The Aftermath (A Skyrim Fanfic)

Chapter Three: Exile

My hands were swollen and uncomfortable from the cold. We were nowhere near someplace warm, and I was getting impatient. My legs were strained from all of the physical activity that I wouldn't even think of doing in Winterhold. I was very far behind Morose, who was still marching along heartily like a soldier.

"Can we..." I panted. "Can we stop for a minute?"

Morose halted and turned around towards me. "Why?"

"Weak mortal immune system." I wheezed.

Morose crossed his arms impatiently. I bent over and held onto my knees, watching the vapor billowing out of my lungs as I gasped for air. My hair had become damp from all the falling snow, which definitely didn't make me any warmer. I could see Morose fidgeting, waiting for me. He shifted from one foot to the other, and eventually turned away from my direction and crouched down on one knee. His fingers moved around and he tilted his head. I knew he was fiddling with something on the ground, but I couldn't quite tell what. His disheveled hair hung down in his face, and his dark skin tone stood out against the fields of white that surrounded us. His whole body stood out - the two sets of sharpened horns, his some eight feet in height, the red tear-like war paint running down his face, his saturnine features. He definitely was a rather terrifying creature.

Now that I've written it, I feel bad for calling him a "creature." They have their own culture, I'm sure. A big, terrifying, war-demon culture. To call Dremora creatures would be an insult.

"What are you doing, Morose?" I asked after my breath had returned to me.

"Occupying my mind while your nose-mucus turns to icicles." he replied.

"Well, then stop and let's get a move on!" I said hurriedly. "You get colder by just standing around."

Of course, he didn't budge. I groaned.

"There is no need for you to have to occupy your mind now. I'm ready. Let's go." I grumbled.

"No. I want to stay here for a minute." Morose said firmly.

"You do that, then. I'm going ahead." I said.

I trudged uphill, following the shabby stone road. At the end of the road, two paths went forward and right. A sign stood at the corner, which gave me hope again. I dragged my feet through the deep snow to reach the sign.

I walked up to the sign to find that it says Dawnstar, right, and Whiterun, forward.

Whiterun's a pretty big town, so maybe they'll have more information about this. I looked up and noticed it was getting dark. Time to get Morose.

And by get, I mean yell for, because I was not going back through that snow.

"MOROSE!" I yelled. "Come on! I found a sign!"

Morose appeared over the hill moments later, something in his grip. I couldn't quite tell what it was. He walked up to me, handing me the object. A ring of snowberries?

"Wear this." he ordered.

"Uh..."

"WEAR THE CROWN." he yelled.

"Why?" I asked.

"You mean to tell me that this isn't how mortals show affection?" Morose questioned.

"Um... What type of affection?" I asked him.

"JUST. WEAR. THE. CROWN!" Morose yelled. Sheesh what's with him?

"O-okay, okay! Fine!" I put the crown on quickly.

The ring of flowers sat atop the mound of hair on my head. I took the lead to find somewhere we could spend the night, and after walking for about fifteen minutes we found a small cave.

I sent Morose to go in and kill anything that would harm us. After he came back, the cave seemingly safe, I went inside and curled up on the cold ground. At least it's not snow, I thought as I drifted off into an uncomfortable, yet much needed sleep. Morose sat up next to me, alert and battle-ready as usual. Then, disrupting my slumber, I heard vicious growling, I looked up and saw eight wolves.

Morose jumped up and drew his weapon. One wolf pounced on his back, three others started circling around him. The rest stood behind as backup, preparing to strike when necessary. He killed two running around him with a single blow, and he shook off the one clamping onto his back with ease. I leaped to my feet after I realized what was happening and charged a Fireball in my hand. Quickly, I shot the spell at the three wolves in the back, scorching them all to death from the explosion. Morose, in the meantime, had turned to the rest of the pack, kicking one away, sending it flying into the jagged cave wall and impaling it on a jutting stalagmite. I threw some lightning at one killing it from the blast. The last member of the pack flattened its ears and bolted out of the cave, tail between his legs.

Morose and I settled back down and I fell asleep instantly.

                                                                                End Of Chapter Three