Shadow of the Moon - Draft
Chapter 1: Terrors in the Night
17th Frostfall, 4E 173
The girl could feel the beat of her heart pounding through her temples. She looked up at the confused world around her; it was bright and noisy - the roar of a fire blazing out of control - but she could hear more. Muffled by the roaring of the flames was shouting and the clattering of swords. She tried to focus to see, but the fire burned brightly all around her and the smoke blurred her eyes. She threw the already smoldering hide blanket from her body and rolled clumsily to the side - her only thought being to find her mother. She scrambled through the burning debris - heat emanated from all around her as the roar of the fire only grew louder - she looked up at the world towering above her; a charred table towered overhead as it threatened to topple, she scrambled further - anxiety and fear building with each passing moment as the pound of her pulse felt as though it was even started to drown out the roar of the fire. The sound of fighting outside became increasingly distorted - twisted and surreal. Her attention was snapped to the pained creaking of a bookcase in front of her; she clambered to her feet and stared up at the towering object as it loomed dauntingly overhead. It's base cracked under the weight of a rafter which had already fallen onto it and the whole thing fell down on top her. Her scream was silenced by the crash as the giant object seemed to arc over and around her; crushing her back to the floor. It was pitch black - were it not for extreme heat of the wood now encasing her small form she could almost have been back in her bed. The roar of the fire had dulled to a faint crackle; the sound mocking her and tearing at her very soul. There was a loud crash; someone was outside. Muffled voices spoke distorted words, not helped by the ringing in her ears. A blinding light suddenly encompassed her as the bookcase was shoved away. She winced as her eyes tried to focus on the blurry forms in front of her. They looked like people and were the source of the distorted talking but they towered over her like giants. She heard laughing; a gruff male voice emanating from the twisted giant that towered over her. A hand reached down and grabbed her wrist - yanking her upwards. She squealed and forced her eyes shut as tightly as she could - she just wanted her mother. She dangled at what felt like a breakneck drop by her little wrist before the giant lifted her up even higher. the twisted voice boomed right in front of her face now and she could not help but open her eyes. Wide and watering with fear, they took in the huge face that was all she could see in front; it looked like a human - a man - his skin as rough as his beard and piercing eyes that stared into her own atop a maniacal grin. More muffled talking - no - it was arguing, then she was tossed aside like an unwanted ragdoll. She landed on her front and quickly rolled over to scurry backwards across the floor. She could not get far before she felt her back press against the heated embers of a burned stump. The thumping returned to her head as she watched the giant step closer. A single stride brought the man to tower over her even more than the bookcase. Her vision distorted as she turned her gaze up towards his face, he spoke more muffled and distorted words as he unsheathed a giant blade from his waist. The last thing she saw was the huge blade rising slowly above her then swinging down with lightning speed.
A shrill scream suddenly echoed out; reverberating off the cold, damp stone of the tunnel which was their home. Revvur jumped to his feet - his hand instinctively clambering for the blade which leaned peacefully against the end table beside his bed. In his sleepy state however he only managed to knock it to the ground with a clatter against the stone. He jumped from the bed and grabbed for the blade, spinning around to see what unholy sound had awoken him. He relaxed his stance once he saw the girl in the next bed over sat bolt upright - trembling and covered in cold sweats as her delicate hands clutched tightly at the blanket held in front of her. Revvur strode across and thwacked the girl around the back of the head, "Talos curse you, knife ears! If you're not going to sleep like a normal person then sleep somewhere else!" She had recoiled at the unwelcome strike, though it was not so hard as to cause any real harm it was still an unwelcome greeting to her waking moments, "Piss off skeever breath..." she spat back, "...I can't help it!" she murmured with a distinct tone of self pity as she lay back down, curling herself into a ball and turning away from him. Revvur scoffed as he sat the blade back in it's resting place, "A tongue as pointed as those damned ears - no way for a young lady to speak!" he mocked her, plopping down heavily on the side of his bed as he looked around. She refused to respond, simply shifting in her bed. "Anyway..." he continued, "...it's about time we make a move; still got a job to do after all" still she did not respond, simply throwing an equally unrefined hand gesture at him over her shoulder as she tugged the hide blanket up over her head - all too eager to black herself out to the world around her. Revvur shook his head and went to find some food.
