After feeding from the women and playing with them for a time, Nathan carefully untangled himself from them. It was still so late, but he wasn't comfortable sleeping in public. He just didn't feel safe. Any time he did, he'd just have nightmares of being staked. So, staying up was easier. Sitting himself at a table in the room, Nathan conjured up a hovering ball of candlelight and unfolded his map of Skyrim. Mulling over all that Mark had told him, he tried to think of what routes the group of Penitus Oculatus would take to avoid danger. There were a lot of Imperial encampments around Solitude, but Stormcloaks were always trying to find a way to move in on the area. That wasn't counting the Forsworn groups that were also trying to make themselves known or common everyday bandits. Tracing routes with his fingers, he tried to plan what road would be easier to take, but he always ran into the same problem. Where were they stationed? He'd lived in Solitude and rarely heard anything about them outside of one or two soldiers being sent to different Imperial supported holds around Skyrim. Frustrated, he pushed the map away and took a deep swig from his Daedric Wine.

Glancing around, he started to hunt for his clothes. While Valga sat up on the bed, asking in a whisper. "Is something troubling you?" Nathan smirked, glancing up to say a bit playfully. "How do you know that I'm not just sneaking out?" Valga gestured to the table, then slid out of bed to peer at the map as she told him honestly. "I was watching you. Are you looking for something? Treasure, perhaps?" Scoffing, Nathan pulled on his pants, muttering out. "Hardly. I'm looking for someone." Narri stirred in her sleep with a groan, prompting Valga to whisper to him. "Let's talk outside." Nathan gathered up his stuff and headed out into the bar, while Valga quickly snatched up a robe and followed him. Closing the door to the bedroom, Valga made her way to the bar to make herself a drink, upon asking him in a natural tone. "Sorry. She gets bitchy. So, who are you looking for?" He continued to dress himself, while grumbling out. "An old friend. I heard he might be with a group of Penitus Oculatus Vanguards. But I'm having trouble finding him." Valga poured her drink into a glass, asking him curiously. "Is your friend an old looking monk?"

Tensing, he looked at her out of the corner of his eyes when he answered. "Maybe. Why do you ask?" Valga tossed back her shot, then stated out with a shrug. "A few days ago, these polished soldiers came in here for food. I thought it was strange that they were escorting this old monk. Nice guy. Kept asking if I had heard anything about magic items in the area. Particularly rumors about magic scrolls. I told him that I hadn't. He was most disappointed but had a hopeful way about him." Straightening up, he asked her in a calm voice. "What was his name? Where was he headed?" Valga thought about it a moment, then told him a bit distantly. "Dexion... something. He didn't mention where he was headed. Although, Narri did sleep with one of the soldiers escorting him. I think she mentioned them trying to reach Dragon Bridge before nightfall." Setting down his map, he asked her hopefully. "Do you know where that is?" She pointed to the place on the map, informing him casually. "If you hurry. You might be able to catch them. They were traveling by a wagon that was loaded down with supplies that they bought from the shop and myself. The soldiers were on foot. So, they probably aren't making good time."

Smiling, Nathan leaned over the bar to kiss her in his excitement, then exclaimed. "Thank you!" Valga chuckled, waving to him as he gathered his stuff and dashed out without another word. Retrieving Walter, he hopped on and started to turn him toward the road but stopped. Letting out a deep sigh, he turned Walter back around. As much as he wanted to race off, he didn't want to go without saying goodbye to Jack and Mark. Riding off toward the house, he hoped to make this quick. Just as he was turning off the road, a large shadow rippled over the ground beneath him, and the trees rustled loudly. Nathan only just looked up, before a small dragon dropped to the ground in front of Walter! Walter reared with a startled whinny, sending Nate tumbling off his back and to the ground with a huff. The young dragon winced guilty, curling himself up on strong trembling legs as he said in a light male voice. "Oops... Sorry, Soslun." Sitting up, Nathan looked over the young dragon in slight awe. He couldn't believe how BIG Tiidgein had gotten in just a years' time. His dark scales looked almost black until any light hit them, causing them to reflect with an emerald green color. His horns were still small but growing out and his eyes were even bigger, making him look cute and still so innocent.

