Thur-nax was in the middle of accepting Kat's loyalty when out of nowhere, his face gained a new reflection. They all noticed the intruder at once.

A two-legged figure stood on the mountainside, covered in a hissing inferno. Meltwater streams ran from its feet. As Kat looked the unfortunate up and down, she realized the flames weren't rising tongues but a spinning shell. A natural fire cloak, something rarely seen in Nord territory. She braced herself to reason with the silhouette like an Imperial citizen. Signed with an arrow, if need be.

The fire died without warning. Kat wished she hadn't stared. The next thing she saw was a bizarre Dunmer man emerging out of the dark. He made an imposing sight under an ornate robe and a tangle of red hair, and his eyes, which were nothing but crimson, were taking in all the Arra they could. Kat thought she shouldn't be surprised, Arra was pretty.

He stopped dead. He looked at the dragons in the manner of a carved statue. Then he jumped comically, whipped out his hands, and gave each beast a five-breath blast of fire. The expression on his face was worth a palace when all they did was scold him.

His face really was peculiar, even for an elf. Not just the ash grey of a Dunmer, it was in fact totally without any hue at all. And his smell... Kat did not have the divine nose of some legendary hunters back home, but something about this one startled her. Did he sweat? Did he even have flesh? And who would be out here in the night, excluding a dragon incident like theirs? This man rang all the wrong bells. Kat couldn't attack him now, could she? Her eyes found Endelle, but the woman was barely there, fidgeting in place, her gaze focused on nothing.

The strange man introduced himself in flowing, polite words. His voice was strong and sharp with some unfamiliar lilt to it. Vokun. Which meant, oh, no...

In her frozen state, Kat saw flashes of Shadow. Shadow as a playful puppy, making little Kat giggle with his happy tail and curious eyes. Shadow as a deadly phantom, racing after deer in the lush Jerall foothills. Shadow as a silver-spotted grandfather, more asleep each day until the cruel winter that took him. But this creepy elf couldn't possibly -

She shook herself back to hear the rest of it. A potion seller from Falkreath? That made more sense than the average new thing tonight. But before she could return the greeting, Arra collapsed.

Kat cursed herself. Why hadn't she helped her? Liis snarled a command, though the man was already moving. He stepped to Arra's side while conjuring some precursor of a fire spell, drifting purplish warmth that surrounded them both. Then he was helping Arra get up and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. There was a bafflingly gentle look in his blood-red eyes.

The sight was so surprising that Kat's own eyes averted themselves. She found her spare gloves and handed them to Arra, who accepted them meekly and muttered a thank-you. Kat, too, drifted in and out of consciousness. Sleep was many hours overdue. She turned to the rest of the group and summoned some willpower.

"Het zok krah ahrk sul lost lingrah. Kolos vis joor praan?"

As Vokun helped Arra up, he stared into her deep green eyes. They were most definitely more beautiful than half the eyes of the women he's met. For some reason, he felt terrible about all the women he flirted with before he met this one. His own vampirism instincts didn't even kick in to drink this vulnerable lady's blood. Of course, they shouldn't, knowing he only drinks the blood of animals, and mortal men and women rarely. He kept his arm around her to hold her steady as a pretty brown-haired lady handed them gloves. Vokun even assisted the beautiful Breton in putting the gloves on, seeing as how she was shaking and shivering.
The one who handed them gloves turned and asked the dragons about sleep. Vokun held in a laugh. He hardly slept. Breathing in the scent of this Breton, he desperately wanted... not her blood... Just, her. It was an odd feeling for Vokun, one he hadn't felt before. Then, without warning or reason, he chuckled. It was an airy laugh, as if he was out of breath. Vokun confused himself by doing that, and then taking out a purple mountain flower from his alchemy pouch and placing it in her hair, where it stayed. It matched her outfit. He glanced around at the others, all lost in their own thoughts. He turned back to the Breton, and simply stared at her beauty.

One of the dragons replied to the Imperial, but Vokun wasn't paying attention. He was lovestruck, in awe, at the amazing mortal in front of him. She was obviously still cold, so he held the harmless flame closer to her, moved it in front of her face, and up to his. He knew his vampirism made him an odd sight, at best. But maybe she would react differently? He coated his arm in the harmless but warm flame, and wrapped it further around Arra, bringing her closer to him. Their faces were close, but she was avoiding his eyes. He gave her a hurt look, and that was when their eyes finally met. He could see her reacting to the different scents of his ingredients, he could see something in her eyes, but couldn't make out what it was.
Pain? Fear? Was he holding her too tightly? Did his pale unnatural face intimidate her? These worries passed through his head before he realized he was still staring. But... She was too. She was staring into his eyes, and him into her's. He couldn't read her expression, and he was usually good at that. They stood there, like that, for about three minutes, before Vokun felt the gaze of the dragons wash over him. He was aware of the others staring at the scene as well. He tore his eyes away from the beautiful green that he was seeing, and looked at the others. His fire didn't die, and he guided Arra to a laid-out cot that someone had rolled out. Who cares if it was somebody elses? He sat down next to it, in the snow, and Arra took a seat next to him, on the cot.

