Three in the morning struck the darkest of night, but from within the depths of the southeastern mountains of Skyrim; a looming orange haze drifted up and reflected off the misty clouds. Waging fire swarmed the innards of Dayspring Canyon, and within the clouds of smoke were sharp spears of ice thrown passed the barricades left in shambles. The swarms of vampires advanced through the barricade, where the Dawnguard warriors quickly fled deeper towards the yard outside the main keep. Vampires were toppled quickly by the true shot of crossbows, Serana's ice spikes and arrows from Aela, Mimzi and Vilkas's bows. However, as one vampire fell, three more took its place.
Isran bellowed back to Gunmar in a heightened panic to the war, "GUNMAR, NOW!!"
As the vampires waded through the shallow flames left by the crumbled gates, two armoured trolls lunged through the air with the power of their mighty arms and legs. They released blood curdling roars that rattled the snow off the pine trees, and plowed their steel-plated fists into the invading vampires who beckoned first. Death hounds leapt and dug their fangs into a troll's arm, who haplessly plucked it off before throwing it upon the ground repeatedly like a ragged plaything. Vampires that survived the calamity of the trolls crawled over the remnants of the barricade, and to the Dawnguard warriors on the other side. Isran released a boisterous roar and charged at the vampires with his silver warhammer held high. He plowed it against the skull of one vampire, and easily pried the hammer up and walloped another. An ice spike whooshed passed his head, narrowly. Four more vampires sprawled to him with their spells in hand.
Isran called out to the heavens, "Stendarr! Grant me your aura in my time of need!"
A glowing white orb evolved into his Stendarr amulet and travelled to his core, which shot out in a wave of cosmic energy, sending the vampires flying into the ground before scattering into ash. It didn't affect the Dawnguard and Companions— but every vampire that touched the light turned to ash or burned. The glowing light stayed to his body as he charged more vampires, who shrilled in pain as the light burned through their skin at his approach.
Farkas and Kodlak ran to Isran's aid, with Durak and Celann joining in the fight with them. Farkas slashed his sword clean through the torso of one vampire; causing its body to erupt in blood before falling into two pieces.
Durak laughed maniacally, "No one bests an Orc!" and thudded a battle axe into a vampire's skull, then sneered, "See? No one!"
A vampire leapt to Durak with its fangs bared and pierced into his shoulder. He released a yell of pain and tried to fight the fiend off him. Farkas dropped his sword and grabbed the monster on Durak by each end of its mouth and stretch its jaw back. It came off Durak, where Farkas kept his hands to the monster's mouth and ripped its bottom jaw off. The monster released a guttural shriek before Farkas threw it to the ground, and pummelled its head to pulp with repeated stomps of his steel boot.
"Damn…" snarled Durak— clutching his bite, "No one bests a Nord, either. Good show!"
Farkas barked at Durak, "There's more coming through, stand fast!"
They both retrieved their weapons and stood their ground at the dozens of vampires emerging through the barricade. Kodlak slashed his sword through the gut of one vampire and elbowed one in the face as it approached him from behind. He swiftly turned and stabbed his sword deeply into the vampire's chest.
Kodlak ripped the sword from its chest plate and breathed heavily, "I'm not too old yet…"
Isran hollered towards him as his hammer fell over another vampire, "Kodlak! Retreat back to the numbers, now! Everyone retreat back! Stand your ground! Ready to kill! KILL!"
The remaining Dawnguard fled back from the destruction of the gate where the vampires began clamouring through. The fire from the barricade slowly travelled along the dry grass and old trees against the canyon's edge. The vampires were no longer able to travel through the edge due to the fire and had to meet their match against the trolls first before reaching the keep. Mimzi and Vilkas stayed back shooting arrows at the menace that erupted through the gates. Their red eyes carried a true aim. Vilkas struck one vampire through the nose with such force it flew back headfirst before thudding on the ground. Mimzi shot an arrow that narrowly missed a vampire by its ear.
Vilkas shouted to her, "Your posture, Mimzi!" he released another arrow which toppled the vampire, and reinstated, "Breathe! Relax your shoulders!"
Mimzi breathed heavily and gasped, "Right!" she forced herself to take deep breaths and straightened her back, then relaxed her shoulders and shot again. The arrow plummeted into a vampire's chest.
Vilkas amended to her, "You can do this! Keep at it!"
Isran bellowed to his comrades, "Another wave coming! Greet them like Dawnguard, men!"
More than a dozen vampires emerged through the barricade. Two front line Dawnguard were immediately swarmed by couples of vampires that pierced their fangs into their skin and drank. The Dawnguard screamed in horrified agony.
"NO!" screamed Isran to his fallen comrades. Vilkas shot one of the attacking vampires through the head but his sight was overwhelmed by even more vampires emerging to their small militia.
"Mimzi!" hollered Vilkas, "If you were thinking about shouting, now is a great time to use it!"
Mimzi seethed and clenched her eyes as she lowered her bow, "I've got one in mind, alright," she uttered. As she opened her glowing blue eyes which whispered the Thu'um, she shot her head up to the skies and shouted.
"O… DAH… VIING!!"
The shout echoed into the skies and through the clouds that parted at the eruption of force. It startled the comrades to her sides and made the vampires hiss.
Vilkas balked at Mimzi, and angrily looked up at the skies before shouting back at her, "THAT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
Mimzi hollered back to Vilkas, who kept his irritated and confused glare, "It's backup! I just pray to Talos he heard it!"
Vilkas's voice broke as he shrilled, "Who?"
She yelped back, "A friend! Don't shoot at him when he shows up!"
Farkas threw his sword at the belly of one vampire, where one who beckoned him was shot in the head by Vilkas. As the vampires neared closer to their line, he pulled his sword out and charged with a deathly roar. Mimzi dropped her bow and drew Dragonbane as she followed his lead at the swarms of vampires. Vilkas thrusted his sword into a vampires gullet, and summoned the ward spell at one who tried to throw an ice spike to his chest; causing the ice to spray back into snow upon meeting the barrier of his magic. Another vampire leapt at Vilkas from behind, but was quickly slashed by Mimzi who ran and slid under the vampire with her flourishing sword up into its abdomen. Three more beckoned Mimzi. She quickly crouched from an ice spike that went colliding into the vampire behind her. She leapt and kicked the vampire before it had another chance to fling an ice spike. She slashed Dragonbane right which cut through another vampire's neck, then leapt over the one on the ground and protruded her sword into its gullet. Vilkas looked back and dimmed a smile at Mimzi, she beamed up to him and winked.
