encounters, including attacks by bandits and wild animals. However… as I reached the summit of the mountains, I saw what looked like some sort of…altar?

I approached it, and found what appeared to be a shrine to Akatosh, along with a U-shaped stone wall just like the one I'd found in Bleak Falls Barrow. At least this time I knew what would occur if I examined it…

'Here we go again,' I thought, 'I wonder what word I'll get this time…'

I then unexpectedly had an encounter with not one, but two dragons!

One dropped in behind me without warning. Its scales were a dirty, rusty, reddish-brown color. I could tell with one glance that this dragon would never be convinced to back down… in fact, in comparison to the one I'd fought at Whiterun, I saw little in the way of intelligence within its eyes. In fact, this dragon's eyes seemed almost… dead.

The other one however, seemed content to stay back and watch. It was almost matte gray. Something about it looked familiar…

Maybe backup in case this first one loses?

In any case, it wasn't a threat at the moment, so instead I focused my attention on the one who was. I drew my sword and 'unsheathed' my shock spell.

Overall, this battle went fairly similar to the one against Mirmulnir outside Whiterun. Despite being able to tell that the dragon was essentially just mindless beast, it still pained me to know I'd have to kill it…

I dodged its toothy maw, rolling straight back. The dragon then took a started inhaling deeply.

Uh-oh…

The dragon then released its Shout.

"FO… KRAH… DIIN!"

I leapt to the side just in time as the dragon spat forth an icy blast. I tried to get into position for an attack, but the dragon retaliated by dodging as well. Then, before I could react, it leapt forwards and pinned me to the ground. Surprisingly, I was not instantly crushed under its weight. Instead, I apparently would have a few more moments to live before it mercilessly ended my life.

I didn't know what else to do… I closed my eyes and prayed to the Divines for a miracle…

'I guess this is it,' I thought, 'I had a decent run…'

"FUS… RO… DAH… RANAAZ!" I heard an unfamiliar voice Shout.

All at once, I felt the massive weight of the dragon vanish from my chest.

What… just… happened?

I got my answer when I opened my eyes once again: the gray dragon was still flying overhead, while the rusty brown one had been thrown a good distance away. It looked like some sort of massive blow had struck its side. There was no one else around. There was only one possibility.

'Did that dragon just save me?'

Lokhunnonvul's POV

That was too close… If I hadn't acted when I did…

I'd been following the Dovahkiin almost since he left Ivarstead. His arrival here at the Skyborn Altar was not unexpected, since it lay right along the shortest path between The Throat of the World and Ustengrav. On top of that, the Word Wall here would likely draw his attention.

I hadn't expected this place to be occupied so soon by a Dovah. I didn't recognize this particular Dovah, but when I first saw it, I instantly knew something was very wrong… its eyes held no signs of life.

'I always knew he was malevolent at heart, but has Alduin truly sunk to that level? To resort to the foul magics of a Nahgahdinok, a necromancer?' I thought in horror, 'he has turned this one into a Dovah Volaas… an unliving dragon! This is… truly unforgivable. He cares so little for his forces that he won't even bother to resurrect them properly!'

I saw that the Dovahkiin was in deep trouble… that he was about to be killed. I did the only thing I could… I intervened. With one deep breath, I released one of the special techniques I'd learned: Force Lance.

The Dovah Volaas was blasted off of the Dovahkiin and thrown about 20 feet, nearly knocking it off the side of the mountain. The Dovahkiin stopped and looked up at me in surprise. Apparently, my aid caught him off guard as well. He recovered quickly, though, giving me a quick nod to imply his thanks.

He rushed back it to rejoin the battle with the Dovah Volaas. Normally I'd be displeased to see another Dovah being attacked, even if it was an enemy. However, it this case, stopping it was an act of mercy.

The Dovahkiin was far more successful this time, and after a heated battle, he was victorious. The Dovahkiin approached his fallen foe, and seemed almost sad about he'd done. The nameless Dovah Volaas then dissolved away into a skeleton as the Dovahkiin absorbed its soul. It was surprising it had one at all considering what it was, but that's beside the point.

