Chapter 2

"An imperial child in our tribe, Krazak?" One of the adult Orcs questioned Krazak, his hands on the table with a map of Pelletine.

"I wasn't going to leave the boy on his own, Abzag." Krazak pointed out. "He can barely even speak. How is he going to survive without somebody watching over him?"

"There most likely an orphanage in Pelletine somewhere that'll take this child. It would be best if we brought him there. An Orc doesn't belong in Imperial walls, so why should an Imperial belong in Orc walls?" Abzag pointed out.

"This child could learn our ways, and if his parents do come to take him back, he can tell everybody that we're not as bad as we seem. This child could change the way Orcs are looked upon in Pelletine. Our tribe." Krazak explained. "We're keeping the child."

Abzag sighed. "Fine. But if we ever hear that somebody wants the child back, we take that opportunity, you got that? He would be happier with his own race."

Krazak nodded. "If we have to." He said, then turning to the exit of the tent. "I'm going to check on Mac."

"Mac?" Abzag asked.

"The child. That's his name." Krazak explained, as he then walked out of the tent, pushing the fur curtains out of the way. He just didn't understand why they were so against it. Sure, they didn't get along with Imperials, but he was only a child.

Krazak saw one of the Orc children playing with Mac's head by the unburning bonfire, feeling the flattened sides of it, as Mac just sat there with a blank expression. The child Orc ran her fingers all his hair as well, seeing it was rather long for a child's hair.

Krazak was thinking that Mac was already getting along with the kids. This was good. He hoped that he would get along with them. He walked to Mac and the Orc child, kneeling next to them. "I see you're getting along with Mac."

The Orc child, it being a female Orc nodded. "Yes. He has a funny shaped head. Do you think the giant made his head that way?"

"Hey. You don't make fun of somebody just by the way they look." Krazak pointed out. "You'll just be like the rest of those imperials."

The child then looked at Mac, and patted his head. "You're right, Father Krazak. I'm sorry Mac. I didn't mean to say that." She said, Mac giving no response.

Krazak found that it was strange Mac barely talked. The only word he only heard him say was his own name, and nothing else ever came out of his mouth. He wondered if the giant he was with damaged his voice, or he was just born this way. Krazak sat in front of Mac. "How old are you, Mac?"

Mac looked at his hands, as he had all his fingers out, and brought down three of them, his left pinkie, ring and middle finger. He then showed his hands, counting his fingers to seven.

"Hey, I'm seven years old too." The orc child said cheerfully. She then placed her fingers with Mac's hand, her five fingers on her left hand going on his right. Mac then brought his fingers around the Orc's hand. The Orc blushed a bit and moved her hand away, holding her own.

Krazak smiled, as he then gently rubbed Mac's head. "Hey, how about we take a look around Senchal and see if anybody recognizes you?" Krazak suggested.

Mac stared at him blankly for a moment, and then nodded. He stood up and stood close to Krazak. The Orc girl then patted Mac's shoulder, having a smile on her face. "I hope you find your mommy and daddy." She said cheerfully. She then walked to her tent, to let the two do what they were going to.

Krazak looked at Mac. "Alright. Let's see if we can reunite you with your family." Krazak said, leading him out of the place, after he grabbed his steel sword. The travel to Senchal wasn't long, since they were close to the town.

Krazak noticed throughout the short walk, Mac was very observant of his surroundings, always looking at every direction. He guessed he was curious about the outdoors. And Krazak didn't blame him. Nirn was a strange world. And with other plans of existence like Sovengarde and Oblivion being told in the books, Mac had a lot to learn about this place. Perhaps he could tell him about them one day. But for now, he was focused on figuring out who his parents were. Or where they could be.

They arrived to the city of Senchal, about to head in, until stopped by some guards. Krazak groaned, not wanting to have to deal with more of this non-sense.

"It's not everyday you come across an Orc bringing an Imperial child with him." A guard said, with another next to him, them being the entrance guards.

Mac hugged Krazak's leg, giving a bit of a threatening look to the guards.

"Leave us alone. I'm just trying to find out if his parents are in this town." Krazak explained.

The guard looked at Mac, seeing the threatening expression he was giving. "What the hell happened to his head?" One asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Krazak answered.