Vilkas quickly everted his eyes from her and returned to a bloodletting scowl as a vampire beckoned Kodlak. It ran and thudded the old man to the ground, barring its fangs. Vilkas leapt over Kodlak's legs and swooped his blade through the vampire's neck. Its blood sprayed over Kodlak's face and painted his beard where the head of the monster fell to the side of his shoulder. Vilkas kicked the body off Kodlak and held his hand out to pull him up off the ground.
"That's my boy…" croaked Kodlak with a small and he spat residual blood, then grunted as he picked off the ground with Vilkas's help.
Vilkas barked at his Harbinger, "You need to get inside, master— Damnit! Kodlak! There's too many!"
Kodlak curled a bloodthirsty grin, "Nonsense! I haven't felt this alive for years! This old man may be old, but I still revel the call of glory! RAAAAGGGH!!"
Kodlak roared before whipping behind him and slashing his Skyforge steel shortsword through the chest of a vampire leaping to him.
Dawnguard and Companions all fended off multitudes of vampires each, standing fast and braving the call with sweat crawling down their faces and rage boiling in their blood. Mimzi, Vilkas and Kodlak stood back-to-back with their weapons constantly thrashing at waves of vampires, where Celann, Farkas, and Durak plummeted the vampires into mush with their heavy weapons and unwavering strength. Isran came to their defence with his spell acting as a barrier to the vampires that shrieked in pain at the burn of his glowing aura— gifted by Stendarr himself. Gunmar and Sorine helped the remaining Dawnguard soldiers fend off the vampires that approached the main keep.
As they were engulfed in an array of vampire menace, their souls cheapened at the sight of dozens more vampires coming towards them. Mimzi seethed and clenched her teeth as she marched towards the gaggle of red-eyed monsters.
Vilkas fearfully called out to her, "Mimzi!!"
Her eyes began to glow blue as she channeled her rage once more. She looked down at the bodies of Dawnguard who were preyed on by the vampires, and could hear the desperate clamouring of war from her friends behind her. They were invading, they were killing, and she was sick of their existence, yet they kept coming. She feared for her side's strength to wane at the masses of evil that beckoned them. Fear turned to rage.
"FUS… RO… DAH!!"
A catalyst of erupting power shot from Mimzi's lips and collided into the gaggle of vampires. It sent them throwing back into the canyon rocks— breaking their spines and cracking their skulls upon impact. The vampires who witnessed this shrilled in fear and fled from the power of the Tongue. Mimzi huffed and a slam of exhaustion absorbed her; with a tumultuous headache. She thudded back on the ground sitting up as she bowed her head and breathed raggedly. Using her Thu'um twice so narrowly together collapsed her strength. Her body suffered from the overuse to where she needed time to recover before she could fight again— much less Shout again. Vilkas ran through the clamour of magic and clanging steel to Mimzi- in frightened confusion as Kodlak followed. He knelt down to her with dilated eyes and quickening breath.
"Hey! You with me?! What happened?" rambled Vilkas frantically.
She kept her head bowed as her eyelids stayed heavy and her irises lazily moved. She breathed short and heavy. She could hear a muffle of his voice, but her vision and hearing were afflicted from a state of delirium. She fought to stay conscious with the weight of exhaustion crippling her. Vilkas immediately swept her up from her feet and started to carry her towards the keep.
Kodlak berated in a holler, "VILKAS! What are you doing?! We need her to fight!"
Vilkas yelled back passed his shoulder as he bolted to the door with a nearly unconscious Mimzi in his arms, "I will not let her fight like this!"
Vilkas sprinted passed the invading vampire attackers as they sparred with Dawnguard, and kept his desperate gaze to the keep doors. As he passed the carnage, he was quickly followed by six vampires. He bolted up the steps and quickly opened the gate doors fitting himself and Mimzi through. An ice spike came whirling towards them where Vilkas quickly shut the gates and it collided into the outside frame. Inside the keep was as quiet as a cave, but the clamouring of war could be heard in muffles from outside. The only sound was the echo of Vilkas's heavy panting and Mimzi's shallow breaths. He paced through the short hall inside the main chamber and gently laid Mimzi down against the wall behind a supply of crates. He knelt down to her and rattled her shoulders.
"Mimzi… Mimzi wake up. Hey…" persisted Vilkas— rattling her till she forced herself to stay as alert as possible despite the overwhelming fatigue. She pried her eyes open to him, but still held heavy lids and a sluggish look.
"Mimzi…" crooned Vilkas, "When I leave, you need to barricade the doors. I don't know how you'll do it, but you need to figure something out. The vampires… they can't get their hands on Serana. What is happening now will be happening all over Skyrim if they take her. Please… do you understand me? Just nod or wink— anything!"
Mimzi whimpered in a coo like a dove, "Okay…"
Vilkas breathed and smiled before nodding, "Good," he looked solemnly at her, wrangling with the bitterness of leaving. His hand compulsively went up to her face, causing Mimzi's seldom alertness to jolt. Her eyes widened at his gauntlet over her cheek. Her wilting eyes gazed up to him. Vilkas moved his thumb down her cheek wiping a tear. Mimzi wearily brought her hand up to his and gripped tight against his leather gauntlets. His hand moved into hers and held firmly.
"Don't leave me…" she whispered in a broken voice.
"I'll be right back for you," Vilkas muttered hoarsely, "I promise… after you're done, go find Aela, she is on the tower I brought you to. You understand?"
Mimzi nodded with blotchy eyes from tears falling down her cheek, "Okay… please come back…"
Vilkas assured to her in a steely gaze, "I'll always come back to you," and slowly took his hand from hers. Vilkas had never come so close to her before and experiencing it for the first time— Mimzi prayed they'd both survive so she could feel it once more. He then retreated his embrace and took his hands from her. Vilkas sighed heavily as he stood from the floor and from Mimzi. His eyes pained as he walked from her pressingly and marched to the front gates, drawing his greatsword.
As he opened the doors, he was met with the gaggle of vampires being slaughtered by Kodlak and Farkas. They cut through the six vampires and were hacking up the last few when Vilkas emerged. Their faces shadowed in panicked doubt.
Kodlak shouted to Vilkas pressingly, "My boy! Where is Mimzi?"
Farkas exclaimed, "We need her Shout thing, damn it! We are getting overrun! They are like fanged, red eyed skeevers!" he snarled deeply as he ripped his greatsword from the last beckoning vampire.
