n

n

nDawn went and leaned against the smooth rock on the opposite side. Her hair was sticking to her neck and forehead and she was sweating profusely. Daryn ran to her and wrapped his arms around her. The prophecy was definitely something related to his wife.

n

"Shushhh…

" he tried to pacify her.

"Shushhh…

" He could feel her anxiety and it made his wolf miserable.

nWhen Dawn settled a little, she rasped,

"I want to get out of here.

"

n

"Yes.

" He held her hand and guided her out of the ravine. Quetz was perched atop the hill, waiting for his rider while Izar was wandering around under his watchful eyes. The horse was scared of the dragon and maintained distance from him. At the same time, the dragon didn't encourage Izar to come near him.

nThe night sky was filled with the spectacular arch of the galaxy that rose above the horizon. Since it wasn't a full moon night, the stars shone brilliantly. They were spread across the dark sky like a diamond necklace that sparkled on a lady's nape.

nOn the ground, it was so dark that it was difficult to see any of the surrounding rocky outcrops.

"Be careful of those rocks jutting out,

" Daryn said.

nJust as they were about to reach the top, Dawn felt the icy chill around her feet that she recognized well.

"A Cadval!

" she shouted and she jerked her feet to shove it off.

n

"Where?

" Daryn asked.

n

"It's on my feet,

" she shuddered. The Cadval pulled her down and she slid down with it over the rough surface of the weathered hill.

"Quetz!

" she called out. The shadow slithered right next to her and tried to curl itself over her torso. Her heart thundered. It was like being in a bathtub filled with ice cubes.

nDaryn sprang at her and grasped her hand before she could slip further.

n

"You lieeed,

" the shadow hissed.

"You willlll not come backkk.

"

nDaryn tried to yank her out but the shadow had swirled down and tightened its grip over her leg.

n

"The Cadval has got me Daryn. You run!

"

n'Dawn,' Quetz responded. He screeched and opened his wings. 'I am coming down.'

n'No!'

n'Use your claws to gnash it,' Quetz said.

nDawn could feel his agony, his rage against her attackers. 'Claws?'

n'Yes, did you forget you are a werewolf!'

n'It won't work on these. These are shadows.'

n'You will be slicing their emotions.'

nThe shadow pulled her further down.

"You deceived ussss. You will dieee.

"

n

"No!

" Dawn screamed as she was dragged over the stony surface. Her skin got bruised and she was in pain.

"Arghhh!

" Fear penetrated her skin when she looked down. The ravine was dark and she couldn't see the shadow, only feel it.

n'Claws!' Quetz shouted through their bond.

nAt the same time, hearing her shaky voice, an uncontrollable shudder passed through Daryn's body. The Cadval was dragging her while he was pulling her up. Suddenly he heard Quetz screeching on the top. He was flapping his wings. The space was too small for him to fly. He was trying to walk down the slope but his claws kept slipping and if he didn't stop, he would lose balance and tumble.

n

"Please leave!

" Dawn shouted at Daryn.

"Take Quetz with you.

" She jerked away Daryn's hand.

n'Quetz, go back!'

n'Dieeee!' The shadow hissed.

nAgitated as hell, Dawn said with a clenched jaw,

"No. I. Won't!

" Using her other free leg to take support of the rock, she pushed herself in the air and shifted. She reached for the shadow and sliced it using her claws based upon what she could feel.

nThe ravine was filled with Cadval's blood curdling shrieks. But it tightened its grip. Once again Dawn lunged at it and this time attacked her own leg with her jaws sinking in it. The jaws found its mark and the shadow loosened. Her leg started bleeding. The shadow yelped in pain and Daryn caught Dawn's neck and dragged her straight onto his shoulders to lug her.

nQuetz was waiting. There was so much rage in him that the color of his neck changed to orange.

nHe was about to breathe fire.

n'No Quetz! We have to get out of here. Now!' came Dawn's pained voice.

nBut as soon as Daryn and Dawn were up, he breathed fire inside the ravine. The whole valley burned orange and yellow as bright sparks of the flame filled the space.