I decided that now was the time as any to approach the Dovahkiin. Not sure how fluent he was in Dragontongue; I spoke to him in Imperial Common.

"Greetings Dovahkiin," I said, "Are you alright?"

Shouts-at-Sun's POV

Alright… I'm not sure what's more surprising: that I was just saved by that dragon, or that it was speaking to me in a civil manner. I took another look at him and realized something: it looked like the same dragon that'd saved me in my dream!

"I'm okay… I guess," I said, "thank you for saving me… but who are you? What are you doing here?"

"That will take some time to explain Argonian," the dragon replied, "may I land and rest my wings?"

"Uh… sure," I replied, "go right ahead".

He descended slowly and did his what appeared to be his best to land softly… but with a creature as large as a dragon, its rather difficult to do something gently. The small earthquake he caused as he landed evidenced this.

"I am known as Lokhunnonvul, or 'Noble Sky Hero' in your tongue. I am doing what I can to protect this world… as I kind of like living in it," He stated, "however, it's not exactly the best place to talk about it here… who knows when another of Alduin's minions will arrive? It would be best if we traveled to somewhere safer".

"And you know of such a place?" I replied.

"Yes… the long abandoned fortress of an old friend of mine. It's located in the mountains west-northwest of here," Lokhunnonvul said, "if we head out soon, we can reach it by nightfall. But first… I don't believe you've examined that word wall over there yet".

I realized he was correct. I stepped over to the U-shaped stone, and stared at it, seeing what knowledge would be burned into my mind this time. I soon spotted the glowing runes, and felt the word pour into my mind. It fortunately wasn't nearly as unpleasant this time… it felt pleasantly cool, like fresh-fallen snow.

'Fo… Frost, Frost Breath,' I thought, 'wait… FROST BREATH? Seriously?'

"So," said Lokhunnonvul with a slight chuckle, "what did you get?"

"Would you believe Frost Breath?" I asked.

"Ah… good, I was reading it correctly," Lokhunnonvul said, "Do you wish to try it out?"

"Huh? On what?" I asked, then realized, "You don't mean…"

"Yes, on me," Lokhunnonvul calmly stated, "don't worry… you only have the first part of the Thu'um so it won't be too harmful. Besides, it's part of a traditional greeting between Dovah. Just introduce yourself, and then blast me with your newly acquired Frost Breath. Oh… and don't forget to put the spiritual energy you absorbed from you foe towards activating it first".

"Alright, ready?" I said, "I am known as Shouts-at-Sun. FO!"

A blast of icy power shot from my mouth, and struck Lokhunnonvul square in the face. As the energy from the attack dissipated, I saw that he was completely unharmed.

"Excellent!" Lokhunnonvul said, "come we must be… hmm?"

"What is it?" I asked, wondering what had caused him to become distracted.

I watched as he walked over to be a short distance in front of the word wall. He stopped there, and seemed to be examining the ground. I noticed that there was some sort of sigil on the ground. He seemed to be reading something written there. Suddenly, the sigil lit up, and energy started pouring out. I wondered if this is what it looked like when I absorbed a word of power…

He then spoke quietly to himself.

"Qo… Lightning… Lightning Breath," he said, "that will certainly be helpful".

He then turned to me once again.

"Anyway… are you ready to go?" Lokhunnonvul asked, "We have a lengthy flight ahead of us".

"How am I going to get there?" I asked, "I can't fly!"

"Oh… is that all?" Lokhunnonvul said with a smile as he lowered his body to the ground, "Hop on. I'll carry you there".

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" I said, "I don't to make you demean yourself if it's not necessary…"

"Think nothing of it," Lokhunnonvul replied, "I don't mind aiding you… in fact, it's a major part of the reason I'm here right now".

"Well… okay then," I said, climbing onto his back, finding the best spot to rest was between this wings.

"Hang on tight… but not tight enough to choke me please," he said. I'm not sure wether he was joking on not.

He took off, while I did my best to not fall off. We then flew westward… towards whatever awaited me…

A/N: And there we are! next time, our heroes arrive at Highpass! See you then!