---------------------Melee------------------------
Melee hummed gently to herself, golden skin shimmering pale in the colors of night. The town of Rorikstead, a good walk away from Arcadia’s shop, meant she had plenty of fresh air on the way. Green, tranquil reeds glanced against her legs, soft petals of lavender brushing her calves. In the hues of darkness, even the smallest of life forms seemed to display their finest form, fauna bursting from the most unlikely of places.
It was dark when she entered the small town of Rorikstead. Melee looked at the black sky, the void of granite gray and cobalt blue contrasting with the bright light of the moon. This meant she was lucky- She could stay the night here, then purchase the flowers for Arcadia tomorrow. Anyway, it wasn’t of utmost importance. The old lady could have gotten those flowers herself, and they were only for a simple potion. Even though she had decided to come here to buy it as a surprise, It could wait until she had a good night’s sleep.
A single inn still shone it’s dirty light through grimy windows, it’s battered interior lit by flickering oil lamps. Frostfruit, the place was called, it’s crowded interior no doubt containing half the village’s population. Melee entered, her mood still happy from the walk in nature.
It took a bit of persuading to even get a table in the inn, so packed that it was a shouting match between occupants to maintain conversations. Her food was served after almost 15 minutes of waiting, and she was greeted by a slab of cold pheasant touched with the tiniest sprinkle of herb. As Melee set upon gnawing at her unappetizing meal, she let her eyes wander, letting it pause upon things that caught her interest.
A specific pair snatched her attention; Not for the level of noise they were making, nor their curious antics- but the utter lack thereof of both. The intriguing men sat at the corner of the inn, their faces half shrouded in shadow. Even though Melee had no prejudices towards the Khajiit, seeing one at that table did fill her with traditional suspicion, passed down by the many folk of town.
It took a while to realize she was not the only person watching them- Another figure glanced at them from behind the covers of her book. Melee smiled at the imperial’s funny attempt to be secretive, her own eyebrows shooting up whenever her blue eyes looked at the pair.
Melee took the initiative, walking up to talk to the girl. When the imperial offered her a seat, she took it, and leaned forward with a grin on her face. “Who do you think they are, smugglers? Thieves?” As much as she hated to suggest such things by simply judging their race, it did seem likely from their behavior.
The other one laughed gently.” You haven’t heard the folk around here talk, have you? Just from their gossip I know who they are,” pointing to the Nord, she said “ That one there’s Alistar, last of the Striders. Most people around here call him the “insane man” though, on a mission to eradicate the Falmer. He’s been going around, trying to get more people to join his cause. If that Khajiit there’s his only member, I say they won’t get far.”
The conversation between the two was easy and warm, and half an hour later they were chatting like old friends. The other girl had introduced herself as Emberlynn, an adventurer keen to follow her grandfather’s footsteps. They talked as such for a good while, their moods lifted by the pleasant banter.
Until the Quake came.
The ground roared with some unknown force, the ground rolling in anger. Like some behemoth the earth shook, the inn above it shuddering. Planks of wood fell from the ceiling, clay tankards and glass cups crashing to the floor.
The occupants fled in a massive stampede, jostling, running over each other as they hastened towards the door. With the single exit blocked by a wall of frightened people, Melee and Emberlynn panicked, the walls seeming to sag around them. It would not be long till it fell.
“This way!” Melee turned her head, to see the strider beckoning to them, urgency written all over his face. He was pointing towards an open window, no doubt their only chance of escape. The Khajiit was already out of the window, his face wild. Together, she and Emberlynn raced to safety, their bodies filled with the adrenaline of survival. Timber and sawdust was strewn across the floor, their movements hampered by upturned tables and broken chairs.
They were almost at the exit now, their legs pumping. However, Emberlynn stopped suddenly, a mad grin was etched across her face. “I forgot my journals.” She said with a laugh, eyes alight with the thrill of the moment. Before Melee could stop her, she had bolted to the stairway, entering the wreckage of the top floor. As debris crashed around her, she had no choice but to leave without her.
It seemed a miracle when she reached the window, her journey to it so filled with peril. she hurled themselves out of the window, landing hard on the cobblestone road. A moment later Alistar jumped out, his momentum carrying him above their heads to roll safely onto the ground.
The inn gave one final shiver, before collapsing.