Hopping off of Tiidgein's back was a familiar rotund creature that began to laugh and pointed his spear at Nathan. The Riekling was just as creepy as he remembered him. Tiidgein tried to hide his smirk, when Klipper blurted out. "HAHA! The speedy boy fell off his large piggy and didn't land on his feet!" Nathan hissed, causing Klipper to point his spear at him as he said aloud. "Don't hiss like cat! Next time land on feet!" Nathan got to his feet thinking about murdering the little creature, until Tiidgein covered Klipper's whole body with a single foot, easing out. "Guys...? Let's not fight. Mark will be really mad... and Jack won't like that." Nathan was going to make a snide comment, until the ground shook beneath them. Managing to balance enough to stay on his feet, he looked beyond Tiidgein to see the large white dragon. Folding his wings gracefully, Paarthurnax grinned at him, before turning his head toward the house. From the side door, Mark and Jack rushed out on their guard. Until the moment that Jack realized who it was. Then he sprinted off the porch and across the lawn to hug Paarthurnax. Mark moved to lean on the railing, shaking his head as his kids rushed out and ran toward Tiidgein to ask him how his hunt went.

When Mark noticed Nathan, he straightened up off the railing and stated aloud. "Couldn't pass up a free breakfast?" Rolling his eyes, Nathan shot back with a smirk. "Couldn't pass up the free wine. It's morning and I'm sober." Heading over to the stairs, Mark asked him a bit reluctantly. "Did dinner not go well?" Walking passed Mark to the small casks set out on a table, he casually replied. "Oh, no. Dinner was fine. I worked hard for it." Mark groaned with slight disgust, mumbling out to himself. "Ugh, I didn't want that imagine in my head." Snatching a goblet off the table, Nate teased back. "Really? How do you picture me naked? Muscular or built like your husband?" Mark turned sudden dark eyes on him, prompting Nathan to quickly raise his hands and rush out. "I meant no offense. That was a compliment." The kids soon distracted Mark with questions, allowing Nathan to retreat out of his line of sight. Sipping the wine, Nathan leaned against the house, watching Mark give in to his boys' desire to spar with him. While Jack spoke to Paarthurnax and instructed his little girl on how to make a fireball that Tiidgein volunteered to be the target for.

He could see why Mark was so protective of this. It looked like a normal way to live. They were happy. He envied them a bit. Once the little girl had gotten the fireball throwing down, Jack left her and headed up the steps of the house. Paarthurnax casually went to the lake to clean off his scales after the long trip. Giving Nathan the opening he wanted. Jack was finally alone. Slowly approaching him, Nathan asked him with light curiosity. "Well, is this everything you dreamed it would be?" Jack's attention scanned the yard before him, and he nodded when he glanced at Paarthurnax in the lake. Leaning on the railing beside Jack, Jack told him in a content voice. "No. It's better. For the first time... I actually feel relaxed." Taking a sip of his wine, Nathan watched Tiidgein rush across the yard to tackle Mark into the dirt, before chuckling to himself. His chuckle faded, when he glanced at Jack, but he told him openly. "Did Mark tell you what happened last night?" Jack nodded, replying softly to Nate's surprise. "Ya. He said that you wanted to leave..." Nathan blinked a little confused. Mark hadn't told him about the vampires? Jack nudged his arm to draw his attention back to him, before asking with concern. "Do you really have to leave? I thought you were doing great at the college?"

Nathan thought about telling him the truth but felt like that was wrong. The vampires were only there because of him. If Mark didn't tell him, then he felt like he shouldn't either. So, after hefting a sigh of reluctance, he told Jack a nice little lie. "I am. I love it... but I have to finish something. My quest isn't over. I was sent a warning at the college..." Jack stiffened beside him, asking anxiously. "What kind of warning?" Quickly shaking his head in the hopes of calming Jack, he chuckled out to lighten the lie. "Don't worry. No one got hurt. It was a private matter. But it reminded me that I... I have to go for a bit." Jack gave him a confident shrug in return, openly telling him. "Fill me in and we can help." Nate smirked just a little, but shook his head, gesturing off to everyone else as he retorted lightly. "No, Jack. You earned this. Enjoy it. Trust me. I... I can handle it." Seeing the deep concern behind Jack's eyes, he reached out to pat his shoulder, telling him in a charming tone. "Tell you what though. If I need you, I'll drop by." With a reluctant sigh, Jack patted him on the back, informing him seriously. "I hope you do, Nate. I promised that I'd help you with Lord Harkon. Say the word and I'm there." Finishing off his goblet, he handed it to Jack and grinned out. "I'll do that. But right now, I just need to check in. Take care of yourself in the meantime. Oh, and one more thing..."