She knew she would not return to the realm of dreams now she had awoken - nor did she want to - she simply lay there and prayed to the Divines that they might stop tormenting her. Footsteps approached; they clacked on the damp stone floor and echoed just as all the others did, but these sounded different - they were smaller steps - lighter - she already knew who it was before the woman sat gently on the side of her bed, a hand reaching up and gently stroking the head of hair that was visible beyond the blanket, "What's the matter Rianni, more nightmares?" the woman asked. Rianni's head nodded sharply under the covers. The woman smiled sympathetically as she slowly peeled the cover back. Rianni rolled over to look upon her visitor, "I hate it Karliah, I just want them to stop!" her bottom lip quivered as the dunmer woman wrapped an arm around Rianni's head and eased her over to rest it against her leg, "We'll figure it out one day Rianni, but for now Revvur is right; we have a job to do and there is no better time than this hour. Now if you don't feel up to it, I won't make you go; but we could certainly use your skills on this one" Karliah smiled down, gently brushing Rianni's hair with her fingertips. Rianni sighed and turned her big eyes up to meet Karliah's gaze, a small smile finally forming across her lips, "You're right; maybe a bit of good and honest thieving will help take my mind off it!" Karliah laughed, "That's my girl; even after all these years you still manage to make me laugh just like you did as that cheeky young street urchin who we found trying to pickpocket the Guildmaster!" Rianni chuckled and smiled proudly, "Well I didn't know who he was then! Go ahead Karliah; I'll be up and right behind you in a minute" she smiled, seemingly soothed by the presence and words of her friend and mentor. Not much time passed before Rianni joined her guildmates on the outskirts of Riften. This was a big job so both Karliah and Revvur were already there waiting for her, along with Narrica - a Nord woman just a few years more seasoned than Rianni, "So the little one is joining us after all..." Narrica joked, turning to Revvur, "...seems you owe me that mead after all!" to which Revvur chortled heartily. Narrica turned her attention back to Rianni, eyeing the large and elegant bow strung about her small form, "Are you sure you know how to use that, little one?" she laughed teasingly. Rianni rolled her eyes, "The belly full of food you enjoyed before setting out should be all the answer you need, and damn it stop calling me little one! I'm not that much younger than you!" she said, poking her tongue out at Narrica.
Revvur scoffed loudly as he strode between the two, passing close by Rianni and ruffling her hair, "Who said she was referring to your age little knife ears!" Rianni's shoulder slumped as she glared at his back before reaching up to try and straighten her long hair once more. Karliah raised a hand, chuckling slightly at the banter among her team. Though to many they would seem to loathe and despise one another, she could see the true affection between them and saw them more akin to siblings than anything else, "Alright you horrible lot, let's get to work! It's a short walk to the cave where this 'mancer is holed up. Rianni; you scout ahead and clear the way. Once inside I expect to catch him sleeping so we can just slip in and retrieve the mark. Narrica and I will see to the safeguards, Revvur; you're to make sure we don't get any interruptions. Now let's get moving; shadows guide us all"
Rianni ran off ahead of the rest of the group, who in themselves were moving quickly. She had come a long way from the preteen street urchin the guild first encountered and after showing a natural affinity for the bow, she had proven to be quite the reliable asset to the guild. Following a brief jaunt through the wilderness surrounding the city, the group eventually caught up to Rianni outside the entrance to one of the many old abandoned mines that dotted the landscape. She had a fox carcass lay out on a rock by her side - the black-stemmed arrow still jutting from it's side and fresh red blood staining the underbelly of it's pelt. "An uneventful scout then?" Karliah smirked at the young woman who glanced back over her shoulder with a grin. As the slower Revvur caught up to the more nimble members of the team, they proceeded to sneak inside the old mine. The interior was barren and dimly lit by only a few scattered torches along the wall. Water dripped throughout and echoed louder than the groups footsteps as the descended. The mine twisted and turned in a miniature labyrinth before opening out into what was most likely once a camp for the workers; the team working like a well oiled dwemer mechanism as the went about their business. Karliah and Narrica moved to breach the secure cage found in a secluded alcove on the far side of the chamber while Rianni and Revvur kept watch in different directions. A sudden crash whipped everyone's attention in the direction of the cage; Narrica seemed to have triggered an unseen trap in the form of a rune and a set of bars and plunged from the ceiling behind them. Rianni looked immediately to the necromancer and tilted her head in mild surprise as he barely stirred. From the opposite direction though she heard more than stirring.