"Hi fen kos bek het, geh?"

The wolf inside was raging. Last time it was that strong was when she joined the Circle. Endelle was barely lucid, like her thoughts were being washed away by another conscience. That was a familiar feeling, she was on the verge of turning into a werewolf. She could not let that happen, especially with other humans around and that... Vampire. It could become dangerous for her and the others. She could either get killed by her companions or get smited by the powerful shouts of the dov.

In any cases, she has to stop this. By any means possible. Her mind was plagued with ideas of murder and feast on flesh. Sure, they were mouth-watering thoughts... No! Putting an end to all the nervous twitches and stood still. She was emptying her brain of everything until silence reigned. Already, her pulse was slowing down drastically, breathign coming back to normal. That was close. Way too close for her liking.

After solving her personnal problem, she became more and more aware of the things happening around her. The hunter had spare gloves for the Breton. Also, the Breton was now sitting on the floor with the Dunmer. It appeared he was warming her up with his inborn powers. Ironic, isn't it? An individual who's race is know for their resilience to fire, turned vampyre. From what Endelle researched, a good way of "disposing" of the undead was to burn them.

The dragons seemed rather bored at what was going on, and since no one was leading, Endelle decided to interrogate the immortal beings.

"Fos laan hi nol mii? Mu los nunon joor."

Eagle-Eye's facial traits expressed confusion. How could simple hunmans could be of any use to a dragon? Something capable of killing entire villages by themselves, aided by beings so weak compared to them. It was like if saber cats needed worms to live... Simply unnatural. May the answer be clear because Endelle isn't the type to spend hours on a riddle. Meanwhile, the least she could do is introduce herself to the beasts, so that if they decide to eat her, they'll have her name on their conscience, if those things had one. Although, the Nord learned that dragons indeed had emotions. Liis seemed angry, or annoyed at least, when she wanted to take a souvenir off of him.

"Zu'u Endelle, ah do sivaas ahrk jul. Drem yol lok."

If the green dragon was right and they were trying to be good, she was willing to trust them, but at the least bit of uncertainty, she would hunt them. Suddenly, the unclean thoughts were resurfacing, less stronger than before, but they were present. They kept her slightly unalert, for they are distracting her very soul.

The voices of Dragons spoke from somewhere close by. She was lifted out of the hard snow by powerful arms. They were those of the Dunmer, who was surprisingly strong for his looks. Gloves were gifted to her by the Imperial. She tried to thank her, but her thoughts drifted, never staying on one thought for long. The scent of flowers and herbs coming off that Elf was unmistakable, he was very much an Alchemist. She could not see what was around her save for the red eyes looking into her. Eyes that tried to calm. She gazed deeper within them, for they were...like the way things were.  The eyes we not friendly, but they reminded her…

The crimson eyes faded to amber, almond-shaped eyes. The face became flaxen, and hair golden to match. A tear came to her eye as she saw the familiar face. The person smiled, Nust saraan mii. his voice said to her as she was handed a circlet that went well with the one he wore. She turned to a mirror, she wore her finest clothes, purple and silver with a cloak of the same. Her hair was done up and braided with beads. He gave her his arm, zu'u laan hi voth zey. She took it and they walked thru the doorway together. A crowd met them far below, all their praise on the man, for it was his day. The view from The Tower made the world look so small...
 

And the world came back to her, she was on a bedroll while the wind was unyielding in its strength. The Dunmer asked her something, to which she gazed up to face the blackened night as the tempest tore at her hair.

“Nid.”

