Dovahkiin
The sound of boots stomping and rushing upstairs woke the sleeping sisters, it was early probably around 5 or 6, the sun hadn't even crested the mountains yet. Yang rose first immediately on guard and listening to the commotion happening on the guild floor. Ruby on the other hand was still sprawled out on the bed arms and legs out like a starfish snoring loudly. Yang rolled her eyes before shoving her sister off the rough bed made of hay and covered in bear fur. Ruby let out an indignant yell before hitting the stone floor with a smack. She shot up as quickly as she fell and was about to tackle her sister before finally hearing the rowdy Companions awake much earlier than usual.
Ruby rubbed the sleep out of her eyes before asking “Whats going on up there?”
Yang cracked her back “Mmm not sure but i'm bout to go find out.” She hummed. “You comin?”
“Right behind ya sis!” came the enthusiastic reply from Ruby who was in a flurry to put on her leather armor and her signature red cloak, not the most discrete color but Ruby was anything but discrete.
She picked up her armor that had been resting in the corner of her room and started suiting up. First came her leg protection and greaves then her thick leather boots. She threw her breastplate on tightening the leather straps securely around her waist and shoulders. It wasn't too flashy, simple steel with the engraving of a dragon on her chest. Her pauldron which sat on her right shoulder had horns sticking out giving her an almost deadric aura. Her bracers were made of a thinner steel specially designed by Ruby to fit her arms just right without biting at her skin. Her gloves came last, she opted to leave her helmet in her pack which she threw over her shoulder.
The two sisters shambled their way up to the main floor where it seemed every companion was gathered around the long table, including Hazel himself who was speaking with someone. Yang pushed her way through the crowd towards Hazel, Ruby close behind. She placed an armored hand on his broad shoulder, “Hey old man what's goin on here?”
Hazel turned and his eyes widened in recognition before pushing her hand off his shoulder. “You're back. And it seems you stayed in Jorrvaskr when you don't belong here.” He glanced over her shoulder to look at Ruby who shrunk down a inch. He let out a deep sigh before looking at Yang again. “There's been an attack on one of Beacons watch towers.”
Yang frowned, “We all wouldn't be awake for a simple bandit attack.”
“No you wouldn't. They say it was a dragon” Hazel replied, his tone far from joking.
“Which idiot told you that and why would you believe them?” Yang scoffed out. Dragons had been extinct for a millenia. They were nothing but a fantasy spoken of to scare young children from misbehaving. Hazel rolled his eyes at her arrogance before side stepping revealing the Jarl's house carl Glynda Goodwitch a wood elf with an insane amount of magika and although short in stature, the scariest bitch this side of Remnant.
Goodwitch stepped forward leveling Yang with a glare “The ‘idiot’ would be me Xiao Long, and it's not a jest. Reports came in not even an hour ago that a dragon burned half of the Western Watchtower to the ground. And since you were kind enough to finally grace us with your presence you will accompany me to go investigate.”
Although initially intimidated by the elf, that last part made Yang bark out a laugh “Listen I know who you are but you must not know me as much as you think you do. I'm not a companion and you hold no authority over me.” She sneered.
Goodwitch didnt even flinch. “I know exactly who you are. I know you are a mercenary who has not known defeat. You are not a companion but your sister is. If there was a dragon I would like to deal with it swiftly and I believe you possess the power to at least slow it down. Or you could leave and risk the dragon attacking Jorrvaskr burning your sister ali-” Yangs hand slapped down on the table, the wood splintering under her strength. Her eyes blazed red rather than their normal lilac.
“Do NOT bring my sister into this” She practically growled out. The fired up blonde took a step towards the mage before Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder pulling her back.
“Breathe Yang” Ruby spoke softly “It's ok I can go with you. We can kill whatever this is together.” Red eyes closed for a moment before opening again this time back to their original lilac.
“Of course your contribution would not go unrewarded. The Jarl will pay a great amount of coin to you and your sister should the job go completed.” The mage added.
Yang untensed her shoulders, sighing and nodded at the elf.
“Excellent. Hazel we could use some more reinforcements. Would you be able to lend a few companions?”
“For Beacon we would be honored to fight” He bowed his head and turned to his followers selecting three to accompany them along with Ruby. Oscar was one of them, a young man named Hamish, and a huntress by the name of Layla. They all stepped forward ready to go. Glynda looked them all over and seemed to approve of the chosen warriors.
She clapped her hands together once “Right then let's go quickly.” She turned briskly and left the halls of Jorrvaskr. Yang was next followed by Ruby wanting to get this over with as soon as possible. As they made their way out of the city Ruby walked shoulder to shoulder with Yang “Do you think there's really a dragon out there?” She said eyes wide with more wonder than fear. Only Ruby would be excited by the return of dragons.
Yang shook her head “There's no chance. Dragons have been dead for thousands of years. Why would one come back now? I say it's a mage's conjure. Though I've never heard of a dragon like familiar it's more plausible than a flying lizard the size of a house.” Ruby pouted, almost disappointed but said nothing. It seemed no one in the group truly believed they would encounter a dragon. Even Goodwitch seemed more or less relaxed as they kept a steady pace down the stone paved road. Ruby fell back to chat with the rest of the companions but then everyone fell silent as they turned onto the path the watchtower used to sit.
The western watchtower was almost collapsed, fire raging on the banners and wooden fixtures. As the group got closer to the rubble the smell of sulfur burned their noses. A foot soldier wearing the gold and black armor of Beacon was hiding behind a stone that had fallen off the tower. He motioned for them to get down frantically. Ruby and her three companions looked towards each other before deciding to secure the perimeter and check for bandits that may be staking an ambush.
