UOTW Chapter 186 Foxes and Rabbits

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    Both Aela and the Whelp lurched sideways as Sotek grabbed them by the arms and ran along the narrow pathway, almost dragging them behind.

    “Run you stupid bitches! We can’t fight here. Head up the mountain, find cover!”

     

    Aela yanked her hand away and turned to face the dragon who was sweeping towards them. She shouted at the Whelp, demanding she held her ground.

    “We stand and fight. Start shooting”.

     

    In desperation, Sotek shoved the Whelp towards the upwards slope due to her stopping as she didn’t know what to do. The Huntress never showed any signs of backing away so he promptly kicked her in the backside, causing her to scream.

    “Ahhgg! You bastard!”

     

    “We can’t fight it here! Climb the slope! Aela, you stubborn bitch; we need cover... get down!” Sotek ran towards her, pulling the she-wolf to the icy ground just as a burst of intense flames roared overhead. The two Companions slid forwards several feet across the slippery ice towards the edge. Sotek grabbed hold of Aela’s chest piece between her ‘pups’ causing her to growl while he stabbed at the ice with his dagger in the hope of anchoring them before they plunged to their deaths.

     

    Aela snarled with spite at him, due to his ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

    “Let me go you filthy reptile!”

     

    Sotek was completely stunned with her attitude. He looked at her legs which were dangling over the edge of the mountainside then back at her glaring face.

    “Are you serious? Really? Don’t even answer! Climb... Hurry it’s coming back... crap!”

     

    He glanced up at the shadow and saw the dragon for what it was. Its deep rich purple colored scales made him think on the Black Soul gem he had in his bag. Aela had snapped out of her ‘fight to the death’ stratagem and had started climbing up his body to reach the pathway but Sotek feared it was too late. He watched with a morbid yet calm fascination as he watched Aela and the dragon while he wondered whether Aela would make it.

     

    His answer was seemingly answered when the dragon drew a deep breath and prepared to shout. Its throat started to glow red as the initial traces of fire escaped its mouth as it let loose a deafening roar. At the same times an arrow flew out from the mountain above them to strike the dragon in the head. It stopped the shout and gazed at a lonely figure with evil unremitting eyes.

     

    Aela screamed yet she still fought on, trying to reach safety. She didn’t look back at the dragon nor did she run. She grabbed Sotek by the back of the collar and pulled with all her strength.

    “Move damn you. I won’t die here!”

     

    As Sotek scrambled up the side of the mountain he yelled back at Aela in spite.

    “Why the sudden change? You were all for it a minute ago!”

     

    Aela ranted back at him as she watched the dragon’s fiery breath smother the mountain above them.

    “I was pissed off. I’m the bloody Huntress not the bloody stinking hunted!”

     

    Their argument was brought to a shattering halt as the Whelp screamed in terror. Fearing the worst, they both climbed the mountainside as fast as they could to see the Whelp cowering behind a group of rocks where she had fired the arrows from.

     

    She looked across at them and whimpered from the shock of the flames which was so fierce it had melted the snow behind her.

    “It’s purple. Why’s it purple?”

     

    Sotek watched the dragon as it flew around the peak of the mountain and drew his bow in preparation for the dragons dive which he knew would come.

    “It’s a legendary dragon. Aela; we can’t win this, not by ourselves”.

     

    “Well don’t go telling it that will you!” The Huntress cursed as she ran towards a rocky outcrop for cover. “What do we do?”

     

    “We’ll have to run. We can’t beat it...” Sotek declared in an exasperated tone. He started heading towards Aela but instead he turned away and ran to several boulders which were opposite the Whelp’s and Aela’s position. “Rabbits and foxes!”

     

    Aela forgot all about the dragon. She stood right up and glared at Sotek, ignoring the fact that she was now out of cover.

    “Huh? I beg your fucking pardon?”

     

    Sotek blanked her and concentrated on the Whelp. As he hid around a boulder he shouted out at her.