Rianni grabbed Revvur's arm and silently pointed in the direction of the sound. The two of them moving to investigate while Karliah and Narrica attempted to find a way out of their newly formed prison. The tunnel from whence they came became increasingly illuminated with an orange glow, both Rianni and Revvur drawing their weapons ready to defend their position. As the source of the light turned the corner, Rianni leaned out with an arrow drawn ready... and froze. Her eyes wide and panic stricken as fear encompassed her body and prevented her from moving as a ball of fire hurtled towards her from the summoned atronach. She yelped as it struck her bow and knocked it from her hands, finally snapping back to reality from the blow and hunkering back down behind her cover of barrels. Revvur frowned at the girls weakness and leaped from cover, charging at the magical creature with his sword held ready in both hands. As Revvur charged, Rianni drew a pair of daggers from her belt at the small of her back and stood prone once more. She stood ready with both small blades drawn as she awaited an opening. They were not her first choice of weapon though she had proven perfectly adept in their mastery as a backup to her preferred bow.
While Revvur slashed at the atronach, Rianni charged and dropped low by their sides to skid on one knee below the swinging weapon. Seeing her move, the atronach swung a flaming arm across Revvur's chest - launching him into the adjacent rock wall. It turned sharply on Rianni who had barely got into a position to strike. Seeing the atronach's preemptive move, Rianni leaped backwards with a somersault as the atronach launched another flaming ball of magical energy at her. Rianni landed with barely enough time to act and instinct drove her to drop her blades and raise her hands defensively. She stood awestruck at what she saw as the fireball appeared to freeze in time between her outstretched palms. She had no idea that she had any kind of magical connection and was unsure what to do next, the atronach was clearly given pause as well as it seemed to stop and stare at her. Rianni may not have been magically trained in anyway, but even she knew that fire was useless against a creature of fire and so looked up, and launched the fireball at the rotten roof supports above the atronach; causing them to come crashing down on top of it along with a significant portion of the roof.
After retrieving her blades and bow, she moved to Revvur who she found to be groggy but otherwise unharmed. Heading back down into the central chamber she was shocked to find the necromancer had still not stirred, but without wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth she made haste to the cage. "What in Oblivion was that?!" Narrica exclaimed, having witnessed what occurred in the tunnel from their vantage point, "I... I don't know..." Rianni stammered, clearly as taken aback as the others by her own actions, "...I had no idea I could do that!" "Well maybe you could use some of that magic to get us out of here!" Karliah teased. Rianni looked around at their newly formed cell, "But I don't know any spells!". Karliah pointed to the necromancer, "Remember where we are Rianni. He must have potions and stuff around here, see if you can find something to get us out of here!" Rianni nodded curtly and dropped to a low stance as she snuck closer to the sleeping necromancer. A few minutes of searching yielded promising results in the form of a magicka potion and a scroll which appeared to contain a spell of telekinesis. She returned to the cage with both in hand, "Well... here goes nothing..." she spoke in a nervously wavering voice as she uncorked the small bottle and gulped down the strange tasting blue liquid within. "Good Rianni, now try the scroll before it wears off!" Karliah encouraged. Rianni unrolled the scroll and spoke the incantation as best she could, gesturing forward with an open palm and slowly raising it upwards. With a gently reluctant rumble, the spikes began to recede into the ceiling. She winced as she struggled to enact the magical ability bestowed upon her but managed to raise the spike enough that the others could roll out form underneath; Karliah clearing the spikes just as Rianni's magical grasp let go and the shot back into the ground with remarkable force.
Karliah stood and dusted herself off, helping Narrica back to her feet before placing a hand on Rianni's shoulder and smiling proudly upon the young woman, "You my girl, have earned a debt of gratitude from us all. The honour should be yours..." she said, handing a small strongbox to Rianni, "...go ahead, open it". Rianni smiled proudly at the acknowledgement of her efforts and took the small metal box in one hand while pulling a small pick from her belt pack with the other. She worked the lock with a tongue of concentration poking form one side of her mouth; a sight which always made Karliah chuckle. It did not take much tinkering before she was able to pop the release mechanism and open the box to reveal a decrepit old key. She took it between her fingertips and held it up to Karliah questioningly. "That's it Rianni; that is our mark. Now keep that safe until we get back to the ratways - this is only the beginning..." she said with a smirk as the trio headed out to help Revvur up and return home; Rianni casually swiping a small coinpurse from a tabletop as she passed by on the way out.
