Chapter 12
Taking a Chance
When she went to her room that evening she noticed Bishop's bedroll missing. Her heart dropped and she tip toed around the monastery, wondering if he'd up and left. She could hardly blame him. He'd just tried to express his concern for her and she threw it back in his face. She felt horrible. When she saw him curled up near the hearth in their make-shift kitchen she felt relieved. He hadn't left...yet.
She slept fretfully all night on the hard bed and woke up feeling absolutely miserable. As she sat up and put her boots on Bishop walked into the room wearing his travel pack. He glanced at her then turned away quickly and started rummaging through one of the dresser drawers. He pulled out all of the supplies and camping equipment he'd stored in there and began stuffing it into the bag.
Rona silently watched, feeling her distress mounting as he finished packing and wandered back into the kitchen where she could hear him packing up the pots, pans and other utensils. She stepped into the foyer as he walked right past her, Karnwyr padded beside him.
Her lip trembled as she cried, "Wait! Are you...you're coming back right?"
He did not turn back and simply said, "I'm leaving Ladyship. I can't stay in this place a minute longer. Good luck with your training...if you ever need a tracker, you know where to find me."
She made to grab him when Arngeir called out, "If you could hold for just a moment young man."
Bishop turned back looking more solemn than she'd ever seen him. Arngeir slowly came down the steps, his hands clasped together so that his sleeves draped inward. "I am afraid you cannot leave without your traveling companion." He grasped Rona's shoulder and looked to her. "My dear, you have learned so much, so quickly in such a short time. I must admit that I have been holding back with you, teaching you at a snail's pace when you are already on par with the Masters."
She was stunned, she couldn't believe he actually admitted it. He continued, "Though you were right not to fear the grey dragon on the tower, Bishop was only concerned for your safety and well-being."
"You saw that?"
"No, but, ah...we did hear. You two are much louder than you might think," he chuckled and looked down at her like a father would to his daughter, "Though you have not learned all that we can teach you here I believe being in the monastery has stifled you. Your songs are so few now than when you first came and spread your joy throughout these cold halls. I was selfish to keep you here for so long. It is time for you to carry on your journey outside these walls," he looked over to Bishop and said, "but I would like it if the two of you stayed together."
Bishop gave him a skeptical look and said, "What's it to you if we stay together or not?"
Arngeir met Bishop's scowl with a friendly smile and replied, "Believe it or not, despite your incessant bickering and…erm, other questionable behavior, you are a great influence on the young Dragonborn."
Both Rona and Bishop were looking at him with the same puzzled expression.
Arngeir laughed again, "It is true! Lady Rona, because of your heritage, because of your blood, you will find yourself far more fearless than most men would be when facing off against a dragon. You see dragon's have a natural desire to dominate - especially to dominate each other. Because you have the body of a human and the soul of a dragon this makes for quite the dangerous combination. Too many Dragonborn have lost their lives in battle due to their own headstrong natures. Bishop here has been the voice of reason in this case. He has and hopefully will continue to remind you to value your own life."
Rona looked over at Bishop intending to apologize but he held a hand up and stopped her, "Don't say you're sorry. I don't want to hear it. But if you want to join me in getting the hell away from this damned place you're more than welcome to." She grinned at him.
Arngeir said, "I will give you a task, Dragonborn, which you may pursue at your leisure. Retrieve the Horn of Jurgen Windcaller, our founder, from his tomb in the ancient fane of Ustengrav. When you have found it and you are ready you may return to us to complete your training."
She turned to Arngeir bowing her head, "Thank you for everything Master Arngeir," then scurried off to her room to collect her weapons, her lute and her cloak. She caught up with Bishop who was waiting outside on the steps taking in the fresh air. She drew her cloak around herself and said, "I'm ready to go."
"Great! Let's get out of this place! I don't want to come back here for a long time."
Their walk down the mountain was fairly quiet and unadventurous. Bishop had cleared the path so many times already that there were no trolls, wolves or any enemies to worry about, except perhaps another dragon if it decided to grace them with its presence.
Still Rona was thrilled to be leaving. She'd learned a lot from the Greybeards, but that kind of life was not for her. She couldn't imagine staying in one place and sitting around doing nothing all the time. She was ready for adventure.
They walked for two hours in complete silence, Bishop hadn't said a word to her and she wondered if he was still mad at her. She was afraid to say anything though and possibly upset him more so she bit her tongue every time the word 'sorry' started to travel over it.