    “We can win this but you must be brave. Whatever you do, stay by those rocks. If it lands where you are then you must keep those rocks between you and it. Everyone, Aela, this means you too; if the dragon is attacking you, do not fire back. If you are under attack do not engage”.

     

    Aela rolled her eyes at the Whelp and confirmed Sotek’s battle tactics. She slid to the edge of the small fissure then drew her bow.

    “Rabbit holes. I’ve fifty three. Whelp, how many?”

     

    “How many what?” The Imperial girl replied. She had no idea what they were up to let alone what Aela was asking her.

     

    “Arrows you stupid cow!” Aela yelled. She came close to shooting the Whelp herself.

     

    Sotek checked his stock of arrows. He only had twenty seven but he also had the advantage of a bound bow spell.

     

    “Forty... ish!” Cried the Whelp.

     

    Knowing that the Huntress could hit a deer in the eye at a hundred paces while he couldn’t hit a mammoth in the backside if he was standing behind it, Sotek threw his quiver at Aela. The Argonian threw it too hard and it went over her head to hit the rocks where she was hiding. Arrows spilled out above her, peppering her and the ground where she screamed in anger at him.

    “You stupid asshole!”

     

    The Argonian smirked back at her and waved an apology then concentrated on his Bound Bow spell. Blue mist coated his hand and a bow quickly formed just as the dragon plunged down at the Whelp.

     

    All three Companions fired off arrow after arrow until Sotek shouted at the Whelp; reminding her not to attack. Every hit from Aela’s enchanted Dragonbone bow engulfed the dragon’s wing in fire and ice while Sotek added to the damage with his conjured bow.

     

    The dragon was hell bent on killing the Whelp but no matter which way around the boulders it went; Aela and Sotek maintained their firing while the Whelp stayed out of its reach. Having decided it had enough of Aela’s fire enchant, it changed targets and broke across the ground as it headed straight at her.

     

    Now the Whelp resumed firing at the same side as what Sotek and the Huntress were shooting at while Aela took shelter and waited for her chance to shoot again.

     

    The dragon moved back and forth switching targets from one to another just to see it disappear from view and its original target resume firing at it. Gradually the dragon became weaker and weaker to the point where Sotek and the other Companions thought they might actually win.

     

    That was when the dragon took off and swooped down the mountain side. It flew around them at a distance so they couldn’t fire at it. Seizing his chance, Sotek tallied up their remaining ammo to find a startling discovery. They were almost out of arrows.

    “Aela! How many arrows?”

     

    “Six damn it. That’s all I have left!” She cursed at her own firing speed; ignoring the fact that most of her arrows hit their targets. “Whelp? What about you?”

     

    “I’ve ten” She cried out. Her attention was on the dragon who was now flying high above them.

     

    Aela suddenly screamed at her own stupidity.

    “You stupid fucking bitch! Sotek I’m a thick mare of a erm... well whatever! Cover me!”

     

    “Huh?” Sotek looked out to see Aela break cover and run towards the Whelp. The dragon saw her too and dived straight down at her, causing the Whelp to screech with fear. Blue ethereal arrows flew up at the dragon, forcing it to veer away mid flight from Aela and the Whelp’s position.

     

    Before it could circle back around, Aela sprinted across the rocky terrain and ran at Sotek. This time the dragon was ready and it quickly turned in mid air swooping down straight at her. She dived at Sotek, knocking him off his feet as the ground behind her erupted in flames.

     

    Sotek grabbed her by the collar and pulled her up to her feet while the dragon clawed at the rock around them.

    “What the hell is wrong with you?”

     

    “I’m a stupid mare, I told you that. Here; something to equal the odds; three vials of poison. Sotek, these are my best poisons I’ve made. Boiled; brewed... What bloody ever. Here!”

     

    Sotek lifted a small vial and shook it. The contents seemed to be of a thick misty grey concoction.

