A Tale of Could-be Heroes Book 1: Hero, Dragon, Elf

What Lurks Beneath the Lunar Veil: part 1

The journey to Winterhold stretched before them, a harsh reminder of Skyrim's unforgiving wilderness. As they traveled, the change in the air was unmistakable. The lush greens of Whiterun Hold gave way to the jagged, snow-laden peaks of Eastmarch. The chill crept in steadily, a biting cold that made every breath visible and stung the faces of those who braved it.

Aeyrie glanced over her shoulder at the others. The frost seemed to weigh heavily on everyone, their movements slower, their spirits subdued. Even Sterling, her proud grey stallion, had begun to protest the journey. His snorts of displeasure echoed through the quiet mountain passes, and his ears flicked back in irritation as the wind tugged at his mane.

"I know, boy," Aeyrie murmured, pulling the reins gently to halt him. She dismounted, retrieving a heavy bear hide from one of the packs strapped to the wagon. Sterling turned his head to watch her, his blue eyes filled with skepticism.

"You'll need this if we're to make it to Winterhold without you catching your death," she said, draping the hide over his back. The stallion stamped his hoof in protest, his breath steaming in the frosty air, but Aeyrie held firm. "I don't like it either, but we're not stopping. You'll thank me later."

Sterling snorted loudly but allowed the hide to remain, the cold convincing him better than any words could. The darker horses in the group fared better, their coats absorbing what little sunlight pierced the thick clouds overhead. But as the sun sank lower and the air grew even colder, the entire party felt the weight of their journey pressing down on them.

By nightfall, they had reached a frozen pond nestled between snow-covered pines. The wind whistled through the trees, carrying with it the distant howls of wolves. Aeyrie and Uthgerd set about fishing, their spears slicing through the icy water with practiced precision. Nearby, Jenassa and Loche worked to set up their camp. The tents were pitched in a small clearing, and the horses were secured close enough to benefit from the fire's warmth without risking their tether lines being chewed by any curious predators.

The fire crackled and hissed as the flames licked hungrily at the dried logs they had gathered. The faint scent of roasted fish mingled with the smoky aroma of the campfire. Above them, the sky darkened into an inky black, pierced by the silver glow of Nirn's three moons. Masser loomed large and crimson, while Secunda and the mysterious Velnador shone pale and cold, casting their ethereal light across the frozen landscape.

The group sat huddled by the fire, their cloaks pulled tightly around them. Their voices carried softly on the wind as they spoke of plans, tales of past adventures, and the dangers that lay ahead. Even Uthgerd, usually stoic and curt, seemed to relax a fraction in the firelight. Aeyrie smiled faintly, listening to Jenassa recount a tale of a bounty gone awry in Falkreath.

But the calm did not last.

Sterling's ears suddenly pricked forward, his body going rigid. He let out a sharp, warning nicker and stomped his hooves against the hard ground, the sound breaking through the conversation like a shattering mirror. The other horses followed suit, their nervous whinnies rising in pitch as the stallion's agitation grew.

"Easy, boy," Aeyrie said, rising to her feet and placing a hand on the hilt of her sword. "What is it?"

The answer came almost immediately. A blood-curdling scream tore through the night, chilling them far more than the frost ever could. It was high-pitched and desperate, a sound that didn't seem entirely human. It echoed across the frozen pond, cutting through the hooting of owls and the distant rustling of trees. The group fell silent, their eyes darting toward the darkness beyond the firelight.

"What in Oblivion was that?" Loche whispered, his voice barely audible.

"Something not far enough away," Jenassa replied, already unsheathing her twin daggers, the firelight glinting off the dark elven steel.