Finally, Bishop said, "You've been awfully quiet Ladyship. Got nothing to say?"
She stared down at her boots and cringed as 'sorry' once again fluttered across her mouth. Finally she stammered, "I...I'm just so happy to be out of there! I couldn't take it anymore! The quiet, the meditating, ugh! It was so boring. I was starting to go stir crazy."
He laughed, "Yeah, it was getting to me too. S'why I left every other day."
She paced beside him as best she could through the snow and said, "But you always came back. Can I ask why?"
He stopped and looked down at her, studying her face then sighed and said, "I have no idea."
"Oh..." she looked downtrodden.
He cocked his head back and said, "You were pretty mean to me after all, slapping me and screaming at me a lot."
She bit her tongue, no apologies. Instead she said, "What can I do to make it up to you?"
He grinned mischievously at her. "I can think of several things."
She rolled her eyes and smirked then kicked through the snow ahead of him. She shouted over her shoulder. "You're going to have to try harder than that!"
They spent the next several hours of their trip joking, laughing and flirting like normal. She felt relieved to be back in his good graces and having fun instead of fighting. By the time they made it to the bottom of the mountain the sun had already set and they made their way to the local inn for food, drinks and a place to sleep.
Rona bought their drinks while Bishop pulled out a map and spread it across the table. She handed him his bottle of mead and sat down while sipping at her glass of wine.
"So, where do you want to head next?" he asked her, tracing a finger over the map, "Riften is close by if you want to go there, though that place is crawling with lowlifes and thieves."
"What about Windhelm?" she said pointing to the hold just northeast of them on the map.
"What? So you can freeze off that sweet ass of yours some more?" he laughed.
"That's where Ulfric Stormcloak is from, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
"I want to meet him," she said.
He frowned at her, "You already met him once didn't you? That wasn't enough for you?"
She shrugged and said, "Well...I'd like to see how he treats his people, what his hold is like and you know..."
Bishop narrowed his eyes at her as she turned her head to avoid his gaze. "You're thinking of joining up in the civil war, aren't you?"
Rona's face clearly gave her away and he barked, "Of course you are!" He groaned and rubbed a hand to his forehead, "Ladyship, the last thing you want to do is get involved in the war."
"And I appreciate and respect your thoughts on the matter, but I just have to know."
"Have to know what? If he's worth siding with?"
"Yeah," she said through her glass.
Bishop looked around at the mostly empty inn and said in hushed tones, "Look Lightfoot, let me level with you here. Ulfric is a complete piece of shit. He's racist, his Stormcloaks are racist, it's how most nords are, to be honest, but he takes it to a whole new level. The man murdered the High King because he wanted that power for himself, he doesn't give two shits about Skyrim. All Ulfric cares about is himself. He will gladly use you, the Dragonborn, to stir his cause and rally his troops and then he'll boot you right out of here along with all the other elves as soon as he's done with you."
She cocked her head and gave him a wry smirk, "So you think I should join the Imperials then?"
"Hell no!" he blurt, "They tried to execute you, remember? I stand by what I said before, don't get involved. Let these idiots sort it out for themselves. It's none of our business."
"I still want to go there," she said, "Let's start with Windhelm then work our way back to Whiterun and stop by the farm before heading up to Solitude."
He rolled his eyes and snapped up the map, folded it up and slid it in his pocket. Then he raised his bottle and said, "As you wish Ladyship." He downed his drink in a single gulp.
The next morning, they packed up and ate a quick breakfast. Rona found a courier and paid him to deliver the letter to her father. She felt nervous about it but really wanted to start corresponding with him. She needed his fatherly advice now more than ever.
As the two set out on their steeds, Karnwyr did his usual thing of keeping up then getting distracted by the local wildlife as they crossed paths. Every time he'd lose track of his prey he'd come running back over to them, panting and being his playful self.
They trod along fairly slowly, not wanting to rush anywhere and just take their time. Rona was taking in all the sights of the lush forest and enjoying the scent of wild pine. It was a wonderful change from the dreary white snow and blank mountain landscape she'd suffered through the last month.
She was so much happier now and she could tell Bishop was too. He reached over and grasped the reins of her mare for a moment and said, "Hey, hold up."
She looked over at him, "Hm?"
