Wolves. And while smaller, these ones were not even Nearly as friendly as the one that had found him first.
Not losing his calm, Salazar summoned The aura of Fire, and released a jet of flames.
Or at least he tried to. But nothing happened.
"You have got to kidding me!" Salazar said in amazement. "Magicka shortage? And now, of all times?"
The wolves didn't reply, for they couldn't. But they flanked him, and the farthest one pounced.
Being experienced in this kind of combat, Salazar jumped away, thanking every god and daedra he knew for good reflexes, and drew his dagger. If he'd had a torch he could've been more successful, but right now, all he could do was to hope the wolves were intimidated by his weapon.
They weren't. Another one pounced, but Salazar slashed quickly at it, blood flowing out of the wound he'd made, the wolf whined and turned tail. It's two packmates didn't. In fact they grew bolder.
One of them pounced, Salazar quickly brought Thd dagger up to slash at it, but the same time the other jumped on him, managing to get Thd drop on him and forcing him onto the ground.
Shit thought Salazar, as a wolf leveled it's glare at him, eyes cold and unforgiving.
Salazar closed his eyes, made peace with his fate. Of course the final bite didn't come.
He heard a lupine whine, a howl, growling, and then the sound of something running Away. I'm not dead he thought, and opened his eyes. That damnable wolf was siting on his front Legs, panting, eith a proud look on its face.
"I'm not gonna be free of you, am I?" Salazar said, Amazed at this revelation, "well. If you're intent on following me, at least this way I can make sure you'll be okay."
The wolf barked, and Salazar role from the ground. "Now, what to call you..." Salazar thought out loud, "surely 'wolf' won't do..."
He hummed, "I suppose... I always wanted a dog back when I was a lad... should I call you 'Masser'?"
The wolf barked, almost as if he was showing his approval. Salazar said "fine then. Let us go, Salazar. To winterhold!
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Three hours later
The city of Winterhold
Salazar looked at the small village in front of him. "Could've been worse, I suppose"
There was an inn, and there was a goods store. That was it.
Even DAWNSTAR was bigger than this dump.
Salazar walled straight into the inn, and as the wolf went to lay by the fire, he unceremoniously dropped his entire body on a comfy looking chair. "I'm claiming this seat!" He said.
The Barkeep, a stereotypically blond nord said "Haran, dear! We've a customer!"
His 'dear', Haran, grumbled but walked towards his, "need any drinks?"
Salazar gave her a tired look, "a jar of mead for me. A Venison for Masser too, if it's no deal"
"Masser?" Thd woman asked, before looking at the giant white wolf laying by the fire, "Gah!" She jumped in fear. "That's a fucking wolf!"
By that, half the inn (exactly three people) jumped from their seats, "wolf! Kill it!"
Salazar sighed. "I just asked for a piece of Venison. One would assume the wolf wasn't a hostile, seeing as I asked for food, instead of him eating someone here"
They calmed down, even if they looked at the poor wolf with mistrust and barely hidden disgust. He grabbed Thd jar of mead, and then thanked her, when she brought it.
"So, where're ya from, newcomer?" Asked the Barkeep, a few hours later. "Down there actually!" He chuckled, "I woke up down there, Masser standing guard over me."
Thd beekeeper hummed, "what about before then?"
"I come from dawnstar, the temple up in the hill. Some orcs attacked me when I was out hunting. I'm resting here, for a day, then returning."
The keeper said "mate, you've escaped a fucking slaughter then" he said, "a Dunmer hailing from Dawnstar told us a group of Orcish marauders attacked the temple, and that was two days ago. Your Temple is destroyed."
His eyes were wide, ""but where will I go now?"
The Barkeep said "you a priest, right? Then you know some magic. Why not go to Thd college? Nothing else for you here anyway."
At first I wanted to say no. But of course that night, Vaermina spoke to me.
He didn't remember what shy said, but that he needed to be trained in magic first. Vaermina had plans for him.
That was why, Thd next day, Salazar and Masser were in front of the bridge to the college.
"HALT!" The Elf shouted, and Salazar knew hid new life had just begun.