Back in the ratways spirits were high as ever following a successful heist. Rianni however was understandably distracted; a fact Karliah was quick to pick up on. So as the rest of the guild enjoyed a hearty breakfast of Rianni's freshly caught game, Karliah pulled the young elf aside and into a back room where Gallus and Mercer Frey - the guilds second in command - were waiting. Rianni looked around the gathered guild leadership and glanced back to Karliah with a questioning look on her face, to which Karliah smiled, "Don't worry Rianni; you did good. Better than you think perhaps".
She turned from Karliah to look at Gallus, "This is about the magic isn't it?" To which the Imperial grinned, "Among other things" he said gesturing for her to sit at the table with him. As Rianni sat, Karliah joined Frey lurking at a distance which only made Rianni more nervous. Gallus looked across to Rianni, "You have the mark" he spoke more of a statement than a question. She nodded and retrieved the key from a pouch on her belt, sliding across the table to him. Picking it up he admired the unremarkable rusted old item, "It is hard to imagine something so small holding so much power..." he mused, slowly looking up to Rianni with a smirk at his carefully chosen words. She smiled a little in response at his demeanor, "I had no idea I had it in me..." to which he raised a hand, "This is a sign from Nocturnal; a gift and blessing to help us on our way". She tilted her head slightly in confusion at his meaning causing a chuckle from the older Imperial, "This, little one..." he said holding up the key in his fingertip, "...Is obviously not our prestigious prize. But a step on the way. You my dear girl; have proven to be the next". As Gallus spoke, Mercer Frey picked up on where he was leading and stormed forwards, slamming his fist on the table, "Gallus you can't be serious! She's just a kid!". While Rianni flinched at the sudden move, Gallus stared up at his old friend, "A kid with just the skill we need for the next phase. Feel free to cast a spell and prove a more fitting choice" he jabbed, knowing full well that Frey didn't have a magical bone in his body. As well did the Nord himself and so he stepped back begrudgingly. Rianni looked between the two men, settling a questioning look on Gallus, "What's all this about?" She asked, still eyeing the small key now sat on the table. "Rianni I have a special job for you. You're ready for it, of that I have no doubt..." he assured her with a sideways glance to Frey, "...I want you to retrieve the contents of the strongbox this key belongs to". Reading between the lines she looked back to Gallus, "Because I can apparently cast spells? But I didn't even know what I did, I have no idea how to do it again". Gallus smirked, "And that dear girl exactly what makes you so perfect for this job. You see, the treasure we seek - an ancient artifact - is locked away deep in the buried ruins of Winterhold beneath the mages college. Your unrefined skill makes you the perfect candidate to infiltrate the college as a new student" Hearing Gallus' plan confirmed, Mercer Frey huffed and stormed out. Gallus shook his head, "That man will be death of me...". Rianni looked back to him still in slight disbelief, "So you want to send me to the College of Winterhold... and recover this relic? How will I even know how to find it?". Gallus raised a hand to the girl, "It will take time and cunning to learn of it's whereabouts Rianni. That is why there is no time constraint on this job..." he smirked, "Who knows, maybe you will learn to hone your magical talent to our advantage while you are there". She leaned back as she considered his words, "I can do it" she finally declared with a firm nod. A grinning Karliah returned to Rianni's side and set a hand on the girls shoulder, "We know Rianni, you are ready for this. Now come, we have a lot of planning ahead if we are to make a mage of you" she chuckled, leading Rianni away. They paused as Gallus cleared his throat, Rianni backtracking sheepishly to take the key he held up for them, "Got get them tiger" he laughed, "And try not to lose this". She nodded, flushed slightly with embarrassment as she rejoined Karliah and left to prepare.
Chapter 2: The Butterfly Effect
17th Frostfall, 4E 173
As the trio of thieves made their way back out of the old mine, an eerie silence fell across the place once more. The only interruption being the echoes of dripping water until a shrill squawk rang out from the long entrance passageway. The necromancer stirred and gently rose from his bed to greet the jet black crow which flew straight into the cavern and perched on his shoulder. The necromancer turned his head to face the crow with a wide smirk across his his otherwise emotionless face, the crow squawked again, tilting its head as it stared back at the smirk.
