The Call of the Wind, Children of Kyne, Volume I Options

[Kane]

I just finished up the long volume II of this series, so I thought I'd start posting them both here. This entry is one of my first real stabs at writing out a tale and one of only a couple I ever finished. The dialogue is a little stilted and the chapters are short (needed more practice) so it isn't a long read. If you are interested in reading it, I hope you enjoy! (PS, I'm too lazy to proofread this one and I wrote in 2018, so if there are any spelling or grammar errors, I apologize in advance!)



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Prologue

The morning dew lay gleaming on the lush, green undergrowth of Cyrodiil’s Great Forest as the morning sun shined through the branches of its lofty trees. Deep in the heart of the woodlands, sat a small clearing and at its center lie a large rock, covered in silky green moss. Here upon this stone, sat an impressively large brown hawk - it looked far out of place among the other birds of the province, but it was not without purpose. Sitting as still as the unmoving stone beneath it, a wanderer could have mistaken it for a small statue to some long forgotten god.
Nestling its head into her wing feathers, she waited impassively for her prey. Soon thereafter, a crashing could be heard in the forests nearby. Quite suddenly, a pale, sickly looking Colovian emerged from the dense brush and scampered right through the clearing without so much as a glance at the large hawk.

Craning her neck, she listened for the pursuer she was expecting.

And sure enough, the gentle footsteps of a practiced stalker could be heard approaching the clearing, following the rampant destruction of the woodland left in the wake of the panicked, clumsy runner. The hawk lifted her head and waited for this new, but nonetheless expected visitor.

Ah, I see this predator is much too clever to wander into a forest clearing. The professional that he is knows to avoid such a thing, as it is ripe for ambush. Perhaps a little encouragement is needed…

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The mercenary did not like what he saw ahead. Peering through the bramble, he intensely surveyed the clearing, looking for any sign of an ambush. The vampire he pursued had thus far been crashing through the forest like an ogre, but that may have been a ruse. Vampires, he had always thought, were usually much cleverer than this oaf was.

Hesitating outside the clearing was wasting time, but his instincts were kicked into overdrive as he approached it. Long ago he learned to trust those instincts, and many times they had been the difference between life and death. So there he sat, eyes darting around the forest opening, searching intently for signs of danger.

Quite suddenly, the once calm morning changed as a brisk northern wind began to flow through the woods, rustling the treetops and bringing a slight chill to the air. Our mercenary barely noticed the change in clime, until he heard the whispers on the wind. Startled, he relaxed his eyes, and instead strained his ears to the wind, where he swore a voice had whispered to him. The breeze fluttered once more, and this time he was positive…his name was carried gently on the wind.

Kirin...approach my child. Follow your instincts…and my voice…

Standing up nervously, he shouldered his composite bow, and walked boldly into the clearing. To his utter surprise, the hawk he’d mistaken for a statue hewn above the boulder stretched its impressive wings, and spoke to him with an undoubtedly feminine voice.

“It is time for you to return home, my child. Skyrim awaits you, and your destiny has come. Left behind will be your days of mercenary work and feeble pleasures. They matter not now, and only what you accomplish next will be of any consequence.”

This was unexpected, and temporarily froze Kirin, as a million thoughts raced through his mind. He settled on only one, though.

“And if I refuse?”

“It will matter not. The aspect of destiny is inescapable, and utterly final. Try as you might, it will simply catch up to you later, at a time when you may have less choice in its subtleties. Heed my words, and I promise you will not regret the choice to follow them.”

Kirin pondered on her words once more, and quickly realized what he was dealing with. One should not refuse the finality of the divines… He removed his helmet, and knelt on the grass before the large northern hawk.

“Lady Kyne, I see the wisdom in your words, and I pledge myself and my service to you.”

“Very well, young Kirin. Your time in Cyrodiil is at an end. Return to your fellow brothers and sisters of Skyrim, and your true journey shall begin in earnest.”

She then spread her wings once more, and took to the skies above Tamriel, flying ever northwards.skies above Tamriel, flying ever northwards.

This post has been edited by Kane: Dec 10 2024, 03:08 PM

[Kane]

Elder Council

Kirin awoke some time later on a stone bed within the halls of High Hrothgar. Paarthrunax had called for the Greybeards’ aid when the storms intensified on the mountain, and flew the unconscious heroes down the mountain to the courtyard, leaving them in Arngier’s care. Nearly a full day had passed before Kirin slept enough to recuperate from the harrowing battle with the World Eater. His eyes snapped open and he suddenly jumped to his feet, looking around for Lydia.

Hearing the clamor in the room next store, Arngier arose from his table and went to check on it.

“Arngeir! Where’s Lydia? She was hurt – I gave her a bit of healing potion, but I’m not sure it was enough. Is she here? Did she make it!”

“Morah, Dovahkiin. Breathe deeply and focus.”