    “What the hell have you used?”

     

    Aela beamed with pride and she held her hands behind her as she swayed back and forth.

    “Deathbell, Skeever Tail and Giant Lichen! Weakness to poison, damage health and ravage health!”

     

    “Bloody hell!” He said in a long drawn out way. He knew Aela’s alchemy abilities were improving but to brew suck a vibrant poisonous mix was beyond his own poisons. He reached behind her and drew three arrows from her quiver. “Does the Whelp have any?”

     

    “Yes” Aela stated as she smiled back at him. “We’ve three each!”

     

    Sotek grinned as he kissed the top of her head.

    “I’ll cover you; get back to your position”.

     

    Aela silently moved to the edge of the rocks when Sotek called her back.
    “Aela, well done. That was a smart idea to use them, thanks!”

     

    The Huntress smiled and gave him a sexy wink before she sprinted across the ground to her own ‘burrow’. This time though the dragon never closed in. It flew above them in lazy circles as if it had all the time in the world.

     

    Sotek moved out of position and watched it. The dragon knew the moment it moved towards him that he would run for cover. He gulped as he watched the magnificent beast fly across the sky, blotting out the evening sun.

    “We need to bait it!”

     

    “With what?” Aela’s light grey eyes pierced Sotek’s soul as she watched him move across the mountain side so he was between both her and the Whelp. “You’re kidding?”

     

    “Nope!” Sotek stated as he promptly sat down in the open.

     

    The dragon saw him and with an evil, cruel intelligence, it slowly descended just a few feet at a time lest its prey would take flight.

     

    Sotek watched it draw nearer and nearer. He raised his arm, ordering the other Companions to hold their fire until the dragon swooped towards him. Knowing he couldn’t reach cover in time, he drew his own Dragonbone bow. The arrow which he used had already had its tip coated with the grey poison Aela provided him with. As he pulled back the drawstring, he yelled out for all he was worth.

    “Now!!!”

     

    Three arrows flew up at the dragon, striking it in the damaged wing and its wounded side. The beast cried out as poison flooded its veins, causing the wing to collapse, dropping the dragon over thirty feet until it collided with the rocks below. More arrows tore into it, shattering already weakened scales, penetrating its hide while more poison added to the already tainted blood.

     

    The dragon cried out and tried to lift its head but it was too weak. The Huntress was relentless in her attack. The three poisoned arrows she had used were aided by her bows own enchantments. Fire smothered the beast in a raging inferno as Aela fired off arrow after arrow, not caring if the beast was still alive or dead. Ice ripped apart flesh and muscle as the onslaught continued.

     

    Sotek had by now stopped firing along with the Whelp. It was only when Aela ran out of arrows did she actually realise the dragon’s flesh was burning.

     

    Scales, flesh and tissue all disappeared in the flames until only the dragon’s skeleton remained....

     

    As the flames died down, the bright orangey haze remained. The mountain itself seemed to glimmer in a golden glow.

    “Sunset”. Aela only spoke the one word. She sat on one of the boulders and crossed her legs while she watched the last few inches of blazing sun disappear over the horizon.

     

    Towards the North West, Sotek focused on something else. On the distant mountain range just south of Winterhold, the Argonian could see a Daedric statue. He had to look twice as he didn’t realise they existed in Skyrim before now.

    “Azura? She has a shrine here?”

     

    “Who?” The Whelp asked. She moved alongside him and she could just make out the statue in the failing light. “You’ve great eyesight Sotek. Who is it?”

     

    “Azura. I am sorry ‘o’ mistress of the Dawn and Twilight. You will have to wait!” Turning his back on the statue, he began searching the skeletal remains for any bones and scales which he could use.

     

    Aela lit her torch using a flint and tinder box, allowing the three Companions to see in the darkness. Between them, they managed to find two dragon bones but Sotek was somewhat disappointed not to find any scales. Thanking fate for what he did have, he started discussing their position while the Whelp wrapped a wolf fur around herself to protect herself from the coldness of the night.