A whirl of magical energy whipped around the necromancer and his form faded to reveal that of a smaller framed young woman. Still wearing the satisfied smirk, she reached a delicate - black nail clad - hand up to cradle the crows head as it pecked at the silver skull adornment hanging from her ear, "All is indeed transpiring as we desired. The wheels are now turning and events are on course; you did well with the atronach little one" to which the crow squawked again almost in acknowledgement of her praise as she smiled and looked back to the passageway leading out of the mine. She carefully fastened a small parchment to the birds leg, "Take this to Lorekeeper". The crow squawked once more and flew from her shoulder, though instead of leaving the cave it circled back to behind it's master only to land on top of a nearby barrel where it pecked at the lid. The necromancer chuckled, "It would be a shame to let him go to waste wouldn't it". She reached out with a jeweled hand and a swirl of purple energy encompassed the barrel. As the lid shifted off, the crow hopped away and the reanimated corpse of a male necromancer - the one who's appearance she first held an illusion of when the thieves entered - rose from the barrel and rested on the floor in front of it. "Come" the girl commanded, "I am not carrying you when you have working legs" and she turned to leave; the corpse let out a mindless groan and began trudging along behind her with a purple mist fading in its wake, while the crow swooped around the pair and darted off out towards the outside world.
It was still early morning outside and the dawn sun was just peeking over the Jerall mountain range which hugged the southern and eastern borders of the Rifts lush forests. The crow soared high over the treetops as it began it's westward journey, though the playful spirit of the avian soon got the better of it as it swept back down closer to the treetops; exploring the hidden depths beneath the canopy as though to occupy the time on it's long flight. The Lorekeeper it had been despatched to occupied an estate to the north of Falkreath, which meant a long flight across almost half the southern realm. The crow cleared a narrow valley in the forest where it landed on a rock beside a small stream for a rest. The sound of the water rushing gently over the rocks of a small waterfall blended almost seamlessly into the natural song which filled this part of the world. A steady, trickling melody to accompany the chorus of the morning songbirds. Once the jet black avian was ready, it once again took to the skies with a single flap of it's long wings launching it off the rock it had taken as a respite. The ever curious crow flew low along the waterway, gliding gently on the subtle currents channeled by the high cliff walls either side of the stream. It's complacency after such a long journey almost got the better of it at one point as a large slaughterfish suddenly leapt from the water beneath the crow, it's long jaw arcing open as it left the water before snapping shut with enough ferocity to even sever the limbs of the crows master. The small avian was however far too agile for the opportunistic predatory fish, and it nimbly darted to the side - sweeping around the slaughterfish with a shrill squawk of disapproval. The crows altered trajectory took it on a steep climb away from the water, skimming the treetops as it arced back over to settle at a higher cruising altitude.
The - unfortunately named - Dead Man's Drink, Falkreath's local inn, was not a busy venue at the best of times. At this hour it was as close to it's 'dead' name as could be; with the early morning patrons having finished their breakfast and long gone to put in a days work, be it on the farms or in the local shops, or even on duty as a town guard. It was still too early for the evening rush to commence as many of the townsfolk would descend on the tavern for their evening meal and some light entertainment. That entertainment would often come through the honeyed voice of the resident bard - Mia. Mia was a Breton, though statuesque enough to often pass for an Imperial, and just as well spoken if not better than average. Many were the rumours and speculation about her origins, though the consensus generally agreed that - as with many of the Breton blood - she heralded from one of the noble houses and likely came to Skyrim specifically to refine her arts at the College in Solitude, not that Mia would ever confirm or deny such theories. To her it was as much a fun game to play with her customers-turned-friends, as it was a matter of maintaining the subtle mystique which surrounded the unknown element to her past, for she knew that such things only served to increase the allure of a performer. Whilst Mia would be in her element entertaining the patrons of an evening, or helping out the owners by serving food during meal times, at this quiet time of day for the inn, she was superfluous. Though this did not discourage the upbeat Breton, contrarily it was a time of day she looked forward to with eagerness - arguably moreso than her performing hours. That is because quiet time in the tavern meant it was time for her to go out and revel in the natural world around them. Ever since she was a young girl, Mia had felt an affinity for nature and seemed to fall in love with every new critter and creature she discovered as she grew up. Leading many to speculate about a natural blessing from Kynareth - the deity of the heavens, the winds, the elements, and the unseen spirits of the air - especially when weighed against Mia's vocal talents, as Kynareth is also often associated with the powers of the Voice - or Thu'um - at least to those who believed in such mysteries as they were largely whispered about the reclusive monks who lived atop the Throat of the World; Skyrim's highest peak.