"She needs to heal…" stuttered Vilkas as he winced in guilt that he pressed Mimzi to use her Shouts in the first place. He felt partially responsible for her condition now. He shot his eyes up to a sprinting death hound coming to Kodlak's flank.
"KODLAK!" bellowed Vilkas, Kodlak turned around and was slammed to the ground by the monster. It quickly dug its teeth into his shoulder. He released a searing cry as the pain radiated down his body. Farkas and Vilkas came at the monster like fury from a god. They both sliced their blades in opposite directions, cutting the death hound into pieces. Kodlak punched it off him and clawed at his bleeding shoulder.
Kodlak huffed, "Look at that… first dog fight… ah… I didn't win," he winced painfully.
"You won that one, Kodlak. So, you're still good," light-heartedly assured Vilkas as he and his brother helped him up.
Farkas asked urgently to Kodlak, "Can you still fight?"
Kodlak nodded and rolled his shoulder before stating, "Yes. You don't get to live to this age as a warrior without learning how to breathe through the pain. Let's go, boys, glory awaits us on the battlefield. We are the Companions. FIGHT!"
Vilkas and Farkas chanted in unison, "FIGHT!" the three men roared a battle cry with their weapons drawn and charged into the pit of battle where their Dawnguard comrades persisted with them.
Serana and Aela stayed to the southern tower shooting down what vampires they could kill at the flank of the army. But the mounds of menace that had already leeched passed the barricade left Aela with a grim decision. As numbers began to overwhelm those on the field, she knew in that moment what strength she needed. The two trolls continued to plow through their resolve, but one was quickly overwhelmed as its strength waned and was slain by vampires. The last troll, Kresnik, began to take the full toll of the crowding menace. As his arms thrashed from side to side; the barbed plates on his arms stabbed into the vampires which tore their flesh asunder. But the vampires soon began to overwhelm the last troll, which struggled to endure the vampire spells, and frigid bites from death hounds. Without the troll's defence at the front, Aela knew the vampires would submerge into Fort Dawnguard's main defence. They would slaughter Dawnguard's warriors in moments— even the bravest few, her family. Vilkas, Farkas, Mimzi and Kodlak. As the thought festered, her anger followed suit. Serana kept her glare down at the vampires while pulsing ice spikes from her palms down to them. Soon the vampires had discovered where the spikes were coming from and began to bolt spikes back up the tower. One ice spike narrowly missed Serana's head, who screamed and shot back as the ice crashed into pieces against the stone lining of the arrow slit. Aela looked down and clenched her fists and eyes as she prepared to do what she needed. Serana shot up and balked at the sight of Aela not fighting back— but looking lost in thought.
"Hey! Pull it together, they see us, but we can't stop now!" firmly declared Serana.
Aela looked her pale green eyes up at her and uttered, "I told you 'In due time'… well looks like it's going to be sooner than I thought."
Serana shot her head back and scrunched her nose in confusion before blurting, "What?!" Aela slowly took off her armour and clothes underneath. Serana irked nervously while pointing down to her and asked uncomfortably, "Errr… what are you doing?"
"Protecting the people I care about," Aela stated coldly and remained in her undergarments only. She curved a devious smile and uttered, "You want to know what I am?"
Serana squawked in frustrated confusion, "Uhh… you're naked?!"
"You're about to see…" beamed Aela and she bolted towards the arrow slit and leapt hurdling to the masses of vampires below.
She screamed, "Hircine guide me!"
Serana gasped in utter horror and shrilled out the arrow slit, "AELA!!"
As Aela soared down her body began to shift once more. Hair sprouted from her polyester skin and her eyes glowed ominously white. Fangs curved in her maw as her skull shifted into a muzzle. The undergarments on her body were ripped off as her size grew into a wolf-like beast with vast muscles and claws like talons. She released a ground-shaking roar down to the vampires who looked up in horror. The last thing they saw was the frame of a werewolf jumping down with its teeth bared and claws thrashing. Aela clamped her jaw down on the first vampire she leapt to and slashed her claws against those near it. The vampires shrilled in horror and cried out.
"A werewolf! By the blood, it's a werewolf!!"
As vampires began to flee, she leapt to and fro; slashing vampires asunder in quick precision and agility. She'd spring from approaching attacks and gut another vampire, before bellowing a roar again and lunging to the next one. Vampire blood generously dripped from her fangs and stained her auburn fur coat. Her moves and jumps were so fast not even the vampires could keep up with the mindless chaos of the werewolf's attacks. Some even fled back to where they came at the sight of the beast— knowing full well the prowess and destruction a werewolf can endure. Aela chomped down on a vampire's chest and ripped open its rib cage. The vampire was still alive and flailing in agony before Aela clamped down on its undead heart and swallowed it whole— granting her further strength and prolonged abilities of the wolf. She let out an ominous howl up at the two moons that just barely peaked through the wispy clouds.
Serana looked down in aghast horror at the revealing of Aela's form. She couldn't help but marvel at the unwavering strength of the beast and how easily she cut through waves of vampires.
Serana uttered to herself with heavy breath, "A werewolf. Right. Explains a lot, actually," she fled from the tower; certain her abilities would be of much greater use down in the pit of battle with the others.
The troll didn't seem bothered in the slightest by the raging werewolf among the crowd, instead it fought alongside her— understanding she was not to be trifled with. Aela stole her attention passed the barricade where more vampires rushed through to the keep. She sprang her hind legs and front claws to the other side of the destroyed barricade. Her speed flourished and sped to the vampires. They looked their red eyes back in terror and shrilled as Aela leapt to them with her jaw parted wide and a snarl erupting before her teeth; she gnashed their necks and her claws cut open their bellies.
Vilkas, Farkas and Kodlak joined the defence with Isran giving instruction. Their resolve was beginning to break at the persistence of the vampires and their death hounds that obeyed them. Vilkas slew a vampire by punching it back with his forearm and crunching his sword through its sternum. Farkas kicked one vampire down and repeatedly thrashed his sword over it. Where Isran kept his aura over his body searing the vampires that came close to them.
Suddenly the long echoing howl of Aela was heard over the heat of battle that alarmed all who could hear it. It distracted the vampires long enough for them to be slain by the Dawnguard. Vilkas and Farkas shot to each other a kindred glare of shock— knowing where the howl came from. Kodlak finished slaying a vampire and looked back in anger at the noise. More vampires haughtily approached their numbers with weapons in hand and spells in the other. As they came closer, a beast appeared from behind them. It sprung its hind legs out towards the monsters and slashed them haplessly to shreds. She gnashed off their heads and tossed them away into the shrub. Vampires took notice of the beast and shrieked in fright at the sight of the werewolf before them.