    “Ok. It’s soon to be pitch black, the Whelp’s freezing her tits off and Aela’s going to become a permanent mountain feature if her ass freezes to that rock. We can’t make it to Dawnstar without rest so what are our options?”

     

    Aela chuckled and slid off the rock. She had a few skins and the cold wasn’t something she was too concerned about.

    “There’s a nice ledge there, we could take shelter from the wind under it. I’ll sleep at the back, you take the entrance and we’ll have the Whelp between us. She’ll keep warm easily enough”.

     

    The Whelps face spoke volumes. She stared at the ‘overhang’ which seemed to be little more than a narrow ledge protruding out from the side of the mountain.

    “Here? We’ll freeze! Can’t we make our way down the mountain? At least move away from the bloody top of it. I’m not like you two; you know what it’s like up here?”

     

    “We are here so yes we do!” Aela bluntly replied.

     

    The Whelp shook her head at Aela and threw the Huntress her flask of water.

    “No, you don’t. Sotek likes the cold, it’s never too cold for him. I’ve seen him swim in icy water and you know what he did? He closed his eyes and slept in it for over a bloody hour. That isn’t natural! Aela, you’re a bloody Nord. You’re as tough as Nords come. That armor you wear gives you no protection from the cold at all. It hardly covers your butt and you sit on a frozen rock like it’s the steps at Jorrvaskr. Here! Have a drink from my flask”.

     

    Aela’s soft yet weathered features turned to nails as she forced the stopper out of the flask. She tipped her head back to drink from the container but not one drop of water touched her lips.

     

    Throwing the container away like it was a chewed rabbit leg, she grumbled at Sotek and wrapped a fur around herself.

    “The water’s frozen. I guess it is bloody cold; we’ll have to head down to escape the worst of it. Break out the torches, they will help fight off the chill”.

     

    Sotek moved towards her and lightly slapped her backside. He readily agreed although the prospect didn’t fill him with glee.

    “Your ass is frozen. A night time stroll down the mountain. Perfect! Stay together and keep away from the edges, if you can see them... What’s that down there?”

     

    Over three hundred feet below them, down the north side of the mountain, Sotek could just make out what appeared to be a dragons lair in the rapidly failing light. Having no other real direction to head in, the three Companions readily agreed to make their way towards it.

     

    There was no real pathway to speak of so progress was slow especially in the dark conditions they found themselves in. The torches were of little help as everything seemed white, making landmarks difficult. It was only by chance that they noticed they had unintentionally crossed a trail due to the Whelp moving sluggishly behind the two Companions. Had Aela not turned back to check on her then they would have missed it.

     

    The Huntress called out to Sotek by whistling at him. He answered by barking at her which caused the Whelp to chuckle. As he rejoined them, he gave the Imperial girl a slight hug, raising her moral.

    “Yes a path. I knew it was here but I have to say I’m disappointed you two finally realised it was here. You must be more observant Aela. Let this be a lesson to you Whelp”.

     

    Aela cocked an eyebrow and slid alongside the Argonian. She seemed shy as she gently moved her hands across his torso while she purred like a cat. Sotek watched her cautiously enough but by the time he felt her leg wrap around his right leg it was too late. Aela shoved him backwards, sending him falling into a snowdrift.

     

    Aela screeched with joy and began kicking clumps of snow at him in an attempt to cover him up as he flailed about. The Whelp quickly forgot the cold and joined in, burying Sotek alive.

     

    As the last trace of green diapered from sight, Aela stopped and held on to the Whelp as she laughed. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks as she looked at the pile of snow they had built up over her mate. She watched for any signs of life but Sotek never moved.

    “Are you coming out of there?” She shouted. She expected him to break free in an attempt to surprise them but he didn’t.

     

    Instead he answered back in a slow almost sluggish manner.

    “No. It’s quite warm actually”.