Farkkun Stonearm - cook and proprietor of the Dead Man's Drink - looked over his shoulder from his place at the stove to the sound of a door creaking open, "Mia, is that you sneaking out to go play in the woods again?". Mia paused, turning with a light bounce as she folded her hands innocently at her back. She flashed a perky smile back to Farkkun, "But of course it is me! Do not worry, Farkkun, I shall not be long". Farkkun gave a weary sigh, chuckling and shaking his head slightly as he turned back to the stew he was working on ready for the evening rush, "Honestly girl, I don't see what keeps you so fascinated with things out there. If you were going out hunting for some extra coin, sure, that I could understand. But you never come back with anything!"
Mia's smile softens as she skips over to Farkkun's side, wrapping her arms around his large nordic frame, "That is not entirely true! I will not hurt the lovely animals, but I do sometimes bring back pets to study!". Farkkun scoffs, seemingly perfectly comfortable with the platonic hug being wrapped around him even while his wife - Iddne the Giant - worked just across the room, "You mean those annoying little bugs you keep in those jars?". Mia clicks her tongue in response as she steps back, "Butterflies are not bugs! The are wonderful, beautiful creatures! The way they start off so small and insignificant before growing their big beautiful wings; it speaks volumes for the lessons of the Divines to us all!" Farkkun again laughs, "Just keep your bow to hand won't you? You may not wish to harm anyone else, but there's plenty of creatures out there who would just as happily have you for breakfast". Glancing back again, he can see Mia is already absently heading to the door with a light skip in her step. Seeing the bow slung across her back, he simply laughs and refocuses once more on his work, knowing full well there is no stopping the plucky Breton even if he had the desire to try. Stepping out of the Dead Man's Drink, it was but a short walk to the town gate and the alluring wilderness beyond. Though it was not too short a trip for Mia to enjoy a bevvy of warm greetings from her friends among the townsfolk as she passed by, much to her delight. With a final passing greeting to a guard who was heading back into town following a patrol of the area, Mia was finally clear of the attention and the noise. Much as Mia enjoyed the company of the townsfolk, and of course their everlasting affection for their beloved local bard, the noise of town life was enough to drive away most of Kyne's creatures. The more that hum of life faded into the background, the more it was replaced by the sounds of the natural world - heralding Mia's arrival at her cherished spot. She smiled to herself, rustling through the long grass as she honed in on the sound of running water, before coming out beside a small pond. The pond was nothing extraordinary, though it was just large enough for a small island to have formed in the middle which inexplicably housed a single tree. This pond was one of Mia's favourite spots to enjoy the wilderness as the small but calm water source attracted everything from dartwings and butterflies to foxes and even bears. Laying out a small blanket on the rocks beside the water, Mia settled into a relaxed position half laying against the rocks - now sufficiently warmed by the high midday sun - yet able to maintain a balanced view of both the sky above and the forest around her, while allowing a hand to rest idly in the gently lapping edge of the water. There she lay, basking in the environment like it's every sensation was recharging her own senses. The sounds of the town; horses drawing carts, people chattering, farmers working and the like already replaced with gentle running water, the rustling of the trees in the light breeze and the birds singing to her. The longer she remained though, the more her other senses caught up; the tinge of baking and close quarters living replaced by the sweet aroma of fresh grass and pollinated flowers. Gone were the rough timber tables of the tavern and the sweaty handles of used tankards; replaced with the smooth surface of the water-weathered rocks around her; the delicate petals of flowers she would occasionally draw close to enjoy the scent. Finally, the dark interiors starkly lit by constantly flickering firelight and the faces of crowds in the tavern were replaced with a visual melody of endless layers within the forest canopy; the dancing light reflections in the surface of the water always so chaotic and random and yet never wrong somehow, like a perfect natural harmony. Slowly releasing a thoroughly contented sigh, Mia closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift in this almost meditative state until she was all but a part of the very environment she was enjoying. What an outsider might see as an innocent and naive young woman taking an ill-conceived nap beside the water, was in fact more akin to the predatory instincts of the hunters who were natural to the forest. Only this one was not seeking it's next meal, or to secure it's territory against interlopers. After waiting long enough in this position, a tickle on the tip of Mia's nose told her that her prey was ready and it was time to spring her trap. At least, so it would be, were she in fact hunting in the traditional sense. Instead, she gently opened her eyes - crossing them a little to bring the tip of her nose into focus, and the colourful butterfly perched on it's tip. She smiled, barely able to contain her excitement at seeing the bright colourful