Ignem Tristitia (An Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Prequel) [ON HOLD]

Chapter Twenty - A Different View

"Run, run, run, run, run!" Brelas yelled, frantically gesturing for Drelas to run.

Drelas did as he said without hesitation, flying into the doorway next to him. As Drelas entered the room, Brelas stood out for a second, then stood up, turned, and ran in, slamming the wooden door behind him.

"What the hell are-" Drelas started.

"Spider Daedra," Brelas interrupted. "Lots of them."

"Well, obviously, but," Drelas tried to say.

"Obviously everything. Let's get out," Brelas said, firmly standing up and exiting through a tunnel.

"Oh great, more bloody tunnels," Drelas said exhaustedly. "Like we needed more of those."

"I could do without your complaining," Brelas stated.

"Well, my complaining changes the atmosphere," Drelas said smiling.

"Oh, yes, of course it does," Brelas said sarcastically. "Maybe, but not for the better."

There was silence in the room as they trekked through in the darkness. The only sound came from their footsteps scuffling on the dirt floor.

"You've gotta admit it makes it less scary in here," Drelas added.

"It changes it from 'creepy' to 'creepily annoying'," Brelas said. "You don't change anything. You add annoyance and change creepy to an adverb."

"Well, creepy deserves to be an adverb," Drelas retorted happily, slipping on a rock and tumbling into the floor.

"Ouch," he said, groggily rising from the ground.

"You're an adverb," Brelas laughed. "Get up."

"Fine," Drelas sighed.

He stood and resumed walking. The twins marched quietly through the tunnel, in complete darkness.

"Hey, Brelas," Drelas asked. "What happens if I step on a stalagmite or something? I can't see!"

"You'll live," Brelas replied in annoyance."

"But it'll hurt!" Drelas laughed. "A lot!"

"Maybe, sometimes," Brelas said. "People need to hurt a lot."

There was silence as Drelas confusedly tried to understand the statement.

"Is that supposed to be a vaguely deep philosophical metaphor?" he finally asked.

"Did it take all that time to think up that question?" Brelas scoffed, hopping down a small ledge.

"No," Drelas said, hopping down the same ledge.

"Good." Brelas said. "Wait a minute. Be quiet!"

"I wasn't saying anyth-" Drelas began.

"Shhh!" Brelas said, placing his finger in front of his mouth.

Drelas quieted. The two stayed in silence in the dark tunnel, listening for what Brelas thought he'd heard.

Finally, Brelas spoke. "Is that S'Drassa? And Star? Veezare and Kharjo?"

"Where?" Drelas asked.

"Shut up and listen closely," Brelas commanded.

Drelas did as he said and listened for voices.

"They're talking about someone," Brelas said.

"Who?" Drelas asked.

"Does that really matter?" Brelas hissed. "It's the rest of the group!"