     

    The Huntress tutted at him then shoved her arm in the snow to try and grab hold of him but he snatched her hand and yanked her towards him instead. The Whelp creased up laughing as Aela all but disappeared in the snowdrift except for her backside and her two legs which thrashed about as she tried to fight Sotek off.

    “Get off! Help me!!”

     

    The Whelp tried to get hold of a leg but she got kicked in the chest for her troubles. She backed away and smirked at the two of them.

    “No!”

     

    Both the Argonian and Aela stopped their play fighting and stood up to face the Whelp. Aela’s face seemed hard and unremitting which was backed up by the tone in her voice.

    “What the hell do you mean? No?”

     

    Seconds later the Whelp screamed as Aela and Sotek pelted her with snowballs. She ran away down the slope towards the dragon lair where she could shake off the snow.

     

    Snatching two handfuls of snow to make one last snowball, Aela gave chase and followed her along the path. Sotek however had his own plan. He made two snowballs then ran to the edge of the pathway and threw himself into space. He fell downwards and landed on his back on the slope. As he slid down, he picked up speed and overtook the other members of his pack.

     

    The Whelp came to a stop just short of the dragon lair then turned around to see a snowball whizz just past her head. Aela cursed for missing her target and moved towards the lair, expecting Sotek to catch them up.

     

    She stopped and sniffed at the air, picking up Sotek’s scent with ease. Aela spun around to face an incoming snowball. It splattered in her face just as a second one caught the Whelp perfectly. Aela wiped the snow off her cheeks and blankly stared back at Sotek.

    “How? How the hell did you get down here? Where the hell did you come from?”

     

    Sotek grinned and tapped the side of his nose.

    “I’m an Argonian. I came from an egg”.

     

    He soon stopped laughing when he looked across the lair. It was full of bones from countless creatures as well as a few burnt humanoids. Due to the charred remains it was impossible to say what race they were although Sotek guessed there was no Argonian or Khajiit amongst the bodies as there were no signs of any tails.

     

    The Whelps jovial mood was also cut short and she moved away from the area on Aela’s request as she noticed the Whelps cheeks turn white. Now the Whelp was out of the way, Sotek turned his attention to the word wall. He sighed to himself then approached it.

     

    Aela watched him with a curious expression. He always seemed reluctant as if it was almost a curse upon his soul. As she thought about it she began to understand Sotek more clearly. Every shout he learned was like giving up a tiny fraction of who he was while the Dragonborn grew from strength to strength.

     

    He absorbed the word and felt the soft touch of a lover. He turned around as Aela pulled his head to her bosom. She stroked his cheek as she held him.

    “It’s no different to my dagger Sotek. The Dragonborn is just a weapon, nothing more”.

     

    He never answered with words; all he did was nod and close his eyes, enjoying the soft safe touch of his mate’s body.

     

    They were interrupted by the Whelp who decided to fight her own queasiness and join them. She glanced at Sotek and asked about his new found ability.

    “What does this one do?”

     

    “It’s Ice! Don’t ask I don’t know. Ice form or something like that”. The Argonian shrugged his shoulders. Half the time he wasn’t sure of anything.

     

    Aela looked oddly at him and shook her head.

    “No that can’t be right. It turns you to ice? What good is that?”

     

    “Maybe it turns enemies into ice?” The Whelp suggested. She looked around and happened to see a rabbit on one of the snow banks. The moons glow showed it up in the form of a silhouette against the white background.

     

    Sotek moved towards it then drew a deep breath.

    “One way to find out”.

     

    He shouted out the word in the hope of discovering the truth.

    “Iis”.

     

    Icy winds formed into a blast of freezing air, turning the unfortunate rabbit into ice. It fell backwards, completely frozen solid. After several seconds a loud shattering of glass rang out, breaking the silence. The Whelp picked up the dead rabbit and stroked it, feeling the warmth of the creature, or rather the icy touch of it.