wings, and in a configuration she had never been seen no less. She did not pounce however, for that was not the purpose of her trap. She simply watched the butterfly; observing it and absorbing every detail. As her bravery grew, she slowly reached for the satchel lay on the ground at her side to retrieve a parchment and quill. It was an immense test of control to attempt such a move without disturbing the subject of her fascination, but Mia was determined to try at least. It was a painstakingly slow process, but Mia had become well practiced over the years and she had learned a moderate amount of patience in that time. Gently setting the parchment across her stomach, she dabbed the quill in the inkwell that was preemptively set out beside her and touched it to begin capturing the detail of her new discovery. However, as soon as the quill touched the parchment it created an audible scratch that was enough to prompt the butterfly into taking flight once more. Mia cursed, jumping to her feet in pursuit, even desperately calling out a plea, "Wait!" Discarding her sundry supplies by the waterside, Mia relentlessly pursued her quarry with a stubborn determination to complete her drawing without hurting the creature. Deeper into the forest she chased it, every so often giving a light skipping jump with her arms stretched out in an attempt to pluck the butterfly from the air between her cupped hands. Every time however, the butterfly almost seemed to sense her attempt and would flutter just that little bit further out of reach. This continued for longer than it had any right to; the stubborn Breton continuing either through a determination to win so as not to let the chase this far be in vain, or so enjoying the experience that all sense of time and distance were lost to her euphoria. Eventually the continuation was disrupted when the butterfly neared a break in the treeline; a shrill squawk pierced the natural harmony along with vigorous splashing before the unmistakable form of a black crow darted skywards ahead of Mia. Though of little consequence to Mia, the crow flew dangerously close to the butterfly and sent it spiraling off in another direction. The crow - oblivious to this event - continued skyward, while the butterfly tried to proceed about it's innocent business. Mia was sure she could see a more erratic pattern to the butterfly's movement and imagined it being dazed and dizzy from the encounter.
With a renewed vigor born of sympathy and concern for her folly, Mia picked up her pace and pursued the butterfly right into the opening of a cave. She never imagined that the butterfly would venture deep into a cave, if at all even. Though this one did not come to rest in the immediate opening as she anticipated, it did not fly far inside either before settling atop a mossy branch. Mia slowed as she approached it, determined not to scare it into another exhausting flight before it was ready. With her whole body lowered to a crouch, and her pace dropped to a virtual standstill, she was finally mindful of her surroundings once more. The dank interior was typical of most caves in the region; eerily quiet save for the dripping of water naturally filtered through the rocks and the echoing of it's splashes in small puddles. The wind howled distantly about the entrance, becoming distorted this far in so as to sound like something far more unsettling though not entirely unnatural yet. The cave interior itself was devoid of any obvious signs of life - unlike many smaller alcoves which would often become the home of forest bears - though the damp climate did lend itself to a blend of mosses and mushrooms. Mia turned her attention back to the butterfly, smiling victoriously to see it's little wings flapping eagerly as it prepared to take flight once more. She prepared to stalk forwards and once again attempt to take it into her cupped hands. Ever conscious of hurting such creatures, Mia took every precaution she could to ensure their well being. She would often give up on closer study in order to let one go rather than use more distinct methods of capture, or even killing. Instead, she aimed solely to gently embrace it in her hands so it could be carried back to her satchel by the pond where she would place it into a prepared jar which she could use to take it home to study and draw properly before again releasing it. This however, was not a lucky day for Mia, as before she could gain ground on the butterfly it once again took flight. However it was not Mia who scared it away this time, but the sound of echoing voices and rapidly approaching footsteps from around the corner. They had approached so suddenly that Mia barely had time to react and instinctively jumped up, running as fast as she could for the entrance. The tone of the distant voices behind her and the increased tempo of the footsteps told her that whoever was in there had quickly decided to give chase of her. Suddenly sharing an ironic sense of companionship with her butterfly folly; born of desperately fleeing while not fully understanding why, Mia kept running straight out of the cave and onward in whatever direction her feet took her. She knew she would be safe if she made it back to town, but having followed the butterfly so aimlessly for so long she wasn't even sure which way it was back to the pond from this point, let alone Falkreath. So she kept running until she could run no more, finally collapsing from an overtired lazy footing that lead to a stumble and a resigned slumping against a tree stump, desperately attempting to obscure herself in the undergrowth.