Paarthurnax swayed his head to Endelle. Paarthurnax: "Pogaan klavve vis dreh lot sodde. Mul alok voth lot tokaan." Endelle parted her lips as if thinking of a reply, but Kat spoke up. Kat: "Het zok krah ahrk sul lost lingrah. Kolos vis joor praan?" Paarthurnax' head swayed to Liis, and Liis' back at him. Their jaws moved slightly, but no sound was heard by the mortals, whom they then returned their gaze to. Liis: "Zund zey." Liis neared the mortals and ducked his head. All hopped up including the dunmer who was simply eager to carry Arra. He never took his eyes off her face and seemed to not know he was about to ride a dragon. Liis turned his head to see the dunmer. Liis: "Volk voth lotmul." The dunmer snapped to and gained a grip. Liis' gaze did not avert him, he simply stared. The dunmer became visibly uncomfortable, and as though nothing happened, Liis looked forward and pushed off the ground. Powerful wings swam through the sky. After a short period, Liis looked below into the endless blizzard and shouted - clearing away what winds and airbourne snow was there. At once, they landed and dismounted at the foot of the last set of visible steps to High Hrothgar. Liis looms. "Hi vis praan ko. Ov dii rot: ni unt geinne wo los ko voth volzah sodde. Luftte vis lo. Zu'u daal ko vu." And like that, Liis plunged into the blizzard afar.

Kat hopped off Liis's back, now much more gracefully. It seemed one could learn dragonriding. Endelle got down slowly and tested the ground with her foot, while Vokun slid down clumsily with Arra still half in his arms. Liis whispered at the group to seek shelter inside, made one flight stroke, and was gone.

The outer walls of High Hrothgar were visible from Whiterun, but people hardly ever spoke of the place. It was as much a feature of the sky as the sun. Seen now head on in the snowstorm, it looked to Kat like a fortress. Unyielding blocks of dark stone, sharply artificial against the snowy slopes, yet just in its proper place.

They fell in on the closest door. Either Kat was dreaming, or the plain metal felt warm even through her thick glove. One push parted the creaking halves and they faced a deserted hall. Echoes of wind and a wave of divine heat came from within. Kat tried to share asking looks with the others, but there was no question. They set forth into the building and along an empty hallway, passing stairs, altars and vague carvings. Endelle was hanging back in her ever vigilant style, so Kat got to lead. Arra and Vokun walked hand in hand behind her. They still weren't very active, but even so she was inching mostly sideways.

"Druv laan ronir vul?" Arra muttered. Kat noticed only then how dark the place was. At most one fitting in ten had a torch in it. Back home this would have been a normal thing, excluding the building being above ground. Darkness was a given if you had no candle to carry. "Ronir... ronir laan ni pogaas. Orin ni kun" she responded.

After a few turns, the hallway ended in a deep and wide room. It looked like a dining hall for stone people. The huge round table was made of carved slabs of rock, and there were stone chairs all around it. In a hole in the middle of the table, a huge stone brazier was fast ablaze with a sackful of coal. Rough moth-eaten banners swung above with some semblance of runes on them.

Kat spotted what looked like additions. There were bear pelts scattered over the floor. Fairly recent kills, likely cleaned less than a week ago. Platters on smaller side tables held fresh apples and a few loaves of bread. In one shady corner, a cooking pot on a shining metal frame leaned against the wall. While Kat was taking inventory, Vokun leapt around like a hound seeing a fox. There was a person in the doorway.

Kat's body has not yet prepared for battle when the kindly old man showed them his empty hands. He was wearing an unmistakably Nordic grey robe. His beard was very grey, too. Kat had never seen a greybeard before, but she couldn't say she was surprised.

"Drem yol lok, wundunikke. Zu'u los Arngeir do sadonvum."

They voiced assorted greetings at him. He looked them through, stopping for an imperceptible moment at Vokun and slightly longer at Endelle. Finally his eyes, clear though buried in a century of folds and creases, displayed approval.

"Zu'u koraav hi sivaan daar weyt. Nii los hin erei vu. Piraak lanne, ruz zaan. Miraad los bex. Nuz unt ni tinvaak dii zeymahhe, mu nahlot naal heyv. Praan pruzah."

The old man bowed his head and walked back into the dim hallway in no hurry. It was clearly best for him that the rest stayed here.

Not bothering to look at anyone, Kat muscled the cooking pot over the brazier and got ready to prepare a broth. The onions and meats in her pack needed to go somewhere. If her companions meant ill to her, they could fight on a full stomach.

She was absolutely amazing. Her face more beautiful than the gold of a- Vokun felt something. Like a warm fluid wash over him. He looked up, into the gaze of a dragon. Deep, glowing eyes. That's all he could see in the darkness. Something was stirring in them. Familiarity? No... He'd never seen a dragon before. Dov was normally well-hidden away, wherever they go. And after all, he was only a potion merchant... He then began to wonder what reactions dragonscales and bones would have with his ingrediants... Maybe even the blood? He heard rumors that men could speak to birds after tasting the blood of a dovah. He climbed aboard the beast, after seeing the others do the same. It was a bit difficult with the Breton, but Vokun managed it. Suddenly they took off into the sky, without warning.
A thundering boom was heard, and they plunged into the blizzard that seemed to be clearing itself. Vokun's fire roared, warming Arra and even the others on the dragon. It seemed to snake its way in between scales, to the others, and warm parts of them as well. When they landed, Vokun was almost jerked from his seat, and climbed down clumsily. He let Arra stand, but kept a flaming arm around her to steady, support, and keep her warm. Vokun kept his eyes on Arra as the dovah spoke.