    “It’s cold. It’s like ice!”

     

    Aela shrugged then drew her dagger. With no remorse she snatched the rabbit away from the Whelp and cut into its belly.

    “It’s supper now!”

     

    “Winterhold must be a few hours away at the most”. The Whelp exclaimed, hoping Aela would jump at the chance. “We could stay at the inn and warm up. Hire a few horses in the morning and head home? Maybe?”

     

    “I thought we were heading back to Dawnstar?” Aela asked. She knew Winterhold was closer but the inn posed certain problems for her.

     

    Sotek backed up the Whelp but if the truth was told he was more than happy traversing Skyrim at night. Everything seemed so tranquil and the landscape was easy on the eyes. Sometimes during the day the sun would catch his eyes, blinding him for several seconds.
    “Winterhold is closer”. He inadvertently sealed the Whelps fate by mentioning the one thing Aela was afraid of the Whelp finding out. “Hey, I bet you can win again”.

     

    Aela turned around on the spot and headed off towards the west, dragging Sotek by the hand as she went.
    “Dawnstar! Let’s move”. She shoved Sotek forwards quelling the discussion in an instant as she whispered in the Argonian’s ear. “I’ll not have a Whelp spreading that around Whiterun”.

     

     

     

Comments

9 Comments   |   The Sunflower Manual and 7 others like this.
  • Aela The Huntress
    Aela The Huntress   ·  February 2, 2017
    It could have been worse. Sotek could have used Aela for bait.
    • Sotek
      Sotek
      Aela The Huntress
      Aela The Huntress
      Aela The Huntress
      It could have been worse. Sotek could have used Aela for bait.
        ·  February 2, 2017
      Could still be worse Aela, my She-Wolf...
      Winterhold IS closer than anywhere else.....
      *Grins evilly
      • Aela The Huntress
        Aela The Huntress
        Sotek
        Sotek
        Sotek
        Could still be worse Aela, my She-Wolf...
        Winterhold IS closer than anywhere else.....
        *Grins evilly
          ·  February 4, 2017
        You want a slap?
  • The Long-Chapper
    The Long-Chapper   ·  January 3, 2017
    oh man, the "dragon lying in wait after doing a hard barrow" dragon. I hate those. I had one at Folgunther and that was with DCO installed. That sucker had enough space. Oh hello says I to dragon now in my face. And then he summoned some friends. 
  • Ebonslayer
    Ebonslayer   ·  December 5, 2016
    As the last trace of green (disappeared) from sight, Aela stopped and held on to the Whelp as she laughed.



    Legendary dragons are a pain in the ass... hell, revered dragons kick my ass. Glad you managed to reflect that here....  more
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  November 30, 2016
    *KaiserSoSage, never worry about giving me advice or suggestions. The only reason I'm the writer I am is because of feedback and help from Blog members. (Writing was a lot worse in the past).


    How about this?


    Kno...  more
    • A-Pocky-Hah!
      A-Pocky-Hah!
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      *KaiserSoSage, never worry about giving me advice or suggestions. The only reason I'm the writer I am is because of feedback and help from Blog members. (Writing was a lot worse in the past).


      How about this? ...  more
        ·  November 30, 2016
      That's okay. Though I prefer not using comparisons. Try removing the " while he couldn’t hit a mammoth in the backside if he was standing behind it" part since it sounds kinda off when I say it out loud.
  • A-Pocky-Hah!
    A-Pocky-Hah!   ·  November 30, 2016
    Good chapter, though there is one thing I think you should consider fixing.
    "Knowing Aela could do more damage, Sotek threw his quiver at Aela."

    Now personally, I would prefer using a more different word than 'damage' as that kinda...  more
  • The Sunflower Manual
    The Sunflower Manual   ·  November 30, 2016
    You know, a Shout that actually turns the caster into ice doesn't seem so bad now that I think about the possibilities.

    Just look at the Frost Atronachs.