Isran growled deeply with terror in his eyes as he waned his warhammer, "Stendarr's horn… is that a damn werewolf?"
Vilkas gritted his teeth and angrily spat, "There's no reasoning with that bitch!"
Farkas glared at him in a discreet way of silencing him before he said anything else to alarm the Dawnguard, who still were unaware it was Aela.
Kodlak blurted to Isran, "It's slaying the vampires! See, it's ignoring us! Let it keep doing what it's doing, we need every advantage we can get."
Isran bellowed back at him, "First vampires, now werewolves? What is this maddened trickery?!"
Isran snarled and was quickly barraged by two vampires. One pranced on his side and stuck its fangs into his shoulder where he irked and threw it off him. He lifted its hammer and cracked its skull like a gourd, then quickly twirled his hammer back to the other vampire that used a drain spell over him— ceasing the wretched spell abruptly. He patted his bite and shivered in disgust.
"Absolutely disgusting," he grumbled in a low, menacing voice.
As the werewolf continued to dive and roar at vampires in swift thrashes, another alarming sound was heard from within the clouds. No one among their numbers recognized the noise, as it was a roar only held in the deepest nightmares of Nords, and to the highest peaks of mountains. Even Aela in her wolf form faltered at the roar and whimpered to what it could belong to.
Gunmar uttered in fear as he strayed his gaze to the skies, "What in Oblivion is that?!"
The clouds began to flex as the night skies darkened with a shape as large as life. Great furled wings hovered over the Fort Dawnguard. Vampires looked up in despair as throws of fire came sprawling down to them in waves of inferno. A horrendous roar followed the blast of fire, and the shape soared over again with another earth-shaking roar.
"Shor's Bones…" Farkas gasped and slowly backed up in baffled fright, "It's a dragon!"
The dragon loomed in darkness but what they could see were two reaching horns from its head, crimson and sky-blue scales, and a reaching tail. It soared over the masses of vampire's again and threw another blast of flame from its maw.
"YOL… FRAH… SHUL!"
The Dawnguard shrunk in fear and incredible confusion at the appearance of a dragon among the stench of raging battle. Kodlak looked up in utter astonishment, unable to comprehend what his eyes were seeing. But he pondered on why the dragon was only wreaking havoc on the vampires and not the Dawnguard. Suddenly the dragon began to hover over the mortal Dawnguard— who stayed their weapons ready.
"Krilot joore. The vampire menace, the sos lun, come in great numbers. Do not fear me, I am here to help. Now tell me… where is Dovahkiin? Dii Thuri. Her mortal title is Mimzi."
The Dawnguard looked on in slanted astonishment and horror; slack jawed and wide eyed at the presence of a dragon speaking to them. Isran slowly lowered his hammer, where the Companions quaked in terror at the fantastic beast.
"Joore. You do speak, no? Where is Mimzi? Is she oblaan? Has she fallen?"
Vilkas tried to break through his frozen state. He beheld the dragon in horror and awe, his silver eyes wide. He finally jolted from his state and blurted, "No, she's alive. She heals now."
The dragon exclaimed, "Pruzah! I will offer my strength to you, krilot joore. The sos lun, the vampires, they are right to fear me. As they are right to fear you. My Thu'um is restless! I gain much honour from this!"
A gust of wind nearly threw them to the ground as the dragon flourished up and released another curdling roar into the skies. It soared over the masses of vampires again with throwing flames. It would swoop down with its talons open and snatch a vampire before flinging it against the towers of Fort Dawnguard.
"What… is… happening?" snarled Isran, breaking from shock, "We got werewolves and dragons fighting on our side? What is happening?!"
"That's Mimzi's backup," smiled Vilkas in awe, "Looks like he heard it after all."
Suddenly swarms of fleeing vampires from the dragon retreated up towards the fort and greeted the residual warriors with bared fangs. Aela snarled as the hair stood on her back. She released a roar as she lunged into the crowds of vampires to destroy them.
"Even with a blasted dragon and werewolf on our side, we're not done yet," growled Isran and held his hammer up to smash more vampires, "They want death so badly, let's give it to them! KILL!!" he charged at the vampires with a roar.
"KILL!!"
Farkas, Kodlak, Gunmar, Durak, Vilkas, and the remaining Dawnguard roared with Isran and bolted to the vampires before them.
Inside the keep, Mimzi struggled as she lazily pushed crates to the front gates. Serana came sprawling down the stairwell and startled at the sight of Mimzi at the front doors.
Serana blurted to her, "What are you doing here?! Why are you…"
Mimzi looked back and balked at Serana alone and raised, "Where is Aela?!"
"I don't think you'd believe it if I told you…" stated Serana as she still wrangled in disbelief at Aela's beast form.
"What?!" gasped Mimzi as her face turned to panic, "Where is she?! Is she dead?"
Serana quickly affirmed, "No! She's fine, trust me. She can take care of herself. What are you doing? Why are you closing off the doors with us behind them? We need to go fight! There are crowds of them!"
"Vilkas… he told me to. The vampires are here for you. Don't you get that? Every day will be like this if they have you. Not just every night, every day. You can't go out there," alarmed Mimzi with earnest eyes.
Serana berated, "You think I don't know that? Which is why we need to go and fight. They'll never stop till we do, Mimzi. If we don't fight, they will kill your friends, then they will take me, and kill you."
Suddenly the walls of the keep shook creating dust particles to fly off the old stone. A roar rumbled the entirety of Fort Dawnguard. Serana and Mimzi looked up to the monstrous noise from outside the walls.
Serana shivered, "I don't mean to alarm you or anything… but last time I heard that noise… it was a…"
"Dragon," sighed Mimzi in an elated smile, "… he's here," she looked at Serana with a rejuvenated sense of excitement and chirped, "Now we at least stand a chance."
Serana exclaimed as Mimzi began to pry away the crates, "Were we expecting a dragon?!"
Mimzi replied eagerly, "Yeah, I called him. He's on our side."
Serana's confusion heightened even more and rejoined, "What are you talking about?! How did you call him?"
Mimzi breathed out as she struggled pulling the heavy crates, "Perks of being a Dragonborn. You wanna fight, then let's fight. Help me move this damn thing."
Serana's strength as a vampire persisted and she easily gripped and pulled them away from the gates.