"Hi vis praan ko. Ov dii rot: untni geinne tol los ko voth volzah sodde. Luftte vis lo. Zu'u daal ko vu." The dovah then plunged into the blizzard afar, and Vokun could barely hear the first flap of wings.

That was when Vokun realized, they were outside of his free-food market. He chuckled a bit at his own thoughts, and became worried again. The monks couldn't have gotten that good of a look of him, could they? 
He could see every detail when they were inside, the cracks in the walls, the few mice skittering around among the floor, and the empty torch brackets. Vokun's fire died down a bit once inside, his vampiric eyes glowing. It was strangely warm around the group. It wasn't the warmth of bodies, but the walls seemed to vibrate with heat. It was as if the entirety of High Hrothgar was made of Dragonstones. The group entered a few hallways before finding their way into a dining hall. Everything was stone. From the chairs to the brazier in the middle of the table. There was food on the tables. Vokun hadn't ever been one to eat much. He ignored the food as Arra stepped two feet in front of him. 

Vokun heard soft footsteps behind him. He spun around, instinctively his hand went to his dagger and he moved in front of Arra, to protect her.
He saw the Greybeard's empty hands as the man glanced at him before turning to look at the rest. He introduced himself, and his wrinkled face showed approval at the group.

He spoke again, "Zu'u koraav hi sivaan daar weyt. Nii los hin erei vu. Piraak lanne, ruz zaan. Miraad los bex. Nuz unt ni tinvaak dii zeymahhe, mu nahlot naal heyv. Praan pruzah."

He bowed his head and shuffled his robed self out of the room. When the man was gone, the Imperial started making a broth. The group seemed to calm down a bit, and Vokun walked over to a chair, gesturing for Arra to follow. She did, and Vokun pulled out a chair for her. He supposed that they could talk while waiting for the Imperial's meal.

"Fos los hin faan, Munfahliil?" Vokun asked in his loud whisper.

The Breton looked up, scanning his eyes, his face. She seemed nervous. But not particularly at him. She answered quietly, "Arra."
Arra. An amazing name. Fitting for someone so beautiful. The green eyes... Like the forest leaves of Falkreath in spring. He realized he was staring again, and asked something else.

"Fos drun hi wah strunmah?" Vokun studied her face again. Her features seemed to soften, and she had a playful look in her eyes... Vokun already loved that look.

"Rinis ven ol naangein, nau Dovah," Arra answered. It was as if riding a dragon was a normal everyday thing for her. Vokun admired her and-

He realized he was staring again.

But she was so beautiful. Vokun didn't know what he was feeling. He didn't know what anything was anymore. It seemed like only him and Arra were the only things that mattered in the entirety of Tamriel. He forgot about his vampirism, he forgot about her mortality, he forgot about anything and everything around them. He forgot the smell of the soup and the musty scent of Hrothgar. He then breathed in a new scent. Arra. 

"Hin brii... Niidro vortii vothnaar," Vokun spoke in a soft voice, not thinking straight. And then, he sat there, staring at her. Amazement and awe in his eyes. How could one be more beautiful than the night sky? How could one be prettier than the most flawless night-lit alexandrite? 

In the blink of an eye, Arra shoved Vokun out of his chair, pushed her chair back, and stormed out of the room. She was a blur of purple robes to Vokun, on the floor. He laid there, dazed, unsure of what happened.

The flight was easier this time. Although, she was in a less comfortable spot, since Romeo and Juliet took her old spot. Sitting near the back end of the torso, she could see the others. Kat was way calmer than earlier, probably a good thing. The young hunter could become a very talented student, except her tendency for peace. Further ahead, the young couple was sitting. The Dunmer still looking at the young spellsword. In love, he was. Dangerous, he is. An unstable relation, that's what their union would cause. At this point, it's obsession, the way he stares at her. Not that it mattered to Endelle, but she felt she had to take care of Arra. 

Arrived at High Hrothgar, Endelle tested the snowy ground, not wanting to sink. She wouldn't want owe her life to one of those kids. Seeing it was safe, the Nord jumped off the dragon's back. The ground was cold, the Throat of the World is definitely a test to any Nord. Walking towards the inside, Endelle was on her usual guard. Everything is a danger in this world. Upon closing the door behind them, the group was engulfed in the ambiant warm wind, seemingly originating from nowhere. The place smelled of dust, old books and knowledge. The last one being Endelle's impression of this place. Although the dust definitely made her sneeze.