He paused chewing on his lower lip slightly then met her gaze and said, "How do you feel about surprises?"
She looked unsure and said, "That depends. What kind of surprise did you have in mind?"
He chuckled and said, "If I tell you, it won't be a surprise. Come on, just follow me."
She shrugged, "Okay…"
He grinned at her, "This way, Ladyship. We want to get there while it's light. No detours."
He spurred his horse onward and moved at a quicker pace. Rona did the same and followed closely behind. They followed the river and came up to a bridge where an injured man lay next to his broken trolley. They both came to a stop and Bishop eyed the man warily while Rona leapt off Karinda and ran over to him. "Are you okay?"
The man looked up at her and coughed, holding his arm, "Ah...thank goodness. Are they gone? Please help me, I can pay you."
She knelt over him, searching for a wound though she didn't see one anywhere, "Here, I have healing magic that can help you." She cast a spell over him.
"Thank you, kind lady. Bandits attacked and ransacked my cart. Would you mind escorting me back to my camp? It's just nearby and my companions are there. I can reward you," he said desperately.
"Of course," she agreed.
The man stood up fairly easily, she wasn't sure if her magic was that good or if perhaps he wasn't as hurt as he seemed to be. Rona looked over at Bishop who eyed the man suspiciously, his hand on his dagger. Karnwyr came rushing over to them, barking loudly and ran up to the man and started sniffing his boots.
Rona shouted, "Karnwyr! Come here! I'm sorry, he's friendly."
The man got really nervous and said, "Ah – oh… good dog."
Bishop grumbled, "He's not that friendly…"
The man looked over at him and stuttered, "Th - thank you kindly strangers, really, I appreciate your help."
As he led the way Bishop grasped Rona's arm and pulled her close to him and whispered, "Don't trust him Ladyship. I've seen this ruse more times than I can count. Get ready to shout him and any other bandits down."
She nodded and stayed close to Bishop who already had his dagger drawn. Karnwyr padded alongside Bishop, sensing his master's apprehension, the fur on his back started to bristle.
"It's just across the bridge and up that hill...we're close now I can see the camp," the man assured them.
They continued to follow him, both prepared to fight. Rona hoped Bishop was wrong but when the man said, "Wait here, I'll go get your reward," and she saw the men and women in the camp staring maliciously at them she knew he was right. The man got up to the top of the hill when he shouted, "KILL THEM!"
Bishop cried, "Cover me Lightfoot!" and ran up the steps after him. Karnwyr chased his master growling and barking viciously. Rona twisted on the spot to face the three bandits coming for her from their camp on the right. As they drew their weapons she shouted, "ZUN HAAL VIIK!"and was pleasantly surprised as she saw their weapons fly from their hands. They looked around flabbergasted as Rona drew her bow and shouted again, "FUS RO DAH!"
Her voice launched two of them over the cliff and the third off his feet. He slammed backward into a rock and she picked him off with her bow. Bishop had wrestled the terrified man's arms back, holding him in place while pressing a blade to his throat. Karnwyr had a hold of the man's leg with his teeth and growled furiously, shaking his head ever so slightly and making the man scream and writhe in pain.
Bishop snarled at him, "Best apologize to the Dragonborn for that dirty trick."
"D-D-Dragonborn! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you! Please have mercy!"
Bishop growled, "That'll do," and slid his dagger deeply across the man's throat and let him drop to the ground.
"Stand aside for a minute?" Rona said and Bishop stepped back so she could use her Unrelenting Force shout on the dead man and sent his body flying over the cliff.
Bishop laughed, "Damn woman! That is impressive."
She smiled inwardly and stowed her bow away as Bishop called to her from the stairs of the ruined tower ahead of them, "Come on, this is what I wanted to show you."
She met him on a hanging overlook just outside the other side of the tower. The view was incredible. She could see half of the Rift and all of Eastmarch beyond.
He stood beside her on the edge of the overhang and said, "Well, here we are. It's no Throat of the World but it's mine. Well, partly mine, a long time ago. My first home in Skyrim."
"This is beautiful," she said captivated by the scenery. She turned to him after a moment and asked, "But why did you bring me here?"
"It's where I found Karnwyr as a cub. I haven't been here for...," he stretched his shoulders and thumbed his dagger then muttered, "Damn, always feels longer than it actually is. I've never brought anyone here before."
"That's very sweet, this place must mean a lot to you."