"Wow…" awed Mimzi at Serana's prowess. As the two women went to open the doors they were aggressively forced open. Mimzi and Serana gasped and pulled each other back. In through the opening of the door emerged several beady, red eyes. They slammed the great doors open as Serana and Mimzi scurried over the crates to escape. The vampires emerged with leering eyes and sinister grins. One said aloud to the two women.
"Oh wonderful. I was dreading the search up and down this primitive keep for you. Yet, here you are right within our grasp."
Serana immediately summoned an ice spike spell to her palm. The crowd of vampires kicked through the crates with ease as they slowly sauntered their way to the two women.
"You need me alive. I'd rather jab a dagger in my throat then come back with you…" she began to plea, "This is a war you can't win. My father… can't you see?! He puts all of you at risk! This isn't what's best for vampires, no matter what words he feeds you!"
The vampire laughed in a cackle, "A world without the sun? That's precisely what's best for us! Your envy cripples your better judgement as you know you won't be there to enjoy the spoils! Selfish little bitch!"
Mimzi raised her hand and engaged the flame spell as they came closer. The vampires shrilled and roared in pain- giving Serana and Mimzi the leverage to run away.
"Back to the tower! Now!" screamed Mimzi to Serana through frantic breath as they bolted down the right entryway and took a left towards the animal pens. The vampires hissed and screamed in enraged growls. With fire burning away their vulnerable skin, they pursued the two women with their fangs barred and spells at the ready.
Outside the keep, the mounds of vampires preyed relentlessly on the small Dawnguard militia. Celann tried to keep his strength as a vampire clutched his weapon and pushed towards him with fangs barred. The vampire then flourished and dug Celann's war axe into his chest.
"RAAAAAAAAAGGGH!!!"
Celann screamed as he were swarmed by vampires who tore him limb from limb and feasted on his blood.
Durak's black eyes wilted at the sight of his friend torn to shreds by vampires, "NOOOO!!! CELANN!"
His death granted Durak a bout of berserk rage where his battle axe flew with ferocity at the vampires that cornered him. His raging, animalistic grunts struck fear into the vampires who didn't have a chance to run before Durak sliced them in two.
Farkas and Vilkas fought back to back, sweat generously dripped from their faces and drenched their black hair as they relentlessly threw swipe after swipe of their weapons. As a barrage of lightening spells went hurdling towards them, Farkas remembered Aela and Durak's teachings and raised his hand with the ward spell; which turned the lightning to nothing at impact.
Vilkas grunted through maiming swipes of his greatsword, "If someone told me my brother would be using magic against an army of vampires, I would have spat in their face!"
Farkas bellowed a laugh as he swung his blade down against two vampires in one, "I'm surprising myself!"
Aela was in the throes of vampire masses, but as the moons faded behind the clouds and she hadn't the time to feed again, her strength began to dwindle; which gave the vampires leverage. They mercilessly leapt on her and shot lightning spells through her body. Aela squalled in pain with an ear-splitting howl. Kodlak looked back to Aela's agonizing noises at the sight of vampires preying on her.
Kodlak screamed out, "AELA!", which caught the attention of Isran, who stared in aghast surprise at the revealing of the werewolf's true identity. He shot a menacing scowl at Kodlak, who returned a short glare before running to Aela's aid.
"Farkas, go!" shouted Vilkas as another wave approached the two brothers, "Save Aela! I'll deal with the rest of these blood-sucking bastards! Go!"
Farkas nodded and muttered, "You fight like a damn sabre cat, brother. Don't give an inch," he grasped Vilkas's arm before running to Aela and Kodlak. Vilkas pressed his lips and returned a battle-ready, enraged scowl to the vampires that beckoned him; ready for any turmoil in battle he was soon to face.
Odahviing soared over the skies, being constantly pelted with ice spikes from the vampires below. They shattered against his thick, hardened scales. The vampire numbers had begun to lessen at the sheer destruction from his throwing fire and calamity. Many started to flee out of Dayspring Canyon in terror. However, those passed the barricade continued their reign of terror. The strength of the Dawnguard had unpredictably crippled the vampire's defences. What were once a hundred vampires turned to less than fifty: due to the collateral strength of Aela's beast form, the trolls, and Odahviing. And the sheer ferocity and resolve of the Dawnguard and Companion force combined.
Farkas grabbed the vampires off Aela with his firm grasp and chucked one to the side before stabbing his blade down into its gut. Isran suddenly appeared to aid Aela despite his knowledge of her being a werewolf and began slamming the vampires into mush with his hammer. Kodlak swiped his sword over one, but another leapt off Aela and tackled him to the ground. It pierced a dagger into Kodlak's belly. He roared in pain as tears dropped from his eyes due to the sheer agony. Aela raged at the sight of Kodlak's screams and a second wave of power pulsed inside her. She lunged at the vampire on Kodlak. She clashed her claws into the vampire and began to ravage its insides in heated revenge. The vampire's guttural screams silenced and among the sparring of Farkas and Durak between the vampires, she pounced to Kodlak and gently sniffed his injury and brought her soft, wet nose to his cheek. She whimpered and licked softly.
"Dear Aela…" curdled Kodlak, "Get somewhere safe, now. You will soon turn back to human form… go now."
Aela whimpered and growled at Farkas. He looked back to see Kodlak mortally wounded on the ground with Aela over him; telling him with her eyes and huffs of her muzzle to tend to him. Farkas thrashed his sword again at a beckoning vampire and aided Kodlak. He gently picked him off the ground as Kodlak began to spit up blood.
He ordered to her, "Aela, take him somewhere safe!" and helped Kodlak grab a hold of the fur on her back. Their Harbinger gripped tightly to her fur and Aela ran with him to the groves by the fort. Farkas looked back to where Vilkas was last and couldn't see him, yet the vampires that surrounded them all lay in ash or dead. He stayed hopeful Vilkas had slain them all and ran back inside to safeguard Serana from retrieval.
Isran shouted to his remaining fighters, "WE FEAR NO DARKNESS!! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
Suddenly the vampires that beckoned them, quickly retreated in terrified shrieks and cries from the Dawnguard and Companion warriors. Odahviing swept down and clawed more into his talons before chucking them into the air from great falls. The troll persisted attacking and crushing the vampires as they fled back to the entrance of Dayspring Canyon. Durak, Isran, Sorine, Gunmar and the rest of the dwindling Dawnguard shot their crossbows at the fleeing vampires— striking them down.
Gunmar blustered, "THAT'S RIGHT! RUN! RUN YOU VERMIN! BACK TO THE SHADOWS WITH YOU!!"