The outside of the monastery was dark, like an abandonned castle. The inside was lowly lit, but not completely dark. Concentrating on herself, she managed to tame the beast inside and use some of it's power. Endelle's eyes went from a bright blue to a yellow-ish tint. She could now see like it was the middle of the day. Now the nord was getting warm. She removed her small cloak, revealing her tight deformed leather corset, gloves and pants. Her feet were covered in leahter mocassins, the kind not appropriate for the harsh weather of Skyrim. They were incredibly comfortable, on the other hand.

Arriving in the dining room, the group split up. Kat went for the cooking pot while the Breton and Dunmer sat on some of the, hard, greyish, stone chairs. The Greybeard, Arngeir, told them that they could stay here. Eagle-Eye saw how the monk looked at her. Disaproval? Or was it reprimand? She couldn't tell. He looked like everything out of the legends. Old, wise and calm. When he left, the couple were exchanging words and the Imperial was preparing a stew that has a wonderful smell. A mix between wolf and onion always had that divine effect on Endelle's nose.

The Nord approached Kat.

"Hi los kiinoot ah. Laan hi meyz prustmuni?"

She whispered, a smile on her face. For once they had the time to talk, she could prove she isn't insane. Actually, the middle-aged woman could show herself to be caring for younger ones. Eagly-Eye knew that Kat could become very good at hunting. Maybe even match Aela and her level of skills, when they were simple humans.

Suddenly, the Breton pushed the elf on the floor and ran outside. Arra was either angry or sad, to react violently like that. She was always a happy one, so something had to shake her to be like this. Looking away from the door the kid ran out, Endelle's gaze joined the stare of the Dunmer. He was looking surprised, and disapointed. A pulse of empathy towards Arra made Endelle react. Anger rose in her. Unnatural anger. Dropping her quiver and bow, she grabbed an arrow. Walking loudly and quite fast, she grabbed the elven male with surprising strenght, slammed him against the wall and put the tip of the arrow under his neck. The edge of the metal end was creating small wounds under his jaw. Not even close to deadly, but it would definitely sting.

"Haalvut ek ontzos ahrk hi dir.",She barked, her face literally an inch away from his.

Being that close, the dozens of plant smells were saturating her nose. Similarly to magic. She threw him on the floor and sneezed. Walking away from him, she threw her arrow away, a metallic cling echoing throughout the silent monastery. She sat in the corner of the room, in a near-complete darkness. Only her yellow eyes were visible, like a nocturnal animal.

She sat alone. A moment of quite to let all that has happened be known. Why are we here? Why us? So much has gone on in what must be a few hours, and the Dunmer. He is...strange, who is he to think like that?

Kat was making food, but Arra had dinner earlier. She heard a scuffle between the other two, but she didn't care to listen.

What she wanted was answers, why did she see him in the Dunmer? Him!

She walked thru the place, taking it in while humming a tune. She sat in front of a group of candles, her green eyes staring, and watched them burn...

She missed him, but there was no way to return things to the way they were before.  Arra pulled out a note worn from many readings, and read it again.

A. C.
I do hope this finds you well. I know how you must feel now. I go to Skyrim on business in some months' time. It would be so much better with you there...The work I do, it is not the best, but, at least I am doing it and not someone less caring. Be safe.
-V. C.
 

Be safe as she rode Dragons and associated with people who worried her more then made her feel safe.  The Nord woman was far to eager to kill, the Dunmer was unnerving in everything he did, and Kat, well, Kat might be the only one of the bunch the Breton felt she could rely on.  The Imperial had been nothing but an honestly kind person to her.  Sometimes when you travel, you are forced to treat the new faces you meet as enemies, but Kat she would risk to call “Fahdon”.  

She sighed as she folded up the letter and went back to the others, a flame on her fingertip lighting the way.

Upon returning, there was a silence. The kind that was hard to break. So Arra took a spot on the floor away from both the Nord and the Dunmer. She looked at Kat, doing her best to sound like she always did.

“Los daar laakir?”

As Kat shifted the coals around under the pot, Endelle stepped to her side. Kat looked at her and realised the bloodthirsty archer of Whiterun was gone. Her scars and windburns were there, but they belonged to someone else: not a crazed murderer but a person, a woman in flesh and blood. Her low whisper contained a compliment and the word for "apprentice".

