All their attentions turned to the tunnel just ahead, where spears suddenly shot out in rows from either side as poisoned darts whizzed around. When the darts finished firing and bouncing off the walls, the spears reset themselves back into their floor nooks. Mark gulped, glancing back at both Serana and Nathan anxiously. Serana shrugged innocently, stating out. "Oops. Wrong rope." Clearing his throat, Nathan pulled on the rope closet to him. At the back of the dead end tunnel, the stone wall scarped loudly as it slowly lowered to reveal more tunnel ahead. Nathan was going to say something, when moment behind Mark drew his attention. Just beyond the lowered wall, onto of a flat rock a creature slowly lifted its head to look at them. If it hadn't moved, he never would have seen it. It had blended in perfectly with the dark walls and bioluminescent large glowing mushroom trees. Mark sniffed the air upon seeing Nathan's reaction, then whirled around as he shouted out. "Behind!" The animal rose to its feet, letting out a soft growl before leaping off the rock toward them. Nathan was perplexed by the creature. He'd never seen anything quite like it.

Mark snatched the cat's throat as it jumped at him, plunging a dagger deep between its ribs. The cat mewled softly, then went limp before Mark dropped it to the ground in shock. Coaxing Serana aside, Nathan kneeled to look the cat over more closely. It was about the size of a large dog but had the thick fangs of a saber tooth cat. Besides its much smaller size than a normal saber, it had strange fur. Running his hand over the dark pelt with glowing strips and spots, he watched it shimmer in shades of bioluminescent greens and blues. Mark looked to Jack, asking uneasily. "What the fuck is that?" Jack kneeled beside Nate, looking the animal over now too as he said honestly. "I don't know. But it is gorgeous." Removing a dagger, Nathan told the others coolly. "We shouldn't waste him. We may need the food later and... I want to take his pelt." Jack nodded in agreement, adding calmly. "Agreed. I'd love to study it. Could be a new breed." Nathan quickly went to work skinning the creature and wrapping the meat in clean cloth that he then gave to Mark to hold onto. Carefully folding up the pelt, Nathan let Jack take it and moved on.

Nathan didn't get far before he found himself standing on a ledge that overlooked a massive open chamber. Glowing tree mushrooms stood tall all over the place, providing the only light to the area, but doing it well. A murky river ran through the place making the place rather peaceful to behold. As the others approached to take it all in, Nathan moved away to see if he could find a way down for the others. Finding a path, he told them to follow it and that he'd meet them below. They didn't get a chance to ask him what he planned to do, because he leapt off the edge and let his wings spring out to ensure a safe landing to the path below. From what he could see, the path just winded around back before the ledge anyway. He didn't want to waste time, he had to keep moving ahead in case the people sent in before them were Harkon's men. Landing gracefully, Nathan watched a bunch of bioluminescent deer spring away across the path. They were smaller than the deer he knew of, but so pretty. Making his way up the path, Nathan spotted another dome sitting on a stone platform ahead and surrounded by glowing mushroom trees. So, he called out to them excitedly. "I think I see another wayshrine up here, guys!"

Jogging his way up the dirt path toward it, he skidded to a stop as ghost moved around the dome and into view. The ghost was another Snow Elf man that was dressed in robes and when he saw him, he bowed his head and serenely told him. "Welcome, Initiate. This is the wayshrine shrine of Illumination. Are you prepared to honor the mantras of Auri-El and fill your vessel with HIS Enlightenment?" Nathan shifted a little uneasily but nodded to him. The ghost then smiled, telling him warmly. "Then behold Auri-El's gift, my child. May it light your path as you seek tranquility within the Inner Sanctum." Nathan wondered if doing this would enlighten him in some way. At the very least, he was learning something about his mother's culture. The ghost moved to the dome, casting a spell that lit up the sun and caused the dome to once again rise from the stone platform to reveal a basin within. The moment it stopped moving, the ghost turned to him and with a little bow, told him happily. "May Auri-El's brilliance illuminate your path." Nathan bowed his head in return, walking a little slower as he entered and strolled up to the full basin.