Normally, the guards were planning to give Krazak trouble, but seeing that the child didn't look like he was in any condition to watch something like this, they decided to stand down. Plus, he remembered that he was the one that saved Mac in the first place. This time, he was going to let him go. "I'm sorry. I just thought you were coming in looking for trouble."

"Because I'm an Orc?" Krazak suspected.

"We're not used to friendly kinds of Orcs. In fact we've never seen any." The guard then bowed slightly. "I apologize."

Krazak was honestly surprised to see that they weren't just trying to start something with him. Not that he was complaining. He just hoped this would change any sort of future encounters with the others in his tribe. The last thing he'd want is his whole tribe to cause trouble or get in trouble. He looked at the other guard, seeing he was bowing too. "Thank you." Krazak said. "At least some of you choose to not judge a book by it's cover." He said, as he walked past them, Mac following.

The guards looked back to them, both staring at Mac's deformed head. "What do you think happened to that boy's head?"

"I heard he was found in a giant's den. I guess it must have been the giant that did it. And to think he's still alive. I hope that poor boy isn't in pain." The guard said, feeling sympathy for Mac.

Throughout the whole day, they talked to every person they could, wondering if they would recognize or know Mac. But no matter who, nobody knew who Mac was. And many pointed out the shape of his head, and questioned why it was so. Krazak didn't have an answer, so the people were always left to the imagination. While others simply didn't bring it up, knowing that it would be bad to say something like that in front of Mac.

They spoke to everybody in Senchal, and not one knew him. They decided to take a break and sat down by a cart filled with cabbages, sitting on a stone step. Krazak patted Mac's back. "Don't worry, Mac. We'll find your parents someday. Maybe they're in the other towns of Pelletine." Krazak said, hoping to cheer him up. Mac looked at him and blinked, giving that same blank stare.

Krazak rubbed Mac's back. "Stay here. I'll get us something to eat." Krazak said, as he stood up and walked off to find any inns. He then felt his leg being hugged, seeing Mac was staying by his side with his arms wrapped around his leg. "Mac. I said stay there. I'll be gone for a minute, I promise." Krazak promised.

Mac let go of him, though Krazak could feel Mac didn't want to be left alone. Mac sat down back where they were before, and waited for Krazak to return.

Krazak honestly felt bad for leaving Mac alone, but he was only going to be gone for a moment. He went to an inn, seeing there was very few people inside. One looked like a mercenary of sorts, with the steel armour and horned helmet he had, and the other three looked like simple townspeople.

Krazak went to the innkeeper, going to order something sweet. He bet Mac would like it, and it's been a while since Krazak had something like that.

"Welcome. How may I help you?" The female Nord innkeeper asked.

Krazak eyed what was on display for food they had, and spotted cherry pies. The dark red inside, covered by the outer layer of the pie. "I'll take two pieces of cherry pie to go." He answered.

"Very well. I'll get them for you in a moment." She said, walking off to the door that was behind her.

Krazak looked at the three townspeople behind him, listening in to their conversation.

"Why do you think they'd want to come here?" The brown haired Nord asked.

"Apparently their on the hunt for some boy. Why would they want to bother him? What could he have done?" The Imperial with black hair asked.

"I just feel sorry for the poor thing. Having some dangerous cult chase him. I just wish for the best for him." The Nord said.

This wasn't good. If they were talking about Mac, than that meant he was in great danger as of now. Of all the people, why Mac? He was just a child. Krazak had to check on him, just to be sure. He saw behind the three townspeople was a window. He walked to it and peaked out of a window, to see Mac was still where he was, sitting by his lonesome. Krazak sighed in relief, and saw the innkeeper was coming back, with the two pieces of pies.

He walked back to the innkeeper and payed for the two pieces of pie, 7 septims each. He then hurriedly walked back to Mac, seeing he was still staying put. Krazak was never so worried over something like he was for Mac. It was as if he was his own child. The thought of it made him feel fuzzy, but he knew it wouldn't be for long.

Mac looked at Krazak as he arrived. Krazak sat next to him, and handed him the piece of pie that was in a small plastic box. Mac looked at the box, as he figured out he was to open it, and saw what was inside, putting the lid to the side. "It's cherry pie. I hope you like it."

Mac looked at Krazak for a moment, and then looked at the piece. He saw it came with a plastic fork inside, Mac holding it and taking a small of piece of the pie and placing it in his small mouth. Mac's expression changed from a blank stare to a small smile, as he began to eat bigger pieces of it.