There was no end to the surprises tonight, was there! Kat turned away to get some order in her thoughts. However the world might stand, she wanted no part in this. Best to disband as soon as possible, Kat could never hope to...

She caught Vokun droning on about Arra's beauty at the table. His words had become hoarse and slurred, close to drunk. Now that his shield of unnatural charm was down, he sounded old, filthy, and desperate. Kat was overcome by a sudden primal disgust.

Arra's eyebrows folded in anguish. For a moment her whole face had the look of a stormy sea frozen mid-wave. Then something broke. She pushed Vokun over backwards and bolted through the doorway as a thin purple shooting star.

Endelle immediately sprang to her full height, and in two steps she descended upon the man, who was effortlessly yanked to his feet and made to connect with the wall. Vokun made a horrifying noise as his head discovered the brick, but he wasn't moving, nor was Kat. There was a strange familiarity to the scene. The nord and dunmer were standing in a perfect recreation of the tale Kat had only ever heard, of her young mother and the arrogant legionary who had never come back to their village. Endelle looked deadly again. And rightly so! For the first time on this crazy night Kat felt they were on the same side.

Endelle lifted the tip of an arrow to Vokun's neck. The twitching guards flashed before Kat, but Endelle just tickled him gently and growled a warning in the style of people who did not need to shout. Kat's warning died in her mouth. What little she could see of Vokun's face was still dead to the world, free of fear and of smirk. One final burst of fury, and Endelle sent the silent elf flying to the floor where he lay in a boneless heap breathing deeply. The arrow clinked off the brazier.

An uneasy silence ensued and endured. Endelle retreated into a far corner, blending into the shade calm and alert. Vokun had made a home on the floor as various expressions ran across his face. The only sound for a long while was Kat's ladle making its rounds in the steaming pot.

Some time later Arra strode back in as if taking a leisurely midnight stroll in a monastery was just a thing to do. Of all things, she asked about the food. Kat poured broth into four big tankards found on various tables. It was thin but heavy and smelled strongly of game. Kat practically forced one into Arra's hands.

"Laakir ahrk driin. Naak. Bahlok drun daan."

Just afterward her patience failed and she grabbed her tankard and swallowed its content in three painful gulps. It was Sovngarde on the tongue.

With all worries of survival washed away, Kat's mind wandered back to Endelle and her offer. In this supposed homeland beyond the mountains, her arms and legs had kept her alive, just barely taking one mouth off the family. If she could reach anywhere near the strange woman's shooting skill, or her knowledge of sight and sneaking, she could do more. Clan Coalbrow could have candles to carry.

Kat walked to Endelle's corner. Her back saw it fit to adopt the posture of a temple acolyte. In one hand she gave Endelle a broth tankard, in the other her arrow. Her words came quiet and solemn with the purest Nordic sounds she could manage.

"Endelle Okriim-Miin... Wo alun losei, hi nir med rah. Zin meyza prustmuniil."

The woman remained in position, and what her mouth did wasn't exactly a smile, but something told Kat she was enormously pleased. Some tiny gesture that reminded her of Shadow once again. Kat had no idea why, but for a fleeting instant she could swear Endelle was wagging her tail.

There was a faint knock on the doorframe. Arngeir the greybeard stepped in with an apology written on his wrinkled face.

"Hi piraak aan dovahgolz, vahzen? Ini uth mu deina golz het ko spaan do Lokhrothgar. Rok mindok ful pruzaan."

No one objected. Kat found the tablet in a side pocket on her pack and glanced over the carving one last time. It was a distorted border map of Skyrim with stars sprinkled everywhere. She handed the item to Arngeir, who nodded and walked out slowly holding the stone to his heart.

Now for the long awaited rest. Kat unstrapped parts of her clothing until only the simple woolen tunic remained, rolled out her bed, and slipped in to welcome the sweet release of unconsciousness. The brazier had dwindled to a dim red and the others were casting lumbering shadow giants on the ceiling. Let them attack, let anyone attack - her master would take care of it.