The water inside looked as clear and pure as freshly fallen snow. Resting his hands on the basin, he stared into it. He didn't feel any magic coming from the water and could only wonder what the significance was. He was pulled from his thoughts not long after by the others jogging in and excitedly talking about the deer they'd seen. Extending a hand out to Escher, he politely asked for the Ewer. Serena rolled her eyes, but Nathan ignored her. Dipping the Ewer into the water, he filled it just a little and told the others coolly. "Got it. Let's continue." Serena quickly moved past him and through the portal on the wall. Nathan lingered behind to make sure everyone had entered before he did with the Ewer. Stepping through, Nathan was a bit surprised to find himself in another cave, but this one was lit up with glowing rocks that gave the impression of an early morning setting. Jack was running his hand over some broken ruins, talking to Mark in a low but excited voice. While Escher seemed to be butting heads with Serena, because she blurted out to him drearily. "Honestly, Escher... I don't think these priests care what a bunch of vampires would do with Auriel's bow. They're pretty focused on the past. So, as long as we can get this 'Vyrthur' out of the Sanctum, I think they'll be happy to just hand it over."

Escher rolled his eyes, storming away as he growled out under his breath. "You are such a bitch." Serana's jaw dropped in disgust, before she shot out at Escher's back. "How dare you! I'm helping you! I didn't see anyone else jumping to do that! It's no wonder you and my father got along." Escher skidded to a stop, whirling around to snarl back with narrowed eyes. "You know what your problem is, Serana? You're a spoiled little princess that is used to getting ALL the attention. But it's suddenly dawned on you that you are not the center of the fucking universe! Everything has to be about YOU! It must sting that mommy imprisoned you and daddy gave up looking for you. NOBODY MISSED YOU! But why? Maybe it was because you are forgettable! You only care about yourself and how things effect YOU! You're a BITCH!" A silence followed Escher's words, but Serana strained out softly. "At least I don't whine like one." Flipping her off, Escher huffed out. "Cry me a river of blood, Princess. My kind was betrayed, and its culture decimated into extinction. But go ahead and run your mouth about YOUR petty fucking daddy issues and having to work for a change. Want Nathan to carry you next?"

Nathan tensed as his eyes darted between them. He really didn't want to get dragged into this. Serena stomped closer to Escher, bitterly screeching out. "YOU'RE AN ASSHOLE!" Rolling his eyes, Escher sneered back into her face. "Like I give a rat's ass what you think of me. I'm not hear for you. I'm here for HIM." Escher pointed to Nathan, causing her to look in his direction, which made Nathan shift uncomfortably. Escher then added darkly to her before walking away. "You don't have to like our culture. Just don't think I'm going to let you insult OUR culture in front of us." Sighing, Nathan dashed out between them, telling them both seriously. "Can we not do this now? Save your energy for when we will need it. Alright?" Serana glared at him but walked by him. Neither Escher nor Serana said anything to show whether they agreed or not. Jack touched his arm as he walked by him, telling him gently. "Just let them lead for a bit. Let them fight anything ahead to get it out of their system." Nate nodded reluctantly, falling in behind Mark. They moved up the narrow tunnel, until they exited out into a massive circular hole with a spiraled dirt path that led up to the surface.

Upon reaching the top, they slowed to a stop to peer out into the thick mist horizon. Serana was the first to break their silence by gasping out. "Wow. What an incredible view. It's like... a whole other world." Nathan watched the mist thin as a very light breeze winded through the massive snowy mountains that surrounded them on all sides. It was rich with tall pine trees and the air was so clear and smelled of honeysuckle. Escher reached out to grab Nathan's hand, intertwining their fingers as he whispered to him while observing the valley. "It's... so beautiful." Nathan nodded, squeezing his fingers in return. Beside him, Mark hugged Jack to his chest, chuckling out softly. "Makes you feel so small, doesn't it?" Jack chuckled, leaning back against Mark with a dreamy look on his face as he held Mark's arms around him. Serana broke the mood by clearing her throat and stating out as nicely as she could. "Come on. The bow should be in this valley somewhere. We should find it quickly and get out of here." Escher inhaled deeply, but Nathan kissed his cheek and whispered to him softly. "I know. Don't let her ruin this for you. Just enjoy this."