Farkas breathed heavily and asked Isran, "Why are they running?!"
Isran looked up at the skies with a glad, victorious smile and hailed, "The clouds are clearing… the stars are fading. Light lingers over the horizon. Dawn is coming!"
Farkas smiled in relief as he wiped the blood and sweat from his face, "… Finally."
Isran hollered to his men, "WE ARE VICTORIOUS! HAIL!"
The clouds began to part which revealed blue skies and the yellow glow of the sun from behind the mountain peaks. The vampires feared the sun, and were running to dark corners outside the canyon for shelter.
Sorine breathed out raggedly and tears swelled in her eyes in disbelief, "We… we did it. I can't believe we did it!"
Gunmar hollered a celebratory cheer and embraced Sorine off the ground- catching her by surprise, "Haha! We sure did, girl! I'm so happy I could kiss you!"
Sorine gasped and struggled herself back on the ground and away from Gunmar before stating sternly, "Please don't."
Durak raised his weapon in a victorious battle cry, "HUZZAH!!"
The warriors all erupted in the chant as they watched the swarm of vampires run for their lives (whilst still getting picked off by the troll and Odahviing).
"HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!"
Durak looked to the soldier at his side and saw Agmaer chanting along with him. Durak balked and raised loudly, "You're still alive?!"
Agmaer gasped and muttered, "Uh… yes?"
Durak bellowed in laughter and grabbed the young boy into a tight hug and swung him around in merriment. Agmaer wheezed nervously as he was squeezed tightly by the excited Orc. Durak cackled, "You jammy little bastard! Bahaha!"
Farkas's joy at the prevail was cut short as he shot a worried look to Isran, "Where is Serana?"
Isran's smile ceased and looked to Farkas in a steely glare before uttering, "Damn it…" The pair bolted up to the keep where the doors were pried open, and fire littered the main chamber.
Farkas snapped, "Damn it!"
Isran barked at Farkas, "Spread out! Try to find her!", and the two bolted through different halls to find Serana.
Mimzi and Serana reached the south tower where the tent Vilkas had made for Mimzi still stood, but the fire was long extinguished. The skies dimmed blue and sun just began to peak over the mountains. Mimzi panted heavily as Serana thudded into her back at the sudden stop. Odahviing was still soaring over the towers and throwing fire down to the fleeing vampires. Mimzi dimmed a hopeful smile to see her friend once again. Serana released a terrified gasp to see the dragon in action- in astonishment the colossal beast was on their side. She remained panicked at their destination and why they had come there.
"What are we doing out here?!" exclaimed Serana, "This is a dead end!"
Mimzi panted and stated, "I know, it's perfect."
Serana raised, "Perfect for what?!"
The group of vampires erupted through the tower doors and marched towards the women with their spells at the ready. Their faces were partially melted and disfigured from Mimzi's flames. One snarled at Serana, "Come on then, girl. Give yourself up and we may allow your 'pet' to live another day." He crooned deviously- referring to Mimzi. She quickly released a Shout.
"WULD!"
Mimzi flew passed the vampires and planted behind them. She pressed her hand down to the ground and bent her knees before screaming at Serana, "Get on the ground, Serana! Now!"
The vampires looked back at her in dazed confusion as Serana immediately planted her belly to the floor of the tower. Mimzi raised her face to the vampire's and released another Shout.
"FUS… RO… DAH!"
The power of the shout blasted the vampires up in the sky- flying over the tower walls. Their legs smacked against the top of the walls before toppling over the tower; or flying clear over and down to a hurdling death. Mimzi stood back up straight. Her head pulsed from using her Thu'um so narrowly together again, yet one of the Shouts were not full, but her unrelenting force shout was. She gripped her head and winced as she lightly staggered, but breathed through the discomfort as she approached Serana.
Serana breathed out and gasped, "Whoa!" she shot up from the ground and approached Mimzi in an awed smile, "I guess 'lover-boy' was right… this is the perfect place to Shout someone off."
Mimzi nodded and admitted, "I was thinking about it… in case you did try to sink your teeth in me." Serana crossed her arms and aloofly glared.
Isran suddenly erupted through the doors with bated breath, he stopped briefly as he breathed in relief at the sight of Mimzi and Serana still alive.
"Stendarr's mercy… you're still here. For a moment I thought all we'd lost had been for nothing," stated Isran to Serana as he approached through the pathway to the open tower.
"All thanks to Mimzi, here. Then again… I'm pretty sure I could have handled them on my own. No offence," replied Serana to Isran, making a short glance at Mimzi— who rolled her eyes.
Isran breathed deeply and ordered, "You two should get down to the yard, start on cleaning up the disgusting mess of vampire remnants. Once Harkon discovers our victory here, he will send another cavalry. We must begin preparing at once."
Mimzi gasped and blurted, "Victory?!"
Isran nodded and gestured to the arrow slit behind them before saying, "Look for yourself."
Mimzi and Serana paced to the arrow slit opening and gawked at the bewildering sight of vampires fleeing from Dayspring Canyon. The fire from the barricade was slowly depleting, and the troll retreated back to its master, Gunmar. The sun shone in warm orange hues and shined bright over the canyon— causing the vampires to shrill from the light burning their skin. Serana hastily stepped behind the wall from the sun and put her hood up. Mimzi turned back to Isran in an astonished grin; her auburn hair shined a glowing orange against the sun light.
"We won…?" crooned Mimzi through a shaking voice.
"We won," affirmed Isran "I never thought we could against such numbers… but for now, we are safe."
"Is everyone okay?!" asked Mimzi in a shrilling voice as her worry for the other Companions flooded through.
Isran divulged to Mimzi, "I don't know… a lot of good men and women with the Dawnguard were slain tonight. As for your friends… you'll have to find out for yourself. Farkas is at this moment trying to find Serana in the fort— he's fine. Kodlak, Aela and Vilkas's whereabouts are unknown."
Her eyes dilated from throttling panic. As she began to make a fast pace to the doors, Odahviing's wings flapped over the tower in a tremendous gust of wind. Mimzi looked up over her head to the dragon flying in one spot and looking down to her.
"Thuri, Dovahkiin. The sos lun… they have fled. The krilot joore forces prevail. I do hope my Thu'um proved equal in such a feat."
Odahviing's mighty voice echoed in mythic tales, and terror of legends. Yet he only spoke as a humble servant, hoping what he had done for Mimzi's cause pleased her.
