"May God have mercy on my enemies because I won't." - George S. Patton

Five years later

Ember didn't know how long she had been sitting in the bunker. After the alarms sounded, her brother had rushed her to the bunker before running to join the defense. She waited and waited but no one else came. All she could hear was the screams and roars. She had cried herself to sleep and when she awoke, she heard nothing. That was hours ago. She was curled up on one of the beds, tears having long since dried, when the wolf ears atop her head twitched and swiveled towards the door. She heard flapping, like a bird, but a huge bird. She got up from the bed and rushed to the sealed door, pressing her ear against it to better hear what was outside. The flapping grew closer before a large thud was heard. She could hear people speaking, but couldn't pick up what they were saying, and then the flapping began again. It was quiet for a moment and Ember thought whoever was out there had left until she heard footsteps approaching the bunker.

"Whoever is in there, are you able to open the door? I heard the distress signal. I'm a Huntsman and I'm here to help."

Ember was stunned for a moment, before looking around to find a release or button or anything to open the blast door. When she found nothing, she shouted as loud as she could. "No, I don't know how!"

"All right, little one. I need you to stand far to the side of the doors and cover your ears. Call out when you've done that."

She did as she was instructed and for a moment everything was quite.

"FUS... RO DAH!" A roaring sound of wind and thunder tore the silence apart and the door was blown off its hinges like paper. Dust was kicked up and all Ember could see was a figure standing in the hazy daylight. "Come on, little one. We need to get out of here. It's not safe."

Ember quickly grabbed what few things she had and made her way towards the entrance. Before her stood a very tall man with a big beard and tattoos. He held a rifle in his hands with another strapped to his back, along with two pistols on either leg and the handle of another weapon sticking over his shoulder. He wore some type of body armor over his chest with a pair of worn blue jeans and black combat boots. A brown leather duster with armored shoulders and no sleeves completed the look.

The two hadn't taken more than a few steps when howls echoed through the ruined village. Ember heard the man swear under his breath before she felt him pick her up and begin to run.

/My POV\

The howls of Beowolves forced me to grab the girl and start running towards the evac site. The bullhead still hadn't arrived by the time we got there. I pulled out my scroll and punched in a number. "Control, where the hell is my evac? I got a survivor down here and we'' be compromised a few minutes." The Vale City air traffic controller for huntsmen and huntresses came back almost immediately. "Sorry Warden, the flight we sent got hit by Nevermores, had to limp home. We can't get anything out to you for another half hour."

"Understood, I'll figure something out." I turned to look at the little wolf faunas in front of me. "My name is James, little one. I'm a Warden huntsman. Can I have your name?" The girl stood shyly for a bit before answering a little louder than a mumble, "Ember."

"Ember, that's a good, strong, and pretty name. Now I have a way for us to get out of here, but I need you to be brave and strong for me ok? I'm calling a friend, but he's not a scary and mean as he looks." Ember nodded at me and stood by my leg. Since I had already summoned him an hour ago, I didn't need to put much magic in the Thu'um. "Durnehviir!" I shouted loud enough for it to echo, but not shake the earth. I held my rifle at alert ready as I waited for Durnehviir to come back from whatever he had been doing. A few moments later, the unmistakable sound of dragon wings reached us, followed by a short roar. Ember clutched at the back of my leg as Durnehviir came into few. The undead dragon circled the LZ for a moment to bleed off speed before he flared his wings and dropped to the ground below me.

"Dovahkiin, a large horde of those dark creatures is on it's way. Did you find anything in your search?"

"Yeah, we heard them. Most of the village is wrecked, but thankfully the shelter held up. I found a survivor." I turned to look down at Ember, smiled at her to try and ease her fears. "It's alright Ember. He's a friend." Ember looked up at me for a moment before she took a step out from behind my leg, finally getting a good look at the dragon. Her eyes shot open before see gave a small wave as she partially retreated back behind me.

"Ah, hello there little one. I am Durnehviir." The soft fatherly tone the dragon used threw me off for a moment. If dragons could smile, I'm sure he was smiling now. The tone he spoke with seemed to ease Ember's fears even more, because she once again moved from behind me.

"I'm Ember. Wha-what are you?" She asked with wonder and a remaining bit of fear. The dragon just chuckled at that, a deep rumbling sound that brought a smile to the little girls face.

"I am a Dov, a dragon. It is a pleasure to meet you, young Ember." As the two were talking, I kept watch as the howls from the horde grew closer and closer.

"Durnehviir, our evac isn't able to make it. I need you to get her to safety will I try and thin out the horde." The dragon nodded and lowered his neck. I knelt before Ember and put a hand on her shoulder. "Ember, I need you to go with him. It's going to be scary, but I know you're brave enough. Can you do that for me?"

"But what about you?"

"I'll be right behind you, ok? I just need to make sure that the Grimm won't follow us. Besides, I'm the strongest Huntsman in the world, you'll see me again before you know it." Ember nodded, so I picked her up and placed her on Durnehviir's neck. "Now keep a tight hold on his horn here. I'll see you soon." The howls were incredibly loud now and a few Grimm had breached the treeline and were sprinting towards us. "Go Durnehviir! Come back for me after you get her to Vale!"

"Good luck, Dragonborn." The dragon then launched himself in the air, Ember screaming in fear and excitement. With a powerful flap, he surged forward and the girl's yells faded into the distance. I turned and faced the dozen or so Beowolves that had made their way through the rubble and were charging straight at me. "Well, let's get this show on the road." Taking a deep breath, I held my rifle at my side one handed. "YOL TOR SHUUL!" The inferno surged forward, instantly catching the dark animals on fire, as dozens more poured from the trees. A few of those caught fire before the fire breath dissipated. Bring my rifle back up to bear, I started sending rounds downrange while slowly back away from the horde. Once I felt my throat relax from the Shout, I let loose another, this time frost breath. The bolt locked open and I dropped the mag before inserting a fresh one in it's place and slapping the bolt release to chamber a new round. I did this over and over again while steadily retreated. Shout, fire, reload. Shout, fire, reload. I lost track of how long I had been fighting until my tenth and final magazine dropped to the ground. I let the rifle hang from it's sling and drew both my pistols. I had slaughtered the majority of the Grimm, but there were still a couple dozen and I knew I wouldn't have time to reload and shout before they reached me. Sighing, I emptied the guns into the sea of black fur with more than a few dropping as the large caliber rounds tore though them. I then dropped them to the ground and pulled out Stormbringer, my battle axe, preparing to wade into the enemy. Before I could take a step, rapid flapping reached me just as Durnehviir swooped low over the horde, fire bellowing from his maw. He quickly turned and made another pass, incinerating the last of the Grimm. Turning once again, he began slowing himself with lazy flaps as he came to land in front of me.

"You have been busy, Dovahkiin. I am glad to see that family life has not dulled your skills." Exhausted as I was, I opted to simply nod as the dragon lowered himself to allow me to climb on. "The girl is safe, the old wizard himself was there to greet her. He awaits your return." I patted my old friend's neck and held on tight as Durnehviir launched into the sky a powerful flap of his wings

"Well let's not keep him waiting. This whole mission has been a clusterfuck."