The next day, Ana wakes due to commotion. People outside her door are worriedly talking over each other, Mralki trying to calm them. Ana dresses herself and steps out, walking over to Erik, who was staying away from the crowd that had somehow formed at the entrance of the inn. She stood next to him, leaning in so he could hear her question.

"By the Divines, what is going on?" she asked, concerned. Mralki looked stressed and she couldn't make out what anyone was saying because of the commotion.

"People are wanting shelter. This dragon crisis is only getting worse, Ana. A large black one just flew by, speaking words no one could understand except this one woman passing through. The ground has been shaking every once in awhile. No one knows exactly what is going on," Erik explained. Ana gulped, her heart sinking. She decided to go see what was going on outside, Erik trying to stop her. Erik grabbed her arm and spun her around.

"Gods, Erik!" Ana exclaimed as he grabbed her. Erik narrowed his eyes and looked at her.

"You don't want to go out there, Ana. That woman who could understand what that… that thing was saying, she is warning us to stay inside," he told her just before the ground shook again- worse than before. Ana removed her arm from Erik's grasp and shakily made her way over to the door. When she opened it, a Nord woman with short black hair stood in the middle of the road… shouting? And not the usual "yelling-at-someone" type. Ana fell to the floor as the woman shouted upward again. Ana heard a loud roar emit from an unknown source above. Ana felt fear grasp her chest as the beast landed- it and the woman getting into a fairly heated fight filled with shouts and fire. Ana watched as teeth met sword and claw met armor. Guards around them tried to help, the civilians terrified of going out.

Ana frowned and got up, pulling her sword out. As she began to run out and help slay the beast, Erik finally came outside and shouted at her to stop. He felt guilty for being such a coward at this time- and he wanted to be an adventurer! He pulled his own blade out, hoping to kill the beast before it killed anyone else.

The woman who was originally fighting the dragon noticed them and tried to urge them away. She's already encountered these terrible things and didn't want anymore bloodshed because of them. She sighed irritably as they ignored her pleas and continued to fight. Trying to focus on both of the other two and the dragon at the same time proved to be quite challenging with one eye. The dragon itself seemed preoccupied with the other two plunging their blades into its sides. The woman noticed the look in Ana's eyes. They were bloodthirsty and vengeful. The woman took her chance and lifted up her greatsword, bringing it down onto the creature's neck and slicing the head off. Everyone around her stood in silence as the dragon broke apart, a bright orange-yellow-blue glow flowing towards the Nord.

Ana stared in awe at her. She was going to quickly walk over, but Erik stopped her. He looked upset and scared.

"Ana, you could have died!" he exclaimed, his hair a mess. Ana frowned and tried to find words to respond. Erik sighed and hugged her tightly. The woman from before watched them, walking up as Erik let Ana go.

"You, woman," she said, her accent thick. She laid a hand on Ana's shoulder. "Who are you?"

"Oh, u-um… My name is Ana," Ana replied. The woman nodded.

"Neilina. Dragonborn, apparently," Neilina said. She shook Ana's hand. "That look in your eyes when you came to help me… It was from deep down, wasn't it?"

"Huh?" Ana asked, "I-I guess?"

Neilina examined her face, frowning.

"You lost another. I can tell. I'm sorry for your loss," she said, awkward with situations like this. Ana could tell she wasn't well with words. She examined the woman in front of her. Scratch marks lined her arms and legs, a large cut through her eye, the eye itself a milky-white. Her hair was short and slightly uneven, the raven color matching the woman's dark eye. Her complexion was pale, her face seemingly like stone. Pity was the first emotion Ana could read in the woman's good eye. Ana rummaged through her thoughts to find something to say.

"Thank you," is all she could come up with. Neilina twiddled her fingers, seemingly trying to find a way to continue the conversation. Before she could, however, the citizens of Rorikstead had broken out of their shocked state and rushed over to Neilina, showering her in praise and thanks. Ana was led away from the large crowd by Erik. He looked upset and shaken- and for good reason. Ana felt a twinge of guilt for endangering him because of her decisions. Erik's arms were shaking as were his legs. Ana helped him sit down, soon being engulfed in a hug.

"I helped battle a dragon," he said, trying to view the positive. Ana hugged back, nodding her head.

"See..? I-It's okay," she said. Erik pulled away and looked her in the eyes.

"Why'd you run out like that?" he asked.

"I… I'm not sure," Ana said, "I felt so much anger when I saw that… that thing. I felt like I needed to help."

"Because of Val," Erik said. Ana nodded, looking down. Her heart filled up with grief as she remembered the limp, cold feeling of carrying him. Erik frowned and hugged her again, trying his best to comfort her.

Meanwhile, Neilina had made her way out of the crowd, wishing to be relieved of the loud noise. She sighed, hating this fate, but knowing it was a blessing to her mentors. She looked around for Ana, wishing to speak with her. The woman intrigued her. She wondered what her drive was- why she chose to stay in such a rugged and ripped nation. She looked over towards the two and began to walk over. Erik glanced over at Neilina, having seen her approach out of the corner of his eyes. He broke the embrace and Scooted over for Neilina to sit, but she chose to stand either way. Ana wiped any stray tears from her eyes and looked up at Neilina, a question lingering on her mind.

"I thank you for helping me," Neilina said.

"Of course. Anything for someone destined to kill those things," she said, bitterness on the tip of her tongue for the last word.

"What happened, might I ask?" Neilina asked. Ana hesitated and bit her lip.

"I lost someone dear to me recently because of them," she answered. Neilina nodded, a sad look in her eyes.

"I would offer to take you with me, but I must meet with someone not far from here. I wish you and your friend luck on your travels," Neilina told them.

"Thank you. I might leave myself soon. Enorra is still in Riften," Ana said, now talking to Erik.

"I'll get your things ready for you to leave," he said, leaving them along. Neilina stood silently for a few moments.

"I am sorry for your loss. I hope we can meet again sometime in the future," Neilina said, "It's not often in Skyrim that our kinds can get along."

Ana let out a soft laugh.

"You'd be surprised in this small town," she said, giving her a smile. Neilina smiled back and wished her a final goodbye before leaving. Ana stood up, going inside the Inn to grab her things. Mralki was tying up her satchels together and had someone preparing a meal for her. He looked up and smiled, a sad look in his eyes.

"You be safe out there, girl. Don't another family member dying out there," he told her. Ana's heart throbbed and she hugged him tightly.

"I won't die. We'll see each other at least once after today, okay?" she said, grateful for the man and his family. The air around her was calm- almost peaceful. She will always remember this place as her home. Every misadventure, every downfall- these people were there for her. She went around and said her goodbyes, saving Erik for last. She smiled at him, glad to have him as a brother-figure in her life. They hugged each other tightly, and she wished him well before leaving for Riften.