"Yeah...yeah it does. This tower is still standing because of a man I once knew... He's... gone now. Anyway. I made the first good decision of my life here, I wanted to make you a part of it," he scoffed at himself, crossing his arms, "I'm still not being clear, am I?"
He turned to face her straight on and looked deep into her eyes, "You're here because... Trust doesn't come easy for me. To me, this is the most important place in Skyrim. I wanted you to know..."
She smirked at him, hardly believing what she was hearing, "Where's Bishop and what have you done with him?"
He scowled slightly, "Oh for - really? Bishop is standing right here and just took a chance and told you he trusts you...Are you willing to do the same? To trust me?"
She met his gaze more fully now. He really was being serious and she wanted him to know she was listening. She said sincerely, "You've never given me a reason not to."
Bishop closed the space between them so suddenly and put a hand around her waist pulling her in. Her heart was racing as he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her softly. He tasted like honey mead and smelled like warm pine. He was too good at this and she wanted more. She drew her hands up around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him in closer for a deeper kiss. Surprised by her need he too pulled her closer to his body and twisted his tongue around hers. When they parted she hadn't realized how much she was lacking for air and took a deep breath.
He grinned at her, pleased by how flustered he'd made her or perhaps just happy to finally be one step closer to his prize.
She muttered, "You just kissed me..."
He chuckled, "And you kissed back Princess, or was I just imagining your hand digging into the back of my head just now?"
She diverted her eyes, feeling the heat burning in her cheeks and traveling up to her ears. Despite her sudden shyness she felt butterflies in her stomach. She was completely exhilarated. He didn't hate her, he actually trusted her, and he just kissed her! And he kissed really well too. It was all very overwhelming.
Bishop laughed at the sight of her and said, "If I'd known you'd react like this I would've kissed you sooner," he cleared his throat, "Yeah, so... I'm not exactly a romance kinda guy."
She looked up at him and said, "What are you talking about? This," she waved an arm out to the rolling landscape, "this is incredibly romantic Bishop."
"It is, is it?" He sat down and hung his legs over the edge of the overhang and pat the ground beside him, "So, come sit with me a while. I'd like to enjoy the scenery before we leave again."
Rona did as he asked and sat down close beside him. She let him put an arm around her waist to scoot her closer to him. She felt content leaning her head against his shoulder and listening to him breathe. After a minute or so though he couldn't seem to resist and put a finger under her chin to tip her face up to his. He graced her with his lips again and she accepted it willingly.
They spent a short while on the overhang, looking out at the sky before something large and loud caught their attention. A dragon loomed off in the distance and Rona felt her blood boiling at the sight of it. She fidgeted in her seat and drew herself up, Bishop still holding her hand said, "Going off to fight it, aren't you?"
She looked down at him and said, "I have to. I have to test my thu'um."
He let go of her hand and stood up, "Not alone you won't."
They rode swiftly, taking the winding path to the edge of the forest where they were met with the strong scent of sulfur. Hot springs were scattered across the open plateau. A khajiit caravan was stopped nearby, overlooking Bonestrewn Crest. Four khajiits and three Stormcloak guards looked on at the creature. A khajiit woman was hysterically pleading with one of the guards while a fully armored male khajiit held her back.
The dragon was, at the moment, attacking two giants and their mammoth herd near the hill. The giants were losing that battle, though still faring better than Rona expected.
Rona and Bishop trod closer to the group. One of the guards stopped them and said, "Wouldn't get too close if I were you. Best take the long path around if you're headed to Windhelm."
The khajiit woman was sobbing, "Please, oh please! My son! Please help him! I beg you! He's just a boy!"
One of the guards growled at her, "There's nothing we can do about it cat. Your boy's lost! You'd be a fool to try."
The male khajiit pulled on the shoulders of his weeping friend and hissed, "Zaynabi, we cannot. It is too dangerous. We will come tonight when the dragon sleeps to search for him."
"Kharjo is right. We must wait until nightfall," another female khajiit dressed in lavish clothes tried to comfort her friend, "Nakir will be fine until then, I saw him, he is hiding in a crevice. He will be safe."
Rona slipped off her steed and walked over to them. "Please, can you tell me what's happened?"
The khajiit woman Zaynabi cried into her hands while the other woman in finery stepped forward, "Her son was playing in the springs when the dragon came upon the hill. He is trapped in a crevice. Are you mercenaries? Will you help us?"
