"Higher! Higher!"
"My arms can only stretch so far, Helgi."
"Aww, please? Please! Please! Please!"
Hroggar sighed and lifted Helgi up in the air, spinning her in circles. She giggled and squealed, her hair whipping in the wind. She pouted as Hroggar put her back on the ground and glared as Hroggar laughed when she stuck out her bottom lip.
"Hmph."
Her attitude only made her father laugh louder. "Im sorry, Helgi." He chuckled. "But I can't swing you around all day."
"Hmph"
"Please don't be mad, dear."
She didn't answer. Instead, she crossed her arms and fumed. Eventually, Hroggar came up with an idea to lighten her mood.
"I know what'll make you happy. How about we go and play hide and seek?"
Helgi's anger subsided and she cheered. She always had fun with her father when playing hide and seek. Hroggar took her hand and led her through Morthal, to their house. Helgi pushed past her father and through the door, yelling.
"Your it! No peaking!"
Hroggar shook his had and smiled, covering his eyes. She searched the house for a place to hide but found nothing worthwhile. Helgi could hear her father couning even higher. In a state of panic, she ran outside and up the hill, eventually stopping to hide behind a few trees. Her father would never find her up here.
But as time went by, a cloud of paranoia and unease surrounded her. A rustle of leaves turned her attention to what was behind her. Helgi saw nothing, but still felt as if eyes were in her.
Her terror finally took control and she ran back down the hill to her father, who was oblivious to her state of fear.
"Ah, there you are! I thought I'd never find you." He smiled encouragingly, but it didn't make Helgi feel any better.
"I don't wanna play anymore... Can we just go home?"
Hroggar looked confused but didn't question her why. Instead, he tookher hand again and walked back home. Helgi looked over her shoulder the entire way, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Eventually, Hroggar sent her to bed, but she couldnt sleep. She tossed and turned, the moment of fear from earlier still fresh in her mind. She thought of her father and all the fun they had. How he was always there for her, even in the worst of times.
Helgi didn't remember falling asleep that night. The only memory she had was the smell of smoke in the air, the sound of fire crackling, and a woman leaning over her bed, fangs slick with blood.