CHAPTER TWO

Shakz'tee POV

She roared in desperation as the far away ground rushed towards her. The air was pushing up at her now, and she prepared for the end. What surprised her, however, was that she never hit the ground. Opening her eyes slowly, she discovered that she was hovering a few hundred feet above the ground. Her heart skipped a beat, and then swelled in her massive chest. Tears of joy were stinging her eyes. She could fly!

Flapping her wings as hard as she could, meaning to simply rise up slowly, instead she burst upward at amazing speed, going past the entrance to the cave. Oops. She was about to stop beating her wings when the faint beat of another set was heard. Looking down, she realized just how far up she was from Odahviing's cave. The peak of the mountain was far below her now.

The flapping of wings grew louder and louder, and Odahviing rose behind her.

"Beautiful," She said almost breathlessly.

"You, more so than the sky," He said, in a playful voice.

She turned around to see him racing away, curious, as she'd rarely seen this side of him before. Following, as best she could, she soon caught up. Not without struggle, mind you, as she was still learning, and the cold air was cramping her muscled wings.

"Where are we going?!" She shouted hoarsely in to the wind racing past her, wondering if Odahviing could even hear her at all.

He did not respond, he simply continued on, going a mile a minute. It had only been a few minutes when he stopped. They were at the top of the throat of the world, most likely to talk to Paarthurnax. Then again, why else would they be there? They circled the small area, and Odahviing landed.

Shakz'tee however, could not do the same. Landing looked almost painful, so she simply hovered above the ground, flapping just hard enough to keep her there. Odahviing looked at her in amusement, Paarthurnax looked on indifferently; to him it was simply a fine female dragon, and he chose to stay alone, being the leader of the greybeards and all. She continued to hover, as the two males began to talk amongst themselves.

"Do you recognize this one?" She heard Odahviing say.

"Not in the least, for I have never seen her before now," the old dragon replied, curiously.

"You should find her familiar, she is one you associate with often," She heard the red dragon state simply, only to hear Paarthurnax suck in a rumbling breath.

"You jest, Odahviing… Do you think me a fool?" The male started, cut off by Shakz'tee herself.

"He is perfectly serious," She said simply, gaining the attention of the two.

She swore she could see the elder dragon's spiky jaw hang open slightly. Shakz'tee guessed this probably had never happened before, or if it had, it happened very, very rarely. Her wings were beginning to tire out, since she was new to flying, so she slowly, ever so slowly, sank to the snowy ground next to Odahviing. Upon hitting the frigid earth, she immediately dropped to her haunches, exhausted. Amusement showed in both dragons' eyes.

"Prove it then, former Dovahkiin. Let me hear your Thu'um," The ancient dragon thundered.

"Are you sure of that?" Shakz'tee replied, with less effort than in the beginning.

"Would I have asked if I was not?" The elder dovah responded, sounding annoyed.

"No… I suppose not," She corrected herself.

"Well, what are you waiting on, Shakz'tee?" He asked, saying her true name for the first time. "I am growing impatient,"

She growled, and after a few moments, tested the first shout she'd ever used.

"FUS- RO –DAH!" She bellowed, for all of Skyrim to hear.

"Dovahkiin… It truly is you. Welcome to the throat of the world, this time, not as kin of the dovah, but of dragon kind yourself," Paarthurnax greeted her, formally.

Odahviing POV

He couldn't help but swell with pride as she was accepted by her first acquaintance as a dragon. He was also relieved that he would have no competition for her from his brother-like old friend. As it was midday, Loredas, he believed that it was a good time to fly. The sun shone over the rough peaks of Tamriel, and he intended to milk the weather for all it was worth.

"As regrettable as it is, friend, we must depart soon," Odahviing rumbled to Paarthurnax. "We must journey to the human town of Whiterun, to speak with their jarl about her... Transformation,"

"Ah. Well, brother, be off," Paarthurnax replied. "The wind is picking up,"

With that, the two took to the air. He relished in the feel of the air around him, his massive wings thriving in the sky, where they belonged. As the ground got further and further away, he looked back to Shakz'tee. What a sight she was, with her wings simply gliding over the air, as if the wind was allowing her to simply float. He turned around, only to have an arrow fly past his face. This was about to get interesting, as they had only just left the Throat of the World.

Screaming his sudden, fiery anger, he swooped towards the ground, ready to land and fight. But, what he found was surprising. The one who had let the arrow fly, was none other than Delphine, a friend of Shakz'tee's. Esbern was with her. They continued to leer, with threats, and promises of his death, until Shakz'tee landed, and then spoke.

"HOW DARE YOU!?" She bellowed with harsh, unrestrained rage.

"YOU WOULD HARM THOSE YOU ASSOCIATE YOURSELF WITH, EVEN IF THEY WERE SIMPLY IN A DIFFERENT FORM?!"

They were dumbfounded at her outburst and not sure what to make of it. They had obviously not recognized her yet.

"Why would we associate with those branded as our prey? Do you think us rash, beast?" Delphine responded coldly.

"Do you not recognize my eyes? You were the one to tell me that they were the only of their hue you'd ever seen, Delphine," Shakz'tee replied, and he could hear a hint of cold amusement in her voice.

The two blades' faces froze. Disbelief was wide in their eyes, as they now knew to whom they spoke. He knew that she had their full attention, as no one could have possibly heard that conversation other than the three. They doubted still, he could see it in their faces, but the recognition was there. The wind began to pick up, and the snow began to fall in the forest near Ivarstead. The humans were beginning to shiver, all of this, plus the conditions, beginning to overwhelm them.

Apparently, his chosen had had enough of it. She always had had a short span of patience, so far as he'd known her. She roared menacingly, seemingly encouraging the two to hurry with their thoughts.