Goodwitch and Yang approached the man behind the stone. “What in the name of Talos happened here?” demanded Glynda. The man was staring at them with a wide eyed face covered in ash and uniform singed at the edges.
“A dragon attacked, we need to get out of here NOW! By the gods… they're all dead. Everyone was here, now they're all ASH!” The man was yelling frantically, staring at his shaking hands.
Just then the ground shook, knocking everyone off balance. A roar so mighty it made the hair stand on the back of Yang's neck. She turned towards the treeline half expecting a herd of bears to come running out towards them. Her sword was drawn and at the ready. The footsoldier started wailing again “HES BACK HE'S BACK WERE ALL DEAD”
A shadow blocked out the dawn sun's rays, the powerful flap of wings shifted the trees down below. Yang looked up, eyes widening as she focused on the beast currently flying towards them. It was gray in color, sharp scaled covering its entire body. Its wings were easily the span of Jorrvaskr torn and tattered but still flying perfectly. Its horns protruded from its skull, they were twisted backwards ending in a sharp point. Its teeth were easily the length of Yang's broadsword. She stumbled backwards, eyes locked on the thing currently soaring towards them.
“Holy shit” was the only thing she could utter.
“EVERYONE GET DOWN” Glynda seemed to be the only one not entranced by the dragon and she yanked Yang down by the arm. Ruby dove into what was left of the watchtower followed by Oscar and Layla. Hamish was not so lucky. He hesitated a moment too long and by the time he made a mad dash for the stone Yang and Glynda were behind he was suddenly engulfed in flames. The dragon had swooped down and blew a breath of fire so hot it melted the armor onto the poor man's skin. Not that he was alive long enough to feel it. The smell of burnt flesh burrowed its way into Yang's nose and even if she tried, she didn't think she could ever forget the stench. The dragon turned, making its way back to them. Ruby had made it to the roof of the tower and was firing arrows at the dragon but only a few seemed to pierce his scales. It roared again; eyes locked onto the red caped girl. It wasn't ready to spew its fire again, but it made a grab at her with its two-foot-long claws. She dove out of its way slashing at its legs with her axes. Although currently in a battle that would probably kill her, Yang couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride for her sister. She just drew first blood from a damn dragon. Two seconds ago, they didn't even believe they existed. But now it was Yang's turn.
The dragon landed on a clearing in front of the tower walking forwards on its wings and two back legs. It seemed to be taking a rest from flying. Interesting. They must use up a lot of stamina to keep their giant bodies in the sky so it makes sense that they would need to land often. She took her opening and sprinted towards it. It turned its massive head towards Yang, seeming to just now notice her. It growled out a warning before its eyes seemed to widen in recognition? It shook its head meeting her head on snapping its massive maw at her. Yang slid under its snout jabbing her sword upwards through the soft underside of its mouth. It reared its head back, taking Yang and her sword with it. It shook wildly trying to dislodge both the sword and the human.
By now Layla and Oscar joined the fray slicing at the dragon's Achilles tendon desperately trying to pierce its scales. The dragon swung his tail knocking them both off to the side easily. Yang pulled her sword free dropping to the ground with a roll. Standing to her feet huffing in front of the beast. The dragon looked to her and spoke a single word “Dovahkiin”
Yang didn't know what that meant, and she didn't care but behind her Glynda was shocked to her core… Yang? The Dovah? Not possible.
“Hey witch, are you planning on helping today or not?” Yang yelled out over her shoulder. Her Oscar and Layla were taking turns slashing and dodging the dragon's teeth and tail. Ruby was still on the watchtower firing a flurry of arrows. Glynda pulled herself together and began blasting ice spears from her palms. All of them aimed for the dragon's eyes. Only one found their mark blinding the dragon on one side. It spun unexpectedly catching the close combat fighters off guard. Oscar's battle staff was snapped in half when it got stepped on, but he moved quick enough. Yang dove to the ground, its tail whipping the air where her torso had been moments ago. Layla however dove in the wrong direction. The dragon's mighty claw pierced straight through her armor and back. It crushed her rib cage immediately and she wheezed once before falling silent.
The dragon took off into the sky again having regained enough stamina. Blood rained from its wounds painting the battlefield red. It flew towards Ruby but this time she was ready. Right when it flew by she jumped onto its wing axes out slicing through the sensitive skin within its wings. Unstable now in the air the dragon fell to the ground taking Ruby with it. It crashed sliding through the dirt creating a long landing strip. Yang was hot on its heels, sword held over her shoulder. The dragon came to a stop against a stone, and it looked up one last time spraying a desperate burst of fire at the blonde currently running at him. Yang scowled diving behind another rock left behind by the rubble and the second the onslaught of flames died she left cover running for the beast. She jumped over its jaw using its nose and a launch pad and drove her sword straight between its eyes. As the life left its eyes it uttered a last phrase “Balaan hokoron”
White light enveloped its whole body, stripping flesh from bone. It happened so fast one moment Yang was standing on solid scale her sword plunged deep into the soft tissue of its brain the next her boots were on bone. The entire dragon became a skeleton. Ruby fell through the gaps in the bones of its wings hitting the ground with a grunt. Yang jumped down to her sister's aid, but an unknown force knocked her to her knees. She gasped for air but found none. Her eyes screwed shut and she distantly heard Ruby's screams. It felt like something was forcing its way into her entire being. Then it was suddenly gone. She gasped for air clutching at her breastplate. Ruby was standing a few feet away, eyes wide in fear.
“What the hell was that Yang??” she yelled pointing to the dragon and at Yang.
“A dragon Rubes… We just killed it clearly” She managed to cough out.
“No not that, what you did just now! The light from the dragon you just absorbed!” She yelled, hands waving in the air.
So that's what that was. Yang ate a dragon soul. Well fuck that couldn't be good.