"Heh, better than that," Bishop said, but before he could go on, Zaynabi and a few of the other bystanders started screaming in terror. The dragon had killed both giants and their mammoths, reducing them all to smoldering corpses when it turned its attention to a crevice in the rocks, trying to stick its nose through and viciously clawing at the stones, attempting to break them open.
It roared spraying flames across the stones and scratched madly at them. It was now or never, a child's life was on the line. Rona drew her bow and dashed across the plateau, ignoring the calls of the guards, "Are you mad woman!?"
"What is she thinking? Wait! - Lad! Don't! It'll burn you alive!"
Bishop caught up to her and shouted, "What's your plan?"
"You're backup! Get as many arrows into its soft spots as you can! Go for the eyes, its wings, and its belly!"
He pulled back as she raced into the fray, crying out, "SU GRAH DUN!"she felt lighter than ever as she nocked an arrow and let it fly into the back of the beast.
The dragon turned right around to investigate the source of this sudden attack and Rona yelled at the thing, "Come pick on someone your own size!"
The echoes of a choir rang through the plateau and Rona sang her song of power.
(The song is Shot in the Dark by Within Temptation)
The dragon looked at her quizzically for a moment before uttering a guttural, "Dovahkiin," when it realized who and what she was.
It launched itself at her and she kicked off the ground, lighter than ever because of her shout she was able to soar through the air without any aid. She pulled back her drawstring and set free an arrow into its face. She scarcely missed her target, however, as the arrow lodged right beneath its eye. The dragon howled and scratched at its face with a claw. Bishop lobbed several arrows into the beast's hide and wings then leapt back and ducked down below a large rock just as the dragon growled fiercely and blast flames across the plateau in his direction.
Rona sailed down and the second she touched the ground she bolted away, rolling just as the creature scrambled forward, it's jaw snapping shut right where she was standing a moment ago. It turned its head towards her and she cried, "FUS RO DAH!" with all the force in her very being, sending the dragon flying sideways across the plateau. She tossed her bow aside, withdrew her dagger and shouted, "WULD NAH KEST!"
She sprint forward, faster than the eye could see and clutched at the dragon's horn, pulling herself atop its head where she buried her dagger into its left eye. Its roar boomed out like thunder, breaking the sound barrier and causing the ground to rumble. She held on for dear life as it flapped its wings, launching itself upward. She'd never wanted to kill the damn thing more in her life and kept sticking her dagger into its skull while still clinging to its horn.
The dragon did a barrel roll through the air and she nearly puked as her stomach flew into her throat. She couldn't hold on and let go, quickly casting a spell to slow her ascent. As her eyes stopped rolling in her head she saw the dragon skidding across the ground. She noticed the three Stormcloak guards gathered around Bishop, holding their bows and launching arrows into the creature on his command.
The dragon finally stopped moving and collapsed heavily on the ground. Bishop came running over towards Rona and made to catch her as she slowly drifted downward. He was smiling broadly up at her and called out, "I've got you Ladyship!" She laughed as she fell into his arms and feeling high on the thrill of conquering the beast she wrapped her arms around his neck and passionately kissed him. Bishop returned her vigor with his own and when they pulled apart he said, "Wow. We need to do this more often."
They were hit with a powerful wind as the soul of the dragon spun around her body and absorbed into her skin. Rona felt the word FO tickling her lips and she cried, "FO!" setting free a crisp, cold breath of ice which left her mouth tasting like mint.
The khajiit all went running toward the crevice in the rocks and Rona grasped Bishop's hand, pulling him along with her to meet them. Zaynabi crouched near the opening in the rocks and cried, "Nakir! Fado vaba etofor - please come out little one."
In a moment an adorable little black and brown khajiit boy, no older than seven or eight came crawling out of the rocks and embraced his mother. She clutched at him as he sobbed in her arms mumbling in ta'agra, "Fado ahziss vaber opa qojithka!"
Zaynabi looked up at Rona, the fur on her cheeks damp with tears and she moaned, "Thank you, oh thank you."
Rona knelt down beside them and looked the boy over, checking for any wounds. She asked him, "You're not hurt anywhere are you?"
He looked up at her shyly and shook his head, burying his face back into his mother's chest. Rona cast a grand healing over the party all the same, just to be safe and stood back up.