"We couldn't have done it without you, Odahviing. You saved us. I'm grateful for you," Mimzi spoke boldly in a firm voice to the ancient dragon, who made a pleased growl. She continued, "I will call on you again when I need you. But for now… you may return to Paarthurnax. Thank you, my friend."
"Jud do fin Thu'um, your words greet me well. My favour was bahlaan. Or as you mortals will say… 'fun'. Fare thee well, Dovahkiin."
Odahviing thrusted his wings up to the skies and released another divine roar before sweeping into the clouds back northwest to the Throat of the World. Without further distraction, Mimzi sprinted to the doorway. She eagerly awaited to see the faces of her fellow Companions, where one face she longed to gaze upon the most.
'Let him be okay…' she thought anxiously to herself, 'Please… Mara's mercy. He has to be okay.'
Farkas bolted through the main chamber once more with heavy breath and generous sweat leeching off his face. He grunted in frustration that he could not find Serana. The doors of the keep swung open which caught his attention. Inside walked Kodlak whom struggled to hold on to Aela's fur. She was still in wolf form but aided him back inside the keep with her head bowed for him to hold on and keep balance.
Farkas blurted in fear and sprinted to his Harbinger, "Kodlak!"
Aela began to whine and shrill as she backed from Kodlak and collapsed onto the floor. Farkas tended to Kodlak immediately, whose cut was gushing blood and turning his face pallor.
Farkas crooned gently, "I've got you, old man," as he helped Kodlak into the barracks.
"He needs a healing potion…" the voice of Aela stated firmly as her human form ambled into the room. Farkas kept his eyes on Kodlak in worry. Aela handed Farkas a potion to his side where he quickly snatched it and helped Kodlak drink. He slowly peeled off his armour and allowed Farkas to address his wounds in linen.
Farkas asked in rattled worry, "Are you going to be alright?"
Kodlak smiled warmly, "I will be… just give the tonic time to do its work. Thank you, son…"
Durak and Agmaer entered the fort and approached the barracks for their own healing. As they entered the barracks both men halted abruptly and gasped. Agmaer went red and covered his eyes, as Durak lasciviously grinned and chuckled in his throat at the sight of Aela. She stood completely nude before Kodlak and Farkas after her transformation and hadn't the time to find clothes with the urgency of Kodlak's wounds.
Durak cackled, "Well now that's what I'm talking about! After that hellhole I deserve to be thanked with cold mead and naked women! You treatin your fellow comrades tonight, Aela?"
Aela turned back at them with a scowl, as Farkas looked back quickly, then stuck his eyes on Aela; his cheeks turning blood red. Farkas gasped, "Oh wow… Aela, it's been a while since I've seen you… like this."
Aela shot down a scowl at him and growled, "Look somewhere else, ice-brain," she then boldly scolded Durak, "It isn't a big deal. It's all just meat. Look if you must, you won't be seeing it ever again," she paced to her cot for more clothes, with her head held high and hips swinging proudly with no shame.
Durak snarled, but looked away from her out of respect, "Why you naked in front of these two anyway? You Companions got some weird secrets, don't you?"
"You have no idea…" Aela darkly chuckled in her throat as she donned a villager dress of tan yellow and white.
Slowly the faces of surviving Dawnguard crept into the barracks. Most were beaten or thrashed in bites and scratches. They swiftly ran to their reserves of cure disease potions to rid themselves of possible Sanguinare Vampiris. Isran followed closely behind making way to the same reserves from his own bite marks.
Mimzi and Serana ran inside the barracks. As soon as Mimzi spotted Aela she sprinted to her in fervent relief.
"Mimzi?" chimed Aela and was quickly embraced in a tight hug by the young Nord. Aela crooned to Mimzi in surprise, "Oh! It's… it's good to see you, too. I'm glad you're alright."
Farkas stood from Kodlak and walked to Mimzi quickly then asked, "Where's Vilkas? I figured he'd be with you," he asked urgently.
Mimzi's eyes widened in roaming worry, "No…" she uttered, "I thought he was with you." Kodlak looked up from the floor and released his wound before standing. His brows furrowed as he paced his eyes along the Dawnguard in the barracks- far fewer than they were yesterday. Kodlak made a fast walk to Isran who pressed against the wall while watching his men.
"Isran…" Kodlak stated, "My boy… Vilkas… he's missing. Have you seen him?"
Isran uttered lowly, "No, I'm sorry. From what I'm seeing now, at least twenty of my men are not in this fort. Vilkas isn't the only one I am concerned for. I'm giving my men a chance to tend to their wounds and cure possible disease. Then we will tread back to the battlegrounds and find the others. Feel free to go searching if need be, but don't spare hope. Hope is an illusion in times like this."
Kodlak's voice quaked as he spaced his eyes into the ground and said, "I… feel like I just saw him. He was there with us in the throes of battle. He fights like a sabre cat. I don't… I don't understand why he's not here. I just saw him…"
Isran affirmed, "There's a chance he could be alive. Possibly wounded… you won't know till you go find him."
Kodlak nodded with an anxious demeanour and uttered, "Very well," he marched out the doors with Farkas anxiously following in hopes to discover Vilkas alive.
Isran called back to him, "On the matter of Aela…" Kodlak halted and slowly turned to him with weary eyes. Isran continued, "As you can imagine I have plenty of concerns on whatever… creature, she is. What all of you are… and why you chose to keep it a secret from me. But for now… I'll give you peace of mind till you can find your shield-brother, and we have a better foundation on what's been lost."
Kodlak slowly nodded and mumbled, "I appreciate it," he turned back to resume his search with Farkas in tow.
Aela and Mimzi watched as their conversing ended and left to seek Vilkas. Aela claimed to Mimzi, "Let's go help. I know Vilkas… he's a stubborn fool who doesn't ask for help even when he needs it. I wager he's out there licking his wounds— too proud to ask for tending. He has a bad habit of running headfirst into danger…" she kept a weariness to her voice, almost like she was trying to convince herself.
Mimzi crooned, "Okay… okay," she bottled up her own terrified worry and followed Aela out the barracks. Serana quickly followed Mimzi, who balked and snapped back, "You know you don't need to follow me, anymore. Pretty sure you've proven your loyalty to Isran by now."
Serana hummed and muttered in response, "I know… but you're the only one I trust around here so I'd rather come with you. I can help find him. His scent sticks out like a sore thumb."
Mimzi raised a brow and grumbled, "Fine, just… let me know if you smell him."