nDawn shifted back and limped to him. 'Don't do that Quetz. Calm down.' His body was fiery hot. 'We have to get out of the Derize Barrens.'

nHe crouched for her to mount. Daryn climbed him and sat behind Dawn. Quetz flared his wings and then took off in the air with powerful strokes of his wings. 'How dare they?' he said and then just before leaving the place, his neck turned a fiery red.

n'Quetz, stop!' Dawn shouted, and leaned back, but it was too late. Quetz breathed another shot of fire in the ravine.

nSoon they were airborne towards the North Star.

n'How is your wound?' His bitterness, temper and acrimony were almost like his mania that she could feel through her mind.

n'How do you know about Cadvals?' she asked.

n'We are connected Dawn,' he replied. 'Let's find the portal.' Quetz increased his speed with Izar in his claws whom he had scooped again, much to its displeasure.

n

"How are we going to find the portal tonight?

" Daryn asked. He was still recovering from the scene he saw a while back—of Quetz breathing fire. It was awesome.

nDawn kept her eyes on the ground. It was all a vast expanse of nothing, only sand and dunes as far as her vision extended.

n'The portal is not very far. I can see it,' said Quetz. Saying that he lowered his altitude. 'You have to ask Daryn to come on his horse. I won't be able to fly through the portal with all of you.'

n'Okay,' she said and communicated that to Daryn.

"I will come with you.

"

n

"No, you won't come with me,

" he scolded her.

"You will fly through it on Quetz.

"

n'He is right Dawn. You are wounded.'

n

"In that case Daryn, you better go before us,

" she put her condition in order to ensure his safety.

n

"I will do that,

" he replied, kissing the top of her head.

n'There, look there,' Quetz pointed with his head. 'That's the portal.'

nWhen Dawn looked up, she saw that the wind over the surface of the sand had formed a kind of a dust storm, which was taking the shape of a circular portal in the air.

n'It is going to be up only for a minute as soon as it is completely formed,' he said and lowered himself on the ground.

nDaryn dismounted him and hopped on Izar.

nShe wanted to say 'Hurry up!' but Daryn was already galloping his horse in that direction.

n

"Temple of Annubalis!

" she roared for him to reach the destination.

nThe portal was complete. Sand particles were being sucked in it. Daryn loosened the leash of his horse and jumped inside the portal.

nQuetz lifted himself in the air, and flew after Daryn but as soon as he was near it, Dawn heard familiar screeches and shrieks.

n

"Shadows!

" she shouted. Something cold slid past through her body.

n

"Dieee, you liar!

" Many hissed around her.

nHer heart accelerated. Not now. Not when they were about to leave. They gripped her legs. She became acutely aware of the wound in her leg. The pain numbed her mind.

nQuetz flapped his wings roughly to dislodge them. 'Dawn, keep holding on to me.' Her fear and disappointment was discouraging him.

nThe portal started to shrink. It was getting smaller and smaller. With the shadows pulling Dawn back in the Derize Barrens, Quetz's speed was decreasing.

n'Daryn.' At the thought of her fate of being separated by Daryn forever, her body rebelled. If she didn't make it to the portal, they would be parted forever. Without her, he wouldn't know how to come back to the Ulfric. Daryn sacrificed for her. He had said that he would cease to exist without her.

nAnger blazed through her mind. She glared at the portal, at the Cadvals and then closed her eyes. The power inside her seemed to grow stronger. She was leeching the energy off her dragon.

nShe sat upright on Quetz. This was a do or die situation. She could feel energy flowing through her body and she went into a trance.

nDawn drew her hands in front of her and then threw them in the front.

"Patentibus!

" She didn't know what she was doing but a glowing green light crackled through the air and hit the portal. It took the shape of her dragon that coiled around it. The dragon gripped the side of the shrinking portal. Dawn started pulling her hands apart forcing the portal to increase in size.

"Was that you?

" she asked. But Quetz was flapping his wings harder.

nWithin seconds, it was over.

nThe shrieking shadows were left behind.

nQuetz crossed the portal with his rider.

nDawn collapsed.

n