Everything happened so fast. Endelle pushed Vokun against a wall and yelled some sort of warning at him before throwing him back on the ground. In that small amount of time, they could both see what each other were. Monsters. Terrible, evil monsters. He lay on the floor, twitching a bit while thinking over everything. Conversation happened near where Endelle was headed, and Vokun silently got up, still thinking. A wolf. A wolf in the group. A wolf and a vampire in the group. Two monsters, two mortals. This was not going to be an easy journey, wherever they were supposed to be going. And to think, Vokun had just killed a werewolf not too long ago on the way up to High Hrothgar. He could do it again, if the time came. Or at least knock it out a while. Hopefully that wouldn't come, though.
Vokun was unconciously sneaking down the hall. Towards the front doors? No, he couldn't just leave, could he? Before he could think any more about it, he peaked out the door, only a crack. The snow flew past his face before he openned it fully. No one was outside, good. He closed the door, not planning on leaving, but planning something more. He then sneaked to the central room. None of the Greybeards were there at the time, so he could sneak freely. Being as silent as only a vampire could be, he sneaked up the stairs to the back exit, before nearly getting caught by a Greybeard who peered suspiciously into the shadows before continuing on his way. That was too close for comfort. Vokun sneaked out the back door, glanced once at his old campfire, before his gaze travelled to the beast in the yard. It was the dragon again, the one who flew them down here.
The dragon obviously saw him. The un-scarred eye following his every movement until turning away to look at the Greybeard who had come out, a stone held to his chest. The stone looked important and... Somehow familiar. Like he had seen one before...

Everything suddenly seemed to slow down. Vokun saw his father, burning at the stake. He was hiding in the bushes not too far from the scene. Every vivid detail could be seen. The man's blood trickling down the fire, the smell of oil in the air, the man's screams could be heard. The chants of the bloodthirsty crowd somehow quieter. "Sosnaak! Sosnaak! Ag munfahliil sosnaak!" He could smell the burning of flesh. The man had been wrongfully accused of being a vampire. There was a mistake. That man wasn't supposed to be burning, Vokun was supposed to be burning. A burning Breton. A mortal Breton. A Breton like Arra, but much less than someone as great. Vokun was ripped back into reality by a sudden gust of cold wind. The dragon had taken off, the Greybeard now inside. Vokun was alone. But he didn't want to be. He didn't know what he wanted... Maybe to wander, maybe to speak... Vokun was frustrated. At what, well. Probably at himself. His hands lit up in flames, flames that burned him. But he didn't care.
The flames could burn him alive if that's what they wanted. He shot fire at the ground, at the sky, into the snowy mountainside, all the while, screaming at the top of his lungs. He was a monster, his scream more terrifying than the greatest dragon. Vokun was a spinning mass of fire that was shooting out at all directions. A few of the fireballs hit Hrothgar, but it seemed to absorb the heat. Vokun shouted curses, curses at himself, curses at the Nine, curses at everything. Even curses at that bush to the far left of his campfire that was eventually incinerated by the magic fire. He went on like that for almost fifteen minutes. When he stopped, he was out of breath and Magicka. The yard was free of snow, and the grass, or what was left of it, what blackened and charred. The snow on the mountainside had tumbled down and made a large pile next to the farthest door to Hrothgar. He held a hand to his side, and pushed back into the Monastary.

Walking down the hall and back to the room, Vokun made no attempt to sneak or hide that he was coming back. Arra was in the room again. All the members were in the room. Arra and the Imperial were at the table, the wolf was still in her corner. Vokun approached Kat, "Kip?"
The Imperial nodded towards a full tankard at the end of the table. Vokun took a seat before pulling out another red bottle. He uncorked the bottle and poured a small amount of the metallic-smelling liquid into his tankard. He then pulled out a lockpick and stirred the mixture, before setting it aside and sipping the now-cold broth. It was good this way, Vokun could taste the entire animal. Meat, bones, and blood. What he had added was his own mixture of crushed sabre cat teeth and elk blood. It was good for his vampirism, and surprisingly enough, kept his hunger down for roughly three days. Being an alchemist had it's perks... That's when he got an idea. He sifted through his ingredient satchel and pulled out a luminescent, blue mushroom, before opening his tool satchel and pulling out a bowl with a rock. He dropped the mushroom in the bowl, and crushed it repeatedly with the rock. It burst with a foul-smelling goop, and the skin around the mushroom dissolved. Vokun nodded in approval at the scent.
He pulled out a giant's toe. He then proceeded to drop the toe into the broth, and dusted his hands off into it as well. Again, he used the lockpick to stir, and downed the entire tankard of foul-smelling, metallic broth. It wasn't the best thing Vokun had tasted, but it did the job. His burns were healed in little time, and the dust worked to restore his missing magicka. He drank the goop, and he had a sudden urge to blow something up. Happened every time he ate glowing mushrooms. He belched and saw the Imperial move to her bedding. Vokun moved to the opposite corner, holding his satchels and the bowl, and sat. He may as well experiment, maybe he could find out something he didn't already know.