For a brief - yet eternal - moment, Mia could hear nothing but the pounding of her heart through her head. This fleeting moment lasted just long enough for her to catch a glimmer of hope that she had escaped her unseen pursuers before the sound of footsteps rustling through long grass shattered her dreams of freedom. She looked around in desperation, but the sense of foreboding only grew as she failed to recognize where exactly in the forest she now was. Trembling, she gingerly turned just enough to peek around the tree stump to glimpse her pursuers; a group of Thalmor Justiciars. Mia's heart sunk in her chest as she turned back, knowing by reputation alone how ruthless and merciless they could be. What they were doing in a cave on the outskirts of Falkreath was a mystery to Mia, but one that sat far from the front of her mind at that moment. In a panic she jumped to her feet and set off once more on a desperate flee. This time the Thalmor were close enough to spot her and they quickly gave chase, even drawing their swords in readiness as they stormed through the forest after the fleeing Breton; her bright red sweater acting like the bullseye of a practice dummy through the blur of long grass for them to follow.
The shouting of the Thalmor and the crisp clanking of their armour soon drowned out even Mia's racing heartbeat as they closed in on her. With panicked desperation, she made the ill-fated mistake of trying to look back and gauge the distance left between herself and her pursuers. This led Mia to snag her foot on a root which sent her tumbling forwards with a scream. Knowing the Thalmor had to be closing in on her, Mia scrambled in desperation to turn around and keep backing away; no thought to the pain in her hands from the sharp and thorny edges of the roots she was grasping as her hands worked to push her further along the ground. It was all in vain however; the clanking of armour had all but stopped as the Justiciars now stood looming over Mia. She looked up at them through teary eyes - their black Elvish armour glistening in the late afternoon sun, the yellowish skin of their faces obscured and darkened menacingly by the hoods they donned - silently pleading for mercy with her gaze. One of the males stepped forwards with his sword raised in both hands, and Mia knew it was over. Wincing her eyes shut - unable to face the thought of her final experience on Nirn being the sight of a Thalmor Justiciar plunging a blade through her chest, as she was far from the bold Nordic warriors she often met at the inn - she silently cursed the mysterious black crow for the stark turn of events which led her to this impasse. A sharp whistle cut through the air. Not that made by man or beast, but the whistle of an arrow. It was almost inaudible for being so brief, but unmistakable nonetheless. It was promptly met with the dull fleshy thud of an impact cutting through every layer of a body before a second flew overhead, then another, and another amid increasingly panicked shouting from the Thalmor. After their bodies slumped to the floor only seconds after Mia had closed her eyes, there was a new sound; a distinct dry rustling thud from a single pair of boots landing in the grass in front of Mia, and from some height above by the way it sounded. She still had no idea what was happening around her, only that she expected to be dead already. Whatever it was, she felt too scared to open her eyes for fear of letting reality back into her final moment and denying her this seemingly eternal bliss at the end. But her end did not come, instead her world slowly returned to normal as the sounds of the forest once again filled her heightened senses. Mia knew there was still someone nearby, those feet had not moved since landing through the grass in front of her, but she did not know why. After reaching the point where she could wait no more, Mia slowly opened her eyes to find her vision blurred by blood - apparently she had hit her head harder than she realized when she fell, and the blood had now trickled down across her brow and over her eye. She squinted painfully in an attempt to focus on the blurry silhouette before her, trying to make out the details of this mysterious rescuer. It was hard for Mia to focus though, and beyond what she could have been sure was a female figure she could make out nothing more than the distinct points of Elvish ears. But that did not make sense to her at all; for an Elf to kill their kin in order to save a Breton? Mia knew she had to be losing focus and finally succumbed to her resigned fate as her eyes fluttered shut, blurring the impossible vision before her as she fell unconscious...