The khajiit woman in finery came up to her and grasped her hands with her soft paws. "I cannot thank you enough Dragonborn. You and your companion are true heroes."
Rona smiled and said, "I'm really just glad he's okay."
"I am Ahkari," she introduced herself.
"My name is Rona and this is my companion Bishop."
Ahkari smiled, displaying pointed teeth and purred, "Ah! I remember you! The lovely elf-bard with sparkling green eyes. I hope you will continue to visit us in your travels my lady. You are always welcome at our caravan, anything you need I can sell for half price!"
Kharjo, the male khajiit in armor growled, "Do not be so stingy Ahkari, the Dragonborn has done us a great kindness," he handed over an assortment of potions, ingots and glittering gemstones.
Ahkari looked like her eyes were going to bulge out of her head but she held her tongue as he gifted Rona with the items.
Rona awkwardly thanked him, she never felt comfortable taking so many items for nothing and insisted she pay something for them. Ahkari nearly leapt at the chance when Kharjo firmly said, "No. The life of Nakir is worth so much more, though we can only part with this."
As the khajiit thanked them once more and left, (Ahkari scolding Kharjo in ta'agra in hushed tones as they left), several of the Stormcloak guards came over to them. One of them pulled his helmet off, revealing a young face and blonde wispy hair. "So you're the Dragonborn," he said looking her up and down, "You know, my friend Hamvak sent me a letter saying he met the Dragonborn and that she was an elf, I thought it was a joke."
Oh great, she thought, putting her guard up.
"But when he said she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen I was positive that he'd lost his damn mind," he smirked at her, "Now though I can see he was right."
Rona's face turned beet red and Bishop stepped in front of her, his arms crossed and stared down the young man, "Watch yourself Stormcloak."
The guard backed up and chuckled hesitantly, "Whoa! I was only kidding! Miss Dragonborn, mind calling your dog off?"
Rona laughed, "Oh him? He's my personal bodyguard, I wouldn't mess with him."
Bishop gave her a side-eye glance and a flirtatious smirk.
A female Stormcloak stepped in and asked, "You said your name is Lady Rona?"
Rona nodded, "Yes, that's right."
The woman held out a hand, "It is an honor to meet you Dragonborn Rona," they shook hands, "We did our best to help you bring the beast down, but my! Everything you did, well, I've never seen anything like it. You are truly amazing."
The third Stormcloak said, "Heh, yeah, I'll be telling my kids all about this one when I get home, doubt they'll take my word for it though."
"It was nice to meet you Dragonborn," the woman said as she made to leave with her companions, "I hope you will continue to bring this dragon menace at bay."
She watched them leave and the blonde Stormcloak looked back and made a ridiculous face at her, blowing her kisses and waving his arm flamboyantly. The woman knocked him on the back of the head and said, "Quit making an ass of yourself!"She could hear the three of them chuckling amongst themselves as they departed.
Bishop wrapped his arms around Rona's shoulders and whispered deeply, "What do you say we make camp, have dinner and go wash the filth off ourselves in the hot springs?"
She twirled around in his arms and beamed at him, "That sounds like a fantastic idea! I've never been in a hot spring before!"
He laughed, surprised by her enthusiasm. Rona pulled away from him, ran ahead over the rolling plateau towards their horses and shouted, "Did you see that!? It was amazing! It was so easy!"
"Whoa, whoa Ladyship! Don't go crazy on me now - and easy? I don't know about that, I was getting pretty worried there for a minute," he barked back, trying to keep up with her.
She spun on the spot and said, "No way! Easiest kill ever with my shouts! The training was so worth it!"
He picked up her bow and tossed it to her, "Take it easy killer."
She couldn't hold back her smile until she realized, "Hey, where's Karnwyr?"
Bishop looked around and said, "I saw him run off as soon as he caught sight of the dragon," he put his thumb and forefinger to his mouth and whistled. After a few minutes the wolf came bounding up to them and jumped all over Rona, licking at her face.
"Ah! Hey!"
Bishop chuckled, "Guess he's happy you killed that overgrown lizard for him."
Rona managed to throw the heavy wolf off of her and he got immediately distracted and ran off to nip at a stray rabbit. Rona looked over the dragon bones as they walked by. She couldn't help but think that things were really looking up for her. She started to feel like her destiny was unfolding and that she had the power to really help people. She was bursting with a determination and confidence she'd never had before.