Descending the mountainside and into the valley carefully, they tried not to spook the little deer, but they seemed very sensitive to their presence. Not far up the valley, they came upon another dome and ghost. The ghost bowed to them, then told Nathan as he approached with the Ewer. "Welcome to the Vale, Initiate. This is the wayshrine of Sight. Are you prepared to honor the mantras of Auri-El and fill your vessel with HIS enlightenment?" Nathan nodded once again, and the ghost told him happily. "Then behold Auri-El's gift, my child. May it speed your journey to the Inner Sanctum." While the ghost opened the shrine, Serana shot a look at Mark and said a bit snarkily. "Seems ironic that they were looking for insight and lost their sight." Mark smirked just a little and Nathan was tempted to smirk himself, but Escher's scowl drained the fun out of it. Quickly, he ventured up to the basin to fill the Ewer a bit more. Unlike the others, there was no portal to step into. Instead, the ghost pointed to a stone archway in the distance and informed them. "Well done. Follow the archway to the next wayshrine." Mark tugged Jack on ahead, trying to keep themselves at a distance for the tension between the vampires of the group.

Nathan wished he could avoid the conflict as easily, but he felt shackled to it. The awkward silence and stony glares were getting on his last nerve though. Until walking through the stony archway, he turned to tell the both of them seriously. "Ok. Look. You two have got to quit it. Now is not the time to bluster your pride and egos. Put it aside and let's get this done. Then you never have to talk to each other again. Ok?" Serana crossed her arms and Escher turned away from both of them with a scowl. Straightening up to his full height, Nathan flexed his wings a bit and growled out. "Guys...? Can you do that?" They didn't get a chance to answer, before Mark called out to them. "Serana! Escher! Come up here and deal with these things." Serana groaned, storming up the trail and Escher followed without looking at or answering Nate. Slowly turning with a low growl in his throat, he stormed up behind them. Only for Mark to pull him aside with a smile. Up ahead, three frostbite spiders were leaping out to attack Escher and Serana. Nathan took a step to help, but Mark pulled him back, telling him coolly. "Don't. Let them... fight it out."

Nathan rolled his eyes, grumbling out. "Those spiders won't be much of a fight for a vampire. We're too-" Mark held up a hand to stop him and pointed the cliff above Serana and Escher. Sitting on the ledge, a giant frostbite spider was glaring down at Serana and Escher as they killed her kids. When they killed the last, they turned to face them with stern faces... until they saw Nathan's expression. Slowly following his eyes, they both screamed as the mother jumped down over them and began to attack. Forcing them to work together to dodge its quick attacks and venomous spit. Nathan chuckled, looking to Mark suspiciously. Shrugging, Mark told him with a wolfish grin. "Sometimes you've just got to kill something. Takes the edge off." Jack leaned back against the cliff, chuckling out. "We are all stressed out and anxious. Better to take turns blowing off some steam, right?" Nathan nodded, grinning as he watched the others fight. It did seem to be helping a bit. When they finally finished, they looked calmer and less likely to jab each other now. Jack walked between them, complimenting them, before stopping to marvel at the scenery as he said aloud. "Damn... That is fucking gorgeous."

Mark draped an armover Jack, gaping out excitedly. "It is.It's a winter wonderland." Nathanbreathlessly looked around at the frozen river, snowy banks, many rushing waterfalls,and the snow coated mountains and trees. It was beautiful beyond words. The way the sunlight made the snow sparkle just made the place feel sospecial. He felt like trying to captureits beauty in a song but couldn't find the words to describe its untouchedpurity. Serana placed a hand on thecliff to steady herself, uttering out blissfully. "I never saw anything like this back on theisland." Mark nudged Jack, telling himsweetly. "We should refill our water.Then press on." Nathan winced, pullingout his daedric wine to sip it as he followed them to the river. He'd almost forgotten that they might need thingslike that. Standing by them as theyfilled their waterskins and the other washed their hands of blood, Nathanspotted the next wayshrine and grinned. Just two more wayshrines and they'd be home free. To Be Continued...