The old man’s word settled into Kirin’s mind and after a few seconds, he regained his composure.

“Better?” asked Arngier. “Good. Now, Lydia lies in the room adjacent. Alduin’s tail is a powerful extension of him, and the landed blow shattered most of her ribs. It is good that you gave her the potion when you did, for the force of the blow nearly killed her. We have cared for her to the best of our abilities, but it may be some time before she awakens.”

The panic in Kirin’s mind lessened, and he breathed easier yet.

“Please take me to her, Master. I will sit with her until she wakes.”

“Of course. This way, Dovahkiin.”

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Three days came and went before Lydia roused from her slumber, and sat up in bed. For the moment she was alone, but on the table beside her lay a plate of food and a large goblet of water. Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw it, and without hesitation she grabbed a fork and went to town on it. The clanging of silverware on her plate and the goblet being set on stone must have garnered some attention, and her ears picked up the sound of hurried footsteps and whispered voices.
Kirin rounded the corner and into view first, smiling in delight at the sight of Lydia awake and eating. Behind him, Arngier followed with Borri. Kirin rushed towards the bed, and sat down next to her on the edge and embraced her warmly.

“Oof, let go Kir – you’re crushing me.”

“Sorry, love. I’ve been worried about you. The battle with Alduin went poorly, and almost did not end well.”

“So it would seem. Did you manage to defeat him?”

“Yes and no. He cannot be killed on Mundus and has flown to Sovngarde, where he is regathering his strength. I’ve been conferring with Arngier and Paarthurnax these past three days, an-“
“Three days! Just how hurt was I? All I remember is the blur of Alduin’s tail rushing at me before I could dodge it…”

Unable to find the words, Kirin simply leaned in and kissed her on the forehead. Instead, Master Arngier answered what he could not.

“We almost lost you, Miss Lydia. Had Kirin not given you the last of his potion, you would likely have succumbed to your wounds before Paarthurnax could get you down here to us.”
Lydia said nothing, but grabbed Kirin and held him close. They’d been through much together, but nothing so dangerous as their assault on Alduin atop the mountain. She squeezed him tighter as tears began to fall gently from her eyes.

“Please tell me that we don’t have to seek him out once more.”

Kirin sighed.

“I wish I could, my love,” whispered Kirin remorsefully. “But if I do not, he will return and seek us out on his own accord.”

She untangled her arms from his torso, and held him away from her, staring directly into his eyes.

“What do you mean ‘I’? You surely don’t intend to face him alone? Kirin it would be suicide!”

“I wish there was another way, Lydia, I do. But the only way to end this for good is by traveling to Sovngarde – and that is something I can only do alone.”

Lydia sniffled and dried her eyes.

“Do you at least have some sort of plan?”

“Master Arngier, Paarthurnax, and I have come up with one, but it will take some doing. Once you are rested up enough, we leave for Whiterun. Convincing Jarl Balgruuf to capture a dragon in Dragonsreach will be a tall order.”

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The very next day found Kirin and Lydia descending the mountain and crossing the bridge into Ivarstead. All was quiet in the sleepy little village, and only the guards were out making their rounds. A few of them acknowledged Kirin as Dragonborn out of respect, but most kept up the pretense of quiet toughness. They crossed the western bridge out of town, and began the long walk to Whiterun via Riverwood. The Voice of the Sky kept the wilderness animals at bay as they walked beneath the golden leaved birch trees that lined the road in thick groves.
It was an uneventful trip with one night spent lying out under the stars in each other’s warm embrace.
“Do you think we’ll ever have time to just be us, Kir?” wondered Lydia.

“When I come back from Sovngarde, I will make sure of it, Lyds. We are going to lock ourselves up in Elysium and not come out for at least a month. If Kyne needs us, she can blow the roof off of the place for all I care.”

A stiff wind blew through the valley after that remark from her chosen champion.

“Just kidding, mum!” yelled Kirin.

The breeze died off quickly leaving a still night for the couple to drift off to sleep in.

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Tirdas dawned under cloudy skies that eventually began to drop a cold, dismal rain down on the heads of Kirin and Lydia. They paid no heed to the chilly storm, and trudged on towards Whiterun and warm interiors. Several hours later found them seated around the long fire pit in Dragonsreach, discussing the issue of trapping a dragon.

As expected, Balgruuf was less than thrilled about the idea, and vehemently refused at first. It took a fair bit of convincing from Kirin before he relented, promising only to help if the temporary peace in the war could be achieved.

Once they came to that agreement, the long journey to High Hrothgar, Windhelm, and Solitude began. Arngier agreed to host the council of peace, but it would yet take some convincing for Ulfric and Tullius to show up.

Kirin and Lydia spent the next week riding from city to city in uncomfortable carriages, trying to get the war leaders to attend. In the end, the only thing that worked was pounding them over the head with the threat of Alduin and the end of life as they all knew it. Fear can be a wonderful motivator – even for the war hungry.