The Nord woman was thinking. Kat had nothing to lose, at least, objectively speaking. It would also mean that Kat would be on her side, if things go south. Although, her initial reaction installed doubt in Endelle. The Imperial turned her head, not responding. Her first impression was stronger, maybe? They didn't meet in the best of situations. Endelle's thoughts went back to Vokun. The undead man was strange, the way he talked to Arra, sounded more natural than earlier. It's like he's putting on a show, not letting himself slip. Well, he failed that time and his true nature was shown.

Arra entered the stony conference room again. Not looking good, but not bad either. Upon seeing the meal Kat prepared, she inquired about the nature of the food. Smelled really tasty, that was for sure. The two women drank in silence, conversation will be hard from now on. The vampire left the room, seemingly searching for something. At least, that was Endelle's impression. Eagle-Eye's eyes followed him until he was out of sight. The Nord's first impression was right: those who stand out tend to be extremly dangerous. 

After chugging her tankard, Kat grabbed another one, picked up the thrown arrow and approched Endelle. She bowed down, with a flattering compliment, she accepted her offer. A sly grin covered her face, only to disappear as fast as it came. At this moment, the old Greybeard entered the room again. He questionned them about the Dragonstone, which Kat gave to him shortly after. Taking a quick look at it one last time, engraving each details of it in her brain. How could have he known about it? The only ones who saw it were Kat, Arra, Endelle and... Liis. Of course. The Greybeards serve these dragons and no one talked to Arngeir, she would've heard them.

But why would they want it? Hmmm... Now she remembered! The golden-eyed dragon said it was used to revive dead dragons. A dangerous tool indeed. Glad to know that they were in the hands, or rather claws, of seemingly peaceful dragons. So many questions were running in the Nordic woman's head. Why did Kat was in possession of it in the first place?

Snapping out of her concentration, she noticed the vampire was back, pouring liquids in his tankard. Endelle noticed she didn't drink any of hers. Approaching her nose near the stew, she sniffed repeatedly. Kat did say it was deer? Only the traces of onions, various spices and wolf could be distinguished from the mixture. Anyway, Eagle-Eye took slow sips. Her eyes never left Vokun since he was back from who knows what. He moved in the furthest corner from the group. Endelle was pleased, her warning went through his head. He was doing alchemical stuff, the smell gave it away. Some odd mixes, but it appeared he knew what he was doing.

The old hunter stood up, slowly walking towards a sitting Arra. Putting one hand on Arra's shoulder, Endelle sat down next to her. Turning her head, the Nord smiled, compassion written all over her face, the green eyes meeting the now yellow eyes. The kid was lost, deep inside. All the happiness in the world couldn't hide it. Upon feeling her hand, Arra straightened up. Endelle hugged the young Breton. No trace of erotism in it, more maternal than anything. She replaced a lock of Arra's light brown hair behind her ear. She noticed a slight point. A bastard child, maybe? Small tears formed in the corners of Endelle's eyes.

"Laas los buruk. Kuz ulaak.", she whispered, making sure that Vokun couldn't hear or see her face.

Then, she stood up, glancing at the doorframe. After a few steps, she got out the room, put her back against the wall and slid down in a sitting position. She couldn't hold back the tears, making sure no one could hear her. It wasn't the time to show signs of weakness.She was still alert of the things going on, listening to the repeated sounds of Vokun's alchemical gear, making sure he wasn't going to try anything with Arra, or Kat, for that matter.

Arra stared at her meal. She swished around the contents and drank some of it, it was pretty good, considering what Kat had to work with.  The old man, the Greybeard, walked back into the room, and took something from Kat, it was the stone from her pack. The two spoke, but the Breton only caught the end of their conversation.

"Kolos ofaal hi daar? Nust ni pogaan ko lein." He asked softly.

Kat looked at her feet, “Zu'u siiv ko golt us Ved Rath, haalsesul vod. Rul nii meyz til, wo drun nii, pah vomindok.”

“Nun tol tiid los hevno.” He said while looking it over, his gaze then came up upon the others, and back to Kat. “Kogaani.” he said with a bow, and left.

The Nord hunter came over, sat down, and looked right into Arra, the golden eyes looking through her soul and seeing something...deeper.  The woman seemed to know more than she was saying with the looks she gave her, and her ears.  Endelle left after some words, leaving Arra to herself again. She noticed how the snow had melted off her, and it took the soot with it. She was now covered in a good amount of mud.

That Dunmer could barely be seen in the dark corner he used.  He stayed away from the rest, knowing it would go badly if he got near.  Arra stayed seated with her arms on the table in thought, an unusual thing for her to ever do on most days, but when you've ridden a dragon, it might change a few things.

Eventually she drifted off into a light sleep at the table she sat at, it wasn't comfortable, but it would do for someone too tired to get up.  Soon morning would come.