Krazak smiled, seeing that Mac liked it. Krazak took a piece of his pie and started eating his pie too. These were moments Krazak loved. Moments of silence. Where he would just be left alone and be able to relax. Sure, he had a lot of that in the tribe, but he always had the children screaming or running around. They were always having fun, of course, but this was silence he favoured most.

After they finished their pieces of pie, Krazak would hear Mac burp. He looked at him and laughed. "When you grow older, you'll let out even bigger ones." Krazak said, patting his back, Mac then letting out a bigger one. Krazak laughed even more. "I stand corrected."

Mac smiled, looking at Krazak. His expression then disappeared, when his head snapped forward, looking at somebody watching them. Two, in fact, wearing dark red robes with their hoods on. Mac pointed at them, as Krazak looked where he was pointing, to see what he saw.

Krazak's eyebrows furrowed, knowing that these guys were bad news. He stood up, holding Mac's hand. "Come on. We're getting out of here."

Mac kept his eyes on them, feeling scared of how they were looking at him, and then looked forward, following along Krazak. They quickly made their way to the entrance, Krazak stopping to see there was three of the waiting by the entrance, with the two guards on the ground, blood on their armour. "Mac. Stay behind me." Krazak said, his hand on the hilt of his steel sword, ready to draw it.

One of these mysterious people walked forward, their dark elven red eyes stared at him. "We're only going to ask you once, Orc. Hand the boy over." She demanded.

"What do you want with Mac?" Krazak asked in a demanding tone.

"Our business with the boy is none of your concern. And we're offering you a chance to walk away unharmed, Orc. Consider our offer. You do not want this fight."

Krazak looked at Mac, seeing his threatening gaze towards these people. Krazak looked at them and drew his sword. "Not a chance. Mac's staying with me." He said, normally going to bang his shield to signify combat, but he left it back with the tribe.

The dark elf scoffed at Krazak. "Very well. We'll try to not make your ash fly with the wind." She said, then drawing an iron dagger, as then other two did as well, though they had different kinds, one an elven and the other an orcish dagger. He then heard more draw behind him, the other two that they saw before drawing close.

Mac brought his fists up, as if he was going to fight too.

"Only five? Not a problem." Krazak taunted.

One of the robed ones ran with the dagger held up, coming to stab Krazak. Krazak easily kicked his gut and slashed the person's neck, then kicked his body away.

One shot a fireball, but he moved out of the way, avoiding it.

The two ran at him from behind, and Krazak turned to them and cut one right in the neck, but the other ducked. He was about to go to cut Krazak's chest, though it would be no good again his Orcish armour, Mac gave the person a hard uppercut, knocking him to the ground.

Krazak didn't expect Mac to fight back, but he did, and he could pack a punch. Krazak turned back to the last two that stood by the entrance. The dark elven woman charged lightning around her hand, Krazak throwing his sword at her. It nailed her right on her shoulder, but she had enough time to shoot her lightning, but it did very little again his armour, but it did hurt Krazak, Krazak stumbling back.

The last stranger was looking at them, though trembling in fear. He turned around and ran. "I'm getting out of here!" He screamed.

Krazak ran after to him, grabbing the sword off the elven woman's shoulder.

Mac sprinted for the man, as he latched onto him and punched him on the back of his head. The man then fell to the ground, trying to get Mac to stop, feeling his fists collide with his own face.

"Mac! Stand down!" Krazak shouted, catching up to them.

Mac looked back at Krazak, then standing up and letting Krazak do the talking. He stood next to the man, with his fists clentched.

Krazak walked to the man and stomped his foot against his chest. "Who the hell are you people!? And what do you want with Mac!?"

"I won't tell you anything! All you can do is kill me!" The man said, refusing to talk.

"A corpse can't talk, but I'm more than obliged to kill you." Krazak threatened, aiming his bloodied sword to his neck.

The man looked at Mac, seeing the angry look he was giving. "There will come the day you will be among us, Mac! You will serve our master's side! You will become one of us!" He shouted, as he brought his hand up, fire charging. "FOR LORD DAGON!" He shouted, as he burst into flames and screamed in burning agony.

Krazak moved his foot away as fast as he could, watching as this man set himself ablaze. So many things happened, but he could connect them all to one thing. The Mythic Dawn.