Leaning closer, Nathan whispered close to his ear. "Slip your man a little sleeping draft before bed. He's too stubborn to admit that he's not sleeping well. The wolf makes him restless... so just give him a little something and maybe find a music box to play at night. Should calm the wolf down at night." Jack raised an eyebrow, asking curiously. "How do you know that?" Nathan winked at him, answering coolly. "I heard about it at the college. I'm not the only teacher with secrets." Rolling his eyes, Jack told him warmly. "I'll try it. Good luck, Nathan. Try and stay out of trouble." Nathan chuckled, making his way down the steps as he playfully shot back. "Trouble? Please. I don't know the meaning of the word." Going around the yard, Nathan said quick goodbyes to everyone. The kids were the most upset that he was leaving so soon, and the pain it caused him nearly made him stay... but he talked himself out of it. He needed to go. Mounting up on Walter, he gave them all one last wave, before riding off toward the road. He had a lot of ground to cover and very little time. He just hoped that he could catch up to the Moth Priest.

The last thing he wanted was some other vampire swooping in to claim his prize. Riding all day for two whole days, Nathan finally arrived at the little town called Dragon Bridge. It was easy to see why. Over the large river was a very large stone bridge with pointed arches that resembled a ribcage, and at the ends were massive carved stone dragon heads. The sun was setting and casting everything in a warm yellow light as Nathan rode into town. Upon seeing the first person on the road, he hopped off Walter and rushed over to her to ask hopefully. "Excuse me? Miss? Do you know anything about a Moth Priest visiting Dragon Bridge?" The young woman huddled fabric to her chest, honestly telling him. "A Moth Priest? I don't even know what that is... Are Priests studying Moths now? What will they think up next... Try asking one of the guards. They might know." Leaving her, Nathan jogged over to the nearest guard that was smoking by the Inn. As Nathan drew closer, the guard asked in a guarded tone. "What can I do for you, Civilian?" Nathan gestured to the inn, asking him a bit desperately. "I'm looking for a Moth Priest. I was told he was heading here. Do you know anything about him? Older man. Talking about scrolls. Looks like a monk. Traveling in a wagon with a Penitus Oculatus Vanguard?"

The guard coughed a little, then pointed with his smoking pipe as he said. "Ah, so that was a Moth Priest. Ya. He rode through town yesterday with his escorts. They didn't stop. They just headed South across the Dragon Bridge. Some girl volunteered to give him directions someplace." Nathan shifted on his feet uneasily, blurting out bitterly. "Damn it. What did the girl look like? Did you know her?" The guard shook his head, informing him with a shrug. "No. She was a drifter. Saw her at the tavern a few times. Was always trying to recruit people to join the fight." Nathan started to move away but stopped just to confirm his sudden suspicion. "Join what fight exactly?" The guard took a puff from his pipe, before expelling the smoke as he said in a chuckle. "Would you believe it? She was trying to convince people to hunt Vampires. Had the fancy outfit and everything. Bunch of lunatics. Still... got a good laugh out of us. We needed that." Nathan backed up from the guard, grumbling out to himself. "Son of a bitch..." Jogging off to grab his horse, Nathan yelled out to the guard. "Thank you!" Hopping back onto Walter, he spurred him into a run.

Walter's hooves clattered over the stones of Dragon Bridge, while Nathan kept his eyes open for any sign of them. People dashed to the sides as he rushed by and out onto the cobblestone road that led out of town. He saw no trace of anything for awhile, and then his keen eyes spotted a wagon in the distance that looked to be tipped over on its side. Cursing loudly, Nathan spurred Walter to reach it faster. Yanking Walter into a hard stop, Walter skidded over the slick road. Sliding off him, Nathan looked over the massacre before him. The smell of dried blood and fresh dead hung in the air. The horse looked to of been attacked by animals and the bodies of the soldiers were scattered about. All the supplies in the wagon were gone and a few Imperial soldiers looked as if their very armor had been taken. Moving among the bodies in the hopes of finding someone that wasn't dead or hadn't been dead for too long, so that he could summon them back to get some answers. He stopped when he laid eyes on a naked woman with a stake in her hand and a pile of dust beside her. Kneeling, he checked the dust and mumbled out to Walter. "Vampire dust. Fuck..."

Looking over the woman with the stake, he noticed that in her other hand, she seemed to have a bundled up piece of paper. Prying it from her fingers, he smoothed it out on his knee and read it aloud. "I have new orders for you. Prepare an ambush just South of the Dragon Bridge. Take the Moth Priest to Forebears' Holdout for safekeeping until I can break his will. Kill the Dawnguard woman traveling with them. Malkus." Folding the piece of paper back up, Nathan looked around and saw a blood trail with his keen eyes. The blood trail leading down another road. Rising to his feet, he told Walter firmly. "Come on, boy. Looks like we've got another vampire trying to make a name for himself. Let's go say hi." To Be Continued...