"That's the plan," firmly stated Serana. She followed Mimzi who held pensive shoulders and an anxious look. The Companions and Serana wandered out the fort to Dayspring Canyon where the air reeked of blood and smoke. Piles of dust from vampire remains littered the pathways and fallen Dawnguard sprawled in corners and within the tall grass. Smouldering ash lifted from the fire of Odahviing shouts, and ravaged body parts and blood stained the rocks and grassy knoll. The haze hovered over the destruction which blanketed the fort in dreariness.
Kodlak looked around aimlessly for a possible sign of Vilkas. He hollered out into the canyon, "VILKAS!!"
Farkas joined in, "VILKAS, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
The two called his name out to the canyon repeatedly, with every utter of his name; their panic drove their voices higher. Mimzi, Aela, and Serana separated and began looking through small groves and shrubs. Farkas spoke aloud to those around him in a shrill voice, even for his usual gritty tone, "I don't understand. He never left this area. He was right there last I saw him. I… he… I left him with the bastards. He said he had it handled… I left him. Gods, I left him."
Aela spoke softly to Farkas, "You need to calm down. We can't lose our heads yet."
"I can't stay calm! My brother is missing!" barked Farkas angrily to Aela, who flinched and rested her head sombrely. He wailed, "I left him! He's my brother, I shouldn't have left him!"
Kodlak assured, "Vilkas is strong. Your brother is a fearful sight in battle. Don't forget that. We will find him." Farkas began to breathe heavily in frantic pants. He combed his fingers through his hair and exhaled out; trying to remain calm.
Farkas uttered, "You're right…" he breathed, "He's out there… he's tough."
Aela approached the area Farkas referred to. It was just outside the front gates to the left side by a few shrubs and pine trees. She looked behind the tree trunks in hopes he was unconscious behind them, or possibly sifted under ash from vampire remains. She moved her arms through the ash but couldn't feel a body, only left over weapons and remains from vampire armour.
Mimzi and Serana went down the declining hill to find any trace of Vilkas. Mimzi's fear writhed in her head, she prayed to every Divine she could think of that he was safe and could be found alive. Her head wrangled with her last moments with him.
Mimzi asked to Serana, "Smell anything, yet?"
Serana crooned remorsefully, "No… just smoke and stale blood… I'm sorry."
Mimzi badgered, "Don't you have like vampire senses or something? Can you see him?"
Serana grumbled, "It doesn't really work like that."
"What do you mean?" ranted Mimzi, "Are you really that useless? You're a vampire lord— what's the point of you being here if you can't help?!"
"Okay… enough," scolded Serana, "If I could find people like that, trust me my life would've been a lot easier. I understand you're scared but you can't take it out on me. We just have to keep looking." She tried to remain patient to Mimzi's hysteria.
"He…" Mimzi moved her hands through her hair as frustration boiled, "He said he'd come back for me… and he didn't."
Serana said firmly behind her, "That doesn't mean he's dead."
Isran and his comrades began to step from the front doors, all equipped in bags of potions. They scattered out to the field looking for survivors. Isran respectfully approached a worrisome Kodlak and asked, "Nothing yet?"
Kodlak muttered— deeply troubled, "No."
Isran expressed, "This may seem unusual, but it's normal for warriors to go missing in action after a battle like this, especially a skirmisher like Vilkas. They always turn up. My men know he's missing and are keeping an eye out as they tend to the wounded."
Kodlak looked to him with blotchy eyes and quaked, "I've known that boy since he was a feeble newborn. I've watched him grow into a man, half the words he speaks he learned from me. Well over a quarter of my life he's been there. I know him as family. I can assure you that this… is not normal for Vilkas. Something is wrong." Isran rested his hand to Kodlak's shoulder and sombrely walked away to help his guard find the others.
Aela stood up from the ash; certain to go investigate another area of battle. As she went to move her legs from the ash, she thudded something hard. She looked down to see a familiar stained metal of dark steel emerging from the ash. Her heart tightened in her chest and what felt like pressure against her lungs slowed her breathing. She knelt down hesitantly and pulled out the object which revealed a cuirass engraved with the carving of a wolf against the collar, and the familiar Nordic designs of Vilkas's custom made cuirass. It had the same furred shoulder pads and tuff against the lower torso. Even the same scratches and dents. Eorland made it himself and was only crafted for Kodlak and Skjor— until Eorland crafted Vilkas the same set. It was an honorary kind of armour. For the fiercest Companions; and most formidable beasts in the Circle. It echoed hierarchy of the Companions and commanded respect to those who wore it.
As Aela's eyes began to bubble in tears she crooned, "Ever… Everyone come here," her voice was shallowed from the intense shock as she gripped the armour in her palms. She quickly called again much louder which broke her voice, "EVERYONE COME HERE!!"
Farkas and Kodlak stopped immediately what they were doing and with hopeful eyes they sprinted to Aela. Mimzi and Serana shot glances at each other then ran to Aela's position. Isran slowly sauntered over to Aela; feeling grim news soon to unfold.
As the four clouded around Aela; their hopeful smiles diminished at the sight of the armour. A ravaging dread overcame Farkas as Aela sombrely lifted her self from the ground still holding the armour. This dread festered into hysteria which fed his denial in what he was seeing.
Farkas's voice trembled at the sight of the armour, "What is that?"
Kodlak released a dejected sigh. His brows furrowed in twitches and his lips quivered. Kodlak clasped the armour from Aela, with a tear already falling from her cheek. Mimzi's heart dropped as she beckoned the three. She almost heard Vilkas behind her as she laid her despairing eyes to the steel cuirass.
"I'll always come back to you."
Her mouth parted and tongue dried as an intense shock numbed her body. Serana slowly stepped forward but gave a respectful distance. Isran stepped through the crunching leaves among the disheartened souls. At first it took him a while to recognize the cuirass and who it belonged to. Isran bowed his head mournfully and closed his lids in a prayer to Arkay and Stendarr. Kodlak gripped the cuirass tightly to him and his lips pressed shut. His red eyes swelled in tears and shoulders began to quiver.
Aela muttered through shallow quakes, "I… I found it in the pile of ash… amongst the bodies…. I can't fathom it…"
They surrounded the cuirass in silent mournful cries; with Isran and Serana staying back to offer their respectful condolences. Mimzi breathed fast and she quickly fought the attack of panic that began to control her. Aela rested her arm to Kodlak's as Farkas stayed completely still in aghast shock, fighting with his denial. The winds blew the ashes away and flecked off the steel of Vilkas's armour. The air turned cold almost suddenly, and the ash floated among their tears. The remains of the man they loved, slowly drifted into air with the ash itself.
